Lyons Drafting & Design

05/14/2026

12/20/2025

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Researchers in South Korea have developed transparent solar panels that can be integrated into ordinary windows, allowing homes and skyscrapers to generate electricity without altering their appearance. The panels harvest energy from sunlight while maintaining visibility, opening the door to buildings that power themselves through their own glass.

08/03/2025

HVAC expert Jon Harrod shares how to remove mold from a mini-split to prevent water damage and ensure the unit is working efficiently.

01/22/2025

Although I wrote a 2012 article for Fine Homebuilding on ways to insulate the cramped attic behind a kneewall, I’ve never written such an article for GBA. So it’s clearly […]

01/22/2025

Dangerous electrical myths and mistakes cause fires, deaths, and $1.5 billion in property damage annually — learn how to avoid them.

09/29/2024

08/01/2024

Among the mistakes identified in Fine Homebuilding Magazine editor Brian Pontolilo's latest roundup of building mistakes to avoid is combining heating/cooling and ventilation ductwork.

With a good air barrier, you cannot rely on natural infiltration to provide fresh air; balanced mechanical ventilation is necessary, and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) are more common than ever.

Often, to simplify the system and save money, the ERV is tied into existing ductwork serving the rest of the forced-air system. This typically requires the air handler to run whenever there’s a call for ventilation which leads to extra energy consumption, noise, and wear and tear on the air handler.

Additionally, if the ductwork isn’t properly designed, the air handler fan can affect the airflow through the ERV, throwing it out of balance. An unbalanced ERV will have its recovery efficiency suffer and, under the right condition, the core will ice up.

Get it right. The ideal ventilation system is completely independent from the heating/cooling system. Ventilation supply air is ducted directly to the bedrooms and living spaces while the ventilation exhaust air is drawn directly from bathrooms, mudrooms, and other sources of moisture. By decoupling the ventilation system, it can run regardless of whether the heating system is on or off. Additionally, balancing and commissioning the system to provide the correct airflows is much easier.

Read 8 more mistakes to avoid: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/building-mistakes-to-avoid-part-2

06/04/2024