chrizzowski

Sadly code minimums for newer builds haven't really changed drastically in decades. It's all just 2x6 with batt and poly, fundamentals the same as it has been since the 1970s. My 2019 build just had the shower lines freeze because they're against an exterior wall (-30 cold snap, but still).

You're probably right though that a heat pump is a better investment. Redoing the entire building envelope is a big ask if it's not deteriorating and needing work anyway.

Fine, Israel's leader/government, as elected by its population, is on record. Does that make it better?

1% of the population is a lot of people. That's tens of thousands of lives cut short. Kids who'll never grow up, families torn apart, etc. Should that not elicit emotion? There's plenty of videos of children and unarmed people trying to surrender or otherwise being shot. Seems like anyone and everyone to me.

Fun fact! Hysteria was originally thought to be a condition that only applied to women, hence the Greek root "hyster" for womb, as if that were the source of irrational emotion.

That's a very good point, I'm sure most Israelis are lovely wonderful people despite the government and atrocities being committed. I bet most Palestinians are equally wonderful. Maybe we should be against indiscriminately killing them?

You mean the organization that Israel influenced the creation of through decades of mistreatment and mishandling of the situation? The same one Israel is on record saying it's a good thing as it allows Israel to treat Palestine as a hostile state? Basically exactly what they're doing now, killing anyone and everyone and just shrugging and saying "because hamas"?

Damn there's a throwback. Annnnd I feel old now hah.

Yes, but also no. There are a bunch of other factors that contribute to a windows performance; manufacturer, type of gas used in the cavity, spacer material conductivity, thermal bridge free frame design, low e coatings and solar reflectance, and the quality of the installation matters most. Then there's the windows efficiency relative to the rest of the assembly. If it's a building code basic 2x4 wall from 1970 then you're absolutely right, it would be overkill putting some triple pane krypton filled window in. But if you've got a foot of exterior insulation and are pushing a u value of 0.13 on your wall assembly then you need windows to match.

Source: certified Passive House designer, the most demanding energy standard for buildings available, that originated in ..... yup you guessed it, Germany.

"gluteal crease" that's a new one for me, well done.

I think this is a huge part of the problem. Rental property owners are just a liability buffer for the banks. There should be mortgages at a 1% down payment for first time buyers with a proven track record of making rent payments on time. Maybe the rates are a little higher, with the extra interest giving the banks motivation for taking on the extra risk. Then after the first term the owner can renew with a normal rate.

Doesn't help with the demand issue, but maybe all the rentals will flood the market after nobody is being punished for not having $100k laying around because they're busy paying someone else's carrying costs.

Nothing wholesome every seeps lol love it. With you on the hovering around zero and wet though, that was my last big camp for three nights in Kootenay National Park. No problems staying cozy if it's dry and cold, but the seepage gets to you.

I want to agree, and still do for some of their items, but personally have found a lot of their products have gone downhill in the last few years. Quality control is all over on the gloves nowadays, sent two pairs back with weird stitching and a single pencil point tapered finger on liners. I originally liked the vigor midlayer fleece stuff as a budget R1 but it's pilled and worn super fast and just isn't that warm anymore.

Their alpine merino base layer stuff is pretty awesome though, and found the ascent shell touring jacket nice and breathable for backcountry stuff. For the most part I'll just spend a bit extra and go for Patagonia moving forward, which of also consider a BIFL brand.

Got my grandpa's Minolta XE7 in the bag on my way to visit my daughter for the holidays. Not my oldest camera, but he's not around anymore so there's some nice sentiment capturing family moments with his camera. Security hand checked the film, no questions asked, so that's nice. Couple rolls of HP5 to push for inside, and some Gold 200 if we get some sunny weather.

Canada, and yeah when it comes to how we build we are definitely behind. Oil and gas is so entrenched in the economy, especially western provinces, that any going against that is blasphemy to a significant chunk of the population. It will get better though. We can already do better, the incentive just isn't there.

I'm a certified passive house designer and I'm always jealous of all the products and materials available in Europe!