Brian Pontolilo

Brian Pontolilo has spent the better part of the last 20 years as a journalist, writer, and editor covering residential design and construction at Fine Homebuilding magazine and GreenBuildingAdvisor.com. Brian has a degree in professional writing, worked for a short time at local newspapers, and has worked in landscape construction, as a painter, and as a carpenter before coming to the Taunton Press, and during the three breaks he has taken from office life. On his current hiatus from full-time employment, Brian is designing and building what he hopes will be a pretty good house in northwest Connecticut.

Recent Articles

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  Building Matters

  Getting Started with Air-Sealing

  More building departments are beginning to require verified air-sealing. With a little information and planning, even builders new to blower-door tests can do much better than code. 

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  Product Guide

  Things to Consider When Choosing Insulation

  With implications on the building envelope, the environment, and installer and homeowner health, R-value is just the beginning

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  Building Matters

  Who’s Using Advanced Framing?

  Value engineered framing uses fewer resources, saves money, and creates more space for insulation. Here’s how some regular GBA contributors use these techniques.

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  Building Matters

  Thoughts for Owner-High-Performance Builders

  We live in an age when all the information you need to design and build a great home is at your fingertips. And still, the gaps between knowledge and experience are humbling. 

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  Building Matters

  Getting Mudsills Right

  For a great start to your framing, pay strict attention to the mudsill. Know the codes, mark and measure with accuracy, provide a capillary break, and plan for air-sealing.

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  Product Guide

  Water Leak Detectors

  Smart devices are more than a leak alarm, they can help you understand your water usage and diagnose plumbing problems  

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  Expert Exchange

  Getting to Zero on Every Front

  This Living Building Challenge–certified home has no conventional heating or cooling equipment, no municipal water supply or well, and no sewer or septic, and it makes more energy than it consumes.

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  Expert Exchange

  Why Zero Energy “Ready” Makes Sense 

  The Department of Energy’s program is about much more than energy efficiency 

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  Expert Exchange

  Is Zero Energy the Answer? 

  Experts share their thoughts on the role of net-zero-energy homes in a climate-friendly future for residential construction 

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  Building Science

  The Value and Limits of Manual J

  These basic energy models can teach us more about our plans than what heating and cooling loads to expect