# building science (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 2 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover building science. Page: Feed: --- ## [People Have the Power — How Volunteers Pushed Government into the 21st Century](https://www.zagaja.com/2026/06/civic-tech-volunteers/) _2026-06-24 · {"twitter" =\> "mzagaja"} · Zagaja.com_ On Tuesday nights, in a room we didn’t pay for, I watched a dozen people give away the most valuable thing they had. They were software engineers, data scientists and one patient designer. Most of them had day jobs that paid them well to build software for companies that already had everything. Then they came here, after work, to build software for their community. ## [The Revolution Starts Now — Reflections on Civic Tech’s Early Days](https://www.zagaja.com/2026/05/the-revolution-starts-now/) _2026-05-11 · {"twitter" =\> "mzagaja"} · Zagaja.com_ I am barely a footnote in the movement you might call Civic Tech. While folks like Mikey Dickerson were rescuing Healthcare.gov in 2013 I was running a mayoral race in New Haven, Connecticut. After my candidate dropped out of the race I did not get a job fixing Obamacare, I ended up enrolling in it. Unemployed, with more swagger than skills, I walked into the offices of SeeClickFix on Chapel St… ## [Renovating a 1950s House: Project Introduction](https://www.afirsttimehomebuilder.com/renovation/introduction/) _2025-12-31 · A First-Time Homebuilder_ Welcome to My Renovation Journey I'm documenting my journey renovating a 1950s house from the ground up, applying modern building science principles. Whether you're planning a similar renovation or just curious about building science in practice, this series will show you the real-world challenges, solutions, and costs involved in upgrading a post-war home. The House This 1950s home… ## [Renovation Cost Tracking](https://www.afirsttimehomebuilder.com/renovation/cost-tracking/) _2025-12-31 · A First-Time Homebuilder_ Cost Tracking Dashboard One of the most important aspects of any renovation is understanding where the money goes. Below is a real-time view of project costs broken down by category. Total Project Cost Actual Paid: $0 Quoted (Pending): $0 Total Committed: $0 $0 Planned Budget: $100,000 $100,000 remaining Updated: December 2025 Planning & Design $0 Structural engineering $5,000 Demolition $0 Brick… ## [Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses Review](https://www.zagaja.com/2025/05/ray-ban-meta-ai-glasses-review/) _2025-05-24 · {"twitter" =\> "mzagaja"} · Zagaja.com_ A couple weeks ago I donned my Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses and glimpsed the future. Heavier and bulkier than my typical Warby Parker spectacles, but able to pass for typical Wayfarer sunglasses. They are imperfect, but they are the first pair of smart glasses worth owning. ## [Air and Vapor Barriers for Beginners](https://www.afirsttimehomebuilder.com/blog/air-and-vapor-barriers/) _2025-04-01 · A First-Time Homebuilder_ Understanding Air and Vapor Barriers Source: Air Barriers vs Vapor Barriers | You NEED To Know The Difference Air Barriers Keep outside air from leaking into your home. Help prevent warm, humid air from meeting cooler surfaces indoors (which can lead to condensation). Vapor Barriers Slow down the movement of moisture through materials. Limit how much water vapor passes through walls. Why It… ## [Choosing the right stainless steel](https://www.afirsttimehomebuilder.com/blog/stainless-steel/) _2025-01-24 · A First-Time Homebuilder_ Source: Building a Shed When building a shed, selecting the right materials is crucial for ensuring its durability and longevity. One important material to consider is stainless steel, which is known for its corrosion resistance and strength. However, not all stainless steel is the same; different types offer varying levels of corrosion resistance. When using stainless steel, we need to consider… ## [Daylight Calculator](https://www.afirsttimehomebuilder.com/blog/daylight-calculator/) _2024-11-16 · A First-Time Homebuilder_ Exploring Daylight in Your Home Understanding how daylight interacts with a space when designing a home is crucial for comfort and energy efficiency. One powerful tool to help with this is the Daylight Box Web . What is the Daylight Box Web? The Daylight Box Web is a Software that allows you to explore how light enters and moves through a room. By loading weather data (.epw files), you can run… ## [Visualization of Climate Data](https://www.afirsttimehomebuilder.com/blog/climate-visualize/) _2024-11-11 · A First-Time Homebuilder_ Table of Contents Introduction Tools for Climate Data Visualization CBE Clima Tool Climate Consultant Conclusion Introduction Climate data for locations around the world can be found on sources such as Ladybug - EPWmap . These data points are crucial for the home design process, helping to ensure comfort and energy efficiency. Tools for Climate Data Visualization Several tools can visualize this… ## [Lessons from a Second Trump Victory](https://www.zagaja.com/2024/11/lessons-second-trump-victory/) _2024-11-09 · {"twitter" =\> "mzagaja"} · Zagaja.com_ “I feel like I am walking on eggshells.” ## [Stream Torrents & IPTV Instantly (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/6QJwnasndTLz) _2024-11-08 · **Sponsored**_ Search magnet links and stream movies, music, books, and live TV in-browser ## [Yubikey is the Digital Seat Belt We Need Today](https://www.zagaja.com/2024/09/yubikey-digital-seatbelt/) _2024-09-02 · {"twitter" =\> "mzagaja"} · Zagaja.com_ Another day another breach. Yesterday I got a notice in my mailbox that Ticketmaster was compromised and my data was once again in the hands of hackers. Like you I have grown numb to these notices. The private sector is content to lull us into complacency when it comes to security. They tell us buying mediocre solutions like Crowdstrike are the answer while ignoring hardware security keys that can… ## [What Does a Septic System Cost?](https://www.afirsttimehomebuilder.com/blog/septic-cost/) _2024-08-23 · A First-Time Homebuilder_ When planning for a septic system in the Inverness Area of Cape Breton, I received quotes for various systems. Here are the details: C2 System Quoted Cost: $18,700 Issues Discovered After conducting a soil test, we found that the C2 system was not suitable due to: Poor soil quality Insufficient slope As a result, the engineer recommended an alternative system. Peat Moss System Quoted Cost: $43,000…