Category: Modern Homes

At Clarum, we believe “home” is a place where you should feel at ease. Comfort and health are important factors in that equation, and to achieve them, you need ventilation and filtration systems that are up to the task. When a builder fails to plan for these systems properly, the results can include poor air quality, discomfort and ultimately, poor health as well. That’s why choosing the right filter is so important. To ensure that the air you breathe in your modern home is fresh, comfortable and healthy, it’s vital to select the right level of air filtration for your needs. Indoor...


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Last week, we talked about the benefits of airtightness in modern home design. Airtight construction is one of the most powerful strategies in passive design, resulting in a custom home that maintains a comfortable environment while consuming very little energy. The airtight trend is a profound improvement from conventional techniques, but as we pointed out last week, it also brings with it the need for whole-house ventilation. Which begs the question, “Are airtight homes stuffy?” We’d like to set the record straight: proper design and construction results in airtight homes that aren’t...


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Home-building technology has come a long way over the last several decades. One of the biggest improvements introduced during this time is total envelope airtightness. It’s not a new idea; for as long as humans have been building homes, we’ve been trying to reduce drafts. But until recently we didn’t yet have the technology needed to make this a complete reality. Fortunately, some of the emerging technologies in airtight construction have helped to make modern homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Not only are these high performance homes more comfortable, they also...


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When it comes to modern home construction, you have an incredible array of options for bringing high-performance (and high efficiency) to your project – making your custom home healthier, smarter for the environment, and a great long term investment. One such option is related to your water heater. Did you know that (according to Energy Star) about 15% of the energy consumed in a modern home goes to heating water? It’s true! Most of that hot water (37%) gets used in the shower. Your clothes washing machine is the second-biggest guzzler (26%), followed by the dishwasher, bath and sink....


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Spend any time in the home-building world, and you’ll run into the term “R-value” sooner or later. Most people know that R-value has to do with home insulation. But what does it mean? And what does it take to translate “R-value” into things that really matter: comfort, energy efficiency, a smaller carbon footprint? At Clarum Homes, it’s important to think about R-value when choosing materials for your high-performance home – but that’s not all there is to it. What’s more important than R-value? To find out, read on! What Does "R-Value" Mean? The "R" in R-value is for resistance....


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When we talk about thermal mass in the modern building movement, we’re referring to heavy building materials whose slow pace of temperature change makes them capable of storing immense amounts of energy. These sustainable building materials can play a remarkable role in your modern home: regulating indoor temperature, lowering your heating/cooling bill and enhancing your comfort. At Clarum, we consider thermal mass a powerful passive strategy to achieve superior, eco-friendly comfort. What is Thermal Mass, Scientifically? Technically, “thermal mass” describes how much energy (in joules)...


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Over the last 20 years, Clarum has been a pioneer for eco-friendly home design in the green building movement. Through that time we’ve worked with multiple industry standards that define what it means to be green in the modern home: LEED, Passive-certified, Passive-inspired, CalGreen, GreenGuard. Today, we've compiled our favorite products and systems for the coming year into one list - keep reading to see our selection of top 10 green products for modern home construction! Green Products for Modern Home Construction 1. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS) A best practice for insulation...


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