After earning a BS in engineering, Michael Maines worked as a carpenter, building designer and project manager at various companies and on his own for twenty years, usually following a design/build model. He now designs and consults on high performance, low-carbon homes and renovations through his company Michael Maines Residential Design. He writes the Building Matters column as contributing editor for Fine Homebuilding magazine and the Building Science 101 column for Green & Healthy Maine Homes magazine.