Just about every week, I get a call or an email that turns into a building science puzzle. While the problems are varied, how you solve them doesn’t change. First, you understand how heat and moisture move through building assemblies. Second, you follow the advice of your spouse.
The easiest way to get a building science puzzle wrong is to “solve” it without all the pieces. Take your time and listen to my wife—just like I do.
The concept of the net zero energy (NZE) is a mature one, with established technology providing a clear path, especially for low- and mid-rise buildings.
A few years ago, the chances that a new building project would pursue net-zero-energy (NZE) use were pretty slim. But in the last year or so, the concept of NZE has rapidly matured, and more and more projects are using it as a goal. So, what made this possible? And should you be considering NZE for your next project?
The WELL Building Standard has stringent transparency and health criteria for products and materials. Here’s how to find what you’ll need for certification.
As a standard that seeks to promote occupant health, WELL requires project teams to use clean and green products to get with the program.
Test your knowledge of insulation, building assemblies, toxic chemicals, radiant barriers, and insulation alternatives.
Think you know everything there is to know about green, high-performance insulation products and practices? Let’s find out! The answer key—and articles to learn more—are at the bottom of the page.
1) BuildingGreen doesn’t recommend radiant barrier products. Why not?
We took the best PSA tapes from our last round of testing and worked them over on rough OSB and window flanges. One tape worked no matter what.
Flashing tapes are critical to many if not most wall assemblies that are currently being built. Therefore the durability of these pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tapes is critical to the durability of those assemblies. So it may come as a surprise that no one really knows how long they last.
Biomimicry experts explore resilient design from environmental, social, and economic perspectives.
You and your boss don’t really collaborate. Neither do you and your employee, or you and your supplier.
You might work collaboratively, but ultimately one of you has power and authority over the other. Real, substantive collaboration—getting people to cooperate without power and authority—takes a lot of work, and so you only want to collaborate on challenges that need it.
Insider, eyes-only info on the AIA Top Ten is enclosed. A retinal scan will initiate, using your computer’s built-in camera. Do not look away.
Brief provided by Agent Malin. Code name: El Presidente.
BuildingGreen’s building science expert shares reflections, hopes, and—as always—practical building advice after receiving two national teaching awards.
By Candace Pearson
Peter Yost lives and breathes by the motto “There’s no hygrothermal free lunch” (a phrase borrowed from his friend and mentor Joe Lstiburek). Any student of Peter has that phrase as fundamentally entrenched in their brain as ’I’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’.
Hygro refers to water, and thermal refers to heat. In buildings, you really can’t manage heat without also managing moisture. For example, if you increase how much insulation is in a wall, you may also be increasing the risk of moisture and mold problems.
There are four ways that buildings can get wet:
Looking for the greenest updates at Convention this year? Here is our quick roundup.
A new round of online BAC Sustainable Design courses is starting up soon. Going out in the polar vortex is not a prerequisite.
Want help researching and screening products for LEED v4 or the LBC Red List? Use this forum to share your questions and frustrations as well as your successes and advice.
Maybe, if enough of us March, and plan, and make smart choices, we’ll have a chance at beating this thing.
