Building Envelope
The building envelope, or building enclosure, protects us and the building interior from the elements and enables occupant comfort. The building envelope includes the cladding, air barrier, weather barrier, thermal insulation, and other components.
Building Envelope
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Choosing Windows: Looking Through the Options
Feature Article
We ask a lot from windows: energy efficiency, aesthetics, durability, affordability, and more. Which window frame materials and low-e glazing options balance these choices best? This article explores all the options and decodes the performance labels we see when buying windows.
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Re-Framing Sustainability: Green Structural Engineering
Feature Article
Want to design the greenest building possible? Get a handle on the best structural options available to you, and invite a creative structural engineer to join your team.
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Making Windows Work Better
Feature Article
How to choose curtains, solar screens, awnings, and storm windows? The options are dizzying, but the right choice can cut energy bills.
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Better Choices in Low-Slope Roofing
Feature Article
There are big differences in environmental impacts of commercial roofing materials, but the biggest variable may be service life.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Sharing the Skyline with Birds
Explainer
Buildings are major killers of birds, but thoughtful design can help.
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Three Sources of Air-Pressure Problems in Buildings
Explainer
Air movement in and through buildings caused by pressure differentials has important effects on performance and safety.
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Building Enclosure Commissioning: Ensuring Durable and Energy-Efficient Buildings
Explainer
The building envelope is crucial for all other building systems. How can we use commissioning to make sure it performs?
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Glazing Performance Metrics
Explainer
A few key metrics are important for understanding the thermal performance of glazing units used in curtainwalls and windows.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Retrofitting Exterior Foam on Existing Walls
Product Review
The R-etro System from Quad-Lock makes installing exterior foam for deep-energy retrofits easier and less expensive.
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Invelope: A Breakthrough in Exterior Commercial Wall Assemblies?
Product Review
Invelope is a steel and foam panel that serves as a moisture and vapor barrier, drainage plane, and insulation while also providing a mounting system for brick veneer or terra-cotta cladding.
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Mineral Wool Residential and Commercial Insulation
Product Review
Mineral wool insulation offers a good alternative to foam-based insulation, with fewer hazardous chemicals.
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Revolving Doors: A New Spin on an Old Technology
Product Review
Revolving doors maintain a door seal at all times while using limited building space, which minimizes loss of conditioned air and saves energy.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Pushing Weatherization, Feds Look the Other Way on Radon
News Analysis
When using federal dollars to button up, low-income homeowners don't get additional funding for radon mitigation. What happens next? The government isn't telling.
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Passive House Standards to Add Net-Zero-Energy Options
News Analysis
New categories of certification under the Passive House standards will recognize buildings that offset energy use with onsite renewables.
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Move Over, Foam: Sub-Slab Mineral Wool Is Here
News Analysis
Roxul is now promoting its rigid mineral wool for sub-slab applications, offering an alternative to extruded polystyrene (XPS).
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Polyiso Manufacturers Turn Blind Eye to Problems at Cold Temperatures
News Analysis
R-values that fluctuate with temperature can be a serious problem with polyiso in some climates. New design guidance could help.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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