OVERVIEW
The building envelope protects us from the elements, enables comfort, and ultimately allows us to be at home in our houses, to be productive at the office, to learn in school, or to heal in the hospital.
A building envelope—also commonly called a "building enclosure," should:
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support comfort
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manage moisture
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not poison us or the planet
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allow us to breathe clean air
When possible, it should do all this while using resources effectively—durably, energy-efficiently, and with low embodied impacts.
Here you’ll find strategies for envelope design and material selection that help balance all these demands and more.
IN-DEPTH
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The Search for Better Insulation Continues
April 4, 2016News Analysis
We can all celebrate 25 years of improvements to insulation, but we still have a wish list of seven better products we’d like to see.
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The Secret Math Behind RMI’s New Headquarters
April 4, 2016Feature Short
Designing for net-zero energy and carbon in the nation’s coldest climate is not just a physics problem. There’s also the chemistry.
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The 12 Product Rules
March 3, 2016Infographic
These 12 product rules provide a simple approach to selecting better, healthier, and more environmentally responsible building products and materials.
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Greenest of the Green Energy-Saving Products from Greenbuild
January 4, 2016Product Review
The Greenbuild 2015 expo featured some exciting innovations, including a DC-powered “net-zero energy zone.”
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Styrofoam’s Chemistry Becoming Less Hazardous, Gradually
August 3, 2015News Analysis
The world’s leading manufacturer of extruded polystyrene will phase out a toxic flame retardant around 2017 and problematic blowing agents by 2020.
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Polyiso Impacts Are High, but Performance May Make Up for Them
April 21, 2015News Analysis
An EPD for polyisocyanurate insulation shows large embodied impacts while suggesting R-value cancels some of them out.
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A New, Cost-Effective Take on Vacuum Insulation
April 6, 2015News Brief
“Modified atmosphere insulation” technology may be able to rival the performance of vacuum insulation panels at a more affordable price.
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Will Aggressive Performance Goals Fit Under Google’s Glass Tent?
March 23, 2015News Analysis
The design of Google’s green headquarters hinges on new technologies, like a “glass fabric” enclosure.
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Polyiso Manufacturers Turn Blind Eye to Problems at Cold Temperatures
December 1, 2014News Analysis
R-values that fluctuate with temperature can be a serious problem with polyiso in some climates. New design guidance could help.
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Move Over, Foam: Sub-Slab Mineral Wool Is Here
October 15, 2014News Analysis
Roxul is now promoting its rigid mineral wool for sub-slab applications, offering an alternative to extruded polystyrene (XPS).
