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.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Continuous Insulation Rainscreen System from Knight Wall Systems
Product Review
Knight Wall Systems' CI-Girt offers an all-in-one rainscreen and continuous insulation system that simplifies installation and can accommodate a number of cladding options.
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Spray-Applied Latex: A New Tool for Air-Sealing
Product Review
Owens Corning's EnergyComplete and Knauf's EcoSeal are a new breed of spray-applied synthetic latex sealants for use in place of caulk or SPF.
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High-Performance Exterior Doors: Raising the Bar
Product Review
Most green building standards go easy on exterior doors, but a few companies are offering high-performing products.
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HydroGap Drainable Housewrap Doubles as Air Barrier
Product Review
HydroGap housewrap creates a free-draining air space without fussy rainscreen detailing-and serves as an air and weather barrier too.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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DOE Launches Website for Affordable, High-Efficiency Windows
News Analysis
A new DOE program tries to encourage more price competition on high-efficiency windows, but the purchasing program is anything but streamlined.
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Energy Efficiency of Bank of America Tower Depends on the Metric You Choose
News Analysis
If there is one thing the office tower and trading center at One Bryant Park teaches us it is that energy metrics are complicated, and no one number can tell the full story.
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EPA Takes Action on Spray-Foam Health Risks
News Analysis
EPA takes another look at spray foam after increasing consumer health complaints. The action plan leaves open questions about how far EPA will go to clamp down on these products, but it's safe to think of this as a shot across the bow from EPA for the SPF industry.
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Key Energy Data Hit Hard by Federal Budget Cuts
News Analysis
Followers of the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) have been rocked by two recent announcements about the state of the survey, a program of the Energy Information Administration (EIA) at the Department of Energy. The 2007 survey has been abandoned, and the 2011 survey is in question.
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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