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.
- Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters.
- Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop.
- You can require or exclude terms using + and -: big +blue drop will require a match on blue while big blue -drop will exclude results that contain drop.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
- Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters.
- Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop.
- You can require or exclude terms using + and -: big +blue drop will require a match on blue while big blue -drop will exclude results that contain drop.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
-
Passive House Windows and Doors Continue to Wow
Product Review
Exciting new doors and windows featuring cork, composites, and low U-factors have come to U.S. markets.
-
Faade Retrofit Puts An Efficient New Face on Old Buildings
Product Review
Schüco's ERC 50 Modernization Façade is a modular retrofit system that improves the looks and thermal performance of a building with minimal occupant disruption.
-
Underfloor Air: Rising Above a Checkered Past
Product Review
With attention to building science, UFAD may offer greater comfort and better energy performance than other systems.
-
Membrane or Metal? Choices in Low-Slope Roofing
Product Review
Despite some toxicity concerns, metal roofing's high durability can reduce its overall life-cycle impact.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
-
ASHRAE Drafts Energy Standard for Data Centers
News Brief
-
Feds Forecast Steady Drop in Building Energy Use
News Analysis
Efficiency could lead to almost-flat energy demand through 2040 despite new construction-but there's some fine print.
-
Active House: The Most Passive-Aggressive Name in Homebuilding?
News Analysis
Developed by glazing manufacturers, the Active House program emphasizes daylighting along with energy efficiency.
-
Sefaira Plug-In Integrates Energy Analysis Directly into SketchUp
News Brief
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
- Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters.
- Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop.
- You can require or exclude terms using + and -: big +blue drop will require a match on blue while big blue -drop will exclude results that contain drop.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
- Check if your spelling is correct, or try removing filters.
- Remove quotes around phrases to match each word individually: "blue drop" will match less than blue drop.
- You can require or exclude terms using + and -: big +blue drop will require a match on blue while big blue -drop will exclude results that contain drop.