Building Science
Parent
Building Science
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Passive Solar Heating
Feature
Using the sun for most of a building's heating needs is in the DNA of green building. But in an age of superinsulation, does it still make sense?
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The Hidden Science of High-Performance Building Assemblies
Feature
Any four walls and a roof make an enclosure, but for efficiency, comfort, and durability, those elements have to be meticulously designed and installed.
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Waste Water, Want Water
Feature
Options for small-scale, onsite wastewater treatment and reuse are improving-but can we solve a global crisis one building at a time?
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Energy Modeling: Early and Often
Feature
For the biggest energy and cost savings, model early in design and model often, say the experts.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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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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Buffering Humidity with Interior Finishes
Explainer
The relative humidity of indoor air often fluctuates. Interior finishes can help moderate those changes, improving comfort and IAQ as well as saving energy.
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Choosing Between an ERV and an HRV
Explainer
Don't get fooled into buying a more expensive and complex system if what you really need is a dehumidifier.
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Putting a “LID” on Harmful Stormwater Runoff
Explainer
Low-impact development (LID) minimizes pavement and maximizes rainwater infiltration, filtering out pollution and preventing erosion.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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ThermaRock Brings Advanced Insulation to Wallboard
Product Review
Aerogel gives ThermaRock wallboard a high insulation value of R-2.5 to R-4.1, but the product comes with a hefty pricetag.
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Knauf Introduces Ecose Biobased Binder
Product Review
Knauf's EcoBatt insulation uses a new biobased binder with no added formaldehyde, although it has not revealed the proprietary ingredients.
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Matrix Total Home System Offers All-in-One Efficiency
Product Review
The Matrix Total Home System from NTI is an energy-efficient mechanical system that includes forced-air and hydronic heating as well as energy recovery and ventilation in one space-efficient unit.
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Hypewatch: Energy Savings Claims from Power Conditioning Equipment
Product Review
Power conditioning devices often promise across-the-board energy savings, but the claims don't hold up in practice. These devices are good, however, for solving specific power quality problems.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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EPA WaterSense Label Enters Commercial Building Market
News Analysis
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SAGE Electrochromics to Scale Up With $72 Million DOE Loan Guarantee
News Analysis
The makers of SageGlass electrochromic glazing will expand production with the help of a $72 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy.
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Clearing the Way for Water Savings in Plumbing Codes
News Analysis
A new green supplement to the Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Codes will enable more creative water-savings strategies while allowing jurisdictions to regulate their safety.
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New Standard Showcases Efficiency of VRF Multi-Splits
News Analysis
The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) recently created a standard that evaluates the efficiency of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) multi-split heating and cooling systems. AHRI 1230 allows a comparison between VRF multi-splits and unitary HVAC systems that was not possible previously.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Wingnut Real-World Testing of Basement Waterproofing
Blog Post
A basement testing of UGL Drylok Extreme, Koster NB1 Grey, Xypex Concentrate negative-side waterproofing
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R-10 Vacuum-Insulated Glazing
Blog Post
The technological challenges for high performance, vacuum-insulated glazing may have finally been surpassed, but the results are still under wraps.
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Sign This Letter on Equipment Needs for Building Electrification
Blog Post
We need to eliminate toxic fossil fuels from our buildings. This joint letter to HVAC equipment manufacturers asks them to address the gaps in the equipment that’s currently available.
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7 Tips to Get More from Mini-Split Heat Pumps in Colder Climates
Blog Post
Air-to-air heat pumps are getting more popular as a primary heat source in colder climates. Here’s how to get the most from your system.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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Just For Fun
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