Building Science
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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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Go with the Flows: The Promise and Peril of Hygrothermal Modeling
Feature Article
Tools modeling heat and moisture flows in building envelopes, such as WUFI, offer vital information for architects and engineers-but their misuse can do harm.
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Innovative Products and Technology from the Greenbuild Expo
Feature Article
Our product editors pick some winners from the expo floor at Greenbuild 2013 while raising questions about some materials.
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Designing for the Next Century's Weather
Feature Article
How do you create a climate-responsive building in a changing climate? Brand new modeling techniques are helping us figure it out.
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Whole-Building Life-Cycle Assessment: Taking the Measure of a Green Building
Feature Article
Why we will never understand the true impact of our buildings—and how we should try to anyway
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Radon Risks and Prevention
Explainer
Radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., can get into our homes and bodies without us knowing it-and its presence doesn't depend on geology or locale.
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How Smart Windows Work
Explainer
Smart windows have a lot of energy-saving potential, but can they really pass the test in the marketplace?
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What Is Building Science, Anyway?
Explainer
Building science is an integrated discipline that stands many conventional design and construction ideas on their heads.
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Sharing the Skyline with Birds
Explainer
Buildings are major killers of birds, but thoughtful design can help.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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A New Halogen-Free Polyiso Insulation from GAF
Product Review
GAF now offers a full line of polyisocyanurate foam insulation that is free of toxic halogenated flame retardants.
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Heat-Pump Energy Recovery Ventilation Gets an Update
Product Review
Build Equinox and Minotair Ventilation Inc. (MVI) have updated their heat-pump-based energy recovery ventilation systems, providing better control of humidity, heating, and cooling in a smaller footprint.
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Modular, Onsite Graywater System
Product Review
Grayworks is a modular, plug-and-play commercial graywater treatment system that simplifies installation and maintenance.
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Do Living Walls Make for Cleaner Indoor Air?
Product Review
Nedlaw Living Wall Biofilters do more than most green walls to remove VOCs, but it’s unclear that they provide a true fresh air supply.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Land Use Is Step One for Decarbonizing Transportation
News Brief
Four federal agencies have released a first-of-its-kind, holistic strategy for the decarbonization of the U.S. transportation sector.
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Biden Calls for Electrification to Decarbonize Federal Buildings
News Brief
Electrification is the path forward for both existing federal buildings, through a new building performance standard, and new construction.
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Make a Net-Zero Climate Commitment that Matters
News Brief
If it doesn’t set science-based interim emission targets, it’s greenwash, says the United Nations.
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“Tree Equity” Fund Brings Green to Urban Streetscapes
News Brief
Access to green, tree-lined space is unequal. A new $10 million fund has been created to help low-income neighborhoods tap into federal funding.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Sustainable Sealants: The Challenges of Predicting Service Life
Blog Post
Caulk joint sealants can be a major deciding factor in how long your building envelope lasts. Is there a better way to predict how long the sealants last?
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Stickiness Explained! Making Building Tapes and Membranes Stay Put
Blog Post
When you use tape to seal a seam or flash a sill, you need peel-and-stick performance—not “stick-and-peel.”
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How to Choose a Sealant That Works
Blog Post
Any sealant can perform well in the right application, but knowing which to pick for your job is another thing. Our guide to sealants and how to use them.
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Breaking the Bonds of Bad Sealant Jobs
Blog Post
Seals at window openings and other penetrations need to be done right the first time. Are your seals failing because of the most common application error—forgetting the bond break?
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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