Moisture Management
Moisture management in buildings requires detailed thinking about all the ways water moves through them. The most neglected of these is probably air leaks. The design and construction of the building enclosure determines how well the building performs in relation to water—and for how long. The whole team—from architect to structural and mechanical engineers to construction managers and subcontractors—should be educated about and held accountable for moisture risks.
Moisture Management
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Antimicrobial Chemicals in Buildings: Hygiene or Harm?
Feature Article
Carpets, door handles, and a myriad of other building products now contain pesticides targeting fungi and bacteria, offering potential benefit to the indoor environment, but also raising health concerns. This article asks whether antimicrobial products live up to their marketing claims and whether relying on them is a sound path to a hygienic environment.
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Treated Wood in Transition: Less Toxic Options in Preserved and Protected Wood
Feature Article
Following the recent phaseout of CCA, the dominant wood preservative of the last 30 years, the treated wood industry is in major transition. Some current wood treatment technologies present familiar environmental problems, while less-toxic alternatives are just entering the market.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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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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How Active Dehumidification Works
Explainer
Whether you choose a refrigerant-based or a desiccant-based system, dehumidifiers use energy and produce waste heat.
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How "Smart" Vapor Retarders Work
Explainer
Vapor retarders are supposed to keep our buildings dry, but they sometimes keep them wet instead. Enter the "smart" vapor retarder.
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Basics of the Psychrometric Chart
Explainer
In high-performance buildings, we have to manage energy and moisture with equal intensity. The psychrometric chart shows us how.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Silicone Air Barrier Offers Simple, Systematic Approach
Product Review
A whole-building air barrier system with a 15-year warranty is offered as a package from Dow Corning.
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Tests Verify Airtightness of Spray-Foam Alternatives
Product Review
With attention to installation quality, Knauf’s EcoSeal and Owens Corning’s EnergyComplete demonstrate that they can create air barriers and reduce use of SPF.
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Choosing the Right Hygrothermal Modeling Tool
Product Review
From the free hygIRC software to an expanding suite of WUFI applications, the hygrothermal modeling world has many options to offer.
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Score and Snap: Ventgrid12 Offers Easy-to-Install Rainscreen Sheet
Product Review
Ventgrid12 is an open-grid plastic panel providing a ventilation layer for rainscreens, subfloors, or roofs, with some installation advantages.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Mechanical—Not Natural—Drying Is a Must After a Flood
News Brief
Long-term research confirms that airing it out doesn’t cut the mustard (or the mold) after major moisture damage.
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EPA Primer on Moisture Control Filled With Strategies, Checklists
News Brief
A free resource outlines basic moisture-management practices for design, construction, and maintenance of both homes and commercial buildings.
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Can TimberSIL Manufacturer 'Make It Right'?
News Analysis
Timber Treatment Technologies and its innovative non-toxic treated decking product are in the news again-this time over durability and performance in post-Katrina homes.
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Heat-Pump Clothes Dryers Really Work, Study Confirms
News Analysis
The technology, prevalent in Europe, could be adapted for super-sized American laundry loads.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Going to School for Building Enclosure Commissioning
Blog Post
What I learned from a University of Wisconsin course called “Commissioning Building Enclosure Assemblies and Systems”
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Pete’s Puzzle: Fanciful Fuel
Blog Post
Where did the water and blue-green staining on this fireplace support column come from?
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The Energy Conservatory’s New Blower Door Kit
Blog Post
TEC did its homework: its new blower door package is a well-engineered and integrated equipment system
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Measuring (and Understanding) Humidity
Blog Post
Humidity sensor recommendations for building professionals and homeowners
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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Just For Fun
Something weird happens every April at BuildingGreen...
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