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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Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Using Fly Ash in Concrete
Explainer
Fly ash lowers the environmental footprint of concrete and improves durability. Pouring and curing concrete with high levels of fly ash requires special treatment.
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Vapor Retarders and Air Barriers: Managing Moisture in Building Envelopes
Explainer
Air barriers, which prevent air leakage, and vapor retarders, which control moisture diffusion, are both important for controlling moisture in a building envelope.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Smaller Copper Particles, Smaller Environmental Impact for Treated Wood
Product Review
With its MicroPro treated wood, Osmose is one of several companies making innovations in copper preservative techniques. MicroPro's use of tiny copper particles offers environmental benefits when compared with conventional copper treatment.
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TerraClad Rainscreen Cladding
Product Review
Boston Valley uses high-efficiency kilns to make this handsome recycled-content terra cotta rainscreen.
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Green E-Board Building Panels
Product Review
With the durability of cement backerboards but with a carbon footprint closer to gypsum, Green E-Board panels are an intriguing new drywall option.
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New Admixture Solves Concrete's Weaknesses
Product Review
A new concrete admixture, Hycrete, could come to replace a variety of waterproofing and corrosion-proofing membranes and coatings applied to concrete.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Greece Considers Demolishing Olympic Venues
News Brief
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Two Books on Mold and Indoor Air
News Brief
Two new books, "Carpet Monsters and Killer Spores: A Natural History of Toxic Mold," by Nicholas P. Money, and "My Office is Killing Me!: The Sick Building Survival Guide," by Jeffrey C. May, offer a critical understanding of a range of issues relating to mold and indoor air quality in general.
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Making Better Concrete: Guidelines to Using Fly Ash for Higher Quality, Eco-Friendly Structures
News Brief
This guide, by Bruce King, Ph.D., covers all the basics of specifying and working with flyash concrete.
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ICC Offers Floodplain Inspector Certification
News Brief
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Adhesives and Sealants: Performance First, but Materials Matter
Blog Post
Exterior adhesives and sealants are formulated for performance, but some contain chemicals that pose risks to unprotected workers or the environment.
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Sealing Without Stickum: Gaskets Make a Place for Themselves
Blog Post
Compressible gaskets keep air and water barriers continuous without liquid sealants or adhesive tapes. But they don’t all last equally well.
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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.”
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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