Building Envelope

Photo by Andreas Lechtape, courtesy NBK Architectural Terracotta

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.

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  • The Secret Math Behind RMI’s New Headquarters

    Feature Short

    Designing for net-zero energy and carbon in the nation’s coldest climate is not just a physics problem. There’s also the chemistry.

  • How Six Affordable Housing Projects Got to Green

    Feature Short

    Stories of designers and developers who overcame the challenges of building affordable housing that is also green, sustainable, and healthy.

  • Passive Survivability: A New Design Criterion for Buildings

    Feature Article

    Buildings and their occupants are vulnerable to threats ranging from storms and rising sea levels to accidents and terrorism. In this feature article, EBN describes how to design and construct buildings to maintain livable conditions in the event of extended power outages or loss of heating fuel or water.

  • The Challenge of Existing Homes: Retrofitting for Dramatic Energy Savings

    Feature Article

    Greenhouse gas emissions associated with residential energy use account for a fifth of all emissions in the U.S. Retrofitting existing houses to achieve a two- to three-fold reduction in energy use is necessary if we are to achieve the emissions reductions scientists say are required for avoiding catastrophic climate change. Here's a look at how it can be done.

Quick Takes

Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.

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  • The 12 Product Rules

    Infographic

    These 12 product rules provide a simple approach to selecting better, healthier, and more environmentally responsible building products and materials.

  • Insulated Concrete Forms

    Explainer

    Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) are permanent forms for poured-concrete walls.

  • 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.

  • Foam-in-Place Polyurethane Insulation

    Explainer

    Sprayed polyurethane foam offers several advantages over other forms of insulation, including R-value and airtightness. Installation, R-value, and ozone safety vary with the type of foam used.

Product Guidance

Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.

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  • Blanket and Batt Insulation

    Product Guide

    Batts and aerogel blankets with high recycled content, reduced air-quality concerns, or superior performance

  • Blown Insulation

    Product Guide

    Blown-in products with high recycled content, superior energy performance, and low-toxicity ingredients

  • Board Insulation

    Product Guide

    These insulation products and thermal breaks provide superior thermal performance and avoid common chemical hazards.

  • Tinting on Demand with SageGlass

    Product Review

    Glazing from Sage Electrochromics, Inc., allows users to change its visible light and total solar transmittance properties with the push of a button.

In The News

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Perspective

Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.

Learning Resources

Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.

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  • The BuildingGreen Guide to Thermal Insulation

    Special Report

    The BuildingGreen Guide to Thermal Insulation, Fourth Edition, provides detailed guidance on insulation products and practices, including environmental and health comparisons, and recommendations on what insulation to use and what to avoid.

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