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Before you build: Arm yourself with these building-science basics to achieve a high-
performance home that is durable, efficient, and comfortable over its entire lifetime.
H
omes built today are generally twice as efficient as their exterior can offer one solution for a stick-frame house. Whole-
1980s counterparts. Improved window technology, wall systems that combine insulation and structure in one
more efficient heating and cooling equipment, better unit, such as structural insulated panels (SIPs) and insulated
control of air infiltration, and greater use of insulation are concrete forms (ICFs), are becoming a more common approach
helping decrease energy use in today’s homes. But building to providing a continuous layer of insulation, to reduce air
science—the physics of optimizing building performance and leakage and thermal bridging.
understanding why buildings fail—also plays a pivotal role. In addition to reducing conduction, insulation also plays
Building science encompasses the study of heat transfer, a role in keeping the wall assembly dry. For example, another
airflow, and moisture movement through building enclosures; benefit to wrapping the exterior walls with rigid board
and how those factors affect the building’s performance, insulation is that if (or more likely, when) a small amount of
durability, comfort, and air quality. It predicts and measures moisture enters a warmed stud cavity, it would not come into
the relationship people have to the controlled environment contact with any cold surfaces and condense.
of buildings. Building science encompasses home design,
construction, diagnostics, repair, and operation—all pitching
in to make better buildings.
materials like
structural insulated
panels (SIPs, left)
and insulated
The Three Basics
concrete forms (ICFs, Understanding the science of energy movement can
below) can prevent help designers and builders predict how heat, air, and
transmission of heat, moisture will travel through the building envelope.
air, and moisture. Proper planning and detailing within these rules can
reduce building failures and help improve a home’s
energy performance, comfort, and durability.
Heat Flow
• Heat is energy produced with the motion of
molecules.
Airflow
• Air flows from higher to lower pressure.
• Heated air moves moisture.
• The amount of air in equals that of air out.
Moisture Movement
• Moisture flows from warm to cold within the same
medium.
• Moisture flows from more to less.
Addressing Airflow • Things always get wet and must be allowed to dry.
What insulation does not do is stop air leakage into and • Air pressure induces flow of moisture-laden air.
out of a building. Although caulk, gaskets, and weather-
stripping will reduce unwanted air leakage, understanding
how air (heated and/or moisture laden) moves through wall
assemblies will help you develop a more systemic approach sealing penetrations made in the framing or structure. Never
to cut leakage. assume that the electricians and plumbers are thinking about
Use a three-pronged approach to gain control over the reducing the air leakage, so be diligent about sealing these
movement of air in and out of your home: leaks. Notorious air leak areas occur around electrical outlets,
recessed light fixtures, and anywhere dissimilar materials
Seal the leaks (both the obvious and not so obvious). come together—a window frame and wall, for instance, or
During construction, no one typically is responsible for where concrete meets wood.
High
Cold Air Pressure
Infiltration
Warm Air Rises
Low
Low Pressure
Warm Air Pressure
Exfiltration
High Low Cold Air Cold Air
Pressure Pressure Infiltration Infiltration
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building science
Air Leakage & Moisture
Ceiling Joist
Rim Joist
Caulked, glued,
Floor Joist or gasketed to
subfloor & sill plate
Sill Plate: Sill Plate: Sill Plate: Sill Plate:
Installed over Installed over Installed over Installed over
sill gasket sill gasket sill gasket sill gasket
Recommended for Very Cold
Climates Only: No air conditioning Source: Builder’s Guide to Cold Climates by Joseph Lstiburek
Total 20.00
Source: Adapted from www.coloradoenergy.org/
procorner/stuff/r-values.htm
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building science
including polyethylene, foil, rigid-foam insulation, and even
vapor-retarding paint. When to use vapor barriers/retarders
depends on a variety of climate and site factors. In general,
vapor retarders are most commonly used and are most
effective in the more extreme hot and cold climates, where
the differences between indoor and outdoor temperatures are
large and humidity is great. In cold climates, installing vapor
control to the inside allows moisture to dry to the outside.
In hot-humid climates, installing vapor control toward the
outside of the wall assembly allows moisture to dry to the
inside.
In climates where you get a bit of both seasonally or if
you live in a “mixed” climate, design the wall to dry to both
sides. One common approach is called the “flow-through”
method, which allows water vapor to diffuse through the wall
assembly without accumulating. (See Access.)
Mechanical Ventilation • Know how many cfm of air you need to move (see
Exhaust-only or spot ventilation systems are strategically ASHRAE recommendation in the “Ventilation” sidebar);
placed exhaust fans that remove moist and polluted air. • Avoid overventilating in the winter, which can increase
The fresh air either comes from open doors or windows heating needs and bills; and underventilating in the
or random leaks unless you have a tight house, where summer, which can cause rooms to be stuffy and
vents that passively open with negative air pressure can uncomfortable;
provide the needed fresh air. • Provide ventilation only when the building is occupied.
Supply systems use forced-air heating or air-conditioning
systems to supply fresh outdoor air through existing Occupants want their homes to be comfortable and
ductwork. These systems involve control mechanisms, healthy, and not enslave them to high heating and cooling
and do not necessarily reduce energy consumption.
costs. Our household environment should not have to suffer
Diligent use of exhaust fans is still needed.
for poor planning, dysfunctional designs, and a short-sighted
Balanced systems capture the heat from exhaust air approach to home building. By understanding the basics
to condition the supply air, capturing the majority of of how our homes operate and why they fail, we can
otherwise lost energy.
move beyond “green building” and make superior building
The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and performance standard practice.
Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends that
mechanical ventilation be no less than 50 cubic feet
Access
per minute (cfm) with 50 to 100 cfm requirements for
Rachel Connor (rachel@solarenergy.org) teaches, coordinates, and
kitchens and bathrooms.
develops sustainable building curricula for the online and hands-on
programs at Solar Energy International (SEI • www.solarenergy.org).
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