For decades, the vented crawl space has been a staple of residential construction across the United States. Builders cut foundation vents into perimeter walls, install a dirt or gravel floor, and assume that outdoor air moving through the space will keep it dry. Building science research tells a very different story. In humid climates especially, […]
The world of high-performance building design has entered a new era with climate-specific certification standards. Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) has implemented revised guidelines that tie building performance requirements directly to local climate conditions, replacing the old single-threshold approach. This marks a major shift from the original German Passivhaus standard, which applied the same energy
Old double-hung windows are often seen as drafty, rattling relics that drive up energy bills and frustrate homeowners. But the truth is that traditional double-hung windows were built to last, with many units still functioning smoothly after more than 150 years of use. The simple pulley-and-counterweight system has remarkably few moving parts compared to modern
Affordable housing and energy efficiency rarely go hand in hand, but a community initiative on Peaks Island, Maine, is proving that both goals can be achieved simultaneously through smart modular design. Located in Casco Bay, Peaks Island has seen its year-round housing market squeezed by rising property values driven by seasonal demand. In response, a
Integrated design represents a fundamental shift in how residential buildings are conceived, designed, and constructed. Unlike the traditional linear approach where architects, engineers, and contractors work in isolation, integrated design brings all stakeholders together from the earliest stages of a project. This collaborative methodology is a cornerstone of modern building science education, as demonstrated by
Buildings account for a significant share of global energy consumption, and much of that energy use stems from designs that ignore local climate conditions. The NAHB Train the Trainer Video Series, presented by Peter Yost of BuildingGreen LLC, addresses this gap head-on by equipping building instructors with the tools to teach climate-responsive design. Section 02
The NAHB Train the Trainer video series, delivered by building science expert Peter Yost of BuildingGreen, LLC, serves as a cornerstone resource for construction professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of how buildings actually perform. Section 01 of this series focuses specifically on building science principles — the fundamental physics and material science that govern
The Building Science In Action Key Takeaways From The 2021 Midwest Building Science Symposium helped reinforce what the NAHB Train the Trainer program has been teaching for years: that applying building science principles on the jobsite is the difference between a structure that merely stands and one that performs optimally. Section 02 of the NAHB
The building enclosure, also referred to as the building envelope, serves as the physical separator between the interior and exterior environments of a structure. It is the first line of defense against moisture, air infiltration, thermal transfer, and sound transmission. For builders, architects, and trades professionals, understanding how foundation and wall systems work together within
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Train the Trainer program represents a significant investment in construction education, equipping instructors with the knowledge to teach building science principles effectively. One of the most valuable segments within this training curriculum is the Tools of the Trade hands-on demonstration, which focuses on the diagnostic instruments and measurement
