Building envelope
Diagnosing and Airsealing Large Commercial and Institutional Buildings
If you want to get your large commercial or institutional project to meet your savings number, exceed energy performance goals, or get your label, you need to perform targeted air leakage diagnostics and actually fix the leaks. There are numerous other reasons to retrofit a building’s envelope including comfort, humidity control, infestations, component degradation or simply being able to control a building. Larry Harmon, a national expert in this field, will take you through millions of square feet of buildings that he has diagnosed and fixed over the last few years, sharing practical sol
Building Science Puzzles
Installing commercial windows and curtain walls without thermal bridges, air or water leaks
This session will look at the basic shapes of aluminum and fiberglass products used for frames, and identify the basic principles to be used to develop functional details for both new and retrofit construction. We will isolate the heat, air, and water control layers in windows and connect those in precast, solid masonry, and framed walls. Issues of structural support, construction sequencing, building movement, and high humidity interiors will be addressed. Numerous examples and case studies rich with photographs and drawings will be used.
Marc's Zero Net Energy Deep Energy Retrofit
A building energy geek gut-renovated a small house. Learn about the decisions made, and consequences thereof; about choices of construction assemblies, materials, windows and doors, and mechanical equipment. Successive blower door test data will illustrate how the building was tightened to exceed the Passive House standard. Detailed energy use data will be presented, and performance data of the solar electric system, heat pump, heat recovery ventilator, and heat pump water heater will be presented, and will be compared to the energy model.
Energy Auditing 201 of Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
How to perform a cost and time efficient energy audit. Find out the major elements of an energy audit including: benchmarking, useful survey equipment and tools, data logging, simple calculation methodologies, project cost estimating, and common mistakes. Discuss the most common findings (Energy Conservation Measures). Separate myth from real answers.
7 AIA, BPI, GBCI Continuing Education Units Available.
Pushing the Envelope and Air Barrier for Commercial and Institutional Cold Climate Buildings and Lessons Learned
This workshop will investigate the design process for analyzing and constructing a building envelope to meet aggressive air-sealing goals for new and renovated commercial and institutional projects in cold climates. Example details from four case study buildings will be shared with a central focus on decisions, changes, best practice guidelines, thermal analysis, lessons learned and specific challenges encountered during the construction process.
H2-Uh-Oh: Moisture Risks and How to Manage Them
Do you understand moisture dynamics? Do you have a comprehensive plan to control moisture in your buildings? If you answered no to either question, then you run the risks of occupant discomfort, mold growth, excessive maintenance and/or premature building failure. This session will help you avoid these risks. A veteran building scientist and co-author of the EPA Moisture Control Guide will share key measures—from design through operations—for controlling water and moisture in buildings.
The Building Science of Multifamily Passive House
This session will explore the building science implications of achieving the Passive House metrics for larger buildings and will highlight the difference in design strategies compared to single family Passive House homes. Multifamily projects of all types, but especially affordable housing developers, appreciate the benefits of achieving Passive House, such as increased durability, low operating and maintenance costs, assured comfort, and superior indoor air quality.
Enlightened Structures: Reducing Material-Based Carbon Emissions
The role of a building's structure, and of the structural engineer, in achieving sustainability goals is frequently marginalized. Yet it represents a majority of a new building project's material mass and embodied energy, and is responsible for a large portion of its CO2e emissions. It can also play a role in the annual energy usage of a building, both in good ways (i.e. thermal mass) and bad (i.e. thermal bridging).
Super Insulated Walls and Moisture: Does Bad Stuff Happen?
High-R or super-insulated walls are a common component of high performance housing. However, in cold climates, these walls run the risks of cold-weather condensation, and general durability issues due to reduced heat flow. Two practitioners have been monitoring the moisture performance of several high performance walls, and will share their results. Chris Corson has been examining highly vapor-open walls based on classic European Passive House designs, without the use of plastic foams.