Green Builder's Annual Building Science Ebook is free to view online or as a pdf download.

From the editors of Green Builder magazine comes a concise look at the latest, greatest innovations changing how homes and multifamily projects are built. From weather barriers to SIPs, utility programs to whole-house air purification that can address urban smog, we look at the how and why of building today.

A very cool infographic courtesy of Alan's Factory Outlet ranking the hardness of various types of wood and what the wood is typically used for.

The advantages of closed, conditioned crawl spaces have been well documented, but many builders need help with the details.

Roughly 15% to 20% of homes built in the U.S. each year have crawl space foundations. They're cheaper to build than full basements and more functional than a slab, offering a convenient place for plumbing, wiring, ductwork and heating or cooling equipment, as well as some bulk water resiliency.

Twenty years ago, nearly all crawl spaces were ventilated with outside air in an effort to control moisture. Most building codes required such venting.

This question came up in our recent webinar on Building Science, from listeners concerned about the impacts of various filter media on airflow through ducted systems.

Q: Ive heard that certain air filters cause airflow restriction and damage to HVAC equipment.  I read that if the face area of a filter medium is larger, and an ECM motor is used, the flow reduction is less significant.

Air sealing is distilled to the most important components in a quick-watch building science vid.

Most new homes perform at about 5 air changes per hour (ACH). By sealing these five key areas, you can lower ACH down 2 or 3, making the house net zero energy ready--with minimal labor, no special skils and no change of insulating material. Once you're done, just add solar.

Become a part of the zero net future.

The Los Angeles Chapter of USGBC is seeking 10 of the most promising solutions for a free, 6-month acceleration program launching in July.  The focus is on technology that creates net zero carbon and waste, and uses net zero energy and water. Their promise is to bring targeted expertise, broad awareness, and high-potential to pilot projects at regional building sites with marquee partners in order to remove roadblocks and speed market adoption.

Only time will tell if the industry is headed for a better code compliance method.

By now, you might have heard about the Home Energy Rating Variability Study, which was prepared for the Department of Energy (DOE) and conducted by the six regional energy efficiency organizations (REEOs). It was first summarized at the February 2018 RESNET Board meeting, but the complete report was finally released in January 2019. The following is a summary and commentary on the study, as well as its potential ramifications on the building industry.

Kingspan is introducing three new roof panels to the market: KingSeam, KingRib 3 and KingRib 5 . The new options give architects and specifiers additional options for easy-to-install, low-maintenance metal insulated roofing systems that offer superior thermal performance and a high level of fire protection. 

When integrated with the HVAC system, most E/HRV's don't deliver the desired ventilation air. A new design seeks to solve this problem, but EEBA needs your input.

Builders believe that if they install an Energy Recovery or Heat Recovery Ventilator (E/HRV) they have ensured good indoor air quality. In reality, that's seldom the case.

Achieving desired building performance objectives depends on the specific occupant needs, site, and building conditions. The particular approaches to achieving this should also be tailored to the unique historic character and conditions of each building, and the specific seismic deficiencies that need to be remedied or mitigated. Most seismic deficiencies and possible required mitigation techniques can be divided into the general categories described here. Although not an exhaustive list, it is intended to provide an overview of the scope of work a building owner or project manager might expect during a seismic rehabilitation.