As high-performance residential construction and electrification gain mainstream momentum, the terminology surrounding them has grown increasingly loose. Today, everyone from construction foremen and house energy raters to insulation salesmen, energy modelers, and code officials claims building science expertise. The reality, as outlined by John Straube in recent Building Science Corporation research, is that building science…
Building in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) requires more than just fire-resistant siding. It requires a systemic approach to “hardening” the structure against ember ignition—the leading cause of home loss during wildfires. While most people focus on large-scale elements like roofs and decks, build science tells us that the smallest openings are often the most dangerous….
In high-performance building, we often hear the phrase: “Build tight, ventilate right.” While it sounds simple, it represents a significant shift in how we think about the structures we live in. We spend a great deal of effort using specialized tapes and membranes to make a house as airtight as possible, only to immediately install…
The “Safe” Bet is a Risky Move In the residential HVAC world, there is an old adage that refuses to die: “500 square feet per ton.” For decades, contractors have used this rule of thumb to size furnaces and AC units. If a house is 2,000 square feet, they quote a 4-ton system. It’s quick,…