"Building science"

Building science / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Wood and organic materials

Which is better, OSB or plywood for roofs, walls & floors?

...building industry experts that we have read and spoken with, is that OSB has a perm rating of 2 and plywood has a perm rating of 10. Those are the perm ratings you will find on many building information websites, though it conflicts with what is found in section 9.25.2.1 of the Canadian National Building Code, which ra...

Architecture and plan design

How to design for thermal comfort in a home

...building design prioritized thermal comfort for occupants, it is likely we would see a lot more radiant heating, and certainly better building envelopes. If you are custom building a new home, your best chance for a comfortable and efficient final product would come by employing a designer who leans towards high-perfor...

Efficient home design

The pros and cons of thermal mass in buildings

...building envelope will store and release heat, the more dense they are the more pronounced the effects are. Intentionally adding greater amounts of thermal mass in a building can be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on a lot of factors, and there is no right answer as to whether or not it will benefit you speci...

Efficient home design

Phase change building materials - natural heat storage in buildings

...building science makes mundane tasks like folding laundry a joy. This particular episode was about phase change building materials (PCMs) and how they can be incorporated into buildings to improve energy-efficiency by harnessing a naturally-occurring physical reality, 'the melting point'. When looking for commercial...

Healthy indoor air quality

Why you should never Install air-con in a home with a vapor barrier

...building envelopes. "Building codes are making you do stupid things. The laws of physics trump code." - Joe Lstiburek This article was inpired by building scientist Joe Lstiburek, one of the most globally trusted and well-known names in building science who has left an indelible mark on the building codes of the Un...

Basements improvements

Why are basements moldy? How to fix or prevent a moldy basement

...Building Science Corporation has to say about this type of basement wall assembly - "The experience by the Building Science Consortium with these two approaches has been bad. The Building Science Consortium has concluded that these two approaches are unsuitable for use by the home building industry due to serious probl...

Windows and doors

Installing doors & windows for the best performance in high efficiency homes, LEED & Passive House

...buildings like Passive House, Zero Net Energy or those that are LEED certified, all rely on the building envelope having a high level of insulation and being airtight. In a sealed building, moisture is removed and fresh air injected via an HRV or ERV unit to control the energy losses from essential ventilation. To put ...

Efficient home design

What is a thermal bridge and why is it so important to break it?

...Building codes and thermal bridges: It is not only sensible to address thermal bridging in construction, it is becoming law. Recent revisions to building codes have increased the thermal requirements of building enclosures in many regions, including requiring a thermal break. Contrary to common assumptions, the insu...

Insulation and soundproofing

How insulation works

...building codes. That covers the insulation material, but there is more at play to determine the actual or 'true' R value of a complete wall system. Insulation materials (like batts of fiberglass or panels of foam) have their own specific R value, but if they are spaced between wooden studs, the lower R value of the st...

Efficient home design

The Kenogami House: designed to ENDURE

...building must be designed for quality of life, taking care to ensure comfort, atmosphere and aesthetics Energy efficient: As heating and cooling are most often the largest components of the total energy consumption of a building, how energy efficient a building is largely depends on the building envelope. ...

Air and vapour barriers

Interior sheathing as an air and vapor barrier

...building is measured in ACH (Air Changes per Hour), and is determined by a blower door test where the building is depressurized by a fan in the door, and air leakage is measured. The average home built to code using conventional building practices is expected to have air leakage rates of 3.5 ACH, which under normal air...