Part 1: What is Green Building Science?

 Green Building Science
Economical building takes a large portion of us back to the classroom for a refresher on the physical properties of vitality, air, and water. Green building hones, also the choice of the proper building materials, rotate around a couple of essential standards of science. Energy loses some of its potential each time it is converted from one form to another, which explains why passive solar heat is much more efficient than electric heat.

Green Building Best Practices

  • Look for designs that use energy as close to its sources as possible to minimize conversion losses: passive solar heat, for examples, over electrical resistance heating.
  • Consider heat transmissions in all its forms - convection, conduction, and radiation - in selecting building materials and building practices.
  • Create an effective air barrier and make sure everyone on the build team understand their role in maintaining it through various stages of construction.
  • Include some form of mechanical ventilation in the house and strive for a "pressure neutral" interior as minimum requirement.
  • Make sure construction details are able to handle water movement via gravity, diffusion, and capillary action.
  • In areas of high noise, consider window upgrades, sound barriers, and alternatives to conventional stick framing.

 
 Green Building Science

The Science Behind Green Building

Sustainable building takes most of us back to the classroom for a refresher on the physical properties of energy, air, and water. Green building practices, as well the selection of the appropriate building materials, revolve around a few basic principles of science. Science is what sustainable building relies on, principles that once understood can guide you every step of the way, including:
  • A house is a system of interrelated parts
  • Energy loses some of its potential each time it is converted from one form to another, which explains why passive solar heat is much more efficient than electric heat
  • Form follows function when it comes to design, meaning that construction should be tailored to the environment in which the house is built.
  • Air leaks in the building envelope represent a significant loss of energy and open the door to moisture damage inside wall and ceiling cavities.
  • Controlling the movement of heat, air, and moisture involves every part of the building and everyone on the building team.
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