This Lack of Building Enclosure Design Makes Extra Work
Take a look at the photo above. See anything missing? If you don't see it yet, look at the big opening at the bottom right of the photo and you should be able to deduce what that room is. It's…
The Energy Vanguard Blog
Nest Thermostat Data Unveiled at ACI Conference
The Nest thermostat has been around since October 2011, quietly collecting data on how your home — and the homes of hundreds of thousands of your neighbors — operates. It gathers information about indoor temperature, relative humidity, air conditioner runtime,…
Why Did the Chicken Go to the ACI Conference?
I love the ACI National Home Performance Conference! This year's conference was spectacular. It was in New Orleans, which is always fun. The stars of home performance were there. The Californians came back. (That's one of them in the chicken…
Moisture Transport, Sorption Isotherms, and Aliens Drinking Beer
You know about the fourth state of water. (You read my last article, Introduction to the Physics of Water in Porous Materials, right?) Not liquid, not vapor, and not solid, it has properties similar to liquid water but not quite the…
Introduction to the Physics of Water in Porous Materials
I like to tell people I'm a recovering academic. The truth is, though, that I haven't left physics behind. That would be impossible since I've been making a career in the world of building science. So, today I'm going to…
Joe Lstiburek’s Ideal Double-Stud Wall Design
Joe Lstiburek called me last week to set the record straight. I had written an article about a study of moisture in double-stud walls in a Massachusetts home, and his company, Building Science Corporation (BSC), had done the research as…
My Passion for Building Science Education and Bad Contractors
When asked to name our passions at the conference I went to in Portland, Oregon last week, I had to think about it a little bit. I had just been discussing what it is we aim to do at a…
Is This the End of the Double-Wall, Cold Sheathing Scare?
Insulation is good. More insulation is better (although at some point, more may not be cost effective). It reduces the amount of heat a home loses in winter or gains in summer. You can get there by building thicker walls…
An Interview with Terry Brennan — a Building Science Pioneer
Last week I got a chance to sit down and talk with Terry Brennan in Dallas at the Air Barrier Association of America’s annual conference. He may not be as famous as Joe Lstiburek, but he’s every bit the building…
The Paranormal – Building Science Nexus
Have you seen ghosts? Ever been in a haunted house? Do some homes just give you the paranormal heebie jeebies? The building science ghostbusters are hot on the trail, so you may be able to set your mind at ease.…