Building Science 101

Building the "house-as-a-system", requires a knowledge of basic building science principles. These principles form the foundation of energy efficient construction techniques. Understanding them is the first step to eliminating common construction problems and building better homes.

REMEMBER THIS:

The three main elements that need to be controlled in a building are:

HEAT, AIR and MOISTURE


And they behave like so...

  • Heat moves from hot-to-cold.
  • Air and water move from high pressure-to-low pressure.
  • Moisture moves from wet-to-dry.

Understanding heat, air and moisture in buildings is knowing the physics of their behaviour and how to control it!

Always be thinking about the science of heat, air and moisture in buildings!

A clean and tidy space ready for energy retrofit! Photo: Lanark Design Build Group, Ontario

With the proper application of materials based on building science, the performance of new and existing buildings will improve through:

  1. Increased durability of building materials;
  2. More comfortable and healthy interior spaces;
  3. Increased energy efficiency and cost savings over the life of the building.