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

There are three basic building science principles:

1. Air Flow: Air and water move from high pressure to low pressure
2. Moisture Flow: Moisture migrates from wet to dry
3. Heat Flow: Heat moves from hot to cold