Building Science Fundamentals (SHP Module 2)

This course explores how properly designing and constructing a building's envelope, or thermal and moisture barrier, is essential for a comfortable, healthy, durable, and energy-efficient home. The course provides an exploration of the fundamental laws that govern the dynamic flows within a building in order to understand the interconnectedness of house systems. These fundamentals are necessary tools to use when making design, construction and operation decisions that affect the sustainability of projects. Students will analyze best practices for managing thermal, air, and moisture flows to create a house that is healthy, safe, energy efficient, and durable.

• Explain the natural laws that drive the thermal, air, and moisture flows within a house

• Develop strategies for analyzing how dynamic flows affect the performance of a house

• Calculate the overall R-values of various house assemblies and analyze potential efficiency improvements

• Calculate wall assembly U-factors and evaluate the optimum orientation of a house

• Understand how improving building performance affects indoor air quality

• Describe potential water management strategies

• Select appropriate design features and assemblies according to project objectives

• Integrate building envelope details into plans and specifications

• Understand the natural laws that drive the thermal, air, and moisture flows within a house.

• Use actual house plans to calculate the overall UA of a house and analyze potential efficiency improvements

• Appreciate the need for an improvement in current building practices.

• Internalize the values of green building and commit to ensuring best practices in the