Building Envelope

The building envelope comprises all heated parts of the building. This section will focus on the green building opportunities available through insulation, floor framing and subfloor construction, exterior wall systems, and roofing.

Insulation

Insulation is a fundamental component of the building envelope. Proper insulation not only saves energy and lowers utility bills, it also keeps occupants comfortable, improves indoor air quality, and contributes to a higher quality home. Topic coverage includes loose-fill cellulose installation and benefits, batt insulation, and rigid board insulation.

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Floor Framing and Subfloors

There is a wide variety of “green” floor framing and subfloor system options available today. That’s why it’s so important to assess the flooring materials and techniques that are most essential to your building envelope system, and that can ensure floor frame durability and a healthy environment. The implementation and benefits of lumber and concrete slab flooring, as well as oriented strand boards (OSB) are discussed.

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Roofing

Green roofing includes a combination of materials that when properly assembled can insulate the house from hot and cold temperature extremes and control the flow of air and moisture. Builders should use roofing materials best suited for their climate conditions. This section discusses the implementation, benefits, and challenges of  using wood trusses, aluminum or galvanized metal roofs, shingles, radiant roof barriers, and rainwater catchment systems.

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Exterior Wall Systems

A green exterior wall system design offers builders an opportunity to use resources efficiently. There are many alternatives to traditional stick framing techniques. Advanced framing or optimal value engineering (OVE) techniques can reduce the amount of framing material used to build a home and  meet necessary structural performance code requirements. Topics include advanced framing, structural insulated panels (SIP),  insulated concrete forms (ICF), and adobe structures.

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Link and Learn: 
A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Sealing and Insulating with ENERGY STAR
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=diy.diy_index