Beauty goes more than skin-deep for high performance buildings. I work with architects and builders to achieve designs and materials that result in buildings tuned to their climate and site, successfully managing the elements for durable enclosures, comfortable and safe interiors.
My design/spec reviews focus on hygrothermal performance of the building enclosure. I review plans for continuous control layers: water, air, thermal. The primary tool is the “pen test” – you take your cursor or your pen or your finger and on a full-building cross section, trace each control layer without lifting off the page or screen. It’s pretty easy to do this in the field of an assembly but at penetrations and transitions it’s challenging.
A big part of high performance enclosures is selecting materials that accomplish these continuous control layers and they have to be compatible. Quite often building components that are connected are from different building product manufacturers. You only get continuity if materials are compatible.
I work with architects and builders and building owners to integrate the performance of these control layers. I can work with you on your plans and specs.
For many building professionals, I have done this work in person and that’s best, but quite often, we work together electronically, using screenshare software. There are lots of programs out there; I have a ZOOM business account that I find easy to use, reliable, and I use it for up to 50 sign-ins if I am teaching online.
Give me a call to see how I can work with you on your project.
A sample of technical details provided to a client. Click on images below to see more info.
Clients include:
– LWDA
– Kertes Homes
– KCS Arch (Katie Sutherland)
– Charles R., Homeowner, Rye Beach NH
“When building my [LEED Gold] home on the coast of New Hampshire, I worked with an excellent team of consultants, but no one knew how to address the condensation issues that many coastal homes face. I was referred to Peter, who came up with the moisture management details for our wall assemblies. He has a firm understanding of building science… and it was honestly a lot of fun working with him.”
Published Blog Arcitles:
I get asked this quite a bit: when should I involve a building performance consultant in the architectural design process? The answer is: the moment design involves building performance— Efficiency
COVID-19 & Curriculum Development For several years, our local Sustainable Energy Outreach Network (SEON) has been developing a High Performance Building Associate certificate program (http://www.seon.info/hpb-overview/ ). In early March 2020,
Back in October 2016, I started my Building Science Puzzles on GBA with this blog: Building Science Puzzles: The Jigsaw Approach. In that post I explained six steps for solving
Beauty goes more than skin-deep for high performance buildings. I work with architects and builders to achieve designs and materials that result in buildings tuned to their climate and site, successfully managing the elements for durable enclosures, comfortable and safe interiors. Click here to learn more.
Getting new buildings to work right is easy compared to understanding and then changing existing buildings, especially ones you know are not working right. I have a system for assessing old buildings, then using building science to make sure that what we do to them makes them work better, not worse. Click here to learn more.
Since completing my Master’s Thesis in 1993, a big part of my life has been technical writing related to building performance. From blogs to investigation summaries, from building product installation manuals to multi-year government project reports, I have honed my writing to be clear, concise, accurate. Click here to learn more.
I have developed curriculum for and taught building performance to high school trade students, graduate students in architecture and environmental management, and every type of building professionals you can imagine: engineers, architects, construction managers, code officials, trade contractors, and even a few bankers along the way. I tailor my materials to the length of the course and keep engagement high no matter who the participants are. Click here to learn more.
Most testing done in the building industry is done in labs under carefully prescribed and controlled environments, having NOTHING to do with what takes place in the real world. I work with building industry professionals and product manufacturers to develop field service life prediction testing under jobsite conditions. It’s testing where the rubber hits the road. Click here to learn more.
Peter is the person you turn to if you want to truly understand how buildings work: their design specification, construction, performance assessment and more. Building-Wright is where you will learn from Peter. Enjoy!
