Basics of High Performance Building

This course gives students an introduction to the scientific laws and principles that govern the movement of heat, water, and air; it then brings those concepts to bear on the assessment, design and execution strategies of modern high-performance building and renovation practices. Students will take away a basic understanding of the mechanisms of heat, moisture, and air transfer within and through building envelopes, as well as the ability to apply that understanding in the context of daily work with the systems and assemblies that are common to modern high-performance building. The course includes introductory hands-on experience with modern building assessment tools and equipment, as well as pen-in hand experience identifying control layers on architectural drawings.