Building Science Days 2018: Defining and Implementing High Performance  

With their combined expertise, Straube and Lstiburek will help attendees understand what constitutes a high-performance building. Day 1 will address fundamental questions about what is important in high-performance design, while Day 2 will focus on the successful implementation of these strategies.

September 12

Day 1 | Fundamentals of High Performance Buildings

Speaker: Dr. Joseph Lstiburek, Building Science Corporation

Lstiburek will discuss the fundamentals and history of high performance. What is meant by “high performance”? Who or what makes this designation? How did we get from the LoCal House to Passive House? How do transition from high performance single-family homes to high performance multi-family high-rises? We keep hearing build tight – ventilate right: How tight? What’s right? According to whom? What is the relative importance of insulation, glazing, air tightness, and mechanical systems? How crucial are factors such as material choices and occupant behavior?

Day 1 will also cover practical issues, such as the conflict between high-performance retrofits and historic preservation.

September 13

Day 2 | Details and Implementation of High Performance Buildings

Speaker: Dr. John Straube, University of Waterloo/RDH Building Science