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Net-Zero Building Envelope Design

January 9, 2012

Mike Steffen of Walsh Construction Co. and Rob Bombino of RDH Building Science led a half-day workshop on “Net-Zero Building Envelope Design” organized by the Tacoma/Olympia Branch of the Cascadia Green Building Council. The intent of the workshop was to provide architects, designers, engineers and students an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of building envelope design for net-zero energy buildings.

The session followed last year’s workshop by looking at one important component, envelope performance, within an in-depth analysis toward a net-zero solution. With the adoption of net-zero building energy use goals and policies, there is a great deal of attention on aggressive building performance strategies. After building site analysis, proper envelope design is the foundation of a successful net-zero energy design.

This year’s workshop reviewed methods to maximize the performance of envelope design and how to achieve the performance objectives in construction. Appropriate selection of windows and doors were reviewed, along with the latest available technologies. Current methods of construction often compromise design objectives. Examples of how Walsh Construction Co. improved construction techniques to maximize performance was explored. The session concluded by examining a case study of the design principles implemented and their resulting performance.

ROBERT BOMBINO, MS, PE | PRINCIPAL | RDH BUILDING SCIENCES
Robert Bombino is a Principal and Senior Building Science Specialist with RDH Building Sciences Inc. in Seattle, WA. Mr. Bombino specializes in designing, investigating, and analyzing building enclosure components speci_cally focusing on heat, air and moisture control. His experience includes buildings of all types, both new and existing; residential, commercial and institutional; high-rise and low-rise.

MIKE STEFFEN, AIA, LEED AP | VICE PRESIDENT/GENERAL MANAGER | WALSH CONSTRUCTION CO. / OR.
Mike is an architect, builder and educator with thirty years of experience in the design and construction of built environment. He has a Master of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Kansas. WALSH is a Pacific Northwest general contractor specializing in all types of multi-unit housing, building rehabilitation, educational facilities, and commercial buildings - with a commitment to being a leader in the construction of energy-efficient, healthy and durable buildings.

Links to the presentations:
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4

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