Introductory technical guidance for construction managers interested in construction of buildings for thermal efficiency and air tightness. Here is what is discussed: 1. BUILDING ENVELOPE PERFORMANCE, 2. THERMAL ENVELOPE PERFORMANCE, 3. THERMAL ENVELOPE DEFECTS, 4. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PROCESS., 5. AIR BARRIERS, 6. VAPOR RETARDERS, 7. THERMAL INSULATION, 8. CONTROL OF RAIN PENETRATION, 9. SEALANTS.

Down and dirty – a complete step-by-step guide to making, installing and living with beautiful, all-natural earthen floors Poor heat and moisture management are the enemies of durable, comfortable, and efficient housing, and good building design and construction starts with a solid understanding of good building science. Essential Building Science provides a highly visual and accessible introduction to the fundamentals of building science for residential construction. Part one covers the rationale behind high-performance design and the fundamentals of building physics, including thermal dynamics, moisture transfer, and hygro-thermal dynamics such as vapor drive and condensation. Part two teaches the vital critical thinking skills needed to consider buildings as whole systems and to develop thermal and moisture control strategies regardless of the specifics of the design. Case studies and examples from across North American climatic zones illuminate real-life problems and offer builders, designers, and DIYers the insights and tools required for creating better new buildings and dramatically improving old ones. Good science plus critical thinking equals high performance buildings.

Introductory technical guidance for civil engineers, structural engineers, architectural engineers and construction managers interested in sealing exterior building wall systems to prevent air and water leakage and penetration. Here is what is discussed: 1. BUILDING ENVELOPE PERFORMANCE 2. THERMAL ENVELOPE PERFORMANCE 3. THERMAL ENVELOPE DEFECTS 4. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. 5. AIR BARRIERS 6. VAPOR RETARDERS 7. THERMAL INSULATION 8. CONTROL OF RAIN PENETRATION 9. SEALANTS.

Buildings are one of the main causes of the emission of greenhouse gases in the world. Europe alone is responsible for more than 30% of emissions, or about 900 million tons of CO2 per year. Heating and air conditioning are the main cause of greenhouse gas emissions in buildings. Most buildings currently in use were built with poor energy efficiency criteria or, depending on the country and the date of construction, none at all. Therefore, regardless of whether construction regulations are becoming stricter, the real challenge nowadays is the energy rehabilitation of existing buildings. It is currently a priority to reduce (or, ideally, eliminate) the waste of energy in buildings and, at the same time, supply the necessary energy through renewable sources. The first can be achieved by improving the architectural design, construction methods, and materials used, as well as the efficiency of the facilities and systems; the second can be achieved through the integration of renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal, etc.) in buildings. In any case, regardless of whether the energy used is renewable or not, the efficiency must always be taken into account. The most profitable and clean energy is that which is not consumed.

This book covers various current and emerging topics in construction management and real estate. Papers selected in this book cover a wide variety of topics such as new-type urbanization, planning and construction of smart city and eco-city, urban–rural infrastructure development, land use and development, housing market and housing policy, new theory and practice of construction project management, big data application, smart construction and BIM, international construction (i.e., belt and road project), green building, off-site prefabrication, rural rejuvenation and eco-civilization and other topics related to construction management and real estate. These papers provide useful references to both scholars and practitioners. This book is the documentation of “The 24th International Symposium on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate,” which was held in Chongqing, China.

A practical guide to the principle services of facilities management, revised and updated The updated third edition of Facilities Manager's Desk Reference is an invaluable resource covering all the principal facility management (FM) services. The author—a noted facilities management expert—provides the information needed to ensure compliance to current laws, to deliver opportunities to adopt new ways of using built environments, and to identify creative ways to reduce operational occupancy costs, while maintaining appropriate and productive working environment standards. The third edition is fully updated and written in an approachable and concise format. It is comprehensive in scope, the author covering both hard and soft facilities management issues. Since the first edition was published it has become a first point of reference for busy facilities managers, saving them time by providing access to the information needed to ensure the safe, effective and efficient running of any facilities function. This important book: Has been fully updated, reviewing the essential data covering the principal FM services Is highly practical, ideal for the busy FM practitioner Presents information on legal compliance issues, the development of strategic policies, tactical best practices, and much more Is a time-saving resource that brings together essential, useful, and practical FM information in one handy volume; Written for students and professional facilities managers, Facilities Manager's Desk Reference is designed as a practical resource that offers FMs assistance in finding solutions to the myriad demands of the job.