Houses That Work™ is the nation's leading turn-key solution for educational training and outreach. Houses That Work education provides attendees with ways to improve the performance, efficiency, durability, comfort, safety and health of the homes they build, making them a better value for their customers and incorporating green practices into their business formula.

Houses That Work classes have helped thousands of building professionals benefit from understanding the house-as-a-system approach regardless of what climate zone or the number/size of the homes they build.

In this full day session, participants learn that complex changes in home design, building materials, mechanical systems, appliances, code compliance and consumer lifestyles and expectations make every builder, supplier, and trade contractor’s job more demanding. We will cover the basics of building science and how it is applied to create high performance homes.

The session will address critical home performance elements that exist as a system and are part of energy efficient homes. The fundamentals of building science - air, heat and moisture flow – will be outlined and applied to help participants make better choices with respect to construction materials and methods. Participants will also learn important information about indoor air quality, including the basics of mold and other pollutant sources, and cost-effective strategies to be able to offer healthier indoor environments.

At the end of the session, attendees will have a thorough understanding of how to build better attics, walls and foundations and how to choose HVAC systems that integrate properly into their homes. This session will also cover how building science principles improve the marketing position for building professionals, providing case studies of builders who have changed their building processes and gained return through communicating the value of high performance homes.