How to Design and Construct Concrete and Masonry to Comply with New Energy Codes-New Standards Needed for Alternative Energy Code Compliance (Recorded presentation)

New Standards Needed for Alternative Energy Code Compliance (Recorded presentation)

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker discusses the development of standards within the concrete industry, emphasizing the importance of holistic design approaches over component-driven methods in constructing energy-efficient buildings. They critique the current U.S. building codes that focus heavily on components like insulation and glazing, which may not always provide economic paybacks. The speaker notes issues such as the elimination of fire safety standards for buildings in Indiana to accommodate more insulation, highlighting a regression in safe building practices. They advocate for a balanced approach in design, considering factors like thermal bridging, passive solar design, and the overall use of materials such as concrete and masonry. Additionally, they stress the necessity to revise practices based on holistic energy performance, reflecting on older, climate-specific designs and acknowledging that concepts like balconies, often viewed negatively for thermal bridging, can provide shading and other benefits. The presentation encourages collaborative efforts to advance building technology and promote fair representation of building materials and methods in standard-setting.

Keywords

holistic design

energy-efficient buildings

building codes

thermal bridging

passive solar design

building materials