Building Science Digest

Pacific Northwest Homes Face Unique Challenges with Chrissi Antonopoulos

The Pacific Northwest is facing a new generation of environmental challenges, and the way we design homes is changing with it.
Host Stan Gatland sits down with Chrissi Antonopoulos, a Chief Scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, to discuss what residential resiliency looks like in one of North America's most demanding climates.
From managing relentless moisture and preventing enclosure failures to preparing homes for heat domes, wildfire smoke, and power outages, they explore the building science principles that help homes perform under pressure.
If you're interested in creating healthier, more durable, and higher-performing homes, this episode is packed with practical insights you can put to work immediately.
Key Takeaways
Why the Pacific Northwest presents unique building science challenges
Best practices for moisture management and durable wall assemblies
How extreme heat is changing residential HVAC design - Strategies for protecting indoor air quality during wildfire season
Practical retrofit solutions that improve both energy efficiency and resiliency
Resources builders can use to design and construct more resilient homes

The Hidden Moisture Risks Threatening High-Performance Homes with Ryan Atlee

What does resiliency really mean in a hot and humid climate?
In this episode of Building Science Digest, host Rémi Goulet sits down with Ryan Atlee to explore how homes perform under the unique demands of the Gulf Coast climate.
Recorded in Houston, Texas, the conversation dives into the daily challenges that heat, humidity, and moisture create for residential buildings, and why traditional building science principles developed for cold climates don't always apply in hot and humid regions.
Ryan shares insights from years of forensic investigations and high-performance home design, covering topics such as vapor drive, moisture management, rain screens, continuous insulation, mold prevention, and the importance of treating resiliency as a whole-building system rather than a collection of individual products.
The discussion also explores how homes can be designed to better withstand extreme weather events, including hurricanes, by first addressing the day-to-day environmental stresses that slowly degrade building assemblies over time.
Whether you're a builder, architect, remodeler, or building science professional, this episode offers practical insights into creating tougher, more durable homes in some of North America's most challenging climates.

Wildfire and Cold Climate Resiliency in the Rockies with Teran Foster

In the Rocky Mountains, building resiliency means managing multiple climate risks at once. Homes must withstand wildfire exposure, extreme cold, heavy snow loads, and year‑round moisture challenges, often within the same structure.
In this episode of Building Science Digest, host Galen Burrell sits down with Teran Foster, Director of Building Science and Innovation at Cornerstone Management Services in Big Sky, Montana, to explore how builders design for durability in high‑risk mountain environments.
The conversation highlights how wildfire mitigation strategies must work alongside cold‑climate design principles, and why getting the building assembly right is critical when risks begin to overlap.
From ember exposure and roofing systems to vapor control and moisture management, the episode offers a practical look at how these challenges interact in the real world.
Whether you are designing in wildfire‑prone regions or cold climates with heavy snow and moisture exposure, this episode provides insight into building systems that can perform under pressure.
Key Topics Covered
- How embers, not flames, drive most wildfire‑related building losses
- The role of roofing systems in both fire protection and ice dam prevention
- Why vapor control is critical in cold, high‑altitude climates
- How overlapping climate risks impact building design decisions
- The importance of system‑level thinking in resilient construction

Designing Homes for Extreme Weather in the Southeast with Theresa Weston

In the Southeast United States, residential resiliency isn’t only about preparing for extreme weather. It is about managing moisture, humidity, and system performance every day.
In this episode of Building Science Digest, Stan Gatland is joined by Theresa A Weston, President at The Holt Weston Consultancy, to explore how homes in the Southeast perform under constant environmental stress.
From high humidity and intense rainfall to flooding and power outages, the conversation focuses on what it takes to keep homes durable, healthy, and livable after the storm passes.
They discuss how moisture control, continuity of control layers, and HVAC performance all play a role in long-term resiliency. The episode also highlights why many common failures happen at transitions and details, and how small design or installation decisions can have major downstream impacts.
Whether you are designing new homes or evaluating existing ones, this episode offers practical insight into building more resilient homes in hot, humid climates.

Rain Control and Residential Resiliency in New England with Kohta Ueno

New England’s residential buildings are under increasing stress. Heavier rain events, wetter snow, rising temperatures, and an aging housing stock are exposing durability weaknesses that often go unnoticed. In most cases, water sits at the center of the problem.
In this episode of Building Science Digest, host Lucas Hamilton is joined by Kohta Ueno of Building Science Corporation to examine how rain, drainage, and moisture management define residential resiliency in the Northeast.
Drawing on forensic research and real‑world building failures, they break down why traditional details such as gutters, downspouts, wall assemblies, and basements are struggling under modern climate conditions.
The conversation explores how increased water concentration, limited drying potential, and overlooked details frequently matter more than extreme events themselves.
You will also hear practical guidance on rainscreens, enclosure design, and why seemingly small moisture issues escalate faster in older New England homes.
For anyone designing, renovating, or maintaining residential buildings, this episode reinforces a core building science truth: resiliency starts with controlling water.
Additional Resources:BSD‑013: Rain Control in Buildings https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-013-rain-control-in-buildings BSI‑095: How Buildings Age https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/building-science-insights-newsletters/bsi-095-how-buildings-age BSI‑110: Keeping the Water Out of Basements https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/building-science-insights-newsletters/bsi-110-keeping-water-out-basements BSD‑006: Can Highly Glazed Building Façades Be Green? https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-006-can-fully-glazed-curtainwalls-be-green Gutters and Downspouts: Historic New England https://www.historicnewengland.org/preservation/for-professionals-students/property-care-white-papers/gutters-and-downspouts/

Building Resilient Structures from the Ground Up

When it comes to building science, resilience starts below the surface.
In this episode of Building Science Digest, Christian Kennedy sits down with Lisa Semling, Product and Innovation Manager for GCP, to explore what it really takes to design and protect a building’s foundation.
From pre-applied vs. post-applied waterproofing to understanding geotechnical reports, hydrostatic pressure, and lateral water migration, Lisa explains why you only get one shot to get it right.
They also dive into regional differences—from Manhattan’s deep schist foundations to the West Coast’s shotcrete systems and LA’s stringent VOC and methane barrier codes—and discuss how the industry is shifting toward a holistic building envelope approach that considers every surface, from below grade to the roof.
Whether you’re an architect, contractor, or building science enthusiast, this episode will change the way you think about what’s beneath your feet.

Building A Circular Economy

In this episode of Building Science Digest, we chat with Dennis Wilson, VP, ESG & Managing Director, Circular Economy Solutions North America at Saint-Gobain North America, to unpack one of the most important shifts in sustainable construction: the move from a linear economy to a circular economy.
Dennis explains what the circular economy really means, how it reduces waste, recirculates materials, and helps regenerate nature.
This episode explores how Saint-Gobain is leading the charge through initiatives like recycling glass from skyscrapers into new insulation, cutting CO₂ emissions, and why understanding Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions is critical to building a truly sustainable future.
Listeners will learn:
The difference between linear, cradle-to-grave systems and circular, cradle-to-cradle design
How circular practices create both environmental and economic value
Real-world examples of material re-use in building products like gypsum and glass
What contractors, customers, and communities can do to support circularity
Why data, design, and reverse supply chains are essential to making it work
Whether you are a builder, architect, or sustainability enthusiast, this conversation will give you a clear and practical understanding of how circular economy principles are transforming the built environment and what it means for the future of construction.

The Importance of Resilient, Impact-Resistant Roofs

What makes a roof truly resilient? In this episode of Building Science Digest, we sit down with James White, Senior Product Manager for CertainTeed Residential Roofing, to break down everything you need to know about impact-resistant shingles—how they work, why they matter, and what’s driving their rapid rise across the country. From the science behind polymer-modified asphalt (SBS) and granule adhesion to understanding UL 2218, FM 4473, and IBHS hail-testing standards, this conversation digs into the systems approach that helps roofs withstand hail, wind, and time itself. James also explains how insurance trends, regional building codes, and changing weather patterns are shaping the future of residential roofing—and how CertainTeed’s Integrity Roof System® and Class 4 shingles are leading the way in resilience. Key Topics Covered: - The rise of severe weather and hail-related insurance claims - Differences between Class 3 and Class 4 impact-resistant shingles - The science and history behind SBS-modified asphalt - Benefits of resilient roof systems for contractors and homeowners - Future trends in roofing codes, insurance premiums, and climate adaptation Whether you’re a contractor, roofer, or homeowner, this episode will help you understand why building for resilience is essential.

The Rise of Offsite Construction: Building Homes Faster, Smarter, and Stronger

What does the future of offsite construction look like—and how can it transform the way we build? In this episode of Building Science Digest, Christian Kennedy and Dennis Michaud - Managing Director, Offsite Solutions - dive into the evolving world of offsite manufacturing and prefabrication.
From speed and scale to labor challenges and the growing demand for efficiency, our guests break down the opportunities and hurdles shaping this space. We explore: - Why offsite is more than just modular homes - How labor shortages affect the built environment - The role of technology and automation in scaling production - Lessons from global leaders and what North America can learn - The balance between design flexibility, cost, and speed Whether you’re a contractor, architect, or building science enthusiast, this episode delivers practical insights and future-focused perspectives on where construction is headed.

Why Cool Roofs Are Such a Hot Topic

What exactly is a “cool roof,” and why are building codes and communities across the country paying so much attention to them?
In this episode of Building Science Digest, host Christian Kennedy sits down with CertainTeed Product Manager for Low-Slope Roofing, Ted Winslow, to break down the science, benefits, and future of cool roof technology.
Together, they explore:
The fundamentals of heat transfer (conduction, convection, and radiation) and how reflective roofing helps manage it.
The Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) and why it’s key to codes like California’s Title 24 and LA County’s Title 31.
How cool roofs play a role in reducing the urban heat island effect.
Practical benefits for building owners, from lower cooling loads to increased durability and resilience.
Where the industry is headed next—including smart technologies, green roofs, and solar integration.
Whether you’re an architect, contractor, or just curious about sustainable building solutions, this episode will give you a clear and engaging look at why cool roofs are more than just a trend— they’re shaping the future of energy-efficient design.