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ONE DAY WORKSHOP
Join us for this one day workshop to sharpen your high performance design and construction know-how and skills. A team of experienced design, construction, and technical professionals will use lecture, illustrative case studies and physical equipment, to provide a solid grounding in why High Performance Design and Construction matters and how to achieve above code results to enhance occupant health, and improve building durability and resilience, and operating costs.​
Thursday, June 12, 2025, 7:30 am to 2:30 pm
Lewes Public Library

A light breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be available. 
​6.0 AIA LU/HSW credit hours available
8.0 PHIUS CEUs available
Cost
$60 + platform fee with Continuing Education credits
$30 + platform fee without credits

Morning Sessions

Session 1
Designing and Building to High Performance: The Science Behind It and Ways to Talk About Why It's Important

High-performance projects promote best practices of sustainability in building design and construction by setting and applying standards for resource efficiencies, material selection, occupant comfort and well-being, and broader environmental impacts. Effective communication and a common language are key to developing any successful project team and are essential to meet the challenges of high-performance practice. This presentation will provide an overview of both applicable building codes and above-code certification systems and how they can be used to set high-performance project goals and objectives. Attendees will gain an understanding of the language and priorities of high-performance construction, gain a high-level understanding of building science principles, and understand how they influence material selection, installation, quality control, and operations.
 
Learning Objectives
  • Attendees will be able to recognize and use the language of high-performance design and construction that can be directly applied to communications with clients and project team members about their buildings.
  • Attendees will be able to describe building science principles at a high level and describe how they influence material selection, installation, quality control, and operations.
  • Attendees will be able to describe where various building codes and above-code certification systems fit along a performance continuum and how they can be used not only for performance measurement but as a project tool to set overall goals and objectives.
  • Attendees will be able to apply the information from this course to improve overall energy performance, safety, resiliency, durability, and accessibility of existing and new buildings.

Session 2
The Science Behind Residential Building Enclosure and Airtightness: Hands on Materials Familiarization

A continuous airtight building envelope is essential to meeting the performance criteria of High-Performance Construction and many above-code certifications. This presentation will delve into the building science concepts that inform the ways in which we control water, air, thermal, and vapor flows in buildings. We will examine case studies of building assemblies and discuss how hygrothermal analysis with WUFI modeling can inform design decisions to eliminate the risks associated with condensation within building assemblies. The interactive presentation will demonstrate the properties of various air barrier, vapor control, and insulation materials to familiarize attendees with their uses and specifications. The attendees have the opportunity to touch and feel various materials, and understand how they are optimally layered in different building assemblies according to their control functions.
 
Learning Objectives
  • Attendees will be able to describe the mechanisms of vapor transmission and air movement in building assemblies and how they influence building material selection, installation, and quality control.
  • Attendees will be able to identify properties of various air barrier, vapor control, and thermal control materials and how to select and specify them as part of a comprehensive moisture control strategy when designing building enclosure assemblies.
  • Attendees will be able to identify the proper installation of various enclosure control layer materials and how and what to inspect during quality control visits to project sites.
  • Attendees will be able to describe the risks associated with improper design and/or installation of enclosure control layers and how to mitigate that risk.
  • Attendees will be able to describe how the predictive tool of WUFI Hygrothermal can be used in the design process to assess the risk of moisture accumulation within wall, floor, or roof assemblies, and to inform design decisions to reduce or eliminate that risk.

Afternoon Sessions

Session 3
Mechanical Ventilation: A Hands-on Introduction to the Mechanics and Design Specifications for its Use

This presentation will delve into why mechanical ventilation becomes critically important as building airtightness increases. Actual an energy recovery ventilator equipment will be used to review component parts, functioning, and operation; and participants will become familiar with the equipment through hands-on investigation. Through case studies, the presentation will demonstrate the risks associated with inadequate ventilation. The presenters will share best practices for siting and installation of ERVs in a building for efficient operation and maintenance.
 
Learning Objectives
  • Participants will be able to describe why mechanical ventilation becomes critically important as airtightness requirements in building codes and certifications increase.
  • Through hands-on experience, participants will be able to describe the mechanical ventilation equipment’s component parts, functioning, and operation.
  • Through case studies, participants will be able to describe best practices for siting and installing ERVs in a building for efficient operation and maintenance.
  • Through case studies, participants will be able to describe the risks associated with inadequate ventilation to a building as well as human health and wellbeing.

Session 4
Heat Pump Technology: A Hands-on Introduction to the Mechanics and Design Specifications for Its Use

This presentation will provide an overview of building ventilation strategies and will delve into the reasons why heat pump technologies may be the best choice for a building.  Using the actual equipment, the presenters will review heat pump technology and the component parts, functioning, and operation. Participants will be invited to become familiar with the equipment through hands-on investigation. The presenters will share best practices for siting and installation in the building for efficient operation and maintenance that can be directly applied to the designer’s practice.
 
Learning Objectives
  • The participants will be able to describe heat pump technology for HVAC and water heating and understand its efficiencies and resulting effect on the overall electricity demand for a project.
  • Through hands-on experience, participants will be able to describe a heat pump equipment’s component parts, functioning, and operation.
  • Through case studies, participants will be able to describe best practices for siting and installing Heat pump HVAC and hot water systems in the building for efficient operation and maintenance.
  • Participants will be able to describe the impact on indoor air quality, improved health outcomes, and reduction in GHGs from fuel switching during electrification and the role heat pump technology plays in that effort.  
Education Credits
6.0 AIA LU/HSW credit hours
​8.0 PHIUS CEUs available
Location
Lewes Public Library, Large Meeting Room East, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes, DE 19958

Cost
Registration is required. A light breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be available.
$60 + platform fee with Continuing Education credits
$30 + platform fee without credits
 
Presented in partnership with
Questions?
Contact Nancy at AIA Delaware by email or by calling 302-530-0189.
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