Wondering how SIGA tapes and membranes work? Someone will hold your beer while you get your hands on Ken’s demo mockups.
Join us for a casual evening of learning and community.
Quench your thirst for hoppy beverages and knowledge about building science at our monthly Building Science and Beers meeting.
This month’s featured speaker is Andy Collins from ZIP/Huber Engineered Woods and the topics is water, air, and thermal control. Bring your burning questions about ZIP-R sheathing and the VP (vapor permeable) tape!
This casual event is a great opportunity to network with other folks in the building industry and learn and share best practices.
Please join Nick Falkoff and the Board of Directors of the StudioHPDC for our Fall Fundraiser & Open House at our classroom in Newton.
RESCHEDULED to: Friday, November 10 from 4:00-7:00pm
Learn about the Studio for High-Performance Design & Construction’s programs, see our Net-Zero and Passive House certified classroom, meet our newest Board Members and Instructors, and hear about our plans for 2024 and beyond. We will also have several of our high-performance pods on display, the results of our hands-on carpenters courses showcasing innovative insulation and air sealing construction methods.
Help us grow and support the SHPDC’s mission: to improve the sustainable practices of the building industry through education and training and by fostering a community of shared knowledge and learning.
Ticket Price: $50 minimum donation includes dinner and refreshments
This course teaches carpenters how to apply fundamental building skills to high-performance construction projects. Topics focus on the four layers of a high-performance house: water, air, vapor, and thermal. Throughout the 4-week course, students will learn high-performance essentials through building science lessons and hands-on practice with mock-up assemblies. The multi-faceted learning approach provides carpenters with a holistic understanding of high-performance construction from building science to install. Through classroom concepts, hands-on training, and project management overview, this class is ideal for any carpenter who wants to excel in high-performance construction.
In this afternoon workshop sponsored by the Mass Save Passive House & All-Electric Homes Training Program, attendees will learn the basic building science principles behind Passive House and High-Performance construction and then see them in action on our pod assemblies. Learn about the critical layers of a high-performance envelope, including thermal, air, vapor, and water barriers and how they interact and tie-in to the assembly. Multiple types of insulation material and air-barrier systems will be demonstrated and reviewed. Learn what it will take to build to Passive House and achieve the lower HERS scores required by the state’s new building code.
This course teaches carpenters how to apply fundamental building skills to high-performance construction projects. Topics focus on the four layers of a high-performance house: water, air, vapor, and thermal. Throughout the 6-week course, students will learn high-performance essentials through building science lessons and hands-on practice with mock-up assemblies. The multi-faceted learning approach provides carpenters with a holistic understanding of high-performance construction from building science to install. Through classroom concepts, hands-on training, and project management overview, this class is ideal for any carpenter who wants to excel in high-performance construction.
Please join Nick Falkoff and the Board of Directors of the SHPDC for our Fall Fundraiser & Open House at the newly opened Barn Studio!
Thursday, October 13th from 4:00-7:00pm
(Rain Date: October 14th)
Learn about the Studio for High-Performance Design and Construction’s programs and see the results of our recent 6-week hands-on course where professional carpenters worked together to build a series of “pods” demonstrating different building assemblies and details. Check out our new workshop space at the “Barn Studio” where we are now offering hands-on building courses.
We’ll also share our plans for 2023 and how you can help support the SHPDC’s mission: to improve the sustainable practices of the building industry through education and training and by fostering a community of shared knowledge and learning.
Ticket Price: $50 minimum donation includes dinner and refreshments
This course teaches carpenters how to apply fundamental building skills to high-performance construction projects. Topics focus on the four layers of a high-performance house: water, air, vapor, and thermal. Throughout the 6-week course, students will learn high-performance essentials through building science lessons and hands-on practice with mock-up assemblies. The multi-faceted learning approach provides carpenters with a holistic understanding of high-performance construction from building science to install. Through classroom concepts, hands-on training, and project management overview, this class is ideal for any carpenter who wants to excel in high-performance construction.
The Certified Passive House Designer (Consultant) Training is the premier training program for Passive House building professionals working on residential, institutional, and commercial projects. This course dives into what makes Passive House buildings tick and builds a foundation of knowledge and skill to integrate Passive House building design standards into any building project. This course is specifically designed to teach the international Passive House Standard (PHI) to American professionals in the U.S. construction industry using IP units, and is required prior to taking the CPHD/C professional certification exam.
BS for Carpenters of Greater Boston is back and in-person!
Join other carpenters, builders, and construction professionals for an evening of networking, presentations, and discussion on building science and construction techniques for high-performance building. Each month, we will have short presentations from guest speakers around a chosen topic and then open discussion among the group. Drinks and snacks are provided and attendance is open to all.
Building Science for Carpenters is an ongoing series co-sponsored by the Studio for High-Performance Design & Construction (StudioHPDC), the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston (BRAGB), and Passive House Massachusetts (PHMA).
This event is free and open to the public, though reservation is required.
This 4-part series led by Elise Bernstein will walk you through the steps to plan for biodiversity on your property and practices you can use in each season.
Session 1: Spring Planning/Winter Practices - February 23 - Watch recording here.
Session 2: Summer Planning/Spring Practices - March 23rd - Watch recording here.
Session 3: Fall Planning/Summer Practices - April 20 - Watch recording here.
Session 4: Winter Planning/Fall Practices - May 18
All sessions will be held via Zoom on Wednesdays at 7:00pm. The series is free and open to the public.
NEW DATE - FEB 1st
In our last session of the Home Electrification Series, we will review options for photovoltaics to produce renewable electricity at your home, battery storage, and EV car charging. We’ll talk about when you may need to consider upgrading your electric service during the process of electrification, and how you can incorporate smart tech and monitor your energy use over time.
Presenters: Malcolm Sonnett, Revision Energy and Nick Falkoff, Auburndale Builders
In the fifth session of our Home Electrification Series, we’ll review options for electric cooking and range hoods. We’ll look at induction stoves as well as electric resistance ranges, and talk about the importance of exhaust hoods for good indoor air quality. We’ll also cover how to introduce makeup air to offset exhaust from range hoods.
Presenters: Kate Stephenson, HELM Construction Solutions and Nick Falkoff, Auburndale Builders
In the fourth session of our Home Electrification Series, we’ll look at options for electrifying your hot water system. We’ll talk about heat pump hot water heaters, instantaneous hot water, and resistance electric hot water heaters, and the best applications for each. We’ll also cover dehumidification and how heat pump hot water heaters can help to reduce humidity loads.
Presenters: Nick Falkoff, Auburndale Builders and Aaron Gunderson, Passive House Massachusetts
In the third session of our Home Electrification Series, we will explore options for heating your home with electricity instead of fossil fuels. We’ll explain different types of heat pumps available (air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, ducted and wall mounted) and their best applications. We will review hybrid systems which pair heat pumps with existing heating systems as a transition strategy. The presentation will also cover operating costs of electric systems vs. fossil fuels.
Presenters: Travis Anderson, Placetailor and Nick Falkoff, Auburndale Builders
In the second session of our Home Electrification Series, we’ll review how to assess and improve your home’s building envelope, including insulation and air sealing. Before you look to replace any of your fossil fuel heating systems, it’s critical to reduce your heating load wherever possible. We’ll cover available incentives and rebates through MassSave that can help offset the cost of weatherization and envelope improvements.
Presenters: Aaron Gunderson, Passive House Massachusetts and Travis Anderson, Placetailor
Join the Studio for High Performance Design and Construction for the first in a six-part series on Home Electrification. In this series we’ll explore ways homeowners can take steps to get their homes off of fossil fuels through electrification.
In the first session we’ll provide an overview of the six sessions and dive into how to assess opportunities for electrification, and calculate your home’s annual energy use as the first step.
Presenters: Kate Stephenson, HELM Construction Solutions and Aaron Gunderson, Passive House Massachusetts
Free and open to the public via Zoom.
With the advancement of cross laminated timber technologies and case studies popping up across the nation, this session will focus on local project teams that are currently diving into CLT as a building type. Teams will discuss the benefits of heavy timber as well as the lessons learned "so far" about what it takes to develop, design and construct CLT housing in Massachusetts.
Moderated by Travis Anderson, Placetailor
This introductory session for homeowners, buyers, renovators and others with an interest in energy-efficient homes includes an overview of high-performance homes, Zero-Energy, LEED, and the Passive House standard, as well as a cost/benefit guide to understanding home performance decisions and lessons learned in energy-efficient living from an building expert and high-performance homeowner.
Presenter: Aaron Gunderson, Executive Director, Passive House Massachusetts
Join us for a discussion of indoor air quality with new and existing buildings. What is good indoor air? How do we monitor it? What are the best monitoring devices on the market for different purposes?
Nick Falkoff and Aaron Gunderson lead this discussion with guest speaker Mike Duclos to answer questions and talk about some of their experiences with IAQ and monitoring.
BS for Carpenters returns a virtual meet-up. Several of our regulars will highlight projects they’ve working on and we'll open up the floor to group discussion. BYOB!
Join us for a discussion of indoor air quality with new and existing buildings. What are are some of the deliverables we are trying to define for our clients with indoor air quality? How do we define quality in relation to CO2 and Relative Humidity? How do we monitor these? What sorts of monitors are on the market?
Nick Falkoff leads this discussion with guest speaker Mike Duclos to answer questions and talk about some of their experiences with IAQ and monitoring.
Join us for a heated group discussion of the pros and cons of burning wood in a tight home. Passive House standards say no combustion, but clients keep asking for them. Are there good options for well sealed wood stoves with makeup air out there? What about other alternatives like electric fireplaces? We'll discuss what's worked and what hasn't worked with designers and builders who have installed these various products.
Facilitated by Kate Stephenson, HELM Construction Solutions with guest appearances from a handful of high performance builders and engineers.
BS for Carpenters returns from hiatus for a virtual meet-up. Several of our regulars will highlight projects they’ve working on since we last met and the group will have an open discussion on the value of high-performance construction.
Join other carpenters, builders, and construction professionals for an evening of networking, presentations, and discussion on building science and construction techniques for high-performance building. Each month, we will have short presentations from guest speakers around a chosen topic and then open discussion among the group.
Join other carpenters, builders, and construction professionals for an evening of networking, presentations, and discussion on building science and construction techniques for high-performance building. Each month, we will have short presentations from guest speakers around a chosen topic and then open discussion among the group. Drinks and snacks are provided and attendance is open to all.
Join us for the exhibit of the work of Zen Saito. Zen’s one-of-a-kind pieces bring to life intriguing negative space, detailed craftsmanship, and a myriad of three-dimensional enchantments that often make viewers linger and forget the passage of time.
Join other carpenters, builders, and construction professionals for an evening of networking, presentations, and discussion on building science and construction techniques for high-performance building. Each month, we will have short presentations from guest speakers around a chosen topic and then open discussion among the group. Drinks and snacks are provided and attendance is open to all.
Are you ready to design comfortable, resilient and healthy buildings that are optimized for an all-renewable energy grid? This course provides tools, techniques, and tips for how to do this for all building types. With 5 days of in-class instruction and additional e-learning modules that can be completed at one’s own pace, participants will get a thorough grounding in the critical aspects of Passive House design and construction. Participants will be able to apply the lessons learned directly to their real-world work experience, and join a team in making Passive House buildings. On successfully passing the exam, participants will receive a five-year registration as an internationally accredited Certified Passive House Designer or Consultant.
Join other carpenters, builders, and construction professionals for an evening of networking, presentations, and discussion on building science and construction techniques for high-performance building. Each month, we will have short presentations from guest speakers around a chosen topic and then open discussion among the group. Drinks and snacks are provided and attendance is open to all
The PHIUS CPHB training program prepares construction professionals to meet the passive house challenge. The course offers real-world insights into on-site implementation as well as counseling and advice on both the practical and business concerns specific to passive house. The material covers not only craftsmanship, but also risks and liability to the passive house contractor and guidance in both problem-solving and (more importantly) problem avoidance.
