Blog » building science

Why New Siding is a HUGE Missed Opportunity in Residential Energy Retrofits

Shawna HendersonNovember 20, 2023

So let’s talk about exterior insulation retrofits and how they are a relatively easy project to add into a job where it's time to replace the cladding, but we can't track how many jobs have insulation added, or how much/how well it's installed. Right off the bat, it’s most cost effective to add insulation to the outside of the house and to replace windows at the same time as recladding. This is the point at which we can make the biggest difference in the long-term durability, comfort and energy performance for the homeowner. As incentive programs are often based on single measures, these two integral upgrades are often disconnected.

The Importance of Whole House Energy Retrofits in Canada

Shawna HendersonOctober 20, 2023

As the demand for housing continues to grow, it is more important than ever to prioritize energy efficiency and sustainability in residential construction and renovation. Whole house energy retrofits play a crucial role in meeting these goals, while also addressing the need for resiliency in the face of climate change and upcoming regulatory changes.

BC Energy Step Code: Here's why BC builders need only modules 3, 4, and 5

Shawna HendersonNovember 17, 2022

In fact, Blue House Energy only offers these 3 out of the 8 mandatory modules — why? Envelope First. That’s why. Blue House Energy online construction courses - Building Science, Construction Technology, Net Zero Energy - all emphasize understanding the envelope first, then understanding the fundamentals of HVAC systems. Our experience...

What a Difference a Decade Makes!

Shawna HendersonAugust 30, 2022

Blue House Energy started out as a thought experiment: how could we deliver standardized training in building science and construction technology to as many people as possible. First, it was Shawna criss-crossing the province, the country, the continent. Ya, right. Single mom away for most of the year? Not gonna...

This Must Be The Place, Season 3: Another 18 Episodes of BS*

Shawna HendersonJuly 06, 2022

Hard to believe, but 7 July is the launch of Season Three of This Must Be the Place: The Building Science podcast! With 36 great episodes under our belt, we decided to change things up a bit for this season. Our next 18 episodes will be broken into three themes,...

How 18 Building Science Podcasts Make Me A Better Person

Shawna HendersonJune 07, 20221 comment

Listening to podcasts is a great way to expand your understanding of the world. As a podcaster myself, I love to ask questions and then sit back and listen to other people’s stories and their takes on our industry, and how the built environment affects each and every one of...

International Women's Day

Shawna HendersonMarch 08, 2022

This year marks the second season of This Must Be The Place- The Building Science Podcast. Shawna has welcomed a number of women to the table for thoughtful, engaging conversation in all areas of the sector. Listen to how they inspire change and innovation to help create better building practices, policy, and guidelines that impact energy efficiency.

Adventures with Monitors, Humidifiers and Filters

Shawna HendersonMarch 03, 2022

What do building science wonks do in the vague days between Christmas and New Years? They eat and rest and eat and rest, and then get bored and start to wonder about things like relative humidity, indoor air quality, air cleaners and filtration, and how they relate to their own house. Well, that’s what I did this year.

Energy Advisor: What's the Business Case?

Shawna HendersonJune 24, 2021

Blue House Energy is inundated w/requests from folks interested in becoming an Energy Advisor.  We’re not complaining!  No, no, no, we’re super excited to answer all of your questions. So this is the first in a series on the business of being an EA, reflecting some of the common questions...

A Primer on Climate Zones for Home Construction in Canada

Shawna HendersonMay 19, 2021

By designing for the future and retrofitting with climate in mind, buildings can be made more resilient and better equipped to handle changing temperature regimes. By taking a holistic approach and considering factors such as climate types, average temperatures, and precipitation, we can ensure that our buildings are not only code-compliant but also energy-efficient and comfortable for their occupants.

Three Things You Need to Know About Energy Efficiency in Houses

Shawna HendersonFebruary 20, 2017

If you work in home construction and renovation, you know about energy efficiency measures. But do you really know it? If you’re trying to figure out if you need this course or not, take a shot at answering these questions: What happens to the neutral pressure plane when you air...

RaterFest! 2016

Shawna HendersonAugust 31, 2016

We're excited. Shawna's leading a session at EnergyLogic's un-conference, RaterFest, this year (Sep 15-18). She gets to talk about her favorite subject: the knowledge gap.Its been a constant thread through the last couple of decades: leaps and bounds in the understanding of building science, leading to a bunch of well-trained...

The Three Videos BC Builders Need to Watch!

Shawna HendersonMarch 23, 2016

As of October 2015, the HPO beefed up the licensing process for builders. New applicants must meet certain competency requirements and existing builders will have to hit a level of continuing professional development (CPD) credits to maintain their good standing. The new requirements are being phased in over a 15...

How much of a building science wonk is BHE CEO Shawna?

Shawna HendersonMarch 09, 20161 comment

When they think you don't know but you know Got to love Marisa Tomei Posted by Hardcore Italians on Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Our Training just got more affordable

Shawna HendersonJanuary 13, 2015

Hey 2015! Here at Blue House Energy, we've a big thanks to everyone who took our Building Science Basics online course in 2014. We've been praised us to the skies <blush> for the quality of our work. We want to give more folks access to affordable, on-demand training. So, our...