Technology Tuesday: Adaptive Weather Resistant Barrier (AWRB)

Tomorrow is April Fools Day. BUT… 

 Before you go leaving a BIG Krispy Kreme doughnut box in your breakroom filled with veggies, covering someone’s workstation (and everything in it) with foil, or placing bubble wrap under a rug in a common area and watching as people walk by, I want to be sure we get our bi-weekly dose of energy-efficient technology in. 

 I came across a brand new technology in my research which I am very excited about.  Wouldn’t it be amazing if there was a building envelope barrier that can help control moisture, prevent mold, and increase energy efficiency?  It is in development right now and it is called Adaptive Weather Resistant Barrier (AWRB). 

 I feel very passionate about building envelope.  There can be no energy efficiency plan without building envelop.  This is primarily because, in most buildings, the highest energy costs are in heating and air conditioning.  Therefore, everything possible must be done to reduce waste in this area.  One of the primary benefits of AWRB is that it controls water content in the wall cavity, which reduces the amount of latent heat load on the HVAC system. 

 You might be wondering now how this is all possible.  The AWRB is dynamic.  While existing building envelope is very good at keeping water out, it is very ineffective in the event water actually gets in and remains that way, for the most part.  This can occur if there is a malfunction or leak.  However, with AWRB, if water does permeate it, it is effective in allowing that water to dry which mitigates a whole host of other issues. 

 I will be keeping an eye out for this technology going forward. 

 Happy (and harmless) April Fooling! 

Sources: 
https://bestlifeonline.com/harmless-april-fools-pranks/ 
https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/05/f62/bto-peer–2019-ea-membranes-adaptive-weather-resistant-barrier.pdf 
https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/downloads/adaptive-weather-resistant-barrier-building-envelopes-control-moisture 

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