ASHRAE is in The House:
Past, Present and Future Initiatives in Residential Building Performance
Residential buildings account for more than 20% of total energy use in the United States, and across the globe, homes represent the predominant building energy sector. While ASHRAE is widely recognized for defining and transforming commercial building practices through cornerstone standards such as 90.1, 189.1, and 62.1, its substantial impact on the residential sector is often less acknowledged.
In this presentation, Dr. Theresa Weston reviews ASHRAE's vital role in residential performance and examines what lies ahead:
The Past: A retrospective on the evolution of residential energy initiatives, early moisture management criteria, and the establishment of foundational guidance like ASHRAE Standard 160.
The Present: The contemporary standard landscape, including the transformation of Standard 90.2 into a premier leadership standard for energy and greenhouse gas performance, alongside ventilation requirements in Standard 62.2.
The Future: Emerging initiatives addressing resilience, extreme weather hardening, decarbonization, embodied carbon, advanced envelope assemblies, and integrated whole-house systems.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Theresa Weston is a building science research professional specializing in the durability and energy efficiency of buildings. Theresa started The Holt Weston Consultancy in November 2020 to foster innovation of building materials, and products to improve the resilience and sustainability of buildings. Prior to starting the Holt Weston Consultancy, Dr Weston was a DuPont Laureate with Dupont Safety and Construction business.
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2026
Time: 11:30 PM–1:00 PM
Location: Building 11 Lab Classroom
Format: In-Person & Virtual Option
Continuing Education: 1.0 PDH Credit (Certificate of Attendance provided)
Catering: Lunch is provided
Agenda:
Who Should Attend
This session connects building envelope science, whole-building mechanical ventilation, and national standards. It is recommended for:
HVAC & Mechanical Consulting Engineers: Understand how envelope air tightness, ventilation standards, and system sizing intersect in high-performance residential spaces.
Architects & Envelope Consultants: Review details for water-resistive barriers, moisture management, continuous insulation, and air leakage reduction.
Energy Modelers, Raters & Sustainability Coordinators: Discover the evolution of residential efficiency benchmarks and net-zero pathways under ASHRAE Standards 90.2 and 62.2.
Builders, Developers & General Contractors: Learn proven techniques for mitigating moisture risk and complying with updated codes.
Code Officials & Municipal Inspectors: Stay ahead of regional code transitions and technical interpretations.
Engineering & Architecture Students / Faculty: Gain exposure to real-world building science research and network with industry practitioners.
Key Takeaways for Attendees
Understand how ASHRAE residential standards influence energy efficiency, IAQ, and durability.
Analyze building physics strategies that mitigate interstitial moisture risks and thermal bridging.
Learn practical approaches to achieve net-zero readiness in residential construction.
Earn 1.0 PDH credit toward continuing education requirements.
Please register by Friday, October 30th.
Headcount needed for lunch.
