Panelized envelope
The "envelope" is a building's outer shell: walls, roof, and floor. Ours were built in a factory by BPublic Prefab, instead of stick by stick out in the weather. This means tighter tolerances and fewer mistakes.
And maybe the world's smallest Passive House?
You're standing in front of a Bauen Build job site office (or "job box".) A place for our site manager to answer emails, dodge weather, and drink coffee in peace. We could have bought a plastic box from a big-box store. Instead, we built it the only way we know how.
The "envelope" is a building's outer shell: walls, roof, and floor. Ours were built in a factory by BPublic Prefab, instead of stick by stick out in the weather. This means tighter tolerances and fewer mistakes.
Continuous insulation and a proper air barrier. Insulation slows heat moving in or out; air sealing stops the air leaks through gaps. Yes, we did it on a shed.
A WRB is a layer behind the cladding that keeps wind-driven rain off the structure while still letting the wall dry out. Without it, it can lead to rot and mold.
One triple-glazed window. (It cost more than the desk inside.) Windows are the weakest point in most buildings, leaking heat far faster than the walls. Three panes with insulating gas between them fix that, and this one was chosen for our climate and orientation.
Conditioned, comfortable, and quiet. Our site manager has a better indoor environment than most offices. And because the shed is so well sealed and insulated, it takes almost no energy to keep it that way.
Our crew that built this shed each hold the Certified Passive House Tradesperson credential, the industry standard for builders trained on high-performance construction. The airtightness, insulation, and envelope was executed by a team that understands the science.
First, what's a Passive House? Simply put, it's the "Yeti Cooler of homes." It's the most rigorous building standard in the world for energy efficiency and comfort. A Passive House is so well insulated and so airtight that it stays comfortable year-round using a fraction of the energy of a normal house. Learn more about Passive House →
So when we needed a job site office, we built it to the same standard. The building science that makes a Passive House comfortable, durable, and efficient works exactly the same at 80 square feet as it does at 8,000.