Conventional energy-efficient wall assemblies suffer from thermal bridging and moisture entrapment due to thick insulation cavities and multiple layers of sheathing. The experimental house demonstrates that by combining advanced membrane technology with a tensile enclosure, an assembly with high thermal performance can be produced, while reducing thermal bridging and moisture entrapment The design was informed by modeling thermal and hygrothermal performance using a number of different software tools including the thermodynamic and hygrothermal analysis tools WUFI Passive and WUFI Plus, and the day lighting simulation tool DIVA. Our prototype demonstrated an innovative low U-value wall assembly structure with an insulation system that was quick to install, lightweight, and adjustable to many forms while minimizing thermal bridging and moisture buildup.
