Abstract

The residential construction industry faces increasing demands for energy-efficient and sustainable housing solutions. In the U.S., residential buildings significantly contribute to energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, highlighting the need for enhanced building envelope performance. This study compares four residential structures: a traditional code-compliant wood-framed structure built in 1970, a traditional code-compliant wood-framed structure built in 2016, a modular code-compliant wood framed structure built in 2024, and a thin-shell concrete dome built in 2022. The analysis focuses on airtightness, acoustic insulation, passive thermal performance, and life-cycle carbon emissions, including both embodied (cradle-to-gate) and operational energy use. Field-based methods included blower door testing, year-long interior temperature monitoring in Utah County, and measurements of airborne sound transmission loss using STC and OITC ratings. Life-cycle carbon emissions were estimated from cradle-to-gate material data and operational energy use based on monitored heating, cooling loads, and HVAC modeling. Results indicate that construction method and assembly quality are as significant as material selection in overall performance. The concrete dome outperformed all other structures in thermal stability, airtightness, and acoustic insulation, due to its monolithic form, continuous insulation, and high thermal mass. The modular structure showed strong performance, especially in airtightness and acoustics, due to factory-controlled processes. Despite material upgrades, the 1970 structure exhibited greater thermal variability than the 2016 structure. Life-cycle assessment revealed that although the concrete dome has a higher embodied carbon footprint, it achieves 15-50% lower total GHG emissions over 20, 50, and 100 years because of reduced operational energy demands. These findings highlight alternative methods like concrete domes and modular prefabrication as sustainable solutions for future residential buildings.

Degree

MS

College and Department

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering; Civil and Environmental Engineering

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2025-07-21

Document Type

Thesis

Keywords

airtightness, sustainability, acoustic insulation, heat transfer, carbon emissions

Language

english

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