Why is building science important?
North Americans spend more than 90 percent of their life indoors. While inside buildings, the quality of our lives is directly dependent upon the quality of the environment within that building.
Buildings are constructions that provide a desired environment (thermal, hygric, visual, acoustical, spiritual, etc.) for human use and occupancy. The buildings that we use, as homes, for work and recreation, and as institutions, represent one of the most basic and important and durable physical products.
The building stock represents one of the largest components of any country's capital wealth and a significant proportion of the total productive effort of the country is spent on producing, operating, maintaining and modifying these buildings. For instance, about one-third of the fuel energy consumed in North America is used to condition buildings; more energy per capita than any other continent.