Dive summary:

• Efficient building designs and top-notch equipment can be undermined by designers and builders that don't understand how the building's assembly affects efficiency.
• The same equipment can have heating load variances of as much as 30% and cooling load deviations of up to 200%..
• Thermal bridging is one of the larger issues, with building materials such as steel studs or roofing nails or staples creating energy pathways and losses that can, for example turn an R-30 rated wall into an R-12 barrier.

From the article:

“Not understanding membrane continuity, control of moisture at building interface joints and overall thermal performance can lead to a situation no one wants to face.” ...