Among other things, there is shown embodiments of an enclosure such as a portable building with features focusing on overall improvement in energy usage. Wall, roof and floor configurations are disclosed that provide significant energy savings. Methods are also disclosed for preparing such features and/or refitting existing portable buildings for such energy savings.

A construction panel comprising a rigid insulation layer having an interior surface and an exterior surface, an outer concrete wythe secured to the exterior surface of the insulation layer, an inner concrete wythe secured to the interior surface of the insulation layer, a grid system which ties the outer concrete wythe to the inner concrete wythe and a capillary tube system located within the construction panel wherein liquid is passed through the tubing in order to increase or decrease the temperature of the construction panel.

The invention provides a multi-channel plate (100) comprising (i) a plurality of parallel arranged channels (1) and (ii) at least a light source (10) configured to provide light source light (11), wherein a first channel (110) includes a light transmissive part (12), wherein the light source (10) is configured to provide light source light (11) downstream from the light transmissive part (12) and external from the first channel (110) as a first lighting function, and wherein the multi-channel plate (100) includes a second channel (120), configured to provide an additional function different from said first lighting function.

The invention provides a multi-channel plate (100) comprising (i) a plurality of parallel arranged channels (1) and (ii) at least a light source (10) configured to provide light source light (11), wherein a first channel (110) includes a light transmissive part (12), wherein the light source (10) is configured to provide light source light (11) downstream from the light transmissive part (12) and external from the first channel (110) as a first lighting function, and wherein the multi-channel plate (100) includes a second channel (120), configured to provide an additional function different from said first lighting function.

The present invention relates to a thermal shell for a building, apt to constitute a multi-layer system formed by three integral elements having, respectively, from the outside towards the inside: an external peripheral wall/casing with the function of thermal insulating wall; an interspace filled with air to be conditioned; an internal wall/casing with the function of heat-radiating wall/casing; comprising: a covering structure (10) positioned around the building (1), or part of said building (1), the covering structure (10) comprising, proceeding from the outside towards the inside of the building (1): a coating (11), an insulating layer (16) and an interspace (12); the interspace (12) containing air and forming a closed and isolated room with respect to the surrounding environment; means (13) of thermal conditioning of the air contained in the interspace, so that the shell defines an internal wall/casing.

Improvements in pre-fabricated modular wall sections to construct a building or house is disclosed. Adjacent side of the wall sections are tapered and dovetailed that lock-in-place. The dovetails are spaced to reduce the height that one section must be lifted to engage in an adjoining wall section. The footers/base plate will also have integrated earthquake or hurricane hold-downs in the footer/base plate that aligns and can be secured from the foundation to the wall sections. The connection of the wall section to the foundation to have counter flashing at the concrete insert and the wall-to-wall sections can be self-flashed. The wall sections can have GPS locators for positioning the wall sections. Plumbing and electrical conduit creating circuits that can be integrated into the walls and are connected sealed or bonded together.

An insulation board assembly includes an insulation board body that has a front face, a back face, a top edge, and a bottom edge. The back face has a drainage channel extending from the top edge to the bottom edge. A drainage insert is positioned in the drainage channel proximate the bottom edge of the insulation board body. The drainage insert has a front face, a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges, and an insert height measured between the top edge and the bottom edge of the drainage insert. The drainage insert defines at least one interior drainage passage extending from the top edge of the drainage insert to the bottom edge of the drainage insert. A channel height of the drainage channel is preferably at least twice the insert height.

An insulation board assembly includes an insulation board body that has a front face, a back face, a top edge, and a bottom edge. The back face has a drainage channel extending from the top edge to the bottom edge. A drainage insert is positioned in the drainage channel proximate the bottom edge of the insulation board body. The drainage insert has a front face, a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges, and an insert height measured between the top edge and the bottom edge of the drainage insert. The drainage insert defines at least one interior drainage passage extending from the top edge of the drainage insert to the bottom edge of the drainage insert. A channel height of the drainage channel is preferably at least twice the insert height.

A structural support includes a first side-wall, a second side-wall, a first planar wall, and a second planar wall. The structural support further includes internal walls that are disposed between the first side-wall and the second side wall, and extend from a first inner surface of the first planar wall to a second inner surface of the second planar wall. The first side-wall, the second side-wall, the first planar wall, and the second planar wall define connector components. The internal walls define a plurality of channels between the connector components.

A fitting attachable to a cross-laminated panel provides a chase, plumbing space, airflow duct, or wiring route on an edge of the cross-laminated panel. The fitting may run between edges of multiple cross-laminated panels that contain integral hollow members, forming a customizable network of contiguous coplanar routing paths, accessible without installing pipes and wires behind, or in front of the cross-laminated panels. The fitting may also provide a vertical chase for single or multiple cross-laminated panels. The fitting takes advantage of one or more hollow members in the cross-laminated panels to provide contiguous routing paths for wires, pipes, and venting within the cross-laminated panels themselves, extending across any layout of multiple cross-laminated panels. The fitting may additionally serve as mechanical support for attachment of adjacent panels. Further, the fitting may provide structural connection for the CLT panels as required to meet structural code requirements for the building.