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.

The panel includes a water resistant barrier layer secured atop its outward facing surface. The water resistant barrier layer includes a skid resistant surface. The panels are made of lignocellulosic material. The water resistant and skid resistant surface may include indicia for aligning strips of tape or for aligning fasteners. A method for manufacturing the water resistant building panels is also disclosed and includes the steps of feeding paper onto a forming belt, depositing lignocellulosic material and the binding agent onto the forming belt so as to form a lignocellulosic mat, applying heat and pressure so as to impart the skid resistant surface on the paper, and cutting panels to predetermined sizes.

Support members for a roof system are provided to allow for positioning panels of a roof apart from building members so that building components, such as insulation may be placed between the roof panels and the building members. The support members may be utilized in new buildings or to retrofit existing buildings. Each of the support members may comprise a single support member that has a base portion operatively coupled to an offset portion that is operatively coupled to an upper portion. One or more channels may be provided in the base portion, offset portion, and/or the upper portion to provide structural support and to allow the support members to be operatively coupled to each other and other building members without the need for additional components.

A framing assembly has at least one rafter vent assembly having a connecting member with a plurality of vent tubes for providing supplemental ventilation and additional structural support to a frame of a building structure. The at least one rafter vent assembly may be an interior rafter vent assembly or an exterior rafter vent assembly. The interior rafter vent assembly has at least one brace member and a connecting member, with the connecting member having a connecting plate, two end plates, and the plurality of vent tubes. The exterior rafter vent assembly has the connecting member that has a connecting plate and the plurality of vent tubes. The framing assembly also preferably has a plurality of modified structural insulated panels (SIPs) and modified rafter splines.

Support members for a roof system are provided to allow for positioning panels of a roof apart from building members so that building components, such as insulation may be placed between the roof panels and the building members. The support members may be utilized in new buildings or to retrofit existing buildings. Each of the support members may comprise a single support member that has a base portion operatively coupled to an offset portion that is operatively coupled to an upper portion. One or more channels may be provided in the base portion, offset portion, and/or the upper portion to provide structural support and to allow the support members to be operatively coupled to each other and other building members without the need for additional components.

A roof product has a thermal heat storage layer, a vent layer with channels for transferring excess heat through a length of the roof product, and a flame retardant to suppress fire through the vent layer. These three materials form a unitary structure. The roof product may have a radiant layer, the thermal heat storage layer and the vent layer to form the unitary structure. The roof products are assembled in an abutting configuration on the roof of a building. The vent layer vents excess heat from an eave of the roof up to a ridge of the roof and out to atmosphere. The roof products manage thermal energy in the roof by storing thermal heat with the unitary roof product during a heating cycle; venting excess heat through the unitary product; and releasing the stored thermal heat from the unitary product into or out of the building during a cooling cycle.

Compositions comprising highly reflective microcrystalline/amorphous materials are provided. In some instances, the highly reflective materials are microcrystalline or amorphous carbonate materials, which may include calcium and/or magnesium carbonate. In some instances, the materials are CO.sub.2 sequestering materials. Also provided are methods of making and using the compositions, e.g., to increase the albedo of a surface, to mitigate urban heat island effects, etc.

A roof system and related methods for installing the roof system. The roof system includes a roof diaphragm including a nail board and an insulating panel connected to the nail board, wherein the insulating panel is adapted to be positioned between the nail board and a roof frame so that the insulating panel engages the roof frame. In several exemplary embodiments, the nail board comprises one or both of: oriented strand board (OSB) and plywood. In several exemplary embodiments, the insulating panel comprises one or both of: a closed-cell rigid polyisocyanurate (polyiso) foam core and a polystyrene foam core. In several exemplary embodiments, the roof system further includes a plurality of nail board fasteners connecting the roof diaphragm to the roof frame, the nail board fasteners each extending through the nail board, through the insulating panel, and into the roof frame to a depth.

A cover for closing an access opening that leads to an infrequently used space within a building, such as an attic, that generally provides an air seal, thermal insulation and/or acoustic insulation at the access opening. The cover may be in one or two portions, including a closure alone or a closure and a frame having an aperture that can be closed by engagement between the closure and the frame. When the cover is used alone it engages a frame or a wall circumscribing the access opening. The cover is sized and shaped to close a stairwell, or the opening at one end of a stairway, an opening in a generally vertical wall, a hatch, or a pull down ladder. The closure and frame are each made of one or more components.

A pre-engineered metal building configured to reduce air leakage through the shell of the building by providing an insulation system for fully sealing an enclosed space within the structural frame of the building. The insulation system includes a vapor barrier that defines the enclosed space, at least one insulation layer, and a continuous air barrier. Roof sheeting and side wall facing are attachable to the structural frame to form a shell about the building, and at least a portion of the insulation system is positioned between the shell and the structural frame.