Category: Featured Articles

Value-Engineered HVAC Systems
Building Knowledge
Fernando Pages Ruiz

Value-Engineered HVAC: Smarter Duct Design Costs and Efficiency

A value-engineered HVAC system reduces duct costs, right-sizes equipment, and improves energy efficiency for affordable comfort. The Push for Smarter HVAC Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems account for some of the highest energy expenses in a home. With

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Affordable Plumbing Fixtures
Building Knowledge
Fernando Pages Ruiz

Affordable Plumbing Fixtures: Save Money Without Sacrificing Quality

When building or renovating a home, affordable plumbing fixtures and appliances is everyone’s dream because it can quietly drive up costs. From toilets and sinks to water heaters and dishwashers, every selection affects your budget, labor costs, and long-term maintenance.

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Best Plumbing Pipes: PEX, CPVC, and Copper Compared
Building Knowledge
Fernando Pages Ruiz

Best Plumbing Pipes: PEX, CPVC, and Copper Compared

When building or renovating a home, the choice of best plumbing pipes directly impacts cost, efficiency, and long-term reliability. Modern homebuilders now have more options than ever before: traditional copper, flexible PEX, and cost-effective CPVC dominate residential projects, each with

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Foundation Cost-Saving Strategies in Residential Construction
Building Knowledge
Fernando Pages Ruiz

Foundation Cost-Saving Strategies: Build Strong Without Overspending

When it comes to cutting construction costs, foundation cost-saving strategies are often overlooked. But they shouldn’t be. Most residential foundations are oversized, overengineered, and more expensive than they need to be. Whether you’re building your own home or managing a

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Transit-oriented development
Building Knowledge
Fernando Pages Ruiz

Density Matters: Why Smart Cities Start With Smart Density

Transit-oriented development – Density Matters  Density isn’t just a number—it’s the core framework behind everything that makes a city functional. From transit and schools to housing and climate goals, density matters more than building height or form. At CNU 33,

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prefabricated bathrooms and kitchens
Building Knowledge
Fernando Pages Ruiz

Prefabricated Bathrooms and Kitchens

Prefabricated bathrooms and kitchens represent a growing trend in offsite construction, with significant applications in commercial and institutional projects. This post examines the market’s current state, focusing on European manufacturers like Baudet and HVA Concept, as well as U.S. companies

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Panelized Facades
Building Knowledge
Fernando Pages Ruiz

Panelized Facades and the Path Forward in Modular Construction

As modular construction evolves, panelized facades can significantly advance offsite building practices, particularly in retrofit applications aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing timelines. While Europe leads in adopting complete wall systems with pre-installed elements such as windows and cladding,

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Prefabricated Construction: Building Affordable Homes
Building Knowledge
Fernando Pages Ruiz

The Evolution of Prefabricated Construction: Focusing on High-Skill Components

The Prefabricated Construction construction industry is undergoing a shift, prioritizing the prefabrication of complex, high-value components over entire buildings. This change addresses the challenges of high transportation costs, labor shortages, and escalating project timelines. The first post delves into this

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