Dr. Riley Carter
Learn how to prevent hidden flaws in airtightness, HVAC, and insulation detailing—free Passive House starter guide
This free guide reveals the
7 Most Common Construction Mistakes
That cost builders and homeowners comfort, durability, and dollars.
A free eBook to help you fix the most common performance killers before they’re built in.
7 Mistakes That Undermine ‘Efficient’ Homes—And How to Fix Them
Even the most well-intentioned projects can fail due to common—but costly—errors.
This book breaks down the 7 most frequent mistakes that compromise performance, efficiency, and indoor comfort in modern homes.
Stop repeating the same mistakes that undermine high-performance building.
Get the clarity and strategy you need—in one concise, expert-crafted guide.
The Hidden Traps in High-Performance Homebuilding
Why Even the Best-Intentioned Projects Fall Short
Designing a high-performance home isn’t just about adding insulation or selecting triple-glazed windows. It’s about understanding how dozens of small decisions—made at different phases by different teams—interact to shape the outcome. This guide, “7 Mistakes That Sabotage High-Performance Homes”, distills years of practical experience into a concise breakdown of the most common and most damaging pitfalls in modern residential architecture.
The Complexity Behind Simplicity
One of the central messages of the book is that complexity is often the enemy of performance. Builders and designers may overengineer walls, pile on expensive materials, or introduce intricate mechanical systems, believing that more is better. But in high-performance construction, clarity of purpose and consistency in execution matter far more than technical showmanship.
Even a modestly built home can outperform a flashy one if the design decisions align and reinforce each other. The book explores this in depth, showing how “smart” buildings often fail under real-world conditions.
Seven Patterns of Failure—And What They Reveal
The seven mistakes explored in the book aren’t just technical oversights—they’re systemic patterns. For example, failing to define clear performance criteria at the outset can lead to mismatched goals between the architect and builder. Misunderstanding envelope detailing, or overlooking the interactions between ventilation and airtightness, can turn good intentions into persistent performance failures. Each chapter not only names a common mistake but also explores its root cause and how it typically plays out on real projects.
Coordination: The Missing Link
Performance doesn’t come from specs alone; it comes from collaboration. The book emphasizes how often design teams, contractors, and consultants operate in silos, each optimizing their piece without understanding the whole. As a result, homes become vulnerable not from lack of ambition, but from a lack of integration. Solutions, the book argues, are often simple—but require intentional alignment across all players.
Clarity Before Complexity
The guide advocates for clarity: clear design intent, clear detailing, and clear communication. Especially for those working within Passive House or Net Zero frameworks, this shift toward clarity is often what separates a good build from a failed one. It’s a reminder that performance relies on how decisions connect—not just which materials are chosen.
For Architects, Builders, and Anyone Who Wants Better Homes
Whether you’re a seasoned architect, an ambitious builder, or a homeowner navigating a high-efficiency project, this book delivers insights that apply across the board. It’s not a manual full of formulas or software—it’s a focused reflection on the human and structural habits that silently sabotage performance. And it gives you the language and concepts you need to avoid them.