Just like the components of a building are connected and require taking a systems approach to building performance, Velum takes a similar approach to each project and engagement by leveraging both our building science knowledge and our practical real estate development experience to bring a comprehensive perspective when advising our clients.

We often say, “everything is factor and situation dependent” which is really just a reminder that no two situations are the same and shouldn’t be treated as such. While science is often binary, we live in a world of few absolutes and the problems our clients face often require nuance and pragmatism. We take a Bayesian approach to come up with actionable solutions to complex situations.

How this looks is that we test and design for your specific situation, and then we’ll walk you through not only the science and data behind potential solutions but also the real-world practical outcomes and economic ramifications so you have all the information to make informed decisions.

The best solutions come from matching the right information to the specific situation at hand. Our recommendations are tailored to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

Whether you need help diagnosing comfort issues in your home or you’re planning a new project and want to integrate proper building performance details to ensure a comfortable, durable, and high-performance building we offer a range of solutions based on your specific goals.

Learn more about what we do.

Building Performance is often viewed as singular metrics or concepts; most often as it relates to energy efficiency or how “green” a building may be. We view building performance as a culmination of characteristics rather than isolated concepts in a vacuum.

At Velum, building performance is described as:

Continuity: Starting with the four control layers, maintaining continuous control of the Water, Air, Thermal, and Vapor layers are fundamental. Beyond that, continuity leads to durability and resiliency. We view all building science decisions through an economic lens, and the durability of a building relates to the useful life and depreciation of its materials. Simply put, a building cannot be high-performing if it does not last over time.

Efficiency: If we have control over our enclosure, we can design systems that integrate and result in energy efficiency. Demand for energy in all forms is only increasing; being able to source and use that energy efficiently is core to building performance.

Comfort: 90% of an individual’s life is spent indoors. Studies continue to show the importance of indoor air quality to our health and longevity, a high-performance building should aid and not detract from that.

Data: At Velum, we believe in gathering as much information as possible in order to make informed decisions. We rely heavily on testing and collecting data to aid us in finding the right solutions for our clients. At the same time, singular data is not the end all and require thoughtful application and context. We utilize all factors and take a Bayesian approach to complex situations. We then test to confirm and verify details were followed, systems installed correctly, and a building is performing as designed. We don’t only focus on quality assurance at the end of a project, but also design for ease of continual testing, monitoring, and maintenance over time so our clients are taken care of over the life of a building.

Alignment: High-performance is not a broad brush but should be tailored to the factors as hand. At Velum, we begin with a core set of principles and align it with the client’s specific situation. Some details and specifications may be high-performing for one building, but not for another.

Passive building, originally passive house, is a building standard with the goal of creating buildings that are not only energy efficient, but also durable, healthy and comfortable. Passive buildings can be residential, multifamily, or commercial and are certified through Phius (Passive House Institute US), the leading organization in our industry.

The core passive building principles entail utilizing continuous insulation to minimize or eliminate thermal bridging, proper building enclosure details that lead to a tight building envelope while taking into account the four control layers, and project appropriate windows and ventilation systems to provide fresh air while recovering energy, resulting in minimal loads on mechanical heating and cooling systems.

On average, certified passive buildings result in 45-90% less energy consumption for heating and cooling, superior thermal comfort and indoor air quality, and increased durability and resiliency. While core passive building principles are the same, specific strategies and details to achieve them are climate and project specific.

As a Certified Passive Building Consultant with Phius, we can help guide your project through the required process if you’re seeking Project Certification.

We work with all key stakeholders of a building. Learn more about who we work with.

• Architects & Designers

• Builders

• Homeowners

Yes - we work with clients locally and nationally across all climate zones. This includes consulting and design engagements as well as 1:1 video calls.

Matthew Ngo

Founder and Principal, CPHC

Matthew is the founder and Principal Building Performance Consultant at Velum Building Strategies. He is a Phius Certified Passive Building Consultant, ACCA Certified HVAC Design Professional, and holds building science accreditations from Building Performance Institute (BPI).

While always having a love for real estate and architecture, throughout his career he has developed a passion for understand the building science and construction practices that lead to higher quality buildings. Unique from the building science industry, Matthew also brings over a decade of real estate investment experience having served as an owner, operator, investor, and portfolio manager at some of the largest institutional real estate investment platforms in the country where he’s been involved in the capitalization of over $1 Bn of single-family and multifamily construction, redevelopment, and acquisition projects. His extensive knowledge and experience in real estate investment, financial underwriting, and economic analysis allows for a comprehensive perspective in crafting custom solutions for his clients.

Throughout his career, he’s seen first-hand how misaligned building science, material choices, and investment decisions can lead to building performance inefficiencies, moisture and durability failures, and unhealthy living conditions. Those experiences inspired the creation of Velum Building Strategies to properly align building science principles with construction precision and appropriate financial strategies to ensure that every project achieves its desired outcome.

Matthew graduated from TCU with his Bachelors of Science in Biology and Economics. When he’s not working on Velum projects you can find him spending time with his wife and daughter, enjoying a glass of Burgundy or Barolo, sneaking out for a round of golf, or enjoying the best restaurants Houston has to offer.