Until recent years, advancing the concept of energy conservation has largely been the domain of the Facilities Department and has been driven by the fact that sound business practices demanded efficient use of the College’s financial resources. Building Lighting, Equipment, Energy Management and UtilitiesĪmherst College has a long-standing commitment to energy conservation and has enthusiastically incorporated energy conservation strategies in the operation, renovation and construction of its facilities. The Benefits of High-Performance Buildings With just a few practical changes to standard building practice, the houses you build will be high performers for their homeowners and for your bottom line.III.Finally, the “tighter” the house, the more crucial it is to have adequate airflow/ventilation systems in place.Warm concrete prevents air humidity from condensing on the wall. Insulating the exterior of the foundation will not only block moisture from hitting the porous concrete in the first place, but also will keep the concrete warm.Grade the site properly, install footing and wall drain systems, and add gravel. Good drainage and drainage systems are crucial.Once moisture hits the porous concrete, pressure differentials between the outside and the inside create capillary action that can pull moisture from the foundation all the way up to the roof, if the foundation is not properly protected. There are two important facts about foundations and moisture control: The ground surrounding the foundation is always wet and foundation walls cannot dry to the outside. When this is done, thermal bridging can be reduced greatly. In colder climates, it is recommended that insulation should not be installed just in the stud cavities, but should also be installed outside the box by using rigid foam sheathing. The role of insulation is to slow heat transfer.Air barriers should not be thought of as a single product but as a combination of products that work in concert to prevent air leakage: drywall, sheathing, housewrap, high-performance windows/doors, tape, caulk, spray foam, gaskets, and weatherstripping are prime examples.Choose siding that is back-vented to allow moisture that penetrates behind to drain rather than get trapped.Attention to detail and even some redundancies here can make a big difference. Water infiltration through windows, doors, and deck attachments that are not properly sealed is a common source of moisture.The biggest issues for walls are related to moisture penetration, particularly wind-driven rain, and heat loss. Doing so prevents moisture build-up and the formation of ice dams. If attic spaces are conditioned and unvented to allow housing for HVAC equipment or to accommodate complicated ceiling designs, air sealing and ample insulation should be installed on the roof deck to thermally separate the roof from the attic. ![]() Check the code standards for your climate and determine what is required to exceed those standards.
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