by Charles Hendricks | Jan 29, 2014 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, green term defined
Light pollution is excessive, misdirected, or glaring artificial light. There are many consequences from light pollution including:
- wasted energy
- habitat and migration disruption
- human health impacts
- not being able to see stars in the sky
Light pollution can be avoided with proper design. It should be carefully planned on the outside of buildings as well as inside. Safety around buildings can be improved, environmental issues can be mitigated, and the architecture can be enhanced.
Here are the full cut off lights used on this project that had very particular lighting needs. The solution provided very appropriately placed lights for a senior community while not casting a glow within an existing neighborhood.
by Charles Hendricks | Jan 22, 2014 | architecture, Building Science, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality
Do you need a dehumidifier? We live in a mixed humid climate in Virginia and so often, you hear from the heating and cooling contractors in the area that there is a need to add humidification. If the house is tight – energy efficient, healthy, and durable, you should not have dry air and certainly should not need more humidity. In fact, living in the home produces humidity and an energy-efficient home traps that humidity inside the home. If there is a problem, it will be high humidity. In fact, if you have dry air, your home is not energy-efficient.
A dehumidifier is a piece of equipment that reduces the level of humidity in the air. Humid air can contribute to mold and mildew issues in your home. It can also lead to condensation on pipes. As a rule of thumb, relative humidity in homes is preferably 30 to 50 percent and can be measured using a humidistat. Installing a dehumidifier as part of your heating and cooling system can improve durability of your home and indoor air quality.
So there is a strong chance that you will need a dehumidifier in your home rather than adding humidity.
The heating and cooling system can be installed independent of a dehumidifier system, but works best when they are combined.
by Charles Hendricks | Jan 15, 2014 | architecture, green term defined, Indoor Air Quality
Anyone that has spent anytime in a vented crawl space in our area can tell you – it is not pleasant. Frozen pipes, dirty air, mold, animals are all possible problems. The idea of a vented crawl space is during the humid summer, the small vents around the foundation will allow enough air flow to dry the crawl space. The humidity in the space comes from the dirt floor, outside air, and even from the house itself. If there are enough vents, if the wind is blowing in the right direction, and if it is not too humid outside – it might stay dry. I have seen dry crawl spaces, but they are rare.
An encapsulated crawl space is the way to fix the moisture issues and protect your indoor air quality in your home. An encapsulated crawl space is a sealed space that has a vapor barrier on the walls and floor. There are no vents and the space should have positive air pressure in the space.
An encapsulated crawl space will help reduce the chance of radon and mold in your home. It provides a better thermal performance reducing your energy consumption. It will contribute to a longer lasting more durable structural system for your home. It will help prevent cold floors. It reduces the chance that you will have mold growing in your HVAC duct work. Also, it reduces the probability of critters living in your crawl space.
There are many benefits to an encapsulated crawl – check out this blog by our friends at Energy Vanguard for their views on the subject.
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by Charles Hendricks | Dec 16, 2013 | architecture, Building Science, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality
Most of us know the miles-per-gallon of our cars. I just went through (for me) the very painful process of purchasing a new (used) car. I weighed the options looking at asking price, insurance premium, maintenance costs, and miles per gallon. These should all be factors when purchasing or building a new home. However, we almost never know the miles per gallon equivalent for a building. That is because a HERS rating is not required in Virginia. It is however, a test that is easy to request as part of your evaluation process for existing homes or performance criteria for new construction.
A home energy rating is an analysis of the efficiency of the home’s energy usage. The Home energy Rating System (HERS) is the nationally recognized scoring system for measuring a home’s energy performance. The results of the test give you a HERS Index Score. This miles-per-gallon for your home allows you to compare how your home is performing vs a baseline accepted standard. The test and report also gives you a checklist of areas that could use attention to improve your homes performance.
For more information read here, here, and here.
by Charles Hendricks | Dec 9, 2013 | architecture, Building Science, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality
In a home with a forced-air heating and cooling system, the system used to distribute air is called duct work. In an average home, 30% of the air sent through the duct work system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poorly executed connections. The result to your wallet is higher electric bills and lower comfort.
The best way to seal up these ducts during construction is using a paint on mastic or mastic tape. While other tapes fail over time, Mastic stays stuck to your ducts creating an air tight air distribution system.
The benefits of a tight air duct system include comfort, indoor air quality improvements, lower electric bills, and a reduced impact on the environment.
For more information on improving your heating and cooling system, click here and here.
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 25, 2013 | architecture, Building Science, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality
During Construction
Air sealing is the first line of defense against wasting energy in your home and protecting your indoor air quality. Air sealing is the practice of filling all those gaps, cracks, and holes in your thermal envelope. This tightens the home’s air pressure giving you a solid thermal envelope.
Air sealing is the most effective way to reduce energy consumption in your home. It will also help protect indoor air quality in your home and the durability of your building materials. In a typical home, air leaks through walls, crawl spaces, attic, around windows, and doors. This air is not filtered and leads to dust particles and potentially dangerous chemicals in the indoor air. Making your home air tight also stops moisture moving through building materials. Bulk moisture migrating through building materials could lead to rot or mold growth.
The most common materials used to air seal your home is a latex or silicone caulk. Other materials that can be used include expanding foams, weatherstripping, or dense insulation materials like cellulose. Done right with a holistic approach to building science, these strategies help create a high performance building solution.
Light pollution is excessive, misdirected, or glaring artificial light. There are many consequences from light pollution including:
