Sustainability has always been important to us and we are excited about the growth in this area. We work with clients to develop a plan that satisfies their desire to improve the quality and efficiency of their buildings, and be more environmentally conscious, as well as increase comfort.
Careful design and construction creates healthy, efficient, durable buildings and piece of mind. Modern building science shows us the correct way to build and remodel. Often standard codes, methods, and techniques are ineffective, or not properly executed. This can lead to hot or cold spaces, high energy bills, damage to buildings, mold, and unhealthy environments. Each project should be specific to the building being built or remodeled, and an integrated whole house design approach will produce a high performance building.
click on a link below for more information |
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Moisture management |
Heat fundamentals |
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| Indoor Air Quality |
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| Energy........................................ |
| Around 40% of our energy use in the U.S. goes to heat, cool and power our buildings. In New England it is higher at approximately 55%. Improving the energy efficiency and performance of our buildings is an enormous opportunity. |
| Serious reductions in energy use are possible with planning, design, and attention to detail. Choosing a contractor who understands building science, and energy efficiency strategies is essential. The strategies are different depending on the type of building, current levels & types of insulation, orientation, age & efficiency of mechanical systems, and many other factors. |
| You can achieve efficiency in steps, such as air sealing, insulating critical areas, installing high performance windows, or adding more insulation when re-siding or roofing your home. You can upgrade older mechanical systems. In new construction or major remodeling, there is an opportunity to design the whole building from the early stages of decision-making. In an existing home, a deep energy retrofit can tackle the entire building and transform it into an efficient and healthy structure. |
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energy efficiency priorities |
| create a tight building envelope |
Reduce heat loss by sealing gaps in construction. Add as much insulation as possible, carefully considering options. Prevent hot, humid air from entering in the summer. Controlled ventilation is required to maintain healthy air quality and moisture must be managed. |
| explore passive heating and cooling strategies |
Use building orientation, windows, shading devices, and other methods to increase heat gain the winter, and provide cooling and ventilation in the summer. Use natural light whenever possible. |
| improve mechanical systems, lighting, and appliances |
Install high efficiency heating & cooling systems, hot water systems, and lighting. The size of these systems can be reduced when the building is more efficient. Choose high efficiency appliances & lighting, and size them according to your needs. |
| explore active renewable systems and technology |
Solutions such as solar voltaic (PV), solar hot water systems, or even wind can often supply much of the needed energy in a building after the first priorities are met. Zero net energy buildings are not only possible, but they are becoming more common. |
| adapted from Lechner - Heating, cooling, and Lighting: Sustainable design Methods for Architects |
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| comfort....................................... |
| Thermal comfort in a building is dependent on many factors. The temperature of the surfaces within your home have a greater effect on thermal comfort than anything else (radiant temperature). Cold surfaces within a home draw heat away from your body, and drafts can cause heat to be carried away as well, making you feel cold. Hot, humid summer air entering your home makes you feel uncomfortable, and sun rays can heat up interior objects and surfaces making you feel hot. |
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why are buildings uncomfortable? |
| cieling/attic |
Heat escapes through the ceiling assembly and causes cold air to be drawn in from the basement and other cracks in the building. This is called the stack effect. The ceiling is also a large area that can provide a cooler surface for heat to radiate away from your body. In the summer, the opposite happens as hot humid air is pulled in. |
| basement |
Cold air is pulled in by convection and the stack effect from the perimeter of the floor assembly. The masonry foundation conducts heat away from the interior. If your basement floor or walls are not properly insulated, they can be a major source of heat loss and moisture issues. |
| walls |
Poorly insulated or uninsulated walls have very little resistance to heat flow (R-value). The unsealed cavities also allow air to flow through them carrying heat away, and sometimes allowing moisture into the wall. The large, cool wall surfaces draw heat away from your body making you feel cold. Again, summer heat enters the building through poorly sealed and insulated walls. |
| windows |
Windows are one of the most misunderstood parts of a house. They can be a big cause of heat loss, or heat gain. Not only do they conduct heat well (an undesireable property), but they often leak air in or out of the building. Sitting near a window exposes your body to a cold or hot surface and affects your comfort level. The exposure of your windows (which direction they face) should be considered carefully. Properly installed high performance windows (R-3 to R-5 or more) help to keep a home more comfortable. |
| mechanical systems |
Your heating and cooling systems are often fighting some or all of the things mentioned above. This can lead to overheating, overcooling, and wide temperature swings. Sometimes they are never able to maintain a comfortable environment. |
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| Indoor Air Quality.......... ............... |
A healthy indoor environment is essential in a building. Pollutants such as pollen, radon, carbon monoxide, mold, and volitile organic compounds found in materials and products can lead to poor air quality. A building can be "tight", as long as the right amount of ventilation is supplied mechanically. |
Ventilation is required to eliminate pollutants and supply fresh, clean air. Well-insulated and sealed buildings require controlled ventilation, rather than relying on air leakage for fresh air. The amount of air leaking through the buildings shell often far exceeds the ventilation air change required by codes or ASHRAE standards. Pulling in air from outside through dirty wall assemblies can actually introduce pollutants and moisture. Moisture in a wall assembly can create a breeding ground for mold. One of the best ways to prevent mold growth is to stop feeding it by not allowing humid air to enter wall cavities. |
| Using whole house ventilation through HVAC systems or spot ventilation insures that the right amount of air change is taking place. Another benefit is that a filter can be placed in the system. Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) recover heat from discharged air to temper incoming cold air, reducing the heating demand of your home. In some cases, up to 75% or more of the heat in the outgoing air can be captured. An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) can also capture moisture or latent heat. |
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| Materials & Durability.................... |
| Choosing sustainable materials is one of the easiest ways to keep your project green. Finishes, cabinets, and other construction materials can have less impact on our environment when they are chosen wisely. Project costs are often reduced when creative solutions are employed, and air quality improves with the use of green materials. Our clients have requested that we update existing infrastructure, eliminating waste and added expense. We have created structures using salvaged materials. |
| Locally produced materials have less embodied energy. They were not trucked across the country or shipped here from overseas. In Massachusetts, we have forest products, cellulose insulation manufacturers such as National Fiber, solar manufacturers, and many other industries right here in our own back yard. Supporting these businesses helps our communities and our economy. |
| Durable materials are always the best choice, and attention to details provides longer life for materials. The simple step of priming all sides of a piece of wood provides needed protection from deterioration or mold growth. Installing windows and doors with careful flashing details helps to keep water out, leading to longer service life for your investment. |
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| Strategies................................... |
Whole Building design requires an integrated team process in which the design team and all affected stakeholders work together throughout the project phases and to evaluate the design for cost, quality-of-life, future flexibility, efficiency; overall environmental impact; productivity, creativity; and how the occupants will be enlivened. The 'Whole Buildings' process draws from the knowledge pool of all the stakeholders across the life cycle of the project, from defining the need for a building, through planning, design, construction, building occupancy, and operations.
This approach is a deviation from the typical planning and design process of relying on the expertise of specialists who work in their respective specialties somewhat isolated from each other. from "Whole Building Design", Don Prowler, Stephanie Vierra- SWA inc. |
Building Design Charrette - a workshop that forms the keystone of an integrated design process. It generally occurs in the pre-design
phase. It is important to introduce key aspects of the project to ensure that use and high performance goals are
aligned. To be effective, a charrette requires solid preparation, as well as a plan for
follow through with the charrette results.
It should involve anyone who might build, approve, or use the project. When vested individuals and groups are involved
from the outset, they are more likely to feel ownership, and work for the success of the
project.
A high performance building design charrette focuses on sustainable development goals, strategies, and integrated
design solutions, and will seek
ways to use the site to leverage energy saving opportunities, as well as to design and
equip the building structure for energy efficiency. from BetterBricks.com
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solar path site analysis
