Green Construction Contractor

There is a renewed need for mechanical filtration in our homes, as the technology that has become part of the house helps to work more efficiently, leading to a need for maintain air quality in much tighter quarters. This need is very significant, as the American Lung Association has compiled a list of correlations between asthma and lung health issues and the tightening of our homes and introduction of new chemistries to our indoor space. This one-two combo of new and increased pollutants and the smaller enclosures has led to the only possible solution; one must do what is needed to ensure that the air in our homes is fresh and pollutant free.

What is in our air?

It can be hard to fathom, but the air around us contains particulates. Some particulates you can see, for example those within a sunbeam, but most you are unable to see. Those we cannot see are the worst kind, such as VOCs. These threats are the most harmful.

The solution is to design and install a ventilation system. The system should filter air for all areas of the home, and the system must meet ASHREA standard 62-02. This states that the air movement should be 7.5 cubic feet a minute per bedroom plus and additional 0.01 CFM per square foot. A good rule of thumb is to have around 50 CFM for a 1900 square foot, average home. There are two principle design strategies to designing the ventilation system – exhaust and supply systems and air to air heat recover systems.

Exhaust and Supply Systems –

This system’s primary mechanism is the placement of an exhaust fan, typically on the second floor. This fan runs quietly either on a low speed continuous or high speed intermittent. This fans placement may allow it to piggy back other parts of the system, but over all the system uses the exhaust fan to take out fresh air for the inlet. The entire system can be modified by removing the exhaust fan and letting the air handler draw in fresh air. The cost of this system is between $400 and $1000, which is heavily dependent on the equipment used.

Air to Air Heat Recovery Systems –

This is a more expensive alternative that recovers some of its energy during its operation. The basic mechanism is that the exhaust passes by the incoming fresh air giving some of its heat (or cold) to the incoming air. These systems also have airflow adjustment to allow the system to work during exhaust. The price for the system can be from $1,800 and $2,500, again heavily dependent on the equipment utilized.

It is important to ensure that your home is free of airborne particles. Choose a high quality filter and a system designed for the needs of you home to ensure that the airborne pollutants are kept to a minimum. This is a necessary element to ensuring the respiratory health of you and your guests.

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Originally posted 2009-01-30 05:41:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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There are five common errors that builders make in the efficiency of energy, resources and health. There are far too many green builders out there that are completely missing the mark. There are five mistakes that are being perpetrated, but that you can avoid easily with the right know-how.

#5: Installing HVAC Ducts in Unconditioned Spaces

HVAC ducts should be installed in better locations, such as between the floors or in dropped soffits that are positioned within conditioned areas inside the home. This way, the conditioned air will always travel though the ducts at the room temperature. Some builders that are thinking ahead are making sure to condition the attic, placing insulation in the roof deck rather than in the ceiling to bring down attic temperatures which is a step in the right direction.

#4: Tight Homes Build without Any Ventilation

You should be installing a complete house ventilation system as standard equipment within a home in order to provide plenty of fresh air in a home that is air tight. The solution is always to design a home with fresh air in mind. A whole house ventilation system should be installed and then tested for performance. The ventilation system should make sure that the house is bringing in as well as dispersing 50 CFM worth of fresh air for a period of 15 or 20 minutes every hour or so for the best results.

#3: Using Improper Flashing and Improper Drainage Planes

When it comes to managing water, using improper drainage planes and flashing is a rookie mistake. It becomes important, then, to pay extremely close attention to flashing on windows, sealing penetrations and where the water coming off of your roof is ending up. There is very little room available for flexibility. You need to be prepared to pain flash doors and windows in every type of climate for the best results. You also want to flash any and all penetrations using a weather resistant barriers, and kick flashing, complex connections and gutters should all be properly flashed and drained using intentional paths for water, slopes and shingling.

#2: Selecting and Installing the Wrong Insulation

We only get one single shot when it comes to properly insulating our homes as well as air sealing them, and this is not a place where we should be scrimping. It is vitally important, then, that we choose the right type of insulation, such as a sturdy blown-in type of insulation that can fill walls as compactly and as tightly as possible. All penetrations in the attic, garage and leading outdoors should be sealed to get the most out of your insulation. The right sealing with the right insulation will mean cheaper heating and cooling costs as well as improved customer satisfaction at the same time.

#1: Wasting Resources

You probably do not need as much stuff as you once thought. The building industry often uses too many resources, wasting them. What are you throwing away that could be reused? There is nothing more effective in green building than reusing everything that you can. There are always ways to be more profitable, greener and infinitely more effective just by using less. If you plan ahead and really take a hard look at what you’re looking at, you can find ways to streamline the building process, wasting fewer resources in the process.

Photo Credits: billjacobus1

Originally posted 2009-07-24 05:22:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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