West 7th & Heather

Principles of a healthy home

Building the envelope with materials that have a low u-value decreases the amount of heat transmittance. Sealing the home with an airtight membrane means less heat loss while maximizing comfort on the account of no cold spots within the home. The use of triple glazed windows with low conductive insulation will help eliminate thermal bridging. The additional use of Argon or Krypton in the glazing gaps helps reduce energy transference. Heat recovery systems also play a role in reducing energy consumption during the colder seasons. (HRV systems with a summer bypass mode are preferable.)

This diagram illustrates a natural ventilation system known as the “Stack Effect”. Cooler air enters at ground level and as it warms up it begins to rise and is expelled from the louvered windows on the upper level.