As most industry professionals know, designing truly energy-efficient homes is easier said than done. Even where there’s a desire to adopt them, new building technologies, strategies, and innovations can be more costly than standard building methods. They can also be difficult to source locally, making adoption even more problematic. These are some of the problems […]
The biggest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions isn’t cars but buildings. Housing is responsible for about 54% of GHG while transportation releases about 42%. According to a government of Australia paper, a typical HVAC system accounts for approximately 40% of total building consumption. In the coming years, energy efficiency will become more important to […]
Most new homes are much more insulated than in the past. Much of the improvement has been achieved by specifying thicker walls that can accommodate more insulation. However, there’s still the issue of thermal bridging where heat passes through studs and other framing and is lost to the outdoors. Also, there’s the degree of airtightness […]
A high efficiency furnace is determined by its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). This is a ratio between the amount of heat energy produced compared to the amount of natural gas consumed. The higher the number, the more efficient the furnace is. Conventional furnaces are not capable of an AFUE reading above 90%, but the […]
Today’s modern homes are wonderfully well sealed. Building technologies have improved significantly to block outside air from coming in, and inside air from leaving. It’s all in the name of energy efficiency, but stale air trapped inside a home can now gather pollutants and make it uncomfortable to live in. It can even lead to allergies […]
Three cooling tips for homebuilders It’s July, and after a long, cold winter across most of North America, scorching summer temperatures have returned. While there is plenty for people to enjoy outside right now, many of us will undoubtedly be focusing on the indoor discomforts that come with the heat. “It’s too hot to sleep.” […]
Routing HVAC ductwork can be a complicated challenge, but your troubles aren’t over when you reach the end of a duct in a wall or ceiling. You still need to cap it off with a vent or grille cover such as the PrimexVents Whisper Grille. Working in tight spaces can make achieving a clean finish […]