Retrofitting

A much-neglected aspect of building design is the foundation. A building with an uninsulated, suspended floor can experience great thermal losses. These occur uniformly across the surface, in proportion to the temperature difference between the […]

The highest heat gain of buildings in the northern hemisphere is from the south and west exposures. The energy-consumption profile is reduced when windows facing these directions are shaded. Internal shading with curtains or blinds […]

A quick analysis of the water-vapor balance should be done for buildings where humidity control is a problem; that is, when there is a big difference between the humidity outside and the humidity maintained in […]

Reducing the heat buildup in the attic or top-floor ceiling space is vital in hotter climates during the cooling season. An attic that is not ventilated can heat up 30 or 40°F above the outside […]

Stack effect refers to the pressure differential that is imposed on a building exposed to a steady wind. This variance influences the movement of air through the building envelope. On the side of the building […]