The building envelope represents the volume of space that you want to heat or cool, explains Michael Trolle of BPC Green Builders in Wilton, CT. “Unless you define and treat the entire perimeter of this space, you will lose (waste) energy meant to heat or cool the space at an accelerated rate. Treating the perimeter means to make the foundation, framed walls and roof airtight, insulated to a high level, with some of that insulation continuous across the framing. The better the job you do on this, the more you will slow down the flows of energy,” says Mike. “A house with very slow energy flows through the envelope is by definition energy efficient. An energy efficient home saves you money and is much more comfortable.” This BPC Green Builders home combines both traditional and contemporary design elements.
The front wall of the house features a unique and elegant curve echoed by the
2nd floor balcony that runs across the full face of the house, providing
shelter to the main entry below. Like all BPC homes, this one exceeds the
Energy Star for Homes certification standard and is also expected to be
certified within the LEED for Homes program, following the completion of
landscape elements. The exterior features fiber cement shingles
above and fiber cement panels below. The trim is an engineered wood product,
and the windows feature triple glazing and exceed Energy Star standards.
Building materials play an essential role in determining a home’s ability to store heat. Today’s construction pays extra attention to a factor called thermal mass—those materials’ ability to absorb and store warmth and coolness until needed. The idea is to make choices that limit fluctuation in indoor temperature and, in turn, reduce your heating and cooling requirements. Thermal mass building materials can be traditional or extremely high-tech.
Here are the key components of the building envelope that impact indoor temperature control:
Copyright © TotalHousehold Pro, All Right Reserved.
This website uses cookies and similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalized recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy policy.