Design-Build
Frank participated in a brief interview on green building in Colorado with Boulder, CO radio station KGNU. Both Living Craft and Rodwin Architecture were represented after our joint presentation at The Eco-Social Solutions 2018 conference at CU Boulder. Click below to give it a listen, and be sure to read the whole article at KGNU’s site, linked below.
We use the term building science a lot. For those who may have never heard the term, or fully explored it, here is a quick debrief.
Taking into account experiences of architects, engineers, and builders, building science explores the way that a building responds over time to environmental factors and natural phenomena. Or, a detailed study of a building with the goal of increasing its life span, health, and/or performance, and applying those lessons to new buildings.
This covers things like sound/acoustics, lighting, indoor air pollutants and how to control them. Ever heard of “sick building syndrome”? In those cases, actually being inside a building will negatively affect a person’s health, whether from stale or toxic air, lack of good ventilation, noise levels, or a number of other factors.
Air conditioning, heating, and ventilation are some of the important mechanical systems. Without proper systems, filtration, and flow, a building will not function well and keep its inhabitants comfortable. We prefer balanced ventilation, like an energy recovery ventilation system that is continuously alternating between bringing fresh air in and venting stale air out, while maintaining the temperature indoors to prevent energy loss.
An enclosure is simply the surfaces of a building that separate indoors and outdoors. Walls, ceilings, windows, and soffits. Not surprisingly, better methods for keeping moisture out of building materials will prolong their life and reduce problems like mold and rot. So, things like air and vapor barriers are very important. They also increase the energy efficiency of buildings, and reduce operating costs from heating and cooling. However, its all connected. Since a home with a “tight envelope” or a continuous air or moisture barrier doesn’t allow air to flow through cracks, it will also need to be closely monitored and have a good, balanced ventilation system in place to circulate fresh air and reduce indoor air pollutants.
With the increasing awareness of the pressures that humans are placing on the global environment, we recognize the role that the construction industry needs to take on in reducing our impact. Big changes can be made with a choice of materials that have a low carbon footprint, or by building using carbon rich materials like wood, hemp, and straw that sequester the carbon out of the atmosphere. Things like passive solar design and an integrated landscape and water management plan also help to greatly reduce a building’s need for external energy inputs.
Hopefully it’s all coming together for you. At Living Craft, we are always trying to educate ourselves on the latest innovations in building science. We are doing the work of researching and picking out the best solutions which honor the traditions of building and respect the environment on all levels. If you have questions, we would love to hear them!