Energy Efficient Homes
Although this article applies to the US architecture style, but this concept is something we all need to research and adopt. We cannot justify the century old ways we use to build our homes in Pakistan. Overall I think homes and offices are one the biggest consumers of energy and we need to make them efficient. Many times it does not take a huge effort or special technology, just common sense.
Via Wall Street Journal.
Here are five remodeling “future-proofing” tips experts recommend. Before you…
1. . . . Tear down sheetrock or take off siding.
Figure out where you can beef up insulation, particularly in exterior walls, basements and attics. Today there are multiple forms of insulation, many promoted as “green,” including soy-based foams, loose-fill cellulose (recycled newsprint) and denim. Go for the highest R-value (thermal resistance) — typically, the bigger the number, the better the insulation — you can afford and fit with proper installation.Batt or blanket insulation is often cheapest; fiberglass is still widely used. The main drawback is that batts must be trimmed to fit around pipes and fixtures, leaving spaces susceptible to air leaks.
Loose-fill insulation made of fiberglass and cellulose can flow better around wires, pipes and other obstructions. Spray-in, expanding foam insulations do a particularly good job at this and don’t settle or sag over time, though are often pricier because of the materials’ high R-values. Many are urethane-based but some now substitute petroleum content with soybean material. “Fill the cavity any time a wall is open,” says Bruce Harley, author of “Insulate and Weatherize.”
Resources:
BioBased Insulation (www.biobased.net) and Soy Therm (www.soyol.com): soybean-based spray urethane foams with low or no VOCs.
air krete (www.airkrete.com): a lightweight spray foam made from cement, air and water, containing no CFCs or formaldehyde.
GreenFiber (www.greenfiber.com): a blow-in insulation made from 85% recycled-paper fiber.
SafeTouch (www.building.dow.com/na/safetouch): fiberglass-free batts made from non-irritating polyester fibers.
2. . . . Replace kitchen cabinets.
Inquire whether materials contain added urea formaldehyde, which is used in the adhesives of certain pressed-wood products, including those used to make kitchen cabinets. Formaldehyde has been classified as a human carcinogen by the World Health Organization and the National Cancer Institute recommends that “buyers should ask about the formaldehyde content” of such products.The Formaldehyde Council Inc., a group of formaldehyde producers and users, says that at the low levels to which people are exposed there “is essentially no risk” and that formaldehyde-based products are harmless when used as directed. However, starting this year, California began regulating formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products sold in the state.
More mainstream wood-product manufacturers are adjusting product lines. Armstrong World Industries Inc. is developing a line of cabinetry boxes with no added formaldehyde.
