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Tips for Building "Green" - Mechanical
The vast amount of information available about building green can be overwhelming. To assist our customers in making environmentally sensitive decisions while building their new home, Donald A. Gardner Architects has compiled this handy FREE guide to building green.
Mechanical
Unwanted air, water, sun and noise are the four elements that the structure/construction of a home should be able to control. Air carries pollutants, temperature change, noise and moisture. Water carries pollutants, temperature change and of course is moisture. Sun produces heat and material degrading radiation. The building structure's "envelope" is key to controlling these elements. The envelope is made up of the floor, walls and roof of the home.
No matter what type mechanical system you use, choose the highest efficiency rated system possible. SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is a rating system for Unitary Air-Conditioning and Air-Source Heat Pump Equipment . The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit.
a) Geothermal systems uses the earth’s constant underground temperature and warms it or cools it, using less energy to reach comfortable temperatures.
b) Solar panels can provide hot water, produce electricity and possibly keep you off the power grid.
Reduce volume spaces in the home to reduce amount of area to be conditioned.
c) Use ceiling fans to circulate conditioned air. Moving air across your body has a cooling effect, even though the air is not cool.
d) Install a programmable thermostat to reduce the demand on the mechanical system.
e) Wind power can also be used to create electrical power for your home. Wind turbines can be used if your site is suitable to sustain the amount of wind needed.
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