The Building Envelope
The building envelope is the outer layer of the
building that separates the living space from the
outdoor environment, both above and below grade.
Many older homes and commercial buildings have high
heating requirements because of high rates of air
leakage and building envelope areas that are not
well insulated.
Like any renovation, retrofitting the building
envelope requires careful planning. Before you decide
to go ahead with the project, it is important to
clearly identify the areas that you want to improve.
Just as important is a thorough inspection of the
existing structure so that any current problems
can be corrected.
Common Problems
Many homeowners / business owners suffer for years,
living and working in buildings that are cold, drafty
or have high heating bills, especially on windy
days during the heating season. The process of improving
the energy efficiency of the entire building envelope
can seem like an overwhelming task. An understanding
of the principle that the structure functions as
a system is critical for anyone undertaking a building
envelope retrofit. Prioritizing the different aspects
of the work and learning about viable retrofit techniques
can help you to work through the many decisions
that must be made.
To help you recognize problems and to plan an energy-efficient
retrofit, we consider these important areas:
- Assessing the building — the
building may be cold, drafty and expensive to
heat. A thorough assessment of the building envelope
is critical and will help our team to prioritize
the different aspects of the work.
- Structural problems — there
may be structural or water leakage problems. Any
existing problems and damage must be repaired
as part of the retrofit project.
- Building envelope components —
the building envelope may be poorly insulated,
leaky or energy inefficient. Understanding the
options available for upgrading the various elements
of the building envelope requires research and
our professional help.
- Moisture — there may be moisture
problems in the existing building that must be
identified and remedied. Retrofit work may increase
humidity levels in the building.
- Heating and ventilation — inadequate
and inefficient heating and ventilation may be
symptoms of a poorly performing building envelope.
- Finishes — finishes may be
damaged from moisture problems associated with
poor building envelopes.
There are many ways to improve the energy efficiency
of the building envelope and make your building
healthier for you, your employees, the community
and the environment. When retrofitting the building
envelope, be sure to consider North East Energy
Control Systems.
Building as a System
A building is much more than just four walls and
a roof — it's an interactive system made up of many
components including the basic structure, heating,
ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment,
the external environment; and the occupants. Each
component influences the performance of the entire
system. A renovation project provides an opportunity
to improve how your building performs.
Retrofitting the building envelope often results
in a better insulated, more airtight building that
is easier to heat and more comfortable to live and
work in. Reduced air leakage and heat loss may require
changes to HVAC equipment.
No Surprises
A retrofit of the building envelope should not
be started until all decisions about construction
details have been thoroughly thought through. Thorough
planning will help you to develop a realistic understanding
of the work to be done and the costs involved. At
North East Energy Control Systems we realize every
situation is unique, we are highly qualified professionals
that do a thorough investigation, find the problems
and suggest the best solutions to your building
envelope needs. |
