Comments on: 10 Essential Steps to Building a Pretty Good House https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/10-essential-steps-to-building-a-pretty-good-house/ Building science knowledge, HVAC design, & fun Tue, 25 Aug 2015 03:14:19 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 By: Allison Bailes https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/10-essential-steps-to-building-a-pretty-good-house/#comment-79 Tue, 25 Aug 2015 03:14:19 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=10-essential-steps-to-building-a-pretty-good-house#comment-79 In reply to David Butler.

Thanks, David! See my reply
Thanks, David! See my reply to Steve for site selection and orientation. Continuous insulation is definitely important, and yeah, #3 and #6 could be combined. I’ll have to think long and hard about whether or not to make those changes if I ever rewrite the article (say for GBA or JLC). I’m leaning toward leaving it the way it is, though, because, as Gus Handegord said, “The three biggest problems in buildings are water, water, and water.”

]]> By: Allison Bailes https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/10-essential-steps-to-building-a-pretty-good-house/#comment-77 Tue, 25 Aug 2015 03:08:13 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=10-essential-steps-to-building-a-pretty-good-house#comment-77 In reply to Steve Larson.

Steve, that’s an excellent
Steve, that’s an excellent point. I was thinking of that as part of my number 1: Spend more time on planning. Yes, controlling solar gain belongs in the design process, absolutely! Lot choice and orientation aren’t always in the control of the person building the house, though. (Also, an all-glass south elevation is a good thing. You can solve that with overhangs. What I’d fear is an all-glass east or west elevation.)

]]> By: David Butler https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/10-essential-steps-to-building-a-pretty-good-house/#comment-78 Mon, 24 Aug 2015 22:15:59 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=10-essential-steps-to-building-a-pretty-good-house#comment-78 @Allison, what an excellent
@Allison, what an excellent list! Of course, each of us has our own idea of a minimum set of mandatory measures that all beyond code homes should have. But if one must choose just ten items, this list is pretty darn close to perfection!

That said, I can’t resist throwing in my own 2 cents…

The only truly serious omission is what Steve wrote… site selection and building orientation, along with glazing layout and strategic shading (e.g., engineered overhangs, daylighting, etc.) provide by far the most bang for the buck in terms of comfort and overall energy footprint. Doing a good job on this aspect of design adds very little to cost yet offers significant year round benefits in all climate zones. In order to keep the list at 10 items, #6 could be combined with #3.

One last nit… continuous insulation is suggested in #5, but I think it’s too important to not be called out explicitly.

]]> By: Steve Larson https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/10-essential-steps-to-building-a-pretty-good-house/#comment-76 Mon, 24 Aug 2015 20:35:30 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=10-essential-steps-to-building-a-pretty-good-house#comment-76 I think lot choice
I think lot choice/orientation is one of the things most folks give the least amount of consideration to and can be the most important. After the house is built and then have to contend with a south elevation that is all glass,for example, it is too late. Letting shade be a diffuser of this problem is the cheapest way…designing things right is free. The other points are well stated.

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