https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-architecture-2030-challenge-and-us-eia-projections/ Building science knowledge, HVAC design, & fun Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:35:58 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-architecture-2030-challenge-and-us-eia-projections/#comment-3586 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:35:58 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-architecture-2030-challenge-and-us-eia-projections#comment-3586 Ian: I’ve
Ian: I’ve avoided the issue of climate change for the most part in this blog because there’s so much to talk about that doesn’t alienate our readers who don’t believe it. That will change in 2013.  
 
What I find sadly amusing is people who complain about what I do with my blog when they know nothing about the maintenance, the spam comments that I continually have to delete, and that I do this all by myself. This isn’t a big corporation with lots of staff and money. It’s one person writing about 3 articles a week and trying to respond to as many comments as I can, which is getting to be a smaller and smaller percentage because, with 400+ articles, something’s got to give.  
 
It’s not just the ventless gas fireplace article. I’ve decided to keep comments open on articles for one year, so all articles that I published more than 365 days ago are now closed for comments. If the article’s older than that, I don’t have time to keep deleting spam and responding to people repeating the same thing that’s been said several times before they ever found the article.  
 
Regarding the issue of ventless gas fireplaces, there’s a reason that combustion safety experts don’t recommend them. There’s a reason that green building programs don’t allow them. If you’re willing to take a chance on them in your home, that’s fine. I will stick with the folks who understand the issue and recommend venting exhaust gases to the outside. 
 
“I find the closing of that topic due to unwanted opinions utterly silly and really telling on the commercial purposes of the site owners.” 
 
That’s certainly your prerogative, but what commercial purposes do you see behind my actions? I’m interested to know because I sure don’t see them myself, and I’d like to make more money in 2013.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-architecture-2030-challenge-and-us-eia-projections/#comment-3585 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 22:32:39 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-architecture-2030-challenge-and-us-eia-projections#comment-3585 I note with sadness that the
I note with sadness that the concerns on climate change here are all simply practical issues of adaptation, rather that prevention or moderation of the causes. 
 
I also note with sad amusement that the topic of ventless gas heaters was just closed because too many people stated opinions contrary to those of the site owners and thus must have “ties to the ventless heater or gas industries.” 
 
The higher efficiency of ventless heaters saves some wasteful throwing away of heat and thus energy.  
 
I am NOT a representative of those industries. I am an old hippy and environmentalist with a BS in Math and Physical sciences and a doctorate in Biology. 
 
I find the closing of that topic due to unwanted opinions utterly silly and really telling on the commercial purposes of the site owners. Shame.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-architecture-2030-challenge-and-us-eia-projections/#comment-3584 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:09:35 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-architecture-2030-challenge-and-us-eia-projections#comment-3584 Steve, the termite issue is a
Steve, the termite issue is a great example.  
 
 
 
The uncertainty of climate change, unknown scientific and stewardship of resources (energy, etc.)is another reason for designing any building enclosure to fit any climate condition, putting all insulation outside of a vapor barrier and include the potential of natural ventilation.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-architecture-2030-challenge-and-us-eia-projections/#comment-3583 Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:16:58 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-architecture-2030-challenge-and-us-eia-projections#comment-3583 Possibly tangential story
Possibly tangential story from a home I worked on a couple of years ago: 
In Colorado, we typically don’t worry about termite protection. I mentioned to the client that termites are steadily expanding their rang northward as the climate changes. I said that we’ll very likely have a termite problem in Colorado just as they do in other areas easily within the life of the building.  
Commence looking at Steve like he is crazy…

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-architecture-2030-challenge-and-us-eia-projections/#comment-3582 Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:23:49 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-architecture-2030-challenge-and-us-eia-projections#comment-3582 kWIQly:
kWIQly: Good weather data are important in the design and operation of buildings. Your site and degreedays.net are great resources for that. Thanks! 

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-architecture-2030-challenge-and-us-eia-projections/#comment-3581 Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:17:49 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-architecture-2030-challenge-and-us-eia-projections#comment-3581 Hi Allison, 
Hi Allison, 
 
An interester factor in all of this that we pay heed to (and you were kind enough to tweet about). Is that the energy buildings use, is primarily to isolate us from the weather. This means that as climates gradually change, the job of mainatining comfort, changes. An emphasis on heating and insulation, will adjust gradually to an emphasis on free cooling, and ventilation optimization. All of this requires that to study building performance we have an independent reliable weather data. This is why we recently announced a free degree- day weather service at kWIQly.

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