Installing fixed windows - Fine Homebuilding Tip

Fixed windows for passive solar heat gain:
Combine heavily insulated concrete and stud walls with fixed glass windows on the south side for direct gain.
Read more: http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/tips/installing-fixed-windows.aspx#ixzz3HHCj2SRv 

Gypsum radiant wall, ceiling and floor panels - $10-12/sf + heat/cooling source

MESSANA AIR-RAY CONDITIONING LLC:
http://www.messana.it/en/

·        Energy efficiency and fuel savings of 50%-70%
·        60%-90%  less ductwork
·        Ultimate comfort
·        Aesthetically unobtrusive
·        Incredibly clean operation
·        Virtually silent operation
·        Fully integrated system; design, controls, delivery, sensors and circulation.

Some of the common questions have been:
·        What is the budget impact on our clients project if they are considering radiant?
·        What is the construction impact on our clients project if they are considering radiant?
·        How do these systems differ from “conventional” systems?
·        How many different methodologies of radiant delivery are used? What are the differences?
·        What methods of heating and cooling water can be used with radiant systems?
·        What are the pitfalls of using radiant on this project? For the client? For the contractor? For the design professional?
·        Why consider radiant heating and cooling?
·        What about response time of radiant systems?
·        How do you deal with condensation? Ventilation?

Jonathan Epps

Principal

SSCllc

“Building with reason”

Sustainable Sales Consulting, llc.

www.sustainablesalesconsulting.com

ph   607-277-2872

TF   888-250-8986

Fax 888-250-8986

House Without Heating: Office Building in Austria - DETAIL-online.com

House Without Heating: Office Building in Austria - DETAIL-online.com
office building designed to guarantee continuous comfortable temperatures of between 22 and 26 degrees without heating, cooling or mechanical ventilation.

Case Study: The Bullitt Center | 2030 Palette Blog

Case Study: The Bullitt Center | 2030 Palette Blog:
The 2030 Palette is a set of distinct actions – or Swatches – for the planning and design of environmentally responsible and resilient buildings and communities worldwide. Our case studies illustrate how a unique palette of Swatches can be applied to create buildings and communities that consume fewer fossil fuels, compliment and preserve sensitive ecosystems, access site renewable energy resources, and can adapt to climatic changes.

The Bullitt Center, currently regarded as one of the greenest office buildings in the world, is an exemplary case study illustrating how a palette of design strategies can result in truly dramatic performance outcomes. Located in in the city of Seattle, this six-story office building is on track to be the largest certified Living Building in the world, achieving energy and water self-sufficiency while creating a healthy, net zero carbon, and beautiful built environment.  -- Written by Francesca Desmarais / Architecture 2030

BUSSE Green Technologies Inc.

BUSSE Green Technologies Inc.:
Total off-grid water treatment.  Sewage goes in, potable water comes out.
Available in all sizes, even small enough for single-family residential applications.
Yeah, it's German.
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/tv/house-project/overview/0,,20587082,00.html

Waste Water Recycling The Busse MBR technology reliably ensures the cleaning and disinfection of domestic waste water by a stable biological process and the membrane barrier. Due to this the waste water is made fit for use as re-use water. The operating costs of the plant are only a fraction of the costs for drinking water and the charges for waste water. Therefore recycling is an ecological alternative – especially as the re-use water can be used for watering the garden or flushing toilets. With additional modules it can also be used for washing machines or to fill up pools, etc.

Game Changer: Jonathan F.P. Rose - Metropolis Magazine - January 2014

Game Changer: Jonathan F.P. Rose - Metropolis Magazine - January 2014:
http://www.rosecompanies.com/

Receptacle Wallplates with CuVerro Antimicrobial Copper Surfaces

Receptacle Wallplates with CuVerro Antimicrobial Copper Surfaces:

http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/dam/public/wiringdevices/products/documents/brochures2/CuVerroBrochure_ANP.pdf

BIG | Bjarke Ingels Group

BIG | Bjarke Ingels Group - HUM:
Just digging the diagonal sunshade detail, and the concept behind the slope.

ASHRAE 90.1

another great post from http://splankin.com/archiwiki/:

ASHRAE / ANSI / IESNA standard 90.1 is online at

http://openpub.realread.com/rrserver/browser?title=/ASHRAE_1/ashrae_90_1_2010_IP_1024&page=1

Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings

Here is an explanation of what 90.1 means when insulating metal buildings table A2.3 and table A3.2

http://www.naima.org/publications/MB304.PDF

Thermoset rubber (TS) vs. thermoplastic rubber (TP)

This question keeps coming up so, I thought I'd jot it down.  What is the difference between thermoset and thermoplastic?  and what is better?

Here's a reference chart from Johnsonite:

 

http://www.johnsonite.com/Portals/8/files/pdfs/Wall%20Base%20FAQ.pdf

It comes down to this:

Thermoplastic can be recycled into more thermoplastic.

Thermoset material can be recycled, but only into other things.

from rlhudson.com:

"…a thermoset material will not remelt or otherwise regain the processibility it had before being cured. … Thermoset polymers outperform other materials (such as thermoplastics, see below) in a number of areas… thermoset parts tend to make more effective seals.

A thermoplastic material softens (becomes pliable and plastic) when heated, but it does not cure or set. …. A thermoplastic material can therefore be reprocessed many times, though continual recycling will eventually degrade the polymer."

--http://www.rlhudson.com/publications/techfiles/thermo.htm

So, from a sustainability point of view, it may be more responsible to specify a product that has more flexible opportunities for being recycled at the end of it's life (Thermoplastic).  On the other hand, if products made with thermoset material are in demand, does it matter?  The jury is still out. 

Of course if you take the post-consumer use out of the equation,  this brings up all the usual questions about whether it's better to use rapidly-renewable or recycled materials for production. And then you're into embodied energy questions, Life-cycle costing, etc.  Complicated.  It just depends.

Until I have a chance to dig deeper, I'm going to specify thermoplastic material, on the assumption that as long I and others are specifying it, there will be demand for it to be reprocessed into more.

Solatubes and Condensation

During hot weather, condensation can form in the Solatubes due to cool air from the air conditioning system.  If you are going to use them, make sure to separate them from the cold air diffusers on the ceiling.

Spray Foam - Lessons Learned

Once upon a time, on a project that shall not be mentioned, it was assumed that open-cell spray foam could be sprayed between the beam bottom flange and the tube steel to fill the cavity as shown in the detail below.  Not so.

First of all, while the foam is under pressure (1200 PSI), it is also heated to 125 degrees.  It melts previously applied foam.  Spraying it upwards melts it all and it just drips down.*

Second, the size of the spray nozzle is fairly large, making it difficult to spray through small openings.

Typical Spray Nozzle

*Closed cell foam is even hotter.  Spraying it into a closed space could cause spontaneous combustion.

THE SOLUTION

1. Fill the void between beam and sheathing with batt insulation down to the red outline, which is +/- the max throw into that cavity that can be realized.
2. Seal between beam flange and tube steel.
3. Spray the inside face of the beam and bottom of beam with up to 3” of foam (installer’s typical solution to this situation).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spray_foams_(insulation)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_insulation_materials#Spray_foam

New plastic light bulbs are cheap, bright, shatterproof, and flicker-free | ExtremeTech

New plastic light bulbs are cheap, bright, shatterproof, and flicker-free | ExtremeTech:

Corrosion of copper piping passing thru walls

   From: [REDACTED]
   Sent: [REDACTED]
   To: [REDACTED]
   Subject: Corrosion of copper piping passing thru walls

   It has come to our attention on several hospital projects, that the use of USG Sheetrock Acoustical Sealant has been specified for closure around piping penetrations at drywall partitions. This product is causing corrosion on non-insulated copper pipe. It is strongly suggested architectural specifications for this product be reviewed to include products that do not cause this corrosion. The following italics are from a contractor friend's email concerning the issue they are dealing with on a project of theirs.
   
   Because of possible litigation, they asked that I not identify them.
   
   In summary, at every rated wall assembly (smoke and fire) where medical gas copper piping passes through the wall and is sealed using USG Sheetrock Acoustical Sealant, the copper pipe is corroding.  There are three types of corrosion of which two are harmless to the integrity of the pipe.  Unfortunately the third, formicary corrosion, is highly detrimental to the integrity of the pipe.  Our pipe has all three types at each location.  This condition was visually observed two months ago and a sample assembly was sent for further analysis and testing.  Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy Analysis were used for the tests.  The test results were received yesterday and they are not good.  In some instances the pipe already has 5 MIL deep pits in them and will only get worse as long as moisture and air are present.  Since we don’t live on the moon, humidity and air are very much present.  We are likely facing a situation that will require us to replace all exposed copper pipe penetration locations.  Thus far it is limited to exposed copper (medical gas system) and a preliminary survey indicates this would be approximately 2,000 locations.   Insulated copper pipe (water system) is perfectly fine.
   
   I have also attached a picture of some of the piping that was removed for testing.  Looking at the pipe in the picture, areas where the sealant is on the pipe and the pipe has begun to turn blue is corrosion.
   
   They have elected to utilize HILTI 506 rather than the USG product. Needless to say the proper sealant should be utilized for the rated wall assembly that applies.
   
   Here's a link to the Hilti website.
   
   http://www.us.hilti.com/holus/page/module/techlib/teli_productreldocs.jsf?lang=en&selProdOid=566234&nodeId=-114925
   
   
  [REDACTED]
   

Nest | The Learning Thermostat

Nest | The Learning Thermostat | Home:

Did you remember to...? List of things it's best not to forget on a project

Did you remember to...? List of things it's best not to forget on a project
I really appreciate this set of "Lessons Learned" on the Life Support Facility (Building M6-490) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Frank, revealing, sometimes obvious, but interesting nonetheless.

• Firestopping and backerboard fire retardant paint did not meet LEED requirements.
• Missing floor concrete sealer specification—should ensure that all specs are kept for LEED compliance.
• Should allow for maintenance training on plumbing fixtures (i.e. waterless urinals, dual flush toilets, etc.).
• Proper use of AHU and occupancy sensors is critical—found some sensors to be missing.
• Easy to overlook required trending and specifications for the HVAC Controls.
• Must have all proper controls interface cards for HVAC equipment.
• Proper control sequencing for HVAC equipment was not always available during Occupied mode.
• Contractor should pay for additional Commissioning Authority (CxA) time if controls & equipment are not ready when scheduled.
• CxA should provide a formal briefing prior to equipment start-up to ensure everything is ready to operate.
• Commissioning should be scheduled through NASA only after all controls and equipment have been installed.
• A Measurement & Verification (M&V) Plan must be drafted prior to bid, so bidders can price the correct M&V option.
• Make sure to acquire subpower meters for Measurement & Verification (M&V) of lights, HVAC and process loads.
• Use of a control system designed with iLons may not be LEED friendly; limited fixed memory offered by iLons make necessary trending difficult and a more flexible design may be required.
• Teamwork is crucial to project success.

The full case study is available for BuildingGreen Suite members onBuildingGreen.com.

Multi-Story Wood Construction | Architectural Record's Continuing Education Center

Multi-Story Wood Construction | Sponsored by WoodWorks and reThink Wood | Originally published in the March 26, 2012 issue of Engineering News-Record | Architectural Record's Continuing Education Center

An excerpt:

Wood is the only major building material that grows naturally and is renewable, and life cycle assessment studies show that wood is better for the environment than steel or concrete in terms of embodied energy, air and water pollution, and other impact indicators.

Tassafaronga Village and Richardson Apartments in Bay Area - NYTimes.com

http://www.dbarchitect.com/
Tassafaronga Village and Richardson Apartments in Bay Area - NYTimes.com:

Think big: Dror Unveils Futuristic, Net-Positive-Energy Island In Istanbul

Architizer Blog » Dror Unveils Futuristic, Net-Positive-Energy Island In Istanbul:

AIA 2030 Commitment Resources, Programs & Initiatives

The American Institute of Architects - AIA 2030 Commitment_Resources, Programs & Initiatives:
Energy Star Target Finder
Sustainable Design Resource Center
COTE Website
50to50 Wiki
ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guides (AEDG)