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Showing posts from April, 2019

My journey into building energy efficiency

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I was laid off of a fun job in mid 2017. I was disappointed that it didn't work out and so I was looking for a job. I ran across a job add for a production manager for a startup company that was building homes in a factory. I thought this would be a great opportunity to make an impact on a startup with the skills I had obtained over my years in manufacturing and operations. Little did I know of how much I would learn during my time at the startup about construction and energy efficiency. During the time I was at the startup, I was mentored by a wonderful gentleman who taught me a lot about construction and energy efficiency. So I decide I was going to try something. I decided that I would try and improve my own home. I was able to get my hands on a thermal camera. I was able to use a FLIR One. This unit attaches to your phone and allows you to take images. Flir One If you have ever had a chance to play with this device, it's amazing. I did that in my home a...

Building Envelope

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The building envelope is one of the most important parts to an efficient environment in any building. From the beginning, humans have had to make an attempt to figure out how to protect themselves and the things that are important to them from the elements around them. Rain, wind, snow, heat, cold have always plagued humans from the beginning. Many technologies have been utilized over time to try and create an environment that protects us from the elements. Check out this great video of how an igloo is utilize to protect the inhabitants of the Arctic region. In our modern world, we have various factors that we have to consider when it comes to that building envelope that we want to use to protect us. 1. Structural - Can the structure protect us from the environmental factors around us? 2. Heat Transfer - Can the structure help prevent the loss of heat from inside the structure or the entrance of heat from outside the structure. 3. Aesthetics - Can the structure meet t...

Introduction

We are living in a changing world. Our environment is changing, our policies are changing, and in the end, our pocket books are changing. In this blog, I will look at the creative technologies that are available to consumers as well as builders, architects, and developers that will help improve the efficiency of the environments that we are in on a daily basis. With these improvements, our health can improve, our world can improve, and we can also save a little in our pocket books. I will also explore the various certification programs available to builders, architects, and in the end the consumers that will live, work or interact in that space. The programs have been developed with the focus on our environment. In the end, with all these technologies and certification programs, we will need strong leadership from public and private sector individuals. They and all of us will need to take hold of what is before us to ensure that we provide an environment for future generations th...