The term "high performance" is usually reserved for sports cars and Grateful Dead concerts, but homes can also have a high-performance side, and like a race car, it all revolves around results.
Most homes in this category are built from the ground up, which allows for system-engineered design and quality-controlled construction.
The key to a high-performance home is that all the major systems within the home work together to create a comfortable and healthy living environment that operates on an elevated level of energy efficiency and building durability
One aspect of this is that the HVAC system is sized specifically for the home and that register supply and return vents are placed in a room to most effectively heat and cool that space.
Every aspect of the home's energy use is taken into account. It's a pretty heady goal, but with today's advances in building science, design, and technology, high-performance homes are being built at a rapid rate across the country.
Common elements of a high-performance home include:
* An airtight, moisture-managed, and well-insulated building
* Manifold plumbing systems
* Geo-thermal heat pumps
* Programmable thermostats
* Climate control "zones" throughout the house
* Performance testing at each stage of the building process
Unfortunately, turning your existing home into a super-charged high-performance home can be difficult. Imagine trying to get a 1977 Chevy Nova up to the performance specs of a 2007 Corvette Z06. It may be possible, but it's not really practical. However, there are plenty of lessons to be learned from high-performance homes like performing a blower-door test to uncover major air leaks in the building envelope or making sure your ducts are cleaned and sealed to improve the HVAC system performance.
If you are looking to really conserve energy, a high-performance home may be your ticket, but low power bills are only one aspect of green.
Posting Komentar