On 25 Dec 99, at 9:31, Jeff Owens wrote:
> Detect leaks and seal starting in attic.
> Develop a plan for ventilation (suggestions given)
Could you elaborate on some of the suggestions. The building I am
living in is super insulated, and well sealed. The gas use for heating
is significantly reduced, the electricity used to run the ventilation
system significantly increased over similar more traditionally built
buildings. I'm wondering if the trade off between heating fuel and
energy needed to run ventilation systems is ultimately sustainable.
I'm in an eighty unit apartment building, so issues may be different
for single family dwellings, but a lot of people are going to be in big
buildings for a long time to come yet so the issue is worth
addressing.
> Understand how condensation works and what it tells us.
> Insulate, Insulate, insulate
> Know heat sources (people, appliances, water heater, etc.)
> Adjust clothing to fit climate (Yes!!!! )
There was a great picture in the paper recently, of the daughter of
the US ambassador to Canada. She was beside their Christmas
tree in their Ottawa dwelling. She was wearing a skimpy summer
type dress. I wondered just how much it costs for the luxury of
wearing summer clothes in the winter in Ottawa.
We have had temperatures down to -15C and have not yet turned
on our heat. Partly we are benefitting from the heating of the two
floors below us and the apartments on either side of us. Partly we
benefit from passive solar on the sunny days. The apartment really
heats up when the sun is shining and the heat retention is good. It
tends to get very cold just before we start cooking for supper, but
the heat from cooking carries us through the evening. We are all
wearing sweaters as well. In other words, dressing for the Ottawa
climate.
> The lighting checklist went like this:
>
> Make sunlight the first priority.
We are using the kitchen and entry way light a bit less now than we
were in the summer. The light reaches farther into the apartment at
this time of year.
> Use energy efficient lights.
> Reflect light and use zone lighting
> dust bulbs
> adjust lifestyle to match sun's availability (sorry night owls).
I keep trying to tell my children this last, but they wont listen ;-).
However, even maximized, at this time of year we'd have several
hours at either end of the day when we would be awake but in
darkness. With daylight savings time in effect we are in full dark by
5 pm.
sph
Sandra P. Hoffman
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.flora.org/sandra/
