If the desire, in either new construction or renovation, is for high performance, it is important to include a contractor with pertinent knowledge and experience at the planning stage. Energy efficiency, comfort, and durability issues often cannot be incorporated properly or economically once a project is partially completed. Minor design changes can often make certain aspects much easier. Increased insulation levels often dictate smaller heating or HVAC systems. Oversized systems do not operate properly or efficiently. While a project is being framed, a certain amount of air sealing should be done using caulking and gaskets. Unlike standard construction, where often fiberglass insulation is installed as best as can be around pipes and wires in one mad dash, we install insulation in stages. The need for consultation during the planning stages has recently been heightened with the adoption by the State of Maine of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, which calls for insulation levels that sometimes can be challenging to reach.

Building trends have steadily been towards tighter, more highly insulated buildings. This has often caused problems, as buildings just don’t dry out like they used to. Fifty years ago, buildings had very little, if any, insulation and were sheathed with boards, which allowed drying year round. It was just assumed that buildings’ occupants were going to be hot in the summer and cold in the winter. People today clearly do not want to return to that type of existence. The challenge is to build homes that are comfortable, economical, and durable. The mantra of all building scientists is “build it tight and ventilate right.” This involves building an airtight highly insulated “envelope,” taking particular care to eliminate water intrusion (pan flashings under every door and window) and other sources of moisture, and installing mechanical ventilation to ensure air quality. Depending on the tightness of the building, the mechanical ventilation may consist of a fan that is set to run intermittently or a heat recovery ventilator, which exhausts stale air and heats incoming fresh air with that same exhaust.

 

Tarpaper, inexplicably installed over existing house wrap and window flange, acted like a gutter, causing extensive damage to the framing of this fairly new house.

More elective features but just as important in our estimation, are orientation towards the sun, when possible, and aesthetics. A house that faces south can benefit from passive solar effects and natural daylight. And no one wants to return day after day to a home they find unattractive. Proper proportions, scale, and building with the lay of the land can make a house more economical to build, attractive to view, and so more valuable.

(The owner’s home, built by him in 1993)

I may be a little biased, but I think our own home is a good example. We don’t have a Viking Range, granite countertops or other expensive architectural features, but 18 years after building it, we still find it very appealing and enjoyable to live and entertain in, and have received many compliments on it. Generous overhangs shelters the windows from summer sun and allow us to leave the windows open when it rains, and makes the building a little more interesting. The large windows facing south provide daylight, passive solar heat, and the impression of being outside. The first floor windows are casements, and all open the same way, to scoop the SW breeze in the summer. These features and others that were not very expensive add immeasurably to the house.

 

(Three season room designed and built by Gendron Construction Services.)