[Greenbuilding] Old buildings = better energy performance; why? NYT

[Topher]

On 11/19/2013 12:16 PM, Reuben Deumling wrote:
> Thoughts?

I often tell clients that age is not a reliable indicator of heating 
performance.  I have found very little correlation between age and 
leakiness for example.  Some old buildings are very tight, some new ones 
are horrifyingly leaky.  Care and diligence in the detailing have a lot 
to do with it, and that could have been done at almost any time in the 
life of the building.  Many old buildings are well suited to be 
improved.  They have thick walls with no insulation (some up to 12" 
thick), balloon framing which makes adding insulation easier, and and 
generally haven't got any mistakes.  Once upgraded with insulation, air 
sealing, interior storm windows, they are far better than any modern 
house 'made to code'.

1970s seems to have been the worst time for buildings.  They tend to be 
thin walled, badly filled with fiberglass insulation, have vapor barrier 
issues, and no upgrade path short of complete retrofit. That is also 
when we seem to get things like log-homes, domes, overglazed solar 
homes, solar homes facing North (seriously), etc. Newer houses haven't 
had as much time to deteriorate, and I think there is a tendency for 
people to think that they have a new house, so it ought to be good, so 
they don't have to do anything.

Thank You Kindly,

Corwyn / Topher Belknap



-- 
Topher Belknap
Green Fret Consulting
Kermit didn't know the half of it...
http://www.GreenFret.com/
topher at greenfret.com