Do I need an HRV/ Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Crawlspace radon barrier installation for radon mitigation
Radon in Homes - Mitigation

Removing radon gas from basements and crawlspaces

...ilding Guides Rob Mahoneyis a radon mitigation specialistin the National Capital Regionand sits on many advisory boardsincluding the CanadianAssociation of Radon Scientistsand Technologists , CanadianNational Radon Proficiency Program , CanadianGeneral Standards Boardand CGA Standards (Compressed Gas Assoc...

Condensation on windows leads to mold & mildew in homes, ERV & HRV systems help
Ventilation

Ventilation & air exchangers

...and dehumidifies whilein the winter season ERV systems humidifyand pre-heatincoming air from outside the house. One benefit of using energy recoveryin the USAis the ability to meet the ASHRAE ventilationand energy standards, whileimprovingindoor air qualityand reducing total HVAC ratingsand energy requirement...

Earthship in Taos, New Mexico, shame they don't work in cold climates
Concept and design

Do Earthships work in cold climates?

...an'tis becauseitdoesn't fit with officialideologyandimage. 9. The cost of buildinganEarthship: Thisis not a cheap or easy way to build, period. Along with significant material costs, the labour requiredis nothing short of biblicalin proportion as you willneedto ram dirtinto some 800+ tires with a sled...

我们家里的窗户上为什么会凝结?-如何阻止它?
Walls and Roofs

Condensation on windows is a pain but is it a problem & how to stop it?

...in people with asthma;and with hypersensitivity pneumonitisinindividuals susceptible to thatimmune-mediated condition. TheIOM also found limited or suggestive evidence linkingindoor mold exposureand respiratoryillnessin otherwise healthy children.In addition, alsoin 2004, theIOM found sufficient evidence ...

Finished basements can lead to mold and mildew
Healthy indoor air quality

为什么地下室会发霉?How to fix or Prevent a Moldy Basement

...inst the foam panels.Install mineral wool battsin the cavities . Mineral woolis unharmed by moisture,andifit gets wetit will retainits shapeand R value whenit dries; fiberglassis not so resilient. Lastly,install drywalland paintit with a latex paint only. This technique of rigidand battinsulatio...

Passive House certification - PHI or PHIUS? The Spring House Passive House
Passive House

Everything you need to know about Passive House certification

...ification bodiesin the US, PHI(Passive HouseInstitute)and PHIUS (Passive HouseInstitute US)and for Canada thereis Passive House Canadaand the CanadianPassive HouseInstitute . This guide aims to describe the origins of Passive House certification , which canbe accredited to a very futuristic Passive Solar hea...

Slab on grade or a foundation and basement?
Foundation choices

Slab-on-grade vs foundation and crawlspace or basement

...intand height may leave you with no option but to builddownin order to have sufficient space.If your building siteis on a slopeand will require terracing, a foundation canoften be the only solution.In such cases, be sureitis well-insulatedand well protected outside from moistureinfiltrationandit’s alw...

Basement Design for walls prevents mold & midlew when renovating & finishing
Healthy indoor air quality

Basement renovations: How to prevent mold when finishing basements

...inst the foam panels.Install mineral wool battsin the cavities . Mineral woolis unharmed by moisture,andifit gets wetit will retainits shapeand R value whenit dries; fiberglassis not so resilient. Lastly,install drywalland paintit with a latex paint only. This technique of rigidand battinsulatio...

Choosing a building envelope
Wall assemblies - new construction

Choosing a building envelope - starting with the perfect wall

...irtightand, mostimportantly, with better ventilation likeHRV's or ERV's or air conditioning. Thereis also much more understanding of how buildings workand why walls canfailin a home with air conditioning, even when built to code . For example,if a homeis built of timberand will be air conditionedin summer ...

Off-grid leed home
Off-grid and Net-Zero Housing

Off-grid living blog post 5: appliances, mechanical and other systems

...ingdone by the high-speed spin cycle. Air handlingInany tightly built house, oneneeds to provide for ventilation.In olderand draftier homes, a lot of air leaksintoand out of a house just through little cracks around joints, windows,anddoors, but with new high-efficiency construction thereis a strong ri...

Passively-heated off-grid LEED house in Low, Quebec
Off-grid and Net-Zero Housing

Off-grid living blog: a firsthand account of building and living in a remote area

...ightly as possible,and actively bringin fresh air with a device like a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). Blowerdoor test to check for air permeability being conducted © Ecohome Airtightnessis measuredin air changes per hour (ACH), which measures the total volume of airinside a building,and how many timesi...