by Charles Hendricks | Jan 19, 2015 | Building Science, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect
Formaldehyde: A gas used widely in production of adhesives, plastics, preservatives, and fabric treatments and commonly emitted by indoor materials that are made with its compounds. It is highly irritating if inhaled and is now listed as a probable human carcinogen.
Some products that you might expect to contain formaldehyde in your home include paper towels, shampoo, deodorant, lipstick, baby wipes, toothpaste, body wash, and nail polish. It can also be found in building products including pressed wood produces (cabinets for instance), plywood, resins (used in wall paper), glues, latex paint, insulation, and carpet.
Exposure to high levels of Formaldehyde may cause asthma attacks, nausea, watery eyes, difficulty breathing, headaches, and respiratory irritation.
Formaldehyde, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, has been shown to cause cancer in animals.
by Charles Hendricks | Jan 14, 2015 | Building Science, Commercial Architect, Harrisonburg Architect, project update
The work continues at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Verona even with the cold weather. We have gone from old farm-house to no building to finally a new office taking shape. In the rear you can now see where the warehouse addition will take shape as demolition has started.
Inside the building office spaces are starting to take shape.
In the rear, demolition has started and the footings have been poured.
by Charles Hendricks | Dec 15, 2014 | Building Science, Green Building, green term defined, Indoor Air Quality
The 4 C’s: You have to be able to effectively convey the information from design to construction in a Clear, Concise, Correct, and Complete method.
Air Infiltration: The uncontrolled inward air leakage through cracks and holes in the building envelope and around windows and doors of a building caused by the pressure effects of wind and/or the effect of differences in the indoor and outdoor air density.
Biophilic Design: premise that we can learn from nature to create better buildings and build better buildings by connecting to nature
Blower Door Test: used to determine total air leakage of a home’s thermal envelope.
Building Automation System: technology that can be used to control the heating and cooling systems in a building. It can also be used to control lights on a room by room basis or a fixture by fixture basis. It can also be used to monitor security systems and even entertainment systems.
Cohousing: type of development where residents collaborate together on the design of their own neighborhood
Composting: practice of mixing organic waste that can biodegrade quickly to create a planting medium called compost
Conservation: act of preserving, guarding, or protecting the resources we have available on this planet
Construction Waste: materials at a job site that cannot be easily used on that site
Dark Sky (Light Pollution): excessive, misdirected, or glaring artificial light
Dehumidifier: piece of equipment that reduces the level of humidity in the air
Detached Garage: garage not directly connected to your home
Elf: battery assisted, solar charged bike will go 1.5 hours on a charge depending on total weight on a charge and allows you to apply pedal power to extend your ride
Embodied Energy: total amount of energy required to produce a product
Encapsulated Crawl Space: sealed space that has a vapor barrier on the walls and floor
Geothermal Heat Pump: heating and cooling system that transfers heat to and from the ground through a loop to condition the air inside of your home or business.
High Efficiency Water Heater: High efficiency water heating can save you a considerable amount of energy each day. There are several systems used to efficiently heat water for usage inside a building. The most common is either an on-demand water heater or a heat pump water heater.
Indoor Environmental Quality: the air that you breathe, the type of light, the sounds, and the comfort you feel.
Infrared (thermographic) camera: allows you to see radiation or temperature differential on a surface making it visible light.
Integrated Design: Integrated design builds a team to walk the project from concept through construction
Life Cycle Analysis: system of reviewing the entire history of a product to account for the total impact on the environment
Off-the-grid: An off-the-grid system operates without reliance on a public utility.
Permeability: measure of the diffusion of water vapor through a material
Rainwater Harvesting: collection of water for reuse before it reaches the aquifer
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs): environmental attributes of your green power that are sold separately from the electrons that makes up the electricity.
Recycled Content: process that takes a waste material and converts it to a new product, thus reducing the consumption of raw materials, potentially reducing energy usage, and diverts materials from a landfill
R-Value: measure of the reduction of heat transfer across a defined path
Solar Reflectance Index: measure of the constructed surface’s ability to stay cool in the sun by reflecting solar radiation and emitting thermal radiation
Stack Effect: movement of air into and out of buildings, driven by air pressure, temperature differential, and moisture
Stormwater: water that comes from precipitation (rain, snow, sleet…) and does not soak into the ground
Sustainability: Development that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Vegetated Roof: partially or completely covered roof with vegetation over a waterproof membrane
Water Conservation: takes into account activities to manage fresh water resources, protect the water environment, and to meet current and future demand for fresh water.
Zero Energy Ready Home: This program, once called Challenge Home, focuses on conservation strategies to reduce energy load and prepping the home for solar PV panels.
by Charles Hendricks | Dec 8, 2014 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, green term defined
Infiltration – The uncontrolled inward air leakage through cracks and holes in the building envelope and around windows and doors of a building. Its typically caused by the pressure effects of wind and/or the effect of differences in the indoor and outdoor air density. This can be a garage door opening or even a light breeze against a garage door, a forced air heating and cooling system, or unbalanced pressures room to room in a home.
This time of year, comfort issues in your home are highlighted while we all try to stay warm. A breeze running down a wall, under a door, or from an attic access makes it really hard to be comfortable. This comfort issue is a big signal that you have energy-efficiency issues in your home. Finding the leaks and plugging the leaks will not only make your home more comfortable, it will reduce your monthly electric bills. The best way to find the leaks is doing a blower door test and using thermal imaging technology. However, a smoke stick or even a candle can identify the big leaks.
by Charles Hendricks | Dec 8, 2014 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, green term defined
Air Infiltration – The uncontrolled inward air leakage through cracks and holes in the building envelope and around windows and doors of a building. Its typically caused by the pressure effects of wind and/or the effect of differences in the indoor and outdoor air density. This can be a garage door opening or even a light breeze against a garage door, a forced air heating and cooling system, or unbalanced pressures room to room in a home.
This time of year, comfort issues in your home are highlighted while we all try to stay warm. A breeze running down a wall, under a door, or from an attic access makes it really hard to be comfortable. This comfort issue is a big signal that you have energy-efficiency issues in your home. Finding the leaks and plugging the leaks will not only make your home more comfortable, it will reduce your monthly electric bills. The best way to find the leaks is doing a blower door test and using thermal imaging technology. However, a smoke stick or even a candle can identify the big leaks.
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 26, 2014 | architecture, Building Science, Harrisonburg Architect
While the kitchen is often the heart of your home this time of year, the living room is just as important. The spaces we have to gather, relax, reconnect, and recharge are critical to our health and the health of our family. Having a space that allows for this to happen away from the dirty dishes and chore list you keep on the refrigerator makes your house a home.
The living room should show your style, speak of your values, and set a tone for the rest of your home.
While living rooms vary is size and shape there are some critical elements that make them more functional. First they have to be right sized for the occasion. Since you may entertain for different size groups an adaptable space is important to allow for a small group to feel cozy and a large group to be comfortable.
As with most rooms in the home, access to the outside is important – either views or even a direct path to a patio or deck makes the space feel larger and more inviting. You may even have an extension of your inside space into a semi-outside living room space.
Creating a center in the space allows for focus, this may be a fireplace, view through a window, or a television. The most important part of this space is to make it work just right for you and your family. There are no rules to follow in custom design – after all – it is custom designed for you. Share your thoughts in the comment section below – what is your must have for a living room?
Infiltration – The uncontrolled inward air leakage through cracks and holes in the 
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