Your heating and cooling system should be inside your thermal envelope or you are wasting money

Your heating and cooling system should be inside your thermal envelope or you are wasting money. We often find the HVAC system in homes in unconditioned attic, basement, or crawl spaces. That means you are trying to cool or heat air and send it through a space that is working against that goal. You are also probably growing mold.

Attic HVAC

This not only means the HVAC mechanical equipment should be on the conditioned side of the insulation, it means the duct work should as well. While duct work has insulation, it is not as much insulation as you should have between inside and outside of your home. Keeping the mechanical system and duct work on the inside of the insulation will reduce the amount of energy required to achieve comfort.

IMG_2951

If you mechanical system is in an unconditioned space, you are wasting money. The best solution is to add insulation to the space placing the mechanical system inside the thermal envelope. It is not a simple problem to fix if it was not done with building science in mind to start. However, it is a problem that should be solved for lower energy bills and higher comfort.

 Triple C Camp - NEST Rebuild, 2010

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Related Posts

Black Women in Architecture

Black Women in Architecture

By Aliyah D. White.   According to The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), ...
Sometimes Being an Architect is a Roller Coaster

Sometimes Being an Architect is a Roller Coaster

The job of an architect can be an emotional roller coaster. You get the opportunity to walk with your clients to ...
Should you install Solar PV on your Roof? Part 2

Should you install Solar PV on your Roof? Part 2

Here is part 2 to answer should you install Solar PV on your roof? Check out part 1 as well as one of our ...
Should you install Solar PV on your Roof? Part 1

Should you install Solar PV on your Roof? Part 1

Over the last couple of weeks, several people have posted questions on social media about adding solar ...