Kevin+Tocao-+Notes+on+House+project

Sources used:

http://www.dom.com/customer/efficiency/res/new_home.jsp

- **Insulate** "Insulation creates a barrier between your home and the outdoor elements. It is very important to insulate walls, attics, crawlspaces and storage areas."

-**Seal Against Air Leaks** "Keep conditioned air inside your home where it belongs. Sealing against air leaks is one of the most important things your builder can do to ensure overall comfort and lower energy bills in your new home."

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/energy-eff/energy.html

//"Foundations and Slabs// Foundation **walls and slabs should be at least as well insulated as the living space walls**. Uninsulated foundations have a negative impact on home energy use and comfort, especially if the family uses the lower parts of the house as a living space. Also, appliances that supply heat as a by-product, such as domestic hot water heaters, washers, dryers, and freezers, are often located in basements. **By carefully insulating the foundation walls and floor of the basement, these appliances can assist in the heating of the house."**

//"Windows// The typical home l**oses over 25% of its heat through windows**. Since even **modern windows insulate less than a wall**, in general an energy-efficient home in heating dominated climates should have few windows on the north, east, and west exposures. **A rule-of-thumb is that window area should not exceed 8-9% of the floor area**, unless your designer is experienced in **passive solar techniques('Doh)**. If this is the case, then increasing window area on the southern side of the house to about 12% of the floor area is recommended. In cooling dominated climates, its important to select east, west, and south facing windows with low solar heat gain coefficients (these block solar heat gain). A properly designed roof overhang for south-facing windows is important to avoid overheating in the summer in most areas of the continental United States. At the very least, Energy Star rated windows or their equivalents, should be specified according to the Energy Star regional climatic guidelines."