Consistent temperature: Since new homes have a consistent thermal mass and insulation level, measurements have proven that the temperature difference from floor to ceiling in a new home is only about two degrees. Wood framed houses can show a temperature difference of up to eight degrees.
Even temperature: Because of the high thermal mass of concrete (about 5 times that of a conventional wood framed wall), the temperature of a new home is very stable. This means the temperature of the building remains even, instead of overheating when the furnace turns on or getting cold when the air conditioner kicks in.
No cold or hot spots: The uninsulated portion of wood frame walls adds up to about 25% of the total exposed area. The new homes incorporate insulation that is almost completely uninterrupted. This translates to no cool or warm areas you may feel when walking along framed walls in winter or summer.
Fewer drafts: New homes are unlike a wood frame home which is built with rigid pieces that leave thousands of tiny air gaps. Recent studies comparing old constructed wood framed homes with new homes prove that wood frame homes have air losses of close to five times that of homes built with new style walls. Preliminary reports suggest an air loss difference of over twelve times that of new technology.
Indoor Air Quality: Issues associated with declining general health such as asthma, bronchitis and allergies, are significantly reduced or even eliminated in the indoor living environment. Utilizing new air cleaning technology, the indoor air contaminants may be reduced by up to 99%, providing a much more comfortable living environment to the occupants. Considering that much of the population is aging into retirement, so do health concerns, indoor air quality has become a significant factor in modern building construction.
There are four main considerations to indoor air quality that are addressed by the new homes: (1) filtration of contaminants, (2) humidity control, (3) supply of fresh air, and (4) removal of used or stale air. These aspects of air quality need special consideration in modern methods of construction, as the building envelope is almost a perfect seal, effectively performing as a building wrapped in a plastic bag.
Filtration of Contaminants: Utilizing a new air cleaner, new technologies allow the supplied air to be cleaned so effectively, as to remove up to 99% of all the potential contaminants. This includes pollen spores affecting allergies, smoke and chemicals that produce cancers and diseases over long term exposure, as well as larger particles such as dust, which aggravate bronchial passages.
Humidity Control: Key in preventing and providing a more comfortable living environment, it is already known how high humidity environments promote healthy lungs and airways. Typical treatment for respiratory ailments include the use of steam or highly humidified air to aid in the healing and health of an individual. Current methods of home construction do not allow for high levels of humidity, without the associated issues of mold and mildew growth. By utilizing building components which do not support the growth of mold and mildew, and through the use of non-biodegradable components, we can now effectively build a structure which is not only structurally unaffected by high humidity levels, but this type of construction also limits the growth of mold and mildew. In essence, we provide a much more comfortable living environment, without adding undue stress on the structure, which would normally result in major repair considerations after only a few years.
Fresh air supply/Stale air exhaust: Heat recovery technology is simplistic in design, yet highly effective in reducing air change losses while providing proper, not just adequate, air changes. Again the key issue on this is to allow for a much higher indoor air quality and comfort level. Stale air is drawn from the key contaminant areas such as basements, kitchens, laundry rooms and baths. These areas tend to allow contaminants such as smog, smoke, paints, cleaners and other chemicals, combustion gases from appliances and even the offgassing of the components associated with the building process such as carpets or new furniture, which would normally stockpile in these locations. Top 10 refrigerant recovery machines
