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Does LEED Certification Save Energy? Evidence from Federal Buildings

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Re: Does LEED Certification Save Energy? Evidence from Federal Buildings

#81

The focus of buildings should be: 1. Keeping dry and bulk water out/away. 2. Being as air tight as possible.† 3. Controlling vapour. 4. Being well-insulated. * https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-001-t... † Air is exchanged in a controlled fashioned: filtered for pollen and other things, and then tempered with an HRV/ERV. Buildings do not need to 'breathe': * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIcrXut…

How long for VOC purge post build, pre occupancy?

Re: Does LEED Certification Save Energy? Evidence from Federal Buildings

#82
post #79

It is comforting to see this discussion continues the great HN tradition of having a lively and wide-ranging debate about a complex scientific article or paper without ever bothering to read the article and paper. This is a rather complex paper, so I perused it for about five minutes. As such I consider my self a one eyed man among a hoard of shouting extremely opinionated blind people, so you should all listen to me…

Here, have my upvote. For karma points, please keep doing this. Great summary.

Re: Does LEED Certification Save Energy? Evidence from Federal Buildings

#83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it possible that all of your neighbors in your building have their heater on? This is what happened to me in a building in NYC. It would actually get so warm in the winter I would have to crack the window open or I would get a nose bleed.

As someone who also lives in Toronto: most things being built now are giant class towers. Now, glass sucks at insulation (even triple glaze), but—depending on the coatings—it lets in a lot of sun light and with that potentially heat. While in a perfect world there would be no / minimal exchange between the inside of the structure and the outside,† being too warm may be better than being too cold, as I'm guessing that…

There is a courthouse in Phoenix, Arizona, USA built predominately with glass. Summer days there are in the 40s. It boggles my mind.

Re: Does LEED Certification Save Energy? Evidence from Federal Buildings

#84
post #76

The focus of buildings should be: 1. Keeping dry and bulk water out/away. 2. Being as air tight as possible.† 3. Controlling vapour. 4. Being well-insulated. * https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-001-t... † Air is exchanged in a controlled fashioned: filtered for pollen and other things, and then tempered with an HRV/ERV. Buildings do not need to 'breathe': * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIcrXut…

The problem with buildings with windows that don't open, is that the windows don't open. What do you do if you want to open the window?

You can windows that open, just make sure they are not single/double-hung or any kind that slides, as those leak a lot IIRC.

Get casement windows, which open on hinges, and that tend to have levers to apply force against a seal/gasket.

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casement_window

Re: Does LEED Certification Save Energy? Evidence from Federal Buildings

#85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same in France, I'm buying a condo and looking into all this for the renovation, and everybody is screaming "insulation by the outside".

If you want to make sure things are built properly, look into the topic of "building science": * https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-001-t... Matt Risinger, a general contractor in Austin, Texas, has a lot of good videos on the topics: * https://www.youtube.com/c/MattRisinger/videos Even if you can't use the same techniques that he does (and pay for some of the premium products), it may be possible…

You’re barking at the wrong tree, I’m buying a condo and the outside walls and the roof are common goods. I don’t have a technical issue but a human one: what in the neighbor’s mind? And how is their wallet feeling about huge work right now?

Then we can talk r-values, zoning rules, permitting and planning.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a technophile, I watch American construction shows, and I bought a bunch of books on renovation at the same time as the condo, but it’s only a small part of what has to be done.

Re: Does LEED Certification Save Energy? Evidence from Federal Buildings

#86
post #79

It is comforting to see this discussion continues the great HN tradition of having a lively and wide-ranging debate about a complex scientific article or paper without ever bothering to read the article and paper. This is a rather complex paper, so I perused it for about five minutes. As such I consider my self a one eyed man among a hoard of shouting extremely opinionated blind people, so you should all listen to me…

> My thinking here is that this does not mean LEEDS is a failure. The study shows that there was improvement in every building that underwent the certification, it is just that for some buildings energy wasn't the highest priority. In many parts of the US water use is much more important than energy efficiency.

I was going to read the paper tonight. I do appreciate your summary.

One thing I've been doing lately is to highlight the fact that nothing in life is reduced to a single variable problem. No, a cow is not a uniform sphere of milk one meter in diameter.

I've been doing this because of just how many discussions seem to take one variable and assign to that one variable the entire end result of whatever it might be that is being discussed. Frankly, it's maddening. I couldn't even name something that, in the real world, is an honest single-variable problem (I'm sure someone will find something now and point it out; OK, now go find ten!).

Re: Does LEED Certification Save Energy? Evidence from Federal Buildings

#87
post #79

It is comforting to see this discussion continues the great HN tradition of having a lively and wide-ranging debate about a complex scientific article or paper without ever bothering to read the article and paper. This is a rather complex paper, so I perused it for about five minutes. As such I consider my self a one eyed man among a hoard of shouting extremely opinionated blind people, so you should all listen to me…

I, for one, welcome our one eye leader... the summarizer

Re: Does LEED Certification Save Energy? Evidence from Federal Buildings

#88
post #79

It is comforting to see this discussion continues the great HN tradition of having a lively and wide-ranging debate about a complex scientific article or paper without ever bothering to read the article and paper. This is a rather complex paper, so I perused it for about five minutes. As such I consider my self a one eyed man among a hoard of shouting extremely opinionated blind people, so you should all listen to me…

Man, the authors should have explained that in the abstract. "Tradeoffs in attributes" does not cut it

Re: Does LEED Certification Save Energy? Evidence from Federal Buildings

#89
post #2

The biggest issue I see is that LEEDs allow for a building that looks like a big heat exchanger, and has zero heat insulation to certify for high power efficiency in a cold climate. Canada, and Toronto area had tons of LEEDs certed luxury condos being heated like no tomorrow in Winter. Things are even worse in Vancouver, but that's offset by milder weather. The opposite picture is there in hot climates. Building with…

> Canada, and Toronto area had tons of LEEDs certed luxury condos being heated like no tomorrow in Winter. Things are even worse in Vancouver, but that's offset by milder weather.

That's called Green Washing. Now, Snow Washing is the process in which dirty money is brought into Canada to purchase said assets.

Re: Does LEED Certification Save Energy? Evidence from Federal Buildings

#90
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it possible that all of your neighbors in your building have their heater on? This is what happened to me in a building in NYC. It would actually get so warm in the winter I would have to crack the window open or I would get a nose bleed.

>or I would get a nose bleed. Are nose bleeds associated with high temperatures?

Heating plus air leaks results in dry air.

As you heat some air the relative humidity drops. If your room is not leaky, the relatively humidity will rise as it cools back off, but if you're constantly leaking air your indoor humidity will approach that of the outside air raised to the indoor temp.

This is why energy recovery ventilators exist-- to exchange outside air without losing or gaining as much relative humidity change.

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