![]() The drawbacks associated with loose building envelopes can include unwanted moisture (i.e., mold and mildew) indoor air quality potentially being affected by nearby contaminants other equipment in the building performing less efficiently and greater loss of air conditioning and heat, which results in higher energy use and costs. Loose envelopes can be achieved by design, but poor construction can result in a loose envelope as well. On the other hand, a loose envelope allows for more natural ventilation, so more outside air can flow inside without the need for mechanical means. Of course, with a tighter seal comes less natural ventilation, so more mechanical ventilation is needed. The tighter the seal on the building envelope, or shell, the more control people have over the indoor environment.Ī tightly sealed building allows for a higher level of comfort control, reduced moisture issues, and more energy efficiency. Why create such a tight seal? Indoor environmental control. This is achieved by the aforementioned insulation, sealants, and energy-efficient windows. Loose Building Envelopesīuilding envelope systems are defined in one of two ways: tight or loose.Ī tight building envelope allows very few air leaks. Good insulation in the walls, high-efficiency windows, and sufficiently sealed gaps increase the effectiveness of the envelope. ![]() So, what exactly makes up a building envelope? A building envelope is everything that separates the internal building from the external environment, including the roof, doors, windows, floors, and walls. It’s important to note that older structures weren’t constructed with building envelopes in mind, which explains why these buildings aren’t as energy-efficient as newer ones. Keeping heated or cooled air inside (and their respective opposites out) means less energy used and less money spent on heating and cooling.īuilding envelope technologies account for approximately 30% of the primary energy consumed in residential and commercial buildings these technologies affect many factors related to a building’s energy consumption, including lighting, ventilation, and the energy required to heat and cool the building. Similarly, during the summer months, the envelope keeps the cooled air inside and the hot air outside.īecause of this barrier, the building envelope plays a key role in a structure’s energy efficiency. In the winter, the building envelope helps prevent the transfer of heat from inside to outdoors. It’s like a shell - a barrier against the world outside of the building. A building envelope is a seal of protection for the people and things inside a structure. ![]()
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