Sealing the box.

Sealing the box is one of the most important things you can do if you're going green. In the old days builders said "a building has got to breathe." Now we say "seal it tight, then ventilate right!" Sealing your envelope up properly makes your home like an Igloo cooler. You don't lose heated or cooled air to the outside environment. Your power bill is less. But, that said, now you're sealed up in there with everything else inside. That's where green building differs from just "energy saving" building. In a green home we bring in metered amounts of fresh air for the occupants through the HVAC system. We also look at factors that can affect the indoor air quality. Carpet and floor covering outgassing. Low VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, and low formaldehyde plywoods in the cabinets. Even the standard cleaning stuff that you used to use may need to be thought about in a new light. Anyway here are some of the areas that need to be sealed up. The place where the wall meets the floor at the exterior perimeter. Places where plumbing and electrical penetrate the envelope. Mechanical too. Those older can lights are ventilated to the attic-very bad. And new solutions for that old timey attic stair! If you're building in the Columbia,SC area contact me for any green info you may need!