Online educational resource on achieving indoor environmental quality with radiant based HVAC systems
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Building enclosure as a filter, sponge and capacitor
Copyright (c) 2012, Robert Bean, R.E.T., P.L.(Eng.) and www.healthyheating.com

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Figure 1. Building enclosure as a filter, sponge and capacitor. Source: Healthy Heating Integrated Design Course
 

The outdoor and indoor elements consisting of natural forces of mass and energy will flow from high to low across the enclosure in both directions and in the process heat up or cool down, store or discharge, saturate or dry, ventilate, evaporate and/or contaminate the materials of construction based on their characteristics. Materials can be chosen to reflect, absorb/filter/store or transmit mass and energy in various degrees according to their purpose given climate and use.
 

Figure 2. Building enclosures for different climates: one size fits all does not always work unless you can convince architects and their clients to standardize on assemblies which can handle the basic fundamentals of heat, air and moisture management.

For further studies on this topic see our ASHRAE Lecture on Building enclosure as a filter, sponge and capacitor and my ASHRAE IAQ2013 paper, "The Interaction and Connection between Buildings, HVAC System, and Indoor Environmental Quality."


Additional study:

Building Efficiency Categories
Building Enclosures
Building Orientation
Built to Code: Means what?
Building Science w/ SEM
Conduction Animation
Convection Animation
Heat, Air, Moisture Modelling
Humidity & the Environment
Infiltration
Mean Radiant Temperature
Operative Temperature
Radiant Animation
Radiant Theory
Temperature Indices
Thermography
Under slab insulation
Windows for Cold Climates
Walls for Cold Climates


Related reading:

Do I need an engineer? A Guide to HVAC/Indoor Climate Design Service Providers
Where will your indoor climate system score?
How to "ball park" your budget for indoor climate control.
Indoor environments: Self assessment
Built to code: What does it mean for consumer thermal comfort?
The Total Comfort System - The "Un-minimum" System
Thermal Comfort: A 40 grit perspective for consumers
Thermal Comfort: A Condition of Mind

Do-It-Yourself HVAC - Should you do it?
The Cost of HVAC Systems - Are You Paying Too Much for Downgrades?
Radiant Installations - The Good, Bad and Ugly
Thermal Comfort Surveys - Post Occupancy, Part I
Thermal Comfort Surveys - Post Occupancy, Part II

For additional support on this topic visit our visitor services page.

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