(187c) The Healthy Energy and Envelope Balance

Choosing energy efficient healthy indoor environments is linked to exterior envelopes. Understanding this linkage involves many facets that include; 1. Understanding the impacts of building envelope materials on energy performance and the indoor environment. 2. Identifying available tools for analyzing envelope material choices. 3. Discussing current building industry trends and their effect on energy performance and occupancy health. 4. Identifying current barriers to improving how designers synthesize design choices relating to energy, systems, and material selection. The advent of modern mechanical, heating, air conditioning, and ventilation, energy efficient buildings have become increasingly dependent on tight and highly insulated envelopes. This talk will focus on building materials and developing the details of how energy and envelopes both effect building energy use, indoor air quality and the overall occupied built environment. Some of the the potential risks and benefits of current building materials will be covered and the gaps and areas for improvement identified. Finally, some of the tools for making more informed choices will be reviewed.

The relationships between energy performance and healthy air and indoor environmental quality is critical to the future of sustainable architecture and engineering. This presentation will seek to answer these vital questions and chart a path to a healthy and sustainable built environment.