Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 13
a problem? Isn't as tight as the International
Space Station (ISS) exactly what you should
shoot for? " Let's look at why " No " is the correct
answer.
Think of your home as a living structure. It
changes as it ages, and with each season. It " exhales "
as it ages too. Houses will release (exhale)
volatile organic compounds from paint,
carpet, furniture, wallpaper and so on. These
compounds get into the air and over time will
make their way outside. Eventually, this stops as
the materials reach a certain age. Yet, as these
materials cease releasing their chemicals, homeowners
reintroduce others with cleaning, cooking,
smoking and just general living.
As an example, we once lived in an 1883
farmhouse in North Carolina. Obviously, the materials
used in construction had long since
ceased their exhalations. However, the original
owner, Mr. Pinnick, smoked a pipe with cherry
tobacco. Every now and then we'd catch a whiff
of cherry tobacco smoke. Local legend was that
Mr. Pinnick was checking on his house. Of
course, it could have been that the house absorbed
the smoke and was releasing it.
Modern energy-efficiency practice focuses
on sealing the exterior of the home to minimize
gaps and cracks. Further, it focuses on using
highly efficient heating and cooling equipment
and the best appliances in terms of their energysipping
character. Proper efficiency standards
also require a certain number of air changes per
hour (ACH). This slightly technical-sounding term
simply means that the air inside the home should
be completely replaced with air from the outside
a certain number of times each hour. Generally
this is handled by the HVAC equipment, but leakage
can also provide a substantial portion. Industry
standards recommend .35 ACH for
general occupancy and allow this to be obtained
by mechanical and leakage means. Like
the ISS, a completely sealed home will rely on
100 percent mechanical means to provide the
necessary ACH.
So, what is the risk to sealing your home too
tightly? Indoor air quality experts cite the chemicals
released inside the home as one danger.
Mold is another. Especially in humid climates, a
tightly sealed home becomes the perfect petri
dish for cultivating unhealthy levels of mold. The
health effects of both can be debilitating and
difficult to diagnose.
The bottom line is to allow for proper fresh
air when tightening up your home. These calculations
can become complex so don't hesitate to
enlist the help of a trusted contractor to be sure
you get the right information. Additionally, contact
your local electric cooperative to find out
what other energy-efficient measures you can
implement in your home.
March-April 2015/www.co-opliving.com
11
Cooperative Living March/April 2015
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living March/April 2015
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 1
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 2
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 3
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 4
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 5
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 6
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 7
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 8
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 9
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 10
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 11
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 12
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 13
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 14
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 15
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 16
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 17
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 18
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 19
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 20
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 21
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 22
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 23
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 24
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 25
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 26
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 27
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 28
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 29
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 30
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 31
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 32
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 33
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 34
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 35
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 36
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 37
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 38
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 39
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 40
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 41
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 42
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 43
Cooperative Living March/April 2015 - 44
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-nov-dec_2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cooperative-living-july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CL-May2024/cooperativelivingmay2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/CooperativeLiving-June2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cooperativelivingmay2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january-february2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-april2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january-february2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-april2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january-february2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2014
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com