Our 2nd blower door test was conducted by Jacob Racusin, who is recently BPI certified and who did it as a part of the Yestermorrow Sustainable Design Certificate course with a group of students.
We got 770 cfm @ 50Pascal which gave us a new number for ACH50 of 1.8, improved from 2.1. The difference was sealing off the chimney cleanout door, which was roughly 8"x12".
We noted a good leak at the mud room door from a warped door that used old barn boards that should have been kild dried, and one on the bulkhead door. These we knew about and could use attention. There was also small leakage around the stove pipe connection to the chimney.
Fixing these might improve the leakage rate to 1.5ACH50.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
SBF#25 - The beauty of local stone
When Rock Solid Granite called about the slate we ordered, they were concerned about the fact that this stone was not "normal", and wanted to make sure it was ok to use.
Turns out to be the most beautiful slate countertop I have ever seen.
SolarFest 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
VbC - Village Gathering 2012
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| Masonry/clay oven plastered at the VG |
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| Welcome booth and Pavilion |
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| Sierra presenting on Natural Plant Dyeing |
Thursday, July 5, 2012
SBF # 24 Energy Star window ratings and NFRC
Did you know that most windows come with an NFRC(national fenestration rating council) sticker that gives you a list of performance values that are not for that actual window?
I found this out because Energy Star requires all windows to have a U(1/R) value of .32 or better(lower).
I have 4 Pella windows with a U value of .33. I thought that I could improve this with a low E film applied to the inside and began a discussion with my energy mentor Andy Shapiro. We found out that the number on the sticker is given for a standard window size with the given glass and frame. The standard size is 2'x4' and the actual window is 29"x50". So we found the manufacturer of the glass and the specific type and matched that to a frame material in LRBL's Window6 simulation program to give us the .33 that is shown (using the standard size). Then I changed the window size to what we actually have(29"x50"), which is a bigger ratio of window to frame, meaning the U value will be greater because the glass is more insulative than the frame. As we expected we ended up with a slightly better U value of .32, which gives us the grade to pass Energy Star. No film needed.
If we also added the film, we would have lowered our SHGC(solar heat gain coefficient), but more drastically improved the U value to below .3.
I found this out because Energy Star requires all windows to have a U(1/R) value of .32 or better(lower).
I have 4 Pella windows with a U value of .33. I thought that I could improve this with a low E film applied to the inside and began a discussion with my energy mentor Andy Shapiro. We found out that the number on the sticker is given for a standard window size with the given glass and frame. The standard size is 2'x4' and the actual window is 29"x50". So we found the manufacturer of the glass and the specific type and matched that to a frame material in LRBL's Window6 simulation program to give us the .33 that is shown (using the standard size). Then I changed the window size to what we actually have(29"x50"), which is a bigger ratio of window to frame, meaning the U value will be greater because the glass is more insulative than the frame. As we expected we ended up with a slightly better U value of .32, which gives us the grade to pass Energy Star. No film needed.
If we also added the film, we would have lowered our SHGC(solar heat gain coefficient), but more drastically improved the U value to below .3.
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