Kirsten:
I admire
your dedication to practice green interior design. I made the decision to practice green architecture several
years ago and, in light of some of the difficulties, renew that decision periodically. This list helps remind me of all the
reasons. There are some upcoming
seminars on the business aspects of managing and marketing green businesses as
well as many other relevant seminars at the forthcoming Environ6 Conference in
Seattle, WA April 3-7. Perhaps you
should attend.
I have read
a little about baubiology. I am not familiar with their position on vapor barriers. For a resource you could check out the International
Institute for Bau-biologie & Ecology (IBE) web site at: http://www.bau-biologieusa.com/
You can find
other Internet resources by checking www.google.com and typing in “baubiology”.
Cheers,
Ralph Bicknese
-----Original
Message-----
From: Kirsten Flynn
[mailto:kir@declan.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002
11:30 AM
To: greenbuilding@crest.org
Subject: [GBlist] Wall
permeability
Dear
listers,
I have been lurking and occasionally commenting on the more general topics for
a while now. My goal has been to learn from the impressive expertise on
this list. I had a question about a building issue that I have not seen
addressed on this list.
First, I will briefly introduce myself. I am an Interior designer just
starting my business and planning to do exclusively green work. This is a
second career for me, and it is time to follow my values, and do something that
makes a difference, albeit small. I am extremely interested in building
construction and how to affect the energy use of the finished building.
I would very much like to know your thoughts on wall permeability to vapor.
I have been hearing that there is a movement in Europe, (called
Baubiology?) which puts forward the idea that the building envelope should be
permeable to gasses. This idea seems to be popular with some of the IAQ
folks, because out gassing does not remain inside the building to combine with
other outgasses, and/or be redeposited on indoor surfaces. However, here
the conventional wisdom seems to be the tighter the better, (and I am not
talking about the jeans on your carpenters.) I can also see the logic of
this, as it seems like it would be the most energy efficient. I also am
curious about the path of water vapor is such a house, and how one would be
sure that the dew point did create enough moisture inside a wall that it might
be damaged.
I realize that this is a shades-of -grey world, and there is probably merit in
both points of view. Perhaps they are not mutually exclusive, in some way
I do not see. I look forward to reading your responses. Feel free
to refer me to reference material, rather than answering my questions directly.
I realize they are rather broad.
Thank You
Kirsten.
