Greenbuilding Archive for October 2002

Also, the cost of efficiency improvements should rightly be compared to the
costs of financing.  An incremental increase in R-value may only yield me
another $100 a year, but if the additional mortgage cost is only $50 a year,
then it's obviously profitable.  Simple payback analysis doesn't always
indicate this.

Finally, there are harder-to-measure factors.  An excellent thermal envelope
is part of providing an excellent indoor environment.  For a business, an
excellent working environment may yield a significant improvement in morale,
less absenteeism, increased productivity, etc.  What if - and this is a big
if - building envelope improvements are an integral part of a 5% increase in
productivity?  Or a 10% decrease in a child's asthma attacks?

A "little research" may suggest the results you cite.  I agree with you that
thermal bridging, air exchange rates, combustion efficiency, etc. are very
important.  But we need to extend the analysis even beyond those areas, do
"a little more research" and bear in mind potential capital savings for
mechanical equipment, comparison of savings versus finance charges, and
improvements to the quality of the building's interior environment.  Not to
mention reduced operating and maintenance costs, etc.

Best regards,

David Foley

-- 
Holland & Foley Building Design L.L.C.
232 Beech Hill Rd.
Northport, Maine 04849 USA
p: (207) 338-9869 f: (207) 338-9859 e: hollandfoley@acadia.net


______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________