By Eric Schwartz
Technology Designer Magazine is focused on the Performance Home, which begins with the need for resilient design and construction. This isn’t just about architectural design, which includes passive building principles and energy considerations. It is also vital that the builder be on the same page when it comes to creating tighter building envelopes and not cutting corners during construction. Designers also have a role to play in the selection of resilient and sustainable fixtures and furnishings. And the technology designer is responsible for designing the proper infrastructure so various manufacturers’ sensors can measure efficiencies and report them to the homeowner who wishes to be informed as to their home’s ultimate performance.
And while the purpose of resilient building is based on the need to withstand rigorous weather conditions, it is also part of delivering a performance home that includes clean air and healthy indoor conditions. Again, every trade has an impact on the end results and the final package. These are topics which we continue to explore and report on. In our view, it really does take a comprehensive design-build team to design and build modern performance homes. It is the interaction and collaboration that drives our editorial team when they report on the latest materials, designs and technologies found throughout the entire process.
As big of a topic as the modern performance home is, let me narrow our focus and concentrate on the basic principles of resilient design and the considerations that the homeowner has to understand and relate to when they engage in the design-build process. As you will see, these initial considerations involve landscaping and the build quality of the structure as much as how the residence will be architecturally designed to fit into and onto the property.
Siting the Home
It all really starts here, at the beginning of any project. Historically, records and studies are able to inform us as far as the distance between the site and a flood plain for example. Or in the Western U.S., historical fire zones and/or seismic areas that can expose the property to any number of stresses. While there are risks involved in almost any site selection anywhere in the country, the good news is that there are building designs and building materials that can mitigate risks that occur due to nature itself. But research of the site location is key to understanding what needs to be considered in the initial design phase.
Sealing the Envelope
In passive designs a tight building envelope is step one in the process. Step two involves adequate insulation for optimal thermal properties. With advances in window and door technologies, it’s then up to the builder to execute the plan to perfection.
In rain-and flood-heavy areas, the building envelope must be sealed securely and completely, as any leaks can allow water into the wall cavities, which can cause mold and structural damage, greatly impairing the safety of the home. Developers must take steps to seal the foundation as well to prevent efflorescence, which can cause long-term structural issues.
Energy
Energy and energy management is becoming more important as performance homes move away from fossil fuels. Initially, the first consideration involves power lines. Overground, exposed electrical lines can severely limit power reliability during extreme weather events. The same can be said for off-site power generation. Communities and residences should install underground electrical lines and, when possible, should have the ability to produce power on site, through solar capture or other means.
Additionally, power storage is becoming more affordable as a part of any power plan. Heat pumps and designing for infrastructure that should include tankless electrical water heaters and induction cook tops are all part of planning for and designing the all-electric home.
Reflecting Heat
We know that darker colors absorb heat and raise the temperature of the site and the residence. Lighter colors reflect and reduce heat. Utilizing lighter colors across the site, from roof to pavement to paint, so that the heat footprint is reduced as much as possible has long been a common goal for any home regardless of location.
Water Security
Conserving and promoting water health. Most water systems in the United States are delivered via central treatment service in water districts through distribution lines. When these lines fail or get damaged, or if water is in short supply, as it is in the West, households can be left without potable water. Fortifying the building’s septic system to prevent water supply contamination and collecting rainwater to reduce dependence on the wider water system can make a home more resilient in the face of climate crises.
Ventilating the Structure
Passive ventilation, such as manual-operation windows and vents, are essential to creating a climate-resistant home. Without these installed, homes are forced to rely on mechanical cooling and heating products, which are susceptible to failure in the event of power grid instability.
One of the benefits of passive designs is the ability to control the air flow and the air filtration to provide clean air for the homeowner. Incorporating smog absorbing paint on the interior adds another layer of clean air fundamentals to the overall healthy indoor environmental strategy.
Strengthened Construction
It may sound obvious, but a strong building structure is an important step toward achieving climate resiliency. The continuous load path, a construction method that ties together the various parts of the house using timber, metal connectors and fasteners, and shear walls. This design is used to strengthen housing against natural hazards like hurricanes and earthquakes that have the potential to cause catastrophic structural failure.
Efficiency and Automated Control
During a weather emergency, power and water should be rationed. Constructing an energy-and water-efficient home reduces the utilities consumed and increases resilience under extreme circumstances. Automating the process and the ability to remotely monitor a home’s performance during extreme conditions is part of the overall technology package in any performance home, as each sub-system is now able to be controlled and automated with preset parameters based on levels of need.
These are the fundamentals for homeowners to consider when looking at investing in a resilient performance home. A deeper dive with the architect and build team can sort out the particulars as it relates to budget and requirements the homeowner deems necessary.
Eric Schwartz is the Co-Founder and a Publisher of Technology Designer Magazine.
