How to assess proposed renovation's heating/cooling impact?

Hi all, We are planning further renovations to our home, including some things like reinstating a skylight in a small room on the top floor as well as replacing the main skylight over the stairs. We will have AC, but all the same I would like to better understand the heating/cooling impact of our design decisions and, where possible, make choices that require less heating and cooling (or at least don’t add to it). I’m wondering whether a whole-house fan, for instance, or a venting skylight or a shade would help us get away with using the AC less, and how to weigh those choices. We do have an architect and an HVAC engineer but I’m looking specifically for someone to help me make informed choices about the best way to passively heat or cool our house within our existing design and Edwardian shell, or to at least understand in advance where I’m courting trouble. I just don’t want to end up with a beautiful space that requires a ton of AC or heating. Thanks so much for any advice on what kind of person I need or names.

nf85

in Environmental and Green Design 9 years and 6 months ago

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nf85 | 9 years and 5 months ago

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Thank you for you your thoughts, everyone.

NeoGrec | 9 years and 6 months ago

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Oh, also two architectural firms who advertise on this site specialize in energy efficiency: Ryan Enschede and Build With Prospect.

NeoGrec | 9 years and 6 months ago

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Try contacting Bright Power. We met these folks a couple of years ago when we participated in a Pratt Center energy study — the purpose being to establish standards/recommendations for improving brownstone energy efficiency. BRIGHT POWER, INC. 11 Hanover Sq, 21st Floor New York, NY 10005 p 212.803.5868 www.brightpower.com

cmu | 9 years and 6 months ago

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>A classic non efficient fan is equal to opening the window A whole-fan will induce much more airflow than opening a window. Now, whether it helps or not is dubious. You cannot lower the temperature more than ambient, so on a 85deg day, that’s the best you can do. But upper floors typically will be hotter than that, so it helps some. But, of course, there’s no point in having the a/c running when the whole-house fan is. Air tightness is somewhat more important for heating than cooling, unless you get to extremely high standards which require an ERV to get fresh air. As the fan scenario shows, you can get some cooling by inducing a draft, the opposite of a tightly sealed house.

Augustiner | 9 years and 6 months ago

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Basically if you want to heat/cool less you need to get your house as tight as possible. The secret: Good new brick to brick windows and doors and open all walls and sprayfoam the hell out of the whole place. The complications: can’t cut corners, attention to detail is often lacking, professional supervision not easy to find. you questions: _I?m wondering whether a whole-house fan,_ **NO – an ERV (energy recovery ventillation) will hardly have no effect in a traditional house that is not airtight. A classic non efficient fan is equal to opening the window** _or a venting skylight_ **NO – just open the window** or a shade **YES, that is recommendable** _would help us get away with using the AC less_