Cote Aiala 050710p Updated

AIA Los Angeles’ COTE Committee will be Hosting a Presentation at AltBuild on Friday,
May 7, 2010 at 2:45 PM

Go to www.altbuildexpo.com for more information
“A Focus on Performance, Instead of Points”
One (1) AIA HSW CEU for Sustainability is Available
A Focus on Performance, Instead of Points

A performance centered approach to designing and retrofitting buildings will not only improve a building’s overall
quality, with regard to aesthetics, livability, and utility, it will also obviously, reduce the amount of energy and water
it consumes to the benefit of the environment. Our presentation, A Focus on Performance, Instead of Points, is
an acceptance and acknowledgement that California’s new green building code, Cal Green, is a performance-based
approach to sustainable building. This means that Cal Green is in alignment with California’s other building codes,
which, are all performance-based. While it is true today, that the new Cal Green code is slim in its content and
limited in its application, we must keep in mind that it is a beginning. In the long term, a mandated approach to
sustainable design that focuses on how a building performs with regard to the efficient use of energy and water,
along with the efficient use of, and conservation of our natural resources will lead to the development of creative and
innovative solutions to reduce a building’s carbon footprint. In other words, a performance-based approach to
sustainable design will not limit, but instead expand, the possibilities for a project team to meet a design program’s
objectives, without sacrificing aesthetics, livability, and utility.
Our presentation will discuss the design of, and the proper installation of a thermal boundary (thermal envelope) for
both new and existing single-family (Type V) homes. We will also cover techniques and procedures to upgrade an
existing home’s thermal envelope. This will not only reduce the amount of energy consumed in heating and cooling
an existing home, it will also improve its indoor air quality (occupant comfort). Due to time constraints (an hour), we
will not go into any depth with regard to the retrofit of, or the selection of doors and windows, which are obviously a
key component in how a building’s thermal envelope performs.
What is a Thermal Boundary (Thermal Envelope)?
A thermal boundary can be thought of, and compared to, in many ways, to a high-quality jacket. A high-jacket will
keep a person warm and comfortable on a cold winter’s day by slowing down the flow of heat (passive energy) from
their body to the colder outside air, while also keeping bone chilling winds (air leaks/drafts) from drawing heat away
from them through wind-washing. Such a jacket will also be vapor permeable, to allow excessive perspiration (water
vapor) to escape, while at the same time, preventing rainwater (bulk moisture) from getting in. In short, a well
designed and properly installed thermal envelope is a high-quality jacket for a building.
Our presentation will briefly touch upon the following topics:
Three Forms of Heat Transfer and their Interaction
Radiation
Conduction
Convection
Thermal Bypasses, Thermal Bridging, and Thermal Breaks
Air-sealing (Air Infiltration + Air Exfiltration)
Moisture Control (Bulk Water Intrusion + Condensation)
Quality Insulation Installation
Optimal Value Engineering (Framing)
A Blower Door and Duct Blaster Demonstration
Learning Objectives
What are the three (3) forms of heat transfer?
What is a thermal bypass, a thermal bridge, and a thermal break?
What is the difference between an air barrier, a vapor barrier, and a moisture barrier?
How does air move (differential in pressure) through a building via:
The stack effect
The wind effect
The mechanical effect
What is air sealing?
What are the benefits of air sealing a building?
What is a blower door and how is it used?
What is a duct blaster and how is it used?
What is a flow hood and how is it used?
How does a well-designed and installed thermal boundary reduce the size of an HVAC system?
What is Quality Insulation Installation (QII)?
What is a HERS rater?
When there is a differential between pressure, temperature, and moisture, each will seek equilibrium:
High-pressure areas of air will move towards low-pressure areas of air (differential in pressure)
Hot-temperatures will move towards cool-temperatures
Moist air will move towards dry air (saturated air will move towards less saturated air)
Our Moderators are:
Robert Meiklejohn, AIA – Moderator
Scott Young, Associate AIA – Moderator
Our Speakers are:
Wes Harding of Harding Construction + Sustainable Solutions
Judy Rachel of Green Achers Sustainable Solutions

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AIA Los Angeles’ COTE Committee will be Hosting a Presentation at AltBuild on Friday,

May 7, 2010 at 2:45 PM

A Focus on Performance, Instead of Points

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