Rehab-Energy Efficiency Integration Challenges and Issues

Information by State  Print version   In This Section Rehab-Energy Efficiency Integration Challenges and Issues   Common Energy-related Housing Problems   Inadequate Comfort   Moisture Damage   Ice Damming   Poor Indoor Air Quality   Solutions for Energy-related Housing Problems   Inadequate Comfort   Moisture Damage   Ice Damming   Poor Indoor Air Quality   Useful Resources for Common Problems   Summary of Challenges and Issues

Topic Overview

The "building envelope," comprised of the roof, ceiling, walls, and foundation of a building, protects the building from the elements outside (e.g., extreme heat, cold, and water). It helps to keeps the home cool during warm weather and warm during cold weather. In addition to the many intentional openings within a building envelope (i.e. windows, doors, vents, plumbing, wiring, etc.) there are also a number of unintentional openings (cracks in foundation, gaps in ceiling insulation, holes in the siding, etc.). Understanding the common problems related to energy use and the techniques available to minimize these problems is key to providing a comfortable, and healthy indoor environment for all residences.

After completing this topic you will be able to:

• List the four most common problems in homes related to energy use and energy efficiency.
  
  
• Describe how to integrate energy efficiency with techniques that can help to minimize these problems.

Specifically, this topic will cover the following subjects:

• Common Energy-related Housing Problems - Introduction. Top four energy-related housing problems.
  
  
  1. Inadequate Comfort
  2. Moisture Damage
  3. Ice Damming
  4. Poor Indoor Air Quality
     
     
• Solutions for Energy-related Housing Problems - Introduction. Solutions to the top four energy-related housing problems. By properly installing energy efficiency techniques, problems such as inadequate comfort, poor indoor air quality and moisture damage can be prevented.
  
  
  1. Inadequate Comfort
  2. Moisture Damage
  3. Ice Damming
  4. Poor Indoor Air Quality
     
     
• Useful Resources for Common Problems.
  
  
• Summary of Challenges and Issues.