What are the necessary elements to build a 'really good house'?
When building or renovating a house, various elements are involved in a complex manner, such as the exterior and interior, as well as the electrical system, water supply and drainage system, air conditioning, and heat insulation. An architectural expert explained what it takes to create a `` Pretty Good House (PGH: really good house) '' where every element is finished well.
Pretty Good House
A community of architects in the state of Maine in the United States will examine each element one by one and consider it step-by-step when devising a PGH. The elements start with ' economy ', then ' team ', ' climate ', ' design ', ' heat ', ' water/humidity ', ' windows ', ' materials/structure ', ' mechanical equipment ', ' electricity/lighting ', ' verification ', and ' housing '. Person ' continues. In the case of the 'economy' element, more detailed elements such as the balance between introduction cost and lifetime cost and cost effectiveness are spread out in a tree-like manner and examined. Community member Mike Maines explains each element in more detail.
◆Economy
The key to the approach devised by Maines et al. is to balance spending and gains. Whereas ordinary ideas use energy usage targets and other standards, and some standards are set based on the Building Standards Act, PGH is based on whether it is economically rational.
Comparing new homes with renovations shows what it means to be economically rational. Pre-owned homes are often cheaper than comparable new homes, but lack of insulation, poor airtightness, or inefficient heating and cooling equipment can add to the cost of retrofitting a pre-owned home. can be more expensive
One way to determine economic rationality is to look at ROI, which translates to cost-effectiveness or return on investment. Energy and maintenance costs are particularly clear and easy to calculate, allowing you to compare your current costs with those after new construction or remodeling to see how much your remodeling will improve. According to Maines, a simple formula that ignores the effects of compounding and inflation suggests that an ROI improvement of 5% or more is generally a good investment.
◆ Team
Even in Japan, under certain conditions, it is possible to design and build your own house. But in most cases, it should be left to the professionals. 'Team' in PGH refers to design teams and construction teams, and Mr. Maines says that it is important to 'hire good experts and share the same policy with everyone.'
◆Climate
The International Criteria Council (ICC) divides the country into climatic zones and calculates an index called 'heating degree days'. Heating degree days are an index used to calculate the amount of heat required to stay warm in winter. By looking at these indicators, it is possible to know the environment of each region.
◆ Design
There are many different design elements. There are various things that are important when considering the design, such as the location where the house is built, the size of the house, and the direction of the windows. In the northern hemisphere, it is of course best to have a south-facing window, but airtightness and insulation must also be considered. Of course, aesthetics are also important.
◆Heat
Every home needs to keep out the rain, cold and heat, and bring fresh air into the room. According to Mr. Maines, it is good to consider countermeasures in the order of 'rain', 'air', 'water vapor' and 'heat'.
◆ Water/humidity
Heat is important, but a damp environment can encourage the growth of mold and fungi. We will take measures such as installing ventilation holes in the walls to ensure ventilation, using highly durable polyethylene moisture-proof materials, and considering painting the roof.
◆ Window
According to Maines, there are three numbers to look out for when considering windows and doors. These three are
There are many different windows and window coating methods, but you need to find a balance between price points and features, says Maines. The frame and operability of the window are also important.
◆Materials/Structure
Consider what kind of volatile organic compounds are included, use materials and equipment that do not deteriorate indoor air quality, and consider carbon footprints. Also, ``It's better to get materials locally,'' says Maynes. It supports local economies and generally has a lower carbon footprint.
◆Mechanical equipment
Mechanical equipment includes equipment necessary for heating, cooling, and humidity control of a house, as well as ventilation, water supply and drainage equipment. Air conditioners, stoves, heat recovery equipment (HRV) , etc. can be used for cooling and heating, and for ventilation, there is an exhaust ventilation system that keeps the bath fan running at low speed. There is also a heat pump water heater that collects heat from the air and boils water.
◆Electricity/Lighting
Lighting is divided into natural light and artificial light. During the day, artificial lighting can be reduced by using glass such as windows, and LED lighting can be used at night or in areas where daylight is not sufficient. A good lighting design is a complex intertwining of various elements such as general lighting, central lighting, decorative lighting and ambient lighting.
As for electricity, the cost of photovoltaic power generation systems is dropping, so it is also effective to incorporate photovoltaic power generation systems and generate your own electricity.
◆ Verification
It's paramount to have the building structure, the air conditioning system, the electrical system, and other elements verified with the help of experts to ensure that your home is functioning as intended.
◆ Resident
Even if you build a good house, it is meaningless if you run the air conditioner too much or do not use it in the optimal way. It would be useful to have a manual detailing why it was designed that way.
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