Description:
 

Each year, $11 billion in energy costs are wasted through infiltration in commercial buildings according to a 2021 study from the Department of Energy. Learn how envelope design affects both comfort and energy costs in Idaho’s buildings. Participants will learn about pressure management and using it to design for passive strategies including stack and cross-ventilation and some of the inherent challenges of doing so. The lecture will cover why infiltration is especially important to manage in Idaho due to the health impacts of wildfire smoke, which can infiltrate a leaky building. The main takeaway is to design buildings that deliver clean filtered air to the occupants in a way that minimizes utility costs and maximizes comfort. 
HSW Justification: The Covid-19 pandemic started a shift in building science research with a focus in Indoor Air Quality and HVAC efficiency. We have known for decades how to maintain a building's HVAC system to mitigate the spread of bacteria or particulates, however, we did not know how to do so economically. Recent research into different filter types, cycles, and smart monitoring systems have changed the performance metrics by which we judge an HVAC system. This lecture reviews recent research and applies energy modeling to project end energy use under different scenarios. Each scenario weighs the impact of Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs) with Non-EEMs, such as, air quality or weather pattern impacts (wildfire).