Building Enclosure Commissioning

ASHRAE Guideline 0-2005 Commissioning Process
What is the “building enclosure?” The building “enclosure” also known as building “envelope” or building “shell” consists of all the exterior faces of the building, such as foundations, exterior walls and roof. The enclosure manages everything that might get into and out of a building: water, wind, light, sound, air, pests, and people. How the
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Residential Wiring Best Practices

Residential Wiring Best
PART 2: Rewiring Options, Benefits and Drawbacks In Part One I discussed knob and tube wiring and the potential problems and issues that may arise if your home still contains legacy knob and tube. Perhaps your home still contains knob and tube, or you are considering remodeling or planning new construction. In this article, I will explain
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Efficient versus Healthy: A Knockout Punch for Green Building

Efficient vs Healthy Building
Recently appeared in the NorthBay Biz Journal, GreenScene by Alex Stadtner A battle has been raging in the design-build community for decades. Much is at stake, yet few are paying attention. Here’s the blow-by-blow from a battle that affects everyone. Ringside. Energy Efficient versus Healthy Building. A hush before the bell rings… When “green building” is mentioned
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Building Inspector Environmental Checklist

Building Inspector Environmental Checklist
Every building inspection should include a minimum scan for these Top-10 common environmental problems. These factors are simple to evaluate, often only involving using your nose and eyes, and can literally save lives. This building inspector environmental checklist is adapted from the Building Biologist’s Healthy Home Standard. There is no reason every home inspector cannot
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EMF Health Effects Study Released – BioInitiative Report 2012

EMF Health Effects
EMF Health Effects Study Released Everyone always asks me – whether they’re skeptics or not – where can I read peer-reviewed, published studies about EMF health effects? “Are there really studies linking magnetic fields and radio frequency radiation to cancer?”  Well… this is it!  Here is a big dose of reality for all the naysayers.
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IEQ Investigations – The 4 P’s

IEQ investigations
IEQ Investigations – The 4 P’s Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) is critical for occupant comfort, productivity, and well-being. An IEQ investigation should be performed proactively in order to avoid occupant complaints and decreased productivity, and to minimize long-term damage to building materials. Too often, IEQ investigations are made reactively – in response to occupant complaints or known
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Exposure Limits in US – Alphabet Soup

Exposure Limits in US
Exposure Limits in US – Alphabet Soup Exposure Limits in US should be super simple. “Do not exceed #.” But it’s a government regulatory issue… so how simple could it be? Here is a summary of the primary exposure limits used by our government and industrial hygienists in the United States. Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) – OSHA
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San Francisco Bay Area Green Building Policies

San Francisco Bay Area Green Building
While we’d prefer everyone adopt green building principles because of carrots… sometimes it takes a stick! This compilation of San Francisco Bay Area Green Building Policies comes from Build It Green, creators of GreenPoint Rated, a residential green building rating system. Local Government Green Building Ordinances in California In recent years, numerous local governments in California
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LEED-Homes Overview

LEED-Homes Overview
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has created a number of “green building ratings systems.” This LEED-Homes Overview addresses the fundamental structure of LEED-H, and outlines the different roles involved in the rating process. While the residential rating system is quite similar to other LEED systems, the players and process for LEED for Homes certification deserves
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What is “Lead-Free”?

Environmental Testing
What does “100% Lead Free” really mean? What it lead-free? The EPA’s lead rule sets an action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb) and they estimate that more than 40 million U.S. residents use water “that can contain lead in excess of 15 ppb. If tests show that the level of lead drinking water
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