Mechanical Equipment & Systems

After defining the building envelope, select a suitably sized mechanical system. If you do not need to pay to install, operate, and maintain a larger system then why bother.

An airtight building will also drastically reduce the need for more space conditioning. Some say buildings should breathe, and that's true—but it should happen in a controlled manner.  You do not want to rely on unintended air leakage as your fresh air supply for your home. Pulling stale air from the walls, roofs, and floor assemblies can have devastating affects on the structure and occupant health and comfort.

It is recommended that a qualified professional conduct an F280 Heat Loss/Heat Gain Calculation on a room-by-room basis for the specific design. Once the F280 calculation is completed, the appropriate size for the mechanical equipment can be determined. It is important that your heating/cooling system is sizing correctly for your building. A balanced ventilation system is also important.