This week, we are starting a series of blogs exploring the many hidden costs of traditional building construction. In this first post, let’s look at energy efficiency.
Thermal cameras show heat loss
Using an infrared camera (also known as thermal imaging camera), it’s easy to see the heat lost through a building’s walls and roof. An infrared camera captures images of heat instead of normal visible light. Every object in the universe emits heat as infrared light. Although infrared light is invisible to the human eye, specialized cameras can detect that light and convert it into colors that we can see. In infrared photos, brighter colors indicate more emitted heat. Take a look at the photo below, we can clearly see the differences in the amount of heat being emitted by this person. The bright yellow color on his face indicates a lot of heat emission. His bare arms are also emitting a lot of heat, although less than his face. His shirt is insulating his chest and upper arms, resulting in less emitted heat in those areas.
Thermal images for two Colorado mountain homes
Take a look at the two infrared photographs above. The two photos were taken within minutes of each other, and the two houses are located less than 200 yards apart. Both homes were completed in 2020. The house on the left was built using traditional building methods – notice the bright yellow colors, indicating lots of heat is being lost. The house on the right was built using advanced passive house construction methods – notice the darker red color, much less heat is being lost. See my blog on Passive House for more details.
Hidden Costs – Higher utility bills
Obviously, the owners of the house on left are spending more every month to keep their home warm. We all know that utility bills are coming every month, so that expense is not really hidden. However, it’s the rare builder or architect who will tell you up front how much it’s going to cost to heat or cool your home before you sign on the dotted line. During that first winter those high bills often come as a surprise. So, in that sense it is a hidden expense. And it’s not the only one.
Hidden Costs – Larger furnace and air conditioner
The more heat that moves out through your home’s exterior walls and roof, the more heat your furnace needs to furnish. The same will be true in the summer months, the more heat that enters the home the harder your air conditioner will have to work. Therefore, your builder/architect will need to specify a larger, more powerful furnace and air conditioner. Larger furnaces and air conditioners cost more to manufacture, ship, and install. That hidden expense can add many thousands of dollars to the size of your mortgage.
Hidden Costs – Larger ductwork
The larger furnaces and air conditioners will also require larger ducts to move the larger volume of warm/cool air. Although the cost difference between small ducts and large ducts is trivial, that’s not the end of the story. Builders can often conceal small ducts inside wall or ceiling spaces. However, large ducts are much more difficult to conceal. Builders will frequently need to build utility chases to conceal the duct work. Not only does the chase cost money to construct (a hidden expense, adding to your mortgage), the chase also sticks down below the ceiling reducing the effective ceiling height of the room and detracts from the room’s visual appeal.
Hidden Costs – Drafts
The windows and doors installed into most homes suffer from two efficiency problems. First, they allow a lot of heat to move through the window (out during the winter and in during the summer). Second, when builders are using traditional construction methods, the doors and windows usually allow drafts to enter the house. Drafts can make the home feel colder than it actually is, therefore, homeowners often respond by raising the thermostat set point. Yet another hidden cost, but you’ll see it on your monthly utility bill.
It doesn’t have to be this way
Many people entertain the false notion that saving energy means to living in a cold, dark house – on the contrary, a properly designed home is warm, well-lit and contains all the modern conveniences you expect. It is also affordable to both build and operate!
Take another look at the two infrared photos above. The home on the right uses a lot less energy than the home on the left. Yet, it is comfortably warm in even the harshest Colorado mountain winters. Proof that the Passive House concept works in the real world.
To reduce these hidden costs, contact us to schedule your free 30-minute consultation.