The Health and Comfort of Your Home or Workplace

Your home or workplace is like a living thing: it is a series of interconnected systems that keep it healthy and comfortable when everything is working efficiently. But when systems stop working efficiently or fail altogether, your home or building can have problems  By following Orange Energy’s Roadmap, which starts with a comprehensive energy assesement, You can begin the problem of resolve the following common problems such as:

• Drafts– When the weather turns cold, your home’s walls, floors, ceiling , and windows should keep the cold air out and heat in. But most houses are poorly air sealed andinsulated; they let heat out and cold air in.  As warm air rises and escapes out of the top of your home, cold infiltrates the house through small holes, gaps and cracks making the home uncomfortable and forcing the heating system work harder. This phenomenon is known as stack effect or chimney effect.
• Mold- Mold and mildew are actually fungi that grow in homes and buildings that are damp or moist. Mold spores live on organic material, which includes paper and wood. They also need moisture but not much; a plumbing leak or condensation on a window can be enough.
• Condensation- Condensation occurs when warm air meets a cold surface, such as a window pane or the underside of the roof.  The warm air holds moisture and, when it touches the cold surface, the water vapor condenses in to drops of liquid water.
• Hot or Cold Rooms – Homeowners often complain that individual rooms are hot or cold in different seasons.  For every uncomfortable room, there is usually a flaw in the building shell will fix the comfort problem.
• Carbon Monoxide– Furnaces and water heaters combust fuel and air, creating heat and exhaust gases. The exhaust gases are typically vented through a chimney to the outside of the house. Sometimes “backdrafting” occurs, pulling exhaust gases, including carbon monoxide, back into your home. If it builds to a high enough concentration, carbon monoxide can be dangerous.
• Moisture– Moisture problems can be from obvious sources like roof leaks or water infiltrating your basement or less obvious problems like condensation on cold windows or water pipes  Moisture from any source is the enemy of your home and the source needs to be indentified and controlled. 
• Ice Dams- When snow accumulates on a sloped roof and warm air leaks into the attic, ice dams occur. The warm air in the attic melts the snow, meltwater flows down the roof into the gutter where it refreezes. Ice accumulates along the eave and in the gutter, resulting in leaks, cracked plaster, rot, and peeling paint.
• Indoor Air Quality- Poor indoor air quality can cause asthma and allergies. The effects are often cumulative, showing up only after years of exposure. Air quality problems include biological pollutants, bacteria, mold and mildew, dust mites, insects, animal dander, pollen, dust, and volatile organic compounds.

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