HUD–Head up Rectum when it comes to HVAC Common Sense!
July 25, 2010
During the past week I had the opportunity to test a multi-family renovation for seniors. The property was a HUD project being renovated in order to keep it in the HUD fold of an affordable designation. I don’t understand the financing or how it was being handled, but HUD money is certainly involved. The project is trying to obtain a recognized third party Sustainable Renovation certification, which is how I get involved.
The apartments are paying close attention to sealing the thermal envelope of each unit. The Blower Door tests showed substantial reduction in Air Changes per Hour Natural. They were coming in below .2 ACH natural. That is pretty impressive in a renovation. I haven’t previously had any renovations test that low.
Here is my problem. HUD specs stated, so I am told, that the renovation of the HVAC system, all new, just be replaced matching what was there. Are you kidding me? We have 1.5 ton Heat Pump air handlers in apartment units that should have 1/2 of that. We are talking about the humid southeast. We are going to have an Air Conditioning unit come on, super cool the air and turn off. Where is any concern about dehumidification? Where is there any concern about the energy efficiency of the unit, whether it be in the cooling or heating mode?
A well designed space, to a recognized third party standard(ie. Energy Star), should have a ton of coolant to approximately 800-1200 Square Foot of living space. Here we have 1.5 tons to a unit less than 500 SF. That doesn’t make sense to me.
Everything coming out of Washington these days is about energy efficiency, alternative energy and sustainable(Green) building practices. We are in the process of throwing billions of dollars at energy efficiency and energy alternatives. If HUD or any other government unit just specifies “replace what is there with the equivalent,” what kind of standard is that? It isn’t a standard. It isn’t adhering to what HUD, Department of Energy, the GSA are vocalizing.
Another question is what about Indoor Air Quality? If affordable housing renovations are going to result in less than .25 ACH natural, the point at which most sustainable programs, including Energy Star, say you need outside air delivered, aren’t these senior citizens, in this particular project going to be breathing some funky air? Put another way aren’t we putting them at risk? Last I looked infants, children and seniors are the most susceptible to breathing problems and resultant illnesses. What kind of standard is “Just replace what’s there?”
To me this is the ultimate in “Don’t do as I do, but do as I say.” This is “Green Washing” at its best. All buildings, multi-family, houses, offices, commercial space, schools must be looked at as a system, not a collection of individual items. I mean do we design cars just based on how the tires hold up.
If this is the prescribed path of energy efficiency adhered to by a government entity, entrusted with helping to provide affordable housing for our most at risk citizens, we are in some serious trouble. Can’t we do projects that provide solutions and jobs for the long haul, not just quick fixes that provide jobs?
In the defense of contractors doing this kind of work, their hands are tied. They want the work, people want and need the jobs, and I don’t blame them–its tough out there in the construction business. When they even try to voice an opinion they jeopardize their ability to get the job, so its just “Shut-up and do it.” There is nothing sustainable about doing something 1/2 assed other than we will be doing it again and again in the future to the same buildings.
“There is never time to do it right, but there is always time to do it over.”
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