Integrated systems performance and air quality and moisture management in a hot humid climate
Holton, J. K.
1997 Proceedings of the Air & Waste Management Association's Annual Meeting & Exhibition
Holton, J. K., (1997), "Integrated systems performance and air quality and moisture management in a hot humid climate", Proceedings of the Air & Waste Management Association's Annual Meeting & Exhibition.
Abstract:
As part of a program to improve the performance quality of homes, IBACOS (integrated Building and Construction Solutions) works with builders in various parts of the country in the development of laboratory houses. These lab houses are set up to evaluate solutions to conditions that are specific to a region or a market. Moisture in buildings is one of the major causes of deterioration and indoor air quality concerns. In houses in much of the southern U.S., moisture management is a key factor in preventing rot, mold, and mildew growth. Control of moisture is a function of the house shell design and the space conditioning systems. Mechanical moisture removal is an energy intensive operation. To address these issues, a lab house program has been set up by IBACOS in cooperation with a local builder in Austin, Texas. The primary objective of this program is to develop a better house for the hot humid climate region of the United States. To this end, a major focus of test and evaluation has been to see how new approaches to dehumidification would work.