Energy Efficient Design and Construction for Your Winter Park, Orlando and Central Florida Custom Home
Design Ideas and Construction Information about Homes in the South. Florida and the Gulf Coast have unique climate and environmental conditions that have influenced the design of homes since long before air-conditioning was available. Lessons from “Olde Florida” vernacular design still apply today. With energy efficiency and a new green awareness on the minds of many in the industry, building systems and construction techniques are evolving forward with an eye on the past.
My wife declares that she is burning up!
She is fanning herself with a magazine and obviously uncomfortable. The thermostat on the wall tells me that the temperature is the same as always for this time of day. The T-stat is programmable and the settings haven't been changed. How can she possibly be so hot?
To console her I drop the temperature two degrees, only to be shaking my head 20 minutes later when I see she has covered herself with a small blanket.
My initial assumption is that her personal thermostat is broken. There are some additional details that you need to know. It's early October here in Florida and the outdoor temperature is cooler than the peak of summer. Additionally, rain this afternoon cooled off the roof and inside the temperature is within our comfort range, without the use of air-conditioning. Here's what happened:
The AC system has not been running because of the pleasant temperature this time of year.
Humidity inside has slowly increased as a result of cooking, showers, laundry and even our breathing.
Increased humidity in the air prevents moisture on our skin from evaporating.
Comfort comes from a combination of temperature, humidity and air movement.
Camie was uncomfortable because the increased humidity prevented evaporation from her skin. When I turned on the AC, in addition to dropping the temperature two degrees it also removed the excess humidity in the room and created a draft. Admittedly, her personal T-stat is a bit more sensitive than mine, but she had just experienced a drastic change in all three of the components that affect comfort.
The Southern Home may need additional dehumidification during times of the year that pleasant temperatures prevent your AC system from operating. Since running the AC is costly, a separate dehumidifier is worth considering to increase comfort during periods of Spring and Fall when temperatures are pleasant.
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Little is more meaningful and personal than a home, and the experience of designing and building your own home should be rewarding and enjoyable. Choosing a builder is difficult. The process of designing and building a home involves numerous decisions about components, systems and services selected from criteria that includes price, quality, appearance and performance. How can you possibly understand everything unless the builder is willing to share all of the information?
Allow us to introduce you to The GCH Way of building your next home. Please let us know if you have any questions. Keith Groninger