Days two and three of Cozy Home Performance air tightness testing at Smith College were spent at Lawrence House and Morris House, respectively. The charming buildings feature beautiful interior trim details, a traditional spacious dorm layout, leaky windows and great opportunity for significant energy efficiency improvements.
Despite the presence of some late-sleeping Smith students and the potential distraction of the amazing weather outside, things went very smoothly. By early afternoon the multi-point blower door tests, 5 blower door units placed strategically throughout the building, were complete. We achieved some additional blower door readings with the basement included to understand how the expansive uninsulated basement contributed to the total efficiency of the building. The attic was explored and the dormer ‘bump-outs’, a suspecting weak spot, were explored.
As these two dorms go through a summer time rehab, we are encouraged to know that the College Sustainability Director, Danno Weisbord and Ken Person, Associate Director of Facilities Management, are advocating for building approaches and techniques that optimize the building’s performance to benefit resident health, comfort, as well as maximizing energy and carbon savings.
Fog machine diagnostics
