Advanced Energy presents moisture management techniques for healthier living environment

Habitat for Humanity focuses on building better homes

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Advanced Energy building scientists Bill Klotz and Arnie Katz recently spoke at the "Building Capacity through Family Services and Construction" conference. Klotz presented on "Moisture Management" and the importance of avoiding moisture-related contaminants to maintain a healthy living environment. Katz presented on the "House as a System," focusing on air quality and Advanced Energy's SystemVision initiative.

The SystemVision initiative treats all the different components of a building as a system and helps building professionals improve durability, energy efficiency and environmental impacts of a house while emphasizing the health, comfort and safety of the occupants.

The SystemVision initiative assures that over the period of two years, the energy used to heat and cool the home will not exceed a specified amount and the temperature in the center of any conditioned room will not vary more than three degrees from the thermostat setting. If those conditions aren't met, Advanced Energy picks up the tab for the energy cost overrun and for identifying problems with the original equipment or construction.

This information was presented as part of the regional conference sponsored by the Habitat for Humanity Central Atlantic Region and took place on January 14-15. The conference showcased a wide array of speakers who discussed building techniques as well as family services. According to Mary Ellen Taylor, Regional Director of Habitat for Humanity International, "The Habitat for Humanity conference held in Charlottesville, Virginia, last month brought together [these] two important groups of Habitat affiliate staff and volunteers."

The Family Services speakers concentrated on areas including: family support programs, recruiting candidates for homeownership, and financial counseling, education and training.

Currently, through generous programs and grants from the N.C. Housing Finance Agency, 21 Habitat for Humanity affiliates extend the SystemVision guarantee to their homeowners. This guarantee will serve to make sure that these homes are not only affordable to buy, but also affordable to live in.

The importance of bringing together the family services staff/volunteers and the construction staff/volunteers is immeasurable. "Each group depends on the other to complete their goals of affordable [and efficient] homes for partner families," said Taylor.

For more information about the SystemVision program or moisture management, contact Advanced Energy at 919-857-9058.