[GSBN] Airtightness and ventilation

[Bill Christensen]

Two comments that I'd like to make after (finally) wading through all 
the excellent discussion

In response to Robert Riversong's comment a couple days ago which 
appears to be promoting exhaust-only ventilation:

I've been told that there is strong evidence that depressurizing a 
building not only causes leakage through the walls, drawing incoming air 
across the dead squirrels in your attic, gas cans in your garage, and 
lord knows what in the walls themselves, but can also pull outdoor 
pollutants (fertilizers, pesticides, etc) in from a surprisingly long 
distance - over 100 ft.  (talk given by Doug Garrett, 
http://bpchomeperformance.com/, probably a decade ago at least)

It seems to me that an HRV would be a better choice as you can maintain 
a slightly higher pressure within the envelope AND take care of the 
humidity problem.

I also agree with most here that a passive solution is the best choice 
when one is available.

On 3/23/13 11:11 PM, Graeme North wrote:
> But if people like John can't solve this, then I doubt if I will, so 
> in the meantime, I agree that the evidence-backed advice by John and 
> others sure does make total sense for most people to adopt until we 
> develop that level of building intelligence showed by termites!
>
> Or maybe we don't want to live in termite mounds.

Just in case any of you weren't aware, there's a building in Zimbabwe 
that emulates a termite mound's cooling:

http://www.ipsnews.net/1996/06/architecture-zimbabwe-termites-inspire-new-office-complex/

(google "zimbabwe termite architecture" for more)
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