HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0766.001 2008-2010Murashige, Laura
From:
Sent:
To:
Emily Naeole [enaeole @co hawaii.hi.us]
Monday, Apnl 05, 2010 11 AM
counciltestimony @co.hawaii hi.us
(SILL 234 /LAM. 76,0
Subject: FW: Comment on proposed energy code revisions
From: Ben Black [mailto:benblack08 @gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2010 7:23 PM
To: dyagong @co.hawaii.hi.us; enaeole @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Comment on proposed energy code revisions
Dear Mr. Yagong,
Page 1 of 2
P/C UNaL
1 EL I'J_D
2010 APR 6 An 7 95
G 4 i•:: CLER`-
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I'm a retired architect with a career in design and construction of educational facilities. I am in support
of Ms. Enaeole - Beasons' recommendation to delay action on adopting and implementing the energy
code revisions to the county building code. Please let me make the following comments:
1. The revisions only make sense in a few regions of the island: Those are mostly the colder elevations
over approximately 1800 feet.
2. The revisions only make sense for SOME (but not all) commercial buildings, but may be particularly
applicable to air conditioned commercial buildings.
3. The revisions might make sense for some residences that are specifically designed to rely on air
conditioning.
4. The movement in residential construction on most of the island (particularly at lower elevations and
wet regions) should be away from stud framing and favor a more up -to -date variation of single wall
construction that uses braced post and beam members for structural integrity. Stud walls are unhealthy
because they harbor mold, insects and eventually vermin. They are difficult to evaluate for safety after
seismic events. They don't ventilate well.
5. The use of rigid insulation in walls should be discouraged. Rigid insulation should be allowed as a
radiant heat barrier in attic spaces. It should only be installed with adequate ventilation on both the
warm and cold sides of the rigid insulation. Rigid insulation wall systems on the mainland have been a
disaster (Dryvit mold issues)
6. Part of the reason to preserve single wall houses is because of their historical significance. The rest
of the reason (and best reason) to promote their maintenance and continuation is because they are
healthy homes when they are well - ventilated and when pests are kept at bay. They are the best
construction method possible with available technology.
7. Natural ventilation, not insulation should be our pivotal design issue in our building codes.
8. The county's building officials can take leadership in this and make recommendations appropriate for
our climate, rather than asking for a rubber stamp on a text developed by the ICBO on the East Coast of
4/6/2010
Comm. 14o.
Ref. To:
Ref. Date
Page 2 of 2
the mainland. ICBO decisions are driven by different politics that are different than ours. It's not as
scientific as they want everyone to believe.
This isn't hard stuff. Plenty of cities and counties on the mainland write their own sections of the codes
to substitute for ICBO wording. We need that to happen on our island. I think that everyone on the
council and in the building department will be extremely proud of the outcome if the county codes are
written to meet local conditions. We aren't New York. We're not San Fransisco. Our homes need to
ventilate well. The island way of living in houses has been an indoor - outdoor experience since ancient
times. Our climate should shape our homes and our commercial buildings, not mainland issues and
ideas.
Please accept these recommendations with the understanding that I submit them with appropriate
humility. I've attempted to be simple and direct, but my hope is that in doing so I still communicate due
respect for the hard work that goes into the process that you and county officials are dealing with.
Best wishes and good luck with this matter!
Ben Black
Pepeekeo
4/6/2010