Comfort

Your definition of comfort may not be ours. We like to think that when you don’t have to think about it, you’re truly comfortable.

For example, turning up the thermostat, or closing the blinds to reduce glare—these adjustments are a discomfort remedy, not comfort. It’s when you walk into a house and the need for comfort does not come to mind, that’s comfort.

On a recent trip to British Columbia, we visited a family living in a passive solar house. It was evening and the outdoor temperature was 25 degrees F. Inside, it was 70 degrees. The stored solar heat of the day and adequate insulation was now keeping the home comfortable without a furnace or fireplace.

Signs of comfort

• no more hot or cold rooms
• a properly designed heating and A/C system along with passive solar conditioning will reduce large temperature swings
• no more thermostat wars
• comfort means you don’t need to think about the thermostat setting
• reduced drafty or stuffy areas
• use of natural ventilation
• sealing of leaky windows, doors and fireplaces
• properly designed forced air systems
• more peace and quiet
• better insulation, reduced forced air heating and cooling run times, as well as higher quality windows will make the home quieter
• use of natural light
• daylighting a dark bathroom or closet brightens the home, creates a feeling of spaciousness while saving energy
• smart lighting design to create a balanced and pleasant interior
• lighter shades of paint to diffused and reflect light into interior spaces
• use of clerestory windows, skylights, light tubes
• placing windows on more than one wall of a room