OZ's Director of Sustainability, Julie Edwards, Turns Up The Heat on Temperature Control Design for Older Adults

As the seasons change, it’s easy to imagine the concept of temperature control as nothing more than adjusting the numbers on a thermostat. However, there’s more to it than that. Temperature control is tied to energy use, and energy use is tied to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental effects as well as operating costs.

That’s OZ Architecture’s Julie Edwards’ assertion in a recent McKnight’s Senior Living article, entitled “Efficient temperature control for aging populations.” In the article, Julie reviews several options for designing both comfortable and sustainable methods of temperature control in residential environments for older adults.

These methods include installing radiant heating, which uses water to heat pipes beneath the floor’s surface; improving the building envelope’s thermal performance by installing spray foam insulation; placing strategic window coverings to block out or let in thermal gain; offering protected outdoor areas; and making the most of the building’s thermal mass.

With thoughtful design and a few smart investments upfront, buildings for older adults can reap the benefits of greater efficiency and cost savings far into the future.

Read more here.