New buildings and renovations are increasingly expected to meet environmental and sociopolitical goals such as being "green," "energy efficient," and "sustainable." While these efforts are laudable, occupant health and safety often is not the primary objective, and short-term fiscal gains often supersede consideration of long-term risks and benefits. As a result, the performance of many of these buildings has been less than expected. This book will stress the importance of accurately measuring building performance for long-term health and sustainability. Principles for designing and diagnosing building performance will be explored, and numerous examples and case studies will be presented.
Author Biography:
James E. Woods, Ph.D., P.E., is an Indoor Environments Consultant residing in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the former Executive Director of the Building Diagnostics Research Institute. In 1997 he retired as the William E. Jamerson Professor of Building Construction at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Previously, he served as Senior Engineering Manager and Senior Staff Scientist at Honeywell (1983-1989), and was Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Architecture at Iowa State University (1974-1983). He has over 50 years experience in energy and environmental analyses, and has been responsible for more than 30 research projects and 250 investigations related to indoor environmental quality, energy utilization, and human responses in residences, office buildings, public assembly and monumental buildings, hospitals, schools, laboratories, and commercial aircraft. He has authored or co-authored seven books, more than 200 technical papers and is the co-holder of two patents. He has served as a consultant or advisor to many private and public agencies, including design engineering and architectural firms, building owners, insurance companies, law firms, utility companies, and state and federal agencies. Dr. Woods is Fellow and Distinguished 50-year Member of the American Society of Heating Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). He has chaired and served on numerous ASHRAE committees related to indoor air quality, environmental health, building energy utilization, industrial air conditioning, physiology and human environment, thermal conditions for human occupancy, and ventilation and infiltration requirements.
