Your CRE investment is influenced by three main elements: the building envelope, mechanical systems, and building occupants.
Building Envelope
The building envelope is the union of structural components in a building, including the exterior walls, the foundation, windows, doors and roof. A well-designed building envelope allows for adequate moisture control, regardless of the weather conditions outside the building.
Mechanical Equipment
The mechanical equipment element encompasses all mechanical objects within a building, such as HVAC systems, ducting throughout the building, lights, computers, printers, plumbing and security systems. Many mechanical systems have an obvious purpose, such as cooling or heating a building, but they frequently have a subtler function, such as improved indoor air quality (IAQ) by increasing the air flow in or out of the building.
Building Occupants
Building occupants, include all the living things, specifically people and plants, inside a building. People directly affect the flow of the heat, air and moisture in a building by using equipment and lighting, adjusting the thermostat, using restrooms, and operating food service facilities. Occupants also impact the integrity of the building envelope by opening and closing doors and windows. And, since people and plants themselves release heat and moisture into the building, they also affect the flow of heat, air and moisture.
Each of these elements in turn are interconnected with three important “flows” in a building — heat flow, air flow and moisture flow.