Insider Secrets Magazine by ecoMaster

TIP #23
HOME DESIGN
STAIRWAY TO
HEAVEN OR
STAIRWAY TO
BIG ENERGY
COSTS?
When looking at two-story homes, one of the ways to optimize comfort,
especially when heating or cooling a home, is to zone the first floor from
the ground floor. Zoning is usually done at the staircase.
Looking at a typical two-story home layout, the upstairs has all the
bedrooms whilst the downstairs will contain the living areas, the kitchen
and dining area.
During winter, if warm air comes out of ceiling jet outlets at high velocity
(which is done to ensure that the warm air reaches the floor) this creates
quite a lot of air movement. The air from the high-velocity ceiling jets
can feel cold because of the strong air movement, despite being heated.
youtu.be/BWHPtupCKho
It also creates currents of air
around the home because
of the rapid displacement
of air from the jets.
As any science student will
tell you, warm air rises. In a
two-storey home, that warm
air will rise via the stairs as
the line of least. In summer,
when trying to cool the upper
storey so you can sleep,
the cool air will go down
the staircase to the lower
storey and is replaced by the
warmer air it displaces.
One effective way of
combatting this issue is
zoning the house to limit the
escape of cool or warm air
from the area of the house
you are trying to optimize,
for example through a
heavy drape covering the
stairway. This will block off
the pathway of the airflow,
making it quicker and easier
to heat or cool the area of
your choice.
TIP
#24
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