I read in today’s paper that the Dream Center downtown is “replacing each old crank window with a version that doesn’t open.” The Journal Star reported yesterday that “The fifth, sixth and seventh floors [of the Dream Center, which is the old YMCA building downtown] are apartments for single-parent families operated by the YWCA.”
I wouldn’t want to live in an apartment where I couldn’t open the windows. It was bad enough when I used to work in an office building where the place was sealed and we had to breathe recirculated air all day. I can’t imagine coming home each evening to the same scenario. Therefore, I’m glad that we have an HVAC unit installed with a furnace installation by services like AirMax Heating & Air at home so we don’t have to worry about ventilation and humidity.
Why are operable windows important? Just look at the reasons given in today’s article:
Some people open windows to add fresh air or a breeze to the already air-conditioned building. Others like to air out their apartments to get rid of a smell associated with having a large group of people living on one floor.
Ventilation and fresh air are important to one’s environment, especially one’s home. Sustainable building design professionals are trying to start a renaissance of operable windows in office buildings, hotels, schools, etc., by touting the benefits of fresh air, ventilation, and control of personal space to individuals, the environment, and the bottom line. Individuals are more comfortable and productive, and open windows/individual climate control can lower the use of A/C, especially on mild days (and we have a lot of those in the Midwest), which leads to lower energy bills. Less energy consumption is also better for the environment. If you are wondering how much will be the cost of having a new window, then you might want to check this residential window replacement cost calculator.
Now, of course I recognize that the Dream Center is doing a lot of good work, and I don’t mean for my comments to detract from the important service they offer the less fortunate in our community. In fact, I only use them as an example because they were in the news today. My concern isn’t aimed at them in particular, but rather the idea of sealed, heavily climate-controlled buildings in general.
Open windows is healthier too. Closed ventilation systems harbor and spread germs and viruses. Open windows helps to clean the air.
Had that incident never happened, I bet the Dream Center wouldn’t be making the change,but because it did, and we’re a reactive society, they’re going to. For every sane person out there that realizes open windows are actually better, there are 1000 “Won’t somebody PLEASE think of the children?” people who want to blame everyone but the person responsible for this incident.
I wrote a post about this. I don’t think a Church should be in the business of being a landlord. The former YMCA building needs a lot of work. I like the Dream Center concept, and Riverside Community has done a lot of good. However, they should have built a building on the South Side where we need it the most. Otherwise, this is just another old building in need of repair, and a 8 year old suffered the consequences.
Scott J: Several years ago while working on the 801 NE Perry Project and the YWCA housing project research showed that the YWCA had a contract with the YMCA prior to the Dream Center acquiring the building. In order for the Dream Center to buy out the YWCA housing contract, it was reported that the Dream Center would have to pay the YWCA a million dollars. So, the contract was left as is and will expire in the next few years. Those details may have changed since that time.
the building codes adopted by our city require ALL buildings to supply 20 cubic feet per minute of outside air either naturally (through windows) OR a mechanical heating and colling system.
The mechanical heating system of that building is some 60 years old. Has it been inspected and CERTIFIED that the occupants are getting the required amount of air? I would certainly want to verify this before I took out windows that provide outside air. I would not be ready to stake my health soley on a 60 year old system.
When is the last time the duct work was cleaned?
** shudders **