Over the years I have often said that on "The Planet Charles" certain things would look different than they do on "The Planet Earth."
One of the things that would be different, is that there would be NO vented crawl spaces (actually if I thought about it long and hard enough, and took into account other parts of the world, there "might" be exceptions-----I just can't think of any right now). Yesterday's blog started the conversation about these closed-type crawl spaces.
Think about how a crawl space works.
It is the space under your house with a dirt floor covered (hopefully) with a ground cover (vapor retarder). The cool thing about Planet Earth is that the ground temperature (if you protect it from hot and cold) stays pretty much the same temperature year round----45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
What do we typically do in current construction?
We insulate the house floor, cutting the house off from that constant ground temperature, and then we vent that space so that it "communicates" with whatever temperature it is outside.
As an example: In Syracuse NY, the temperatures range from 30 degrees below zero in the Winter to 110 degrees in the Summer. What this means is that in the Summer (with a floor that is insulated) one has to cool the house from 110 degrees down to whatever you can stand inside (with "cooling" even a 15 degree difference can be enough to feel comfortable).
In the Winter, one must heat the home from minus 30 degrees to plus 70 degrees-----a 100 degree temperature change. Now if we insulate the perimeter of the foundation instead of filling it full of holes (vents); and, we forget about insulating the floor and allow the interior of the home to "communicate" with the crawl space instead of the crawl space communicating with the outdoors------the temperature differentials become radically different----and so does the impact on your wallet.
In fact, on the "cooling" side, much of the time, the crawl space year-round-temperature will be enough to provide some cooling for a well insulated house.
On the "heating" side, we will only need to heat the house from 45 degrees to 70 degrees----a 25 degree differential instead of 100 degrees.
This approach is so simple and so basic that it seems to have eluded the oil companies (they have no vested interest in conservation) and the US Government----for the most part (they also have no vested interest in conservation), even though the knowledge to build this way has been around since at least the early 50's. It is not that there is a problem with creating homes that take very little energy to run, it is that there is no political will to do so, and existing corporations (vested heavily in consuming fossil fuels) just raise the prices as we use less. In a very real sense 
is "un-American." Obviously we need a change in the definition of what it means to be an "American."
My Planet is looking for new inhabitants if you are interested (or if you like it where you are, but would just like to visit, just click on the License Plate below:).
Charles Buell
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Click on the Rose 
to check out: AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.
Planet Charles has too many rules and is rigid and intolerant. The guy who runs it is just too complex in a silly way.
Wow... how to follow that comment.... whew!
Well, I was going to say that around here at least, they have started not venting crawl spaces any more (One for Planet Charles). Now, they are done as you say, have at least a scratch coat of concrete, and are 'heated' in some way. No more open vents.
Steve, take it easy on poor ole Chuck. LOL
Kevin,
Ever since Charlie B went after Bing Crosby, the feature topic in one of my last blogs, there is a mutiny brewing against Planet Charles. Crooner loving bloggers are thinking that Planet Charles might be a front for a tin horn dictator with no appreciation for art. Somebody had to say it, and it could be that retribution against me will follow for not toeing the government line.
Me thinks the Planet Steve is really a black hole:)
Kevin, thanks, perhaps you can help me do battle with the Planet Steve
I will be gone for awhile----have to go chase a soccer ball around for a couple of days:)
I have a friend who is an energy expert and he has stated the same thing that you have but no one listens. I guess you are saying just to have no vents...you still have a crawl space that has to be inspected and worried about? I also think the termite companies don't like this idea since they always preach that the vents need to be open in the summer and closed in the winter. They even sell those automatic ones for big bucks.
You did a good job on this blog!
Isn't the craw space vented for other reason beside temperature changes?
Sean Allen
Stop the planet... I want to get off... Beam me up Charlie...
Barbara, well I don't know about "worry about" but yes, you would still need the crawl space (or a basement space). Crawl spaces are great for providing access to plumbing, electrical etc---when you want to make changes after construction. The method of construction that I am talking about would basically make most crawl spaces a "bug-free" zone compared to vented type spaces.
I should also state that "retrofitting" older crawls apaces is not that easy to do and the option of having un-vented crawl spaces is largely reserved for New Construction. It can be done but is more complicated-----still worth it in my opinion however.
Sean, they are basically vented to deal with ground moisture----if there is no moisture issue there is no need for venting.
Michael, consider yourself beamed up:)
Charles, Great post, I want on!
Starting to sound like it is going to be a planet populated by inspectors:)
Imagine that! But first, planet Steve and planet Charles need to go have 1 of those 6 beers and get over it, or, have all 6 at once and then take it to the parking lot :)
David, I hope you know that Steve and I are best of friends and that all our sparring and bravado is all for show----but that is only because he wouldn't last 1/2 a round----1/2 a round of beer that is:)
HAHA, I'm just kidding as well. I have read enough of both your posts to see that. Sorta like that "job site" camaraderie, "I'm gonna kick your @$$" sorta thing. I hope to get out to Seattle some day and meet you guys for ONE of those beers.
David----that would be fun, and please do----I will open one of those beers for you right now and save it for you:)
I am left scratching my head when people say asking people to conserve is un-American.
Hi Pete, thanks for stopping by. I certainly don't think it is un-American----I was just making a point that much of "Big Business", "Big Government" has gotten to be where it is by not conserving and conserving has not been in their best interest in the past and they will not likely change without a lot of "kicking and screaming"----and considerable profit-taking:)
Charlie B,
Have you moved to Planet Charlie? No blogs in days. I am bored.
Coming to a planet near you real soon.
Charlie,
I want to emphasize, because there is lots of talk about this, that you are not suggesting that everyone go out and put plugs in their crawl space vents. You are talking about new design and not homeowner modifications of existing unconditioned crawl spaces. I see people block their vents for years and then wonder why anobiid beetles are occupying all the lumber.
Steve, like I said in a previous comment----it is very difficult to retro existing crawl spaces.
Charlie,
I have had the same thought for some time. In fact Steve and I had a debate on crawlspcae venting some time back. Let Me Take You Down: Crawl Space Horrors Pt 3
Yeah James, I remember that. I do not disagree with what Charlie says here. The newly designed houses, with conditioned crawl spaces have been nice. The retro-fits have been messes and taking a plain crawl space and blocking the vents around here usually ends with pest problems. As you have said, that might apply here in the PNW but closing vents works for you back there. Just goes to show how different parts of the country have different problems.
Steven, I believe Charlie has the unusual benefit of both perspectives. But I qwould also agree that a home built now would be very likely better than retrofit.