The Context of Energy Issues and Building Solutions

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Sustainable?

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Sustainable?

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What is Sustainability?

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What is Sustainable Design?

• Solar stuff and straw bale

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What is Sustainable Design?

• Sustainable design seeks to reduce negative impacts on the environment, and the health and comfort of building occupants, thereby improving building performance. The basic objectives of sustainability are to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources, minimize waste, and create healthy, productive environments.

• http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentId=8154&contentType=GSA_OVERVIEW

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AIA Committee on the Environment

• Sustainability envisions the enduring prosperity of all living things.

• Sustainable design seeks to create communities, buildings, and products that contribute to this vision.

• David Orr: Sustainable design is the careful meshing of human purposes with the larger patterns and flows of the natural world.

• Bill Reed: Sustainable design is a process that supports and improves the health of the systems that sustain life.

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Sustainable Design as Sustainable Development

• Development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

The Brundtland Commission, led by the former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland

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Why Sustainable Buildings?

• Buildings account for:1/6 of the world’s fresh water withdrawals 1/4 of its wood harvests

2/5 of its material and energy flow (World Watch)• ½ all US global warming emissions (Solar Today)• In the US floor space per person more than

doubled in new single family houses between 1949 and 1993 (World Watch).

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Sustainable Design?• About half the energy use in buildings -- devoted to

producing an artificial indoor climate via heating, ventilation, and lighting. (US DOE)

• NC and Federal tax incentives for sustainable technologies.

• Lewis Mumford noted, “The modern architect has produced the most flagrantly uneconomic and uncomfortable buildings…which can be inhabited only with the aid of the most expensive devices of heating and refrigeration.”

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Our Homes

• As Americans we spend over 90% of our time inside.

• House size is going up as family size is going down. (Rocky Mtn. Inst.)

• “We shape our dwellings, and afterwards our dwellings shape our lives” Churchill.

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Sustainability in a Nutshell• Sustainable community planning• Sustainable sites• Energy, water and resource efficiency• Materials selection• Indoor air quality and comfort• DurabilityIt is possible to reduce energy and water

consumption in homes by over 50%.

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Historical Energy and Environmental Issues Related to Homes

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Energy and Environmental Issues of Homes cont…

• High Energy Bills• Mold, Mildew, and

Musty Odors• Damp Basement• Cold Floors in

Winter• Drafty Rooms• Dust

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• Moisture on Windows• Ice Dams• Peeling Paint• Hot or Cold Rooms• Dry Indoor Air in Winter

High Energy Bills

• High utility bills in summer and winter can often be traced to poor insulation levels (or improper installation), air leaks in your home's envelope, inefficient windows or heating and cooling equipment, or poorly sealed and insulated ducts.

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Mold, Mildew, and Musty Odors

• Water leaks or high humidity can lead to mold and mildew. This can cause wood rot, structural damage, peeling paint, and a variety of health problems.

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Damp Basement

• A damp basement is commonly caused by moisture migrating through the foundation. As this moisture evaporates, it increases indoor humidity and can promote the growth of mold — resulting in an uncomfortable house.

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Cold Floors in Winter

• Some types of floor coverings (such as wood, stone, tile, or concrete) will naturally feel cold on bare feet. However, insufficient insulation or air infiltration can also cause cold floors.

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Drafty Rooms

• Cold air coming into or going out of your house, especially through leaks hidden in the attic and basement, can cause rooms to feel drafty and uncomfortable.

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Dust

• Dust comes from several sources and is difficult to eliminate completely. Increased dust could be a sign that it is time to change a dirty furnace or air conditioner filter or vacuum cleaner bag. Activities that produce dust (such as sanding) can also be a source an increase. Dust can also be introduced into your home through air leaks in ducts, or air infiltration through leaky doors and windows.

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Moisture on Windows

• Inefficient windows or high indoor moisture levels from air leaks can result in condensation, frost, or pools of water on windows and sills.

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Ice Dams

• Warm air inside your home leaks into the attic and will warm the underside of the roof causing snow and ice to melt and refreeze as it runs off your roof — forming icicles and ice dams.

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Pealing Paint

• Peeling or cracking paint on your home's exterior may be a sign of a humidity problem or improper paint application.

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Hot or Cold Rooms

• Significant differences in temperature from one room to another could be caused by several factors, including inadequate insulation, air leakage, and poor duct performance.

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Dry Indoor Air in Winter

Air leaks in your home allow warm humid air to escape and draw in drier colder air. Dry indoor air can contribute to dry throat and skin and static shocks. Proper humidity levels keep furniture and your home from drying out and reduce the energy use of your heating system because you will feel warmer at a lower thermostat setting.

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Sources of Air Leaks in Your Home• 1 Dropped ceiling• 5 Water and furnace flues• 9 Window frames• 2 Recessed light• 6 All ducts• 10 Electrical outlets and

switches• 3 Attic entrance• 7 Door frames• 11 Plumbing and utility access• 4 Sill plates• 8 Chimney flashing

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A Building Science Perspective

• Building science is the collection of scientific knowledge that focuses on the analysis and control of the physical phenomena affecting buildings. This includes the detailed analysis of building materials and building envelope systems.

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Benefits of Good Building Science/Green Building

• Energy Efficiency• Material Efficiency• Water Efficiency• Good Indoor Air Quality• Occupant Health and Safety• Environmental Protection• Superior Performance• Decreased Maintenance Costs

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Site vs. Source Energy

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Site/Source Energy Pros and Cons

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•Solar•Wind•Hydroelectric•Nuclear•Coal•Natural Gas•Oil

US Power Plants

Photo courtesy U.S. Department of Energy

Solar/Photovoltaic (Site)

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Pros•Renewable resource•Zero VOC’s•Abundant free sunlight•Technology readily available•Easy to install•Reduced maintenance and monitoring costs•Predictable output•Quiet and unobtrusive

Cons•High initial costs•Needs storage for down times•Southern exposure may be limited•Neighbors do not always like them (NIMBY)

Solar Thermal (Source)Pros

• Non-polluting• Proven technology• Can generate

when cloudy• Reliable• Abundant global

resources

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Cons• Requires large amounts of land• Requires tracking equipment• Expensive

Wind (Residential Scale)

Pros• Locally produced

energy/less distance for losses

• Non-polluting• Proven technology• Energy independence• No fuel price uncertainty

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Cons• No wind = no production• Supply backup is needed• “NIMBY” Syndrome (Not in my backyard!)• May need a lot of space for tower• Moving parts = maintenance

Wind (Utility Scale/Source)Pros

• Locally produced energy/less distance for losses

• Non-polluting• Proven technology• Energy

independence• No fuel price

uncertainty

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Cons• No wind = no production• Supply backup is needed• “NIMBY” Syndrome (Not in my backyard!)• May need a lot of space for tower• Moving parts = maintenance

Micro-Hydroelectric

Pros• Efficient energy source• Reliable electricity source• No reservoir required• Cost effective energy

solution• Power for developing

countries• Integrate with the local

power grid

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Cons• Suitable site characteristics required• Energy expansion not possible• Low-power in the summer months• Environmental impact

Nuclear Power Generation

Pros• Low CO2 emissions

• Readily available• High electrical

output

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Cons• Radioactive waste disposal Issues• Security/accident risk• Uranium is limited Resource• Long lead time

Coal (Source)

Pros• Low cost• Plentiful globally• Easy to transport

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Cons• Not sustainable• High emissions (Carbon Dioxide/Sulfur)• Contributes to global warming• Destructive mining methods• Ash disposal issues

General Goals for Building Solutions

1. Durable, Healthy, Energy Efficient, Resource Efficient, Water Efficient, Site Sensitive, Environmentally Sensitive, Affordable

2. 2006 IRC3. ENERGY STAR4. LEED5. NAHB Green Building Program

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2006 IRC The International Residential Code (IRC)

is a comprehensive, stand-alone residential code that creates minimum regulations for one- and two-family dwellings of three stories or less. It brings together all building, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy and electrical provisions for one- and two-family residences.

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ENERGY STAR Homes

Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY STAR qualified homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC).

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LEED for Homes

LEED for Homes is a voluntary rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes, including affordable housing, mass-production homes, custom designs, stand-alone single-family homes, duplexes and townhouses, suburban and urban apartments and condominiums and lofts in historic buildings.

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NAHB Green Building Program

Through the National Green Building Program, the National Association of Home Builders is helping its members move the practice of green building into the mainstream. Energy efficiency, water and resource conservation, sustainable or recycled products, and indoor air quality are increasingly incorporated into the everyday process of home building.

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Roles and Responsibilities of Participants in Design and Construction

•Developer•Architect•Builder•Manager• Subcontractors•City/state/site planners•HERS/green raters & verifiers

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Land Developers

Land developers typically acquire natural or "unimproved" land and "improve" or alter it with utility connections, roads, earth grading, covenants, and entitlements. Infrastructure improvement provides a base for further development.

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Building developers

Building developers acquire raw land, improved land, and/or re-developable property in order to construct building projects. The buildings are then sold entirely or in part to others, or retained as assets to produce cash flow via rents and other means. Some building developers have their own internal departments for designing and constructing buildings (more common among larger developers), while others subcontract these parts of the work to third parties (typical of small developers).

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Architect

An architect is a licensed individual who leads a design team in the planning and design of buildings and participates in oversight of building construction.

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Builders

There are many styles of builders in the world but the main two types of categories are residential builders and commercial builders. Residential builders deal with the domestic home market and are involved with new construction and renovations.

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General Contractors

A general contractor is a group or individual that contracts with another organization or individual (the owner) for the construction or renovation of a building, road or other structure. A general contractor is responsible for the means and methods to be used in the construction of the project in accordance with the contract documents.

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Construction Management

Construction Management refers to the study and practice of the managerial and technological aspects of the construction industry (including construction, building science, construction management, and construction technology).

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Subcontractors

A subcontractor is hired by a general contractor or private homeowner to perform a specific task as part of the overall project. The most common concept of a subcontractor is in the building industry. Examples include plumbers, electricians, HVAC contractors, insulation installers, landscapers, roofers, masons, surveyors, carpenters (framing crews), etc…..

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Urban Planners

An urban planner is a professional geographer who works in the field of urban planning for the purpose of public health and safety in an urban setting. They work with local governments or private property owners (often with land developers) to formulate plans for the short- and long-term growth and renewal of urban and suburban communities.

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HERS Raters

HERS raters are special inspectors certified to rate homes according to the Home Energy Rating System (HERS). These ratings include field verification and diagnostic testing to determine energy efficiency levels among homes tested for duct efficiency, envelope leakage and building insulation for compliance with current building efficiency standards.

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HERS Raters

RESNET Ratings provides a relative energy use index called the HERS® Index – a HERS Index of 100 represents the energy use of the “American Standard Building” and an Index of 0 (zero) indicates that the Proposed Building uses no net purchased energy (a Zero Energy Building).

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Green Raters

Green raters inspect and/or verify homes which are trying to achieve green building certifications. There are over 70 green building programs nationally. Many programs require specific training for their verification professionals.

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Why buy an energy efficient home ?

1. Effective Insulation2. High-Performance Windows3. Tight Construction and Ducts4. Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment5. Efficient Products Lighting and

Appliances6. Potential Third-Party Verification

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ENERGY STAR Homes Save Money

LOWER OWNERSHIP COSTCompared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating-delivering $200 to $400 in annual savings. Over the average 7 to 8 years you may live in your home, this adds up to thousands of dollars saved on utility bills. Additional savings on maintenance can also be substantial. Financing your home purchase using an energy efficient mortgages can also lead to savings.

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New Home Costs and Annual Savings

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Additional First Cost =

$2,000

Annual Energy and Water

Savings = $400

Extra Construction Cost = Annual Mortgage Payments

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Additional First Cost = $2,000

Annual Mortgage Payments = $160

• The principal (amount loaned) is $2,000 over standard construction costs.• The loan is a 7% 30-year, mortgage with extra annual payments of $160

Cash Flow: Annual Energy Savings

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The annual savings begin at $400 per year and are projected to increase 1.5% per year due to increases in the cost of energy

Cash Flow for Energy and Water Investments

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The chart combines the mortgage costs and the annual savings.The cash flow is positive from the first year on!

Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM)

An Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) is a mortgage that credits a home’s energy efficiency in the mortgage itself. EEMs give borrowers the opportunity to finance cost-effective, energy-saving measures as part of a single mortgage and stretch debt-to-income qualifying ratios on loans thereby allowing borrowers to qualify for a larger loan amount and a better, more energy-efficient home.

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Increased Revenue to Builder

The built-in energy saving features can increase revenue on ENERGY STAR qualified homes. In addition, the projected energy savings may allow a buyer to afford additional upgrades, further increasing the builder’s profit.

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