Thousand Home Challenge

Intro to Indicators of Performance

George Beeler, AIM A S S O C I A T E S

Petaluma, CA george@aimgreen.com

For more information: Linda Wigington, ACI

724-852-3085 lwigington@affordablecomfort.org

www.affordablecomfort.org9/12/2010

Purpose of this Power Point:

1. Introduce the Thousand Home Challenge (THC)

2. Review the criteria for meeting the Thousand Home Challenge

3. Show case study: Beeler live/work, rehabilitation of 1940 energy hog, Petaluma, CA

The Thousand Home Challenge

is designed to:

•Reduce the energy consumption of existing

homes by 70-90% (total use, not just space

conditioning)

•Develop indicators of home energy performance

•Exemplify the performance-based systems

design approach

•Assemble local / regional centers of excellence

•Stimulate collaboration, creative problem-solving,

and innovative products and approaches

How is the Thousand Home

Challenge Unique?

Bottom line – actual total use, not modeled

Key metric - Customized household energy use threshold allowance

Behavior, lifestyle, community solutions on map

Stimulate creative solutions; Lots of potential paths

Thousand Home multiplier – vision for scalability

Optimize Investment

Conservation

Efficiency

Renewables

Community

Solutions

Customized based on goals, opportunity, resources, & needs

Multiple paths to get to deep reductions!

Not Included in THC

but Very Important

Embodied Energy – food, energy, consumables, waste, building materials

Transportation Energy

Key Metric

Transparent & Direct

Include Occupants

Net Annual Household Site Energy

(wood included, solar is not)

Two Options for QualifyingMeet or exceed a

household energy allowance

OPTION A

Relative, 75% reduction

Annual measured use –pre and post

Best for higher use households

OPTION B

Absolute, not relative: customized by household

Inputs – climate, house size, #of occupants, heat source

Best – Low Use households or those without pre-use

Option B

Proportional to the Opportunity

Responsive but not linear

House Size – thermal loads are not strictly linear

Occupancy – More people use more energy, but not linear

Climate – In mild climates heating & cooling loads should be eliminated

OPTION B: Customized

Household Threshold

Estimates energy needed for a very high performance house for

Heating

Cooling

Hot Water

Everything Else

Sum is the actual site energy household thresholdthat must be met or exceeded in order to meetthe Thousand Home Challenge

How is Solar Counted?

Passive solar & active solar thermal systems offset energy use

Solar PV, wind, and hydro may need to calculated as a credit, depending on how output is metered

Feedback Welcome!

The first portion of presentation developed by

Linda WigingtonDirector of Special ProjectsAffordable Comfort, Inc.

724-852-3085lwigington@affordablecomfort.orgwww.affordablecomfort.org

Thousand Home Challenge

Ellen & George Beeler

Live/Work Building

Rehabilitation

1940 Vintage - Petaluma, CA

CASE STUDYUpdated 9-9-10

13

AIM A S S O C I A T E S

EXISTING

At Left is Typical Neighborhood Bungalow

At Right is 1940’S Building Before 2005 Renovation

Southwest view

14AIM A S S O C I A T E S

BEELER FAMILY PORTRAIT by Emily Vincent 5/2010

George holding Rudy and Ellen holding Iggy

15AIM A S S O C I A T E S

DOWN TOWN

BEELER

RESIDENCE

Location is critical to a

green lifestyle

Rehabilitate

existing building

Or use infill site

To reduce driving, be

close to:

Work

Schools

Friends

Groceries, etc.

Able to walk & bike

Utilize existing

infrastructure

Avoid destruction of

habitats

Avoid destruction of

farm land

LOCATION • ELLEN & GEORGE BEELER LIVE/WORK REMODEL

FUTURE

LIGHT RAIL

16

AIM A S S O C I A T E S

AIM FOR ZERO NET ENERGY & AVOIDING OF FOSSIL FUELS IN PHASES

17AIM A S S O C I A T E S

2010 rehabilitation phase energy efficiency strategies: • Increased attic insulation from R-30 to R-50 & air infiltration improvements• Den made into cocoon space• Solar air heating & solar space heating added to cocoon• Solar water heating

2005 rehabilitation phase energy efficiency strategies: • Passive ventilation & night cooling with turbine ventilator• Solar air heating of ground floor• Photovoltaic system

18AIM A S S O C I A T E S

FIRST PHASE: 1998 PURCHASED BUILDING, MAJOR REHABILITATION

Energy Efficiency Features to Reduce Energy Use approx. 75%

Add insulation

R-30 blown-in cellulose attic insulation

Dense-pack cellulose wall insulation: R-13 @ 2x4 studs, R-20 @ 2x6 studs

Replaced single glazed aluminum windows with fiberglass Low-E2 argon

Replaced existing 40% efficient furnace with 96% efficient furnace with two-level

burner and high-efficiency variable speed fan with duct air pressure auto

adjustment so that we may use dampers

Manual, central duct dampers for zone control of heating each room

Removed conventional water heater & added demand type water heater

Energy Star appliances (top 10% of Energy Star)

Almost all lights are fluorescent or CFL

Solar clothes dryer = clothes drying lines

Carefully open & close shades/windows for solar gain or passive cooling

19

AIM A S S O C I A T E S

SECOND PHASE - 2005 REMODEL

20AIM A S S O C I A T E S

21AIM A S S O C I A T E S

22AIM A S S O C I A T E S

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SYSTEMS

Turbine ventilator uses wind to draw air out of living areas for passive ventilation and night cooling

• 24” throat diameter.• It draws 2,000 cfm during 5 mph

breeze • A neoprene gasketed duct damper

prevents air leakage common with whole house fans

Solar air heating is provided by 200 sq. ft. of Solar Wall brand transpiring panels

2,500 watt photovoltaic array provides all live/work building electricity plus electric bicycle & future electric car

23AIM A S S O C I A T E S

DUCTS UNDER TURBINE VENTILATOR

14” DIAMETER DUCT TO DRW WARM AIR FROM

UNDER PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS

24” DIAMETER DUCT TO GASKETED DAMPER AT

CEILING OF STAIR WELL FOR WHOLE HOUSE

VENTILATION

24

AIM A S S O C I A T E S

SOUTHEAST ELEVATION

AFTER 2005 RENEWABLE ENERGY REMODEL 25

AIM A S S O C I A T E S

All existing windows were replaced with high-performance windows, except this living room window because it was too expensive (unusual shape). That is why the R-4 shade is needed

Three-layer honeycomb (R-4) interior shadeIt is difficult to keep cold air from flowing out from around the edges

Cable trellis was modified, so vines shade office glass door but do not shade living room window

26AIM A S S O C I A T E S

DIRECT GAIN SOLAR HEATING WHEN THE SHADE IS RAISED.

THIS ALSO PROVIDES A DELIGHTFUL PLACE TO KNIT!

27

AIM A S S O C I A T E S

28AIM A S S O C I A T E S

2010 blower door test was done after 3rd phase remodel Air sealing when walls opened & more attic insulation was installed

Brennan Less & Jeremy Fisher operate a blower door to test the combined air leakage of the ground & main floors

They are graduate architecture students at UC Berkeley and interns at LBNL

Prior to 2010: 0.45 ACH 50 Pasc

There will be monitoring of all energy use & viewable onlineThe results have not been reported as of 9/12/2010

AFTER BLOWER DOOR TEST

29AIM A S S O C I A T E S

Presentation by George Beeler, Principal

Architect

A I M A S S O C I A T E S

A R C H I T E C T U R E & I N T E G R A T E D D E S I G N T E A M M A N A G E M E N T

100 Fair Street AIM © September 2010

Petaluma, CA 94952-2515 www.aimgreen.com 707-763-3300 x2

george@aimgreen.com

30AIM A S S O C I A T E S