Posted: July 8th, 2009 | Author: mfguide | Filed under: Costs, Efficiency, Materials, Operations, Sustainability | Tags: Efficiency, Operations, Sustainability | No Comments »
Since Earth Day, I’ve been following Energy Circle’s energy monitoring experiment. With the combined resources of a household electricity monitor and Twitter (plus an assist from some Google-fied graphics) they are nearly 90 days into a fascinating experiment.
With a reasonable passage of time, it was appropriate to provide an update. In this case, Energy Circle advocates that real-time monitoring works (24 hours later doesn’t).
You really should follow through for the full story, but here are the main reasons:
- Spikes Hurt.
- Baseload Matters.
- Our house has a heart beat.
- Humans screw up.
- The right tools are critical.
- Data=Action.
- Some bulbs really cost you.
- Efficiency is a family matter.
- The little shifts count.
- Real-time leads to a real map of action.
For multi-family, think about the entire system. Even if you have resident-pay utilities, knowing how the property consumes electricity is an excellent way to start identifying materials, processes, and systems that need attention.
Posted: June 30th, 2009 | Author: mfguide | Filed under: Efficiency, News | Tags: Efficiency, Energy Star | No Comments »
The Wall Street Journal reports that the EPA is upgrading the residential Energy Star ratings, which currently require a home to achieve 15% greater efficiencies than model building-efficiency guidelines.
Perhaps embarrassed by the thought that homes 57% larger than the national average still receive Energy Star designations, the EPA’s actual motivation seems to be driven in part by technology and in part by a desire to reduce the number of Energy Star rated homes built.
Residential energy efficiency is rapidly evolving in the U.S. 10-20% of states have adopted or are studying the adoption of energy codes more stringent than the 2006 IECC, and many significant new requirements were adopted in the 2009 IECC. Furthermore, the current over-supply of housing stock in the marketplace reinforces the need for ENERGY STAR qualified homes to stand out from the competition. EPA is developing new guidelines to help ensure that ENERGY STAR continues to deliver homes that are high-quality and meaningfully more efficient than standard new construction. More rigorous guidelines will strengthen the integrity and value of the ENERGY STAR label, thereby increasing the success of raters’ and builders’ partnerships with ENERGY STAR.
(Source: Energy Star 2011 FAQ)
In the Fact Sheet, issued May 4, 2009, EPA went with the simpler to explain bullet points:
EPA believes that the next generation is an opportunity to:
• Add requirements that ensure a comprehensive approach to building science
• Ensure high‐efficiency equipment and products in qualified homes
• Add new, high‐value on‐site inspections to ensure that ENERGY STAR qualified homes perform to expected
levels
• Limit the carbon footprint of large homes earning the ENERGY STAR
(Source: Energy Star Qualified Homes 2011 Fact Sheet)
The short version of the upgrades are that new requirements focused on both whole building design and minimally intrusive efficiency selections will be incorporated into the guidelines. These include guidance on thermal, air, and moisture flow; an integrated HVAC system; efficient appliances; more efficient water distribution (low flow aerators); and higher efficiency hurdles for larger homes.
EPA estimates that the proposed changes will add about $4300 to the cost of a home, or $23/month in additional mortgage burdens. It estimates monthly energy savings of approximately $37/month. The financial estimates are well summarized in this 20-page PDF.
You can view all of the changes at the EPA’s Energy Star Qualified Homes website. The public comment period ends July 10, 2009.
Posted: May 22nd, 2009 | Author: mfguide | Filed under: Materials, Regulations, Resources, Sustainability | Tags: Efficiency, Multi-Family, Operations, Sustainability | No Comments »
Way out West, water use issues are much more pertinent than they are in the East. Well, maybe. [National view from Drought Impact Reporter.]
Regardless of location, water usage will be reduced through legislation, co-option, construction, or consumer choice.
To help us along, Multifamily Water Systems appears in the May issue of Builder News to provide definitions, discuss existing technology, and identify current and proposed legislation. It’s a strong article that covers a lot of ground.
Where should you look for this reusable water? On your structure, upon undeveloped land, and within the units:
Rooftops (harvest via rain barrels or vegetated roofs)
Impervious surfaces (sidewalks that drain to rain gardens)
Laundry washers
Showers (in units and in public areas)
Dishwashers, sinks, and other point sources
Reusing water requires a water source like those above and then a transport system to put the water where you want to use it. If you plan to do more than irrigation, you’ll probably need to create sediment or UV filters. For rain barrels you should expect an 80% capture rate.
A couple of interesting projects are mentioned in the article:
Monterey Bay Shores, 341 hotel and residential condominium units with a rainwater catchment system for nonpotable laundry and irrigation use, a graywater recycling system, and Low Impact Development designs such as bioswales and porous sidewalks that will capture and treat 100 percent of all stormwater runoff for onsite use and infiltration. The graywater recycling system, which had to overcome California’s regulatory codes to gain approval, will include mechanical and biological waste treatment systems that will treat graywater for reuse in toilet flushing, irrigation and other nonpotable uses.
Sycamore Ten Point Five, in Charlottesville, VA, a mixed-use development including retail, commercial office space and 16 residential units. The system will include three oversize stainless steel domes positioned on the rooftop with a capacity for capturing and storing 270,000 gallons of annual rainwater. This water will be conveyed into the building via a gravity-utilized distribution system for nonpotable use. Water movement and delivery within the building will be controlled through computer programs in order to achieve the most efficient usage. Collected rainwater will be allocated toward toilet flushing, fire suppression, and watering plants in a series of aquatic trellises that will be located on the sides of the building. These trellises, which will make up a permaculture installment, will utilize evapotranspiration to cool the sides of the building.
Even with renewed focus on water issues (via mandate or LEED requirements), reuse of water or even mere collection of water can run afoul of regulations. Nevertheless, making better use of the water, even if only to keep mulch in the beds and surfaces free of puddles requires little to no outlay and is highly recommended for aesthetic and practical reasons.
[Note: The Virginia Department of Forestry provides a good technical guide to garden gardens, including siting, construction, and plant selection.
Finally, I've seen the AquaBarrels in use in the field and at EcoBuild. I found them to be well constructed and the owner quite knowledgeable about SFH and TH installations.]
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