Practical Eco

Nielsen Green Energy Trends Study

A recent report by Nielsen evaluates households across the country tallying how many were signed up to local green energy programs and their various views on energy. Overall only 3% of households are participating in a green energy program. The map to left shows the distribution of those households across nine regions, with the South Atlantic states coming in at 14%, or fourth place.

However, 8% of households have taken advantage of the Energy Star tax credit program which offers up to $1500 for tax payers who purchase energy efficient products. And a further 21% of the households claimed that they intend to take advantage of the incentive before its expiration next year, on Dec 31 2010.

The report also shows that nationwide, 27% of households use 10 or more compact fluorescent lightbulbs and about 60% use at least 4 CFLs.

It concludes that there is a real need to educate the public about its options to reduce demand and save money. But the real challenge, the report says, is to convert people from being passive users to taking a more active role in demand management.

To view the complete report click here.

Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday This Weekend in North Carolina

Starting Friday November 6th and all through Sunday November 8th NC residents will be able to buy Energy Star qualified products with not sales tax. Of course you continue to save money for years with any of these products which typically use at least 15% less energy that other models. 
 
The many items which are exempt for state and local sales tax during the Energy Star sales tax holiday, include:

• Washing machines (clothes)
• Refrigerators and Freezers
• Central air conditioners and room air conditioners
• Air-source heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps
• Ceiling fans
• Dehumidifiers
• Programmable thermostats

So if you've been putting off a replacement, now could be the time to act.

The Ten Most Useless Energy-Related Products - excellent

Cheers to Martin Holladay for his excellent article in Green Building Advisor, unmasking the top ten bad products relating to home energy. The article is a "must read" but the list is made up of:

• Tyvek ThermaWrap
• Fafco plastic solar collectors
• Passive fresh air inlets
• Vinyl siding laminated to rigid foam
• Powered attic ventilators
• Programmable thermostats
• Inexpensive LED lamps
• Foil-faced bubble wrap
• Power factor correction devices
• Vent-free gas space heaters

See his full post here.

It Pays to Install Green Roofs

Nate Kline's post on The Green Economy Post summarizes the many tax credits and incentives available for the installation of a green roof. Several locations including NYC, Chicago, LA, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC. Plus, there are proposed programs for Boston and the state of Pennsylvania as well as a Federal bill that proposes a 30% tax credit for green roofs that cover at least 50% of the roof area.

A study by a scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, from last year suggests that white roofs across all major cites would curb climate change. See the story here on the Christian Science Monitor.

Clearly, either greater use of both white and green roofs has major benefits and is comparatively inexpensive. Of all the things that can be done with the tops of buildings, it's a shame that black is such a prevalent choice. There are several green roofs here in the Raleigh/Durham area and a few people I know have gone with white for their home roofs. One person I've spoken with has painted black shingles with white acrylic paint and is very happy with that. I'd love to hear from anyone planning a green roof in the area.

I also noticed in Nate's own GreenDldgBlog.com a recent story that neatly lists all the various tax incentives already in place for energy efficiency measures. This is useful for anyone considering energy efficiency renovations.

Induction Street Lighting Evolved

I posted an item a few weeks ago about induction lighting with a video that explains the technology.  Click here to see that post.

Everlast Lighting now has its newest generation of Cobra Head fixtures (the ones you often see on street lights) which is exciting on many levels.

Energy savings are incredible at about 50-70 percent lower than the typical metal halide bulbs.

Lamp life is the next big benefit. At 100,000 hours you're looking at 5 times the life of a metal halide - or more. So, if it runs for 12 hours per day, every day, it will last for 23 years before someone has to get the bucket truck out to go up and replace the bulb.

Light quality is also a major benefit. They bulbs put out a light at 5000 Kelvin and 85 CRI,  which is much whiter than other street lights and enables clearer vision, rendering colors more like natural sunlight does.

Some of the major improvements in this new type III fixture include a lightweight polycarbonate housing for better durability, a specular reflector optimized for induction lamp geometry, an integrated heat sink system for extended life, an acrylic lens with Type III, medium throw prescription and an electronic ballast with flicker free instant re-strike.   

It also includes a ballast that can dim to 50% power for greater energy savings.

So while LED lights at street level are making headlines everywhere for now, their inherent weaknesses like low usable light output, overstated longevity, pin-point bright spots, sensitivity to heat and high cost will surely impede their wider implementation. Meanwhile, the recent improvements in Induction lighting like their superior longevity, incredible lumen/watt efficiency and outstanding value will mean they start outshining LEDs, HIDs and all other types of lights for a wide range of applications.

See the full spec on the new Everlast cobra head lights here.

10 important green building studies

Tracey de Morcella, writing for The Green Economy Post summarized 10 relevant studies relating to green building.

The various studies referenced address issues such as:
- social and psychological barriers to green building
- the use of impact fees to encourage green building
- the use of mandates and incentives
- the risks that come with green building
- global green building trends
- green practices by facilities management professionals
- reshaping municipal and county laws

To read the full round up click here.

Also see my older post on the Costar Group study that shows the better financial performance of green commercial buildings.

More Green Building Could Save U.S. Economy $1.2 Trillion

If you read this site much you probably already know that there is huge opportunity to save energy through efficiency improvements in buildings. The recent McKinsey report, "Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy," indicates that increased green building along with efficiency improvements could save the US $1.2 Trillion. 

The report examines how to increase energy efficiency in buildings and sectors using existing technology and methods.  It also looks at barriers to progress and what can be done to get through them.

It concludes that a targeted investment of $50 billion per year for 10 years would produce these savings and create almost 900,000 jobs.

"This confirms a critical path forward that we have long championed. Harnessing the engine of green, energy efficient buildings can cost-effectively drive tremendous improvements in our economy and environment,"  USGBC President, CEO and Founding Chairman Rick Fedrizzi said in statement.

"Green building can stimulate the economy at a level one and a half times larger than the federal stimulus bill. In terms of climate change, a commitment to energy efficiency would be the equivalent to taking the entire U.S. fleet of passenger cars and light trucks -- more than 200 million vehicles -- off the road."

See the full 165 page report as a PDF document here.
Or read the related Greener Buildings story "Americans Waste $130 billion a Year on Energy."

*The image is of an energy auditor showing air leaks that waste energy.

Induction Lighting Explained

Everlast Induction lights offer incredible return on investment, energy savings and a superior light source for almost any application. The bulbs last an incredible 100,000 hours while using 50-55% less energy than a comparable Metal Halide bulb. The light emitted is also a "full spectrum" light which means the color of the light is more similar to sunlight.

I'm now representing Everlast in North Carolina and and the surrounding states so would be delighted to talk to anyone with commercial, university or municipal lighting requirements.

Demand Buster reduces air conditioning energy demand by up to 60%

Here in the Southeast we spend an extraordinary amount of energy (and dollars) keeping cool during the hot humid Summers. And it's doubly painful since for many commercial customers utilities charge higher rates at the hottest times of the day.

But businesses, hospitals, hotels and big box stores can double the operating efficiency of their HVAC units at half the cost of replacing equipment by installing a Thermal~Flow Demand-Buster Evaporative Condenser Retrofit system. This energy efficiency retrofit will yield reductions of peak kW demand of 30% - 60%.  And with many utilities offering financial incentive programs to commercial customers to reduce peak demand, the system can be very reasonable to implement, paying for itself in just a few years in savings.

One of our contractor clients installed a unit for a Home Depot store with a nearly new 20 ton air conditioner and realized significant savings immediately. Rick Bofinger of Jerico Mechanical said, "We achieved a 28.9% reduction in peak demand, and a 55% reduction in kWh, while actually INCREASING the capacity of the a/c unit."

Engineered for Commercial Roof-Top Retrofit Applications:

• Light Weight, Modular, Durable, Low Maintenance requiring no Structural Upgrades
• 30%-60% Reduction in Peak kW
• Up to 17 EER Performance
• Proven Commercial Water Cooled Technology with a Record of Operational Success
• 15 Year Limited Warranty

Patented Evaporative Fluid Cooler features:

• Construction: All fiberglass cabinet, cannot corrode. High quality materials throughout. High Efficiency evaporative design allows one tower to service multiple HVAC systems in Thermal-Loop.
• Water Spray Nozzles: Durable plastic, non-corrosive and non-fouling.
• Fans: Aluminum, epoxy coated frame, and precision balanced plastic blades for quiet, trouble-free service.
• Service: Easy access for routine maintenance

Ways to save money on your air conditioning bills

Fellow blogger, Birney Summers, put up a post recently on no cost ways to save money on your air conditioning bills. As the weather gets warmer this is the time to recap ways to use your cooling equipment more efficiently and stop wasting hard earned dollars.

Read Birney's full post here ...

But the salient points are these:

Thermostat Use
-Set your thermostat at a higher temperature - try 78 F.
-Don't try setting it cooler to cool the house faster. Like an elevator, it will get there when it gets there no matter how many times you press the button.
-With heat pumps avoid changing the temp by more than 3 degrees.

Keeping the Heat Out
-Turn off unnecessary lights and use energy-efficient lights.
-Draw draperies, blinds, and shades indoors to keep out sunlight.

Natural Ventilation
-When possible, use fans to keep cool instead of an air conditioner.  Fans consume only a small fraction of the energy of an air conditioner. 
-Set the direction of ceiling fans so that they create a downdraft.
-If you plan to leave for a few minutes or more, turn the ceiling fans off.

“Do It Yourself” Maintenance
-Clean or replace filters regularly on air conditioners; keep outside units free from leaves or debris that may clog vents.
-Clean the outside condenser coils of your heat pump or central air conditioner. It is OK to hose off the outdoor part of your air conditioner or heat pump, even while it is running.

Operating Your Air Conditioner
-Set the fan speed of your air conditioner on high, except in very humid weather.  When it's humid, set the speed on low.
-Turn off your air conditioner when you leave home for an hour or longer. Leave your heat pump running unless you will be gone for more than a day.

I'd add to the last points that here in the South you ought not turn your air conditioner completely off when you're away. That could allow moisture to build up indoors and give mold a foot hold. Since the health hazards of mold outweigh the possible savings, I'd personally set my thermostat at around 82 when out of the house for a few days.

Progress Energy announces new incentives for energy efficiency

If you live, or plan to build, in the Progress Energy service area you could benefit from a range of of financial incentives they are now offering to customers who spend money to make their homes more energy efficient.

The NC Utilities Commission approved the programs last week which will go into effect from July 1st.

With the program Progress will pay customers:

• A $180 rebate for testing and repairing leaky air ducts. An additional $120 will be made available for homeowners with dual zone systems who test and repair ducts on the second system.
• A $375 rebate against the cost of insulation.
• Up to $450 toward window replacement, at $30 per window, provided the windows meet their efficiency standards.
• A $300 rebate for installing a central cooling system with an efficiency rating of
• SEER 15 or higher.
• $45 to offset the cost of an annual tuneup and condenser coil cleaning. The company
• will pay $100 for a higher level tuneup that also corrects refrigerant charge and
• adjusts air flow.
• $300 for a geothermal heat pump.

The incentives will be available to owners of single-family, multi-family and manufactured homes. People who live in a rented home can participate with the permission of their landlord.

Customers may also combine the Progress Energy incentives with tax credits offered by the state and federal governments.

Progress Energy believes that customers could reduce their electricity costs by 15 percent by adopting several qualifying measures.

The $20 million program will be subsidized by Progress Energy's customers through increases to their electricity bills. It expects to add about 25 cents a month to a typical household bill, but that figure will likely increase as Progress is expected to introduce further customer incentives over time. 

To qualify for the money, the customer must use a technician from a list approved by the company. Progress has not yet issued that list. Progress will post up-dates on its Website.

5 Steps to Building Affordable Green Homes

FirstCoast Homes, in Charleston, SC, is one company offering green homes at about the same price as conventional homes. Their Energy Star-rated homes cost only $1000 more per house to build than their previous methods and deliver 20% to 30% more energy efficiency. 

FirstCoast builds primarily starter homes ranging from $129,000 to $209,000 in price. And since 2008 they have built only Energy Star-qualified homes. They now build every home with effective insulation, low-E windows, sealed ducts, 14-SEER heat pumps, and Energy Star-rated Whirlpool appliances.

There are five strategies that FirstCoast follows to deliver Energy Star rated homes at reasonable prices:

1. Back to Basics
Rather than rely on new technologies or products FirstCoast uses typical building methods and improves upon them. They focus on proper installation and third-party evaluation of many of the systems in the house.

2. The Great Seal
One of the most important parts of an efficient home is the tightness of the building envelope. FirstCoast relies on Home Energy Solutions of Charleston to perform methodical sealing of the shell with a combination of foam sealing and caulking throughout the building envelope.  Foam is used to seal the wire and plumbing penetrations through the OSB sheathing, caulk at the base plate and corners, and low-expansion foam around the doors and the windows. This sealing package reduces the potential air infiltration to the home by about 30%.

3. Proper Insulation Installation
By doing a good job of sealing, they avoid the added cost of spray foam insulation and can use cheaper fiberglass, but they stress proper installation.

4. Strategic Cost Savings
FirstCoast realizes savings from strategic moves. The company upgraded its windows to low-E high-performance units, but it reduced the number of windows it uses, which reduces costs. The improved sealing, insulation and windows allow the company to reduce the air conditioning needs by one ton. This saves between $400 and $800 per house.

5. Look for Back-End Deals
Regional programs may also help defray the added costs of shifting to Energy Star building practices and FirstCoast recommends builders connect with local power companies for rebate programs and other benefits. Quite a few of their homes are in electric co-ops which often help off-set the costs if a builder follows their prescriptive requirements.

Source: Builder Online

Most hotels have potential to benefit from solar thermal

A recent article in GreenerBuildings.com explores the growing potential for hotels and resorts to save by installing solar thermal solutions. The Proximity Hotel, in Greensboro NC, which I've written about more than once, is heavily featured. Its 100-panel installation covers 4,000 square feet on the LEED Platinum building delivering about 5,000 gallons of hot water each day. This is saving the hotel about $16,000 per year , according to Dennis Quaintance, of Quaintance-Weaver, the company that owns the property.

The company expects to recover its investment in the system within five years. When you total up energy savings, renewable energy credits of $20,000 a year, a 30 percent federal tax credit, 35 percent state tax credit, and accelerated depreciation it's a rapid return on investment. The solar hot water heating system is backed up by a natural gas system, but has been meeting 60 percent of the hotel’s domestic hot water needs.

An even larger system has been installed on the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa. This one goes to 166-panels heating 100,000 gallons of water each day. The installers estimate the hotel's owners should get a return on their $550,000 investment in less than three years. In this case, Arizona Public Service is offsetting 60% of the cost through its purchase of RECs.  The hotel owners are now planning a possible additional 212 panels, which would make it the largest solar thermal installation on any hotel in the United States.  The heated water from phase two will be used for the resort’s restaurants, laundry and pool. Because so much water is used for these, payback time on phase two will be just six months

Hotels are clearly catching on to the sizeable savings they can gain from solar hot water implentations. And it seems to work in almost every part of the country.

EcoDrain cuts down hot water use in showers

In a recent post on inhabitat I came across a brilliant concept that recaptures the heat from your shower water as it runs down the drain. That heat is then recirculated back to the shower mixing valve, thus cutting down your use of hot water from your water heater. Just plain clever. I'm wondering how feasible it is on a retrofit though. More likely it's a feature for new construction.

See the full story on inhabitat here.

Toy helps home energy audits

So what's the "Wizard Stick", a child's toy, doing on a site about high performance building?

I have Bill Klotz of EcoAnthracite to thank for this, and I hope he won't mind me giving away this little secret. Anyone doing home energy audits needs to check the seals around doors and windows with a smoke making machine or a wisp of tissue. This helps you identify areas that need attention, weather stripping or sealing. Professional machines cost around $100 or more in most places. This Wizard Stick, on the other hand, costs a mere $16.95 on Amazon, and does the same job.

Even if you're not a professional energy auditor, like Bill , you can easily afford this little gizmo to keep a check on how well sealed your house is, or a neighbor's or a friend's house.

I've also added it to my A-Store for convenience.

Move your furniture to save energy

Energy Boomer, a site I like to keep an eye on, just ran an interesting post. "Save Energy by Moving Your Furniture". Click the link for the full story.  The basic points are:

• Use bookshelves to add insulation to exterior walls.
• Place seating away from drafts but near enough to windows to gain light.
• Keep air ducts and return vents clear of obstruction
• Use wall art, like quilts, to add insulation to walls

Proximity Hotel in Greensboro: a LEED Platinum

The Proximity Hotel in Greensboro is an inspired and inspiring building. They earned a LEED Platinum rating, and is the only hotel to hold a Platinum level so far. I came across this video from National Geographic Intelligent Traveler, I couldn't resist posting it.

The Proximity uses 36.5% less energy than conventional hotels. They then supply 60% of their hot water through solar panels. And they have the first Regenerative Drive Otis elevator in North America. The list of green and sustainable features is simply awesome. Which is what you'd expect from a Gold or Platinum rated building. Check out their site here for the full list of sustainable and green features of the build.

ScanGauge II acts like a kill-a-watt for cars

It's a bit like a "kill-a-watt" for cars. The ScanGauge II shows you your MPG in real-time helping you learn how to drive more efficiently and improve your gas mileage and reduce costs.

The ScanGauge II plugs into most cars and provides real-time data directly from your car's engine, such as:

• Fuel Economy (MPG)
• Battery Voltage
• Coolant Temperature
• Intake Air Temperature
• Engine Speed (RPM)

It's a programmable 3-in-1 automotive trip computer, diagnostic scan tool, and up to 37 digital gauges in one.  It works on all 1996 or newer OBDII cars, including gas, diesel, propane and hybrid vehicles (though my Prius already has this information on display). It's easy to install without tools and since it's small it fits nearly anywhere.

Sep 18th event: Geothermal in Wilmington

Sapona Green Building Center is hosting a free evening event about Geothermal energy from 5pm-6pm on Thursday September 18th. The event will be at their show room in Anderson Sq, 4113 oleander dr. Wilmington, NC.

Speaking will be Paul and Bryan Donaldson representing WaterFurnace, makers of some of the most efficient, energy-saving heat pumps available.

Wherever you live, whatever time of year the temperature below ground stays fairly consistent all year. Geothermal systems tap into the free energy of the differential between air and ground temperature using an earth loop (pictured).

Geothermal systems use the earth loop to extract heat from the ground. As the system pulls heat from the loop it distributes it through a conventional duct system as warm air or it can be used for a radiant floor system or domestic hot water heating.

In its cooling mode, a geothermal system reverses the process extracting heat from the building and back into the earth loop, or used to preheat water in your hot water tank.

LED lights are here and practical

We've been hearing for a couple years that LEDs would someday replace incandescent and fluorescent lights with their dramatically lower energy needs and longer lifespan. That day is here. Already you can get light fixtures for all the typical domestic needs including candlabra and globe lights, even dimmable light and rope lights.

And a wide range of commercial requirements are catered to. In fact it's the commercial side where the greatest uptake is being seen. Partly that's because they can see the economic sense of spending more today to save big over several years. Plus, commercial clients see the savings in the longer bulb lifespans.

The City of Ann Arbor MI has begun trying out LED street lights. Downtown globe lights with LED lights have received positive feedback from citizens. Now the city hopes to cut its $1.39 million street lighting budget in half by switching to LEDs. And that's just the energy savings, not the maintenance crew savings, which should be substantial and allow crews to focus on more important projects.

Another benefit of LED lighting for commercial applications is the range of colors that can be achieved though software controls. The managers of the Empire State Building are considering a proposal to light the tower with LEDs now for that reason. It will enable them to change the colors remotely, more easily, and they'll have a palette of millions of colors to work with.

A further example of what can be created with LEDs is a Hybrid solar street light we now offer. It comes with a solar PV collector and batteries to store daylight energy in the day. Plus is can be fitted with 120 volt power that it will automatically switch over to if the battery runs down.

We now carry a full range of retrofit bulbs for medium bases including high lumen dimmable bulbs and a variety of floods as well as T8 strip lights to replace fluorescent tubes. We've even got LED pool lights and rope lights for architectural accents. All use minimal energy, produce negligible heat and offer excellent light quality.

Key behaviors to maintaining a green and healthy home

Most people don't give much thought to how their behavior can impact the sustainability, health or energy efficiency of their homes. I was speaking with someone last night who I know to be a pretty green minded person and he was a bit surprised by some of the ideas I'm going to highlight here.  Granted he's not a building scientist or a builder but it showed me that it's time to shine a light on this subject.

There are two inter-related issues, health and energy efficiency. And much of it has to do with water or moisture - which is the number one energy of your home.

Health-wise the key points are:
1. Use extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms. Particularly here in the South, these fans are there to remove moisture from the home - not just smells. Taking a shower? Use the fan! Boiling water? Use the fan! Humidity, particularly in the warm months, can lead to mold and mildew which is a serious health hazard. And it will increase the load on your air conditioner, so this is also an energy issue.
2. Be sure to get rid of any moisture quickly. This includes practices like wiping up spills immediately, drying yourself in the bath or shower to keep the water where it can run down a drain and using a squeegee to get water droplets off of shower walls and into the tub where they can run down the drain.

3. Maintain your HVAC return filters. Clean or replace them regularly to ensure you are breathing clean air in the home.

4. Remove your shoes in the house. This simple practice can really reduce the amount of dirt and dust in your home. This will not only keep your home cleaner for longer but is altogether healthier.

Energy-wise the key points are:
1. Maintain your HVAC return filters. Clean or replace them regularly to ensure the unit gets free-flowing air and doesn't have to struggle to intake air which will increase the load on your unit.

2. Maintain the HVAC units twice yearly to ensure they are performing optimally. This also helps avert breakdowns during peak heating or cooling seasons which will be extra inconvenient.

3. Turn off lights and ceiling fans when not in the room. They use energy and output heat which can add to the cooling load in Summer. Studies have shown that the energy used by the fan plus the energy needed to get rid of its heat is greater than the energy saved through circulating air. Enjoy its cool breeze when in the room, but turn it off if you leave.

4. Unplug external power supplies (wall-warts) as much as possible. These have been estimated to add about 10% extra electricity load to the typical home.

5. If you have a heat pump take care to avoid sharp temperature increases in Winter. Stick to 3 degrees or less when you change the temperature. Greater increases will trigger an electric heating strip in most units that uses markedly more energy.

Progress Energy Seeks to Offer Rebates for Solar Hot Water

Progress Energy announced three new initiatives aimed at the construction industry.

Home Advantage, would pay builders and developers to build Energy Star qualified homes. The program would pay builders for installing efficiency equipment, and it includes a rebate of $1,000 for installing solar water-heating in new homes. Progress already has similar initiatives active in Florida.

Progress' other two initiatives are for commercial builders. They will provide "custom financial incentives" to help commercial builders recoup the costs of energy-efficiency measures they take. And they will pay customers to retrofit existing facilities for energy efficiency.

Progress Energy says its overall goal is to double the energy savings it gets through efficiency programs.

Earlier this week, Progress announced that it would upgrade its distribution lines and build in a capability to remotely control customer air conditioners during peak energy use times.

The plans must still be approved by the NC Utilities Commission.

Vacuum glass at R12+

According to Inhabitat,  Guardian Industries have unveiled a new super insulated vacuum glass that offers an insulation rating of R12-R13.

It uses the same principle as a vacuum thermos bottle to achieve this incredible R value.

The creators, Guardian Industries, hope to have these in the market next year. So I won't start warming up the car to get mine yet but I'm intrigued at the radical shift in energy efficiency this could mean for buildings everywhere.

See the full story on Inhabitat.

Add a tank to a tankless hot water heater?

It may not seem sensible at first but adding a small tank to a tankless hot water heater can be a smart thing to do. Why? There are two key problems that can arise with tankless, or on-demand, hot water heaters. They are a cold water surprise when two showers are taken a few minutes apart, and a loss of pressure when two or more people are using hot water.

Basically, the problem occurs with after one person has showered the water in the pipes should still be hot for a while, assuming they're well insulated. But since the heater itself is not the water there will cool quickly. Once a second person starts to shower that cold water is moving down the pipes before the heater has kicked in resulting in a sandwich of cold water in the pipes that will hit the shower shortly.  By adding a ten-gallon heated tank to the system, the cold water surprise can be totally eliminated. The cold sandwich is tempered in the tank before it moves on up the pipes.

The loss of pressure is another problem that requires the addition of a small pump to resolve. For the whole story see Michael Chandler's article in Fine Home Builder magazine.