Gary Beck On Residential Low Energy Design March 2009 Houston Texas and Mobile Alabama

Residential
Low Energy Design

Gary Beck

Gary Beck, Eco-Holdings

INTRODUCTIONS
Eco-Holdings LLC Houston, Texas
Register Texas Engineering Firm

Gary Beck, P.E., SECB, LEED AP
BS Civil Engineering, Duke (1976)
• Texas Professional Engineer (1981)
• Machinery
• Power Generation, Energy , Oil & Gas
• Manufacturing
• Composites, Building Products
• Engineering
• Design, Inspection, Green Consulting
• Websites: EcoEgr.com
• TexasEngineer.com, TexasWindstorm.com

© Eco-Holdings 2/4/09

We are all crash
test dummies


Real Crash Test Dummies Push the Envelope!


TODAY’S AGENDA

• Design Choices for Low Energy
• Building Components & Methods
• When the HVAC Quits


1.Design Choices
for Low Energy


1. Design Choices for Low Energy
A Crash Course on Energy
(just 3 slides)

The Atomic Energy
Commission’ s
Latest Symbol


Energy is Important
“Humanity’s Top Ten Problems for the next 50 years”

1. ENERGY
2. WATER
3. FOOD
4. ENVIRONMENT
5. POVERTY
6. TERRORISM & WAR
2003 6 Billion People
7. DISEASE
2050 10 Billion People
8. EDUCATION
9. DEMOCRACY
10. POPULATION

Dr. R. E. Smalley, (1943-2005) 1996 Nobel Prize Winner
Slide from 2005 Energy Presentation - Rice University
Gary Beck, P.E., SECB, LEED AP © Eco-Holdings 2/4/09

Energy is a Property
It can’t be created or destroyed
It is either making things
happen NOW Kinetic
or Potential
It can make things
happen LATER
“YinYang” Ming Dynasty 1368
Yin in its highest form is freezing
Yang in its highest form is boiling


A Crash Course on Efficiency
(just 3 more slides)

η
Potential Kinetic
=
x
*
Energy Energy

The Ability How How Much
x =
to Do Well Its Actually
Something Done Gets Done
The Greek Symbol
‘Eta’ is used to
represent Efficiency

* A loose interpretation

Did I loose you? Try this…

Your
Your Your
x =
Federal
Gross Cash
Government

η
Salary Money

Low Efficiency is Rarely of Value


Design Efficiency = Better Living

Your Yours Your
x =
Cash Designer’s Quality of
Money Skill Life

η
x
$ =
Design Living


Codes, Planning
η
Officials, HOAs
η Realtors &

η
Architects Financiers
“Green”
Home Builders &
“η” Suppliers
η
Engineers
Designers

BIG DESIGN IMPACT


Low Energy
Home building is
not rocket science

Tomorrow
VERY
GREEN
Today, rapidly 100,000 BC
Going GREEN VERY
GREEN
An easy
Band-Wagon
1950 to
to jump on
2000
WELL… 500 AD
VERY
1700 to GREEN
1940
VERY
GREEN


First steps July 2008 Houston Ad –
18 mpg city and 19 mpg highway.
are easy Was it 12 mpg before?


EPA to soon fine McMansion & SUV owners ?
2007: Supreme Court ruled government could
use 1970 Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse
gases as a pollutant.
Saved in 2008: EPA reversed earlier conclusions –
‘no finding on whether global warming poses a threat to
peoples health of welfare.’
Clean Air Act ‘ill-suited” and “the wrong tool for the job”
for global warming
July 2008 AP Article

Clinton: “it’s the economy, stupidquot;
Bush: “we are addicted to oil.”
Obama: Green Jobs + $20B for
Green Construction and Energy
Conservation + $13B to repair Public
Housing


To have an effect,
we…ourselves…
“need to change
as dramatically as
we are changing
our light bulbs”.
Bill McKibben
2006 National Geographic Article A Deeper Shade of Green


Design Vs Technology

New light bulbs?
Big wow,…
it only took
97 years


Why Light Bulbs Are Bad

Things we do know-

The more I know, the more I know I don’t know.


CFL LED
Incandescent
Life Span (in hours) 1,500 10,000 60,000
Watts 60 14 6
Cost $1.345 $2.98 $39.95
KWh of electricty used over 60k hours 3,600 840 360
Electricity Cost (@ $0.15 per KWh) $540.00 $126.00 $54.00
Bulbs needed for 60k hours of usage 40 6 1
Equivalent 60k hour bulb expense $53.80 $17.88 $39.95
Total 60,000 Hour Lighting Spend $593.80 $143.88 $93.95

Calculate Your Energy Savings

# of Light Bulbs 30 30 30
Your estimated daily usage (hours) 5 5 5
Days in month 30 30 30
Household savings over 60,000 hours (energy + replacement)
Cost - 60,000 hrs (kW+replacement) $17,814.00 $4,316.40 $2,818.50
Savings by switching from Incandescent $0.00 $13,497.60 $14,995.50
Monthly household energy savings
KWh used per month 270 63 27

Electricity ($0.15 /KWh) $40.50 $9.45 $4.05
Savings by switching from Incandescent $0.00 $31.05 $36.45
Yearly household energy savings
KWh used per year 3,285 767 329
Electricity Cost (@ $0.15 per KWh) $492.75 $114.98 $49.28

Annual Savings $0.00 $377.78 $443.48

Those numbers look good, but <1%* of
NA Carbon impact on Global Warming
CFL USA POTENTIAL IMPACT
100% = All NA Consumed Energy
100% = NA Carbon Global Warming
100% x 25% for “Households” = 25%
25% x 60% as Electricity = 15%
15 % x 25% for Lighting = 3.75%
3.75% x 40% as Incandescent* = 1.5%
<1%
1.5% - ‘Day Lighting’ design trend =

* Balance is already LFL or CFL per 2005
International Energy Agency study

…plus the things we don’t consider *

Cost of 5 milligrams of
mercury?
Add $ for Fixture/Switch
replacement?
Add $ for recycle ($3 to $5?)

* LED Bulbs coming down in cost and
Super-efficient incandescent bulbs
are under development (per GE).

Design VS Technology

Does Day-lighting make more sense?

Consider light
access tubes
for small areas

Images from
Solatube.com


Too Many Low Energy Details!

COMPONENTS
DESIGN FEATURES

•SITE
•ENERGY
•SIZE •FOUNDATION
•WATER
•USE •FRAME
•LIGHTING
•ROOF
•VENTILATION
•ARCH.
DESIGN •FINISHES


Top 2 ?


#1 is
Home Size

1950
The average
1970
US Home is
now about
1990
2500 sq. ft.*

2004

*NHBA: 2004-2350 sf, 2005-2400 sf …


• But # of people in homes < since 1950.
• Houses now >> 2X bigger than in 1950
• Big houses use more Energy
(Remember?... Humanity’s #1 Problem
for the next 50 years is Energy)


2500 sf is NOT a McMansion!!!

Nor is it a
McShack

Just how many < 2500 sf
homes have you designed or
built recently ?


Breaking News … (duhh…)

Energy use is less
for smaller homes
(built with the same system)

5000 sf

<
2500 sf
EE
EE
EE = Embodied Energy of a Building System (AWF, SIP SCIP, ICF, AAC)
LCA = Life Cycle Assessment (cycle/years) is the same for the same building system


The ‘problem’ remains:
Architects, Engineers,
Builders, Suppliers,
Realtors, and Mortgage
companies are paid by
5000 sf
$/sf @ $150/sf

$$
2500 sf =

<
@ $150/sf
=$


Big
Idea…

Sell ‘gsf’ (green square feet)
$/gsf > $/sf
4000 ‘gsf’ is > 5000 sf
Food
Outdoor 500 sf
Garden
Dining

250 sf (5000 sf of conditioned
Hobby
2500 sf and ‘out of touch’ space)
(conditioned)
Exercise
250 sf

500 sf Porch


Sell ‘gsf’ (green square feet)

$$~$$ but < Energy

4000 gsf
5000 sf
@ $150/sf +
@ $150/sf
Savings
=$$
=$$


#2 is
Energy
U$age

2001 Avg Annual Home Energy $1,600
2006 Avg Annual Home Energy $1,900
2010 Avg Annual Home Energy $2,500?
Green Homes Save 30% to 50%

30% can easily equal…


$100,000
$80/MONTH
SAVED IN
ENERGY
BILLS
INVESTED
AT 7% FOR
30 YRS


$300,000

$80/MONTH
$80/MONTH $80/MONTH
$80/MONTH
$80/MONTH $80/MONTH
SAVED IN
SAVED BY SAVED BY
SAVED IN
SAVED BY SAVED BY
ENERGY
EFFICIENT SOLAR
ENERGY
EFFICIENT SOLAR
(SUPER
SPACE HW & PV
(SUPER
SPACE HW & PV
INSULATED)
DESIGN SYSTEM
INSULATED)
DESIGN SYSTEM

Orienting for Solar Energy is Simple
(If You Do Not Have Trees!)
Winter Solar Heat + Summer Solar Power


Plan for Solar Energy, for now
or for the future*

10 Watt/sf =3 kW system?
(10W/sf x 30’ x 10’ = 3000W)
Zero, None,
Nada, Not
Possible.

16 Panels !

*or pay twice later?


Solar Energy Performance and Costing
is simple due to online tools

A 3000 Watt System @30°S = 3,976 kWh/year
System Cost $24,000
- Incentives ($7,200)
NET COST $16,800
http://www.kyocerasolar.com/products/pv_calculator.html
http://sharpusa.cleanpowerestimator.com/default.aspx
http://www.findsolar.com/index.php?page=rightforme


Combine Solar w/Wind for Max. Incentive $
3 kW PV (4,000 kWh/yr)
System Cost $8/W = $24K
+
- 30% Incentive = ($7.2K)
Net Solar PV Cost = $16.8K

10 kW Wind (6,000 kWh/yr)
System Cost $5K/kW = $50K
- $1K/kW (up to $4K) = ($4K)
Net Wind Gen Cost = $46K
Total Net Cost = $62.8K

If Combined $24K+$50K = $74K
- 30% Incentive = ($22K)
Total Net Cost = $51.8K
for Avg. Home’s 10,000 kWh/yr

1. Design Choices for Low Energy

1. Smaller HVAC space.
2. Flexible use designs -
outdoor kitchen, hobby,
exercise, work-at-home.
3. Solar, Wind, Rainwater?

At what point does higher
satisfaction & low operating
cost justify a higher fee?


2. Building
Components
and Methods


2. Building Components & Methods
The Roof
• Has a huge impact on energy performance
• Can produce energy and collect water
• Use SIPs for simple strong shapes


The Attic
• Dusty area for purlins, braces, & hot HVAC ductwork?
• Or a cool semi-conditioned sealed attic space?
• Or free conditioned living space? 'free' living space
Attics can be
30% of a house's
volume.

This plan uses
SIPs to reclaim
an extra 250 sf
of conditioned
space.


Roof & Attic ‘System’

My Attic

SIP Attic


Roof & Attic ‘System’
Most attics are like a
1970’s engine
compartment – a
confused and dusty mess

With 3D design
it becomes a
high value
performance
space

Good MEP Design is coordinated…
not that that is ever needed
Electrical
Ground

Rebar

24” x 18” Service Access

(Latest house in my neighborhood)


Ward Off Vampires with good MEP design

Image from
March 2009
National
Geographic

Why not put these on their own circuit?

Exterior Walls
A Growing Number of Choices

Wood: Traditional & Advanced Framing

SIP: Structural Insulated Panel

Masonry: CMU, ICF (Insulated Concrete
Forms), AAC (Aerated Concrete)

Metal: Cold Formed Steel with EPS


Advanced Wood Framing
A definition: Techniques that use less lumber,
reduce material and resource cost, and
increase insulation.
Common AWF items
• Modular design uses 2’ wall increments
• ‘California’ corner framing
• headers sized for loads (vs. prescriptive sizing)
• 2x6 @24”o.c. (versus prescriptive)
2000 & 2003 IRC allow advanced framing

‘Advanced Wood Framing’ www.PathNet.org

• AWF saves 19%
Wood Volume
• Headers are
Sized Saves
waste &
increases to R-9.
Common
‘California’ corner saves 1 stud
Header of (2)2X
per corner (not OK everywhere)
+ ½” plywood is Saves lumber costs, provides more
< R-2 insulation behind the wall.

‘Advanced Wood Framing’ www.PathNet.org


• 2x6@24 is stronger than 2x4@16

2x4@16”
2x6@24”
>
• 2x6@24”section area per lf is
higher than 2x4@16” (4.16 vs. *(Moment of Inertia ‘I’ for
3.93 sq. in.) rectangle is I=Width*H^3/12;
H for 2x6 is 5.5”, 3.5” for 2x4.
• 2x6@24” Bending Stress
Cubed & adjusted per lf of
Md/2(I*) higher than 2x4@16” wall, the H^3 value for
2x6@24” is still 2.5 times that
• Nails for 24”o.c. VS 16”o.c. is of 2x4@16” Note: This is not
reduced by 1/3 but can be a comprehensive ‘strength’
comparison!)
adjusted by tighter nailing.


Interior Walls

Useful Volume for MEP Systems
(Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing )

Mechanical: Traditional Duct & Chases or
Hi-Velocity HVAC (4” dia. with insulation)

Electrical: Traditional + Wire Track Types

Plumbing: Traditional, PEX & fire sprinklers


MEP Within Walls

Mechanical: Hi-Velocity HVAC provides
efficiency + new duct work routing options

4”o.d.
2”i.d.


MEP Within Walls
Mechanical: Hi-Velocity HVAC provides
efficiency + new duct work routing options


MEP Within Walls

Electrical: Cable Tray/Raceway approach
• Eliminates or limits insulation penetrations
• Easy as ‘Custom Builder’ 1x10 Baseboard
• Allows flexibility and easier changes
• OEMs now offer wood finishes and colors

Wiremold.com


MEP Within Walls

Plumbing: PEX?
• Known problems?
•Brass Manifold?
• More plumbing in
interior walls, limiting
insulation penetrations
• Fire sprinkler lines
• Easier repairs/ changes
• ‘Live’ water re-routing?


The Floor as a System

Slab On Grade:
• Thermally coupled to 70°F
soil – use it?
• If R.H. controlled 50%, the
surface remains cool & dry
• UFAD (Under Floor Air
Delivery) of 68F air (vs. 58F)
saves Air Conditioning BTUs
• Known UFAD Problems?


Slab with UFAD:
•Cast UFAD ducts
into the slab to save
energy?
• UFAD air is 8 to 10°
cooler than ceiling
delivery air
• Air in contact with
concrete slab uses
http://www.cbe.berkeley.edu
thermal mass as
energy reservoir.



Crawl Space: Many schools of thought
• Vent or Conditioned No Vent?
• Frame and Insulate, or SIP?

SIP subfloor
combines
structure
and
insulation


Crawl Space: Conditioned No Vent

•Additional cost
& multiple steps
•HVAC must
control humidity
& temperature
• Need detailed
drainage plan

Specifications at www.crawlspaces.org


Crawl Space:

http://www.buildingscience.com


Crawl Space:

“Wrapping the floor framing in foam insulation lowers the
equilibrium moisture content of the wood. Warm wood is dry
wood. Warm wood is happy wood.” – Building Science Oct 2008
http://www.buildingscience.com


Crawl Space:

SIPs do this well


Insulation Systems
Insulation Systems Insulated Components

FIBERS SITE FRAMED:
Fiberglass Wood Framed
Cellulose Systems
Cotton
PANELS:
FOAMS SIP
Polystyrene
Isocyranate SITE FORMED
Closed Cell Urethane SCIP
Open Cell Urethanes ICF

BARRIER FOILS BLOCKS:
Tech-Shield CMU
Radiant Foils AAC


Insulation Systems

ACH (Air Changes per Hour)
Measurement of air infiltration compared
to total volume of air in a home per hour.

Older poorly sealed homes ~ 2.5 ACH
Typical wood frame home ~ 1.75 ACH
Tightly constructed ~ 0.35 ACH
Extreme Tightly constructed ~ 0.1 ACH


Insulation Systems

AWF Energy Performance
2x4 AWF: R-15 is possible
2x6 AWF : R-21 Hi-Density 5½” Batts*
2x6 AWF : R-24A Hi-Dens. 5½” Batts*
+1”R5 Polystyrene Panel
2x6 AWF: R-20 Spray Foam (3.6/in.)**
R-19 Sp. Cellulose(3.5/in.)

* Theoretical Value - Batts leak air & Moisture
** Spray foam w/o vapor barrier can reach
1.2 ACH @-50 Pa. depressurization =~ 0.1 ACH


AWF Know Negative Issues
• New way to frame
• Field Quality Sensitive
• Wood framing quality
varies by builder.
• Fast construction makes it
difficult to verify quality


AWF Future? “A No-Brainer ”

• Green Building using Trees is a ‘no brainer”
• Is ‘biologically advantaged’ (grows on
trees).
• The Wood Products industry ‘gets it” (is
planting more than it uses, has improved
adhesives, etc.)
• No system is more design flexible
• More engineered products coming
(engineered studs, snap-in and membrane
insulation systems

Structural Insulation Systems
I should’ve
made him take
my course
again

SIP
Structural
Insulated
Panel

• Invented by Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) in
Madison, Wisconsin in the 1930’s.
• Alden Dow, a Frank Lloyd Wright student, built the first
Styrofoam houses in Michigan in 1951.

SIPs,…
better than
diamonds?

Image from March 2009 National Geographic



SIP
oof
• Like an Oreo Cookie – 2 pcf R
SIP
EPS inside, OSB outside
• Jumbo OSB = 8’ x 24’ SIP

SIP Walls
• Can be used for walls, roofs,
cantilevers, and floors.
• SIP industry grew in the 90’s
• Structural Insulated Panel
Association (SIPA; sips.org)
was formed in 1990
SIP Floors!


SIP
• Wood basis + Low energy SIP Environmental Benefits
consumption reduces Carbon
footprint
• Fast growth wood does not
deplete old-growth trees
• Up to 70% less lumber used.
• Factory precuts reduces
labor, travel, & fuel usage
• OSB laminated with water
based adhesives that are
water proof when cured.


SIP
• SIPs easily
outperform framed
walls in earthquakes
and high winds -
even hurricane
forces.
Curved SIPs are naturally stronger but also
• Roofing is more likely much harder to make since top & bottom radii
to remain attached are different. They only can be pressed one at
(SIP roof panels resist a time. No known US suppliers or
manufacturers offer these as standard – yet.
edge delamination
(photo from sips.uk.com)
and do not buckle.)



SIP Energy Performance

2x6 SIP: R-25 to R-22
2x8 SIP: R-29

SIP homes regularly reach 0.5 ACH




SCIP
Structural Concrete Insulated Panel
In a perfect world, all dwellings would be built from
internally insulated monolithic masonry panel
systems. There is just one minor problem...

…this guy makes
much more money
building swimming
pools and tunnels



ICF
Inventing ICFs
would have been
• Insulated Concrete Forms a no-brainer,… if
• Many OEM block systems I just had
• ICF listed by the IRC in 2003 invented EPS
first
Stiffeners hold
rebar and
shape

s
rm
o y
S F avit
EP l l C
Wa


ICF Know Negative Issues

• Must be securely braced
and tightly aligned
• Interior and exterior
cladding is still required
• No pitched roof system
• Concrete and steel price
sensitive
• “Inverted Oreo” Thermal ICF is strong – maybe
mass is ‘backwards’ even over-designed?



AAC: Autoclave Another
Aerated Concrete smart idea
from the 20’s
• AAC was invented in
Sweden in 1920, and
commercialized in 1940 by
Josef Hebel
• The ‘AAC’ name is used for
the class of aerated
monolithic concrete building
systems – even those that
are not autoclave produced.


AAC: Autoclave Aerated Concrete

• AAC Blocks are stacked like
CMUs.
• Most AAC blocks use a thinset
mortar adhesive
• Some are dry stacked. Courtesy of Flexcrete

• All use rebar is placed at key
points.
• Standard ACI Masonry
construction rules apply

Courtesy of Liteblock


AAC Know Negative Issues

• Lack of experienced AAC
masons mean on the job
training is common
• Electricians, Plumbers, and
HVAC trades less familiar.
• Blueprints should include all
structural detailing
• Special fasteners needed

AAC Recess Routing of plumbing


Insulated Masonry (SCIP, ICF, AAC)

SCIP/ICF/AAC Energy Performance

Must Use ‘Equivalent’ R Value

Expect SCIP/ICF to reach 0.35 to 0.1 ACH
Expect AAC to also reach 0.50 to 0.2 ACH



AWF SIP SCIP ICF AAC
MY SCORECARD
Industry Experience
2 2 1 2 2
(5 High, 1 Low)
Energy Performance
3 4 5 5 5
(to Code=1, Best=5)
Relative Strength
3 4 5 5 4
(5 High, 1 Low)
Design Flexibility
5 3 3 4 5
(5 High, 1 Low)
Direct Labor Cost
4 5 1 3 4
(5 Low, 1 High)
MEP & Finish Cost
5 3 2 2 3
(5 Low, 1 High)
Speed of Construction
4 5 2 3 3
(5 High, 1 Low)
Relative Material Cost
5 3 5 2 2
(5 Low, 1 High)

31 29 24 26 28
TOTAL

Ventilation now critical

Older homes & typical wood frame homes with
2.5 to 1.75 ACH ‘breath’ enough to vent
humidity, gases/vapors, molds/pollens.

Wood-Icynene, SIP/ICF/AAC are 0.1 to 0.5 ACH
Today’s air tight homes ‘breath’ only 5% to 10%
as much as older homes.

Ventilation becomes critical for tight homes



Moisture in bathrooms, kitchens,
laundries no longer flows to the outside.

•Cooking for 4 adds 4.5 lbs/day
•A shower adds 0.5lbs/day
•Humans add 6 to 8 lbs/day
•Dish washing 1.2 lbs/day

Its easy to build up excessive moisture
levels (and that’s just water vapor)


Besides that clammy feel, and mold
growth potential, it wastes energy*

Add 15 min timer ventilation fans to
every shower, bathroom, & kitchen.

Or install humidity controlled ventilation

* One lb water takes 970 BTUs to evaporate. To get that 1lb of
water-gas to condense so we can remove it, that same 970
BTUs of energy must be removed by the cold Freon in your
HVAC refrigeration loop, + the energy for multiple fan motors.


15 min timer
+ 250 cfm
ventilation
fan + flap-
vents ~ $150

Broan QTXE110S
Humidity
controlled 110 cfm
ventilation fan +
flap vents ~ $230


3.When the
HVAC Quits


3. When the HVAC Quits
…We’ve learned a hard few lessons

Katrina- 1/2 million refugees

Rita- choked TX highways


Uncertainty is the only certainty

For Houstonians, uncertainty
is currently a hurricane.
We know when they are
coming and where it will
likely flood.
We can plan, and we can
leave. For most, it only gets
drastic if the HVAC quits.
So why not design for it? Predictions? 2005 way under,
2006 way over, 2007 way over…

Big Idea…
Don’t Leave
(unless told to)


Make ‘Shelter-In-Place’ a
residential design requirement


3. When the HVAC Quits

Now that we haven’t left,
and the damn power is out
maybe we should rethink
our HVAC requirements

My HVAC Disclaimer : I am not and HVAC designer, nor a
HERS* rater, and I don’t do Manual-J’s**, but I do know energy.


Before we get too far, here is
how to find HVAC experts online

ASHRAE www.ashrae.org
(American Society of Heating, Refrigerating &
Air-Conditioning Engineers)

HERS ™ www.natresnet.org
(Residential Energy Services Network)

Manual-J ™ www.acca.org and
www.manualj.com
(Air Conditioning Contractors of America)


Remember This?

Outdoor 500 sf
Dining

250 sf (5000 sf of conditioned
Hobby
2500 sf and ‘out of touch’ space)
(conditioned)

500 sf Porch


Your Energy Target ?
Home Performance Classifications

1. “Baseline” - homes to current code

2. “Energy Star®” labeled homes

3. “Guaranteed Performance” homes
*2000 EPA / Advanced Energy Study (Phoenix)


Add Tight and Insulated
R-13/1.75 ACH wood frame VS…

Walls @ R-21 to R-25
(2x6 w/foam or 8”SIP) w/0.5 ACH
+
Roof @ R-25 to R29
(2x8 w/foam or 8”SIP or )
+
HVAC in Conditioned Space

A 4th Classification?
1. (BL) quot;Baselinequot; homes to current code
2. (ES) “Energy Star®quot; labeled homes
3. (GP) quot;Guaranteed Performancequot; homes
*2000 EPA / Advanced Energy Study (Phoenix)

4. (SI) “Super Insulated” homes ?


BL = 4.2 kWh/sf or “4”
ES = 3.5 kWh/sf or “3.5” (BL -16%)
GP = 2.8 kWh/sf or “3” (BL-33%)

SI = 2.1 kWh/sf or “2”
That BL minus 50%!


AVG HOME = 2500 sq.ft.
BL = 4 x 2500 = 10,000 kWh
ES=3.5 x 2500 = 7750 kWh
GP = 3 x 2500 = 7500 kWh

SI = 2 x 2500 = 5000 kWh (BL - 50%)
SI = 2 x 1650 = 3300 kWh (BL - 66%)


4000 gsf (2500 sf conditioned)
At 50% of Baseline Performance

Annualized kWh =
2 kWh/sf x 2500 sf
= 5000 kWh per Year
(Our little 3000W Solar PV made 3976 kWh per year)


An Unrealistic Energy Target ?

HVAC = currently 30% of kWh
Goal for 4000 gsf : 2kWh/sf Home?

5000 kWh/yr x 30% = 1500 kWh/yr
5000 kWh/yr x 50% = 2500 kWh/yr

(Our little 3000W Solar PV made 3976 kWh per year)


Don’t Forget Comfort

What does it take to be
comfortable at home?


30% to 50%
Relative Clean Air
Humidity Exchanges
Low Utility
Bills
Comfort? Low dust, mold,
allergens
Low
Maintenance
65 F to 75 F



In HVAC-Speak its called “Sensible Load”
Sensible Load for cooling refers to the dry
bulb temperature of the building.
Influence Factors: Heat and leakage from
walls, attics, and crawl spaces, windows,
doors, people, appliances, lights, sunlight
heat, interior wall separations.


Tight Walls, attics, and crawl spaces
Efficient lighting
Energy-Star appliances
“Great Design” control of sunlight heat,
interior wall separations in smart places.

Windows & Doors
People Living Inside (=Humidity, a
need for Clean Air, etc.)


Buy the Best Operable Windows
Windows ASHRAE 90.1
U-COG: 0.571 U-Factor at center of glass
SHGC: 0.404 Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
VT: 0.732 Visible Transmittance
SC: 0.43 Shading Coefficient
Climate Pick Windows for Yours
Warmer - Lower SHGC, Low-e coating outside
Cooler - Lower U-factor, Low-e coating inside



People Living Inside (with HVAC)
Target Relative Humidity 45% to 60%

Have HVAC designed for 50% R.H.
R.H. control is temperature independent
Ventilation on timers or -
Ventilation on humidity controllers

Okay, you’ve done great reducing your energy
demand, but the power is out! – now what ?

Remember This?
5000 to 6000 BTU Window AC
Unit (like Frigidaire FAA067P7A or
GE ASM05LK) @ 1000 Watts …
S-I-P Appliances Wattage
Room Air conditioner 1,000
Outdoor Ceiling Fan 120
500 sf
Table Fan 150
Dining
Freezer (stand-alone) 600
Lights CF 25
250 sf Laptop 25
Television 20“ LCD 65
Hobby
2500 sf Total 1920 Watts
Generators
(conditioned) Craftsman 30250 – 2500 Watts
Briggs&Stratton EM7 – 5000 Watts

Intermittent Usage Wattage
Toaster oven 1,225
500 sf Porch Whole house fan 500
Microwave oven 925


And Remember This?

A 3000 Watt System @30°S = 3,976 kWh/year
Solar Energy as Back Up
NET COST $16,800
http://www.kyocerasolar.com/products/pv_calculator.html
http://sharpusa.cleanpowerestimator.com/default.aspx
http://www.findsolar.com/index.php?page=rightforme


For Serious Shelter-In-Place
1. 3-day supply of water/person Additional Items to Consider
2. 1 gallon of water/person/day •Prescription medications/glasses
•Important family documents
3. Food,3-day supply of non-
•Insurance policies
perishable food.
•Identiﬁcation/bank acct records
4. Infant formula/Pet food •Cash or traveler’s checks
5. Battery-powered radio •Sleeping bag or blankets
w/NOAA Weather alert •long sleeved shirt/pants and
6. Flashlight and extra batteries sturdy shoes.
•Chlorine bleach and medicine
7. First aid Whistle
dropper
8. Dust mask
•1 to 9 as disinfectant/ 16 drops
9. Moist towelettes
per gallon for emergency drinking
10. garbage bags •Fire Extinguisher/Matches
11. Wrench or pliers to turn off •Mess kit/paper
utilities cups/plates/utensils
12. Can opener for food •paper towels, Pen & Pencil
•Games, card, puzzles, gameboys
13. Local maps

http://www.ready.gov/america/index.html

Thanks!
I’m
I’m
jealous
jealous
I’m
I’m jealous
jealous
I’m
I love my
jealous
new GSF
home
I’m
I’m jealous
jealous

I’m
jealous

I’m
jealous

Email us at eco@ecoegr.com
or Call ECO at 713-377-4209

Gary Beck On Residential Low Energy Design March 2009 Houston Texas and Mobile Alabama

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Gary Beck On Residential Low Energy Design March 2009 Houston Texas and Mobile Alabama