Energy Savings Add Up

U.S. households produce 21 percent of the country's global warming pollution. That's more pollution than the entire heat-trapping output of the United Kingdom!

The good thing is that energy-conscious families can reduce their emissions by up to two-thirds. If every household in the U.S. made energy-efficient choices, we could save 800 million tons of global warming pollution—more than the heat-trapping emissions from over 100 countries. That would go a long way toward stabilizing our climate. (And if you are building a new home, you have a great opportunity to incorporate energy efficient systems and materials to reduce your carbon footprint.)

New and emerging technologies can also reduce our production of heat-trapping gases. By choosing green power, you can use electricity that produces little or no global warming pollution.

Buying green goes a long way toward cutting heat-trapping emissions because clean energy sources emit little or no carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution—a huge savings to the Earth and a way to slow global warming.

Green power can be slightly higher in price, but the benefits are many. Here are just a few examples.

Using green energy:

• Reduces smog, soot, mercury and acid rain pollution.
  
• Reduces financial risks. Future regulations, caps on greenhouse gases and price fluctuations of fossil fuels could all increase the cost of energy. For example, natural gas prices have soared recently.
  
• Creates new jobs and generate income, because green power sources tend to rely on local labor, land and resources, especially in rural communities.

By harnessing wind, sunlight, plant matter or heat from the Earth's core, we can produce electricity in ways that curtail global warming pollution. And because electricity demand is based on consumer choices, the more we demand green power, the more cleaner sources will be used. That means a lot less heat-trapping pollution.

Source: Environmental Defense Fund

New Geothermal Heat Extraction Process

New Geothermal Heat Extraction Process To Deliver Clean Power Generation
Pacific Northwest National Lab's advanced heat recovery method makes most of low-temp 'hot rock' resources.
by Geoffrey Harvey, PNNL, Washington, United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]

A new method for capturing significantly more heat from low-temperature geothermal resources holds promise for generating virtually pollution-free electrical energy. Scientists at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will determine if their innovative approach can safely and economically extract and convert heat from vast untapped geothermal resources.

The goal is to enable power generation from low-temperature geothermal resources at an economical cost. In addition to being a clean energy source without any greenhouse gas emissions, geothermal is also a steady and dependable source of power.

“By the end of the calendar year, we plan to have a functioning bench-top prototype generating electricity,” predicts PNNL Laboratory Fellow Pete McGrail. “If successful, enhanced geothermal systems like this could become an important energy source.” (Photo courtesy Pacific Northwest National Lab)

A technical and economic analysis conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology estimates that enhanced geothermal systems could provide 10 percent of the nation’s overall electrical generating capacity by 2050. Click to watch PNNL's Pete McGrail describe the process.

PNNL’s conversion system will take advantage of the rapid expansion and contraction capabilities of a new liquid developed by PNNL researchers called biphasic fluid. When exposed to heat brought to the surface from water circulating in moderately hot, underground rock, the thermal-cycling of the biphasic fluid will power a turbine to generate electricity.

To aid in efficiency, scientists have added nanostructured metal-organic heat carriers, or MOHCs, which boost the power generation capacity to near that of a conventional steam cycle. McGrail cited PNNL’s nanotechnology and molecular engineering expertise as an important factor in the development, noting that the advancement was an outgrowth of research already underway at the lab.

“Some novel research on nanomaterials used to capture carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels actually led us to this discovery,” said McGrail. “Scientific breakthroughs can come from some very unintuitive connections.”

PNNL is receiving $1.2 million as one of 21 DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy grants through the Geothermal Technologies Program.

Some of the research was conducted in EMSL, DOE’s Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory on the PNNL campus.

Tulikivi Wood Stoves

Tulikivi masonry heaters are extremely popular in timber frame homes. Translated from Finnish, “Tulikivi” literally means "fire stone". Every Tulikivi fireplace is manufactured with high quality soapstone quarried in Finland. Soapstone is unique in the world of masonry due to its natural refractory, heat storage, and heat transfer aspects. It is naturally able to withstand the high combustion temperatures inside a masonry heater.

If you are thinking of burning wood in your new timber house, you’ll obtain the best result using a solid, heat-retaining fireplace. A Tulikivi masonry heater has high performance and heating efficiency and its stored heat is radiated into the room evenly and over a long period of time.

Tulikivi has a wide variety of standard units available, but if you don’t see a model that fits your timber frame home, you can ask them to design a custom heater based on a sketch, photograph, or photo from a magazine. Visit their website at www.tulikivi.com

Types of Radiant Heat Floor Installations

Radiant floor heating systems are one of the most energy efficient methods of radiant heat available. Each of the three types of radiant floor heat (electric, air, and water) can be installed using either a “wet” or “dry” installation method.

“Wet” installation methods include embedding the cables or tubing with a solid floor, such as a concrete foundation slab or a thin layer of concrete or gypsum installed over the top of a traditional wood subfloor. Additional floor support might be necessary because of the increased dead load of the materials.

Concrete slab floors have a high heat storage capacity. They do, however, have a slow response time, so it is recommended to maintain a constant temperature for maximum comfort.

“Dry” installation methods include having cables or tubing installed in the air space beneath the floor. This method is faster and less expensive than wet installation methods, but because the radiant heat now involves air space which is a poor heat conductor, the system needs to typically operate at higher temperatures or for longer intervals.

Tubing or cables can be installed between two layers of subfloor with aluminum diffusers to spread the heat across the floor evenly. They may also be suspended underneath the subfloor between the joists using reflective insulation under the tubes to direct the heat upward.

Types of Radiant Floor Coverings

What type of floor covering should you have with a radiant floor heating system? Any floor covering that separates the heating system from the room will decrease the efficiency of the system and affects fuel consumption. Some floor coverings, which act as heat conductors, are better than others.

Ceramic tile, quarry tile and stone are by far some the most common and most energy efficient floor covering because it transfers and stores heat effectively, however almost any type of floor covering can be used.

Carpeting should be minimal in the home. Where required, carpet should be thin and with a dense pad. Carpeted rooms should be zoned separately to ensure even heating throughout the home.

Most radiant floor manufacturers recommend laminated wood floors instead of solid wood, which reduces the possibility of the wood shrinking and cracking as the wood dries, however there are solid wood flooring manufacturers that do support installation of their products over radiant floor systems, observe the plank width limitations if they have them. It is important to follow recommended installation guidelines on any type of floor covering, but the stable even heat of a radiant system is typically considered a good environment for most floor coverings.

Including a radiant heat system in your new energy efficient home design is a smart decision that will result in a comfortable home and lowered energy costs.

Jackie Lampiasi, Marketing Director

Bonin Architects & Associates, PLLC

Radiant Heat - a good option for an energy efficient home

Many energy efficient home designs include radiant floor heat. More efficient than forced-air heating or baseboard heat, radiant heat delivers several benefits to homeowners: less allergens (circulated through the home via the heat systems ductwork) meaning better air quality, reduced electricity usage and fossil fuel usage, and evenly distributed heat at floor levels with little energy loss which means greater comfort and less drafts.

Two types of radiant heat are available: 1) in-floor (most popular); and 2) wall or ceiling radiant panels.


1. IN-FLOOR RADIANT HEAT:
In-floor radiant heat is by far the most common kind of radiant systems used. There are three types of radiant floor systems: air, electric, and hot water.

Air-heated radiant floors:
Air is not a good conductor; therefore, radiant air heating systems are typically not cost effective in homes and are seldom installed. They can be combined with solar air heating systems; however they would need to be combined with a secondary heating system for non-daylight hours.

Electric radiant floors:
In this type of system, electric wires are built into the floor system or electrically conductive plastic mats are mounted to the subfloor and covered with a floor system such as tile. Electric radiant systems are only cost effective if they have a significant thermal mass such as a concrete floor. This allows you to heat the concrete floor during off-peak electric hours (overnight) and heat the home comfortably for up to 8-10 hours during high-peak electric hours (daytime). Electric radiant floor systems are practical for small additions where an additional heating system needs to be added.

Hydronic (hot water) radiant floors: Hydronic radiant floor systems are the most popular and cost effective radiant heating system available. Water is pumped from a boiler, hot water heater, or solar collectors through tubing laid under the floor(for wood) or in a concrete or lightweight concrete slab. The tubing can be installed in zones with thermostats controlling the flow of hot water through each zone loop.

2. WALL OR CEILING PANEL RADIANT HEAT:
Radiant heat panels are usually made of aluminum and are mounted in either walls or the ceiling of a home. Heat is produced by either electric cables or plastic tubing with circulating hot water. Radiant panels can be individually controlled for each room and have a quick response time, making this heating system an option for rooms that are used infrequently. Wall panels are preferred because of the distribution of heat over the whole body as opposed to ceiling panels, which heat the head and shoulders.

If you’re building a green home, consider installing radiant heat. It creates a warm, comfortable living environment, is easy to install, and gives you a substantial return on investment.

Jackie Lampiasi, Marketing Director
Bonin Architects & Associates, PLLC

Incorporating Solar Energy into a Green Home (Part 3)

Here’s the third blog in our solar series. We’ve already talked about how you can heat the space and heat the water in your home using solar energy. You can also use solar energy to light the inside & outside of your green home through a design technique called daylighting. By using daylighting, you can make the most of the home’s placement on your site as well as the location of skylights and windows to bring sunlight into the home.

South- and even north-facing windows are advantageous for daylighting. In the northern hemisphere because of the earth’s tilt on its axis, south-facing windows are the most beneficial for daylighting. South-facing windows allow direct winter sunlight into the home and with proper design minimize solar heat gain in the summer while allowing for indirect southern lighting. North-facing windows allow even, natural lighting with little glare and minimal summer heat gain.

Outdoor solar lighting & way-finding are not only inexpensive and easy to install, they consume no electricity! Sunlight is converted to energy in solar cells and stored in batteries for use at night. Lights vary in design according to the climate and geographical location, so make sure you get the right kind for your area. The lights, when exposed to direct sunlight for the recommended number of hours, can be used for security or to light a pathway. Performance will vary according to placement, outdoor temperatures, and brand and style of light selected.

If you still aren’t sure about including a solar energy system into your new home, check out the U.S. Department of Energy’s website on “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy”. They have a tremendous amount of information, charts, and calculations to browse through to help you make the right decision.

Jackie Lampiasi, Marketing Director
Bonin Architects & Associates, PLLC

Incorporating a Solar Energy System into a Green Home (Part 2)

Our last blog on renewable energy explained how you can heat your green home through passive solar design and/or an active heating system, as well as generate electricity through solar power with a photovoltaic system. You can also heat water for your home or swimming pool. How?

Heating your home:
Solar water heaters can be used in any climate. There are two choices for solar water heating systems – passive and active. Active systems have circulating pumps and controls; passive systems do not. Solar water heating systems usually require one or two storage tanks and use one of three types of collectors: flat plate collectors, integral collector-storage systems, or evacuated-tube solar collectors. Again, there are different kinds of each system. Active solar heating systems are more common than passive.

Active Solar Heating systems can be either direct or indirect circulation systems. A direct system works well in moderate climates where it rarely freezes. Indirect circulating systems are more common, and pump an anti-freeze through collectors and a heat exchanger, which then heats the water that flows through the home.

Passive Solar Heating systems are not as common, but studies show they are more reliable and are less expensive than active solar heating systems. Two basic types of passive systems are available: integral collector-storage systems and thermosyphon systems.

o Integral collector-storage systems are typically used in areas with above-freezing temperatures and in households that have significant daytime and evening hot-water needs.

o Thermosyphon systems – water flows through a collector to a storage tank above it, where warm water rises as cooler water sinks. These are usually more expensive than integral collector-storage systems, and the storage tank on the roof must be taken into consideration structurally and aesthetically.

Heating your swimming pool:
If you’re planning to heat your swimming pool, solar is the way to go. They’re not only comparable in cost to gas and heat pumps, they are effective in most areas of the country. Most systems include collectors, a filter, a pump, and a flow control valve. The theory is fairly simple: pool water flows to the filter then to the solar collector, where the water is heated and returned to the pool. In warmer climates, the system can cool the water by circulating the water at night. One topic to research & consider is that heating pool water usually does not qualify for rebates.

Bonin Architects & Associates is happy to answer any questions you might have about incorporating a solar energy system into your home! Our partners at The Clear Mountain Solar Store are ready to help, too! Up next in our solar blog series is lighting the inside and outside of your home.

Jackie Lampiasi, Marketing Director
Bonin Architects & Associates, PLLC

Solar Energy System in Your New Green Home (Part 1)

Are you building an energy efficient home? Bonin Architects & Associates can incorporate a solar energy system into most any home, whether it is conventional construction, structural insulated panel, timber frame, or post and beam. Here are the several ways to use solar energy in your new green home:

1) Heat the space of your home (passive solar design and/or an active solar heating system);
2) Generate electricity (Photovoltaic);
3) Heat water for your home or swimming pool;
4) Light both the inside and outside of your home

Some of the listed methods may be complicated or involve initial first cost investments, but are well worth the investment -- and you don’t have to live in sunny Arizona to reap the benefits. We'll talk about the basics on the first two ways use you can incorporate a solar energy system into your new green home -- heating the space of the home and generating electricity. (These are basic descriptions – look to future blogs for in-depth descriptions of these various solar energy systems.)

1. Passive & Active solar design to heat the space in your home:

Passive Solar design:
Passive solar doesn’t require electrical or mechanical equipment. The basic laws of nature make heat move from warmer materials to cooler ones until there is no longer a temperature difference between the two. A passive solar design makes use of this principal by utilizing the solar-facing windows (south, in the northern hemisphere). When sunlight comes into contact with a building, the building materials can do one of three things: reflect, transmit, or absorb the solar radiation. The heat produced by the sun also causes air movement, convection, in these spaces. These predictable responses lead to specific design elements, material choices and placements that provide heating and cooling effects in your home.

Active solar heating systems:
There are two basic kinds of active solar heating systems – one based on liquid and the other on air. Both collect and absorb solar radiation and then transfer the heat directly to the interior space of the home or to a storage system. Air-based systems heat air in an “air collector”. Liquid systems heat either water or an antifreeze solution in a “hydronic” collector and are most often used with a storage system. Liquid systems are great for radiant heating systems, boilers with hot water radiators, and heat pumps and coolers. Both systems may also supplement forced air systems.

2. Solar energy can generate electricity for your home:

Solar energy can be converted to electricity in a Photovoltaic system. Photovoltaic panels consist of silicon cells which have both a positive and negative layer. When sunlight is absorbed, electrons in these layers become free and travel through the wire as electricity. Using both direct and scattered sunlight to create electricity, the amount of power generated typically depends on how much of the sun’s energy reaches it along with the size and efficiency of the collectors.

Some advantages of photovoltaic systems are:
a. Bulky mechanical generator systems are unnecessary because conversion from sunlight to electricity is direct;

b. PV systems can be installed quickly and in any size required or allowed. PV systems do not require water for system cooling and do not generate any by-products, therefore, environmental impact is minimal.

The American Solar Energy Society, the Solar Electric Power Association, Energy Matters LLC, and the U.S. Department of Energy have solar estimators to calculate the price, savings, and system size of solar energy systems in your area. All you need to do is enter your location and some information from your utility bill. Check it out today!

Jackie Lampiasi, Marketing Director

Bonin Architects & Associates, PLLC