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**[[User:fr244|Felipe Ribeiro de toledo camargo]]
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Revision as of 02:40, 19 November 2014

This is a research project in partnership between Engr308 Technology and the Environment and the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology during Fall 2014. The project includes analyzing the various energy uses of CCAT for their impacts (in dollars, energy, and carbon), as well as devising an implementable plan to ameliorate the impacts and to reach Net Zero Energy. Any suggested new additions will be analyzed on energy, carbon and dollar buyback.

Teams

Net Zero Heroes

Research

Use wiki markup for references, which is the following format:

  • Information. <ref>URL or Title of reference. </ref>

See http://www.appropedia.org/Help:Footnotes for more.

I will not be too draconian on writting style... but make sure NOT TO PLAGIARIZE![1]

Team 1-AAAN Research

Net Zero Energy Concepts

Description (e.g., Net Zero Energy describes building that have basketball nets that use zero energy during gameplay.)[2]

Home Energy Auditing

Some brief introduction and general description.

A list of stuff to do[3]:

  • Do this
  • And this
  • And don't for get this.

Maybe some links to different templates:

50,000 KW

Net Zero Energy Concepts

Our team objective is to do their home audit and analyze it and offer alternatives in order for them to reach net zero by 2016. [4]

Home Energy Auditing

Some brief introduction and general description.

A list of stuff to do[5]:

  • Do this
  • And this
  • And don't for get this.

Maybe some links to different templates:

Big Green Hairy Squatches Research

Net Zero Energy Concepts

  • According to Marzsal et al., "The Zero Energy Building (ZEB) concept is no longer perceived as a concept of a remote future, but as a realistic solution for the mitigation of CO2 emissions and/or the reduction of energy use in the building sector." [6]
  • "A NZEB/PEB refers to a building with a zero or negative net energy consumption over a typical year."[7]
  • Much of the research detailed studies regarding the design and construction of net zero buildings from the ground up. With regards to CCAT, this will not be possible. Our research aims to find the best solutions with the resources we have, notably: renewable energy sources and energy efficient appliances.

Home Energy Auditing

The Home Energy Audit is the first step in determining how much energy the house consumes on a daily/weekly/monthly/yearly basis. This will help us determine what kind of changes are needed to bring the CCAT building to a net-zero state.

Some things we will be looking at:

  • Evaluate electricity bills.
  • Inventory appliances.
  • Analyze doors, windows, laminates, and heating units.

Here are a few home energy audit examples:

  • Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits[8]
  • D-I-Y Home Audit Checklist [9]

Wireless Energy Research Team

Net Zero Energy Concepts

A net-zero building produces the same amount of energy it consumes[10]. Reaching net-zero can be difficult and requires changes to the way the building consumes energy as well as with the behavior of the people who live or use the building. Our objective is to achieve net-zero at the CCAT house on the Humboldt State University campus (hopefully within a year!). We will do this by applying more energy efficient technologies after analyzing their building through an home energy audits.

Home Energy Auditing

Team 1-GRSS Research

Net Zero Energy Concepts

Living Building Challenge defines Net Zero Energy as, "exceptional energy conservation and then on-site renewables to meet all of its heating, cooling and electricity needs." [11] A collaboration of ideas and goals to fully minimize energy use has lead to development of and rise of community centers, research labs, classrooms, park and centers for sustainable living. [12]

Home Energy Auditing

Some brief introduction and general description.

A list of stuff to do[13]:

  • Do this
  • And this
  • And don't for get this.

Maybe some links to different templates:

American Cat Squad

Net Zero Energy Concepts

Net zero energy is a steadiness when comparing the energy that a specific building produces and the energy that the same building consumes [14]. Breaking down the statement “net zero energy” this definition is quite apparent. Net, of course, is indicative of the total so net zero would mean that the objects being compared must equal out. In this case the objects being compared would be energy. There are very good examples of net zero buildings, one of which is in Pittsburgh, PA and is called The Center for Sustainable Landscapes or CSL [14]. The CSL has actually had a group come in to figure out the embedded energy, and while it is not directly related to CCAT, or has a whole lot to do with the net zero we are going for, it is still very interesting. The embedded energy from the Center for Sustainable Landscapes was very close to that of a building constructed under normal means, mostly because the photovoltaic system is so high [14]. In order to get CCAT to have the energy they produce equate that which they consume, an in-depth home energy audit should be performed to identify the appliances that are using more energy than others, and finding a means to cut back on said energy consumption, and implement useful tools in the house to help the residence keep track of energy consumption.

Home Energy Auditing

Objective: Analyzing energy leakage and constructing a plan to fully minimize energy and reach net zero use at CCAT by 2016.

A list of stuff to do[15]:

  • Do this
  • And this
  • And don't forget this.

Maybe some links to different templates:

Team Net Zero Heroes Research

Objective: Conduct an energy audit at CCAT and create a feasible plan that can be implemented to reach net zero by 2016.

Net Zero Energy Concepts

Vivint and Garbett state that, "Net-zero simply means that a home produces as much energy as it consumes. Net zero homes minimize energy use through efficiency and meet remaining needs through renewable energy systems.

Net Zero House Examples

Many innovations are leading the way towards net-zero building, for example "The Zero Home" is an affordable new home that has reached a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rating of zero. Through the partnership of Garbett Homes and Vivint, net-zero homes are making their way and becoming more affordable. For more information about "The Zero Home" please visit: <http://www.thezerohome.com>

Efforts to promote net zero homes by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America (BA) program is working to increase the energy efficiency of new and existing homes while raising comfort, and durability and reducing resource use.According to Norton and Christensen, as part of this program there is pursuit towards opportunities to research highly efficient homes with the goal of understanding what works, what doesn’t work, and what are the most economic ways to reach very high efficiency targets. The program aims to create cost neutral zero energy homes by 2020. Norton and Christensen also state that, "In pursuit of this goal, this home and other research homes around the country designed to approach or achieve the zero energy goal are being built and studied."[16]

Home energy rating system (HERS)

The HERS Program was first carried out to address issues in construction and equipment installations that had been known to not been done properly. In an revision to the HERS Regulations[17], the rating of a home as a system (known as Whole House Home Energy Rating) was put forward, where a home is rated on a scale from 0 to 250 to show its efficiency compared to a reference home built to just meet the Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards' authoritative requirements.[18]

Residential Electricity

According to Stein and Meier, approximately 20% of all the energy consumed in the United States is consumed by the residential sector. Nowadays most of this energy can be saved cost-effectively by building new houses to be more energy-efficient and by modifying existing houses with more efficient equipment. Sadly, most of the chances to save energy, natural resources and money in houses are not apprehended because of market barriers such as lack of facts and lack of funding. HERS and related financial products, have the capability to assist the progress of identification and funding of a enormous number of such chances.[19]

Home Energy Auditing

Energy.gov describes a home energy audit also known as a home energy assessment as the first step in assessing how much energy your home consumes and evaluating actions you can take to make your home more energy efficient. An assessment will also show you problems that can, when revised, save you serious amounts of money over time.

The Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT)[20] is a student run sustainability organization located at Humboldt State University. In a attempt to have CCAT run as a net-zero organization a home energy audit will first be conducted to assess energy use and output.

A list of stuff to do:

  • Go to CCAT and divide house into sections to be audited by team members.
  • Take an inventory of all energy consuming and producing items.
  • Calculate energy used and produced.
  • Compare data to energy bills.

Links to different templates:

  • Example of an Energy Audit Data Collection form[22]
  • Energy Savings Toolbox–An Energy Audit Manual and Tool [23]

Efficiency

  • According to the book “Energy for the 21st Century : A Comprehensive Guide to Conventional and Alternative Sources (2nd Edition)” Efficiency is needed heavily for the future. In 2006 the USA created 433 TeraWatt Hours, but we needed 18921 TeraWatt Hours. In 2030 it looks like we will 33265 TeraWatt Hours. In order to meet this requirement the USA will need to increase its Efficiency.[24]

Power and Energy

  • Power is the Rate at which energy flows. Energy is in all things, such as electricity, water, air, everything! Humans use energy for all sorts of things like powering a phone or computer with electricity. There are often times where using energy affects the environment. Like if someone burns coal for energy a lot of C02 comes out, which is and will cause massive problems. Luckily we have discovered some forms of clean energy, like windmills solar panels, and many more.

Renewable Energy

  • According to a Journal written by John A Turner Many people have the wrong idea that renewable energy costs more energy than it saves. He says that it takes 3 to 4 years to payback. John A Turner also says that the USA is the biggest energy consumer in the world. If that is correct then we have a bigger job to reduce energy consumption. So we should increase our renewables and stop using as much energy.[25]

Government Involvement

EPA.gov when searched for implications into government involvement in net zero concepts and accountability shows little for how the government is actively involved in the net zero movement but does have a four-step guide so to speak, which gives examples in how to go about moving towards a net zero facility and is targeted mostly towards government run facilities and not towards home owners. Though this guide could actively be applied towards the common home owner as a set of guidelines into how to move towards net zero household.

  • On The Road to Net Zero EPA [26]

According to an article on Net Zero Housing, financial and monetary incentives need to be implecated by government and other organizations to make full net zero housing a worthwhile financial investment and not just an investment into the sustainability of the Earth. [27]

Net Zero Housing

There is a boom in housing options regarding net zero living. A surprising amount really considering a fair amount of these homes are simply buy and build style housing options. Such as the two websites below which hold events, informational gatherings, as well as their main attraction of highly formulated and detailed layouts of how to go about bringing your HERS down to zero and how to go about transitioning to a net zero home. As mentioned above the Garbett and Vivint partnership is a great example site on how to transition to net zero housing through their site The Zero Home [28]. Zero Homes is another site in which to brush up information on net zero housing.

Materials/Home Improvement for Net Zero Housing

  • Photovoltaics (PV)
  • "Passive solar design refers to the use of the sun’s energy for the heating and cooling of living spaces." According to Sustainable Resources [30] a Passive Solar design has proven to produce low energy cost, reduced maintenance, and provide great comfort. Windows, walls, and floors are made to collect, store, and distribute solar energy. This consist of heat in the winter and rejecting solar heat in the summer.
  • Solar water heating
  • Superinsulation
  • Sealing air leaks

Alternative Products/Appliances

  • LED lightbulbs
  • Skylights

Maintenance of a Net Zero Home

  • Antifreeze-based Solar Thermal systems should have their pH checked annually.If needed the coolant should be replaced or added to help with performance and to avoid corrosion.[31]

Interview

For our interview, we went to CCAT and interviewed one of the house members Nick. He said there is no energy history of CCAT besides recent bills. They are currently working on a way to log the information and upload it online. For now no energy bills were provided to us. He said he believes the solar array to be about 2.3-2.4 kW. The main way the house is heated is through passive solar and he says overall the house is pretty well insulated. When it came to suggestions on how to move towards a net-zero household, he said that it is completely up to the Engineering 308 students and wants us to find inefficiencies.

Book Sources

  • Anderson, R. , Roberts, D. (2008). Maximizing Residential Energy Savings: Net Zero Energy Home Technology Pathways. Golden, Colo.: National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
  • Norton, P. , & Christensen, C. (2008). Performance results from a cold climate case study for affordable zero energy homes. ASHRAE Transactions, 114, 218.[32]
  • Nersesian, Roy L.. Energy for the 21st Century : A Comprehensive Guide to Conventional and Alternative Sources (2nd Edition). Armonk, NY, USA: M.E. Sharpe, Inc., 2010. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 17 November 2014.

Peer Reviewed Articles

  • According to this article on a study conducted in Denmark's housing scope on PV installation and the amount of energy to be conducted via a Net Zero Housing option "that in order to build a cost-effective Net ZEB, the energy use should be reduced to a minimum leaving just a small amount of left energy use to be covered by renewable energy generation."[33]
  • Newell, B. (2014). Net zero homes. ASHRAE Journal, 56(5), 38.
  • Stein, J. , & Meier, A. (2000). Accuracy of home energy rating systems. Energy, 25(4), 339-354.[34]
  • Zmeureanu, R. , Fazio, P. , DePani, S. , & Calla, R. (1999). Development of an energy rating system for existing houses. Energy & Buildings, 29(2), 107-119[35]
  • A Realizable Renewable Energy Future John A. Turner Science,New Series, Vol. 285, No. 5428 (Jul. 30, 1999), pp. 687-689 Published by: American Association for the Advancement of Science Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2898476

Efficient_SEE-ERS Research

  • John Plaggmier
  • Wade Sedawie
  • Jacob Carroll-Johnson
  • Kekai Tanaka

Net Zero Energy Concepts

Energy creation ≥ Energy Consumption

Home Energy Auditing

Some brief introduction and general description.

A list of stuff to do[36]:

  • Do this
  • And this
  • And don't for get this.

Maybe some links to different templates:

Ghostface Killowatts

Desiree Martin
Carlos Sanchez
Maegan Mclean
Steven Wissel

Net Zero Energy Concepts

A net zero building consumes no extra energy from the grid, meaning all energy consumed in the building is created through renewables on site [37]. We will be analyzing CCAT's energy use and giving them suggestions on how they can reduce their energy use. The overall goal is to give suggestions for CCAT to become a net zero building by 2016. Our team will be doing a Home Energy Audit of CCAT, which will be a detailed report of what appliances are using the most energy. Our suggestions will also include an estimated cost for CCAT to run entirely off solar power.

Similar Devices to the KillAWatt/Home Energy Monitors

GEO’s smart energy Monitors (from the UK)

3 different monitors the Solo, Duet and Trio.

The energy data is expressed in multiple ways to engage the product user. The Solo display might show "a ‘speedometer’ to indicate instantaneous levels of electricity use; a ‘milometer’ which indicates the amount of electricity used each day expressed in kilowatt hours, pounds sterling or carbon dioxide emissions; and a ‘fuel tank’ enabling householders to set a daily budget which indicates whether this is being met or exceeded by displaying a tick or a cross symbol."

The Duet display is similar to the solo but has an extra screen that shows "boiler and radiator usage (this contains icons to show householders when the boiler or radiators are on, and also gives a percentage reading to indicate how much of the time – either over a 24-hour period or over the last 15 minutes the boiler and radiators have been operating) and up to 6 individual appliances. The appliances themselves must be plugged-in via a ‘PlugBug’ device, which transmits consumption data to the Duet unit."

"The Trio has a full colour display with a very wide range of monitoring options. Whilst the Solo and Duet are designed for self-installation involving simply clipping-on a transmitter to the electricity meter and, in the case of the Duet, to the boiler as well, the Trio demands professional installation by an electrician and a computer specialist as it involves a more extensive transmission system involving the household Wi-Fi system. Once installed it monitors heating, hot water usage (using the same system as the Duet), all electrical circuits in the home and up to 100 individual appliances (using PlugBugs). It can then display this information graphically, allowing householders to investigate their consumption patterns in more detail. For example, the Trio can display the consumption of a range of appliances over 24-hour or monthly periods, expressed in kilowatt hours, pounds sterling or carbon dioxide emissions.”[38]

Ways to Reduce Energy Use

“Examining how to motivate sustainable lifestyles that encompass a multitude of behaviors, as opposed to a few individual behaviors at a time, holds great promise of lasting and impactful change for a variety of reasons.

A list of some ways to reduce energy use:

  • Raise fridge/freezer temp
  • Turn off computer if away > 1 hr
  • Turn off monitor if away > 15 min
  • Unplug unused/ “off” appliances
  • Use powerstrips, turn off if not in use
  • Buy efficient washing machine
  • Turn off copier when not in use
  • Buy efficient dishwasher
  • Select “air-dry” or open door
  • Buy efficient refrigerator
  • Use a laptop not desktop
  • Turn off printer, not in use
  • Stop using screen saver
  • Use sleep mode if away < 1 hr
  • Use “energy saver” /“light wash”
  • Always run a full load
  • Apply low-emissivity window films
  • Sealed airducts
  • Installed skylights tunnels
  • Use space heater
  • Caulked and weatherstripped (doors and windows?)
  • Installed insulation
  • Turn off lights
  • Use curtains
  • Installed double pane windows
  • Turn down thermostat
  • Installed program. thermostat
  • Switched to CFLs"[39]

How to conduct a home energy audit

  • take an inventory of ALL energy using devices and make a list
  • estimate/average how long each device is used per day
  • plug each device into a KillAWatt to measure wattage each uses, turn device off to measure phantom wattage (If device has a sleep mode measure this as well, measure when refrigerator is “running” and not running) and record results.
  • calculate and compare with bill for accuracy[40]

a previous home energy audit of CCAT [41]

Net Zero Water

It would be difficult to implement net zero water in the allotted time but this is an interesting topic to explore and CCAT has already installed a catchment system. The first step would be to reduce water usage which could be done in the following ways (this list also includes some ways to reduce energy consumption as well via the water heater):

  • Buy solar water system
  • Buy tankless water heater
  • Take shorter showers
  • Insulate water pipes
  • Wash clothes cold water
  • Insulate water heater
  • Lower water heater temperature
  • Buy efficient water heater
  • Wash a full load
  • Install low-flow showerheads
  • Install faucet aerators”[42]


“One hundred percent of occupants’ water use must come from captured precipitation or closed loop water systems that account for downstream ecosystem impact and that are appropriately purified without the use of chemicals.”

“One hundred percent of stormwater and building water discharge must be managed on-site to feed the project’s internal water demands or released onto adjacent sites for management through acceptable natural time-scale surface flow, groundwater recharge, agricultural use or adjacent building needs.” [43]

Example of a Net Zero Energy Building

The Equinox House is a great example of a net zero energy building in the Central Illinois city of Urbana. All of the energy used in the house is from the photovoltaic solar panels in the form of columns. The solar array output is 8.2 kW. The building has very thick insulation consisting of 12 inch Structural insulated panels (SIPs), which results in a decrease in energy use related to heating and cooling. The authors of the article have worked in solar energy and helped extensively with the project design. One of their main goals was to educate the public and their community about net zero energy building and show that it is not out of reach. [44]

What is a KillAWatt

A KillAWatt is a device/meter that tell us how much power(up to 15 amps) an appliance runs on. The KillAWatt plugs into the wall, power source(110volts), and the appliance plugs into the KillAWatt. Which then displays the power it draws, on an LCD screen. And it can also be used to check the quality of power that is supplied by the outlet. By knowing how much power a device draws one can calculate how much energy it uses. This can be very helpful if one would like to make a home energy audit.

Sources cited

Massiha, G. H., Shelton Houston, and Kuldeep S. Rawat. "How to 'Kill A Watt' and Save Energy." Tech Directions 70.6 (2011): 22-4. ProQuest. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.

Team TurnDownForWATTs Research

Objective: We'll be analyzing the energy use of CCAT and creating a plan to reach net zero by 2016.

Net Zero Energy Concepts

  • According to Lstiburek (2014), a zero energy house produces all its necessary energy on site using renewable technologies; also usually the house is off grid, providing energy storage.[45] The main goal of our group is to analyze the energy use of CCAT through a home energy audit and to create a plan to reach net zero by 2016, especially through PV modules installation.
  • Although most case studies of Net Zero homes call for homes that are “Build tight, and ventilation right"[46], it will be more plausible for our class to focus on implementing renewable resources technology and energy conservation techniques to achieve net zero rather than trying to create an airtight seal over the entire CCAT building.

Examples of Net Zero Homes

  • Despite producing a surplus of energy across the whole year, a solar net-zero house in Maryland had a few winter months of energy deficit [47].
  • The Zero Energy House - Auckland, New Zealand a home designed to achieve net zero energy over the course of the year through energy efficient features and solar energy systems[48][49].
  • Yoklic, Martin, Mark Knaebe, Karen MartinsonIntegrating Net-zero Energy and High-performance Green Building Technologies into Contemporary Housing in a Cold Climate. Madison, Wis.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, 2010[50].

Residential Electricity

  • Does a Motion-Activated Light Switch Save Money? The room that I think would be the most effective for such a switch would be the bathroom. I can speak from experience that restroom lights are often left on, particularly in the evening hours. While these are usually “caught” before I go to bed, there’s often an hour or two of several bulbs burning, eating up the energy[51].

LED Lighting

  • LEDs are “directional” light sources which means they emit light in a specific direction, unlike incandescent and compact fluorescent bulbs which emit light – and heat – in all directions. For this reason, LED lighting is able to use light and energy more efficiently in many applications. However, it also means that sophisticated engineering is needed to produce an LED light bulb that shines light all around like an incandescent A-shape bulb[52].

Solar Water Heater

  • Cheap and Easy Passive Solar Water Heater for your Home. ($300) Heat your water for free with a solar water heater. This $300 DIY solar water heater system even includes an electric backup water heater for cloudy days. It heats water to 135F (55C) on sunny days in a 80 gallon (310 liter) tank - and there are no moving parts - it relies in a thermosyphon to circulate the water[53].

Energy History of CCAT

  • CCAT has developed many projects involving the conservation of energy such as solar electricity, solar water heating, passive solar heating, pedal power tools, thermal curtains, and a wind turbine. Currently, CCAT consumes less than 5% of the average energy consumption in the USA[54].

Types of Appliances

  • “Short of using a solar cooker, you’d be hard pressed to find a more efficient way of cooking [than a pressure cooker]”[55].

Home Energy Auditing

  • Performing a home energy audit will help to assess the energy consumption of the structure. With the energy consumption information at hand it is possible to make changes that will result in a more energy-efficient home. For this to be possible it is necessary to be diligent to identify the problems. Conducting an audit should inspect ‘walkingthrough’ points such as locating air leaks, insulation, heating/cooling, and lighting[56].

What a KillAWatt or Similar Device is

  • Plug an appliance in to a Kill A Watt meter to measure it’s electrical consumption[57].

Energy Efficiency

  • “Energy efficiency is ‘using less energy to provide the same service’”[58].There are countless ways to be more energy efficient. One simple and inexpensive way is by replacing your incadescent light bulbs with compact flourescent light bulbs. Another way to be more energy efficient is by purchasing ENERGY STAR appliances("ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency")[59]. Homes, cars, and factories can all have gains in efficiency and use less energy, but with these gains comes a cost. One of the most widely used tools to analyze these costs is energy payback.

Energy Payback

Interviews

  • “Now induction will cook food around twenty to twenty-five percent quicker than your traditional butane or gas. It’s energy efficient. It draws fifteen amps, but the savings is in how quick it cooks.”[60].
  • Interview: Building Science Pioneer Dr. Joe Lstiburek on the Good, Bad and Ugly Side of Buildings | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building[61].
  • Interview: Paul Schwer, P.E. LEED AP, President of PAE Consulting Engineers, Inc. “Detailed knowledge of how energy will be used in the building will inform choices about where to save energy. Architectural factors such as building orientation, massing and geometry, percentage glazing, insulating values for walls, roof and glass, and daylighting obviously have a huge impact on overall building energy use.”[62]
  • Interview: Paul Schwer, P.E. LEED AP, President of PAE Consulting Engineers, Inc. “Detailed knowledge of how energy will be used in the building will inform choices about where to save energy. Architectural factors such as building orientation, massing and geometry, percentage glazing, insulating values for walls, roof and glass, and daylighting obviously have a huge impact on overall building energy use.”[63]

Book Resources

  • Cook, M. (2009). Energy Efficiency in Old Houses. Ramsbury: Crowood.
  • Anderson, R. , Roberts, D. (2008). Maximizing Residential Energy Savings: Net Zero Energy Home Technology Pathways. Golden, Colo.: National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
  • Black, Dave. (2008). Living Off The Grid. Skyhorse Publishing. New York, NY.
  • U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program (2005). Builders and Buyers Handbook for Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in Cold and Very Cold Climates. Washington, D.C.

Peer reviewed Articles

  • Putting a heated pressure cooker into an insulated box resulted in unprecedentedly low energy costs while cooking potatoes and beans[64].
  • Net zero homes have positive impacts as reducing energy, increasing sustainability, generating new jobs, but it is necessary to evaluate the indoor environment[65].
  • Two fundamental principles were employed: “Build tight, ventilation right” and contaminant source control. The first principle was pursued by constructing the building with a tight exterior envelope. While this approach is not new, particularly in northern Europe, the U.S. is still catching up with the latest airtightness construction practice (3). The goal for this house was that it be extremely airtight, for a U.S. home, through the use of a continuous air barrier system[66].
  • Edmonton, Alberta – It’s a beautiful, livable, functional net-zero experiment - Welcome to the home of architect Shafraaz Kaba[67].

Another Watt Saved

Where to Start

In designing a dwelling with a net zero energy consumption rate there is a comprehensive 10 step plan for achieving the goal that can be viewed at the consumers leisure on a number of websites, some of which are listed below. http://zero-energyplans.com/


Planning

Steps from http://www.zerohomes.org/twelve-steps-to-zero/:

1) With a Designer/architect that has knowledge of Zero Energy Home (ZEH) design, create a project team which will consist of: owner, builder, energy consultant, and landscaper.

2) In collaboration with the team choose the site.

3) Use energy modeling to figure out the most cost-efficient home. (This will likely be done by the Energy Consultant)

4) Super seal/insulate the building envelope.

5) Minimize thermal bridging. [1]

6) Use highly insulated doors and walls.

7) Use the sun for passive solar gain.

8) Use the sun (and wind in Arcata) for electricity/hot water.

9) Decide on appropriate Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) or Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) system to efficiently supply fresh air and manage humidity.

10) Install energy efficient lights, electronics, appliances and heating/cooling systems.

Wind Power Alternatives

  • "The Caltech design targets that power by relying on vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) in arrangements that place the turbines much closer together than is possible with horizontal-axis propeller-style turbines. VAWTs provide several immediate benefits, according to Dabiri, including effective operation in turbulent winds like those occurring near the ground, a simple design (no gearbox or yaw drive) that can lower costs of operation and maintenance, and a lower profile that reduces environmental impacts. Two of the primary reasons VAWTs aren't more prominently used today are because they tend to be less efficient individually, and the previous generation of VAWTs suffered from structural failures related to fatigue." <ref>http://www.ineffableisland.com/2011/07/10-x-power-increase-with-new-caltech.html </ref>

References

  1. Humboldt Plagiarism
  2. http://www.humboldt.edu/Totallynottrue, a book title, or even an interview
  3. A link to where to find more
  4. http://www.humboldt.edu/Totallynottrue, a book title, or even an interview
  5. A link to where to find more
  6. http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.humboldt.edu/science/article/pii/S0378778810004639
  7. http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.humboldt.edu/science/article/pii/S0038092X10002847
  8. http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/do-it-yourself-home-energy-audits
  9. http://www.myenergysolution.com/home-energy-basics/diy-audit.html
  10. Energy and Buildings, http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.humboldt.edu/science/article/pii/S0378778810004639
  11. http://www.living-future.org/netzero
  12. http://living-future.org/living-building-challenge/case-studies/certified-projects
  13. A link to where to find more
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Schaefer,L., Bilec,M., Jones,A., Landis,A., Campion,N., et al. (2013). A materials life cycle assessment of a net-zero energy building. Energies, 6, 1125-1141.
  15. A link to where to find more
  16. http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy08osti/42339.pdf
  17. http://www.energy.ca.gov/2008publications/CEC-400-2008-011/CEC-400-2008-011-CMF.PDF
  18. http://www.energy.ca.gov/HERS/
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