CCAT NZE study: Difference between revisions

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

• 50,0000 KW
  • Antonio Baltazar
  • Giovanni Alva

• TurnDownForWATTs
  • Mariana Candido
  • Ellen Molina
  • Kevin Palm
  • Matt Vedo

• Big Green Hairy Squatches
  • Bradley Brown
  • Mario Galvez
  • Michael Hess
  • Daniel Snow

• BHMP
  • Ben Nelson
  • Harry Almeraz
  • Martha Ayon
  • Pamela Melo

• Another Watt Saved
  • Andrea German
  • Charlotte Spassoff
  • Felipe Ribeiro De Toledo Camargo
  • Kirk Smith

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:

50,0000 KW

Net Zero Energy Concepts

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

Some brief introduction and general description.

A list of stuff to do^[8]:

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

Maybe some links to different templates:

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." ^[9] 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. ^[10]

Home Energy Auditing

Some brief introduction and general description.

A list of stuff to do^[11]:

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

Maybe some links to different templates:

Team 1-META Research

Net Zero Energy Concepts

Description (e.g., Net Zero Energy describes building that have basketball nets that use zero energy during gameplay.)^[12]

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^[13]:

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

Maybe some links to different templates:

Team 2-BBGP Research

Stephanie Becerra

Salina Frances Gomez

Jonathon Robert Bradrick

Cole Shepard Pemberton

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."

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>

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.

• For a Energy 101: Home Energy Assessment check out: <http://youtu.be/YolBP0-vkBU>

The Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT)^[14] 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:

• Do-it-Yourself^[15]

• Example of an Energy Audit Data Collection form^[16]

• Energy Savings Toolbox–An Energy Audit Manual and Tool ^[17]

Team 2-CPST Research

Net Zero Energy Concepts

Description (e.g., Net Zero Energy describes building that have basketball nets that use zero energy during gameplay.)^[18]

Home Energy Auditing

Some brief introduction and general description.

A list of stuff to do^[19]:

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

Maybe some links to different templates:

Team 2-Maybe Meta Research

Desiree Martin
Carlos Sanchez
Maegan Mclean
Steven Wissel

Net Zero Energy Concepts

A net zero building consumes no extra energy, meaning all energy consumed in the building is created through renewables on site. 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.

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. 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.^[20] 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"^[21], 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 ^[22].
• 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^[23][24].

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^[25].

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^[26].

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^[27].

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^[28].

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]”^[29].

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^[30].

What a KillAWatt or Similar Device is

• Plug an appliance in to a Kill A Watt meter to measure it’s electrical consumption^[31].

Energy Efficiency

• “Energy efficiency is ‘using less energy to provide the same service’”^[32].

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.”^[33].
• Interview: Building Science Pioneer Dr. Joe Lstiburek on the Good, Bad and Ugly Side of Buildings | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building^[34].
• 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.”^[35]

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.

Peer reviewed Articles

• Putting a heated pressure cooker into an insulated box resulted in unprecedentedly low energy costs while cooking potatoes and beans^[36].
• Net zero homes have positive impacts as reducing energy, increasing sustainability, generating new jobs, but it is necessary to evaluate the indoor environment^[37].
• 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^[38].

References