Recently in Green Building & Remodeling Category

Is remodeling the solution for reducing an office's energy consumption...and costs?  According to a study by energy efficiency company, Johnson Controls Inc.,  there are ways to save energy, and ways to "think" you're saving.  They took a look at the effect workplace comfort has on employee productivity and energy conservation.

"Employers may be tempted to turn down the thermostats this fall, but this quick fix could lead to hidden costs," said Clay Nesler, Johnson Controls' vice president. "Energy efficient systems and equipment is the win-win alternative, allowing businesses to save energy and money without sacrificing workplace productivity."

• 69% of the 800 US office workers surveyed for the study said they are "willing to sacrifice" their preferred ideal temperature on the job if that helps conserve energy.
  
• 45% said they think their employers are not doing enough to make their offices more energy efficient.
• 78% of workers said their productivity falls when they feel too cold or too hot at the office
• 98% said their offices are too hot or too cold at some point.

Solutions to Workplace Comfort

The study found that as a result

• 49% said they use a fan when they feel too hot,
  
• 28%  use a space heater
• 30% said they leave their office building to warm up or cool down by taking a walk.
• 41% report their discomfort to an office manager or facilities worker
• 69% try to remedy the situation by adding or removing a layer of clothing.

The findings provide further insight into employee behavior and workplace conditions.

California regulators have approved using residential "gray water" by issuing an emergency decision that allows residents to create simple water-reuse systems without a construction permit.

The California Building Standards Commission had expected an overhaul of gray-water rules to take effect in 2011. But on Thursday, it adopted the regulations on an emergency basis due to the deepening drought. Local health agencies may adopt stricter conditions than the state's after they hold public hearings.

Gray water includes wastewater from showers, bathtubs, bathroom sinks, laundry tubs and washing machines, but not from toilets, kitchen sinks or dishwashers.

Homeowners still must follow state guidelines for installation and use. The rules require minimal contact between people and the gray water, for instance by covering the water-release point with at least 2 inches of rock, mulch or other material.

'GRAY WATER' FACTS

New state rules provide permit exemptions for some residential gray-water systems, but people still have to follow several requirements. They include:

 The system must allow users to direct water to an irrigation field or the sewer.

 Ponding and gray-water runoff are prohibited.

 Gray water can be released above ground, but the discharge point must be covered by at least 2 inches of mulch, rock or other material that minimizes human contact.

 Water used to wash diapers or other soiled garments must be sent to the sewer.

 Gray water shouldn't be used on root vegetables.

Online: For more information about California's new standards for gray-water systems, go to uniontrib.com/more/gray.

Roughly 1.7 million gray-water systems are installed statewide. Most are illegal because homeowners almost always avoid permits and the associated fees.

Do-it-yourselfers can build a gray-water system for $200 or less, but permitting-process costs can more than double the expense.

A standard home generates about 160 gallons of gray water per day, or nearly 60,000 gallons per year, state officials said. A family of four could reuse 22,000 gallons a year by tapping the rinse water from its washing machine.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is working toward a building energy labeling program  -- the Buliding EQ label.

For years, ASHRAE has sought ways to help move the nation's building stock toward net-zero-energy use.

The new Building Energy Quotient program seeks the answers to that question with metrics for measuring both the energy the building is designed to use and the energy actually being consumed. The ASHRAE program is being designed to close the gaps between intention and operation.

ASHRAE
http://buildingeq.com/

Jason Pelletier, Low Impact Living, recently participated in a New York Times piece (published in the Home section today) on green home consultants.

"After a few hours of in-home work and many more of analysis, reporting, product research and follow-up with my clients, it was somewhat ironic that the lead image for the story was a picture of me peering into the tank of a toilet!", Jason explained.



One could argue a toilet is a fitting representation of our times, after all. The economy remains in the tank, we continue to do relatively little as a society to combat climate change, and the residential green sector continues to dragged down by the horrible housing market (unless you happen to be in one of the few sectors directly benefiting from stimulus funding).

However, we still see a very bright future for the overall green remodeling/retrofit market.

The lowest hanging fruit on the path to a lower-carbon economy lie in our homes, from weatherization to low-flow water fixtures to efficient appliances and lighting.

The environmental savings can be significant, and many projects will start contributing to your bank account in less than a year. Although each of our individual actions might be a drop in the bucket (as noted by some of the skeptical folks interviewed in the Times article), our collective actions will amount to significant change and send a message to both companies and our elected officials that the old way won't work anymore.

The first step is getting started, of course, and a good green consultant can help by explaining both the environmental and economic benefits of particular green projects.

Tackle green projects in these four groups, and we guarantee that you'll soon be on a logical and profitable path to a lower impact:

Make the easy fixes that have high environmental and economic benefits first. Many first steps can be done for $0 - $100, and can cut major chunks out of your energy, water and carbon footprints.

Swap out key house systems, starting with the biggest hogs and/or systems that have multiple impacts. Once you've cut your baseline down based on #1, turn to these bigger projects.

Install sustainable systems where possible for remaining water/energy needs. By now, you've probably cut your energy, water and sewer bills by 30-50%. But there's a huge added benefit to this tiering of projects: you've also reduced the cost of major sustainble system upgrades.

Offset the rest. In most existing homes, it's nearly impossible to competely cut your outside energy use and associated carbon footprint. Buy offsets for this remaining piece.

Learn more about living greener at Low Impact Living, one of the premier sources for information for home improvements that are greener and high performance.

The McKinsey Research Report

Starting in 2007, the McKinsey research team worked with leading experts to develop a detailed fact base estimating costs and potentials of different options to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions in the US over a 25 year period.  The team analyzed more than 250 options encompassing efficiency gains, shifts to lower-carbon energy sources and expanded carbon sinks.

Central Conclusion

The US could reduce GHG emissions in 2030 by 3 - 4.5 gigatons of CO2e using tested approaches and high-potential emerging technologies.  The cost would be less tan $50 per ton, with the average net cost to the economy being far lower if the nation can capture sizable gains from energy efficiency.  Achievement of these reductions would require strong, coordinated, economy-wide action that begins in the near future.

One complicating factor is reaching goals is that a gradual decrease in the absorption of carbon by US forests and agricultural lands will reduce achievements, and require greater GHG reductions.

Abatement Opportunities

• The largest option -- coal-fired power plants -- offers less than 11 percent of total abatement potential.  The largest sector (power generation) only accounts for approximately 1/3 of the total potential.
• Almost 40% of abatement could be achieved with options that would generate positive economic returns over their lifecycle. 
• Abatement potentials, costs and mix vary by geographic region. 

Five Sectors offer Clusters of Abatement Potential

1. Improve energy efficiency in buildings and appliances  (710-870 megatons)
This cluster of options includes:  Lighting rtrofits, Improved heating, ventialation, air conditioning systems, Building envelopes, and building control systems; Higher performance for consumer and office electronics and appliances...and other options.

2.  Imcrease fuel efficiency in vehicles and reduce carbon intensity of transportation fuels (340-660 megatons)
Most of the benefit would come from fuel economy packages such as light weighting, aerodynamics, turbocharging, drive-train efficiency, reduction in rolling resistance, and increased use of diesel for light-duty vehicles.  Plug-in hybrid vehicels offer longer-term potential if vehicle cost/performance improves and the nation moves to a lower-carbon electricity supply.

3.  Industrial Sector pursues various options cross energy-intensive operations (620-770 megatons)
A multitude of fragmented opportunities exist within specific industries:  Equipment upgrades, process changes  -- and across setors:  Motor efficiency, combined heat and power applications. 

4.  Expand and enhance carbon sinks (440-590 megatons)
Increasing forest stocks and improving soil mnagement practices are relatively low-cost options.

5.  Reduce carbon intensity of electric power production (800-1370 megatons)
Shift toward renewable energy sources primarily wind and solar, additional nuclear capacity, mproved efficiency of power plants and eventual use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies on coal-fired electricity generation. 

"The theme of greater energy productivity pervades these clusters." 

Improving energy efficiency in buildings and appliances and industrial sectors, for example, could offset some 85% of the projected incremental demand for electricity in 2030, largely negating the need for the incremental coal-fired power plants assumed in the government reference case.

Improved vehicle efficiency could roughly offset the added mobility-related emissions of a growing population, while providing net economic gains.  

SOURCE: Download the full report at  Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report 11.21.07

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), HUD was granted authority to provide $250 million in grants and loans and other assistance to increase energy efficiency in the HUD-assisted, project-based, multifamily stock.

HUD will begin accepting application for the Green Retrofit Program (GRP) beginning June 15, 2009. The amount of a green retrofit grant or loan can be up to $15,000 a unit and is expected to average less than $10,000 a unit across all funded projects. Though the requirements and details differ by eligible housing program, in general, the funds are to be used to reduce ongoing utility consumption, benefit resident health, or to benefit the wider environment. The projects are expected to be completed within 12 months and in no event should work extend more than 24 months. 

The program is being administered by HUD's Office of Affordable Housing Preservation (OAHP), which also operates the Mark-to-Market Green Initiative.  Though the GRP is a distinct program, it shares some elements of the existing program, including some of the Mark-to-Market terminology. In some instances, OAHP may make Green Retrofit funds contingent on the owner's agreement to a Mark-to-Market debt restructuring.

Full details, including a list of eligible programs and activities, can be found in Housing Notice 09-02, released May 13, 2009, and is available at http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page?_pageid=153,7940934&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

The Community Regeneration, Sustainability and Innovation Act of 2009 (CRSI) has been designed to create a new program within the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD) targeted toward cities and metropolitan areas experiencing large-scale property vacancy, abandonment and population losses.

 

The act's supporters say it will provide assistance to communities to start or expand land banks that establish public control over vacant and abandoned property so that property can be redeveloped or otherwise used in ways to "benefit the public."

 

A summary of the CRSI act, prepared by its authors, says, "The Community Regeneration Act would encourage innovation, experimentation, and environmentally sustainable practices through collaborative efforts to reuse land bank properties in ways that will provide long-term benefits to the public, whether it is through the creation of green infrastructure, economic development, or other strategies. Implementation of such strategies would create new and sustainable employment opportunities for residents. The Community Regeneration Act would also strongly encourage multi-jurisdictional or regional approaches to addressing the problem of vacant and abandoned property."

 

Brad Guy, a deconstruction consultant and former president of the Building Materials Reuse Association, was asked to provide input for the language of the bill as it relates to deconstruction and the re-use and recycling of materials.

Allowable Uses for Funds

Funding is for it to go toward the "establishment of recovered building materials reuse and recycling infrastructure, facilities, and technical support."

 

CRSI as currently proposed, is for the "establishment of local government purchasing requirements for deconstruction to make use of existing building materials stock in new and rehabilitation construction."

 

In areas where land banking has created a portfolio of vacant properties, the CRSI also would allow both the "deconstruction and demolition of vacant and abandoned properties" and the "demolition and removal of public infrastructure" to be be funded through the act.

Mary Jean Anderson is a mother, a grandmother ... and the owner and president of Anderson Plumbing, Heating and Air in San Diego, California. Her company, which now incorporates Walter Anderson Plumbing, Anderson One Hour Heating & Air, Air Best, and a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchise, has been in business for 30 years. Now, Anderson has become a licensed GreenPlumber.

Her status as a family matriarch, she says, is part of the reason. "As a mother and grandmother, I believe I need to be proactive to ensure my family and their families will have resources necessary to sustain a healthy lifestyle," Anderson says. She also points out that for her woman-owned plumbing company, "adding "green" makes perfect sense. It adds a level of ethics and integrity while positioning us within the community as experts with values and principles essential to improving our community through a sustainable future."

Life in arid San Diego also drives Anderson toward environmental responsibility. "Living in Southern California, we must conserve water and all other natural energy resources. The GreenPlumber education program has given our team a greater understanding of the absolute necessity of protecting our depleted natural resources," Anderson says. "We now know what to do to make this happen and each of us takes this responsibility seriously. We're anxious to help our customers understand our responsibilities, and theirs. Together we can accomplish the goal of a healthy, affordable, sustainable California."

Anderson Plumbing, Heating and Air is focusing its green work on household water audits, residential retrofits, new technology and education.

The GreenPlumbers® training and accreditation program is open to all recognized plumbers and contractors. The program is partnered with the EPA's WaterSense program, the Alliance for Water Efficiency, the California Center for Sustainable Energy, the California Urban Water Conservation Council, and many more industry leaders in its mission of bringing environmental training to plumbers.

For more information, visit www.greenplumbersusa.com.