UPDATE ON THE NEW BOOK
The Difference is in the Details
is actually finished! The only holdup is the completion of the website which
we’ve been told should be done this month. As soon as we’re up and running, those of you that have signed up
for notification will be the first to know.
Sign up for release notification of this new e-planning guide at
newbook@detailedsolutions.net
Green...What's It
Mean? Part II
Last month’s ezine was the first in a series designed to explain the basic components of good green home
construction. We started with home orientation and design, discussed sealing the building envelope, and
reviewed the thorough and proper installation of insulation (preferably spray-foam).
4—Efficient HVAC Equipment: 
If a home is correctly sealed and insulated, an efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
system can do its job well. Why does upgrading the HVAC system make more sense in a home with a tight
building envelope? Think of a house as a picnic cooler. If the cooler has several holes in it, you still
keep food cold by continuing to add ice, but you’ll get much better results—and use much less ice—if you
patch the holes.
In fact, a tight shell may reduce required HVAC capacity. For example,
one of the homes I’m green-certifying has been constructed with spray-foam insulation, the attic has been sealed,
and all penetrations have been caulked. These steps toward green construction contributed to reducing the required
HVAC capacity from 7 to 4 tons, leaving money on the table that the homeowner chose to put toward more efficient
equipment. Visit Energy Star® at
www.EnergyStar.gov for information on qualifying efficient HVAC equipment.
5—Energy-Saving Appliances:
Next on the green-home building list are appliances. Energy Star qualified appliances incorporate advanced
technologies that use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models. If you have older appliances
(12 to 15 years) this figure jumps to 60 percent. So if you’re looking for a reason to purchase a new washing
machine even if your 16-year old model is still going strong, you now have one.
Not only are Energy Star appliances more energy-efficient, they’re also quieter. And let’s address the water usage
issue. For example, Energy Star qualified dishwashers not only use at least 41 percent less energy than the
federal minimum standard for energy consumption, they also use about one-third less water than non-qualified models.
This water savings is added to the reduced energy usage of the appliance.
Front-loading washing machines also use less water, about 15 gallons less than older, top-loading models.
When considering an Energy Star machine, take a look at the Water Factor number—the lower this number,
the more efficient the machine. (Water Factor is a measurement of the number of gallons per cycle, per
cubic foot, that a clothes washer uses. For example, if a machine uses 30 gallons per cycle and has a tub
volume of 3.0 cubic feet, the Water Factor for that device is 10.0.) A list of Energy Star washing machines
and their corresponding Water Factors can be found at
www.EnergyStar.gov.
6—Upgraded Windows:
Windows also have a significant effect on the energy efficiency of a home. A finished exterior wall
can have an R-Value ranging from about R-11 to somewhere in the 20s depending upon the products used
to create it. (R-Value denotes the ability of a product to resist heat transfer, so the higher the
R-Value, the better.) Single-pane glass, on the other hand, has an R-Value of just 1. The good news
is that technology is helping to improve this number. For example, insulated, double- or triple-pane
windows with low-E (low-emittance) glass
can have an R Value of 3 to 4. Low-E glass is coated with microscopic,
virtually invisible particles of metal or metallic oxide, which reduces heat transfer.
Window size, placement, quantity,
and specifications are considered in conjunction with home orientation and design, the first components of green
building discussed in the previous ezine. This is just one of the reasons why a green design that’s focused on
retaining the sun’s heat in winter and blocking it in summer can play a significant role in energy savings.
More information on window specifications
is included in our June 2008 ezine,
Energy-Saving Window Tips. It explains the main components of windows and provides links
to Energy Star’s window criteria for your climate zone. (The criteria for earning the Energy Star seal vary from region to
region.) Access to this and other past ezines can be found at our Ezine Archives
. For this particular ezine, search for Volume 3, Issue 6.
Copyright © 2008 Tracy DeCarlo, Detailed Solutions,
Inc. - All Rights Reserved
UPDATE ON SOLAR SCREENS
The energy-saving benefits of solar screens were also discussed in the
June ezine. This spring we installed these screens on the west, east, and south sides of our home,
and it’s really paid off. Our energy usage during the summer months of 2008 showed a 20 percent
reduction over the same period in 2007. We’re very pleased with the results!
IS THERE A SUBJECT
YOU'D LIKE ME TO
COVER? Let me know
by sending an email
to
tracy@tracystips.net.
WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE? All past issues of
this ezine are in the Ezine Archives on our web site.
Click here for Ezine Archives !
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
Tracy DeCarlo,
author of "The Difference is in the Details" publishes the idea-packed, monthly e-zine
"Tips for Designing a Functional Home." If you're ready to learn how to plan a more
durable, energy-efficient, and easy-to-live-in home, get your
FR*EE tips now
at
www.DetailedSolutions.net.
|
