Behavior of Biaxially loaded R.C. Columns Retrofitted by ...
CREATING A ZERO-ENERGY HOME How We Retrofitted Our Existing Home To Reduce Our Carbon Footprint.
-
Upload
andy-bellamy -
Category
Documents
-
view
218 -
download
1
Transcript of CREATING A ZERO-ENERGY HOME How We Retrofitted Our Existing Home To Reduce Our Carbon Footprint.
Three Systems, Five Phases:System # 1 uses HEAT from the sun to
produce hot water at 140ºF
System #2 uses HEAT from the sun to keep the pool at 88ºF
System #3 uses LIGHT from the sun to produce electricity
5 Phases:Phase #1: Solar Pool Heater
Phase #2: Reduce Existing Energy Use
Phase #3: Insulation
Phase #4: Solar Hot Water Heater
Phase #5: Solar PV Panels
System #1: Solar Pool Heater (2003)
Heat from the sun keeps the pool at 88ºF (thermostat control)
= “walk right in”
System allows us to use the pool most of the year
Pool is always ready during swimming season
Phase Two: Reduce Existing Energy Use Timers for all
accessory lamps and TV set-top boxes (2003-2012)
Phase Two: Reduce Existing Energy UseSEER 19 Heat Pump: uses a two-
stage compressor: once the house is cold/heat soaked, the system switches from 4-ton to 2-ton operation (2009)
Variable Speed Blower: ramps up and ramps down according to air temperature, instead of turning on/off immediately to full speed (2009)
Phase Two: Reduce Existing Energy Use Programmable Thermostat 7 Ceiling fans Reflective roof
= Allow us to keep the house cooler naturally
Phase Two: Reduce Existing Energy Use: Natural LightThree tubular skylights for daytime
natural light:
Phase Two: Reduce Existing Energy Use
Front-loading Energy-Star rated washing machine
Energy-Star rated dishwasher (uses 3.5 gal/cycle)
Energy-saver pool pump motor (“The Conservationist” (rated at 1.1kW/hour)
Energy-Star rated appliances Refrigerator door alarm Timer for the shower
Phase Three: Insulation
Icynene Attic Foam Insulation (R11) plus metal roof saves about 2,000 kWh/year
Phase Three: Insulation
Energy-star rated reflective metal roof with Boral reflective self-sealing waterproof membrane (2011)
Phase Three: Insulation
Windows and doors: PGT double-glazed, argon-filled tinted units
Hot water heater tank blanket (2011)
Unintended Consequences…
• Our metal roof, with the self-sealing reflective underlayment, earned us:
• a $325 rebate from FPL, and
• a $2100 discount from Citizens on our wind insurance…
Phase Four: Solar Hot Water Heater80-gallon tank w/4500 watt elementHeat exchangerThermostat set by code at 140 degrees
Farenheit (vs. 120 degrees for conventional hot water heater tanks)
Reduces our energy usage by 300 kWh/month (3,600/year)
Minimal lifestyle changes$1000 FPL rebate still available
Phase Five: 30 Solar PV Panels - Theory: When light strikes a photovoltaic cell, which is made
of silicon, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material = the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor.
This energy knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely.
This flow of electrons is a current, and by placing metal contacts on the top and bottom of the PV cell, we can draw that current off for external use.
AC vs. DC power DC power came first; it can be easily stored,
but cannot be transmitted over long distances (> 1 mile);
AC power (= polarity is reversed 50-60 times a second) can be transmitted over long distances at high voltages, but is impractical to store; we “store” our excess power in the grid;
When you turn on a light, the energy used for that light is being generated at the very instant you are using it.
Phase Five: 30 Solar PV Panels: 7.1 KW Array: Sufficient power to meet 70% of pre-
project needs over an entire year
30 Micro-inverters convert DC to AC right on the roof
70% + solar HWH (20%) + New reflective roof (10%) = 100%
Pre-project usage: 17,500 kWh/yearPost-project usage: 12,250 kWh/year (1020/mo avg.)
How Net Metering Works:
New, bidirectional, digital power meter
Meter runs backward during the day, and forward during the night
Excess power produced during the day is “stored” in the grid for future use (at night, and during the winter quarter)
FPL conducts a year-end audit and purchases any left-over power at the wholesale rate
FPL Solar Rebates
PV Solar Systems: $2 FPL rebate per nominal watt generated
Solar HWH Systems: $1,000 FPL rebate per system
PV Solar Costs…
PV Solar: $ 48,500Fed. Tax Credit: < 14,550 >FPL Rebate: < 14,100 >
=======Net Cost: $ 19,850Annual savings: $1950= 10% Return On Investment (ROI)
Solar HWH Costs…
Solar HWH w/80 gal Tank: $5,000Fed. Tax Credit: < 1,500 >FPL Rebate: < 1,000 >Sarasota County Rebate*: < 750>
=======Net Cost: $1,750
(*) Get Energy Smart Retrofit Program - no longer available
COSTS…
Icynene Insulation (2009): $6456 - $1500 Tax Rebate = $4,956
Tubular Skylights: $1108 + 544 = $1,652
Pool Heater (2003): = $4,000
COSTS… Payback was never part of our vision
Our only goal: to reduce our carbon footprint
HOWEVER: house with no electric bills; investment expected to be returned upon sale of the house
In the meantime: 10% Return On Investment
Florida Solar Rights Law: Florida Statute - Section 163.04:Forbids ordinances, deed restrictions,
covenants, or similar binding agreements from prohibiting solar equipment use.
Under this law, a homeowner may not be denied permission to install a solar collector, clothesline, or other energy device based on renewable resources…
Other… Salt-water pool (NaCl = Na + Cl)
Electrolysis: salt water passing over the chlorine generator cell produces chlorine that is instantaneously transformed into Hypochlorous acid (ClHO)
Any type of chlorine added to water produces Hypochlorous acid, an active satinizer that kills algae and harmful bacteria
The type of chlorine (Sodium Hypochlorite (liquid chlorine), Tri-chlor and Di-chlor or Lithium based, Cal-hypo or even gas chlorine) does not matter: all types result in Hypochlorous acid.
Other…
Well-fed irrigation system Composting centre Dual flush toilets Water-saver shower heads Canvas shopping bags Minimal use of paper towels We’ve been driving hybrids for 10 years We bike/walk whenever possible NEXT: Use solar energy to charge a plug-in
Prius
What You Can Do… NOW If you are in the market to buy a car, consider
buying a new or used hybrid (Toyota Prius produces ONLY 4,661 lbs. CO2/year)
Only use hot water when really you have to Only drive when you really have to WALK or BIKE Recycle Avoid plastic bottles Eat locally: oranges from Nokomis Groves,
veggies from farmers markets (Lady Moon Farm, Worden Farm)
EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS!
What you can also do:State Solar Rebates: call/write to your
state representatives
Federal Rebates: call/write to your Congressman and Senators
Write letters to the editor
Support the Sierra Club’s energy conservation efforts
DRIVING TECHNIQUES
Keep your tires properly inflated Keep your car well tuned Avoid “jack rabbit” acceleration Anticipate stops (braking produces carbon) Prepare itineraries Combine your trips Again,WALK or BIKE if possible
We are the job creators…A Final Note:
In our Statement of Work, which we sent to local companies only, we specified that every component, for the metal roof, the
solar panels, and the solar hot water heater, be made in the USA, down to the very last screw.
Our Contractors: Florida Southern Roofing, Sarasota,
Harriman’s Solar, Venice,Tri-County A/C, PGT, Jansen & Sons Insulation
Venice, Tubular Skylight Inc., Sarasota