[Greenbuilding] Improve or Build New

[Drew A. Gillett, P.E.]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Houlihan" <sho11 at comcast.net>
To: "Drew A. Gillett, P.E." <deaneg at hotmail.com>; 
<Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 11:17 PM
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Improve or Build New


> Drew,
>
> Thank you for your thoughtful reply.
>
> First, I am happy to see that you put energy saving first and energy 
> generation last.  I agree with that philosophy.

only because it always seems cheapest.
>
> What do you mean when you say "1000 gallons or therms"?

i deal in rough numbers as in 3x27=100..    so a gallon of propane is 91000 
btu.  a therm of natural gas is 100000  ( 100 cuft more or less)  and a 
gallon of oil is 141000 btu.  then you have to guess at the efficiency.  i 
use lower number for typical oil higher for natural gas and propane.  in 
round numbers it all comes out at 1 gallon = i therm. = $2  ( used to be $1)

 I do average about
> 1000 gallons of propane each year before the ceiling insulation was 
> installed.  I don't have a years worth of data since I did the insulation. 
> How did you know?
good guess or the experience of school of hard knocks.
>
> I plan to replace the furnace this Summer, but then I planned to do it 
> last Summer and never got to it.  I have no cooling system.  I don't need 
> it, I'm in Santa Cruz,  about 10 miles from the coast in the redwoods.

just get it all done before the end of 08.
>
> Thanks again
>
> Steve
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Drew A. Gillett, P.E." <deaneg at hotmail.com>
> To: <sho11 at comcast.net>; <Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org>
> Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2007 6:36 AM
> Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Improve or Build New
>
>
>> the usual argument is build new and do it right. (mostly from those with 
>> a vested interest in profiting from same.)
>>
>> many arguments lead to refurbishing the old:
>> embodied energy
>> environmental costs of the additional new building, its streets schools 
>> utilities, etc.
>> the home you vacate would still be in the stock or have to be retrofitted 
>> anyway
>>
>>
>>
>> the fact that as it sits, it isn't that terrible. you don't say the heat 
>> loss, but as a guess it results in 1000 gallons or therms per year.
>>
>> this could be halved with
>> 1) a blower door test and associated air tightening  $2000
>> 2) interior low-e storms $10000
>> 3)solar domestic hot water $6000
>> 4)foundation insulation $5000
>> 5)possibly wall insulation if an interior remodel is contemplated. $5000
>>
>> for a total of 28000 (-2000-250 fed credtit)   to save  $1250 annually or 
>> 20 year payback or 5% after tax rate of return--- not bad
>>
>> you could even add a kw of pv for 6666 -2000 credit   to save $100   for 
>> dessert.
>>
>> congrats on taking the first step of reinsulating the roof.
>> you might also consider a heating and cooling upgrade after completion of 
>> above.
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: <sho11 at comcast.net>
>> To: <Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org>
>> Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 5:13 PM
>> Subject: [Greenbuilding] Improve or Build New
>>
>>
>>>
>>> I know there was some discussion about this topic a while back but I am 
>>> curious what you all think of my situation.
>>>
>>> My present house seems to have been designed to be as bad as posssible 
>>> in every way connected with energy efficiency.  It is shaded by trees 
>>> and hills in winter and gets full sun in summer.  It has windows 
>>> equalling 15% of the floor area facing west! There are a total of 33 
>>> windows! The walls have poorly installed R-11.  The raised wood floors 
>>> have no insulation. The open beam ceiling/roof had a layer of Thermax 
>>> foam 2 inches thick.  I have since added 6 inches of Icenene and 6 
>>> inches of Fiberglass.  The windows are aluminum frame dual pane but 
>>> older and somewhat leaky.  It is two story and 1900 sq ft.
>>>
>>> Here is the dilema.  I want to buy a lot and build a really efficient 
>>> house.  It would suit my needs better, be cheaper to operate etc, etc. 
>>> I would feel good about adding a well built, energy efficient house to 
>>> the local housing stock. Would it be a better solution than trying to 
>>> improve the present house?
>>>
>>> What are the tradeoffs?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> Steve
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>>
>>
>>
>
>
>