[Greenbuilding] what makes it green?

Don Eyermann zeroenergy at cox.net
Mon Feb 16 15:12:39 CST 2009 

Don't forget there is a lot (LOT) of "that's wrong and here's what would be
better"....which leaves out the reality of "what the hell do we do with what
we've got" from the discussion...which is the most important part. The mere
fact that all this "Green" talk is happening, makes it likely that the new
sentiment will shape demand and take care of "future build", what we really
need to discuss is what we can do with the existing sprawling suburban and
tight packed (mostly old) urban structures to reduce their energy use by
more than 50%. And for that to be affordable to the family living inside.

Numero Uno is how can it be financed?

The majority of home owners have some equity in their house. So the most
appropriate thing is for them to get a HELOC  Home Equity Line Of Credit.
That has two advantages:
1. No out of pocket cash (Use the Banks Money)
2. Low interest rate around 4%.

The "Strategy" here is to make a substantial difference in the house energy
use, so that the first month after the "alteration" that the utility bill
will decline more than the new note will add to a family's monthly outlay so
they realize a net reduction in expenditures. "Go Green and Save Green".

Now, let's assume that John and Mary Jones home utility cost for heating and
air conditioning of a yearly adjusted average at $200.00 is 60% of their
bill ($120.00) and 40% ($80.00)is for their appliances, lights,
entertainment, water heating, and fans, etc. So if we're going to reduce the
utility bill 50% or more we need to look at both sides. What can be done to
significantly reduce those two entirely different charges? LED Lights, Solar
hot water heating, and a switched T.V./entertainment center receptacle will
have a good effect....what's your savings estimate...maybe 15% ($30.00)?
New/better seals around the doors will help, additional insulation around
the attic HVAC ducting can help, sun screens for summer sun heat gain
reduction, maybe some additional blown-in insulation in the attic as well.
So, by your estimate are we up to 20%-25% total yet ($40.00-$50.00)? The
Windows are an issue. Most suburban homes have single or double hung windows
and arcadia sliding glass doors...zero rating for thermal efficiency. The
use of casement windows is viewed as "old style", but they are the only type
that have any rating. The walls/ceilings of most homes built more than ten
years ago (those owners would presumably have equity) probably had only pink
batting insulation around R-26 or less and that may have deteriorated. The
low hanging fruit is not really expensive...everything I've identified can
be done for around $5K to a 2,000 sq. ft. home. But even if that achieves
25% then it will take 100 months to break even...that's 16.66 years. 

The next 25% or stretch goal of 50% more energy efficiency is very
challenging to do with within the precondition that the monthly payment for
the financed cost must be less than the monthly savings...so there is a
positive financial advantage as an incentive to drive the desire for
implementing the changes. That cost and time frame to payback/payoff is the
challenge as I see it.

-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Shawna
Henderson
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 1:01 PM
To: Racheli Gai
Cc: "Greenbuilding" REPP
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] what makes it green?

Heya Racheli,

I self-identify as a treehugging dirt worshipper. It says so on my  
bumper sticker :-)

Of course, there is a continuum of every kind of movement and culture,  
whether it's environmentalism or green building. I was just observing  
that a bunch of the posts on this thread have been of the 'how green  
am I?, I'm greener than you!' variety, and it brought to mind the self- 
perpetuating marginalization I've witnessed in the radical left and  
the environmental movement through quarrelous in-fighting and  
disagreement about the ethics/policy/depth of commitment of individuals.

 From my point of view, the work in the green build arena requires a  
lot of humility and checking-of-ego at the door, for we none of us  
know the absolute best practice, and can't pretend to. An open mind  
and willingness to listen/discuss is crucial. In five years, what  
we're doing now will be eclipsed by a whole body of knowledge,  
research and product options that are all in the works now but will be  
influenced by world politics, climate change and the wing of a  
butterfly.

Cheers,
Shawna


On 16-Feb-09, at 3:37 PM, Racheli Gai wrote:

> Hi Shawna,
> As someone who self identifies as a radical lefty, as well as an  
> environmentalist, I'd like to suggest
> that there isn't one "radical left", or one "environmental  
> movement", but rather different bits
> and pieces of both, with differing sub-cultures.  Not all of them  
> are macho, and some pay
> lots of attention to how one communicates; how to make decisions in  
> a non-hierarchical way;
> etc. etc.
>
> Best,
> Racheli.
>
> On Feb 16, 2009, at 12:19 PM, Shawna Henderson wrote:
>
>> I've been likening it to a pissing contest, myself. It's been my  
>> experience that the 'green' movement, just like the environmental  
>> movement, shares a lot with the radical left, in that you can't  
>> ever become Che Guevera. Hell, not even Che could become Che, then  
>> or now. But, like any righteous gang, you can never have an itchy  
>> enough hair shirt.
>>
>> Distilled, this thread reads as follows: You can have an energy  
>> efficient building that's not green, but you can't have a green  
>> building that is not energy efficient. How you get there depends on  
>> a myriad of choices specific to client, site and conditions,  
>> availability of materials and know how. No silver bullet, no one  
>> right way. End of story. But go out there and do it!
>>
>> I raise a chunk of yummy chocolate to you all on this happy post  
>> valentines day.
>>
>> Shawna Henderson
>> CEO, Bfreehomes Design Ltd.
>> www.bfreehomes.com
>> 1.902.489.1014
>>
>
>
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