Energy Efficiency Through Green Building Methods

Explanation of Current Issue:

Conventional construction methods are often wasteful and environmentally destructive. These methods yield inefficient buildings (commercial and residential) that account for over twenty percent of US carbon dioxide emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas that amplifies global climate change. Conventional buildings also account for thirty percent of overall US energy consumption.

Solution:
An alternative to conventional construction, Green Building incorporates environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the home building and land development process to minimize overall environmental impact. Green building offers a practical response to a variety of issues that affect all Americans such as increasing energy prices, waning water resources, and changing weather patterns. Green Building helps facilitate decisions that emphasize using products and methods to increase the energy efficiency of buildings in both their construction and operation.

1. Overview of Energy Efficient Green Buildings

A. Green Building offers opportunities for energy improvements through the use of: -High levels of insulation, efficient HVAC systems, high-performance windows and energy-efficient appliances and lighting. B. According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) research, tenants can save about 50 cents per square foot each year through strategies that cut energy use by 30%. This can represent a savings of $50,000 or more in a five-year lease on 20,000 square feet. C. There are several verification services provided to ensure a building meets energy efficient standards such as: -LEED Certified -US EPAs Energy Star Label

2. A Few Energy Efficient Methods/Products Applied to Green Buildings A. Radiant Heat Barriers:
Paint additive made of glass beads that create a radiant barrier on roofs, ceilings or walls. It reflects radiant energy from the sun rather than absorbing it. This keeps homes cooler in the summer, adding comfort and savings on cooling bills. In the winter, it reflects back warm radiant heat inside a building so that it cannot escape. This is for those with radiant heated floors (electric or hydronic), wood stoves or other radiant heated appliances. This keeps homes warmer in the winter and saves more on heating bills. EPA estimates between 15-30% savings annually on homes that have applied this paint.

B. Vegetable-Based Foam Insulation:

According to the EPA poor insulation is the number one cause of energy loss and high utility bills in homes. Vegetable-based spray in place of polyurethane foam insulation creates an internal cavity, insulated, wind proof barrier. It is the most environmentally friendly insulation in the industry, while remaining very cost-effective.

C. Energy Efficient Windows:

Products such as Serious Windows can further insulate homes. Serious Windows is a company recognized by the EPA and LEED verification processes due to their environmentally friendly fiberglass material and overall performance. Windows such as these are 300 times more efficient than conventional windows according to Energy Star ratings.
Citizens' Greener Evanston (CGE) acts to improve community control of our greenhouse gas emissions. We promote community awareness, advocate public policies, and make connections to support a regional sustainability agenda. greenerevanston.org

D. LED Interior and Exterior Lighting:

-Mercury Free -According to Energy Star's estimates, can last between 20,000-50,000 hours -According to Energy Star research, some LED bulbs are 80% more efficient than conventional bulbs

E. Home Energy Monitors:

The average person does not know how much electricity they use or how much each appliance costs to run each month. The only information that is provided on a utility bill is a total cost and other figures that are difficult to understand. Energy Monitors accurately displays the building or homes electricity usage individually or collectively, from moment to moment, or over time. They use an unique sensor that scans your utility meter and calculates your electricity usage in kwh and in $$. The majority of LEED and Energy Star verified buildings are affixed with these monitors.

F. Tankless Water Heaters:

-Traditional tank-type water heaters constantly burn gas in order to maintain the set water temperature in the tank, even when water is not being used. With a tankless water heater, water is heated only when needed. -According to estimates, many people experience savings of up to 50% which can pay for the unit within a year or two.

G. Water Saving Technology:

-Green Building takes measures such as water-efficient devices such as low flow fixtures. -According to the US Green Building Council, utilizing water saving products reduces overall water bills as well as energy bills in the case of hot water use.

3. Estimated Cost Benefits of Green Building

-Although upfront costs of utilizing the aforementioned Green Building methods are initially higher, the investment is usually returned within two years of implementation through energy and maintenance savings, according to the US Green Building Council. -According to a study conducted by LEED and the Houston Homeowners Association completed in 2008, homes and buildings that utilized Green Building in the construction of new property or existing property recorded over 40% savings in monthly utility bills in comparison to conventional homes/buildings. -According to the EPA, on average, green buildings in Massachusetts and New York use 30% less energy than conventional buildingsa reduction, for a 100,000 ft2 state office building, worth $60,000 per year. With a 20-year present value of expected energy savings at a 5% real discount rate the savings are worth of about three quarters of a million dollars.

4. Energy Efficiency Resources A. LEED-Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design:

-Addresses energy performance across the building life cycle: *Building Design & Construction: Reduction in cost compared to a code-compliant baseline *Existing Building Operations & Maintenance: Operational performance relative to an industry benchmark -Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in March 2000, LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions

B. Energy Star:

-ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping Americans save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
Citizens' Greener Evanston (CGE) acts to improve community control of our greenhouse gas emissions. We promote community awareness, advocate public policies, and make connections to support a regional sustainability agenda. greenerevanston.org

-The national energy performance rating is a type of external benchmark that helps energy managers assess how efficiently their buildings use energy, relative to similar buildings nationwide. The rating systems 1100 scale allows everyone to quickly understand how a building is performing a rating of 50 indicates average energy performance, while a rating of 75 or better indicates top performance. -EPA, in conjunction with stakeholders, developed the energy rating as a screening tool; it does not by itself explain why a building performs a certain way, or how to change the buildings performance. It does, however, help organizations assess performance and identify those buildings that offer the best opportunities for improvement and recognition.

SOURCE LIST:
Energy Star: Green Buildings and Energy Efficiency http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=green_buildings.green_buildings_index US Green Building Council http://www.usgbc.org/ Environmental Protection Agency: Green Building http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/ Green California: Sustainable or Green Building http://www.green.ca.gov/GreenBuildings/default.htm National Resources Defense Council: Building Green-From Principal to Practice http://www.nrdc.org/buildinggreen/default.asp The Energy and Environmental Building Alliance: http://www.eeba.org/ Build It Green: Smart Solutions From The Ground Up http://www.builditgreen.org/

Citizens' Greener Evanston (CGE) acts to improve community control of our greenhouse gas emissions. We promote community awareness, advocate public policies, and make connections to support a regional sustainability agenda. greenerevanston.org