ecoREHAB presentation

The ecoREHAB approach to sustainable
and energy efficient housing renovation
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The greenest building is the one that is already built

Your home can cause twice the greenhouse gas emissions of a car.*
Source: EPA, Energy Star Overview of 2009

ecoREHABstudio and ecoREHAB of Muncie, Inc.

“The greenest building is the one that is already built”

Mission of ecoREHAB

Our Mission is to provide leadership in ecologically sound and sustainable
rehabilitation of existing housing. EcoREHAB will engage in activities that
include:
1.
1 acquisition and ecologically sustainable
i iti d l i ll t i bl
rehabilitation of affordable housing;
2. provide resources to aid homeowners
and in rehabilitation of existing housing
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following sustainable design, material
and system strategies; and
3. other activities relative to housing that
help the community to achieve the
triple-bottom-line of economic
prosperity, environmental protection, ecoREHAB of Muncie, Inc.
and social equity.
q y a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization
not for profit


Home Energy Use Overview

Refrigerator
Air Cond.
5%
8%
Heating
Water 20% 41%
Heater

26%
Lighting,
Source: US Energy Information Administration, Residential
Receptacles & Energy Consumption Survey 2005
Appliances
A li


Domestic Water Usage
Leaks Other
Faucets 6% 2%
6%
Shower
& Bath 8%
%

9%
Clothes 57%
Washer Yard/
Outside
11%
Toilet
1%
Dishwasher
Average DAILY Water Usage Source: American Water Works Association Research
National - 89 Gallons/day/person Foundation 2001

Indiana - 76 Gallons/day/person
Source: USGS Water Resources, Estimated Use of Water
in the United States 2005, Circular 1344
2005


Sifting Through All the Information

ADVERTISING
Be a good consumer – Do your homework, read the
non-bias) literature, be skeptical of advertising



Government Programs
Be a good consumer – Understand the Labels



Government Programs
Be a good consumer – What do these designations really mean

•A standard for energy efficient consumer •Perform as well or better than their less
products efficient counterparts.
•A method for evaluating similar products •Are 20% more water efficient than average
within a category, but not across categories
ithi t b t t t i products in that category
category.
•Does not provide equivalents to other •Provide measurable water savings results.
options. •Achieve water efficiency through several
technology options.
•Obtain independent third party certification.
Obtain independent, third-party certification



So . . . When I am renovating an existing house,
WHERE TO I START?
1. Understand that the age of the house is irrelevant.
2. Understand where your energy loss is
3. Understand the method of testing your house – Finding out where
Energy loss is.
4. Sealing the leaks before or as part of insulation
(and fiberglass iinsulation d
( d fib l l ti does not stop air lloss/movement)
t t i / t)
5. Considering Materials, Systems, Equipment, and Fixtures


Change in Annual
Energy Consumption (%)
30

25

20

15

10

5

0 Overall Windows 65-85% 90%+ Insul Insul &
Program Furnace Furnace & Seal Furnace

Energy Savings of retrofits to single family buildings, An evaluation of homes that
participated in Indiana's Energy Conservation Financial Assistance Program (ECFAP),


Where is the energy Loss? The STACK EFFECT is the driving
force
•Stack effect is the movement of air
into and out of buildings, and is
driven b air b
di by i buoyancy

•Insulation
Thermal and pressure
p
boundary alignment
Sealing perimeter and
envelope –
This biggest issue is the attic
and hard to reach places


Where is the energy Loss? Side attics and main attics are
the biggest culprits. – Just adding Insulation will not solve
the problems.
SEAL FIRST – INSULATE SECOND
Potential Air Leaks in Attics

1. Recessed lights & electrical boxes
2. Holes for wires or pipes in framing
3. Attic hatchway
4. Between the framing and the
chimney
hi
5. Plumbing or electrical chases
6. Framed soffits that are open to the
attic
7. Drywall joints between ceiling and
wall plates
8. Leaky joints in ductwork
Fine Home Building Magazine, 2008


Where is the energy Loss?
The Sid Atti Dil
Th Side Attic Dilemma

Home Energy Magazine, 1998

Stuff fiberglass insulation between
your floor joints will not help. –
Fiberglass Insulation does not stop airflow
airflow.


Where is the energy Loss? Side attics and main attics are
the biggest culprits. – Just adding Insulation will not solve
the problems.
SEAL FIRST – INSULATE SECOND

It’s not as easy as caulking your windows, but this will actually help!
y gy y p


How Do I Find Out Where the Leaks are?
BLOWER DOOR TESTS
Test your house before your
renovations begin During house
begin.
renovations or rehab is the ideal time
to identify leaks in your existing house
and be sure they are sealed up

After the renovation, test your house
again to ensure the work done is done
g
correctly

Don’t work with a contractor who is
unwilling to have this done! Any good
energy audit MUST include a blower
door test.


What do I need to consider when rehabbing my house?

•During Demolition and Construction – where does the
waste go?
•Insulation types
•Heating Cooling and ductwork systems
•Roofing Material
Roofing
•Do I need replacement windows?
•Water Management
•Material Selection

You don’t need solar panels and a wind turbine to reduce your carbon
footprint. You just need to make good decisions, think critically as a
consumer, and don’t accept a contractor that isn’t willing change “how it
has always been done.”


Reuse/recycle vs. discard
•Donation and reuse
•Sort and recycle construction waste
•Encourage composting of organic waste

Check out www.earth911.com to find recycle sources

An estimated 8,000 lbs of waste is created from the
8 000
construction of a 2,000 square foot home. The majority
of the 8,000 is wood, cardboard, and drywall.
Source: National Association of Home Buildings, 2009


Example of M t i l Recycled
E l f Material R l d Example of S l
E l f Salvaged M t i l
d Material
from Recent House Rehab Used in Recent House Rehab
•160 lbs Copper •Old growth joists remade into door
•120 lbs Aluminum
120 frame
•2080 lbs Iron/Steel •Salvaged solid wood doors
•Salvaged hardwood floors
•1700 lbs Concrete
•Dimensional lumber (but not for
•900 lbs drywall scraps structural walls
•4 pick-up t k loads of wood
4 i k truck l d f d •Recycled subfloor planed down and
used as wood trim.
•Recycled glass to repair existing
windows


•Metals -Copper – fl hi
M t l C flashing, wiring
ii
-Steel/Iron – piping, plumbing pipes, etc
-Aluminum – Electrical drop, wiring to subpanels, gutters, etc
-Nails, etc – Keep a bucket to throw them in it adds up
Nails in,
Omni Source on 23rd St.
•Concrete/Masonry –to East Central Recycling on Centennial
•Cardboard – Lots of cardboard ends up in dumpsters
Cardboard
blue bag it or take it to or take it to East Central Recycling
•Drywall scraps – Roy’s Recycling in Madison County
•Unpainted wood – framing lumber, etc.
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Insulation

WALL INSULATION
•Dense Pack Cellulose - For existing wall cavities
•Cellulose Wall Spray – For walls with studs exposed
•2-part Closes Cell Foam (Sprayed) – For walls with studs exposed

I am not a big fan of fiberglass wall insulation because it is rarely
installed ith ll the
i t ll d with all th areas sealed.
l d

ATTIC INSULATION
•Loose Blown Cellulose – ONLY use on HORIZONTAL applicatoins

Cellulose insulation is a byproduct of the paper industry, often using up
to 75% recycled newsprint. Be sure to check what is used as a fire
retardant and insect retarder. Borates are non-toxic.


Heating/Cooling/Ductwork
Heating Cooling
High efficient (condensing) SEER Rating
furnaces – A MUST HAVE The higher the number the better. Seasonal
Energy Efficiency (AFUE) above 90%, is a
90% Energy Efficient Ratio. Above 14 is
"condensing" or "high efficient" – it recaptures considered high efficient, but shoot for 16 or
most of the water vapor wasted in traditional above.
systems, condensing that vapor and producing
extra-heat. Higher is better up to 96.6%

Some Alternatives Some Alternatives
Wood-pellet and corn furnaces considered Ceiling Fans and Operable Windows
environmental and economical alternatives, easy consider using natural ventilation where
to implement, though less common and involving
p , g g possible to create airflow to help cooling.
old or non-tested technologies. Whole House F
Wh l H Fans are also excellent
l ll t
Direct-vent Wall Gas Furnaces, Stoves and Gas alternatives to artifical cooling
fireplaces Inserts are also excellent alternatives to Drapes, blinds and well places shade trees–
small well insulated spaces Shading is the simplest, most effective way
Solar Assisted hydronic Systems – renewable to cool your home and reduce energy
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energy source, but very G consumption.
Geothermal heat-pumps, whenever their
implementation is possible. Programmable Thermostats: You can save
substantially by turning your thermostat back (down in
winter/up in summer) when you are not home or at night.
/ )


Ductwork Alt
D t k Alternatives
ti
Least Cost Least efficient
Flex Duct
•It bends easily, but at a price.,
•ridges inside slow air flow
•Sags over time (often less than 1 year) to restrict airflow
•Pinches at hangers that cuts off airflow
(slowing, restricting and cutting off airflow forces equipment to run
harder and less efficiently)
y)

Duct Board
•Generally leakier than rigid-metal Ducts
•Prone to punctures
•Seams are prone to failure
Seams
•Susceptible to condensation

Sheet Metal *
•Best air flow, smooth inside walls, least static resistance
•Minimal leakage if seams are sealed
•Resistant to sagging and punctures

Most Cost Most efficient
*Duct of choice for air systems and ONLY choice for energy efficiency

Ductwork D ’
D t k Do’s
2. A curve is more efficient than a 90°
turn. Air moves more efficiently through
the large curve in this return duct than it
would have if the installers had used a
right-angle, or squared-off, fitting to bring
air back to the heating, unit.

3. Up-front work goes a long way—
The most efficient way to deliver air is
through a straight run of round metal
1. Seal your seams with mastic. ductwork,
ductwork so layout planning is helpful
helpful.
Sealing and insulating ducts is Work with the Contractor to determine
extremely important if you want the runs before framing begins
system to perform as designed. Leaky
ducts reduce equipment capacity, can 4.
4 Why run ducts with 72 air in a 32°
72° 32
cause backdrafting of combustion Space? Run duct work in conditioned
byproducts and generally cause air space (inside your thermal barrier) or
to flow in unintended directions wrap in extra insulation if this is
absolutely necessary.
necessary



COMMON DUCTWORK SOLUTIONS:
CONCERNS
• Leaky, torn, and disconnected • Properly sealed ducts
ducts • Registers and grills tightly
• Poorly sealed registers and sealed to ducts
grills • Sealed furnace and filter slot
• Leaks at furnace and filter slot • Keep Ductwork out of
• Kinks in flexible ductwork uninsulated and conditioned
restricting airflow space
• Well-insulated
Well insulated ducts in
unfinished areas
• Avoid flex duct and ductboard


Roofing
Cool Roofs – minimize heat absorption into building and minimize heat island
effect.
•Energy Star Rated Shingles
•Metal Roof – Can be recycled when removed from a building as opposed to
Metal
thrown in a landfill, lighter colors reduce heat island effect
•Green Roof – All natural materials, reduces energy costs for the building,
provides insulation for the building, helps with site water management, reduces
heat island ff t
h t i l d effect.

Example of an EnergyStar rated asphalt
shingle.
shingle No additional cost above standard
dimensional shingle


Windows


Water Management
•Reduction of use – Water conserving fixtures, appliances, low flow and dual
flush toilets. “WaterSense” rating

•Management – rain gardens and surface water strategies to manage storm
Management
water and rain barrels supplement the water used on the garden/lawn

•Recycling – grey water toilets use water from drained from sink to flush
toilets which reduces water consumption
il hi h d i


Material Selection
•Embodied energy – use of local materials
first choice to reuse rather than replace

•Low and no VOC materials – healthier environments
Low
•FSC certified wood
•No urea-formaldahydes

•Rapidly renewable materials – b b
R idl bl t i l bamboo, cork, linoleum
k li l

•Recycled content – Fiber cement siding, post-consumer/industrial waste wood

•Recycled newspaper dense-pack cellulose insulation


A couple of resources . . .
If you would like a copy of the PowerPoint
y py
presentation, please provide me your email address.

Greening Your Home: Sustainable Options
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for Every System In Your House
Clayton Bennett

ecohouse
Sue Roaf

Unbuilding: Salvaging the Architectural
Treasures of Unwanted Houses
f
Bob Falk, Brad Guy


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