sustainable strategies

Reduce Reuse Reclaim and Recycle

Appropriate use of land

Use water and energy efficiently

Enhance human health

Strengthen local economies

Conserve plants and animals

Sustainable Strategies

Protect agricultural, cultural and archeological resources

Build and maintain economically

Nice to live in

Build it Beautiful

Sustainable Strategies

Healthy Indoor Air

Radon * Radon is estimated to cause

about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year, according to EPA's 2003 Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003).  The numbers of deaths from other causes are taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Report and 2002 National Safety Council Reports.

Radon

Zone 1 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) (red zones)

Highest Potential

Zone 2 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (orange zones)

Moderate Potential

Zone 3 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L (yellow zones)

Low Potential

Radon

What is Radon? A radioactive gas that

comes from the natural decay of uranium and is found in nearly all soils.

Radon Radon gets into the home through

Cracks in concrete floors Construction joints Cracks in walls Gaps in suspended floors Gaps around service pipes Cavities inside walls The water supply (wells typically)

RadonRadon Resistant Construction Techniques Gas Permeable Layer

This layer is placed beneath the slab or flooring system to allow the soil gas to move freely underneath the house. In many cases, the material used is a 4-inch layer of clean gravel. 

Plastic SheetingPlastic sheeting is placed on top of the gas permeable layer and under the slab to help prevent the soil gas from entering the home. In crawlspaces, the sheeting is placed under the crawlspace floor. 

Sealing and CaulkingAll openings in the concrete foundation floor are sealed to reduce soil gas entry into the home. 

Vent PipeA 3- or 4-inch gas-tight or PVC pipe (commonly used for plumbing) runs from the gas permeable layer through the house to the roof to safely vent radon and other soil gases above the house. 

Junction BoxAn electrical junction box is installed in case an electric venting fan is needed later.

Volatile Organic Compounds Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are

emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects.

VOC’s Paints Lacquers Paint Strippers Cleaning Supplies Pesticides Building Materials Furnishings Glues Adhesives………

Health Effects Eye nose and throat irritation Headaches Loss of coordination Nausea Liver damage Kidney damage Central Nervous system damage Cancer

Formaldehyde What is Formaldehyde? Formaldehyde is a low cost and common

chemical that has a strong pickle-like odor. It is currently used in thousands of products as an adhesive, bonding agent and solvent.

Formaldehyde Where is it found?

Particle board, plywood, paneling, pressed-wood products

Urea formaldehyde foam insulation Synthetic fabrics (especially permanent press) Produced through combustion

Natural gas Wood Gasoline Tobacco

FormaldehydeHealth Effects Vary Eye, nose and throat irritation Coughing, headaches, dizziness, and nausea

The effects of long-term exposure are not well known

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has listed formaldehyde as a chemical that can possibly cause cancer in people.

FormaldehydeWhat is an acceptable level in the home?0.10 PPM or less

If a higher level is measured steps should be taken to mitigate the problem

FormaldehydeMethods for lowering levels Remove the source Treat the source Ventilate Control the climate Allow products to off-gas

How are Radon and Formaldehyde Detected?

Radon Detection Kits www.radonzone.com

Formaldehyde www.rkiinstruments.com/pages/fp30.htm

Bathroom Exhaust FansCODE for Baths with bathing or spas facilities:

Minimum 80 CFM Intermittent Ventilation required or

Continuous Ventilation System at 20 cfm

CODE for Toilet Rooms without bathing or spas facilities:

3SF Minimum Window ½ of which must be operable

Minimum 50 CFM Intermittent Ventilation

Home Ventilation Institute Recommendations - Baths Bathrooms to 80SF - 80CFM fan (Code)

Bathrooms 81sf to 100 sf – 1 cfm per square foot (~ 8 air changes/hour)

Bathrooms over 100 sf add the CFM for each fixture Allow 50 CFM per standard toilets, shower and steam

shower (put on timer) Allow 100 CFM per Whirlpool, garden and hot tubs

HVI recommends continuous ventilations as augmentation to intermittent ventilation

Bathroom Exhaust Fans A toilet in its own enclosure should have its own fan

Fans approved for wet areas should be placed over or very near the shower or tub when possible.

Bath doors should be undercut at least 3/4”

Leave fan on for 20 minutes after use of the bathroom

Ventilation ConsiderationsFan Type Propeller Fan – Limited air capacity and noisy

Axial Fan – Better air movement but still noisy

Centrifugal Blower (Squirrel Cage) The best

HumidistatnsHumidistat

Kitchens

Kitchen Exhaust FansCODE (ASHRAE) The American Society of

Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers

100 CFM IntermittentOr25 CFM Continuous

Home Ventilation Institute Recommendations - Kitchens Wall Mount Hoods – 100 cfm per foot of width

Island Mount Hoods – 150 cfm per foot of width

Air Flow Rules of ThumbRule of Thumb 1:Take the hood area (in square feet) andmultiply it by 75 to get the CFM (cubic feetper minute) for a wall hood, or multiply it by100 for an island hood.

Rule of Thumb 2:Allow 15 air changes per hour (ACH) for the kitchen.

Take the kitchen volume (length x width x height) and divide by 4 to get the required CFM.

Rule of Thumb 3:

Allow 1 CFM per 100 BTU's per hour (BTUH) heat output.

Take the output of the oven and cooktop (if together or close) and divide by 100 to get the required CFM.

Rule of Thumb 4: (this applies to commercial type ranges)

Allow 100 CFM per linear foot of hood. Take the perimeter of the hood and multiply it by 100 to get

the required CFM.

Which rule of thumb is the best one to use?

The most popular rules of thumb are #1 and #3. We typically use rule of thumb #1 when we size fans.

NKBA Recommendations

Ventilation Calculator

Why Ventilate?To provide enough air to keep occupants health

To remove odors

To dilute indoor pollutants

To lower relative humidity

Negative Aspects Typical home

Gas furnace – vents to outside Gas Hot Water Heater – vents to outside 2 bath fans – vent to outside 1 kitchen ventilator – vents to outside

What happens when the home is winterized, windows closed, doors closed and all of these ventilators are running?

Furnace

Gas dryer

Gas Hot Water Heater

Hot Water Heater Vent

-Negative Pressure Where does the makeup air come from?

Hot Water Heater Vent

Negative Pressure What happens when we tighten the

house up?

How Tight is Too Tight? We need .35 air changes per hour. If less then

mechanical ventilation must be used

1500 SF house with 8’-0” ceilings

What is the total air volume inside the house? 12000 CF How many CFM do we need to move? 4200/60 = 70 CFM

Heat Recovery Ventilator

HRV

HRV

ERV Energy Recovery Ventilator Energy Recovery Ventilator Used in the southern states where

humidity is a problem Works the same as a HRV but ~ 9% of

the stale air mixes with the fresh air to adjust humidity.

Bioclimate Chart

Example 1 Dry Bulb 73° Relative Humidity 50%

In the zone

Example 2 Dry Bulb Temp. 78° Relative Humidity 70%

Example 2Dry Bulb Temp.

78°Relative Humidity

70%

Requires a wind speed of 250 FPM(250*60)/5280MPH = 2.84

Example 3 Dry Bulb Temp. = 50°F Relative Humidity 55%

Example 4 Dry Bulb Temp. = 64°F Relative Humidity 40%

What Does All This Mean?

Seasonal Enemies

RADIATION

CONDUCTION

CONVECTION

RADIATION

CONVECTIONCONDUCTION

Cooling: Heating:

British Thermal Units The basic measure of heat The amount of heat needed to raise one

pound of water one degree Fahrenheit

BTU =

A kitchen match contains about 1 BTU of Heat Energy

Heat Content of Fuels 1 Kilowatt-hour electricity = 3,413 Btu 1 cubic foot of natural gas = 1,025 Btu 1 gallon fuel oil = 138,700 Btu 1 gallon kerosene = 135,000 Btu 1 ton of coal = 27,000,000 BTU 1 gallon LPG = 91,000 Btu 1 pound LPG = 21,500 Btu

Energy and Power Power is the INSTANTANEOUS use of energy

Think of it as POTENTIAL use, whether it is running or not (engine, light bulb)

Btu/h Watts, Kilowatts (Watts = Volts x Amps)

the amount of voltage across a circuit x the current through the circuit

Energy is USE of power over TIME (heat energy) Btu/h x hours = Btu Watts x hours = Watt hour (Kilowatt x h = kWh)

FUELSNatural Gas - Piped in under

pressure Liquid Propane (LP) Stored in home

tankFuel OilElectricityCoalWood

Forced Air Furnaces Gas AFUE - annual fuel-utilization-efficiency rating measured as a percentage

The higher the percentage, the more heat the furnace can ring from each therm of gas—and the lower the environmental impact of its emissions.

The lowest allowed is 78%

The most efficient models have an AFUE of about 97 percent—or near-total efficiency.

Energy Star Qualified Minimum AFUE of 85% to 90%

HEPA Filter

Standard Efficiency Furnace Steady State Efficiency or Combustion

Efficiency ~80% Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiently

(~65%)

Standard Efficiency Furnace Incomplete Combustion 0.5 On-Cycle Stack Loss 20% to 25% Pilot Light Loss 6% Off Cycle Loss 0-10% Jacket Loss 0-0.2% Cycling Losses 0-10% Duct Losses 0-40%

Actual Heating System Delivered? 40%-65%

High Efficiency Furnace Steady State Efficiency or Combustion

Efficiency ~90%

Annual Fuel Efficiency (AFUE Rate) ~90%

High Efficiency Furnace Incomplete Combustion 0.5 On-Cycle Stack Loss <10% Pilot Light Loss 0% Off Cycle Loss 0% Jacket Loss 0-0.2% Cycling Losses 0-10% Duct Losses 0-40%

Actual Heating System Delivered? 70%-90%

Two Measures of Efficiency in Heat Pumps HSPF – Heating SEER - Cooling

Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) BTU’s produced/watt-hours

Heat Pumps manufactured after 2005 must have a HSPF of at least 7.7

The Most efficient have a HSFP of 10

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio(SEER)

Power output/Power input The higher the number the more efficient

All Air Conditioning units sold after January 2006 must have a SEER rating of at least 13.

Energy Star central air conditioning must have a SEER rating of 14

Window air conditioners are exempt from this rating

Updating from a 9 SEER rated system to a 13 can save 30% on your energy consumption

Pros and Cons of Heat Pumps Electrically Powered

Can be used in conjunction with a forced air furnace

Not well suited in extremely cold climate

Noise

Radiant Floor HeatThree types Radiant Air Floors

Electric Radiant Floors

Hot Water (Hydronic)

Radiant Floor HeatTypes of installationWet Installations Large thermal mass of a concrete slab floor lightweight concrete over a wooden subfloor Dry Installations Where the installer "sandwiches" the radiant floor

tubing between two layers of plywood or attaches the tubing under the finished floor or subfloor.

Radiant Floor Heat Air Heated Radiant Floors Not

recommended for residential applications

Electric Radiant Floors -

Electric Radiant Heat - Wet Installation

Wet Installation

Wet Installation

Dry Installation

Dry Installation

Hydronic Radiant Heat

Wet Installation PEX piping in Concrete (thick slab)

Wet Installation Thin Slab Application Gypcrete over

plywd

Heat Pump and Air Handler

Heat Pump

Air Handler

Air Cleaner

Thermostat

Heat Pump and FurnaceIndoor Cooling Coil

Heat PumpFurnace

Air Cleaner

Thermostat

Cooling

Cooling

Air Conditioner and Furnace

Air Conditioner

Furnace

Indoor Cooling Coil

Thermostat

Air Cleaner

Air Conditioners and Air Handlers

Thermostat

Air Conditioner

Air Handler

Air Cleaner

Cooling

Whole House Ventilation

Natural Ventilation

Natural Ventilation

Ceiling FansSizing Ceiling FansLargest dimension of room

Minimum Fan Diameter

12 feet or less 36-inches12 -16 feet 48-inches16 – 17.5 feet 52-inches17.5 -18.5 feet 56-inches18.5 feet 2 fans

http://www.matthewsfanco.com

Heating Degree Days Heating Degree Days are a measure of

how cold your climate is. If the average outside temperature for a

day is 1 degree less than the inside temperature (68°), then you would accumulate 1 degree day on that day.

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/nrmhdd.txt

Portland Month starting HDD % Estimated 11/1/2011 603 0 12/1/2011 805 0 1/1/2012 749 0 2/1/2012 633 0.03 3/1/2012 622 0 4/1/2012 384 0 5/1/2012 282 0 6/1/2012 176 0 7/1/2012 69 0 8/1/2012 50 0 9/1/2012 110 0 10/1/2012 305 0.03 4788

UA Calculation R = (A * Δ T) / (3.413 * W)

W = Watts 3.413 = Constant (BTU/Watt) ΔT = Change in temp A = Area in Square Feet

R = (A * Δ T) / (3.413 * W)

Outside Temperature = 35° Heat source = 100 Watts Total Area = 520 SF Temperature inside = 55°

Calculate the R Value for the given area

R30

R = (A * Δ T) / (3.413 * W)

Outside Temperature = 20° Insulation = R30 Total Area = 3520 SF Home 30x40x8 Temperature inside = 68°

Calculate wattage of the heat source for the given area

1650.16Watts