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
 Nice
and maintain economically
to live in
 Build
it Beautiful
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)
Radon
Radon 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 Sheeting
Plastic 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 Caulking
All openings in the concrete foundation floor are sealed to reduce soil gas entry into
the home.

Vent Pipe
A 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 Box
An 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, pressedwood products
Urea formaldehyde foam insulation
Synthetic fabrics (especially permanent
press)
Produced through combustion




Natural gas
Wood
Gasoline
Tobacco
Formaldehyde
Health 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.
Formaldehyde
What 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
Formaldehyde
Methods 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 Fans
CODE 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 Considerations
Fan Type
 Propeller Fan – Limited air capacity and noisy
 Axial
Fan – Better air movement but still noisy
 Centrifugal
Blower (Squirrel Cage) The best
Humidistatns
Humidistat
Kitchens
Kitchen Exhaust Fans
CODE (ASHRAE) The American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers
100 CFM Intermittent
Or
25 CFM Continuous
Home Ventilation Institute
Recommendations - Kitchens
 Wall
Mount Hoods – 100 cfm per foot of width
 Island
width
Mount Hoods – 150 cfm per foot of
Rule of Thumb 1:
Air Flow Rules of Thumb
Take the hood area (in square feet) and
multiply it by 75 to get the CFM (cubic feet
per minute) for a wall hood, or multiply it by
100 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 2
 Dry
Bulb Temp. 78°
 Relative Humidity 70%
 Requires a wind
of 250 FPM
(250*60)/5280
MPH = 2.84
speed
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
Cooling:
CONDUCTION
Heating:
CONDUCTION
CONVECTION
RADIATION
CONVECTION
RADIATION
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
energy)


USE of power over TIME (heat
Btu/h x hours = Btu
Watts x hours = Watt hour (Kilowatt x h = kWh)
FUELS
 Natural
Gas - Piped in under pressure
 Liquid Propane (LP) Stored in home
tank
 Fuel Oil
 Electricity
 Coal
 Wood
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
 Noise
suited in extremely cold climate
Radiant Floor Heat
Three types
 Radiant Air Floors
 Electric Radiant
Floors
 Hot Water (Hydronic)
Radiant Floor Heat
Types of installation
Wet 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
Thermostat
Air Handler
Heat Pump
Air Cleaner
Heat Pump and Furnace
Indoor
Cooling
Coil
Thermostat
Furnace
Heat Pump
Air
Cleaner
Cooling
Cooling
Air Conditioner
and
Furnace
Thermostat
Indoor Cooling
Coil
Air Conditioner
Air Cleaner
Furnace
Air Conditioners and Air
Handlers
Thermostat
Air Handler
Air Conditioner
Air Cleaner
Cooling
Whole House Ventilation
Natural Ventilation
Natural Ventilation
Ceiling Fans
Sizing Ceiling Fans
Largest dimension of
room
12 feet or less
12 -16 feet
16 – 17.5 feet
17.5 -18.5 feet
18.5 feet
Minimum Fan Diameter
36-inches
48-inches
52-inches
56-inches
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/o
nline/ccd/nrmhdd.txt
Portland














Month starting
11/1/2011
12/1/2011
1/1/2012
2/1/2012
3/1/2012
4/1/2012
5/1/2012
6/1/2012
7/1/2012
8/1/2012
9/1/2012
10/1/2012
4788
HDD
603
805
749
633
622
384
282
176
69
50
110
305
% Estimated
0
0
0
0.03
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.03
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