Green Real Estate
NSCC - RES 130
Week 4 Energy Performance
Cate O’dahl, Instructor
Recap Site & Water
Relationship of the Building to Water Issues on Site
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Critical Areas
Site Hydrology
Stormwater Runoff
Low Impact Development
Green Landscaping Design
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Site Protection
Water Conservation
Green Products for Site & Water
Built Green and Site & Water
Talking about Site & Water for
Real Estate Clients
Clearwater Commons Site Plan
Bothell, WA
Energy Performance Overview
Energy Performance is a complex
and vast subject
Tonight’s class is meant as an
overview applied to information
pertinent to green real estate
Energy Performance Overview
Energy Performance and Indoor Air
Quality are closely related
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Seal It Tight, Ventilate Right
Improvements in energy performance from
tightly sealing the envelope can affect
the indoor air quality within the envelope
Energy Performance
and the MLS
NW Energy Star Homes Program - 3rd
Environmental Certification in the NWMLS
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http://www.northwestenergystar.com
ENERGY STAR® homes are better built, more
comfortable homes that save you money on your utility
bills every month. Every Northwest ENERGY STAR
certified home has been built to meet energy efficient
guidelines set forth by the Environmental Protection
Agency. From energy efficient windows to advanced
heating and cooling systems, ENERGY STAR homes
guarantee greater savings, comfort and peace-of-mind.
Simply stated, ENERGY STAR homes are built better
for you and the environment.
NW Energy Star Homes
Features + Benefits
Properly installed insulation
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Comfort, Less Noise
Air Tight Home
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Eliminates Drafts, Improved IAQ
Energy Efficient Windows
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Save Money, Comfort,
Reduced Fading for furnishings
Efficient, Correctly Sized
Mechanical Equipment
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Comfort, Lasts Longer, Saves Money
NW Energy Star Homes
Features + Benefits
Mastic Sealed Ductwork
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Healthier Air Quality
Combustion Safety
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Protects Occupants from CO2
Lighting
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Produces greater well-being
Energy Star Built-in Appliances
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Saves Money
NW Energy Star –
Builder Option Package
NW Energy Star Program is Different
from the National Program due to
the greater commitment to energy
efficiency existing in the Pacific Northwest
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NW Energy Star
homes are at least
15% more efficient
than code-built
new homes
NW Energy Star –
Builder Option Package
Prescriptive Path
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NW Energy Star describes the goal,
the builder chooses the path to achieves the goal
Available for Single Family and Multi-Family
Must work with Energy Star Verifier
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Third-party verification
Tax Credits and Incentives May Apply
Why Energy Efficiency?
Saves Residents Money
Reduces use of Fossil Fuels
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More than 90% of all the oil that’s been
consumed since the dawn of the
petroleum age (mid-1880’s) has been
consumed during the last 50 years
Reduces Greenhouse Gases
How to Apply Reductions in
Greenhouse Gases to everyday living?
Remember: Everyone listens to
WII-FM (What’s In It For Me?)
Put Global Issue into Everyday
Terms that Emphasize what
Everyone can do
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Replacing 10 (ten) 75-watt incandescents
with 23-watt CFLS reduces almost 1 ton
of CO2 gases per year
Energy upgrade from standard insulation
levels to superinsulation reduces almost
20 tons of CO2 gases per year
Super Insulation
Most Efficiencies are Gained by
Integrated Design
see page 59 in your textbook
Airtight Envelope
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Sealing all penetrations
Air barrier
Innovative Envelopes
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Advanced Framing
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)
Strawbale
House as a System
Insulation Options
Materials
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Most common – fiberglass batts – can be IAQ
problem when not properly installed
Cotton Batts – can have recycled content
Blown-in Cellulose
Sprayed Foam
Rigid Foam Boards
Insulation & Performance
Performance –
Actual energy performance can
be different from the expected
energy performance if the
insulation material is
not installed properly
Thermal Bridging –
Insulation effectiveness also
depends on the structural
support that is not covered by
insulation - wood, and
especially steel studs reduce
the R-value, the materials
resistance to heat flow
Moisture Control
Too much moisture and
moisture that gets trapped
in the wall or ceiling
cavities can lead to:
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Structural deterioration
Degraded insulation
performance
Serious indoor air quality
problems
Appropriate strategies vary
depending on climate,
envelope type, and
condition of the home
Proper Moisture Control
Prevent plumbing leaks
Stop water from leaking
into envelope
Prevent condensation from
occurring on surfaces
inside the house
Block air leakage through
the envelope
Slow down diffusion of
water vapor
Example of a Rain Screen
Windows
Provide views, and also function
Functionality depends on climate and
location of the windows in the home
Integral to Passive Solar
Related to ventilation
U-Values measure how much
heat flows through a material
given time and temperature
gradients – are inversely
proportional to R-values
Heating Equipment
Integrated Design allows for properly sized
heating equipment – it is possible to
dramatically downsize heating equipment
Types of Heating Equipment
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Ducted Systems (Forced Air) –
Gas or Propane Furnace or Heat Pumps
Hydronic Systems
Radiant-Floor
Electric
Heating Efficiency
Forced Air Distribution can be very
inefficient due to duct leakage, which
can degrade overall efficiency by 30%
or more
Ducted systems also
can have indoor air
quality concerns
Hydronic systems
Base board hot-water heating
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Offers comfortable, even heat, quieter than
forced air, requires less energy to move the heat
from the boiler, and allows for easy zoning
Radiant floor heat
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Requires specific flooring options, which the
customer may not want, comfortable and quiet
Expensive to install,
Is slow to respond and can frustrate consumer,
which can lead to overheating when they crank up
the system to encourage more heat
Electric systems
Electric currently has two options –
electric resistance and heat pumps
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Initial installation is less expensive
Currently, an
expensive option
for operation
Easy to zone
Water Heating, Appliance, & Lighting
Green Products for Energy Efficiency
Green Products for Energy Efficiency
Caulk Gun
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Cheapest way to seal penetrations
Flashing
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Is the most effective way to seal windows to the
frame and building extensions to the frame
Programmable thermostats
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Help operators manage heating and cooling
CFLs
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Simple easy way to conserve energy if they
replace incandescents
Green Products for Energy Efficiency
Moisture meters
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Help you avoid wet building materials that can
add to structural failure and add to poor IAQ
Solar hot water heating
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A very affordable option in the Pacific NW
Photovoltaic panels
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Convert to electricity to run the homes appliances
and systems
Are expensive to install at this time, however
government rebates may be available to offset
installation costs
Performance Testing
Home Performance Washington
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pezKEkBIhqA
Innovative Strategies
for Better Energy Efficiency and Use
Applying Learning Objectives
to Built Green® Checklist
Section Three – Energy Efficiency
Six Sections
Energy
Pre-Requisites
430 +/- points Possible
Extra Credit for
Innovation
Built Green® - Energy Sections
Section – Example
Envelope – Build a Net Zero Energy House
Heating/Cooling Systems – Install Heat Recovery
Ventilator
Water Heating – Install Tankless Hot Water Heater
Lighting – Use Light Tubes for Natural Lighting
Efficient Design – Use Building and Landscaping Plans that
Reduce Heating/Cooling Loads Naturally
Alternative Energy – House Powered by Photovoltaics
Green Real Estate
Your job as Real Estate Professionals is to understand the
distinctions and how to communicate those distinctions
to your clients
Save on Time, Money, and the Homeowner’s Back!
Add Market Value
Protect Environment
Built Green® Energy Efficiency
Checklist Activity
Left Side of the Room
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Break into Pairs
Review the Checklist
to Find Energy
Efficiency Action
Items that Help
Support Improved
Indoor Air Quality
Right Side of the Room
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Break into Pairs
Review the Checklist to
Find Energy Efficiency
Action Items that Allow
for Points in Multiple
Sections, i.e. Energy and
Site & Water, Energy and
IAQ, Energy & Materials
Next Class
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor Air Quality issues
Operations & Maintenance
Next Class – Assignments
Read Your Green Home
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Chapter Nine