Environment and Politics (IHSS 1966-02) Advocacy Project
Fall Semester 2009
Paul Chromik
Bart Cromwell
Thomas Felice
Kevin Newman
Zhixun Wang
Table of Contents
1. Paper: Page 2-14
-Paper Works Cited: Page 15
2. Appendix Transition Sheet: Page 16
3. Imagining Change Memo: Page 17-19
4. Imagining Solutions Memo: Page 20-21
5. Kevin’s Annotations: Page 22-39
-Kevin’s Works Cited: Page 40-41
6. Bart’s Annotations: Page 42-51
-Bart’s Works Cited: Page 52-53
7. Zhixun’s Annotations: Page 54-64
-Zhixun’s Works Cited: Page 65-66
8. Tom’s Annotations: Page 67-83
-Tom’s Works Cited: Page 84-85
9. Paul’s Annotations: Page 86-88
-Paul’s Works Cited: Page 89
10. Organizing Expertise Memo: Page 90-91
11. Stakeholder Analysis Memo: Page 92-93
12. Pitching a Project Memo: Page 93-94
13. Global Works Cited: Page 95-98
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Opening:
Imagine this. A student is sitting in a classroom on a crisp, 48-degree autumn day in
Troy, NY. The classroom is sweltering hot, and the student doesn’t exactly know why. The
student looks around, and all of the windows are open. One might ask, “How is this possible?” It
seems only logical that with the cold air outside, the temperature of the classroom would be, if
anything, a bit chilly. The answer to this question lies within the old radiators that lie front of the
windows, the poor temperature controls on those radiators, and the windows themselves. This
poor student sits in the room, on the brink of sweating, as heat flies out of the window, and the
room remains hot. The temperature is unbearable, and it is impossible for the student to escape
for at least the next hour and fifty minutes. Is it fair that this student has to suffer in a sauna
because of inefficient heating and archaic windows? Just as important as the students comfort is
the substantial amount of money that is being dumped out of those open windows. One might
believe this to be impossible or improbable seeing as it is occurring at Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute, a university that is known for being on the “cutting edge” of technology, but it’s the
poignant reality. It is an embarrassment for RPI to allow the very classrooms in which
sustainability and efficiency are taught to be such a blatant example of inefficiency. Such a
situation is ludicrous, and unacceptable. This project sets out to improve the temperature
regulation and efficiency of many of RPI’s buildings.
The situation faced by RPI students deserves empathy, because every day, thousands of
these students share this uncomfortable experience. The fact is that at RPI, heat is carelessly
wasted, due to the inefficient, counterproductive Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
systems that exist. It’s not very hard to cite examples of this issue. For example, many students
have classes in the massive Sage building at RPI. Even on the coolest of days and despite the
windows remaining open, the rooms remain hot. This problem can be solved in a very sound
way. This project proposes a plan to RPI’s administration that will improve the efficiency of
RPI’s buildings through large scale renovations. The state of these buildings is not only a topical
issue, but an economic issue as well. A significant amount of money is wasted by the energy
inefficiencies of RPI least recently renovated buildings. With the implementation of the
following plan, the goal of efficient heating and temperature control at RPI is made much more
feasible. Once it is proven that this plan can be used to convince an ordinarily stagnant
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administration that change in the form of renovation is necessary, this plan can be replicated at
other institutions. This makes it a truly adaptable and appealing way to not only make buildings
more comfortable, but also less harsh on the environment.
Aims:
RPI truly is an aesthetically pleasurable campus. The old, elegant buildings add a distinct
character and culture that is lacking in most college campuses. These old buildings are
irreplaceable, but in their current state, many of them are impractical. Poor temperature
regulation makes classrooms uncomfortable, and windows allow painstakingly generated heat to
escape these inefficient relics of the past. College students, particularly those at RPI, pay for
some of the best education available. They have the right to sit in a comfortable classroom.
They should not have to tolerate discomfort that a poorly regulated HVAC system causes. It is
simply necessary that a student should be able to sit in a classroom where the temperature is so
comfortable that the windows can remain closed, so that no outside noise impedes the learning
process. Making these obvious necessities a reality is not so far-fetched. By renovating the
older and most neglected buildings on campus, RPI will not only make their students and faculty
happier, they will save energy and money. They will also contribute to the environment by
reducing their greenhouse emissions. Everyone loves a win-win situation, and that is what our
goal of renovating the older buildings on the RPI campus is.
Though RPI is one of the nation’s top technical schools, it is sadly nowhere near the top
of the list when it comes to energy usage. RPI has been known to score poorly on national
surveys of energy use on college campuses. This is a depressing truth because the students that
RPI turns out are capable of engineering solutions to all of the campus’ efficiency problems, and
they do so in their careers. This project will help bring RPI back to a prominent position on
national energy reports for college campuses. It will make RPI a national leader and example not
only in the caliber of students it generates, but in the efficiency of its buildings.
In a broad perspective, the style of this project is simple. It is a proposal for the
renovation of existing structures on the RPI campus. When the goals of this project are complete,
the campus will essentially look and “feel” the same as it did when the project started. However,
in a focused perspective, this project is quite complicated, and is best tackled in three steps.
First, the need for this project must be proven in an analytical manner. Second, the facts that
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show how renovated buildings will be more cost effective than, and at least as popular (from a
PR standpoint) as the new construction projects that are currently occurring or have recently
occurred on campus must be brought to the attention of the administration. Thirdly, the lessons
learned from the project must be compiled and spread to other institutions so that they can also
implement necessary, energy and cost saving renovations.
The first point is perhaps the most important. This entire project is to be driven by a
demand for change. Though the discomfort of the classrooms from the first-hand perspective of
many students and faculty is clear, these members of the RPI community must be polled to prove
the extent of the discomfort experienced in the classroom. First-hand experience with no other
support will certainly not be enough to convince a stagnant administration. The problem must
also be approached from the “embarrassment” factor. Presenting readily available images of
snow covered RPI buildings with their windows wide open and window air-conditioners still
installed will show the administration how poorly the efficiency of the campus’ buildings is
viewed from the eye of the public. In the event of a non-responsive administration, alumni will
be contacted with similar data. Since the campus gets a great deal of money for improvement
from its alumni, alumni support of this project will certainly help “get the ball rolling” in the
administration.
The second point is where the depth of the renovation project comes into play. The most
neglected buildings will be put at the top of the list for renovations, and moderately neglected
buildings will also be placed on the list, but not with the same priority. That way, if the
administration has to choose due to funding limitations, the buildings in the worst shape will be
repaired first. The three buildings at the top of the list are the Russell Sage Laboratory, the
Ricketts Building, and West hall. The three that are also worthy of making the list are the
Carnegie Building, Amos Eaton Hall, and the Greene Building. Renovations will revolve around
efficiency and comfort. The buildings will need to receive new energy efficient windows, new
thermostats and the necessary control systems to divert heat only to where it is needed. New
insulation and caulk to seal cracks in the old masonry work will also be needed. With this, the
statistics on how much RPI can save on operating costs by renovating their buildings will be
presented. Two articles about energy usage in a home provide an order of magnitude
approximation for how much energy RPI can save by the proposed renovations.
According to
the web article “Enjoy the Magic of High Efficiency Windows”, up to 50 % of the heat energy
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lost in a home can be contributed to leaky, inefficient windows (Goering 1). According to the
web article “Programmable Thermostats Will Save Money”, a household that installs a
programmable thermostat that simply lowers the heat for 8 hours a day by 10-15 % will save 15
% on their energy bill. Statistics like these will motivate the administration to focus money away
from landscaping projects that do nothing to help classroom comfort and energy usage and
towards a major renovation project.
This project, on a narrow scale, targets the RPI’s staff, students, faculty, and
administration. These members of RPI’s community will benefit from more comfortable learning
conditions, and an increased sense of pride in their school which can now flaunt its efficiency.
The administration will benefit as operating costs of the campus will drop, allowing them to
allocate more funds towards campus expansion, student scholarships, etc. They will also benefit
from the positive press reference the school will be getting because of its new efficiency program.
This project would be short lived and have a very small impact on the world if it was not
for the third point. On a large scale, this project targets all institutions that operate older
buildings. RPI is simply a place from which this project can be launched. Preliminary estimates
from some of the data shown above lead to the conclusion of a 65% improvement in energy
efficiency in the buildings that this is applied to. Assuming that this procedure would be done to
the worst quarter of the buildings on campus, RPI can see an overall energy improvement of
16.25 %. This is significant in an institution the size of RPI. Once success at RPI is proven, the
methods used at RPI can be applied at other institutions leading ultimately to a nation filled with
energy efficient institutions; a world leader in efficiency.
Rationale:
This project is an investment for the future of RPI. In this institution we educate students
to become the world’s latest generation of successful and responsible citizens. This project will
set a precedent with RPI’s students by showing them that through a “green investment”, they can
become more socially responsible while adding comfort and other benefits to their everyday
lives. Ann Rappaport, a lecturer at Tufts School of Engineering comments that “The value of
greening goes well beyond resources saved; greening generates interest and invites members of
the academic community to think differently about societal values, goods consumed, and the
infrastructure for shelter and mobility, raising questions about how human needs can be met in
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new ways” (Green building in the United States 1). After the project is completed, both students
and faculty alike will feel the increase in comfort and see the dramatic cut in the cost of utilities.
They should be inspired to take this project out into the world to make a difference far bigger
than an energy efficiency improvement just at RPI.
The project will most certainly green our campus and reduce the cost of utilities. If the
proposed buildings are renovated, a huge impact would be made. Swinerton, Incorporated,
installed direct digital controls (DDC) that manage automated systems at their headquarters. The
control system has dedicated internet access, allowing facility staff to continuously monitor onsite temperature, CO2, and humidity -- even from remote locations. This system maximizes
intake of outside air and runs the HVAC system to meet actual loads rather than anticipated
demand, saving over 30 percent on utility bills. Cypress Semiconductor was able to improve
indoor air quality and save approximately 881,552 kWh of electricity and 73,590 therms of
natural gas each year. Total cost savings equals to 147,955 dollars per year (Non-profit
dramatically Cuts, 1). The project will also bring publicity to RPI, and is an effective way of
mitigating global warming. RPI will be recognized positively nationwide for the smart
investment that will make it more sustainable and energy efficient.
One of the reasons that people tend to avoid green renovation projects is that they are
under the impression that these projects will take a long time to produce tangible results. This
damaging notion needs to be dismissed. The Empire State Building has recently announced its
plans for a renovation. The project mainly consists of replacing old windows and the HVAC
system, exactly what is proposed in this advocacy project. The total cost of the project will be
around $20 million but it is expected to save the building's owners $4.4 million annually in
energy costs. This means that the whole investment will be paid back by the 5th year. These
renovations will also reduce the building’s carbon dioxide emissions by 105,000 metric tons,
which is equal to the elimination of the annual emissions of 17,500 cars. (Empire State Building
goes Green 1). The Burnham Institute, a non-profit organization managed to cut their cost of
utilities by $290,000 per year by just updating their HVAC system. The short payback time for
their investment is only 1.34 years. Like former president Bill Clinton said during the
announcement of plan to retrofit the Empire State Building in 2009, “We have to prove its good
economics, and we have to prove we know how to do it… the only way to get property owners
worldwide to make over their buildings is by setting an attention-getting example” (Empire State
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Building goes Green, 1). There are few better places than the empire state building to model a
project like this for office buildings, and there are few better campuses than “technology oriented”
RPI to model a project like this for colleges.
Implementation:
By carrying out this project, RPI will save money, and bring itself attention. However the
question still remains as to how to get this plan approved. The project will be centered on
improving the HVAC systems in RPI’s most neglected buildings. This involves retrofitting these
old buildings with new windows and insulation, and improving the temperature control units in
each room, as mentioned before. Installing the thermostats will allow the heating system to run at
a lower power, as the room will be kept at a reasonable temperature. The new windows and
caulk will prevent the heat from escaping the buildings, making it even less necessary for RPI’s
central heating system to be run at full capacity. To get the approval of these renovations, a
majority of the campus must agree that they are necessary. Once a majority of RPI’s student
population is in support of this project, the student government will be approached to gain their
support and start a campaign to spread this idea. The student government will support this
project because it is their job to represent the student body as a whole. Once the student body and
student government are in support of this, the faculty and maintenance staff can be approached.
They will support these renovations because the renovations would make their jobs more
enjoyable due to the better room conditions. Following that, the school’s administration will be
approached and presented with the argument that the renovation of the institutes’ older buildings
will save the school money. While the costs may seem daunting at first, the school will actually
be saving money in as little as 3 years after the completion of the renovations. Once RPI’s
administration is in support of this, they will pick which companies will perform the renovations.
After that, the only remaining challenge is actually installing the new technologies, and that will
be covered by hired professionals.
Expertise
To revamp a whole building (the Russell Sage Laboratory, for example), a large
construction company must be hired. It would be best if this company have experience in the
retrofitting of large old buildings such as the companies who turned the factories of downtown
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Troy, NY into apartment and office buildings. These companies have the experience and
expertise needed to renovate old buildings. They will know what subcontractors need to be hired,
what order the work needs to be done in, what replacement systems work best, and where to buy
these systems at the best prices. Ultimately the school’s administration will hire who they want,
but it would serve them well to choose a company with this type of experience.
However, it may be a bit premature to be speaking of the required construction and
contracting expertise. Before this is thought about, the administration here at RPI must be
persuaded that it is in their best interest to “green up” the older buildings on campus. To do this,
the people that endure the poor conditions of the buildings who are unwilling to continue to do
so will be mobilized. These people must be willing to do something to change the conditions,
and if there are enough people, the workload will be light on each person. Individuals must send
complaints to the administration to make their displeasure with the conditions that they have to
learn and work in clear. For a major change to occur there must be a mobilization for change
from all levels of people affected. This includes the maintenance staff which is forced to keep
aging systems running with patchwork, and short-term, inefficient repairs.
With a majority of the people affected involved, the filing of a mass complaint is possible.
This will have a much greater effect then if the complaint was proposed only by a group of selfrighteous students. To ensure that the proposal has the good will of all those involved behind it,
there should be a consortium consisting of some members of the different groups that would like
to see the changes enacted. A member of the student government, a professor who has
experience with green building technology, a member of the maintenance staff who has
knowledge of new and more efficient heating systems would be useful people to have on this
panel (Green Building 1).
Once everyone outside the administration supports the proposal, it is simply a matter of
time until the administration supports it as well. The program would need to be signed into
effect by the administration in order to be set into motion. A feasibility study would likely be
performed, and the results of this study would determine the decision as to whether or not RPI
would fund the project. The study itself would determine which of the RPI buildings would meet
the criteria for renovation, and the school will act accordingly.
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Funding:
The initial cost of this project might cause some worries. It can be approximated in an
order of magnitude fashion by basing RPI’s renovations on the costs of existing renovations
mentioned above. The approximate cost will be between 1 and 10 million dollars, depending on
how many buildings are revamped. However, there are many incentives at the state and federal
level that can be taken advantage of. On the website
http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/tools/funding.htm#guides, the United States EPA provides a
list of National, State and Local programs that Institutions can use to fund their green renovation
projects.
In the 2007 fiscal year, The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE)
financial assistance program paid 574 million dollars to businesses, industries, universities and
others to help fund their energy efficiency projects. This is an important source of funding that
RPI could seek. The state of New York also offers many utility rebates that RPI can take
advantage of, such as a rebate of up to 100,000 dollars for upgrading an old building. There are
also rebates on energy and natural gas efficiency from the National Grid Electric and Gas
Company.
Even though the initial cost of the project may sound a bit scary, one must consider the
long term benefits of this program. HVAC systems account for roughly 41 percent of a
buildings total energy usage. Most centralized HVAC systems are not set to their optimal
performance capabilities; therefore a great deal of energy is wasted. We can save 50% on energy
consumption by simply fine tuning and adjusting control settings, and modifying existing
equipment (Controls and Load Reduction 1).
The payback for this project is also very quick. Contrary to the popular belief that green
renovation will take a very long time to break even, HVAC upgrades are effective investments
with a quick pay back. As mentioned before, the Empire State Building is currently going
through an HVAC renovation and the total cost of the project will be paid back within 5 years.
The Burnham Institute managed to cut their cost of utilities by $290,000 per year by only
updating their HVAC system. The quick pay back for their investment is only 1.34 years
(Nonprofit dramatically cuts 1).
At this point it is important to remember that RPI has a nearly 200 year history. This
means that RPI has a vast “sea” of alumni to harvest money from. Many alumni would love to
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see their campus lead in practically any way possible. Once the problems with the older
buildings on campus are made clear to the alumni, many would be embarrassed to see the
campus continue operating in this manner. They will be absorbed into this project just like the
stakeholders mentioned below, and their desire for change will help bring money into the project.
Stakeholders
There are quite a few stakeholders involved with this issue, even at the local RPI level.
These are the individuals who will be affected most directly by this project. The largest
stakeholder group is the student body. Most decisions made by the school’s administration will
directly affect the student body either immediately or over time. However, the students do not
have the influential power over what decisions the school administration makes, so they turn to a
more influential stakeholder, the student government. The student government has a great deal
of power in their hands, as they are the elected representatives of the majority of the student body.
However, some constraints of the student government are that its members change, and as a
result do not have much experience. They also may lack the will and/or economic requirements
to act fully on an issue. This leads to the next stakeholder, the school’s administration. The
administration is the most important stakeholder. Without the administration, the school could
not make any decisions. The decisions the administration makes also bring publicity to the
school. The faculty, another stakeholder, has persuasion power but its members do not have
enough power to make decisions, and they also tend to speak against decisions that would hurt
them financially (for example, a school budget cut). Maintenance and utility companies also play
a role in the decision to make RPI’s buildings “greener”. This is because the school’s
maintenance workers would have the best idea of how the new technology would work in the
school, as they are most familiar with the school’s systems. The utility companies would also be
a part of this because they service the school’s current setup. However, the maintenance workers
are constrained by the fact that they do not make the decisions, they simply must work with what
they are given. The constraints related to the utility companies would be that they risk losing our
business if we were to become independent of them. A minor stakeholder in this decision would
be the local government which represents the majority of the population outside of the school.
However, the local government has little power over what decisions the school makes.
Social Alliances:
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There are many associations in the United States that can assist the effort of retrofitting
RPI and propelling the ideas of this project throughout the country. The U.S Green Building
Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization that is best known for the LEED rating system
and the Greenbuild Conference. Even though USGBC is widely known for its LEED standards,
the aim of this project is not to get RPI’s buildings LEED certified. LEED is not the only thing
that USGBC supports. The main goal of USGBC is to raise awareness about green buildings and
the benefits of green buildings. The USGBC has more than 17,000 members that can help
provide various ways to construct a green and sustainable building. It also offers workshops to
promote and educate people about the importance of sustainable buildings. There are web-based
seminars to educate not only the public, but also industry professionals. USGBC also has
speakers who travel around the country and give presentations at construction based events. This
project can utilize these seminars to educate the RPI community. The USGBC website offers
PowerPoint presentations and Online Seminars that could be use to promote this project. The
main obstacle is still to convince the school’s administration to realize the importance of this
project. This can be hastened by inviting a public speaker from USGBC to RPI, and organizing a
school-wide event to gain more support for this project (Green building in the United States1).
The Green Building Initiative is a non-profit network of building industry leaders
working to promote mainstream building approaches that are not only environmentally
progressive but also practical for builders to implement. They also own Green Globes, an
environmental assessment, education, and building rating system. GBI also sponsors EcoBuild, a
biannual conference of companies interested in accelerating the adoption of Green Building
Practices. GBI also develops green building programs in communities and is engaged in
educating consumers on green building techniques (Green building in the United States1). An
alliance with either the USGBC or the GBI will better facilitate the implementation of this
project.
Barriers:
Green building projects are known around the world to be cost effective and resource
efficient. They are healthy for their residents and the demand for them is high. However, the lack
of green buildings and the lack of will to change inefficient buildings is, though strange, evident.
This is quite evident at RPI, where the last major renovation project took place in 1993. The
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school replaced most of its lighting during this renovation (Rensselaer Sustainability Report 1).
The question as to why green building technology has not really “caught on” was tackled by the
Natural Strategies Inc. and VITETTA – Public Management Consulting, which was sponsored
by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (Barriers to Green Building 1).
One of the barriers that the study found is caused by lack of product information and
sourcing. Most people feel that green products are scarce, and that information on these products
is not readily available. This lack of information about performance and cost will force projects
to depend heavily on often costly specialized consultants. There is also the risk that the green
products do not perform well, and will need to be replaced. This limited information tends to
create skepticism not only from building owners, but from the municipal building and safety
departments. For example, new products such as High Fly Ash Content Concrete are considered
to be useful, but most local governments remain skeptical of them. The study finds that once the
products become more mainstream, this barrier will be eliminated (Barriers to Green Building 1).
Another strong barrier that may impede our project is RPI’s administration. On the
College Sustainability Report Card RPI’s administration got a C. RPI has not signed several
important sustainability agreements such as the ACUPCC and the Tallories Agreement. RPI also
does not hire any sustainability staff and does not have an office or department specifically
dedicated to on campus sustainability.
The most prominent barrier is the going to be funding. It is going to be difficult to
convince the administration to realize the necessity of this project, let alone pay out of pocket for
implementation. The current administration would rather spend money on making on campus
landscaping match up rather than solving obvious on campus sustainability problems.
Response to Concerns:
Like any advocacy project, there are some unavoidable concerns with the feasibility of
this project. The primary concern of the RPI administration for the approval of this proposal is
the startup cost. Getting the administration to approve this is a large problem, as the school does
not want to spend extra money in times of economic hardship. However, in the long run, there
will be a major decrease in the amount of money spent on energy for the school to function as a
result of the success of this project. The cost of energy is on the rise, so these renovations will be
worth the cost in a timely fashion. Also, the programmable thermostats, which are a major
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component of the proposed renovations, are not that expensive. They are priced anywhere
around $50 per unit (Programmable Thermostats 1). The offset of the startup costs can be met
by the money brought in from tuition, as well as through funding from alumni who will be
excited to hear that their school is making efficiency upgrades.
While there might not be noticeable savings immediately, the school will gain publicity.
The school will be recognized as one of the nation’s “greenest” schools, which will spread the
school’s name throughout the world. Right now, RPI’s current grade on the Green Report Card is
an overall “B” with two sections of the report card having the grade “C”. Implementing the new
HVAC system and retrofitting the building can help raise this grade to an “A” (Green Report
Card 1). Also, giving the school publicity among interest groups could also lead to funding by
those interest groups, because the school would be able to advertise for these interest groups with
its popular renovations. All of this will become possible because of the schools increased PR,
which will be brought on by the success of this project.
Conclusion:
Now imagine an RPI classroom with modified windows and programmable thermostats.
The future is now. This project has come into fruition. Professors and students alike can now sit
more comfortably in the classroom, as the electronic, programmable thermostat reads “65
Degrees F”. The heat within the room is now easier to regulate, and the upgraded windows keep
the heat well contained within the room. If the room begins to feel uncomfortable, the thermostat
can be adjusted accordingly, and the windows can be opened. This is the vision of this project.
Imagine the money that will be saved through the success of this project. Fiscally and topically,
the implementation of this project will aid RPI.
Clearly, the changes that this project entails will benefit the students at RPI. Students
will no longer have to endure unbearably hot classrooms. This project proposes a vision in which
students and faculty can benefit from more temperate buildings. Such changes may also imply a
more effective teaching and learning environment, as both students and faculty will no longer be
uncomfortably warm in their classrooms. This provides the ability for learning (not discomfort)
to be the primary priority in classrooms. The benefits of this project are vast and imperative to
the progression of RPI. It is embarrassing that such a prestigious university is still subject to
public jeering pertaining to our heating systems. Too much money has already been wasted, and
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continues to be wasted. The long-term benefits of this project are non-negligible, and its goals
are more intricate than merely the improvement of the heating system at RPI.
This project’s goals will indubitably improve the conditions under which students and
faculty must perform on a daily basis. The project has been specifically designed for RPI, and
will serve as an example and model for future, similar projects. Compliance with the aspirations
of this project is feasible and reasonable. It is definitely time for a change in RPI’s HVAC
system. If this project is not adhered to, or at the least, reformed and followed, money will
continue to be wasted. In addition, students and faculty alike will continue to dread working in a
sauna that can quite easily be transformed for the better. For the sake of the thousands of RPI
students nearly melting in classrooms during their education at what is supposed to be an
innovative, technological university, change is paramount. It is clear that more efficient
technology can be applied to RPI’s HVAC system, and through the aforementioned implication,
the goal of efficient climate control at RPI will be achieved.
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Paper Works Cited (Please note, all sources come from annotations listed in the appendix, except
for "RPI Sustainability Report." RPI Blogger. Web. These are the sources that required direct
citation in the advocacy project paper. They are cited again after the articles they came from in
the order of the annotations they represent. At the end of this document, there is a “Global
Works Cited” that has all sources from all annotations (+ the one mentioned above) (whether or
not they were used in the paper) alphabetized and in MLA format.)
"ArchitectureWeek - Environment - Barriers to Building Green - 2001.0822." ArchitectureWeek
- 2009.1021. Web. 28 Oct. 2009. <http://www.architectureweek.com/2001/0822/environment_11.html>.
"Flex Your Power - Best Practice Guide." Flex Your Power - California Energy Efficiency and
Conservation. Web. 30 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.fypower.org/bpg/module.html?b=offices&m=Central_HVAC_System>.
Goering, Matt. "Enjoy the Magic of High Efficiency Replacement Windows." ServiceMagic.
Web. 26 Oct 2009. <http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.Enjoy-the-Magic-of-HighEfficiency-Replacement-Windows.16584.html>.
"Green building in the United States -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 28 Oct. 2009.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_building_in_the_United_States>.
"Nonprofit Dramatically Cuts HVAC Energy Use, Saves $290,000 Annually in Energy Costs
With New Software - Case Study." Facility, Facility Management and Maintenance
Management Professional Resources. Web. 30 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.facilitiesnet.com/hvac/casestudy/Nonprofit-Dramatically-Cuts-HVAC-Energy-UseSaves-290000-Annually-in-Energy-Costs-With-New-Software--20372>.
"Programmable Thermostats Will Save Money." ServiceMagic. Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.Programmable-Thermostats-Will-SaveMoney.8359.html>.
"RPI Sustainability Report." RPI Blogger. Web.
"Sustainable | Whole Building Design Guide." WBDG - The Whole Building Design Guide. Web.
23 Oct. 2009. <http://www.wbdg.org/design/sustainable.php>.
15
Appendix
Attachments
Begin
After this
Page
16
Imagining Change
This exercise helps you think broadly about potential solutions to a sustainability problem. The
questions below ask you to generate a list of changes that could help to solve this problem
across a variety of social and technical systems.
The Problem:
RPI is inefficient. We keep our buildings at a high temperature with old, minimally regulated
heaters. The windows leak air, and the heating is highly irregular. RPI also does not do very
much to give back to an already dirty electrical grid.
What changes would help to solve this problem?
-Changes in policy (local, national, or international):
The administration of RPI needs to enact policies that require the renovation of old buildings,
and a new code for the construction of new buildings that requires them to at least be partially
heated and cooled using passive methods. Also, RPI should set a goal for on campus electricity
generation.
-Changes in the legal system:
The school operates off of its own internal legal system through which the above changes must
be passed. RPI could also work with local government to get some of these changes enacted in
buildings at the local level.
-Changes in media coverage:
RPI has now been portrayed as a place for new ideas and innovation in all fields, not just
engineering (i.e. EMPAC). Now, unfortunately, it is portrayed as a Swine Flu breeding ground.
We could change that back to a view on how engineering solutions on a small scale help
mitigate a global problem.
-Changes in the way political decisions are made:
RPI’s leadership will show local governments how effective our changes are, which will spur
17
legislation to help change things within the power of the government. Governments will realize
that things cannot continue sustainably on their current path, and will enact similar legislation
to what RPI is doing.
-Changes in the ways organizations function:
Local colleges, the breeding ground of America’s future, will see the example and success of
RPI’s energy program, and begin enacting similar programs at their campuses. Hopefully, at
some level, they will feel the need to compete with us. Competition drives innovation.
-Changes in the educational system:
Sustainable construction techniques should be taught as a part of every civil engineers and
architects curriculum. This will lead to a future generation of new building and energy use ideas,
and a willingness to build in a green manner.
-Changes in the way people behave:
People must be willing to participate in a system that will ultimately better their lives. They
must be educated about global warming, and about how we can solve it. They must choose to
accept heat at 72 degrees instead of 80, and be supportive of the infrastructure changes
required on this campus
-Changes in the way people think:
People must understand that global warming and climate change are issues that impact their
lives directly, and that anything we can do to mitigate these issues is worth doing.
-Changes in the way technology is designed and used:
Buildings must be designed to be more sustainable, as described by new building codes
mentioned above. Climate control technology should be used to generate electrical power
wherever possible.
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-Changes in the way money is spent:
Money must be spent on making the campus sustainable, not just on paying for the fossil fuels
required to keep this campus running.
19
Imagining Solution
The Problem:
Large institutions are the center point of many great innovations. However, in their own
operation, they cause great environmental hardship. Inefficient climate control systems, as
well as old “non-green” buildings are evident in most large complexes. Also, few institutions try
to generate their own sustainable power “off the grid”.
Why are you concerned about this problem?
We as students intertwined in a large institution feel the costs of operating a large institution in
our wallet. If we want to pay less in the long run, we should try to make our large institution
more efficient. Also, due to the shortage of fossil fuels and the ever looming threat of the
impacts of global warming on our generation, it seems only logical to try to fight the problem
where we can.
What solutions have been proposed so far, and what debates have these solutions provoked?
Simply lowering the heat is always a possibility, but those affected may complain that they are
too cold. Placing solar panels on buildings can be costly, but an effective way of generating
electricity. Wind turbines require a great deal of space, and simply produce electricity; they do
not make buildings more efficient. Making “green” passively climate controlled buildings is
costly, and can essentially only be done with new buildings as proper orientation of the
structure with respect to sun and wind is required.
What promise do you see in the solutions proposed so far?
The solutions proposed have great potential to promote energy sustainability at large
institutions. It will also promote practices that will limit emissions that cause global warming.
Also, the engineering needed for many of these solutions to occur will bring American jobs to
places that need them.
What limits do you see in these solutions?
The ultimate limits on these solutions are financial limitations due to the extraordinarily high
start-up costs, as well as lack of willingness to participate from those in power at the institution.
Also, these changes take time, and it is likely that the members of the institution who were
involved in the beginning stages of these solutions will not be involved for their conclusion.
What kind of solutions are you prepared to undertake?
We are prepared to undertake solutions that involve changes in policy for future building
construction, as well as policy that involves current changes that can be made to promote
efficiency in older buildings, as well as on-site electricity generation wherever possible. For us,
20
the best place for implementation is RPI, due to our current involvement in the campus, as well
as its proximity to other institutions and local government.
What will be the biggest challenge in realizing the solution you have in mind?
The biggest challenge will be to convince a large student body that there is a need for all of this
“inconvenient construction”, and more so, the administration of RPI. We must convince them
that the high startup cost is worth the long term benefits.
What kinds of people will you need to help you?
We would need the support of the administration and student body. We would need the help
of the maintenance department for research on the feasibility of such projects. We would also
need to work with contractors that would actually install these products, as well as the product
manufacturers.
21
First Set
Kevin Newman
Group 9
Word Count: 504
“Tax Incentives Assistance Project: Consumer Tax Incentives”
The article that I found on http://www.energytaxincentives.org was an informative article about
the Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP). The article begins with a brief description of the
aspirations and goals of the TIAP program. The basic principle behind the TIAP program,
according to the website is: “Purchasers of highly efficient heating, cooling, and water heating
equipment can take tax credits of 30% of installed cost for purchasing qualifying equipment, as
detailed below. These credits are available for systems placed in service from January 1, 2009,
through December 31, 2010. There is a $1,500 cap on the credit per home, including the amount
received for insulation, windows, air and duct sealing.”
The variety of the applicable equipment that qualifies for the TIAP program is vast. Equipment
such as “high efficiency gas, oil, and propane furnaces and boilers, high efficiency central air
conditioning units, including air-source heat pumps, ground source or geothermal heat pumps,
biomass stoves, etc.” For natural gas and propane furnaces, the base requirement is that their
Annual Fuel Use Efficiency (AFUE) must be 95 or higher. For oil furnaces and gas, oil and
propane boilers, their AFUE must meet 90 or higher. For the standards of central air conditioning
units, the article states: “Central air conditioning units and air-source heat pumps must meet the
highest tier standards set by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) as of January 1, 2009,
which in most cases requires a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 16. SEER measures
performance throughout the cooling season.”
As far as location for the equipment goes, the website states: “Under guidance issued by the IRS,
equipment is eligible if installed in a home occupied by a taxpayer as their principal residence at
the time the equipment is installed”. This provides vast opportunities for high efficiency
equipment to be utilized. The valid equipment can be installed virtually anywhere, with a
taxpayer claiming it as their principle residence.
Overall, I think that this article is very informative and helpful to people looking to implicate
more efficient energy sources into their homes, businesses, etc. The article does a very good job
of giving exact details and statistics. The TIAP program is a great example of financial
incentives in the hopes of better promoting a product. The overall benefits of using the TIAP
program are clearly illustrated in the article. The article also went on to list various other sources,
where one can get more information pertaining to regulations, corporate policies, etc.
22
With the great benefits described in this article, the TIAP program is very persuasive. The
stipulations of the program are that the system has to have been installed between January 1,
2009 and December 31, 2010. This article supports the mission of our project, because it shows
fiscal, economic benefits of implementing more energy efficient heat sources, central air
conditioning units, etc. With tax credits, like the ones described in the TIAP program, there
exists a strong, monetary-based argument for our mission. In summation, our project not only
preserves energy, but also money.
23
Kevin Newman
Group 9
“A Cost Efficient Heating System” by Jamie Simpson
Word Count: 502
In this article, Simpson starts off describing the current problems with heating systems. She
attacks electric radiant heat and small electric space heaters in areas pertaining to both money
and health. She states that: “Inefficient heating systems like electric radiant heat, and small
electric space heaters that run continuously can often cause your electric bill to sky rocket and be
unsafe if you have small children or elderly in your household.” While negating these heating
systems, Simpson’s proposed solution to this issue is halogen heaters.
The arguments that Simpson makes for halogen heaters are very clearly thought out, and
articulated well. She begins by arguing that halogen heaters do not require a complete revolution
of an already established heating system in the home, but rather, an augmentation. She argues
halogen heaters’ portability. This fact alone, according to Simpson, is a money saving trait
inherit to halogen heaters.
Next, Simpson describes the advantages of halogen heaters pertaining to their process of heating
a home, and in terms of long term financial advantages. She states: “The halogen heater
oscillates heat, keeping your room warm and fighting off nasty drafts caused by winter's chill or
leaky doors and windows. Although your halogen heating system may cost slightly more than a
radiant portable unit, it will save you money on your monthly heating bill.” This shows that
halogen heaters have a more efficient way of moving and spreading heat, and in the long term,
will save money.
Simpson’s next argument pertains to safety. She begins by arguing that conventional heaters are
notorious for electrical fires and burn accidents. In her article, she says that halogen heaters are
much safer due to their portability. Also, she states that: “Most halogen units come equipped
with protective covering that will prevent your children and pets from harming themselves. The
halogen heaters also have an automatic shut off, which will guarantee that your home is safe
from the threat of a fire caused by your heating unit.” This argument assures peace of mind to
potential users of halogen heaters.
She sums up her article by reiterating that halogen heaters are cost-efficient and safe. Also, she
states: “Halogen Units come in a multitude of sizes and are available with features that are sure
to please any household.” Simpson also alludes to the current, uncertain economy, and completes
her argument by stating: “Halogen heaters offer you a way to reduce your heating bill without
24
sacrificing safety.” The end of her article even directs readers to a website where halogen heaters
can be purchased.
I got a lot out of Simpson’s article. Her article was informative, and direct. Simpson did not use
many numerical values, and specific statistics in her argument, yet all of her concerns and
solutions were very topical, and personable. This article is useful in my group’s project, because
as we look into cost-efficient, energy-efficient energy sources, this article makes a great
argument for halogen heaters. Halogen heaters seem like a very practical, safe method of heating
homes, businesses, etc.
25
Kevin Newman
Group 9
“Choosing a New Furnace for Your New York Home”
Word Count: 683
This is a very informative article about heating systems, and some myths and facts that can be
useful for anyone looking to buy or improve a heating system. It begins by stating that there are
many furnace options available to buyers these days, and that the purpose of the article would
simply be to provide a brief overview of said options.
The article’s first suggestion for heating options is an outdoor heating source. Outdoor heating is
a very popular option. The article describes some advantages as well as some disadvantages to an
outdoor heating system. It begins with topical concerns and solutions pertaining to outdoor
heating systems. Outdoor heating systems are usually placed about 500 feet away from the
building they are heating. The article begins the topic of outdoor heating sources by stating: “It
uses the old standby of wood, but eliminates the mess and smell associated with burning wood.”
It also describes how an outdoor heating system has to be installed. The article states: “The wood
burner itself is built inside of a small building, this often is made to look like a smaller house or
shed. The heat is carried from the burner via heated water, which runs through underground,
insulated pipes. This is the most effective and efficient method for moving heat over distances.
Once the heated water reaches its destination, there are a couple of options for actually heating
the home. Using a boiler, radiant floor heating system, a heat exchanger or a forced air furnace
that is powered by a direct circulation system. The wood burning system can also do double duty
to heat household water if a water-to-water heat exchanger is installed.” Although many
advantages are describes in this article, the article also does a great job of pointing out some
disadvantages of outdoor heating systems as well. For example, the article states: “Although
there are many advantages to using an outside wood burning furnace, it has a down side to its use
as well. The cost can be quite high for most people, running approximately $5,000 installed. This
of course, depends upon what part of the country you live in.”
The aforementioned section in the article regarding outdoor heating systems is particularly
helpful to the project that my group sets out to achieve because while this is a viable option for
efficient heating, there are blatant drawbacks, particularly fiscally, that cannot be ignored. This
article did a great job in particular of highlighting advantages of heating options that are
becoming increasingly popular, such as corn burning furnaces. When this article opens up about
corn burning furnaces, it states advantages and disadvantages to corn burning furnaces. It says,
“Corn fuel furnaces are comparable to a convention furnace as far as price is concerned, costing
roughly $2,000. It uses corn that has no more than 15% moisture content; fortunately, this is the
26
same percentage of moisture as feed corn, making it very easy to obtain from a local elevator.
The cost of burning corn as compared to propane is approximately one bushel of corn is to 5.5
gallons of propane fuel. Corn is also a natural and renewable resource, and keeps farmers in
business while keeping your heating costs down.” This is clearly a cheaper, more natural source
than outdoor heating sources, however, disadvantages exists that the article goes on to discuss. It
states: “…corn fed furnaces need daily cleaning to be efficient. They also run on an electric fan
system, if you lose electricity, you lose heat also. For this reason, its best to either have a
generator or a back up furnace for emergencies.”
This article’s suggestions and informative overviews of two popular heating sources are
extremely helpful to the project my group proposes. I found this article to be helpful, in the sense
that it consistently provides facts and figures to compliment the overviews and opinion about the
heating sources it reviewed. Based on the views express in this article, I would say that this
article also helps our group narrow down the selection from the various choices of alternative,
efficient heating sources available.
27
Second Set
Kevin Newman
Group 9
How HVAC Air Filters Affect Indoor Air Quality
Word Count: 599
This is a very informative article, which as the title implies, discusses air quality, and other
health issues, and how they related to HVAC systems, particularly air filters. This article opens
up with some very interesting statistics and facts that are not only relevant to the subject matter,
but also pertinent to the caliber of the project that my group sets out to present. The article opens
up with: “Average Americans spend nearly 90% of their time indoors. For the infants, the elderly
and the urban residents, this percent of time is likely to be higher. Studies show that indoor air
pollution can be two to five times to sometimes 100 times higher than outdoor air pollution. This
puts the citizens to a greater risk of contracting various diseases from indoor air pollutants. In
fact, the US Environmental Protection Agency, EPA ranks poor indoor air quality one among the
top five public health risks. Common diseases and symptoms associated with poor indoor air
quality are: Asthma, allergy, headaches, breathing difficulties and dizziness.” Just in the opening,
contemporary health issues are presented. This section alone proves useful for my group’s
project, because when implementing any heating source, or even air filters, health risks and
implications must be taken into consideration.
The next section of the article also makes a strong argument. It illustrates how crucial proper
HVAC systems are in emotional, non-tangible issues that can arise in indoor settings. This
section concludes by illustrating marketing benefits of HVAC, and how trends show that HVAC
will remain a healthy market. The article states: “In schools, colleges and offices, discomforts
from poor indoor air quality promote absenteeism and loss of working days. Maintaining proper
indoor air quality is, therefore, very important for health and productivity. The Heating,
Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system of a building plays a crucial role in
maintaining proper ambience and quality of indoor air. The efficiency of the system in terms of
maintaining good indoor air quality and saving energy depends to a large extent on the HVAC
Air Filters and their effective functioning. This is making the market demand of the HVAC Air
Filters increase steadily and reports indicate that this market is expected to grow with a
compound annual growth rate of 4.7% till 2011, posting sales past the $1 billion dollar mark by
that time.” My group can indubitably use this particular portion of the article to illustrate the
rising demand for HVAC systems and to further reiterates why is essential that the HVAC
systems at RPI be upgraded.
28
The article comes to a close by defining and emphasizing the importance of air filter efficiency,
as it pertains greatly to the efficiency of HVAC systems. The entire last paragraph is very rich in
reputable advice and facts that should unquestionably be taken into consideration upon
implementing air filters. The article goes through different efficiency levels of air filters, and
describes the advantages of each. As one would expect, the article concludes with very practical
advice, in stating that: “Filters should be changed at specific intervals and the replacement and
maintenance specifications of the manufacturing company should be adhered as far as possible.”
I believe this to be a great article. It was very informative, and very rich in sound, practical
advice for implementing air filters. This article proves very useful for the project that my group
sets out to achieve, although our project’s core is not geared toward air filter implementation. I
still gleaned from this article the basic, pivotal steps that need to be taken in preparation for
HVAC system augmentation or renovation.
29
Kevin Newman
Group 9
Furnaces
Word Count: 619
This article, while very short, did a great job of briefly hitting upon some types of furnaces
available. The article’s core topic relies in the basic of furnace information, as well as updates
and ways that furnaces can become more efficient. The article opens up with an overview of
furnaces in general. It states: “Furnaces are the most common residential heating system in the
Unites States. Wisconsin’s cold climate makes a high efficiency furnace a good investment. If
your furnace is old, worn out, inefficient, or significantly oversized, the simplest solution is to
replace it with a modern high efficiency model. Although older furnaces had efficiencies in the
range of 56%–70%, modern conventional heating systems can achieve efficiencies as high as
97%, converting nearly all the fuel to useful heat for your home. Energy efficiency upgrades and
a new high efficiency heating system with multi-stage firing and an ECM fan motor can often cut
your fuel bills and your furnace's pollution output in half.” This is a very rich, informative
section in this article, because not only does it provide precise figures pertaining to furnace
efficiency, but it also opens up the rest of the article with an allusion to ECM fan motors. “ECM”
refers to “electronic control module”. The project that my group proposes is centralized around
the use of electronic, programmable means of controlling and regulating heat.
The next portion of this article goes on to begin to discuss AFUE, which is Annual Fuel
Utilization Efficiency. This is a very pertinent subject in relation to my group’s project. This
portion of the article briefly illustrates what AFUE is, and how the manipulation of it is essential
when making heating sources more efficient. The article says, “The Annual Fuel Utilization
Efficiency (AFUE) measures a furnace’s overall energy performance. The higher the AFUE, the
more heat you get for your heating dollar. ENERGY STAR® qualified oil and gas furnaces have
AFUE ratings of 83% and 90%, or higher, making them up to 15% more efficient than standard
models. An AFUE of 90% means that 90% of the energy in the fuel becomes heat for the home
and the other 10% escapes up the chimney and elsewhere.” This article promotes the usage of
Energy Star products, in particular furnaces, as they are clearly more efficient than other
conventional models. This portion of the article can be proven useful to our group, as we would
have to decide upon a company to take charge of the installation of our heating source.
A particular portion of the article is one that I found very useful in the consideration of the
methods to be utilized in my group’s project. The aforementioned portion is one that defines and
extrapolates upon ECM. This is extremely crucial to my group’s project, as we have decided
upon using electronic, programmable thermostats for the regulation of temperature inside
30
buildings at RPI. The article briefly gives some quick advice when using electronic means for
your heating source. The article states: “Furnaces with an electronically commutated motor
(ECM) have lower annual operating costs and can save you $80 to $380 per year depending on
how you use the furnace fan. You will see the most savings if your run your new fan on "auto".
Switching the fan from “auto” to “continuous” will actually increase the electricity usage of your
new furnace compared to your old furnace.” This portion describes how to be more efficient with
your usage of your furnace, even it is electronically controlled. I found this article overall to be
very rich in helpful information, and full of great element that can and will be taken into
consideration as my group does further research for our project.
31
Kevin Newman
Group 9
10 Ways to Cut Down on Your Heating Bill This Winter
Word Count: 527
I found this article to be extremely topical and helpful. As the title suggests, the article goes over
ten ways to conserve energy, thus reducing one’s energy bill. The price of heat is very high, and
the article was written with the intent of aiding the general public fiscally, as well as
environmentally. The article opens with its first piece of advice being to check your insulation.
Among some of the advice given pertaining to insulation check-ups, the article states: “Make
sure there are enough air pockets to trap cold air. Old insulation can become brittle and
ineffective so if your insulation is not doing the job it might be worth the time and energy to
replace it.” The next piece of advice given in this article is very pertinent to the project my group
presents. The next piece of advice is to check your windows. The article states, “You can lose a
lot of heat through the cracks around your windows and the windows themselves. Check each
window and make sure it is well sealed. You can buy kits that will help you test this. Be sure to
caulk and seal around windows where you find leaks, and replace any interior seals that are
damaged. If your windows are old, it might be worth the money in the long run to replace them
with new triple pane replacement windows.” This is crucial information to our project, because it
supports are argument that windows can be very inefficient when cracks exist. “Waste heat”
easily leaves the windows, and it can lead to high inefficiency in an overall heating system, as
well as a high energy bill.
The article goes on to give many other applicable pieces of advice, such as “weather-proofing”
your entryways, getting a ceiling fan, etc. Another crucial piece of is number 8. The eighth piece
of advice in the article is to have your furnace checked. The article states: “Spend the money to
have a professional give your furnace a checkup to be sure it is working at peak performance.
This is important not only from a cost perspective but also from a safety perspective. A system
that is not running as efficiently as it can/will cost you money in heating bills so the money to
have it inspected will be well spent.” This is an example of the article showing cost-benefit
analysis, and illustrating that the long term effects of having your furnace check are
comparatively better than not spending the money to have it checked in the first place. This is
crucial to my group’s project because if our project were to come to fruition, this would be a
necessary step in the aftermath.
Overall, I found this article to be very helpful. The tips and advice given in the article are fairly
easy to follow, and very practical. Adhering to said advice can have economic and environmental
benefits. This article strongly supports my group’s argument for renovation of the HVAC
32
systems in RPI, and gives great advice on how to cater to any issues that might arise in the
aftermath, so that the upgraded systems stay efficient in the long term.
33
Third Set
Kevin Newman
Group 9
Your Different Central Heating Systems
Word Count: 667
This article was very helpful in explaining not only the various types of central heating systems
that exists, but also why one needs to install said central heating systems. The article opens up
with a very topically-pleasing tone, and discusses how winter will bring colder temperatures, but
central heating systems can and will aid to combat said temperatures. The article first brings up
pumped systems and vented systems. It then illustrates why pumped systems are more common.
The article states: “Most heaters compromise of a boiler; radiator and pipe work, there are
basically two different sorts of central heating systems, one being pumped and the other being a
vented system. The most common out of each one is probably the pumped systems, these consist
of a feed and expansion tank, the tank works as the centre core and heats itself up, and then heats
the heaters via the pipes. The tank does make way for filling itself up due to water expansion that
may occur.” Clearly, pumped systems have built-in measures that provide for accountability for
error, thus rendering them the more popular choice. This portion is particularly helpful to the
project that my group is proposing because it gives enlightenment as to what options already
exist in the field of heating, and it also helps in the decision of the best route to pursue.
The article then moves on to describe sealed systems. The article does a good job of giving a
brief overview of sealed systems, as well as some disadvantages that are inherent to sealed
systems. This portion of the article is helpful to my group’s project, as it illustrates the
importance of taking into account geographical factors when dealing with heating systems, as
there may be issues that are inherent to a specific area. The article discusses sealed systems, by
stating: “The other type of radiator consists of a sealed system, where as there is no centre
section to the heating system. It's basically closed, so there is really no need for any water tanks.
The major benefits from this type of system, is that it basically lessens the risk of leaking and
stops other aspects such airlocks, one of the better advantages, especially for colder countries
such as Russia is that there is no risk of pipes freezing up.” In the article’s example, the frozen
pipes were a result of the geography not being conductive to the technology.
The article concludes with great evidence as to why one should pursue central heating. The
article basically states some advantages of central heating systems as opposed to outdated
models. The article states: “Well the main benefit of central heating is that it has the ability to
warm up the whole home or office at very fasts speeds, and without affecting the air around you.
The old heaters that were used were gas fires and electric heaters, as well as storage heaters. But
the main disadvantages with these were that they made the air somewhat sticky and hard, as well
34
as letting off a terrible odor.” The article clearly shows many ways in which central heating is
more improved than old heaters. The article ends with some advice on upholding your central
heating system. It describes how central heating systems should be gradually introduced in the
autumn, as opposed to switching them off in the summer and on in the winter. The article also
reminds you that central heating systems still need draining, and the proper technique on how to
do so. Overall, this article is very useful for the task that my group sets out to accomplish. There
are some great facts on the various types of heating systems available to users, and the
advantages of said heating systems. In summation, the article unquestionable promotes central
heating systems, over any other heating system. This brings great consideration to choosing a
central heating system, given the advantages and disadvantages and taking into consideration any
external factors, such as geography, that might cause issues to arise.
35
Kevin Newman
Group 9
HVAC Contractors
Word Count: 700
This article was very informative and extremely crucial to the progress of my group’s project. As
the title suggest, the article is about contractors that deal in identifying the potential for HVAC
systems to be installed. The article also talks about the overall renovation process one must go
through to implement newer HVAC systems into their household, buildings, etc. The article
begins with basically stating the purpose and jobs of HVAC contractors. It states: “If you are
building a house, you probably need an HVAC contractor or an expert in heating, ventilating and
air conditioning systems and products. A certified and experienced HVAC contractor will help
you decide what kind of HVAC equipment you need and determine the practical and resourceefficient systems.” This portion alone of the article is useful to my group, as it is very important
to have the correct personnel in a project pertaining to HVAC systems.
The article then begins to give great, quality advice about choosing an HVAC contractor. This is
incredibly pertinent information for my group, because the logistics of our project is a paramount
factor in our project. The article states: “When choosing the right HVAC contractor, consider the
company profile. First, you need your contractor to be very efficient at what they do. Otherwise,
you will have problems that are difficult and expensive to fix later on. Second, you must choose
with insurance coverage. They must be able to pay you in case they break something while
installing your HVAC. Remember that your HVAC equipment and the system that support them
are among the most important features of your home or office. And they are also the most
difficult to change. So be very careful with your choices. When in doubt, always consult a
construction expert. You may also canvass for contractors online. Most sites offer complete
information about their HVAC contractors and staff.” This is a very rich portion of the article, as
it completely delves into the parameters under which one can pursue an HVAC contractor. These
are all very crucial things for my group to learn, as they will indubitably assist us with the
logistics of our project. The article then briefly goes on to describe renovation for old houses,
and how optimal a time it is for said renovation to take place. The article states: “Old houses that
need renovation need to be seen and inspected first by a licensed and certified HVAC contractor.
This may be the perfect time to take down the old system and introduce a more modern but costeffective alternative.” This is a great portion of the article, because it strongly supports my
group’s argument that now is an incredibly optimal time for change to take place in the area of
heating systems, and overall HVAC system efficiency at RPI.
36
The article closes by going reiterating the importance of an HVAC contractor in an endeavor that
looks to implement more energy efficient HVAC systems. The article states: “And if houses
need HVAC contractors, then commercial and residential buildings and facilities also need these
kinds of professional experts. While the electrical engineer, the civil engineer, the architect, and
designer may already have talked about the blueprint, they will need to consult with an HVAC
expert. Because of his knowledge and skill, the HVAC contractor has a lot more to contribute to
the design and implementation of the plan. On your end, you can be assured that nothing will go
wrong with your HVAC system. It is also important for you to befriend the organizers, as they
will most likely be the ones responsible for the maintenance of your equipment and system.” The
article does a great of summing up how crucial an HVAC contractor is, as well as some other
key personnel that can prove useful in the task of HVAC system renovation. Overall, I found the
article to be very helpful in illustrating the importance of HVAC contractors. This article is very
important for my group to keep in mind, because as our project progresses, the logistics are an
ever-present concern of ours. It is our job to take into account the aforementioned logistics, and
take the best route toward our proposed goal.
37
Kevin Newman
Group 9
Saving On Furnace Repairs
Word Count: 561
This article was a very topical and somewhat comical article. As the title suggest, the article is
about how to save money on repairs that need to be made to your furnace. The article opens up
by stating: “Furnace repairs are costly - they can easily cost hundreds of dollars. Quite often, the
cost of labor is the biggest item on the invoice, if not the only one! Meanwhile, you can
significantly reduce or even completely avoid charges for furnace repairs.” This portion is very
important to the project that my group proposes because the costs of are project is an apparent
concern of ours, that we must address. The first step to addressing the cost is discovering where
the majority of the cost of project similar to ours originates. As the article goes, on, advice is
given and facts are stated that help the reader discover major costs of furnace repairs, and they
can be avoided or lessened.
The article eventually breaks off into a creative, hypothetical situation that shows readers how to
properly handle calls to technicians. However, before the situation is given, the article provides
some advice to the readers by stating: “Before actually coming to see the furnace, a good furnace
repair contractor will try to learn as much as possible about the problem. He should call you and
ask you to do a couple of basic checks on the furnace. If the technician gets enough information,
he'll come with the part you need to fix the problem, saving him a trip just to decide what part he
needs. Quite often, the problem is just a blocked filter or an accidentally turned off switch - you
can find this out right over the phone.” This portion of the article implies that some of the major
costs associated with furnace repairs can be lessened or avoided by knowing the correct answers
to give in a conversation with a technician over the phone. This is important information for my
group’s project, as the execution of our project would entail furnace repairs, when our system
eventually breaks. Down. Knowing some of the correct things to say to technicians over the
phone can save money that doesn’t necessarily have to be spent in the furnace repair process. A
quick example of the hypothetical conversation that is illustrated in the article is a situation that
if executed correctly by the caller, can save them $100. The technician asks, “Do you feel air
coming out of the floor registers?” The correct answer, according to the article would be: “Just a
second, I'll check. (After checking a couple of registers) Air flow is as usual, or weaker than
usual. (Whichever is the case.) Now, he might be able to figure out what the problem is, just
from that simple question.” This is a great alternative to the wrong answer, which the articles
states as: Yes, the air is fine. The technician will come and check the air for you. He may find
that the furnace (air handler) switch was off and turn it back on for you.” This was a very
interesting article overall, because simple phrases and implications can be so crucial in saving
38
money on furnace repairs. I think that this article was very helpful, and prove useful to my group,
as our project will inevitably face the issue of furnace repairs.
39
Kevin Newman – Local Works Cited
First 3 Annotations
"Tax Incentives Assistance Project: Consumer Tax Incentives." Web. 22 Oct 2009.
<http://energytaxincentives.org/consumers/heating-cooling.php>.
"Choosing A New Furnace for your New York Home." Clover Comfort. Web. 22 Oct 2009.
<http://www.clovercool.com/hvac_news/new_furnace.html>.
Simpson, Jaime. "A Cost Efficient Heating System." Ezine Articles. 27 Aug 2009. Web. 22 Oct
2009. <http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Cost-Efficient-Heating-System&id=2833254>.
Second 3 Annotations
"10 Ways to Cut Down on your Heating Bill this Winter." Clover Comfort. Web. 26 Oct 2009.
<http://www.clovercool.com/hvac_news/cut_%20down_heating_bill.html>.
"Furnaces." Focus on Energy. Web. 26 Oct 2009.
<http://www.focusonenergy.com/Residential/Efficient_Heating_and_Cooling/Furnaces.aspx>.
"How HVAC Filters affect Indoor Air Quality." Clover Comfort. Web. 26 Oct 2009.
<http://www.clovercool.com/hvac_news/indoor-air-quality.html>.
Third 3 Annotations
"Your Different Central Heating Systems." Clover Comfort. Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.clovercool.com/hvac_news/different_heating_systems.html>.
40
"HVAC Contractors." Clover Comfort. Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.clovercool.com/hvac_news/HVAC_contractors.html>.
Sherman, Boris. "Saving on Furnace Repairs." Clover Comfort. Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.clovercool.com/hvac_news/furnace_repairs.html>.
41
First Set
Bart Cromwell
Group 9
Energy Savers: Solar Water Heaters
Word Count: 229
This is an informative article put out by a government agency to spread the facts about solar hot
water heaters. However this doesn’t prevent an overtone to the paper appearing. This overtone is
in the opinion that solar hot water is an excellent idea. However this is really to be expected from
a website called “energysavers.gov” The main article goes the benefits of solar hot water systems
and how they function in a rather broad. This doesn’t mean that the site is skimping on the facts
at the bottom of each section there are a number of links to other pages on the site that carry
more detailed information from recommendations for dealing with local building ordinances and
codes, installation concerns as well as articles to determine what type of system would best fit
your needs both by quantity and by geographical location and the experiences of people and
organizations that have already implemented this technology.
With this article in conjunction with others from credible sources, we will able to determine what
type of system would be required for use at a large institution and in what manner that system
should be utilized for the greatest positive effect. The buildings and location on campus that
would receive the greatest benefit from this technology, whether it be the dorms, the labs or the
buildings such as the Union or VCC.
42
Bart Cromwell
Group 9
Passive Solar Heating
Word Count: 316
Not only is Passive solar heating going to help you cut down on heating costs but it also
has large positive impact on the atmosphere of the building that is implementing it. The basic
concepts change depending on what you are aiming for with your “passive solar design”. In
some instances you are aiming the addition of solar radiation to the building to capture more heat
there for have to spend less using a conventional system to maintain a comfortable temperature.
For this plan to work it is best that you have it in mind from the get go as the orientation of the
building determines the amount of energy that it is drawn in. In cold climates that mean the
maximization of southern exposure with large windows and a building longer in the east, west
directions then in the north, south. Not only does this type of plan help you save money but it has
been proven that people working or living in these buildings are happier and more productive as
they are much less oppressive then other building configurations. And with proper planning a
passive solar heating design is can reduce the heating cost of a home from 5% to 25% on an
upgrade and 25% to 75% for it from the inception.
This is merely the introduction article as with the last one there are links throughout the page
leading to more focused articles going farther in depth on the topics that the main article touches
on. At the end in the articles work sited there are several links to other articles a few seminars as
well as the “Federal Green Construction Guide”. With all of this and corroboration information
from other sources we should be able to make solid recommendations for what the architects are
told to design for future buildings as well as ways to improve the buildings that already exist.
43
Bart Cromwell
Group 9
Go Green with Quad-lock
Word Count: 190
This website is run by a construction company that specializes in ICF construction. ICF
stands for insulated concrete forms. This form of construction is more efficient then the classic
stick frame which is probably the base of your own house. With this form there is no empty
space between the wall it is all solid concrete and rebar which cures in Styrofoam forms. The
concrete stores a massive amount of heat the allows the building to maintain temperature and
with the only holes through the walls are the windows, doors and the subterranean holes for the
plumbing and the electrical. The walls do not rot; animals are unable to live in them. In terms of
insulation they approach an R value of 40. These buildings go up much faster than the standard
stick frame and they are not constructed of wood a natural resource that we are trying to protect.
This website gives us pricing and owner reviews. The history of a company’s experience and
marketing with this building method. With this we should be able to determine the types of
situations this type of superefficient construction is suited for.
44
Second Set
Bart Cromwell
Group 9
Campus Greening Initiatives
Word Count: 446
This is the main website of a Washington DC organization with the stated goal of “delivering the
insights and ideas that empowers decision makers to create a environmentally sustainable society
that meets human needs. In the 21st century with the challenges of climate changes resource
degradation and population growth” This is an international green lobbying group working for
their vision of greener sustainable future. They have a list of college and universities that they
see as leading the way in our country for green campus initiatives. There are the small schools
such as the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine which from its inception in 1969 has
had the health of the environment and human interaction with the environment. They have taken
this to a new level with their low impact campus and with the use of renewable forms of energy
they were the first college to reach net carbon emissions of zero. They have done this through
efficient buildings, the use of wood pellet boilers to heat student residence. While working with
the Climate Trust of Portland, Oregon they found the best ways to further reduce their emissions.
They are also working have information on the projects that are being done at much more known
and more traditional colleges such as Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Oberlin in
Oberlin, Ohio. At Oberlin for example they have set into motions programs such as real time
electricity use monitoring in the dorms leading to competitions and a 56% power use reduction
in the winning dorm. A car sharing program, a collaboration between the student group
“Environmental Policy Implementation Group” and the Cleveland based business city wheels.
Where for a price of $7-9 an hour you can rent a fuel efficient vehicle to run errands around
town.
This website provides an amazing amount of information on the steps and programs that have
been implemented by other colleges very much like RPI. These articles give reasons for the
implementation of each program, the effectiveness of each program and the how and why they
were implemented with the conditions under which the work. Then in connection with the
articles there are links on each page delving deeper into each program. This helps reinforce the
point that there is no single solution there are programs that work at some institutions and not at
others. With this type of information we should be able to determine what has worked under
conditions similar to the one that we experience here. Whether they we instituted at schools in
geographical locations like our own or schools with the tech background that would cause issues
without the expertise available at an institution like RPI.
45
Bart Cromwell
Group 9
Eco-Cities Take Root
Word Count: 506
This article is the product of the Silicon Valley based consulting firm Lara Abrams-Melman,
they focus on green business and strategy development. In this they are there to promote green
solutions to problems. This article is a persuasive piece that focuses on selling an idea to a group
of investors by pointing out all of the pros of the project making it appear to nothing but a win in
all respects whether that be the companies involved, the National and Provincial Governments,
the environment and of course the people. This article focusing on the building of planned
communities, much like the ones that have made up the American dream the House the lawn and
the white fence. However now the dream has moved to China and new issues are raised as these
western styles of living being implemented in a country already has a huge strain on resources,
and this strain continues to grow at a prodigious rate. People are able to buy more and they do
however the infrastructure to handle this new volume of extravagance doesn’t exist. So the
Environment suffers horribly. In a country that has recently has overtaken us as the world’s
worst polluter and yet still has millions who are waiting for their piece of the good life.
Now the plan is to integrate these developments into the green micro cities of the future. In
China where the class divide is huge, these little pieces of the American way of life are gated off
from the rest of the world. So as it appears that for the foreseeable future they will why not try
and make them as self sufficient as possible. Incorporate systems in the neighborhood. The
system works out to be carbon neutral, the layout discourages driving, gray and rain water is
recycled from power produced from sources such as wind, solar and biomass which also powers
the homes. This system has been dubbed the eco block and has corporate sponsors ranging from
banks to Appliance companies such as China’s Haier Corp. who want to get a piece of the
development as well as a way to hawk their own products.
Now this type of project may seem farfetched but China is the perfect place as with the world’s
eyes upon them after taking our pollution crown after all these years they need to appear to be
proactive. With their rather authoritarian can mandate it, and it will be done or heads will roll.
With the government realizing this scrutiny seems to have embraced the idea at all different
levels and the building system is still new enough for easy molding into a green system.
This article is a gold mine not only for information but also the type of spin, the wording that we
need to use to sell an idea to get people to buy into what we are selling on both a monetary and
46
an intellectual level. Now for the actual plans we are given links to U.C. Berkley, M.I.T. working
on the urban sustainability initiative.
47
Bart Cromwell
Group 9
Easy Tips for Going Green at School
Word Count: 280
This website is the simple stuff that anyone at college living in a dorm can accomplish on their
own. These are the type of things that people in our situation just do and don’t really think about
and this is because the resources are just there and we are free to use them and waste them as we
will it. The list goes on about such topics as the A/C that people leave on well into temperature
ranges where it is no longer necessary, and of course the reciprocal of leaving the window open
to warm up or cool the room depending on which way the HVAC system, which happens to be
older than any of the residents feels like going that day. The common sense list continues for
issues such as avoiding bottles whether they be glass or plastic, turn off the electronics whether
they be the lights or the computer that sits on your desk idling away until you happen to use it at
those strange, random intervals. Digitize whenever possible paper notes waste trees and the
notebook creation process very unfriendly to the environment. Then we go to the classic frugal
step of buying used, this not only saves money but keeps demand for new products low to keep
resources from being used and makes sure that we get the most out of the resources that have
already been purposed. For the most part this article is good because it shows that people are
thinking on their own. That there are ways to help that do not require massive amounts of money
and institutional change, a difference can be made by simply changing a few personal habits.
48
Third Set
Bart Cromwell
Group 9
Boiler Efficiency
Word Count: 422
This article is about a simple method to reuse waste heat cheaply without adding a waste heat
turbine or even just as a heating source. The heat from the flue gas is used to preheat the air that
is being drawn in from the outside. With the increase of temperature of the air there is less of a
difference between the heat of the combustion reaction of the fuel (Oil, Natural Gas, ect.) With
the oxygen and the air. With this each drop of fuel is able to send more heat out into the world as
the system starts at a higher temperature.
This type of system works best with large boilers such as the ones that we are employing here at
RPI as they are in themselves rather efficient, however due to their sheer size they produce a
prodigious amount of waste gas that carries away from the system massive amounts of heat.
There are a few methods suggested for the transfer of the waste heat to the intake air you have
the direct method which entails the having the exhaust pipe run through the center of the intake
pipe and the heat is transferred through the flu to the incoming air. Then there is the heat
exchanger methods one is the direct the pipes are adjacent and a heat sink has an end in each
system and acts as a bridge for the heat from one pipe to another as it is trying to find
equilibrium. There is also the air to liquid to air where the heat is first transferred to a circulating
liquid which in turn gives up the heat a heat sink to warm the intake gases. Finally we come to
the system which this website is based around the Ljungström® air preheated. This is a scaled
down version of the systems that are used a most power plants. There is a slowly rotating drum
in which there are thousands of elements (metal blades) There is a hot side were the exhaust gas
is run through the system and a cold side were the fresh air is brought through with both
interaction with the elements we have heat transfer and a near state of temperature equilibrium is
reached as the exhaust is vented and the air heads towards the boiler. With this system a
difference can be made an update a system that is below a complete overhaul of the heating
system yet is also a little more complicated then bolting on a new piece of pipe.
49
Bart Cromwell
Group 9
HVAC Maintenance and Energy Savings
Word Count: 349
This article goes into the logistics of maintaining a HVAC system properly and if done correctly
it can save 15-20% alone on energy. This means if the machine is kept running properly
throughout the year, this means regular maintenance where the issue is fixed in the system before
it becomes a real problem that could disrupt everything from the comfort of a managers coffee
break to the functioning of that critical computer that is crunching the numbers that could make
or break the company. This holds very true for an institution such as RPI where we have any
number of projects that are being worked on all at once and they have very specific conditions
that must be met for the equipment to work or the reaction to have the desired outcome. The
HVAC system on average is responsible for around 40% of an buildings energy consumption.
When this is added up at a place such as RPI the number start to skyrocket and they do nothing
but clime if the system is in poor repair. Then as the system ages it loses the efficiency it had
before and this is considerably less then it could be with preventative measures. The whole kitten
caboodle comes down the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Meaning
that for every cent we spend to keep our system running well we are preventing the need to
spend of a dollar to fix it.
The article continues to go on about why reactive maintenance is a bad idea and that no matter
how much of a budget crunch you are in the tightening of the belt around the maintenance of the
heart of your place of work is going to do nothing but cost you more in the long run, and in
reality with something like an HVAC system the long run is a lot less time than you think. This
is an excellent way to help the project turn into a context that is easily understood by
administrations the effect that it will have on their checkbook.
50
Bart Cromwell
Group 9
Benefits of Integrated UFAD Systems
Word Count: 397
This article is about the upgrading of old buildings so that the whole infrastructure of the
building is designed around the shape of a modern office building. With a UFAD (Under Floor
Air Distribution) HVAC system. Meaning that there need to be countless wires and whether they
are for the normal running of power to every machine within the structure as well as all of the
computer hookups so that every computer is connected to each other and the internet. The
normal method for this is to run trays throughout the rafters/trusses that are holding up the roof
on the building, running through holes in the floor and other improvised holes to reach the areas
that they need to. Taking up valuable ceiling space, and then you have the buildings original
HVAC system running through ducts under the floor take up further space.
This article attests to the benefits designing the telecommunications and the HVAC systems at
the same time so that they can best fit in the small space. The wiring has enough outlets that the
maze of power strips that cover the floor in every office not to mention every dorm room across
the country. This saves space which allows for a more spacious working environment which
leads to better productivity and happier workers. Then there is also the fact that an electrical
system that as installed by professionals has considerably less chance of horrible failure then the
previously mentioned tangled jungle of power cords and either net cable that is usually draped
behind every desk. This whole system can be piggybacked on the same basic structure as the
HVAC, The cable fallowing the pipes from floor to floor station to station dividing up resources
in the form of heat or air conditioning as well as band width and electrical power. This level of
planned integration allows for easy access to all systems at all critical points so that maintenance
and modifications can be made at a moment’s notice while the system continues to function at an
acceptable level where most users will be unable to tell the difference. All this planning for the
future cramming a little extra wire and piping under the floor by raising the floor an average of
twelve inches and allowing the use of real ceilings instead drop downs, resulting in a net gain of
space in the converted area.
51
Bart Cromwell – Local Works Cited
First 3 Annotations
"Energy Savers: Solar Water Heaters." EERE: Energy Savers Home Page. U.S. Department of
Energy, 24 Mar. 2009. Web. 22 Oct. 2009. Web. 22 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12850>.
Fosdick, Judy Judy. "Passive Solar Heating | Whole Building Design Guide." WBDG - The
Whole Building Design Guide. , National Institute of Building Sciences, 22 May 2008.
Web. 22 Oct. 2009. http://www.wbdg.org/resources/psheating.php.
“Go Green With Quad-lock." Quad-Lock Insulated Concrete Forms = Better Buildings. QuadLock Building Systems. Web. 22 Oct. 2009. <http://www.quadlock.com/>.
Second 3 Annotations
"Campus Greening Initiatives | Worldwatch Institute." Worldwatch Institute | Vision for a
Sustainable World. Web. 24 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.worldwatch.org/taxonomy/term/458?page=1>.
"Eco-Cities Take Root | GreenBiz.com." Daily News on Green Business and Climate Change
and Sustainable Business Practices | GreenBiz.com. Lara Abrams-Melman, 25 Oct. 2007. Web.
25 Oct. 2009. <http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2007/10/25/eco-cities-take-root>.
"Easy Tips for Going Green at School :." College Candy. Elizabeth-Baruch College. Web. 26
Oct. 2009. <http://collegecandy.com/2008/09/06/easy-tips-for-going-green-at-school/>.
52
Third 3 Annotations
Fegan, Bob. "Boiler Efficiency." Energy Solutions Center. Apr. 2005. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.energysolutionscenter.org/boilerburner/Eff_Improve/Efficiency/Combustion_Air_P
re-Heater.asp>.
Piper, James. "HVAC Maintenance and Energy Savings." Facility, Facility Management and
Maintenance Management Professional Resources. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.facilitiesnet.com/hvac/article/HVAC-Maintenance-and-Energy-Savings--10680>.
"Benefits of Integrated UFAD Systems." Center for the Built Environment. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.cbe.berkeley.edu/underfloorair/benefits.htm
53
First Set
Zhixun Wang
Group 9
Sustainable
Word Count: 261
In the article titled Sustainable by the National Institute of Building Sciences the authors
discuss the definition of sustainability building design and the challenges and the benefits of a
sustainable building. Currently in the United States, building construction and maintenance is
consuming a large amount of our resources. It account for 68 percent of total electricity usage in
the United States. It also accounts for 38% of total energy use and 39% of carbon emission. The
goal of sustainable buildings is to avoid depletion of resources such as water, energy, and raw
material. Most people have the wrong impression that most of the money is spent on the
construction of a building. In reality the cost of construction only accounts for a little percentage,
most of money is spent on maintenance, operation and renovation. According to the article a
sustainable building has six main characteristics. It optimize site potential, operational and
maintenance practices, and energy use, it also uses environmentally preferable products,
conserves water and enhances indoor environmental quality. Optimizing site/existing structure
mean careful site selection, and minimizing the effect on the local environment. Optimizing
operational and maintenance practices means to design the facility so it will have higher
productivity, reduced energy and resources costs, and prevented system failures. Optimized
energy use is essential to find ways to reduce load, increase efficiency, and utilize renewable
resources. Enhancing indoor environment quality means maximizing daylight, appropriate
ventilation, and making the environment healthy and comfortable. The authors also agree that
retrofitting an old building is actually more cost effective then building a new facility.
54
Zhixun Wang
Group 9
How Green Retrofitting is Beneficial
Word Count: 225
In the article How Green Retrofitting is Beneficial by Gina Cheeseman discuss many
benefits of retrofitting a building. In a survey of sixteen organizations that underwent a LEEDcertified green building retrofit, the response was overwhelmingly positive. The survey found
that workforce productivity improved, one hundred percent reported that goodwill/brand equity
increased. Seventy-five percent reported their employees’ health improved. Eighty-one percent
experienced greater employee retention. The article found that green retrofitting is rapidly
becoming a critical business strategy. It is no longer just about reputation, companies are
implementing a wide variety of sustainable practices in order to attract and retain talent and
increase worker productivity. The operational cost saving is another important reason. One of the
responders to the survey comments that “there is a cost premium for going green. However when
you look at the value the green retrofitting adds such as productivity increase and better retention,
you’ll find that it’s actually cheaper to go green. Recent studies by the IFMA Foundation and
Turner Construction found that most new green buildings cost less than one percent more, and
some even cost less. One of the participants of the survey was Adobe Systems, who green
retrofitted its headquarters. The green retrofit saves Adobe 1.2 Million annually. Electricity use
dropped by 35%, natural gas by 41%, water consumption by 76%, and number of staff grew by
35%.
55
Zhixun Wang
Group 9
Empire State Building Going Green
Word Count: 198
The Empire State Building is about to get a major renovation costing 20 million. The
project will save the building’s owners 4.4 million annually in energy cost. This means in less
than five years, the whole cost of renovation will be gained from just the saving in energy cost.
The retrofitting will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 105,000 metric tons during the next
15 years. Bill Clinton the former president said that upgrading the Empire State Building is
serving as a model for buildings around the world. In a sense this is what we are doing with our
project. We are setting up an example for other institutions to follow. The renovating process
will actually take longer than how long it took to build the Empire State Building. The upgrade
will replace all 6,500 windows that reduce summer heat load and winter heat loss. There will
also be changes to the building’s ventilation, chilled water and lighting systems. Bloomberg the
mayor of New York City says that “The famous landmark shows the rest of the city that, no
matter how tall they are, no matter how old they are, can take steps to reduce their energy
consumption.
56
Second Set
Zhixun Wang
Group9
LEED Certification Information
Word Count: 429
In the United States and many countries around the world the Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design or the LEED Certification is used to measure building sustainability. The
LEED Certification, developed by the US Green Building Council aims to reduce the negative
environmental impacts of buildings and improve occupant health and well-being.
The process of getting a building LEED certified is a rigorous process but offers
compelling proof to everyone that you’ve achieved your environmental goals and your building
is performing as designed. Once certified you are entitled to numerous state, local and national
incentives. There are four levels in the LEED rating system, Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
It covers not only new buildings but also renovation projects, interior projects and existing
building operations.
The articles offer steps and advise to become LEED certified. The first step of becoming
LEED certified is to set a goal for yourself, do you want to get just certified or get platinum
certified? This depends mostly on the budget. Higher levels of LEED Certification, such as
platinum do require a higher expenditure. Then after you have set your LEED goal, your project
team should be focused on meeting the LEED certification level. It is important to valueengineer your project, but it is also vital to engineer for life cycle value. Life cycle valueengineering should be set before the first cost value-engineering. Hiring LEED-accredited
professional is also strongly recommended. These professionals can help you meeting your
LEED goal and find ways to earn LEED credits without extra cost.
This article is very helpful for our project in greening our RPI campus. We must set a
reasonable goal according to RPI’s annual budget in order to ensure success of our project. We
must also take in to account incentives that we will receive if we retrofit our campus. On the
website http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/tools/funding.htm#guides, the United States EPA
provides a list of National, State and Local programs that Institutions can take advantage of. This
project is not just about greening our school but also about saving money in the long run. So we
must get over the fear of the “first cost”, in the long run we will save a large amount of money.
With the incentives and the savings accumulated, we should be able to get back the money we
spent on the project by the fifth year. According to the article we will also need to hire LEED-
57
accredited professionals rather than just a normal contractor or consultant. They are more
experienced and can help reduce both our life cycle value and first cost value.
58
Zhixun Wang
Group9
Green Building in United States
Word Count: 363
There are many associations and groups in the United States that can assist our effort in
retrofitting our school. The U.S Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization
that is best known for the LEED rating system and the Greenbuild Conference. The USGBC has
more than 17,000 members that can help in various ways of building a green and sustainable
building. It also offers workshops to promote and educate people about the importance of
sustainable buildings. It also offers web-based seminars to educate the public and industry
professionals. They also have speaker who travel around the country to talk at events. In our
project we can utilize these seminars to educate our school and professionals.
The Green Building Initiative is a non-profit network of building industry leaders
working to mainstream building approaches that are environmentally progressive but also
particle for builders to implement. They also own Green Globes, an environmental assessment,
education and building rating system. According to studies the system has a simpler
methodology and easier to use. We could utilize this system to measure our improvements. GBI
also sponsors EcoBuild a biannual conference of companies interested in accelerating the
adoption of Green Building Practices. GBI also develop green building programs in communities
and is engaged in educating consumers on green building techniques.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program is a very
popular program. It rates buildings for energy efficiency and provides Energy Star qualification
for new homes that meets its standards for energy efficient building design.
Numerous campuses around the countries made significant progress in greening their
campuses in the 21st century. Ann Rappaport a lecturer at Tufts School of Engineering
comments that “The value of greening goes well beyond resources saved; greening generates
interest and invites members of the academic community to think differently about societal
values, goods consumed, and the infrastructure for shelter and mobility, raising questions about
how human needs can be met in new ways.” This is another goal of our project, to promote
awareness in our campus. We want the students to become inspired by our project and go out in
to the world and make a difference and change the world.
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Zhixun Wang
Group9
Barriers to Building Green
Word Count: 423
Green building projects are known around the world to be cost effective and resources
efficient. They are healthy for the residents and the demand for them seem to be high; however
the lack of green building and the lack of will to change are very strange. This is happening at
RPI too. The last major conservation project in RPI took place in 1993 when they replaced most
of the lightening in the school. This question was tackled by the California Integrated Waste
Management Board and several other organizations. The found three major barriers to this
problem and offers some solutions.
The first barrier to the problem is due to builders not getting enough incentives. For the
owner of green buildings the benefits of energy savings and productivity accrue over the long
run. The benefits are mostly grabbed by the owner of the building not the builder. Thus the cost
of green buildings is usually very high. The study identifies this financial disincentive to builders
as the single most important obstacle to the “mainstreaming” of green building. To fix this
problem, the system needs to be changed so that it allows some of the value of the long-term
benefits to be transferred to the builder to offset first-time costs.
The second barrier is the product information and sourcing. Most people felt that green
products are scarce and the information on the product is not readily available. This lack of
information about performance and cost will force projects to depend on specialized consultants.
There is also the risk that the green produce does not perform well and needs to be replaced. The
limited information also creates skepticism from the municipal building and safety departments.
Product such as the High Fly Ash Content Concrete is considered to be a useful product but local
governments consider this to be skeptical. The study finds that once the products become
mainstream, the barrier will be eliminated.
Another barrier is client knowledge. The clients usually feel that they need credible and
solid evidence that green buildings have a definitive advantage over normal buildings. They want
case studies of green building materials and performance, fiscal studies of capital and operating
cost and many other aspects. Code and regulations also provide a barrier. As the regulation of
building design and construction becomes increasingly complex, developers and clients have
difficulty assessing the costs and requirements of complying with regulations. This requires
improved communication of local building codes and their implication for green process and
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product choices. This would allow developers and clients to make choices among efficiency,
aesthetics, and cost that would satisfy regulators without costly delays and changes.
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Third Set
Zhixun Wang
Group 9
The College Sustainability Report Card
Word Count: 378
In the 2010 College Sustainability Report Card Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute got a B.
This is a whole letter grade improvement from last year. In the 2009 report card RPI got a C and
the year before that we got a C-. This shows that RPI has made significant improvement since
last year. Many reasons can be attributed to this huge leap forward. The EVAC Athletic Village,
a Gold LEED approved building, was opened this year and the opening of EMPAC late last year
which is a Silver LEED approved building. This bumped RPI’s Green Building criteria on the
report card from a C to A. RPI also made significant improvement in transportation, raising the
grade form D to A. The only two categories that did not show any improvements were
Administration and Food and recycling. The Food recycling criteria remains B and the
Administration criteria remains C.
The C in the administration in the criteria might be a barrier for our project. Our school
has not signed several important Sustainability agreements such as the ACUPCC and the
Tallories Agreement. Our school also does not hire any sustainability staff and does not have an
office or department specifically dedicated to sustainability on campus.
However RPI’s student participation and organization in sustainability is very strong. These
student organizations organize sustainability competition every year and it is a success. In the
2008 EcoHall challenge Cary Hall manage to save almost 25% of energy from the baseline
reading. This competition is obviously creating awareness on campus, changing how the student
behaves. These student organizations are a valuable asset to our project. They can potentially
help us fight the resistance from the school’s administration.
In the Green Building section it showed that our school has only two LEED approved
buildings -- one gold and one silver. None of our buildings are Energy Star labeled and none of
buildings have received the LEED-ED certification. This proves that we have room to grow and
we need to change these numbers. Although there are plans to make all future buildings LEED
certified, it is also important for old buildings to get LEED-ED certified. Our project can achieve
this easily. By retrofitting the HVAC systems we can get enough LEED credits to get a building
LEED-ED certified.
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Zhixun Wang
Group 9
Controls and Load Reduction
Word Count: 234
Climate control systems accounts roughly 41 percent of total energy usage. Since daily
high temperatures coincide with peak energy use, climate control equipment operates at its
highest capacity during the most expensive utility rate time. Air conditioning alone is 45 percent
of the total peak energy use of the commercial sector. Most centralized air conditioning system
are not set to their optimal performance, therefore a lot of energy is wasted. Building owners can
save 50% on their energy consumption by just fine tuning, adjusting control set points and
modifying existing equipment. These tune ups also dramatically reduce CO2 emission.
Upgrading the HVAC system is not the only step. Building owners need to find ways to
reduce heat and cooling loading. Building envelope improvements, windows and use of energy
efficient office equipment all reduce heat buildup and lower cooling loads. The windows here at
RPI are very outdated. The windows in Sage look like they have not been replaced since the
1940s. They are still single pane, wooden windows with no seals.
Swinerton Incorporated use a DDC system that monitors temperature, CO2, and humidity
- even from remote locations. This system maximizes intake of outside air and runs the HVAC
system to meet actual loads rather than anticipated demand, saving over 30 percent on utility
bills. Cypress Semiconductor also incorporated a DDC system to their newly designed HVAC
system, saving 147,955 on utilities each year.
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Zhixun Wang
Group 9
Nonprofit Dramatically Cuts HVAC Energy Use Saves $290,000 Annually in Energy Costs with
New Software
Word Count: 260
A leading medical research center Burnham Institute recently renovated their HCAC
system due to the dramatic increase in energy cost. The large institution consists of nine research
buildings. It spends 2 million dollars a year on utility bill. The facility manager decides to
improve the buildings and become a more responsible corporate citizen of the San Diego area.
They employed a technology patented by Tom Hartman which bases itself on the law of
affinity which states that the energy used is proportional to the cube of the speed of the motor. So
reducing the speed by half reduces the energy used to 1/8th of full speed. The technology is the
backbone of Optimum Energy’s software. The improvement was dramatic.
Cost/Benefit Information
• A utility rebate of $460,000.
• Annual electrical usage savings: 2.4 million kWh.
• Annual gas usage savings: More than 250,000 therms.
• Annual cost savings for entire project: $290,000.
• Annual CO2 footprint reduction: 3.1 million pounds.
• Year-over-year electrical usage reduction on the main campus central plant: 32.8 percent.
• Year over year gas savings reduction for main campus: 56 percent.
• Year over year electrical usage reduction on building 10 central plants: 60 percent.
• Year-over-year gas savings reduction on building 10: 50 percent.
• Simple payback for entire project: 1.34 years.
The most notable part is that the payback for the entire project is only 1.34 years. Contradicting
the notion that green renovation requires a long payback. The amazing savings and benefits
could happen at RPI with better results if our project is implemented.
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Zhixun Wang - Local Works Cited
First 3 Annotations
"Deseret News | Empire State Building going green." . Web. 23 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705295563,00.html>.
"How Green Retrofitting is Beneficial |." Triple Pundit. Web. 23 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/10/how-green-retrofitting-is-beneficial/>.
"Sustainable | Whole Building Design Guide." WBDG - The Whole Building Design Guide. Web.
23 Oct. 2009. <http://www.wbdg.org/design/sustainable.php>.
Second 3 Annotations
"ArchitectureWeek - Environment - Barriers to Building Green - 2001.0822." ArchitectureWeek
- 2009.1021. Web. 28 Oct. 2009. <http://www.architectureweek.com/2001/0822/environment_11.html>.
"Green building in the United States -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 28 Oct. 2009.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_building_in_the_United_States>.
"NRDC: Building Green - LEED Certification Information." NRDC: Natural Resources Defense
Council - The Earth's Best Defense. Web. 28 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.nrdc.org/buildinggreen/leed.asp>.
Third 3 Annotations
"Flex Your Power - Best Practice Guide." Flex Your Power - California Energy Efficiency and
Conservation. Web. 30 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.fypower.org/bpg/module.html?b=offices&m=Central_HVAC_System>.
65
"Nonprofit Dramatically Cuts HVAC Energy Use, Saves $290,000 Annually in Energy Costs
With New Software - Case Study." Facility, Facility Management and Maintenance
Management Professional Resources. Web. 30 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.facilitiesnet.com/hvac/casestudy/Nonprofit-Dramatically-Cuts-HVAC-Energy-UseSaves-290000-Annually-in-Energy-Costs-With-New-Software--20372>.
"Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Green Report Card 2010." The College Sustainability Report
Card. Web. 30 Oct. 2009. <http://www.greenreportcard.org/report-card-2010/schools/rensselaerpolytechnic-institute/surveys/campus-survey#building>.
66
First Set
Thomas L. Felice
Group 9
High School Improves HVAC Efficiency and ADA Compliance
Word Count: 426
This is a short and simple article that tells some brief facts about an 86 year old high
school that underwent major renovation. A major part of this renovation included many
upgrades to the schools Heating, Ventilation, and Air conditioning (HVAC) system.
The author opens his argument by stating the condition of the school. It is described as
an old, rundown building in desperate need of a facelift. It is quoted as being a tired school that
was overcrowded and had simply seen better days. His primary argument for the replacement of
many components of the HVAC system was that the High School’s maintenance crew was
simply “band-aiding” the existing system. The system was in such poor shape that repair calls
were constantly needed. It simply became a matter of money that drove the district to install a
new HVAC system. The sub argument is that the new system is energy efficient, and will go
along with the school district’s objective to run “greener” facilities. This will make the district
look good in the eyes of the public, and allows it to stand as a leader in a world competing for
green technology.
Though the article is quite short, the author does provide some evidence to support his
argument. First of all, an interview with an individual who seems to be a member of the school’s
maintenance crew yields the information that the amount of service calls to keep the old system
running was unrealistic. Secondly, it is stated in the article that as a result of the updates to the
HVAC system, the school’s energy usage has decreased. Thirdly, the district budget for
improvement is not limited to simply improving energy efficiency, it is also used to improve the
schools bathrooms, and install items that help the school meet the requirements of the Americans
with Disabilities Act. It is essentially an all-around win situation.
This article can inform our advocacy project proposal because it is essentially about a
large part of what we want to do on a smaller scale. Part of our project is improving the HVAC
efficiency of all of RPI, not just one building, but the data from one building can be extrapolated
to provide a good idea of what kind of implications (financial and otherwise) such renovations
would have on an institution as large as RPI.
Some information from the article that can justify and support our advocacy project
proposal is as follows. First of all, it is stated in the article (as mentioned before) that these
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renovations did reduce the energy usage of the school building. Secondly, it is stated that it is
sometimes better to upgrade to a newer system than to continually repair an old one. Lastly,
some of the technologies mentioned in the article are designed with better temperature regulation
in mind, which would make campus more comfortable for students and staff alike.
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Thomas L. Felice
Group 9
The Facts about Windows and Heat Loss
428 Words
This is a brief article from the NFRC, or National Fenestration Rating Council that states
a few facts about the efficiency of windows. It essentially describes a method of determining
window efficiency known as the U factor, and it explains how to research the efficiency of
windows on the market.
Though this article written by an organization not motivated by profit from window sales
is designed to inform as opposed to persuade, it still makes a pretty clear argument. This
primary argument is that new technology allows windows to perform their job of separating
inside from outside, while minimizing temperature change on either side better than older
windows. The sub argument is that the NFRC 100 standard for evaluating the thermal
transmission of windows is a reliable and accurate method of evaluating heat exchange through a
window. In the article, consumers are encouraged to look for windows that have U factors
determined in accordance with NFRC 100.
The author has some compelling evidence to back up these arguments. First of all,
windows do not just lose their heat through conductivity (direct transfer of heat). They also lose
heat through airflow around the window, and the emissivity of the glass. These are taken into
account in the U factor. Secondly, a window with high emissivity (conventional) glass will
transfer over 84 % of the infrared energy from a warm room to the outside air Thirdly, window
technology has become available (such as low emissivity coatings for glass) that greatly reduces
the loss of infrared energy through a window.
This article can inform our advocacy project proposal by providing us vital information
needed to research products that could potentially be purchased to carry out the renovations our
advocacy project promotes. With the help of the U factor, we can make proper decisions that
would lead us to buy the best window for its purpose. The best thing about this article is that it
actually describes other parameters on window efficiency besides the U factor. These include
the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, the Visible Transmittance number, and several others.
This article also does a good job of justifying and supporting our advocacy project. It is
clear that the windows in the older buildings on campus are more than 10 years old. According
to the article, it was during the past 10 years that most of the innovations in window efficiency
technology came to be. Therefore, the windows on campus are not as efficient as they could be
which is costing the campus money for heat that simply goes “out the window”.
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Thomas L. Felice
Group 9
Westminster College Becomes Utah’s First Solar-Producing Campus
Word Count: 479 Words
This article tells a tale that is being heard more and more in recent times, the switch from
grid electricity to privately generated green electricity. In this case, a college campus in Utah
decided to install some solar panels as an active environmental learning experience for the
students. The power they generate will be used to replace some of the electricity the school
demands from the grid.
This author presents quite a clear key argument in this article. This key argument is that
the installation of these solar panels will allow the campus to reduce its greenhouse gas
emissions, and lessen the impact that the campus’ demand for electricity has on the environment.
The sub argument is that investment in these solar panels will bring the campus a positive image
from an outside perspective as a leader in the application of environmentally friendly powergeneration technology. Another argument is that the solar panels show the campus community
how renewable energy can meet an ever growing demand for electricity without harming the
environment.
The author does a fine job of supporting the arguments made in this article. First of all, it
is stated that this small, 8000 watt solar array will keep 14.7 tons of carbon dioxide out of the air
each year. That is the equivalent of three cars per year. These 8000 watts are the equivalent
electricity usage of nearly 3 average Utah homes. The solar panels will be a learning tool as they
will be monitored, and students can access data about them easily through the schools website.
Perhaps most importantly, the installation of these solar panels represents a continued
partnership between a campus and an electric company devoted to the generation of green energy.
This article can do a great deal to inform our advocacy project proposal. Perhaps the
most important reason that it can do this is the fact that Westminster is a College Campus. That
means that the data collected at Westminster for a project like this will probably correlate nicely
with the data that needs to be collected at RPI. Also, implementation research will likely have
been done at Westminster, and this research can be applied to RPI.
There are many things in this article that justify and support our advocacy project
proposal. First of all, the project at Westminster promotes efficiency, just like what we want at
RPI. Secondly, it promotes energy independence, which is an area that we also would like to
explore at RPI. If the numbers presented in the article are scaled up to an RPI sized project, we
could get a good idea on how much electricity we would generate, and how much Carbon
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Dioxide we would eliminate. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, it provides a way for
students to get involved not only in saving the environment, but in learning how a major source
of renewable energy works.
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Second Set
Thomas Felice
Group 9
Another Energy Recovery System for the Internal Combustions Engine
Word Count: 536 words
This article describes a method in which the waste heat from an internal combustion
engine is harnessed and used to generate steam to turn a turbine. This theory could be applied to
any device that generates excess heat, like a boiler.
This author’s primary argument is that our technology does not do enough to limit
inefficiencies. Heat is generated by some of our most common mechanical wonders, such as a
car engine. This heat must be removed in order for the engine to properly function. Our current
method is to simply blow the heat into the surrounding air. However, if that heat was used to
boil water to drive a turbine, efficiency would increase, there would be less unused heat, and
more mechanical energy would be generated. This is essentially the author’s secondary
argument. In this argument, he is trying to make the point that waste heat recovery turbines are
technological feasible, and should be implemented.
In order to support stated claims, the author presents several facts. First of all, the
internal combustion engine is inefficient. His number for 20 % efficiency is quite reasonable, as
are his numbers of keeping the coolant at 90 degrees C, and the exhaust stream at 650 degrees C.
Secondly, he makes a reasonable claim on the numbers for a turbine. It is feasible to see a 50 %
heat transfer efficiency, as well as a 50 % mechanical efficiency of the turbine. Lastly, and
perhaps most importantly, the fact that the heat that can be used to operate this turbine (which is
merely a byproduct of engine running, it does not cost extra to make your engine produce
enough heat for this to work) is simply being thrown away in the atmosphere, doing no good,
supports the authors argument.
Though this argument focuses on the internal combustion engine, it would be quite
closed-minded of the reader to limit the possibilities of this sort of system to only one type of
inefficient system. As a matter of fact, anything that generates waste heat can be used to heat
water which can be turned to steam to power a turbine. This would include a boiler for a heating
system. Though in this case, the heat is the reason for the operation of the device (unlike the
I.C.E, where mechanical energy is the reason); some heat still flows up and out the smokestack,
unharnessed. Capturing this heat is a part of our advocacy project, and a system like the one
presented in the article would be a practical way of doing this.
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Some useful information from the article is that the turbine system (based off of rough
calculations) can add 20 % efficiency to an I.C.E. It is likely that similar numbers of waste heat
converted to power can be expected from a system implemented on a heating boiler. Also, the
article mentions that this project would not be terribly difficult to implement, and it wouldn’t be
terribly expensive. This would likely be true on a larger scale. Lastly, the article actually
mentions some of the technologies that could be used to physically harness the heat (pre-heaters,
etc). We would need to look into them for a successful implementation of the project.
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Thomas L. Felice
Group 9
Enjoy the Magic of High Efficiency Replacement Windows
Word Count: 464
This article is a brief pitch on why high efficiency windows are beneficial. Its primary
purpose is to describe a little bit about window efficiency to homeowners.
In this article, the author’s primary argument is clear. Installing efficient windows in a
home will save the homeowner a substantial amount of money in energy bills. According to the
article, heat losses in a home can be largely attributed to leaky, inefficient windows. The
author’s sub argument is also clear. This argument goes past the energy bills to the contents of
the home. There are many things in a home that can be damaged by sun, such as furniture,
carpet, etc. High efficiency windows absorb a great deal of the sun’s harmful rays, which helps
preserve the valuables in the house. Also, efficient windows can be used for lighting, which will
further reduce the energy bill of the homeowner.
This author uses several pieces of evidence to support the above arguments. First of all,
it is stated in the article that as much as 50 % of heat loss in the average home can be attributed
to inefficient windows. Secondly, the article states that the average homeowner could save
upwards of 600 dollars per year on their heating and cooling costs if the replace their old
windows with high efficiency windows. Lastly the fact that high efficiency windows can
remove UV rays from the spectrum is a compelling reason to install these windows.
This article can inform our advocacy project in many ways. Though the article is geared
for a homeowner, there is no reason that the information presented in this article cannot be
applied to a larger scale situation, like a college campus. If 50 % of the heat loss in buildings at
RPI is caused by inefficient windows, we could save a significant amount of energy simply by
changing the windows. Also, since the high efficiency windows will allow a great deal of visible
light into a building during the day, the need for the building’s artificial lights will be lessened,
saving even more energy.
This article is rich with information that supports our advocacy project. First of all, the
article states that having high efficiency windows does not just impact heating; it also will help
make air conditioning systems more efficient by keeping hot, outside air out. Perhaps most
importantly, the article also states that windows should be replaced every 25 years. This
provides a benchmark on which to gauge RPI, as it is now reasonable to say that if a window is
over 25 years old, it should be replaced. Also, the numerical statistics presented in the article
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(and reiterated above) can be applied to a larger scale situation, like RPI, even though they are
derived from information collected at individual homes.
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Thomas L. Felice
Word Count
Goodbye Fossil Fuels, Hello Solar Panel Shades
Word Count: 479
This article discusses the construction of a new parking structure at the Las Positas
college campus. This parking structure uses solar panels as a roof, and will generate a
substantial amount of green electricity.
The primary argument in this article is that the construction of a roofed parking structure
with solar panel roofing (instead of conventional roofing) is a viable way to generate green
electricity, and keep cars cool and protected from the elements. Though the solar panels roofs
are obviously more expensive than conventional roofs, they eventually pay for themselves with
the energy they produce over their lifetime. The sub argument in this article is actually the more
important of the two from a global standpoint. This argument is that building such a parking
structure will limit the campus’ needs for fossil fuel generated electricity, and therefore reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
The author uses several facts to back up the above arguments. First of all, the solar array
will generate one megawatt. That provides the campus with approximately a quarter of its
annual electrical consumption. Keep in mind that this is all green energy, that’s a full quarter of
the campus’ power that is not being provided by fossil fuels. Secondly, the total cost of the
project is 12.9 million dollars, but almost half of that (6 million) will be paid back in incentives.
Thirdly, the solar panels do not take up extra space. As a matter of fact, they are quite useful as
the roof of the campus’ new car port.
This article is an extremely useful piece of information that can be used to inform our
advocacy project. It provides information on using solar panels to perform tasks other than
simply generating electricity. If this system was to be implemented at a spatially limited campus
like RPI, the panels would need to be placed on existing structures, or be integrated as a part of a
new structure. Also, the article provides ideas for coupling the solar system with efficient
lighting and other systems to further increase efficiency.
Information in this article is quite relevant to a project at RPI because the location of the
implementation in the article is also a college campus. The article states that the solar panels
allow the sun to cool buildings as well as heat them, as the electricity generated by the solar
panels can be used to run the air conditioners. Also, it is important to note that the article has the
point of view of a student in it. Although she seems a bit frustrated about the lack of parking
during the construction of the solar structure, she is glad that the school will be saving money
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while generating green electricity. It is important to think about the impact on students when
working at a college campus, and this article give us a small insight on a student perspective.
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Third Set
Thomas Felice
Programmable Thermostats Will Save Money
Word Count: 505
This is an informative article that discusses some statistics on programmable thermostats.
As it turns out, programmable thermostats are a cheap and effective way to make an existing
HVAC system more efficient.
The author’s key argument in this article is simple. Programmable thermostats are a
cheap and effective means of controlling an HVAC system without replacing any of the system
components. This control leads to the system not running when it is not needed. This means that
the system will actually be off, using no energy, when it is not needed, as opposed to running
when no one is there to reap the benefits of its hard labor. This leads to the sub argument of the
article, which is that programmable thermostats are a way to support the green movement. Well,
since they do cause an HVAC system to run less often, and most HVAC systems contribute to
global warming, they are actually a cheap, easy, and effective way for the owners of HVAC
systems to go green.
The author uses several pieces of evidence to support the claims made in the article. First
of all, the article gives a price range for the thermostats. The price is a reasonable number, and
(as is stated in the article) is significantly cheaper than replacing windows or furnaces. Secondly,
the author states that when you are asleep or at work, you do not notice insignificant temperature
differences. Therefore, you can program the thermostat to use the HVAC system less during
these hours, which will save a great deal of energy. Thirdly, the author states that the installation
of a programmable thermostat does not change the HVAC system in any way. It will still have
all of its innate strengths and weaknesses. The thermostat will simply cause it to run less,
decreasing consumption.
This article can inform our advocacy project in many ways. Though it is geared towards
homeowners, the programmable thermostats mentioned in this article would certainly find a
place at RPI. They would prevent some rooms in the buildings they are installed in from being
extremely hot, and they would prevent others from being extremely cold. They would also be
able to tell the system to shut off while no one is in the building (i.e. overnight). Also, the low
price factor makes it a favorable way for a large scale HVAC system to save large scale energy.
There is quite a bit of information in this article that justifies and supports our advocacy
project. First of all, programmable thermostat units cost only between 50 and 200 dollars.
However, they can save an estimated 15 % on energy costs per year by either raising or lowering
(depending on heat or a/c) the temperature by about 10-15 % for 8 hours a day, when the
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temperature change does not impact the residents of the building. With programmable
thermostats, all of the temperature changes necessary to save energy would be done
automatically, and without the knowledge of building occupants. It truly is a great way to save
energy.
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Thomas L. Felice
Group 9
Energy Efficiency and Windows
Word Count: 480
This is a brief article that discusses the efficiency of windows. It goes into some of the
factors that rate window efficiency, and it gives some tips on how to make windows more
efficient.
The author has a very straightforward argument in this article. It is that windows are a
leading cause of energy loss in buildings, and this problem can be easily remedied. It is stated in
the article that a significant amount of heat is lost through cracks in window frames as well as
through window frames that are inefficient in design. The secondary argument is that there are
several easy methods to correct the problem of inefficient windows that should be implemented.
This is true. Though the methods of making windows more efficient are available, they are
certainly not exploited to their full abilities (look at the windows on RPI’s older buildings).
The author does a good job of supporting the arguments with fact. First of all, the article
states that 12 % of residential energy is lost or gained through cracks and imperfections in the
window frame. These cracks allow for air to flow, and this results in a loss (or gain) of heat.
Secondly, the article presents the fact that this issue can be very easily solved. The article states
that a simple application of caulk around a window will significantly reduce the amount of air
the closed window lets through. Thirdly, the article discusses weather stripping. Weather
stripping is an easy to install strip of material helps block heat losses (or gains) caused by the gap
between a closed window and its frame.
This article informs our advocacy project proposal in many ways. It discusses a key way
that we want to improve the efficiency of RPI, window maintenance. Window maintenance is
very easy to do. The article states that caulk is simply a chemical compound of a material like
latex that can be used to plug holes. The process of applying caulk is quite simple (squeeze into
hole after stripping any old caulk out). Caulk is also relatively inexpensive. Weather stripping is
also very easy to deal with, as the strip of material must simply be placed in the path of the
window so as to create a tighter seal between the window and the frame.
There is quite a bit of information in this article that justifies our advocacy project. The
most important statistic is that 12 % of residential energy is lost through cracks and
imperfections in the window frame. This number is likely similar for an institution like RPI. As
a result of upgrading the window frames, you easily save a significant amount of energy. Also,
the article describes some of the pros and cons of wood frames versus aluminum frames. This
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helps us to make an informed decision as to which would be better suited for RPI’s older
buildings.
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Thomas L. Felice
Group 9
What are the Best Ways to Improve HVAC Efficiency?
Word Count: 524
This is a short article about HVAC efficiency. The article describes some useful methods
to keep residential HVAC systems running at optimum levels. The article also describes several
ways to make HVAC systems more efficient.
The author’s primary argument is as follows. Any HVAC system, no matter how good it
is, will not properly heat or cool a space unless the system is properly maintained. The space
must also be properly “prepared” for an HVAC system to perform its job well. This means that
rooms with an HVAC system should be insulated, filters on HVAC systems should be kept clean,
and temperatures should be kept at a relatively constant and reasonable level. The secondary
argument is that these changes will ultimately save money, and the environment. HVAC
systems are typically not known for being “green”, so the less they have to run, the better.
The author uses several facts to back up the arguments made in this article. First of all,
the very important point that HVAC efficiency can be improved by reducing the workload on the
system is made. This does not involve any modifications to the existing HVAC system; it
simply requires proper maintenance, and good temperature keeping practices. Secondly, the
author states that insulating rooms and caulking leaky windows are effective ways to reduce
energy losses. This is true, as heat lost through leaky windows is significant. Thirdly, the author
states that sometimes it is best to replace the entire HVAC system if the old system is too small
or too old, as the change over to a new system will pay off in energy savings in the long run.
This article can inform our advocacy project proposal in many ways. This article is
written about homes, but the information in the article will likely apply quite well to RPI. Even
though RPI’s buildings are larger than average homes, the facts presented in the article hold true,
and are simply proportioned to the size of the building. This article discusses many ways to
renovate, repair, and maintain an HVAC system, so that it is running at optimum levels. This
optimization will save significant energy, which is exactly what we are looking to do at RPI.
This article also states some simple ways to improve HVAC efficiency that can easily be
practiced by RPI students. For example, simply keeping all doors and windows secured is an
effective way to make HVAC systems use less energy.
There is a great deal of information in this article that justifies our advocacy project.
First of all, the article states that having a “smart” HVAC system (one that changes the
temperature when the homeowners are not home automatically) could save hundreds per year on
82
home energy bills. If this is scaled up to something the size of RPI, the dollar amount of savings
becomes huge. The article also provides us with information that would allow us to optimize
existing HVAC systems. For example, we could add insulation to older buildings, and make
sure all filters are kept clean regularly. This article is further proof that sometimes the best ways
of solving a problem are the simplest.
83
Thomas L. Felice – Local Works Cited
First 3 Annotations
Matt, Chris. "High School Improves HVAC Efficiency and ADA Compliance." Modernization
Program Provides Stimulus for Schools. Jan 2009. facilitiesnet, Web. 22 Oct 2009.
<http://www.facilitiesnet.com/hvac/article/High-School-Improves-HVAC-Efficiency-and-ADACompliance--10378>.
"The Facts about Windows and Heat Loss." National Fenestration Rating Council. Jan 2005.
Web. 22 Oct 2009. <http://www.nfrc.org/documents/U-Factor.pdf>.
"Westminster becomes Utah's First Solar-Producing Campus." Westminster College Campus
News and Events. 14 Aug 2007. Westminster College, Web. 22 Oct 2009.
<http://www.westminstercollege.edu/campus_news/index.cfm?id=413>.
Second 3 Annotations
"Another Energy Recovery System for the ICE." Half Bakery, Web. 26 Oct 2009.
<http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Another_20energy_20recovery_20system_20for_20the_20IC
E>.
Goering, Matt. "Enjoy the Magic of High Efficiency Replacement Windows." ServiceMagic.
Web. 26 Oct 2009. <http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.Enjoy-the-Magic-of-HighEfficiency-Replacement-Windows.16584.html>.
Wiest, Willie. "Goodbye Fossil Fuels, Hello Solar Panel Shades." IPC Express. 03 06 2009. Web.
26 Oct 2009.
84
<http://media.www.lpcexpress.org/media/storage/paper1047/news/2009/03/06/News/Goodbye.F
ossil.Fuels.Hello.Solar.Panel.Shades-3663910.shtml>.
Third 3 Annotations
"Programmible Thermostats Will Save Money." ServiceMagic. Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.Programmable-Thermostats-Will-SaveMoney.8359.html>.
Kumar, Shefali. "Energy Efficiency and Windows." Suite101. 22 Apr 2001. Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/building_construction/66981>.
Hill, Erin. "What are the Best Ways to Improve HVAC Efficiency?." wisegeek. Web. 29 Oct
2009. <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-best-ways-to-improve-hvac-efficiency.htm>.
85
First Set
Paul Chromik
Group 9
Article 1
Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality in Schools
This article gives explicit information on how energy can be saved in schools by using green
energy. It is a very useful article, giving explanations about different technologies that can be
used. It has links at the end and contact information for more information.
Article 2
Green School Buildings
This article gives a cutaway section of a green building. It explains that green schools are
cheaper to run, and are much more efficient energy wise. It also has links to information on
making schools green.
Article 3
Welcome to the Michigan Green Schools Website
This site deals with making schools green as well, in particular schools in Michigan. The site has
many links throughout its pages that give answers to frequently asked questions and more
information about making schools green.
86
Second Set
Paul Chromik
Group 9
Article 1
Shining a Natural Light on Green Schools
This article deals with green school buildings. According to this article, the stimulus bill has
money provided to schools to make them energy efficient. The school it examines more closely
is the Da Vinci Arts Middle School in Portland, Oregon. This school is adding an addition that
will produce 70% more energy efficiency in the building. All of the changes being made to this
addition are possible for most buildings existing at schools today.
Article 2
What do you mean, "Green School”?
This article is based on how certain buildings can be green without looking it. Some of these
features include the lights, better controls, and solar technology. Not only does it talk about the
technologies of the green buildings, it talks about the side effects of using the technology. This
includes motivation to build other green buildings and the sense of pride in using the green
buildings. The program in this website also includes education on the green technology so the
students and faculty can explain the technology to others and help encourage the building of
newer green buildings.
Article 3 Second Set
Green Schools
This article shows green school buildings from schools all over America. This website shows the
facts that green buildings can improve student and faculty health, better student performance
academically, and lower operating costs. This website also gives a diagram to a school room in
Southern California. The diagram shows all of the different technologies used to be able to make
the building green. Also, it shows the green technologies do not make the building look too
different from a normal room layout.
87
Third Set
Paul Chromik
Group 9
Article 1
HVAC
This website has a list of links to view information about other parts of the HVAC system. It
deals with the filters in the system, the ideas of combining water and heat systems into one to
conserve energy, and a guide to find new ideas for renewable energies.
Article 2
About the HVAC Mobile Green Classroom
This website is very interesting because it is essentially a green classroom in a compact, mobile
trailer. This is used to show people how they can make everything green in their buildings. It
allows you to learn about green energies and the HVAC systems to help bring attention to the
idea of going green in buildings.
Article 3
HVAC - Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
The person who runs this website converted a house to be green using the HVAC systems. In this
site the acronym “HVAC” is clearly explained. He also gives a diagram to show how the HVAC
system works. Also, he has links to resources in his website for more information on HVAC and
other green building technologies.
88
Paul Chromik – Local Works Cited
First 3 Annotations
"Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality in Schools." Energy Star. 01 Sep 2003. Web. 22 Oct
2009. <http://www.energystar.gov/ia/business/k12_schools/Ee&iaq.pdf>.
"Green School Buildings." U.S. Green Building Council. Web. 22 Oct 2009.
<http://www.greenschoolbuildings.org/Homepage.aspx>.
"Welcome to the Michigan Green Schools Website." Web. 22 Oct 2009.
<http://www.michigangreenschools.org/>.
Second 3 Annotations
Tucker, Libby. "Shining a Natural Light on Green Schools." The New York Times. 28 May 2009.
Web. 26 Oct 2009. <http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/shining-a-natural-light-ongreen-schools/>.
"What do you mean, "Green School"?." The Green Schools Healthy Schools Project. Web. 26
Oct 2009. <http://www.nesea.org/k-12/greenschoolshealthyschools/>.
"Green Schools." Global Green USA. Web. 26 Oct 2009.
<http://www.globalgreen.org/greenurbanism/schools/>.
Third 3 Annotations
"HVAC." Build it Green. Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.builditgreen.org/taxonomy_menu/3/4/31/42>.
"About the HVAC Mobile Green Classroom." Building a Better Tomorrow. Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.hvacgreen.net/training/>.
"HVAC - Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning." Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.ourcoolhouse.com/hvac.htm>.
89
Organizing Expertise – GROUP 9
This exercise asks you to list the types of expertise and staff you will need on a project team.
Once you have a sense of the expertise you need, create job descriptions for two of the most
important staff roles you need to fill.
The Project:
We plan to improve the efficiency of RPI’s central HVAC system by introducing electronic control in
each room of each building so that hot and cold air is evenly distributed without the need to lose “climate
controlled air” through the windows. We also plan to replace aging windows with energy efficient
windows in RPI’s old buildings, so that energy is not wasted through closed windows. We also plan to
install a steam turbine generator to run off of waste heat and steam generated by innate efficiency in RPI’s
centralized boiler plants and place solar panels on the roofs of buildings to increase RPI’s green energy
use, and decrease dependence on the grid. Once successful at rpi, this plan can be implemented at other
institutions.
Project Requirements:
What skills and types of experience are required for this project?
This Project requires a great deal of experience in many fields. First, we need an engineering
expert (firm) to evaluate the feasibility of the project, and come up with a design. An
engineering firm with experience in making green buildings is preferred. We then need to
contract a company to install/construct the necessary modifications. They must have HVAC
installation experts, as well as electrical expertise for the installation of the solar panels, and
generator. We need to have maintenance crews who are educated in the functionality of the new
systems to make sure that they continue to run for a long period of time.
What staff roles will you need to fill to acquire those skills and experiences? (Be specific.)
We will need Electrical/Civil/Environmental Engineers, electricians, construction workers, a
project manager, an educator to inform maintenance crew of new procedures, maintenance crew
members, and HVAC installation experts.
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Job Descriptions:
Staff Role 1: Engineers (Electrical/Civil/Environmental)
Job Description:
The engineers will be responsible for designing systems necessary to update the HVAC systems,
as well as building modifications required for the installation of new windows. They will also be
responsible for making sure that the electrical systems to control the HVAC systems and to
manage extra power produced are designed properly. They will also conduct the analysis on
how these changes will impact the environment.
Staff Role 2: Electricians
Job Description: The electricians will be responsible for installing the electrical system for
control of the HVAC system, and they will also install the systems required to properly mesh the
power generated by the turbine and solar panels to the power in the grid..
Staff Role 3: Construction workers
Job Description: The construction workers will install the physical components required for this
project. For example, they will mount the solar panels to the roofs of the buildings, they will
physically install the turbine, and they will reconstruct the buildings to accommodate the new
windows, and then they will install the windows.
Staff Role 4: Project Manager
Job Description: This individual/organization will be responsible for making sure that
everything is being done according to the plans. They will be responsible for distributing work
load, keeping a schedule, and ensuring quality.
Staff Role 5: Maintenance Educators
Job Description: These experts on the installed systems will educate RPI’s maintenance crew so
that they can continue to keep the systems running long after the completion of construction, and
the inevitable departure of the initial experts on these systems.
Staff Role 6: Maintenance Crew
Job Description: These RPI employees will be responsible for keeping the new systems running
reliably and efficiently for years to come.
Staff Role 7: HVAC Installation Experts
Job Description: These specialized construction workers will be responsible for physically
installing the new components of the HVAC system.
91
Stakeholder Analysis – GROUP 9
Students
Catalyst: We make up the most of the population of RPI, and any changes to the campus will
inevitably effect us.
Constraints: The students do not have enough power unless they work together.
Administration
Catalyst: They make the ultimate decision, bring publicity to the school.
Constraints: The project will require a large sum of money. If money is spent in this area then it
means a smaller budget for other things. They are not affected as much by the topical changes as
the RPI students are.
Faculty
Catalyst: They are closely connected with the students and faculty alike, and have the power of
persuasion.
Constraints: Do not have enough power, and they are not going to be happy if their budget is cut.
Maintenance
Catalyst: They are the most knowledgeable in these areas; they have the most understanding with
regards to the procedures.
Constraints: They have to learn new skills in order to maintain the building such as operating
solar panels. They are limited by what funding they are given.
Utility Companies
Catalyst: They have the already established system that we hope to make more efficient, but
currently rely upon.
Constraints: If we are independent, they cannot impose price changes on us, or service
interruptions, as they would not matter.
Student government
Student interest groups/organizations
Catalyst: Political power, more decision power, they have the support of the majority of students
and faculty. As the prominent voice of the student body, they have the students’ interests at hand
and are in an optimal position to promote the change that students desire.
92
Constraints: Inexperienced, may lack the will to act, economic and time constraints to launch a
full out campaign, and lack of political power to a very non-transparent extent.
Local government
Catalyst: They represent the majority, the interest of the local citizens.
Constraints: They have little to no power on the institution’s internal policies.
Building Owners:
Catalyst: They own the buildings and have a lot of control; they can save money by retrofitting
old buildings. (Non-RPI institutions, RPI falls under the administration, etc)
Constraints: Money and their tenants may not agree.
93
Pitching a Project
This exercise develops the building blocks of a project proposal. Use the following questions to
draft the major elements of a proposal in narrative form. These narrative elements will be
essential in pitching your project to potential supporters and can later be included in a formal
project proposal.
-What do you propose to do, and where do you propose to do it? (Be as specific as possible.)
We propose to increase the efficiency of RPI by revamping the buildings. This includes the
installation of electronic regulation (thermostats) for the HVAC system so that temperatures are
kept more consistent on a room to room basis. It also includes installing new high-efficiency
windows so that unwanted heat in these buildings is not gained, and needed heat is not lost.
-Why should others consider this project a priority?
Others at RPI should consider this project a priority because it directly impacts them. As a result
of the completion of this project, room temperatures will be far more tolerable around campus.
Also, the expense of operating campus will drop as efficiency improves, which will save RPI
students money. Others outside of campus should consider this a priority because it will be a
great test bed for future sustainability projects on institutions similar to RPI.
-Provide a brief example or story that illustrates the need for this project:
On my walk to class today, I saw the smokestacks pouring unused heat into the air as the boilers
struggled to keep the inefficient campus warm. As I sit here in class, I am uncomfortable
because of the high, unregulated temperature in this room. I watch as the excess heat pours out
the window. I can’t help but think how much better my life as a student would be here with
lower tuition bills, and comfortable classrooms.
-Who are the stakeholders for this project, and what perspectives are they likely to have on it?
There are several stakeholders for this project. For the most part, they are RPI students, faculty,
administration, and maintenance, as well as local utility companies and other local institutions.
On the RPI side, the stakeholders will likely be for the project, at least in the long run. The local
institutions and utility companies will likely be for the project, as the institutions will benefit
from lessons learned in the RPI project, and the utility companies will benefit from the lower
demand for fuel at RPI.
-What kinds of resources will you need to carry the project out, and where can you get them?
We will need the support of RPI administration to get the most important resource of all, money.
We will also need help from engineering firms to make these ideas practical. We would need
construction companies to put everything together, and most of all, we would need the students
to push for this project to happen.
-What barriers might arise that limit this project, and how do you plan to address them?
Getting the support of the administration to “foot the bill” for the high startup cost will likely be
the largest barrier for this project. Presenting the data well, and showing how the project will
pay off well in the long run will likely convince any opposition to be in support of the project.
Describe a scenario that illustrates the positive outcomes that will result from this project:
We all sit in class comfortably with no heat being wasted out the windows. Our tuition bills are
lower, and RPI is a leader on the scale of efficient campuses.
94
Global Works Cited
"10 Ways to Cut Down on your Heating Bill this Winter." Clover Comfort. Web. 26 Oct 2009.
<http://www.clovercool.com/hvac_news/cut_%20down_heating_bill.html>.
"About the HVAC Mobile Green Classroom." Building a Better Tomorrow. Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.hvacgreen.net/training/>.
"Another Energy Recovery System for the ICE." Half Bakery, Web. 26 Oct 2009.
<http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Another_20energy_20recovery_20system_20for_20the
_20ICE>.
"ArchitectureWeek - Environment - Barriers to Building Green - 2001.0822." ArchitectureWeek
- 2009.1021. Web. 28 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.architectureweek.com/2001/0822/environment_1-1.html>.
"Benefits of Integrated UFAD Systems." Center for the Built Environment. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.cbe.berkeley.edu/underfloorair/benefits.htm
"Campus Greening Initiatives | Worldwatch Institute." Worldwatch Institute | Vision for a
Sustainable World. Web. 24 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.worldwatch.org/taxonomy/term/458?page=1>.
"Choosing A New Furnace for your New York Home." Clover Comfort. Web. 22 Oct 2009.
<http://www.clovercool.com/hvac_news/new_furnace.html>.
"Deseret News | Empire State Building going green." . Web. 23 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705295563,00.html>.
"Easy Tips for Going Green at School :." College Candy. Elizabeth-Baruch College. Web. 26
Oct. 2009.
<http://collegecandy.com/2008/09/06/easy-tips-for-going-green-atschool/>.
"Eco-Cities Take Root | GreenBiz.com." Daily News on Green Business and Climate Change
and
Sustainable Business Practices | GreenBiz.com. Lara Abrams-Melman, 25 Oct.
2007. Web. 25 Oct. 2009. <http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2007/10/25/eco-cities-takeroot>.
"Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality in Schools." Energy Star. 01 Sep 2003. Web. 22 Oct
2009. <http://www.energystar.gov/ia/business/k12_schools/Ee&iaq.pdf>.
"Energy Savers: Solar Water Heaters." EERE: Energy Savers Home Page. U.S. Department of
Energy, 24 Mar. 2009. Web. 22 Oct. 2009. Web. 22 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12850>.
95
Fegan, Bob. "Boiler Efficiency." Energy Solutions Center. Apr. 2005. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.energysolutionscenter.org/boilerburner/Eff_Improve/Efficiency/Combustion
_Air_ Pre-Heater.asp>.
"Flex Your Power - Best Practice Guide." Flex Your Power - California Energy Efficiency and
Conservation. Web. 30 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.fypower.org/bpg/module.html?b=offices&m=Central_HVAC_System>.
Fosdick, Judy Judy. "Passive Solar Heating | Whole Building Design Guide." WBDG - The
Whole Building Design Guide. , National Institute of Building Sciences, 22 May 2008.
Web. 22 Oct. 2009. http://www.wbdg.org/resources/psheating.php.
"Furnaces." Focus on Energy. Web. 26 Oct 2009.
<http://www.focusonenergy.com/Residential/Efficient_Heating_and_Cooling/Furnaces.a
spx>.
Goering, Matt. "Enjoy the Magic of High Efficiency Replacement Windows." ServiceMagic.
Web. 26 Oct 2009. <http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.Enjoy-the-Magic-ofHigh-Efficiency-Replacement-Windows.16584.html>.
“Go Green With Quad-lock." Quad-Lock Insulated Concrete Forms = Better Buildings. QuadLock Building Systems. Web. 22 Oct. 2009. <http://www.quadlock.com/>.
"Green building in the United States -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 28 Oct. 2009.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_building_in_the_United_States>.
"Green School Buildings." U.S. Green Building Council. Web. 22 Oct 2009.
<http://www.greenschoolbuildings.org/Homepage.aspx>.
"Green Schools." Global Green USA. Web. 26 Oct 2009.
<http://www.globalgreen.org/greenurbanism/schools/>.
Hill, Erin. "What are the Best Ways to Improve HVAC Efficiency?." wisegeek. Web. 29 Oct
2009. <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-best-ways-to-improve-hvacefficiency.htm>.
"HVAC." Build it Green. Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.builditgreen.org/taxonomy_menu/3/4/31/42>.
"HVAC Contractors." Clover Comfort. Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.clovercool.com/hvac_news/HVAC_contractors.html>.
"HVAC - Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning." Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.ourcoolhouse.com/hvac.htm>.
96
"How Green Retrofitting is Beneficial |." Triple Pundit. Web. 23 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/10/how-green-retrofitting-is-beneficial/>.
"How HVAC Filters affect Indoor Air Quality." Clover Comfort. Web. 26 Oct 2009.
<http://www.clovercool.com/hvac_news/indoor-air-quality.html>.
Kumar, Shefali. "Energy Efficiency and Windows." Suite101. 22 Apr 2001. Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/building_construction/66981>.
Matt, Chris. "High School Improves HVAC Efficiency and ADA Compliance." Modernization
Program Provides Stimulus for Schools. Jan 2009. facilitiesnet, Web. 22 Oct 2009.
<http://www.facilitiesnet.com/hvac/article/High-School-Improves-HVAC-Efficiencyand-ADA-Compliance--10378>.
"Nonprofit Dramatically Cuts HVAC Energy Use, Saves $290,000 Annually in Energy Costs
With New Software - Case Study." Facility, Facility Management and Maintenance
Management Professional Resources. Web. 30 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.facilitiesnet.com/hvac/casestudy/Nonprofit-Dramatically-Cuts-HVACEnergy-Use-Saves-290000-Annually-in-Energy-Costs-With-New-Software--20372>.
"NRDC: Building Green - LEED Certification Information." NRDC: Natural Resources Defense
Council - The Earth's Best Defense. Web. 28 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.nrdc.org/buildinggreen/leed.asp>.
Piper, James. "HVAC Maintenance and Energy Savings." Facility, Facility Management and
Maintenance Management Professional Resources. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.facilitiesnet.com/hvac/article/HVAC-Maintenance-and-Energy-Savings-10680>.
"Programmable Thermostats Will Save Money." ServiceMagic. Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.Programmable-Thermostats-Will-SaveMoney.8359.html>.
"Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Green Report Card 2010." The College Sustainability Report
Card. Web. 30 Oct. 2009. <http://www.greenreportcard.org/report-card2010/schools/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute/surveys/campus-survey#building>.
Sherman, Boris. "Saving on Furnace Repairs." Clover Comfort. Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.clovercool.com/hvac_news/furnace_repairs.html>.
Simpson, Jaime. "A Cost Efficient Heating System." Ezine Articles. 27 Aug 2009. Web. 22 Oct
2009. <http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Cost-Efficient-Heating-System&id=2833254>.
"Sustainable | Whole Building Design Guide." WBDG - The Whole Building Design Guide. Web.
23 Oct. 2009. <http://www.wbdg.org/design/sustainable.php>.
97
"Tax Incentives Assistance Project: Consumer Tax Incentives." Web. 22 Oct 2009.
<http://energytaxincentives.org/consumers/heating-cooling.php>.
"The Facts about Windows and Heat Loss." National Fenestration Rating Council. Jan 2005.
Web. 22 Oct 2009. <http://www.nfrc.org/documents/U-Factor.pdf>.
Tucker, Libby. "Shining a Natural Light on Green Schools." The New York Times. 28 May 2009.
Web. 26 Oct 2009. <http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/shining-a-naturallight-on-green-schools/>.
"Welcome to the Michigan Green Schools Website." Web. 22 Oct 2009.
<http://www.michigangreenschools.org/>.
"Westminster becomes Utah's First Solar-Producing Campus." Westminster College Campus
News and Events. 14 Aug 2007. Westminster College, Web. 22 Oct 2009.
<http://www.westminstercollege.edu/campus_news/index.cfm?id=413>.
"What do you mean, "Green School"?." The Green Schools Healthy Schools Project. Web. 26
Oct 2009. <http://www.nesea.org/k-12/greenschoolshealthyschools/>.
Wiest, Willie. "Goodbye Fossil Fuels, Hello Solar Panel Shades." IPC Express. 03 06 2009.
Web. 26 Oct 2009.
<http://media.www.lpcexpress.org/media/storage/paper1047/news/2009/03/06/News/Goo
dbye.Fossil.Fuels.Hello.Solar.Panel.Shades-3663910.shtml>.
"Your Different Central Heating Systems." Clover Comfort. Web. 29 Oct 2009.
<http://www.clovercool.com/hvac_news/different_heating_systems.html>.
98