SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2012
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Building tips:
Net-zero is new lingo xpect to hear ‘net zero’ more often in energy conversations. It is now possible to build a facility — even a home — that is so energy efficient it produces zero demand on the public electricity supply. Earlier in the year, a construction team dedicated to this kind of breakthrough opened the net-zero, Richardsville Elementary School in Lexington, Kentucky. “All combined, the energy performance of this school is expected to surpass all expectations,” says Todd Blyth, marketing manager at Nudura, the manufacturers of an advanced version of the insulated concrete form (ICF) used in the plan. “In addition to replacing wood with our rock-solid walls, the rooftop solar panels cover 38,700 square feet and provide all of the school’s electricity needs.” Blyth expects more and more buildings and houses of the future to aim at net-zero. It starts with the initial materials and a “building envelope” that provides maximum insulation. “Richardsville Elementary sets a standard that can be applied to homebuilding, too,” Blyth continued. “If, at the outset, decisions are made carefully regarding the walls, windows, roofing, water management, ventilation and indoor climate control, you are well on your way to completely offsetting the family energy consumption.” If you’d like your own house building to aim for net-zero, take a look at some
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The Nudura system is comprised of stayin-place, preassembled blocks, steel reinforced, and then filled with concrete. It replaces traditional building methods.
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of the most important components: ■ Solar panels on the roof with an electricity grid. ■ Geothermal heating and cooling. ■ Walls of concrete, not wood. The Nudura system is comprised of stay-inplace, pre-assembled blocks, steel reinforced, and then filled with concrete. It replaces traditional building methods. The durability and energy efficiency of concrete has shown to reduce energy costs up to 70 percent. Better still, the entire structure (www.nudura.com) is reported to be stronger, provide greater fire protection and with far more sound insulation. ■ CO2 monitoring system for venti-
lation. It keeps good air quality indoors and allows no more outdoor air than necessary. ■ North-south positioning delivers prolonged day lighting, without glare. All artificial lighting is off during 70 percent of school hours. ■Wireless computers. The lab utilizesfive carts, each loaded with 30 laptops saving energy, wiring and construction. Laptops use a fraction of the energy used to run a typical desktop computer. ■Food preparation is energy-efficient. School kitchens typically use as much as 25 percent of a school’s electricity.
Ask builder for enviro-friendly materials y 2012, the building codes in many parts of North America will be demanding greater energy efficiency with methods and materials. This requirement may be mandated, but when building a home, do speak to your builder about the right green options for you. Energy efficiency should start as early as possible once construction begins. For example, concrete walls are now replacing the old wood frame method. By choosing concrete, not only do you save forests and trees, you could realize savings up to 50 percent on household energy bills. When you opt for the faster, Nudura wall-building system of preassembled insulated concrete forms (ICF), your home stands to be stronger, provide greater safety, and more sound resistance — and is far less prone to mould, cold spots and drafts. Other green options to build value into your home are solar power, water management, drainage, windows, siding, heating/cooling, ventilation, electrical, and outdoor irrigation.
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12 tips for going green Conserve water. Turn off the tap between brushing teeth or rinsing off dishes. Better yet, install low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets that reduce the consumption of water in the household.
Motion detection: Motion-detector lights can be installed in different rooms of the home and outdoors. Lights will automatically turn on and off depending on the activity in the area, reducing the chances of a light being left on inadvertently and wasting money and energy. Solar panels: You may have been toying with the idea of solar panels for years. They can be installed on the roof or in the yard to power various components of the household, like lights during a traditional power outage or the swimming pool filter. Today it is possible to buy used solar panels, many of which still have a lot of life left to them and are considerably cheaper than new ones.
Aluminum storm door: Insulate the entryway of your home with a storm door that will buffer against harsh weather conditions. While you’re creating a more air-tight space, caulk around windows and doors.
Replace air filters. Your HVAC system likely has filters inside that trap dirt and contaminants. Replacing the filters leads to cleaner indoor air and helps the unit run more efficiently.
Power strips: Stock up on power strips and plug all of your peripherals and computer equipment into these strips.
See TIPS, Page 4C
Consider these eco-statistics
Think it takes a lot to improve the environment? Think again. Here are some facts to ponder that show just how it easy it can be to make a positive impact on the world in which we live. ■ By turning down your central heating thermostat one degree, fuel consumption is cut by as much as 10 percent. ■ Replacing all the 75-watt incandescent light bulbs to energy-efficient CFLs and LEDs can reduce carbon dioxide in the air by one ton. ■ Insulating the attic reduces energy usage by up to 20 percent in most homes. ■ 848 pieces of junk mail are delivered to each household per year in the U.S. Opting for e-mail promotions can help reduce junk mail. ■ According to the Enivronmental Protection Agency, in the past 50 years humans have consumed more resources than in all previous history.
You can cut energy costs at home omeowners spend thousands of dollars per year on energy. Whether a home is big or small, energy costs are a concern for homeowners. Though some of the costs of home ownership are beyond a person’s control, there are some steps homeowners can take to reduce energy costs and save substantial amounts of money as a result. ■ Address any leaks. One of the most effective ways to cut energy costs is to weather strip doors and windows throughout the house. Doing so will keep warm air in the house when it’s cold and prevent drafts that occur when cold air enters the home through cracks and leaks. If a home has an attic, be sure to seal pipes, chimneys or ductwork. Addressing leaks can save homeowners as much as 10 percent on their annual home energy costs. ■ Use compact fluorescent lightbulbs instead of incandescent lightbulbs. CFLs use one-quarter to one-third less energy than traditional incandescent lightbulbs. In addition, the Alliance to Save Energy notes that CFLs can last up to 10 times longer than traditional lightbulbs. ■ Be mindful of the thermostat. Most homeowners and their families spend a good
portion of their day out of the house. Home heating costs can be reduced by as much as 20 percent if homeowners simply lower the thermostat during the day by 10 F. For homeowners who feel they won’t remember to do so on a regular basis, a programmable thermostat will do the job on its own. ■ Lower water temperature. Lowering water temperature can also lead to substantial savings. Homeowners can save as much as five percent on their water bill by lowering the temperature on their water heater by as little as 10 F. When doing so, touch the outside of the water heater. If the outside is cold, the water heater has sufficient insulation If the water heater is hot to the touch, wrap a water heater jacket around it to increase efficiency. ■ Replace older appliances. Older appliances, be it an older central air conditioning unit or an older water heater, often need to expend more energy than they did when they were new. What’s more, especially older appliances might not meet Energy Star standards, which can cost homeowners substan-
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SEALED WINDOWS and storm doors make a marked difference in FILE PHOTO
Reusing: A great, easy way to recycle hewing gum as an art medium? Beer as a hair serum? Surprisingly, these items and many more are reused every day, playing a host of roles they were never intended for. Before items are relegated to the trash, individuals can think about ways these same items can be reused and reincarnated into several other purposes. Today’s younger generations have grown up in a time when disposable items are de rigueur. But long before disposable items became the norm, men, women and children were forced to make due with items that were long past their expiration dates, even reusing them in new ways. While this practice might have been replaced by the convenience of disposable items, eco-conscious citizens can still embrace this old
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and environmentally friendly trend. Find out if it can be fixed. An appliance on the fritz or a toy that has lost a part might not need to be discarded. Before finding the trash can, find out if the item can be fixed. It may take a short inquiry to the company or the work of a handyman to repair a broken item and set it right again, but such efforts are worth it. Polish pots. With thorough cooking and oxidation, copper pots and even steel ones can begin to look dingy. Regular, old beer can be used as a polishing agent to get them to sparkle. Because of beer’s subtle acidity, it can help boost shine without staining the metal like a higher-acidity liquid would. Embrace newspapers’ versatility. There are millions of newspa-
pers printed and used worldwide. The average household may have one or more newspapers delivered each week, and newsprint is also used for junk mail and advertisements. While recycling does help cut down on newspapers, there are other ways to put old papers to good use. Line the bottom of refrigerator drawers with the paper to catch spills and eliminate odors. Use shredded paper as kitty litter or in bird cages. Wrap unripe fruit in newsprint to help it ripen faster. You can also place newspaper at the bottom of a planting bed before you cover it with soil or mulch to keep away weeds. Give old jeans a new life. It’s hard to part with that favorite pair of jeans sometimes. Whether they’re stained or simply don’t fit anymore, you can turn the denim into something new. Doll clothes
Line the bottom of refrigerator drawers with the paper to catch spills and eliminate odors.
are easily crafted from scraps of denim. Or, why not turn pieces of denim into a durable, reusable shopping bag to take to stores? A patchwork quilt made of squares of denim can be used as a picnic blanket or beach throw in a pinch.
See, RECYCLE Page 4C