Green + Solar Building Oregon

A Comprehensive Guide to Green and Solar Building

Featuring the 2007 Oregon Green & Solar Homes Tour Commerical Green Building Section New Oregon Laws Create Huge Incentives for Going Green

Building you a better future ...TODAY! Andrew Kuperstein General Contractor

• Insulated Concrete Forms • Prefab Metal Buildings • Structural Insulated Panels • Timber Frame • Strawbale • New Construction • Remodeling • Earth Advantage Builder • Energy Star Program Alternative Construction Concepts, Inc.

LIC. #: 151956 - Bonded-Insured Phone: (541) 390-5800 Fax: (541) 330-1420

Founding Member of the Building Green Council of Central Oregon andrew@alternativeconstructionconcepts.com www.alternativeconstructionconcepts.com

Welcome to the 2007/8

Green + Solar Building Oregon magazine!

In Oregon, the environment and our precious natural resources have always been a high priority. We have risen above other states to ensure that Oregon’s natural splendor and picturesque landscapes stay intact for our children and future generations to enjoy.

This legislative session advanced this tradition, producing some of the most aggressive and progressive environmental standards in the nation — helping combat climate change, accelerate the creation of solar energy and expanding business and residential energy tax credits.

With strong bipartisan support, this session we established a renewable energy standard, requiring 25 percent of Oregon’s electricity come from new sources of renewable energy by 2025 and a renewable fuel standard, requiring minimum levels of ethanol and biodiesel be blended into the state fuel supply. I also signed into law a requirement that all new public buildings allocate 1.5 percent of their construction budget to solar energy.

To the surprise of many, Oregon is a perfect candidate for solar energy because our temperate climate is perfect for systems to perform at their best. Western Oregon gets as much sun annually as the national average, and eastern and southern Oregon receives as much sun yearly as other sunny states like Florida. And the growing use of solar energy can be seen across the state, from the Capitol roof and Kettle Foods in Salem, to the Pepsi facility in Klamath Falls, to Tumalo State Park in Central Oregon to the Brewery Blocks and the new South Waterfront development in Portland. Additionally, there are more than 10,000 solar water heating systems used to heat water in homes, swimming pools and spas throughout Oregon.

I’m proud of the progress Oregon has made in the area of green building and solar energy, but even with the strides we have made there is more that we can do to develop and utilize renewable energy, both helping our environment and our economy by keeping more of Oregon’s energy dollars here at home. I am committed to continuing to grow these important sectors and look forward to working with citizens and companies across Oregon to secure our energy independence.

Sincerely,

Theodore R. Kulongoski, Governor

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Thank You Sponsors The following organizations put enormous time and dollars into making the 2007/8 Green and Solar Building Oregon magazine a success.

Platinum

Silver

Media/in-kind

Gold

Special Thanks to 2007 Green + Solar Tour Sponsors

In addition McGraw-Hill Construction was tremendous in the design, printing and distribution process!

Thank You Advertisers And thanks to all the advertisers whose advertising dollars make it possible to produce this magazine. Please show your appreciation of their community support by giving them your business. See the Advertisers Index on page 108.

Thank You Workers Finally, a HUGE THANK YOU to the dozens of committed people who volunteer significant amounts of time organizing the Green and Solar Homes Tours across the state and providing the home descriptions and articles produced in this magazine.

We especially want to thank the Local Tours Leads, who accepted the mission of coordinating the local tours and rounding up all the information needed for this publication from each of their communities. These include: Cindy Ashy, Jennifer Barker, Linda Barnes, Christopher Dymond, Emily Evans, Larry Giardina, Kathryn Gray, Tara Johnston, Chuck Koch, Fred Gant, Susan BadgerJones, Mark Files, Shannon Souza, Scott McMahon, Al Walker, James Santana, Glen Friedman, Karen Chase, Nathan Good.

Publisher/Editor Cylvia Hayes, 3EStrategies Writers Susan Badger-Jones, 3EStrategies Jennifer Barker, EORenew Linda Barnes, Robertson, Merryman, Barnes Architects and Solar Oregon Kacia Brockman, Energy Trust of Oregon Karen Chase, Oregon Department of Energy Christopher Dymond, Oregon Department of Energy Kathryn Gray, Urbansun Designs and 3EStrategies Ann Grim, Oregon Department of Energy Cylvia Hayes, 3EStrategies Mike Hewitt, E2 Powered Tom Liptan, Portland Bureau of Environmental Services Ryan Mayfield, Lane Community College Marnie McPhee, Solar Energy Association of Oregon Michael O’Brien, POSD Tania Parks, Solar Oregon Lisa Petterson, NCARB Lawrence Schechter, Steele Associates Architects Kathy Shinn, Oregon Department of Energy Greg Stiles, Energy Trust of Oregon Victoria Stoppiello, Freelance writer

Photographers/Artists Jennifer Barker, EORenew Linda Barnes, Robertson, Merryman, Barnes Architects and Solar Oregon Kacia Brockman, Energy Trust of Oregon Karen Chase, Oregon Department of Energy Steve DiPaoca, Photographer Dennis Dunleavy Christopher Dymond, Oregon Department of Energy Jan Dymond Ross Gallager Photography R. Brent Gunderson, Gen-Con Ann Grim, Oregon Department of Energy Michael Mathers, Photographer Sarah Jane Nelson, Photographer Michael O’Brien, POSD Jane Peters Dan Saddler

Scott Sorenson Rob Werfel, Photography The Oregonian

Manager, Design & Production Sandy Ursic, McGraw-Hill Construction Graphic Design & Production Lorraine Delgado, McGraw-Hill Construction Sales Representative James McGuire, McGraw-Hill Construction ON THE COVER The Pringle-Creek Cottage (see page 56.)

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A Word from the Publisher We hear a lot about tipping points these days, the possibility that, at least in some places, green is finally going mainstream. Demand for green building products is booming. There is growing concern about our dependence on foreign oil. Exciting stories about the potential of renewable energy are getting major media coverage nearly every day. The American public is paying attention to global warming.

As basic green goes mainstream, sustainability pioneers are going deeper, laying the foundation for a truly sustainable society. Evidence is apparent throughout this entire issue of Green + Solar Building Oregon. This is the 6th year we have published the magazine and this time, things are different, deeper.

For the first time, our featured homeowners specifically identify concern about global warming as a chief motivation for investing in a green home. Several authors write of being more concerned about the legacy they are leaving future generations than the money they are saving on energy bills. We hear from a couple who have moved back into the city to be closer to family and avoid burning fossil fuel driving to visit. And, for the first time, a homeowner tells of their journey creating a carbon neutral home. See the Featured Homes section inside.

On the commercial building front, the LEED certification program has announced a new Neighborhood Development program and Energy Trust of Oregon, ENERGY STAR and Earth Advantage are developing an Oregon-grown Green Communities Program (see page 34). By focusing on whole neighborhood evelopment green building can move us beyond auto dependent neighborhoods. And, just as sustainable commercial buildings have begun to go mainstream, the new Living Buildings program goes past merely sustainable to restorative buildings (see page 87.)

Like all 3EStrategies’ projects, Green and Solar Building Oregon is designed to empower readers with the knowledge and tools to take real action. It is rich with case studies, green building techniques for the doit-yourselfer as well as the professional builder and information on the hot new package of available cash and tax incentives.

This issue also contains information on the 18 Green and Solar Home Tours taking place across the state this fall. These tours provide an opportunity to experience green and solar products in real life settings and speak directly with the owners and builders who have been through the green building process. See the Tours Section inside.

The production of Green + Solar Building Oregon is highly collaborative. Dozens of people from around the state work for months to choose the featured homes and buildings, write the articles and secure great photographs. None of the writers and few of the photographers are paid for their contributions. Energy Trust of Oregon and Oregon Department of Energy support the project both financially and with tireless contributions of writing, research and photography. I am truly honored to be part of such a committed and talented team.

We sincerely hope Green + Solar Building Oregon inspires and empowers you to take action, to go green, deep green. We owe it to ourselves, our kids and this lovely blue planet.

Sincerely,

Cylvia Hayes, 3EStrategies

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Table of Contents

Carstens Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Carstens Become Trailblazers After Taking a Wrong Turn

By Ann Grim, Oregon Department of Energy

EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES

Peters/McRae Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 “Staging” a Debt-free Efficient Solar Remodel

By Marnie McPhee, freelance, Solar Oregon

Green Building and the Big Picture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Campbell Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

By Cylvia Hayes, 3EStrategies

Reclaimed Materials Add Style and Character to Woodland Family Home

Time for a Deeper Shade of Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

By Susan Badger-Jones, 3EStrategies

By Susan Badger-Jones, 3EStrategies

When Solar Cookies Beat Conservation Veggies . . . .18

By Christopher Dymond, Oregon Department of Energy

Reduce Your Energy Bills, Carbon Emissions and Your Tax Bite with Passive Solar Design . . . . . . . . .20

By Kathryn Gray, Urbansun Designs, 3EStrategies Board of Directors

Solar Electric Photovoltaic Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Tozer Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Passive Solar Designer Lives Green Life in Northwest Crossing

By Susan Badger-Jones, 3EStrategies

Gnass Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Hillside Home Showcases Veteran Builder’s Solar Skills

By Susan Badger-Jones, 3EStrategies

Sabin Green Cohousing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Zero Net Energy and Sustainable Community

By Ryan Mayfield, Instructor of Photovoltaics, Lane Community College

By Linda Barnes, FAIA, Solar Oregon officer

Solar Water Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Dolph Creek Townhomes and the Headwaters at Tryon Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

By Mike Hewitt, E2 Powered

Cash and Tax Incentives for Oregon Homeowners . . .28 Oregon Utility Incentives Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 2007 Energy Legislation Benefits Oregonians . . . . . . .32

Multifamily Housing Saves a Creek and Saves 45% on Energy Costs

By Linda Barnes, FAIA, Solar Oregon officer

COMMERCIAL GREEN BUILDING

By Kathy Shinn, Oregon Department of Energy

Green Building Certification Programs: Going Green Quantified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Businesses Go Green and Solar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Passive Solar Design for Commercial Buildings . . . . .80

By Susan Badger Jones, 3EStrategies

By Lisa Petterson, AIA, LC, LEED® AP, NCARB

Solar Isn’t the Only Hot Green Energy Source in Oregon! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

By Cylvia Hayes, 3EStrategies

Making Your Commercial Building Energy Efficient . .82

By Greg Stiles, Energy Trust of Oregon

Ecoroofs and Energy: What’s the Connection? . . . . . .84

By Tom Liptan, Portland Bureau of Environmental Services

TOUR OF HOMES Living the Solar Revolution in Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

By Tania Parks, Oregon Green and Solar Tours Coordinator, Solar Oregon

Oregon Green and Solar Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

FEATURED HOMES/MULTI-FAMILY Fisher-Smith Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Ashland Couple Lives Lightly at Latitude 42

LEED Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

By Lawrence Schechter, Architect, LEED® AP, Steele Associates Architects LLC

Cash and Tax Incentives for Oregon Businesses to Go Green and Solar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

COMMERCIAL BUILDING CASE STUDIES Sun Fuels Oregon Farms, Nurseries in Many Ways . .90

By Ann Grim, Oregon Department of Energy

By Karen Chase, Oregon Department of Energy

Century 21 Franklin Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92

Gibson Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

By Jennifer Barker, Certified Energy Auditor, Director EORenew

Strawable Octagon: Different and Fun

Not Just Another Pretty Face!

By Victoria Stoppiello, freelance writer

Encore Ceramics and Selma Community Center . . .94

Gray Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

By Karen Chase, Oregon Department of Energy

Floating on a Small Eco-footprint

By Kathryn Gray, Urbansun Designs, 3EStrategies Board of Directors

O’Brien Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 An Embodiment of Values

Independence and Interdependence Influence a Rural Oregon County’s Greening

Sequential Biofuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 The First Solar Powered All BioFuels Station

By Christopher Dymond, Oregon Department of Energy

By Michael O’Brien, Portland Office of Sustainable Development

Oregon Health + Science University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100

McCourt Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

By Ann Grim, Oregon Department of Energy

Hood River Green Home Builds Community

Winner of Most Coveted Prize for Green Buildings

By Kacia Brockman, Energy Trust of Oregon, Solar Oregon board member

United Bicycle Institute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102

Pringle Creek Cottage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

By Christopher Dymond, Oregon Department of Energy

A Very Big Small House

By Christopher Dymond, Oregon Department of Energy

Pedal Power Taught with Solar Power

Kyle Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 South Coast Electrical Contractor Goes Solar

Atteberry Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

By Kacia Brockman, Energy Trust of Oregon, Solar Oregon board member

Solar Power with Battery Backup

Solar Pool Heating Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

By Christopher Dymond, Oregon Department of Energy

Every Pool Should Have One

By Kathy Shinn, Oregon Department of Energy

We believe a world without polar bears, coral reefs and Northwest salmon is neither acceptable, nor inevitable.

Neither is a world wracked by oil wars Nor a nation weakened by debt and dependence on politically unstable regions of the world We know things can be much better And we are doing something about it.

Turn the page to find out more.

www.3ESTRATEGIES.ORG

Who We Are Green + Solar Building Oregon is published by 3EStrategies.

3EStrategies is a dedicated, hard working non-profit organization with bold vision for change.

Our Vision Oregon State will become a model of sustainable energy, economic and community development that leads to similar shifts across the nation and the world.

In the World We Are Building: • Clean, renewable energy sources have replaced fossil fuels.

• Buildings are made of environmentally sound, non-toxic materials and generate more energy than they consume.

• People meet their personal needs without compromising other people or ecosystems.

• Business and economic activities are based on sustainable natural resource usage, promote environmental restoration and increase well-being of people around the world.

• Our kids and grandkids inherit a world that is healthy, secure and abundant.

More than Visionary Thinkers 3EStrategies is tackling difficult issues like climate change, peak oil, overly consumptive lifestyles and a weakening economic system. Uniquely, we don’t focus on the obstacles, but rather on proactive strategies to solve them.

We are visionaries “doers”, turning vision into reality by making it happen on the ground, creating green buildings, clean energy companies, sustainable businesses.

If you are reading this magazine, we beleive you share our vision. And if you share our vision, won’t you consider helping us do the work by becoming a 3EStrategies member today?

See form on next page.

www.3EStrategies.org • (541) 617-9013

Our Key Projects • Green + Solar Building Oregon Magazine: See the value in the pages of this publication!

• Green and Solar Homes Tour: Under 3EStrategies’ leadership, Oregon has developed the most effective, collaborative Green and Solar Homes Tours program in the nation.

• Business Alliance for Sustainable Energy: A one-stop service center for clean energy companies in Oregon.

Assisting Oregon communities in harnessing the economic opportunities of clean energy development.

• Energy Independence Month: Empowering citizens to decrease dependence on fossil fuels and reduce global warming pollution emissions. At our request Governor Kulongoski has declared July Oregon Energy Independence Month.

• Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Community Education Initiative: 3EStrategies Executive Director and two Board of Directors members were trained by former Vice President Al Gore to deliver the climate change presentation, An Inconvenient Truth. And, our presentation, Oregon’s Energy Challenges and Opportunities, is in high demand. We are delivering these presentations and support materials all over the state.

• Consulting Services: 3EStrategies assists green building projects and sustainable energy companies in developing effective sustainability plans and securing tax and cash incentives. We assist companies in implementing sustainability and carbon reduction plans. We help our clients effectively communicate the benefits and values of their projects.

What People Are Saying About 3EStrategies “It is clear that 3EStrategies' actions have played a pivotal role in shifting market interests in Central Oregon to green building and renewable energy. … By 2007 Central Oregon has become one of the best places in the state to find knowledgeable builders and contractors of green solar energy technologies.”

– Christopher Dymond, Oregon Department of Energy “Picked up a copy of your Green + Solar magazine at the recent remodeling show this past weekend...WOW! Great to have this as a resource!”

– Melissa Coe, Sanctus Interiors “Since our joining your company we have had exceptional opportunities to showcase our Architectural sustainable designs.”

– Chad Phillips, Phillips Architecture “You guys suck!” -- Ha ha!

Just wanted to see if you are paying attention! To the best of our knowledge nobody has ever told us we suck.

“3E Strategies is the LEADER in fostering sustainable business growth in Oregon.

We want to be an innovator in Green Building/Developing, and by consulting with 3E Strategies, we have accelerated a likely 5 year learning curve into 5 months.”

– Jason S. Adams, Alterra Investments

2008 Sponsorship Opportunities with 3EStrategies

The 2008 Energy Independence Month featuring: • The Energy Independence Fair (attended by thousands) • Educational forums and workshops, firms and speakers • The Energy Independence Guide (reaching 20,000+)

The 2008 Central Oregon Green & Solar Home Tour featuring: • The nation’s largest and most diverse green building tour • Green Building Fair (attended by thousands) • Green & Solar Tour Guide in the (reaching 40,000)

The 2008 BASE Summit featuring: • Report on status and trends of Sustainable Energy Industry in Oregon • Information on what new energy laws mean for companies and communities • Clean energy job fair

And these other great events: • The 2008 Commercial Green Building Summit and Tour • The 2008 Climate Change and Energy Education Initiative • Green Building Education series

Or sponsor us for the entire year as a PRIMARY PARTNER! If you are reading this magazine and support the work we do, we should be working together. We have a wide array of sponsorship opportunites and can create a package that suits your needs exactly.

Call Brad Hills at the 3EStrategies office at (541) 617-9013 or email brad@3estrategies.org

Please Help Us Do This Work!

Your membership will help to accelerate the transition to sustainable building, energy and economic practices. The benefit of being a member is that you’ll have Green + Solar Building Oregon magazine delivered straight to your doorstep.

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Educational Articles

Green Building and the Big Picture

By Cylvia Hayes, 3EStrategies Albert Einstein said, “You shouldn’t use an old map to explore new territory” – and our energy situation, and global climate change, clearly put us in new territory.

emissions from burning fossil fuels are responsible for rapid climate change is also new territory. In Oregon, electricity generation is responsible for nearly half of our CO2 emissions, followed closely by transportation (figure 2).

A Precarious Energy Situation During the 1970’s “energy crisis”, the United States imported 34% of our oil. We now import 64%, mostly from politically unstable countries in the Middle East and Africa. Our $9 trillion national debt is financed largely by China, which recently became the world’s second largest importer of oil.

Nearly 50% of all energy used in Oregon is petroleum-based. While our hydro system supplies 44% of our electricity, nearly 50% comes from coal burning plants in Wyoming (figure 1). With virtually

Oregon’s CO2 Emissions from Fossil Fuels by Sector: Figure 2

Oregon Electricity Sources: Figure 1

no fossil fuel reserves, Oregon imports 100% of our coal, oil and natural gas.

Thus, of the $10 billion Oregonians spend on energy each year, 85% leaves the state.

Furthermore, the cost of electricity and fossil fuel continues to escalate. In recent years, coal prices have gone up 45%, electricity, diesel and gasoline costs have increased over 30% and natural gas rates have tripled.

A Changing Climate: The growing consensus that carbon dioxide (CO2)

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Oregon is already being impacted by global climate change; all our glaciers are receding; snow pack is down by over 30% creating water shortages, dry forests and catastrophic wildfires. The southern Oregon coast salmon fishery has been declared a national disaster and an oxygen depleted dead zone off the Oregon coast is decimating crab and fish populations.

The harmful impacts of fossil fuel also include toxins like mercury and benzene. Mercury can remain active in the environment thousands of years, endangering pregnant women and children and contaminating rivers and lakes. One of the largest sources of mercury contamination in Oregon is the coal-fired electricity plant in Boardman. Benzene is a highly toxic cancer-causing chemical. Oregon has very high level of this toxin in our air because our gas comes from Northwest refineries that rely on benzene rich crude oil.

Green Building to the Rescue If we are to slow global climate change and reverse our reliance on fossil fuels, green buildings must

become the norm. In the United States, buildings consume 68% of the electricity, 37% of total energy and are responsible for at least 48% of total greenhouse gas emissions (U.S. Department of Energy,Architecture 2030).

Ironically, this is good news because if buildings are a huge part of the problem they can also be a huge part of the solution – if we make bold changes.

The fact is that we already know how to design and construct buildings that consume a fraction of the energy and natural resources of conventional structures; we know how to turn buildings into mini power plants and are making strides toward creating carbon neutral buildings. We know that mixeduse, well-planned developments can reduce automobile dependence and gasoline consumption.

Making Money by Making a Change Making a full scale transition to green building and renewable energy will be very good for our environment and our economy.

Between 1990 and 2002 Pacific Northwest utilities invested $2.4 billion in conservation. This was repaid to ratepayers within 24 months and prevented the need to pay for five new coal-fired power plants. Currently, farmers earn up to $7,000 per year for each wind turbine on their farms. In just one year, wind development in the Northwest brought in $1.38 billion in capital investment, $3 million in lease payments to land-owners, and $6.8 million in property tax revenue for rural counties. Solar and geothermal development also adds directly to the Oregon economy.

A new economy, based on renewable energy, green buildings and sustainable industries is already emerging.

Wind is the fastest growing sector of the global energy industry. Solar is projected to reach $27.5 billion.

Renewable energy in the U.S. alone is projected to grow to $180 billion annu-

Clean Safe Nuclear Energy?

Nuclear energy can be safe--when the power plant is 93 million miles away. In one hour the earth receives more energy from the sun than the world uses in a whole year. It’s clean, its free – and its wireless!

This sun power can be captured for passive solar heating, for passive hot water heating or for energy production with photovoltaic (PV) panels.

Worldwide PV installations increased by 1,744 megawatts (one million watts) in 2006, up from 1,460 megawatts installed during the previous year. Solar energy demand has grown at about 25% per annum over the past 15 years. The US Market showed a 33% growth in 2006.

Source: www.solarbuzz.com

ally by 2015. Energy efficiency products will likely generate greater revenues.

Oregon is positioned to be a pioneer in this new economy. We have a greater diversity of renewable energy resources than any other state including solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and wave. We are already home to over 200 clean energy companies; 10th in the nation for installed wind power and 9th in solar installations. We are a national leader in green building.

A Moral Responsibility Green building is an economic opportunity, but it is also a moral responsibility.

On our current trajectory we are shackling our children with a massive environmental and economic debt -expecting future generations to pay the environmental and financial cost of our current policies. That shouldn’t be acceptable to any of us.

In 1936, on the eve of WW II, Sir Winston Churchill proclaimed, “The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to its close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences.” We too have entered a time of consequences. We are building the world of tomorrow through the choices we make today. And our ability to successfully make the transition to an economy based on clean renewable energy

sources will have just as significant and impact on our children’s generation as did the winning of the Second World War on our generation.

If we make green building standard and begin to move toward energy independence we can protect our rivers, estuaries and skies from soot and toxins like mercury and benzene. We can provide solutions to help reduce the impacts of global climate change. We can free ourselves from dependence on politically unstable nations and reduce the likelihood that our children will be soldiers in oil wars.

We have all the resources necessary to meet this challenge. We need only the wisdom and the courage to act -personally, quickly and boldly.

And in case you think achieving sustainability is impossible, consider this.

We first started using oil a mere 150 years ago when it was discovered in Titusville, Pennsylvania. At that time there were no cars, televisions or cell phones. The people then couldn’t have imagined space travel or the Internet. All of those massive changes occurred in just two human lifespans. Compared to this, it is far, far less fantastic to shift from where we are today to an economy based on clean, environmentally sound, renewable energy.

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Educational Articles

Time for A Deeper Shade of Green

By Susan Badger Jones, 3EStrategies

Green building products and practices are steadily making their way into builders’ tool bags and Americans’ hearts and homes. We should not take these as signs of arriving at our goal, rather as green lights for taking the next steps now toward a greener place on the sustainability continuum – specifically buildings and climate change.

The documentary An Inconvenient Truth dramatically demonstrates that humanity’s use of fossil fuels is causing greenhouse gas emissions – largely carbon dioxide (CO2) – that are changing the global climate in frightening ways. Hand-in-hand with that news is the fact that constructing and operating buildings uses significant amounts of fossil fuels and therefore contributes huge amounts of green house gasses to the problem. Here are some steps – beyond green building basics – you can join others in taking to trim our contribution to global climate change.

Choose Renewables. This year, in your home or business, take advantage of opportunities for passive solar energy and supplement with renewables energy from photovoltaics, geothermal, wind and water available to you.as you can. At the very least buy the green energy option provided by your electric utility. Incentives and tax credits are better than ever before!

Right Sizing Homes. In 1950 American homes averaged 1,000 square feet with 3.37 people.

By 2000 the average size had increased to 2,200 square feet, and the number of occupants had declined to 2.62. People are paying to build, furnish, heat and cool spaces they don’t really use. Design leaders such as Sarah Susanka in her Not So Big House book series, are enjoying huge success as people discover that well designed small homes can actually give them a better quality of living. Many of the homes featured in this magazine show you how.

Smaller homes use less material and consume less energy so they produce fewer greenhouse gasses.

They also use less land, require less maintenance

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and are typically more affordable. Choosing a small footprint can free up dollars for higher quality finishes and for renewable energy systems.

Going for Zero. Building envelope efficiencies, passive solar design and renewable energy features can combine today to create homes that annually produce as much energy as they use – zero net energy homes. That same “can do” has others aiming for zero net water homes and carbon zero homes.

Pulling the Plug. We’ve known it’s important to use energy efficient lights, refrigerators and dishwashers, but today’s homes are also filled with many appliances – from TVs to coffee makers – that draw energy 24 hours a day even when we aren’t using them, just so we can have “instant on.” It’s like leaving the kitchen faucet running 24 hours a day in case you want a quick drink at 3:00 am. There are ways to beat these phantom loads now and show manufacturers that customers want more efficient appliances in the future. Excellent suggestions for saving energy and reducing carbon emissions in existing homes can be found in Carbon Busters Home Energy Handbook, New Society Press.

Live in Walkable Neighborhoods/ Communities. After buildings, vehicles are the second greatest energy users in the U.S. New and infill neighborhoods using mixed-use and smart growth principals are now clustering dwellings within walking distance to services, green spaces and mass transits. The live/walk/mass transit combination saves important amounts of energy – among other attractive qualities.

Choose Local Building Materials. Bamboo from China or hardwoods from a sustainably managed Oregon forest? A comparable local or regional product is always the greener choice – it’s a choice for reduce fossil fuel use to transport and supports local economies. The rule of thumb: the heavier the materials, the more important to buy nearby.

Green Building Basics At its most efficient green building is a whole-systems approach to design, construction and operation of buildings. It’s a convergence of three environmentally responsible objectives: • Improve energy efficiency • Improve indoor air quality • Conserve resources Energy Efficiency An energy efficient home begins with an air tight building envelope (floor, roof, walls, windows) with above code insulation to reduce energy needs for heating and cooling. It’s positioned on the land to take advantage of passive solar heating, cooling and natural lighting; uses high performance furnaces/heat pump and verifies their performance with third party testing; and gives preference to materials harvested or manufactured nearby. It uses energy-saving appliances, energy-efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs (fluorescent, compact florescent and LED).Along with solid conservation measures, a green home generates clean renewable energy from sun, wind, water or geothermal sources.

Better Indoor Air Quality Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors but EPA researchers estimate that the air inside most homes is two to five times more polluted than the air outdoors. Those figures, combined with the growing number of children suffering from asthma and the increasing number of older people with respiratory illnesses make improving indoor air quality a high priority. A green home is constructed and finished with “clean” products – paints, finishes and textiles with no/low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) to minimize off-gassing. It uses formaldehyde-

free wood products, cabinetry and insulation; uses easy-to-clean hard flooring instead of dust/dirt/pollutant-holding carpets; effectively exhausts moisture and fumes from kitchen, bathroom and laundry rooms; and uses whole house vacuum systems to move dirt handling out of indoor spaces. Green homes use Heat/Energy Recovery Ventilation systems with filtration devices to deliver fresh clean air cost effectively.

Conserve Resources The world has limited resources and Americans use more than their share.

Conventional construction of a singlefamily home produces about four tons of waste debris; green building practices minimize that with designs to create less waste and by recycling left over materials. Such buildings use woods that are certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) to be sustainably-produced; use rapidly renewable materials – like bamboo, cork or other woods that grow to maturity in 10 years or less; use materials with recycled content such as engineered lumber, carpet, exterior decking, insulation, tile or new counter top materials like paperstone. They use water-saving faucets, showerheads, toilets, dishwashers, and washing machines – such choices can reduce a home’s water use by more than 30%, amounting to more than 4 million gallons of waste water saved over a 30-year mortgage.

For more detailed information download 3EStrategies’ New Residential Construction Building Green Guidelines, www.3estrategies.org; the Portland Office of Sustainability’s Green Remodeling Guidelines.

continued on page 17

Buildings Use Resources The buildings we live in have a big impact on resources consumed. Buildings account for: • 40% of total energy used (residences using about half of that!) * • 72% of electricity consumed • 40% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted • 24% of municipal waste handled is from building construction/demolition 25-30% of wood and raw materials used • 25% of water • 25% of all wood harvested Source: 2005 Buildings Energy Databook, August 2005, US Department of Energy * Architecture 2030 sources estimate building use of energy is much higher.

Architecture 2030 Challenge for reducing greenhouse gases from fossil fuels Recognizing that buildings use significant amounts of fossil fuels and therefore contribute greenhouse gases (GHG) that feed Global Climate Change, Architecture 2030 has issued the “2030 Challenge.” It proposes that all new buildings be designed and constructed to emit 50% less GHG than current conventional practices and that existing houses be retrofitted over time to meet these same goals. It proposes the following time frame for reaching carbon neutral – the point at which buildings emit no GHG. 50% GHG reduction now 60% GHG reduction by 2010 70% GHG reduction by 2015 80% GHG reduction by 2020 90% GHG reduction by 2025 Carbon Neutral by 2030 (using no fossil fuel GHG emitting energy to operate) These goals are technologically within reach. What’s needed is greater public awareness and the will to choose energy efficiency and clean energy generation.

The 2030 Challenge was recently included in the Peak Oil Task Force’s list of recommendations accepted by the Portland City Council. It has been indorsed by American Institute of Architects, the U.S. Green Building Council and numerous other design, engineering and building entities. Find out more at www.architecture2030.org.

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Educational Articles

When Solar Cookies Beat Conservation Veggies

By Christopher Dymond, Oregon Department of Energy People often ask me if solar is cost effective. Solar energy now compares favorably to many big-ticket energy efficiency measures.

SMALL CONSERVATION MEASURES FIRST Of course, before you do any BIG-ticket items, make sure you’ve done the basic low-cost conservation measures. For example: • Replace the light bulbs in your house with compact fluorescents.

• Eliminate the infrequently used second refrigerator in your garage.

• Have your heating and cooling equipment tuned up to ensure maximum efficiency.

• Use your thermostat’s programmable features to reduce unnecessary heating and cooling.

• Weatherstrip your doors to reduce air leakage.

• Replace your furnace filter regularly.

“Some quick conservation veggies before you eat your solar cookies.”

Artist: Jan Dymond

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BIG CONSERVATION MEASURES VS. SOLAR The following table compares some common bigticket energy measures with solar. Costs and incentives are based on statewide averages. Savings are estimated on a constant future cost.The payback is based on the full cost after typical incentives.

BIG CONSERVATION MEASURES So how do you decide which measures to implement? A lot has to do with timing.

Furnace – Consider replacing an old furnace with a high-efficiency model when it is more than 15 years old or it is inefficient (cycles on and off more than three times per hour during cold weather). Only the upgrade cost between an average unit and a top efficiency unit will need to be “paid back” through energy savings. See the Oregon Department of Energy Web site (www.oregon.gov/ energy) for list of top efficiency units.

Heat Pump or AC – Installing a heat pump to replace an electric furnace has a good payback because heat pumps are typically two to three times more efficient. However, upgrading an existing heat pump or air conditioner should only be done when the existing unit no longer functions efficiently. Keep your equipment maintained and coils clean.

Kitchen Appliances – The time to replace your appliances is when you are remodeling the kitchen or the old unit (clothes washer, dishwasher, and refrigerator) is noisy or fails to meet your needs. Use the state tax credit list (www.oregon.gov/energy) to help guide you to the most efficient models.

New Windows – Upgrading to Energy Star™ windows only makes sense if you are installing new windows anyway. Reasons to replace your windows are to improve appearance, eliminate condensation, reduce drafts and decrease noise.

*State, federal, and utility incentives vary with type of equipment and local requirements.

Sealing Ducts – Leaky duct work accounts for 30 percent of the average homes heating bill. Energy Star™ and Earth Advantage™ rated homes include performance tested duct work.

Reducing duct leaks also prevents outside air and garage exhaust fumes from being drawn into the house. There is a Residential Energy Tax Credit for duct sealing and testing on new and existing homes. See the Web site for more information (www.oregon.gov/energy).

In addition to the direct energy savings, solar can increase the value of your home.The standard rule of thumb used in property assessment for solar property value is to multiply the energy savings per year by 20 years. For example, a solar photovoltaic (PV) system that saves $250 per year should increase the value of the building by $5,000 provided

it is well built and has good aesthetics.

Oregon law also prevents the local government from assessing property tax on this additional value.

This means that if you subtract the value the system added to your home, the payback of a solar system can drop to a very cost-effective 6 to 7 years.

SOLAR ENERGY PAYBACK Water Heating – Standard gas or electric water heaters are not much more efficient than older ones, so don’t upgrade to the same technology.

Consider either upgrading your gas water heater to an on-demand/tankless unit or install a solar water heater. Both offer about the same payback. Unlike most big-ticket conservation measures, however, water heater replacements should be considered anytime. If you wait until your current unit fails, it’s unlikely that you will be patient enough to hire the contractor to install an ondemand or solar water heater.

Solar Electric – If you have done the low/no-cost conservation measures and do not need to purchase any of the big-ticket measures soon, solar electric is likely your best option. As the table shows, with state, federal and utility incentives, the payback on solar is comparable to other big-ticket measures.

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Educational Articles

Reduce Your Energy Bills, Carbon Emissions and Your Tax Bite with Passive Solar Design

By Kathryn Gray, Urbansun Designs, 3EStrategies Board of Directors

If you’re thinking about incorporating passive solar design into a new home or major remodeling project consider reviewing the Oregon Department of Energy’s (ODOE) requirements for solar space heating Residential Energy Tax Credit (RETC) (www.oregon.gov/energy). If you meet them you can qualify for up to a $1500 tax credit. These requirements ensure that a home’s heating and cooling energy use will be reduced by 20 percent or more. Some requirements are absolute minimums, whereas others may not have to be met if your design exceeds the minimum requirements in other areas.

Requirement 1: The building layout must maximize passive solar gain (less used areas on north side, etc).

By elongating the house on an east/west axis you will maximize the area of the house facing south and thus the opportunity for solar gain. Locate your main living areas on the south side, so the sun will come in the windows and heat the space that people are spending most of their time in. Locate less used and non-living (e.g., garage) areas on the north side of the house. Even an elongated north/south axis can still achieve pretty good solar heating performance and qualify for the tax credit if you can meet the next requirement.

Requirement 2: At least half the window area must face within 30 degrees of true south.

Passive solar homes must place their energy collecting windows toward the winter sun.The ODOE defines “solar windows” as windows that both face south and have a high Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). Don’t forget that true south is about 17 degrees east of where the south facing compass needle points.

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Requirement 3: South window area greater than 7 to 9 percent of the total floor area.

Homes in western Oregon should have 90 square feet of solar windows for every 1,000 square feet of heated floor space. Homes in Oregon’s sunnier climates need only 70 to 80 square feet per 1,000 square feet. Keep in mind that overhang and thermal storage requirements are critical if your house has a lot of solar windows.

Requirement 4: Average window U-factor not greater than .35 (area weighted).

U-value measures heat loss, so the lower this value the better. Because solar windows must have a SHGC of not less than 0.55 their U-value is typically higher than 0.35.Thus to keep the average below 0.35, non-solar windows should be selected for their low u-value (0.30 or less is very good) not their SHGC value.

Requirement 5: Solar windows have an SHGC of at least 0.55.

SHGC is the fraction of the sun’s energy that actually passes through the rough frame opening, and the higher this value the better. This requirement is unequivocal, solar windows must be able to let the sunlight in!

Requirement 6: Thermal storage (expressed in Diurnal Heat Capacity) is equal to 30 times the area of south facing windows.

There needs to be adequate thermal storage to avoid overheating. 13 square feet of hardwood is recommended for each square foot of south-facing glazing or 3 square feet of unheated concrete or stone. Thermal storage absorbs solar energy when sunlight strikes it storing it until the air above it grows cooler than the storage mass itself thus

keeping the home from overheating when the sun is shining and warm when it isn’t.

Requirement 7:Adequate overhangs.

Window overhangs should be sufficient to shade most of the window during the summer but allow 100 percent solar gain from late fall through early spring.

This works because the angle of the sun is high in summer and low in winter.

Requirement 8: Less than 10 percent south shading from trees or buildings.

Use the space heating sun chart available from the ODOE website to determine 10 percent south shading from trees or buildings. Shading can be compensated for by adding more solar windows or increasing insulation.

Requirement 9: North windows less than 2 percent of floor area.

Unlike south, east and west windows, north windows never receive any passive solar gain so it is critical to minimize their area.

Requirements 10 and 11: Skylights must be tinted and have a SHGC of no more than 0.30 and have an area of no more than 1 percent of the total floor area.

Skylights lose heat in the winter and are difficult to shade in summer use them judiciously for lighting (add) and sum-

mer hot air escape purposes only.

Requirement 12: West window SHGC less that 0.40.

It is almost impossible to prevent overheating and extreme glare from west windows in the summer due to the low angle of the sun in the sky at the time of

is drawn from low north-facing windows.

In addition, ODOE recommends the following for passive solar homes: • Build tight and ventilate right.

Include an energy or heat recovery ventilation system and reduce passive air leakage to less than 2 air changes per

Build tight and ventilate right.

Include an energy or heat recovery ventilation system and reduce passive air leakage to less than 2 air changes per hour when pressurized to 50 pascals. day the house receives western sunlight.

West windows dramatically increase air conditioning needs. Deciduous trees planted to the west can help.

Requirement 13: The house has an operable window or skylight near the highest point in the roof or a whole house fan.

An operable skylight or operable window located near the home’s highest point allows passive summer cooling by letting warm air escape while cooler air

hour when pressurized to 50 pascals.

• Radiant heating systems generally do not work well with passive solar heating because they tend to pre-heat all the thermal storage that you want available to absorb and story your passive solar energy. This results in a home that may be comfortable in the morning but seriously overheated in the afternoon.

• Use pleated window shades to hold in heat at night.

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Educational Articles

Solar Electric Photovoltaic Basics

By Ryan Mayfield, Instructor of Photovoltaics, Lane Community College Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are becoming more and more popular around the world and here in Oregon.

They are a high-tech way to produce clean renewable energy with no moving parts while having the option of not requiring a lot of interface with the user. Additionally, most PV modules carry a 25-year warranty; this ensures a system that will produce power well into the future.As electric rates continue to increase and more people want to limit their carbon footprint, producing electricity from the sun is a rewarding option.

PV technology was born when the photoelectric effect was first noted by French physicist Edmund Bequerel in 1839. He discovered that certain materials would produce an electrical current when exposed to light. In 1954 Bell Laboratories invented the first PV module.The primary use was for rural communication systems with the first nonlaboratory use powering a telephone repeater station in rural Georgia.

PV systems have come a long way in the last 53 years. Now you come across PV technology every day, from calculators to highway signs, to systems powering homes and businesses.

Today PV technology is commonly used to produce electricity for residences and businesses connected to the electricity grid. Here in Oregon, as well as in the majority of other states, there is a state net metering program, which allows PV owners to turn their meters backward and send power back in to the grid. Power sent into the utility’s grid is credited to the customer at full retail rate. The benefit to the customer is the opportunity to offset

their electric bill through the production from the PV panels on their roof.

There are two basic types of PV systems currently employed: direct grid-tie systems and battery-based systems. As the name implies, direct grid-tie systems must have the utility, or grid, present to operate. Battery-based systems can operate in conjunction with or independently from the grid, as they use batteries to store the power for future use.

Direct grid-tie systems are the most popular with homeowners connected to the utility. They have the advantages of operating at a higher efficiency and reduced maintenance due to the lack of batteries. The offset for these benefits is the inability to run any household appliances from the PV system if there is a power outage, regardless of the amount of sun hitting the panels. This is because the direct gridtie inverters are required to automatically sense the loss of grid power and cease producing power immediately.

Battery-based systems connected to the grid use the batteries during power outages to deliver electricity to dedicated loads determined by the customer and PV installer. Common backup loads include refrigeration, lighting and a few power outlets. The majority of customers connected to the grid don’t experience prolonged power outages or have truly critical equipment to keep powered, so the direct grid-tie option is the more popular of the two unless the home is entirely energy independent and off-grid.

Solar and Oregon are two things most people think don’t mix very well.

In actuality, solar systems in Oregon do an excellent job producing power. For

example, Redmond receives an annual amount of solar radiation equivalent to Miami in the “Sunshine State”. Sites in the western part of the state have the ability to produce more power than their counterparts in the world’s largest PV markets, located in Germany and Japan.

PV and solar hot water systems seem to be held to a higher standard than other home/building improvement projects. One of the first questions any PV professional will hear from a home or business owner is,“What is the payback?” This is an understandable question, as the initial cost of a PV system can be daunting. The fact that PV has a payback at all is an important fact that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Luckily, there are multiple locations for home and business owners to go in order to receive assistance on purchasing a PV system. There are a combination of cash rebates and tax incentives available.

Oregonians are fortunate to have some of the country’s lowest electric rates, but we are not immune to rate increases. Pacific Power raised their rates by 13 percent in June 2007, so the economics of PV installations in conjunction with energy-efficiency measures are looking better all the time.

As society becomes more aware of our impact on the environment, localized production of electricity in a renewable manner is a positive step we can make now that will help future generations. Many Oregonians are turning to PV systems on their homes and businesses to make this positive step.

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Educational Articles

Solar Water Heating

By Mike Hewitt, E2 Powered A solar water heating system is dollar for dollar one of the best investments a person can make in a renewable energy technology. A properly designed and installed system will produce the equivalent of 2,000 to 10,000 kWh or more each year, even in Oregon’s wetter climates. In addition, a solar water heater will prevent tens of thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

With new design and technology, solar water heaters are taking on a greater role in many new and upgraded homes. From simple single tank applications to large scale radiant floor and forced air applications, modern systems are providing significant cost savings for both water and space heating needs.

Sandra and Steve Miller with Evergreen module during installation.

Photo Credit: Mike Hewitt, E2Powered

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Solar water heater systems boil down to three elements: collection, storage, and distribution. Once the sun’s thermal energy has been collected and stored, there are several options for distribution.

Systems For the collection and storage of a solar water heater, there are three systems commonly installed; drainback, closed loop glycol, and thermosyphon. Each one has been proven reliable assuming they are installed properly according to location, climate and demand. In the northern hemisphere, this means systems should be installed no more than 45 degrees East or West of South. In addition, shading by trees or other obstructions should be kept to a minimum, and sizing of the system should minimize overheating during the summer months.

The drainback system utilizes an unpressurized tank of water, collector(s), and a pump. When the thermal controller senses that the solar collector is warmer than the water in the tank, a small pump circulates the water from the drainback tank to the collectors. This process will continue until either the tank reaches its maximum set temperature, or the collector is no longer warmer than the water in the storage tank. These systems are protected from freezing due to the water draining back to the storage tank once the pump shuts off. Drainback systems are simple, require minimal maintenance, and can be installed in any climate.

A closed loop glycol system utilizes a heat exchanger, collector(s), pump(s), and a glycol solution. The glycol/water solution prevents the system from freezing, and the heat exchanger ensures the fluid used to do the heating does not mix with potable water. Similar to a drainback system, the thermal controller will start a small circulating pump when the collector(s) are warmer than the body of water being heated. As the glycol loop is under a small amount of pressure, an expansion tank, pressure relief valve, and pressure gauge are needed as supplemental safety items. Glycol systems are excellent for cold locations, or where pipe

Remodel addition of Miller’s home with 4.3 kw PV system and evacuated tube collectors for water and space heating. Photo Credit: Mike Hewitt, E2 Powered.

runs would not make a drainback system operate properly. This type of system has proven reliable for many years, but will require periodic changing of the glycol solution.

The third type of solar water heater is a thermosyphon. Typically, a potable water storage tank is located on a south-facing roof.The pressurized water from the city utility or well fills this tank.

Attached to the tank is one or more flat plate thermal collector(s). Based on the principal that hot water rises and cold water sinks, the coldest portion (bottom) of the tank is plumbed to the bottom of the collector(s). As the collector heats the water, it rises and is deposited to the warmest portion of the tank (top). These systems are the simplest and least costly, however, they are not for climates that experience any freezing temperatures. In addition, the extra weight of 50 or more gallons of water and a tank can be more than some roof construction can safely support.

all will fall into the category of "flat plate" or "vacuum tube" technology. Flat plate collectors are the most widely used collector in the world. They are relatively inexpensive, durable, can be used for drainback, glycol, or thermosyphon, and are fairly lightweight. A flat plate collector consists of a frame, a tempered glass top, an absorber plate underneath the glass, and insulation under the absorber plate. The fluid is heated when the sun’s energy penetrates the glass and strikes the blackcoated plate. It is then circulated by a pump or thermosyphon effect.

Flat plate collectors can raise water temperatures up to 180 degrees most of the year. Flat plate collectors are mounted with feet that allow a small amount of standoff so debris and other material do not get trapped. Most flat plate installations will take place parallel to the roof, making them look like a large skylight. Some applications may require tilting to maximize gain.

Vacuum tube or "evacuated tube" collectors capture the sun’s energy differently than a flat plate. Instead of having a single plate of glass over a plate of continued on page 27

Collectors There are many brands of thermal collectors on the market today, but nearly

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black copper, vacuum tube collectors use long tube shape collectors with double walls of glass.The air from inside the glass is "removed" leaving a vacuum.

The benefit to this design is that there is minimal heat loss back to the cold outside air. Glass is not a good insulator, but a vacuum is an excellent insulator.

Inside the vacuum tube is an absorber typically made from copper. As the sun’s energy passes through the two layers of glass, it strikes the copper absorber, thus heating the fluid. The pump then moves the fluid back to the storage tank.

Vacuum tube collectors are able to make hot water in very cold or cloudy climates. They can also be useful when very hot water is desired, as for use in cast iron radiators or water to air heat exchangers in a forced air furnace.

Distribution In addition to washing or bathing, solar heated water useful for some space heating through the use of radiant floor heating, and some new heat pumps and HVAC systems. For example, with radiant floor heating it is possible to use the solar heated water to circulate throughout tubing in the home to provide the space heating.

With the use of a water to air heat exchanger, solar heated water can be

200 gallon dual heat exchanger hot water tank for domestic use and space heating.

Photo Credit: Mike Hewitt, E2Powered.

used to add supplemental space heat to a standard forced air system. The heat exchanger is placed in the home’s ductwork, and the movement of the air through the heat exchanger allows the solar heated water to heat the air that is then passed into the home.

Another application would be the use of old fashioned cast iron radiators.

If enough solar hot water can be collected and stored, with a small pump it

can then be circulated through the radiators adding a quiet, comfortable heat to a space. With up to $1500 in Oregon state tax credits and $2000 in federal tax credits, an investment in a solar water heater is one that is makes environmental and financial sense.

Contact your local solar thermal professional today for information on additional incentives in your area and get yourself into solar hot water.

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Educational Articles

Cash and Tax Incentives for Oregon Homeowners Oregon's New High Performance Home Standard The Oregon 2007 Legislature passed a new law that allows the Oregon Department of Energy to establish a tax credit for new "High Performance Homes". The credit will go to the builder and amount up to $12,000 per home. The energy standards for this tax credit requires the home use renewable energy and be slightly more efficient than is required to get a $2,000 federal tax credit.Thus meeting this new high benchmark for energy efficiency will enable builders to combine state, federal and utility incentives, and allow the home buyer to claim federal tax credits for solar energy equipment used.

According to Christopher Dymond at the Oregon Department of Energy, "This standard should help redefine what consumers should expect from their homes. Imagine buying a home that goes to work for you, when you go off to work."

Program rules and requirements are not expected to be in place until spring of 2008.

Oregon homeowners have a number of options for saving BIG money when installing energy conservation and renewable energy measures. The Energy Trust of Oregon, Oregon Department of Energy, the federal government and many Oregon utilities offer tax and cash incentives for conservation and renewable energy systems.

The Energy Trust offers cash incentives for installing solar systems and other energy efficient measures to Oregon residential customers of Pacific Power, Portland General Electric, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas. The Oregon Department of Energy provides Residential Energy Tax Credits for premium efficiency appliances and renewable energy systems to Oregon residents statewide. The federal government also offers tax credits.

Be sure and check the websites for specifications, requirements and qualifying models before you make your purchase to ensure that it qualifies for the incentive/tax credit. For more information visit: • Oregon Residential Energy Tax Creditwww.oregon.gov/energy/cons/res/retc.shtml • Energy Trust of Oregon www.energytrust.org/residential/index.html • Federal Tax Credit www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=Products.p r_tax_credits#s1 • Other Oregon utilities – check specific www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/Power.shtml

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Note: Each program may have specific performance and installation requirements.

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Utility Incentives for Energy-Efficient Homes:

Oregon Utility Organizations that Provide Consumer Products and Construction Incentives • Blachly-Lane Electric Co-op Joe McFadden 541-688-8711 • Cascade Natural Gas (through Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc.)

• Clatskanie PUD Paul Skarra 503-728-2163

• Hermiston Electric Kathy Moore 1-888-373-2283

• Columbia River PUD Brent Barclay 503-366-3253

• Hood River Electric Co-op

1-866-ENTRUST (368-7878) www.energytrust.org

• Consumers Power, Inc. James Ramseyer 541-929-8520

• Central Electric Co-op Vern Rice 541-923-7175

• Coos-Curry Electric Co-op Lori Botnen 541-469-0700

• City of Ashland Robin Pearce - appliances Cathy Cartmill - lighting 541-552-2062 • City of Bandon Tammy Smith 541-347-2437 X241 • City of Hillsboro (No Consumer Construction Incentives)

Tacy Steele 503-615-6732 • Monmouth Power & Light Shannon Dunlap 503-838-3526 • City of Tigard (No Consumer Construction Incentives)

Sara Danz 504-718-2599 • Clackamas River Water (No Consumer Construction Incentives)

Duane Karstens 503-722-9240

• Corvallis Public Works (No Consumer Construction Incentives)

Mark Taratoot 541-766-6916 • Douglas Electric Cooperative Todd Munsey 541-673-6616 • Emerald PUD Sandy Marr 541-746-1583 • Energy Trust of Oregon (Serves customers of Pacific Power, Portland General Electric and NW Natural)

1-866-ENTRUST (368-7878) www.energytrust.org • Eugene Water & Electric Board Rob Roy 541-484-1125 • Forest Grove L&P (No Consumer Construction Incentives)

Garret Harris 503-992-3251

(No Consumer Construction Incentives)

Chuck Weseman 541-354-1862 • Lane Electric Co-op Brenda Everts 541-484-1151 • McMinnville Water and Light David Christie 504-472-6158 • Midstate Electric Cooperative Teresa Lackey 541-536-7232 • Milton-Freewater Light & Power (No Consumer Construction Incentives)

Pat Didion 541-938-5531 • NW Natural (through Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc.)

1-866-ENTRUST (368-7878) www.energytrust.org • Oregon Department of Energy 1-800-221-8035 www.energy.state.or.us • Pacific Power (through Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc.)

1-866-ENTRUST (368-7878) www.energytrust.org

• Portland General Electric (through Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc.)

1-866-ENTRUST (368-7878) www.energytrust.org • Salem Electric Jeff Lewis 503-362-3601 • Springfield Utility Board Helen Doewell 541-744-3760 • Tillamook PUD (No Consumer Construction Incentives)

Joel George 503-842-2535 • Tualatin Valley Water District Tina Alexander 503-848-3029 • Umatilla Electric Co-op Kathy Moore 1-888-373-2283 • Wasco Electric Co-op (No Consumer Construction Incentives)

Jeff Davis 541-296-5051 • West Oregon Electric Sarah Romero 503-429-3021

For more information, visit www.oregon.gov/energy

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Educational Articles

2007 Energy Legislation Benefits Oregonians

By Kathy Shinn, Oregon Department of Energy

New bills and amendments to existing bills from the 2007 Legislative Session point to a bright energy future for Oregonians as the state moves towards greater energy independence. Energy legislation sets greenhouse gas reduction targets to combat climate change, makes renewable energy more affordable for homeowners and businesses, promotes the production and use of renewable energy and cleaner transportation fuels, and keeps more energy dollars working in Oregon.

Below are some highlights of recent energy legislation.

Residential EnergyTax Credit Changes The changes to the Residential Energy Tax Credit (RETC) listed below, effective January 1, 2007, will make incentives for renewable energy more effective.

1. The Residential Energy Tax Credit will allow more than one qualifying item in the same year. For example, you can take a tax credit for a solar water heater and for a solar electric system, and/or for multiple energy-efficient appliances. Check for qualifying items on the ODOE Web site.

2.The maximum tax credit for fuel cells and for wind generation increases from $1,500 to $6,000 over four years. This is similar to the increase in solar electric systems passed in 2005.

Business Energy Tax Credit Changes Amendments to the Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC), effective January 1, 2007, provide greater incentives for renewable energy for businesses including: 1. The tax credit for businesses that install renewable energy systems increases from 35 percent to 50 percent and the project cost limit increases from $10 million to $20 million.

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2. The costs of constructing facilities to manufacture renewable energy systems and components are eligible for the increased tax credit for renewable energy.

3. Receiving a federal tax credit for a project will no longer be a potential cutback on a BETC for that project.

4. The BETC extends to homebuilders who install renewable energy systems, with additional incentives to builders of high performance homes that reduce purchased energy use to near zero on an annual basis.

5. Combined heat and power projects (CHP) are eligible for the increased tax credit.

6. The size of hydropower projects eligible for BETC increase from 1 megawatt to 10 megawatts on existing diversions or impoundments meeting state and federal requirements for fish and wildlife.

Climate Change Actions This bill turns Governor Kulongoski’s greenhouse gas reduction goals into law. Those goals are to begin reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2010, to achieve greenhouse gas levels 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and to achieve levels 75 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.The bill also creates a Global Warming Commission and the Oregon Climate Research Institute within the Oregon University System.

Renewable Portfolio Standard This legislation establishes a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) for electricity. The bill requires that 25 percent of Oregon's electric load come from new renewable energy by 2025.

Biofuels Package This bill provides a package of measures to encour-

age greater development, distribution and use of agricultural and forest material for biofuels, for electricity and for other forms of biomass energy uses.

Energy Efficiency Standards for Appliances This legislation establishes minimum energy efficiency standards for certain appliances and electrical equipment such as compact audio players and other products. It also prohibits the sale or installation of products that do not meet the standards, effective September 1, 2009.

Solar Energy in Public Buildings Under this bill, state and local governments will have to devote at least 1.5 percent of the cost of constructing a new building or renovating an existing

building to solar energy technologies, if the building receives state funds. This requirement is in addition to existing law requiring state agencies to design and build facilities to meet energy efficiency savings requirements.

Solar Incentives This bill expands the property tax exemption for residential use of solar energy to business and other uses of solar and other renewable energy systems. This includes systems that can be used for net metering.

Vehicle Emissions Standards Legislation requires that new vehicles, beginning with the model year 2009, must comply with low emission standards set by the Environmental Quality Commission in order to register the

vehicle. Besides cleaner air, the standards result in increased vehicle efficiency.

Clean Diesel The Governor’s proposal to fund the upgrading of old polluting diesel school bus and truck engines became a reality.

The legislation provides funding to replace old diesel engines, reduce emissions and create cleaner air. It also establishes a first-in-the-nation goal of reducing cancer risk from diesel emissions to less than one in a million.

A more complete list of 2007 energy bills is at the Oregon Department of Energy Web site at www.oregon.gov/ energy/docs/Bill_Passed_Summary.pdf or call 1-800-221-8035 (toll free in Oregon).

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Educational Articles

Green Building Certification Programs: Going Green Quantified

By Susan Badger Jones, 3EStrategies It can be difficult for home buyers and home builders to define what green building really is, weigh choices and make informed comparisons.

That learning curve can be climbed faster by taking advantage of one of several established green building certification programs such as Earth Advantage, the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or ENERGY STAR. These programs offer baseline standards with options for participants to choose additional measures that match their personal and professional aims.

These programs provide market-tested approaches and product guidance for creating energy savings, improving indoor air quality and acting more environmentally responsible – and often earn back their cost in annual savings on energy and other utilities.

An important reason for participating in one of these programs is access to independent third party testing of duct air leakage and overall home air leakage. Because Oregon Building Codes already require high levels of insulation, controlling air leaks offers the most cost efficient method to reduce energy use and costs.

Another benefit is quality assurance for both the builder and the homeowner/buyer. Even builders with the best practices and greenest intentions can miss important details that compromise efficiency, health or other sustainability goals. Green building program staff work directly with sub contractors to insure that proper materials are installed correctly.

Still another reason to use such a program is that Realty Multiple Listing Services (RMLS) in Portland Metro and other parts of the state are including green features and green building certifications as part of property descriptions. Certification can have a direct effect on the ease with which people identify your property as being green built.

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Earth Advantage The Earth Advantage, Inc (EA) green building program is active across the Pacific Northwest. As of May 2007, it has certified more than 7,500 homes with another 8,000 in its pipeline. EA uses detailed point tracking measures, trains builders, reviews building plans and conducts performance testing and on-site verifications. The EA point system includes four categories: Energy Efficiency, Healthy Indoor Air, Environmental Responsibility and Resource Efficiency. There are prerequisites and a minimum number of points in each category for basic certification; extra measures can achieve higher ratings of Gold or Platinum.

Earth Advantage New Home is becoming well known in the region’s new home market.

Production and small builders across the state have made the commitment to build only EA homes.

Some developments now require it and some municipalities are moving down a similar track.This success has piqued builder interest in extending the “green” from individual homes to entire neighborhoods. Earth Advantage, in collaboration with the Energy Trust of Oregon’s ENERGY STAR program, is now developing a pilot Earth Advantage Sustainable Community Development Program.

Such a project would address compact design, solar design features, proximity to transit, mixed-use, mixed housing type, and pedestrian/bicycle friendly design among other features.

ENERGY STAR Homes ENERGY STAR is a nationally recognized brand for energy-saving appliances and equipment. Builders can earn this well known label for their homes by following a set of prescriptive standards for insulation, windows, appliances, lighting and other equipment and features. Plans are reviewed for insulation levels and windows surface area compliances. ENERGY STAR program verifiers conduct on-the-job inspections as well as perform duct testing and

Earth Advantage S.T.A.R. launched for Realtors Earth Advantage’s Sustainability Training for Accredited Real Estate Professionals (S.T.A.R) launched in June to rave reviews and continues to enjoy swelling registrations. The intensive two-day course is designed to prepare real estate professionals to understand green home concepts, trends and features; to communicate effectively about green home benefits and issues; to assist in approaching clients with varying green values, and to differentiate themselves in the marketplace.

The course comes partly in response to requests for assistance after Realty Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) in Portland adopted new drop-downs on their data base to reflect ENERGY STAR, Earth Advantage and LEED for home certifications. Similar RMLS expansions are taking places in other parts of the state.

“There were a huge number of inquiries from realtors asking how to use it, what it meant, etc.” said Sean Penrith, Earth Advantage Executive Director. “It evolved to a full

whole house air leaking tests.At present the program only applies to energy measures and does not include other aspects of Green Building so it is often combined with Earth Advantage or LEED for Homes certification.

Energy Trust of Oregon and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance sponsor the program in Oregon and give rebates for home certification. In addition, participating builders have access to marketing support and cooperative advertising dollars. Earth Advantage is the third party verifier for ENERGY STAR in many parts of the state.

certification course.”

“We’re sending all our agents through the program” reported Kristin Staver, Realty Trust Group, Portland. She said that besides working with new certified home sales,“It helps us work with sellers who want to make their home more green before they sell it and with buyers who want to know what they can do to green their property.”

“It’s a perfect fit with my Ecobroker training, I was given that missing link to my local area,” reported another participant. EcoBroker Certified professionals are eligible for a tuition discount.

After initial start up in Portland, the course will also be offered in central and southern Oregon locations. Besides materials and continuing education credit, the course includes online listings for those successful in completing the exam. For more information go to www.earthadvantage.org/realtor.

provides third-party testing and verification.As of summer 2007, more than 300 homes in Oregon,Washington and Idaho were involved.

USGBC recently launched a Neighborhood (LEED ND) certification pilot program that is expected to include more than 150 projects across the country.

Summary Green Building programs make building and buying a more energy efficient, durable, and healthy home easier than ever before. A growing number of

homes are certified each year, creating brand awareness and accelerating demand in the market. With energy costs rising and environmental issues increasingly in the forefront, choosing to buy or build a green home will have more and more value.

Earth Advantage is the third party verifier for all of these programs in most of Oregon. For more information about services contact: Earth Advantage Portland (503) 968.7160 Central Oregon (541) 480.7303 Southern Oregon (541) 324.2902

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes U.S. Green Building Council (USBGC) now offers a LEED certification program for Homes similar to those for commercial buildings. It provides national consistency in defining and rating green-built homes.

LEED for Homes includes a broad range of criteria relating to size, site protection, energy, water, indoor air quality, materials and building practices. It also

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Educational Articles

Solar Isn’t the Only Hot Green Energy Source in Oregon!

By Cylvia Hayes, 3EStrategies

Well head with a single downhole heat exchanger and two supply lines.

Photo Credit:Toni Boyd, Geo-Heat Center.

As the name implies, much of the Green + Solar Building Oregon magazine, is focused on the wonderful uses of solar energy. However, when it comes to transitioning away from fossil fuel, it’s important to note there is no silver bullet, but there may be silver buckshot. Oregon has a great diversity of renewable energy sources, all of which should be harnessed where appropriate.

At the individual home or commercial building scale, geothermal, wind and biomass can be powerful solutions.

Geothermal Geothermal energy is the heat contained in the rock and fluid in the earth's crust. Some underground heat can be found all across the country, with temperatures ranging between 40°F to 100°F. In these regions ground-source heat pumps can be used to augment home or office heating. Heat pumps transfer heat from the soil or groundwater to the house in winter and from the building to the soil in summer.

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Some regions with relatively recent volcanic activity, like central and southern Oregon, have unusually hot and shallow geothermal resources. In these areas the below ground heat can be tapped by highly efficient direct use geothermal systems.

The Klamath Falls area has taken the lead in harnessing this resource. John Lund’s Klamath Falls home takes full advantage of this resource. In 1981 Lund drilled a 375-foot deep well and got into hot water, which, of course, was exactly what he’d hoped for! The water depth was 220 feet and its maximum temperature was 204°F. Lund’s geothermal system is used for heating his home, as well as heating domestic hot water and a 500 gallon outdoor spa. The home heater is a retrofitted gas forced air system with a new heat exchanger (like a car radiator) inserted in the duct work and powered by a fan controlled by a thermostat. The geothermal heat is extracted from the well by a closed loop downhole heat exchanger in the well that has city water circulated in the pipes.

The water is circulated by a small pump (about 1/10 hp) to the radiator type heat exchanger.

The Kaneeta Lodge on the Warm Springs Reservation uses direct geothermal to heat its swimming pool (what would you expect with the name “Warm Springs?”). And, the Newberry Volcano region has registered the highest geothermal temperatures in the country, over 500°F and has significant opportunity as a commercial electricity generating facility.

As energy prices continue to rise, geothermal systems will become increasingly popular. Both heat pumps and direct use systems are installed by regular well drillers and plumbers. Heat pumps cost approximately $3,000 and the more powerful direct use systems cost between $12,000 to $20,000. The Oregon Department of Energy offers tax credits for certain types of geothermal systems. Additional incentives are available for commercial systems.

For more information contact the Geo-Heat Center www.geoheat.oit.edu.

Wind Residential wind turbines have a long track record on the farm where there were no neighbors to complain about a 75 foot tall tower next door. Now with the advent of smaller, quieter, more efficient turbines some are expecting to see turbines in suburbia.

Wind turbine systems include a rotor (the blades) that converts the wind’s energy into rotational shaft energy; a nacelle (enclosure) containing a drive train and a generator; the tower to support the turbine; and electronic controls and electrical cables. If the building is connected to a utility, then grid interconnection equipment will also be needed. Off-grid turbines usually have battery banks to store electricity for use during windless periods.

Whether or not a wind power system would work for you depends upon the size of your lot, zoning restrictions and wind speeds in your area. Whether or not it’s worth the investment depends upon the size of your electricity bill, whether your utility offers net metering and the availability of state rebates and incentives.

A 10 kilowatt wind power system properly installed in the right conditions is usually sufficient to power an average, efficient home. This size system costs between $35,000 and $60,000.

Enthusiasm for small-scale wind is on the rise, with sales for residential systems at $17 million in 2005, up 62 percent from 2004, according to the American Wind Energy Association.

and combined heat and power systems.

Despite the ambiance they may have given the old cabin, wood stoves of old were dirty beasts, sending plumes of particulate matter, soot and toxins into the air. However, newer, highly efficient stoves meet stringent air quality requirements. The pellets for pellet stoves have an added benefit in that they are usually made from lumber production waste products and therefore are a post-consumer recycled material.

At the commercial scale, combined heat and power systems are gaining momentum. These systems burn organic matter in highly efficient boilers, generating electricity and heat. The electricity generated by biomass is used onsite for commercial purposes with any surplus being sold back to the utility.

In addition, the heat from these systems is harnessed for use in industrial processes, heating the building itself, or additional complementary business endeavors such as greenhouses.

Although there is concern about the environmental impact of burning biomass, it is important to consider that modern systems are very clean and often offset the need for electricity produced by far less clean coal. In addition, organic matter is carbon neutral. In the natural carbon cycle, carbon is released when trees or plant matter is burned, but then taken back up by regrowth of forests, grasslands and crops. Fossil fuels on the other hand are comprised of

The interior mechanical system showing the hot water shell-and-tube heat exchanger on right and the water storage tank on left. Pipes from the downhole heat exchanger enter at the top center of photograph.

Photo Credit:Toni Boyd, Geo-Heat Center.

carbon that has been stored beneath the planet’s surface for millennia. Since fossil fuels do not “regrow” the carbon released when they are burned has no natural pathway for being taken back out of the air into the carbon cycle.

In the movement to develop greener buildings and cleaner energy systems diversity is our ally. Sun, wind, wood and water all have a roll to play.

Biomass Humans have been harnessing biomass energy since the first cavemen discovered fire. Biomass energy is simply the conversion of organic material into heat or electricity. At the individual building scale this means wood or pellet stoves

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Oregon Green and Solar Tours: Living the Solar

Tour goers visiting Green + Solar homes.

Pacific Power is a title sponsor for this statewide event.

"Renewable energy, including solar applications, is an increasingly important part of the region's energy mix. We are proud to collaborate with Solar Oregon in sponsoring this tour and especially for the opportunity it provides to spotlight solar applications in so many of the communities we serve," said Pat Reiten, president, Pacific Power. Pacific Power serves more than 713,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net.

Oregon’s solar tours began in response to the energy crisis of the 1970s.

Forward thinking communities took the initiative to promote energy conservation, passive solar design, and solar systems by opening homes and buildings with green and solar features to the public. Over the past 30 years, the annual tours have become an amazing cooperative effort involving 18 communities across Oregon. They are now one of the most successful and collaborative events of this kind in the nation!

Each tour reflects the unique interests of the community, yet all share a common goal: to educate the public about green and solar strategies. They provide an invaluable opportunity to tour homes and buildings that showcase

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a variety of green and solar technologies and design features. Tours occur across Oregon from September 15th through October 20th; most coincide with the National Solar Tour on Saturday October 6, 2007. To find a tour in your community, visit www.solaroregon.org/resources_education/solar-home-tours.

The tours have become Oregon’s most effective tool to educate people about energy conservation, green building, and renewable energy. They are highlighted each year by the Green + Solar Building Oregon magazine produced by 3EStrategies, which has become a nationally recognized educational resource. The tours show that solar works in Oregon, and there is no need to compromise comfort or lifestyle to

work and live in a green and solar building. Participants can learn firsthand the benefits of building with green and solar techniques, and lessons learned by the owners, builders and architects during the process.

Key supporters of the tours include the Oregon Department of Energy, 3EStrategies, Energy Trust of Oregon, and Solar Oregon, plus volunteers throughout the state who coordinate a tour in their community. The excellent success, growth, and continuity of the tours would not be possible without their dedicated support. They truly deserve thanks for their efforts!

Tour Beginnings Solar tours in Oregon began around 1979 as part of the national Sun Day celebration.

In 1980 many communities began aligning their tours with Earth Day and Earth Week events. Groups that coordinated these early tours included Solar Oregon Lobby, League of Women Voters, and Solar Energy Resources Group, plus city governments and small local utilities. Chapters of the American

Tania Parks, Revolution in Oregon ByOregon Green and Solar Tours Coordinator, Solar Oregon

One of the more unique tour stops!

Tour participants learn about solar hot water systems.

Solar Energy Society (ASES), including the Pacific Northwest Solar Energy Association, Columbia Solar Energy Association, Willamette Valley Solar Energy Association, Solar Energy Association of Oregon (now Solar Oregon) plus early chapters in Pendleton and Medford also coordinated tours in various communities.

In the early 1990s, the National Solar Tour was formed by Real Goods, and consisted of individual home tours around the country that registered to be a part of the national effort. In 1996 the National Solar Tour sponsorship shifted to ASES. The infrastructure of the ASES chapters offered an opportunity to connect community tours around the country, since they already were coordinating tours within their state. At that time, many Oregon tour dates shifted to join the National Solar Tour in the fall.

gram. This effort was collaboration between 3EStrategies, Energy Trust of Oregon, EORenew, and Solar Oregon.

At the same time, the Oregon Million Solar Roofs Coalition was formed to help organizations and professionals collaborate and advance the use of green and solar strategies in Oregon, and the Oregon Department of Energy and 3EStrategies began offering coordination and media support to individual tours.

A key component to Oregon’s success is the Green + Solar Building Oregon magazine and two annual solar fairs: SolWest Renewable Energy Fair (John Day, July 27-29) and the NW Solar Expo (Portland, September 14-16).

In 2006, the Oregon Green and Solar Tours were a great success with statewide attendance at over 3,000 people - up from 2,500 in 2005 - who visited 117 green and solar sites in 14 communities around the state. Most communities experienced better tour attendance, including an unexpected increase in visitors from around the region who recognized the Oregon tours as a valuable source for green and solar information unavailable in their state.

Solar Tour Resurgence Oregon’s annual tours began a major transformation in 2001 when the first solar tour grants were provided by the Oregon Department of Energy and the federal Million Solar Roofs grant pro-

Participants also expressed a greater interest in installing a solar system after attending a tour. Three new communities joined the statewide tours: West Linn, Newberg, and Newport. The tours also benefited greatly from the creation of the Statewide Tour Coordinator role provided by Solar Oregon.

The 2007 Tour will be just as exciting! Four new tours - including Salem, Coos Bay, Rogue Valley and Portland Goal Net Zero (Spring 2008) are joining the statewide effort for a total of 18 tours. Solar Oregon is once again fulfilling the Statewide Tour Coordinator role, providing coordination and media support to tour organizers, and connecting local tours to regional and national tour efforts promoting green building and solar strategies. This year the tours will continue to grow with the formation of a common identity and the development of a sponsorship package.

For more tour information, visit www.solaroregon.org. To coordinate a tour in your community, contact Tania Parks, Oregon Green and Solar Tours Coordinator, tania@solaroregon.org.

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Oregon Green and Solar Tours For a complete listing of tours visit: www.solaroregon.org West Linn Solar and Sustainable Tour Glen Friedman Tour Coordinator (503) 699-1363

Southern Oregon Ashland Solar Tour City of Ashland Conservation Division (541) 552-2065

Willamette Valley Corvallis Solar Tour Christopher Dymond Tour Coordinator (503) 378-8325 christopher.s.dymond@state.or.us Eugene Solar Tour Emily Evans,Tour Coordinator (541) 520-4394 emilyaevans@msn.com Newberg Chehalem Mountain Green & Solar Home Tour Abundant Renewable Energy Becky McEnulty (503) 538-8298 info@AbundantRE.com www.abundantre.com Portland: Build It Green!

Tour of Homes City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development (503) 823-7222 www.portlandonline.com/osd Portland: Goal Net Zero Tour Spring 2008/Date TBD Michael VanDerwater (503) 231-5662 info@solaroregon.org www.solaroregon.org Salem Green + Solar Tour Pringle Creek Community (503) 763-1770 www.pringlecreek.com

Grants Pass www.solaroregon.org Klamath Falls Solar Tour Scott McMahon Tour Coordinator (541) 882-9923

Columbia Gorge Hood River Enviro-House Tour Columbia Gorge Earth Center www.cgec.info Tara Johnston (541) 386-5562 tara@gatherdesign.com

Coast Coos Bay Green Tour Green Tour Mark Files 541-297-5220 www.EcolivingCoastal.Com Solar Coos Bay Tour Shannon Souza P.E., C.W.R.E. 541-266-0877 shannon@solcoast.com www.Solcoast.com

Rogue Valley Tours (Phoenix/Talent & Shady Cove/Upper Rogue) Lincoln County Solar Tour Suzanne Frey www.solaroregon.org Tour Coordinator sfrey@mind.net (541) 552-0598 To coordinate a tour in your community Roseburg Solar Tour Tania Parks, Oregon Scott McKain Green and Solar Tours Coordinator (541) 679-5597 tania@solaroregon.org ssmckain@charter.net

Central Oregon Bend/Redmond/Sisters 3EStrategies Susan Badger-Jones (541) 617-9013 info@3estrategies.org www.3estrategies.org

Eastern Oregon John Day Jennifer Barker EORenew (541) 575-3633 info@solwest.org www.solwest.org La Grande www.solaroregon.org

Tours Sponsorship The Oregon Green and Solar Tours need your sponsorship support to enable the tours to continue inspiring home and business owners across the state to implement green and solar strategies in their buildings.

Sponsorship dollars will directly support the infrastructure, media outreach, and logistics enabling each community to coordinate their tour.

To become a sponsor please contact Michael VanDerwater, Executive Director at Solar Oregon, michael@solaroregon.org.

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Featured Homes FISHER-SMITH HOME

Ashland Couple Lives Lightly at Latitude 42

By Karen Chase, Oregon Department of Energy Natural light bathes every room in John and Dot Fisher-Smith’s Ashland home. The home reflects John’s lifetime of professional architectural experience and experimentation, and Dot’s desire to live in an abode that is warm, comfortable, and conducive to her creativity.

Built in 2000 by Shostrom Bros. Ltd of Ashland, the house takes maximum advantage of the sun’s radiant heating through its passive solar building

Lower level patio and pond provides quiet outdoor room at Fisher-Smith house.

Photo Credit: Karen Chase.

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features. John oriented the long axis of the house east-west, mimicking the long axis of the lot. South wall windows flood all primary rooms in the house with soft natural light and provide solar gain in cooler months when the sun is lower in the sky.

Three-foot roof overhangs shade the south upper floor windows in the summer. Eyebrow trellises and supporting wisteria vines shade the lower floor’s south windows.There are few east and west windows and virtually no windows on the north side of the house.

A hydronic heating system, tubes filled with hot water coiled in the concrete of the floor, heats the home. A 50-gallon, 94 percent efficient boiler heats water for both hydronic and domestic use. In the winter, a thermostat setting of 64ºF, combined with passive solar heating of the floor’s thermal mass during the day, results in only one heating cycle per 24-hours. The radiant floor heating system was designed and installed by Jeff Dawson of Solar Collection. Dot is especially appreciative of the evenness of hydronic heat.

The same floor slab that holds the heating system is also a heat sink during the summer months.

Clerestory windows high above the main living area are opened on summer nights to convectively flush warm air from the house, and closed again in the morning.

In 2006, the Fisher-Smiths added a grid-tied solar photovoltaic array to their house.The system, consisting of 14 Mitsubishi 170 watt modules and a Fronius inverter, with a peak capacity of almost 2.4 kW, saves approximately 3,127 kW hours and $250 each year.

Bob-O Schultze of Electron Connection in Hornbrook, California installed the system. Total cost was a little more than $17,000. As the FisherSmiths had no state income tax liability, the couple found a partner to accept their tax credit eligibility using the state’s Pass-through Option.Their partner received the Oregon Department of Energy

FEATURES • 2,257 square feet • Heated floor area: 1,545 sq. ft.

• Hydronic radiant floor heating • Passive solar design • Concrete slab thermal storage • Engineered roof overhangs • Trellis eyebrow window shading • Clerestory window ventilation • R-38 roof insulation • 2.4 kW solar electric array TEAM Designer/Architect John Fisher-Smith Builder Shostrum Brothers, Ltd Solar PV Installer Electron Connection Bob-O Schultz Hydronic Heating System Installer Solar Collection - Jeff Dawson

Residential Energy Tax Credit of $6,000 taken over four years ($1,500 per year), and paid the Fisher-Smiths a lump sum of $5,160. “The Residential Energy Tax Credit is needed to spur this industry” said John. The City of Ashland, the Fisher-Smith’s electric service supplier, also granted them more than $5,000 for the project.

From a certain angle at the north side with its ivy-covered stucco exterior and its side yard cascading with flowers down to the well-worked, sun-warmed garden rows below, the home is reminiscent of an English or French village cottage. That observation suits John, who grew up in Yorkshire, England, and came here as a boy with his family.

At 81 years of age, John realizes he might not see the full payback for the

Solar paneled roof provides shading for main floor.

Photo Credit: Karen Chase.

The solar hot water system.

The naturally daylit kitchen. Photo Credit: Rob Werfel Photography.

PV system. However, he said their decision to go forward with the PV addition was not made just for them, but for those who come after them.

Dot and John too commonly see wasted solar opportunities and would like home builders to realize that the sun is available to all and can be used for its wonderful energy properties. Using

“knowledge of the path of the sun through the sky, through the seasons,” to build a passive solar house is rewarding, said John, and he encourages others to try it.They are gratified to live in this home that fits them so well. John simply wanted to build their home to “take advantage of what it’s like to live at latitude 42 on planet Earth,” and he did.

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Featured Homes

GIBSON HOME

Strawbale Octagon: Different and Fun

By Victoria Stoppiello, freelance writer

Photo Credit: Michael Mathers Photographer

The first two times her brother asked, “Why are you doing this?” Diane Gibson responded,“Because it’s reusing a waste product, uses less framing and is excellent insulation, it’s a healthy non-toxic material”—all the usual “green” reasons for building a strawbale house.The third time he asked, she simply said,“It’s different and fun,” and he stopped asking.

Her house is different, because it has 8 sides; it’s fun, because a host of friends, family, builders and artisans worked together to create the house; serene and quiet because, even though Diane’s home is literally a stone’s throw from Highway 101 on Manzanita’s outskirts, strawbale has excellent sound-deadening properties.

Diane’s guiding values included low maintenance (therefore wood/vinyl clad windows, stucco, and some cedar siding) and using renewable or recycled content materials. For example, kitchen cabinets were made from an Oregon walnut “danger” tree felled years earlier by the cabinetmaker, who been waiting for a use.

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Strawbale construction became Diane’s first choice after she subscribed to The Last Straw, a journal of strawbale building. She chose Anthony Stoppiello, who’s designed solar and green buildings for over 30 years, the last 20 on the coast, as her architect. Anthony’s buildings don’t run to a type; they all look different because their styles respond to the owners’ aesthetic preferences. However, the same principle underlies each project: Maximizing solar potential for natural light and space and water heating, starting with a building site evaluation that orients living spaces in response to sun, wind, and views.

Anthony’s motives for working with strawbale construction were big-picture: “Because straw is a waste product that’s typically burned, we’re sequestering CO2 when we use strawbales in buildings; we’re helping deal with the global warming/climate change problem.” Early on, he asked Diane, “If strawbale doesn’t cost less than conventional construction, would you still want to do it? Take your time to decide.” She decided yes, and hasn’t regretted it. Choosing a contractor was more difficult.

“Tevis and Terry (the general contractors who went into partnership to do the project) were the only contractors available or courageous enough,” Diane remembers. Five years later she says, “I still pinch myself that I get to live here.”

In those five years, hundreds of people have toured the house, making the Gibson residence an excellent opportunity for people to touch and experience first-hand environmentally preferable products including bamboo, cork and linoleum flooring, natural plasters and cement stucco plus take a peek in the “honesty window” that proves there really is straw under that plaster. Sheet rock in some parts of the house is covered with DesignR-Wall, a cotton material the consistency of oatmeal when rolled on like paint, but when dry provides a soft yet tough finish.

Deer and drought resistant landscaping designed and installed by Maia Holliday continues

FEATURES • Sun tempered 1650 sq. ft. 2 bedroom plus den/office and 2 baths • Strawbale in-fill exterior walls with steel post and beam structure • Natural plasters interior • Cement stucco exterior • Bamboo, cork & Marmoleum flooring • Clerestory daylighting and solar tube skylight • Design-R-Wall cotton wall coverings • Hydronic radiant floor heating • Zero VOC materials • Aquastar demand water heater • Vinyl clad wood windows • Reclaimed wood cabinets • Composite decking • Roofing: copper for entry and 50-yr, 100 mph composite for remainder TEAM Owner Diane Gibson, Manzanita, Oregon Architect Anthony Stoppiello, Nehalem, Oregon General Contractor Terry Fullan & Tevis E. Dooley III, Nehalem, Oregon Structural Engineering Tim Covert, P.E., Portland, Oregon Steel Structure Sopko Welding, Seaside, Oregon Strawbale Wall Raising Michael Thomas, Ironstraw Exterior Stucco Habib Gonzales & Merry Mudsters plus many volunteers Bamboo & Cork Floors Wayne Haack, Finely Finished Woodworking, Scappoose, Oregon Cabinetry Dave Luis, Craftsmen Interiors, Tillamook, Oregon Master Bath Custom Tile Kathryn Harmon, Nehalem, Oregon – Design and installation Diane Gibson created the sink and special tile Landscaping—Low Maintenance and Drought Resistant Maia Holliday, Nehalem, Oregon Mortar-less Stonework Pat Costello, Manzanita, Oregon

Every aspect of the home captures natural light.

Photo Credit: Michael Mathers Photographer

Diane in her unique naturally lit kitchen.

Photo Credit: Michael Mathers Photographer

the theme of low maintenance.

Volunteers such as foxglove, creeping honeysuckle, and montbrecia have joined lavender, yarrow, jasmine and other plants Maia installed. Rock roses and kinnikinnick transition from native forest to the more formal flower garden contained between walkways on the north side of the house, a slope enjoying good southern exposure. Hardy geraniums border a path following the mortar-less stone retaining wall laid by Pat Costello. Diane is encouraging wild strawberries to fill in the sand outside the formal garden plot and attempts to discourage the not-so-native blackberries, scotch broom, and thistles!

The house didn’t start out to be as unique as it turned out. Anthony’s first schematic design, a more conventional, east-west rectilinear home, would have maximized natural light if not passive solar (given neighbors’ trees blocking southern exposure), but Diane wasn’t enthused. I had tagged along for the lunch meeting and when out of the blue I said, “How about a round house?”

Diane’s eyes sparkled with mischief. In

the next 30 minutes Anthony and Diane literally laid out the rough octagon design on a napkin.A sophisticated steel post and beam framework was engineered by Tim Covert, P.E., to provide the structural integrity required for demanding wind loading and seismic requirements on the Oregon coast.

“From day one of the project, it’s been just a wonderful place to be with one exception—the day when the inspector and the concrete contractor had a debate,” Diane says. “Otherwise, I’d come up and have lunch with the guys, and make decisions as Tevis and Terry led me through the process.”

Getting there was “A first time for everybody,” Diane says, ”for Anthony, for Tillamook County, and most of the crew.” Only Ironstraw’s Michael Thomas and Habib Gonzales and the Merry Mudsters had prior experience with strawbale. “Anthony provided the construction permit package to the county along with information from other counties that had approved bale construction,” Diane remembers, “and we had not one question.”

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Featured Homes

G R AY H O M E

Floating on a Small Eco-footprint

By Kathryn Gray, Urbansun Design; 3EStrategies Board Vice President With the growing specter of global climate change and energy shortages, our frequent trips to participate in activities with four grown Portlander children and eight grandchildren loomed increasingly unsustainable. So, after nearly a decade of living in Central Oregon, my husband Steve and I decided to return home to Portland and get our eco-footprint

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in order. It was a great opportunity to make use of my 30 years of professional experience designing passive solar and green homes to see just how small an eco-footprint we could achieve on a modest budget without sacrificing quality of life.

We used three key assumptions. First, to truly create a small eco-footprint we had to begin with passive solar design which uses free, non-polluting solar energy to provide more than half the home’s heating and cooling needs. Second, the house would be very green/zero net energy/carbon neutral and would have space to grow much of our own food. Third, the setting was important. We’d owned a tiny “weekender” floating home on the Columbia River for years and have fallen in love with life on the river, the wildlife, the joy of stepping off the back porch into the kayak with nothing between you and Astoria but water – all within a 10 minute walk to commercial services and public transit to downtown. But the weekender was not a realistic candidate for full time living and got recycled to another family. However, we didn’t give up on the floating home idea.

With a budget of about $250,000, we set out to stuff the proverbial 5-acres of self-sufficiency onto a 30 by 42 square foot raft tethered to a small island in the middle of one of the world’s largest rivers.

Good solar access would be available on the roof and southeast half of the house, but access on the southwest would be blocked by our neighbor’s home. Weight would be a major consideration.We needed a small, lightweight structure of which every component would perform as many functions as possible. My final design was a two-story home/office/urban garden with 1150 square feet of living space, a 200 square foot two-story greenhouse and a 600 square foot roof deck.

Our budget turned out to be tight so we were grateful for the significant financial incentives available for energy efficient and sustainable building products. We were awarded a $36,000 grant

TEAM

Design Kathryn Gray, Urbansun Design General Project Management Steve Gray, Urbansun Design Shell construction, greenhouse David Vidan, Copasetic Construction Finish Carpentry Myles Rygh, Strictly Custom carpentry Solar Photovoltaic System Sunlight Solar, Bend OR Solar Water Heating system Mr. Sun Solar, Portland OR Mechanical Specialty Heating,Tigard OR Electrical Tony Enders, Portland OR Irrigation pumping system Living Water,Tigard OR Hero/friend/laborer: Susan Badger-Jones, citizen of earth Reclaimed wood Rick Mathias’ Wood is Wonderful Foundation, Sheridan, OR FSC Certified Lumber Parr Lumber, sourced from Warm-springs Industries Bamboo flooring, cork flooring, FSC Paperstone Environmental Building Supply Windows and doors Sierra Pacific

AWARDS • 2006 Portland Office of Sustainable Development GIF Award • Earth Advantage Certified • Energy Star Certified (Pending)

The roof supports solar panels and a garden. Photo Credit: ©Dan Saddler

through The Portland Office of Sustainable Development’s competitive Green Investment Fund and another $18,000 through The Energy Trust of Oregon rebates and Oregon Department of Energy Tax Credits. Even so, going “deep green” on a modest budget required major planning, research and making some very calculated tradeoffs. Cabinets are a good example. After pricing custom-made “deep” green cabinets from reclaimed wood (between $25-30,000) we decided to go with “lighter” green IKEA cabinets – efficiently constructed from sustainably harvested farmed wood and wood waste products which we could assemble ourselves.

This saved $20,000 which used to purchase solar electric and water heating systems—essential to achieve net zero energy/carbon neutral goals.

The two-story reclaimed timber greenhouse provides year-round food

The home is lighted and powered by the sun.

Photo Credit: The Oregonian

production and collects solar energy for space heating. A large steel tank “fed” by rainwater harvested off the roof and river water provides both thermal storage and water for irrigation. Other water conservation measures include faucet flow restrictions, low water use dish and clothes washers and dual flush toilets.

The roof deck provides summer vegetable garden space, rainwater catchcontinued on page 49

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The Great room. Photo Credit: Jan Saddler.

ment and placement of the solar hot water and PV collectors. With its 360o view including Mt. Hood, it’s a great spot to gather with family and friends or simply enjoy watching river life.

After passive solar design nothing is more critical than a super energy efficient building envelope. In order to achieve a net zero energy home we needed at least R-50 ceiling and R-30 wall insulation values with minimum thermal bridging and air infiltration.

Resource conservation objectives included using sustainably managed renewable resources, local manufacture, low embodied energy, use of recycled and recyclable materials and carbon neutrality. Weight considerations and cost effectiveness were also key. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified sustainably harvested double staggered 2x4 frame construction for walls and engineered wood products for joist/rafter components with blown in recycled cellulose insulation met all our criteria. We

paid strict attention to sealing around all windows and doors, the base of the drywall and other air infiltration locations. We used FSC certified Century Spruce siding and Sierra Pacific windows and doors made from sustainably harvested, high performance wood.

We went all-electric to minimize using fossil fuels for our energy requirements and expect to produce most of our own electricity with our grid-tied photovoltaic system. A combined energy recovery air-handling ventilator and lifeBreath hydronic forced air furnace distributes solar pre-heated warm fresh air throughout the house in winter. The solar hot water system preheats water for both domestic uses and space heating. Lighting fixtures are 60% dedicated compact fluorescent, 35% CFL bulbs and 5% low voltage. Appliances are Energy Star certified. Finally, we purchase green power through PGE’s wind energy program.

We selected reclaimed fir for door,

window and stair trim. Main level floors are bamboo. Lower level north side floors where bedrooms are located are soft warm cork and south side floors exposed to the sun are tile over concrete board to take advantage of their thermal mass properties. All paints and finishes are no or low toxicity. We chose Paperstone countertops for their beauty, 100% FSC recycled content and the ability to cut, shape and install it ourselves with common household tools.

Finally, we enrolled in the Earth Advantage and ENERGY STAR programs to get third party documentation of the effectiveness of our efforts. We found them an invaluable source of excellent advice. So with these partners and the Portland Office of Sustainable Development, the Oregon Department of Energy and The Energy Trust of Oregon, we hope to successfully demonstrate the feasibility and practicality of creating low impact homes.

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Featured Homes

O'BRIEN HOME

An Embodiment of Values

By Michael O’Brien, Portland Office of Sustainable Development

Photo Credit: Michael O’Brien

The average US house produces approximately 22 tons of carbon dioxide, the chief global warming gas, per year due to burning natural gas or oil in furnaces and water heaters and using coal generated electricity. But thanks to solar and wind power, Mike and Vana O'Briens' North Portland house is "carbon neutral", powered by carbon free energy.

The sun heats water in flate-plate collectors on the roof. The sun-warm water is stored in a 120gallon tank in the utility room and is then piped into a regular electric hot water heater, where it flows into faucets, showers and appliances, and a hydronic or water-based heating system in the main floor.

On a sunny day, water in the storage tank is 140° F, so the electric water heater does not turn on. On cloudy days, when the water falls below 120° F, the electric heater kicks in to bring the solar water up to the set temperature. Over the course of a year, the solar water heater provides half of the total heat needed for the domestic and hydronic hot water. Electricity is provided by Portland General Electric's 'Future Renewable' program that supplies power from the Klondike II wind farm in Sherman County. The O'Briens signed up for a fixed-price five year contract. Their rate will stay constant until 2012, regardless of what happens to the regular electric rate. And wind power does not create greenhouse gases.

A computerized control monitors outdoor temperatures and adjusts the water temperature for the hydronic floor system. A small electric pump moves warm water through tubing placed in the concrete slab floor on the main level of the house.The floors radiate warmth, and the O'Briens take off their shoes when they come in, so the house has comfortable 'feet heat'. Upstairs rooms have radiant electric cove heaters on the walls.

Since the house is so well insulated, the upstairs heaters see little use.

The O'Briens paid Gen-Con, $6000 to install their solar water system.They received an incentive from the Energy Trust, and state and federal tax credits that brought the net cost down to about $2000. Their incentives were slightly reduced because they chose to place the collectors on a roof that faces west instead of south, which reduced the system's annual output about 10%.

The south-facing roof on the O'Briens' house is an ecoroof, covered by plants. To create an 800 square foot planted roof, perforated metal edges were installed along the eaves, about 4" of special planting medium was laid down over the roofing membrane, as well as an EPDM plastic sheet that acts as a "root barrier". The plants are mostly native Oregon sedums and sempervivens, which are hardy succulents.

The eco-roof is one strategy to keep the house cool during warm weather. In addition, window glazing has a low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient or SHGC, which means it rejects the infra-red heat in sunlight.

The house was planned around an existing 40' Port Orford Cypress that shades the west side.The floor is concrete which feels cool during summer. An operable skylight at the top of the house allows "night flushing" to move cool night air that lowers the temperature overnight. Finally, high-mass walls were built using Durisol blocks made from recycled scrap wood.These blocks are filled with concrete to continued on page 53

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FEATURES

• Carbon-neutral, no fossil fuels • Solar water heating • Wind-generated electric power • Radiant hydronic in-floor heating Passive cooling • Ecoroof • Salvage cabinets, flooring, tub, sinks, countertop • FSC certified lumber, plywood, fencing, shingles • Spray-in cellulose • Durisol walls • No garage or off-street parking • 3 bedroom, 2240 SF • Accessible/aging-in-place • Clay floor • Cob wall • Clay plaster • Clay paint • Local non-toxic paints (Yolo, Rodda) • Front yard garden TEAM

Architect Nathan Good General Contractor Coho Construction, Dave Heslam Cabinets, Entry door Treeform Woodworking, Eric McClelland Electrical Red's Electric, Globe Lighting Plumbing Hoffman Plumbing & Hydronic, Eric Hoffman Clay floor, cob wall From These Hands, Sukita Crimmel Clay plaster Eagle Creek Natural Building, Joshua Klyber Clay paints Green Planet paints, Meredith Aronson Ecoroof GRIP, Greening Rooftops in Portland, Katie Colgan Rock walls Bob Jackson, Denali Builders Fence Adrian's Quality Fencing Blowdown wood trim Vashon Forest Stewards

form a strong, well-insulated high-mass wall. The massive walls and floor help stabilize temperatures as outside conditions change.

These cooling strategies are intended to keep the house livable as the climate warms, without using energy for air conditioning. Climate scientists from the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group project that Western Oregon's climate will become warmer and dryer, with more intense summer peaks.

The house has no garage or offstreet parking space. Since it is located close to MAX light rail and within easy biking distance of downtown and neighborhood centers, the O'Briens are transitioning out of their two cars.When they are too old to drive they will be able to walk or MAX. They purchase carbon credits to offset their cars’ emissions from carboncounter.org, a service of the Oregon Climate Trust and Mercy Corps.

Mike asked Home Depot and their subcontractor Adrian's Quality Fencing if they could build a wood fence from FSC certified Western Red Cedar.

Although they were not familiar with FSC certification and well-managed forests, they agreed to learn. Mike connected them with Kevin Kaster of Kaster's Kustom Cutting, one of the "Build Local Alliance" suppliers of certified wood products. The FSC certified wood added about 12% to the overall cost of the fence, but the O’Briens felt it was worth it.

Mike works as a Green Building Specialist at Portland's Office of Sustainable Development. Vana is a therapist and well-known Portland actress. To build their home they teamed up with architect and friend Nathan Good. The house is very much an expression of their values. Mike wanted to create a carbon-neutral, low-energy house, while Vana focused on creating a place that welcomes guests and visiting family. Both liked the idea of using natural materials and reusing salvage wood and house parts.

Natural materials, warm colors and lots of sunlight mark the home. Photo Credit: Michael O’Brien

Nathan's design created airy, lightfilled spaces.Artists like Sukita Crimmel, Josh Klyber and Mark Larsen added clay floors, a cob wall, clay plasterwork and sgrafitti painting. Eric McClelland of Treeform Woodworking built handsome new cabinets from salvage fir, and reconditioned used cabinets that Vana found at The ReBuilding Center. Contractor Dave Heslam of Coho Construction built stairs and interior trim from fir trees blown down by last November's windstorm. Clay paints color the main interior walls, while Yolo paints cover high-moisture areas.

After repeated tries Mike and Vana found compact fluorescent lights they both really liked. nVision makes both squiggly screw-ins and floods. In an informal side-by-side comparison, the nVision bulbs looked very similar to incandescent bulbs. By installing CFLs throughout, the O’Briens cut over 1500 watts of lighting energy out of the house.

Construction began with a blessing ceremony that brought together family, friends and neighbors at the site to express their thoughts and wishes and to give thanks to the earth for its gifts.

Mike and Vana spoke of their hopes for the house and what it meant to them as a place to live and share with the community.The blessing ceremony embraced the spiritual values that underlie day to day choices about living sustainably, but are not often openly acknowledged.

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Featured Homes

Photo Credit: Scott Sorenson, Homebuilder.

A stunning entry door. Photo Credit: Scott Sorenson, Homebuilder.

MCCOURT HOME

Hood River Green Home Builds Community

By Kacia Brockman, Energy Trust of Oregon, Solar Oregon board member Susan and Wrayal McCourt had always dreamed of living on a small farm. They recently found the perfect property in Hood River and worked with a local builder to design their dream house in a way that respects the land. In the process, they also became better connected with their community.

Both Susan and Wrayal sought a slower paced life in Hood River after years in high-stress hightech corporate jobs. “I was a type-A suburban computer programmer for 13 years in Texas and North Carolina,” said Susan,“and I recognized that I was not spending my time the way I wanted to. I needed to slow down so that I could enjoy and appreciate the little things in life.”

Susan quit her job in 2000 and moved to Hood River in 2001 where she began volunteering and working half-time as a programmer. In Hood River she met Wrayal, also from Texas, who had undertaken a similar career transformation and was studying to become a paramedic.

Susan learned about green building when she served on the board of directors of the Columbia

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Gorge Earth Center, which runs the annual EnviroHouse Tour and operates the Gorge Rebuild-It Center, a building material salvage and resale facility in Hood River. Through those connections, Susan and Wrayal found the contractor that would build their home, Scott Sorensen Construction.

“Scott was known as the local builder that buys reclaimed materials from the Rebuild-It Center,” Susan explained. “It was his green building reputation that drew us to him, but it was his design sense and his understanding of our lifestyle and aesthetic that really clicked with us.” Scott’s own home served as a model for many of the features the McCourts wanted.

The McCourts gave Scott the freedom to choose most of the materials, and in turn Scott was transparent with those decisions, explaining his reasoning and the costs. “Because the McCourts and I had a common philosophy about design, there were very few mistakes and very few changes,” said Scott.

“It was a great project.”

Tile and glass brighten the bath area.

Photo Credit: Scott Sorenson, Homebuilder.

Natural stone fireplace. Photo Credit: Scott Sorenson, Homebuilder.

The house was designed with the sun in mind. Solar water heating collectors on the south roof preheat water year-round. The home’s passive solar design includes plenty of south facing windows that are shaded from direct sun in the summer by long roof overhangs. In the winter when the sun is low in the sky, high solar heat gain glass in the south windows allows the sun’s energy to enter the home and be absorbed in the concrete floors. To minimize heat loss, the north wall has few windows strategically placed to frame the view of the property toward the Hood River.

The home’s walls are constructed of Cempo Form, an insulated concrete form which, according to Scott’s research, is comprised of a mixture of Portland cement and 85% recycled polystyrene. A hydronic radiant floor heating system keeps the well-insulated home warm and comfortable in winter.

With the help of ENERGY STAR appliances and compact fluorescent light bulbs throughout, the McCourt home is expected to consume half the energy of a conventional home built to Oregon’s energy code.

The McCourts got to know their

12-acre property intimately by living there in a small trailer for two years before designing the house. They told Scott they wanted a rustic design to complement the site, built with modern materials that are environmentally friendly, durable and low maintenance.

The exterior stucco covering the block walls matches the color of the river rock on the property. A galvanized metal roof was installed to match the old farm buildings that remain. Inside, exposed timber framing and a stone fireplace mantle reflect the natural materials of the site. Custom iron work hand-forged by a local artist and reclaimed lumber used for interior finishes give the home its rustic feel.

Susan believes that green building is “not just about constructing with green materials. It means designing a space that is no bigger than what is needed to efficiently meet your needs.” Their 2,100 square foot home includes 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a home office.

And it frequently hosts visitors.

On their property, the McCourts have a small cooperative farm that grows produce and chicken eggs for several families. In the McCourt’s barn, members of their biodiesel cooperative

turn used restaurant grease into biodiesel for their vehicles. Friends and family often camp on their land when visiting the McCourts. These visitors all have direct access from outside to the “mudroom,” which includes a full bath and the laundry room.

“Any extra money that we paid for this home compared to a conventionally built home went to support the economies for green building and alternative energy, which are what we value,” Susan explained.

After 10 years in construction, Scott Sorensen now gets to work exclusively on green building projects. “Business is steady and I have more projects lined up after this one. People are seeking green building expertise,” he said. “My clients challenge me to continually learn new technologies and methods, which is a dream for me.”

The McCourt home was on the Enviro-House Tour last year during its construction to showcase the exposed building blocks. The McCourts will be opening their home again during this year’s tour so visitors can experience the finished product.

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Featured Homes

P R I N G L E C R E E K C O T TA G E

A Very Big Small House

By Christopher Dymond, Oregon Department of Energy cottage with only 1,350 square feet of heated floor space. This compares to the 2,450 square feet in a typical Oregon home.

The cottage doesn’t feel small, thanks largely to an open floor plan. Visual cues like long views, high ceilings, small component detail and excellent daylighting give the house a voluminous feeling.

Substantial built in storage spaces and a short basement space also increased the home’s effective size without increasing the size of its environmental footprint.

Blake Bilyeu, of Bilyeu Homes stands beside an educational display of the homes green features.

The Pringle Creek Cottage is the first model home built in the 32-acre Pringle Creek Community development located in Salem, Oregon, recently deemed the Green Land Development of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders. The sustainability features of the cottage itself qualify it for both the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification* and EnergyStar® Platinum certification. And with 103 green building points, the Pringle Creek Cottage has the highest LEED rating of any home built to date.

The two elements that distinguish the Pringle Creek Cottage are its efficient use of space (both inside and out) and its extremely low energy consumption.

A Small Footprint The simplest way to reduce a home’s environmental footprint is to reduce its size. This reduces the amount of materials needed and the energy required to heat, cool, light and run appliances. The Pringle Creek Cottage is a two-bedroom, two-bath

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Energy Efficiency Designed by Opsis Architecture and built by Bilyeu Homes, the Pringle Creek Cottage is one of few houses to date that is built efficient enough to qualify the builder for a $2,000 federal tax credit for energy-efficient new homes. In addition, the home will be the first to qualify the builder for a $3,000 state of Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit for efficiency and up to $9,000 for the renewable energy features.

The Cottage is connected to a Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) water distribution system that extracts the ambient earth temperature water from an underground aquifer via an existing production well, and pumps the water to each lot via a supply and return piping system within the street right of way. This distribution system uses water borrowed and circulated through a GSHP where heat will be either extracted from the water in the heating mode, or rejected to the water in the cooling mode. After passing through the lot, the heat pump returns the water through a return piping system, where it either becomes available for irrigation use or it is returned to the aquifer via injection wells.

This heat pump system is approximately 300 percent more efficient at delivering heat than an electric furnace. The heating system also incorporates an energy recovery ventilation system that is integrated with the bathroom fans. This ensures a balanced continuous ventilation and fresh air system

FEATURES AND TEAM • 40 tube thermomax solar water heater • 2050 watt solar electric array • EnergyStar® Appliances • Geothermal heat pump heating system • Energy Recovery Ventilation System • Rainscreen exterior walls • All dimensional lumber is Forest Stewardship Council certified • Local sourced hardwood floors and cabinetry • EnergyStar® aluminum clad wood windows with Low-E glass • 1700 gallon rainwater harvesting system Owner/Developer Sustainable Development, Inc. Design Architecture Opsis Architecture And Studio D Structural Engineer Catena Consulting Engineers Interiors Jessica Helgerson Interior Design Energy Consultants Oregon Department Of Energy Builder Bilyeu Homes Framing Spectra Construction Eco-landscape DeSantis Landscaping KEY VENDORS • Summers Solar Systems • Lyons Heating and Cooling • Jeld-Wen Window + Doors * Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes is a voluntary rating system from the US Green Building Council that promotes the design and construction of high performance "green" homes. The Green Building Council began the pilot test of LEED for Homes in August 2005. As of May 2007, more than 200 homes have been LEED certified.

The beautiful home is capped with solar panels. Photo Credit: Visko Hatfield

that uses warm exhaust air to pre-heat the incoming air.

High Performance Exterior Envelope The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified 2x6 wood stud, 24 inch on center, advanced frame wall uses less lumber and allows for more dense pack cellulose insulation within the exterior wall cavity. In addition to the ? inch FSC certified plywood, the exterior is wrapped with a 1 inch layer of rigid insulation to reduce heat loss and keep the exterior structure warm and dry. The exterior vented rain screen finish is comprised of a Tyvek house wrap with a 12 inch on center vertical strapping and +/- ? inch battens that attach the fiber-cement lap siding.

Vented rain screens should be standard practice in locations with substantial rain. The small air gap between the insulation and the exterior cladding ensure that wind driven moisture can rapidly dry to the exterior. In addition, the natural ventilation keeps the wall cool during the summer substantially extending the life of paint and reducing air conditioning loads.

Through good design every form feels large and airy.

Photo Credit: Visko Hatfield

Cottage Living Imagine living in a home like this with an energy footprint 35 percent that of a typical, comparably-sized home. Energy costs would have to more than triple before you would pay as much as someone living in an average two bedroom new home. It is worth remembering that when we measure the environmental impact of a home, the single largest impact over the life of the home is its energy use.

For more information about Pringle Creek Community visit www.pringlecreek.com.

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Featured Homes

AT T E B E R RY H O M E

Solar Power with Battery Backup

By Christopher Dymond, Oregon Department of Energy

Patricia Smith Atteberry and Ko Atteberry live where power is not always reliable, but their solar power system ensures they are never without electricity.

Their home is located on Kiger Island in the Willamette River south of Corvallis where utility power fails about once a month. Unlike most utilityinteractive systems currently sold, the Atteberrys chose a system that can operate with or without the presence of a utility. When the utility power is available the system will feed any surplus (unused) solar energy to the utility and be credited for the power at full retail.When the power goes out, their system automatically switches to provide power to all the home’s critical loads.

“We didn’t even know the power was out, until I went into the bathroom and the light didn’t work. Everything that we needed still had power,” said Ko Atteberry.

Ko and Patricia outside their solar home.

Photo Credit: Christopher Dymond, Oregon Department of Energy.

continued on page 61

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The roof generates power from the sun.

FEATURES • 64 sq ft solar water heater • 2970 watt solar electric array • Passive solar sunspace • Energy Star Appliances • Bio-diesel powered VW Jetta • Compact fluorescent lights throughout • Geothermal heat pump heating system • Organic garden and native tree farm TEAM Owner Patricia Smith-Atteberry and Ko Atteberry Solar Installers Abundant Solar, Pacific Solar and Rain, Inc.

James Reismiller of Abundant Solar installed the solar electric system and Luke Rabun of Pacific Solar and Rain Inc. installed the solar water heating system.

Ten days before Christmas 2006, the solar power system was being installed, when the power went out. It stayed out for five days. Without power the Atteberrys had no heat, no hot water, no refrigerator and Pat couldn’t do any work.

The agony of almost having power was palpable. Pat, a digital artist, needs power to run her business and was in the middle of finals for an online computer animation course she was taking through the San Francisco Academy of the Arts.

“It was a crazy week for us, but this year we are prepared,” said Pat.

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Featured Homes

CARSTENS HOME

Carstens Become Trailblazers After Taking a Wrong Turn

By Karen Chase Several years ago Kathy and Tom Carstens made a wrong turn when leaving a relative’s house in Grants Pass. They drove on a circuitous path and found themselves in the beautiful Applegate Valley of southern Oregon. That wrong turn became a right choice for the couple long term. The Carstens returned to the area to retire and built the greenest house they could.

Since his retirement from military service, Tom has been exploring green building materials and practices that stimulate his sense and sensibility for the indoor environment. Even now, after completing their home building project, he continues to learn and investigate new materials and methods, and has returned to school to pursue a degree in environmental studies.

Thought and ingenuity were the first building blocks of every aspect of their home’s construction and décor. The home combines passive solar heating; a grid-tied, net-metered photovoltaic array; solar thermal for domestic hot water; geothermal heat

Kathy and Tom Carstens selected a solar-rich site to build their green Applegate Valley home.

Photo Credit: Karen Chase.

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pump and heat recovery ventilation system for space heating; recycled and reused wood, furnishings and décor; Forest Stewardship Council wood products; water efficiency measures; energy conserving and sustainable building materials; low-noise mechanical features; low- or no-toxicity building and finishing products; and much more.

The home is green and efficient from top to bottom. It has expanded polystyrene, structural insulated panels and steel roofing; mineralized waste wood fiber insulated block walls; locally-harvested Madrone, tile, and concrete slab floor, which is also used as a passive solar heat sink. Whenever possible, materials were resurrected from other locations for reuse. For example, the wooden house beams are recycled from an old Portland church that was razed.

The home is a certified Earth Advantage Platinum home. It requires little to maintain its energy efficiency, although Tom is diligent about using windows and other integrated systems effectively.

Andre Debar of Portland was the architect. Dorris Construction of Central Point built the home.

The National Association of Home Builders named the home the 2003 Green Custom Home of the Year Award. The home was also nationally recognized for its energy efficiency by the National Home Builders Association and the US Department of Energy.

The couple has received three tax credits through Oregon Department of Energy’s Residential Energy Tax Credit program. These include a $1,500 tax credit each for the photovoltaic array, installed

by Alternative Energy Systems, and for the solar water system, installed by Tim Dawson of Solar Collection, Inc.,Talent, Oregon. Also, they received a $600 credit for a geothermal heat pump for space heating installed by Mark Webb of Pacific Heating and Cooling, Central Point.

FEATURES

• 3.3 kW solar electric array • Solar hot water • Geothermal heat pump • Heat recovery ventilator • Duct work in heated space • Concrete slab floor area with 21% fly ash • Extended eaves • Majority of job-site construction waste recycled • Metal roof • Insulated concrete form walls • 10” structural insulated panels in roof • Moisture barrier in roof • R-38 insulation in vaulted roof • High efficient windows • Forest Stewardship Council certified wood • Recycled wood • Fluorescent lighting throughout • Low-noise local exhaust fans • Energy Star appliances • No-VOC paint and primer • Counters containing recycled materials • Native, low-water landscaping • Dual-flush toilets • Low-flow shower heads TEAM

Architect DeBar Architecture, Portland Builder Dorris Construction, Central Point Solar Photovoltaic Alternative Energy Systems Solar Water Solar Collection,Talent Geothermal Pacific Heating and Cooling, Central Point

The solar hot water system interior components.

Photo Credit: Sarah Jane Nelson Photographer.

A well lit kitchen.

Photo Credit: Sarah Jane Nelson Photographer.

Because the home is located in Pacific Power service territory, the couple qualified for Energy Trust of Oregon funding of $9,900 for the PV and $1,040 for the solar water heating system.

The grid-tied solar array, located on the separate garage roof, consists of 22 150-Watt Isofoton modules, producing a peak capacity of 3.3 kW and an anticipated 4,174 kW-hours of electricity.The solar thermal system for hot water, two Heliodyne 32-square foot collectors, is located on the roof of the house, and is anticipated to yield 2800 kW-hours of electricity annually.

The ground-source, or geothermal, closed-loop heat pump system used for internal space heating includes four 580foot pipe loops, buried a few feet below the surface of the ground, through which a water and antifreeze mixture is circulated to the heat pump and back again.

These loops draw heat from the earth in the cold months and release heat to the earth in the warm months. Since earth temperatures are more constant year round than air, this system is more energy efficient than the more common airsource heat pump. Even on a cold winter night, Tom said the house loses just 2ºF with the heat service turned off.

Water conservation measures include dual flush toilets, one gallon-perminute shower heads, and plans for a

rain water catchment system. Exterior landscaping has been kept as natural as possible, including no turf, and within the County’s fire safety guidelines.

Auditory comfort was also a consideration. Fans, such as those in the bathrooms and kitchens were selected for their low decibel operation, and have remote and automatic controls.

“If the fans are too noisy, they won’t be used,” Tom said. The mechanical room that houses the heat pump and water tank is lined with a sound absorbing insulation. Acoustic wall insulation contains recycled blue jean material.

Tom thinks more people should know about the tax credits and other incentives available to build green and sustainably. He acknowledges that it was difficult to not have a single place to go to find all the resources available, and that it required some investigation to contact the right agencies and organizations. Still, he and Kathy are glad they did.

Now, they want to help educate others about green and solar building, and how it can be elegantly, creatively and comfortably accomplished.The couple, who went the wrong way to wind up in the Applegate Valley and liked it enough to consider it their future home, have become area trailblazers of green and solar building.

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Featured Homes

PETERS/MCRAE HOME

“Staging” a Debt-free Efficient Solar Remodel

By Marnie McPhee, freelance writer, Solar Oregon

The 2.2 kilowatt photovoltaic system was installed in 2006 - after years of conversation improvements on this 1926 bungalow. Photo Credit: Jane Peters.

Jane Peters and Marjorie McRae have slowly and thoughtfully tightened up, brightened and solarized their 1926 bungalow in Northeast Portland. Along the way, they’ve reaped the benefits of new products and programs – and they’ve done everything without debt.

As Peters puts it,“There’s good reason to make improvements in stages, because technologies are improving, and costs are coming down. We have a premise that when we do something, we use the best product available. It’s not an argument for not doing something, but for doing what we can, when we can.”

This commitment to living lightly is consistent and long-term. Both have worked in the energy efficiency and renewable energy fields for more than 25 years. Their company, Research Into Action, evaluates utility energy programs in the US and internationally.

When Peters bought the home in 1991, it was like its neighbors: charming, sturdy, with good south-

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ern exposure, near public transportation – and virtually uninsulated.

“I was 41 when I bought it,” she said.“I’d just finished my Ph.D. three years earlier, and I didn’t have much money. I think my situation is really common.

I couldn’t afford to buy until then.”

It started at 1,680 square feet. Now, it’s a little over 2,000, with three bedrooms, two baths, a sunroom, solar water heater and photovoltaic solar electric (PV) system. They live there with their daughter and a yearly foreign exchange student.

That first year, Peters replaced aging kitchen appliances with energy-efficient models. After an energy audit by their oil-heat provider, they insulated the attic to R-30 with blown-in cellulose, added roof vents to exhaust heat trapped in the attic, caulked the windows, weatherstripped the doors, and replaced old wooden windows on the south and west sides of the house with efficient vinyl ones. They installed storm windows on the operable wooden windows on the north- and east-facing windows, and the picture windows in the living room. “The storms make the house much quieter, and safer,” Peters notes.

In 1995, they replaced their 1950s oil furnace with a high-efficiency pulse gas furnace and a programmable thermostat. The furnace has electronic ignition and the exhaust is so cool it just goes out a plastic pipe on the side of the house.

In 2001, they began paying extra on their Pacific Power electric bills to support green energy programs.

By 2004, they were ready for a minor remodel.

They hired an architect, Anthony Stoppiello, to design a south-facing, sun-tempered office/utility room addition off the east end of the house.A roof overhang shades the south-facing glass from spring through fall. They also bought an efficient water heater, ENERGY STAR® refrigerator and clothes

FEATURES

• Remodel of 1926 bungalo • Sol-Reliant drainback solar hot water system • 2.2-kilowatt solar electric photovoltaic system • High-efficiency pulse gas furnace • Programmable thermostat • Killa-Watt efficiency meter TEAM

Sunroom Architect: Anthony Stoppiello Solar Water Heater Designer and Installer John Patterson, Mr. Sun Solar Photovoltaic System Designer and Installer John Patterson, Mr. Sun Solar

washer and several ENERGY STAR® lighting fixtures, rebraced and reroofed the house, and installed conduit for future solar energy systems.

A solar water heating system came first. The Sol-Reliant drainback system includes 56 square feet of collectors, and a 12-volt DC photovoltaic-activated pump, which circulates an antifreeze solution between the collectors and the 80-gallon solar storage tank.

In 2006, they were ready for a 2.2kilowatt photovoltaic system. It consists of 14 150-watt Isofoton modules and a Xantrex GT3.0 grid-tied inverter. A Killa-Watt meter detects “phantom” or “vampire” loads: appliances, lights and other electric items that use electricity when plugged in but not turned on.That year, they also ramped up attic insulation, to R-40. Finally in 2007 they insulated the walls to R-19.

The results? “We don’t have figures on each individual change, but we know we use one-third the energy of houses of a similar age and size,” Peters says.

“The most surprising impact came from the new gas furnace, because its motor

One of the first improvements for this home was adding R-30 blown in cellulose insulation to the attic.

Photo Credit: Jane Peters

The Owners' attitude that everyone can do this is proudly proclaimed on their hybrid car license plate.

Photo Credit: Jane Peters.

is so much more efficient than the one on our old oil furnace. The other big effects were the solar hot water system and the PV system, which both directly reduced our electric energy use.”

They do watch their utility bills carefully. In January 2006, they used 35 kWh per day. In January 2007, after they added the photovoltaic system, their usage dropped to 28 kWh per day.

Peters says that the summer shift was dramatic: from April to October 2005, they used 21 kWh per day; between April and October 2006, that dropped

to just 10 kWh per day.

When they can afford it, they’ll do even more: Green Tags so they can become “carbon neutral,” additional insulation, replacement windows, newer ENERGY STAR® appliances, another 1 kilowatt in PV modules and/or a battery back-up, insulating window covers, and a plug-in conversion for the Toyota Prius hybrid car they bought in 2004.

For now, they snuggle into their comfy bungalow.And like all photovoltaic system owners, they enjoy watching their electric meter run backward.

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Featured Homes

CAMPBELL HOME

Reclaimed Materials Add Style and Character to Woodland Family Home

By Susan Badger Jones, 3EStrategies Some of the greenest features in Judy and Tom Campbell’s very modern home in the wooded hills west of Bend are also the oldest -- hundreds and hundreds of board feet of old-growth Douglas Fir. Early in the construction, explained Judy, “A friend invited Tom to deconstruct an old warehouse on the edge of town before it was demolished.”

With just a few days to work before the bulldozers arrived, Tom madly salvaged what would become the time-mellowed beams, posts, flooring as well as ceilings and sofits of their home.

Reclaimed Douglas Fir gets prominent display.The fir and steel sky bridge connecting upstairs bedrooms to Judy’s office overlooks the Campbell’s kitchen and dining area.

Photo Credit: Gnass Photo Images, LLC, Bend

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“Tom and a friend pulled the nails from every piece of wood and planed them down,” said Judy.

“We have a certain pride in knowing it would have all ended up in the dump otherwise.”

While Tom was doing that, Judy, a communications consultant, made her own foray into reclamation—ultimately finding 24 interior doors at the local ReStore and from the renovation of a historic house. She found remnant linoleum for a bathroom and salvaged stone to create a court yard water feature.

“What’s green also makes it distinctive,” said Judy of their finds. Matching panel doors used on a powder room and closet add interest to a simple hall off the front entry. A one-of-a-kind door with decorative glass panel is perfect for the kitchen pantry. Matching doors used in the upstairs hall provide continuity and character. “We didn’t save money doing it,” she said, recalling the time spent sanding.“But we’re glad we did it.We’re here for the long haul” she said, describing the two-year construction process as “an artistic expression of self in a green package.”

They’ve built for the long term in many other green ways. Architect James Meyer of Portland, a long time friend and LEED accredited professional, designed a tight, durable, highly insulated building envelope by combining Rastra block walls, Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) roof sections and high performance windows. They gave attention to ventilation and healthy finishes. They incorporated passive solar design with grid-tied PV. “Over the year our electric bill averages less than $10 a month,” said Judy.

The heart of the home is a large, light kitchen/dining area walled with south glass that offers sunlight in winter and shade in summer.

The home celebrates its site, relying on natural

The beautiful, modern, energy efficient home celebrates its high desert site and sunshine.The south court yard offers warm sheltered outdoor space on winter days and chilly summer evenings. Gnass Photo Images, LLC, Bend

FEATURES • 2,500 SF, 3 bedrooms plus home office, 2 .5 baths • Passive Solar Design • 2.4 kW grid-tied PV • Rastra block wall system finished with stucco and natural plaster; SIPs roof system (R 50).

• Reclaimed beams, posts and finish lumber; reclaimed interior doors.

• High performance windows--low-e coated glazing on east, west, and north with high solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) on south glazing..

• Zoned radiant in-floor heat; gas Noritz tank-less hot water heater.

• Poured concrete flooring & counter tops with art inlays.

• Bamboo cabinets • Ultimate Air Recoup Aerator Energy Recovery Ventilator • Energy Star appliances & low-flow water fixtures • Xeriscaping TEAM Designer James Meyer, AIA, Opsis Architecture, Portland. Passive solar consulting by Urbansun Design, Bend/Portland.

Builder Tom Campbell Key professionals & vendors Structures NW, Sunlight Solar, Specialty Exteriors & Environmental Building Supplies.

landscaping and offering easy walks to the water, expansive woods and miles of trails in nearby Shevlin Park. “We want to raise our kids close to nature,” said Tom, nodding toward daughters aged seven and nine.

Views to the western mountains abound but without the large expanses of glass that so frequently cause overheating in Central Oregon homes with mountain views. From the kitchen work area there’s a well shaded sweeping view toward North Sisters. Strategically placed windows in the living room and bedrooms frame Mt. Bachelor.

Western mountain views have also been cleverly delivered to spots deep in the house. Sitting in Judy’s office chair, a glance up and out the east window will probably catch the reflection of Mt. Bachelor in the west window of the bedroom across the court yard.

Settled into an armchair under the huge painting in the dining room, a look out the south window to the court yard will also give a longer view all the way through the living room windows to Mt. Bachelor.

“James calls them little moments,” Judy said of the surprise and delight such elements give.

Tom, a business man turned builder turned art furniture maker, delivers

Bamboo cabinetry and poured concrete countertops with sprinkled turquoise and stainless steel inlay meld the practical and the beautiful in this very contemporary home. Gnass Photo Images, LLC, Bend

more little moments from his skill with concrete and metal. His custom concrete floors provide thermal mass, and varying color and sense of texture; inlaid stone and tile define areas such as the entry. Small bits of turquoise scattered into the poured concrete kitchen counter tops glisten like stardust and intersecting counter top are connected with Japanese joinery. Finally there the Campbell’s distinctive front door—it’s hand made with clear straight grain Douglas Fir that would now be in the landfill if Tom hadn’t gone to its rescue.

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Featured Homes

TO Z E R H O M E

Passive Solar Designer Lives Green Life in NorthWest Crossing

By Susan Badger Jones, 3EStrategies

Al Tozer turned his professional focus to passive solar home design after others saw the Bend house he designed and built for himself more than a decade ago and asked for his assistance. Growing up on a farm, working construction in summer, and studying ecology, biology and cellular physiology gave him a sense of “how things go together” and an appreciation for detail.

It all worked to help him create an elegant right-sized passive solar prairie home for himself and his family in Bend’s NorthWest Crossing, one of the state’s premier master planned mixed-use communities and one the first to require homes to be Earth Advantage and Energy Star certified.

In less than 1,900 square feet, on a small lot with solar access challenges, Tozer has created a home that warms and cools itself passively, gener-

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ates electricity, has private space for everyone and a spot for overnight company and TV. “Details, details, details,” as Tozer says.Attention to detail has allowed Tozer to place windows so they provide daylighting and solar gain and cross ventilation and privacy and to let the sound of the front garden’s water feature into the study area or master bedroom when desired. Attention to more detail has created greenery with very little water, sunny outdoors spots out one door and shady ones out another and an upper deck to catch a breeze or a long view.

It gets better: The Tozer family home is across from a park, on the city’s new bus line, within walking/biking distance to his daughters’ schools, and a stone’s throw from a village center with coffee shop, restaurants, offices and small grocery.

FEATURES • 1,850 square foot home; three bedrooms,TV/guest spot, study nook & 2.5 baths •Extensive south glazing provides winter solar gain; expansive roof overhangs & strategic deciduous tree plantings provide summer shading • Designed for daylighting and easy cross ventilation – no air conditioning required • 2 kW grid tied PV on east roof with locally manufactured PV Powered Inverter • Super-efficient gas furnace & fireplace • FSC certified wood framing and flooring; reclaimed beams and posts; sustainably-harvested walnut butcher block island; engineered wood floor joists, recycled content decking • Hard floor surfaces with wool carpet in bedrooms • Domestic water recirculation pump and water-conserving clothes and dishwashers.

• Drip irrigation for most landscape • Low/no VOC paints and natural cold-press finishes throughout; all insulation is formaldehyde-free • Earth Advantage & Energy Star certified TEAM Owner/Designer Al & Shelly Tozer /Tozer Design LLC, Bend, Oregon, www.tozerdesign.com Builder Dennis Stains; Chris Krisckhen, project manager.

Key professionals/vendors Brian Jolly, finish carpenter; Chris Grant, water feature & landscaping; Environmental Building Supplies; Brian’s cabinets; Bend Fireside & Sunlight Solar.

The water garden near Tozer’s front entry creates a refreshing welcome and a place of rest for people or birds.

Opening windows in the master bedroom or upstairs study area invites the sound inside the home.

Photo Credit: Ross Callager Photography.

Tozer says the home’s smaller footprint sends them out into the neighborhood. ”We connect with people more often.” Now, about one-third completed,Tozer said,“NorthWest Crossing has matured into more than a neighborhood, it’s becoming a town center.” It’s also becoming a place that shows how

living smaller can be living richly.

Tozer Design, LLC and NorthWest Crossing are both founding members of the Building Green Council of Central Oregon, founded by 3EStrategies; NorthWest Crossing is a regular sponsor of the Central Oregon Green and Solar Tour of Homes.

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Featured Homes

GNASS HOME

Hillside Home Showcases Veteran Builder’s Solar Skills

By Susan Badger Jones, 3EStrategies Jon and Karen Gnass, Bend, didn’t know they were buying a perfect solar lot 15 years ago, ‘We just liked the spot” said Jon, “we kept seeing it on our training runs.”

The couple wanted a clean European look and knew they liked concrete floors.After talking to Jim Chauncy at SunTerra Homes, “The idea of going solar just made sense,” said Jon. Their new home takes a classic passive solar form – a glazed south side with appropriately sized eaves and decks, and a north side tucked into the hill. From the front entrance, a central light-filled stairwell rises through the center of the home like an atrium. Lower floors house Jon’s photography office and scanning room, a guest bedroom and bath, access to garages and an exercise room--both Karen and Jon are ultra-marathoners, regularly competing in races of 31 miles and more. At the top of the stairs one steps into an expansive European feeling kitchen/living/dining area. That space and the

The "bridge" between the home's top floor airy living area and master bedroom shows the attention given to integrating tile and concret flooring and creating special lighting detail.

Photo Credit: SunTerra Homes

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adjacent master bedroom, have sweeping views and amazing natural light from interiors.

Chauncy has touched the home with lessons learned over time. He drops the decks one step so the railings don’t block views, leaves indentations in concrete floors so tile can be inset, uses soft LED lighting for the stairway, under cabinets and great room sofits. Decks on the west, south and north provide outdoor living spots in the sun or shade, anytime of the day. The roof is ready for solar hot water and photovoltaics when the couple decide it’s time. “We both feel like we’ve lived here a lot longer than we have,” said Jon. Along with that comfort Chauncy also delivered a home he estimates to be 40 to 60% more energy efficient than code construction, a talent that has won him four prestigious green building awards in the last year—two from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and two the Central Oregon Builders Association (COBA).

The Gnass home exemplifies his three part approach. First, constructing a tight building envelope using advanced framing to maximize space for insulation and filling that space with 2 pound marine grade structural urethane. “It doubles the sheer value of the walls and provides high insulation values, air tightness and moisture control. I address them all,” said Chauncy.

Next Chauncy uses slab-on-grade concrete floors to combine the potential of passive solar gain with in-floor radiant heating and cooling. He runs separate long in-floor radiant zones parallel to the south facing windows. On sunny days, when there’s plenty of sun flooding that floor, the southernmost zones are turned off and work like a passive slab, accepting heat from the sun, storing it and giving it back later. In overcast weather the zones can be included in the radiant system, heating up in about

FEATURES • 2,495 SF 2 bedroom with home office and exercise room • More than 50% of glass on south side; properly fixed overhanging roof and decks for summer shading; • 60% Solar Heat Gain glazing on south windows; concrete slab is both thermal mass & finished flooring.

• York air-to-water heat pump with zoned in-floor radiant heating/cooling • Sterling Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV).

• Advanced 2 x 6 wood framing with open corners, boxed headers and energy heel trusses • Two pound marine grade structural urethane insulation for maximum control of air infiltration • All hard flooring, finished concrete, tile, with floating linoleum in office • Trex decking, minimal interior wood trim, fiber cement siding • Low volume water fixtures • Xeriscaping with all runoff retained onsite • Pre-plumbed for solar hot water and large expanse of open south roof for future PV • Customized homeowner’s manual • Earth Advantage & Energy Star certified • Building site materials recycled by builder and owners TEAM Owner Jon & Karen Gnass Designer/Builder/Project Manager Jim Chauncey, Mark Chauncey, SunTerra Homes, Bend, Oregon Mechanical Comfort Design, Bend

The Gnass’ south windows provide solar gain and expansive views of Bend. Photo Credit: Gnass Photo Images

Natural light from different directions enhances the open contemporary feel of the living, dining and kitchen area. Photo Credit: SunTerra Homes

two hours. The Gnass home has five such heating zones.

Chauncy tempers the system with air-to-water heat pumps, exactly what he’s used in his own home since he arrived from Montana nine years ago.

“Cost-wise they compete well in various climates with ground-source heat pumps,” he said, pointing out that air-towater pumps don’t require the acreage necessary for ground source pumps so they’re suitable for higher density locations. “There’s a greater return per therm on the investment.” An energy recovery ventilator ensures appropriate air exchanges and in cold weather harvests the heat from exhausting stale air

to warm incoming fresh air.

For all its power, controls for the five zone, heat pump in-floor radiant system looks deceptively simple in the mechanical room. Chauncy has learned that reducing a system to its basic elements prolongs life and is easier to operate and maintain.

That all settles well with Jon and Karen Gnass.They love the comfort and beauty of the new home and enjoy low energy costs lower than their neighbors.

The Gnass home’s contemporary style and European feel is now among many stock designs available through SunTerra’s new on line service at sunterrahomeplans.com.

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Multi-Family Homes

Designer, Mark Lakeman of Communitecture enjoys the front porch at Sabin Green. Photo credit: Michael O'Brien, POSD

SABIN GREEN COHOUSING

Zero Net Energy and Sustainable Community

By Linda Barnes, FAIA, Solar Oregon officer David Sweet and Rosemarie Cordello lived for years in the first solar community in Oregon, but they were still missing the convenience of a close knit neighborhood with stores and services that you could walk and bike to. Reducing their transportation and energy needs was an important goal.

Builder/developer Eli Spevak of Orange Spot LLC was working on a small cohousing development with four homes in the Sabin neighborhood near the lively NE Alberta street in Portland. David and

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Rosemarie became the first potential “buyers” and were told they needed to find all the homeowners.

Three weeks later they were set, with owners for each home and Sabin Green became a fully occupied dream in the spring of 2007. It stands as a shining example of a community dedicated to being a “sustainable and resourceful urban community, supporting each other and contributing to the larger community”.

Developer/builder Eli Spevak saw Sabin Green

Owner David Sweet enjoys the shared spaces at Sabin Green. Photo credit: Linda Barnes, Solar Oregon.

as an opportunity to produce affordable community-related sustainable housing.

The four homes sit on a 75’ x 100’ piece of land that had originally contained a single family house with detached garage behind it. After performing a lot division and minor property line adjustment to allow development on the house’s north side yard, he built a new home and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on the north lot. ADUs are part of Portland’s zoning ordinance designed to increase housing density in a way that works for traditional inner city neighborhoods by allowing very small “mother-in-law apartments” to be built in the back of lots. Finally, he renovated the existing house and converted the existing garage into a second accessory dwelling unit to complete the development. All homes are separately owned as condominiums.

The homes in Sabin Green are all different, creating a charming cluster. All of the homes are small, ranging from 575sf studios to a 1,600sf, three bed-

room home. A shared plaza overlooked by each home provides a social outdoor living room complete with a new guesthouse, a shared bike carport, and a common tool shed. The cob and clay straw guesthouse was built as a community effort as part of Portland’s annual Village Building Convergence and its green roof has just been planted with sedums and flowering annuals.

Zero Net Energy Goal The home design for Rosemarie and David incorporated their sustainability goals. One of their big goals was for their 1,600sf home to be “zero net energy” – producing more electricity than they use on an annual basis. They started with all the conservation “vegetables”; higher insulation values (R23 walls, R49 Roof), tight construction that was blower door tested, an efficient radiant floor heating system, and very efficient (Energy Star) appliances. All appliances except the range, oven and the tankless water heater are electric.

Porches and sun shades at windows make for a delightful home at Sabin Green.

Photo credit: Linda Barnes, Solar Oregon.

The home was built with advanced framing which means less wood framing and more insulation. Lights are compact fluorescents and daylighting was utilized throughout.The majority of the windows are south facing and a delightful two story, south-facing light well spreads light throughout the home. Interior windows in the second floor bedrooms open to the light well for light and ventilation.

“One of the surprises has been how much sunlight we do get in our home, even though our neighbor’s one-story home is only 10’ from our light well,” said David.

No air conditioning is needed because the home was designed for natural convection through the energy efficient windows and light well. The south windows have a wood shading trellis for sun protection in the summer. The new roof is a light color to reflect unwanted heat.

Once they had reduced their energy demand, Rosemarie and David added a 3 kW solar voltaic system and a solar continued on page 75

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FEATURES & RESOURCES • Cohousing • 4 homes on one 75’ x 150’ lot, 1600 – 600 sf • Advanced framing • Blown-in fiberglass insulation (JB Insulation) • Passive solar orientation and natural ventilation • 3kW PV system: Sanyo panels with a Xantrex inverter • Solar Hot Water system • Everhot tankless gas water heater • Radiant floor heating • Yolo – no VOC paints at interior (Environmental Building Supplies) • Miller – no VOC paints at exterior Energy Star appliances (Sears is a great resource!)

• Windows – Marvin Integra Fiberglass, and wood, Low E argon filled • Recycled, reclaimed, and salvaged materials (Endura Hardwoods, Environmental Building Supplies, and the Rebuilding Center) • FSC rated lumber • Green roof and cob straw and clay guest house (Village Building Convergence project) TEAM Developer/Builder Eli Spevak, Orange Spot LLC Designer Mark Lakeman, Communitecture Solar System Solar Energy Solutions Radiant Floor System Hoffman Hydronic

Rendering of Sabin Green home cluster by Communitecture.

water heater.The hot water is stored in a storage tank and a gas tankless water heater provides any needed back-up heating for either the household hot water or the radiant floor heating system. The solar systems received Energy Trust of Oregon incentives and an Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit.

Their current energy usage averages 11 kilowatt hours per day and their solar energy production of 7 to 19 kilowatt hours per day so far this year looks like it will exceed the net zero energy goal, producing more energy than they use. One additional result of living with solar electric and a solar hot water system has been increased awareness of their energy usage, time of day usage, and multiple appliance usage. The system was designed for two showers, a load of laundry and the dishwashing all at once – and it works – but the owners are now more aware of the energy they are using, what they are collecting, and what the weather is like. “The solar systems produce hot water and electricity even on a rainy and partly cloudy day,” said David.

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Multi-Family Homes

D O L P H C R E E K T O W N H O M E S AT T H E H E A D WAT E R S AT T RYO N C R E E K

Multifamily Housing Saves a Creek and Saves 45% on Energy Costs

By Linda Barnes, FAIA, Solar Oregon Officer The Headwaters at Tryon Creek is an inspiring sustainable community loaded with innovative green features. A tributary of Tryon Creek running through the site was merely a buried and forgotten pipe in the ground, but its restoration during development was a key sustainable goal for the community. Modeling livable density, the Headwaters project includes for-sale townhomes, apartments, affordable senior housing, mass transit and bikeway accessibility.The 2.88 acre site beauti-

The south-facing townhomes have decks and shading from the roof and window awnings.

Photo credit: Linda Barnes, Solar Oregon

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fully contains a community of 170 units centered around a natural feature rare to urban living.

Although all of the housing in the project was built to be energy efficient and sustainable, the Dolph Creek townhomes were one of the first in the nation to be LEED Home certified and save up to 45% of annual energy costs.

Restoring a buried creek The crown jewel of this landmark project is the restoration of the buried and forgotten stream.The Headwaters Project’s new buildings are carefully sited adjacent to formerly buried Dolph Creek in the Willamette watershed. The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services first suggested pulling the buried stream to the surface and Jim Winkler, the developer, soon became the champion to improve the stream’s ecological health and create the key identity for the project.

Through a public-private partnership, the creek has been restored and wetlands, parks, and interpretive boardwalks have been added. Green streets, porous paving, flow-through planters, bioswales, and green roofs (everywhere!) assist in reducing, treating and retaining the stormwater on site and increasing the flow and health of the creek.

The design of the creek incorporates natural design elements such as native plantings, snags, and a gravel base to control the storm flow and cool the water which will help fish and streamside wildlife. The project showcases the entire list of sustainable storm-water solutions – and gains wildlife habitat and a natural amenity for the community.

The goal of the development team was to integrate the buildings, parking, plazas, and other elements into a cohesive sustainable site development that elevates the stream’s possibilities.The development’s breezeway entry focuses attention on the creek.The buildings frame the creek with balconies,

FEATURES • Brownfield site cleaned up • Sustainable stormwater solutions • Formerly buried creek daylighted and fed by building stormwater • Greenstreets and 100% onsite water quality management • LEED for Homes Silver certification 45% saving on energy) • Solar hot water panels with integral PV Panels • Foamed-in-place insulation • Low-toxicity interior materials, Green Label carpet, zero voc paint • Concrete countertops • Heat Recovery Ventilators • Hydronic forced- air furnace • Drip irrigation system • Ecoroofs • Exterior solar shades • EnergyStar lighting and appliances • Energy efficient u=0.28 windows • 2 gpm shower heads • Dual flush 1.2 gpf toilets • Pre-wired media boxes • Exhaust fans in garages TEAM Developer Dolph Creek LLC (An affiliate of Winkler Development Corp.)

Builder R & H Construction Architect Sullivan Architecture LLC (Dolph Creek Townhomes), Vallaster & Corl Architects(Village at Headwaters and Headwaters Apartments) Landscape Architect Greenworks LLC Solar System Mr. Sun Solar Green streets MGH Associates Solar and hydronic systems Tapani Plumbing, Porter Electric Jacobs Heating Ecoroof Sopra Nature & Griffith Roofing Polyfoam Insulation Integrity Systems Bamboo flooring Bamboo Craftsman Creek design - Interflue

plazas, boardwalks, seat walls, and bridges creating a habitat-friendly courtyard. Each surface of the constructed environment at the Headwaters project celebrates water and natural processes such as infiltration and water flow, connecting the community to the living world of the creek. Treating the stormwater at the site through infiltration and the natural micro-organisms in the soil will improve water quality and reduce sewer bills.

Saving 45% on energy costs The 14 Dolph Creek Townhomes are the innovative for-sale housing in the Headwaters Project.They are one of the first projects in the nation to receive LEED for Homes Silver certification.The development also has Energy Star and Earth Advantage certifications creating a project that is proudly advertising its 45% savings on annual energy costs.

The 1,585 to 1,695 square foot town homes are designed for energy efficiency. Starting with the due south orientation and building construction decisions, architect Shawn Sullivan incorporated conservation features and above code insulation values. Foamedin-place roof/ceiling insulation applied directly to the underside of the roof sheathing saves on heat loss and eliminated roof vents.The green roof, with its 6” of soil also reduces heat gain while adding to the life of the roofing material by eliminating UV rays.

All units have whole house venting tied to a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). HRVs capture the heat from ventilation exhausts and transfer that heat to preheat the fresh air going to the forced air furnace. The HRV’s are also connected to the bathroom exhaust fans, and therefore provide continual dehumidification reducing trapped bathroom shower steam. All of the townhomes have solar water heating panels and 80 gallon storage tanks.

Integral photovoltaic (PV) panels circulate Glycol in the solar panels to the storage tanks.The solar heated water is

The rescued creek and its pedestrian bridge create a natural living room for these south-facing townhomes.

Photo Credit: Linda Barnes, Solar Oregon

boosted with an on-demand regulating tankless water heater that senses the temperature of the water supply and reheats the water for household usage and for a water loop in the furnace.

Indoor air quality is assured with the whole-house ventilation provided by the heat recovery ventilators.The indoor air quality is further protected by providing Green Label carpet, bamboo flooring, formaldehyde-free cabinetry, exhaust fans in the garages, and non-toxic materials throughout. Saving water was also incorporated in the townhome designs with dual flush toilets, low flow showers and faucets, and drip irrigation systems.

Completed in January of 2007, funding for the energy efficiency and conservation features included support from the City of Portland’s Green Investment Fund, the Energy Trust of Oregon, and the State of Oregon’s Business Energy Tax Credits. Low Income Housing Tax Credits financed the affordable senior housing.

Developer, Jim Winkler says it best, “If you sincerely hold the conviction that you want your children to breathe clean air and drink clean water, and that global warming is a problem, this is your kind of home”.

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Commercial Green Building

Businesses Go Green and Solar Green + Solar Building Oregon, with special support from the Oregon Department of Energy Business Energy Tax Credit Program, is pleased to present this Commercial Building Section.

Commercial green building is booming in Oregon. Portland is a national leader in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings. Central Oregon is home to several award winning sustainable buildings. Cities around the state are incorporating green building requirements into their development codes; many are now requiring LEED certification for new public buildings.

In this section you will find information on new developments in the LEED program, an excit-

ing new Living Building program and information on some of the top commercial green building projects in the stat. You will also find information on the state and federal green building incentive programs. The big news is that the Business

Commercial green building is booming in Oregon.

Energy Tax Credit has increased from 35% to 50% of the cost of renewable energy measures. That can add up to some real money for doing the right thing!

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Commercial Green Building

Passive Solar Design for Commercial Buildings

By Lisa Petterson, AIA, LC, LEED ® AP, NCARB

Daylighting consulting for the East Portland community center aquatics addition, designed by Sera Architects, was performed by the Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory, University of Oregon. Photo Credit: Brad Wright, Sera Architects.

“Buildings are responsible for almost half (48%) of all energy consumption and GHG emissions annually.” (www.architecture2030.com) According to available statistics, electric lighting accounts for between 20 and 50% of a building’s energy use, from which we can deduce that lighting accounts for between 11 and 25% of all energy consumption. Given this large investment, the efforts being made to improve light fixture performance are not surprising. Although increased light fixture efficiencies and decreased illumination requirements have resulted in a three-fold drop in a typical office building's electrical consumption, there is a limit to the savings produced by improved technology alone. Alternative energy sources must be sought as well. In the field of lighting, the ultimate renewable source is the sun.

To see significant energy savings and improve the quality of the indoor environment, designers need to take advantage of this resource and embrace passive lighting techniques once again.

Since its climax in the 1970’s, passive design has lost traction in the architectural community. While

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a number of factors are involved, two stand out as easily solved: lack of knowledge and the perceived absence of aesthetics in early conservation based buildings. The reputation passive solar and daylighting design has for producing unappealing buildings springs from a lack of integration between technology and art. Examples include clerestories placed at unpleasant angles and light shelves designed without the interior space in mind. In its desire to be technically superior, energy conscious design did not seek to lift the spirit. However, this need not be the case. Just as with other architectural derivations, energy conservation can contribute to the overall aesthetic. The trick is to integrate efficiency so that it is part of the design process, not a feature that appears tacked on.

Ironically, the simple design strategies employed effectively for centuries are often not being considered in today’s race towards "platinum" and beyond. Particularly in the area of lighting design, vast quantities of energy can be saved by one simple factor - integrated design.

The first step to achieving a naturally daylit space is to create a building configuration that allows for daylight penetration. As simple as this sounds, the reality is that many disparate factors influence form. In juggling a myriad of design criteria, the simple rules of thumb that govern good daylighting can be overlooked. Wherever possible, designers should return to a basic linear configuration which lends itself to “sidelighting” (light from one side), the simplest way to achieve daylighting in multistory buildings. As a bonus, if the length of the building can be oriented in an east-west direction, daylighting can be coupled with passive heating and cooling for increased energy savings.

If site conditions dictate a different orientation, daylighting can still be successful, especially if consideration for how light is incorporated is explored at the room layout level. In planning a room’s shape, the architect can use floor plans and sectional views to understand whether an appropriate

G.Z. Brown (right) is the principle investigater at Energy Studies in Buildings. Photo Credit: Brad Wright, Sera Architects.

quantity of light reaches the workplane (an implied height at which activity takes place, typically assumed to be 30� above the floor). Following simple rules of thumb - such as limiting room depth to no greater than 2 1/2 times the window head height - can get the designer most of the way to a good daylight design. Using this guideline, perimeter rooms should be limited 20 to 25 feet deep for buildings with conventional ceiling heights; a serious limitation for most building types, which are more efficient when a deeper floor plate is employed. The most obvious design modification to accommodate greater room depth is to increase the ceiling height and thus the daylight penetration. However, higher glazing also exposes occupants near the window to higher levels of glare and direct sunlight. One architectural solution that both increases daylight penetration and reduces glare is use of a horizontal light shelf located 7 to 8 feet above the floor. The role of the light shelf is twofold: it reflects daylight deeper into the space and lowers the amount of direct sun adjacent to the window, thereby evening out the interior light level. It

also divides the window into a view and daylight portion, allowing for the properties of the glazing to be fine tuned with greater visual transmission for the high windows and an improved U value for the lower portion.

There is a delicate balance between an appropriate amount of light and the desired luminous effect. Good daylight design relies on achieving an even brightness throughout the space, using room surfaces to gather, reflect and redistribute daylight. Using this principle, small, carefully placed windows can be as effective at providing illumination as large, energy consuming, windows are. In all orientations, the size of the window should be carefully considered within the context of thermal criteria.

For example, windows on the north side should be different in size and character from those on the south.

Even the most efficiently daylit space cannot save energy if lights are not turned off when not needed. The proper integration of electrical and daylighting control systems can be daunting. A designer must decide to what extent the user can provide effective lighting management and establish a system

that achieves the maximum benefit.

With a commitment to an effective electrical lighting system, the designer can attend to the elements of the daylight design.

In order to achieve compelling lighting that is conservation minded, processes are needed to enable architects to design in a qualitative way, while providing quantitative results. A simple technique, physical modeling, can be employed to assure aesthetically pleasing daylighting solutions. In addition to predicting light quality and quantity, models can reveal varying light levels, specific glare problems and the effects of building forms and finishes.

Here in the Northwest, we are blessed have the expertise of the University of Oregon’s Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory to assist us with physical model testing. Whereas a mathematical model may work for a standard design condition, a physical model will provide information on complex, unusual and specific design performance. Most importantly, physical modeling is an accessible and familiar technique for designers that allows for evaluation of aesthetics as well.

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Commercial Green Building

Making Your Commercial Building Energy Efficient

By Greg Stiles, Energy Trust of Oregon Energy efficient buildings employ some combination of high efficiency lighting, mechanical systems, controls and other features to improve comfort, streamline operations and lower energy costs.

Building owners and managers choose efficiency improvements because they pay back quickly and keep on paying back for the lifetime of the equipment – and, increasingly, because energy efficiency is the least expensive way to move toward energy independence and curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Here are some of my favorite resources for managing and renovating an existing building or for constructing a new building.

A guide for achieving energy savings 30% above building industry standards.

See ASHRAE on next page.

The famous words of Ciero during the 1st century BC,“Non nobis solum nati sumus,” are a fitting slogan for energy efficient green commercial buildings.

Translated, the Roman statesman said, “Not unto ourselves alone are we born.” Applied to commercial buildings, the saying means you’re not all alone when it comes to applying energy efficient green practices to building renovation and construction.

Others have already figured it out for you.

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1. US Green Building Council – The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) is a nonprofit organization devoted to shifting the building industry toward sustainability, targeting how buildings are designed, built and operated. USGBC developed one of the first green building rating systems, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). For more details visit www.usgbc.org. For those interested in pushing the envelope, the regional Cascade chapter has developed a cutting edge, prerequisite-based design guide called The Living Building Challenge: www.cascadiagbc.org.

2. Advanced Buildings – Developed by the New Buildings Institute with input from 20 utilities and other energy efficiency organizations, Advanced

Buildings is a suite of technical resources, training and information to improve the way buildings are designed, built and used. The Benefits Guide, which explains the financial and other benefits of high performance buildings, is top notch. The full suite of materials is available at www.advancedbuildings.net.

3. ENERGY STAR® – ENERGY STAR is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s program to help businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy performance.

The program includes target setting, scoring and assessment of building performance. Using an online benchmarking tool, buildings that rate in the top 25 percent of energy-efficient buildings in the nation qualify for the ENERGY STAR label. New buildings are eligible for the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR label. The ENERGY STAR label is a true “miles per gallon” rating for buildings, for it allows similar buildings to be compared to each other across the country. A clear indication that the ENERGY STAR label is becoming increasingly mainstream is that in February 2007 CoStar Group, the number one provider of information services to the commercial real estate industry, announced it is adding the ENERGY STAR rating to properties in its database of more than 2 million researched and verified commercial properties. For more information go to www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=business.bus_bldgs.

4. BetterBricks – A project of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, BetterBricks is dedicated to raising awareness and demand for energy efficiency by sharing information and resources. The energy effective design portion of their website has excellent articles, testimonies and case studies on integrated design, mechanical systems, building envelope, daylighting and other high performance, energy efficient design practices and technologies. Visit www.betterbricks.com for more information.

www. energydesignresources. com 5. Energy Design Resources – Energy Design Resources is an online resource center for energy efficient design practices. It is a California program, funded by electric and natural gas utilities, but the majority of the information applies to buildings anywhere. It provides well organized information on design practices, energy efficient technologies, publications, software and much more.

Sorted by topic, by building type and by resource, the information is easily accessible and rich in content. Dig in at www.energydesignresources.com.

6. American Institute of Architects (AIA) – The AIA Committee on the Environment has assembled best practice guides for numerous green building concepts and technologies. The best practice guides are short, easy to read and provide sources for more in-depth information. Basic, No Cost Green Building Strategies, Energy Modeling and

Daylighting Analysis and Green Roof Design are just some of the topics covered. AIA also provides contract templates for bidding out design and construction work for green energy efficient buildings for such things as commissioning and LEED certification. For more information: www.aia.org/cote_default/.

7. ASHRAE – The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers sets industry standards for equipment and provides guidelines for performance. The Advanced Energy Design Guides is a series of publications describing detailed design and system conditions to achieve energy savings 30% above building industry standards. Guides are available for office buildings and retail spaces up to 20,000 ft2. In 2007 guides for K-12 school buildings and warehouses will be released. Guides for 50% energy savings and nearing net zero energy buildings are also planned. The guides are useful for engineers and are very technical. For more information visit www.ashrae.org/technology/page/938.

These resources will help you get started in building or managing a high performance, energy efficient building.

Oregon Department of Energy, the Energy Trust of Oregon and some utilities offer attractive tax and cash incentives for efficiency improvements. Do your homework, ask questions and tour a high performance building in your area. Remember the words of Ciero, you are not alone, others have done this before you. Learn from them.

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Commercial Green Building

Ecoroof on 18th floor of Portland Oregon Building.

Photo Credit:Tom Lipton, Portland Bureau of Environmental Services.

16th floor Ecoroof.

Ecoroofs and Energy: What’s the Connection?

By Tom Liptan, Portland Bureau of Environmental Services Look up! You might notice more than the usual moss growing on roofs around Oregon.

An increasing number of new and existing buildings sport vegetated roofs – known as ecoroofs, greenroofs or living roofs. Alive and self-sustaining, ecoroofs consist of a conventional roof membrane, overlaid with drainage material, soil or growing media, and plants such as sedums, grasses and other drought-tolerant species. [Insert ecoroof diagram] Ecoroofs help manage stormwater, reduce the heat radiating from buildings, clean the air, provide wildlife habitat, and extend roof life. Ecoroofs are even used for their beauty alone.

In the western US, ecoroofs need irrigation, but research is being done to find soil and plant mixtures that are the least water consumptive. Some designers are also finding alternative water sources such as groundwater and air conditioning condensate.

Ecoroofs and Energy In addition to the above benefits, ecoroofs save

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energy, reducing both utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Several recent studies demonstrate that ecoroofs add insulative properties, extend the efficiency of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and result in lower costs for operation and maintenance.

Some German cities began making ecoroofs mandatory in 1985, offering two decades of evidence for their energy benefits. A recent paper 1, one of the few available in English, offers these points: • In 1998-99 PV systems were installed over existing ecoroofs in Berlin to test if PVs work better over ecoroof plantings than over conventional bitumen roofs.

• After 5 years, they found that PVs were 6% more efficient when over an ecoroof than over the conventional.

• Most ecoroof vegetation was healthier growing in association with the PVs, confirming that the two technologies are perfectly compatible.

A recent modeling study found that the average

annual energy savings for a single story 17,500 square foot building with a typical ecoroof system in Portland, Oregon was 12%, or about $658. This study assumed the building met existing city insulation requirements of R-19 for the roof. The savings could be even higher when adding ecoroofs to older buildings that have little or no existing roof insulation.

Ecoroofs also compare favorably to conventional roofs over the same insulation. Another study 3 examined an ecoroof installed over insulation of between R-15 at center and drains to R-60 at the outer edges of the roof versus a similar conventional, light color roof in Orlando, FL. The ecoroof had a weighted average summer heat flux of 44% less than the conventional roof. For winter months, when air temperatures were less than 55°F, the heat flux on the ecoroof was further reduced to 49.5%.

The study also noted that as a conventional roof ages, its efficiency decreases due to material wear caused by UV penetration, whereas the ecoroof’s efficiency increases as plants mature.

What About Rain and Energy?

Ecoroofs intercept rain and thus reduce stormwater runoff. When a building drains to a combined sewer system, it eventually flows to the city’s wastewater

treatment plant. In Portland, for example, the city’s sewer system has nearly 100 stations that use electricity to pump the combined sewerage and stormwater runoff.

City economists estimate that for every gallon of rainwater retained in an ecoroof, the City will save $0.003 annually in reduced operations and maintenance costs, including electricity. In addition, reduced sewerage saves fuel used to transport materials.

There is still a lot to learn about ecoroofs as an alternative roofing and energy efficiency measure, but the signs are promising. To advance research in this area, Portland City Council passed a resolution that requires ecoroofs on all new and replacement-roofing projects on city owned buildings. In November 2006, the City completed a retrofit of the Portland Building roof with an 18,000 square foot ecoroof. The spectacular visual appearance of this installation further reflects how ecoroofs can accomplish multiple goals, including transforming Oregon’s rooftops in lush landscapes while making promising energy efficiency gains.

Tom Liptan is a Landscape Architect and works for the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services. You can contact him at toml@bes.ci.portland.or.us.

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Commercial Green Building

LEED Update

By Lawrence Schechter, Architect, LEED ® AP, Steele Associates Architects LLC

From every perspective, green building is on the rise, in part because of the need to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions produced by the building sector in order to avoid hazardous climate change.

Buildings fundamentally impact people’s lives and the health of the planet. In the U.S. they consume one-third of our total energy, two-thirds of electricity and one-eighth of our water. The Architecture 2030 Challenge indicates that buildings are responsible for 48% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are now fuelling dangerous regional and global climate change.

To reduce these harmful impacts, new buildings must meet strict energy conservation performance standards. In addition, existing buildings will need to be renovated to meet the performance standards. Architecture 2030 calls for a starting point of 50% reduction of fossil fuel consumption related to buildings increasing to 100% fossil fuel reduction by the year 2030.

New developments in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification program developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) are raising the bar for exciting green building innovation and design. The LEED green building rating system was first implemented in 1999 and has become the most significant and widely adopted standard to reduce buildings’ negative impacts on public health and the environment by giving building owners and operators the tools to achieve immediate and measurable improvements in building performance.

LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: Sustainable Site Development, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources and Indoor Environmental Quality.

Currently, Oregon is home to the following

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number of LEED certified projects: Basic level:8, Bronze:12, Silver:25, Gold:1 and Platinum:2. The one Gold building is the Midstate Electric Cooperative in La Pine and the Platinum facilities include the OHSU Medical Office Building-Phase I and the Portland Center Stage-Armor y Renovation.

LEED professional accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the integrated design and LEED certification process. LEED now has a number of specific program areas. The established areas include: • LEED for New Commercial (LEED-NC): For new commercial construction and major renovation projects, including retail, commercial, institutional, educational, industrial, medical, multi-family housing, etc. USGBC has on record approximately 986 million square feet of commercial building space currently registered or certified.

• LEED Existing Building (LEED-EB): Designed to maximize the efficiency and reduce environmental impacts of existing buildings by addressing building cleaning; indoor and outdoor maintenance; indoor air quality; energy and water efficiency; recycling and systems upgrades to meet green building, energy, water, IAQ, and lighting performance standards.

• LEED for Core and Shell (LEED-CS): Broadly defined, this covers structure, envelope and building-level systems, such as central HVAC, etc.

Interior tenant build-outs are completed later.

• LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI): The green benchmark for the tenant improvement market. LEED for Commercial Interiors is the recognized standard for certifying high-performance green interiors that are healthy, productive places to work, are less costly to operate and maintain, and reduce environmental footprint.

The LEED program is currently being expanded to deliver several new categories including:

• LEED for Homes (LEED-H): USGBC is now responding to considerable demand for green development in the residential sector. The LEED for homes program aims to transform the mainstream home building industry toward more sustainable practices. It is targeting best practice environmental features, including: efficient use of energy, water material resources, land, and indoor quality. Pilot testing of the program is nearing completion.

• LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND): This rating system is currently in pilot. It will integrate the principles of smart growth, new urbanism and green building into the first national standard for neighborhood design. It is being developed by the USGBC in partnership with the Congress of New Urbanism (CNU) and the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). It will use the framework of the LEED rating system for new construction to protect and enhance the overall health, natural environment, and quality of life of our communities. More Information can be found at: www.usgbc.org/leed/nd.

Living Building Challenge: New Point on the Green Horizon

By Susan Badger Jones, 3EStrategies Though far from perfect, the LEED standards have been adopted at a far greater rate than most ever expected. Multiple LEED Platinum buildings have emerged around the country. Many zero energy and zero waste buildings are also emerging and buildings are increasingly aiming for carbon neutral. Many feel it’s time to raise the bar and propel standards beyond merely “sustainable” buildings toward buildings that actually have a “restorative” effect. In response, the Cascadia Region Green Building Council, one of the two original chapters of the US. Green Building Council, recently unveiled the Living Building Challenge.

Unlike LEED’s prescriptive point lists and documentation that earns the certification rating on completion of the building, the Living Building Challenge will certify a building only after it has been in operation and monitored for a full year. It relies on 16 prerequisites that must be met, including that it generate all its own energy with renewable resources, capture and treat all its water on site, use resources and building site efficiently and for maximum beauty. The elegant new standard is envisioned to work for all types of new and existing buildings and allow for regional differences.

For a description of the Challenge’s 16 points, and information on the evolving User Guide, go to www.cascadiagbc.org.

Quality. Sustainable. Energy Efficient. Healthier.

The Premier Source for Sustainable Building Solutions

Not All Homes Are Created Equal…But Shouldn’t They Be? www.earthadvantage.org • info@earthadvantage.org

Earth Advantage® certified homes are built with you and your family in mind. We do this in conjunction with the builder by incorporating key features into the home before you even move in.

Earth Advantage homes not only perform better than code built homes, but are more comfortable to live in as well.

All of our homes incorporate: • Energy Efficiency • Healthier Indoor Air Qualities • Environmental Responsibility • Resource Efficiency

We can certify homes as: • Earth Advantage • LEED® for Homes • ENERGY STAR®

So when looking for your next home, select one that is kind to your family and the planet. Ensure it’s Earth Advantage certified by asking your builder, looking for our logo in the property pages, or ask an Earth Advantage S.T.A.R. certified real estate broker on how to find one.

“Earth Advantage Homes,They’re Just Better Built.”

Photo Design, Portland, OR

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Are you an entrepreneur wanting to start or expand a sustainable energy company?

Are you looking for a job in the clean energy industry?

Are you interested in harnessing the economic and community development benefits of sustainable energy?

Then you won’t want to miss:

BASE Summit 2008: Growing Oregon’s Clean Energy Industry

• Develop connections with sustainable energy businesses community leaders, elected officials, financiers and entrepreneurs • Learn how the new bills just passed in the Oregon Legislature will impact your business • Provide feedback on needs related to workforce, R&D, marketing, policies, infrastructure and other industry development issues • Meet investors looking to invest in clean energy ventures

Commercial Green Building

Cash and Tax Incentives for Oregon Businesses to Go Green and Solar More Oregon business owners are looking at making an investment in green building, energy conservation and renewable energy projects and taking advantage of available financial incentives to do so. The Business Energy Tax Credit is available for Oregon business owners and offers a 35 percent tax credit to be taken over five years.

The 2007 Legislature increased the Business Energy Tax Credit from 35 percent of eligible project costs to 50 percent for renewable projects. Add in a 30 percent federal tax credit, Energy Trust of Oregon cash incentive (for those in PGE, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas Corporation territory) or other utility incentive and the bottom line looks encouraging.

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Commercial Building Case Studies

Tim Peters installed a 22.6 kW photovoltaic system to supply some of the electricity for his tropical plant nursery located on 44 acres in Silverton. He used financial incentives from the Oregon Department of Energy and Energy Trust of Oregon.

Photo Credit:Ann Grim, Oregon Department of Energy

Tim Peters, owner of Raintree Tropical in Silverton, turned his passion for tropical plants into a specialized business.

Photo Credit:Ann Grim, Oregon Department of Energy

Sun Fuels Oregon Farms, Nurseries in Many Ways

By Ann Grim and Christopher Dymond, Oregon Department of Energy Oregon farm and nursery owners rely on the sun for their livelihood. Many are now turning to solar energy to do more than just making their crops grow.

Raintree Tropical – Silverton Tim Peters has heard the naysayers: Palm trees can’t survive in Oregon. It’s too cold.

Solar won’t work in Oregon. It rains all the time!

But, seeing is believing.A visit to Peters’ tropical nursery business in Silverton, Oregon provides the visual proof that palm trees and solar panels do belong in Oregon.

Raintree Tropical, Tim Peters’ wholesale/retail nursery business in Silverton, is making a name for itself growing palms and other tropical plants in the heart of the Willamette Valley. Peters has hardy palms that can survive to 8ºF. Oregon’s minimum low temperature average has been gradually increasing with global warming, according to Peters, and now averages 16ºF to 20ºF.

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Peters uses solar energy extensively for his tropical plant nursery business. In 2006, he hired Summers Solar System to install a 22.6 kW photovoltaic system on his 44 acres where his home and business are located near the Oregon Gardens.This year, Peters is installing a hydronic solar space heating system in a greenhouse that must be maintained at 45ºF, with a portion that must be a balmy 62ºF. The system consists of a 1,500 gallon storage tank, four heaters and 270 square feet of solar collectors.

All together, these features will reduce his energy needs by nearly 37,000 kWh per year.“The honest truth is that it isn’t cheap,” Peters said.

But, there were some financial incentives that made it worthwhile. He received a 35 percent Business Energy Tax Credit from the Oregon Department of Energy for his investment in renewable energy for his business, and a cash incentive from the Energy Trust of Oregon (ETO). Federal tax incentives are also now available, but were not claimed for the PV system.

Tim Peters’ love for tropical plants began in his youth. His father, a mission doctor, moved the family to Taiwan for three years when Peters was in grade school in the 60s.

“I just got to love tropical plants,” he said. After following his father into a medical career, Peters settled in Silverton and began his family practice at Northwest Family Medicine where his wife, Sarah, is also an M.D. When the Peters settled on their current property, he already had a thriving nursery business started with plans to slowly expand.

“I want to enjoy it,” Peters said.

“And, I don’t want to make it something I can’t manage.” Currently, he has one full-time employee and hires a couple of local teens in the summer.

If you think solar and palm trees belong in California or Florida, visit Raintree Tropical and see for yourself.

Raintree Tropical is located at 3408 Cascade Hwy. NE. Retail hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.raintreetropi-cal.com Gathering Together Farm – Philomath John Eveland and Sally Brewer own and operate the oldest organic farm in the Willamette Valley. Established in 1987, it has become a model for sustainable business and sustainability.

The 35-acre farm employs more than 50 people during the peak season.

The strictly organic farm is diverse.They grow 50 different vegetables and more than 100 varieties of seed.

A few years ago, Eveland decided to replace the farm’s cheap, old water heater with either an on-demand water heater or a solar water heater. “I was going to jury-rig a cheap, hack homejob,” said Eveland. “But, my plumber friend, John Cook, convinced me to do something that would offer lasting performance instead.”

The solar electric systems at Raintree Tropical is comprised of 132 modules and is expected to save 25,000kW of electricity per year. Photo credit: Ann Grim, Oregon Department of Energy.

The system he had installed was a large anti-freeze system designed to preheat a new ultra-efficient electric water heater. The water is used by the kitchen staff at their farm stand. In addition to retail produce sales, the staff also serves luncheons and occasional fancy wine dinners and Sunday brunches. The system is expected to reduce their water heating bill by approximately $400 per year. A key to the system’s excellent performance is that the kitchen staff uses the most hot water during the summer when it can

produce the most energy.

“The installation very easy,” Eveland said. “The check was a bit painful, but I couldn’t have done such a good job.”

Eveland hired a contractor from the Oregon Department of Energy’s list of tax-credit certified solar technicians. He received tax credits from the state and federal government. Though it will take time for system costs to be recovered, customers of Gathering Together Farm can already see his commitment to renewable energy.

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Commercial Building Case Studies

C E N T U RY 2 1 F R A N K L I N B U I L D I N G

Not Just Another Pretty Face!

By Jennifer Barker, Certified Energy Auditor, Director EORenew

Photo Credit: Jennifer Barker, EORenew.

When EORenew (Eastern Oregon Renewable Energies Non-profit) moved into John Day’s Century 21 Building in 1999, one of my first actions was to remove the three 60W light bulbs in the ceiling fan over the stairs, and replace them with 11W compact fluorescent bulbs. I figured that each year, those bulbs would save building owner Jerry Franklin $34.77 worth of electricity, paying back their purchase price within the first six months.

It’s been eight years now, those bulbs have saved over $275 worth of electricity, and the Century 21 Building has undergone a facelift.The new looks are more than skin-deep. Owner Jerry Franklin has upgraded the insulation, windows, and HVAC system – a complete energy conservation package -- oh, and he gave the exterior a new coat of paint as well!

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History The Century 21 Franklin Building, also known as “the Old Bank Building,” was built around 1900.An upper floor and rear addition were built soon after.

The building’s HVAC system was an unworkable, expensive hodgepodge. The original steam-heat plumbing had been cut short, and the old oil-fired boiler supplied a heat exchanger which served both heating and cooling needs through a forcedair duct system.

The cooling system used 39,000 gallons per month of potable city water as a heat-exchange medium, and then dumped the resulting warm water down the drain as waste. Some parts of the building were underserved, and some parts unserved by the system (these had been retrofitted

with electric resistance heating and window air conditioners). Heating and cooling the 5,800 square-foot building cost almost $6,000 per year.

When we first renovated our office, we began the building’s energy upgrade by insulating our ceiling and adding Window Quilts to keep the heat in at night. We provided our office’s own power with a 360 Watt, off-grid solar electric system on the roof (and made sure it would be adequate for our needs by doing an energy audit and upgrading to efficient lighting).

In spring 2006, Jerry asked EORenew for help. He was set to go all the way with the building – upgrade to the most cost-effective, efficient systems and weatherization – but he needed help determining how to get the most for his money.

Energy Analysis and Upgrade Upgrading the energy system and envelope of an older building is a large undertaking, requiring a lot of consideration and economic analysis. Jerry wanted to replace the heating and cooling systems with an electric heat pump sized properly for the building. 13 SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) is currently the minimum code for a new heat pump. Jerry was willing to go to 16 SEER, the optimum in cost-effective energy efficiency for heating and cooling, if he could get a tax credit to help with the extra cost.

He also wanted to replace the leaky, old double-hung single-paned wood windows and to have insulation blown into the attic to bring it up to standards.

All of these are very cost-effective energy conservation measures, since air infiltration through leaky windows and doors, and heat loss through under-insulated attics, are leading causes of high energy costs.

Vinyl-framed low-E Energy Star windows were installed from the outside of the building with minimal disruption to the occupants in the offices.

The EORenew office.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Barker, EORenew.

Renovation included a workshop on solar energy systems. Photo Credit: Home Power Magazine.

Conditioned air was brought to all parts of the building. When measuring the thermal indoor climate, it is important to remember that a person does not feel the room temperature, s/he feels the heat loss from the body. The measures taken improved not only the building’s thermal envelope and the efficiency of the HVAC system, they also improved occupant comfort by eliminating radiant chilling, infiltration and cold drafts.

practice (this goes to 50% in 2008).

Jerry had $22,139 in eligible cost and received a tax credit for $7,749 to be taken over a five-year period of time (10% the first two years and 5% for the next three years).

Tax Credits You must apply for the business tax credit before starting your project, so EORenew’s Jennifer Barker created a spreadsheet to show the proposed energy and resource savings, and then worked with the Oregon Department of Energy to get the project approved.

The spreadsheet showed an astounding 70% drop in energy costs with the proposed upgrades. Receiving the tax credit made the difference for Jerry in affording the extra measures.

The Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) is currently 35 percent the incremental cost of the system or equipment that is beyond standard

Other Projects and Benefits During the last year, there have been other upgrades to the building.The black tar roof has been replaced with a white membrane-type covering, which helps reduce heat buildup through the attic.

When this whole project is completed, Jerry is looking at installing a grid-tied photovoltaic system. This will complement EORenew’s off-grid office system, and make for a building that has first upgraded efficiency and then produced energy from renewable sources.

“The thought of keeping the dollars locally and making plans for additional upgrades is very satisfying” says Jerry.

“It’s rewarding to see the initial results of our project, not only its immediate benefits, but long range as well.”

More information contact Eastern Oregon Renewable Energies Non-profit/SolWest Fair www.solwest.org.

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Commercial Building Case Studies

The old Selma Elementary School is reborn through community effort into the Selma Community and Education Cente. Photo Credit: Karen Chase.

Barry Russell examines his company's tiles, produced with use of solar power and energy efficiencies. Photo Credit: Karen Chase.

ENCORE CERAMICS AND SELMA COMMUNITY CENTER

Independence and Interdependence Influence a Rural Oregon County’s Greening

By Karen Chase, Oregon Department of Energy Josephine County in Southern Oregon has launched a pioneering effort that could propel this mostly rural area into a progressive and economically bright future. This year the Board of County Commissioners partnered with county residents to form the Josephine County Renewable Energy Task Force. Most of the energy currently consumed in the county is imported, yet Josephine County has a wealth of viable renewable energy, including a virtual gold mine of sunlight.

County Commissioner Dave Toler said, “We’re an independent people here in Josephine County and renewable energy fits that notion.” The Task Force initiative, he continued, is about “starting to meet the future and show that government can be a leader in renewable energy and also focus on economic revitalization.”

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A private business and a non-profit organization have recently completed projects that demonstrate that pioneering spirit.

Encore Ceramics Encore Ceramics of Grants Pass designs and manufactures high-end, hand-crafted, ceramic tile.

Owners Barry and Debbie Russell are as passionate about process as they are about their products.

Their success is proof that green business can be economically beneficial. In 2006, manufacturing production increased 22 percent, while energy use decreased by 7 percent.

The firm has received recognition from the Portland Business Journal, the Renewable Northwest Project, and membership in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power

Partnership Program. Barry Russell praises the cooperation and innovation of Josephine County Commissioners, the City of Grants Pass, the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department, and Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. for helping to establish their business.

The Russells did not rest on their laurels after installing a 29 kilowatt rooftop solar electric array.They continue to find inspiring ways to make their business as sustainable as possible and to serve as a model to others.They use a process that produces no raw waste and reuses water; they produce a line of ceramic tiles that requires only a single kiln firing; and they use energy-efficient kilns and high-efficiency motors.

Bonneville Environmental Foundation purchases the renewable energy credits, or green tags, associated with the environmental benefits of the company’s solar electricity generation.

Remarkably, while the solar array produces about 5 percent of their electricity needs, the company buys green tags to offset greenhouse gases associated with all additional electricity, natu-

Selma Farmers Market vendors and patrons are sheltered under a solar-paneled roof. Photo Credit: Karen Chase.

ral gas and transportation fuels used by the business.

A new adjacent manufacturing building will accommodate a process using waste glass. This building is equipped with clerestory windows for natural lighting and motion-sensor modulated T5 fluorescent lights, along with 14,000 square feet of south-tilting roof. The Russells have a solar expansion in mind that could dwarf their current system.

Barry’s strong motivation for a green business comes from his children and the “realization that all future generations of human beings live downstream from us.”

He attributes his solar inspiration to Kettle Foods in Salem and used the same solar contractor, Eugene-based David Parker’s Advanced Energy Systems, for his installation. Barry is continued on page 97

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grateful for Parker’s ability to usher them through the process, including providing information about the Oregon Depart-ment of Energy’s Business Energy Tax Credit program.

“Without the Business Energy Tax Credit, we could not have made the deal work,” Barry said.

They received an $82,548 tax credit (35 percent of eligible costs) and an Energy Trust of Oregon incentive of $35,000.The grid-tied system is net-metered through an agreement with Pacific Power. And, the company continues to receive other State energy tax credits, such as a recent $11,000 tax credit for an energy-efficient lighting project.

Barry Russell will continue to be a business leader in ceramics and renewable energy. And when he closes his eyes at night, he might see tile designs, but more often he sees pathways toward energy independence and sustainability.

SELMA COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION CENTER It is a beautiful Sunday morning and Farmers Market vendors at the Selma Community and Education Center offer patrons tantalizing organic produce, plant starts, arts and crafts, and food and beverages. Located in rural Josephine County at the former Selma Elementary School which closed in 2000, the Center’s members lease the building and grounds for a nominal fee.

The Center also has a recycling facility, a licensed commercial kitchen, and a library, which is especially critical with the recent closure of the County’s public libraries. Hand-made pizza bakes in the Center’s outdoor cob oven. All this and more in a rural community that, until recently, had neither a community space nor market.

The Center’s members wanted to use the sun’s energy to offset electrical bills and to demonstrate renewable energy to members of the community.

Barry Russell stands next to specially-designed single-fire kilns equipped with mechanical lifts.

Photo Credit: Karen Chase.

Butter the donkey and his owner visit Selma's Farmers Market. Photo Credit: Karen Chase.

When they learned the school building’s roof could not support a solar array, they designed and constructed a 3,000square-foot, open-air pole structure, mostly with volunteer labor. This pole building, with 6 kilowatts of photovoltaic panels, shelters the Market from sun and rain.

The solar system components were purchased from Energy Outfitters, a home-grown Josephine County company Bob Maynard founded and operated for 15 years, with business partner, Ray Ogden. Recently, the company merged with groSolar, creating one of the largest solar distribution and installation firms in the U.S. and Canada. The Center's solar array was installed by Bob-O Schultze of Electron Connection, Kerry Whitehead of Renewable Energy Systems and Maynard.

The Center also received contributions from the Board of Josephine County Commissioners, the Meyer Memorial Trust, the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization, and a $35,000 project grant from the Energy Trust of Oregon.

The non-profit Center was able to

use the Oregon Department of Energy’s Business Energy Tax Credit Passthrough Option for the photovoltaic installation. A local resident served as a pass-through partner for the 35 percent tax credit, taking the credit over five years and paying the Center a lump sum of slightly more than $10,000.

Local resident Orville Camp donated the timber from his own land for the structure. Camp, his mother, and his three children all attended the former Selma school. Well known for his generosity and dedication to sustainable land practices, Camp selected trees uprooted by snowfall, and said the poles were “as sustainably harvested as you can get in civilization.”

Marilyn Mooshie is one of many Selma area residents who, through a collective dream and thousands of hours of volunteered time and effort, brought the Center, solar array and Farmers Market into being. “It’s not about individual people living in their own little worlds anymore,” said Mooshie. “It’s about connection, community, interdependence, sustainability, and reliance on spirit.”

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Commercial Building Case Studies

SEQUENTIAL BIOFUELS

The First Solar Powered All BioFuels Station

By Christopher Dymond, Oregon Department of Energy

A unique solar panel canopy over the fuel pumps.

The SeQuential Biofuel station located just south of Eugene on I-5 not only sells biodiesel, E85 ethanol-gasoline, and E10, it is also a demonstration in realistic, feasible, and sustainable technologies and a retail outlet for local organic convenience foods and beverages.

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The unique canopy over the fuel pumps was designed and built by Vince McClellan and Eric Morrison of Energy Design. It uses a combination of clear-backed and standard solar photovoltaic panels with an innovative panel support system invented by Energy Design that allows the solar

array to serve as both the roof above the fueling pumps and an electricity power plant.

The solar roof allows some sunlight to pass through, but blocks rain creating an ideal cover for fueling a car.

The canopy is made up of 16,128 individual photovoltaic cells on 224 panels.

The solar panels generate 33 kilowatts of electrical power, enough to provide nearly 50 percent of the power that the station requires.

On the service station building, large south-facing windows provide daylight and heat during cool months.

The large interior space has a centrally-located "thermal wall" designed to absorb heat from sunlight, and radiate it throughout the building. The design also maximizes the building's ability to cool and heat without active heating or cooling systems.

Plants and soil atop the service station building absorb rainwater like a sponge, releasing it slowly to the bioswale on the ground.The living roof contains over 4,500 individual plants in 5 inches of soil. The layer of plants and soil reflects sunshine and acts as insulation, keeping the interior building space cooler during the summer months.

The station is located on a former brownfield site that had been a gas station years ago. Brownfields are sites where the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of the property may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.

SeQuential's goal was to remediate the site, leaving it clean for future generations. Installing bioswales was a key solution. Rainwater carries pollutants and sediments into the bioswale from roadways and parking areas. The bioswale catches the rainwater, slows its flow, and holds the water on site.

The plants in the bioswale filter toxic pollutants and sediments out of the rain water. Microorganisms in the soil then break down toxic pollutants.

The Oregon Department of Energy issued a Business Energy Tax Credit for both the energy efficiency measures in the retail store building and the solar electric system that serves as a canopy to the fuel pumps. Because SeQuential Biofuels is a new company with little or no state tax liability, they used what the Pass-through Option for the energy efficiency measures.This process allows a third party to use the tax credit in

exchange for a cash payment to SeQuential Biofuels. Any business that can identify a partner willing to use the state tax credit can benefit from the pass-through process. For more information go to www.Oregon.gov/energy SeQuential is also partners with Pacific Biodiesel (www.biodiesel.com) in a biodiesel production facility.

SeQuential-Pacific Biodiesel LLC was launched in 2004 as the first commercial biodiesel production facility in Oregon and is only the second commercial facility in the Northwest. The production facility, located in Salem, is capable of producing 1 million gallons per year. The feed stock is primarily based on used cooking oil with the goal of transitioning to more regionally produced oil seed crops such as canola and increase production to 5 million gallons per year.

Today Sequential provides sales of bio-fuels in 21 Oregon communities.

For more information visit the station or their website at www.SQbiofuels.com For more information on Energy Design’s solar electric systems visit www.solarenergydesign.com

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Commercial Building Case Studies

O R E G O N H E A LT H + S C I E N C E U N I V E R S I T Y

Winner of Most Coveted Prize for Green Buildings

By Ann Grim, Oregon Department of Energy When Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) opened its new 16-story, 400,000 squarefoot Center for Health & Healing in Portland’s South Waterfront, it became the first medical and research building and the largest new construction in the US to achieve the US Green Building Council’s LEED Platinum certification.

While its claim to fame as the largest new building to achieve LEED Platinum may be fleeting as green building continues to gain traction in the commercial marketplace, OHSU’s Center for Health and Healing represents a considerable achievement. Combining advanced patient care, education, research, and wellness, the interdisciplinary environment of the Center for Health & Healing can be viewed as a microcosm of the overall OHSU mission. It will have a positive impact on students, staff, patients and the greater community for many years to come.

Solar panels seen from above. Photo Credit: Steve DiPaoca Photography.

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Energy efficiency was a goal OHSU set an objective to build a structure that was 60 percent more energy efficient than a standard building with a cost that was 25 percent less.

The initial goal was to achieve LEED Silver. But, early in the design phase, some innovative ideas developed. LEED Silver turned to Gold and then Platinum, the highest attainable LEED recognition with the most energy and resource efficiency measures and sustainable features.

“We had a great eco-charrette,” said Renee Worme, Sustainability Manager for Gerding Edlen Development, developer of the OHSU Center for Health & Healing.“We came together as a team on the integrated design.That’s what it takes for these projects to succeed.”

Measures that saved energy or water in one area meant other features could be changed in

another area. For example, sewage is treated with a membrane bioreactor on site and the reclaimed water is then used for irrigation, toilet flushing and cooling tower make-up water which saves on overall water usage and costs.

This averted considerable expenses for city sewer system services. Additionally, 100 percent of the rainwater within the building footprint is captured, stored and used for non-potable needs.

The building uses natural passive processes where possible including displacement ventilation, natural lighting and radiant heat. The southern face of the top two floors is set back from the lower floors and houses a 6,000 square foot Trombe wall. This sun-facing wall built from materials that act as a thermal mass when combined with an air space, insulated glazing and vents. It forms a large solar thermal collector used to preheat water and the HVAC system for the laboratory spaces.

Five natural gas fired microturbines generate about 30 percent of the building’s electricity needs. The waste heat generated by the microturbines is used to pre-heat domestic hot water.

Outside, the horizontal sun shades covering the majority of the southern façade are comprised of photovoltaic (PV) cells which convert sunlight to electricity, providing roughly one percent of the building’s total electric load.

Maintaining optimal air quality was an important goal. The chosen air filtration system removes more than 90 percent of all particles larger than one micron. Standard buildings use systems that filter about 70 percent.The interior finishes include low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints and sealants, carpeting and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood products.

Lighting typically represents about a quarter of the total energy use in a standard building. However, an estimated 45 percent of overall lighting energy has been saved by utilizing occupancy

Capstone microturbine system at Central Utility plant. Photo Credit: Steve DiPaoca Photography.

sensors with daylighting controls in perimeter offices that keep room lighting off when sufficient natural light is available. Occupancy sensors are used in interior spaces to conserve energy when rooms are not being used.

The OHSU Center for Health & Healing is a hub of alternative transportation. Bicycle racks are all around the perimeter and within the three level subterranean parking structure and are fully utilized. The Portland Aerial Tram can transport 980 people an hour between its South Waterfront terminal adjacent to the Center for Health & Healing and the main OHSU campus on Marquam Hill. This helps save an estimated two million vehicle miles per year. The Portland Streetcar connects the Center and South Waterfront area to Portland’s downtown and Pearl District.

“We just finalized agreements for Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Portland State University, OHSU and Gerding Edlen to work together on a post-occupancy study,” said Worme.

“The 12-month study will evaluate the building’s actual energy use relative to predictions and assess the impacts of green design relative to employee retention, health and productivity.”

Incentives Compared with a conventional building the size and complexity of the Center for Health & Healing, the $160 million project costs are 10 percent below typical costs. The Center for Health & Healing also qualified for financial incentives for its sustainable features that a conventional building would not have received.

The Oregon Department of Energy’s Business Energy Tax Credit for Sustainable Buildings provided a $1.1 million tax credit. In addition, the Energy Trust of Oregon provided a grant for $186,000 for the photovoltaic system and an energy-efficiency incentive of $214,000. The City of Portland came forward with a $50,000 grant from its Green Investment Fund (GIF) to spur innovation in green building technologies and practices in Portland.

Annual operating cost savings are estimated to be $660,000.

OHSU is Oregon’s only academic health center and Portland’s largest employer. It’s nice to know that an organization whose mission is to promote good health is committed to sustainability and built an environmentally responsible, resource-efficient, high performance facility that shows it.

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Commercial Building Case Studies

UNITED BICYCLE INSTITUTE

Pedal Power Taught with Solar Power

By Christopher Dymond, Oregon Department of Energy

Two students at UBI "Building bikes with solar power."

Photo Credit: Dennis Dunleavy.

United Bicycle Institute (UBI) is located in sunny, bicycle friendly Ashland. Few are surprised to learn that UBI’s support for sustainable energy goes beyond pedal power. In April 2005, UBI had an 8.4 kW photovoltaic system installed on the roof of its facility. In 2008 the company plans on building a new facility that will be LEED certified and incorporate enough solar to provide 100 percent of their annual energy needs.

“Installing solar was a no-brainer for us” and said Ron Sutphin, company president.“Being able to ‘bike-the-talk’ along with the financial support from the City of Ashland, the Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit and Federal Government translated to a good business investment for UBI.” United Bicycle Institute is a nationally recognized bicycle technical institute offering courses in repair, frame building, and mechanic certification for beginner to advanced technicians.The UBI teaching philosophy is founded on the idea that learning about bicycles is fun and that bicycle transportation is part of a path to sustainability.

Bicycling is not only clean and healthy; it is the most energy efficient form of transportation.

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Ron Sutphin with bike made by UBI. Photo Credit: Dennis Dunleavy.

Walking requires three times as much energy per mile and driving requires more than 50 times as much energy per mile than riding a bike. Creating bicycle friendly commuting options is a valuable part of any green building development.

“In my line of work solar is a perfect match, but any business that intends to operate for the long term, should seriously consider investing in solar today.” – Ron Sutphin

Commercial Building Case Studies

KYLE ELECTRIC

South Coast Electrical Contractor Goes Solar

By Kacia Brockman, Energy Trust of Oregon, Solar Oregon board member Since 1978 Kyle Electric has been wiring homes, businesses and industrial processes for its customers in the Coos Bay area. Thirty years later, it is adding solar electric systems to the list of services it offers to those customers.

Tom Kyle, owner of Kyle Electric, said that he has always been interested in solar energy, but could not make the investment pencil out financially. Then when the federal solar tax credit was increased in 2006, Kyle thought, “Now’s the time.”

He proceeded to install a 24 kW photovoltaic (PV) system on his company’s building in North Bend, Oregon.

Kyle’s decision to install PV was mainly a financial one. “We needed to replace the roof on our building, which has perfect southern exposure,” Kyle said, so the installation would be straightforward. The question was whether it made financial sense. “To be able to sell solar electric systems to our clients, we really need to understand the finan-

cial investment and how all the incentives work.

Learning from our own experience was the best way for us to gain that understanding,” Kyle said.

With all of the incentives available, Kyle expects to see a 7 year payback on his solar investment plus a reduced power bill for the life of the system. His PV installation was pre-approved by the Oregon Department of Energy for a state Business Energy Tax Credit of $68,766 which will be claimed over the first 5 years of the system’s operation. His company claimed the federal tax credit of 30% of the system cost in 2006, the year in which the system was placed in service. Kyle also received a cash incentive of $23,760 from Energy Trust of Oregon after the installation was completed and verified.

The 24 kW PV system will supply 60% of the building’s electricity needs. Kyle is tracking the solar electricity being generated over time using a webbased monitoring option he purchased with his SMA continued on page 104

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Sunny Boy inverter. The solar electricity generated on-site will help protect Kyle from upcoming utility rate increases. He hopes to use this cost savings to avoid raising the rent on his valued building tenant, the Oregon State Police.

To help design and oversee his first installation, Kyle hired David Parker of Advanced Energy Systems, a solar contractor in Eugene. Kyle, a board member of his National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) chapter, was inspired by a presentation on photovoltaic systems that Parker made at a NECA chapter meeting. Advanced Energy Systems helped Kyle apply for Energy Trust and state incentives, supplied the PV panels and inverter and provided an engineered system design for Kyle Electric to install.

“Kyle Electric’s installation was only the second grid-connected PV system we’ve inspected so far in Coos County,” said Tom Zimmerman, state electrical inspector,“but with Kyle getting into the business we look forward to seeing a lot more here.”

Since the early 1980s Kyle has also been helping save energy for his customers, including eleven public schools on the South Coast and Josephine

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The 24kw solar array. Photo Credit: Kacia Brockman, Energy Trust of Oregon.

County. Kyle designs energy management systems that automatically adjust buildings’ HVAC systems and lighting based on ambient light level, occupancy and outside air temperature. He can also analyze customers’ power bills and recommend new equipment and even operational changes to trim their energy costs.

Now Kyle wants his 35 employees to incorporate solar electric installations into their standard business practices. For example, he plans to train his cost estimators to evaluate a site’s

solar potential and recommend a PV system installation. To be eligible to obtain Energy Trust incentives for its clients, Kyle Electric will become an approved trade ally contractor in Energy Trust or Oregon’s solar program. Once approved, Kyle will start advertising his solar services. To date most of the inquiries have come from his residential customers, but he believes that his commercial customers will be motivated by the financial incentives just as he himself was.

Commercial Building Case Studies

S O L A R P O O L H E AT I N G S Y S T E M S

Every Pool Should Have One

By Kathy Shinn, Oregon Department of Energy

The aquatic center in Hood River has a nearly 5,000 square foot solar hot water system to heat a 281,000 gallon pool. Retractable panels open in summer.

Photo Credit: R. Brent Gunderson, Gen-Con, Inc.

Swimming pools and solar are good summer companions. Together, they save energy, reduce costs, and are affordable with Oregon incentives. This holds true for pools of any size – from backyard to competition scale.

Parks District benefits from solar pool heating Scott Baker,Assistant Director of Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District in the Columbia River Gorge, couldn’t be more pleased with the Aquatic Center’s solar water heating system.

When the District requested an energy audit of its three-pool complex, findings supported the addition of a solar pool heating system and a replacement high-efficiency natural gas condensing boiler as the secondary system. Baker, a fan of renewable energy, credits the Park and Recreation District Board with taking the long term view on

costs and benefits.They said “yes” to a system with an estimated cost of $273,313, expected savings of about $18,200 per year from reduced natural gas costs, and a 15-year payback once incentives were figured in.

The system serves the aquatic center’s largest 281,000 gallon pool from May through September.

After one season, it’s outperforming expectations.

Savings are running about $21,000 annually at current natural gas prices and the payback period could be only 10 years.

Cash and tax credit incentives covered nearly $80,000 of project costs. Energy Trust of Oregon provided a $15,410 incentive payment and the District is eligible for $64,500 through the Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit Pass-through option.

Baker would like the cost-effective renewable energy concept to catch on with businesses and homeowners and spread to other Hood River rooftops. The Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District received the 2006 Oregon Recreation and Park Association Design Award.

Salem homeowners association praises solar thermal Owners of smaller pools also benefit from solar pool heating systems.When a new roof was planned for the recreation center at the Villa Candalaria condominiums in Salem, the Homeowners Association saw an opportunity to upgrade their outdoor pool to a solar heating system.

Their solar installer, Ron Summers of Summers Solar in Salem, worked closely with the roofing company to coordinate installation.The 576 square foot system is barely visible on the roof. Inside the pump room, a controller monitors the temperature and opens and closes valves automatically. Summers educated residents on the system and they’re finding it easy to use. continued on page 106

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Pool covers: the next best thing Pool covers reduce heat loss when the pool isn’t in use, especially at night.

Bryant Woods Homeowners Association in Lake Oswego used Oregon’s Business Energy Tax Credit Pass-through option to help finance the $8,740 cost for the installation of solar blankets and reel systems for two outdoor pools in 2006. Even though the system wasn’t operational until July of that year, the Association’s total annual costs for natural gas, water, and pool chemicals dropped 29 percent, 15 percent and 23 percent, respectively, from the previous year.

Thanks to two of its members who served as Passthrough partners, the Association received $2,666 towards project costs.

Solar blankets and reel systems purchased by the Bryant Woods Homeowners Association in Lake Oswego save pool heating costs, water and pool chemicals.

Photo Credit: Ken Kaufmann, Bryant Woods Homeowners Association

Current pool chairwoman Sandra Henry says residents look forward to the expected savings of 590 therms of natural gas per year. That translates to

tion’s $6,489 project costs. Costs were further offset by an incentive of $1,210 from the Energy Trust of Oregon.

Incentives reduced the project’s simple

“The decision to install solar pool heating is environmentally sound and financially responsible to the taxpayers who support us,” Baker says.

“Just be prepared for all the buzz. People love it. Also plan to educate your entire staff so they can answer questions.” estimated annual savings of about $800 and a payback of nine years. Symetra Life Insurance Company served as the Business Energy Tax Credit Pass-through partner and provided a $1,979 lumpsum payment that reduced the associa-

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payback to about four years.

Solar pool heating systems are “about as low tech as it gets,” says Baker. “You pump pool water to the roof and it comes back warmer - it’s like a black garden hose on a hot day.” The

systems use the pool filtration pump to circulate water directly through the collectors, and the pool serves as the storage tank. In order to completely drain the system before freezing temperatures arrive, collectors must be installed on a slope.

To be easy on the owner, the systems use automated controls to monitor water temperature and provide backup from other heat sources as needed during the outdoor swimming season. Hood River’s large-scale system uses web-based monitoring software and tracks detailed information on all systems.

“Solar water systems are the unsung heroes of solar,” says Gunderson, also the installer for the Hood River pool. In Oregon, solar pool heating systems offer great value and homeowners who install solar thermal systems can take advantage of Oregon’s Residential Energy Tax Credit, the Energy Trust of Oregon or utility incentives.

Oregon Green Building + Solar Energy Resources Government and Utility Resources City of Ashland (541) 552-2063 or (541) 552-2065, www.ashland.or.us

Klamath Solar Association (541) 883-8410

Technical assistance and financial incentives for purchase of efficient appliances, solar electric and solar water heating systems, Earth Advantage and Energy Star certified new homes, and energy and water conservation measures in existing homes and businesses.

Promotes solar, wind, geothermal, and other renewable energies by holding monthly meetings, Construction Workshops (solar greenhouses, hot water heaters, food dryers, and solar cookers), County Fair booths and by organizing the local Earth Day observances, Solar Home Tour, and a Renewable Energy Reference Collection in the County Library.

Emerald People's Utility District (541) 746-1583, www.epud.org

Northwest EcoBuilding Guild (541) 767-0355, www.ecobuilding.org/chap/eug/index.php

Emerald PUD is a public utility serving the rural areas outside Eugene, Oregon.

Emerald offers incentives for residential solar hot water heating and Energy Star new home construction as well as loans for energy efficiency upgrades and photovoltaics for existing buildings.

Eugene Water and Electric Board (541) 484-2411, www.eweb.org Municipal utility in Eugene, Oregon. For residential and business customers, EWEB offers technical consulting and financial incentives for energy efficiency upgrades for existing buildings and new construction, and solar water heating and photovoltaics.

Oregon Department of Energy (800) 221-8035, www.oregon.gov/energy Offers tax incentives for businesses and residential energy efficiency and renewable energy investments and technical information on building high performance homes.

Portland Office of Sustainable Development/ G-rated a project of OSD (503) 823-7725, www.green-rated.org Offers Portland homeowners and building contractors technical assistance and information to support their green building projects.

Non-profit Organizations 3EStrategies (541) 617-9013, www.3estrategies.org

Providing green building workshops, technical assistance and local networking.

Oregon Rural Action (541)975-2411, www.oraction.org/index.shtml Non-profit grassroots advocacy organization serving Eastern Oregon seeking policy change to promote renewable energy, and acting as a resource group for those who wish to use renewables in their home or business.

Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association (OSEIA) (503) 236-0367, www.oregonseia.org Non-profit organization consisting of contractors, architects, engineers, utilities, consultants, non-profit organizations, and the Oregon Department of Energy.

Dedicated to promoting the benefits of renewable energy and to developing a strong local industry able to offer high quality installation and professional services to homeowners and businesses.

Solar Energy Association of Oregon (503) 231-5662, www.solaror.org Over 20 years of providing solar energy education and community outreach through school education resources, newsletters, workshops, presentations, and tours to encourage Oregonians to choose solar energy. Our website provides solar information and links, installer and architect resource lists, a solar events calendar and newsletter archive.

United States Green Building Council Cascadia Branch (503) 228-5533, www.usgbc.org/chapters/cascadia

Provides informational materials and educational programs on green building, sustainable energy and sustainable economic development. The online Green Building Resource Directory makes it easy for home and business owners to get in touch with the professionals providing green building and solar energy services and products (see website above).

Creates capacity for building sustainably in communities in the www.usgbc.org/chapters/cascadia/branch.asp?branch=portland" Oregon, www.usgbc.org/chapters/cascadia/branch.asp?branch=seattle" Washington and www.usgbc.org/chapters/cascadia/branch.asp?branch=vancouver" British Columbia bioregion. Promotes the design, construction and operation of buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.

Bonneville Environmental Foundation 503-248-1905, www.b-e-f.org

Additional Resources

Encourages and funds renewable power — and fish and wildlife habitat — projects in the Pacific Northwest and markets green power products to public utilities, businesses, government agencies and individuals.

Oregon Renewable Energy Center at the Oregon Institute of Technology (541) 885-1184, www.oit.edu/orec/1

Earth Advantage (503) 968-7160, 888-327-8433, www.earthadvantage.org

OIT, located in Klamath Falls Oregon, is a state university that focuses on engineering degrees with hands on experience. They are the only accredited university in the Unites States to offer a 4 year bachelor of science in renewable energy systems.

Provides Oregon builders technical expertise such as performance testing and third-party certification to help ensure Earth Advantage homes are 15% more energy efficient than those built to Oregon code. Earth Advantage homes also reach higher standards for indoor air quality, environmental responsibility and resource efficiency.

Eastern Oregon Renewable Energies – John Day 541-575-3633, www.solwest.org EORenew brings the SolWest Renewable Energy Fair (the last full weekend of July every year), free introductory energy classes, hands-on installation workshops, a quarterly member newsletter, Oregon Energy Tax Credit help, and assistance finding sources for energy information and hardware

Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc. 1-866-ENTRUST (368-7878), www.energytrust.org Cash incentives and technical assistance to help Oregonians save energy and enjoy the benefits of renewable power. Programs serve existing and new homes and businesses, manufacturing processes and agriculture. Energy Trust serves Oregon customers of Pacific Power, Portland General Electric, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas.

Lane Community College's Energy Efficiency Institute (800) 769-9687, www.lanecc.edu (click on Professional / Technical, then Energy Management).

Two year Associate of Applied Science degree - Renewable Energy Technician. Students learn the basics of energy conservation, electrical theory, alternative energy systems, solar PV theory and design and solar thermal theory and design.

University of Oregon Solar Radiation Monitoring Laboratory (541) 346-4745, www.solardata.uoregon.edu A regional solar radiation data center with a goal of providing high quality solar resource data and assessment as solar technologies are integrated into the regional energy mix. To achieve this goal, the UO SRML is building a comprehensive longterm regional solar radiation database, providing tools and a website for use of the database, and consulting on resource assessment in the Pacific Northwest.

2007 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

107

Advertiser’s Index 3EStrategies

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Abundant Solar

Opsis Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Oregon Department of Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Advanced Energy Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Pacific Solar and Rain, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104

Alternative Construction Concepts

Parr Lumber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IBC

American Institute of Building Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

PECI

Bear Mountain Forest Products

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Phillips Architecture & Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

SolAire Homebuilders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Bobcat & Sons

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Brian’s Cabinets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Solar Oregon

Cascade Solar Consulting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Solar Interior Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Cascade Sun Works, Inc

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Solarnetix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103

Central Oregon Builders Assoc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6, 16, 26, 30

SolarWorld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development . . . . . .50

Standard TV & Appliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96

E2 Powered

Steele Associates Architects

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Earth Advantage Inc.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Energy Trust of Oregon EPUD

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Structures NW LLC

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC

Sunlight Solar Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Sunterra Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

GroSolar

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC

ICF Construction, Inc

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

The Green Spot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Tina Harris Photographic

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108

Lane Community College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Urbansun Designs

MidState Electric Coop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

USWESCO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Neil Kelly Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Northwest Crossing

108

Green+Solar

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

BUILDING OREGON

2007

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91