Green + Solar Building Oregon 2008-2009 by rafkind

Tips for Going Green in a Difficult Economy Expanded Commercial Green Building Section Featuring the 2008 Green & Solar Home Tours

A Comprehensive Guide to Green and Solar Building

Welcome to the 2008/9

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. The 2007 Legislative Session was truly a landmark session in moving Oregon’s economy and environment toward a greener future. My energy agenda, which was fully implemented, produced some of the most aggressive and progressive environmental standards in the nation — helping combat climate change, accelerating the creation of solar energy and expanding business and residential energy tax credits. 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. Already, the market has responded to these new policy initiatives. Oregon is fast becoming the solar manufacturing leader in North America, with the entry of Solar World and Solaicx here, and the expansion of PV Powered. Many other companies are looking to join in the Oregon solar juggernaut! We also have greatly expanded the planned installation of solar energy systems in Oregon, with new records for size being broken on what seems a monthly basis. But we have much more to do in transforming our economy to clean sources of energy. That is why my agenda for the upcoming 2009 session is even more ambitious than the 2007 session. I will introduce a comprehensive package of climate change legislation that would create a carbon cap and trade program for Oregon and its regional partners, greatly expand energy efficiency in the state, and take further steps forward on renewable energy, including aggressive steps toward further development of solar systems. I’m proud of the progress Oregon has made in the area of green building and solar energy, and look forward to further branding Oregon as the nation’s leader in renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions. It is the right thing for our environment, for our economy and for our citizens, both rural and urban. 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

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Thank You Sponsors Publisher/Editor Cylvia Hayes, 3EStrategies

The following organizations put enormous time and dollars into making the 2008/9 Green and Solar Building Oregon magazine a success.

Media/in-kind

Special Thanks to the 2008 Oregon Green + Solar Tour Sponsors: Title Sponsor: Supporter Sponsors:

Writers Doug Boleyn, Cascade Solar Misti Carden, Steele Associates Architects Karen Chase, Oregon Department of Energy Rob Delmar, Oregon Department of Energy Ralph DiNola, Green Building Services Inc. Fred Gant, Earth Advantage Lizzie Giles, Energy Trust of Oregon Kathryn Gray, Urbansun Designs and 3EStrategies Michel Gregory, Energy Trust of Oregon Ann Grim, Oregon Department of Energy Hannah Hacker, Energy Trust of Oregon Cylvia Hayes, 3EStrategies Mike Hewitt, E2 Powered Alissa Kane, Portland Office of Sustainable Development Betsy Kauffman, Energy Trust of Oregon Cindy Korfhage, Featured Homeowner Rick Martinson, Winter Creek Restoration Cindy O’Neil, SolAire Homes Tania Parks, Solar Oregon Lisa Petterson, SERA Architects Scott Steele, Steele Associates Architects Stacey Stemach, Steele Associates Kathy Shinn, Oregon Department of Energy Bruce Sullivan, Earth Advantage M.L.Vidas, Stephens Architecture, Featured Homeowner

Photographers

In addition we thank McGraw-Hill Construction for their assistance in the design, printing, distribution and ad sales processes.

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 Advertiser’s Index on page 88. Thank You Workers! Finally, a HUGE THANK YOU to the dozens of committed people who volunteer significant amounts of time providing the articles and photos for this publication. A special thank you to Rebecca Diaz, of 3EStrategies, for the extra help with editing. Finally,Tania Parks of Solar Oregon deserves a gold star for her great work in rounding up all the information on the numerous green and solar home tours taking place around the state.

Claire Anderson, Photographer Ross Chandler, Photographer Karen Chase, Oregon Dept. of Energy Columbia Gorge Community College Steve Dipaola Gales Creek Camp Foundation Lizzie Giles, Energy Trust of Oregon Stuart Green, Solar Oregon Michel Gregory, Energy Trust of Oregon Ann Grim, Oregon Dept. of Energy Tina Harris, Photographer Visko Hatfield, Photographer Mike Hewitt, EZ Powered Betsy Kauffman, Energy Trust of Oregon Lane Community College Rick Martinson, Winter Creek Restoration Cindy O’Neil, Oregon Department of Energy Linda Pinkham, Photographer Cindy Roche, Featured Homeowner Dan Saddler, Photographer Kathy Shinn, Oregon Dept. of Energy Scott Steele, Steele Associates Architects Michael Vanderwater, Solar Oregon

Manager, Design & Production Jeff Kruger, McGraw-Hill Construction

Art Director Lorraine Delgado, McGraw-Hill Construction

Sales Representative James McGuire, McGraw-Hill Construction

ON THE COVER 2

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

MIMI GRAVES’ HOME Sister, Oregon Photographer: Tina Harris (see page 50)

A Word from the Publisher It’s all about home. Ecology, economy – both share the root “eco”, which comes from the greek “oikos”, meaning house or home. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, ecology is the “totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environment”, in other words, Earth’s web of life. Economy is defined as,“the management of household or private affairs and especially expenses.” As we began planning this issue of Green + Solar Building Oregon it was clear that neither our economic nor our ecological houses are in good order. Massive fossil fuel consumption is changing the climate and jeopardizing Earth’s life support systems. It is also exacerbating the recession and reducing national security. The time has come to evolve our economy so that it promotes wealth and security for all our citizens and is based on enterprises that restore our environment. The single greatest opportunity to make this happen lies in transitioning to a post-fossil fuel energy system. An essential step in that transition is to make our buildings efficient and renewably powered. This publication is designed to help readers become part of that transition. It offers information on how green building and sustainable energy measures can buffer you from skyrocketing energy prices. Some of the buildings featured in this issue actually generate more electricity that they consume, in essence becoming miniature power plants for their owners. There are tips for remodeling and retrofitting existing buildings and information on tax and cash incentives for both new construction and retrofit projects. Realtors, and anyone looking to sell a home in this difficult housing market, will find information on harnessing the selling advantage of green built homes. The Tours Section contains information on Green and Solar Home Tours taking place across the state. These events provide an opportunity to experience green and solar products in use and speak directly with the owners and builders who have been through the green building process. We also offer a glimpse of the burgeoning green economy, which provides a real opportunity to put our economic house in order and protect this lovely blue planet that is home to us all. It is an exciting time to be alive and green! Sincerely,

Cylvia Hayes, 3EStrategies

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Table of Contents EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES Going Green in a Rocky Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Staley-Vidas Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

By Cylvia Hayes, 3EStrategies

Design + Collaboration = Platinum

It’s Easy Remodeling Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

By Cindi O’Neil,Vice President, Sales & Marketing SolAire Homebuilders and Mary Louise Vidas, LEED Accredited Professional, Certified Sustainable Building Advisor

By Alisa Kane, Portland Office of Sustainable Development

What to Do First? Solar or Conservation Projects? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 By Oregon Department of Energy

Passive Solar Retrofitting: The Return of the Sunroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 By Kathryn Gray, Urbansun Designs, 3EStrategies Board of Directors

Utility Incentives for Energy-Efficient Homes . .18 The Basics of Solar Photovoltaics . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Curran-Flores Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Price is Right for Portland Couple By Hannah Hacker, Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc.

Kerr Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Using Less and Generating More in Northeast Portland By Michel Gregory, Energy Trust of Oregon

Reid Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Green Under Cover By Stuart Green and Michael Vanderwater, Solar Oregon

By Doug Boleyn, P.E., Cascade Solar Consulting

McKenna Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Solar Hot Water: Energy Independence in “Hot Water” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

By Lizzie Giles, Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc.

Dream with a View

By Mike Hewitt, E2 Powered

Nelson Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

The Changing Landscape of Real Estate . . . . . . . .22

By Karen Chase, Oregon Department of Energy

Fourth Generation Pendleton– Green, Solar and Organic

By Bruce Sullivan, Earth Advantage

Peninsula Park Commons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

The Green of Sustainability: Sustainable Landscaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

A Colorful Green Community By Michel Gregory, Energy Trust of Oregon

By Rick Martinson,Winter Creek Restoration

Cash and Tax Incentives for Oregon Homeowners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Oregon High Performance HomesT M . . . . . . . . . . .28 The Many Renewable Energy Sources at Our Fingertips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 By Betsy Kauffman, Energy Trust of Oregon

COMMERCIAL GREEN BUILDING Businesses Go Green and Solar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Can Buildings Fly?: Lessons Learned in Designing Net-Zero Energy Buildings through Passive Means . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Let the Sunshine In! Oregon’s Solar Access Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . .32

By Lisa Petterson, Associate – SERA Architecture AIA, LC, LEED AP and John Echlin, Design Principal – SERA Architects, AIA, LEED AP

By Karen Chase, Oregon Department of Energy

Making your Existing Commercial Building Efficient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

GREEN AND SOLAR TOURS Living the Solar Revolution in Oregon . . . . . . . . .34 By Tania Parks, Oregon Green and Solar Tours Coordinator, Solar Oregon

Oregon Green and Solar Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

FEATURED HOMES/MULTI-FAMILY Smedema Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Green and Solar in an Established Neighborhood with CC&Rs By Ann Grim, Oregon Department of Energy

By Greg Stiles, Energy Trust of Oregon

Lucky Lab Brewery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 By Robert Del Mar, Oregon Department of Energy

The Continued Evolution of Green Building Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 By Ralph DiNola, Green Building Services Inc., LEED AP, Associate AIA

COMMERCIAL BUILDING CASE STUDIES Three LEED® Buildings on One Bend Round-A-Bout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Kerr-Larch Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

By Scott Steele, AIA, LEED® AP and Misti Cardin, Architect, LEED® AP, Steele Associates Architects LLC

Tight, Green, Comfortable and Economical

Solar Technology Catches Dentist’s Interest . . . .81

By Karen Chase, Oregon Department of Energy

Roche-Korfhage Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

By Ann Grim, Oregon Department of Energy

A Young Builder Goes Green in Phoenix, Oregon

Torii Mor Harvests Solar Energy and Fine Grapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

By Cindy Roche

By Kathy Shinn, Oregon Department of Energy

Jorgensen Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Solar Warmth Adds to Kids’ Pool Fun . . . . . . . . .84

Elk Dancing Straw Bale Solar Home Survives a Trial by Fire By Linda Pinkham, Green Living Journal

Graves Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Inspired Adaptation By Kathryn Gray, Urbansun Design, 3EStrategies’ Board of Directors

By Kathy Shinn, Oregon Department of Energy

Mt. Hood Athletic Club: Physical Fitness Meets Energy Fitness . . . . . . . . . . .86 By Michel Gregory, Energy Trust of Oregon

3EStrategies Protecting our environment Strengthening our economy Fostering equity and common cause

Would you like to turn your home or business building into your own personal power plant? Would you like to get paid for saving money at your business? Would you like to make money protecting the environment and curbing climate change? Interested? Turn the page

Green Energy • Green Earth • Green Money • Green Building

3EStrategies assists businesses, developers, government agencies and homeowners in creating profitable, sustainable buildings, developments, energy projects and sustainability programs. We provide the following services: • Green building, clean energy and eco-industrial design technical expertise. • Access to business development resources and capital investors. • Designing and implementing corporate sustainability programs.

“3EStrategies is a true pioneer in developing practical, effective models for a sustainable future. Their work is key to developing Oregon’s clean energy industry.” – Bill Bradbury, Secretary of State, Chairman Oregon Sustainability Board

• Economic and workforce development strategies.

“Since our joining your company we have had exceptional opportunities to show case our Architectural sustainable designs.”

• Marketing and public relations for green projects.

- Chad Phillips,A.I.A., Phillips Architecture

• Securing available tax and cash incentives for green projects. • Government relationship and policy development.

We all have a responsibility to protect our environment and leave future generations with a planet capable of sustaining an abundant, healthy life. 3EStrategies is here to help you leave a legacy you’ll be proud of and make money doing so! Call us for a complimentary 20 minute assessment of your project.

Green Energy • Green Earth • Green Money • Green Building

Educational Articles

Going Green in a Rocky Economy By Cylvia Hayes, 3EStrategies, Publisher of Green + Solar Building Oregon Every hour the sun supplies earth with as much energy as all of humanity uses in an entire year.1 The geothermal heat in the upper six miles of the planetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crust contains more than 50,000 times the energy of all oil and natural gas reserves combined.2 The wind resources in Oregon, Texas and South Dakota alone are enough to power our national economy. Entrepreneurs around the globe are capitalizing on these vast renewable energy sources and in fact, by 2006 the solar, wind, biofuel and hydrogen fuel cell industries had reached $55 billion dollars worldwide, eclipsing the international music industry.3 And yet, despite these tremendous resources, the United States only gets six percent of our energy from renewable sources. Many people are surprised to learn that Oregon gets as much electricity from coal as from our hydroelectric dams. See figure 1.

This ongoing dependence on fossil fuel is harming our environment. Coal burning power plants are the number one source of mercury contamination in the United States (and right here in Oregon). Residents in Portland are more than twice as likely as people elsewhere in the nation to

develop cancer related to benzene because Portlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil comes from Alaskan crude naturally high in benzene. And of course, there is the specter of climate change, the greatest environmental threat we have seen. Just as clearly as fossil fuels are harming the environment, they are also damaging our economy. The current recession is due in part to an unsustainable energy system. The United States is nearly $10 trillion in debt. We are now importing nearly 70% of our oil, much of it from the politically unstable regions of the Middle East and Africa. Coal prices in the Northwest are up about 45%, natural gas rates have risen by more than 160% and gasoline prices continue to set records. These skyrocketing energy costs are rippling through many aspects of our lives â&#x20AC;&#x201C; higher food prices, airfares, and the added shipping costs attached to everything from lumber to vacuum cleaners. Builders are struggling to stay afloat and home and business owners are seeing their utility bills mushroom. This creates a dilemma around going green. On the one hand, as the volatility and instability of our fossil fuel dependent economy becomes clear, there is growing momentum for making the transition to a post fossil fuel, renewable-energy economy. However, as cost of living climbs higher, it becomes more difficult for people to afford the upfront investment in energy efficiency and renewables even though those measures will save money overall. The economic challenge for individuals is real. However, if we let these difficult economic times prevent us from committing to less consumptive homes, businesses and transportation options, we will hit the fossil fuel brick wall at full force: climate change and our dependence upon politically unstable, oil-rich regions will devastate our environment and undermine our economy and national security. Those of us alive right now, those of you reading this page, have an opportunity to reverse these trends. We have an opportunity to restore the environment and give our kids and grandkids a chance for healthy, abundant, peaceful lives. All we continue on page 10

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

have to do is commit ourselves, fully, to creating a post-fossil, low-carbon economy! Though this may sound daunting, Americans have made similar transformations before. When the United States decided to enter World War II we literally re-wired our economy to meet the challenge. Auto makers became airplane and tank makers. Housewives became machinists. A carousel manufacturer started producing gun mounts and a corset manufacturer began making grenade belts Everybody made money. Everybody had jobs. And in three years time we ended the war. We did it again with the space race. In 1962, President Kennedy issued a remarkable challenge to the American people when he declared that we should commit to sending a man to the moon and returning him safely to Earth. Just one month before he issued that challenge, the National Science Council told him it was impossible to put a man on the moon. He challenged us anyway, the nation unified behind the vision, and seven years later we left footprints on the moon. Now, we have a chance to achieve something great by reducing the size of our footprint here on Earth. Oregonians are rising to this challenge on two fronts: through individual commitment and state policies. Thousands of Oregonians are reducing their energy demands by going green in their homes and business buildings. Since buildings account for 68% of electricity consumption, 37% of total energy consumption and are responsible for at least 48% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., the impact of building or remodeling ultra-efficient, renewably powered buildings is enormous.4 On the pages of this magazine you will see great examples of efficient, cost-effective homes and commercial buildings. Some are so well-designed they actually generate more electricity than they consume, in essence becoming personal power plants for their owners.

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

Students in the Two-Year A.A.S. Renewable Energy Technician Program at Lane Community College participating in the design and fabrication of Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal systems. Credit: Lane Community College NEEC.

Even in a Sluggish Economy, Green Jobs Grow Oregon’s investment in green building and clean energy is beginning to generate significant job development in Oregon. 3EStrategies recently completed a report titled, “Analysis of Clean Energy Workforce Needs and Programs in Oregon.” The report is available at www.3estrategies.org. The report shows that clean energy is a key source of new jobs in Oregon. Findings include: • The clean energy sector could reach 40 million U.S. jobs by 2030. • Tremendous opportunity (right now) in Oregon for wind technicians, solar manufacturing workers and clean energy engineers. In addition to personal commitment, Oregon citizens have had the foresight to pass aggressive energy policies including a commitment to generate 25% of our electricity and fuel from renewable sources by 2025. Oregonians are investing public dollars in tax credit programs to make it more affordable for individuals and businesses to purchase solar, geothermal, wind and biomass energy systems; to employ energy efficiency technologies; and even to purchase hybrid electric vehicles. We are beginning to invest in the infrastructure for a post-fossil fuel, low carbon economy. The war effort and the space race transformed the economy: spawning new industries, new technologies, new jobs. The green building and clean ener-

gy revolution holds opportunities just as great. We have a once in a lifetime chance to address the most dangerous environmental threat in history and create a healthy, secure, prosperous economy at the same time. What an exciting challenge! References 1. Earth the Sequel. Krupp, F. and Horn, M. 2008. W.W. Norton and Company Inc., New York, NY. 279pp. 2. Plan B 3.0. Brown, L. 2008. W.W. Norton and Company Inc., New York, NY. 398pp. 3. Clean Energy Trends 2008. Makower, J. Pernick, R. and Wilder, C. Clean Edge Inc. 4. United States Department of Energy and Architecture 2030.

Educational Articles

It’s Easy Remodeling Green By Alisa Kane, Portland Office of Sustainable Development A green home remodel is an exciting opportunity to adapt your house in ways that result in lower energy bills, less maintenance, healthier indoor air quality and reduced waste generation. The following suggested strategies can ensure that your remodel creates a healthy space for your family to grow and thrive.

conservation or avoiding replacement costs. Healthier paints, salvaged materials, low-flow plumbing fixtures and energy efficient equipment are just a few green strategies that will keep the green in your pocket. Also ask your loan officer if you qualify for additional financing or better rates for energy efficiency improvements.

Planning and Setting Goals Set your green goals early on so that you have time to research products, make important decisions about priorities and set a budget before you begin your remodel. For example, if creating healthy indoor air quality is a priority, then before you even start your project you can interview contractors to see how they will address your goals, identify nontoxic products and set up floor-to-ceiling dust barriers to separate your living and remodeling areas.

Reduce Construction Waste • Before you start swinging a sledgehammer, work with your architect, contractor and/or salvage expert to identify materials that can be reused on the jobsite, donated to non-profit building material salvage yards, or sold on websites like Craigslist. • Discuss construction debris recycling options with your general contractor and select a waste disposal company that recycles cardboard, wood and metal at a minimum. Ask the general contractor to tell subcontractors about the recycling efforts on the jobsite. • Reward your team for good recycling practices. For example, use the money from metal recycling to buy pizza for the crew.

How Much Will it Cost? Making green choices doesn't have to cost more. In fact, many green choices cost less or save money in the long term through energy savings, resource

Additional Remodeling Resources • “Green Home Remodeling Guide: Designing and Building a More Sustainable Home” City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development Download for free at: www.portlandonline.com/osd/greenbuilding • “Green Remodeling: Changing the World One Room at a Time” David Johnston and Kim Master • “Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House: Bringing Your Home into Harmony with Nature” Carol Venolia and Kelly Lerner • Also find a reading list on the Regional Green Building Hotline's website: www.buildgreen411.com Salvaged Materials Visit www.buildingreuse.org to find local providers of reusable building materials.

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

Select Green Materials • Choose durable materials that will perform for a long time. • Assess what type of maintenance will be needed over the life of the product. Would you rather spend your weekend re-applying stain to your deck or barbequing on your deck? • Buy products made from industrial cast-offs, such as denim scrap insulation, or materials with recycled content. • Add artistic touches by reusing salvaged building materials; such as vintage sinks, doors, light fixtures, flooring and wood trim. • Use only wood from sustainably managed forests with a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label. Conserve Energy • Contact your utility company for a free or low cost home energy audit to determine where to invest your money on efficiency upgrades. Also

ask the utility about incentives for energy efficiency improvements or renewable energy systems. • Replace older windows with highperformance, low-emissivity (low-e) models or install storm windows. • Purchase Energy Star rated appliances, light fixtures and roofing. • Install solar water heating and/or photovoltaic panels. If you can't afford the investment right now, pre-wire and plumb for later upgrades. In the meantime, purchase green energy from your utility. • Add formaldehyde-free insulation to exterior walls and attics where cavities are accessible. Blow insulation into cavities that are not accessible. • Seal air leaks around the foundation and window and door openings. • Upgrade your water heater to a new Energy Star model. For older models, install insulation jackets.

Improve Indoor Air Quality • Select formaldehyde-free particleboard, plywood, trim, underlayment and insulation. • Choose low-volatile organic compound (VOC) paints, finishes, sealants and cleaners. Look for third party certifications logos, such as "GreenSeal" and "GreenGuard" that screen and approve low-toxicity products. • Ensure your bathroom, kitchen and laundry room are properly ventilated to the outdoors with powerful, quiet fans that remove excess moisture, odors and combustion byproducts. • If you are disturbing old paint, test for lead and abate using the Environmental Protection Agency's recommendations. • Clean air ducts and change furnace filters after the remodel to eliminate dust and allergens from the construction process. Conserve Water • Fit existing faucets with aerators that

reduce water flow. • Upgrade to dual-flush toilets that use between 0.7 gallons to 1.6 gallons, depending on need. • Collect rainwater that rolls off your roof to irrigate your garden. • Specify plants that are appropriate for your climate and do not require irrigation or maintenance. Support your Community • Buy locally manufactured products to support Oregon businesses and reduce transportation costs. • Select products made from regional materials (usually within five hundred miles of your home). • Inspire visitors by showing off the green features of your remodel. A number of tax and cash incentives are available to help homeowners pay for energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy systems. See article on page 16 for information.

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Educational Articles

What to Do First? Solar or Conservation Projects? By Oregon Department of Energy Homeowners often ask: “What should I do first to make my home more energy efficient- solar or conservation projects?” The first recommendation is to set a goal of cutting your energy use by 5 to 10 percent each year. From this you can develop a strategy that will fit within your budget while increasing the value of your home. Step 1 – Assess How Much Energy You Use Contact the utility that you use to heat your home and ask them for a free home energy review. They may do a home visit and give you a custom evaluation of your home’s energy use and what energy saving opportunities exist. If they don’t do on-site visits, they may have Web-based tools or checklists that you can use to evaluate your home energy use. Customers of Cascade Natural Gas, NW Natural, Portland General Electric, and Pacific Power should contact the Energy Trust of Oregon at 1-866-368-7878. Step 2 – Pick the Low-hanging Conservation “Fruit” The home energy review will provide you with clear steps to follow.The easy, low-cost or no-cost options are such things as: • Replace the light bulbs in your house with compact fluorescents. • Give your heating and cooling equipment a tune-up. • Eliminate the infrequently-used second refrigerator in your garage. • Use your thermostat’s programmable features to turn down the heat at night. • Reduce air leakage through weatherstripping and outlet covers. • Replace your furnace filter regularly. Step 3 – Take on One Big Project as You Can Afford It A decision on which measures to implement depends on what you have and how old your

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

equipment is. If your house is well insulated and your equipment is in good working order, then solar water heating or solar electric power systems are a fine first choice. On the other hand, if you have an older home with an older furnace and little insulation, your first choice should be insulation or replacing your furnace. The following are some general recommendations for each of the big ticket items. With the exception of insulation and windows, you can use the list of tax credit eligible equipment to help guide your decisions.Visit www.oregon.gov/energy Insulation – Anytime. Saves 5% to 30% of heating/cooling energy use. Increasing insulation improves comfort and reduces energy costs. If your home has little or none, this measure is an absolute first step. The home energy review will guide you on how much is needed. Testing and Sealing Leaky Ducts – Anytime. Saves 5% to 25% of heating/cooling energy use. Leaky duct work accounts for 25% of the average home heating bill. Reducing duct leaks also prevents outside air and garage exhaust fumes from being drawn into the house. Replace Baseboard Electric – Anytime. Saves 20% to 40% of heating/cooling energy use. New mini-split heat pumps are excellent replacements for the main rooms in your house, as they do not require installing duct work and use less than half the energy. Replace Electric Furnace – Anytime. Saves 30% to 50% of heating/cooling energy use. Upgrading an electric furnace to a state tax credit eligible air source heat pump will cut your heating bill in half. If you live in a very cold climate, consider a ground source or “geothermal” heat pump instead.

Upgrade Old Furnace – Near end of equipment life. Saves 15% to 20% of heating/cooling energy use. Gas furnaces can be replaced with new condensing gas furnaces or heat pumps. Ask your contractor to provide a bid for tax credit eligible equipment. Upgrade Heat Pump – Near end of equipment life. Saves 15% to 20% of heating/cooling energy use. Upgrading an existing heat pump or air conditioner should only be done when the existing unit no longer functions efficiently. Replace with a new high efficiency unit or condensing gas furnace if you have gas available. Keep your equipment maintained and coils clean.

Solar Electric – Anytime. Saves 10% to 30% of total energy use. By sizing the system to maximized current state, federal and utility incentives, the rate of return on solar is comparable to other big-ticket measures. If done right, with good aesthetics, a solar electric system will increase the resale 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. In addition, Oregon law prevents the local government from assessing property tax on this additional value.

Kitchen Appliances – Near end of equipment life. Saves 10% to 20% of appliance energy use. The time to replace your appliances is when you are remodeling the kitchen or the old unit (clothes washer, dishwasher, and refrigerator) fails to meet your needs. Replace Single Pane Windows – Anytime. Saves 15% to 20%. New Energy Star™ windows will save energy, however, the main reasons to replace your windows are to improve comfort, improve appearance, eliminate condensation, reduce drafts and decrease noise. Solar Water Heating – Anytime. Saves 15% to 25% of water heating energy use. Standard gas or electric water heaters are not much more efficient than older ones, so don’t upgrade to the same technology. Either upgrade your gas water heater to a tankless unit or install a solar water heater. Both offer about the same rate of return. A solar water heater will cost about three times as much, but save three times as much. Once you have a solar water heater, there will be little left to save by upgrading your backup water heater to a tankless water heater.

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Educational Articles

Passive Solar Retrofitting: The Return of the Sunroom By Kathryn Gray, Urbansun Design, 3EStrategies Board of Directors What did you think about when you purchased your home? Was it location? Was it the way it looks, its size and floor plan? Did you think about how it might perform in terms of energy consumption and comfort? If you’re like most Americans you didn’t give any thought to energy performance. Yet if it turns out that it is dark or drafty, or difficult or expensive to heat or cool, its great location or floor plan just isn’t enough to compensate. We typically hear that the first place we should look to improve our home’s energy performance is to conserve the energy we are putting into it. I’m

Upper greenhouse deck of Grays passive solar home. Credit: Dan Saddler

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

not suggesting for a minute that energy conservation isn’t just as critical as energy supply, but it is important to understand that conservation addresses only part of the opportunities available to improve the energy performance of your home. Since insulation slows down but does not stop heat transfer, even a super well-insulated structure will be cold in winter without a source of energy. So to meet our most elemental needs from our home we still need energy – for heat in winter, for light and ventilation year-round. In addition, smart choices now enable us to take advantage of our home’s “innate” ability to energize itself. How do you do this? Well, it’s an unbelievably simple, tried and true strategy that has been employed for millennia – let winter sunlight penetrate deep into your home. In the northern hemisphere that means providing south-facing windows! We take windows for granted but they are a powerful architectural element, admitting light and air which combine with interior temperature differences to create air circulation within the house. Windows have the ability to allow sunlight to be transmitted into the home where it is absorbed by the materials it strikes and subsequently released as heat. Solar energy is the granddaddy of all energy on earth. Solar energy drives wind energy, wave energy, hydro-energy and plant energy (food, biofuels, even fossil fuels). Solar energy can even be converted directly into electricity with photovoltaic technology. And guess what? It’s free! And it’s very healthy -- essential to life, actually. I like to think of a house as a plant. If you plant a seed in a pot of rich soil and set it in the sun it will grow. If you set the seed in the dark it will soon die. If you admit sunlight into a house through lots of south-facing glass it will be full of light and heat and healthfulness. If no direct sunlight is admitted into a house it will be dark and cold and dank and moldy—definitely unhealthy!

also known, and I’m being reminded of how effective they can be in capturing enough solar energy to substantially reduce a home’s energy bills and add a beautiful, useful living and growing space. In fact, when I recently designed and built a new home for myself, I had a number of constraints that didn’t allow for a full on passive solar home. Our home is a riverside floating home so I couldn’t include a lot of heavy thermal mass. In addition, a large neighboring home blocked quite a lot of sunlight from the southwest. So I added a twostory solarium on the southeast. It contributes 10 to 15 degrees to the house’s indoor temperature while growing fresh veggies -- in the middle of winter! In the summer a simple shade cloth and vents keep our home comfortable. One example of the year round power of passive solar design.

Greenhouse grows vegetables year round in Portland. Credit: Dan Saddler

A home that is designed and constructed from scratch to take full advantage of solar energy (passive solar design with a high performance exterior shell) can readily provide 50% to 70% of its heating, cooling and lighting needs. But most existing homes can see improved comfort and up to 30% better energy performance by improving the amount of solar energy that penetrates into the home. So the question is, are you getting the full measure of the solar opportunities that your home and property offer? Do the main living spaces have good

exposure to the sun? Could you reasonably increase the area of south-facing windows and glass doors? Would adding a sunroom onto the south side of your home make sense? Do you have a kitchen that could benefit from a sunny family gathering area, or a yearround kitchen garden? When I first began designing passive solar homes thirty years ago, most of my projects involved adding sunrooms to existing homes. With the recent slow down in new home construction, I’m seeing a big resurgence in interest in sunrooms, or solariums as they are

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

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 Energy Services Kathy Moore 541-567-6414

• Columbia River PUD Tim Lammers 503-397-1844

• 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 800-924-8736

• Coos-Curry Electric Co-op Lauren Persch 541-469-2103

• City of Ashland Robbin Pearce - appliances Cathy Cartmill - lighting 541-552-2063 • 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 Medel 503-838-3526 • City of Tigard (No Consumer Construction Incentives)

Jennifer Joe 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 Energy Management Dept. 541-484-1125 • Forest Grove L&P (No Consumer Construction Incentives)

Richard Matzke/Renae Ooley 503-992-3250 18

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

(No Consumer Construction Incentives)

Chuck Weseman 541-354-1233 • Lane Electric Co-op John Murray 541-484-1151 • McMinnville Water and Light David Christie 503-472-6158 • Midstate Electric Cooperative Teresa Lackey 541-536-7232 • Milton-Freewater Light & Power (No Consumer Construction Incentives)

Pat Didion 541-938-8237 • 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 541-746-0963 • Tillamook PUD (No Consumer Construction Incentives)

Barbara Johnson 503-842-2535 • Tualatin Valley Water District Tina Alexander 503-848-3029 • Umatilla Electric Co-op Kathy Moore 541-567-6414 • 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

Educational Articles

The Basics of Solar Photovoltaics By Doug Boleyn, P.E., Cascade Solar Consulting

I installed my first photovoltaic (PV) system in 1982. It consisted of two Arco Solar modules, a battery, and a charge controller, and it powered a small black and white TV and some 12 volt lights. Ten years later, I installed my second system (1.5 kW) which was made from used solar modules and worked great until I “traded” the system up for a new 2.6 kW system in 2004. What does a PV system do, how does it work? A grid-tied photovoltaic system consists of two major components: the photovoltaic modules and an inverter. The modules produce the electric current and voltage that makes electric power with no moving parts. Groups of modules are wired together in “arrays”, expandable to any size from 10’s of watts to 100’s of Megawatts. The ratings for solar modules are based on direct current (DC) energy produced under Standard Test Conditions (STC). For example, a module rated at 100 watts, will produce 100 watts DC in full sunshine and a cool module temperature (about 70 degrees). The second major component is the inverter, which “inverts” the modules’ DC electricity from the solar module, to alternating current (AC), which is the same as utility electricity. The inverter also has circuits to tie it in with the electric utility, and many safety features that protect the user and the electric company. Today’s many brands of inverters meet tough test standards and are sized to properly match the solar module array size. In today’s

inverters the interconnection with the utility is standardized and simple, meeting all codes. A typical residential photovoltaic system in Oregon has an STC rating of about 3,000 watts, which takes up about 300 square feet and supplies 3,000 to 4,000 kilowatt hours of energy per year. Some commercial PV systems in Oregon are as large as nearly 1,000,000 watts! Connecting to the Grid is Easier than Ever Since 1999, Oregon utilities have been required to buy electricity generated from customer-owned photovoltaic systems at the same rate that they charge the customer. This arrangement is called net metering. Until 2007, the size of net metered photovoltaic systems was limited to 25 kW (25,000 watts) and any excess monthly generation was sold at wholesale rates. Then in 2007, the Oregon Legislature increased the size limit to 2 MW (2,000,000 watts), and any excess generated in any one month can now be carried to the next month as a retail credit for up to an entire year. That means Oregon’s summer sunshine can be “carried” forward into the winter months at full price. The Proof is In – PV is Producing the Power Predicted Recent studies by the Energy Trust of Oregon show that solar energy production from solar photovoltaic systems installed under their program is 99% of what they originally were estimated to

produce. This means that consumers buying systems under Energy Trust program can feel confident that they’ll get the high performance promised. Longer Warranties for Solar Products Currently, the common inverter warranty in Oregon is up to 10 years, driven by California’s incentive requirements. Oregon’s own PV Powered now has available a 20 year warranty for selected commercial-scale inverters for a small price premium. High Levels of Incentives Since 1977 Oregon has provided incentives to encourage citizens to buy solar energy systems. The State and Energy Trust of Oregon have supported Oregonians purchasing systems through the use of cash incentives and tax credits.The Federal government has continued its 30% tax credit at least through the end of 2008 and will likely renew. Prices for fossil fuels are now going up dramatically. This makes abundant solar energy – with no rate increases ever – look better than ever.With generous credits, there’s no better time than the present to start claiming environmental and dollar savings. The technology is ready and here today. Choices and sizes of equipment are abundant. Interconnection is easier than ever. The value added to your home and business is clear. Now is the perfect time to invest in solar energy. Here comes the sun!

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Educational Articles

Solar Hot Water: Energy Independence in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hot Waterâ&#x20AC;? By Mike Hewitt, E2 Powered Homes and businesses across Oregon are realizing the environmental and financial benefits of installing solar water heating systems. From breweries to bars, and homes to hotels, the climate is right for this technology. Tax credits and incentives, coupled with rising energy costs, have made these systems very cost competitive. Almost all solar water heating systems share three elements: collection, storage, and distribution. The three common types of solar water heating systems include drainback, closed loop glycol, and thermosyphon. Each one has proven very 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 due 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 pump cir-

Thermal collectors provide hot water for the Celtic Carwash in Redmond Oregon. Credit: Mike Hewitt

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

culates 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 or storage 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 runs would not make a drainback system operate properly. This type of system has proven reliable for many years, but requires 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). The coldest portion (bottom) of the tank is plumbed to the bottom of the collector(s). As the water heats, 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. Nearly all brands of thermal collectors on the market today fall into the category of "flat plate" or "vacuum tube" technology. Flat plate collectors are

Residential solar water heating system for domestic and radiant floors. Photo Credits: Mike Hewitt, E2 Powered

relatively inexpensive, durable, can be used for drainback, glycol, or thermosyphon, and are lightweight. A flat plate collector consists of a frame, a tempered glass top, an absorber plate and insulation underneath the glass. The fluid is heated when the sun's energy penetrates the glass and strikes the absorber plate. The absorber plate is typically coated with black paint, or a selective coating, which does an excellent job of heating the fluid running through the plates. The fluid is then circulated back to the storage tank by a pump or thermosyphon effect. Flat plate collectors can raise water temperatures up to 180 degrees most of

the year. Most flat plate installations will take place parallel to the roof, making them look like large skylights. A vacuum tube or "evacuated tube" collector, instead of having a single plate of glass over a plate of black copper, utilizes a long tube-shaped collector 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 layers of glass, it strikes the copper

absorber and heats the fluid. The pump then moves the fluid back to the storage tank. Vacuum tube collectors are able to make hot water in cold or cloudy climates where flat plate collectors cannot. 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. Solar hot water is not only useful for washing and bathing, but it can also be used for space heating applications like radiant floor heat, some new heat pumps and HVAC systems. For example, it is possible to use the solar heated water to circulate throughout tubing in the floor to provide space heating. With the use of water to air heat exchangers, solar heated water can be used to add supplemental space heat to a standard forced air system. Even old fashioned cast iron radiators can use solar heated water to add quiet, comfortable heat to a space. For Oregon residents, up to $1500 in state tax credits and $2000 in federal tax credits are available. For commercial customers, a 50% Oregon state tax credit, and 30% federal tax credit are available. Contact your local solar thermal professional for additional information and get yourself into solar hot water!

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Educational Articles

The Changing Landscape of Real Estate By Bruce Sullivan, Earth Advantage Market forces are certain to play a key role in improving the energy performance of existing housing stock as well as new construction. These forces include: • tangible recognition of energy performance in market value, • real estate brokers that understand green homes and how to sell them, • adoption of third-party green certification, • development of a “miles-per-gallon” rating for homes, and • financing improvements with “green” mortgages. Last year, the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) that serves much of western Oregon and the Seattle Multiple Listing Service both added a function that tracks homes certified by independent third parties including ENERGY STAR, Earth Advantage or LEED. A study conducted by GreenWorks Realty of the Seattle MLS showed that green homes commanded a selling price about five percent higher

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

than non-green homes.When the home was thirdparty certified, the green premium climbed to just over 10 percent and spent up to 24 percent less time on the market. Data from the RMLS in Portland showed similar results. The green premium for certified homes was also around 10 percent, while time on the market was actually even shorter at about 33 percent less than non-certified homes. With this kind of market activity, it’s no wonder that real estate brokers see the green in green. Sustainable homes offer many benefits such as energy savings, water conservation, improved comfort and better health, not to mention saving the planet. Unfortunately, most of these features are invisible in a finished home, which makes them more difficult to sell. Real estate brokers seeking information and skills for selling green turn to training programs such as Ecobroker at the national level, and Earth Advantage Sustainable Training for Accredited Realtors (EA STAR) in the Northwest. These accreditation programs help brokers identify key benefits of green homes. Certification programs, such as ENERGY STAR, Earth Advantage and LEED-H, give buyers confidence that a certified home is better than a home built to minimum code. However, certification itself can mean different things.This year, ENERGY STAR and Earth Advantage both evolved to higher standards.That means a home certified in 2007 may be less energy efficient than one certified in 2009. That’s why the Energy Trust of Oregon and Earth Advantage have joined forces to develop the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). An EPC is like a miles-per-gallon rating for a house, except that lower numbers are better. When the rating gets to zero, the house will use no more energy than it generates over the course of a year. EPC ratings will eventually appear on all new homes certified through ENERGY STAR and Earth Advantage in Oregon. Armed with this information,

The Numbers An entry level certified home may require $5,000 in improvements. If this amount is added to a 30-year mortgage with a six percent interest rate, the monthly payment increases by around $30. However, that amount is far less than the $50 to $60 per month saved on lower energy bills. Instead of a cost, energy efficiency is actually an investment. Add this to the additional market value, and the investment pays for itself. This cash flow approach to evaluating the energy improvement investment applies to existing homes as well, whenever the cost of the improvements is financed over a long period. This would occur whether the cost is rolled into the mortgage when the home is purchased or financed through a home equity loan.

With energy prices going nowhere but up, lower operating costs have always been the central benefit of owning a green home. But buyers often trip over the perceived obstacle of higher initial cost. Modern thinking has turned this idea upside down. Sophisticated buyers now recognize that energy sav-

ing features are often free, if not profitable, since additional cost is financed in a long-term mortgage, the amount of money saved each month will exceed the extra mortgage payment. So the owners save money from the day they walk in the door.

buyers will finally be able to include an objective measure of energy efficiency in their home purchasing decision. To help matters along, lenders are jumping on the green bandwagon. In eleven western states, Countrywide Home Loans offers a 1/8 percent interest rate reduction. Bank of America grants a $1,000 credit that can buy down the interest rate or apply to closing costs.Arbor Mortgage in Bend gives a one percent reduction in origination fees or a 1/8 percent cut in interest rate, whichever the borrower prefers. Lenders see their own advantages in green homes. They perceive people living in green homes as better credit risks, in much the same way that auto insurance companies give lower rates to those driving hybrid cars.With lower utility bills, green homes will not strain the monthly budget as much as conventional homes.

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Educational Articles

The Green of Sustainability: Sustainable Landscaping By Rick Martinson, Winter Creek Restoration Discussions of sustainable building often focus on the structural or mechanical aspects of a project. However, what occurs outside the building can have as much of an effect on the ecological impact of a development as what occurs inside. Sustainable, or ecology based landscapes provide an effective method of lessening the environmental demand of any development. Ecology based landscaping is the practice of designing and installing landscapes based on ecological principles such as community structure and symbiosis. Successful projects are based on knowledge and understanding of local ecology, climate, geology, and other factors that contribute to site specific plant communities. Understanding subtle factors of community structure and the cultural requirements of individual species within those communities results in a landscape designed to function as a system, not just as a bunch of plants put together in a garden.

Native plants provide low maintenance color and beauty at the Westside Safeway development, Bend Oregon. Credit: Rick Martinson

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

The result of a well designed and installed ecological landscape is a planting adapted to the specific site and able to thrive on minimal inputs. Water use is greatly reduced and maintenance costs are significantly lower. Every element of the local natural environment, from birds and mammals to insects, fungi, and bacteria coexist in an ecologically based landscape. Plants in these types of projects form relationships with each other and the surrounding environment. Ecological functions such as recruitment and decline are designed into these landscapes, and as a result, reduce maintenance requirements and lower costs. In addition, well designed installations can maximize LEED credits for certifiable developments. Fourteen criteria on the LEED scorecard can be directly or indirectly affected by activities outside the building envelope. Creative utilization of runoff can provide the opportunity to create habitat not normally found in developments while satisfying on-site storm water treatment requirements and reducing the need for supplemental irrigation. Properly designing and installing a landscape can also affect seasonal temperature variation within a building by providing shade or wind screens, reducing air conditioning and heating requirements. Green roofs offer additional benefits for developments. Vegetated roofs require additional engineering and structural considerations, but can have a dramatic affect on specific building temperature and the urban heat island effect. For example, in large cities peak utility loads are estimated to increase one and a half to two percent for each one degree increase in temperature, and air quality declines as temperatures rise. There are two generally accepted ways to mitigate heat islands; increasing vegetation or increasing surface reflectivity. Green roofs do both through temperature regulation and evaporative cooling. The National

Brady residence, Tumalo, OR. Credit: Rick Martinson

Research Council of Canada found that green roofs reduce the average daily energy demand of a building by over 75 percent. Vegetated roofs also treat and detain stormwater, decreasing the impact of runoff on sewer systems and ground water quality. Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services, along with other research facilities, found that extensive green roofs (3-4 inch substrate depth) can retain as

much as 75 percent of annual precipitation, using this moisture to help cool the structure and reduce impacts to ground water. Green roofs also offer a connection between cities and the natural world. Creating an environment on the roof helps connect people inside the structure with the surrounding landscape, creating habitat for people and other creatures. The benefits and functions of ecology based landscapes could fill an entire

volume, but the bottom line for developers and property owners is a very real savings in long-term costs, both economic and environmental. Installation costs are generally on par with traditional landscapes, but the reduction in need for inputs such as fertilizer, travel costs for maintenance, mowing and associated activities, pesticides, and other usual practices saves the developer and manager from realizing those costs. From an environmental viewpoint, ecology based landscapes offer the preservation or creation of habitat, the conservation of biological diversity, the long-term health of the larger ecological system, and an opportunity for people to interact with the natural world – along with all the recognized benefits of those relationships. With increasing awareness of issues such as global warming, water shortages, fuel prices, crop failure, and social unrest, why would we create any landscape that doesn’t positively impact all aspects of life? Working to save resources and preserve a balanced ecological system in our created landscapes will address all of these issues. As my mother used to say, “What if everyone did it?”

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Educational Articles

Cash and Tax Incentives for Oregon Homeowners Energy Trust of Oregon, Oregon Department of Energy, the federal government and many Oregon utilities offer energy-saving programs. Energy Trust offers cash incentives for installing solar energy systems, small wind systems and energy-efficient installations for Oregon residential customers of Pacific Power, Portland General Electric, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas. Oregon Department of Energy provides Residential Energy Tax Credits for premium-efficiency appliances and equipment, and renewable energy systems installed in Oregon. The federal government also offers tax credits.

Check the following Web sites for specifications, requirements and qualifying models before you make your purchase to ensure it qualifies for the incentive or tax credit. • Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/RES/RETC.shtml • Energy Trust of Oregon www.energytrust.org • Federal Tax Credit www.energytaxincentives.org • Other Oregon utilities www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/Power.shtml

)

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

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

Table continued from previous page

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

*Incentives are subject to change. Energy Trust incentive amounts valid as of July 1, 2008; call 1-866-368-7878 for further information. Oregon Department of Energy tax credit amounts valid as of July 1, 2008. Check requirements of each incentive and /or tax credit to ensure eligibility.

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Educational Articles

Oregon High Performance Homes : TM

State energy tax credit now available for homebuilders Up to $12,000 per home The 2007 Oregon Legislature authorized the use of the Business Energy Tax Credit for homebuilders that meet or exceed the Oregon Department of Energy’s High Performance Home benchmark for residential construction. It is one of the first major incentives of its kind in the United States. The reason is simple, according to Christopher Dymond with the Oregon Department of Energy. “Builders make important decisions that determine how much energy the house will use over its lifetime,” said Dymond. “Because nearly all of our marginal energy resources are imported fossil fuels, builders directly affect Oregon’s long-term balance of trade. Builders are an important component to our state’s strategy for a lower carbon footprint and financial independence.”

A home built to the Oregon High Performance HomeTM standard is estimated to use half the energy for heating, lighting, cooling, and water heating than the same sized home built a few years ago.

Award winning Pringle Creek Cottage, Salem, OR. (See last issue of Green + Solar Building Oregon at www.3EStrategies.org.) Credit: Visko Hatfield

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

Uses Half the Energy A home built to the Oregon High Performance Home™ standard is estimated to use half the energy for heating, lighting, cooling, and water heating than the same sized home built a few years ago. An Oregon High Performance Home™ includes both efficiency and on-site renewable energy generation. Such a home becomes a great starting

point for future renewable energy upgrades, potentially reaching the ultimate goal—a zero net annual energy bill home. How to Get Started To build a home to the Oregon High Performance Home™ standard requires meeting a set of technical requirements. (Available in the Business Energy Tax Credit Technical Requirements at www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/BUS /docs/Tech_Req.pdf) These technical requirements build upon the Northwest ENERGY STAR® homes standard requirements. To qualify, the homebuilder must be a licensed contractor that has signed a builder partnership agreement with the Northwest ENERGY STAR® homes program. A builder must then secure the services of a Northwest ENERGY STAR® Homes verifier. The verifier reviews the building components and compliance requirements and submits all information for ENERGY STAR® certification.This information is used by the Oregon Department of Energy when reviewing the tax credit application and assures the homebuyer that

the house was actually built and tested to the standard. Technical Requirements The complete set of technical specifications and additional program information is available from the Oregon Department of Energy’s website at www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/BUS /docs/Tech_Req.pdf. A simplified summary includes: • Upgraded insulation package (e.g. substantially upgraded wall insulation) • Top efficiency heating/cooling equipment • No duct work outside conditioned space • Controlled ventilation system • Tested air leakage less than 5.0 ACH @ 50 Pa • Renewable energy system that produces 1 kWh/year for each square foot of conditioned floor space. Tax Credit Amount Builders receive a tax credit for $3,000 for the shell, heating and ventilation upgrades and up to a $9,000 tax credit for the renewable energy system. The amount of the renewable

energy credit is based on the same rate the Oregon Department of Energy offers for homeowners under the Residential Energy Tax Credit program. Homeowners cannot claim state energy tax credits for the renewable energy system that their builder got a tax credit for. However, a homeowner of an Oregon High Performance Home™ can claim the federal tax credits for residential systems. Builders that successfully completed projects in 2007: • Ben Walsh Company, Portland (503) 704-7361, www.benwalshco.com • Ruhoff Homebuilders Inc., Eugene (541) 334-6550, www.ruhoffhomebuilders.com • SunTerra Homes, Bend (541) 399-4733, www.sunterrahomes.com • Bilyeau Homes, Inc., Salem (541) 510-9872, www.bilyeuhomes.com For more information, visit the Oregon Department of Energy website at http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/ CONS/BUS/tax/BETC-Home builders.shtml or call 1-800-221-8035.

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Educational Articles

The Many Renewable Energy Sources at Our Fingertips By Betsy Kauffman, Energy Trust of Oregon While many of the homes featured in this magazine take advantage of solar energy, there are other technologies homeowners can tap to reduce their use of conventional fuels. Microhydropower David Bugni and his family live in a wooded area outside of Estacada. After hearing Vice President Al Gore speak about climate change a few years ago, they looked at the stream flowing across their property with new eyes. “We wanted to take some kind of action and hydropower looked like a good option,” said David. Nearly two years later, two pumps operating as hydro-turbines are generating enough electricity to fully power David’s home and home-based business. This system is expected to produce more than 25,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year. But not all streams will work for a hydro project -- there must be enough flow and downhill water pressure, known as head, to spin the turbine. For example, the creek flowing across David’s property has an average annual flow of 10 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the elevation of the stream drops about 35 feet from where some water is diverted into a pipe down to a turbine and generator. Permitting is also an issue. Homeowners must apply for a minor hydroelectric water right, which carries a fee, and submit design plans that will be reviewed by a list of government agencies and Energy Trust of Oregon. Incentives: • Energy Trust of Oregon (PGE and Pacific Power customers only; project must be outside of state or federally protected areas) • Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) Wind When people think of wind power, they usually envision large turbines in remote locations. But small tur-

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

bines that produce enough electricity to power rural homes or small farms are growing in popularity. Mike Bernards is a fourth generation farmer in Yamhill County who grows “pretty much anything” — vegetables, walnuts, strawberries, grass seed, and more. Although the sun makes the crops grow, he uses about 4,500 kilowatt hours of electricity each month — $9,000 of electricity per year — to operate greenhouse fans, a nut-drying facility and coolers in his produce stand. Mike decided to look into wind power after attending the Harvesting Clean Energy conference in Portland. He installed a 10 kilowatt Abundant Renewable Energy turbine that is expected to produce more than 15,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year. Mike’s decision to invest in wind was easier with an incentive from Energy Trust and a tax credit from the state of Oregon. Incentives: • Energy Trust of Oregon (PGE and Pacific Power customers only) • Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) • Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit (RETC) • U.S. Department of Agriculture 9006 and ValueAdded Producer Grant programs Ground-source heat pumps Ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs), also referred to as geothermal heat pumps, take advantage of the constant temperature of the ground a few feet below the earth’s surface to heat and cool homes. Like a cave, the ground is colder than the air in the summer and warmer in the winter. The GSHP takes advantage of this by exchanging heat with the earth through an underground heat exchanger. GSHPs use less electricity than conventional heating or cooling systems and are three times more efficient in heating your home than baseboard electric heaters or electric furnaces. In the winter, heat is extracted from the ground

A GSHP costs more than an air-source heat pump and is more cost-effective in places with extreme cold or extreme heat. Western Oregon does not fit that temperature model and even areas east of the Cascades do not experience the range of temperatures seen in other parts of the country.The economics for GSHPs improve progressively for larger houses or for buildings with high heating and cooling bills.

Concrete intake box where water goes through a screen and into a pipe that connects to the turbine. Credit: Betsy Kauffman

through pipes and distributed to the home. In the summer, the relatively cool fluid from the GSHP’s pipes absorbs heat from the building and transfers it to the ground. The most common type of residential installation is a closed loop horizontal system. The piping system is buried in trenches near the home at least four feet deep. Alternatively, wells can be drilled vertically when land space is limited. If you are considering a GSHP, be aware of some of the economic considerations, particularly in the Northwest.

Incentives: • Energy Trust of Oregon (available at the same level as those for air-source heat pumps) • Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) • Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit (RETC) Pellet and Wood Stoves Compared to the old pot-bellied wood stoves, today’s wood stoves produce almost no smoke, minimal ash, and require less firewood,They can be sized to heat spaces ranging from a room to a full-sized home. EPA-certified stoves are low-emission and burn cleanly and efficiently. Pellet stoves are also attracting interest because they use a waste fuel and are even safer and cleaner to oper-

ate than wood stoves. Most are selfigniting and use a thermostat to cycle themselves on and off. There are even stoves with computer systems which run diagnostic tests if a problem arises. Pellet fuel is made from sawdust, wood chips, bark, agricultural crop waste, waste paper, and other waste materials which are compressed into pellets that look like rabbit food. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, pellet stoves produce very little air pollution due to pellets’ higher combustion efficiency. The Oregon Legislature has approved a new Residential Energy Tax Credit for qualifying new premium efficiency wood and pellet stoves. Only the highest energy-efficient wood and pellet stoves qualify and must meet a list of specific criteria, including being installed with dedicated outside air. The size of the tax credit is based on the estimated average first year energy savings and cost for equipment. For qualifying premium efficiency wood and pellet stoves, the tax credit is 25 percent of the net cost, up to $300. Incentives: • Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit (RETC) – details above

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Educational Articles

Let the Sunshine In! Oregon’s Solar Access Regulations By Karen Chase, Oregon Department of Energy Oregon has a long history of encouraging solar energy resource use and development, and protecting those resources with solar access laws. As energy policy continues to evolve and renewable energy industries develop, we will likely see additional laws put into place. In the meantime, our current statutes will be used to define the parameters of solar energy implementation. For example, what happens if increasing urban and suburban density, which can improve efficiencies and reduce energy use, also results in blocking sunlight to nearby structures? Oregon Land Use – Solar Ordinances and Access Oregon’s land use policies are guided by 19 Statewide Planning Goals. Goal #13, Energy Efficiency, asks for land use planning measures that maximize energy conservation and efficiency, minimize the use of nonrenewable energy, and consider the existing and potential yields of renewable energy resources. (See:www.lcd.state.or.us/LCD/ docs/goals/goal13.pdf)

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

Several Oregon cities already have solar access ordinances. Many solar ordinances were put into place in the 1980s when it was recognized that without such protections, property owners may be reluctant to invest in solar energy devices.The City of Ashland had one of the first solar access ordinances in the nation, and many other communities around the country have used Ashland’s ordinance as a model. (See www.ashland.or.us/Code.asp? CodeID=3338) Those who work on solar and land use issues in Oregon say that, while it may be challenging, city and county ordinances can be constructed to deal with solar access and property rights issues, including shading by vegetation and buildings, and increasing densities. Under Oregon land use law, city solar access ordinances provide and protect solar access to the south face of buildings, as much as feasible.The orientation of streets and building lots; the orientation and height of new buildings, and the type and placement of vegetation on public right-of-way and private lots, are all to be included when considering

the beneficial use of the sun. Density standards are also to be incorporated when cities plan for solar energy utilization and energy conservation. (See: w w w. o rc i t i e s . o r g / Po r t a l s / 1 7 / A Z/ORS/ORS227.-190-195.html) A solar focus in development and land use planning would consider the potential solar resource and maximize its use through such things as: • Designing lot lines and streets with east-west orientations and adequate setbacks, so each property can take advantage of the sun’s arc through the sky; • Restricting building heights to assure adequate solar access for each property; • Restricting vegetation heights and location to prevent shading of solar devices; • Orienting building structures with their long axis east-west, as much as possible; • And, in north-south oriented development or high-density building, if passive solar access is compromised, assuring solar access to rooftops for photovoltaic and solar hot water opportunities.

they consume. Or, buildings could be required to be “carbon-neutral,” offsetting any greenhouse gases they cause to be produced. If that sounds a little too far-fetched, consider these varied examples of solar progress from around the world: • After 2010 you will not be able to get a single-family home building permit in Hawaii without integrating solar hot water in the design.The new legislation, passed in June 2008, allows just a few exceptions, such as if an insufficient solar resource (e.g. from shading) can be proven. • Parkland, Florida with 14,000 inhabitants has decided that starting in 2009 newly installed outdoor commercial lighting will be solar-powered. By 2018, all outdoor business lighting will have to be solar-powered. • Since early 2007, Spain has required all new and renovated buildings to include

solar panels, a move that is projected to save 30 to 40 percent of the energy use for each building and subsequently reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40 to 55 percent. • And here at home, Governor Kulongoski has proposed energy efficiency policies that include a goal for all new residential and commercial buildings to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Oregon currently requires large new or renovation construction projects for public buildings to include 1.5 percent of the contract costs for solar. The trend toward increasing the use of the sun for our energy needs is clear. Oregon laws and ordinances have promoted solar utilization and protection of solar access. It is likely we will continue to ensure Oregonians can find more and even better ways to utilize and protect their solar resources.

Where Are We Headed? It is possible that in the future new construction projects in Oregon may have to show that use of available passive solar resources is maximized by design. Perhaps all new buildings will be required to produce as much energy as

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Green and Solar Tours

Living the Solar Revolution in Oregon By Tania Parks, Oregon Green and Solar Tours Coordinator, Solar Oregon

The Oregon Green and Solar Tours have become one of Oregon’s most effective outreach tools for educating people about energy conservation, green building, and renewable energy. These tours occur across the state in September and October. They are sponsored by the Oregon Department of Energy,Windermere Real Estate, ShoreBank Pacific, Solar World and Sol-Reliant. They are coordinated by Solar Oregon in association with the American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour. A Little History Solar tours in Oregon began around 1979 as part of the national Sun Day celebration. Each tour served various educational needs within the com-

munity but the driving force behind each was a strong response to the 1970’s energy crisis. In 1980, many communities began aligning their tours with Earth Day and Earth Week events. In the early 1990’s, the National Solar Tour was launched 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 the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). Oregon’s annual tours began a major transformation in 2001 when the first solar tour grants were administered by the Oregon Department of Energy for the Million Solar Roofs grant program; this program provided funds and connected tours in a unified statewide effort.

There will be a strong educational component with presentations by homeowners, green builders, solar installers and other industry professionals. Oregon Green and Solar Tours Today Today, each tour reflects the unique interests of the community, yet all share a common goal: to inspire increased use of green and solar features in order to conserve energy and reduce our impact on the environment. The diversity of homes and buildings across Oregon is what makes the event so popular. From off-grid systems in John Day to ultra modern homes in Portland, passive solar design in Bend to eco roofs in Eugene, there is always something for everyone. Russ Beaton House, Salem.

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

Stuart Stoffel House. Credit: Stuart Green

The Oregon Green and Solar Tours experienced a phenomenal year in 2007 with increased attendance and the development of a statewide tours presence and sponsorship program. Over 4,000 people visited 126 green and solar sites in 13 communities across Oregon, representing a growth of 33% over 2006. Along with a growing number of tour-goers is a growing interest in deeper green high performance homes. Communities with large populations such as Portland, Central Oregon, and Southern Oregon are refocusing their tours to include more of these homes. In some cases, tours are sacrificing more sites for fewer and better quality buildings. Other communities are even going one step further by adding Net Zero sites. The Goal Net Zero Home Tour was launched on May 3rd 2008 by Solar Oregon. This tour exclusively focused on five homes in the Portland area that

were designed with the goal of producing all their energy needs onsite. Each site incorporated a home performance approach for the building enclosure, which combined energy conservation, passive solar, green building, and renewable energy strategies to achieve the goal of net zero energy. Communities in Central and Southern Oregon are following this trend by including sites that elegantly combine green and solar strategies into the building design. In Bend, 3EStrategies is coordinating a tour to showcase the greenest homes in Central Oregon. There will be a strong educational component with presentations by homeowners, green builders, solar installers and other industry professionals. New 2008 Tours Oregon has gained new tours for 2008 including the Goal Net Zero Home Tour in Portland and the Wallowa County Green & Solar Open House in

Northeastern Oregon. Eugene is rejoining the Oregon Green and Solar Tours with a new Local Lead. In Southern Oregon, communities in the Rogue and Applegate Valleys are combining their events, and working closely

What are Net Zero Buildings? There are many names out there for Net Zero buildings including Zero Net Energy, Near Zero Energy, Net-Zero Fossil Fuel Energy or my new favorite, Goal Net Zero. All are referring to a similar concept, a home or building that is designed such that it produces as much energy onsite as it consumes annually. Wow, what a concept, the ultimate in energy security! continue on page 37

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Oregon Green and Solar Tours For a complete listing of tours visit: www.solaroregon.org Willamette Valley Corvallis Green & Solar Tour James Reissmiller Tour Coordinator (541) 231-8772 james@abundantsolar.com www.solarcreek.com Eugene Area Solar & Green Building Tour City of Eugene Green Building Program Jenna Garmon (541) 682-5541 Goal Net Zero Tour – Portland Spring 2009 – date TBD Michael VanDerwater (503) 231-5662 info@solaroregon.org www.solaroregon.org/netzero 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 OSD Green Building Hotline Valerie Garrett (503) 823-5431 www.portlandonline.com/osd Salem Green + Solar Tour Pringle Creek Community (503) 763-1770 www.pringlecreek.com

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

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

Klamath Falls Solar Tour Scott McMahon Klamath Solar Association (541) 882-9923 Applegate Valley Green & Solar Tour Fred Gant 541-840-8302 fgant@earthadvantage.org Douglas County Green & Solar Tour Scott McKain (541) 679-5597 ssmckain@charter.net

Central Oregon Bend/Redmond/Sisters 3EStrategies Megan Clark (541) 617-9013 megan@3estrategies.org www.3estrategies.org

Eastern Oregon John Day Jennifer Barker EORenew (541) 575-3633 info@solwest.org www.solwest.org Wallowa County Green & Solar Open House Susan Badger-Jones sbadgerjones@eoni.com (541) 263-1103

Columbia Gorge Columbia Gorge EnviroHouse Tour Columbia Gorge Earth Center Tara Keairnes (541) 386-5562 tour@cgec.org www.cgec.org

Coast Coos Bay Green Living and Solar Home Tour Shannon Souza P.E., C.W.R.E. 541-266-0877 shannon@solcoast.com www.Solcoast.com

La Grande Area Homegrown Prosperity RE Bus Tour Oregon Rural Action (541) 975-2411 info@oregonrural.org www.oregonrural.org To coordinate a tour in your community, contact: Tania Parks, Oregon Green and Solar Tours Coordinator, tania@solaroregon.org

Tours Sponsorship Oregon’s Green and Solar Home Tours, coordinated by Solar Oregon, in association with the American Solar Energy Society's National Solar Tour, have become one of the most effective outreach tools to educate people about energy conservation, green building, and renewable energy. It costs money to implement these events and we couldn’t do it without our sponsors. Thank you sponsors! Title Sponsor:

Supporting Sponsors:

with the Ashland Tour to ensure that the interests of the public are being met sufficiently in the region. It is very exciting to see communities working together in creative ways, and the emergence of new tours focusing on specific areas of expertise and underemphasized locations. Find a tour near you from the guide on page 56 in this magazine and at www.solaroregon.org/tours. Coordinate a Green and Solar Tour in Your Community If you’re interested in coordinating a tour in your community a good first step is to contact the Statewide Tour Coordinator at Solar Oregon for information on how to join the Oregon Green and Solar Tours. Oregon tours vary from 100% guided bus tours taking place on one afternoon, to multiday self-guided tours that incorporate a green fair or reception afterwards. Some communities sell tickets for their tours, others are free. While developing your plans, here are some guidelines to keep in mind: • Choose a tour coordinator (Local Lead) and consider forming a committee. • Set the date and time: Many coincide with the National Solar tour or another community event. • Decide on the type of tour: ❏ Guided versus Self-guided: Guided tours allow for great crowd control and interpretive guidance from experts while self guided tours provide maximum flexibility. ❏ Single starting point tour: Tickets are sold at a single starting point and there is often a workshop or fair to start the day. ❏ Self-Guided Tours with Map Tickets: Participants are given/sold map tickets, and drive themselves to sites on a specific day only. ❏ Self-Guided Tours with Published Addresses: The addresses and information are widely published, and tickets are sold at each home by volunteers. • Find sites: Send a press release to

Rose House, Portland. Credit: Solar Oregon

Goal Net Zero Tour Goers in Portland. Credit: Kacia Brockman

local media and non profit organizations requesting tour sites; call architects/designers, solar installers, and builders; contact Oregon Department of Energy and Energy Trust for leads on projects receiving incentives. • Get the word out: Advertise with local media outlets. • Recruit homeowner support: Form

a team of volunteers to help during the tour. • Find local sponsors. Local Leads may also participate in a number of other tour projects. For more information contact Tania Parks, Statewide Tour Coordinator, tania@solaroregon.org.

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Featured Homes SMEDEMA HOME

Green and Solar in an Established Neighborhood with CC&Rs By Ann Grim, Oregon Department of Energy

Dave and Kathryn Smedema have always been intrigued by solar energy. In October 2006, the couple attended the Oregon Solar Expo in Portland and the solar bug bit.They were ready to go solar. One small detail stood in the way.Would their homeowner association’s covenants, conditions & restrictions (CC&Rs) allow them to place solar panels on the roof? Dave, a retired state judge, and Kathryn, a retired human resources director, have lived in McNary Estates since 1991. The development has more than 600 homes and condominiums built around the popular McNary Golf Course in Keizer, north of Salem. Many of the homeowners are long-time residents and a number are retired. All

must abide by the Homeowner’s Association rules that have set standards for everything from mailboxes to basketball hoops. “I thought that the CC&Rs might outright prohibit solar installations,” said Dave. “But, I was pleasantly surprised.” Indeed, the 20 plus-year-old CC&Rs contained one sentence regarding solar systems:“Use of solar heating systems is acceptable provided the panels or collectors are integrated into the structure with

“And, of course, we hope to save on our electric bill every month for as long as we live here.” - Kathryn Smedema

Dave and Kathryn pointing to their meter spinning backward as the solar panels do their job. Credit: Ann Grim

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

regard to overall appearance and design.” Smedema, however, knew that he would need to educate the Architectural Committee and the Homeowners Association Board on the attributes of modern solar panels if he was to get design approval on his project. After contacting three solar contractors, discussing various systems appropriate for the couple’s tiled south-facing roof, and getting bids, the Smedemas reached a decision. As his first step, Dave Smedema assembled an easy-to-read packet of information, photos, and diagrams and visited each of the neighbors on his cul-de-sac about his proposal. “It’s just a ‘good neighbor’ thing to do,” he said. But, Smedema also acknowledged that the groundwork with his neighbors would reassure the Homeowner Association Board that they would not get blindsided by negative response. His next stop was the Architectural

FEATURES Solar Photovoltaic System: • Sharp model NE208U1, 14 modules • Xantrex inverter model GT 3.3 • Solar PV Capacity: 2912 watts • Estimated Annual Production: 3221 kWh Solar Hot Water System: • Rheem 80 gallon solar tank • Hartell 12V DC pump • Fluid: Prophylene Glycol • Estimated Annual Production: 2200 kWh TEAM Ron Burden and John Patterson, Mr. Sun Solar

Solar panels on the roof. Credit: Ann Grim

Committee of five homeowners. Smedema’s presentation to the committee developed into a discussion about the lack of certainty in the CC&R language. The committee referred the issue to the Board of Directors and requested standards regarding solar installations that would be compatible with current technology. After several months and meetings, the Architectural Committee, with Dave Smedema’s help, developed additional CC&R standards for solar installations. One sentence in the CC&R was not going to be adequate for the future. Today, McNary Estates Homeowner’s Association has a nine-point standard for solar installations. The Smedemas solar thermal project was completed in mid-May 2007 by John Patterson of Mr. Sun Solar of Portland. The 4-foot by 14-foot roof panel contains propylene glycol and water.The sun heats the fluid which cir-

culates to a heat exchanger tank in their garage where it preheats water before it is piped into their standard water heater. The circulating pump is directly powered by electricity generated by a small solar electric panel attached to the solar thermal panel. The 2.9 kW solar array consists of 14 roof-mounted panels. Excess electricity is put back into the grid and PGE credits the couple on their monthly bill through the net-metering agreement. Dave Smedema noted that in the summer of 2007 they saw a 70% reduction in their utility bills, but expects to average 25 to 30 percent over the course of the year. “We’re also trying to cut back on what we consume,” he said. The Smedemas decided 2007 was a good time to put their interest in solar into action when they researched the financial incentives available to Oregon homeowners. “We received incentives

for 55% of the cost for the solar thermal system and 53 percent of the cost of the PV system,” said Smedema. The incentives included cash incentives from the Energy Trust of Oregon, federal tax credits and Residential Energy Tax Credits from the Oregon Department of Energy. The Residential Energy Tax Credits were for $1,320 for the solar thermal system and $6,000 for the PV system. The PV tax credit is taken over a four-year period, maximum of $1,500 per year. “And, of course, we hope to save on our electric bill every month for as long as we live here,” said Kathryn Smedema. Dave Smedema is still feeling the impact of the solar bug-bite. He enrolled in John Patterson’s solar installation course. Every Saturday morning for eight weeks, Smedema attends the Portland class to gain a better understanding of the technical aspects of solar thermal and electric systems. “I plan to do marketing work for John in Marion and Polk counties,” Smedema said.“I think this is the way to go.” More Oregonians are likely to feel the bite of the solar bug in the future.

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Featured Homes

KERR-LARCH HOME

Tight, Green, Comfortable and Economical By Karen Chase, Oregon Department of Energy “This is the tightest house I have evaluated,” said Fred Gant, Southern Oregon Earth Advantage Field Representative. Gant was referring to the newly constructed Kerr-Larch home located a few miles outside of Ashland. In selecting a building site, Andy Kerr was extremely thoughtful about what he and his wife wanted to achieve. They wanted to produce as much energy as they consumed – a net-zero energy building. Finding environmentally prudent building products that are healthful for occupants, minimizing energy losses and use and generating power, was doubly important to Kerr because the building also houses his business, the Larch Company, which is a for-profit conservation organization where all profits are dedicated to conservation. They chose a site that allowed them to orient the home’s longer axis east-west for solar gain. They bought their solar house plans from Sunplans.com online, and hired Peter L. Cipes Building Design to work with them on incorporation of local codes and additional green building concepts. John Fields of Golden-Fields Construction built the home.

Southside provides passive solar access. PV and solar hot water on rooftops. No southside roof penetrations to interfere with solar devices. Credit: Karen Chase, Oregon Dept. of Energy

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

Kerr expects his home and home-office to qualify for state and federal tax credits for its solar energy system, solar hot water system, passive solar design, energy efficient appliances and energyrecovery ventilator. It also qualified for Energy Trust of Oregon funding. And, with the probable continuing rise in retail electricity rates, making his own power is an increasingly logical economic decision. “You’ve got to be willing to put more money down up-front” for later savings, Kerr said. He expects to have virtually no energy bills. “This house is economically rational,” he added. “Using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) wood throughout the house probably added just 1 to 2 percent to the total cost,” Kerr said. The only wood in the house that is not FSC-certified are the interior doors, which contain just 15 percent wood. They are mostly comprised of wheat straw. Even the kitchen countertop is an FSC-certified 100 percent post-consumer waste paper product with a cashew nut hull oil binder. “Price is mainly a matter of design.” Kerr said. “We spent a lot on the windows and doors and insulating the envelope.” They spent nothing for air conditioning or central heating. The ceiling, floors and walls are superinsulated. The 2 x 6 stud walls have insulating solid foam between the studs, sprayed-in foam insulation and cement and wood-fiber siding to interrupt heat loss. The triple-pane argon-filled windows and exterior doors all close tightly, with multiple latch points. Indeed it is “tight.” Air does not readily leak into or out of the building envelope. “Tightness” is measured using a blower door test in which air is pulled out of a closed-up house with a powerful fan secured in an exterior doorway. Fred Gant, who conducted the blower door test, found leakage at a rate less than half of that necessary to meet the Earth Advantage certification. An energy recovery ventilator ensures healthful indoor air,

Andy Kerr looking over the house plans at the table; Indirect summer south light bathes the room. Solar thermal mass in floor and in wall to the rear of the eating area. Credit: Karen Chase

introducing adequate amounts of fresh air, while efficiently tempering incoming air with heat recovered from the outgoing air. Unlike most new homes in the Rogue Valley, the Kerr-Larch home has no air conditioning system. Yet, it stays cool and comfortable on typical summer days that hit 95ºF. This is accomplished by having few east or west-facing windows.The west side of the main floor is an enclosed porch, which further insulates the house from the hot west sun. South-facing windows, shaded from the high summer sun by roof overhangs, bathe the interior space in natural, indirect light. Thermal mass in the floor, consisting of six inches of concrete topped with a pleasing neutral tile, also helps to maintain the cool temperature. Warm air, rising through the house, is released through four ventilation windows located near the top of the house. Finally, window casings are fit with insulated window shades. The house has no central heating source either. In the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky, warmth is delivered through passive solar heating. High solar gain thermal windows on the south side permit sunlight to strike and heat the air and thermal mass inside. Thermal mass is found in the floor as well in a concrete block wall, a normal-

looking wall that provides the backdrop for the dining area. These structural features soak in the sun’s warmth during the day and slowly release it during the night. For a just-in-case backup, a handful of small convection electric wall heaters are scattered throughout the house to distribute supplemental heat when needed. On the coldest days of the year, these will use the equivalent energy of running three toasters, according to Kerr’s calculations. The 42-panel, 7.2 kilowatt solar electric system is as big as would fit on the south side of the roof. Bob-O Schultz of Electron Connection installed the system. It is grid-tied through one Fronius and two Outback inverters. Twelve of the panels are wired through Outback inverters and deep-cycle batteries, as a backup system in the event of loss of grid power. Tim Dawson of Solar Collection, Inc. installed the solar hot water system located on the adjoining garage roof. The Kerr-Larch house was designed to be tight, inexpensive to operate, aggressive in taking advantage of sunlight, progressively green, and aesthetically pleasing. It excels at each of these objectives. While the owners do not yet know if it will be a truly net-zero energy home, it will definitely come very close.

FEATURES • Triple-pane argon filled Thermo-Tech windows, with multiple latch points • Super insulated ceiling, floors, and walls • Insulated exterior doors with multiple latch points • Very low air leakage (via blower door test) • Insulated window shades • Energy recovery ventilator • Whole house fan • High-place ventilating windows for stack effect • Premium efficient tax credit-qualified appliances (better than Energy Star) • CFLs or T-5 lights throughout • “Variable Frequency” high-efficiency well pump • Passive solar design • High-solar gain windows on south side. • Solar mass in floor and dining room wall • Rheem solar water tank 120 gallons 7.2 kw PV Grid-tied System: • 42 Mitsubishi 161.5 watt panels • Fronius and Outback inverters • 12-battery backup system • 50-year recyclable metal roof • Paperstone FSC-certified paper countertops • Interior doors consist of 85% wheat straw and 15% exterior wood veneer • Low and no-toxicity/VOC coatings and finishes • HardiePlank™ cement and wood-fiber siding TEAM Builder Golden-Fields Construction Designer Peter J. Cipes Building Design “Producer” Andy Kerr, owner

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Featured Homes

RO C H E - KO R F H AG E H O M E

A Young Builder Goes Green in Phoenix, Oregon By Cindy Roché If only far-sighted people built houses, would our homes be different? By “far-sighted” I mean the ability to see that decisions made in home construction have far-reaching consequences. A wellbuilt house may last for hundreds of years, so choices made today affect resource and energy consumption far beyond our life times. We are ourselves past the half century mark and have lived in enough poorly- built or badlyplanned houses to have a feel for what makes a house comfortable and energy efficient. We’d been dreaming of moving out of town to a place where we could see the stars at night and hear birdsong,

The natural light and wood finishes add warmth to the kitchen. Credit: Cindy Roche

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

rather than the roar of the freeway. Having grown up on farms, we knew we didn’t want to drive long distances to town, or risk buying property without good water. Finally, we found a 3/4-acre lot with everything we wanted, plus fabulous views and all utilities in place. We’d already decided that our house would use the sun for energy and optimize opportunities for sustainability. We found a solar electric contractor (Bruce Fiero of Willpower Electric) who gave us design and placement advice. Our designer stood on the lot with us as we described how the house should showcase the views of surrounding mountains and valleys. Next, we needed a contractor. We asked Jason Vos if he would be willing to build our house to Energy Star/Earth Advantage standards. On sunny winter days, sun coming through the south-facing windows keeps the temperature around 70°F, and the rest of the time we burn a bit of local madrone firewood in a small woodstove that is surrounded by a large brick hearth for thermal mass. Water conservation is a high priority, so the hot water circulates in insulated pipes, on a timer that shuts the pump off during non-use periods. Dual flush toilets and low-volume shower heads conserve water. Our Energy Star appliances include a dishwasher that uses less than 5 gallons per load, and a front-loading clothes washer that uses only 5.7 gallons. Our landscaping includes five rows of wine grapes in front and a large vegetable garden in back, both of which also serve as firebreaks. The garden and grapes are watered by drip irrigation, and the rest of the lot will be landscaped with native plants that don’t need supplemental water. Natural light from the windows is supplemented by three Solatubes, a brighter, more energy-efficient form of skylight. In the laundry room, which has no windows, a Solatube furnishes so much light during the day that for the first two months I tried to turn it off at the light switch.

Solar panels on the roof generate electricity year round. Credit: Cindy Roche

Jason Vos built the home to Energy Star/ Earth Advantage standards. Credit: Cindy Roche

Not everything “green” about our house is high-tech or expensive; for example the white roof keeps the house cooler without costing a cent more than a black roof and, when temperatures drop on summer evenings, a whole house fan replaces warm interior air quickly.Two solar clothes dryers (outside clothes lines) plus a couple of drying racks inside serve all our needs

for drying laundry, wet camping gear, ski clothes, etc. A root cellar underneath the front of the house provides cool storage for canned produce from our garden. The performance of our home during the first year was phenomenal. Our water use was the lowest in our neighborhood: about 5,000 gallons per quarter, compared to 7,500 to over 68,000 gallons from our neighbors.The electric bill from March through December was $250.The inverter showed a cumulative production of 4,677 kwh. We have found that with the systems in place, conserving energy and resources in our daily lives is effortless. Beyond knowing our home will continue to conserve energy after we are gone, we also have the satisfaction of influencing a young builder. After completing our house, Jason’s wife Jennifer commented that building our home changed the direction of their company, and their future houses will all be “greener” and more energy-efficient than the ones they’d built in the past.

FEATURES • Passive solar heating and lighting • Solar hot water system • 3-KW photovoltaic system • Energy Star appliances • Compact fluorescent lighting • Marmoleum flooring in bathrooms, laundry and sewing room • Natural lighting with 3 solatubes • Whole house fan for cooling • Dual flush toilets, water efficient clothes & dishwasher • Low water use native landscaping • Drip irrigation for food production • Whitewater water treatment plant on-site • Open plan interior for air and heat circulation • Hearthstone woodstove (<1.9 g per hr emission rating) • Insulation R-38 in the ceiling, R-21 in the walls, and R-30 under the floors • Single window on west side with wide overhang to shield from summer heat, few windows on north side to avoid heat loss in winter TEAM Owners Bob Korfhage and Cindy Roché Contractor Jason Vos Homes, Phoenix, OR Designer Bob Vos, Phoenix, OR Solar Electric Willpower Electric, Phoenix, OR Solar Hot Water Solar Collection, Inc.,Talent, OR Earth Advantage/Energy Star Certification Fred Gant,Ashland, OR

Jason is also working toward Energy Star Home Performance certification, with which he can help home owners increase the efficiency of existing homes. Thus, he can contribute his “farsightedness” to those building from scratch, and “hindsight” to those remedying mistakes of the past.

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Featured Homes

JORGENSEN HOME

Elk Dancing Straw Bale Solar Home Survives a Trial by Fire By Linda Pinkham, Green Living Journal Melonie Jorgensen stands in the living room in front of a tour group and tries to explain, “Until you’ve lived in a home like this, you just don’t get it.” The carefully designed home, named Elk Dancing by its original owner, seems to have considered every aspect of sustainability and efficiency. Melonie and her husband Rich purchased their 2,000-square-foot, post-and-beam straw bale, solar home three years ago. Built in 1999 outside the tiny town of Trail, the elegant and comfortable home graces a hillside that was ravaged by the Timbered Rock Fire of 2002. Only the plant trellises that shade the south windows in summer were charred as the fire swept through. The tile roof and plastered straw bale walls proved to be extremely fire resistant. Melonie tells the group that the density of the straw bale walls is “like trying to light a phone book” on fire. Light bathes the open floor plan, which lends for easy heating with their refractory masonry

The cupola acts like a thermal chimney and the ceiling fan assists to cool the house by exhausting hot air through the cupola's electrically operated windows. Credit: Claire Anderson

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

heater. A single fire on a cold morning keeps the thermal mass of the fireplace and polished concrete floors warm for the entire day, or longer, even in the coldest of weather. Interior walls are short, partial height partitions to allow light and air to flow freely. Solar gain in the winter from the south-facing windows raises the interior temperature by 5°F each sunny day. The home also has radiant floor hydronic heating that covers five zones throughout the house. The insulation of the straw bale walls keeps the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. In the summertime, the generous roof overhangs shade the windows and prevent overheating. A cupola with a reversible fan helps regulate temperatures.The cupola’s windows are operated manually via an electrical switch.With assistance from the fan, natural convection exhausts hot air in the evening when they open up the whole house to take advantage of nighttime cooling. In the master bedroom, a low window overlooks the pond outside.Air drawn over the water’s surface is cooled with an effect like that of an evaporative cooler, and flows in through the window to replace the warmer air exhausted through the cupola. The pond is full year-round, fed by rainwater runoff from the roof and greywater filtered with naturalized plantings. On the roof of the greenhouse/garage are three collectors for solar water heating and a row of small photovoltaic panels that comprise the original 0.75 kw backup solar-electric system. It powers all of the home’s lights and some critical circuits, such as for the refrigerator, and can provide 72 hours of autonomy via the energy stored in the battery bank. The power room houses the inverter and charge controller and the rest of the components for solar hot water, which is a closed loop setup filled with a glycol solution for freeze

The original 0.75 kw photovoltaic array and the three solar hot water collectors are on the roof of the greenhouse/garage. Credit: Claire Anderson

FEATURES • Passive solar design, open floor plan • Straw bale construction, gypsum plaster • Concrete tile fire resistant roof • Grid-tied 4+ kw solar electricity with off-grid backup • Closed loop solar hot water • Aquastar tankless propane water heater for backup • Energy efficient lighting and appliances • Temp-Cast 2000 Enviroheat • Masonry heater with thermal mass • Finished concrete floors for thermal mass • Greywater and rainwater pond system • Greenhouse • Veggie oil fuel station • Drought tolerant plantings, garden, composting bins, solar cooker, edible landscaping, poultry TEAM Architect Lawrence Schechter Builder Alex Boutacoff Photovoltaics Geoff Dawson, Alternative Energy Systems, Inc. Solar Hot Water Tim Dawson, Solar Collection, Inc.

The twelve deep-cycle batteries store backup power for critical loads (such as the refrigerator and lights) during grid outages and can provide autonomy for up to 72 hours. Credit: Linda Pinkham

protection.A small solar-powered pump circulates the hot water from the collectors on the roof through a heat exchanger in the solar hot water storage tank.A tankless hot water heater in the house boosts the temperature if necessary for domestic hot water. Rich professes,“We are not experts about our solar-electric and hot water equipment, and I like it that way.” Just as they don’t need to know how their microwave works in order to use it, they only need to know a minimum to maintain their systems. While the home itself is spectacular,

the rest of the 80-acre property is also a model of conservation and stewardship. They are working on reforesting their charred acreage, and last year planted 1,200 trees. An organic garden and edible landscaping, chosen for drought tolerance, provide a bounty of vegetables and fruits. A solar food dehydrator and solar cookers are used constantly. Their son Thaddeus brings his personal creativity to the property whenever he is not busy working with his chiropractic patients. His chicken coop design, built with recycled lumber, boasts a rainwater catchment system

and helps keep them supplied with eggs they can eat and sell. In addition, Thaddeus has converted several of the family’s vehicles to run on straight vegetable oil, which they collect from local restaurants. When tour groups come, everything they’ve done to lower their carbon footprint is clearly labeled. They lead small, organized groups one at a time to view all of their home’s green features and explain how they contribute to being sustainable. Even though Rich and Melonie are retired from the teaching profession, they are still dedicated to learning all they can, and sharing what they know with others.

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Featured Homes

G R AV E S H O M E

Inspired Adaptation By Kathryn Gray, Urbansun Design, 3EStrategies’ Board of Directors Forty years ago, Mimi Graves’ late husband, the renowned golf course architect/landscape architect Robert Muir Graves, designed their family home in Walnut Creek, California. It suited them perfectly. When they moved to Central Oregon fifteen years ago, they settled on a ranch with a lovely log home with mountain views and lots of privacy.Their lives were changed when Robert became fatally ill. A year later, Mimi decided to leave their beloved ranch and build on a ten acre piece of land adjacent to the home of her daughter and family. The new land was on a long open stretch of high desert prairie at the base of a wooded butte with open mountain views. Both Mimi and Robert had always been committed to environmental stewardship. The goal was to recreate the spacious open floor plan of the Walnut Creek home, making it energy efficient and comfortable considering the Central Oregon winter and summer temperatures. The house layout would fit unobtrusively into the gentle desert landscape. It would be designed to incorporate passive solar to take advantage of the site’s generous solar access, but provide relief from the summer sun.

The south terrace provides a sunny winter spot while the trellis gives summer relief. Credit: Tina Harris Photography

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

From the outset Graves surrounded herself with a team of kindred spirits. Working together with passive solar home designer, Kathryn Gray of Urbansun Design, a plan was created which would weave the multifaceted criteria into a synergistic whole. They settled on a low-slung western ranch style which fit both the lay of the land and the area’s natural materials and architectural traditions. The T-shaped layout, borrowed from the Walnut Creek home, was subtly massaged to take advantage of solar access as well as the many mountain views, and to provide sheltering spaces outside the home. A skylight covered courtyard at the entry, formed between the intersection of the T crossing and the garage projection, would offer a plant and sculpture filled welcoming entrance. It was to become a cool, shady summer room and a reliably sheltering respite from the winds. The roofline would calmly echo the rhythm of the surrounding mountains while nestling harmoniously into the low plane of the landscape. Gray specified a shell of double-staggered 2x4 walls and 14 inch ceiling framing which would accommodate insulation values 50 percent above energy code requirements but use standard competitively priced construction practices. Blown in, rather than batt, insulation was specified for its superior air infiltration control properties. To maximize the effectiveness of the passive solar home’s thermal mass, Gray incorporated a convective air slab, a technique in which concrete blocks are laid under the concrete slab with their voids aligned running north/south and linked at the ends with continuous east/ west channels. A thermostat at the air return located at the highest point in the home’s vaulted ceiling would signal the furnace fan to pull warmed air down into the underslab channels. Vents connect the underslab channels to the home’s conditioned space creating a natural convection loop of air to flow from the house living space through the slab. In the winter

A deep covered patio and inviting pond guarantee a respite from hot summer days. Credit: Tina Harris Photography

this assures the warm air is evenly distributed throughout the house. In summer it pulls excess heat out of the house and flushes it into the much cooler slab where it acts as a heat sink. Mimi reported the house stayed a cool high of 78 degrees during a recent summer heat wave in which 100 degree temperatures persisted for more than a week. In the winter a high efficiency Hearthstone wood stove generally keeps the 2,700 square foot home comfy without need for the electric back up furnace. This woodstove could have been just another efficient woodstove in less determined, less capable hands than Mimi, her builder, Paul Crippa and her tile/stone artisans Julene and John Bruguier. From the Pennsylvania Bluestone hearth to the elegantly arched slate surround, to Paul’s custom made Juniper mantle, it was a labor of love, talent, skill, frustration and persistence as together they designed and constructed a masterpiece of timeless beauty and function. Every decision, every material was selected for its sensitivity to the environment both in terms of low impact and aesthetics. Northwest grown rough sawn knotty pine board and batten siding was treated with a non-toxic natural stain. Moon Cabinets created

the cabinets using non-toxic, sustainable materials. Using non-toxic paints, color consultant Cristina Acosta drew on Mimi’s color favorites to create a palette of rich warmth reflecting and harmonizing with the natural surroundings-- even coming up with the unlikely master stroke of staining the exterior roof fascia a smoky slate gray. Tile work throughout the house is inspired, thanks to the talents and skills of John and Julene Bruguier. And everywhere the gifted artistry and craftsmanship of builder Paul Crippa can be felt. Along with his artistry, Paul patiently learned and implemented many previously unfamiliar green practices from the convective air slab to the double staggered 2x4 shell. The last phase of the project was landscape design. The landscape plan was designed by Mimi’s daughter, Victoria Graves, who obviously shares her father’s talents. During construction, native plants and grasses were carefully protected. Landscape contractor Jim Hammack faithfully followed Victoria’s drawings and masterfully set the extensive local stone walls and pavers surrounding the house. The finished product is a home of impeccable performance and beauty that blends perfectly with its high desert surrounds.

An elegant high efficiency Hearthstone woodstove provides heat without the need for an electric heating system.

FEATURES • Passive solar Design • 2700 Square foot, 2 bedroom; 2 bath western ranch • Advanced framed double staggered 2x4 wall system; engineered wood roof framing. • Blown in formaldehyde-free fiberglass insulation: R-28 walls, R-49 ceiling. • Convective Air slab/thermal mass • Stained finish concrete floors • Sustainably harvested wood cabinets • Solar Water Heating system • High performance wood clad windows with orientation specific glazing • Northwest grown pine siding • Non Toxic paints and stains • Xeroscape landscaping TEAM Owner Mimi Graves Designer Kathryn Gray, Urbansun Design Builder Paul Crippa Construction Tile design and craftmanship: Julene and John Bruguier Color consultant Cristina Acosta Landscape Design Victoria Graves Cabinets Moon Cabinets Landscape/stonework contractor Jim Hammack Solar hot water system Cascade Sunworks

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Featured Homes

S T A L E Y- V I D A S H O M E

Design + Collaboration = Platinum By Cindi O’Neil, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, SolAire Homebuilders and Mary Louise Vidas, LEED Accredited Professional, Certified Sustainable Building Advisor Cooperation between a builder and a designer generally yields a good result. Collaboration between a green builder and a sustainable designer is stunning. The Staley-Vidas residence is a living example in Central Oregon. The 2,243 square-foot Prairie style home will be certified as LEED Platinum, the highest certification level offered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). “The primary goal for Mary Louise Vidas and her husband Allan Staley was to build a LEED home that met their personal tastes, budget and green building aspirations. Then we realized that with our green building expertise and our client’s sustainable design knowledge “Platinum” certification was easily within reach,” explains Cindi O’Neil,Vice President of SolAire. LEED for Homes is a national, third-party certification standard that provides the benchmark for high performance homes. With SolAire as the builder and Vidas as the designer, this

Mary Louise and Allen smiling about their home’s high performance. Credit: Cindi O’Neil

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

designer/owner/contractor team worked to investigate issues and develop solutions. Earth Advantage joined the team as the local LEED Program Provider, assuring performance testing and compliance. Schematic design charrettes placed sharp focus on critical issues: solar access; solar integration of the hydronic system; storm water management; landscaping with native plants; and use of local, resource efficient and low VOC materials. During monthly construction meetings SolAire and Vidas resolved problems early with a collaborative team approach. Vidas chose the traditional Prairie style to demonstrate how a familiar form can become extraordinarily energy and resource efficient. Wide 4’ eaves protect the home from overheating in summer, while the eaves at south-facing windows are shortened to 24” to bring winter sunlight deep into the house. From the interior, views are framed to strengthen connections to site features. An existing ponderosa pine, protected during construction, is visible from the master bedroom. Local landmarks, Mount Bachelor and Broken Top, are framed by select west-facing windows. While the SolAire/Vidas team strove for the most durable, energy efficient and cost effective home shell possible, Vidas insisted that a house built in the Pacific Northwest should utilize the indigenous building material: wood. Combining these goals led the team to choose an insulated staggered stud wall assembly. “There are several good wall systems out there,” adds O’Neil, “but few are as resource efficient and cost effective as the staggered stud wall.” Both the Forest Stewardship Council certified lumber and the recycled content fiberglass insulation were extracted, manufactured and shipped within 500 miles of the Bend building site. Combining this wall system with the insulated concrete sub-floor and R-50 insulated ceiling will cre-

Solar PV array and solar hotwater collectors. Credit: Ross Chandler courtesy SolAire Homebuilders.

ate a high-performance, energy efficient home envelope. The eight-inch wall assembly provides an unexpected bonus: deep windowsills that give the home a solid, old-fashioned feel. Weather wrap protects the entire building envelope, including the roof system, which uses an innovative product called TYVEK ® AtticWrap ™ . Offered as a trial product by a local distributor, ORPAC, the AtticWrap™ will serve as a moisture and radiant barrier making the entire home more resistant to air leaks, heat loss or heat gain. “It’s like putting on a GORE-TEX® jacket over a down coat; you increase the insulation effectiveness of your clothing by adding a breathable, windproof, waterproof shell,“ explains O’Neil. The Staley-Vidas home is equipped with solar hot water and a 2kW photovoltaic system. These renewable energy sources provide about 5,225 kW hours per year of energy. The passive solar orientation of the home, combined with the super insulated envelope and renewable energy installations, will use less than half the energy of the average American home. “Air quality, while always important to our homeowners, is especially important when you build a well sealed home,” says O’Neil. For LEED certification,

SolAire researched deeper into the air quality issues and were diligent in assuring that all the interior flooring, countertops, paints, adhesives, and sealants have very low concentrations of VOCs. Vidas enhanced the livability of the home by using ample daylight and architectural features to define public and private spaces. For example, a coffered ceiling at the dining area has recessed LED lighting. The open floor plan promotes views across this room while the ceiling delineates the space. A salvaged double-hung window between the sunroom and the living room extends daylight further into the house. More than the sum of its parts, the Staley/Vidas residence demonstrates what can be accomplished when a common goal is served by a united team: a truly sustainable, high performance home. While striving for LEED Platinum framed this construction project, it is how the home will function into the future that motivates the team. Says Vidas, “Now that we’re nearing completion, I’m looking forward to gathering performance data and seeing just how well everything works.” O’Neil adds, “And it’s knowing this home will save energy and resources long into the future that gives SolAire a sense of pride.”

FEATURES • Radiant In-floor Heat w/ 98% efficiency gas boiler & eight zones and outdoor reset • Solar hot water system • 2.1 kW PV array • ERV & whole house ventilation system w/ clean air filtration MERV 12 • Passive Solar Orientation, Solarium and sun-tempered spaces • Advanced framing 24” OC staggered 2 X 4” studs on 8” plate • FSC Framing,Trusses, Headers, and Interior Trim • AtticWrap (radiant and moisture barrier) • Zero VOC, Blown in Blanket fiberglass insulation is extracted, manufactured and shipped within 500 miles of Bend. R-50 Attic; R-27 walls • Slab on Grade, R-15 Insulation, 30% recycled content cement in foundation • Zero & low VOC interior finishes • Formaldehyde free cabinetry throughout • 2 Sola-tubes • Tile, FSC hardwood, cork, bamboo flooring; no carpet • PaperStone™ Countertops • Dual Flush toilets • Reclaimed window • CFL and LED Lighting • Energy Star Appliances • Central vacuum system • Native plant landscaping; zero irrigation; zero turf TEAM Owner Mary Louise Vidas & Allan Staley Designer Mary Louise Vidas Builder SolAire Homebuilders Structural Engineer Sandy Charon Heating/ Ventilation/ Solar Hot water Mountain View Heating PV System Sunlight Solar

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Featured Homes

CURRAN-FLORES HOME

Price is Right for Portland Couple By Hannah Hacker, Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc. With the heat cranked to the max and still feeling cold in their newly purchased Southwest Portland home, Susan Curran and Michael Flores knew they needed to take action. They blew insulation into all the walls, increased the amount of insulation in the ceiling and crawl spaces and added insulated doors to keep heated air from escaping outside. “We noticed better comfort and lower bills right away,” said Susan. Devoted to composting and recycling, Susan and Michael said this first energy efficiency step in 1989 felt natural and made good sense. Over the next 15 years they took on other energy-efficiency improvements and renewable energy installations for the same reasons: as practical answers to escalating energy costs. Set on a tree-filled double lot, their 1960s bungalow is shaded and cool in the summer, and on rare 100 degree days, they seek refuge in their backyard sanctuary. But even after adding insula-

Susan Curran and pooch both smiling in front of their green and solar home. Credit: Steve Dipaola

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

tion, the winters and heating bills still caused wallet headaches and frustration. One problem: a malfunctioning heating coil in the ceiling. “After work one winter day, we walked into our house and it was 90 degrees and had been like that all day,” said Susan. After attending a workshop on solar energy, Susan considered a solar heating system. Unfortunately, their roof wasn’t large enough or aligned in the right direction so she looked to other solutions. Susan and Michael recruited Portland General Electric and NW Natural to perform home energy audits. They then bought an ENERGY STAR ® clothes washer and refrigerator, replaced their inefficient aluminum windows with triple-paned windows, and installed a high-efficiency gas furnace with programmable thermostat that they had won in a NW Natural contest. In 2001, they began an addition to their home. The addition was designed with a south-facing roof to make suitable space for a solar energy system. While building, Susan and Michael stayed committed to ensuring their home had a low impact on the environment.They insisted the builders recycle materials from the old portion of the house and reused the plywood from the roof and walls for the new addition. “We were constantly dragging stuff out of the dumpster,” said Susan.“We salvaged the oak flooring and also some old-fashioned light fixtures that we were able to rewire and reuse.” They took the oak flooring to the ReBuilding Center and purchased a solid mahogany door and all of the mahogany molding found throughout the house.They also installed new wood flooring made from bamboo, which is fast-growing and durable. With their utility bills starting to drop, Susan and Michael were happy with their home. But after helping her son Raymond with a school project on the element mercury, Susan took up her solar vision again.“We had a little extra money and I had just read about power plants releasing mercury

Solar panels on the south facing roof. Credit: Steve Dipaola

into the environment,” said Susan. “Michael was hesitant at first because of the cost, but we went ahead with it anyway.” In 2005, they called John Patterson at Mr. Sun Solar to install a solar electric system and a solar water heater. “The solar water heater was a given. It will pay for itself in no time and Energy Trust and the tax credits were a big incentive to go forward with the electric system,” said Susan. For the couple’s 2,100 square foot home, John recommended a 2.6 kilowatt (kW), 16-panel solar electric system. It was installed on the south-facing roof of the new addition. Susan estimates the photovoltaic system covers 30–50 percent of her home’s electricity needs, depending on the season. After the systems were installed, checking the meter became a daily occurrence. “It felt like a hobby,” said Susan.Visible from the street, neighbors and passers-by would come up to the house, asking to see the meter and inquiring about solar energy. To round out their energy-efficiency activities, Susan and Michael bought a

Honda hybrid-electric car and hired landscape designer Libby Layton to remove their grass lawn in the front yard and plant mostly drought tolerant perennials that would only need minimal watering. Asked her thoughts on being part of a new green wave, Susan seems modest and surprised. She doesn’t think their actions were anything special. Her family and home were able to go green, and eventually solar, because they took incremental steps and worked practically with opportunities that presented themselves.

FEATURES • 2.6 kW solar electric system • Sol Reliant solar water heating system • Reclaimed wood to build portions of home addition • Recycled materials for mahogany door and molding • Bamboo flooring • ENERGY STAR products: Kenmore Elite clothes washer, Amana bottom freezer refrigerator, laptop • High-efficiency gas furnace with programmable thermostat • Pella high-efficiency, triple-paned windows • Native plants in the backyard and some drought-tolerant plants in the front yard • Compact fluorescent lighting throughout • Ceiling and floor insulation • Duct sealing TEAM Owners Susan Curran and Michael Flores Solar Water Heating Installation John Patterson, Mr. Sun Solar Solar Electric Installation John Patterson, Mr. Sun Solar Landscape Designer Libby Layton, Libby Layton Landscape Design

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Featured Homes

KERR HOME

Using Less and Generating More in Northeast Portland By Michel Gregory, Energy Trust of Oregon When Andy and Kathy Kerr settled in Portland with their two young children in 1992, they knew solar power would be in their future.They just didn’t know when the time would be right. The couple had left Chicago inspired by a friend they describe as a “solar pioneer.” “He had a flat in Chicago that he got off the grid,” said Kathy. “He studied solar back in the early days when you had to be a geek and really know what you were doing.” While the Kerrs waited for solar technology to develop, they invested in making their Northeast Portland bungalow more energy efficient with highefficiency appliances, including a SunFrost refrigerator. After the Oregon Legislature passed a netmetering law in 1999, which allowed residents to connect and feed excess power to the power grid,

The Kerrs in the garden of their solar home. Credit: Michel Gregory

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

the Kerrs decided the time was right to go solar. In 2001, they hired Mr. Sun Solar, one of a handful of local solar contractors at the time, to install a 2 kilowatt (kW), 16-panel solar electric system on their south-facing garage. “We wanted to show that the technology is here and that anyone can do it. We’re just normal people, not solar geeks,” said Kathy. “All the pieces were in place with the contractor and the inverter and the panels. It’s a maintenance-free system. Once you put it on, it just works.” “The fun thing is, once you get the panels, then you really start paying attention to your usage,” said Kathy. “You start noticing every little thing you’re doing and you try to cut down more and more. We have reduced our energy usage significantly since 2001. I don’t think we have an incandescent bulb in the house.” After the solar electric system was installed, the Kerrs continued to reduce their energy consumption and make their home more comfortable with a high-efficiency gas furnace, high-performance windows and wall insulation. Energy Trust incentives and Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credits allowed them to recover part of their investment. In 2007, they expanded their solar investment with an additional 2 kW, 10-panel solar electric system on the west-facing roof of their house. The new system, installed by Solar Energy Solutions, outperformed the older system on the garage in the first year, producing 1,799 kW. The increased performance is a result of improved efficiency in the panels and inverter. Additionally, the new system received slightly better sun exposure, which was maximized by solar charting performed by Solar Energy Solutions to identify the best panel configuration. “We did the first system in 2001 when there were no rebates and no incentives, just a $1,500

Efficiency upgrades and solar panels transformed the home. Credit: Michel Gregory

federal tax credit,” said Andy. “But the good news is that we did the same size system last year and it was half paid for through an Energy Trust rebate and state and federal tax credits. So it is getting better.” The Kerrs, who heat their home and water with natural gas, now produce more electricity than they actually use. From April 2007 through March 2008, the two systems generated 3,412 kWh while the Kerrs used just 2,549 kWh.

Next up on their energy list? A plug-in electric car to replace their 1991 Saab. “Now that we have excess electricity, that’s the perfect use for it,” said Andy. “We want one that would go the same speed as an internal combustion car.We have the technology to do it, so we’re waiting for someone to make it. It’s the same thing as with the intertie and the inverters. We want it to be available to anybody. Once that happens, we’ll be among the first to jump on it.”

FEATURES • Two 2 kW grid-tied solar electric systems • Blown-in cellulose wall insulation • Attic insulation • Milgard Low E, argon-filled windows • High-efficiency appliances including a SunFrost refrigerator, Bosch Nexxt front-loading clothes washer and Asko dishwasher • Carrier 94 percent high-efficiency gas furnace • Natural cooling from shade trees and roof windows • Bradford-White gas water heater • Compact fluorescent lighting throughout • Solatube daylighting • 2004 Jetta TDI, fueled with B99 biodiesel TEAM Owners Andy and Kathy Kerr Solar Installers Solar Energy Solutions, Mr. Sun Solar Key Vendors All-Weather Home Remodeling Co., Stan the Hot Water Man,All Temp Professional, Light Benders – Solatube

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Featured Homes

REID HOME

Green Under Cover By Stuart Green and Michael Vanderwater, Solar Oregon

Solar panels, interesting angles and warm color finishes. Credit: Michael Vanderwater

Sola Tube Lighting. Credit: Michael Vanderwater

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

As a long time contractor and builder, Tom Reid saw first-hand the amount of waste and potentially toxic materials that accompany conventional construction. So when Tom and his wife Monica set out to design and build their home, one of their goals was to maximize the use of recycled materials. But at a glance, you might not notice.The Reid’s designed their house to look ‘conventional’ and to show people that you can build a comfortable, beautiful home while incorporating sustainable building practices. The Reids moved to the site of their future home in the summer of 2005 and spent two full summers camped out on the property. Living onsite allowed them to become intimately familiar with the landscape while mapping out the house design, all the while running two businesses and caring for their two small children. Prior to beginning construction, the Reids began salvaging and storing materials. Tom came across attention-grabbing, high quality lumber on job sites and deconstruction projects. Old redwood fences and decks were carefully deconstructed and stored, destined to become gorgeous, cleargrained cabinets, floors and finish work. The modified post and beam walls are built from recycled glu-lam beams. Innovative recycling is everywhere – the stair railing is a refinished section of railroad rail, and a second (outdoor) kitchen was built from salvaged appliances and hardware. The Columbia River gorge can be cold, windy, and prone to forest fire, but inside the home the atmosphere is quiet and cozy. The straw bale dwelling incorporates passive solar orientation, solar water heating, super-insulation, and environmentally safe building materials throughout. Tom and Monica selected a straw bale wall system because it is highly insulative, environmentally friendly, and fire resistant. Deep eaves protect the straw bales from winter rains and augment passive cooling during hot dry summers.

FEATURES • 2,300 sq.-ft., three bedroom, three bath, home office • Modified post and beam with straw bale infill • Solar water heating • Thermally isolated slab on grade with radiant heat • Solatube skylights • Energy recovery ventilator • Locally harvested strawbales • Salvaged wood used in cabinets, floors, and interior finish work • American clay/plaster interior finish • Energy efficient lighting throughout • Dual flush toilets • Wired for future PV system TEAM Owner / Designer / Builder Tom Reid, Green Home Construction Architectural Plans Christine Yun, Communitecture Engineering Scott Bowman,Angle Design Hardware Van Kellum, Lonely Mountain, LLC

A solar hot water system, propane water heater, and radiant concrete floor are tied together and form an efficient whole-house heating system. The open floor plan helps to distribute heat from the radiant floor and stone hearth, while folding glass doors allow ample ventilation during warmer months and blur the line between indoor and outdoor living. Natural light streams into the great room from two Solatube skylights, accentuating the American clay walls and finish work by local artisans. The home is pre-wired for a future solar photovoltaic system, and they may add a sunroom in the future. Designing a sustainable home is sometimes accompanied by building code and financing challenges, but the Reids found a surprising amount of community support. “It was really great,

the inspectors were excited and very helpful,” Monica said.Tom noted that he felt the inspectors and bank were very interested in what they were attempting to do from a sustainability point of view. Because of this personal interest, they were more involved and accommodating.Yet,Tom does caution those wishing to build a home to be very realistic with their time expectations. Even with Tom’s vast experience as a contractor and builder, it took the Reids 13 months to complete their home. All in all, Tom and Monica view the design and building of their home as a deep self-exploration of their values and beliefs in living with their environment. Monica likened it to the famous naturalist, E.O Wilson’s philosophy of Biophilia; “the love of life or living systems” in which humans have biologically ingrained feelings toward landscapes and these feelings dictate where they live. Tom reflected that the home breaths in night air to recharge the home with ‘cool ‘ in preparation for the next hot day. The end result is a spacious and inviting home that does not let high-performance get in the way of simple living. “The house has an old world feel, with a little bit of technology, and we like that” said Tom. Tom & Monica’s Advice • Energy savings come mostly from good design. • Design and build with your personal values in mind. • View the house as a complete system. Explore how the home’s goals can synergistically enhance one another. • Set your budget first and design within your budget. A common mistake is to design the largest house you can afford. Over-budget often results in cutting back on the green features that are "causing" the project to be over budget. • Work with professionals to help design and build your green home – by working with them your project has a better chance at success.

Window of Truth. Credit: Michael Vanderwater

Solar Electric Specialists

Commercial Tax Credit Certified

Licensed Bonded Insured Over 25 years experience

541-517-2121 800-200-2372

Eugene • Salem • Portland info@solarenergydesign.com CCB#: 161672

Residential

Energy Trust of Oregon Trade Ally

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Featured Homes

MCKENNA HOME

Dream with a View By Lizzie Giles, Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc.

Efficient wall systems, doors and windows, solar electric and hot water systems. Credit: Lizzie Giles

Ian and Aspen in their sunlit kitchen. Credit: Lizzie Giles

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

For five years, avid windsurfers Ian and Aspen McKenna were drawn to their Hood River property each week by nothing more than a tent, a spectacular view of Mt. Hood and a reliable west wind. When they finally decided to build, it was with a deep respect for the natural landscape they had come to love. “After all that low-impact tent living,” said Aspen, “building a house almost seemed like the wrong thing to do.” To help them realize their dream of a contemporary home that fits its surroundings and treads lightly on the environment, Ian and Aspen called on Matt Raphael — a Portland builder and designer, and Ian’s longtime childhood friend. Ian and Matt grew up together in Alexandria,Virginia in a 1950s neighborhood noted for its modern architecture, generous use of windows and emphasis on complementing the natural surroundings. With their shared history and design ethic, Matt was a natural fit for the project. Ian and Aspen encouraged Matt to research and incorporate green building techniques as he designed and built the home. As a result, half of the house and the garage are built from RASTRA® insulated concrete forms which provide structure, insulation and soundproofing in one product, and they contain 85 percent postconsumer recycled content. At 2,500 square feet on two and one-half floors, the house has a modest footprint, making it easier to heat and cool. South-facing, floor-to-ceiling windows provide excellent daylighting and open the home to the outdoors. To manage heat gain in the summer, high reflectivity shades on timers automatically lower during peak sunlight hours without compromising natural light. A whole house fan pulls in cool evening air from basement vents. The stairs, trim and exposed posts and beams were reclaimed from an old Schnitzer warehouse on Portland’s south waterfront. Matt transformed

The home integrates into the landscape. Credit: Lizzie Giles

the remnants of the salvaged wood into furniture for the home. Integrated color plaster walls are cool to the touch but look like soft suede, bringing warmth and comfort to the living spaces. Solar was always part of the plan. Clean rooflines were important, so thin-film photovoltaics designed to adhere to the surface of a standing seam metal roof were selected.The 2.7 kilowatt (kW) system is nearly invisible against the charcoal grey roof of the garage. Only the inverter and meter mounted in the garage provide visible evidence that the system exists. After touring the solar home of Common Energy’s Tod LeFevre during the Hood River Green and Solar

Homes Tour, Ian and Aspen decided to incorporate solar water heating into their project as well. Thirty-two square feet of Heliodyne collectors provide most of their hot water, and the McKennas are pleasantly surprised at how cost effective it has been. “I love guiltlessly running appliances in the middle of the day,” said Aspen. The commitment to low-impact living doesn’t stop at the front door. Drought- tolerant and native plants require little or no watering and blend well with the existing landscape of grasses and wildflowers. Wind, the very element that initially drew Ian and Aspen to Hood River, is a challenge for any vegetation, so the McKennas relied continue on page 63

FEATURES • RASTRA ® Insulated Concrete Form construction • Task-specific lighting design with goodbye function that turns off all lights in the house when homeowners leave • Low-reflectivity, high efficiency windows and doors • Automated sun-tracking shade system • 2.7 kW thin-film photovoltaic system with Sunny Boy inverter • Heliodyne active solar water heating system • Reclaimed, salvaged timber used to build the majority of the visible wood, including stairs, beams, window and door trim and some wood furniture • Integrated color plaster walls • Soapstone countertops -• Low or non-toxic finishes • Xeriscape drought-tolerant and native plantings • ENERGY STAR® appliances • Dual-flush toilets & low-flow fixtures • Metal roof • Extensive daylighting • Natural ventilation and nighttime air flushing • Stained concrete and bamboo floors • Hydronic radiant floor heating • Received incentives from Energy Trust of Oregon, Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit and federal tax credits. TEAM Builder/Designer Matt Raphael, Raphael Design Landscaping Andrea Flint,Andrea’s Garden Works Hardscape Design Pat Lando, Lando Landscape Architecture Solar Water Heating Installation Tod LeFevre, Common Energy Solar Electric Installation Stapleton Electric and Solar

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Salvaged lumber makes for beauty and sustainability. Credit: Lizzie Giles

on local guidance to choose site-appropriate plants. For homeowners deciding to build their own green and solar home, Ian recommends incorporating sustainable features early into the design process. An impressive rainwater catchment system was proposed toward the end of construction and was ultimately abandoned due to prohibitive expense. “If we had considered it earlier in the process,” said Ian, “we could have done it.” The house that Aspen confesses was originally intended to be a vacation home has become an influential force in the McKennas’ life. Ian and Aspen celebrated their marriage with friends and family at the partially completed home site in 2006, and spent their wedding night on an air mattress in the unfinished master bedroom. Their love of the house and surrounding area ultimately resulted in their permanent move to Hood River.

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Featured Homes

NELSON HOME

Fourth Generation Pendleton – Green, Solar and Organic By Karen Chase, Oregon Department of Energy Growing up in Pendleton, Eric Nelson looked forward to spending the summer on his grandparents’ farm just outside of town. Eric’s family has grown wheat there for more than one hundred years. As an adult, he moved to California and then to Portland where he lived for many years, but those farm summers were imprinted on Eric’s heart. In 1996 he moved back to Pendleton, married and started a family. Now the Nelson family has found its way back to the farmland where Eric spent such joyful days as a child.

Passive solar design and this beautiful wood-fired masonry stove meet all of the home’s heating needs. Credit: Karen Chase

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

Eric and Gail are doing things somewhat differently than Eric’s grandparents did, however. They have built a passive solar, straw bale home, and are turning their farmland into a completely organic enterprise. As Eric began to conceive of the home he would build, he knew it just made sense to take advantage of eastern Oregon’s prominent solar resource. They incorporated passive solar design with a roof-mounted solar electric system and solar hot water system. Their passive and active solar features and energy efficient appliances qualified them for Oregon Department of Energy tax credits of almost $9,500. The solar photovoltaic (PV) and hot water systems, which totaled $29,850 in installation costs, also qualified for Energy Trust of Oregon funding of about $7,300. They also were eligible for federal tax credits for the solar devices. Mr. Sun Solar installed the solar electric and solar hot water systems. The PV panels make up a 3 kW grid-tied system.While this may not meet all of their electrical needs, it generates a significant portion, and on summer days it can produce more than they use. A thick concrete slab provides thermal floor mass for passive solar heating. Large picture windows on the south face of the house allow winter sun to strike the floor and heat the concrete. The house has no mechanical heating or cooling system. Passive solar heating is complemented with a Finnish wood-fired Tulikivi masonry stove that also has a bake oven. This beautifully-crafted stove is an artistic central feature of the home. The soapstone exterior never gets so hot as to be harmful, which is especially important as Eric and Gail have two small daughters. The south and east walls, two stories in height, are 18 inches in width and were constructed using

Solar panels and wooly sheep in rural Oregon. Credit: Karen Chase

335 two-string, 80-pound wheat straw bales. Those bales are from wheat grown and baled on their own farm. Eric asked for volunteers including friends; contacts at SolWest, the annual John Day solar conference; and Whitman College in Walla Walla, to help with the construction. They hired a consultant to hold a workshop to teach everyone how to construct with straw bales. The straw bale-raising took two days and 25 people from a 100mile radius. The twelve-inch thick west and north walls are constructed of Quad Lock insulated concrete forms (ICF). While the initial intention was to use straw bales exclusively, some construction hurdles made it sensible to modify plans and use the ICF. Eric learned a great deal about green building and searched out suitable products. He sourced several products from Environmental Building Supplies in Portland. The couple chose St. Astier Natural Hydraulic Lime for the exterior stucco. American Clay was selected for the finish plaster coatings on interior walls. Flooring in the kitchen and stairwell is natural cork, and tongue-and-groove bamboo covers the upstairs bedroom floors. The triple-paned windows, with blinds between the glass, are low-E on the north, west and east, to limit heat gain. On the south, the glass is clear to allow the maximum amount of winter

sunlight through. They considered installing even more and larger south-side picture windows for additional winter solar heating, but were more concerned about summer cooling. Only two windows are located on the north side of the house, which is also protected by the attached garage. Casement windows provide natural ventilation. On the south side of the house, the windows capture the cooling night air that flows up from the river. A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) collects and exhausts stale indoor air and replaces it with fresh air from the outside. At the same time, it can utilize the warmth from the exhaust air to preheat the incoming air. Now Eric and Gail are concentrating on building their organic farming enterprise. They take one cutting of organically grown alfalfa per year. This crop builds the soil, adding fertility for future crops. They will continue to use alfalfa as a rotational crop as they introduce other organic crops such as peas and winter wheat. Eric and Gail’s home looks out over the eastern Oregon rolling farmland and towards the Blue Mountains. They can see the old farmstead and remember the history of their land. Eric may be the fourth generation here, but he and Gail are starting something new and something they can pass on to their children.

The “truth” window. Credit: Karen Chase

FEATURES • 2500 square feet, two stories • Straw Bale and Insulated Concrete Form structure • Passive solar design with thermal mass • Roof-mounted, grid-tied 3 kW PV system w/ 20 Mitsubishi 150w panels • Xantrex GT3.0 inverter • Solar hot water Sol-Reliant system with 36w Shell PV module and Rheem tank • Tulikivi 2700 masonry wood stove with bake oven • Natural hydraulic lime exterior stucco • Clay finish coat on interior walls • Cork on kitchen floor & on stairways • Bamboo tongue and groove flooring upstairs • Marmoleum flooring downstairs in non-thermal mass area • Low VOC SkyBlend (Roseburg Forest Products) – shelving and melamine • Low VOC Harmony pains (Sherwin-Williams) • Triple-pane Pella windows; low-e and clear • R-48 insulation on flat ceiling areas; R-39 in scissor trusses • All interior framed walls insulated • Formaldehyde-free insulation TEAM Architect: Terry Johnson, PKJB Architectural Group, Wenatchee,WA Builder: Joe Deutz, Deutz Construction, Pilot Rock, OR

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Featured Homes

P E N I N S U L A PA R K C O M M O N S

A Colorful Green Community By Michel Gregory, Energy Trust of Oregon

Walking along the west edge of Peninsula Park in North Portland, you can’t miss the orange and rust-colored complex on the corner of North Albina and Holman. Two new three-story buildings – each sporting solar panels – rise behind lowslung 1930s courtyard units that are painted in the same sunny tones.

Eli and Jim in front of their multi-hued and “Green” home. Credit: Steve Dipaola

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

The new buildings are the second phase of a co-housing community that began in 2003 when friends Eli Spevak and Jim Labbe purchased the seven-unit courtyard apartment building in the Piedmont neighborhood. In the summer of 2004, they formed Peninsula Park Commons LLC and converted the property to six condominiums with one common unit for shared use, plus collective outdoor space and a garden. The Commons was created to achieve what the founders describe as the best of co-housing — fun, community-oriented, low-impact living and shared resources — combined with the advantages of privacy and individual homeownership. Behind the courtyard, where seven garages once stood, the Commons has grown to include one two-bedroom, single-level condo (623 square feet), two three-bedroom, two-level condos (approximately 1,200 square feet), new common space, a bike garage and a more private shared courtyard adjacent to the common unit in the original building.The project, developed by Eli’s development company Orange Splot LLC, is part of a new breed of small footprint, green co-housing projects. Eli, who has developed similar projects, designed the second phase to meet clear goals. “We wanted a development that was very green with relatively small units, but it was important to us to have them be large enough to serve families — unlike many of the units in the original building,” he said. “I’m a fan of green buildings, but they’ve got to look good or no one’s going to want to live in them. That was a goal as well…to increase the appetite.” The new units, which sold quickly, are ENERGY STAR® qualified and were nearly tight enough to meet Oregon Department of Energy’s high-performance home standards. Eli expects to receive Oregon Business Energy Tax Credits for the project. The Commons project incorporates advanced framing with two-foot-on-center studs to improve

Ultra efficient stacking appliances. Credit: Steve Dipaola

Solar clothes drier (also known as a clothes line!) Credit: Steve Dipaola

energy efficiency and reduce lumber use, raised heel trusses to accommodate R-49 cellulose attic insulation and under-slab insulation. A polar blanket system was used in the walls with fiberglass insulation blown in to fill the wall cavity. Solar pre-heated water feeds tankless gas water heaters to provide domestic hot water and radiant infloor heat. Dishwashers, clothes washers and refrigerators are ENERGY STAR qualified, and compact fluorescent light fixtures are used throughout, with the exception of a few halogen can lights.The two three-bedroom units are pre-wired for solar electric installations on the roofs. The Commons is as visually appealing as it is energy efficient. The vibrant exterior color palette is enhanced with playful decorative details made from old bicycle parts. “We have a strong bike theme in the community, so we wanted to include bike art in the project,” said Eli. He worked with Portland bike sculptor Richard Cawley, who designed features such as floral shapes to adorn the gable ends and clothesline supports made from bike forks. A bike garage with a wide doorway, and a curb that

allows easy bike access from the street, reinforces the commitment to cycling and makes it easy for residents to live mostly car-free. Features like maple windowsills with a “live” edge and salvaged windows in the sunrooms that connect to a thirdfloor, pulley-system clothesline give the homes character that is uncommon in new construction. The windowsills, which retain the natural, rough edge of the original tree, and all the interior trimwork were milled from a salvaged 100-year-old maple tree that fell in historic Officer’s Row in Vancouver, Washington. Eli had it milled, kiln dried and planed for use in the project. The charm of the Commons drew Jess Thompson and Chris Luedtke to stop into an open house one day. They lived just a block and a half away, and weren’t in the market to move. “I was blown away,” said Jess. “It felt like this was a place that I could raise my family. It’s a laid-back, welcoming community, and the artistic touches and green aspects were really appealing.” The couple sold their 1920s bungalow and bought one of the three-bedroom condos, where they now live with their 6-year-old son Akeke. Besides giv-

FEATURES Co-housing Two new buildings that house three condos, one common unit and a bike garage with a shared courtyard on a 40–foot by 100-foot lot that connects to an existing 1930s courtyard complex. • Advanced framing • Raised heel trusses • Cellulose attic insulation • Blown-in fiberglass wall insulation • Foam slab insulation • Solar hot water systems • Pre-wired for solar electric • Gas tankless water heaters • Radiant floor heating • High-performance windows (Integrity by Marvin) • Compact fluorescent light fixtures • ENERGY STAR appliances • Low-VOC interior and exterior paint • Interior trim milled from salvaged local maple tree • Bike garage with bicycle curb cut • Decorative elements made from recycled bike parts • Reclaimed brick in courtyard TEAM Developer/Builder Eli Spevak, Orange Splot, LLC Architect Communitecture Solar hot water system Gen-Con, Inc. Radiant floor heating Hoffman Hydronic Bike sculpture Richard Cawley

ing them a new, energy-efficient home free of old-house maintenance issues, the Commons offers the added benefit of an extended family of neighbors. “The other night, I was tucking Akeke in and he said, ‘Mom, I just love our new house. I’ve always wanted a really big family.’ It’s great,” said Jess.“Now we can have a bigger family without having more children.”

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

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 expanded Commercial Building Section. Commercial green building continues to gain momentum in Oregon. Portland is a national leader in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings. Central Oregon is home to numerous award winning sustainable buildings. In this section you will find information on the key elements to creating a green and efficient commercial building. You will learn about new developments in the LEED program and other certification programs. You will also find user-friendly information about tax and cash incentives that help you pay for energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. Finally, you will get a preview of some of the top commercial green building projects in the state. We hope this information helps you go green in your own building.

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

Commercial Green Building

Can Buildings Fly?: Lessons Learned in Designing Net-Zero Energy Buildings through Passive Means By Lisa Petterson, Associate – SERA Architects,AIA. LC, LEED AP and John Echlin, Design Principal – SERA Architects,AIA, LEED AP The call to design energy and resource efficient buildings in this century requires designers become far more rigorous about climate responsive design. Green building rating systems such as LEED started the quest to create buildings that are “Less Bad”. Recently the Living Building Challenge 1 (LBC), a standard introduced by the Cascadia Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, asks us to consider designing buildings to the highest measure of sustainability possible in the built environment today. One of the required prerequisites of the LBC is net-zero energy which requires “100% of the building’s energy needs be supplied by on-site renewable energy on a net annual basis.” At first glance the concept of achieving netzero energy for commercial buildings is daunting, not unlike the challenge of creating heavier-than-air flying machines. Yet if we are to achieve energy

Figure 1

independence and reduce the unconscionable level of energy consumption our buildings are responsible for (40% of our nation’s energy and 75% of its electricity2), it is imperative that we find a way to achieve net-zero energy on a commercial scale and implement it rapidly.

“Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible” – Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society, 1895 So how do we begin to make buildings fly? At SERA 3, we have discovered achieving net-zero energy on a commercial project requires both a return to traditional climate responsive design strategies in the conceptual design stage as well as application of the latest in energy modeling tools to verify our assumptions. For one of our projects, an 80,000 square foot office building in Portland, Oregon, we found conservation measures - such as increased insulation, optimized glazing performance, high-efficiency fans and motors, heat recovery systems, and energyefficient lighting - improved the building’s energy efficiency to 50% better than code. Since a netzero energy building must incorporate renewable sources (such as photovoltaics) and because photovoltaics are still relatively expensive and inefficient, additional strategies that further reduce the building’s energy usage are needed to achieve netzero energy. For the office building we optimized building orientation and massing to allow the building to be naturally lit and passively cooled. The continue on page 70

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Figure 2

Figure 3

addition of a central atrium increases the building’s energy efficiency in three ways: by adding supplemental daylight which further reduces electric lighting demand, by acting as a passive solar room absorbing temperature swings and providing thermal storage capacity, and by assisting in natural ventilation. The dynamics of these three passive strategies inform the building form. These added measures, in conjunction with scheduling occupancies to avoid peak energy demand and allowances for expanded temperature ranges, will

improve the building’s energy performance to 65-70% above code. With the addition of a modest photovoltaic array, we are able to achieve the net-zero energy goal. An atrium that functions to provide natural lighting takes it shape from the predominate sky condition, which in our climate zone is overcast. For an overcast sky, the primary daylight resource is the center of the sky dome directly overhead. A central atrium also provides illumination from two sides, which creates more evenly distributed

natural lighting and allows electric lighting to be reduced. Light shelves on the south façade supplement daylight, while photovoltaics bracketed from the window provide shade from direct solar gain in summer (see Figure 1). To allow for passive heating in the Pacific Northwest, an atrium biased to the south is preferred. The natural thermal delta between the top and bottom of the atrium will drive a convective current, allowing the building to naturally exhaust excess heat at the roof through vents that open when temperatures indicate additional heat is not desirable. Summer sun will be shielded by shading devices to prevent direct glare and heat from passing into the occupied space (see Figure 2). The atrium also facilitates natural ventilation, using the same principles as a chimney. By drawing air from both sides of the building toward a central exhaust point, the width of the building that can be ventilated effectively using natural means is doubled. The effectiveness of stack ventilation can be enhanced by locating the stack outlet in areas of wind-induced negative pressure, amplified by the building form. Solar assistance from the south-leaning atrium also assists in building ventilation. The atrium roof shape represents a synthesis of optimizing the angle for photovoltaic placement and maximizing the negative pressure effects of prevailing winds to assist in passive ventilation (see Figure 3). Whether one is pursuing net-zero energy and the Living Building Challenge or not, strong implementation of passive design strategies should be a fundamental aspect of all building design. Just as flora and fauna adapt to their surroundings and create sustaining ecosystems, perhaps we too can learn how to design buildings that respond to their climate and are ”living” rather than “consuming”. Maybe then we will have the equivalent of buildings that fly.

1 For more information about the Living Building Challenge visit www.cascadiagbc.com/lbc. 2 For more information on building energy use visit www.architecture2030.org/2030_challenge/index.html 3 For more information on SERA Architects, visit www.serapdx.com

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

Commercial Green Building

Making your Existing Commercial Building Efficient By Stacey Stemach, Steele Associates Architects When people talk about energy efficient buildings, most are referring to newly constructed buildings. Yet there are many things one can do to existing buildings to improve their energy performance. These strategies can range from simple to complex and vary greatly based on the conditions of the building and its site. Extensive modifications to existing buildings can be performed to improve their energy performance, however this typically requires architects, building engineers and contractors to be involved. The easiest way to start is simply by turning things off. Whatever you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need, or isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t being used regularly, turn it off. While servers and phone systems should be kept running, desktop computers and workstations can be shut down each night to conserve power. Contrary to popular belief, this does not harm them. The next step is to replace inefficient items with efficient alternatives. Start with lighting by replacing incandescent fixtures with compact fluorescents; and for fluorescent lights, upgrade magnetic ballasts to electronic. Review your office equipment and appliances. If any are old and need to be updated, be sure to purchase ENERGY STAR appliances and equipment. Many pieces of equipment have energy efficiency settings, such as dishwashers and computers. Check your settings and adjust the energy usage of each piece of equipment to best fit your needs. Make sure the seals of your break-room refrigerator are in good shape, and keep the refrigerator between 36 and 38 degrees, and the freezer between 0 and

5 degrees. Set the air conditioning to cool down to 72 degrees, and heat up to 68 degrees. The tips suggested above are easy to do, and relatively inexpensive. They can be followed without changing the building at all, which makes them applicable to any business, regardless of whether they own or lease their own space. The following strategies require modifying the building to varying degrees. If you are the building owner, you can use your own discretion as to how much you want to do. If you lease a building in its entirety, or just a space within a building, you will need to work with the building owner or property manager. There are many small things that can be done easily to a building to improve its energy performance. The first best step is simply to make sure the doors and windows seal properly. This will help prevent the summer heat and the winter cold from seeping into your space.The next step is making sure your walls and ceilings have enough insulation in them. This can be a bit tricky, but is definitely worth the effort. Improving the exterior skin of your structure is one of the best ways to save energy, both heating and cooling. Next, have the heating and cooling system serviced. Good duct sealing and system maintenance is important to ensure that the components are functioning at peak efficiency. Add programmable thermostats which can turn heating and cooling requirements down when the building is unoccupied. If components are older and out-of-date, many state and federal incentives exist to help offset the cost of replacing such units

with modern, high efficiency units (air conditioners, heat pumps and furnaces). Adding a Low Emissivity Film to windows helps deflect some of the solar heat gain from the summer sun, high up in the sky, while allowing the sun to enter while it is lower in the winter. If your building or commercial space has south facing windows, give good thought to adding awnings and shading devices to this face. Sized properly, south facing, horizontal shading devices can significantly reduce summertime heat gains from the sun, while allowing the low angle winter sun to penetrate the building, helping to heat the space passively. Deciduous trees help with seasonal shading as well, providing protection and coverage during the warmer months, and allowing the sun through in the colder months.Trees are excellent sources of shade for east and west faces of buildings, which are not effectively shaded with awnings. They can also help reduce the heat island effect of parking lots, whose asphalt might otherwise absorb large amounts of solar heat. Passive shading can provide significant savings in energy, as well as making the building more enjoyable and comfortable to occupy. All of these tips apply to new buildings as well, only you have the option of building them in from the beginning. For most commercial structures, a licensed architect and/or engineer must stamp and sign the drawings, but be sure to check your state and city requirements before proceeding.An energy conscious, environmentally mindful architect should assist your vision and enhance the energy performance of your project.

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Commercial Green Building

S O L A R H O T WAT E R H E AT I N G C A S E S T U DY

Lucky Lab Brewery By Robert Del Mar, Oregon Department of Energy

For many Oregonians, summertime evokes images of long days spent in warm sunshine and mild evenings enjoying a nice hand-crafted beer. Gary Geist and Alex Stiles, owners of the Lucky Lab Brewery in Portland, have figured out exactly how the two activities fit together. The answer is 16 solar thermal (hot water) collectors on the roof of their Hawthorne brewery and restaurant in Southeast Portland.

The solar thermal collectors on the brewery roof do not have the sexy blue luster of a photovoltaic (PV) array. In fact, they have a somewhat industrial look since they are only visible from behind. The street view shows the business end of the system: the support rack and copper piping. But for this system, the proof is in the “liquor back.” It is expected to generate more than 1,000 therms or 30,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of renewable energy annually. The PV system required to make the same 30,000 kWh would have been more than three times the size and cost.

“It’s perfect for a brewery, we use a lot of hot water to make beer and this is just the right technology to help us reduce our energy consumption.”

Co-Owner Gary Geist serves up a beer in the popular Southeast Portland brew pub. Credit: Oregon Department of Energy

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

The Process The liquor back, for those not familiar with brewer’s lingo, is normally the first tank in the brewing process. Here, water is heated to 180° F and then piped to the mash tun, the tank where it is put to work dissolving sugars out of malted grains. At the Lucky Lab, water going to the liquor back is coming instead from the solar storage tank and has already gotten a boost in temperature from the sun. As soon as the sunlit collectors become hotter than the solar tank, a pump begins to circulate a solution of water and propylene glycol through a closed loop system. The solution is heated in the solar collectors and then returns to the storage tank, releasing the heat and warming the brewing water. In sunny weather the 900-gallon

Abby Sherrill, a Brewer at the Lucky Lab, hoists a pint of her Solar Flare, the flagship beer of the solar hot water system. Credit: Oregon Department of Energy

solar tank is heated up to 185° F, using only the energy required to run the circulation pumps. In light cloudy weather the water may still be heated to about 110° F, representing significant energy savings. The Payback I asked Geist why he decided to invest in a solar hot water system.“It’s perfect for a brewery,” he replied. “We use a lot of hot water to make beer and this is just the right technology to help us

reduce our energy consumption.” But this common-sense technology should not be limited to the brewers guild. Oregon is a land of food processing facilities, dormitories, swimming pools, car washes, and countless other commercial buildings with significant hot water needs. These larger systems must be carefully engineered for proper system sizing, pump selection, pipe sizing, storage tanks, expansion tanks and heat exchangers. Piping systems should be designed for ease of continue on page 74

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

FEATURES • Collectors: 16 Heliodyne Gobi 410’s (640 sq ft) • Tank Size: 900 Gallons • Installer: Ra Energy www.ra2energy.com • System Cost: $71,000 • Federal Tax Credit (30%): $21,300 • State Business Energy Tax Credit (50%): $35,500 (taken over 5 years) • Energy Trust of Oregon Incentive: $8,200 • Estimated Annual Energy Production: 1,000 Therms • Estimated Annual Savings: $1,250 (@ $1.25 per therm)

Logo for “Solar Flare” beer.

maintenance and for isolation of system components. The key to commercial solar thermal systems is correctly matching the system size to the thermal loads. The quickest payback is achieved by those systems with hot water loads throughout the summertime that can utilize the abundant summer sun. In this way, a brewery is perfect. That same summer sun brings on a hearty thirst. The Future Good times are ahead for commercial solar thermal businesses in Oregon. The state provides a Business Energy Tax Credit for 50 percent of the Maximum Eligible Cost (MEC) of the systems. The MEC can be easily calculated by downloading a spreadsheet from the Oregon Department of Energy webpage at http://oregon.gov-/ENERGY/RENEW/Solar/Support-BETC.shtml. When asked whether the solar thermal system has had any negative impacts on his brewery operations, Geist answered, “Not really. It’s pretty much a silent system. This year has seen a pretty dismal spring, but we’re all looking forward to summer when the system will really be screaming. By then the controls should be tied into our Web page so we can monitor the performance online.” In the name of research, I ordered up the flagship beer for the solar thermal system; a light and hoppy summer brew known as Solar Flare. “It works,” I declared, sampling the beer. “Yeah it works,” Gary added. “If it didn’t work, we wouldn’t be putting another system on our Quimby Street beer hall in Northwest Portland this summer.” It seems that the Lucky Lab is raising the bar on sustainable brewing practices, and to that I say,‘Prost!’

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

Commercial Green Building Oregon Businesses Access Incentives for Green & Solar Projects Business owners across Oregon are making investments in energy projects and taking advantage of available financial incentives like the Business Energy Tax Credit. The tax credit is 35 percent of eligible costs for conservation projects and 50 percent of

eligible costs for renewable energy projects. Add in a 30 percent federal tax credit and Energy Trust of Oregon cash incentive (for those in Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas territory) or other utility incentive, and the bottom line is even more attractive.

Incentives* Available to Oregon Businesses Federal

Solar PV and Solar Water Heating: 30% investment tax credit of installed system cost for systems placed in service by Dec. 31, 2008 Other energy projects available (see Web site) www.energytaxincentives.org/ Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) – accelerated 5-year depreciation schedule Business Energy Tax Credit through Oregon Department of Energy www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/BUS/BETC.shtml 1-800-221-8035

State

The following qualify for a 35% tax credit of eligible costs unless otherwise specified, claimed over 5 years: • Alternative Fuels, • Alternative-fueled and Hybrid Vehicles • Conservation • Efficient Truck Technology • Fuel Cells • High Performance Homes: Tax credit for

builders • Recycling • Rental Dwelling Weatherization • Sustainable Buildings • Transportation (Transit passes, etc. to reduce vehicle miles traveled)

Renewable Energy Projects qualify for a tax credit of 50% of eligible project costs, claimed over 5 years. Cash incentives for customers of PGE, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas www.energytrust.org 1-866-368-7878

Energy Trust of Oregon

Solar Electric (photovoltaic) – incentive amount varies with system size Commercial customers Pacific Power customers: $1.00-$1.25/watt, up to $100,000 PGE customers: $1.25-$1.50/watt, up to $125,000

Government/school/nonprofit customers Pacific Power customers: $1.50-$1.75/watt, up to $150,000 PGE customers: $1.75-$2.00/watt, up to $175,000 Solar Water Heating - $6/therm or $0.40/kWh estimated first year savings Solar Pool Heating - $1.50/therm estimated first year savings Small Wind – Incentives available for systems smaller than 50 kW that deliver power to Oregon service territories of PGE or Pacific Power. Commercial customers: lesser of $3,750 per meter of rotor diameter or $4,000 per rated kilowatt of wind turbine, up to $60,000 Energy Efficiency Incentives for high-efficiency equipment and energy-saving improvements in new and existing buildings, including: (Visit www.energytrust.org/Business for further details) • Lighting and controls • HVAC equipment and controls • Premium motors • ENERGY STAR® commercial food service equipment • Commercial clothes washers

• Packaged terminal heat pumps • Natural gas space and water heaters

Other Utilities

Customers of utilities other than PGE, Pacific Power, NW Natural or Cascade Natural Gas should contact their utility for available incentive programs

Energy Loans

Energy Loan Program through Oregon Department of Energy Fixed rate, low-interest, long-term loans for qualifying energy projects http://egov.oregon.gov/ENERGY/LOANS/fees.shtml 1-800-221-8035

* Incentives are subject to change. Energy Trust incentive amounts valid as of July 1, 2008. Check requirements of each incentive to ensure eligibility. 2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Commercial Green Building

The Continued Evolution of Green Building Standards By Ralph DiNola, Green Building Services Inc., LEED AP, Associate AIA

Without doubt, the awareness of buildings’ impacts on the environment has escalated, and the desire to be better stewards of the planet intensified with evidence of climate change. Numerous green building standards emerged to steer industry professionals in the right direction and verify sustainable building attribute claims. For the past decade, the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) has been the most recognizable green building standard. But various organizations, states and cities have adopted a variety of frameworks to guide building owners and designers. LEED incorporates other recognizable benchmarks such as ASHRAE, the standards developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. This “Standard of Standards” has been called the single greatest advancement in the building industry in the past century. Green, the New Baseline Now, ASHRAE is expanding its realm of influence beyond energy-efficiency. ASHRAE teamed with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and the USGBC to create the ASHRAE/IESNA/USGBC Standard 189. This new “Green Building Code”, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except LowRise Residential Buildings was developed as a baseline to reduce carbon emissions, materials use and energy consumption. As such, it includes criteria in six categories: • Energy efficiency • A building’s impact on the atmosphere • Sustainable sites • Water use efficiency

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

• Materials and resources • Indoor environmental quality Unlike LEED, the new standard is not a building rating system. The intent of ASHRAE/IESNA/ USGBC Standard 189 is to provide building code officials with a minimum standard to incorporate into their local building codes that will guide the development of new commercial buildings and major renovation projects. As jurisdictions adopt new codes, the new ASHRAE standard will provide an opportunity to have minimum standards for green building as a code requirement.

LEED 2009 will provide a long anticipated update to all of the rating systems and work to bring the rating systems credit language into alignment. Latest Moves for LEED LEED’s main objective was to serve as a vehicle for market transformation, and as the industry evolved, so too has LEED. Starting from a single guideline for new construction, the USGBC branched out to offer six rating systems specific to various building types. Four more are in the pilot phase: LEED for Healthcare, LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND), LEED for Retail - New Construction and Major Renovations and LEED Retail – Commercial Interiors (CI). In addition, in the coming year the USGBC is revising

LEED for New Construction (NC), LEED for Existing Buildings, LEED for Commercial Interiors, LEED for Core and Shell (CS), and LEED for Schools to more accurately reflect market and technological advances. LEED 2009 will provide a long anticipated update to all of the rating systems and work to bring the rating systems credit language into alignment. This revamp includes a change in point structure to more accurately measure the environmental and human benefit of each LEED credit. For certain credits, the number of allocated points has been altered, and the performance threshold has increased or decreased for others. For example, alternative transportation has more available points to reward measures that lessen environmental impacts beyond the building itself. Another new item is Regional Specific Environmental Priority, four new credits that address region-specific environmental concerns. The USGBC is working with regional councils to draft credit eligibility. For example, additional measures for water conservation may be a regional credit available in the Pacific Northwest. Specific changes are taking place within each rating system as well. In LEED-NC and LEED-CI, a 20 percent water use reduction will be a prerequisite for water efficiency. LEED-CS is now allowing certified wood to include temporary wood products like forms. When the two retail rating systems are released later this year, user-friendly adjustments will most likely be made around retail-specific issues such as exterior lighting, transportation-related opportunities, and additional points for the most relevant credits. LEED 2009 also includes a shift in the USGBC’s organizational framework to simplify and standardize points across the rating systems. Credits and prerequisites are being

aligned to prevent conflicts between LEED versions and to streamline the administration process. Fast Forward The Cascadia Region Green Building Council (Cascadia) launched the Living Building Challenge in 2006 to inspire a higher response to green building design and construction.While it strives toward an ideal, the rigorous standard composed solely of prerequisites is based on actual practices that have been implemented in the marketplace. The challenge covers six performance areas: • Site • Energy • Materials • Water • Indoor Air Quality • Beauty + Inspiration

Cascadia has now applied these performance areas outside the building through the Living Building Site and Infrastructure Challenge. This separate standard sets a leading-edge example for the spaces between buildings. The goal of both standards is to push projects to be tailored to their regional ecology, to be energy self-reliant using renewable resources, to retain and treat all water on-site and to offer maximum beauty in their design. The fact that standards are evolving in response to a better-equipped marketplace and more sustainably knowledgeable participants perpetuates a cycle of technological and intellectual growth. As building industry professionals adopt more comprehensive standards, they further transform the building industry and cultivate new ways to lighten their environmental footprint.

Sustainable Solutions Unlimited LLC Energy Solutions for Business and Home CCB# 167935

• Solar • Wind • Home Performance with ENERGY STAR ®

1339 SE 8th Avenue, Suite B, Portland OR 97214 Phone: 503-227-2047 • Fax: 503.235.5385 • www.solutions21st.com Save up to 30% on energy costs with Energy Trust cash incentives

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Commercial Building Case Studies

Three LEED® Buildings on One Bend Round-A-Bout By Scott Steele, AIA, LEED® AP and Misti Cardin, Architect, LEED® AP, Steele Associates Architects LLC What do you get when you build three LEED certified buildings on one round-a-bout in NorthWest Crossing in Bend, Oregon? You get the opportunity to experience the unique combination of sustainable community master planning and building design all in a short stroll. Woven into the architectural fabric of the Neighborhood Center of NorthWest Crossing are three new LEED® certified buildings. These building are sustainably designed and they play an important role in creating the pedestrian-friendly mixed-use streetscape that the developers of NorthWest Crossing envisioned for the Neighborhood Center, which is the retail/commercial/mixed-use zone of their master plan. NorthWest Crossing includes a wonderful mix of uses and residential dwelling options which decrease reliance on automobiles and creates a pedestrian-friendly, livable community.

Side by side LEED buildings in Northwest Crossing. Credit: Scott Steele

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

Steele Associates Architects first designed Neighborhood Center Buildings F & G for NorthWest Crossing. HSW Builders constructed them. Both buildings have secured LEED CS Silver Certification. While the buildings are next to one another and were designed at the same time, they were deliberately designed to have their own unique character and style to help maintain the architectural variety desired in the Neighborhood Center. The buildings are attracting a complimentary mix of tenants including a small market, professional offices, a bank, a pizza parlor and a new restaurant. Some of the key sustainable features of buildings F and G include bicycle storage, changing facilities, and parking spaces for low-emitting fuel-efficient vehicles. Indigenous landscaping was harvested from the site prior to construction and then replanted once construction was completed, and efficient drip irrigation and indigenous vegetation has reduced consumption of water in landscaping by 53%. Indoor water consumption has been reduced by 34% for building G through the use of low-flow plumbing fixtures and dual flush toilets. During construction of the two buildings 73% of waste was recycled. Nearly half of the building materials used were locally extracted, processed and manufactured. An “Indoor Air Quality Management Plan” was implemented by HSW Builders during construction to reduce indoor air quality problems resulting from construction to protect the health of the construction workers as well as the incoming tenants. Both buildings maintain significant natural light and views of surrounding landscape for building users. In Building G, operable windows have also been installed to allow occupants to easily adjust ventilation. A 10.3kW solar photovoltaic array generates about 6.4% of the total annual electricity needs of Building G.

Northwest Crossing buildings F+G both are LEED certified. Credit: Scott Steele

Bend Oregon’s first LEED gold NC building. Credit: Scott Steele

Steele Associates chose to build its new headquarters in Northwest Crossing (right across the street from Buildings F and G) due to its excellent traditional neighborhood development master plan. As passionate practitioners of sustainable design they wanted to lead by example and wound up designing what has become Bend Oregon’s first LEED® Gold NC building. Engineers report that the building is using about 30% less energy than a comparable new non-LEED building. The list of sustainable features for

the Steele Associates building includes Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified sustainably harvested lumber and wood products, and low emitting materials, paint and adhesive. Twenty percent of the building materials were extracted, processed or manufactured regionally. Drought tolerant native landscape has reduced irrigation needs by 50% and the building is 30% more water efficient. The site includes designated fuel efficient/low emitting vehicle parking with electric recharge outlet, designated car pool-only parking and

ample bike storage. Light colored roof surfaces were used to mitigate heat gain and filter storm water runoff through two bio-swales. The interior has 90% access to daylight and views and is kept fresh using 100% green cleaning and maintenance products. HVAC control system alerts Steele Associates’ staff via email when outdoor conditions are optimal for natural ventilation in the design studio, so that they can turn off that zone and open the windows. Interior carbon dioxide levels are monitored to automatically deliver fresh outdoor air as required. Steele Associates purchases 100% BlueSky “green power” from Pacific Power. Infrared thermography was used to aid commissioning to identify drafts and air leaks. Kirby Nagelhout Construction diverted 75% of construction waste from the landfill to recycling centers. The building is open for public tours during normal business hours in an effort to educate the community about the benefits of sustainable/green design in terms of personal health, productivity, and energy and environmental conservation. The third floor is for the enjoyment of the staff. It includes a break room, a roof terrace, and shower and changing rooms to encourage bicycle commuting and lunch time exercise. “We have not conducted in-depth research yet to determine how many corners or intersections in the country can claim three LEED® certified buildings but we expect that it is rare. It is our sincere hope that in the near future it will not be so rare and that it in fact becomes commonplace to see and experience sustainable master planning, building design and business practices. If all future communities and buildings were designed sustainably the positive impact on our world is truly beyond words. We can envision that and reflect on the beautiful words of Louis Armstrong, ‘And I think to myself, what a wonderful world’.”

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

• DESIGN & BUILD • ABOUT SUNTERRA • AWARDS • DESIGN CONCEPTS • BUILDING SCIENCE • MODERN HOMES • SOLAR HOMES • GREEN HOMES • ENERGY EFFICIENT • HOME ART • NEWSLETTER

WWW.SUNTERRAHOMES.COM Sunterra Home’s 30-year focus has been to incorporate the latest proven building science into its customers' custom homes. This commitment has produced past awards as well as the Gold 2006 Energy Value award and a 2006 Green Building award from the National Association of Builders.

Jim Chauncey, his son, Mark Chauncey, and Shannon Adkisson are here to serve you with the design and building of your home that surpasses expectations for today and provides security for your future.

WWW.SUNTERRAHOUSEPLANS.COM 70 proven award-winning home designs with our valuable 122-page Conservation Guide to help you build a true energy-efficient, healthy, passive-solar, affordable home.

Designed to meet Energy Star and Earth Advantage certification

CCB #62262 SUNTERRA HOMES, INC. P.O. BOX 5278 BEND, OR 541-389-4733

Commercial Green Building

Solar Technology Catches Dentist’s Interest By Ann Grim, Oregon Department of Energy As a dentist, Dr. Dennis Clark embraces technology as a tool for better serving his patients. He uses state-of-the-art laser technology for surgery to treat patients with periodontal (gum) disease. He also looks to technology in helping solve the current energy crisis. When his building partner, an optometrist who shares space in the building, suggested they look into solar energy, Dr. Clark was eager to learn more. They set up a meeting with Dave Eveland of Solar Summit of Philomath. While interested in doing his part for the environment, Dr. Clark admits, “It was the tax credits that drew me in.” Solar electric installations qualify for a 50 percent state Business Energy Tax Credit from the Oregon Department of Energy and a 30 percent federal tax credit. In addition, Dr.

Dr. Dennis Clark (center) with Dave Eveland of Solar Summit (left) and associate Mike Langeliers (right) amid Dr. Clark’s 12.3 kilowatt PV system on his 3,600 square foot dental clinic in Lebanon. Even on this overcast day, however, the system is producing electricity. Credit: Ann Grim

Clark’s dental clinic is located in Pacific Power service area so his system qualified for a cash incentive from the Energy Trust of Oregon. Dr. Clark had Solar Summit install a 12.3-kilowatt solar PV system on his one-story dental clinic roof in December 2007. The flat roof offered good southern exposure for the 63 Sanyo Electric modules. He was most pleased that Eveland could design the system with minimal penetrations into the roof. With a flat room, penetrations are much more problematic than on a sloped roof. “Dave only had to make three penetrations into the roof compared to 35 plus for most roofs,” Dr. Clark said. He has had no problems with shifting or movement of the arrays. Dr. Clark anticipated the system would provide on average about a third of his electric demand. Western Oregon experienced few clear sunny days in the first five months of 2008, but the system generated the expected amount of electricity. In May 2008, the system met 45.6 percent of the office’s electrical needs. Clark hopes to generate 12,744 kWh per year and save over $1,000 per year on his utility bill. Dr. Clark has ready access to monitor his system’s production. He uses a website called “Fat Spaniel” that shows his system operation in real time. “It’s been fun for me, but my patients enjoy it too.” he said. His system is one of the first solar installations in Lebanon, a town of 16,000. “It’s actually brought in new patients to my practice,” said Clark who loves to show off the new system and educate patients on how it works. “They are always surprised to see that energy is being produced, even when it is an overcast day.” Dr. Clark is considering another investment in solar – solar water heaters – for a small apartment building he owns. “If solar technology can help us become less dependent on foreign oil, I want to do what I can,” he said. So far, he’s been pleased with the results.

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Commercial Building Case Studies

Torii Mor Harvests Solar Energy and Fine Grapes By Kathy Shinn, Oregon Department of Energy With a reputation for producing top quality pinot noir, Yamhill County’s Torii Mor Winery is also earning a reputation for energy efficient building design and the use of renewable energy. In the fall of 2007, when employees were gearing up to harvest grapes, the 47.5 kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic (PV) system atop the new fermentation room was already harvesting energy from the sun—and exporting excess electricity generated beyond the winery’s own needs back to the utility. Established in 1993, Torii Mor is owned by Dr. Donald and Margie Olson. They believe the only

As the road curves up the hill to Torii Mor’s tasting room, visitors can’t help but notice the solar arrays that completely cover the roof of the winery’s fermentation room. Credit: Oregon Department of Energy

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

way to create a quality wine is to do what’s right for the winery and the product, including creating more energy efficient operations. Planted in 1972 in the famous and unique soils of the red hills of Dundee,Torii Mor’s vineyards are some of the oldest in Yamhill County. Sustainable Design Improves Winemaking and Efficiency Torii Mor’s plans call for three buildings—a fermentation room, tank room and barrel cellar— located purposefully, one below the other, down a gentle hillside. The fermentation room and subterranean cellar are complete, with the middle tank room to be added in the next phase. A gravity flow system will then move grapes from the fermentation area down to the tank room, minimizing mechanization and energy needs. A second set of solar arrays on the tank room roof will add 20 kW of power, completing the nearly 68 kW solar electric system. Also planned is a rainwater harvest system that will collect water from the roofs for non-drinking purposes, including an attractive water wall fountain. The fountain will serve both a decorative and useful purpose in cooling the tank room by running water down the outside of the south-facing wall. Nestling the barrel cellar into the hillside maintains a constant temperature and reduces energy use. Also to be added is an “ecoroof” of living plants that will intercept rain water and further maintain cool temperatures inside the cellar. Winery Joins Carbon Neutral Challenge Torii Mor recently joined 30 other wineries in the Carbon Neutral Challenge Initiative sponsored by the Governor’s office, the Oregon Environmental Council and the Oregon Wine Board. Like other agricultural interests, wineries and vineyards face direct and potentially bruising impacts from a warming climate. Pinot noir

Oregon’s Energy Loan Program The state Energy Loan Program, SELP, provides low-interest, fixed-rate, longterm loans for qualified projects that promote energy conservation or renewable energy resources. Since the program’s first loan in 1981, it has financed more than 750 projects for nearly $400 million. The program loans to qualified individuals, businesses, schools, cities, counties, special districts, state and federal agencies, public corporations, tribes, and nonprofit organizations. Projects must be in Oregon.

The grounds of Torii Mor, with its Japaneseinfluenced features, create a serene atmosphere for wine-tasters. Credit: Kathy Shinn

grapes, for example, are ideally suited to the area now, but warming temperatures could mean those varieties wouldn’t produce famous quality wines in the future. By pledging to become carbon neutral these wineries agree to assess their energy use, calculate their greenhouse gas emissions, and develop a carbon reduction plan which may include adding insulation, converting to energyefficient lighting, installing solar systems and other measures. Torii Mor’s new buildings are registered to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification, with a goal of earning the LEED Gold level. Torii Mor will join other Oregon wineries with LEED ratings including Stoller Vineyards (LEED Gold) and Sokol Blosser (LEED Silver). Carlton Winemaker Studios, though not certified by LEED, was built to meet LEED Silver. Incentives Reduce Costs and Payback To help finance its new facilities, Dr. Olson obtained low-interest, fixed-rate energy loans from the Oregon Department of Energy. The solar electric system qualified for a 50 percent Business Energy Tax Credit. He transferred his tax credit eligibility to a Passthrough Partner, West Coast Bank, in

To be eligible, projects must accomplish one or more of the following: • Save energy • Produce energy from renewable resources such as water, wind geothermal, solar, biomass, waste materials or waste heat • Use recycled materials to create new products • Use alternative fuels Most loans are structured so that energy savings cover the loan payments. Rates can vary depending on the term of the loan, the timing of the project and the availability of funds. The program is self-supporting and uses no tax dollars. State general obligation bonds provide the funds.To fund large loans, the Oregon Department of Energy may need to issue new bonds that would set new rates. For more information: www.oregon.gov/energy or 800-221-8035.

exchange for a lump sum payment equal to 33.5 percent of eligible project costs. Energy Trust of Oregon provided a rebate for the PV system. Additional incentives include federal tax credits and accelerated depreciation deductions. Working Smarter, Caring For the Land Visitors to Torii Mor can’t help but notice the solar arrays that completely cover the fermentation room roof as the road curves up the hill to the tasting room. The winery demonstrates sustainable building design, the power of solar energy and a desire to utilize all of its harvest, as evidenced by a new pinot noir brandy distilled from the few grapes that don’t meet quality wine standards. Olson, who has a medical practice in Salem, says he was skeptical at first about some of the new sustainable practices, but his thinking has evolved over time. He sees the green building

features and systems as working smarter, doing what’s good for the land, and making good economic sense. Don and Margie Olson see a connection between the PV arrays that capture and concentrate the sun’s energy and the concentrated sunlight in the grapes. He shares a favorite quote from Galileo: “Wine is sunlight held together by water.” The sun, the grapes, the Earth—it’s a satisfying combination for a man whose family has been in agriculture for five generations. FEATURES AND TEAM Solar Array: 47.5 kW installed 250 Evergreen modules (20 additional kW in progress) Installer Inland Electric Architect West Coast Forensics

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Commercial Building Case Studies

Solar Warmth Adds to Kids’ Pool Fun By Kathy Shinn, Oregon Department of Energy

The noise from the Wilson River Highway fades behind them as kids arrive at Gales Creek Camp in the foothills of the northern Coast Range near Banks, Oregon. The first thing eager campers see is the welcome sign and then the swimming pool with its solar hot water system. “The pool is central to daily activities for up to 56 kids each week,” says Cheryl Sheppard, Executive Director of the Gales Creek Camp Foundation. Before the summer of 2007, pool water was heated by a propane heater that was failing and propane prices were on the rise. The camp hosts 400 youth with diabetes from Oregon and Washington each summer. Every dollar saved is important, helping them give diabetic kids from age 3 to 17 a camp experience like no other. “This solar thermal project for the pool kind of evolved,” says Sheppard.“We had several needs and the solar fit right in.” The pool needed a new

Kids, eager for pool fun, appreciate the warm water. Credit: Gales Creek Camp Foundation

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

water heating system and the kids needed a shaded sitting area to take a break from swimming and the sun when blood sugar levels were low. Sheppard contacted Brent Gunderson, owner of Gen-Con and an experienced installer of solar pool heating systems. “This was a unique project requiring three different mounting types for the 20 solar collectors,” says Gunderson. “It put us to the test.” Gen-Con placed six collectors on the roof of a small utility building next to the pool. The mounting hardware was clamped directly to the standing seams of its metal roof. Next to it a pergola with an arbor-type roof holds seven collectors. Rounding out the system is a nearby ground mounted rack that supports seven collectors. In the mechanical room a solar controller with a three-way direction valve and sensors controls the flow through the collectors. Caretaker Casey Sheehy sets the solar system temperature to 85 degrees and the back-up electric heat pump to 81 degrees. “We haven’t needed the heat pump yet,” he says. On an overcast day, he reads the temperature gauge and smiles. It’s cranking along at 85 degrees. With a combination of incentives and energy savings, the camp recovered costs of the pergola and solar thermal system in less time than expected. “We have enough sun out here, believe it or not, and it looks cool!” Sheppard exclaims. The solar hot water system qualified for a state Business Energy Tax Credit for renewable energy, but because the Foundation has no tax liability, they were able to use the pass-through option, with a Gladstone couple serving as the pass-through partner taking advantage of the tax credit. In exchange, the foundation received a cash payment of $8,278, equivalent to the pass-through rate of 43.5 percent. A rebate from the Energy Trust of Oregon totaled $2,880. “Everyone loves how it looks and that we’re saving money and are more green,” notes

A nearby ground mounted rack supports seven collectors, bringing the system to a total of 20 collectors.

View of pool and 2 structures with collectors. Credit: Oregon Department of Energy

Sheppard. “Lots of young families have kids at the camp. They’re more aware of operating more sustainably and so are the kids.” Camp staff and counselors have taken the lead in greening the camp in other ways by expanding recycling opportunities, harvesting fresh produce from an on-site garden, sending food waste to a local pig farm, and involving the kids in sustainable practices.

FEATURES • Solar Industries SI 1500 solar pool heating system • Model 11051 • 960 square feet (20 – 4’ X 12’ collectors) • Installer: Gen-Con, Inc.

Camp Caretaker Casey Sheahan likes what he sees. The temperature gauge reads 85 degrees on an overcast day.

Before attending Gales Creek Camp, most campers don’t know other young people who share the demands of living with diabetes. At camp, they no longer feel different because six times a day, camp nurses test blood sugar levels of all participants and give insulin shots as needed. While this may be more frequent than their usual routine, it’s important due to the high activity level at camp. Not only are fellow campers diabetic, the staff are tuned into the needs of diabetic kids or have the disease themselves. The Camp Director has diabetes, six of ten counselors have diabetes, and the other four have siblings with the condition. In addition to the usual camp activities like hiking, crafts, and exploring the creek and woods, the staff provides fun and helpful educational sessions on managing diabetes. Some youth even learn to give themselves insulin shots, amazing their parents when they return home.

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Commercial Building Case Studies

Mt. Hood Athletic Club: Physical Fitness Meets Energy Fitness By Michel Gregory, Energy Trust of Oregon Paul and Lila Reed have been helping Mt. Hood Athletic Club members stay fit for more than 18 years.When the owners of the club began planning a new facility to build in Sandy, Oregon, they made energy fitness a priority, too. The Reeds started by working with MCM Architects and contractor Mega Pacific Co. to design a new 4,505-square-foot building that minimizes energy use and creates a comfortable environment for club members. The new facility, which serves 5,400 members, opened in December 2006. Prior to the 2008 summer swimming season, the club added a solar pool heating system for the 5,000-square-foot outdoor pool area. According to Paul, the energy-efficiency and solar investments were simply smart business decisions. “I’m a business man first and foremost. Anything with a five-year return or better is a no-

Paul Reed makes people and the planet healthier. Credit: Denise Olsen

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

brainer,” he said. “Energy costs just keep going up, so the more independent you are from those costs, the more viable you are in the long run, especially if there’s competition. If your building’s paid off, you don’t have a mortgage and you’ve dramatically reduced your energy costs, you’re going to be extremely profitable even in a down economy. And there are good incentives that give you a three-year return on investment. You can’t beat that in today’s market.” Mt. Hood Athletic’s initial energy-saving strategies focused on heating, ventilation and air conditioning; water heating; lighting and windows (glazing). The club is equipped with 16 high-efficiency Lennox HVAC units zoned to serve specific rooms only when the spaces are in use. Five Rheem® high-efficiency tankless gas water heaters supply hot water for the indoor pool and laundry. Before cold water reaches the tankless units, it passes through 200 feet of copper pipe in the sauna, which raises the water temperature about 15 degrees and reduces the energy needed to heat the water. Much of the indoor pool heating is provided by a PoolPak high-efficiency dehumidifier, which captures heat from the pool area for pool heating or space heating. Garage doors are opened in good weather to bring in fresh air and reduce the need to run the dehumidifier. MCM Architects designed the new club to maximize the use of natural light in interior spaces, which dramatically reduces the need for electric lighting. Energy-efficient T5 fluorescent lamps with electronic ballasts or compact fluorescent lights are the primary light sources. High-output T5 high-bay lighting serves the two full-sized courts in the gymnasium and is zoned to illuminate one or both courts as needed. The indoor pool is lit by pulse-start metal halide and compact fluorescent lamps controlled by photocells. In many spaces, photocells automatically turn electric lights on or off to adjust to natural light levels. In

FEATURES • Zoned high-efficiency HVAC units • Tankless gas water heaters • High-efficiency dehumidifier for indoor pool • High-efficiency T5, compact fluorescent and pulse-start metal halide lighting • Lighting controls: photocells, occupancy sensors and timers • Low-E, argon-filled windows • Solar pool heating system • Recycled-content rubber flooring • Rainwater harvesting system

One of the greenest athletic clubs in the nation. Credit: Steve Dipaola

TEAM Owners Paul & Lila Reed, Mt. Hood Athletic Club Builder MegaPacific Architect MCM Architects HVAC American Heating Lighting Electrical Contractors and Design Plumbing & rainwater harvesting Northwest Water Works Windows West Coast Glass Solar Pool Heating Gen-Con Inc.

Solar heated swimming pool. Credit: Steve Dipaola

the racquetball courts, occupancy sensors keep lights on only when the courts are in use, and in the sauna, timers run lights in 15-minute intervals, alerting users that it’s time to exit and cool off. Paul saw solar pool heating as the last frontier for energy savings at the new club. “I have an in-ground pool at home and it cost $600 to $800 to heat it with propane the first season, May through September. So I installed some solar panels to see if that would help. The following year, all I had to do was heat it up a couple of times for less than $100, then the solar maintained it.

It worked so great that one of the first things I wanted to do on the outdoor pool at the club was install a good commercial system.” Before the outdoor pool season began in May 2008, Reed hired GenCon Inc. to install a 47,000-gallon Solar Industries’ solar pool heating system that will save Mt. Hood Athletic approximately 1,772 therms of natural gas each year. At current prices, that’s approximately $2,000 annually. A $2,658 Energy Trust incentive brought the system cost down to $13,470. With energy savings, plus an Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit, Reed

expects to recover his investment in just a few years. Beyond energy savings, the new facility incorporated several other green elements. Recycled-content rubber flooring is installed in the cardio, weight training and group activity rooms, and the basketball gym is made from recycled-content rubber flooring coated with Varathane®, which has the same feel as a conventional hardwood floor. A 30,000-gallon underground tank allows the club to harvest and recycle rainwater for use in the laundry, toilets, irrigation and pools.

2008 Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

Advertiserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Index 3EStrategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-6

Midstate Electric Cooperative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Aaron Ross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

NECA/IBEW

Abundant Solar

Neil Kelly Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Advanced Energy System

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Pacific Solar and Rain, Inc.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Bobcat & Sun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Prestige Cedar Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Cascade Solar Consulting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Setanta Solar LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Cascade Sun Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Solaire Homebuilders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Central Oregon Builder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38, 39, 40, 41

Solar Energy Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Communitecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Solar Oregon

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

E2 Powered

Solar Summit

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Earth Advantage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

SolarWorld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC

Emerald Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Utility District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Steele Associates Architects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IBC

Energy Design

Structures NW LLC

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Energy Trust of Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,11

Sunlight Solar Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

HSW Builders

Sunterra Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Jason Vos Homes

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Lane Community College

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Light Benders - Solatube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Green+Solar

BUILDING OREGON

2008

Sustainable Solutions Trinity Electric

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23