Great article (if we do say so ourselves) in the ESN today all about green building, advanced building science, and techniques that make homes more energy efficient.

http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20100519/ESN01/5190361/-1/ESN

The Rayfield’s home is a great example of 21st century materials and techniques NOT dictating style or aesthetics. Their charming 18th century style home was fully certified by EarthCraft, Virginia. It is quiet, comfortable, and efficient to operate… quite different from the experience one might have had in the 1700’s. 

Between the EarthCraft program and the EnergyStar program, we did several tests that evaluated the efficiency of the home. A blower door test shows that if all the tiny pin size gaps or cracks in the whole 3000+ sq. ft. house were added up, the area would be less than 1 sq. ft.  That efficiency comes from the combination of advanced building practices and materials, such as: ICF- integrated concrete forms for the main structure, geothermal heating/cooling system, spray foam insulation on the gables and roof, efficient windows and doors, an ERV ventilation system, tankless water heaters, and EnergyStar appliances. Overall, the house is 40% more efficient than the ’standard’ home of the same size.

When you treat the house as a system rather than a set of individual parts, you end up with a better product. It’s a quiet, comfortable space which is relatively free from dust and bugs. The air quality is high and both water and electricity are well-managed. Utility bills are no longer a dreaded monthly event.

Add a wind turbine out in the field and the house could be off-the-grid… just like they were back in the 1700’s!

White ICF concrete-filled walls are clearly visible during construction

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In past newsletters, we’ve talked about Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) as an alternative for a  conventional wooden framed home. As green building technologies continue to gain momentum, ICF is becoming a popular choice for building a new home.

Looking into an ICF formed wall

The Energy Efficiency Benefit – The most frequently discussed advantage to ICF is the increased level of energy efficiency.  ICF greatly improves the thermal envelope of a home with increased R-value and larger thermal mass.  In other words, an ICF home, which doesn’t have joints between walls and floors or wood in the walls, is extremely air-tight. Controlled fresh air is circulated in the home. As they say in the ICF industry, “Build it Tight, Vent it Right.”  This works to prevent conditioned air from escaping and unconditioned air from entering.  The ICF acts as a consistent and continuous insulator. Also, ICF homes create large thermal mass which allows them to ‘flatten out’ or slow down the daily temperature fluctuations. They absorb heat when the surroundings are hotter, and give heat back when the surroundings are cooler.  Over time, these energy efficiencies translate to lower utility costs for a homeowner. The additional up-front costs of ICF provide a financial payback over the life of the home. 

Other benefits of ICF include noise reduction, increased indoor air quality, durability in severe weather, and fire resistance. Most residents of ICF buildings describe them as very comfortable to live in.

The construction of an ICF home is fascinating to watch. One of our current projects reached the “pour” stage today. The ICF forms had been assembled on site as what looked like large styrofoam legos. The penetrations for electric and plumbing services were all precisely placed. The window and door openings were finished to the correct opening sizes. Today, the concrete was poured and vibrated into place.  Here are some photos:

View of a future porch entrance

View from inside the future rooms

The concrete pour

A very long boom delivers the concrete

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All the “green” talk in the news often seems very theoretical. What can you do on a practical level that will be good for the environment and good for your bank account? Install compact fluorescent lightbulbs… sure, but what else?

The best way to begin conserving energy is to become more aware of what you use. Are you surprised when you get your bill from the power company each month? Wouldn’t it be easier if you could see what you are spending as you spend it instead of after the fact? It’s a simple concept- If you can measure it, you can manage it.

Meet TED “The Energy Detective”. This device is one of an emerging set of tools for homeowners to better understand their energy spending habits. TED is installed inside the electric panel to measure the electricity your house is using at any moment. A handy monitor inside the house reports energy consumption in kilowatts, dollars, daily totals, cost-to-date in your billing cycle, projected usage in your billing cycle, peak usage, min and max volts, and historical data for 13 month. Open the refrigerator door and you’ll see the 20watt bulb inside register on TED’s screen.

Using TED will help you teach the members of your household about conserving energy. TED can also help identify “energy hog” appliances. Changing your habits based on this real-time information can save you 10-20% of your electric bill.

If you’d like to learn more, read all about TED at www.theenergydetective.com. As part of the new Extended Maintenance program, Schneider Development will provide and install the TED Model 1001 for $300. We’re interested in working with a few homeowners as part of a trial to validate the energy savings. Call the office if you’re interested!

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We’ve seen many front-load washers installed over the last year. Hurrah! They are great for the environment and the pocketbook. Front-loaders use less water, less soap, and spin clothing almost dry leaving less for the dryer to do. Larger capacity also means fewer loads.

Front-loaders “look different” and “act different” so as the saying goes they must BE different. Take that a step further though… you have to USE them differently.

Load size: Most front loaders can handle a 12- to 20-pound load of laundry. (4.5 cubic feet vs. 3.2 in a large top-load washer) Larger loads actually work better than smaller loads because they keep the load properly balanced and decrease the chance of vibration or “walking”. Although the washer will try to self-balance by slowing the spin so that clothes are repositioned, front-load washers are designed for larger loads.  As one of our local appliance experts says, “If the door closes, it isn’t overloaded… so stuff it!” (Ed DeVries, East Coast Appliance)

Spin speed: If you absolutely must wash a smaller load, consider decreasing the spin speed too.  Most front-load washers have optional settings on the control panel.

Detergent: Front-loaders use HE or High Efficiency detergent. They also typically use smaller amounts of detergent. These detergents are formulated to create fewer suds and leave less residue in your washer. Powdered detergents may not dissolve properly in a low-water front-loader.

Smell?: Some consumers have complained about bad smells emanating from their new washers! Because of the low water level, wash residue such as grime, dirt and even skin flakes, along with water softeners and detergents do not always fully drain out of a front-loading washer. Over time, residue may lead to mold.

Always leave the door and dispenser unit slightly ajar after the laundry is done to let the compartments dry out. Never leave a wet load in the washer overnight; remove it when the washing cycle is complete and leave the door open. Also consider using softener sheets in the dryer instead of liquid softeners in the washer.

Cleaning: Your front-load washer has a large gasket around the front opening. There will typically be a small amount of water and residue left inside the fold of the gasket. (At my house this also includes keys, crayons, nails, or pieces of Mr. Potato Head.) In addition to checking this “pocket” after a wash, and leaving the door ajar to dry, once a month wipe the gasket down with a washcloth and a little bleach.

Vibration: If you find that the washer vibrates too much or “walks” across the room check your owner’s manual for tips from the manufacturer. Two tips that often work are: 1) raise (make taller) the front right leg of the washer slightly. This has the effect of giving that corner of the washer a bit more grip on the floor.  2) Pick up a package of small sticky-backed sand paper disk refills at the hardware store. These are made for small hand-sanders, but work very well stuck to a tile or vinyl floor under the legs of your washer for extra grip.

Although no one “loves” laundry unless it folds itself, learning to use your new front-load washer properly may make laundry a bit more enjoyable.

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