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Insulation is one of the highest payback improvements you can make to a building -- at both new construction and remodeling time. Radiant barriers are a new approach with additional heat resistant benefits.

Heat Transfer

Conduction

Direct heat flow through a solid object like a roof, wall or ceiling.

Convection

Heat movement through air that occurs when air is warmed. Warm air expands, becomes less dense and rises.

Radiation

Movement of heat rays across air spaces from one warm object to another less-warm object. Wood stoves give off radiant heat, for example.

We hear about radiant barriers in applications such as the heat shielding ceramic tiles on NASA shuttles. And the aluminum foil used on baked potatoes. Those are "radiant barriers" that keep heat in... or out.

Heating air is expensive! Cooling air is also expensive -- so it makes sense that if you don't have to condition air as much, you'll save on your utility bills.

Insulation and radiant barriers are used in buildings to keep heat in during the winter...and keep heat out during hot periods and seasons. But most buildings weren't optimized for energy efficiency in both hot and cold temperatures.

Radiant Barriers for Buildings

The bright aluminum surface of radiant barrier products provides insulation properties in two ways:

• The reflective surface reflects long wave radiant heat that strikes it -- up to 97% of all radiant heat.
• Close contact, but non-touching, allows reradiation to happen, and when you reduce the amount of heat that "gets through" the radiant barrier, you will have less convection taking place.

Read more about radiant barrier effectiveness.

Strategies for net zero energy vary by household, climate, region and housing type.

Passive House Institute

The passive house standards in Germany and Austria have demonstrated that performance and cost savings can result when peak heating loads are reduced significantly.

Building Sciences Corporation completed a comprehensive renovation of a 100 year old home that resulted in a 60% energy savings while increasing the living space by 80%. (Pettit 2008)

Energy Efficiency Strategies That Work

A deep reduction approach with comprehensive insulation and air sealing can make a conventional furnace and air circulation system unnecessary, thus using simpler technical solutions to combustion safety distribution systems, durability and indoor air quality.

A deep energy retrofit could eliminate a conventional chimney, furnace and attic ductwork and replace these building elements with a mechanical ventilation system that manages indoor air quality and moisture control.

The Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) recently published a study, "Approaching Net Zero Energy in Existing Housing" and concluded that climate, housing stock, energy loads, solar gain and occupant behavior all contribute to the feasibility of reaching net zero energy use in existing homes.   With no incentive available, it is not cost effective to achieve net zero energy in most Canadian housing.

Energy Efficiency Justification

Solving problems with wet basements, radon, outdated mechanical equiment and inadequate indoor air quality can help justify energy efficiency choices.

Reducing heating loads is relatively easy.  It is more challenging to achieve deep reductions in baseloads and cooling loads which are more dependent on occupant behavior and lifestyle.  Motivated occupants are essential.

The California energy crisis of 2000-2001 resulted in a 15% reduction in electrical energy use that was primarily the result of occupant behavior, not technology.  The actions of a small number of supersavers and modest efforts by many residents were deemed responsible for the reduction.

Utility programs can substantially reduce energy use with energy efficient features such as low-e windows and building enclosure improvements that focus on reducing air infiltration and upgrading insulation performance.  Also helpful are replacement of heating nd cooling systems, duct leakage reduction, and use of other controls for electrical and cooling loads.

Community Solutions

Homeowner choices sometimes affect lifestyle choices significantly.  Possible strategies can include use of renewable energy supply or a change in the use of space or the number of people in a home.  Highly effective choices can include co-housing with efficient shared cooking, water heating, clothes washing and entertainment facilities.

Reduce the Load First

Marc Rosenbaum suggests a simple maxim, "Invest as much as you can afford to reduce the load, even if it means completing a project in phases."  These load-reducing options that can help achive optimum results are major systems such as siding and roofing. 

Choices for Thermal Comfort

Thermal comfort accounts for 25 - 80% of residential energy use.   Some of the options available include:

Community Solutions

• Comfort centers
• Cogeneration or micro-cogen
• Community thermal storage
• Community-based renewable energy supply
• Use of waste heat from industrial processes
• GHG reduction campaigns
• Feedback, benchmarking, aggregation
• Competitions and challenges
• Technical, financial and regulatory support

Behavioral Choices

• 24/7 set point adjustment or setback
• Apply comfort zone
• Change use of space with new thermal boundaries
• Adaptive comfort (clothing, surface temperature, air movement)
• Increase occupancy
• Reduce internal gains with behavioral cooling loads
• Decrease occupancy size with relocation or demolishing space

Technical Solutions with Higher Cost

• Superinsulation (walls, ceiling, floor, foundation - climate specific for R25-R80)
• Efficient windows  (U 0.1 to 0.3)
• Super air tightening  (0.2 CFM/ftx2 floor space)
• High efficiency mechanical ventilation
• Ultra high efficiency HVAC system
• Automatic movable window insulation
• Highly insulated doors

Technical Solutions with Lower Cost

• Fill cavities with insulation
• Air sealing
• Do-it-yourself superinsulation
• Seal / insulate attic ducts or eliminate ducts
• Point heat or cooling source
• High performance storm windows
• Manually controlled movable window insulation
• Reduce internal gains with technical fix of cooling loads
• Control systems to optimize comfort, indoor air quality and humidity

On-Site Renewable Energy

• Increase solar gain through windows
• Sunspace or solar buffer to reduce heat loss
• Active solar thermal
• Solar PV
• Wood heat
• Trees vegetation or other shading to reduce cooling loads

The Section 8 housing program is designed to increase the housing choices available to very low-income households by making privately-owned rental housing affordable to them. It provides rent subsidies, either rental certificates or vouchers, on behalf of eligible tenants.

These subsidies usually equal the difference between 30% of the household's adjusted income and the HUD-approved fair market rent (for certificates) or the PHA-approved payment standard (for vouchers). 

Elderly, Disabled, and Section 8 Assisted Housing Energy Retrofits

ARRA provides $2.5 billion to the Green Retrofit Program (GRP) for Section 202, Section 811, and Project Based Section 8.  These funds are to be used for projects that include measures to promote energy efficiency and sustainability such as Energy Star appliances and products, insulation, windows, etc.  These projects are to be administered by HUD OAHP.  Funds can be distributed as either grants or loans of up to $15,000 on an individual project, with an expected average of $10,000.  Funds may be applied for any time after June 15^th, 2009 until funds are distributed.  Properties that apply for the GRP do not have to refinance, and properties that have already participated in the HUD OAHP Green Initiative or that are described in Section 516(a)(4) of MAHRA are not eligible.  More details are available in the GRP NOFA.

Weatherization of Section 8 Housing includes improving the thermal integrity of buildings by the installation of energy saving measures or equipment.

HUD Incentives to Reduce Utility Costs

Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) can increase property values and improve the condition of the public housing stock. HUD incentives allow capital funds and any extra energy savings from ECMs to be allocated by the housing authority toward needed repairs and other eligible expenses. The incentives also reduce HUD's payments to public housing authorities for utility bills.

These incentives do not override the standard Performance Funding System treatment of savings from conservation measures but offer additional options for allocating savings.

If you are considering using these incentives read 24 CFR 990 and 24 CFR 905. Contact the HUD office in your region for approval and implementation.

Cost/Benefit Analysis of Energy Conservation Measures

U.S. Department of Energy  helps select appropriate cost/benefit analyses and helps select the actions that have the best savings potential. The DOE provides instruction on simple payback analysis, standardized payback equations, life-cycle cost analysis, and selecting the "best" alternatives. The site also includes a life-cyle cost calculator.

Simple Payback Analysis

A highly simplified form of cost/benefit analysis is called simple payback. In this method, the total first cost of the improvement is divided by the first-year energy cost savings produced by the improvement. This method yields the number of years required for the improvement to pay for itself. For new construction, it can be used to evaluate conventional construction to energy-efficient design alternatives.

In simple payback analysis, the assumption is that the service life of the energy efficiency measure will equal or exceed the simple payback time. Simple payback analysis provides a relatively easy way to examine the overall costs and savings potentials for a variety of project alternatives. However, it does not consider a number of factors that are difficult to predict, yet can have a significant impact on cost savings. These factors may be considered by using a more sophisticated life-cycle cost analysis.

Standardized Payback Equations

One option is to take advantage of a building energy measurement and verification guideline that standardizes procedures for quantifying energy savings from energy-efficiency projects. Called the International Performance Measure Measurement and Verification Protocol (PDF 2.5 MB) guideline reduces risk and standardizes paperwork. It also enables loans to be bundled together and sold on a secondary market, like mortgages.

EPA notes that it is easier for a 5,500-square-foot house to get the Energy Star seal than a 1,500-square-foot house -- even though the bigger house likely consumes much more energy.

The EPA is preparing to roll out tougher rules to ensure the logo represents robust environmental standards. But it has to walk a fine line, particularly during the recession. If it pushes too hard, builders are likely to bow out of the voluntary program due to the added expense.

EPA's concerns come as the Obama administration is pushing for what amounts to a mandatory nationwide building-efficiency rule.   Builders worry it will raise the sticker price of new houses.

Talk of energy efficiency typically focuses on fuel economy on the road. But buildings burn more than automobiles.

Together, residential and commercial buildings account for about 40% of U.S. energy use, compared with about 17% for cars and light trucks.

A recent Department of Energy study concluded that a typical house's energy use could be cut by at least 30%.

And it found the monthly mortgage payment needed to cover the higher construction costs would be more than offset by lower monthly energy bills.

The Energy Star standard is compared to a "model" building-efficiency guideline used by state and local governments. To earn the Energy Star label, a new house must score at least 15% better than what that "model" guideline stipulates. The rating takes into account such things as insulation, windows, heating-and-cooling ducts and appliances.

Energy Star has succeeded in popularizing efficient products. It has become the most consistent guide for consumers who want to know the energy efficiency they're getting for their money -- boosting demand and driving down costs. The modern residential thermal window, which curbs energy waste, used to be expensive but is now common in entry-level houses.

But the program's shortcomings show how difficult it can be to achieve widespread energy savings.

Big houses would lose their advantage under the tougher rule the EPA is preparing. It includes what would amount to a gas-guzzler penalty for houses.

Learn more at EfficiencyFirst

GOAL:  6 million new green-collar jobs.

Efficiency First is a nonprofit trade association that unites

• Home Performance contractors,
• residential energy consultants,
• building product manufacturers
• and other key members of America's growing green-collar workforce

Efficiency First advocates using the federal Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program as a standard model for efficiency retrofitting, including third-party verification. National contractor and auditor certification and accreditation should be mandated through RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network), BPI (Building Performance Institute) or other qualified accreditation agencies who conduct independent, third-party quality assurance on the work performed.

Together they intend to escalate the fight against global warming. Efficiency First was founded in 2009 to represent its members in public policy discussions at the state and national levels, to promote the benefits of Home Performance retrofitting, and to help our industry grow to meet unprecedented demand for quality home retrofitting services.

Our mission is to collaborate with legislators, government agencies and professional organizations in the advancement of a performance-based market for energy efficiency that will enable rapid growth in our industry while maintaining profitability and quality of service.

"Our goal is to see a steady run rate of
10 million home retrofits per year by 2020."

According to the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, residential buildings alone generate over 20 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption in the United States.

Because the vast majority of America's 128 million homes do not operate anywhere near peak efficiency, large-scale retrofitting of existing residential buildings will play a key role in achieving significant greenhouse gas reductions, while lowering residential energy bills, improving indoor air quality and thermal comfort, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating millions of new jobs for American workers.

The home retrofitting industry can achieve a 25% or greater decrease in non-renewable energy consumption by America's housing sector, leading to a 5% decrease in the country's overall carbon emissions - equivalent to taking half of all current passenger cars off the road.

The industry will employ at least 1.25 million American workers directly, and with the inclusion of manufacturing and other supporting industries, will generate up 6 million new green-collar jobs.

David Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency , appeared before Congress to discuss the potential for increased energy efficiency in new and existing buildings to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Public Education and Outreach for Market Penetration

The Department of Energy is also focusing on broad public education and outreach in order to facilitate widespread market penetration of energy efficient technologies

Public campaigns, such as the "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign, have been used to drive public awareness. Each fall the Department, in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, encourages consumers to change out old incandescent bulbs for new compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) that have earned the ENERGY STAR seal of approval. The "Change a Light, Change the World campaign" is now in its seventh year.

DOE Outreach Partnership with Walt Disney

In order to further encourage consumer adoption of energy efficient technologies like compact fluorescent lamps, DOE has embarked upon an innovative partnership with the Walt Disney Corporation. DOE announced in 2007 that it had teamed up with Disney in a nationwide campaign to promote energy efficiency through a TV spot based on the Disney Pixar film "Ratatouille." The 30-second animated spot features the characters from the movie, and urges viewers to make the switch from incandescent bulbs to ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent lights. The spot, showcased nationwide during primetime viewing hours, reached more than 117 million households between June 15 and August 15, 2007, through networks including HGTV, Food Network, and DIY.

DOE Campaign to Target 8 to 12 Year Old Children

Also, we are working on a campaign to be launched late this summer targeting 8 to 12 years old on they can  learn to become more energy efficient.

DOE Military Base Campaign

Another campaign, launched this past Earth Day, challenges military bases nationwide to replace their incandescent light bulbs with CFLs in on-base housing. The joint DOE and Department of Defense campaign, called "Operation Change Out," will help bases across the country increase energy efficiency, save money on utility bills and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

DOE Influences Policymakers, Industry and Consumers

Through these and other campaigns, the Department is committed to motivating policymakers, industry, and consumers to embrace energy efficiency values in their states, cities, and homes.

DOE Building Technologies Program Best Practices Website

The Department's Building Technologies Program website is also a helpful educational resource for the public.

The site details best practice guidelines for realizing 30% energy savings, and is aimed at homeowners, builders, or designers who seek to incorporate energy-efficient building practices into a new or existing home.

The Building Technologies guidelines address each step of the home-building process, based on an integrated or whole building, approach. They cover the planning and financing of a home or renovation project, the design and construction phase, and ongoing maintenance. While many best practice guidelines apply regardless of geography, others are tailored to the challenges of a specific climate zone, a key consideration in creating an energy-efficient home.

SOURCE: 
Testimony of David Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency before the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, United States House of Representatives. Topic: Buildings Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gases, July 17, 2008, EERE Energy Efficiency

David Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency , appeared before Congress to discuss the potential for increased energy efficiency in new and existing buildings to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

R&D Research for Market Deployment of Net-Zero Energy Buildings and Efficiency Technologies

DOE is conducting R&D in energy efficient technologies for advanced solid-state lighting, for net-zero energy buildings and the advanced components needed to achieve net-zero performance, in addition to other building technologies that will be needed to achieve sustained energy reductions. And we work with industry leaders and stakeholders in coordinated support and investment, not only in R&D, but also in accelerated market deployment of new efficiency technologies.

DOE's Building America Program

DOE's Building America program is conducting research through competitively selected industry teams that work directly with leading builders to develop and implement energy-saving construction practices in new residential homes.

Current Building America prototype homes are targeting energy savings of 40% or more than their predecessors, with an ultimate goal of a 70% reduction.

When combined with renewable energy technologies now in development, the goal is to achieve net zero energy home performance capability in the five major climate zones in the continental U.S. by 2020.

The progress being made in the Building America program is the foundation for the Builder's Challenge already discussed.

Goal of Net-zero Energy Commercial Buildings by 2025.

In the commercial sector we are focusing our public-private partnership efforts on achieving net-zero energy commercial buildings by 2025.

Retail buildings in the United States account for approximately 20% of commercial sector energy consumption and represent the fastest growing subsector, making them an important opportunity for savings.

Retailers Energy Alliance

In February 2008 we established the Retailers Energy Alliance with companies such as WalMart, Whole Foods, McDonalds, Home Depot, and many more.  To date, 23 companies with over two billion square feet of building space have joined the alliance in order to share best practices, engage equipment manufacturers in discussions of their common needs and to eventually procure the products with the performance they want and need. DOE is working to apply this model to a Commercial Real Estate Alliance and an Institutional Buildings Alliance in the next twelve to eighteen months. We will be reaching out to national accounts to provide research technical assistance to those that want to improve the efficiency of their existing portfolio of buildings by 30% while developing new prototypes that save 50% or more over current code. 

Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA)

Our current and planned activities are consistent with the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) Commercial Buildings Initiative provisions--Sections 421 (Commercial High-Performance Green Buildings) and Section 422 (Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative). If the (current) Retailer Alliance Members upgraded one third of their existing buildings by 30% over the standard, then approximately 3 million metric tons of C02 would be avoided annually.

R&D for Technology Gaps in Equipment and Components

As we work with home building and commercial buildings industries we are identifying technology gaps and improvement opportunities at the equipment and component levels.

Solid-State Lighting program: Cree, Inc.

The Department's Solid-State Lighting program earlier this year announced up to $20.6 million in funding over a number of years, subject to appropriation, for solid-state lighting research and development.

Recent progress includes the cost-shared research DOE conducted with Cree, Inc., a manufacturer of semiconductors that enhance the value of light-emitting diode (LED) solid-state lighting. Cree produced a high powered white light LED that set a new record for brightness and efficacy. This is a great accomplishment as solid state lighting technologies could potentially at least double the efficiency of today's general lighting systems.

Based on the rapid progress made in the SSL industry, in part with DOE support, in September 2007 DOE announced ENERGY STAR criteria for 5 niche SSL products which become available on the market on September 30th of this year. DOE has also announced its intention to add more ENERGY STAR SSL products in 2009, sending a signal of expected quality and performance to both consumers and industry.

R&D in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Equipment

In addition to lighting efficiency, we are pursuing advancements in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment; dynamic and highly insulating window technologies; advanced building shell materials and structures; solar heating and cooling equipment and systems; and energy simulation and analysis software--all aligned to achieving the goal of net-zero energy homes by 2020 and net-zero energy commercial buildings by 2025.

These research and development activities provided the foundation for continuous improvement in our building stock, and the potential to contribute significant energy, cost and carbon savings to the economy.

SOURCE: 
Testimony of David Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency before the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, United States House of Representatives. Topic: Buildings Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gases, July 17, 2008, EERE Energy Efficiency by DOE

DOE's second area of focus is ensuring that consumers and businesses have energy efficient choices in energy consuming equipment, appliances and lighting. This can be achieved by making appliance standards more stringent, and by accelerating the market penetration of advanced lighting, equipment and appliances.

I am proud to say we have met 100% of our appliance standards targets since we committed to a new schedule for them in January 2006. The Department is currently working on nine standard rulemakings affecting 18 products. By this time next year we will have initiated another four rulemakings, affecting at least 5 additional products. This represents a pace substantially more aggressive than at any prior time in our history.

We have also taken internal measures to improve and accelerate the standards-setting process. In February, we asked the Congress for the authority to streamline the rulemaking process and allow DOE to go to a direct final rule for certain products when a clear consensus for a standard exists among manufacturers, efficiency advocates, the government, and other stakeholders. This process could reduce the time required to reach a completed standard by as much as one-third.

ENERGY STAR Modernization by DOE and EPA

To help accelerate market penetration of advanced appliances, DOE is pursuing the modernization and expansion of ENERGY STAR® to accommodate the increasingly rapid flow and evolution of high efficiency technologies like solid state lighting, tankless water heaters, and solar products.

ENERGY STAR is a voluntary labeling and recognition program jointly administered by DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that seeks to accelerate the adoption of clean and efficient domestic energy technologies.

The ENERGY STAR label helps businesses and consumers easily identify highly-efficient products, homes, and buildings that save energy and money while reducing the pollution from power generation.

For example, earlier this year, DOE announced more stringent criteria for clothes washers and expanded the categories of compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL) under the ENERGY STAR label.

• Based on first-year projected sales data, approximately 1.9 million ENERGY STAR-qualified clothes washers will be sold, saving American families up to $90 million annually on their water and utility bills. This translates to roughly 0.5 MMT of C02 annually.
  
• CFL products under the ENERGY STAR label--which include new categories for CFLs containing less mercury, new candelabra products, and more rigorous testing procedures--are expected to save Americans approximately $30 billion in utility costs over the next five years.
  

More stringent criteria, combined with a greater diversity of energy-saving product options, will allow Americans to more efficiently use energy in their homes,

In April, 2008 the Department announced new ENERGY STAR criteria for water heaters, the first in the history of the program.

Water heating currently represents up to 17% of national residential energy consumption, making it the third largest energy user in homes, behind heating and cooling and kitchen appliances.

SOURCE: 
Testimony of David Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency before the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, United States House of Representatives. Topic: Buildings Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gases, July 17, 2008, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/office_eere/rodgers_testimony_071708.html

DOE announced on March 12, 2009 that it will invest nearly $8 billion in state and local weatherization and energy efficiency efforts as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The stimulus funds will be divided between the Weatherization Assistance Program, which will receive nearly $5 billion, and the State Energy Program, which will receive up to $3 billion.

This will help families save hundreds of dollars every year on their energy bills, while creating approximately 87,000 jobs. To jump-start the job creation and weatherization work, DOE is releasing $780 million in the next few days, and will release more as the states demonstrate that they are using the funding effectively.

The State Energy Program funding will be used to provide rebates to consumers for home energy audits or other energy-saving improvements;

• develop renewable energy and alternative fuel projects;
• promote Energy Star products;
• upgrade the energy efficiency of state and local government buildings;
• other innovative state efforts to help families save money on their energy bills.

The weatherization funding will improve the energy efficiency of the homes of low-income families by adding more insulation, sealing leaks, or modernizing heating and air conditioning equipment, at a cost of up to $6,500 per home.

The energy efficiency upgrades will be available for families making up to 200% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, this translates to about $44,000 per year in the lower 48 states, $55,140 per year in Alaska, and $50,720 per year in Hawaii.