FB Sonoran Slide Show 5 25 07

Conservation & Efficiency“The Vegetables”: 

Conservation & Efficiency “The Vegetables” For: The Sonoran Institute Community Energy Futures Institute By: Fritz Diether, Owner Frostbusters & Coolth

Jim Spehar asked me to describe what I’m doing “on the ground” with Frostbusters & Coolth: 

Jim Spehar asked me to describe what I’m doing “on the ground” with Frostbusters & Coolth In keeping with the vegetable theme… Frostbusters is working with, or planning to work with the essential ingredients of the residential building industry in Mesa County and surrounding communities that have a role to play in energy efficiency. I’m trying to make a killer salad!

Planting the Seeds: 

Planting the Seeds Started Frostbusters- 1985 Crested Butte, CO Moved to Grand Junction- 2004 Re-open Frostbusters- 2006 Rater Training & Certification- 2006 Acquire Energy Analysis Tools- Never Ending! Energy Audits & Improvements to Existing Homes- Since Inception Begin Rating New Homes- 2006 Establish Relationships with Building Contractors

More Seeds…: 

More Seeds… Establish Relationships with: Insulation Contractors, HVAC Contractors, Equipment/Material Vendors, Individual Homeowners, Banks/Lenders, Realtors/Property Managers, Building, Planning & Public Works Departments

Still more seeds!: 

Still more seeds! Architects, Engineers & Designers, Local, State & Federal Gov’t Leaders, Affordable Housing & Human Services Solar & Renewable Energy Providers, Energy Efficiency Agencies & Orgs. Utilities Insurance Companies Whoever else digs a great salad!

The Bountiful Harvest…: 

The Bountiful Harvest… Architects, Builders, Subs & Engineers Help incorporate energy efficiency in design & specs using Energy Star, Built Green and other pre-existing programs. No need to re-invent the “Vegetable”. Ask them to become Energy Star & Built Green Partners. Produce Training & Education Workshops Train Contractors & Subs in field techniques Rate & Test homes. Certify Energy Star, Built Green, Tax Credits & Ratings. Conduct field work when requested

Insulation Contractors: 

Insulation Contractors Help them improve their product & process to ensure success in Energy Star & Built Green, and improve retrofitting of existing homes, Ask them to become Energy Star Partners Provide them with quality control with blower door testing & thermal scans using infrared camera. We want vegetables that are nutritious!

Heating, Ventilating & A/C Contractors: 

Heating, Ventilating & A/C Contractors Encourage/Require use of Manual J, S & D calculations for proper sizing of HVAC systems, Encourage use of high efficiency components & advanced control strategies, Encourage use of Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV’s) for better Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Encourage use of Direct Vent appliances for safety and IAQ. Your vegetables shouldn’t hurt you! Provide accurate Heat Loss/Gain calculations for accurate sizing, Help train staff in proper duct sealing techniques

Equipment/Material Vendors: 

Equipment/Material Vendors Make Energy Efficient Equipment & Products available to Builders, Subs & Homeowners. You can’t eat your vegetables if you can’t find em. Introduce new products such as foil-faced OSB to help keep attics cooler. Don’t want to overcook those vegetables! Help market innovative/superior/green products on vendor’s behalf. Work with suppliers to set-up “energy efficiency corners” in their stores.

Homeowners: 

Homeowners The Homeowner is typically “The Decider” when it comes to investing in energy improvements. To plant or not to plant… that is the question. Where’s the “Water” going to come from? Homeowners learn a lot during an Energy Audit. Provide Comprehensive Energy Analysis, Advance “Whole House Approach” over time, Act as “General Contractor” providing wide array of energy efficient products & services through use of sub-contractor/partners,

Homeowners- Continued: 

Homeowners- Continued Recruit local govt, non-profit or utility to sponsor Home Performance with Energy Star, EPA’s program for existing homes. Those vegetables will grow a lot better with the right “fertilizer”.

Banks/Lenders: 

Banks/Lenders Those vegetables need water… Lots of water! Connect Builders/Developers/Homebuyers with Lenders that offer favorable terms & incentives for Energy Star & Built Green Homes. Offer unsecured & secured 2nd loans to homeowners for energy improvements to existing homes through the Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA) “Energy Freedom Financing Program” (American General & GE Capital). Use “Green Loan” programs created by local bank

Realtors/Property Managers: 

Realtors/Property Managers Add Rating Score, Energy Star label & Built Green label to MLS listings, Educate Realtors regarding Homebuyer benefits of owning an Energy Star &/or Built Green home, Educate Realtors regarding ability to transform existing homes that lack energy efficiency, Educate Property Managers & Landlords regarding opportunities to profit from energy efficiency, If you don’t sell those vegetables, they’ll just sit on the shelf and rot!

Building, Planning & Public Works: 

Building, Planning & Public Works Encourage adoption of the most current code, Encourage “Performance Testing” as part of the inspection process (blower door testing, duct tightness testing & thermal camera scans), Help provide educational opportunities for builders & trades in energy efficiency & building science. Work with Planning Dept. to include energy & resource use considerations in reviewing new subdivisions. Work with Public Works to optimize public building performance.

Architects, Engineers & Designers: 

Architects, Engineers & Designers Help the design community improve building energy performance by adding details & specifications to their building plans, Incorporate Energy Star & Built Green requirements into building plans, Help designers assess potential for energy improvements in remodel & renovation plans, Ask them to become Energy Star partners, Connect motivated builders & homebuyers with designers that incorporate efficiency in design.

Local, State & Federal Gov’t Leaders: 

Local, State & Federal Gov’t Leaders Work with leaders to develop incentives & regulations to improve energy efficiency, the so called “Carrot & Celery Stick” approach, Monitor & react to changes in law & policy that affect energy efficiency, inform clients & partners. Create & support opportunities for innovative financing mechanisms for energy improvements. Watch what’s going on in States with advanced initiatives, where utilities are more expensive. Are they eating their vegetables while we poke at our food?

Affordable Housing & Human Services: 

Affordable Housing & Human Services Nobody wants rotten vegetables! Much affordable housing isn’t. If the bills are high, if it falls apart, if it’s unhealthy… It’s not affordable. Work with affordable housing providers to improve energy efficiency. Housing Resources of Western Colorado is producing housing that will qualify for Energy Star, In fact, their “self-help build” homes could qualify for a tax credit… Too bad they’re tax exempt! Work with all housing types & sectors, from trailers to trophy homes. They all have tremendous potential for energy savings.

Solar & Renewable Energy Providers: 

Solar & Renewable Energy Providers Work with Solar & Renewable Energy Providers to coordinate energy improvements & installation of solar & renewable energy equipment, this is where the “Rutabaga Meets the Road” Renewable energy equipment can have lengthy payback periods due to high capital cost, Make energy improvements first, then properly size the equipment to serve the reduced load. Caulk, foam, weatherstripping, insulation… pretty boring compared to solar panels and wind turbines, I guess that’s why they call us vegetables 

Energy Efficiency Agencies & Orgs.: 

Energy Efficiency Agencies & Orgs. Those vegetables need lots of Sun to grow! Join EPA/DOE Energy Star for New Homes, Recruit Home Performance with Energy Star sponsor for Existing Homes. A utility, local government or non-profit are likely candidates, Become certified rater for Built Green Colorado, Join the local Home Builders Association, Join RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network), Affiliate with other organizations such EEBA, SWEEP, ASHRAE.

Utilities: 

Utilities Vegetables need good soil for support! Ask Utility to become Energy Star partner, Ask Utility to sponsor Home Performance with Energy Star, Offer Energy Analysis & Improvements for Utility sponsored DSM program, Work with Utility to quantify greenhouse gas emission reductions from energy improvements to qualify for carbon credits, Help Utility optimize DSM efforts.

Insurance Companies: 

Insurance Companies Protect your vegetables if it’s “Raining Like Hail” Some Insurance Co’s already recognize green. Develop innovative programs that reduce claims, improve efficiency, indoor health & safety. Beyond the claims adjuster. Fix the problem, not just the damage, Whole house inspection following claim, Insurance Co finances improvements & adds to insurance bill. Large-scale implementation could drive down insurance, energy, health care & home maint. costs.

Additional Thoughts, Conclusion: 

Additional Thoughts, Conclusion Education is probably the most essential component that the public sector can provide. If individuals knew what was possible, they would be more inclined to act. The carrots & celery sticks go well together. Award a prize to the builder that provides the greenest home. Reduce permit fees & use taxes for high performance homes. Advance your building codes & enforce them. Require performance testing. Broad based participation is critical, everyone involved in housing is required to help.

Additional Thoughts, Conclusion- Cont.: 

Additional Thoughts, Conclusion- Cont. I just now thought of this… Could a County or Town propose a Special Improvement District, the purpose for which would be to make cost-effective energy and/or essential comfort, health & safety improvements to the homes & infrastructure in a designated neighborhood or area? Why not? We do it for sewer, water, sidewalks and streets. The voters in the District have the final say. The goal is to reduce each person’s utility bill by more than their portion of the debt obligation over the term of the Bond.

Additional Thoughts, Conclusion- Cont.: 

Additional Thoughts, Conclusion- Cont. Ultimately our ability to significantly reduce energy use & emissions will depend on the collective effect of the individual actions that are taken by building owners, you know...The Deciders Create conditions that, for building owners will make the prospect of eating all their vegetables… I mean investing in Energy Efficiency, Irresistible !!

Links: 

Links Energy Star- www.energystar.gov RESNET- www.natresnet.org Built Green Colorado- www.builtgreen.org SWEEP- www.swenergy.org/ Home Energy Magazine- www.homeenergy.org/ Home Energy Saver- www.hes.lbl.gov/ Idaho Energy Division-www.idwr.idaho.gov/energy/ Wyoming Energy Council, Inc.- www.wyoec.org/ Energy Rated Homes of Utah- www.utahenergy.org/index.html Kansas Building Science Institute-www.kansasbuildingscience.com/

More Links: 

More Links Building Science Corporation- www.buildingscience.com/bsc/ Energy & Environmental Building Alliance- www.eeba.org/ Colorado Governor’s Energy Office- www.state.co.us/oemc/