Journal of Indoor Environmental Quality

The story behind energy, entropy, efficiency, exergy and efficacy

We just released our long awaited simplified summary of energy, entropy, efficiency, exergy and efficacy based on our brand new presentation on sustainability and early feedback from industry leaders has been great. It’s all consolidated into a single web page – written of course in basic easy to understand language and linked back to numerous pages within the www.healthyheating.com website.

If you missed the HRAI of Canada’s annual general meeting in Kananaskis, Alberta, saw the sustainability slides posted earlier but wanted the descriptive language – well now you have it.

Also be sure to check out our updated Indoor Air Quality presentation, Inspecting Hydronic Systems and Skill Sets slides from the Canadian Hydronic Council meeting held in the spring.

Manitoba Hydro Place - A New Benchmark for Cold Climate Buildings

I’ve had the opportunity to tour a number of great projects already this year and the latest is Winnipeg’s own - Manitoba Hydro Place.

After three days of presenting the HRAI of Canada’s Indoor Air Quality Awareness program I'd have to say it is by far one of the most comfortable buildings I’ve had the pleasure of teaching in…in fact one of the most striking difference was experienced during our tour of the mechanical rooms which were extremely clean, quiet and cool – a stark contrast to the loud, dirty and hot rooms typically found in buildings across America.

I took numerous photo’s while there and have shared a few here in the blog. (t) Solar chimney, (m) Geothermal manifold, (b) Solar chimney against the smoke stack from the old power plant – my how times have changed!

A big thanks to industry colleague Rob Andrushuk, C.Tech., Mechanical Systems Specialist with Manitoba Hydro for hosting the IAQ course and for arranging the top to bottom tour and to Mark Pauls, B.Sc., EIT, Building Energy Engineer for the pre-tour presentation and walk around…outstanding!

Suggested links:
Project description and history: GreenSource, March Issue
Technical paper: Manitoba Hydro Place, Integrated Design Process Exemplar (PLEA2009 - 26th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Quebec City, Canada, 22-24 June 2009)  

To learn more the concepts used in this project visit these links:

Radiant Cooling

Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems

Indoor Environmental Quality with Radiant Based HVAC System

Seminary Residence Hall Awarded LEED Gold Certification

Decatur, GA. Opened last summer, the new "green" residence hall for Columbia Theological Seminary students has earned the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification by the United States Green Building Council. It is the first facility in Decatur, GA, to earn LEED Gold Certification and is expected to use approximately 50 percent less energy than a conventionally constructed facility.

An energy-monitoring system in the entry lobby allows students and visitors to see real-time energy consumption as compared with an average building performance.

For the full release see: http://www.ctsnet.edu/NewsPubs/NewsRelease.aspx?ID=605

For further information contact:
Ann Kohut, Kohut Communications Consulting, 770-913-9747, annielk(@)bellsouth.net, www.kohutcommunications.com or http://twitter.com/kohutcomm

Image credit: © 2009 Jonathan Hillyer / Atlanta

RBc: What do we like about Lord Aeck Sargent design approach on this project? Amongst several other elements it includes, “an exterior building envelope with above-average insulation values, energy efficient windows, and a geothermal mechanical system which will provide low operating costs and a long lifecycle.” Make note of the reasonable window to wall ratio… it’s possible to have both natural lighting and energy efficiency without compromising aesthetics. A very practical design in our books.

Additional topic resources:
http://www.healthyheating.com/Newsletters/June_06/Geoff_McDonell.htm http://www.healthyheating.com/IEQ_Radiant.htm
http://www.healthyheating.com/downloads/Geoff%20McDonell%202.pdf

EPA and DOE Join States to Speed Energy Efficiency Progress in the United States

WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to increasing energy efficiency and reducing costs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today the creation of the State Energy Efficiency (SEE) Action Network. This network is meant to help states achieve maximum cost effective energy efficiency improvements in homes, offices, buildings and industry by 2020. Strengthening energy efficiency initiatives across the country helps to save money and protect the environment at the same time.

For further information Contact:
Enesta Jones
jones.enesta (at) epa.gov
202-564-7873
DOE PUBLIC AFFAIRS:
202-586-4940
_________

Past deliverables from the network have included, “The Rapid Deployment Energy Efficiency (RDEE) Toolkit” which is designed to help state and local authorities and energy efficiency program administrators plan and implement successful programs as they advance energy efficiency through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The Toolkit was developed under the guidance of and with input from the Leadership Group of the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

RBc: A quote from the tool kit includes something we support, “The measure mix (the technologies that are cost-effective for the program to rebate) of HVAC programs varies largely based on weather and primary fuel (electric or gas). For example, in some areas of the country measures such as ground source heat pumps and hydronic heating systems are cost-effective and have been incorporated into residential HVAC programs.”

We suggest readers learn more about low temperature radiant hydronic heating systems.

New Residence Hall in Rural Georgia Features Robust Energy-Saving Features

In the Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia, rapidly growing Young Harris College (which is in the midst of a transition from a two-year to a four-year academic institution), has a new green residence hall.

Enotah Hall – which features water-source heat pumps and an energy recovery unit that pre-treats supply air by recovering the embodied energy of the exhaust air and then conditions the air with an enthalpy wheel – is targeting LEED silver certification from the US Green Building Council. The building also employs generous daylighting and sustainable site strategies and was constructed with regional and recycled materials.

Designed by architecture firm Lord, Aeck & Sargent, whose in-house energy modeling capabilities demonstrate that Enotah Hall will perform at 35 percent above the baseline, the building is a model of sustainable design for the rural North Georgia community. Since most LEED projects tend to be located in urban areas, the green aspects of this beautiful new building are all the more important.

Photo credits © 2009 Jonathan Hillyer Photography.

For further information on this and other Lord, Aeck & Sargen projects contact:
Annie Kohut | Kohut Communications Consulting (tel) 770-913-9747 (fax) 770-913-3197
annielk(at)bellsouth.net
www.kohutcommunications.com
http://twitter.com/kohutcomm

RBc: We’re pleased to cover another outstanding project by Lord, Aeck & Sargen …thanks again to Annie Kohut and Anne Taylor.

Alberta Green Building Technologies 2009 Symposium

Join us at this year's Symposium and discover how Going Green makes great business sense!

Some of the symposium topics and presenters include:

• Net Zero Housing,David Silburn, SAIT Polytechnic
• Green Design, Prof. Tang Lee, University of Calgary
• Indoor Environmental Quality, Robert Bean, Journal of Indoor Environmental Quality
• Solar and Wind System, Jeff Bell, Alberta Energy
• Building Green: Green Residential Remodeling, Peter Yost, BuildingGreen, LLC
• Home Automation, Stephen Goodship, Eecol Electric
• Competing in the Solar Decathlon, Mark Blackwell, SolAbode …and many more!

Featured speaker: Mike Holmes from Holmes on Homes - Going Green

Alberta Green Building Technologies 2009 Symposium, December 8th and 9th, Calgary Alberta, Canada

2009 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard

Washington, D.C.—Today, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) unveiled a new Web resource for state policymakers and energy efficiency advocates.

This site is the initial phase of ACEEE's new State Energy Efficiency Policy Web site, an ongoing project under the umbrella of ACEEE's State Energy Efficiency Policy Activities. The site serves as an easy-to-use online database of energy efficiency policies in the states, searchable by state or by policy. The database covers:

• appliance standards
• building codes
• clean distributed generation policies
• tax incentives
• vehicle policies
• a host of utility-related energy efficiency information

The site currently covers information for most of the leading states. Ultimately the site will cover policies for all states and will be expanded to also cover state climate policies and smart growth initiatives.

“States are increasingly adopting and implementing new energy policies as a result of high energy prices and increasing concern over global climate change,” said ACEEE's Executive Director Steven Nadel. “ACEEE seeks to provide a comprehensive survey of existing state 'best practices' as a resource for policymakers, businesses, concerned citizens, and others in the energy efficiency community.” "This Web site builds on the extensive research regarding energy efficiency policies and programs for which ACEEE has become well known over the past 28 years," said ACEEE's project manager Sarah Black. "The database will serve as a portal to original ACEEE research as well as resources elsewhere on the Web.

The unique resources include information on clean distributed generation policies and several utility policies, including energy efficiency program funding and customer energy efficiency programs." The complete version of the Web site will roll out in conjunction with the release of ACEEE’s State Energy Efficiency Scorecard for 2007/2008 in the beginning of October. ACEEE anticipates updating information on the site on a quarterly basis as new policies emerge.

RBc: You might be surprised with the results of this report especially if you're from a cold climate!

What is PassivHaus?

What is PassivHaus? In Building Science Corporations feature article this month, John Straube looks at the PassivHaus criteria and makes a comparison to low-energy prototype houses build as part of the US Department of Energy's Building America research program.

RBc: I graduated from N.A.I.T.’s Building Construction Engineering Technology program in 1983 which means I was studying the developments from the 70’s Saskatchewan Conservation House, sat in on a 1981 presentation on vanEE’s air to air heat exchanger, studied double wall framing techniques, radiant heating and solar systems, saw the beginnings of the 1980’s R2000 housing program in Canada, and wrote a paper on a then unknown technique of spraying gunite on insulated block walls to form an airtight insulated building envelope.

HRV/ERV’s and Passivhaus are getting so much buzz on the internet and yet as Straube points out, the Passivhaus concept was inspired by the work of SRC and Canada’s National Research Council and it’s 1977 Saskatchewan Conservation House. Yes...everything old is new again and almost 30 years have passed since graduating and outside of us old guys who know the past, the internet is buzzing about these things like they are the new holy grails about to save the world.

I grew up in Saskatchewan and have been to the Saskatchewan Conservation House. The house wasn’t built to save the world it was built because it is freaking cold here in Canada and energy was becoming expensive and igloo construction in Saskatchewan wasn’t a good alternate since it gets freaking hot in Saskatchewan in the summer...On the other hand all those melted igloos could have been converted to hockey rinks in the winter…hmmm.

30 plus years later it still gets cold in Canada and the reason for high performance homes is still the same...most of us building fanatics from the 70's and 80's feel like we're living Bill Murray's life in Groundhog Day

Read Dr. John Straube article on PassivHaus – reality checks are always a good thing.

HOME a film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU&feature=player_embedded

RBC: Regardless of ones position of man's occupation of earth, this video presents material for discussion and has wonderful images.

Number One Morning Show Warms Up To Hydronics

Number One Morning Show Warms Up To Hydronics

HPAC, together with its columnists, team up to bring hydronics to the small screen

 

Toronto, ON – Things are heating up at Citytv’s Breakfast Television (BT) with the premier appearance of HPAC Magazine columnists Robert Bean and John Siegenthaler slated for the fall. “Siggy and Bean” will showcase the benefits of water-based heating using working models of a variety of hydronic heating products. The Toronto segment is expected to be the first in a series that will include Citytv’s markets in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg.

 

Robert Bean is a registered engineering technologist in the building construction engineering discipline. He is known for telling it like it is with the consistent message of remaining true to achieving optimum comfort for building occupants. Bean hosts www.healthyheating.com, a not-for-profit educational resource for consumers and professionals alike. A popular speaker and trainer throughout North America, he is a regular contributor to HPAC Magazine on the subject of indoor environmental quality.

 

A passionate advocate of good design and simplicity in hydronic systems, John Siegenthaler is well-positioned to offer consumers practical advice on system performance and expectations. A principal of Appropriate Designs, Siegenthaler is also an expert in integrating renewable technologies and hydronic heating. He is a solar and hydronics columnist with HPAC Magazine.

Stay tuned for updates on the premier of Siggy and Bean on the Canadian television scene.

 

About BT:

Breakfast Television broadcasts weekdays starting at 6:00 a.m. on Citytv. Owned by Rogers, Citytv has stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg. Each of the television stations reflects the flavour of the community: the serious commentary, the opinion, the celebrations and the unpredictability.

 

About HPAC Magazine:

More than 18,000 qualified industry professionals subscribe to Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning (HPAC) Magazine. Editorial features focus on: heating, plumbing, refrigeration, hydronics, air conditioning, business and marketing. HPAC also produces: the National Buyer’s Guide & Wholesalers Directory (both in print and online), a French-language sister magazine, Plomberie, Chauffage & Climatisation (PCC), and monthly e-newsletters. For details, please visit www.hpacmag.com .

RBc: John (Siggy) and I (The Bean) are looking forward to working with HPAC and Rogers on this consumer education piece...it's no coincidence smart consumers make informed decisions.