Beaufort 3 Century New Freedman's Cottage

"What if every simple act of design and construction made the world a better place?"

"WHAT IF EVERY INTERVENTION RESULTED IN GREATER BIODIVERSITY; INCREASED SOIL HEALTH; ADDITIONAL OUTLETS FOR BEAUTY AND PERSONAL EXPRESSIONS; A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF CLIMATE, CULTURE, AND PLACE; A REALIGNMENT OF OUR FOOD AND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS; AND A MORE PROFOUND SENSE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CITIZEN OF A PLANET WHERE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE PROVIDED FAIRLY AND EQUITABLY?"

THIS IS THE LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE. WE ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE FORM OF BEAUFORT TO HONOR THE UNIQUE CULTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE OF THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT AND TO PROTECT THE NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT. THE 560 SQUARE FOOT "FREEDMEN" COTTAGE IS BASED ON THE CIRCA 1850'S FREEDMEN COTTAGES FOUND IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT. THESE WERE THE HOUSES OF THE NEWLY FREED AFRICAN AMERICANS AND NOW IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY WE WILL BE FREE FROM THE GRID OF POWER, WATER, AND THE AUTOMOBILE. EACH HOUSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL GENERATE AROUND 4000KwH PER YEAR IN ELECTRICITY THROUGH PHOTOVOLTAICS AND WIND TURBINES, WHILE CONSUMING AROUND 2000 KwH PER YEAR; SELLING THE REMAINING ENERGY BACK TO THE POWER COMPANY. EACH HOUSE WILL COLLECT RAINWATER FROM THE ROOF TO TREAT AND USE AS POTABLE WATER IN THE HOUSE. GRAYWATER AND CONDENSATION FROM THE HEAT PUMP WILL BE COLLECTED AND STORED IN A SEPARATE CISTERN AND USED FOR IRRIGATION IN THE COMMUNITY GARDENS. THE PROCESSES, MATERIALS, AND PRODUCTS PRESENTED IN THIS PROJECT ARE AVAILABLE TODAY. AS ENERGY AND WATER FEES INCREASE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES THEY WILL BECOME AFFORDABLE.

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We haven't built a physical model since we started with Revit three years ago. It is much faster to build a model in Revit than by hand! For more infomation on the Beaufort 3 Century Project http://www.beaufortthreecentury.org/ Please visit the exhibition at the Verdier House Mondays - Saturdays 10 am until 4 pm (it's free) and vote on the people's choice!

Components of Closed Crawl Spaces

Until around 75 years ago, houses in the Coastal South were built out of solid lumber components of stud walls, diagonal sheathing, wood siding, and the interior was finished with plaster. When the walls got wet they were able to dry because there was no insulation and plentiful leaks to let air circulate in and out of the walls. There was not a problem with mold because solid lumber is not eaten by mold. Without air-conditioning, high ceilings, porches and cross ventilation contributed to making the house bearable in a hot, humid climate. This sounds like a good system except thermal comfort is almost impossible to achieve in a leaky, un-insulated structure .

2009-2010 Home Tax Credits

Currently there are tax credits available for home improvements that make your house more energy efficient. The upgrades must be placed in service between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. The credits are available only for the taxpayer's principal residence, EXCEPT for geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, and small wind energy systems (where second homes do qualify). The maximum that can be claimed for all improvements placed in service in 2009 and 2010 is $1,500, EXCEPT for geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, fuel cells, and small wind energy systems which are not subject to this cap, and are in effect through 2016. The improvements that are subject to the $1,500 limit are Insulation, Windows and Doors, Roofing, Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC), and Water Heaters. Let us look at the tax credits and requirements for each of the aforementioned $1,500 limited improvements.

August is the time of year when many people ask, “What can be done to lower my energy costs? And how can I get the most bang for my buck with the available tax credits?” The easiest way is to reduce the need for air conditioning by insulating and closing gaps in your house. Start by having a Home Energy Audit which consists of two tests. The first is a blower door test that measures the tightness of your house and helps identify the leaks’ location. The HVAC ducts undergo the same testing in the duct blaster test. The home energy audit will determine if caulking and new insulation is needed. The tax credit for new insulation is limited to 30% of the cost (including installation) and the insulation must meet the 2009 International Energy and Conservation Code (IECC). For Beaufort County the 2009 IECC requires R-30 insulation in the ceiling, R-13 in the exterior walls and R-19 in the floor. The Department of Energy’s (D.O.E.) recommendation for Beaufort County is R30 to R60 in the ceiling, R 15 in the exterior walls and R-25 in the floor.

The window and door replacement tax credit is also 30% of the cost. There are two requirements for windows and doors. The U-Factor measures the heat loss a window allows, the lower the number the better (between 0.2 and 1.2). The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is a number between 0 and 1 that measures the amount of heat transferred through a window, the lower the number the better. The tax credit requires a U-Factor of less than 0.30 and a SHGC of less than 0.30. You will also want to consider Impact Resistance Glass which will protect your openings during a hurricane.

The roof replacement tax credit is limited to 30% of the cost of material only. The roofs must be qualified metal or reflective asphalt shingles as listed by Energy Star. If your house is shaded or has a super insulated roof the benefits of reflective roofing will not have as large of impact.

An air to air heat pump is the most common HVAC system found in the Lowcountry. The tax credit is also limited to 30% of the cost. The deciding factors are the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) which measures the cooling mode of the heat pump. The SEER Rating is a number between 13 and 22, the higher the number the better. The Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) measures the efficiency of the heating mode of the unit. The HSPF is between 6.8 and 9.5, the higher the number the more efficient the unit. The final measurement is the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) which measures the peak cooling capacity. The EER is between 11 and 14 and the high number is the desired rating. For split systems the tax credit requirements are SEER Rating of 15, EER of 12.5 and HSPF of 8.5. The package unit requirements are SEER Rating of 14, EER of 12 and HSPF of 8.

Currently only gas and propane tankless Energy Star rated Water Heaters meet the requirements for the tax credit, which is also 30% of the cost.

For additional information the following sites may be helpful.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index
http://www.ahrinet.org/Content/FederalTaxCredits_896.aspx

Green Building 101

I recently gave a talk to the local Rotary Club on Green Building Basics. What are the different programs and what do they measure. It was very well received and here is a short version of my talk.

What does it mean to build green? There are several certification programs active in the Lowcountry. They all have third party verification requirements and different programs for different building types. Some require performance -based measurements while others have a prescriptive path to the desired performance level. The non-residential programs are led by the design team of architects and engineers and the residential programs are under the purview of the contractor. The major local programs are listed at the end of this post.

There are five general areas that all the programs measure; Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy Use, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. There are mandatory requirements and a minimum number of earned points in each category. Each program awards different levels of certification based on the number of points earned. For example the LEED programs are LEED Certified, LEED Silver, LEED Gold, and the highest rated LEED Platinum.
The areas overlap and green strategies can often result in points in several categories. The decision to have daylight in all interior spaces can gain points in Energy Use (less need for electric lights) and Indoor Environmental Quality (occupants’ well being is better with daylight and a view).

Sustainable site requirements are focused on minimizing the building impact which includes: locating the project in a developed area, preferably on a pre-developed site within walking distance of essential services; using regionally appropriate landscaping; controlling stormwater runoff both during and after construction; and reducing erosion, light pollution, and construction related pollution.

Water Efficiency rewards water conservation both inside and outside. The interior strategies include high efficient appliances, fixtures and fittings. Water-wise landscaping and water harvesting in rain barrels or cisterns for reuse are exterior conservation options.

The single most important category is Energy & Atmosphere, where the overall goal is to reduce energy consumption and encourage the generation of renewal energy. Strategies include: energy use monitoring; efficient design and construction; efficient appliances, HVAC systems and lighting; use of renewable and clean sources of energy generated on-site or off-site; and natural daylight in spaces by windows or skylights.

Materials & Resources promote the selection of sustainably grown, harvested, produced and transported products and materials. This category also is concerned with the reduction of waste both from the construction site and the manufacturer’s site as well as reuse and recycling. Attention is given to the travel distance of materials and resources to the construction site and to the manufacturer’s plant. Reuse of an existing building, recycled materials, and locally produced materials are the high point favorites.

Indoor Environmental Quality strives to improve indoor air quality; access to natural daylight and views; and improving acoustics. The category focuses on reducing indoor pollutants such as VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) in paint and off gassing of irritants found in adhesives, carpets, composite wood products and furniture. Strategies include managing moisture to prevent mold, increasing ventilation rates and mechanical controls to maintain the proper levels of temperature and humidity.

According to the United States Green Building Council, buildings account for approximately 39% of total annual US energy consumption (31% for building operations, 8% for building construction). Building operations (heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water, etc.) account for 38% of total annual US greenhouse gas emissions. And 72% of all the electricity produced at power plants in the US goes to operate buildings. So it is time for us all to learn more about green building and consider getting your project certified. You might even qualify for a tax credit.

Non-Residential Green Certification Programs

LEED Programs by
U.S. Green Building Council http://www.usgbc.org

Green Globes by
Green Building Initiative http://www.thegbi.org

Sustainable Building Challenge by
International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment
http://www.greenbuilding.ca

Residential Green Certification Programs

LEED for Homes by
U.S. Green Building Council http://www.usgbc.org

NAHB National Green Building Program by
National Assoc. of Home Builders http://www.nahb.org

Earthcraft House http://earthcrafthouse.com