News Room : Archives : July 2010

The South Gets its First Certified Passive House (Beats California to the Punch)

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

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The South Gets its First Certified Passive House (Beats California to the Punch)

Bamboo Screens Shade Stunning French Passivhaus

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

karawitz architecture: passive house, bessancourt

passive house in bessancourt by karawitz architecture
all images courtesy karawitz architecture

french firm karawitz architecture have developed a passive house in bessancourt, near paris, france.

the house is closed to the north to limit heat loss and opened to the south benefitting from
free solar energy. aesthetically, it is an abstract replica of a traditional house.

the second skin of the houses design is untreated bamboo which envelopes the frame in solid wood panels.
the cladding, which becomes grey over time, drew inspiration from traditional barns in the part of
the ile-de-france region where the house is situated. it passes in front of the windows to the north
and finishes by unfolding on to the roof. identical shutters are fitted on large bay windows to the south
to provide shade and light in the house, during the day or at night. photovoltaic panels on the roof round
off the program, producing 2695 kwh/yr in energy. the foundation slab is the only concrete element,
the entire structure is created from the assembly oflarge solid wood panels, which have been prefabricated
in a workshop.

when the shutters are all closed

the bamboo connected to a steel frame

the balcony

the living area

kitchen

living area

the dividing wall…

can be opened up

staircase

circular holes provide views into connecting rooms

staircase

the corridor

upstairs living space

bathroom

shower

main bedroom

the entrance

in the evening

entrance and car port

floor plan

section view

elevation view

site plan

project info:
type: residential  – single family residence
location: bessancourt, france
client: private
building status: built in 2009
site type: suburban

Original Post from Designbloom

Green Remodeling Workshops Coming to a Town Near You

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Ever since the premier of USGBC’s two-day REGREEN workshop in Phoenix, AZ at Greenbuild last November, Annette, Rob, and I have been gearing up for a slew of green remodeling workshops across the country — the REGREEN Roadshow. The REGREEN workshops are a lot of fun to teach (and take) for two reasons: one, the blend of builder/remodeler with interior design perspectives is completely refreshing; and two, the substantial and substantive group work woven into the workshop makes for an energetic and invigorating approach. 

Now you might be saying to yourself: What? Interior designers and hard-core building science-builder types making sweet music together? You would be surprised at how well these perspectives can inform each other. Here is just one example: 

Your clients TELL you they want new replacement windows. But what they actually want is to keep the way their windows currently look, not spend too much, and get real performance improvements (in terms of energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and daylighting — without overheating during the summer). Whew. So you sit down with an interior designer, and all of the sudden you need to compare about a dozen options — sash replacements, window films, cellular shades, awnings, shutters — all with real (but different) advantages. What started as a rather simple choice ends up to be quite a puzzle, based on a weaving of sometimes competing aspects: energy efficiency, lighting, views, privacy, cost, comfort, even noise. It’s just as much about interior design as it is hard-core remodeling. 

Green remodeling is a really cool topic and REGREEN is a great approach to it. It’s definitely worth checking out the REGREEN Roadshow schedule. Although only Atlanta is up at this point, look for stops in places like Austin, Boston, Denver, New Orleans, San Francisco, and DC coming soon. 

GBA Representative Remodeling Projects: (The first two are featured case studies in the REGREEN workshop)
 

Original Post from Building Green.com

nicolas dorval-bory: snow house

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

 

 

’snow house’ all images courtesy of nicolas dorval-bory architect as part of an architectural competition for xella cellular concrete blocks, nicolas dorval-bory architect has developed ‘snow house’, a winter chalet that uses sustainable means to provide home heating.

nicolas dorval-bory: snow house

 
’snow house’
all images courtesy of nicolas dorval-bory architect

as part of an architectural competition for xella cellular concrete blocks,
nicolas dorval-bory architect has developed ‘snow house’, a winter chalet that uses
sustainable means to provide home heating. the project uses xella aerated concrete blocks
which are energy-efficient building panels. using this material combined with its compact
square plan helps to reduce the loss of heat.  the house is also built close to the ground with
no overhang while the central courtyard is kept open to allow for a significant supply of light
and fresh air in the summer.

additional heating is achieved through two systems called the geothermal heat pump
and trombe wall. both work in tandem to first pump fresh cold air from the exterior to later
pass through the trombe wall for heating. during the day, the trombe wall warms the air using
a greenhouse effect trapping it between two walls. at night, the heat stored between the high
thermal walls is distributed through the house. the system is controlled by motorized valves to
prevent a reverse flow of air overnight.

the supporting structure of the house is made out of 15 cm xella blocks, lined with a vapor barrier
and 10cm xella panels, with a black waterproof roughcast coating to maximize solar gain and limit
the accumulation of snow on the roof.

cold air pumped from the exterior is used to warm the interior using a geothermal pump and trombe wall
sectional

the interior rooms are provided different levels of thermal insulation depending on the activities
they are used for. bedrooms and bathrooms on the south end of the building have a higher indoor
temperature than the living room and kitchen facing the north. this is possible due to the natural slope
on which the house sits on.

floor plans

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nicolas dorval-bory: snow house

Lower Energy Bills by Covering Whole House Attic Fans with New Shuttercover

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

 

Jan. 6, 2010 – Most people would agree that leaving a window open in the winter would not be a good idea.  However, homes with uncovered whole house fans are essentially doing just that – increasing energy usage and costs for the homeowner.  Now, Shuttercover™ Trim to Fit, a trim-to-fit fan cover from RH Manufacturing, offers homeowners an easy and affordable way to cover their fans and lower energy bills.

“While whole house fans use far less energy than air conditioners when in use, the systems provide little to no insulating value.  In the winter, when you’re heating the home, they let hot air out and cold air in.  In the summer, when the air conditioning is running, they let hot air in and cold air out,” says Rick Hedgpeth at RH Manufacturing, the largest manufacturer of insulation products for whole house fans in the United States.   A perfect solution for all of us living in 50’s to 70’s homes in Atlanta Georgia, that are in need of a weatherization renovation.  “Homeowners can save a tremendous amount of energy – and money – by covering and insulating the opening.  Our Shuttercover Trim to Fit makes it easy to do just that, without ever having to enter the attic.”

Shuttercover Trim to Fit covers are made of ¼-inch thick, Low-E reflective foil insulation.  This type of insulation can stop up to 97% of radiant heat transfer, adding significant energy savings. One side has a white coating to blend in with the surrounding ceiling.  The square can be trimmed to fit any shutter size up to 48 inches by 48 inches.

The Shuttercover Trim to Fit attaches to the ceiling with a self-adhesive Velcro^Ò-like connector.  This means no more duct tape, plastic or trips to the attic.  Simply stick the cover in place on the ceiling.  Remove the cover to use the fan, and replace it when finished.

In addition to preventing air infiltration, Shuttercover Trim to Fit also helps lower bills by decreasing hot and cold spots that make the furnace or air conditioner turn on unnecessarily.    Most whole house fan shutters are in hallways, near thermostats.  Air coming in through the un-insulated shutters creates a hot or cold spot, which the thermostat detects, causing the furnace or air conditioner to come on when it might not actually be needed.  Shuttercover Trim to Fit can help prevent this.

“Shuttercover Trim to Fit is a wonderful product.  I installed one…right before it turned cold,” says one happy customer in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Available for less than $30 at retailers including Lowes, Westlake, Ace Hardware, WW Grainger, Sutherlands, Meeks and Herrman Lumber, Shuttercover Trim to Fit is an easy and affordable solution for homeowners.  Homeowners and contractors may also purchase products online at www.lowes.com and www.grainger.com.

For additional information, including a full list of retailers, visit http://shuttercover.com or email customerservice@shuttercover.com.

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Lower Energy Bills by Covering Whole House Attic Fans with New Shuttercover

How to use solar power without installing a solar panel

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Photo courtesy of London Permaculture

Under new Federal laws, you can get tax credits for 30% of most solar panel installations. Some states have additional incentives, and many utilities are also encouraging customers to install solar panels so that they don’t have to build new coal power plants.

Even with these incentives, photovoltaic panels are pricey. In these tough economic times, it’s important to remember that there are many other ways to take advantage of energy from the sun. Here are a few low-cost options:

Install a solar water heater – Passive solar systems cost a fraction of what solar panels cost and they are much more efficient at heating water (because they generate heat directly, without the need for inverters or battery storage of energy). Solar water heaters are also eligible for a 30% tax credit, the same amount that photovoltaic panels can earn. There are many different designs for solar water heaters, and some are more suitable for different parts of the country.

Use a clothesline – For the cost of a sturdy rope and some clothespins, you can unplug your electric clothes dryer. Even on a cool day, a gentle breeze will suck the moisture out of clothes. Clothes that are dried on a clothesline last longer (there’s less wear and tear from tumbling in the dryer), they smell better, and they’re naturally sterilized by UV light from the sun. Switching to a clothesline can cut your electric bill by 10-15%.

Turn out the lights – When the sun is shining, there’s no reason to keep the curtains closed. Instead of using a couple of hundred watts of electricity to power lightbulbs, turn off those lights and let the sunlight in! If Peeping Toms are a worry in your neighborhood, install slats or polarized window coverings for privacy. These window treatments will also filter out UV light and reduce carpet fading. Or, you can plant a window box full of kitchen herbs and obscure the view with tall plants while still letting in natural light.

Build to take advantage of the sun – When drawing blueprints or choosing a place to live, remember that a building’s layout can make a major difference in the amount of air conditioning and heating that’s needed. One thing to consider is orientation – building short walls on the east and west sides reduces the surface area that’s exposed to early morning and late evening sunlight. Another thing to consider is solar massing – using thick, heat absorbent materials like adobe can insulate a building against hot weather during the day and cold weather during the night, cutting heating costs by up to 65%.

Use trees – Trees provide wonderful natural shade, and they also capture solar energy the old fashioned way, by converting sunshine into firewood. Tree choices can also complement the way that buildings capture sunlight in the winter and block sunlight in the summer. One popular landscaping choice is to plant deciduous trees on the east and west sides of a building. That way, the leafy trees block sunlight in the summer (when leaves are full) and let sunlight through in the winter (after the leaves fall off).

Try a solar cooker – Sunlight is a great way to boil water and cook food. It’s easy to focus sunshine with collectors, and simple solar cookers can be made for less than $15 using just about anything and aluminum foil. Here are instructions for making a solar cooker out of a used pizza box. There are compact solar cookers tailor made for camping and larger models suitable for crock pot cooking.

In many developing countries and off-grid locations, solar cookers are reducing indoor air pollution by replacing firewood, charcoal, propane, and other fuel sources. These solar cookers can save thousands of lives each year, while also reducing deforestation and reducing conflict over limited resources. Since sunlight is free, solar cookers drastically cut the cost of boiling water for sanitation purposes. If you want to take advantage of sunlight without buying a solar panel, here’s a great recipe for Solar Baked Brownies!

Photo courtesy of AIDG

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Category Homeowner News | Tags: Tags: art, country, east, electric, from-the-sun, fuel, night, solar-cookers, summer, sunlight, take-advantage, trees, winter,

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