The “Half” Plan

Cut energy use and green house gas emissions in half

and

save a ton of money

We Will Cover …

• What’s a “Half” plan? • Energy and CO2 reduction projects

– Including some 1 year payback solar heating projects

• Results • Making your own “Half” plan

What’s the “Half” Plan?

We wanted to see if we could cut our energy use and green house gas emissions in half.

• Is it possible?

• What does it cost?

• How much money does it save?

• How hard is it?

• Lifestyle changes?

Where Does The Energy Go?

Must address all of these areas to make the goal

Does not include embedded energy in Products, air transport, …

Where Does The Energy Go?

Must address all of these areas to make the goal

Does not include embedded energy in Products, air transport, …

Target47,000 KWH/yr

Target32,000 lbs CO2/yr

The “Half “ Plan

Our 20 Energy Saving Projects• Conservation

• Solar•Transportation

The “Half “ Plan

Our 20 Energy Saving Projects Conservation

• Solar•Transportation

Make Storm Windows From Bubble Wrap

A simple, cheap, quick way

to reduce window heat loss

Energy Saving 960 KWH/year * CO2 Saving 490 lb/year Cost Saving $75 per year 10 Year Saving $1200 Initial Cost $38 (or nothing)(2%) * 36 gal propane

Tame the PC’s

PC, printer, monitor, router … use a lot of power • Plug everything into a power strip• Daytime: Hibernate when idle for 15 minutes• Nighttime: Shut off everything with power strips

Energy Saving 1780 KWH/year * CO2 Saving 3560 lb/year Cost Saving $178 per year 10 Year Saving $2840 Initial Cost $20(4%) * for 2 PC’s and peripherals

Seal & Insulate Heating Ducts

We sealed and insulated all accessible attic and crawl space ducts

• Studies show that losses of 15 to 30%are the norm in homes

Energy Saving 940 KWH/year * CO2 Saving 480 lb/year Cost Saving $75 per year 10 Year Saving $1,195 Initial Cost $20(2%) * 35 gal propane

conservative estimate

Seal Heating Ducts (cont’d)

• Use Duct Mastic • Seal every joint you can get to• Insulate ducts in attic or crawl space

Efficient Lights

Use efficient lights!• Compact fluorescents, regular fluorescents, LED’s, …• Less than one year payback• Rebates

Energy Saving 1170 KWH/year *CO2 Saving 2340 lb/year Cost Saving $117 per year 10 Year Saving $1860 Initial Cost $50(2%) * for 29 CF’s

Efficient Lights (cont’d)

The savings

add up fast

•There are CF’s for just about any situation

•A variety of light “colors” for cool to warm

Eliminate Phantom Loads

Many electrical appliances use power even when turned “off”

• Use a Kill-A-Watt to find the phantoms• Use power strips to cut all power• Or, replace high drain phantoms

Energy Saving 570 KWH/year CO2 Saving 1140 lb/year Cost Saving $57 per year 10 Year Saving $910 Initial Cost $70(1%)

Replace Energy Hog Appliances

Old refrigerators, dishwashers, … may use 3 or more times as much power as new the Energy Star equivalents

• Our new fridge saves 2 KWH per day

• Energy Star website for ratings

Energy Saving 720 KWH/year CO2 Saving 1440 lb/year Cost Saving $72 per year 10 Year Saving $1147 Initial Cost $800(2%)

Stop Cold Air Infiltration

• Caulk around windows etc.

• Seal all penetrations from living space to attic

Energy Saving 1980 KWH/year * CO2 Saving 1010 lb/year Cost Saving $50 per year 10 Year Saving $2485 Initial Cost $38 (4%) * 73 gal propane

Add Insulation

Blow in more attic insulation• Increasing our attic insulation from R22 to R47

gave us a 2 year payback*

Energy Saving 1590 KWH/year * CO2 Saving 810 lb/year Cost Saving $126 per year **10 Year Saving $2010 Initial Cost $260(3%) * 60 gal propane

** Includes lower effective R value of FG insulation under cold conditions.** Only half of our attic can be done.

Add Insulation (cont’d)

•Free blower loan •Easy to do•But, do infiltration sealing first

Insulate Crawl Space

We Converted our crawl space to an insulated, conditioned space

Energy Saving 1090 KWH/year * CO2 Saving 560 lb/year Cost Saving $86 per year **10 Year Saving $1370 Initial Cost $210(2%) * 40 gal propane

** For crawl space under ¼ of house

Insulate Crawl Space (cont’d)

Conditioned space • Seal floor with poly• Insulate walls • Insulate rim joist• Plug vents

Alternate – insulate thecrawl space ceiling

Inside Storm Windows

Multi wall polycarbonate storm windows • High R value• Easy to make• Fits any window• Lightweight

Energy Saving 2700 KWH/year * CO2 Saving 1100 lb/year Cost Saving $220 per year 10 Year Saving $3500 Initial Cost $450(6%) * 100 gal propane

For 30% of total window area

Inside Strom Windows (cont’d)

Multi wall polycarbonate storm windows

•Cuts easily•Easy to handle•Secure with Velcro or screws•Adds R 2.5

Thermal Shades

Reduce night time window heat loss

• Adds up to R 4• Better with some type

of edge sealing

Energy Saving 3160 KWH/year * CO2 Saving 1525 lb/year Cost Saving $258 per year 10 Year Saving $4,110 Initial Cost $1,086(7%) * 117 gal propane

For 32% of window area

Electric Mattress PadA surprisingly large energy saving with a big

increase in comfort

Energy Saving 1270 KWH/year * CO2 Saving 510 lb/year Cost Saving $103 per year 10 Year Saving $1640 Initial Cost $125(3 %) * 47 gal propane

Venting Dryer Inside

Energy Saving 630 KWH/year * CO2 Saving 290 lb/year Cost Saving $63 per year 10 Year Saving $1000 Initial Cost $20(1+%) * 24 gal propane

We vent our dryer to the inside of the house during the winter to recover the heat

NOT for gas dryers!

Other Conservation Projects

Project EnergySaving(KWH)

Cost SavingPer Year

Storm Door 220 $200 $17

Turn Stuff Off 440 $0! $44

Washing Machine 350 $400 $35

The “Half “ Plan

Our 20 Energy Saving Projects• Conservation

Solar Energy Projects•Transportation

Solar Space Heater

Simple solar space heater

Energy Saving 2,527 KWH/year CO2 Saving 1,320 lb/year Cost Saving $206 per year 10 Year Saving $3,280Initial Cost $350(5%)

Based on half time use – one year payback with full time use.

Solar Space Heater (cont’d)

How it works• Cool air enters bottom vent• Screen absorber heats air• Heated air rises out top vent

No fans, no controllers, no

electricity.

Solar Space Heater (cont’d)

Solar Space Heater (cont’d)

Direct Gain Solar Heater

Energy Saving 2,912 KWH/year CO2 Saving 1,525 lb/year Cost Saving $238 per year 10 Year Saving $3,785Initial Cost $380(6%)

Direct gain heater•Free heat and daylighting •Night insulation •Easy to build •Two year payback

Direct Gain Solar Heater (cont’d)

Direct Gain Heater (cont’d)

How does it do at -20F?

-20F

70F

Inside

Outside

The “Solar Shed” Collector

Energy Saving 6,970 KWH/year * CO2 Saving 3,360 lb/year Cost Saving $568 per year 10 Year Saving $9,048 Initial Cost $4,000 (15%) * 260 gal propane This project is not included in the Half

totals yet, as we just got it up and running in January

A combination garden shed and solar collector that collects and stores heat for use in the house

“Solar Shed” (cont’d)

The “Solar Shed” concept

New Garden ShedHouse

Solar Collectors

Heat StorageTank

Heat pipe to house

HydronicHeaters

“Solar Shed” (cont’d)

Construction

Future Solar Electric

Postponed to last due to lower return

Energy Saving 1,710 KWH/year CO2 Saving 3,420 lb/year Cost Saving $170 per year 10 Year Saving $2,720 Initial Cost $9,000(4%) This project will double our total our

investment while providing only 4% of total energy saving.

The “Half “ Plan

Our 20 Energy Saving Projects• Conservation

• SolarTransportation Projects

Bought a Prius

Our single most effective energy saving project• A terrific car• 2 year payback for us• Happiness is driving 400 miles

and filling up on 8 gallons

Energy Saving 23,900 KWH/year* CO2 Saving 11,900 lb/year Cost Saving $1,880 per year 10 Year Saving $29,960Initial Cost $3000(49%) * 650 gal gasoline

49% of Half target!!

The “Half “ Plan

Results to Date

ResultsTo Date Reduc-

tionNear Future

Energy Saved 49,000 KWH/yr 53% 9,200 KWH/yr

CO2 Reduction

31,700 LB/yr 49% 4,300 LB/yr

$’s Spent $7,525 $4,400

$’s Saved $4,010 per yr $750 per yr

Two year payback on projects to date

ResultsTop 7 Projects -- Cheap and Effective

Energy Saved 8,030 KWH/yr

CO2 Reduction 7,950 LB/yr

$’s Spent $193

$’s Saved $670 per yr

Top Seven: PC’s, Seal Ducts, Bubble Wrap Windows, CF’s, Phantom Loads, Vent Dryer, Seal Infiltration.

The “Half “ Plan

Planning Your Half Program

Doing Your Own “Half” PlanMaking a “Half” Plan

1. Make a BIG list of project ideas

2. Estimate energy and CO2 savings for each project

3. Prioritize Projects

4. Make it Happen!

Doing Your Own “Half” Plan

1) Make a BIG list of ideas

• Consider anything – Include all of your energy uses– Include conservation, solar, …

• Sources of ideas– Attached resources list

Sources of Project Ideas

Some good sources for ideas:• Build It Solar www.BuildItSolar

My site -- Look at the Projects page and the Half Plan pages.

• Utility audit program – these can be quite good, and some even include blower door tests to check your house for infiltration.

• Rocky Mountain Institute www.rmi.org The “Energy Briefs” papers are very good.

• Energy Star www.energystar.gov/ Lots of good information on Energy Star rated appliances as well as a wide variety of other energy efficiency subjects.

• ”The Carbon Buster’s Home Energy Handbook”, Stoyke, 2007• The EERE site www.EERE.Energy.gov/Consumer• Home Power Magazine, Mother Earth Magazine, …

Doing Your Own “Half” Plan

2) Evaluate each project for how effective it will be in reducing energy, CO2 emissions, and cost.

• This is the key to getting the best results for the money you have to spend

• Projects rates of return will vary over a very large range – this step helps you pick the good ones.

Tools To Evaluate Projects• Insulation Upgrade Calculator

www.builditsolar.com/References/Calculators/InsulUpgrd/InsulUpgrade.htmThis simple calculator can be used to evaluate insulation upgrades, window improvements, storm windows.

• The “Half Plan” Examples http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Half/Projects.htm These example projects each include details the details on how the energy saving was calculated.

• “The Carbon Buster’s Home Energy Handbook”, Godo Stoyke, 2007Many concrete examples of energy reduction projects.

• Carbon emissions calculator --Infinite Power http://www.infinitepower.org/calculators.htm

• Car Carbon emissions -- Hybrid Cars dot Com http://www.hybridcars.com/calculator/

• If you get stuck – contact me gary@BuildItSolar.com I’ll do my best to help or find someone who can.

Doing Your Own “Half” Plan

3) Prioritize -- Decide what order to do projects in– Cheapest and best payoff first– Some may need to go earlier– The most interesting ones

Doing Your Own “Half” Plan

4) Do the projects

The fun part!

Keep track of your bills for rebates and tax credits

Can it make a difference?

If 100 million families each reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 20 tons, it would reduce total US green house gas

emissions by 25%