The

1
The Half Plan

• Cut energy use and green house gas emissions in
  halfand
• save a ton of money

2
We Will Cover

• Whats a Half plan?
• Energy and CO2 reduction projects
• Including some 1 year payback solar heating
  projects
• Results
• Making your own Half plan

3
Whats 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?

4
Where Does The Energy Go?
Must address all of these areas to make the goal
Does not include embedded energy in Products,
air transport,
5
Where Does The Energy Go?
Target 47,000 KWH/yr
Target 32,000 lbs CO2/yr
Must address all of these areas to make the goal
Does not include embedded energy in Products,
air transport,
6
The Half Plan

• Our 20 Energy Saving Projects

• Conservation

• Solar

• Transportation

7
The Half Plan

• Our 20 Energy Saving Projects

? Conservation

• Solar

• Transportation

8
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
9
Tame the PCs

• 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 PCs and
peripherals
10
Seal Insulate Heating Ducts

• We sealed and insulated all accessible attic and
  crawl space ducts
• Studies show that losses of 15 to 30are the
  norm in homes

conservative estimate
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
11
Seal Heating Ducts (contd)

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

12
Efficient Lights

• Use efficient lights!
• Compact fluorescents, regular fluorescents,
  LEDs,
• 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 CFs
13
Efficient Lights (contd)
The savings add up fast ?

• There are CFs for just about any situation
• A variety of light colors for cool to warm

14
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)

15
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)
16
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
17
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.
18
Add Insulation (contd)

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

19
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
20
Insulate Crawl Space (contd)

• Conditioned space
• Seal floor with poly
• Insulate walls
• Insulate rim joist
• Plug vents
• Alternate insulate thecrawl space ceiling

21
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
22
Inside Strom Windows (contd)

• Multi wall polycarbonate storm windows

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

23
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
24
Electric Mattress Pad

• A 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
25
Venting Dryer Inside
We vent our dryer to the inside of the house
during the winter to recover the heat
NOT for gas dryers!
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
26
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
27
The Half Plan

• Our 20 Energy Saving Projects

• Conservation

? Solar Energy Projects

• Transportation

28
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 3,280 Initial Cost
350 (5)
Based on half time use one year payback with
full time use.
29
Solar Space Heater (contd)

• How it works
• Cool air enters bottom vent
• Screen absorber heats air
• Heated air rises out top vent
• No fans, no controllers, no
• electricity.

30
Solar Space Heater (contd)

31
Solar Space Heater (contd)

32
Direct Gain Solar Heater

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

Energy Saving 2,912 KWH/year CO2 Saving 1,525
lb/year Cost Saving 238 per year 10
Year Saving 3,785 Initial Cost
380 (6)
33
Direct Gain Solar Heater (contd)

34
Direct Gain Heater (contd)

• How does it do at -20F?

70F
Inside
Outside
-20F
35
The Solar Shed Collector
A combination garden shed and solar collector
that collects and stores heat for use in the
house
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 Halftotals
yet, as we just got it up and running in January
36
Solar Shed (contd)

• The Solar Shed concept

House
New Garden Shed
Solar Collectors
HydronicHeaters
Heat StorageTank
Heat pipe to house
37
Solar Shed (contd)

• Construction

38
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.
39
The Half Plan

• Our 20 Energy Saving Projects

• Conservation

• Solar

?Transportation Projects
40
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 29,960 Initial Cost
3000 (49) 650 gal
gasoline
49 of Half target!!
41
The Half Plan

• Results to Date

42
Results
To Date Reduc-tion Near 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
43
Results

• Top 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 PCs, Seal Ducts, Bubble Wrap Windows,
CFs, Phantom Loads, Vent Dryer, Seal
Infiltration.
44
The Half Plan

• Planning Your Half Program

45
Doing Your Own Half Plan

• Making a Half Plan
• Make a BIG list of project ideas
• Estimate energy and CO2 savings for each project
• Prioritize Projects
• Make it Happen!

46
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

47
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 Busters Home Energy Handbook,
  Stoyke, 2007
• The EERE site www.EERE.Energy.gov/Consumer
• Home Power Magazine, Mother Earth Magazine,

48
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.

49
Tools To Evaluate Projects

• Insulation Upgrade Calculator www.builditsolar.com
  /References/Calculators/InsulUpgrd/InsulUpgrade.ht
  mThis simple calculator can be used to evaluate
  insulation upgrades, window improvements, storm
  windows.
• The Half Plan Examples http//www.builditsolar.c
  om/References/Half/Projects.htm These example
  projects each include details the details on how
  the energy saving was calculated.
• The Carbon Busters 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_at_BuildItSolar.co
  m Ill do my best to help or find someone who
  can.

50
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

51
Doing Your Own Half Plan

• 4) Do the projects
• The fun part!
• Keep track of your bills for rebates and tax
  credits

52
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