Achieving Deep Energy Reductions in Existing Homes

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Achieving Deep Energy Reductions in Existing
Homes

• 2009-2020 and Beyond.
• Residential Strategic Planning Meeting
• November 29, 2007
• Linda Wigington, ACI
• www.affordablecomfort.org

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70 90 Total Household Reduction (excluding
renewables) Technical Interventions Behavioral
Choices July 1113, 2007 Pacific Energy Center,
San Francisco, CA ACI Summit White Paper
www.affordablecomfort.org
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Time to Lay the Foundation to

• Demonstrate net zero - existing res.
• Optimize the investment
• Value the energy and non-energy benefits
• Reduce the costs
• Vision for deep energy reductions at household
  level

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What is Wrong with BAU?
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3 Flawed Assumptions Obsolescence of Housing

• Energy water supplies
• Weather events climate
• Energy consumption value neutral just a
  commodity

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Carrying capacity of our planet?- 1 ton CO2 per
person/year?
Based on 10 billion 2050 population
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Emerging awareness

• Powerful triggers for occupants
• Early adopters
• Develop champions

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Maps are Outdated

• Destination
• Paths
• Road Signs

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Maps need to

• Be accurate reflect reality
• Continually updated
• Lead us to where we need to go
• Use terms we understand
• Convey alternative paths

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Need to Redraw the Maps

• Question all assumptions
• What within our past experience supports us and
  what is a barrier?
• Redefine our programs, our policies, and
  institutions
• Adaptation is key
• Vision makes change more possible

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Maps Need to Include

• Paths to Deep Energy Reductions
• Occupants / Communities as a resource
• Broad stakeholder representation
• Indicators of performance
• Broader view of cost-effectiveness
• Verified house performance
• Feedback / continual improvement

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Are New Homes the Salvation?
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Residential Energy Use by Year of Construction
(site energy) Figure 3. NREL
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New vs. Existing SF HomesProjected to 2050 (NREL)
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Occupants Matter
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How Do We Measure and Communicate Progress?
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Need Indicators of Performance

• Energy use per household
• Energy use per person
• Energy use per square foot
• Both site and source

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What makes existing homes unique?
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Occupants!

• Problem to be overcome or a resource to be
  tapped?

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Unique Features Existing Homes

• How to convert barriers
  
  to assets??

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For Action to Occur be Sustained
Occupants Need

• Recognize the need or opportunity
• Recognize that their actions can make an impact
• Access to accurate, consistent information
• Access to resources (financial time)
• Receive feedback / incentives
• A way to measure progress against a goal
• Access to technical expertise / workforce

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Challenges

• Systems to engage occupants, neighborhoods, and
  communities
• Paths for a residential transformation
• Build on / compliment other initiatives
• Balance short term and long range goals

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California Context for
Deep Reductions

• Diverse climates different strategies needed
• Learn from current low users
• Greater potential for occupant impact
• Demonstrate potential now
• Many technical questions
• Identify best opportunities (least cost /
  multiple benefits)
• Partner w motivated occupants / responsive
  communities
• Develop tools and infrastructure

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Its Not Just About Energy

• Synergies
• Building Alliances to Broaden Impact

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Alliances to Broaden Impact Who are the Key
Players?

• Fire, earthquake, storm resistance
• Water reuse and conservation
• Economic community development
• Green collar job creation
• Improved IAQ, reduced allergens
• Passive survivability
• Home automation, home security
• Reduced pests critters
• Sound insulation (airports highways)

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Build on / Learn from Other
Initiatives

• 2030 Challenge (www.architecture2030.org)
• Regreen (www.regreenprogram.org)
• Passiv Haus Institut (www.passivhaus.de)
• One House Now (nowhouseproject.com)
• Riot to Austerity (www.riot4austerity.org)
• ASE Green Schools (www.ase.org/section/program/gre
  enschl/)

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Four Paradigms

• Technical Fix widget deployment
• Whole House systems approach
• Sustainable global perspective
• Emerging Deep Energy Reduction combine strength
  of each

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Site Assessment Process - Nine Steps to
Deep Reductions

• Assess Needs, Site, Goals, and Use of Space
• Optimize Enclosure to Reduce Loads
• Minimize Internal Loads
• Provide Fresh Air
• Control Humidity
• Determine Cooling Needs
• Determine Heating Needs
• Integrate Hot Water with Other Loads
• Incorporate Verification, Feedback, Evaluation

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Deep Energy Reductions Market or
Stakeholder Initiatives

• Fund research demonstrations, community
  initiatives
• Develop finance packaged systems for common
  housing types verified reductions
• Re-evaluate current / proposed initiatives
  harmonization
• Benchmarking and savings aggregation provide
  real-time feedback on performance and impact
• Leases for highly efficient products options for
  automatic upgrades

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Deep Energy Reductions Local Initiatives

• Web-based guidebooks and case studies
• Access to bulk purchasing and tool library
• Removal of local regulatory barriers
• Re-evaluate current / proposed initiatives
  harmonization
• Develop / support energy champions
• Train DIYs through work parties
• Environmental youth corps
• Community centers fueled by renewables w
  ultra-efficient energy-related services
  (overcomes low-load conundrum)

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Deep Energy Reductions Household - Site
Initiatives

• Re-evaluate how needs are met
• Redefine self role as consumer
• Blend behavioral, efficiency, renewables
• Whole Enchilada or phased
• Home automation systems and technologies ensuring
  optimization
• Contractor maintenance contracts support a staged
  implementation
• Passive survivability strategies other NEBs

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Champions are Critical

• Household Level
• Community Level
• Stakeholder Level
• Utility Level
• Policy Level

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Help Redraw the Maps and Build the Alliances