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For Immediate Release:
Date: 08/10/01
Headline:Remember the 2001 Energy Crunch!
Remember the Year 2001 Energy Crunch!
| | This could be the battle cry for
energy consumers for the years ahead. The year 2001 saw costs for
natural gas, heating oil and electricity more than double in many
regions of the US and Canada. Paying to heat homes and businesses went
from being a necessary, but manageable expense, to an overbearing
hardship for many home and business owners. Costs for cooling this
summer have not eased up and prospects for 2002 energy costs look
chilling as well. |
Mostly sad stories about the bad things caused by high energy costs have come out of year 2001. But not all the news is bleak. On the contrary, there are success stories that show how good planning and proper selection of materials and mechanical systems can overcome even the most severe energy cost challenges.
Take the story of a Minnesota
couple, Fred and Rosewitha Seltz. They began planning the construction
of their dream home several years ago. They first selected a peaceful
section of rural acreage they own just west of the Twin Cities. It was
the perfect setting, with a pond nearby and natural habitat for deer,
geese and all the varied wild life Minnesota has to offer. The house
would be designed with high walls and lots of windows so the nature
show could be observed from every room in the house. The site was
perfect, but because of its remoteness, it also presented some
challenges.
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Energy sources were more limited with potentially higher
costs than more urban environments. The site is open to the frigid
winds of winter and the hot sticky heat of summer. The house just had
to be designed for optimum energy performance!
Fred and Rosewitha began looking at the building materials and systems they could use. Fortunately, they had a reliable source of information – a professional builder who is familiar with building processes that give best energy and comfort results, at a reasonable cost. They knew they were getting honest information, because the builder was their son-in-law, Tom Lemmerman. Tom has worked with advanced building technologies for years, and now it was time to build a good house for the folks.
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The system chosen to construct
the foundation was the R-Control ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms). This
unique system uses high performance rigid insulation as a stay in place
form for reinforced concrete walls. By using the R-Control ICF, it
turned an ordinary concrete wall into a super insulated foundation with
better strength and an R-value
approaching 20. Labor time and cost was saved in the basement finishing
because the foundation walls were already insulated and ready for
drywall attachment.
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The next item selected was the wall
and roof structural system. The R-Control SIP (Structural Insulated
Panel) System was used to construct the exterior walls and roof areas
of the house. These engineered building panels are comprised of a solid
insulation core adhesively welded between engineered wood skins.
R-Control SIPs are made in large sizes that result in reduced thermal
breaks and wind leaks. The rigid insulation has high stable R-Value,
making R-Control SIP one of the most energy efficient building systems
on the market today. Strength performance of the R-Control SIP has been
demonstrated over the years with its documented durability in the face
of natural disasters: earthquakes, hurricanes and storms. The goal was to achieve maximum
energy efficiency, interior comfort, strength and durability with the
structural envelope system. The R-Control SIP System was the natural
choice.
The outside walls have lots of
glazed views. Almost 30 % of the wall surfaces called for large view
windows. Therefore, it was critical to pick high efficiency windows for
the exterior envelope. H Windows were chosen because of their
exceptional performance in both cold and hot climates. They have
superior frames and glazing that block air leaks and heat movement.
The next critical decision was to
choose mechanical systems that would give reliable performance for
comfort at the very lowest operating cost possible. It was decided that
the Seltz’s would take advantage of the near by pond, and
install a geothermal heat pump system.
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| An Econar Electric Heat Pump
System was installed with plumbing submerged in the pond with final
plumbing runs brought to the home through earth buried plumbing lines.
Seltz’s home is located in McLeod County, which has a rural electric
cooperative offering affordable off-peak rates. The comprehensive energy design of
the home provides for low and stable heating/cooling demand, so the
off-peak program with a geothermal system was perfect. Air quality in
the house was insured by the use of an efficient air-to-air heat
exchanger made by Venmar. The unit provides continuous fresh air to the home, while reducing odors, pollutants and high moisture.
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| The Seltz’s 3700 square foot home
was finished with sidings and roofing materials commonly used for
custom home construction. If you didn’t know that the house included
all of these advanced energy efficient products and
technologies, you couldn’t identify it as different from any other good
quality home in the area. The comparison stops there, however. The
comfort and energy benefits of this home far exceed the building
standard most people have to live with. | |
The Seltz’s average electric
bill for the six winter months starting in October 2000, which includes
heat, hot water, all appliances and lights, averaged less than $125.00
per month. January was the highest demand month, but still was only
$152.00. Spring and summer usage dropped back to a meager monthly
average of $77.00, with the highest bill being $84.00. The total energy
demand for the Seltz’s home on a monthly average equaled $101.00. The
average energy cost to operate a single family home in Minnesota this
winter was about $350/mo.
In addition to their energy savings, the Seltz’s brag about how comfortable their home is. No cold drafts, with even temperature throughout the house both upstairs and down. Another thing the Seltz’s feel good about is the fact that their house has such low energy consumption. They know that they are helping to keep the environment a little safer by not burning additional fuels that pollute the atmosphere. The Seltz’s feel awfully good about their house and look forward to affordable, comfortable and environmentally responsible living for years to come.
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