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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. 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.
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.
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. 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.
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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