greenliving


It costs slightly more on a monthly mortgage to build a home that costs far less per month to operate.


~Dan Chiras


ECO-FRIENDLY HOME BUILDING


Innovations Boost Energy Efficiency by John D. Ivanko and Liam Kivirist


Smart, innovative, technological breakthroughs are making buildings more energy-efficient, healthier to live in and highly attuned to our connected world.


“


healthier, more comfortable and afford- able home—and it’s good for the environ- ment,” says Dan Chiras, Ph.D., of Gerald, Missouri, founding director of the Ever- green Institute and author of The Home- owner’s Guide to Renewable Energy.


H


Panel Insulation “Structural insulated panels in walls, roofs and floors dramatically reduce air leakage and heat loss through thermal bridging, or heat conduction through framing materials, facilitating a more energy-efficient home that can maintain comfortable temperatures with lower fuel bills than a conventionally built home,” advises Chiras. Find manufac- turers via the Structural Insulated Panel Association at sips.org.


Efficient Heat Recovery “The energy recovery ventilator, or ERV, ensures fresh air in tightly sealed homes


14 Austin Edition


omeowners continue to be interested in green building op- tions because they help foster a


with little heat loss,” adds Chiras. The UltimateAir RecoupAerator, a whole- house air filtration ERV, also flushes out harmful airborne pollutants commonly found in residences, replacing them with clean, fresh, healthy air.


Solar Monitor “Many solar energy users want to moni- tor their system using their computer, tablet or smartphone through advances in energy software,” says Allison Lindquist, with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), which hosts the Annual Energy Fair and sustain- able living event every June in Custer, Wisconsin. “One highlight last year was PacketFlux Technologies’ SiteMonitor.” “When a homeowner views their energy monitoring data, they quickly begin seeing the correlation between their energy consumption and pro- duction,” says Leon Dulak, the MREA site manager. “The direct correlation drives them to change how they live and use energy.”


AustinAwakenings.com


Energy Storage Tesla Motors does more than produce high-end electric cars and solar shingles. The company is also on the cutting edge of future energy storage. Tesla’s new, compact Powerwall 2 battery system, complete with inverter, can power an average two-bedroom home for 24 hours. Chiras says, “Utilities throughout


the nation are cracking down with special fees on solar-home owners that occasionally pull electricity from the grid. I think more people are going to opt to go off-grid or install a Tesla battery to provide nighttime power to preempt this. It’s easier to maintain than a stan- dard lead-acid battery, and should last as long. When its useful life is over, the homeowner returns it to the company.” “Saltwater-based batteries for


homeowners are coming up,” observes Clay Sterling, assistant professor of elec- trical technology at Kankakee Commu- nity College, in Kankakee, Illinois. “The batteries from Aquion Energy are non- toxic, safe and recyclable.” Their Aspen series of aqueous hybrid ion batteries contain neither heavy metals nor toxic chemicals and are non-flammable and non-explosive, adding to their safety.


Home Plans


Building green gets easier with green home plans. The prototype, super- insulated, 970-square-foot NewenHouse sustainable home in Viroqua, Wisconsin, is about 50 percent smaller and more than 80 percent more energy efficient than the average American home. The plans-and-services package for the Pas- sive House-certified NewenHouse home features double walls for insulation and a super-efficient heat recovery ventilator. Four different home plans are available for houses under 1,000 square feet.


John D. Ivanko is co-author of ECO- preneuring. Liam Kivirist captures the latest technology news on TechSocket.net.


NewenHouse photo by Taffline Laylin


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32