110125 decisions energy wise and otherwise

SavingThe PlanetOne HouseAt A Time

G r e e n E a r t h E q u i t i e s . C o m © 2010

Decision Making:Energy Wise & Otherwise

Fireplace?

Mini SplitHeat Pump?What Size?Even with 2Room Adds?How about a

GarageConversion?Still 2 ton?

How can we reduce the heat load?

Concealed Unit or Wall

Mount?

Ducts Inside Envelope or in

the Attic?

Buyer wants

changes?

How much can a 2 ton do?

1 zone or 2?

How bad is “Oversizing?”

When to keep old equipment?

Does a Room Add

makes sense?

Manual J?Manual D?

Western Exposure?

Low E 140?

Change Order?

How tight can we get this one?

Need an ERV-HRV?

Rigid Insulation?



The Sign Sold The HouseActually, the client had

responded to our CraigsList ad about 18 months ago.

She had loved the work, just wasn’t sold on the

neighborhood. She remembered our sign and

when she saw it in a “better” neighborhood, she called and

after a quick look, said, “I’ll take it.”

This is the 6th house (out of 12) that has been sold before it was finished. Pre-sales are

great but have their own challenges (discussion)



This Thing’s Gotta GoThey make a big noise

when they hit the ground!

This one is 30 years old, and although our lipstick

flipping competitors would just put in a new filter and

keep on going, for us, that’s not a choice.

Take it off before the re roofing.

No need for a crane with

gravity’s help.



We Love Pools

Because most investors dont.

Especially in the hot Cental Valley, a pool is a draw for

buyers.

This one needs a re-plaster.

Shop around. Contractors are hungry. Good prices abound.



Bad Roofing Detail

This needs ametal valley.

Although this may work for a few

years, it wont last for the 30 year rating of the

shingles.



Correct Valley DetailHere the metal valley

flashing is installed under the new 30 year

comp roof.



New PEX InstallPhoto shows that we dont remove more drywall than

necessary. We never technically do a “full gut

remodel”

No use filling up the landfill... Or buying new drywall.



That Cabinet Soffit Was TheWorst Energy Bandit

Area where soffit was removed gave free access from

the attic down the walls.

If this soffit had not been removed, the walls should

have been sealed at the top or filled with insulation, along with

the soffit.

We prefer to remove them and have a flat ceiling.



Fireplace Had To Go

With apologies to interior decorators and Realtors who like them. They are the

biggest energy losers around.



10 Weeks To Get This Piece Of Paper

Unbelievable!



Recycling Save the landfill

Save the labor

Save the money

New drive to rear alley will work perfectly for new buyer’s

truck and landscape maintenance trailer



High and Low Eyebrow VentsThe main purpose of

doing this is to eliminate conventional eave vents which are

energy losers.

It takes an infrared camera to see and

believe this ... But once you see ...

You’ll minimize eave venting.



Wrap On Eastern AdditionWe were just going to do this

conventionally, when the buyer decided to convert the garage

sometime in the future.

Adding rigid foam to these new walls will drop the heat-cool

load enough to allow the smallest Heat Pump to still

work!



Example of Rigid Foam This was a previous home

where we used rigid foam over rotted plywood siding.

Note the gable vent to add venting.

And the Mini Split Heat Pump Location.



After Final Dash Coat



Trusses & Roof InstalledUsing trusses, even on

such small jobs like this, still saves money and allows a perfect match in the roof

plane of the existing trusses.



Living and Dining Bump OutWe wouldn’t have done this addition if it had to stand on

it’s own merits.

But all the trades were on site to do the Bath and closet

addition at the other end of the house. And this extended

into wasted sideyard.

Now the Great Room & Dining Area will be

Remarkable



Foil Backed OSBThis helps a little.

The additive alternate pricing difference is so

small, it is worth it to go ahead and add it.



Before The Bump OutNote the old cellulose

insulation,

Gable Vent

Let In bracing, not used any more.



Panasonic ERVFor $300 materials and $300

install, why would we not give our clients clean fresh air?

For some reason new home builders have resisted all the

way till this year.

A sad commentary, which indicates that contractors need

regulation ..... Or the buying public needs to wake up,

get educated and DEMAND better building



ERV & Mini Split (typical)

Panasonic ERVFujitsu Indoor

Unit Wall Mounted



Indoor Unit

From Stock

Photography

Indoor units can be quite unobtrusive.



ERV & Concealed Unit Of Fujitsu Mini Split

Panasonic “Spot ERV”This unit

delivers fresh air all to this

spot. Circulation from both zones is

required to distribute the

fresh air. Not A

Problem.

Concealed Unit &

Ductwork is above this lowered ceiling



Mini Split Concealed UnitBefore It Got Concealed

Notice the hard pipe instead of flex. Hard pipe is smoother

and produces less static pressure. Mini Splits are less

able to overcome static pressure than their bigger

American Cousins.

So Mini Split Ducts should be as short and straight and

smooth as possible.



Mini Split - Air VelocityThe moving

dampers, easily throw the air 18 fee across

the space.

This is a good application for

open space floor plans.



Confirming Velocity and Adjusting Dampers.

In this application, the dampers should be adjusted for balance and locked in place before the ceiling is

installed.



Hard Pipe With Smooth Transitions

Smooth Square to Round Transitions and straight runs create the least

static pressure and make this system work better than anyone expected.

It’s old school work and many HVAC installers

dont have the knowledge or tools to do it. It pays

to ask.

CondensateDrain

Freon Lines

Dampers

Transitions



Mini Split Roof MountReasons GEE mounts the outside unit on the roof

1. Avoid Theft2. Avoid kids & sticks = Back Yard Blender

3. Avoid Lawnmower rocks4. Avoid dogs confusing them

with fire hydrants5. Shorter Freon run

6. Less elevation change7. = More energy efficient8. Save space in side yard.



Mini Split Ground Mount

Reasons why most contractors mount the outside unit on the

ground:

1. They’ve always done it that way.

2.3.4.5.

6. I cant think of any more...



Mini Split Using Flex DuctworkThis is not as efficient as

1. Indoor Unit on the Wall2. Ductwork in the Conditioned Space

3. Hard Pipe Ductwork.

But it works in a very tight envelope with a low load.

(Not recommended without the tight envelope and good

insulation)



Mini Split Using FlexThe entire unit is wrapped in additional FSK insulation. This would be skipped by normal

HVAC Contractors.

The envelope and insulation is so efficient that the customer

has rarely turned on one whole zone (bedroom wing)

after one year.



Gas vs Electric: Surprised?

Note the Variables.

$.16 electricity$1.25 gas

80% efficientfurnace

(roof mount)300% efficient

heat pumpGood R8 ducts

on both

Why the cost to heat is the

same:1. 300%

efficiency vs 80% Even 300

vs 92 would not make much difference.

2. Stay in low tiers and get

“electric only” rate Here’s the address of

the online calculator



One Way To Mount Mini SplitConcealed Units.

Two Concealed

Units Sharing a large 20” x

30” Filter Return Box

(You wont see this anywhere else...Trade Secrets Revealed? Or just big

boys havin’ fun with the toys?)

Ducts to Living Area go

this way

Ducts to Bedrooms go

this way



Looking Up At 2 Concealed Units Sharing a 20x30 Filter Grille & Access



2 Concealed Units In The Attic

Ducts and Unit and Attic

still need insulation



Hard Pipe

Boot is sealedDucts still

need sealing and insulation



Third PermitRoof and Change

Order incl Gas Line



Pool Re-Plumbing Permit



Original Permit (s)



Plot plan showing both

room additions



Shows total square

footage.

Newest (owner’s) plan is to convert the garage



Note Minimum Energy

Standards



Floor Plan



Owner Requested and Paid Change Order

Wall Removal and Stove Relocation



Foundation Plan showing

required footings



Roof plan showing required venting



Section Showing Trusses



Electrical Plan



HVAC Plan Showing central

location and shared filter. All

runs are very short and/or straight for max efficiency on the low static Mini

Split Blowers.



Typical Home Performance Contracting Decision Tree

Typical GEE Decision Tree

Sell Customer on appointmentDiagnostics & Test In

Computer Modeling and Proposal Preparation

Get input from roundtableDecide on a Scope of Work

Try to sell the jobCustomer slashes budget

Re model the revised scopeLick wounds

Create new scope and proposalYahoo! Make the small sale

Retest & pretest for programInstall the job

Test out3rd party test out

Turn in to ProvidershipWait. Negotiate.

Get coveted piece of paperWait .......

Look at the jobDecide it’s going to get the

30-13-55-15-300-8-.5-ES-3PV*Package

Do the Job

* Package includesU30 windows, R55 Attic, R13

walls, 300% heat pump, 15 SEER AC, R8 ducts, .5cfm50/sf

leakage, Energy Star Lites & Appliances, 3KW PV system

= Near Net Zero

All the time we dont spend, goes to Family Time,

Inventing new systems, Saving the Planet etc.

110125 decisions energy wise and otherwise

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