Comments on: 9 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Build for Energy Savings http://plantingacorns.com/conservation/9-surprisingly-simple-ways-to-build-for-energy-savings/ Developing Value Beyond The Build Tue, 08 May 2012 16:55:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Allison A. Bailes III, PhD http://plantingacorns.com/conservation/9-surprisingly-simple-ways-to-build-for-energy-savings/#comment-15 Allison A. Bailes III, PhD Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:37:37 +0000 http://plantingacorns.com/?p=304#comment-15 Sorry to sound like a zealot here, Merrill. The items in that list are all good things. I just disagree with the priority assignments. Sorry to sound like a zealot here, Merrill. The items in that list are all good things. I just disagree with the priority assignments.

]]> By: Allison A. Bailes III, PhD http://plantingacorns.com/conservation/9-surprisingly-simple-ways-to-build-for-energy-savings/#comment-14 Allison A. Bailes III, PhD Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:34:30 +0000 http://plantingacorns.com/?p=304#comment-14 With all due respect to Professor Lechner, that list has some major omissions and some questionable numbers. Orientation is, of course, the easiest thing you can do for home energy conservation. And it's free! Whether it will cut the energy bills by 50% is pretty iffy, however. Maybe if you take a building with all glass on one side that's facing west, and you turn that side to face south or north. And how in the world can photovoltaics appear in the top 9, whereas air-sealing, location of mechanical systems & ducts, proper choice of building envelope location, and duct sealing aren't anywhere to be found? Perhaps Professor Lechner needs to read my 5 step plan for solar energy (http://bit.ly/bWtZTp). With all due respect to Professor Lechner, that list has some major omissions and some questionable numbers. Orientation is, of course, the easiest thing you can do for home energy conservation. And it’s free! Whether it will cut the energy bills by 50% is pretty iffy, however. Maybe if you take a building with all glass on one side that’s facing west, and you turn that side to face south or north.

And how in the world can photovoltaics appear in the top 9, whereas air-sealing, location of mechanical systems & ducts, proper choice of building envelope location, and duct sealing aren’t anywhere to be found? Perhaps Professor Lechner needs to read my 5 step plan for solar energy (http://bit.ly/bWtZTp).

]]> By: stewartperry1 http://plantingacorns.com/conservation/9-surprisingly-simple-ways-to-build-for-energy-savings/#comment-13 stewartperry1 Sat, 05 Jun 2010 18:47:44 +0000 http://plantingacorns.com/?p=304#comment-13 To be energy efficient, to save carbon and be sustainable for the low hanging fruit is fairly simple as you say. Just remembering the basics will get us a long way. When we built our new building it has been amazing for me to observe the simple things that we do now that we did not do before. thanks for your comments. To be energy efficient, to save carbon and be sustainable for the low hanging fruit is fairly simple as you say. Just remembering the basics will get us a long way. When we built our new building it has been amazing for me to observe the simple things that we do now that we did not do before. thanks for your comments.

]]> By: Collier Ward http://plantingacorns.com/conservation/9-surprisingly-simple-ways-to-build-for-energy-savings/#comment-12 Collier Ward Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:53:20 +0000 http://plantingacorns.com/?p=304#comment-12 Great post, Mr. Stewart. I was saying many of the same things to a new builder friend of mine this morning over breakfast. Many of the goals of the (systemized, documented and commissioned) official green movement can be acheived through what is was once taught as 'good design' in school. A building's solar orientation and passive daylighting strategies were first steps. At least that's how I was taught at Auburn University - where Professor Lechner taught in the early 80's. Thanks for the reminder of that low, ripe friut! Great post, Mr. Stewart.
I was saying many of the same things to a new builder friend of mine this morning over breakfast. Many of the goals of the (systemized, documented and commissioned) official green movement can be acheived through what is was once taught as ‘good design’ in school. A building’s solar orientation and passive daylighting strategies were first steps.

At least that’s how I was taught at Auburn University – where Professor Lechner taught in the early 80′s.

Thanks for the reminder of that low, ripe friut!

]]>