# Presentation: 118341

## Green Living Forum: Individual Actions for More Sustainable Homes©

- _[MHSherman@lbl.gov](mailto:MHSherman@lbl.gov)_
**Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory**
- _[www.lbl.gov](http://www.lbl.gov/)__ _

**Green Living Forum: Individual Actions for More Sustainable Homes****©**

**August 30, 2007**

**Notes:**
EWC is a collaborative between Alliance, LBNL, U. Minnesota, and industry, to promote better windows.

## CARBON OVERVIEW

**World produces 30 **_**Billion**_** tons/yr of CO****2**
**US responsible of 20% of World production**
**CA responsible for 7% of US production **
**Average person in the world produces 4 tons/yr**
**Average person in the US produces 5 times world value**
**Average Californian *****only***** produces 3 times world value**
**Efficiency efforts; mild climate; little heavy industry**
**Low coal use especially in Northern California**
**Average CA household responsible for 1 lb/hr**
**Almost exclusively from fossil fuels for energy**
**If released indoors that would be 15x EPA limit**
**Would exceed OSHA limit in half a day**

## Energy Balance Overview

**1/3 Transportation**
**1/3 Industry and Agriculture**
**1/3 Buildings**
**100 Million residential buildings**
**Most energy in buildings goes to Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)**
**American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)**

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## Background on Buildings

**Most studies show that energy use in buildings can be reduced 30-50% cost-effectively, using improved products**
**Behavioral changes can reduce energy use by 50% or more of what’s left**
**But, where to focus our efforts?**
**Carbon emissions from buildings dominated by natural gas use**
**Space Heating**
**Water Heating**
**Other (cooking, clothes drying, ...)**
**Electricity**

## Types of Actions You Can Take

**Low-Cost/No-cost/DIY Activities**
**Not a lot of money needed, but some effort**
**Increases home performance**
**Behavior changes**
**Not usually expensive**
**Use less energy, but changes what you get and what you do**
**Energy Investments**
**E.g. insulation, equipment etc.**
**“****Structural” changes to home should last**
**Bigger bang, longer payback**

## Heating & Cooling Systems

**Low-Cost/No-cost/DIY Activities**
**Replace filters**
**Check airflow, clean coils**
**“****Tune-Up”**
**Behavior changes**
**Change thermostat settings**
**Shift life-style patterns**
**When in the house; cooking, washing **
**Energy Investments**
**Economizer or Whole-house fan**
**New efficient (e.g. Energy Star) equipment**
**Furnace, A/C, etc.**

## Building Envelope/Shell

**Low-Cost/No-cost/DIY Activities**
**Air Seal: Caulk, weather-strip, fill gaps**
**Add attic insulation**
**Behavior changes**
**Manage drapes and shading: operate windows **
**Accept bigger temperature swings: don’t heat or cool**
**Energy Investments ***(especially when remodeling)*
**Insulate walls; insulated sheathing**
**Install efficient windows**
**Improved roofing**

## Lights & Appliances 

**Low-Cost/No-cost/DIY Activities**
**Insulate pipes, water heater**
**Replace incandescent bulbs with CFL**
**Put vampires on a diet**
**Behavior changes**
**Use less: water, lights, drier**
**Shift activities to minimize energy impacts**
**Energy Investments**
**Efficient (e.g. Energy Star) appliances**
**Advanced lighting systems**
**Install controls**

## Ducts are a big deal

**20-40% losses, if outside conditioned space**
**Like having 3 registers going outside**
**Seal them or get them sealed**
**NOT DUCT TAPE!**
**Mastic for DIY**
**Insulate them if you can**
**Duct leakage can lead to poor IAQ too**
**Leaks can bring in contaminants**

## Indoor Air Quality

**“****Green” should not mean mold **
**Or be unhealthy**
**Need to protect indoor environment**
**But there are lots of indoor contaminants**
**Kitchen exhaust fans remove byproducts of cooking and other kitchen contaminants**
**Bath fans remove excess moisture, too.**
**Tight envelopes and tight ducts may lead to under-ventilation**
**May need mechanical ventilation**
**California requirements for new homes in 2009**
**Based on ASHRAE Standard 62.2**

## Improve Indoor Air

**Remove contaminant sources**
**Move toxics to outdoor storage**
**Buy low-emitting products, furnishings, equipment**
**No unvented combustion equipment**
**Pets, teenagers, spouse may have to come indoors**
**Exhaust unavoidable contaminants**
**Exhaust in laundry, hobby room, home office**
**General cleanliness helps**
**Air filtration and air cleaning**
**Improved particle filtration can be good, if maintained**
**AVOID OZONE GENERATING EQUIPMENT**

## Thank You