Renewable Energy vs. Using Less Energy
Many people assume that when you are building green you need to have solar panels, which are very expensive, even after state and federal rebates. While it’s true that renewable energy technology is very innovative and green, I think it’s the wrong angle to attack the problem from. We should be focusing on making buildings more efficient so that they use less energy rather then figuring out an alternative way to meet their current energy needs.
A concept that is becoming ever more popular these days is the Passive House. These structures are so incredibly efficient that they don’t need any artificial heating or cooling. First off, they have a much higher level of insulation than standard construction. Typical walls will have an R-Value (the level of resistance to heat transfer) of 19, passive houses can have insulation up to R-50, and they tend to be better sealed as well so that less air leaks in or out. That’s great but then you have the issue of getting stale air out and fresh air in, and this is where these structures are really amazing. They use a technology called a Heat Recovery Ventilator. Essentially you have air inside that is at a standard room temperature. In cold months, the HRV pulls that stale air out and brings in fresh cold air from the outside, the two streams of air pass by each other, and then heat from the inside air is efficiently and almost completely transferred to the incoming air. The result is a building so efficient that body heat and even light bulbs can affect and regulate the temperature inside. This type of structure requires no alternative forms of energy and probably uses less energy then a single room of a typical house.
The assumed need for alternative energy is one of the reasons that people think green building has to cost more, while the passive house is an extreme case, it’s clear that if you look at the problem from the otherside, there are very smart ways to be more green.
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