Green Energy Upgrades

Green Energy Upgrades 7-9pm

Feb 25, 2009

www.grotonlocal.org

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Green Energy Upgrades: Improvements to your heating systems based on Systems Design and Planning. • Why do them? – 1. Save the Planet – 2. Save Money ……….Intermission ………… • What’s involved and How are they done? – 3. Solar, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Wood Pellets – 4. Collaborative Project Planning • Workshop for Groton households.

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Save the Planet • NOW! – Its much later than we think. Atmospheric CO2 = 387 PPM – Recent activity indicates scientists underestimated impacts. • Permafrost emissions, glacial melting, deforestation, changing precipitation patterns

• HOW? – Conserve in all areas that cause Green House Gases (GHG). – Influence the process with votes and purchases. – Create a Plan for your home then Act on it. • Replace Addictive and Harmful fossil fuels. • Invest soon so you can make money in the long run.

• Must have 80% cuts in Global CO2 emissions before 2050. 3

1. Save the Planet ( CO2 PPM ) 387 PPM in 2008 350 PPM “target” 150 yrs of Fossil Fuel use Pre-Industrial Glacial

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1. Save theClimate PlanetChange, (150+ years of Fossil Fuels) CO2 PPM

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1. Save the Planet (7-3=4)

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5 Stages of Climate Grief 1.

DENIAL. We do not believe the science or that humans are the cause of global warming.

3.

ANGER We refuse to consider any substantial changes to our life style.

5.

BARGAINING We rationalize that warming won’t be all that bad and might even make life more comfortable.

7.

DEPRESSION We consider the risks, impacts and tasks ahead and the need for international cooperation to solve the problem and conclude that success is impossible.

9.

ACCEPTANCE We acknowledge the scientific facts calmly, and explore solutions to drive down greenhouse gas emissions dramatically, and commit to use non-carbon intensive energy sources. 7

Question: Which house do you live in?

Denial

Anger

Bargaining Depression Acceptance 8

Change, CO2 PPM Save the Planet: Climate PARALLEL EFFORTS NEEDED NOW

Major Global Initiatives – – – – –

Developed Countries need to lead the way. Huge investment in new technologies and programs. Replace Coal. Global Carbon Cap-N-Trade and/or Taxes. U.S. must catch up and assume a leadership role.

Green Energy Upgrades – Building Upgrades in the North must cut way back on Oil and Gas. – Utilize currently available low-carbon products and services. – Re-educate, reduce, reuse, recycle, re-localize!

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Major Global Initiatives needed to solve global energy and environmental challenges. Fossil Fuels • conventional oil & gas… not enough resources? • coal, tar sands, oil shale… not enough atmosphere?

Sustainable Fuels • biomass… not enough land? • wind & hydro… not enough good sites? • photovoltaics… too expensive? • nuclear fission… too unforgiving? not enough Uranium? • nuclear fusion… too difficult? • hydrogen… energy to make it?, means to store it? • end-use efficiency… not enough smart end users?

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Critical Timing of Upgrades and Major Global Initiatives

Major Global Initiatives Upgrades

350

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Randy’s reading list on Climate Change and Sustainable Strategies • • • • • • •

Hot, Flat and Crowded, The Weather Makers, Deep Economy, Boiling Point, Plan B 3.0, An Inconvenient Truth, Earth: The Sequel,

Tom Friedman Tim Flannery Bill McKibben Ross Gelbspan Lester Brown Al Gore Fred Krupp / Miriam Horn

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Energy and Emissions. 4.Household Collaborative Project Planning Air miles Garbage 0% 10% Car 2 distance 9%

Electricity 20% Natural gas 0% Propane 0%

Car 1 distance 14%

Don’t ignore the costliest and biggest emitter

Heating oil 47%

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Oil Price Volatility and Trend Upward

Avg 10%

.

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Saving Money: Comparing First Year Fuel Costs 2008-2009 Home Heating Estimates (100M BTU house in Groton, MA)

op Lo

-O pe

n

Lo op eo

eo

G

-C lo se d

Pe lle ts

oo d W G

H

ea t

Pu

m p

Ai r2 Ai r

G as at ur al

Pr op an e

Cost Savings compared to Oil

N

O

il Hy dr on ic O il St ea El m ec tR es is ta nc e

$4,500 $4,000 $3,500 $3,000 $2,500 $2,000 $1,500 $1,000 $500 $0

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Saving Money: 2 ways to evaluate cost benefits

Internal Rate of Return (%) vs Payback (Years) Net Savings with escalating Fuel prices

+

0

-

Years after Initial Cost 16

Intermission

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3. Solar, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Wood Pellets

Solar Thermal: Vertical Air Collectors on South Wall 18

2. Efficiency, IRR andHeat BTU/$ …. Wood Save Pellets Money 3. Solar, Geothermal Pumps, SolarPathfinder -South? -Obstructions?

-Software calculates net insolation. 19

2.Initial Efficiency, IRRofand BTU/$ …. Wood Save Money 3. Solar, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Pellets estimate monthly Solar contribution. Insolation (50% eff, with Albedo, 90 degree slope) vs Total House Load 14,000,000 12,000,000 10,000,000 8,000,000

BTU Insolation BTU Load

6,000,000 4,000,000 2,000,000 0 Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

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3. Solar, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Wood Pellets

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3. Solar, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Wood Pellets

10% Bleed to Dry Well

90% Returns to Well Geothermal “Open” Loop Design (Standing Column Well) Great solution for homes that need heating, AC and domestic hot water 22

3. Solar, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Wood Pellets Heating Flow Chart Earth Coupling Ground Water

Heat Pump Refrigerant

Distribution Hydronic Fluid/Air 115/80

25 38

135 95/65

45 Expanded/Compressed Gas/liquid cycling 23

“Dual Fuel” Design using Oil as back-up.

geo oil 34,000 BTU/hr Fan coil

Standing Column Well 20gpm , pump @ 300’

To Ducts

Heat Pump

Acc. Tank

26,000 BTU / hr 3 zones / baseboards

80000 BTU Boiler 3-way valve

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2. Efficiency, IRR andHeat BTU/$ ….Wood Save Pellets Money 3. Solar, Geothermal Pumps,

On-line Wood pellet boiler cost estimator. 25

4. Collaborative Project Planning (Comparing Quick Fixes to Green Energy Upgrades) • Quick Fixes help but they are not enough. – – – – – –

Weather-strip and caulk windows, doors and outlets. Tune-Up and Clean the Heating system(s). Add insulation. Improve Window Coverings Reduce heat to unused spaces Modest Life style changes

• Bottom line: $500 to $5000 – – – –

Can reduce Heating Bills by 20% Payback (0 - 5 yrs). Limited planning. Assumes continued primary use of oil or gas. Piecemeal approach. Low hanging fruit. 26

4. Collaborative Project Planning (Comparing Quick Fixes to Green Energy Upgrades)

Green Energy Upgrades Avoid 20 more years Of Fossil Fuels Save $50,000 to $200,000

•Bottom line: $5000 to $50,000 –Can reduce Energy Bills by 50% to 70% –Involves sustainable mix of fuels and much more efficient systems. –Looks at the overall system (enclosure, heating system, dhw, AC, health) –Require more planning and investment. –Payback < 10 yrs. IRR > 10% over life of systems. 27

4. Collaborative Project Planning Step #1. Homeowner Review and Preparation • Collect utility bills for oil, gas and electricity. • Find or create plot plan. (property lines, house location and wetlands). Step #2. Site Survey, Analysis and Report • Perform Enclosure, Site, Heating Systems and Solar Surveys. • Provide preliminary estimates and assess feasibility of sustainable systems (solar, geothermal, conservation and wood pellets for space heating and supplemental domestic hot water). • Costs $150 for Groton Local and NRWA members. • Can be used as a basis for obtaining competitive, budgetary quotes. Refundable in Step #3. 28

4. Collaborative Project Planning Step #3. Project Design and Cost Estimates • Define space, power, access and site work for Heating, Cooling and DHW with or w/o Solar thermal. • Estimate Initial costs, paybacks, IRR, Incentives and Rebates associated with 50% or greater reduction in operating costs and emissions. • Draft Design/Build contract for best alternative. • Costs $500 for Groton Local and NRWA members. • Can be used as a basis for obtaining competitive, firm estimates. Refundable in Step #4. Step #4.

Contract Award for Installation and Support

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Workshop Spreadsheets to calculate your Carbon Footprint

Energy Cost Savings gallons

Item Garbage Electricity Natural gas Propane Heating oil Car 1 distance Car 2 distance Air miles Occupants

Total

CO2 lbs Quantity Units per year 32 gal/week 3,328 7,500 kWh/year 10,275 0 therms/year 0 0 gal/year 0 550 10,000 5,000 0 2

gal/year miles/year miles/year miles/year people

12,315 6,667 4,000 0

yearly load

Fuel Oil Hydronic Oil Steam Elect Resistance Propane Natural Gas Heat Pump Air2Air Wood Pellets Geo - Closed Loop Geo - Open Loop

925 100,122,000

Yrly Fuel Costs $2,035.00 $3,337.40 $3,852.13 $3,692.71 $2,614.30 $2,325.37 $2,098.14 $1,367.87 $949.13

Variable unit cost Eff % $2.200 82% $2.200 50% $0.130 99% $2.900 86% $2.350 90% $0.130 200% $0.143 85% $0.130 340% $0.130 490%

36,584

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