Ceiling Fans

Behold the ceiling fan. That venerable throwback to days before AC, that reminder of lazy days on the verandah. This simple machine may seem like it's outlived its usefulness in today's home filled with complicated temperature-regulating gadgets, but it is still eminently useful, especially in these days of rising fuel and electricity costs. And not only can it help keep you cool in the summer, it can help keep you toasty in the winter! Read on to find out how...

In the summer, ceiling fans turn counterclockwise, which creates a breeze against your skin, creating a wind-chill effect and making you feel cooler. When you are hot, you sweat--simple enough. But it's the actual evaporation of this sweat that pulls heat away from your body. Circulation of the air rapidly increases the rate of evaporation. The more evaporation, the cooler the apparent temperature. This means that the air-conditioner thermostat can be set higher, saving you money!

Of course, it seems obvious to use a ceiling fan in the summer, but--while it may seem strange--they can actually be quite effective at saving you money on your heating bill during the winter. Heat rises. A large amount of heated air can collect by the ceiling before it can even be felt. In a room with 16-foot ceilings and the thermostat set at 68 degrees, the uppermost three feet of the room can reach 90 degrees or more before the heater shuts off--a huge waste of energy! In the winter, a ceiling fan's reverse setting operates the blades in a clockwise motion, producing an updraft, which forces warm air near the ceiling down into the living space. This mild circulation of air (low speed is recommended to avoid drafts) provides a more evenly heated room, shortening the time it takes the heater to work. In addition, the improved airflow in the room gives the thermostat a more accurate reading of temperature, helping you conserve energy.

So if you don't have a ceiling fan (especially in a high-ceilinged room), consider getting one. For a relatively small investment, you can rediscover an old way of saving money and energy!

Green Bills from Albany

If you think that nothing gets done in Albany--well, you're mostly right. But here's something that has been done

On August 5, New York Governor David Paterson signed a series of bills that will encourage people throughout the state to install grid-connected solar and wind power systems, systems that generate power from farm wastes, and green roofs. The legislation will allow homeowners and businesses to earn credit for any excess power that they feed back into the electric grid.

Two of the bills in the package relate to tax abatements for buildings in New York City with solar power systems and green roofs.

• S. 8145 creates a four-year real property tax abatement of up to $62,500 per year for buildings owners that install solar power systems, with a greater tax abatement available for systems installed before 2011, and a lesser tax abatement for systems installed in 2011 or 2012.

• S. 7553 creates a similar tax abatement for buildings that install green roofs. The one-year tax abatement applies to buildings that cover at least half of their rooftop space with vegetation and is equal to $4.50 per square foot of green roof, up to the tax liability on the building or $100,000, whichever is less. The green roof tax abatement is in effect from 2009 through 2013.

In his press release, Governor Paterson says, "There has never been a more important time than right now to significantly invest in renewable sources of energy. New York is home to an abundance of untapped solar, wind and farm waste energy potential. These bills will help improve New York's air quality, curb our dependency on fossil-fuel based energy sources, and create 'green' jobs while simultaneously leading to greater investment by homeowners, farms and businesses in facilities that will generate renewable energy power and allow them to sell their excess power back to the grid."

So take advantage of this green gift from Albany while you can!

Electrochromic Windows

Remember those sunglasses that would turn dark when you went out into the sun? Think of that idea applied to the windows of your home. Sound futuristic? Well, the future is now.

Electrochromic windows can block the glare of the sun with the flip of a switch, helping you save energy. Electrochromic windows are part of a new generation of technologies called switchable glazing or "smart" windows. Switchable glazing changes from transparent to tinted through the application of an electrical current, controlling the amount and kind of light that gets through a window into your home. Electrochromic windows can be set up to respond to sunlight, temperature, or an electrical control. By controlling the amount of light that passes through the window, these windows can reduce the amount of energy needed for cooling. The National Institute of Standards and Technology believes that smart windows can reduce a commercial building's energy use by 30 to 40 percent.

Mike Myser of Sage Electrochromics, makers of SageGlass, talks about electrochromic windows on bobvila.com:

"We're trying to change an industry. People want skylights, they want windows in their homes, the light it brings, but what do they do about the heat? We've solved that. Switchable control means controlling both the light and the heat."

The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner features electrochromic windows which replace the pull down window shades on existing aircraft. Better yet, here's an interesting application: There’s a bar in NYC where the bathroom doors are transparent when unlocked, and became opaque when locked.

Electrochromic windows are available from many sources. SageGlass is available to residential window manufacturers for exterior windows, doors, and skylights. While the cost of electrochromic windows can be from two to three times that of a standard window, the cost is expected to decrease significantly as manufacturing techniques improve and quantities increase. They use very little energy: the electricity used for switchable glazing is minimal compared with the energy savings they offer. Some require no energy at all. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has developed two types of solar-powered electrochromic devices that vary tinting based on the amount of sunlight they receive. The technology shows promise for controlling unwanted heat in skylights and windows without using an external electric source.

So be the first person on your block with the amazing glazing windows…or doors!

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics

With energy prices going through the roof, photovoltaic (PV) systems, which produce electricity from sunlight, are becoming more popular. However, the aesthetics (or lack thereof) of traditional PV systems, which were often free-standing panels on roofs or in yards, were seen as a drawback by many consumers.

Enter the Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system. BIPV systems consist of photovoltaic modules that are integrated into the building envelope, such as the roof or the façade. By simultaneously serving as building envelope material and power generator, BIPV systems can provide savings in materials and electricity costs, reduce use of fossil fuels and emission of ozone depleting gases, and add architectural interest to the building.

BIPVs are in use right here in sunny New York City!

• Millennium Towers (Battery Park City) - Solar cells were integrated into curtain wall solar panels, replacing side building materials. This system, designed and supplied by altPOWER, uses 126 BIPV panels, and was partially funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

• The Conde Nast Building (4 Times Square) - custom-manufactured thin-film PV panels replace mirror glass spandrels from the 37th to 43rd floors on the south and east faces of the tower.

• Whitehall Ferry Terminal - said to be Manhattan's largest BIPV project to date. 288 solar electric glass panels, manufactured by Atlantis Energy Systems, form the exterior of the terminal's facade and canopy. The 40 kW arrays, which cover over 8,000 square feet, will produce 52,000 kW of power annually. The panels also allow sunlight pass through, providing sunlight to interior areas.

• Stillwell Avenue Station (Coney Island) - the 76,000-square-foot solar roof, manufactured by RWE SCHOTT Solar, is expected to produce 250,000 kW hours annually. The roof, which contains 2730 BIPV panels, covers the full width of the station

Other residential buildings in Manhattan incorporating BIPVs include the Helena, the Verdesian, Tribeca Green, and the Solaire (see picture at right).

BIPVs can be integrated into various parts of a building, fulfilling specific aesthetic and structural needs:

• Roof-integrated systems integrate PV modules into each roof tile.

• Facade-integrated system can offset the cost of other facade materials.

• Semi-transparent or transparent installations can allow for some of the light to enter for day-lighting or viewing.

• BIPV can be used as a shading device. This method is highly efficient, depending on the type of PV modules used.

There are two major types of PV modules:

• Crystalline silicon uses wafers of silicon wired together and attached to a module substrate.
  
• Thin film technology, which utilises thin films of crystalline silicon grown on a foreign substrate like glass or steel, while less efficient, is easier to integrate.

While the cost of electricity produced from a BIPV system (when considering initial cost spread over the lifetime of the system, plus maintenance costs) can be more expensive than the average rate for utility supplied power, many states and the federal government have programs to reduce the capital cost and/or the installation cost of PV systems by providing tax credits, tax deductions and rebates. Through NYSERDA, New York State residents can get substantial cost-saving incentives and reduced loan rates for BIPV installation, which can help make such a system cost-effective for a single-family home or smaller multi-family dwellings. Check out the brochure, New York State is Making Solar Energy for Your Home More Affordable, a snippet of which appears below.


The importance of exploring alternative energy sources becomes more apparent every day. BIPVs can be incorporated into a remodeling project (considering redoing your siding?), so you don't even have to wait to build a new home! So, if you've been thinking about using solar energy in your home, BIPVs may be the way to go.

Concrete: The Green Debate

The debate over concrete as a green building material is on. While some (including the Portland Cement Association) are touting the eco-virtues of this material, others have been sounding the alarm regarding its carbon footprint.

So who’s right? Well, as with most things, concrete has both advantages and drawbacks. It does offgas a significant amount of CO2 during the production process, but there are steps you can take to ameliorate that effect (local sourcing is one of them, as the CO2 calculations usually factor in the high transport costs of this heavy material). So we’ve put together this list of pros and cons for your consideration:

Pros:

• Low-maintenance, smooth surface that won't offgas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or collect allergens.


• Unique structural efficiency and inherently green qualities like a capacity to reduce recurring embodied energy (in other words, it’s highly durable and lasts a long time, and so you don’t need to keep replacing it, which takes energy).


• High solar thermal performance (highly insulating). Buildings with exterior concrete walls use less energy to heat and cool than similarly insulated buildings with wood or steel frame walls.


• Low maintenance requirements.


• Variations of concrete with high solar reflectance are considered effective for heat island mitigation.


• As it does not offgas like VOCs, concrete as an interior finish meets IAQ standards.


• If cements contains fly ash and/or slag (both post-consumer products) it can be considered post-consumer.


• Using recycled aggregate and a locally fabricated supply can reduce concrete’s environmental impact.
  

Cons:

• About 7% of global CO2 emissions come from concrete production.


• According to the U.S. EPA, 516 pounds of carbon emissions result from each ton of cement produced. CO2 is emitted from the mining and transportation of limestone and other concrete aggregates such as chalk and clay, the calcination process of limestone itself, the combustion of fuels in the kiln and associated power generation.

More developers are turning to cement in order to accumulate more LEED points. Buildings constructed of concrete are generally considered to be “mass,” meaning that they have enough heat-storage capacity to moderate daily temperature swings. The resulting benefit is reduced heating and cooling loads and lower energy consumption. The Solaire in battery Park City, the nation’s first green residential high-rise, makes use of the LEED credits and energy savings attributed to concrete. If you’re building or remodeling your home you might consider using concrete construction or pervious concrete for your driveway for stormwater management.

Riverhouse

Here at New York EcoSpaces, we've written a lot about topics like air quality and how the right air purifier can help alleviate asthma and allergies; low-VOC paints and finishes and how their use can dramatically increase the air quality of your home; and green roofs and how they help clean the air, save water, and provide an aesthetic link with nature.

We're glad to see that some forward-thinking residential developments in New York City are incorporating ideas such as these into their design. A good example of such a development is Riverhouse, a LEED-certified condominium tower in Battery Park City featuring a plethora of green features for a healthy planet and a healthy you, including:

• twice-filtered air with seasonally adjusted humidity levels,
• on-site water filtration,
• locally-sourced, renewable materials,
• low- or no-VOC paints, adhesives, and sealants,
  
• photovoltaic cells,
• green roofs that capture and recycle rainwater.

So if you're looking for someplace green to put down roots, feel free to contact me for more information.

Dynamic Tower Coming to NYC?

A new type of green building may be coming to New York. The Dynamic Tower, an 80-story, 1378-foot residential tower with revolving floors, is planned for Dubai, with possible plans for a similar project in NYC.

According to Italian architect David Fisher, the Dubai project will comprise 80 pre-fabricated apartments that will spin independently of one another on a central column.

The building will have several green features, the most notable being the giant wind turbines mounted horizontally between each floor, which will generate electricity for the tower as well as other nearby buildings. The turbines have been designed to be practically invisible and extremely quiet due to their special shape and the carbon-fiber construction. The horizontal turbines have been designed to eliminate many of the environmental issues associated with vertical installations, such as aesthetic complaints and danger to wildlife, especially birds.

Additional green features will include photovoltaic cells that will be placed on the roof of each rotating floor to produce solar energy. Approximately 20% of each roof will be exposed to the sun. Low-e glass will also be used to prevent heat loss and increase energy efficiency.

Sounds like an innovative project with big potential for increasing the spotlight on green residential building in New York. Let's hope that it gets built, or even if it doesn't, that the proposal generates enough buzz to encourage other architects to think big in green construction!