JPMorgan Chase Global NYC Headquarters Earns LEED-Platinum

SustainableBusiness.com News

JPMorgan Chase has earned LEED-Platinum certification for the  renovation of its global headquarters at 270 Park Avenue in       Manhattan – it’s the world’s largest renovation project to achieve Platinum status, the highest under the green building rating system.

Every system in the 50-story, 50-year-old building has been upgraded – from heating, air conditioning and lighting, to insulation, plumbing fixtures, flooring and outside views – all while the building remained occupied.

The building now consumes just half the electricity and water as it did before the renovation.

Green design and construction features include:

Energy Efficiency: upgraded HVAC; lighting with occupancy sensors and daylight dimming controls; Energy Star kitchen appliances, computers and monitors; new building insulation and window tint to reduce glare, heat gain and air conditioning load.

Water Conservation: A 54,000 gallon tank in the basement collects rain water from roof drains, which is stored and filtered, and then used for landscaping and flushing toilets in the lower part of the building – saving over a million gallons a year. Combined with other plumbing upgrades the building will use half as much water as pre-renovation.

Landscaping:  Nearly 16,500 square feet of new landscaping, including green roofs with low-maintenance plants, will lower building temperatures in the summer and reduce stress on the city’s sewer system on rainy days. An herb garden provides fresh herbs and vegetables the building’s restaurant.

Recycling:  Over 99% of the original building was re-used and 85% of construction waste was recycled, including 990,000 square feet of carpeting. Over 12,000 tons of construction waste was diverted from landfills.

Transportation: the building has 266 bike racks

Employee Health/ Productivity: 85% of employees now have natural daylight at their desks, and 92% have exterior         views.

Over 44,000 projects have earned LEED green building certification, comprising over 8 billion square feet, in all 50 states and 120 countries. Nearly 15,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for       Homes rating system, with more than 65,000 more homes registered.

 

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/

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Voluntown, Ashford families win prizes for energy-efficient homes

In building their new homes, two Eastern Connecticut families got what they’d always wanted — new houses and lower energy bills.

John and Delaine Simonds, of Voluntown, and Cindy Moeckel and Larry Grasso, of Ashford, earned prizes in the 2011 Connecticut Zero Energy Challenge. The program awards homeowners and builders whose projects use “green” technology to produce as much energy as they use, and sometimes more, said Enoch Lenge, an associate program administrator for residential new construction at Connecticut Light & Power.

The Simondses took home the overall prize in the competition for their 2,800 square-foot Beach Pond Road home. The house, which was built in 2010, is heated and cooled with a geothermal system. The oil tank and furnace were replaced by a massive solar array that provides the power for heating, cooling, hot water and electric. Gone are the oil tank and furnace.

“We wave at the oil trucks when they drive by,” Delaine Simonds said with a laugh.

The 20-year lease for the panels costs $142 a month. The panels generate far more electricity than the family could ever use, so they haven’t gotten an electric bill in more than a year. Extra energy is sold back to CL&P.

“We went through the snow and the cold last winter, and we never saw an electric bill,” John Simonds said. “It’s so affordable it’s almost embarrassing.”

For the Simondses, the new house was always a dream. They worked with Colchester home builder Bruce “Bruno” Hayn on the project and set out their specifications: as green as possible, and as much American-made as possible. All the labor on the project was done by local companies.

“We always wanted to do this, but it always seems like a daunting task,” John Simonds said. “But to add renewable energy, it was actually pretty easy in hindsight.”

In Ashford, it was the same desire to save the planet that led Larry Grasso and Cindy Moeckel to build their home using renewable energy features.

“We’re both committed to environmental responsibility and this was something we felt like we needed to do,” Moeckel said.

Architect Richard Sherman, of Appropriate Designs in Chaplin, designed the house and served as construction manager while it was built. He entered the house in the Zero Energy Challenge, and it won the award for Lowest Home Energy Rating System, or HERS, rating.

“They set a big blower fan up at the door,” Moeckel said of the contest. “It basically measures leaks in the walls.”

 

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/

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Tankless Hot Water Heaters: Should I or Shouldn’t I?

Whether you are building a new home or retrofiiting an older one (like me), take time to evaluate the hot water system.  After all, estimates report that as much as 30% of a home’s energy budget is consumed by heating water.

My new “old house” came complete with an old, rusted gas, tank hot water heater in the attic that was dying…well, dead.  The question was not “should it be replaced?” but rather “should it be replaced with a similar model or a new tankless system?”

A traditional water heater continuously heats water in the tank regardless of whether it is being used.  By comparison, the newer tankless designs heat water only when there is demand for it.  Less stored water to heat…less cost.  And, let’s not forget, more compact and wall-mounted designs.

Rinnaitankless4x4 Tankless Hot Water Heaters: Should I or Shouldn’t I?

I did some research on water heating in general—and tankless hot water heaters specifically—and here is what I learned:

Size Matters:  Tankless hot water heaters are available in room (i.e. sufficient for a large bathroom) or whole house sizes.  Calculate how many appliances or fixtures need hot water to determine the best size unit for your home.  For me, a whole-house system was required.

GasTankless Works Tankless Hot Water Heaters: Should I or Shouldn’t I?

Fuel Type: Hot water heaters are available in either electric or gas (natural and propane) models.  If you are considering electric, check for voltage and amperage requirements.  The gas version will need some electric to operate, but venting will be the bigger issue.

Location: If you live further north, your ground water will be colder than if you reside in the southern or western part of the U.S.  The temperature of the water will affect the speed and flow.

Know the Flow:  If you think you will need to run the dishwasher while someone else is showering, calculate a larger gallons-per-minute (GPM) to meet your overall water needs.  Take into account water usage, too: A bathroom needs less water than a kitchen; a dishwasher less than a shower, etc.

Look into Rebates: Many utilities offer incentives and you may benefit from state tax credits as well.  Investigate both to make sure you meet the requirements and reap the full benefits.

Rinnai Tankless Action Shot Tankless Hot Water Heaters: Should I or Shouldn’t I?

Understand the Payback: In general, a tankless hot water heater will cost you more upfront—the average between $800 to $1,150 (plus installation), compared to traditional tank water heaters at $450-$750 (plus installation).  Balance the cost of your unit with your ongoing operating costs.  The estimated operating costs for tankless models can be as much as 24% to 34% less, according to the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute(AHRI).

 

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Owner of 72 Degrees Says HVAC Tune-ups Can Help Homeowners Stay Warm During Winter and Save Money in the Long-run

Winter is here and it’s a great time to think about a seasonal HVAC tune-up before the cold of another Triangle winter. Eddie Blanchard, owner of 72 Degrees, gives several reasons why an HVAC inspection is important and beneficial.

 

Winter is here and it’s a great time to think about a seasonal HVAC tune-up before the cold of another Triangle winter. Eddie Blanchard, owner of 72 Degrees, gives several reasons why an HVAC inspection is important and beneficial.

Winter is upon us and it’s time for home owners’ furnaces and heat pumps to start heating, full-blast. But just like they would not want to take their car or truck on a long, grueling road trip without having the oil changed first, consumers should not go into the heart of winter without having the heat pump, furnace or other components of their HVAC system inspected. That’s where a seasonal HVAC tune-up comes in.

“An HVAC inspection is extremely important because it helps to make sure your system is prepared for the heavy-duty lifting it’ll have to do during the winter,” says Eddie Blanchard, owner of 72 Degrees Heating & Air Conditioning, a top rated Raleigh-based contractor that provides HVAC service, repair and maintenance. “It’s like maintaining your car or truck — have you had the tires rotated and oil changed on your air conditioning and heating system?”

Heating and cooling systems usually fail during the winter’s most brutal cold snap. That’s because during the most extreme heat or cold an HVAC system will work overtime to maintain an ideal temperature in a home. Homeowners will want to make sure their system is up for the task. For the winter, the best time to do that is now, before the cold weather really hits.

Benefits of a Seasonal HVAC Tune-up: Saving Money, Time and Headaches
A furnace or heat pump tune-up and complete HVAC system inspection can include 30 or more checkpoints that help optimize the effectiveness of the system. These include air filter cleaning and replacement, detailed inspection of all coils and ductwork, airflow measurement, testing the heat pump, furnace and entire air conditioning unit, and much more.

Why take the time to have a fall HVAC tune-up done? Several reasons, says Blanchard.

  •     An inspection and tune-up can fix any potential little problems before they become big problems. “The tune-up is designed to find out and fix any potential deficiencies now so your system doesn’t break down when it’s below freezing outside.”
  •     It can help consumers save money in the long-run. “Little fixes now can add up to big savings later. You don’t want to be in a position where your entire system needs to be replaced a couple of months down the road because something simple wasn’t checked or adjusted in the fall. Seasonal maintenance can also help save on monthly utility bills.”
  •     A furnace or heat pump repair, service and maintenance tune-up can also save time and headaches later. “The last thing you want to be doing when the temp is below freezing is scrambling to try and fix a broken heating system. You don’t want to have to go through the hassle of emergency repairs, especially when the comfort and health of your family is at stake.”

Unfortunately, seasonal HVAC inspections are not something that people generally think of. But they are very important in not only preparing a heating and cooling system for the months ahead, but prolonging the life of the system.

“There’s no reason why a home heating and cooling system can’t last 15 to 20 years,” says Blanchard. “Just takes a little proactive work and preventative maintenance, that’s all. Believe me – it pays off.”

While this all sounds well and good, an extensive heating and cooling system inspection may also – on the surface, at least – appear to be expensive. That’s not the case, however. Most seasonal tune-up services cost under $100, and many HVAC contractors offer coupons and other incentives to customers for using their services.

In addition to a winter tune-up, Blanchard also recommends homeowners have their HVAC system inspected before summer to make sure the system is ready to go before the heat of summer. Before that happens, however, Raleigh residents have the winter to contend with. And before that, they’ll want to make sure they make an appointment with a reputable HVAC service contractor to have their HVAC system thoroughly checked out.

 

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Accurate Plumbing in Chico Completes “On-Demand Water Heater” Study

Accurate Plumbing recently performed a study of the different methods and models of “tankless” water heaters. In summary, gas-fired heaters tend to produce higher flow rates than electric ones.

Chico, CA, January 13, 2012 — The results of the study were very similar to the US Department of Energy’s reports. Owner Michael Webster stated: “It was important for us to know for ourselves all the best ways for our customers to save energy and money. I also wanted to install tankless heaters in my own house, so doing the study made a lot of sense.” Their study has shown that on-demand water heaters are good investments overall.

Accurate Plumbing currently offers all forms of professional plumbing services around standard tank water heaters, on-demand and combination “tankless” water heaters, water damage, toilets, replacements, valves and re-plumbs, remodels, sewer and drain cleaning as well as claiming to be “the North State’s mobile home plumbing experts”. They are a Better Business Bureau accredited company and proudly serve the areas of Chico, Durham, Paradise, Magalia, Oroville, Gridley, Orland, Willows, Red Bluff and Corning.

On-demand water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank, so they can run hot water continuously while avoiding the standby heat losses associated with storage water heaters. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. Either a gas burner or an electric element heats the water. As a result, demand water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don’t need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with an effective on-demand system.

Combination or “combi boilers”, combine central heating with tankless hot water in one box. They are basically a source of infinitely continuous hot water, having the ability to heat a water system even in a large house. When the hot water begins to run out in a home, the combi diverts all the boiler’s power to instant heating. Some combis have small internal water storage vessels combining the energy of the stored water and the gas or oil burner to give faster hot water at the taps or increase the flowrate. A further advantage is that more than one combi unit may be used to supply separate heating zones, giving greater time and temperature control, and multiple bathrooms. An example is one combi supplying the downstairs heating system and another the upstairs. One unit may supply one bathroom and one another.

Summarized here, gas-fired on-demand water heaters tend to produce higher flow rates than electric ones. Sometimes, however, even the largest, gas-fired model cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple uses in large households. Also, in a gas-fired storage water heater, the pilot light heats the water in the tank so the energy isn’t wasted. The cost of operating a pilot light in an on-demand water heater varies from model to model.

Installation cost is significantly lower and less space is required as water tanks and associated pipes and controls are not required. Both standard on-demand and combi boilers are highly popular in Europe, where in some countries the market share is 70%.

Most importantly, their study supports the statistics that homes that use 40 gallons or less of hot water daily, on-demand water heaters can be on average 20% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters when installed and operated correctly. Also, a greater energy savings of 40%, even 50% can be accomplished if an on-demand water heater is installed at all major hot water outlets making them good first investments overall in our race towards modern energy efficiency.

 

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