A traditional-style terraced house has been built inside a three-storey, sealed testing chamber at the University of Salford. In addition to its original brickwork and roof, the world’s first ‘Energy House’, is fully furnished and fitted as a typical working home with fully functioning water, gas and electricity supplies.

The Coronation Street-style house – built in the same style as 4.5m pre-1920 UK homes – will be subject to some of the most advanced energy experiments ever conducted on a residential property.

Unique climate system

University experts will conduct a huge range of tests inside the house to gauge how its energy consumption varies depending on variable factors and conditions. The testing chamber will feature a unique climate system which will generate a range of rain, wind and solar conditions.

By studying the different ways the house consumes energy, the University will be able to devise ways to improve its efficiency. But, beyond simply testing new types of insulation, double glazing and low-energy appliances, Salford’s unique cross-discipline approach to the study of energy will see the University’s psychologists, health experts and sociologists working alongside designers, engineers and scientists to devise sustainable solutions.

For example, Salford is keen to explore if the use of certain colours and wall-coverings really do affect how we perceive temperature, whether smart meters showing the real-time cost of energy use in the house changes consumer behaviour and if, in the future, a games console like the Wii could be powered by physical energy generated by the user.

Salford’s ground-breaking approach is a response to the sustainability challenge presented by the UK’s ageing housing stock. 70% of the country’s residential property will still be inhabited in 2050 and 91% of all UK homes would benefit substantially from improvements in energy efficiency. Improved insulation and boiler upgrades alone could see heating emissions reduced by 22%.

The country’s least efficient properties were predominantly constructed prior to 1920. These currently make up 15% of UK homes but actually account for 23% of total notional C02 emissions. Of these dwellings, more than 2m, are the two-up, two-down terraced-style that the University will be studying closely.

New approach

The Energy House is the centre-piece of the University’s new ‘Energy Hub’ – a multi-disciplinary research centre drawing on the expertise of over 25 academics from 13 departments, and a centre of excellence for energy research in the UK. Its findings and facilities will be utilised by academics, students, government and business.

Professor Steve Donnelly, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering & Environment, said: “We need to find ways to make these old-build properties more efficient as they will continue to house people for generations to come. But to cost-effectively retrofit old properties and make them as carbon-efficient as possible requires detailed and robust research.

“To work out how homes perform under different conditions, and the most effective ways of reducing energy consumption, requires replicating one in laboratory conditions. The unique cross-discipline nature of The Energy Hub also means that our academics, experts and specialists from a range of fields can access and interpret the data, and work together to find innovative solutions.”

The Energy House project is welcomed by environmental campaigner and former director of Friends of the Earth, Tony Juniper, who attended the launch of The Energy Hub.

He said: “Domestic energy use accounts for a huge proportion of emissions. If we are to have any chance of meeting targets to cut greenhouse gas pollution from UK homes by 29% by 2020, we must focus on improving energy efficiency in all kinds of properties, including the millions of terraced houses like this one.

“The Energy House offers the opportunity to measure energy-saving measures, but it will also address behavioural change.”

A great addition to Salford

Catherine Monaghan, Head of Energy Saving Trust North West said that the Energy House is: “A great addition to Salford and indeed the city region and its designation as a low carbon economic area. The Salford Energy House fits in perfectly with the aspirations of the domestic retrofit programme currently planned for Greater Manchester.”

Oliver Novakovic, Director of BRE Housing Futures said: “We are very excited about this project and its implications with regard to the generation of hard data to help deliver the step change needed if the UK is to achieve its carbon emission reduction targets. It’s essential decision makers have sound evidence from projects such as this one and the Victorian Terrace project at BRE’s site in Watford to ensure products are tested before being tried out in real homes.

“It’s through the collation of this data alongside that collected from over 500 demonstration exemplars that the National Refurbishment Centre (A EST/BRE partnership) plans to support the emerging refurbishment sector and homeowners alike in making the right decision when opting to improve the energy performance of existing homes.”

The Energy House is due to be completed by February 2011. Its unveiling will also mark the opening of the UK’s first ever conference, organised by University of Salford, that will focus on the national challenge to how to sustainably retrofit existing housing stock and commercial property.

Source of photo and article: Salford University.
Video: BBC

Solar system for water heating and generating electricity

This green home completed in 2008, can be found in Venice, California. The builder Tom Schey called it 737conserve. Even though this place is huge at 4500 sq.ft. of living space it has several green features worth noting.

For starters the insulation is made by Ultratouch Recycled Denim which is non-toxic. The large solar array will power the heating and cooling system, plus the appliances, sound and security systems, and the pools variable speed pump. The pool water will come from a natural underground stream. That stream will also be pumped into drip lines to feed the drought tolerant landscaping.

This place was built to conserve, from water usage to energy efficiency systems. But it must be said that the size of the place would go against the grain of the tree hugger. Take away a zero from the square footage and your foot print would be ideal. But with our Texas sized appetites big sells.

Photo credits: 737conserve

Home owners hoping to attract buyers in the midst of a housing slump are “teaching” their homes to save money on energy costs.

“Smart homes can be made even smarter if they are wired to control energy costs as well as water the lawn and arm the alarm system,” says Sheldon Anderson, president of Atlanta Smart Homes Inc.

In a “buyer’s market,” sellers are looking for every advantage and energy consumption is always high on the list according to realtors.

“One of the easiest ways to make a home smarter and more valuable is to reduce the amount of energy wasted each day,” says  Anderson. “If a home owner is going to have a house wired to control surveillance cameras, home theaters, blinds, sprinklers, and so on, they should seriously consider climate and lighting control systems too.”

According to Anderson home owners should install lighting timers and programmable thermostats to run systems. He said they should also consider putting incandescent lights on dimmers so that lights aren’t running at full capacity. Anderson said that there are a variety of lighting and thermostat control products; dimmers, timers and sensors; fluorescents and LEDs; and other products that homeowners can have installed to save on their energy costs.

“In most homes, lighting accounts for nearly 25 percent of home electricity use,” he explains.  “The average household could cut a third – or even half – of its current energy bill by switching to energy-efficient appliances, equipment and lighting, which use less energy than standard products. An energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) uses at least 60% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and provides the same amount of lighting.” An automatic timer controls when and how long a light stays on and off. Dimmers enable home owners to adjust the intensity of light in a room manually.

Anderson claims that a programmable thermostat with air cooling set at 78 degrees F can cut cooling costs 15 to 25 percent with the actual savings dependent on climate, home insulation, and utility. For people with varying schedules these thermostats can be programmed for each day of the week or be controlled remotely from a computer or even a cell phone.

Consumers can access to the Energy Wizard that covers a range of topics from conservation and new technologies to generators and tax incentives, among others. Energy related questions can be submitted to energywizard@energywizard.info or go to energywizard.info/ to read the EnergyWizard columns. For more information about Atlanta Smart Homes Inc. go to atlantasmarthomes.com/ or call Sheldon Anderson at (404) 638-6791.

Showcasing exciting new directions in sustainable living and environmentally friendly technology, the Smart Home: Green + Wired exhibit will offer guests a view into the latest innovations in reusable resources, smart energy consumption and clean, healthy-living environments in a contemporary setting within the 2,500 square-foot home and surrounding gardens and grounds. Michelle Kaufmann Designs conceived the home and worked closely with the engineering and manufacturing team at the All American Homes manufacturing facility in Decatur, Ind. to complete this custom home. The design, called the mkSolaireâ„¢, was built for an urban environment and features inviting, family-friendly interior architecture. The home will demonstrate the benefits of energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and earth-friendly building components to create a healthy living environment.

The seven modules, five comprising the house and two modules making up the garage, were manufactured at the All American Homes’ construction facility in Decatur, Ind. On February 11, the custom house was “test fit” or “soft set” at the factory prior to being transported to the Museum site where it will be set on its foundation. After the home is set in place using a crane, a process that can take one to two days depending on the weather, the finish interior work, furnishing and landscaping will be completed in preparation for the opening of the Smart Home: Green + Wired exhibit on May 8, 2008.

Quality Assurance Manager on the project for All American Homes, Dwight Martin, spoke to the complexities of building an authentically “green” home. “This has been an exciting project in that many of the environmentally friendly materials and vendors specified by Michelle Kaufmann Designs to build this home were new to us. From roofing, to rain shield barriers, to tile flooring materials composed of recycled goods and even uniquely engineered floor joist systems, this project has provided us with a better understanding of what it really means to engineer and build an environmentally friendly home. Green building is the future for All American homes and we’ll take this experience forward,” said Martin.

Rick Bedell, President of All American Homes, LLC, elaborated on the timing of the exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry and the green initiatives that the Company is now undertaking, “We are honored to be the builder of the Smart Home: Green + Wired exhibit. We are in the midst of evolving as a company towards designing and building more environmentally friendly, energy efficient and sustainable products. We will continue these efforts throughout our company with the philosophy that being green is good for the environment and good for business.”

Tickets for the Smart Home: Green + Wired exhibit, which opens May 8, 2008, are now on sale at www.msichicago.org.

About the Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry’s mission is to inspire the inventive genius in everyone by presenting captivating and compelling experiences that are real and educational. The Museum first opened its doors on June 19, 1933. In 2008—more than 175 million guests later—the Museum commemorates its 75th Anniversary with a year-long celebration. Located at 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, the Museum is open every day of the year except December 25. Regular Museum hours are 9:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. The Museum offers indoor parking and is accessible by CTA and Metra. The Museum is supported in part through the generosity of the people of Chicago through the Chicago Park District. For more information, visit the Museum’s Web site at www.msichicago.org or call (773) 684-1414 or (800) GO-TO-MSI outside of the Chicago area.

About Michelle Kaufmann Designs

Michelle Kaufmann Designs (MKD) is a full service design/build architectural firm that specializes in sustainable, innovative, high-quality modular architecture. Michelle Kaufmann has become the leader in home design, which creates a marriage of beauty and sustainability using modular construction. Working under the belief that sustainable, well-designed buildings should be accessible to more people, Kaufmann has simplified the process and chosen off-site modular technology as the means to create beautiful, eco-friendly homes and buildings. The goal of her company is to make it easier for people to build green and live a more sustainable lifestyle. The home being built for the Smart Home: Green + Wired exhibit is a new MKD design called mkSolaire™a three-story, loft-style home, suitable for an urban environment. The Museum’s home is the first mkSolaire™ to be constructed. More information about MKD can be found at www.michellekaufmann.com.