CREATING A ZERO-ENERGY HOME How We Retrofitted Our Existing Home To Reduce Our Carbon Footprint

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Our Zero Energy Home: Before…

Our Zero Energy Home: After… (nothing is visible from the street)

Three Systems, Five Phases: System # 1 uses HEAT from the sun to produce hot water at 140ºF System #2 uses HEAT from the sun to keep the pool at 88ºF System #3 uses LIGHT from the sun to produce electricity

5 Phases: Phase #1: Solar Pool Heater Phase #2: Reduce Existing Energy Use Phase #3: Insulation Phase #4: Solar Hot Water Heater Phase #5: Solar PV Panels

System #1: Solar Pool Heater (2003) - 8 solar collectors

Phase One: Solar Pool Heater (2003) - 8 collectors (System #1)

System #1: Solar Pool Heater (2003) Heat from the sun keeps the pool at 88ºF (thermostat control) = “walk right in” System allows us to use the pool most of the year Pool is always ready during swimming season

Phase Two: Reduce Existing Energy Use Changed all light bulbs to CFL/LED types ( )

Phase Two: Reduce Existing Energy Use Clothesline (2008)

Phase Two: Reduce Existing Energy Use Timers for all accessory lamps and TV set-top boxes ( )

Phase Two: Reduce Existing Energy Use SEER 19 Heat Pump: uses a two- stage compressor: once the house is cold/heat soaked, the system switches from 4-ton to 2-ton operation (2009) Variable Speed Blower: ramps up and ramps down according to air temperature, instead of turning on/off immediately to full speed (2009)

Phase Two: Reduce Existing Energy Use Programmable Thermostat 7 Ceiling fans Reflective roof = Allow us to keep the house cooler naturally

Phase Two: Reduce Existing Energy Use: Natural Light Three tubular skylights for daytime natural light:

Phase Two: Reduce Existing Energy Use Tubular Skylight in front bathroom:

Phase Two: Reduce Existing Energy Use Two tubular skylights in family room and kitchen:

Phase Two: Reduce Existing Energy Use Front-loading Energy-Star rated washing machine Energy-Star rated dishwasher (uses 3.5 gal/cycle) Energy-saver pool pump motor (“The Conservationist” (rated at 1.1kW/hour) Energy-Star rated appliances Refrigerator door alarm Timer for the shower

Phase Three: Insulation Icynene Attic Foam Insulation (R11) plus metal roof saves about 2,000 kWh/year

Phase Three: Insulation Energy-star rated reflective metal roof with Boral reflective self-sealing waterproof membrane (2011)

Phase Three: Insulation Windows and doors: PGT double- glazed, argon-filled tinted units Hot water heater tank blanket (2011)

Unintended Consequences… Our metal roof, with the self-sealing reflective underlayment, earned us: a $325 rebate from FPL, and a $2100 discount from Citizens on our wind insurance…

Phase Four: Solar Hot Water Heater 80-gallon tank w/4500 watt element Heat exchanger Thermostat set by code at 140 degrees Farenheit (vs. 120 degrees for conventional hot water heater tanks) Reduces our energy usage by 300 kWh/month (3,600/year) Minimal lifestyle changes $1000 FPL rebate still available

Phase Four: Solar Hot Water Heater

Heat exchanger:

Phase Four: Solar Hot Water Heater Insulated 80-gallon tank:

Phase Four: Solar Hot Water Heater Outside panel:

Phase Five: 30 Solar PV Panels

Phase Five: 30 Solar PV Panels:

Phase Five: 30 Solar PV Panels - Theory: When light strikes a photovoltaic cell, which is made of silicon, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material = the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor. This energy knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely. This flow of electrons is a current, and by placing metal contacts on the top and bottom of the PV cell, we can draw that current off for external use.

AC vs. DC power DC power came first; it can be easily stored, but cannot be transmitted over long distances (> 1 mile); AC power (= polarity is reversed times a second) can be transmitted over long distances at high voltages, but is impractical to store; we “store” our excess power in the grid; When you turn on a light, the energy used for that light is being generated at the very instant you are using it.

Phase Five: 30 Solar PV Panels: 7.1 KW Array: Sufficient power to meet 70% of pre-project needs over an entire year 30 Micro-inverters convert DC to AC right on the roof 70% + solar HWH (20%) + New reflective roof (10%) = 100% Pre-project usage: 17,500 kWh/year Post-project usage: 12,250 kWh/year (1020/mo avg.)

Phase Five: 30 Solar PV Panels: 7 KW Array View of our rear roof with all panels:

How Net Metering Works: New, bidirectional, digital power meter Meter runs backward during the day, and forward during the night Excess power produced during the day is “stored” in the grid for future use (at night, and during the winter quarter) FPL conducts a year-end audit and purchases any left-over power at the wholesale rate

Net Metering:

Solar Radiation (kWh/m2/day)

Tax Credit: PV Solar Systems and solar HWH systems are eligible for a 30% Federal income tax CREDIT

FPL Solar Rebates PV Solar Systems: $2 FPL rebate per nominal watt generated Solar HWH Systems: $1,000 FPL rebate per system

PV Solar Costs… PV Solar: $ 48,500 Fed. Tax Credit: FPL Rebate: ======= Net Cost: $ 19,850 Annual savings: $1950 = 10% Return On Investment (ROI)

Solar HWH Costs… Solar HWH w/80 gal Tank:$5,000 Fed. Tax Credit: FPL Rebate: Sarasota County Rebate*: ======= Net Cost: $1,750 (*) Get Energy Smart Retrofit Program - no longer available

COSTS… Icynene Insulation (2009): $ $1500 Tax Rebate = $4,956 Tubular Skylights:$ = $1,652 Pool Heater (2003): = $4,000

COSTS… Payback was never part of our vision Our only goal: to reduce our carbon footprint HOWEVER: house with no electric bills; investment expected to be returned upon sale of the house In the meantime: 10% Return On Investment

Florida Solar Rights Law: Florida Statute - Section : Forbids ordinances, deed restrictions, covenants, or similar binding agreements from prohibiting solar equipment use. Under this law, a homeowner may not be denied permission to install a solar collector, clothesline, or other energy device based on renewable resources…

Other… Salt-water pool (NaCl = Na + Cl) Electrolysis: salt water passing over the chlorine generator cell produces chlorine that is instantaneously transformed into Hypochlorous acid (ClHO) Any type of chlorine added to water produces Hypochlorous acid, an active satinizer that kills algae and harmful bacteria The type of chlorine (Sodium Hypochlorite (liquid chlorine), Tri-chlor and Di-chlor or Lithium based, Cal-hypo or even gas chlorine) does not matter: all types result in Hypochlorous acid.

Other… Well-fed irrigation system Composting centre Dual flush toilets Water-saver shower heads Canvas shopping bags Minimal use of paper towels We’ve been driving hybrids for 10 years We bike/walk whenever possible NEXT: Use solar energy to charge a plug-in Prius

What You Can Do… NOW Be aware of your usage: the Kill-A- Watt device Available at your library

What You Can Do… NOW If you are in the market to buy a car, consider buying a new or used hybrid (Toyota Prius produces ONLY 4,661 lbs. CO2/year) Only use hot water when really you have to Only drive when you really have to WALK or BIKE Recycle Avoid plastic bottles Eat locally: oranges from Nokomis Groves, veggies from farmers markets (Lady Moon Farm, Worden Farm) EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS!

What you can also do: State Solar Rebates: call/write to your state representatives Federal Rebates: call/write to your Congressman and Senators Write letters to the editor Support the Sierra Club’s energy conservation efforts

DRIVING TECHNIQUES Keep your tires properly inflated Keep your car well tuned Avoid “jack rabbit” acceleration Anticipate stops (braking produces carbon) Prepare itineraries Combine your trips Again,WALK or BIKE if possible

Carbon Offsets:

We are the job creators… A Final Note: In our Statement of Work, which we sent to local companies only, we specified that every component, for the metal roof, the solar panels, and the solar hot water heater, be made in the USA, down to the very last screw. Our Contractors: Florida Southern Roofing, Sarasota, Harriman’s Solar, Venice, Tri-County A/C, PGT, Jansen & Sons Insulation Venice, Tubular Skylight Inc., Sarasota

Peg and Rick Magee, Venice, Florida 2012

Thank You!