Alternative Energy & Energy Conservation

  March 26; Kinsmen Hall, Gananoque

The purpose of this workshop was to provide information to residents and businesses of the region about cutting their costs of energy, but as well to find ways to reduce greenhouse gases and lower their carbon footprint. This will assist in improving air and water quality, and lessening impact on regional ecosystems.  Energy use, management and development is an integral part of any discussions about sustainable community development. In this largely rural region, and with an abundance of resources, an array of alternative energy scenarios present themselves. There is potential here for distinction as a ‘green energy’ region.

Presentation 1: Ed Lowans

The presentation is mounted on the www.fabr.ca website. The slides give specific details for energy sources, considerations and conservation strategies.

The first part of this presentation explored the impact and implications of an individual’s expenditures and investments on both personal and community economies. If expenditures on food, energy, vacations and so forth are made in one’s region, those expenditures can have a multiplier effect in that community. Spent at a distance, the multiplier advantages that other region. In rural areas as this, some 50% of our money goes elsewhere, to offices of retail suppliers located in large Canadian or foreign cities. In this context, studies show that $1.00 spent on energy conservation at home keeps $.84 in our region. A $1 million spent on energy supports 7.3 jobs, almost all of which are in other energy producing regions.  However, $1 million spent on alternative energy forms supports an estimated 36.6 job years of employment, per year.

Conservation of energy can translate into savings on mortgages and insurance. In ‘green’ mortgages, at least one bank offers that money saved in conservation because of adoption of alternative supply, is considered as money saved, and impacts lending amounts. For insurance, green energy is considered as lower risk, and can translate into annual savings. 

The accompanying discussion spoke to the fact that the quest for energy efficiency and conservation begins as early as the community planning stage. The layout of streets and developments, for example, sets the stage for efficiency of the design of the buildings.  The ideal orientation of buildings is with the long axis running north-south, so that the hotter exposure south and the cold face, north, is minimized. Cross-ventilation on the longer east and west sides adds to cooling efficiency, lessening air conditioning needs, and thereby reducing energy use.

Energy use stems from the efficiency of design, and the choice of materials. As part of the decision flow, the types and sources of materials should be figured into the energy equation.  Transportation distances an add to, or diminish, the energy footprint of the project, in the same way as food choices can result in, or save, ‘food miles’. A buy and build local strategy is a contributor to a sustainable community development.

Mechanical and Electrical Systems:

The choice of heat source is a focus in energy discussions, because it’s one of the things that generates the bills we see, monthly. In order of best to less best choice, consider:

Control energy don’t loose it

In 2012, building codes are set to be updated, to build energy management into new construction. Even so, consideration given at the outset to best techniques will have a considerable impact on energy use over the long lifespan of the structure. Design innovations for position and spacing of studs, type and placement of sheathing, choices of insulation types, isolation of electrical fixtures from outside walls and many other aspects of construction can and should be part of cost-benefit analysis.  Web searches are worth the time spent, but on-site solid technical advice is worth the money spent.

In retrofit, the greatest energy savings can begin with the simplest steps. Stopping heat leaks, with caulking and weather stripping is very effective. Following that, thought should be given to choices of appliances, using the Energuide site as guidance to choices http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/new-homes/upgrade-packages/energuide-service.cfm

The advances in hot water heating, such as on-demand systems, means that the hot water doesn’t need to be kept at temperature, constantly. In addition, linking of systems, such as using solar water heating to pre-warm water entering hot water tanks will reduce the quantity of energy used by the tank. Clean tanks are more efficient to heat.

Water in households is not just a cost issue, but also a quality issue.  On the cost side, just as appliances can vary in energy efficiency, so too can appliances such as dishwashers, hot water heating means and toilets be more or less efficient. A guide to use is Watersense. http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/ in terms of quality, in new and replacement construction, switch from copper to PEX piping. Copper, in long runs of pipes, increases the toxicity of water. Dead ends in pipes lets water stand, and is a place where bacteria may collect, to be flushed into the system unintentionally if pipes drain and are recharged with water.  Recover heat from water with special heat recovery coils, jacketing drain lines, adding recovered heat back to hot water tanks.

A key in managing energy use is to first understand how to operate all household systems; and then know what maintenance regimes to follow.  Learn the ‘how-to’ parts of your systems, to save as possible by doing it yourself, and at least knowing what repairs, preventions are needed.

 

Chris Weissflog; Eco Gen Energy Inc., Kempville

Conservation/Efficiency & RE Generation

The aim in managing your energy needs is to be efficient yet comfortable. Efficiency starts with being aware of the energy that is actually used, and where it is used. An energy strategy looks at not only alternative sources, but alternative mechanisms and appliance to meet the needs.

In the average house, 60% of energy goes into heating, 14% to appliances, 18% to hot water and the remaining 8% into various such as lighting. Actions like changing to efficient light bulbs has measureable effects, but the big demands and therefore bigger efficiencies are in heating, hot water and appliances. Cost saving is important in home economics, given that energy costs have been rising at an average rate of 7% per year – a steeper rise than seen in rates of income.

Conservation begins with behaviour changes; energy efficiency solutions are mechanical. Conservation strategies involve finding ways to use less – from shorter showers, to turning lights and appliances off when not needed and other small adjustments to ways of living, that add up over time.  Energy efficiency means tracking down the actual consumption of energy of the mechanicals, noting the energy units used, and not the dollars. Energy units are a constant, comparable value – dollars vary with supply and demand, and seasonally.

Chris’ special expertise is in solar, for electrics and hot water. Sunlight delivers an equivalency of 1 kilowatt/square meter. The efficiency of collectors, whether electric or heat, has efficiencies that are rated in generation per square meter. As per Ed Lowans, the efficiency starts with building deign, alignment and placement. Windows are effective passive solar collectors. Special function collectors can be planned to fit new construction, but there are numerous solutions for retrofit.  The building’s design (roof load capability), alignment in relation to the sun, and how uninterrupted the sun’s path is to the collectors are considerations, and in some cases limitations.

The presentation is mounted on the www.fabr.ca website. The slides give specific details for energy sources, considerations and conservation strategies. Also visit the presenter’s website at: http://www.ecogenenergy.ca/

 

The following pages are lists and outlines of resources and further detailed information, as outlined in the workshop presentations.


 

Biosphere Region Energy Resources
Disclaimer: All information is general - confirm it before you use it!
Presenters
Ed Lowans, Lowans & Stephen, edlowans@rogers.com
Chris Weissflog, EcoGen Energy Inc., Ph: 613-288-8751, chrisw@ecogenenergy.ca
Typical Performance Ranges
Categories

Option

Base Case

Transformation

Best Practice

 

Build America

e.g. Energy Star

 

Furnace (Gas)

78% AFUE

92%
(90% Energy Star)
  • 92%

Boiler (Gas/Oil)

80% AFUE

92%
(85% Energy Star)
  • 92%

Ground Source Heat Pump

8.7 SEER

16.2 SEER

20.4 SEER

 

3 COP

14.1 EER

6 COP

Air Source Heat Pump

9.7 SEER

14 SEER

17 SEER

 

9 COP

11.5 EER

13.5 COP

Air Conditioner (central)

9.7-10 SEER

14 Energy Star

24.5

 

9.0 EER

11.5 Energy Star

14 EER

Domestic Hot Water Heater Electric

0.93 Energy Factor
0.98 Recovery Factor

92% AFUE

  • 92% AFUE

Domestic Hot Water Heater Gas

0.62 EF
0.76 RF

92% AFUE

 

Cooling Set Point

24.4C (76° F)

 

 

Cooling Range (ASHRE)

22.8-26.11 (73-79F)

 

 

Heating Set Point

21.66C (71° F)

 

 

Heating Range (ASHRAE)

20.0-23.3C (68-74F)

 

 

Set Point Relative Humidity (if controlled) summer

60%

 

 

Relative Humidity (winter)

Min 25-30%

Heath Min 30%

 

Energy Star

Base Case

Energy Star

 

HERS Score

80

86

 

 

 

 

 

AFUE: Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency
COP: Coefficient of Performance
EER: Energy Efficiency Rating

SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating

Funding Programs

Ontario: www.saveonenergy.ca
Federal: ecoACTION, www.ecoaction.gc.ca
Green Municipal Fund: Federation of Canadian Municipalities, www.gmf.fcm.ca
Micro-FIT (under 10kW), microfit.powerauthority.on.ca
FIT Program (over 10kW), www.fit.powerauthority.on.ca
Tax Write-off: Class 43.2 Capital Cost Allowance
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/industrial/financial-assistance/tax-incentives.cfm?attr=24
Links
Agri-energy Producers Association of Ontario, www.apao.ca
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca
Canadian Geothermal Energy Association: www.cangea.ca
Canadian Geoexchange Coalition: www.geo-exchange.ca
Canadian Solar Industries Association, www.cansia.ca
Home Power Magazine, www.homepower.com/home
Kingston Sustainability Centre, www.kingstonsustainabilitycentre.com
Kortright Centre Renewable Energy, www.kortright.org
NRCan, Office of Energy Efficiency, www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca
Ontario Power Authority, SaveONenergy, www.saveonenergy.ca
Ontario Sustainable Energy Association, www.ontario-sea.org
Ontario Wind Atlas, www.ontariowindatlas.ca/en/welcome
SWITCH, www.switchontario.ca
High Performance Construction resource information:
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca, about your house factsheets
Building Science Corporation, www.buildingscience.com, Builders Guide to Cold Climates

Sustainable Buildings (regional examples):
Commercial

Residential

LEED Buildings
Kingston

Suppliers of Goods and Services   (Biosphere Region)

139 Joseph St. Kingston, ON, K7K 2H8, Ph: 613-546-2326

Ph: 613-659-4775, www.canadiangeothermal.com

1121 John Counter Boulevard, Kingston, ON K7K 6C7 (613) 547-8080 

P.O. Box 22015, Kingston ON, K7M 8S5, kurt@downundersolar.ca

1093 John Counter Blvd., Kingston, Ont., K7K 6C7, Ph: 613-541-1291, F: 613-541-0820
Kingston@ecoaltenergy.com

994 Westminister Place, Kingston, ON, K7P 1R1, 613-767-9031, garth@eco-net-tech.ca

csr@hearyhmakers.org

Ph: 613 – 547- 8080, www.kingstonsolar.ca

640 Cataraqui Woods Dr. Kingston, ON, K7P 2Y5, Ph: 613-384-2200

sbrandum@cogeco.ca

271 Dalton Ave. Kingston, Ph: 613-544-5575 (1-800-267-1717)
info@renewableenergy.on.ca

Randy Myerscough, R.R. 1 Lanark, ON, K0G 1K0
myerscough@sympatico.ca
Distributors

122 Gardiners Rd. Suite 107, Kingston, ON, Ph: 6130634-2552

Manufacturers

805 Bayridge Dr. Kingston, ON, K7P 1T5 (meter technology)
Ph: 613-384-9400, www.aztechinc.com

P.O. Box 117, Cobourg, ON, K9A 4K2, Ph: 905-372-4338

Other Resources

Reports