• Design/Build
    Design, Design Build, Engineering, Consulting
    and Construction Services (more..)
  • Energy Conservation Measures
    Electrical Power, Water, Green Technologies and Construction Solutions to make real differences
    in “Real World” applications.
    (more..)
  • Indoor Air Quality
    People are increasingly concerned about mold, radon, carbon monoxide and toxic chemicals in their Homes and
    buildings they work and should be.
    (more..)
  • Research & Development
    We dig into the real nuts and bolts of construction systems and mechanical components and new Green products, analyze, review and consider the installed results.
    (more..)
  • Project Management
    Whether single component systems or large scale projects we take a “Step by step Total Systems approach” to achieve maximum
    results with minimum investment.
    (more..)
I. Conservation by Definition
II. Energy Conservation
III. Power
IV. Water
V. Air
VI. Food
VII. Transportation
VIII. Passive Technologies
IX. Environment
Energy Conservation Measures
Energy Conservation Measures:

Because energy costs account for such a large portion of a typical home or buildings
operating expenses, cutting energy waste and increasing performance can significantly
reduce these operating costs. Even if you have made energy-saving improvements to
your home or building over the years, you can still save anywhere from 10 to over 60
percent on your energy bills through cost effective Energy Conservation Measures and
improvements.

The most compelling reason for you to make energy conservation improvements is the
potential for significantly reducing costs. Energy conservation improvements can also
improve your environment from a health, safety, and comfort point of view, resulting in a
more comfortable living space and finally, energy conservation helps protect the environment.

We will help you breakdown key energy conservation concepts such as cost-effectiveness, simple payback, interactions between energy conservation measures, and how to determine which projects have the greatest energy-saving potential and why.

“Whether trying to achieve Freedom from “The Grid” or build “Green” because of necessity or by choice, our goal is to provide you with “Nuts and Bolts” real Solutions!”

I. Conservation by Definition

The term “Conservation” refers to efforts made to reduce consumption. In general this is
normally not difficult, just “Do without or Do with less” but in our culture of “Having it our
way” and with ever growing demand on powering our lifestyles this is easier said than
done. Isn’t what we are really trying to achieve is Economic FREEDOM, because if utilizing
and powering everything we wanted didn’t cost anything why would we. Take for example
the cost of fuel, when it is low most people just go on about their lives but the moment the
cost goes up we feel the squeeze! Everything is different and we have to do something
about it before it’s too late. Aren’t we really saying that things cost too much and we are
feeling the pinch!

So let’s take it a step further and look at the basic cost in our life so we can look at them
individually
  • Power
    • Either electrical or fuel and sometimes both to be used in so many ways in this wonderful life we live.
  • Water
    • Potable for clean drinking and eating, non potable but clean water used for everything else.
  • Air
    • Oh, you don’t think you pay for this one? Well consider how important it is to have fresh clean air, the temperature just right or the AC and humidity at that perfect level, to say nothing about the effect of air leakage in or out of that conditioned space, the equipment that works to make that happen and the effect of the condition or quality of the shell of that space.
  • Food
    • We are talking about everything from growing and raising, to and through the processing/eating until it becomes waste and again must be processed costing us a little (many times not so little) each time...!
  • Transportation
    • Yes everything from going here to there and getting everything else to where you want it etc., etc., etc...
So if we break this down; we are really saying that everything that cost us or we must purchase regularly to live, work or play is something that if the price was less, we’d have more to do with as we see fit i.e. discretionary income. II. Energy Conservation

 Energy conservation can be achieved through increased energy efficiency and higher
performance in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduction in
the required consumption from conventional energy sources.

On this site we are not going to address the same old list of methods provided by
nearly every other site on the web, however if you would like to see them here is a link:


US Dept. of Energy Home Energy Checklist .pdf
US Dept. of Energy Office Energy Checklist .pdf

What we are going to do is look at “Real Solutions” to maximize our options! Whether
for new construction or retrofit, Commercial or Residential you should find some very
useful information on here. III. Power

 What we will be discussing here is typically called Alternative Power methods but I’d
like to say they are far more main stream than that term really defines.

  • CHP Units
    • These devices called Combined Heat & Power units have been around
      for many years in heavy industry but only recently been made available
      and cost effective for the smaller applications. Whether for residential
      or commercial these generate enough heat & electricity for most of your
      needs.
  • Photovoltaic’s
    • Originally these units were very expensive and the payback usually meant
      that the cost value curve didn’t really work out well. Today’s prices per
      square foot have made these a viable option whether retrofit or new construction.
  • Wind Energy
    • In the past it would have taken large areas of land and tall towers
      to achieve even a modest return on your investment, however with improvements in these technologies you can achieve far more with much less.
  • Power Management/Treatment
    • Power spikes, surges, poor Efficiency and High Energy costs actually cost us far more than we usually think. Consider a single surge or the long term poor line quality can ruin electrical equipment. Proper Treatment & conditioning of your power can gain some of the highest returns on your investment!
  • Other Renewable Energy Sources
    • Biomass, Hydrogen Fuel Cells, Hydropower, Waste Energy Recovery, Geothermal & Wave Power We are pursuing sustainable alternatives that will free up the building or home in the future from any need to be attached to the grid and think that these will be the answer.
 IV. Water

 Anytime you have to pay for water you’re really doing one of two things; Paying
for the treatment and paying for the transportation or power related to using it.
We can reduce those costs by either using less (we mentioned that previously)
or making better or more efficient use of the it!

  • Treatment
    • Equipment in your home or building is costly and has a given life
      cycle however hard water and chemicals speed that process.
      Technology has improved systems to deal with this and lengthen
      the life cycle of that equipment... more
  • Quality
    • We are not going to focus on the obvious biological data related
      to water but on the wellness and health benefits of better water.
      Drinking enough water is vital but really isn’t enough. You have to
      drink the right kind of water; Water that will help buffer acid, help remove
      toxins and is easily absorbed by your body... more
  • Greywater Systems
    • The benefit of reusing relatively clean water from sources such as showers, wash machines and sinks to be used in areas like toilets and for irrigation saves up to 40% of water use... more
  • Rainwater Harvesting
    • While many things can cut water costs, the use of rainwater harvesting goes far beyond that. The ability to never use chlorinated water for irrigation increases the yield and quality of the harvest. It allows for water use in areas that are affected by frequent droughts or dry spells. Gives you a source for clean water in the case of power outages or where a good supply is not readably available. Allows for the control of normally damaging runoff water volumes or where erosion has been an issue... more
  • Dual Use or Low flow Devices
    • These systems while not an end all for water conservation, do allow for additional methods to conserve which also reduces the overall water usage... more
 V. Air

 One of the most over looked but obvious requirements we are addressing, we
take it for granted until something interferes with the quality or conditions related
to it. We live and die, suffer or relax in its effects and of course will pay what ever
it takes to have it! Typical Loss Factors

  • Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
  • The Effect on a Buildings Shell
    • Proper air exchange rate for each building or space is based on
      the defined usage, in most cases this rate is compensated by the
      leaks however our goal is to eliminate all unwanted air leakage and
      create only designed exchanges.A well built home or building repels
      both moisture and seals out unwanted air flow with good design
      features, like redundant barriers proper sealing and good insulations.
      Follow these steps carefully will eliminate both moisture & Air intrusion.
    • Sealed Combustion Systems should be used with all appliances that burn natural gas, oil, or any other fuel that relies on an open flame with all required combustion air coming from the exterior.
  • HVAC (Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning)
    • The importance of sealing the ductwork of a conventional HVAC System can not be over stated. Maximizing the systems potential and performance to deliver the air as designed without loss is critical.
    • Whole House Filtration & Humidity control is highly related to thermal comfort so the systems should be properly sized for Air Quality and exchange rate. Using whole house systems centralizes the components and allows for highest performance. Humidity control is a must in today’s tight homes and buildings, without wind like the outdoors spot ventilation is required to remove that unwanted moisture from the indoor space and prevent the growth of mold, mildew, viruses.
    • Ductless Systems allow for room by room comfort without the need to have whole house units, these are the performance based and often best used where independent control is desired.
 VI. Food

In today’s environment we find ourselves seeking answers to many questions
that are not unlike those of old; how do we feed our family nutritionally sound
and quality products without it costing us an arm and a leg. The other questions
tend to arise from needs outside the main question but boil down to the same
thing cost, effect and a balance of our given resources.

As people we have gone from mainly farmers to an industrial age where cities
and municipal sprawl is the norm. The sources for our food has gotten farther
and farther away and in many cases so has the quality. Every phase of the food
system, from agricultural production, processing, distribution, consumption and
post-consumption costs us.

  • Urban Agriculture
    • People have found many solutions whether because of the lack of
      space (i.e regular farms) or just wanting to get more, better quality
      food or utilize unused areas around their homes that Growing their own food really works.
    • Very informative Site: City Farmer News
  • Agro-Housing
    • These are a combination of buildings and environments that incorporate a full time growing system within the building itself,
  • A Vertical Future
    • As space becomes even more a commodity and the science of incorporating complete systems more main stream then the answer will be to utilize the vertical space that normally would be unutilized as gardens and farms.
  • Waste Disposal
    • Composting- whichever level you go whether just from vegetable waste or even utilize it for generating some type of fuel, this is the Bio-revolution.
    • For commercial applications systems are available to reduce all food waste to an affluent liquid, saving 100% of haul off expenses entirely!
    • Recycling – Many folks consider this to be the ultimate in “Re-use".
 VII. Transportation

 When you think of transportation you may not typically think in terms of Energy
Conservation or the ability or consideration to do so. However from the ability
to reduce the distance and or cost to ship goods and services to and from their
point of origin to processing and the actual costs involved in that processing is
all part of what we categorize as transportation.

  • Recyclable/Re-use of Materials
  • Localizations
    • In today’s global supply chain it is difficult to have locally source
      materials, goods and services…However reducing the distance
      shipped can only help reduce the overall cost.
 VIII. Passive Technologies

 Utilizing physics and naturally created phenomena to maximize the comfort level
within the environment, building or home without adding any economic costs .

  • A note about the "Passive House"
    • The reference to and defined specifics of the “Passive House” as
      a system, is gaining much notoriety. This is different than actual
      “Passive Systems or Technologies” we are talking about. The
      Passive House requires the maximizing of constructed systems
      (i.e. insulation typically R-50 etc.) to protect the envelope and the
      interior space from the exterior environment.
    • Many Passive Technology components can and have been
      incorporated into “Passive Houses” system.
  • Passive Design
    • Creating systems that utilize Natural phenomena while minimizing
      the mechanical systems function or requirements.
    • Not stopping with functionality or performance but getting more in-touch with our natural surroundings to encourage overall wellness and lowering the demand on existing site infrastructures.
      • Lighting
      • Ventilation
      • Solar integration
      • Vegetation i.e. Trees, Green Roofs & Walls
      • Site orientation
      • Thermal mass
      • Waste Energy Recovery
IX. Environment

The discussions about the environment are where you hear most about
Sustainability and Green; however these discussions are missing the point,
good Stewardship and proper Management is the best use of both renewable
materials and limited resources.

We are fully committed to utilizing every resource available to provide for the
future of our environment and our children’s children. Where many may tend to
look at a politically correct model, we feel this is short sighted and forgets that
we are an Energy Dependent society and with proper Stewardship of ALL our
resources can achieve an even higher standard

  • Land
  • Water
  • Air
  • Energy
  • Waste
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