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Re: GBlist: Feedback on Desert House



Mike:  more research on desert home design from current AIVC abstracts
(http://www.aivc.org).  I referred you earlier to utlities in the
region, so you may have already found this study:

#NO 10271 Implementation and operation of an "integrated design" desert
house. 

     Hoeschele M, Springer D, Kelly J C 

     USA, Washington DC, American Council for an Energy Efficient
Economy (ACEEE),
     Proceedings of the 1996 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in
Buildings, "Profiting
     from Energy Efficiency" 

     A detailed evaluation methodology was used to design cost-effective
packages of
     energy efficiency measures (EEM's) for two residential sites in the
Coachella Valley
     desert region of Southern California. Design of the packages was
based on ``mature
     market'' cost assumptions, which assume that the EEM has achieved
volume
     production and widespread application in the marketplace. EEM
packages were
     installed at the two sites (one new construction and one retrofit)
and monitored for nine
     months during 1995. Monitoring data were used to update the
original performance
     projections and revise cost-effectiveness projections. This paper
focuses on the
     analysis methodology and cost-effectiveness evaluations of four key
EEM's installed at
     the new construction site in Palm Desert, California. The four
EEM's were found to be
     cost-effective under the original performance and mature market
cost (MMC)
     assumptions used in the design phase. Revised analysis based on
monitoring results
     indicated three of the four EEM's were cost-effective under MMC
assumptions and
     two of four under current cost assumptions. Ducts in conditioned
space were found to
     be the most cost effective of the four, since a significant portion
of the incremental cost
     could be offset by cost reductions due to air conditioner
downsizing. 

     hot climate, dry climate, cost effectiveness 

Tom Phillips wrote:
> 
> MIKE:  I'm not a bldg. engineer, but it looks pretty good in general.
> Suggestions:
> 1.      see Joe Lstiburek's recent work on new Las Vegas  homes (ducts in
> conditioned space, sealed combustion?, well sealed, fresh air sytem with
> HRV ?).  Done for DOE/Build America pgm.?  It may have been in Home
> Energy or EDU.
> 2.      consider ground coupling, e.g., basement, berms, etc.  Moisture
> problems from ground water are probably minimal if soil is
> sandy/permeable.
> 3.      assume you have solar screens for E & W windows.
> 4.      see new high-efficiency swamp coolers (LBNL news letter, web site?
> Home Energy, EDU?).
> 5.      consider at least medium efficiency air filters with coarse
> prefilters for heavy dust loading and dust storms.
> 6.      wind breaks (trees, hedges, berms) to reduce infiltration losses if
> appropriate.
> 7.      central vacuum; quiet, efficient range hood & bath/utility exhausts;
> check duct/house leakage, depressurization, furnace/DHW CO/02/draft.
> 8.      low-emission paints, carpets, furniture; pre-condition and flush as
> much as possible (put this on top of list, under Source Control!).
> 9.      specify duct & furnace access (see Florida codes).
> 10.     no PV, or solar space heating & cooling (via heat exchange)? check
> subsidies & selling power to the grid, with DOE/WAPA & SCE/local
> utility.  I suspect hydronic system with good zonal control is the way
> to go if good solar supply is available, plus separate fresh air
> system.  Of course some of this may be too non-traditional and
> maintenance-intensive for that locale or builder.
> 11.     specify/encourage low-E landscaping (see Arizona study re: effect of
> light gravel vs. lawns? LBNL?) and low water usage  (xeriscape, route
> roof drains into irrigation system?).  Rapid growth + limited water
> should push water prices up eventually.
> 12.     shaded courtyards or whatever has evolved in Middle East & Sahara.
> If you can't visit those regions, see Scotty's Castle in Death Valley NP
> (it stays fairly cool inside and in courtyard, had a solar system at one
> time, and the tour is fun)!
> 13.     not keen on cathedral ceilings, but ensure good air mixing via
> ceiling fans & register location.  Use natural convection thru window
> location if possible.
> 14.     last but not least, look at "area sources" of pollution such as wood
> stoves (I recommend gas fireplace instead), motor vehicles, etc. and see
> how to reduce these.  Improved access for bikes, walkers, electric golf
> carts/shuttles/bikes, public  transit would reduce emissions and also
> improve community interaction, "livability", resale value.   Check local
> air quality district for possible emission
> credits/incentives/assistance, see local/regional utility people re: EV
> charging systems, see state transportation/DOT ISTEA pgm./bicycle
> activist groups re: bike planning.
>         I know this issue may be out of your bailiwick/control, but a systems
> approach would suggest that these are some of the major impacts of the
> development that can be mitigated with a little planning (see e design
> online, http://fcn.state.fl.us/fdi/e-design/online/edo.htm, for models &
> info on transportation, bikes, bldg. commissioning, etc.).  Otherwise,
> we have any row of "ticky-tacky boxes", another drop or two in the
> bucket of regional and global impacts, and people isolated/disconnected
> in their own homes.
> 
> Good luck, Tom
-- 
Thomas J. Phillips                             AIR     {)    FOOD
Air Pollution Research Specialist                      /|\	
CARB/RD, Box 2815, Sacramento, CA 95812        WATER    |    SKIN
916.322.7145/4357 FAX                                 _/ \_
http://www.arb.ca.gov/indoor/indoor.htm
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