We’re always thinking about how we can make both existing homes or new construction homes more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Building a new home? Consider making your next home a “passive home!”

What Is A Passive House?
A Passive House is a very well-insulated, virtually air-tight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc. Energy losses are minimized. Any remaining heat demand is provided by an extremely small source. Avoidance of heat gain in the summer through shading and window orientation also helps to limit any cooling load, which is similarly minimized. An energy recovery ventilator provides a constant, balanced fresh air supply. The result is an impressive system that not only saves up to 90% of space heating costs, but also provides a uniquely terrific indoor air quality.

Eco-Friendly Functions
A Passive House is a comprehensive system. “Passive” describes well this system’s underlying receptivity and retention capacity. Working with natural resources, free solar energy is captured and applied efficiently, instead of relying predominantly on ‘active’ systems to bring a building to ‘zero’ energy. High performance triple-glazed windows, super-insulation, an airtight building shell, limitation of thermal bridging and balanced energy recovery ventilation make possible extraordinary reductions in energy use and carbon emission.

Going Forward
Today, many in the building sector have applied this concept to design, and build towards a carbon-neutral future. Over the last 10 years more than 15,000 buildings in Europe – from single and multifamily residences, to schools, factories and office buildings – have been designed and built or remodeled to the passive house standard.

 

Not building a new home from the ground up? Consider the following ideas to implement small changes that yield big results! Anyone, no matter what kind of home they live in, can benefit from small tweaks that not only help reduce your carbon footprint but save you money in the long run. 

Upgrade lighting
The simplest step to take is to change your lightbulbs to LEDs or Compact Fluorescents. A longer-lasting, more complex change is to incorporate south-facing window fronts or solar tubes. You could even go so far as to build south-facing greenhouses which not only offer ample lighting but also collect thermal energy for plants/in-home gardens!

Water Systems
Turning down your water heater is one of the simplest ways to save money. Most water heaters offer the “warm” setting which still maintains temperatures between 120 to 140 degrees (most people find water’s comfort range is around 120 degrees). Another option is installing a newer water heater with a programable thermostat or an on-demand water heater. Some newer water heaters tract your water usage and drop the temperature even further (most to about 100 degrees) during periods of low use (like at night). However, on-demand water heaters are what Manning Enterprizes recommends most. You only need hot water when you want it, the rest of the time water is perfectly fine cold. 🙂

We also offer water collection systems and grey or black water systems (when permissible). Water can be collected from your roof, cleaned and then used as a part of your normal water usage.  Grey and black water systems use water again after it has already been used by  your kitchen (grey) or your bathroom (black).  Grey water is channeled through filters and reused in non-potable water fixtures (like flushing a toilet).  Black water is mainly sent to ground watering systems or overflow planters where it is filtered by plants (non-edibles) and then it flows into a normal septic system.

Heating System Inspection
Manning Enterprizes works with many qualified inspectors to make sure your heating system is working safely and efficiently when in use. Regular inspections and maintenance are a major key to keeping your home warm for the least amount of money. Small adjustments like changing or cleaning your filters regularly will help you increase the efficiency and life expectancy of your furnace. Clogged or dirty air filters block air flow and cause your furnace to work harder to pump warm air throughout your house. Dirty air can also make its way into the fan section of your furnace and damage components. So please change your air filters regularly and have your heating system inspected at least once a heating season.

Door Weatherstripping

Window Replacement
Replacing your home’s windows is a major undertaking and I would not recommend it unless you have single-pane or extremely drafty windows.  Today, there are double- and even triple-pane windows that can improve your home’s ability to sustain its internal temperature. However,  windows are a major investment and there are more effective ways to spend your money. That being said, if you feel you are in serious need of an upgrade, there can be many benefits.  New windows can help with heating and cooling, improve ventilation, diminish sound transmission, lower maintenance, improve security, and more.

Strategical Landscaping
Planting trees and shrubs around your home can be an extremely effective and beautiful heating and cooling amendment. Some people see huge savings especially if they have an older home with relatively poor insulation and windows. Good landscaping (particularly deciduous trees) can block heat in the summer and let solar gain in during the winter. During summer, the foliage blocks infrared radiation that would normally warm the house.  While in winter the bare branches let this radiation come through. Some people even go further by taking advantage of seasonal winds. They use trees and shrubs to create wind tunnels to harness the summer breeze (for additional cooling) and blocks the winds during the winter.  Observe the natural patterns of your building lot and we can develop a planting plan to make your building more comfortable year round.

Storm Window Kits

Programmable Thermostat
Install a programmable thermostat and a timer for the water heater. Just as you flip off the lights before heading out to work, you should turn the heating or cooling off or down while you’re away. Program the thermostat for a higher temperature when you’re gone in warmer months or lower in cooler months. These thermostats can be had for $150 at big-box hardware stores.

Likewise, don’t heat your water when you’re not there to use it. You definitely want to make sure you are not heating the whole tank needlessly.

Tankless water heaters can be a great investment too, but they may take a few years to pay for themselves.

Insulation 

Effective insulation slows the rate that heat flows out of the house in winter or into the house in summer, so less energy is required to heat or cool the house. If your house has no wall insulation, and it has more-or-less continuous wall cavities (such as conventional stud walls), blown-in insulation can greatly improve your comfort and save enough energy to be very cost-effective.  Adding insulation is usually most effective when done from the top down.  So start with your attic and work your way down for the fastest pay back time.

Your contractor’s expertise is more important than the insulation material you choose. Properly installed fiberglass, cellulose, and most foam insulation materials can all reduce the heat conduction of the completed wall system. The key is “properly installed.” Ideally, the contractor will use an infrared camera during or after installation to look for voids.

Do appliances draw electricity when they’re not even on?
Yes. The term for this is “phantom load.” Most appliances that use electricity, such as VCRs, TVs, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. It is estimated that in the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off! Unplug appliances when not in use, or even easier, plug appliances into a powerstrip, and simply flip off the switch when not in use.