All-Electric Remodel Construction Site Tour - February 11

Do you love visiting construction sites? We do too! So we’ve partnered with 3C-REN to offer tours of high performance, all-electric projects on the Central Coast.  The first will be in San Luis Obispo on February 11 at 3:30pm, visiting a major residential remodel. The builder, Mike Horgan of Cairn Collaborative, will lead us through the energy efficiency and electrification upgrades, providing first-hand information on implementation, lessons learned and best practices.

Topics covered include:

• Installation requirements and options for heat pump mechanical systems.

• Observe an installed heat pump hot water system and learn the space and location requirements and potential pitfalls to avoid.

• Discuss ventilation and indoor air quality and different options appropriate for retrofits versus new construction.

• Review wall, floor and roof assemblies for both insulation and air sealing best practices.

Project location will be provided to registered participants. To register for this free program, go to the 3C-REN calendar page HERE.

Stay tuned for tours in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Have a project you would like to include on a tour? Let us know!

Living Spaces - A View from Cophenhagen

In our industry, we are always looking for innovative ways to create the buildings we need while reducing environmental impacts. Throughout California, we need housing that is more affordable so families who work here can afford to live here. We also need to reduce our carbon footprint, protect our open spaces and conserve energy. So, when I learned about a low-carbon, energy-efficient prototype housing in Copenhagen Denmark, I was very interested. And when lead partner Velux invited me and some others to go live in one of the houses for a week over the summer, I jumped at the chance.

Called Living Places, the project was developed in 2023 as an exhibition at the UIA World Congress of Architects. Located in an older industrial area of the city, the project consists of seven structures – five open pavilions and two completed homes – connected by an elevated system of walkways, patios and gardens.

The core principles of the project include building homes that are healthy for people and planet, shared spaces to strengthen community, simple so the cost is lower, adaptive to accommodate more ways of living, and scalable for builders to adopt the approach quickly and broadly.

I was impressed with so many aspects of the project and plan to write up some blogs over the next few months. In the meantime, check out this 4-minute video highlighting some of the project features. More information is also available on the Velux website. Or reach out to me, andy@inbalancegreen.com so we can chat about innovation and how to implement great ideas here at home.

Disclaimer: Velux sponsored my travel and stay at Living Places; all opinions are my own.

How to Make HRV/ERVs Work for Your Design ... and Your Client

All homes, rather all occupants, need fresh clean outside air. California building code requires a certain amount of outside air (OA) be introduced into our homes through a steady mechanical system. The OA system(s) are governed by California’s Energy and CALGreen Codes – referenced under the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Ventilation section.

As new construction builds become tighter, with less air-infiltration and exfiltration, we are starting to see more of our clients choose balanced ventilation systems in order to maintain the tight building envelope. Exhaust-only ventilation, such as a continuously running bathroom fan, meets the building code default minimum required ventilation, but also pulls makeup air through cracks in the building envelope, creating unwanted air infiltration.

Balanced ventilation systems can be as simple as one exhaust fan and one supply fan operating simultaneously. But for a more energy efficient system, and potentially a simpler installation, a ducted heat recovery or energy recovery ventilation (HRV /ERV) unit can be used. These units use a bypass system to recover heat (and in the case of ERVs, moisture) and exchange it between outgoing air and incoming fresh air.

Photo: Example of a multifamily installation with easily accessible Merv 13 filter and ERV Core.

Optimizing

While these products have been on the market for over a decade, we find that their performance and client benefit can be optimized by following a few tips.

First, noise levels are generally low for ERV/HRV units, but higher fan speeds can result in “humming” or vibrations. It’s always a good idea to consider options for isolating the unit from framing and/or using a duct silencer in the design.

Second, with any HRV/ERV system it is important to let the design/construction teams and the homeowner or maintenance personnel know that the code required MERV 13 filter needs to be changed regularly. Some HRV/ERV units can be ordered with HEPA filters, meeting and exceeding the MERV 13 requirement in California.  Additionally, the interior of the unit and core will need periodic cleaning, typically done with a vacuum.

Lastly, because HRV/ERVs run continuously, it is important to let the homeowner or occupant know that in cases of very poor outdoor air quality, such as in wildlands fire, that the unit can be turned off manually, then turned back on after the air quality improves. Installers should provide an easily accessible and labeled on/off switch. Providing information near the unit on how to purchase replacement filters does wonders for actually making it happen!

All-Electric Design & Construction Series (ZNCD)

In Balance Green Consulting is pleased to present a two-part education course entitled All-electric Design and Construction. The classes are in person in San Luis Obispo.

On the path to Zero Net Carbon Design, building electrification is the key to reducing operational carbon. In this in-person course, we’ll share the nuts and bolts of incorporating all-electric systems into residential and small commercial projects, including tips for implementation as well as client communication. We’ll provide straight-forward information on current systems and technologies, plus a look ahead at what’s emerging in the market. 

Day 1 - October 10, 2024 (8:30 AM - 11:00 AM)

• Overview: Carbon Reduction through Building Electrification 

• ZNCD for Heat Pumps for heating and cooling 

• ZNCD for Domestic Hot Water (Part 1)

Day 2 - November 7, 2024 (8:30 AM - 11:00 AM)

• ZNCD for Domestic Hot Water (Part 2)

• ZNCD for Ventilation and HRV 

• ZNCD for Appliances & Energy Storage 

This series has been developed to fulfill the California requirement for five hours of ZNCD education as part of architecture license renewal. Although created with architects in mind, the content is broadly applicable across the building industry.

Learning Objectives include:

• Learn the ‘why’ behind California’s shift to building electrification and the link to Zero Net Carbon Design

• Learn the pros and cons of various products to help in selecting appropriate systems that meet electrification and carbon-reduction goals

• Learn critical installation details such as dimensions and venting to call out in plans and/or identify early in construction

• Understand the local market for specific all-electric/ZNCD equipment, including cost, availability and lead times

Presenters:

• Jennifer Rennick, AIA, Certified Energy Analyst

• Andy Pease, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

• Grant Murphy, CEA, CBCP, PHT

This is an in-person course, provided in partnership with the AIA California Central Coast Chapter and through 3C-REN, funded by rate payer dollars.

Location: RRM Design Group, 3765 S. Higuera St., Suite #102, San Luis Obispo

Doors open at 8:00 AM for coffee, snacks and networking. Attendance is free.

5 AIA HSW & CA ZNCD Learning Units

For more information and registration: October 10 session, November 7 session