THE PLENUM SYSTEM

THE PLENUM SYSTEM

Cave men lived in caves and enjoyed the normal earth temperature of 70 Degrees Fahrenheit. I took this concept into the present in Phoenix, California over two decades by using the crawl space of a home as its cooling chamber and slowly circulating the cool air throughout the structure for a very efficient system. We further installed underground ducts from underground to pull in fresh air using the earth’s natural temperature to mix and cool down the intake air. A great success in Arizona. However, in California, we were denied the use of this Plenum system, citied as a Building Mechanical Code Violation. Go Figure!

Earth ducts are widely used in Germany and other parts of Europe. Warm air is drawn into the duct using low-pressure mechanical fans, where it gradually cools as it passes thru the ducts and is than routed into the interior space. The earth ducts work in parallel with the conventional cooling and heating systems and reduces energy costs. Studies have proven that virtually all heating and cooling loads have been eliminated by this method.

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Substainable Design

SUBSTAINABLE DESIGN

Are our local city, county and state government codes and restrictions, not keeping up with our changing demands for energy free or more efficient sustainable features? Just ask the homeowner who wants to be energy efficient. He is running into all new obstacles with the local government. The permit process lengthy time and extensive fees make it almost impossible to consider for the average homeowner. In Los Angeles county, you may pay up to $10,000.00 in fees for a wind turbine, not to mention the installation cost. California is considered the most costly state when it comes to accepting sustainable energy. California restrictions give neighbors rights to object to solar panels on roofs and windmills in backyards that are recognized more than your rights to saving energy. Until the local government’s lax or change codes conservation of energy will continue to be a problem here and in the United States. If we would just look at what Western Europe and the United Kingdom has done and forget the red tape, we would be better off. For example, Germany’s building-integrated photovoltaic on south facing walls, In the U.S., we build building to last 20 – 30 years and in Europe buildings, they are built permanently and with permanent solutions. With this, permanent solutions promote a design approach that provides multiply uses of a single element. The political differences also influence the approach, to sustainable building. Local government should immediately push for:

1.            On-site renewable energy, solar, wind and geothermal

2.            External solar shading devices (parking lots, car ports, etc.)

3.            Triple glazing windows and operable windows

4.            Use of water for cooling and the re-use of water supply – water recycling

5.            Radiant cooling

6.            Façade ventilation and fresh air exchange

7.            Floor plans providing day lighting to all rooms and work spaces

8.            Mixed ventilation with thermal chimneys in atriums, etc.

We should learn from what is already practiced in Europe with the sustainable program or risk becoming further behind in the global scope of climate change.

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What makes a house a home?

What makes a house a home?

   Here’s a list for a single-family, 2,085 sq. ft.    home: 

·                        13.97 tons of concrete

·                        13,127 board- feet of framing lumber

·                        6,212 sq. ft. of sheathing

·                        6,144 sq. ft. of interior wall material

·                        3,100 sq. ft. of roofing material

·                        2,325 sq. ft. of exterior alding material

·                        2,085 sq, ift of flooring material such as carpeting, tile or wood plank.

·                        129 linear ft. of ducting

·                        15 windows

·                        13 kitchen cabinets, 2 other cabinet

·                        12 interior doors

·                        7 closet doors

·                        3 toilets; 2 bath tubs, 1 shower stall

·                        3 bathroom sinks

·                        2 exterior doors

·                        2 garage doors

·                        1 patio door

·                        1 fireplace

·                        1 range, 1 refrigerator, 1 dishwasher, 1 garbage disposal; 1 range blood

·                        1 washer, 1 dryer

And the kitchen sink!

Source: National Association of Home

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LIGHT BULB COMPARISON

LIGHT BULB COMPARISON

Halogens. Part of the incandescent family, energy-efficient halogen bulbs produce the lamiliar color and quality of light of the lameduck 40 t0 100 watt incandescent A 19 bulb. New to the market, these high-efficiency halogens are energy-efficient enough to comply with the government’s new standards for lighting. They cost around $1.50 to $2 per bulb and can last for up to 2,000 hours – twice as long as a traditional incandescent. 

CFLs. Much improved over the past five years spiral-shaped compact fluorescent lamps can last up to 10,000 hours and cost about $2 to $3 each depending on burning lime. Dimmable CFLs cost more, and most can’t dim to quite the same low level as a halogen. Still, they’re up to 75% more energy efficient than incandescent. 

 

LEDs. With a life expectance of 25,000 plus hours, light-emitting diodes are likely to be the light source of the future. Not a bulb at all LED’s can be integrated into a fixture or even into a glass enclosure designed to look like a traditional bulb and screw into a standard light fixture. But with a per-unit price of $40 or more and with limited beam spread, they’re not expected to find their way into mainstream use for at least five years. They are at least as energy efficient as CFL’s. Source: Building Products. www.ebuild.com

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