Comments on: 12 things architects assume you are doing to cut energy usage at home http://www.bikingarchitect.com/12-things-architects-assume-you-are-doing-to-cut-energy-usage-at-home/ A place for creative, green, sustainable, design inspiration... Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:33:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Nils Davis http://www.bikingarchitect.com/12-things-architects-assume-you-are-doing-to-cut-energy-usage-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Nils Davis Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:49:20 +0000 http://www.bikingarchitect.com/?p=68#comment-25 Patricia - thanks for the response on my comment. I definitely have a few power vampires in my house - microwave oven, TV, etc., that are semi-powered up all the time. We did just get a much more efficient fridge a week ago. And my wife is now asking for a new dishwasher, as ours may be about to die. <abbr><em><abbr><em>Nils Daviss last blog post..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KeepingTheLightsOn/~3/VEk0N8aYM80/" rel="nofollow">Nabih Tahan on Passive Houses and European Home Building</a></em></abbr></abbr></em> Patricia – thanks for the response on my comment. I definitely have a few power vampires in my house – microwave oven, TV, etc., that are semi-powered up all the time. We did just get a much more efficient fridge a week ago. And my wife is now asking for a new dishwasher, as ours may be about to die.

Nils Daviss last blog post..Nabih Tahan on Passive Houses and European Home Building

]]> By: Patricia http://www.bikingarchitect.com/12-things-architects-assume-you-are-doing-to-cut-energy-usage-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Patricia Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:24:33 +0000 http://www.bikingarchitect.com/?p=68#comment-20 Nils, Welcome to the site, I am sure Tom will come by after work and make a reply. You make some very good points and as the researcher for this post, I thought I would like to add my two cents. If the architect is participating in the architecture2030 challenge then I am quite sure they are doing all the things on this list. To put together the list I started with the Washington Energy List put out in 1976 and included Oprah's current list and about 12 in between years. Re:#4 you might wish to wait on getting a new washer if you read that post! but there are renovation incentive mortgages coming out - soon - which will give you quite large tax breaks for redoing your house and lowering the energy use and lower interest payments way down It would be as if you got $10,000 to $20,000 off your mortgage. Architecture2030 home page has a great article about these incentive grants today It would be great if toasters did not spill energy all the time they are plugged in but they do and maybe manufacturers will get the message? We do undo all our appliance or have them on smart sticks and save about $40 off our energy bill for the practice. Oprah has a long list of folks who do this practice and how much money they are saving each month. I think I see that we were headed in the right direction in the 70s but backed off when the money was not so tight and to be in debt was so "in" vogue. I am coming over to your blog and read about Zero Net Energy Homes...all 5 parts Thanks <abbr><em><abbr><em>Patricias last blog post..<a href="http://patriciaswisdom.com/2009/01/me-vs-them/" rel="nofollow">Me vs. Them</a></em></abbr></abbr></em> Nils,
Welcome to the site, I am sure Tom will come by after work and make a reply. You make some very good points and as the researcher for this post, I thought I would like to add my two cents.
If the architect is participating in the architecture2030 challenge then I am quite sure they are doing all the things on this list.
To put together the list I started with the Washington Energy List put out in 1976 and included Oprah’s current list and about 12 in between years.
Re:#4 you might wish to wait on getting a new washer if you read that post! but there are renovation incentive mortgages coming out – soon – which will give you quite large tax breaks for redoing your house and lowering the energy use and lower interest payments way down It would be as if you got $10,000 to $20,000 off your mortgage. Architecture2030 home page has a great article about these incentive grants today
It would be great if toasters did not spill energy all the time they are plugged in but they do and maybe manufacturers will get the message?
We do undo all our appliance or have them on smart sticks and save about $40 off our energy bill for the practice. Oprah has a long list of folks who do this practice and how much money they are saving each month.
I think I see that we were headed in the right direction in the 70s but backed off when the money was not so tight and to be in debt was so “in” vogue.
I am coming over to your blog and read about Zero Net Energy Homes…all 5 parts
Thanks

Patricias last blog post..Me vs. Them

]]> By: Nils Davis http://www.bikingarchitect.com/12-things-architects-assume-you-are-doing-to-cut-energy-usage-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Nils Davis Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:50:30 +0000 http://www.bikingarchitect.com/?p=68#comment-19 Why would *architects* be making these assumptions? It doesn't make much sense to me. Are they doing these things themselves in their own homes? In particular, some of these are easy (#1, #6, #12), but some are - imho - unreasonable. #2: Unplugging all unused appliances? I don't see that happening in the real world. (Corollary - the appliances need to be better about not using energy when they're not being used.) #4: Purchasing only the most energy efficient appliances? Sure, when you give me a $10,000 bonus to do so. I'm not saying those are bad ideas, but I don't think they're all realistic. In fact, I think technologists should be focusing some of their efforts on making them unnecessary (e.g., #2 and #5 should be the responsibility of the appliance, not the user). <abbr><em><abbr><em>Nils Daviss last blog post..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KeepingTheLightsOn/~3/EfHmCZ3TOk4/" rel="nofollow">Zero Net Energy Homes Part 5 - Passive Houses</a></em></abbr></abbr></em> Why would *architects* be making these assumptions? It doesn’t make much sense to me. Are they doing these things themselves in their own homes? In particular, some of these are easy (#1, #6, #12), but some are – imho – unreasonable.

#2: Unplugging all unused appliances? I don’t see that happening in the real world. (Corollary – the appliances need to be better about not using energy when they’re not being used.)

#4: Purchasing only the most energy efficient appliances? Sure, when you give me a $10,000 bonus to do so.

I’m not saying those are bad ideas, but I don’t think they’re all realistic. In fact, I think technologists should be focusing some of their efforts on making them unnecessary (e.g., #2 and #5 should be the responsibility of the appliance, not the user).

Nils Daviss last blog post..Zero Net Energy Homes Part 5 – Passive Houses

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