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Which Green Investments Make Sense?

Published Wednesday Jul 6, 2011

Author MAUREEN KIRK

New Hampshire is adept at green construction, ranking fourth in the nation for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified green buildings per capita, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. But determining what sustainable investments will best reduce a business's carbon footprint and its expenses is not always easy. While some energy measures are common knowledge and cheap-like installing compact-fluorescent light bulbs and turning off power strips-bigger savings require a closer examination of a building's footprint, envelope and systems.

Assess the Envelope

Energy experts say that going green should start with an assessment of a building's energy performance. Key to that assessment is determining any leaks in the building's envelope.

Green may bring to mind geothermal and other renewable energy systems, but Margaret Dillon of S.E.E.D.S (Sustainable Energy Education & Demonstration Services) in Jaffrey considers conservation and reducing demand the most sustainable way to go green.

Before contemplating a supply side project, like solar or wind power, cut back on what you use, says Dillon. To reduce electric demand, think timers, occupancy sensors, lighting upgrades and variable speed pumps and fans. To reduce fuel usage, it's about upgrades to the thermal shell including air sealing and insulation, as well as thermostat setbacks and other control mechanisms.

Dick Henry, executive director of The Jordan Institute, agrees. He suggests starting by increasing the R-value of the insulation, a measure of its resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater its effectiveness. My rule of thumb is R-40 in walls, R-60 in the roof and R-20 in the basement, he says. For block buildings, Henry estimates it costs $10 per square foot of insulation for outer walls, to provide an air seal and moisture barrier.

Bob Tortorice, owner of Building Alternatives Inc. of Franconia and steering committee vice-chair of Build Green NH, encourages building owners to go beyond the building codes. He cites the example of a requirement that wall insulation have an R-value of 19 or 20, which he says is too low. People also need to pay attention to how the insulation is installed. Insulation is only as good as the installation, he says. What if it stops two inches off the bottom plate or the insulation is not tucked in around wall outlets? Both situations can contribute to infiltration, which accounts for up to 70 percent of a building's heat loss.

Henry says replacing windows shouldn't top a priority list as they provide significantly less bang for the buck. While wall insulation ranges from R-1 to R-60, the most efficient windows have a rating of R-7. It's not worth the expense.

Take a Thermal Picture

Knowing how much energy you are using (and as described above, losing) is a critical first step before investing in green upgrades. Energy audits typically include blower door tests and thermal imaging pictures to determine any heat loss, whether through heating and cooling ducts, ceiling joints, the basement, doors or windows.

An energy audit can also determine how to reduce electricity usage.  It should include a building walk-through noting the age and condition of lights, HVAC system, water heaters, air compressors and pumps. Are motors running continuously? Are lights on in areas with no occupants? Assess opportunities based on the cost of replacement equipment, anticipated energy savings and return on investment.

Henry recommends working with a consultant to develop a five-year demand side reduction plan focused on sealing, insulating, air compressor leaks, heat recovery, and heating and cooling systems. That short list will represent between 60 to 80 percent of your fuel savings opportunities.

Proper insulation can also save on the cost of a boiler. Since boilers are sized to address the coldest day of the year, the capital investment for a boiler for a properly insulated building may be $35,000, versus $50,000 for a leaky structure, Henry says.

Doing the Math

Costing out green investments involves looking at upfront costs, utility rebates, payback periods and savings over time. Businesses that have successfully lowered their bills and environmental footprints say it involves research and a group effort.

Stonyfield Farm, a Londonderry yogurt manufacturer known for its focus on the environment, invested $170,000 in 2003 in energy conservation measures at its manufacturing facility. That investment included an efficient refrigeration system, sealing dock doors to keep cold air in and white roofing to reflect heat. An $85,000 rebate from PSNH and an estimated annual energy savings of $60,000 resulted in a payback of less than two years.

But not all green investments have to be large to be effective. When Stonyfield had to lease additional office space in 2007, it made structural changes to increase the daylight coming into the building and retrofitted lighting with energy efficient fixtures and occupancy controls, says Lisa Drake, director of sustainability innovation at Stonyfield Farm.

She adds that becoming familiar with federal and state incentives is important as they can sometimes help get a project off the ground that wouldn't otherwise be possible.

Bill Knight, owner of general contracting firm LSE in Meriden and facility manager for the Plainfield School in Meriden, encourages nonprofits to tap into the expertise within their community to help build an energy strategy. Nonprofits typically award jobs to the lowest bidder, not to the company guaranteeing the lowest operating costs, he says.

He cites the 36,000-square-foot Plainfield School in Meriden, which was consuming 22,000 gallons of fuel oil annually, as an example. With the assistance of National Grid and skilled town residents, Plainfield developed a plan to reduce the building's energy costs. The school now uses around 11,000 gallons of oil annually. The $330,000 project involved increasing the wall insulation to 6.5 inches, adding roof insulation, sealing foundation leaks and installing heat recovery ventilation and air source heat pumps.

Often, says Drake of Stonyfield, it's the simple things that produce the big savings. While it may be more fun to talk about variable speed drives and high-tech control systems, sometimes the simplest things can yield great savings with little or no investment, she says.

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