The Greenest House is the One Already Built

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The Greenest House is the One Already Built 
Total HOME Energy Use = operations energy + products energy 
By Bonnie Bona, Project Manager with Clean Energy Coalition, Ann Arbor 

We know how much we pay for energy from our utility bills. We adjust controls to
keep our interiors comfortable. We use lights and appliances. These personal
decisions determine your home’s “operations” energy.

Do you know the energy used to build your home? 

 When we think about reducing energy waste, we typically don’t consider
the energy used to extract raw materials and to design, manufacture, ship and sell a
product. All the energy embodied in building products and in their assembly during
construction make up your home’s “products” energy.

 When built, 100% of a home’s energy is expended for the construction. Over
the years maintenance is performed and improvements are made, adding to the
original embodied energy of the home. It takes more than 15 years before the
energy used to operate the home will equal the accumulated embodied energy in
the building. Even after 50 years 25% of a home’s total energy use is still in its
embodied energy.

 Now consider the additional energy required to replace an existing house. What
does it take to demolish a home and process the discarded materials? Or to
deconstruct it and repurpose or recycle the materials? When considering the
embodied energy in a new home, we have to include the “products” energy from
the original building and its demolition. Additionally, will the new home be
smaller or larger than the one replaced?

 Finally, consider lightening the carbon footprint of an existing home.
Architecture 2030 suggests we reduce energy use in existing buildings by 50% by
2030. The 2030 Challenge makes the case for smart investments and decisions that
eliminate energy waste and counter rising energy costs. ReGreen provides
technical advice on whole-home improvements for comprehensive savings and
deep-retrofit projects targeting savings of 50-90%. The City of Ann Arbor created
a2energy, a website with tips to start saving now and ideas for digging deeper each
year.

 The greenest house is the one with a strategic plan for making regular
investments that integrate energy efficiency into all maintenance and improvement
projects.

• architecture2030.org (Architecture 2030, The 2030 Challenge)
• regreenprogram.org (ReGreen created by ASIC & USGBC)
• a2energy.org (City of Ann Arbor)

Enjoy using the sack and activities calendar for our LENTEN PROGRAM  Sustain a House … Help a community.   Visit: StFrancisA2.com/lent

Our Lenten Activities Calendar 2013  

Our PRAYERS of the Faithful Petitions During Masses 2013

Our ARTICLES, all tie into Habitat for Humanity's sustainable practices.