Low-Cost Green Strategies: HVAC & Plumbing

A green approach to designing, building, and maintaining a home need not be any more costly than conventional building and can actually have lower initial costs in many cases. Each step taken towards a greener, more efficient home definitely will result in lower “life cycle” costs down the road, however –from lower energy bills, to reduced energy and water use, to fewer maintenance and repair costs and improved overall comfort and satisfaction.

The measures listed here are economical in terms of both first costs and life cycle costs. It is important, however, to also consider green strategies with higher first costs since they can often provide substantial long-term savings, not only in reducing or eliminating utility costs, but in the comfort, health, and functionality of the occupants.

A key factor in a successful, cost-saving green home is the integration, early in the building design process, of all systems for optimal results. This includes the lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and cooling), room design, ceiling heights, plumbing, siting considerations and building orientation, materials and insulation.  Today I’ll focus on the HVAC and plumbing.

HVAC Systems

To choose the proper HVAC system for your home, it’s important to consider how you use the spaces, the design of the house, what type of insulation and ventilation you’ll have, and not just how hot or cold you like to be!  A good builder will help you model the building and ask important questions about what each room will be used for and when.  Your builder or architect can then help integrate all systems, including building orientation (for passive solar heat gain), siding and roofing, high-performance glazing (windows), and insulation, to maximize energy efficiency.  I’ve had great success using a ductless system in our humid, coastal climate, but ducted systems have benefits as well.  Importantly, no matter what kind of system you choose, right-sizing HVAC systems remains a priority. Over-sized systems are not only more expensive, but inefficient.

If you choose to use a ducted system, the layout and proper sealing of ductwork plays a big role in HVAC efficiency. Ductwork should pass through conditioned air as much as possible. If you install roof ventilation intakes, either use an energy recovery ventilator (erv) with a good filtration system or install general ventilation in a location that is the least exposed to pollutants, such as high-traffic areas. Select digital control systems that can be modified in the future, as needed.

Plumbing

Smaller-diameter supply piping is not only less expensive than larger diameter, but brings water where it is needed more quickly and reduces waste. Water recovery loops and greywater reuse can increase initial costs but are water conservational. Locating instant hot water heaters nearer to their use can provide quicker hot water and save money over the tank heater.

Relatively inexpensive carbon filters can be added to sinks to remove chemicals, heavy metals, chlorine, and many forms of bacteria and parasites as an alterative to whole house water filtration. Did you know that garbage disposals are inefficient because they require running water and deposit organic materials into septic tanks and sewage treatment plants?  Try composting with one of the new indoor composting units or the old fashioned compost pile in the yard as a better solution.

Among the cheapest and easiest water-savers are low-flow shower heads, low flow toilets and faucet aerators. Each of these devices can cut water use by about 50%, while maintaining good water pressure. When building new, it’s easy to choose these types of saving devices.  For older homes, when fixtures need replacing, choose water-conserving models. Toilets older than ten years might be worth replacing even if they are still functioning, as they are major water users. Remember the tax rebates, and some water utilities offer rebates for water-conserving fixtures, to offset installation costs.

For help with any of these strategies, or for questions regarding your home, email Pam at Pam@anneandbradshaw.com.  

Adapted from information through RS Means.

Pam Anne Fasse is a real estate professional with Century 21 Sweyer & Associates and one-half of the general contracting team Anne & Bradshaw, Inc. For all things real estate, visit Century21Sweyer.com.

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