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12.29.2010

6 Tips for an Energy-Saving Roof






On Wed, Dec 8, 2010 at 6:21 PM, ebuild <ebuild@bpr-media.com> wrote:
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ebuild Decks Quarterly

Special Report:

Roofing Products
6 Tips for Specing and Installing an Energy-Saving Cool Roof

Few home builders or homeowners opt for energy-efficient cool roofs, says California building science consultant Steve Easley, because that typically means the roof has to be white. But that's changing.
Now manufacturers-with the help of research conducted by the military-have devised a formula for treating shingle-topping granules so darker colors-as deep as forest green, brown, and even "cool" black-also reflect enough heat to make a difference in how hot the home's attic gets and how high the owner's cooling bill soars.
Combine the new technology with California's Title 24 stipulations that require pros to increase the roof's efficiency, and cool roofs appear to be gaining acceptance, especially among green builders. Add to that the attention of contractors and consumers looking to earn points toward green certification, or who just want to reduce a home's overall energy costs, and reflective or cool roofing materials-available in asphalt, metal, and composite-could slowly move into the mainstream.
If you or your customers are considering a cool roof, which in some cases carries a higher price tag than traditional asphalt shingles or metal, here are seven facts to consider:
1. Heating bills. A reflective roof can help keep a house cooler when the hot sun beats on it, but it will not lower a home's heating bill, and may even slightly raise it. It makes sense to install a cool roof, which reflects heat but does not absorb it, only where the summers are extremely hot or humid. Most residential cool roofs are in southern and southwestern states, although homes where the summer air is especially humid-in cities like New York, Washington, or Indianapolis, for instance-also are candidates. Still, the Cool Roof Rating Council says cool roof owners may pay slightly more to heat their homes, although the summer savings outpace the increased heating bill.
2. Performance ratings. The Cool Roof Rating Council uses two measures to rate the performance of cool roofs. The first, solar reflectance, refers to how much of the sun's energy is reflected by the roof. The other, thermal emittance, measures how well the product releases any heat that it does absorb. Both use a scale from 0 to 1, with those measuring closer to 1 performing best.
3. Energy Star savings. The council estimates that a cool roof can save a homeowner 7% to 15% in cooling costs. Energy Star recognizes cool roof products that reduce peak cooling demand by 10% to 15%. To obtain the Energy Star label, steep-slope products must have an initial solar reflectance of at least 0.25. Three years after installation, the roofing product must achieve a solar reflectance of 0.15 under normal conditions. Energy Star does not require third-party certification of performance. The council, which measures performance but does not impose minimum levels, verifies that the products perform at the levels stated by the manufacturer.
4. Long-lasting results. Some studies claim that cool roofs last longer than traditional products because they do not absorb heat. Tucson roofer Daniel Roberts says that's true. "Darker shingles naturally will cook at a hotter temperature and tend not to hold up as well as the lighter color," says the founder and owner of Castle Roofing. "A good rule of thumb in Arizona: The lighter the shingle the better, not just for reflection and energy savings, but for the shingle's life itself."
In fact, notes Roberts, he was installing light-colored shingles on Tucson rooftops long before "cool roofing" became an energy-efficiency buzzword. "It's nothing new."
5. Insulation issues. Thick insulation and radiant barriers can cancel out the need for a cool roof. Roberts notes that placing a cool roof over an attic with 10 or 12 inches of insulation will result in only "negligible" additional energy savings. Easley agrees: "Even if you reflect 90% of the heat, that doesn't mean you'll reduce your energy bills by that much," he says, "because the codes already require that you have insulation in the attic." For homes with air conditioning ducts in the attic, though, cool roofing makes sense, he notes, especially if the ducts leak.
6. Higher prices. Some pros find cool roofing products garner more interest than sales because of their higher price tag. In the Northeast, for example, Tamko's Lamarite slate composite cool roof shingles cost $80 more per 100 square feet installed than the non-reflective Lamarite products, estimates Tim Lutrell, a Tamko vice president.
"A lot of folks ask about this stuff, but as you go to higher prices, some folks get scared off," agrees Scott Heitmeier, business manager of steep-slope roofing for ABC Supply. "That's something that has to be dealt with if these products are truly going to gain their share in the market."
On a final note, while there are a variety of methods to increase a roof's efficiency-by upgrading insulation, for example-cool roofs make sense for many regions. Most of Los Gatos Roofing's customers opt to install cool roofs for the extra protection against the heat, notes co-owner Randy Brown.
Sharon O'Malley is contributing editor to Building Products magazine and ebuild.com.


Custom-Bilt Metals. Titan Cool Roof is a two-coat system with a minimum solar reflectance of 25%--and up to 70% on lighter colors, the maker claims. When applied and cured on properly prepared substrates, the material demonstrates color stability, chalk resistance, durability, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance and flexibility, the manufacturer says. 800.826.7813. www.custombiltmetals.com.

MonierLifetile. The concrete roof tiles in the manufacturer's Hartford Slate collection exceed LEED requirements for reflectivity and emissivity. The color-through tiles resist surface damage and degradation, the company says. The series comes in a variety of light and dark colors, including charcoal brown blend (pictured), and is available in northern and southern California and the Pacific Northwest. 800.669.8453. www.monierlifetile.com.

CertainTeed. Landmark Solaris shingles, which comply with Energy Star guidelines, are available in deep hues, including heather blend, resawn shake, burnt Sienna, and weathered wood. The product can reduce the roof's surface temperature by 20% during warm months, the maker says, and is designed to resist winds up to 130 mph. The shingles are rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council and meet California's Title 24 requirements. 800.233.8990. www.certainteed.com.

Eagle Roofing. Approved by Energy Star and rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council, concrete Cool Roof Tiles can save 10% to 30% on air conditioning bills, the firm states. The tiles come in multiple profiles and colors. 909.822.6000. www.eagleroofing.com.

DaVinci. EcoBlend roofing tiles, which offer the look of slate, reduce solar heat gain to save homeowners 7 percent to 15 percent on cooling costs, the firm states. The product is rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council and by Energy Star. It is 100 percent recyclable, does not release or discharge toxins, and has an anticipated life span of 50-plus years, the maker says. 800-328-4624. www.davinciroofscapes.com.

Tamko Building Products. Lamarite slate composite shingles now come in five energy-saving cool colors that reflect the sun's heat instead of transferring it to the attic. The product, which is rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council, comes in widths of 5, 7, and 12 inches, and in five colors: terra-cotta, pale olive, cool grey, natural sand, and almond shell. 800-641-4691. www.tamko.com.
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How to Add Energy Efficiency to Rough Framing

Building Plans for Advanced Framing

Reduce thermal bridging by using less lumber and more insulation — and you'll get improved energy efficiency and comfort as bonuses

The point of advanced framing, also known as optimum value engineering (OVE), is to frame a house so that it meets its structural requirements without wasting material.


Warm rim joists help to keep floors warm. Warm floors are more comfortable. See section 6 below.
These 23 construction details will help you get the most from your lumber by keeping your framing crew on the same page.

ADVANCED FRAMING DETAILS IN THIS PACKAGE:

1. CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS
2. HEADERS
3. SHEAR BRACING
4. WALL INTERSECTIONS
5. OUTSIDE CORNERS
6. RIM JOISTS
7. TOP PLATES



1. CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS


3-D Advanced FramingDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
2 ft Plan and ElevationDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
2ft Module HouseDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
FREE SAMPLE:
Stacked Framing ConceptDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG

2. HEADERS


Insulated Header-ManufacturedDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
Insulated Header-Site BuiltDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
Mini Truss Header SectionDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
Outset Header with Head PlateDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG

3. SHEAR BRACING


Metal strappingDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
Let in 1x4 Shear BracingDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
Corner Installed Plywood or OSBDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
Inset Shear Panel AssemblyDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG


4. WALL INTERSECTIONS


1x6 BackingDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
Drywall ClipsDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
Ladder BlockingDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
2 Studs, Rigid InsulationDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG

5. OUTSIDE CORNERS


2 Stud Corner with Drywall ClipsDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
2 Stud Corner with 1x4 BackerDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
2 Stud Corner with 2x4 BlockingDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
3 Stud Corner with Rigid InsulationDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG


6. RIM JOISTS


Inset Band Joist at MudsillDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
Inset Band Joist at Top PlateDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
SIPS Panel as Band JoistDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
Inset Band Joist at Wood Floor TrussDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG

7. TOP PLATES


Top Plate with Centered SpliceDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
Top plate Splice with GussetDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG
Wall GussetDOWNLOAD: PDF | DWG







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12.28.2010

Energy News: Coal Shortage in China=Power Shortages

Chinese endure power shortages as coal runs short

By ELAINE KURTENBACH

SHANGHAI, Dec. 20, 2010 (AP Online delivered by Newstex) -- Communities in central and northern China are facing power cuts and rationing as winter coal supplies fall short of surging demand.

Cold weather and transport disruptions typically cause shortages most years, but the problem has been complicated by coal producers' unhappiness over price controls that are crimping their profits.

China's State Grid, the government power provider, said in reports seen Monday on its websites that recent winter storms had pushed demand higher while worsening traffic bottlenecks, hindering coal deliveries.

Phone calls to the State Grid's branches in central China's Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Chongqing and Hubei provinces -- the areas reportedly worst affected -- rang unanswered Monday.

China depends on coal for more than three-quarters of its electricity and also to fuel centralized winter heating systems in northern cities. Spates of unusually cold weather often strain supplies, with power rationing not uncommon.

About 620,000 households were left without power due to bad weather in Zhejiang, a province west of Shanghai, a report on the State Grid website said. It said power was being restored.

Coal suppliers have also held back on shipments to power companies because contract prices for coal are below market prices, a chronic problem in this state-dominated economy. China has had similar troubles in maintaining supplies of gasoline and diesel fuel, as refiners balked at selling at below-market prices.

"There are troubles with resources but also with the market," Han Xiaoping, an official at energy information provider China Energy (OOTC:CHGY) Net, said in a report posted on its website. "Costs are rising daily, but coal prices are strictly controlled, so suppliers cannot cover their costs."

China's consumer price inflation hit a 28-month high of 5.1 percent in November, prompting the government to tighten controls on prices for some key commodities.

The National Development and Reform Commission, the country's planning agency, recently ordered coal suppliers to extend contracts set for 2010 into 2011, without raising prices.

It warned companies that fail to fulfill contracts will not be allowed to increase output capacity.

Coastal provinces and cities such as Shanghai are able to bridge gaps in supply with imported coal, and have been less affected.

The disruptions to supply appear to be worst in major coal producing regions such as Henan, where 40 percent of coal-fired power plants had fuel reserves equivalent to no more than three days of demand, according to a report on the State Grid's website.

State-run China National Radio reported the province was imposing power cuts and rationing since it is unable to use about 40 percent of its power generating capacity.

Likewise, neighboring Hubei province was stopping some generators, citing an urgent need to conserve coal supplies, it said.

The entire region has just over two weeks worth of coal, with many power generators having stockpiles equivalent to less than three days worth of demand.

Coal supplies also are being stretched by closures of smaller coal mines as part of a restructuring of the industry aimed at improving safety and increasing efficiency.

Meanwhile, unusually dry weather is also hitting hydroelectricity plants, with water levels on average 10 percent below normal.

At China's Three Gorges dam, the world's biggest hydroelectric dam, the water flow was 26 percent below normal, the State Grid reports said.

With China's economy booming at a rate of about 10 percent, and demand from residential customers surging, electricity consumption has recently hit record highs in eastern China's Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, though coal supplies were still sufficient, said the state-run newspaper Oriental Morning Post.

Beijing has committed to an ambitious energy efficiency campaign by cutting energy intensity, or energy used per unit of economic output, by 20 percent from 2006 levels by this year.

But the official Xinhua News Agency reported Monday that more than half of the buildings constructed in northern China failed to meet energy-saving standards in 2009 because they were not equipped with devices to measure the use of central heating.

--__

Associated Press researchers Zhao Liang in Beijing and Ji Chen in Shanghai contributed to this report.

Newstex ID: AP-0001-51871388



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States Have Now Adopted Energy Efficiency Resource Standards

NEWS RELEASE

 

Contact: Max Neubauer, 202-507-4005

Dan York, 608-243-1123

 

Reaching the Tipping Point:
Majority of States Have Now Adopted Energy Efficiency Resource Standards

 

Washington, D.C. (December 21, 2010): While the prospect of passing a comprehensive national energy policy remains uncertain for the 112th Congress, two states reminded the country last week that bold energy efficiency policies, which will save consumers and businesses millions in wasted energy costs, can win bipartisan support.

 

On December 10, Arkansas became the first state in the Southeast to adopt a comprehensive set of policies on utility energy efficiency programs, including an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS). Four days later in Wisconsin, the Joint Committee on Finance approved recommendations set in an Order given by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) to increase funding to Focus on Energy, the statewide energy efficiency provider, and set performance goals that will function as an EERS. An EERS requires electricity and natural gas providers to meet annual energy savings goals by providing energy efficiency program services.

 

ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel commended the states' efforts: "The actions taken in Arkansas and Wisconsin should signal to policymakers at the state and federal level that moderate and even conservative constituencies can rally behind the cause of creating an energy-efficient economy. Energy efficiency is an abundant resource that reduces waste across all sectors and improves economic productivity."

 

Max Neubauer, ACEEE Research Associate, authored an energy efficiency potential study for Arkansas early in 2010 that recommended the adoption of an EERS and was pleased with the result. He said: "The orders given by the Arkansas Public Service Commission signify a break from the commonly voiced doctrine in the Southeast that any expense on utility bills is a bane of business and economic growth. In fact, it is quite the opposite with regards to energy efficiency. It costs far less to save a kWh than to generate one, so energy efficiency encourages economic growth by creating a robust, sustainable energy market that offers new business opportunities, generates jobs, saves consumers money, and curbs the strain on our environment." 

 

The Arkansas targets are moderate, rising from an annual reduction of 0.25% of total electric kilowatt-hour (kWh) sales to 0.75% of total electric kWh sales over the next three years (and slightly less for natural gas sales), but require a high level of verification to ensure that utility companies are fairly rewarded, and that consumers get solid cost benefits.

 

The Wisconsin electricity goals, as a percent of peak load and electric sales, amount to 0.75% in 2011, ramping up to 1.5% in 2014. The PSCW also approved natural gas goals of 0.5% in 2011, ramping up to 1% in 2013.

 

Twenty-six states now have an EERS, accounting for 65% of the country's electricity demand. The policies currently on the books will provide electricity savings equal to 6% of nationwide retail sales by 2020. Dan York, Deputy Director, ACEEE Utilities Program, explained further: "The EERS will ensure that Wisconsin continues to reap the significant cost savings that result from investments in more energy-efficient homes, businesses, and industries." A native Wisconsinite, he was glad to see his home state adopt such a strong policy. "For years, Wisconsin has been a leader in its energy efficiency programs serving electric and natural gas customers. This policy demonstrates Wisconsin's strong commitment and vision to invest in energy efficiency-a resource that lowers energy costs, creates local jobs, and improves the environment. It's a big win for Wisconsin."

 

 

Link to summary of AR decision: http://www.apscservices.info/pdf/08/08-144-U_153_1.pdf

 

Link to Wisconsin EERS Order: http://www.aceee.org/files/state/WI_5-GF-191_Order.pdf

###

 

About ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, visit aceee.org.



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