in this flat pack spa module we looked to create a room to visit with a closed energy cycle for Europe.

Triple Roundhouse Cluster (click to enlarge)

Triple Roundhouse Cluster house plan

The New York Times article chronicles the experiences of Barbara and Steven Landau, who are building a 2,000 sq. ft. house to the passive-house standard in Norwich, Vermont. They had a run-in with insurance companies over the lack of a heating system and several insurers declined coverage. (Their super efficient home didn’t need a heater.) This is just one more example of the widespread ignorance that permeates the entire building/lending/insurance industry. Americans stick to their outdated methods even though some 25,000 of these passive structures that far surpass Energy Star Homes and LEED standards have been built in Europe.

To the Landaus credit, they stuck to their goal of building a super efficient house. Steve Landau said “I remember reading a book about someone in England in the 1980s who built a superinsulated house that was only heated by the body heat of the occupants and maybe a tea kettle,” Mr. Landau recalls. “I thought to myself, ‘Why can’t we build our houses that way?’ ”

Passive homes join the ranks of other similar designs such as Earthbag Earthships, Earth Sheltered Solar Powered Homes, Underground Houses, and Zero Energy Homes.

The exciting thing for me is combining these energy efficient techniques with earthbag building to 1. reduce construction costs, 2. use lower embodied energy building materials, and 3. provide basic needs such as water catchment, food production and so on. In other words, what we talk about here at Earthbag Building Blog is three steps ahead of passive homes.

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123 Zero Build is a free tool for calculating the performance of a market-ready carbon neutral office building design. This application estimates the discounted payback for constructing a zero emissions office building in any U.S. location.

Available for Android, iPhone, or as a web app.  I haven’t had the chance to use this program but it could have a benefit in the beginning stages of a project to determine the capacity to meet zero energy.

Click to see more screenshots of the app…

Whether or not Yuriy Dmitriev’s design will come to fruition is left to be seen. For now he has landed himself as a finalist in the Electrolux Design Lab competition where contestants were challenged to redesign appliances for the future. I think he has definitely taken the standard design of the refrigerator to a whole new level.

Zero Energy Four (click to enlarge)

Description: Zero Energy Four is a four bedroom version of my Zero Energy home series. This revolutionary design features zero net energy use, extremely low ‘near zero’ embodied energy and extremely low cost of around $10/square foot (cost of shell, excluding energy systems). This design is the result of years of research in energy efficiency and low cost, alternative building methods.

Zero Energy Four (click to enlarge)

You might also be interested in:
Zero Energy One
Zero Energy Two

Here’s a custom Zero Energy Four now in the works:

Custom Zero Energy Four (click to enlarge)

Half Moon Earthbag Earthship

The following information, photo and drawing are all from the Half Moon Earthbag Earthship website.

The Half Moon is a kind of cabin in the mountains, built with some special features that make it livable and sustainable at low cost in its very remote, off-the-grid location. Like typical cabins in the mountains, it is intended to be used as a getaway place for the rest of my working life. It is also my hope to live in the Half Moon when I retire from full time work.

The idea was to build the shell of a cabin, built on earthship principles but with earthbags instead of tires. The structure would be my vacation (and/or disaster) refuge for the next five years, during which time I would finish it out to a more livable permanent residence. The systems and design, however, would be very simple: the smallest necessary 12 volt electrical system (enough to support 3-day visits) and no internal plumbing apart from cistern-fed drinking water. All waste would be forever composted, which ultimately would be placed in a future greenhouse.

Half Moon Earthbag Earthship

The Half Moon was mostly built in July 2008. Prior to construction the site was excavated from a sloping area selected primarily because of its view of the mountains to the south. Excavation took place in one day in June, largely because of the preparation and skill of our operator, Mark.

Much more information on this outstanding design is on the Half Moon Earthbag Earthship website. If you’re serious about building with bags, this plan is worth careful study. It’s one of the few true zero energy homes out there. The Half Moon is averaging 63 degrees inside with no supplemental heating. And because of the owner’s careful documentation, others can follow in his footsteps to take earthbag building to the next level.

Graphs of internal temperatures
YouTube videos

Matter and the forces within universe are created from the same material. There are no vacuums, the material is present in every part of the universe.

Before the start of the universe the material was at rest in a zero energy state (energy, motion and temperature are the same thing)

The universe was started by energy being applied to the material from a central point from which it expanded. Matter formed from the folds and contortions within the material. The material can be compared to  jelly (jello in the US I think) -  a sugary jelly, the heated up parts caramelises into matter and particles of various consistencies.

The deflections in the topography of the material on a large scale gives rise to gravity, and perhaps deflections on a smaller scale give rise to the other attractive forces. The weak nuclear force is a result of the material’s urge to unfold, offload energy and  ultimately return to a zero motion/ energy state. Photons are released as a result of this same urge.

The physical form and continuity of the material explains the behaviour of many sub atomic particles, such as the related movement between (apparently) separated pairs of particles – they are connected, so the inter relationship of their motion does not violate the special theory of relativity.

The universe will not contract back to its central starting point. Ultimately the material will return to the zero energy state and all matter will disappear.

This zero energy state is the ‘nothing’ that the universe came from. Further universes may have been formed elsewhere in the material, or on other planes of material. These other universes may be detected by the pull of their gravity on the outer edges of our own universe.

The universe may have been started by a collision with another plane of material or an external force of some kind. Otherwise it is possible that the universe never quite returns to zero energy, mass may be lost but energy may still be present at a low level, with particles appearing and dissappearing. The low overall energy level may create something analogous to a low pressure area, allowing the collision of particles to inflate massively, starting a universe in the process.

Since its conception, magnetic electricity generators have become a common commodity. However, what sets all these motors apart is the quality of the machines. So far, the best machine you will ever see is the Magniwork magnetic energy generator. Although Magniwork has faced several challenges over the years since its humble beginnings in 2002, it is still surviving and it is gaining more followers and believers.

Since machines of this sort could practically last a lifetime, many individuals have begun undertaking the task of building their own magnetic motor machines. The big problem is that rarely will you see magnetic motors already built. You need to buy your own materials and your own tools. The issue is that not all companies sell complete manuals that will serve as your guide to building your own machine.

Magniwork magnetic energy generator sets the difference among all these companies. Once you buy the manual, you will be amazed at how detailed it is. Magniwork has considered how difficult it is for DIY enthusiasts to follow instructions. As a way to mitigate possible frustration and disappointment, the manual of Magniwork magnetic energy generator was stuffed with a lot of diagrams, pictures, and instructions.

Once you purchase the manual, you will not find it difficult to build your own Magniwork magnetic energy generator. You will be guided accordingly and you will be amazed at how easy it is to build your own power generator. The words are written in simple terms that people will understand. The pictures are also detailed and you will find that it will be very easy to relate to. Once you have your own manual, you should be able to share it, too. Aside from saving on cost, you will be able to help out your friends or other individuals that are also looking for ways to have their own alternative source of energy.

Guest will not have to miss out on any style and comfort in the new hotel. The rooms will be heated and cooled through cool and hot water, that circulates through floor and ceiling areas. This, so does Derag promise, will contribute to a lower energy consumption as well as a a more cozy feeling in the rooms.

If you will be in Munich and consider staying at the hotel, please let us know your opinion afterward!

Zero Energy One (click to enlarge)

Description: Zero Energy One is a major step forward in sustainable housing. This revolutionary design features zero net energy use, extremely low ‘near zero’ embodied energy and extremely low cost of around $10/square foot (cost of shell, excluding energy systems). This design is the result of years of research in energy efficiency and low cost, alternative building methods.

In contrast, most zero energy homes are in the $1/4 million range, and utilize complex and expensive technologies that are unaffordable to the vast majority. In my opinion, these homes are not truly sustainable due to their size, cost, use of high embodied energy materials and complexity.

Zero net energy use: Optimized passive solar design, balanced superinsulation/thermal mass, earth sheltering, PV panels, solar hot water, airlock entries, wood stove with water jacket runs hot water through built-in bench and bed, solar wall oven, cool pantry, roofwater catchment, energy-efficient appliances, indoor herb and flower garden, optional composting toilet and greywater recycling.

Near zero embodied energy construction: Earthbag construction using recycled grain bags and other recycled materials, earth, gravel, scoria, earthen floors, earthen interior plaster, lime exterior plaster, rice hull roof insulation, recycled content metal roofing.

Ultra-low cost: Earthbag construction, recycled and locally obtained non-toxic natural materials, owner-builder friendly, low tech solutions.

Shown with optional Survival Shelter and concealed entry.

Optional living wall on exterior of south wall. Details coming soon.

Zero Energy One (click to enlarge)

Zero Energy Two (click to enlarge)

Description: Zero Energy Two is a two bedroom version Zero Energy home. This revolutionary design features zero net energy use, extremely low ‘near zero’ embodied energy and extremely low cost of around $10/square foot (cost of shell, excluding energy systems). This design is the result of years of research in energy efficiency and low cost, alternative building methods.

Note: If you want extra space for more bedrooms, etc. then I suggest adding a basement. A full basement design is in the works and will be available soon.

Zero Energy Two (click to enlarge)

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(The video can also be watched here – the technical stuff starts at about 10 minutes in.)

On May 10, 2010, I was in the audience as LBNL folks talked about their vision of the house of the future:

Learn what it will take to create tomorrow’s net-zero energy home as scientists reveal the secrets of cool roofs, smart windows, and computer-driven energy control systems.

The net-zero energy home
Scientists are working to make tomorrow’s homes more than just energy efficient — they want them to be zero energy. Iain Walker, a scientist in the Lab’s Energy Performance of Buildings Group, will discuss what it takes to develop net-zero energy houses that generate as much energy as they use through highly aggressive energy efficiency and on-site renewable energy generation.

Talking back to the grid
Imagine programming your house to use less energy if the electricity grid is full or price are high. Mary Ann Piette, deputy director of Berkeley Lab’s building technology department and director of the Lab’s Demand Response Research Center, will discuss how new technologies are enabling buildings to listen to the grid and automatically change their thermostat settings or lighting loads, among other demands, in response to fluctuating electricity prices.

The networked (and energy efficient) house
In the future, your home’s lights, climate control devices, computers, windows, and appliances could be controlled via a sophisticated digital network. If it’s plugged in, it’ll be connected. Bruce Nordman, an energy scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Energy End-Use Forecasting group, will discuss how he and other scientists are working to ensure these networks help homeowners save energy.

Assemblymember Nancy Skinner also spoke at the beginning, about energy in buildings and RECO programs.

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    Green Free Energy

   This is a topic that I hold dear to me, because the understanding and application of this knowledge will create wonders for you, the consumer, the people. I am talking about Zero Point Energy my friends, and the process of collecting and harnessing radiant energy or radiant spike that is emitted from magnets as they repeal from each other. 

  When I first came across this way of thinking I was in disbelief not knowing anything about the subject, but after hours of research and viewing both sides of the debate on whether our not, one can successfully collect enough radiant energy to power things such as their TV, PC and even their Home.

  I have concluded that Yes, it is possible and one could be very well be surprised on the output of their initial input.

]]> http://fhsukams.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/zero-energy-building/ Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:13:18 +0000 fhsukams http://fhsukams.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/zero-energy-building/ The NREL’s (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Department of Energy’s green tech incubation lab will soon be opening it’s zero-energy office building in Golden, Colorado.  NREL will be the largest zero-energy office building in the nation.  Although, not as large as the Chinese “Sun Dial”, the World’s Largest Solar-Powered Office Building, the NREL facility uses more than solar power.  This 220,000 square-foot zero-energy facility is built largely of recycled or reclaimed materials and uses a radiant system that uses water pipes embedded in the floor to circulate either hot or cold water. 

The World's Largest Solar Powered Office Building

]]> http://mitchellmechanical.wordpress.com/2010/06/23/seattle-geothermal-contractor-and-installer-resources/ Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:17:22 +0000 mitchellmechanical http://mitchellmechanical.wordpress.com/2010/06/23/seattle-geothermal-contractor-and-installer-resources/ We just want to let our customers know that we have a new website completely dedicated to Geothermal Heating and Cooling. The new site has a great savings calculator that even suggests a system type for you!

You can visit the site at:

http://www.mitchellgeothermal.com

And as always our regular site is http://www.mitchell-mechanical.com

Thanks for your continued support!

The Mitchell Mechanical Team-

Mark Potensky- President
(206) 972-8191

Josh Mitchell- Chief Operations Officer
(206) 972-8189

Larry Mayotte- Division Manager and Senior Project Manager
(206) 384-2486

Mitchell Mechanical, Inc.
Office: (206) 658-8189
Fax: (206) 658-8190
5531A Airport Way South
Seattle, WA 98108

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