Energy Efficiency: The Promise of Scale

By Minot Frye
Despite the growth of the “green” movement, real energy efficiency hasn’t taken hold in conventional building. Getting there depends on scale.
   Until now, energy efficient homes have been high-end, one-off projects. Their novel designs, unusual materials, and non-standard construction techniques have demonstrated ways to significantly reduce energy consumption. But by definition, these single “money-is-no-object” projects can’t provide commercial scale. And the generally unusual designs of these hyperenergy-efficient buildings often lack mainstream appeal.
   In a commercial sense, “scale” relies on builders’ and owners’ ability to construct affordable, low-energy mainstream housing. Scale also depends on investors motivated to participate. The recipe for scale in energy-efficient building includes three ingredients: designs with broad market appeal; cost-effective, energy-efficient construction materials; and models that can accurately predict the energy efficiency of a building before it’s built. Advancements have been made in both design and construction materials. Cracking the code to scale relies on predictive models.
   Typical energy models factor in variables such as weather, occupancy, internal loads, construction details, and mechanical equipment specifications. They provide useful insight into the effect that design, materials, and technology can have on energy usage. What these models have lacked, says Ron Nelson, professor of mechanical engineering at Iowa State University and expert on energy utilization issues, are predictive capabilities. That is, the ability to correctly predict the energy efficiency of a building. This is essential for builders and investors concerned about cost management, construction efficiency, and investment viability.