Photovoltaic Systems

Archive for September, 2011

Radiant flooring is a popular method for heating a space. Typicaly, installing a radiant slab on grade has required the time- and labor-intensive process of laying down wire mesh and then tying the tubing to the grid of the mesh to provide an even layout. But using the Creatherm radiant floor panel makes it faster and easier to install radiant tubing, as well as providing an insulation layer beneath the floor.

Creatherm panels allow for rapid installation of PEX since the installer can “walk-in” the tubing as they unroll it by just pressing it in place with a foot. The knurled knobs in the Creatherm panels act to hold the PEX tubing in place, and their open grid configuration allows for a much more varied and flexible installation of radiant tubing. Creatherm panels also feature interlocking edges, so that the underlayment will not shift.

The panels additionally provide insulation value depending on their thickness. Creatherm panels are available in 1.8”, 2.8” and 3.3” thicknesses which provide R-5 to R-11 insulation. In many cases, Creatherm panels would serve for both the under slab insulation as well as the attachment for a PEX radiant tubing system, allowing for faster installation with fewer materials and less labor required.

Other products, such as Warmboard also are designed for faster installation of radiant tubing, but Creatherm offers more flexibility in the layout than Warmboard, although the thickness of the Creatherm panels might limit their use in above ground floor systems.

Being able to have the flexibility to quickly lay out radiant tubing, and to readily adapt to unusual configurations, especially with irregular rooms, makes this an especially intriguing product. And many will find it a real benefit to have the combination of an under slab insulation material which incorporates a system to quickly install the radiant tubing.

[+] More info about Creatherm interlocking floor panels.

Photo credits: Creatherm Photo Gallery.

Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:

1. Warmboard Unveils Retrofit Radiant Panel
2. Flexible 100% Recycled Composite ECOR
3. New, Simple, Green: InterModal Design

*This is a sponsored article in association with Plastics Make It Possible. 

The Solar Decathlon is an event we cover every other year, and this year, the American Chemistry Council, in conjunction with Plastics Make It Possible, invited us to the National Mall to see how teams are using plastics as building materials in high performance homes.  Of course, we expect to see various recycled-content materials and plastic-based outsulation, but we also want to talk with teams about what’s driving their use of these materials.

I’ll be on a group tour of the Solar Decathlon on Saturday led by HGTV star Brooks Utley.  Brooks will talk about the outsulation used on Caltech’s Chip house — the geometric white one — and other plastic materials used to create these stylish and energy-efficient homes.

The Plastics Make It Possible website has a sustainability statement with respect to these products.  Their position is that “Plastics help us to do more with less in many ways. Because they’re durable, lightweight, and versatile plastics can help you reduce waste and consume less energy.“  I’d like to delve into this in more detail and consider other environmental impacts as well.

Affordability is also another critical component to consider.  92% of American homeowners feel it’s important to make their homes more energy efficient, yet 46% of those surveyed are not taking the necessary steps to increase their home’s energy efficiency because they think it’s too expensive, according to Kelton Research in a study for Plastics Make It Possible.

If you’d like us to explore a specific product or any other information while visiting with Utley or anyone from the Plastics Make It Possible group, drop a comment below.  I’ll have a couple more articles in the next week or so on this topic.

*Disclosure: The American Chemistry Council invited Jetson Green to the Solar Decathlon to learn more about the plastic materials used in Solar Decathlon homes and covered expenses for travel, lodging, and meals.  All opinions are our own.

Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:

1. Solar Decathlon: Let The Games Begin!
2. New Venue for Solar Decathlon 2013
3. Decathlon Shuffled to West Potomac Park

The results are in for another contest at Solar Decathlon 2011 and the winner of the architecture phase is the University of Maryland with WaterShed.  Team New Zealand (Victoria University of Wellington) took second place with First Light, and Appalachian State University took third place with the Solar Homestead.

Michelle Kaufmann, an architect at Michelle Kaufmann Studio and the author of Prefab Green, said, “The top three projects span the globe; each celebrating its unique regional influences and climatic differences,” according to the Department of Energy.

The jury evaluated projects for the following elements:

• Architectural elements – the scale and proportion of room and facade features, indoor/outdoor connections, composition and linking of various house elements;
• Holistic design – an architectural design that will be comfortable for occupants and compatible with the surrounding environment;
• Lighting – assessing the integration and energy efficiency of electrical and natural light;
• Inspiration-  as reflected in a design that inspires and delights Solar Decathlon visitors; and
• Documentation – the drawings, a project manual, and an audiovisual architecture presentation that accurately reflect the constructed project on the competition site.

The Solar Decathlon has a total of 10 contests, of which five are juried and five are measured or evaluated on other metrics.  The affordability contest produced two teams with full points of 100.  At the end of all 10 contests, the team with the highest score will win the competition.

[+] More info about the Solar Decathlon in Washington D.C.

Credits: Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy.

Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:

1. The Affordability Contest Winners – #SD2011
2. Solar Decathlon: Let The Games Begin!
3. 20 Beautiful Solar Decathlon Homes

Austin-based Sett Studio makes unique and inventive prefab studios ranging in size from about 97 to 192 square feet.  The company pairs modern design with energy-efficient construction to create what can be used as a home office, art studio, yoga space, kids room, game room, or guest room.  Plus, a Sett Studio can be had for about $20,000 – $30,000, depending on the model.

The model shown features an interior application of Monotread, which is milled with OSB made from fast-growing, sustainably-harvested wood.  On the outside, the tiny studio can be finished with Hardie, charred wood, or stainless metal shingles.

Sett is built with SIPs and Energy Star windows.  Upon signing the contract, construction takes about 45 days and installation is finished in a couple days.  Transportation costs between $500-$3,000 depending on where the studio is being shipped.  A permit may or may not be necessary, but if it is, Sett Studio can provide architectural drawings for an additional fee.

[+] More information about Sett Studio structures from Austin.

Credits: Sett Studio; noticed at Grassroots Modern.

Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:

1. Modern, Green, Affordable: Studio Shed
2. Modern Green Prefab by Ma Modular
3. Green Low Energy Home in South Austin