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Prof Thomas Gentry AIAArchitecture
Prof Robert Cox PhDElectrical & Computer Engineering
Solutions for Sustainable Communities:2011 Learning Conference on State & Local Housing Policy
SWIFT Low-income Weatherization:Reducing the Financing BurdenSeptember 26, 2011Washington DC
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
Weatherization HistoryD
ep
art
men
t of
En
erg
y• “The Weatherization Assistance Program
[WAP] was created under Title IV of the Energy Conservation and Production Act of 1976. During a period of staggering increases in energy prices following the 1973 oil crisis, the program was designed to save imported oil and cut heating bills for low-income households, including senior citizens living on fixed incomes and Social Security, who were especially hard hit by rising energy bills.”
Source: US Department of Energy, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/wap_history.html
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
Weatherization HistoryD
ep
art
men
t of
En
erg
y• “The Weatherization Innovation Pilot Program
[WIPP] aims to accelerate innovations in whole-house weatherization for low-income families. A new program in 2010, these projects include new and nontraditional partners and weatherization service providers, leverage significant non-federal financial resources in addition to federal funds, and aim to improve the effectiveness of low-income weatherization through the use of new materials, technologies, behavior-change models, and processes.”
Source: US Department of Energy, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/weatherization_innovation.html
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
SWIFT ProgramU
NC
Charl
ott
e• The SWIFT (Streamlined Weatherization
Improvements for Tomorrow) Program under development by the University of North Carolina Charlotte is one of 16 Weatherization Innovation Pilot Programs.
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
SWIFT ProgramU
NC
Charl
ott
e• The weatherization portion is financed
primarily by a forgivable loan program; but, SWIFT is structured to allow implementation with other commonly used funding sources.– Duke Energy Home Energy Loan Pool (HELP) is
administered by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
SWIFT ProgramU
NC
Charl
ott
e• The weatherization portion is financed
primarily by a forgivable loan program; but, SWIFT is structured to allow implementation with other commonly used funding sources.
• The SWIFT Program reduces the financing burden of low-income weatherization by:1. Reducing administrative costs;2. Leveraging volunteer labor and discount
pricing on materials; and3. Using more cost effective measures to
reduce energy consumption.
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
1. Reducing Administrative Costs
UN
C C
harl
ott
e• A significant portion of the administrative
costs is for overseeing the work of the weatherization contractor to assure the work is done properly and to track materials.
• To reduce the cost of oversight:– Provide a trained crew chief and a
comprehensive set of construction documents - drawings and specifications; and,
– De-incentivize using too much material and material theft.• Pay a profitable mobilization-demobilization fee and
limit material and equipment reimbursements to bare costs.
• Base all work on verifiable unit pricing.
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
2. Leveraged Labor
• Habitat for Humanity is the primary source of leveraged resources – volunteer labor.
Hab
itat
for
Hu
manit
y
Habitat for HumanityCabarrus County
Eastern Connecticut State University student
participants in 2010 Youth United
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
2. Leveraged Materials
• Lowe’s Home Improvement Corporation is providing equipment and government pricing on all materials.
Low
e’s
Hom
e
Imp
rovem
en
t
Lowe’sCorporate
HeadquartersMooresville, NC
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
3. Cost Effective Measures
Weatherize to Reduce Energy Consumption
Passive MethodBuilding and owner do not respond to
changes in the weather
Seal & Insulate
Traditional Method
Active MethodsBuilding and/or owner responds to
changes in the weather
Intelligent BuildingRequires an
automatic control system - Building
Automation System (BAS)
Intelligent OwnerRequires
educating owner on how to use
systems – “commissioning”
Weath
eri
zati
on
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
3. Cost Effective Measures
Weatherize to Reduce Energy Consumption
Passive MethodBuilding and owner do not respond to
changes in the weather
Seal & Insulate
Traditional Method
Weath
eri
zati
on
• The amount of insulation that can be added and the air tightness that is safe to achieve are limited by existing building conditions and indoor air quality requirements.
• The Seal & Insulate method of weatherization has reached these limits.
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
Cost Effective Measures
Weatherize to Reduce Energy Consumption
Passive MethodBuilding and owner do not respond to
changes in the weather
Seal & Insulate
Traditional Method
Weath
eri
zati
on
• Achieving further reductions in energy consumption requires the utilization of additional weatherization methods.
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
3. Cost Effective Measures
Weatherize to Reduce Energy Consumption
Active MethodsBuilding and/or owner responds to
changes in the weather
Intelligent BuildingRequires an
automatic control system - Building
Automation System (BAS)
Weath
eri
zati
on
• BAS is too expensive for low-income weatherization programs.— The SIR
(Savings to Investment Ratio) is too low.
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
3. Cost Effective Measures
Weatherize to Reduce Energy Consumption
Active MethodsBuilding and/or owner responds to
changes in the weather
Intelligent OwnerRequires
educating owner on how to use
systems – “commissioning”
Weath
eri
zati
on
• Teaching the owner how to use the measures implemented in their house to reduce their energy consumption – “commissioning” – is cost effective.
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
Reducing Energy ConsumptionEn
erg
y• Two of the active measures used in the
SWIFT Program to reduce energy consumption that require commissioning (educating the owner) are:– Real time energy monitoring and performance
modeling; and,– Offsetting cooling loads with passive-hybrid
ventilation.
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
Reducing Energy ConsumptionEn
erg
y• TED (The Energy Detective) device
provides real time energy monitoring.– SWIFT uses the device in a more robust
manner.
• Performance modeling compares the expected performance in NEAT (National Energy Audit Tool) against the real performance. – SIRs (Savings to Investment Ratios) are
adjusted in NEAT to refine the prioritization of measures.
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
Reducing Energy ConsumptionEn
erg
y• Throughout much of the United States the
opportunity exists to reduce cooling loads with passive-hybrid ventilation during the shoulder seasons.
Psychrometric chart from Climate
Consultant 5.0
— In North Carolina the shoulder seasons makeup a significant portion of the year.
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
Reducing Energy ConsumptionEn
erg
y• High quality whole house fans provide
quite passive-hybrid ventilation, when used properly.
AirScape 1.0 WHF
— To insure proper usage, the SWIFT Program teaches the owner on three separate occasions how to use the system.
— Commissioning is an ongoing process.
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
SWIFT & Sustainable Communities
Nort
h C
aro
lina
• The SWIFT Program is committed to weatherize 800 low-income houses in North Carolina by October 1, 2012.
• To promote sustainable communities the program:– Targets communities with housing stock that
is viable for the next generation;– Selects houses in community clusters to
improve the community as a whole; – Provides greater economic stability by
reducing the energy burden of low-income households; and,
– Creates locally supported jobs that will continue beyond the WIPP period.
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
Environmental BenefitsG
lobal Im
pact
• The reduction in energy consumption
realized through the SWIFT Program results in a direct reduction of greenhouse gas emissions associated with:• The burning of coal to produce electricity for
cooling and lighting; and,• The burning of natural gas for heating.
Professors Cox & Gentry University of North Carolina
Charlotte SWIFT Program
Thank You