The next logical step for sound reduction is to combine the raised frame concept and add the duct board mentioned in part 1. In the following steps we’ll show you how to do this type of install.

PART 1 / PART 2 / PART 3

Fort Collins Utility in Colorado is now offering a $250 rebate for the installation of a whole house fan

Pennsylvania is the first East Coast state with utilities offering rebates on whole house fans. PECO and Duquesne Light offer $90 and $130 rebates respectively

If you are a builder in Utah you can receive a $200 rebate on a WHF from Rocky Mountain Power when building a new energy efficient home

The table below lists all of the rebates that we are aware of for whole house fans and solar attic fans (your solar attic fan already qualifies for a 30% federal tax credit). Please refer to the utility rebate website for specific details on qualifications, $$$, and application forms.

So, which way do you think railroads will lobby (they are corporate “citizens” after all).  Will they throw their weight towards laws which reward efficiency => win for rail transportation. Or will they throw their weight behind more coal burning => still good for railroads.?

You may consider a raised frame for your 1.0 or 1.7 WHF for additional sound reduction. The raised frame increases the distance between the fan and living space. Like our ducted models, making the fan slightly more remote from the living space will decrease the overall sound level. The height of the frame will depend on the total vertical clearance of your attic. The construction is very simple and will add a few additional steps to your installation.

STEP 2:  Caulk all of the frame gaps and joints. Place the provided foam rubber gasket on top of the raised frame.

STEP 3: Secure the unit to the framing (1.7 WHF shown). From the living space caulk all gaps between the unit and the framing.

STEP 4: It’s not a bad idea to add some insulation around the raised frame. You can now follow the remaining steps in the installation and operation manual to finish your install.

PART 1 / PART 2

We’ll start with a simple installation step that works with all AirScape models. You can easily line the inside of the framed opening (between the unit and grille) with duct board. Duct board is a resin bonded fiberglass board that has acoustic and insulative properties. The fibrous mat surface of the duct board helps absorb sound and allows for the smooth passage of air. The fiberglass body of this material usually has an insulation value of R-4. The duct board can easily be installed in new or existing installations using either adhesive or screws and flat washers. In fact, we love this material so much we lined one wall of our new office with it (our lead engineer’s rants on energy efficiency, life, and politics are a little more muffled now).

Duct board resources:

http://www.specjm.com/products/ductboard/enviroaire.asp

http://www.owenscorningcommercial.com/data/products/product.aspx?id=271

http://www.certainteed.com/products/insulation/hvac-mechanical/317382

PART 1 / PART 2

]]> http://blog.airscapefans.com/archives/sound-reduction-pt-1-duct-board/feed 0 http://blog.airscapefans.com/archives/transportation-energy-use http://blog.airscapefans.com/archives/transportation-energy-use#comments Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:42:22 +0000 neil http://blog.airscapefans.com/?p=1798 Since energy is a topic of conversation in our office, and I have been doing some bicycle commuting, it suddenly became important to have a table of transportation energy use.

Conclusions:

• Bicycle wins the efficiency contest.
• Electric car could win the efficiency contest if you fit 5+ people in your car.
• Escalating that war, the tandem would probably be the next weapon of choice.
• Trains are pretty good (no surprise), and perhaps could get better with regenerative braking.

Assumptions:

• Bicycle uses 50 kcal/mile
• 747 90 mpg (FAA figure is lower,but…)
• Electric car: .25 kwh/mile (from Tesla  if you trust software ‘geniuses’  posing as a car company, or if you trust the old fashioned car company GM, their ‘Volt’ appears to be .34 kW-h/mile)
• <rant> Tesla presents data like a software vendor (no surprise).  Their claim a 70amp @220 volt charger, running for 3.5 hours charges the battery fully (capacity listed as 55kw-h). Energy = efficiency (always less than 1.0) x 70 x 220 x 3.5 = 53.9. Clearly credibility = 1/ efficiency </rant>
• SUV 15 mpg
• Train (swiss) .082kwh/passenger-mile
• Pint of beer has 220 kcal
• kcal (kilocalories) are the kind we eat (aka Calories with a big ‘C’)  Yep, our system of measurement is THAT stupid. Small calories x1000 = Calories =  kilocalories.

Conversion Notes:

• It’s assumed that all liquid fuels have the same energy content as gasoline: 36.6 kwh/ gallon.
• Liquid fuels have crappy energy conversion, unlike electricity which can be 100% efficient.

We often get asked if AirScape whole house fans can be installed in attics with loose fill insulation. The answer is yes, with one additional install step. The idea is to stop the insulation from being displaced by the air movement generated by the AirScape. We now offer a breathable synthetic fabric that can be placed on top of the insulation to stop any displacement. The installation is as simple as laying the material down in the attic where the fan discharges and tacking or weighting it down. The final step would be to turn the AirScape on and adjust the fabric material as needed.

The Loose Fill Insulation Cover (LFIC) is available in 9′x10′ sheets and can be found on any of the product pages on the website.

• Newer electrical rate structures encourage conservation (tiered rates)
• ‘Energy Security’ is a powerful motivator
• Photovoltaic rebates require house efficiency check-ups

We think  solar energy gathering is great. The idea of  getting electricity essentially for  free energy has certainly captivated our imaginations. Even though the cost of photovoltaic panels is dropping very quickly, the investment is still considerable.  Our crystal ball tells us that electrical energy is very, very versatile and will be in demand as electrical cars come on stream and coal fired electrical power plants start to show their ugly side. (coal burning)

As the demand for clean electrical energy increases, its value will certainly not go down.   In fact, if the validity of predicting cheap energy such as the famous line is any guide “too cheap to meter”,then we should get prepared for high prices.

By combining whole house fans solar contractors and  homeowners  can:

• Decrease the initial investment in PV panels
• AND/ OR
• Increase the  Return on Investment for the entire system

If you want to design your own temple, Carlos Delgado is the architect.

This article by Henry Gifford, an energy saving specialist discusses why heat pumps are no panacea.  His points, well made, bring home the messages that building envelope efficiency is critical and the importance of examining the entire energy chain -  from power house to your house.  Not that readers of this blog need reminding, but Henry also points out that over half of this country’s electricity derives from coal burning . (BTW clean coal = oxymoron du jour)

www.energysavingscience.com/

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/departments/taking-issue/heat-pump-schmeat-pump.aspx