Carolina Wattbusters Crush Wolfpack Kilowatters

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced the winners of its first ever National Building Competition. Participants were challenged to measure their energy use and reduce wasted energy with support from the Energy Star program. Their energy performance was tracked from September 1, 2009 through August 31st, 2010.

From a building over 100 years old in New York City to an elementary school in the mountains of Colorado, a shopping center to a hotel, and many types of buildings in between, these teams from around the country worked hard to slim down their energy use.

Together, the 14 competitors reduced their energy consumption by over 44 million kBtu’s, saved more than $950,000 on their utility bills, and reduced their carbon dioxide emissions an equivalent of the electricity used by 600 homes for a period of one year.

Contestants were judged on the percent reduction achieved in their Energy Use Intensity, or EUI. A building’s EUI is calculated by taking the total energy consumed in one year (measured in kBtu) and dividing it by the total floorspace of the building.

For example, if a 50,000-square-foot school consumed 7,500,000 kBtu of energy last year, its EUI would be 150. A similarly sized school that consumed 9,000,000 kBtu of energy last year would have a higher EUI (180) to reflect its higher energy use. Generally, a low EUI signifies good energy performance.

The winner was a building from right here in the Triangle! Morrison Residence Hall on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill went from a starting EUI of 213 to a final EUI of 137, a 35.7% reduction. Morrison is a 10 story, 217,522 square foot, 850 occupant residence hall constructed in 1965. It was renovated in 2007 to provide central heating and air conditioning to all rooms and to install solar hot water panels.

Second place went to the Sears in Glen Burnie, MD and the third place finisher was the JC Penney in Orange, CA. Another triangle campus dormitory – Tucker Hall at NC State University – was in the running and finished in 8th place. Tucker dropped their EUI from 172 to 154, a 10.3% reduction.

For more information on the contestants, strategies used to reduce energy consumption, or to apply for the 2011 contest (applications must be received by February 25th, 2011), visit www.energystar.gov/buildingcontest.

Air Matters LLC is just days into starting our 10th year in business – and it has been the busiest first week of January in company history. With the exception of one project, all of our testing this week has been as a result of sudden leaks that occurred in homes while people were away for the holidays.

State Farm Insurance estimates that damage to homes from ruptured pipes affects 250,000 families in the United States each year. Appliance malfunctions, particularly from washing machines and ice makers are other common culprits. What do you need to watch out for to help minimize the risk of coming home to a disaster?

Frozen Pipes

Insufficient or nonexistent insulation is the number one cause of frozen and burst pipes. Pipes, especially those that run along exterior walls, must be properly insulated to avoid freezing. Many older homes lack proper insulation and must be updated, while some homes in the southern United States lack insulation around pipes altogether.

“When pipes freeze, water expands and exerts over 2,000 pounds of force, causing cracks—regardless if the pipe is made of plastic, copper or steel,” says Ray VinZant, a plumber of 42 years and plumbing engineer for Roto-Rooter Group, Inc based in Cincinnati.

Washing Machine Hoses

According to State Farm Insurance, washing machine hose failures cause about $150 million in damage to homes in the United States and Canada each year. To reduce the chances that your hoses will fail, State Farm recommends that you:

• Make sure there are at least four inches (or 11 centimeters) between the water connection and the back of the washing machine. This space will help reduce the chances that the hose will kink.
• Regularly inspect your washing machine hoses. Replace hoses every 3-5 years as part of a proactive maintenance program.
• Keep track of the last time you inspected the hoses by jotting the "inspected" date on the hose or a magnet attached to the washing machine.
• Check that hose connections are secure, including the drain hose.
• Make sure everyone in your household knows where the water shutoff valve is and how to open and close it. Shut off water at valves if you will be away from your home for several days or longer.
• Consider installing or having a professional plumber install a single-handled valve that makes it easier to turn off the water supply to your washing machine.

Ice Maker Lines

Farm Bureau Insurance suggests that you consider the following tips to minimize the risk of your refrigerator or ice maker leaking:

• Proper installation of the icemaker supply line hose is important to avoiding water damage.
• Tightly connect the hose to the valve. Avoid over-tightening.
• Inspect the hose every six months. Ensure the valve connection is secure and check for kinks. If kinks are present, replace the hose.
• Leave a three to four inch space between the back of the refrigerator and the wall to prevent the hose from crimping.
• Locate the water shut-off valve. Inspect the valve every six months to make sure the water supply will shut off.

Sometimes despite your best preventative efforts, leaks sometimes still occur. If you have a water intrusion, shut off the water supply source immediately. Contact a water damage professional to remove standing water and all moist materials to minimize the risk of mold growth.