Rebates for Installing Ductless Heat Pump

KUOW's Tom Banse recently reported on Ductless Heat Pumps. You can listen to audio of the report here or read the transcript here.

He reports that some utilities will pay a rebate up to $1,500 for installing a ductless heat pump (and replacing less efficient heating systems, like electric baseboards). A 25% to 50% reduction in heating bills is the average, partially reflecting the amount of heat loss and inefficiency with ducts (estimates of heat loss in traditional ducted systems are 15-30%). 

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance reports that if about a million homes in Washington make the switch, that's an average of 440 megawatts of savings, equivalent to about one medium-sized coal plant. They say these are standard in Asia and Europe, and just now catching on in the United States.

 Example ductless heat pump, $1,879 + installation. The appearance of the interior unit (lower) can be a drawback. 

The homeowners in the report say that the total cost for their new heat pump was about $4,000, and will pay for itself in about 10 years. This technology may be more affordable in new construction or additions since no retrofit is required. 

We still assert that the most efficient way to heat a home is with a hydronic system, where there is little heat loss, though these systems can be considerably more expensive and most feasible in new construction. Since you are heating materials (like the floors) not air, there is less heat loss when a door is opened. These systems also correlate nicely with the current emphasis on indoor air quality. Whole house fans create many air changes a day, which renders a system that heats just the air more inefficient.

Container Studio Space

18' ceilings in the studio space. Photo Credit

There's a lot of buzz about container architecture: using used shipping containers to create buildings. The idea has gone beyond the college architecture studio and into the real world. 

Jetson Green features a Container Studio Space in New York State, reported by Preston Koerner. The client needed a 700 square foot studio space, but had just a $60,000 budget. The result was a much more upscale space than could otherwise be built for $85 a square foot, and she was able to build 850 square feet.

Two 9'-6" x 40' x 8' shipping containers were placed on top of the foundation walls, and the steel floors removed, to form the 2-story studio.

Images: Jetson Green

This is a great example of how shipping containers can be used in a way that you don't even know that you are in one. For this project, the containers cost $2,500 each, including shipping. They are a great solution for creating affordable ADU's (Accessory Dwelling Units), Alley Flats, and on-site studios.

"The Good Stuff"

I love this site: http://www.thegoodstuffguide.com. Every week they feature "Home Tour Fridays" with upscale custom homes. The homes range from breathtaking to inspiring to ridiculous, but always fun. The photographs are always top-notch, and it's a great site to use to add to your "someday my house will have..." list.

Check it out: http://www.thegoodstuffguide.com/category/for-the-home/home-tour/

Lovely Laundry: I don't know if I could keep this area this clean, but what a great idea! An example of the eye candy on the Home Tour, by Jessica Helgerson, of Jessica Helgerson Interior Design in Portland, Oregon. Click here for photo credit.

The New Rules of Remodeling

Remodeling is one of my favorite subjects to blog about: I love the creativity and problem solving involved in a remodeling project, and think that it's the ultimate way to build green. Talk of remodeling has been going mainstream, like in this Wall Street Journal Article, "The New Rules of Remodeling."

From MP McQueen's article:

"According to an April 15 report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, annual spending on remodeling is expected to accelerate this year, with nearly 5% growth over 2009. "This year could produce the first annual spending increase for the industry since 2006," the peak of the housing boom, says center director Nicolas P. Retsinas. 

But the forces driving today's action couldn't be more different from those during the boom. Back then, people wanted to renovate their places so that they could trade up to bigger homes, or because their home equity was soaring and they wanted to reinvest some of the spoils. 

Now, the opposite is happening: Many people who bought during the boom years are accepting the reality that they won't soon be swapping up for a sybaritic spread. Their mortgages may remain above water, but after years of falling home prices, their equity is so low that the transaction costs of buying a new house would leave little for a down payment."

I appreciate this quote from the article:

"So these people are making their homes more comfortable for a longer-than-expected stay. Setting aside old calculations of how much a particular improvement will add to resale value, they are making smaller tweaks that can make a big difference in livability. You might call it "psychological return on investment." "

We have made a few changes to our condo, which we purchased in 2007, like replacing the carpet with wood floors and replacing the sheet vinyl in the bathroom and kitchen with tile (see previous blog entry, "Under $500 remodel/makeover")   

Yes, I hope to see a return on these investments someday when we sell our condo, but I like doing them gradually, so we can enjoy them while we live here. I still hope to replace the laminate counter tops, and I have big dreams for removing our coat closet and expanding our flex space, but I would like to do these mostly because they will add to our quality of life while we are here, and will probably be good for resale some day also. 

Check out this great chart from the Wall Street Journal Article: 

The New Remodeling Rules

During the bubble, homeowners sought the biggest, splashiest home improvements to boost resale value. Now they're doing smaller projects that deliver a similar result for far less money.

POPULAR PROJECTS DURING THE BOOM*	THE NEW VERSION**	RESULT
Major home office remodel Cost: $27,000	Basic remodel, converting a bedroom by adding low-priced cabinets. Can cost as little as $2,000 plus rewiring and adding receptacles, according to Washington-area contractor David Merrick.	Provides a new, dedicated work area at a fraction of the price.
Bathroom addition Cost: $37,200	Typical 5' x 7' upgrade within existing home dimensions, including low-flow toilets, new fixtures, mirrored walls and new architectural lighting. Cost: $16,000	Mirrors, better lighting increase the feeling of space; low-flow toilets save money on water bills; bath fixtures including body sprays give "spa" feel to the home without the expense of whirlpool baths.
Major kitchen remodel/expansion Cost: $55,500	Remodel within existing dimensions, including removal of a wall for improved flow between kitchen and dining room, new energy-efficient appliances and water-saving fixtures, new cabinets and flooring, and bigger windows. Cost: $21,000	Less wall space and bigger windows give a small home the appearance of more space and light; energy-efficient appliances save money on heat and hot water.
Family room addition Cost : $79,000	Screened-in porch. Starts at a few thousand dollars, assuming there is a roof and foundation in place; $15,000 to $20,000 to convert a small deck; or more than $50,000 to build new.	Screened-in porch increases usable space and brings outdoors indoors; accentuates landscaping and gardens.
Master suite addition Cost: $98,863	Attic bedroom. Convert unfinished space into 15' x 15' bedroom and a 5' x 7' bathroom with shower. Cost: $49,346.	Provides more living space for a returning family member.