Energy: Conserving Our Resources
Energy used to be cheap and abundant in America, but our natural resources are being used at a rate greater than any time in the planets’ history. These resources create a country’s economy and their standing in the world. Simply stated, countries that are blessed with natural resources have more power, more influence and more money.
Our buildings use 23% of power generated in the world. For centuries, buildings have used natural resources to heat, cool, ventilate and illuminate them. In recent times, construction duration increases with building energy utilization.
Here are some reasons why:
- Buildings have been constructed in locales where climatic conditions do not allow for effective use of natural resources, such as the massive development of the deserts of the world.
- Buildings have been allowed to be constructed taller. Do you know how much energy is used to flush a toilet on the 100th floor?
- Environmental building systems are a little like Mc Donald’s. Unfortunately, many people eat at McDonalds because it is cheap and fast – just like many systems are designed for cheap installation costs. The real cost of a high-in-fat fast food hamburger is very large if you consider the price of medical attention, lack of productivity and early death… and that cost is even higher if these habits are passed on to the next generation.
Buildings’ energy costs are very high when you consider the following:
- The cost of energy is a variable. A typical operating business can experience over 25% of its profits going to energy increases in any given year.
- As big buildings try to save energy, they work with the controls that are designed into the system. The biggest energy saving is in reducing the return air, or making up air requirement. Reducing the air changes will make the building’s indoor air quality poorer, causing a lot of other issues such as dirty air, occupant illness and building maintenance issues.
Paul at Outdoor Ski Area
Paul at Ski Dubai
Many large buildings use excessive amounts of energy. A Las Vegas megaresort might use 30 to 40 million dollars per year in energy. The ski slope in Dubai uses the carbon equivalent of 3500 barrels of oil per day to cool the ski area. The Indoor Ski Area in Dubai uses the carbon equivalent of 3,000,000 miles of driving per day. An outdoor ski area in an appropriate climate uses the equivalent carbon footprint of 1.5 days of Ski Dubai for their power consumption for the entire year. To even add more insult to this statistic, a standard ski area will entertain 20 times more skier days than Ski Dubai.
Big, energy wasting luxurious buildings are going the way of the big gas guzzling cars of the 70’s and 80’s. People will begin to make entertainment decisions on the basis of modern views when they have the opportunity… someone must be the first to build an ECO ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCT. Steelman Partners is in the process of trying to design this new product for many clients.
Eco Casino Design
Sustainable Elementary School – Bio Climatic Section
Sustainable Urban Community
 
Posted: January 18th, 2010
at 2:04pm by Paul Steelman
Tagged with Energy, Environment, Green, Renewable, Resources
Categories: Design,Going Green
Comments: 17 comments
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I’ve often wondered why a city like Vegas, with 360 sunny days a year, is not completely covered in solar panels… Surely they could have completely free energy, and sell even more to LA that way?
Jon Bruford
20 Jan 10 at 4:07 am
You would think with all of the sun and good weather that Las Vegas would be a model city for Sun Power…but it is not. Here are some reasons:
1. Energy in Nevada was always cheap (until the Enron Debacle).
2. Big users (like casinos) negotiate their own power rate. Several of the casinos can run completely on their emergency generators (fueled by oil or gas) and their power rates are very little compared to homes or small commercial businesses.
3. Photovoltaic power cost around $0.22/ KW and Nevada Power is $0.12/ KW.
4. There is a tremendous initial cost to installing solar power. Installed cost per watt for photovoltaic panels, even with the Federal and state rebates, still results in an ROI of at least 10 years or more. In the recent economic climate, there are not many individuals or businesses with the liquid assets to put into such an investment. However, as long as the current rebate levels are maintained or improved, we will be seeing more and more solar panels around the city. My 40,000 sf office in Nevada , for example, was priced at $1,000,000, and it would take 35 years to capitalize the installation.
5. Although it needs brilliant sun, Photovoltaic power also needs to be cool. The best place in the USA for Sun Power is Aspen Colorado, which has lots of sun and cool mountain temperatures. Las Vegas is too hot to be efficient.
6. Nevada Energy does not offer a purchase plan for any excess power (unlike the state of California, which does purchase excess power), so you must capitalize the installation cost on your power usage only.
7. The buildings of Las Vegas are not designed to be energy efficient. In order for solar power to be effective, the facilities need efficient lighting and dimming systems, the building envelope needs a very efficient insulating profile and we need to reinvent some of the creature comforts in these large structures. Can you imagine the power needed to run 3,000 hair dryers at once?! (We are currently working on a battery charged hair dryer that will charge during off peak hours!)
8. A casino resort can be designed to use 0 energy from the current grid, but it’s a complicated assembly of ideas… Lower the need, then generate the power. It is the stated opinion of Hyperion Dynamic (a Steelman Partners’ subsidiary that focuses on energy consulting and sustainability services) that that due to the glut of housing in Las Vegas at present, there should be significant pressure from the municipalities that any new housing constructed be net-zero. Hyperion’s first residential project, currently under construction, will incorporate geothermal heating and cooling and photovoltaic panels in conjunction with a super-efficient building envelope to achieve a home with utility bills at or near zero.
Please keep an eye on my blog for upcoming info about PIEZOELECTRIC mats (using the tourists in Vegas to generate power) and on SUNPWR1, my Solar Porsche!
Paul Steelman
20 Jan 10 at 4:42 pm
You obviously have absolutely no idea what it is you are talking about – you are clearly incorrect. To make these statements you have with regards to the energy consumption of Ski Dubai clearly indicates a lack of knowledge and inexperience in the field.
Craig Jeremy
12 Jun 10 at 10:05 pm
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Make a Solar Panel Girl
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22 Nov 10 at 10:51 pm
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taubborma
24 Nov 10 at 7:43 am
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Hard work never killed anyone, but why take a risk?
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26 Nov 10 at 3:14 am
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29 Nov 10 at 2:26 am
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30 Nov 10 at 6:28 pm
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Funny Lisa
4 Dec 10 at 5:35 am
I am a BPI certified in building analyst and energy auditor. I believe innovation regarding air tightness along with mechanical ventilation according the the ASHRAE standards is the way to go. Existing buildings and homes will have to be retrofit by an energy auditor. As an energy auditor, I perform combustible diagnostic tests, air leakage tests and duct leakage tests. I think it is great that a new building will be built correctly from the beginning, but the existing buildings are a huge concern. In 2011, if you want to sell your home, you will need an energy audit on it, unless waived by buyer and seller. Mortgage co., will start lending more money for homes using EIM loans (Energy Improvement Morg.) that stretch debt to income ratio by using savings measures the energy auditor recommends. Therefore, people will be able to qualify for bigger loan amounts… More info? email/contact me at help@nvweatherization.com or go to nvweatherization.com.
Stephanie
15 Dec 10 at 11:38 am
I’ve got to admit, I was a little apprehensive about all the hype going on around solar. After researching several programs and getting opinions on various solar options, my husband and I decided to take the leap. We wound up getting solar with no money down and immediately began seeing lower costs in our utilities the very first month our system was installed. I must say that this benefits associated with solar look like they’re real and I am so happy we decide to go solar!
Virgil Algire
8 Apr 11 at 1:19 am
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10 May 12 at 10:25 pm