by Christopher E. Chwedyk, AIA, CSI, NCARB

By far, the most often asked question I have received since the beginning of 2013 has been about the requirements for commissioning in the new Illinois Energy Conservation Code for Commercial and Residential Buildings which became effective on 1/01/13. Although much free training has been done for the design professional community over the past year by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), very little on the subject of commissioning is covered during these day-long programs. Interestingly, the DCEO website does contain a Frequently Asked Questions page with the opinions of the Illinois Energy Office (advisory only), but in the category of Building Commissioning it only indicates “Coming Soon”. However, that is only part of the problem.

Under the new Section C408 of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (as adopted by Illinois) there are just twenty paragraphs detailing the requirements for System Commissioning. Included are requirements for building mechanical systems which are covered under Section C403, and for electrical and power and lighting systems covered under Section C405. (Note that these sections all begin with the letter ‘C’, indicating that they are for ‘Commercial’ buildings only. Residential buildings have now been separated in the IECC, have an ‘R’ designation, and are located in the front half of the code.) The following systems are exempt from the commissioning requirements:

1. Mechanical systems in buildings where the total mechanical equipment capacity of the project is less than 480,000 Btu/h cooling capacity and 600,000 Btu/h heating capacity.
2. Systems that serve dwelling units and sleeping units in hotels, motels, boarding houses or similar ‘Commercial’ units.

Of course, this list of exclusions is very easily verified by examining the drawings. What is not so simple is trying to understand all the various activities that are necessary for the commissioning process when it is required. Unfortunately, unless you are the engineer of record on the project (or a LEED-AP), many aspects of the Commissioning Plan will seem like overkill. This is especially on smaller projects. For example, the Commissioning Plan must include the following items:

1. A narrative description of the activities that will be accomplished during each phase of commissioning, including the personnel intended to accomplish each of the activities.
2. A listing of the specific equipment, appliances or systems to be tested and a description of the tests to be performed.
3. Functions to be tested, including, but not limited to calibrations and economizer controls.
4. Conditions under which the test will be performed. At a minimum, testing shall affirm winter and summer design conditions and full outside air conditions.
5. Measurable criteria for performance.

The Code also stipulates that the Commissioning Plan must be developed by either a registered design professional or approved agency. So, it could be the engineer or record, or an outside engineer, or a third party commissioning agent that is “approved” (supposedly by the code official).

Along with the testing and balancing of the HVAC system and the “functional” testing of the lighting system (checking to see if the lights go on and off), there is a preliminary report, an acceptance by letter from the owner to the building official that the preliminary report has been received, and verification to the building official of the receipt of as-built record drawings and manuals that have been issued to the building owner within 90 days of the receipt of the Certificate of Occupancy.

Now, many owners, developers and tenants are being told that their Certificate of Occupancy will be withheld by the municipality if the above measures have not been taken. Technically, that is correct, but when recently questioned about the matter, Darren Meyers at International Energy Conservation Consultants (trainers for the Illinois IECC), said he knew of no municipality that was actively engaged in withholding Certificates of Occupancy for this reason.

It is also the case that ASHRAE 90.1-2010 has provisions for commissioning, but they are only for projects larger than 50,000 sq ft (except warehouse and semi-heated spaces). The instructions for commissioning the HVAC system must still be provided by the system designer in the project plans and specifications, and also included in the record drawings provided to the owner, but there is no direction to send these to the building official. Therefore, if you follow the 90.1 compliance path, you could avoid the issue of withholding Certificate of Occupancy – unless the municipality chooses to mandate the same requirements in either case.

Another possibility would be for the municipality to exempt projects from performing duplicate work when they are already seeking LEED Certification, which is done in California under the CAL Green Building Code. When the building owner has met the commissioning requirements for LEED, similar documentation is submitted to the U.S. Green Building Council that all tasks have been completed. This documentation includes a copy of the commission plan along with a letter certifying that the building’s design intent was met. Most likely, a LEED project will exceed the requirements under the Energy Code anyway – at least on paper.

Related Posts:

• How Do You Know When You Need LEED Consulting Services?
• What is LEED Certification?
• The Value of Using Green Building Consultants for Your Next Project
• The LEED Certification Process – Part 1: Requirements
• Building Energy Audit Checklist: 3 Areas Not to Miss

Environmental and financial building costs have been in an upward spiral for decades, with no end in sight.  One way to fight this trend is to use green construction materials and methods whenever possible.  They offer many advantages over traditional approaches.

Cost Savings

When viewed as a whole, green construction materials offer significant financial benefits when compared to traditional components.  This is true for the following reasons:

1. Green materials are often recycled or reclaimed from other projects, avoiding initial production fees.
2. They make it easier to conform to building codes, which are becoming increasingly stringent across the nation.  This reduces or eliminates costly delays in obtaining permits and passing inspections.
3. Many green materials are becoming less expensive every day, due to increased production and improved fabrication methods.  The exact opposite is true of more traditional products.
4. Major cities such as Chicago, as well as states like New York, are offering bonuses and other incentives to spur the development of building projects that incorporate green materials and methods into their makeup.

Enhanced Health, Productivity, and Well-Being

The hazards of using traditional materials in construction are well-documented.  Not the least of these is the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have a proven association with increased cancer risks and other health problems.

Green products are free of such contaminants.  For example, wheat straw can be formed into sheets that perform the same function as plywood, without the use of formaldehyde.  Vinyl-free floor coverings don’t contain that substance’s many toxins.

Being guided by such facts in selecting construction materials offers many benefits.  It enhances the overall environment in the completed structure, leading (in the case of commercial buildings) to more productive employees, and (in the case of residential dwellings) to healthier, more physically active occupants.

Also, green construction materials go hand in hand with environmentally friendly building designs and methods, which incorporate natural light sources, open spaces, and brighter surroundings.  All of these elements are associated with enhanced health and greater happiness.  They have considerable payoffs for employers, builders, health care providers, and society at large.

Achieving These Benefits

In order to reap the rewards of using green materials and methods, a commitment to using them must be made from the project’s onset, even prior to obtaining the first general construction permit.  The engineers, architects, consultants, and other professionals should be well-versed in environmentally friendly building methods.  They should work together to ensure that every possible sustainable method is taken advantage of.  For example, water systems should be designed to collect and use local rainfall as much as possible.

Site Choice Criteria

Choosing an appropriate location for the project involves numerous considerations.  Some of the factors that could disqualify a particular choice include:

1. The nearby presence of endangered species.
2. The site’s cultural or historical significance.
3. The need to deforest large areas, significantly alter the landscape, or disrupt the local ecosystem in any major way, such as altering the course of waterways or draining wetlands.

Determining that the land shouldn’t serve another purpose, such as agricultural production or providing recreational opportunities, is also an essential part of this stage of the project.  While these considerations might limit the choice of sites, they will help ensure that the final structure is an asset to the surrounding environment, not a detriment to it.

Site Design

Traditional architecture has done far too little to consider the effect of local resources such as sunlight and wind on the shape the completed structure should take. For example, air conditioning bills are affected by the predominant breezes in the area.  Areas free of existing trees can incorporate natural sunlight into structures better than can locations in valleys or those with significant overhead vegetation cover.

A long, narrow structure is well-suited to making the most of prospects for solar power generation.  Locating fixed structures, like stairwells, in the building’s interior zones can leave room for work areas to receive a greater share of natural light.

Planting and Landscaping

Eco-friendly structures incorporate vegetation choices into their overall design.  For example, traditional lawns require maintenance by gas-driven lawn mowing equipment and the use of pesticides.  They provide little in return other than conformance to cultural norms.  Alternative plants such as Dutch clover, on the other hand, have a pleasing appearance, require little or no upkeep, and provide food for wildlife.

As much as possible, the choice of plants, shrubs, and trees must be determined by what is native to the local environment.  For example, arid regions are home to drought-resistant plant species that flourish on minimal water, greatly reducing or even eliminating the need for such intrusive methods as installing sprinkler systems.  A green landscaping plan will take such factors into consideration.

Technology

Modern building automation developments offer significant benefits for minimizing waste and should be incorporated into the structure as much as possible.  Motion detectors can switch off lights in unoccupied rooms.  Individualized climate control systems can limit heating and cooling to areas of the building where people are present.  HVAC systems that use green refrigerants avoid the damage to the ozone layer caused by CFCs.  In addition, wind turbines and solar panels should furnish as much of the building’s power needs as possible.

Burnham Nationwide Can Help With Your Green Building Project

We can provide you with the assistance of a LEED accredited professional to advise you on all aspects of eco-friendly building materials and methods.  This will help ensure that your completed structure will benefit from as much as possible from all applicable certifications and incentives.  Get in touch with us today, and put our expertise and experience to work for you.

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As more cities and municipalities become environmentally conscious, green building technologies will be increasingly adopted across the country.  Because of this, it’s important to have a basic understanding of what “green” or sustainable building is all about.  Here’s a look at the major concepts and practices that fall under these terms.

General Goals

The overarching purpose of green construction is to reduce the environmental impact of human building activities.  In specific terms, this translates into objectives such as:

1. Using water, energy, and other resources as efficiently as possible.
2. In residential settings, protecting the health of occupants; in commercial or industrial settings, safeguarding the well-being of customers, visitors, and employees.
3. Reducing or eliminating the amounts of pollution and waste products generated, both during the building process as well as during everyday use of the property.
4. Accomplishing these goals while also achieving an acceptable level of human comfort.

In short, green construction seeks to accomplish building projects without burdening future generations with health or environmental costs.

History of Green Building

The sustainable construction movement goes back to the dawning of ecological awareness in the 1960s.  It gained further support as a result of the energy crises of the 1970s.  Today, it constitutes a major sub-category under the umbrella of construction techniques and practices.  Among its emphases are passive and active solar systems, rainwater collection for drinking, bathing and sanitary uses, and maximizing thermal efficiency to minimize use of resources such as coal, electricity, and heating oil.

Innovations like these are sorely needed in today’s world.  A study released by the International Energy Agency shows that 40% of the world’s energy consumption is caused by existing buildings.  In addition, a quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions across the world stem from residential, industrial, and commercial properties.  Reducing these levels is crucial for the continued health of the planet as well as the millions of species supported by the ecosystem.

Aesthetic as Well as Practical Principles

Green construction seeks to not only make buildings more efficient but also more beautiful, by designing and building them in harmony with the surrounding natural landscape.  The finished structure should not stand apart from the existing environment.  Rather it should blend into it as seamlessly as possible.

Green Construction Begins With Green Design

Also known as sustainable design, this is an architectural school of thought that looks at construction within the context of the surrounding environment and with an eye towards maximizing the use of local resources.  For example, constructing a steel skyscraper in a region far from iron ore deposits requires transporting materials thousands of miles using fossil fuels.  It also depends on extensive infrastructure systems that often intrude on ecological systems.  For these reasons, green building consultants may advocate alternative designs that can be constructed using indigenous resources.  In forested areas of the US, this may mean taking advantage of locally harvested lumber.  In more arid regions, it may entail the use of adobe, stone, or other products found or made close by.

It Begins And Ends With Efficiency

Environmental impact cannot be reduced unless natural resources are used in a way that gets the most “bang for the buck.”  In green building technology, this principle expresses itself in three ways:

1. Energy efficiency – This is accomplished by reducing air leakage through the building envelope, using high-performance windows, and adding extra insulation to the ceilings, floors, and walls.  Passive solar effects are also considered.  Windows, porches, decks, and awnings are oriented so that deciduous trees can help shade them during the summer while not interfering with the sun’s warming rays during winter.  Also, increased use of skylights and large windows can reduce the need to use artificial lighting sources during daylight hours.  Plumbing pipes can be exposed to the outside environment, to allow solar rays to help warm water used for washing and bathing.  Finally, generating power by such means as photovoltaic cells, windmills, local waterways, biomass, or geothermal resources can lessen or eliminate dependence on electrical utilities.

1. Materials efficiency – Green construction materials derive from renewable resources such as bamboo, straw, and lumber, recycled metal and stone, and in general, any products that are-nontoxic while being either renewable, recyclable, or reusable.  These can include adobe, clay, rammed earth, high-performance concrete, wood fibers, coconut, sisal, and cork.  In any event, the materials should be gathered as near to the building site as possible to avoid use of fossil fuels in delivering them.  They should also be manufactured locally for this same reason.

1. Water efficiency – One disastrous side effect of over-building and urban sprawl has been the depletion of local water resources in many parts of the United States.  For example, much of the population of the state of Georgia did not have access to running water for several months in the late 2000s, due to overuse and exhaustion of local aquifers.  To avoid these problems in the future, all local water resources should be used, including rainfall, which can be caught and stored in on-site storage containers for later use.  Purification issues can be dealt with by having local purification facilities.  The use of water should also be minimized, through the use of energy-efficient toilets, showers, and washing machines.  Recycling sewage and graywater can also help in this regard.

Improving Health and Quality of Life Indoors

Over the past three decades, a growing mountain of evidence has pointed out the health risks associated with many traditional building materials.  Lead-based paints, asbestos, and products containing formaldehyde are the best-known examples.  However, anything which contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can negatively impact indoor air quality (IAC).  To make the internal environment as healthy as possible, green building technologies employ these strategies:

1. Using filtered ventilation systems to remove microbes, VOCs, and other potentially harmful contaminants from the local atmosphere.  This approach, when combined with lessened use of toxic building materials, can make the air the occupants breathe as healthy as possible.
2. Excessive moisture in the air promotes the development of mold, mildew, bacteria, and viruses.  On the other hand, excessively dry air irritates nasal passages and exacerbates certain skin and other conditions.  Because of this, green construction involves regulating the humidity levels in the structure.
3. Maintaining the temperature at a comfortable level requires energy output.  However, this can be minimized by the incorporation of extra insulation and passive solar effects, as discussed previously.

Ongoing Maintenance and Building Use

Green building involves not only building design and construction, but also day-to-day maintenance and operations.  A key goal of sustainable construction is the reduction of waste products stemming from the activities conducted within the structure.  The importance of achieving this objective cannot be overstated.  In California, for example, commercial buildings are responsible for over 60% of the total waste products generated in the state.

The pathway to reducing this total includes such measures as recycling as many materials as possible, including the gathering of human waste for use in biomass energy creation projects.  The incorporation of reusable materials during the construction process also ensures that much of the structure can be remanufactured after its useful life ends.

The Payoff

It cannot be denied that, for the present at least, using green methods adds to the cost of construction.  However, over the additional investment more than pays for itself in environmental as well as financial benefits.  Studies show that, on average, sustainably-built structures offer a tenfold return on the investments put into them.  From both a monetary and environmental point of view, green building technologies just make good sense.

Burnham Nationwide Offers Sustainable Consulting Services

Sustainable design and construction are specialized fields that require input from experts to successfully implement.  That’s just the kind of guidance you’ll receive from Burnham Nationwide’s staff of green building consultants.  Let us show you how your construction project can be profitable environmentally as well as financially.  Contact us today.

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Christopher Chwedyk will be presenting on the topic “Green Governance Made Easier” at the 99^th Annual Conference of the The Illinois Municipal League, a taxpayer-funded lobbying association that advocates for stronger local government. The IML is one of 49 state municipal leagues that are part of the National League of Cities, representing more than 19,000 cities, villages, and towns. Members include

• Mayor and aldermen (or similar for cities),
• President and trustees (or similar for villages or incorporated towns), and
• Council members (for municipalities under a municipal government).

When: October 20th, 2:45PM

Location: Hilton Chicago Hotel, 720 South Michigan Ave, 312-922-4400

 Green best practices and sustainable outcomes can be driven by a combination of codes, standards and rating systems. This 1-hour session will serve as an introduction for all municipal leaders to the synergies and differences between the new International Green Construction Code (IgCC), ASHRAE Standard 189.1, and the LEED Rating Systems. See how these tactics can provide an easier compliance path for your communities green efforts.

For More Information and To Register Please Click Here:

Related Posts:

• Green Construction Codes are Here – Now What?
• The Green Codes Landscape in a World of Standards & Rating Systems
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Thursday, October 18, 2012

 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Location: Chicago  Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd Chicago, Il 60612

Speaker: Christopher E. Chwedyk, CSI

This year, the International Code Council (ICC) has released the 2012 International Green Construction Code (IgCC), which also references the ASHRAE 189.1 – Standard for the Design of High Performance Green Buildings. The purpose of this code is to allow for the ‘overlay’ regulation of green building construction as part of an integrated approach with the building and fire codes. This seminar will trace the origins of the green codes, how they compare and differ from the rating systems that have been (and continue to be) used, and examine some of their main features. We will also discuss issues related to transitioning from a rating system, where enforcement was by third-party agencies, to a code that is enforced and inspected by building officials, and what that will mean for architects, engineers and specifiers in the preparation of construction documents.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand how the Green Codes were developed.
2. Identify the main features of the Green Codes.
3. How Green Codes differ from LEED and from Energy Codes.
4. Where and how Green Codes are currently being enforced.

Learn the recommended steps in transitioning to Green Codes

For more information and to register, please click here 

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When: 20 Sep 2012

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: 375 W. Briarcliff Road, Bolingbrook, IL 60440-0591

Join the USGBC – Illinois Chapter South Suburban and Fox Valley Branches for a roundtable program on understanding and implementing green codes and standards in your municipality!

This event has been approved for 4.0 GBCI CE and AIA CEU hours.

During this program, our speakers will set the stage for how best practices and sustainable outcomes can be driven by a combination of codes, standards and rating systems. This seminar will address synergies and differences between the International Green Construction Code, that includes ASHRAE Standard 189.1, and LEED Rating Systems. Following this overview, panelists will discuss challenges in and the implementation of green codes and standards in towns, villages and cities. In particular, panelists will address the following:

• Interplay between green construction codes and state and local law.
• What green construction code is right for my community or state?
• Green construction code decision making and implementation from start to finish.

After attending this program, attendees will:

• Understand the distinct and complementary roles of green codes, standards and rating systems and the roles each play.
• Identify the issues for considering and deciding on adopting a green construction code including challenges that may be faced and how to address those challenges.

Agenda:
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM - Networking and Continental Breakfast
8:30 AM – 9:50 AM - Green Codes Definition & Function – IGCC, ASHRAE 189.1 & LEED
10:00 AM – 10:20 AM - Case Study: Addressing Sustainability through Green Code in Will County.
10:20 AM – 11:30 AM – Green Code Planning: A Panel Discussion
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM - Facilitated Q&A

Presenters:

• Chris Chwedyk, Burnham Nationwide
• Allan Bilka, International Code Council
• Josh Greenfield, Primera Engineers, Ltd. / ASHRAEIllinois
• Stephen Grossmark, Tressler, LLP
• Helen Kessler, HJKessler Associates
• Sean Ziadeh, Turning Leaf Solutions, PLLC
• Curt Paddock, Director, Will County Land Use Department
• Raymond Semplinski, Chief Building Official, Will County Land Use Department

 For More Infomation and To Register, Please Click Here

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One of the biggest contributors to humanity’s carbon footprint is housing.  By 2020, 60% of Earth’s human population will live in highly concentrated urban areas, which are notorious for straining natural resources and contributing to global warming, yet only 1/8 of the planet’s surface is suitable for people to live on.  The rest is ocean, deserts, and mountains.  Adding to this dilemma is the fact that civilization is already crowding out both agricultural lands as well as wildlife habitat. This is an environmental time bomb that is ticking ever louder.  A contest inspired by the tiny home movement may be part of the answer, however.

The Tiny Home Movement to the Rescue

One way to combat this problem is to reduce the size of the average home.  In the 1950s, the typical American family lived in about 1200 square feet.  That has doubled in the decades since to almost 2400 square feet.  In many cases, much of that space is wasted.  A common issue among homeowners is what to do with the “spare” bedroom or the “extra” family room.  Most often, these unneeded areas are used as storage space for items that could be sold, donated, or recycled, yet every inch of it adds to the home’s impact on the environment, through the extra materials used, and the energy needed to alternately heat or cool it.

In response to this growing problem, many people are going in the opposite direction.  They are purposely choosing to partake in the tiny home movement.  Singles and couples are finding that as little as 100 square feet is enough for them to dwell in quite happily.  Entire families share homes that take up 500 square feet or less.  These ecologically sensitive people use a variety of ways to buy or build structures that are cozy, energy-efficient, and have minimal impact on the earth, all while complying with housing codes and laws.

Tiny Houses Go Urban

One of the limitations of this approach has been the fact that large cities have traditionally discouraged the construction of smaller-sized green homes.  New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is working to change this fact.  “Developing housing that matches how New Yorkers live today is critical to the city’s continued growth,” he said in a recent interview.  “People from all over the world want to live in New York City, and we must develop a new, scalable housing model that is safe, affordable, and innovative to meet their needs.”

City Zoning Requirements Waived

Bloomberg recently announced a contest to design micro-apartments to accommodate the city’s growing population of single and single-parent households.  The competition will put designers and builders in competition to develop a plan for a housing complex made up of individual housing units with 275-300 square feet.  Each unit must have a bathroom and kitchen.  Innovation and sustainability will be major criteria for determining the winner.

All proposals must be certified by the Enterprise Green Communities Program, which provides guidelines for safe, green, cost-smart housing.  The funding for the competition is coming purely from private sources.  “With this important housing pilot, New York once again leads world cities in devising creative solutions to the challenge of accommodating growth in an environmentally sustainable way,” said Kathryn Wylde, president of the non-profit Partnership for New York City.

The initiative is part of Bloomberg’s New Housing Marketplace Plan.  This is a long-term project that will either preserve or create 165,000 affordable housing units by the end of 2014’s fiscal year.  A conference for interested design teams was held on July 31^st, and the deadline for proposals to be submitted is September 14^th.   This tiny home movement hopes to be the wave of the future.

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Deciding when you need LEED consulting services can often be tricky for builders or project managers. You can turn to a consultant for advice when you feel overwhelmed by the project’s demands, or ideally, you can turn to a consultant near the beginning of the process before any feelings of frustration or confusion surface.

The role of a LEED consultant, of course, can vary from project to project. They can step in to help with whichever aspects of the project that they are needed for. Essentially, their role is to align the environmental goals of the project with the budget of the project and to increase the health and safety of the facility’s indoor environment for the occupants, while also reducing the operation costs of the facility. However, the steps that the consultant takes to reach those goals can vary from project to project.

For instance, LEED consulting services can be valuable at the onset of the project to determine the target LEED scores or even to determine which LEED certifications the project should apply for. However, if the project manager is familiar with those steps and is comfortable taking them on his or her own, the consultant may not be needed until later in the project’s timeline. They can work with the owner or the design team to ensure that the project contains the required elements and that it will be compliant with the LEED standards. Many project managers find the paperwork of the certification process to be the most onerous. If that describes you, you may wish to have a LEED consultant heavily involved in gathering the correct documentation and doing the right calculations, as well as drafting and submitting the documents to the USGBC.

Earning LEED certification has a number of merits that are both financial and environmental. However, when the entire process is slowed down because of a missing document or a small design inconsistency that can cause the project to take longer to complete and incur more costs. By hiring quality LEED consulting services as soon as they feel that they need them, project managers can avoid these eventualities and keep their project on target and within budget.

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Solar panel technologies offer the potential to generate enormous amounts of power while being environmentally friendly.  However, they have faced a number of barriers to widespread acceptance, due to efficiency and other limitations.  That’s why recent news from MIT researchers is so exciting.  They have developed a way to use three-dimensional design techniques to increase solar panel output by as much as 20 times that of traditional flat arrays.

Rooftop panels are limited in how much power they collect by the location of the sun.  When it’s directly overhead, they are very effective, but this diminishes in the mornings and evenings.  The collection amount is also reduced in winter and in areas far from the equator.

Aware of this, the MIT researchers set out to determine the ideal shape for panels.  They tested a number of configurations in a variety of latitudes, weather conditions, and seasons of the year, using a computer algorithm.  After that, they settled on three designs, which they built models of and installed on the roof of the MIT lab building.

The solar cell arrays out-performed traditional flat panels, creating anywhere from two to 20 times the amount of electricity.  The power output was also more consistent over time, even after the effects of clouds and shadows were taken into account.

Each of the designs is accordion-shaped and is meant to be vertically mounted on rooftops.  According to Jeffrey Grossman, the study’s senior author, they could also be installed on parking garages to provide power for vehicles that run on electricity.

Solar energy has long been touted as an answer to the world’s energy needs, but several limitations have prevented its widespread adoption.  One of these is the cost of manufacture versus the amount of energy produced by these solar panel technologies.

“Even 10 years ago, this idea wouldn’t have been economically justified because the modules cost so much,” said Grossman in a recent interview.  However, these costs have been falling in recent years, leading him and his colleagues to believe that now is an ideal time to explore new types of panels.

At Burnham Nationwide, we know solar panels and the ins and outs of installation, efficiency, and much more. Contact us today to learn how we can help you!

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The degree of solar panel maintenance is directly correlated to the region of the country in which one lives. If you live in an area accustomed to snow, you can pretty much expect a higher degree of maintenance, but short of that, solar panel maintenance requires rather minimal effort.

Why is solar panel maintenance so minimal a task? Three words: No moving parts. The first clue to solar panels’ inherent low maintenance needs lies in the life of their warranties—most coming with 25- to 30-year manufacturers’ performance guarantees. The only moving part involved in a solar array is the pump; so, if anything, that might be the main focus of attention.

Early versions of solar panels had somewhat fragile surfaces, which heightened the need for maintenance. However, today’s versions feature practically indestructible surfaces. Despite this virtual indestructibility, solar panels are not immune to getting dirty. So removal of grime—dirt, soot, pollen, dust, bird droppings, leaves, and the like—represents the biggest single area of solar panel maintenance. In some regions of the country where pollen is prevalent, homeowners and business owners who have outfitted their buildings with a solar panel array report big accumulations when pollen particles start to bond. For this reason, pollen—a fine or coarse powder derived from seed plants—poses a major maintenance menace. Other parts of the country are dustier, and while dust may seem benign, its accumulation can negatively impact energy output.

As a result, it is recommended to clean panels at least twice a year, perhaps in March or April after the end of the rainy season and again in August or September toward summer’s end. Such upkeep is a key consideration, as dirty panels tend to lose up to 15 percent of their output versus those that are kept clean.

You can take the hose to them with a moderate stream, using a gentle brush if needed to clean major grime or dirty accumulation. If you live in an area of hard water on tap, you might consider cleaning solar panel surfaces with bottled water to avoid the residue sometimes associated with some tap water.

It’s not advisable to use strong detergents in cleaning solar panels. It’s best to use soapy water containing a mild solvent that can then be hosed off gently.  Just because panels are all but indestructible doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be gentle with them!

As with any technology, malfunctions might also occur with solar panels. It’s a good idea to monitor power output regularly to discern if there are any variations that might alert to malfunction. Check your solar inverter’s display to keep an eye on such variances, monitoring consistently on each month or with an even greater rate of frequency.   In doing so, you arrive at a baseline as it relates to energy provision and can more easily spot any deficiencies.

The only other area of solar panel maintenance revolves more around their surroundings rather than the panels themselves. To avoid pollen accumulation and obstruction from falling leaves, it’s good to always keep an eye on tree limbs that may stretch onto the vicinity of a solar panel array.

In short, solar panel maintenance requires little effort that building owners can easily accomplish themselves with minimal physical exertion. If this still poses a challenge, however, cleaning companies often include solar panel maintenance as part of their services.

As the trend toward sustainability grows, we have detected a growing number of clients intent on environmentally conscious design. As a result of this, Burnham increasingly advises clients on such matters. If you need more information on solar panel maintenance or related matters, feel free to contact us toll free at 800-407-7990. You can also find us on Facebook where we encourage you to hit our “like” button!

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