American Gas - December 2012/January 2013 - (Page 29)

5 In the attic, under an R-40-rated roof, are a natural gas dehumidifcation system, natural gas space heating with an air purification system, and a hot water heater. 4 The house is covered by structural insulated panels and metal framing: the HOUZE Zero Energy Building Envelope. The walls are rated R-34. or solid oxide fuel cells—specifically for use in single- and multifamily homes. “By directly generating electric power onsite, gas cogeneration systems can lower the energy losses associated with power generation and transmission from central power plants,” says Rick Murphy, managing director of sustainable growth for the American Gas Association. “These systems capture the heat generated from onsite power generation and put that to use to meet heating and cooling needs, resulting in lower emissions and fuel use.” Murphy says that while residential CHP technologies have been slow to catch on in the United States, that may change as more builders gain experience with these systems. “As the industry gathers more real-world data about how systems perform, that may create more demand and encourage suppliers to expand their product offerings. That, in turn, would start to generate economies of scale, driving down the price and making them more accessible to a wider segment of the market,” he says. While only 61,000 residential CHP systems were shipped globally in 2011, that number is expected to grow to 13.5 million homes worldwide by 2022, according to Pike Research. The Zero Energy Home One innovative builder placing a big bet on microCHP technology is HOUZE Advanced Building Science Inc. The “ZE” in HOUZE stands for “zero energy,” a promise that its homes produce significantly more electricity than they consume and result in zero bills for energy usage. This fall, the company completed two of 30 planned zero-energy homes in the Independence Heights District of Houston. The houses, available in four styles that blend with the historic neighborhood, range from 1,250 to 1,800 square feet and are priced from $145,000 to $235,000. Powering the HOUZE homes is M-CoGen’s HomeAire Power Cell a natural gas-powered, engine-driven 10kW micro-cogeneration unit that generates electricity for lighting and appliances and delivers cooling and heat through a Carrier HVAC system by capturing the waste heat produced by the engine. A bank of batteries stores energy for peak and surge loads, and excess power is sold back through a net metering arrangement with local utility CenterPoint Energy. In addition, the HomeAire Power Cell controls humidity, enabling home temperatures to be raised a few degrees without sacrificing 3 Energy use is controlled by a whole-home wireless energy management system with remote access. On the side of the house is the HomeAire Microgeneration Power Cell, providing primary and backup power. december 2012/january 2013 AmericAn GAs 29

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - December 2012/January 2013

American Gas - December 2012/January 2013
Contents
President’s Message
Industry News
Election 2012
Safety First
To Be the Best
Ron Jibson: The Trust Factor
Home on the Range
Places to Be
Jobline
Advertisers Index
Noteworthies
Marketplace
Facts on Gas

American Gas - December 2012/January 2013