A chapter in Thomas Friedman's book "Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution — and How It Can Renew America" (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008) illustrates very well why we want to improve our insulation so that the "energy load" is as low as possible, particularly before we consider renewable energy.
The relevant chapter in the book focuses on the early years of the war in Iraq; U.S. troops who went on outpost trips in small groups had to plan for frequent return trips to base camp for fuel for the generators that ran the air conditioners that allowed them to escape the extreme heat while in their tents. This subjected the troops to a higher risk of being killed by improvised explosive devices planted by the enemy.
Since the sun is very strong in Iraq, someone thought of using portable photovoltaic systems to run the generators. The problem was that the amount of energy needed to cool a typical tent required too big a photovoltaic system to transport, so it was not practical.
Soon, someone suggested insulating the tents with the same spray foam used to insulate homes in the U.S. and elsewhere. It worked. The energy load was decreased to a range such that a portable photovoltaic system could be used to power the tents' air conditioners.
The example of reducing the energy load of the tent before other considerations is one that can be applied to your own home. If you lower the demand for heating and cooling, you can save money, thus having more dollars to spend in our local economy rather than on imported foreign oil, and you can save energy while maintaining your comfort level.
The fact is that most of our homes are built according to building codes that need serious updating from an energy conservation perspective. We have a long way to go, but it is possible to get to the ideal of a "passive house," a house that is so well designed and insulated that it is heated mostly by the sun and by the body heat of the people living in the home, and that also can avoid heat gain through shading and window orientation to limit any cooling load. The main principle is that energy conservation should always be the first priority, before considering your energy supply.
The best news from Friedman's Iraq story was that fatalities were reduced as a result of more troops not having to make as many trips for fuel.
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Tim Gould is director of Energy Egghead (www.EnergyEgghead.com), an Amesbury-based home improvement company that provides thorough energy audit and conservation services.
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