ENERGY MYTHS DEBUNKED, P.2

 
Myth #8  "You've gotta do this – it's code!"

I love this one. Whenever you hear this, ask for written documentation. Nine times out of ten, the issue will magically disappear.

A few weeks ago a plumber on a job I designed kept insisting a certain item was a building code violation and threatened to hold up the job. The client was understandably concerned and did not know who to believe. I repeatedly asked the plumber to provide written proof of his assertion, but he never did. Out of frustration, the mechanical contractor did some digging and found something in a state code that seemed to confirm the plumber's assertion. It turned out, however, that it was a provision that did not apply in New York City.

Leaving aside outright falsehood, many people are simply misinformed about the building codes, or misinterpret them, or are not up to date with the latest requirements. Sometimes, it's the code inspector who is mistaken. Which is pretty scary.

Myth #9  Geothermal systems provide free energy

In my opinion, "geothermal" is a misnomer – I consider geothermal systems to be those like the ones in Iceland where natural steam comes shooting out of the ground. A more accurate name might be "water source" or "ground source" heating/cooling systems. These take advantage of the fact that, several feet below ground, the temperature is always about 50 to 55° F. In the winter, this can serve as a heat source, and in the summer it can serve as a cooling source (a "heat sink").  A long loop of pipe filled with water is buried deep enough to harvest the energy, and the water picks heat up or discharges heat into the ground as it is pumped through the loop.

It's true that the heat energy in the ground is free, in the sense that solar radiation is free, but it's not free to move it into your house. There are still pumps and compressors involved, and they require something that is very much not free: electricity.

Myth #10  Solar, wind, and green roofs will save big money

I wish this were not a myth, because the survival of the planet may depend on cost-effectively harnessing these energy sources in the relatively near future. Problem is, solar systems take decades to pay back, wind is currently impractical for most buildings, and green roofs save very little energy (although they have notable aesthetic and oxygenating qualities).

It's true that with various tax credits a solar power system can now be made to make economic sense, but you need an awful lot of collector area to make even a small dent in your energy needs. What I tell people is: Do the conventional stuff first, and with the money you save install a solar power system in a few years, when they may be more cost-effective.
 
The common thread running through most of these myths is fear: Fear that, on the coldest day of the year, the boiler is going to break down, explode, kill people and take three months to repair after waiting six months for new parts. Relax. Even some of the most neglected and abused heating systems I've seen have never failed in this way.

You can prepare for the more likely scenarios at fairly low cost, so that if something does go wrong, the worst doesn't happen. Then you can get back to the business of saving the planet – and your own pocketbook – with peace of mind.

Adapted from Habitat September 2010. For more, join our Archive >>