Re: [GBlist] re: truly sustainable

[Norbert Senf <mheat@mha-net.org>]

At 01:23 PM 2001-09-27 -0700, Brenda Norman wrote:
>Its never simple...You've left off the energy use of the building while its
>in operation, which far outweighs the embodied energy of the materials to
>build it(snip)

A good study of this was done by Blanchard and Reppe in 1998.

http://www.umich.edu/~nppcpub/research/lcahome/homelca3.html

The conventional house they analyzed over a 50 year life cycle had 6% of 
its life cycle energy use as embodied energy and 94% energy used after 
occupancy. A comparable energy efficient house had 15% embodied energy and 
85% energy used after occupancy.

Over a 50 year life cycle, the contribution of embodied energy is minor 
compared to energy efficiency considerations. In the northeast, that's a 
good argument for HRV's, among other things, if you are serious about your 
greenhouse gas emissions.

Best ....... Norbert

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Norbert Senf---------- mheat@mha-net.org-nospam
Masonry Stove Builders	(remove -nospam)
RR 5, Shawville------- www.heatkit.com		
Quebec J0X 2Y0-------- fax:-----819.647.6082
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