[GBlist] Smart Controls perhaps not really needed...

["Y & L" <ylimahl@hotmail.com>]

A properly designed home may not need auxillary heating at all see 
http://www.earthship.org/

Limahl

I offer a different point of view.  If an excellent "smart comprehensive 
control system" costs around $2/s.f., that's about $4,000 for a 2000sf home. 
  If the home is built properly with good EE detailing, it can be heated (in 
my extreme-for-the-US climate) for $200/year, with more--but relatively 
small--possible savings from fancy controls.  And if it's really efficient, 
the mechanicals and the controls become less important...because there is 
less need for them.  I'm not arguing against high-tech control systems as 
much as I'm arguing for smart design and construction of the home's 
envelope.
>
>-Mike
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Steven Shepard
>   To: greenbuilding@crest.org
>   Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2002 2:33 PM
>   Subject: Re: [GBlist] Setback Thermostats, basic question
>
>
>   This technology has been available from the home automation industry for 
>over ten years now.
>
>   There are several, several manufacturers of whole house controllers and 
>control systems with compatible thermostats available.  These stats come in 
>several different configurations and have the capability to sense both 
>internal and external temperature levels.  They also come with automatic 
>damping capability that allows very precise zone cooling and heating for 
>small and large homes.  The average price per square foot for a smart 
>comprehensive control system hovers around $2.00 per square foot.  The 
>energy savings capability of these systems is phenomenal and they quite 
>literally can pay for themselves in a few years as opposed to decades for 
>renewable energy products and systems.  The most common application of home 
>automation is automatic lighting control but the technology can now be 
>successfully applied to any electrical system where automatic, timed event 
>or energy management is required.  It's also a lot of fun to play with if 
>you are an enthusiast.  I cannot recommend it strongly enough.
>
>   One of the tragedies of the home automation industry is the failure of 
>the environmental community to recognize that this is a technology that can 
>make significant contributions to energy efficiency and the efficient day 
>to day operation of a home, office, ranch or farm.  I have always wondered 
>where in the back to the land manual it states that technology is not 
>allowed.
>
>
>   SBT Designs
>   25840 IH-10 West #1
>   Boerne, Texas 78006
>   210-698-7109
>   FAX: 210-698-7147
>   www.sbtdesigns.com




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