Comments on: GE Touts Net Zero, But Will the Real Net Zero Please Stand Up? http://gigaom.com/cleantech/ge-touts-net-zero-but-will-the-real-net-zero-please-stand-up/ Sun, 27 May 2012 11:39:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Red http://gigaom.com/cleantech/ge-touts-net-zero-but-will-the-real-net-zero-please-stand-up/#comment-24980 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:00:56 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/?p=37175#comment-24980 Energy efficient appliances are only but a small part of what makes up green design and building. There are thermal efficiencies on the market that can help with these issues.
The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have both endorsed geothermal heat pump systems as among the most energy efficient, environmentally clean, and cost effective systems for temperature control.

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]]> By: Ken Bartle http://gigaom.com/cleantech/ge-touts-net-zero-but-will-the-real-net-zero-please-stand-up/#comment-24979 Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:18:59 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/?p=37175#comment-24979 I concur. Architecture is the means to harvest renewable energy as an alternative to utility energy. Since this means is in, and of the architecture, it cannot be said to be a reduction in utility energy consumption because there never was a ‘before” house to compare it with. (Only retrofitted houses have that.) Every new house begins with a blank drawing sheet and the choice to use renewable energy or refuse it.
Passive design is distinguished by the pro-active ability to collect renewable energy. How much the house consumes is then of little interest save for thermal efficiencies which aid or cancel the need for boost (utility) energy. Please see “What is a Solar house” on my website.
The situation you describe will not likely change until building codes give credit for renewable energy substitution made possible by responsible design of the building. At present we put power boats and sail boats in the same race and wonder why the sums don’t work out as we would like. Fitting a more efficient V8 engine or a different propellor is not the answer.

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