Many of you are already offering the 'green' fireplace of choice, you just need to let your customers know! Read on...and learn. Krisann
How Fireplaces Fare with the National Green Programs
Jim Plucker
Architectural Services Manager
Apprehension is justifiable in a builder’s decision to go green, especially in today’s profit-challenged market. There’s common concern over the increased cost of constructing a “green” home and whether it will positively impact the home’s value. In some markets, people are just not ready to voluntarily pay for performance or willing to wait for long-term energy savings.
But, when it comes to one of America’s favorite home amenities, the fireplace, you can relax. Any green home can include the popular and common direct vent gas fireplace... and it’ll be in compliance.
“Compliance?” Yep, builders will begin relying on national green programs as a way to certify a house as green. These national programs are quite comprehensive about the green home; from the efficiency of component products, sources of pollution in the home or the design, preparation and development of the lot. Though these are voluntary programs, you should expect municipalities to begin adopting these green models into law as local code evolves.
The fireplace category is fairly consistent among all the national green programs. They all focus on how indoor environmental quality benefits by specifying direct vent (or power-vented) gas fireplaces. It doesn’t matter if the fuel is natural gas or propane; the best practice is a gas fireplace with sealed combustion and a direct venting system.
So, if you make a decision to go green; a direct vent fireplace as a standard feature in your homes will qualify for points in the fireplace category.
Up selling
Now that you’ve discovered the best green practice in fireplaces, consider up-selling by adding innovative green features with the fireplace. By combining energy efficient options with the environmental quality of a direct vent fireplace, you’re offering a new level of green...
“Best Green Practice plus Innovation”
Innovation One: Fireplace features that reduce fuel consumption
- IPI (electronic ignition) saves homeowner $8-$12 a month in fuel costs used by an old fashioned standing pilot light. That’s $675 to $1,000 in seven years.
- Variable flame feature controls flame height should the room become too warm.
Innovation Two: High efficiency fireplaces and features
- AFUE-rated fireplaces. More energy efficient with the certification to prove it.
- Ceramic-molded refractory or liner. Radiates more heat energy into the room and looks great.
Innovation Three: Warmth without waste
- In cold climates, have the fireplace warm the living area by setting the fireplace thermostat higher than the home’s central thermostat. This practice saves whole-house energy use by warming just the living areas while maintaining the rest of the house at a lower temperature.
- Hybrid heating system for temperate climates combines a gas fireplace in the main living areas with electric baseboard heating in the rest of the house. A well-insulated home allows the heat of the efficient gas fireplace to warm the living areas of the home while delaying the use of costlier electric heat for the coldest parts of winter. This saves the cost of a furnace as well as whole house heating costs.
- Zone heating redistributes convective heat pulled from the firebox by ducting it to another room or dropping the heated air into the furnace’s fresh air return for redistribution.
Woodburning?
Where do wood burning fireplaces fit? Well, this one is going to change some common practices. Factory built wood burning fireplaces or stoves will need to comply with EPA standards certifying that particulates released outdoors will be at or below EPA standards. Some programs require wood burning fireplaces to have gasketed doors, make-up air and a sealed damper. Green standards for wood burning fireplaces vary among national programs, but none of them allow an open hearth.
Of course, not all fireplaces fit the green standards of the national programs; in particular, unvented or vent-free gas fireplaces will disqualify a green certification. The same disqualification goes for decorative gas logs, either vented or unvented. Another industry favorite, the site built masonry fireplace with an open hearth will not meet green standards because of the back draft potential (even though they are vented and cost $25,000 or more to build on site).
If you’re looking for more information about the green residential programs and specifics relating to each category of products, almost everything can be reviewed and downloaded from the internet. If you are looking to participate, the best place to begin may be the local chapter of your trade association or one of the websites below.
To learn more about the national green programs, visit these web sites:
NAHB National Green Building Program
http://www.nahbgreen.org/
LEED for Homes
http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=147#2008
Energy Star’s Indoor Air Package for Homes
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.nh_iap
____________________________________________________________
Jim Plucker is Manager, Architectural Services at Hearth & Home Technologies in Lakeville, MN. Jim is also a member of the Education Committee of the Mississippi Headwaters local chapter of US Green Building Council and is HHT’s point of contact for their AIA Continuing Education program.
Jim and his family live in a rural Minnesota community that’s comprised of homes recently built in the 18th century colonial American period. In his spare time in winter, Jim likes to hunt for antique stoneware made at a nearby pottery company in Red Wing and in summer it’s either fishing or planning to go fishing.
Send comments to pluckerj@hearthnhome.com or for more information, visit http://www.fireplaces.com/
