Gives SolAire Showcase Office Extras
Gives SolAire Showcase Office Extras
Green + Solar Building Oregon Magazine 2006
"Our objective was to showcase the diversity of green and renewable energy options in a setting that feels like home. Furthermore, we wanted a healthy work environment where our employees would love to work," Vice President Cindi O'Neil said.
Since the company's early beginnings in 1995 it has earned recognition for their experience in green building practices. SolAire became the first Earth Advantage builder in Central Oregon and recently became an ENERGY STAR builder, committed to certifying 100% of their homes in both programs in 2006. It's not surprising that, in 2006, SolAire was honored as "Green Builder of the Year" by the Central Oregon Homebuilders Association.
SolAire owners, Mike and Cindi O'Neil, wanted their new office to be a place where people could experience passive and active solar features routinely provided as options in their homes. They selected property with excellent solar exposure, and asked their architect for plans with a large expanse of south facing roof space to support panels for solar hot water and a photovoltaic (PV) array.
With a desire to educate the homebuyer SolAire also decided to demonstrate a new, hybrid-zoned heating, cooling and clean air system. The system combines in-floor radiant heat with solar hot water, air to water heat pumps, and a "Lifebreath" furnace that delivers cool air in summer, provides heat recovery in the winter, and healthy indoor air year round. The entire building is constructed as "slab on grade" and is insulated to Energy Star standards.
"Some people are hesitant to install integrated upgrades until they can feel them under their feet and see the working system operate," O'Neil said. "We've decided to dedicate 1000 sq ft of the building as a Green and Solar Resource Center. This will be a public education center where green and solar building practices can be interpreted and demonstrated onsite."
The integrated energy conservation system for the new 5,000+ square foot office, with individual offices, a conference room, break area, green and solar resource room, and conditioned garages, turned out to be much more complex, and thus much more expensive per square foot than a simpler configuration used for a 2,500 square foot home.
The Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) program administered by the Oregon Department of Energy provided an important financial incentive. Created to support Oregon's protection of the environment, the Tax Credit Program offers businesses a state tax credit of 35 percent of eligible project costs - the incremental cost of systems, equipment or building materials that conserve energy beyond standard building codes.
SolAire submitted two BETC applications: one for a 6kW PV system and another for the integrated heating and cooling system. Oregon Department of Energy reviewed the 6kW PV as providing 7 percent of conventional annual electricity needs and the integrated heating and cooling system as providing an annual energy savings of 88 percent. Combined, these renewable energy systems and energy conservation measures will save an estimated $8,587 in annual energy costs.
Oregon Department of Energy reviewed improvements worth $139,171 as meeting the program's energy criteria, awarding SolAire a preliminary certificate of $47,710 in state tax credits. To claim the credit, SolAire must provide proof of project completion and apply for a final certificate. The credit is taken over five years: 10 percent the first two years and 5 percent for three years thereafter.
"The Business Energy Tax Credits tipped the balance in our decision to include these energy saving measures in the building," Mike O'Neil said. "Combined with the Energy Trust of Oregon (ETO) incentives, the Green Tag program and pending Federal tax credits this project became more feasible." The project is expected to qualify for about $25,000 in ETO financial incentives.
As the O'Neil's and their employees settle into their new building they're experiencing first hand what they look forward to showing their customers: "It's energy efficient space that feels homey," O'Neil said, appreciating the fresh air and natural light. "Our electrical meter shows we are producing more power than we are consuming today. I think we're going to like our future energy bills."
