Comments on: First net-zero apartment building fills up quickly /news/2011/04/07/keeping-it-cheap-for-the-first-net-zero-apartment-building/ Building and Construction News in Portland, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:02:05 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.6 By: 5 Net Zero Homes | BuildDirect Green Blog /news/2011/04/07/keeping-it-cheap-for-the-first-net-zero-apartment-building/#comment-69274 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:02:05 +0000 /?p=70170#comment-69274 […] net-zero apartment project in Portland may be one of the first of its kind on this scale, encouraging residents to live green lifestyles […]

]]> By: jeff stern /news/2011/04/07/keeping-it-cheap-for-the-first-net-zero-apartment-building/#comment-57330 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 22:24:34 +0000 /?p=70170#comment-57330 while there is much to applaud about this building and it is definitely a good step in the right direction, it takes a somewhat questionable approach to reaching net zero. watching this building go up, it appeared that there was no effort made in the envelope to reduce energy use beyond what is standard practice and required by code. the result is a rather large PV array to compensate for the code minimum shell.

it would be great to see a project of this scale designed and built with a high performance envelope (sealed air barrier, better insulation, high performing windows, reduced thermal bridging, solar orientation, functioning shading devices,etc) that drastically reduces consumption, and then uses a much more moderate size PV array to reach net zero.

]]> By: Ahmed Kornbluth /news/2011/04/07/keeping-it-cheap-for-the-first-net-zero-apartment-building/#comment-57322 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:21:08 +0000 /?p=70170#comment-57322 There is a whiff of the absurd.

“Entrances to the units are on the outside of the building: The absence of interior corridors means less area to light, cool and heat, Veillet said”.

So the outdoor areas won’t be lit?? Interesting. And if properly designed, interior corridors don’t need any heating or cooling, either.

$2 / sq ft is not cheap. It’s at the top of the range for that area, as is the $160K / door construction cost. No miracles here.

How does one spend $200K on a solar array? Is it fastened with platinum bolts?

Still, an interesting project and a good step in the right direction. Much better and much more commendable than the usual dime-store LEED certification.

]]> By: Michael C /news/2011/04/07/keeping-it-cheap-for-the-first-net-zero-apartment-building/#comment-57321 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:35:47 +0000 /?p=70170#comment-57321 This is a really neat project – and the rent prices aren’t exorbitant. I hope this developer has a long and prosperous future here in Portland!

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