| Energy |
|
Barbour Pointe provides a unique opportunity for both energy conservation and alternative energy production. Conservation is achieved through the requirement of all residences to meet EarthCraft Homes™ construction standards, and additionally through the required use of highly efficient and dependable geothermal heating & cooling systems. In addition, photovoltaic(PV) panels have been designed as part of the roof system of the community Fish House and will produce approximately 6,000 kilowatts of electricity annually. Geothermal Heating & Cooling 
All residences at Barbour Pointe will be required to use geothermal for heating and cooling systems and for the production of hot water. To accommodate this requirement, the underground geothermal heat exchange systems (loops) have been treated as a standard utility, and each home site is provided with a preinstalled closed loop system tie-in. Installation of the underground heat exchange infrastructure during site development provided an opportunity for significant cost savings, making geothermal heating and cooling systems costs competitive with conventional high efficiency systems. Because Barbour Pointe’s roadway is constructed of pervious concrete, the majority of the underground heat exchange loops have been installed underneath the road bed, providing additional cost saving (horizontal vs. vertical installation) and an additional low impact development opportunity by concentrating and reducing site/soil disturbance.What is geothermal heating and cooling? Geothermal heating and cooling, also known as ground source heat pump or geoexchange, is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly methods of heating and cooling. Unlike natural gas or fuel oil fired systems, geothermal systems do not require the on site combustion of fossil fuels for heating but  instead take advantage of the earth as a heat sink to provide heat in the winter and cooling in the summer. Conventional heat pumps operate on a similar heat exchange principle as geothermal; however conventional heat pumps exchange heat with the outside ambient environment, which in Savannah normally ranges from the low teens to over 100º F. At temperature extremes, conventional heat pumps become much less efficient and effective – in cold weather, supplemental heat is supplied through electric heat strips in the system. Geothermal systems take advantage of the fact that in few feet of depth the earth’s natural temperature remains relatively constant year round - in Savannah, GA at approximately 5 feet in depth, the temperature is approximately 68º F + 2º F. A circulating closed loop water system exchanges heat directly with the soil. Heat exchange in this environment allows the system to operate with extreme efficiency. Geothermal systems do not require supplemental electric heating strips and can deliver heated air up to 120º F. The only additional energy geothermal systems require is the small amount of electricity to concentrate ground heat and then to circulate high-quality heating and cooling throughout the home. Additionally, there are no outside condensers to maintain and replace – or to hear running all summer long! But how do they actually work? In very simple terms, geothermal heating and cooling differs from conventional systems in that heat energy is never created, but simply moved around. In the summer, heat is removed from the house and deposited in the soil. In the winter, they process is reversed and heat removed from the soil and used to warm the house. This heat transfer is accomplished through a closed water loop system that is buried underground. The actual heat exchange (from water loop to inside air or vice versa) takes place in a very compact heat exchange unit (very similar in appearance to a conventional furnace) inside the house. Heated or cooled air is then transported throughout the house through the use an efficient air handling system. Additionally, the heat by product of cooling can be used to provide hot water. In Savannah, it is estimated that 70-80% of all hot water needs will be met (free) through the geothermal system. For additional or more detailed information about geothermal systems, we encourage you to explore the following sites: U.S. EPA/Energy Star.gov U.S. Department of Energy International Ground Source Heat Pump Association Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium Solar 
Ironically, the objective of tree preservation conflicted with the generation of solar power. After carefully considering overall site development plan, Photovoltaic(PV) panels were been designed as part of the roof system of the community Fish House , whose location at the end of the causeway on Salt Creek provides full unobstructed sunlight all day and perfect orientation of maximum power generation. The system design will produce approximately 6,000 kilowatts of electricity annually, which will more than offset the energy use for community lighting and community buildings (community net zero).Energy Efficient Construction EarthCraft House, a program of Atlanta-based nonprofit SouthFace, which provides certification of energy efficiency, resource efficiency and indoor air quality. EarthCraft Technical Guidelines |