The Question Is it more efficient to live
near work and commute by bicycle, or to share a household?
Assumptions
One Household vs. Two Rent? Electricity? Energy Requirements of Splitting
Household? Commute
From where? Bike everyday? Other Driving
Methodology Commuting
Odometer Digital Fuel Economy Display Monday – Friday Subtract Estimated Commute from A. Heights
Household Heating Inputs (dimensions, furnace/duct eff.) BEES Insulation / Infiltration Min. Req. Degree Days / Year (NOAA) Lots of Calculations
BEES?
Results – Daily CommuteTime Frame: Total CO2
Released (lbs.)
Weekly Total 114.27
Estimated Yearly Total
5,942.00
Estimated Weekly Commute (w/Bike)
19.68
Estimated Yearly Total (w/Bike)
1,023.57
CO2 Savings by Bike Commute:
4,918.43
Results: Heating a 1,500 ft.2 home vs. 900 ft.2
1500 ft.2 home
900 ft.2 home
Annual Fuel Energy Needed (BTU/yr)
175,030,451 128,033,110
Annual Cubic feet of natural gas needed:
175,030 128,033
Annual lbs. CO2 released
20,129 14,724
Annual Natural Gas Cost:
$1,750.30 $1,280.33
Results – EnergyStar Homes
Annual Fuel Energy Needed (BTU/yr)
66,173,713
Annual Cubic feet of natural gas needed:
66,174
Annual lbs. CO2 released by heating home:
7,610
Annual Natural Gas Cost:
$661.74
Comparison – Personal Impact
•Energy Use
•Small is Beautiful
•Energy Efficiency Huge!
•Financial
•Buying a home
•Heating Costs
•Subaru: Gas Costs
Comparison – Personal Impact
•Contentment•Combined Family Living
•US: Loser!•World: Individualism vs. Collectivism•Personally
•Fitness•Leisure Time
Implications for Society Changes Suggested…
Small Houses Energy Efficiency Combined Family Living Consumerism
Limitations of Study Simplified Home Energy Use Model Conversion for Natural Gas CO2? Capital Costs not taken into account Non-Commute Driving: Good assumption?
What are the energy costs of building a home? Is there a correlation between the number of people living
together and happiness?
Further Research:
Sources
“Alaska Building Energy Efficiency Standard.” Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. Address: http://www.ahfc.state.ak.us/reference/bees.cfm Date Accessed: 11/2/2008
“Approximate Heat content of Natural Gas”. DOE. Address: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/txt/ptb1304.html. Date Accessed: 10/30/2008
"Frequently Asked Global Change Questions." Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center. Address: http://cdiac.ornl.gov/pns/faq.html Date Accessed: 10/4/2008
“Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with ENERGY STAR”. US EPA & DOE. Address: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=about.ab_index Date Accessed: 11/3/2008
Leckie, Jim. More Other Homes and Garbage: Designs for Self-Sufficienct Living. Sierra Club Books. San Francisco, 1981.