The Green Path for Homes

© 2008 by Reynold Hendrickson, StarPak Group

The average homeowner pays $6,000-9,000 per year directly on energy:

  • $2,000-2,500 in gasoline
  • $2,000-3,000 in heating fuels and water
  • $1,500-2,500 in electricity
  • $500-1,000 in water/sewer charges

In addition, the entire spending budget of families is exposed to increasing inflation caused by global energy markets and limits on fossil fuel availability. After all, it takes fossil fuel energy to make, package, and transport almost everything we buy ... from bread to computers. Fossil fuels are a limited resource and will continue to increase in cost.

The bigger the problem, the more obvious the solution.

These steps, all available from StarPak, will noticeably increase occupant comfort; save a typical household $1,200-1,800 or more per year; generate tax credits of $3,000; and steadily increase year-over-year returns on investment of 15% or better (payback thus being seven years or less).

Our goal is to help you plan a path toward sustainability ... on your terms. Working together, we can achieve substantial liberation from both global oil dependency and the increasingly costly offerings of utility companies.

Our name for this liberating process is The Green Path©. It’s a plan that moves toward energy independence, but does not ‘ditch dependency’ in a single step. Instead, we believe it is wisest to take each step on The Green Path only when strongly indicated by evidence of:

  • superior returns on investment, plus
  • large tax credits (or low interest loans for non-taxpayers), plus
  • increases in occupant comfort, plus,
  • independence from both foreign oil and utility companies

Step I

The first Green Path step is to analyze your energy situation. Gather your energy bills, building plans, and digital photos, and come to a Green Path Seminar. These are held:

  • Once or more a month at our showroom in Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • In cases where eight or more home owners have joined together, at the place and time of their choosing.

Attendees will share ideas with our skilled presenters, and compare notes on building their own Green Plan. For a nominal charge, those who are ready for an in-depth analysis can invite StarPak to perform an on-site energy audit and receive a detailed assessment report. This report, good for the life of the building, is a valuable asset to both current occupants and future buyers.

Step II

The next Green Path step consists of implementing physical improvements based on proven, mature technologies that produce predictably strong returns on investment and increases in occupant comfort. For example:

  1. Energy efficiency measures—LED and CFL lighting, key insulation categories (duct, pipe, window insulation as well as for walls and ceilings), water conservation and reclamation… plus 98-99% efficient furnaces where indicated.
  2. Solar thermal systems—proven by the tens of millions in Japan, Israel, Brazil, Germany, Denmark, Canada, and the USA—for building heating, water heating, pool and spa heating, and even desiccant-dehumidification cooling of buildings. The core of these systems is solar domestic hot water—we always start there.
  3. Targeted solar electric lighting and power systems (often referred to as photovoltaics or PV) for attic cooling, day lighting of windowless or dark areas, landscape lighting, and powering of DC pumps and blowers. In off-grid areas, like remote cottages, more extensive PV systems might make very good sense.
  4. Energy monitoring, management, and control. Powerful internet-protocol (IP) hardware/software can track and control all key energy usage.

Step III

This step includes building-scale PV (solar electricity production) and onsite wind generation.

  1. PV will continue to enjoy dramatic breakthroughs in simplification and lowered cost, due to an imminent wave of ‘thin film’ rollouts. (Thin film is virtual printing of electric cell circuitry onto coils of thin metal substrate.) We anticipate that these developments will drive costs down to a range in which it will become an attractive investment. Generous additional tax credits will remain in place through 2016 for PV.
  2. Though less often an applicable solution, on-site wind generation is also benefiting from a manufacturing ramp up that will help reduce costs.

The result of these simple Green Path steps is that home owners can become dramatically more comfortable and substantially independent of foreign oil and utility price hikes, enjoying both increases in the value of their building and excellent returns on investment. In addition, our staff and network of partners region-wide include:

  • Architect Damian Farrell and his Design Group for new sustainable buildings and tasteful architectural retrofits. They can help you create a nearly 100% green home.
  • Boiler and commercial HVAC experts Hartford & Ratliff.
  • On-call carpentry and electrical crews.
  • Top energy management/intelligent building system middleware integrators.
  • 31 years of renewables experience, with 8,000 renewable and high efficiency customers right here in Michigan.

To Learn More:

Contact StarPak Group:
3003 Miller Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI
48103-2122
Phone: (734) 222-3000
Fax: (734) 222-3638
www.starpakgroup.com