compares 2 buildings windows-walls "heat radiation" - with sustainable Low-energy Passive house on right; and conventional leaking house on left.]] A Low-energy house is any type of house that from design, technologies, and building products and uses less energy, from any source, than a traditional or average contemporary house. They are the practice of Sustainable design, Sustainable architecture, Low energy building, Energy-efficient landscaping. They often use Active solar and Passive solar building design techniques and components to reduce their energy expenditure.

General usage

The meaning of the term 'low-energy house' has changed over time, but in Europe it generally refers to a house that uses around half of the German & Swiss low-energy standards referred to below for space heating, typically in the range from 30 kWh/m²a to 20 kWh/m²a (9,500 Btu/ft²/yr to 6,300 Btu/ft²/yr). Below this the term 'Ultra-low energy building' is often used.

The term could also refer to any dwelling whose energy use is below the standards demanded by current building codes. Because national standards vary considerably around the world, 'low energy' developments in one country may not meet 'normal practice' ones in another.

National standards

In some countries the term relates to a specific building standard. In particular these seek to limit the energy used for space heating, since in many climate zones it represents the largest energy use. Other energy use may also be regulated. The history of passive solar building design gives an international look at one form of low energy building development and standards.

Europe

In Germany a "Low Energy House" (Niedrigenergiehaus) has a limit equivalent to 7 litres of heating oil for each square meter of room for space heating annually (50 kWh/m²a or 15,850 Btu/ft²/yr). In Switzerland the term is used in connection with the MINERGIE standard (42 kWh/m²a or 13,300 Btu/ft²/yr).

In comparison, the German Passivhaus ultra-low energy standard, currently undergoing adoption in some other European countries, has a maximum space heating requirement of 15 kWh/m²a or 4,755 Btu/ft²/yr.

A "Sub-10 Passive House" is under construction in Ireland which has an independently evaluated PHPP (Passive House) rating of 9.5 KW/m²/yr. It's form of construction also tackles the issue of embodied energy, which can significantly distort the lifecycle CO₂ emissions associated with even low energy use houses.

North America

In the United States, the ENERGY STAR program is the largest program defining low-energy homes, and consumer products. Homes earning ENERGY STAR certification use at least 15% less energy than standard new homes built to the International Residential Code, although homes typically achieve 20%-30% savings.

In addition, the US Department of Energy launched a program in 2008 with the goal of spreading zero-energy housing over the US. Currently, participating builders commit to constructing new homes that achieve 30% savings on a home energy rating scale.

Zero energy and energy plus buildings

Beyond ultra-low energy buildings are those that use, on average over the course of a year, no imported energy - zero energy buildings - or even those that generate a surplus - energy plus houses - both of which have and are being successfully built.

This can be achieved by a mixture of energy conservation technologies and the use of renewable energy sources. However, in the absence of recognized standards, the mix between these - and consequently the energy-use profile and environmental impact of the building - can vary significantly.

At one end of the spectrum are buildings with an ultra-low space heating requirement that therefore require low levels of imported energy, even in winter, approaching the concept of an autonomous building.

At the opposite end of the spectrum are buildings where few attempts are made to reduce the space heating requirement and which therefore use high levels of imported energy in winter. While this can be balanced by high levels of renewable energy generation throughout the year, it imposes greater demands on the traditional national energy infrastructure during the peak winter season.

Superinsulation

PlusEnergy

Low energy technology

Introduction

Low-energy buildings typically use high levels of insulation, energy efficient windows, low levels of air infiltration and heat recovery ventilation to lower heating and cooling energy. They may also use passive solar building design techniques or active solar technologies. These homes may use hot water heat recycling technologies to recover heat from showers and dishwashers. Lighting and miscellaneous energy use is allieviated with fluorescent lighting and efficient appliances. Weatherization provides more information on increasing building energy efficiency.

Passive Houses are required to achieve a whole building air change rate of no more than 0.6 ac/hr under forced pressurisation and depressurisation testing at 50Pa minimum. On site blower door testing by certified testers is used to prove compliance.

A significant feature of ultra low energy buildings is the increasing importance of heat loss through linear thermal bridging within the construction. Failure to eliminate thermal pathways from warm to cold surfaces ("bridges") creates the conditions for interstitial condensation forming deep within the construction and lead to potentially serious issues of mould growth and rot. With near zero filtration losses through the fabric of the dwelling, air movement cannot be relied upon to dry out the construction and a comprehensive condensation risk analysis of every abutment detail is recommended.

Improvements to heating, cooling, ventilation and water heating

Absorption refrigerator

Annualized geothermal solar

Earth cooling tubes

Geothermal heat pump

Heat recovery ventilation

Hot water heat recycling

Passive cooling

Renewable heat

Seasonal thermal storage

Solar air conditioning

Solar hot water

Solar devices

Passive solar design and landscape

Passive solar building design and energy-efficient landscaping support the Low energy house in conservation and can integrate them into a neighborhood and environment. Following passive solar building techniques, where possible buildings are compact in shape to reduce their surface area, with principle windows oriented towards the equator - south in the northern hemisphere and north in the southern hemisphere - to maximize passive solar gain. However, the use of solar gain, especially in temperate climate regions, is secondary to minimizing the overall house energy requirements. In climates and regions needing to reduce excessive summer passive solar heat gain, whether from the direct or reflected sources, can be done with a Brise soleil, trees, attached pergolas with vines, vertical gardens, green roofs, and other techniques.

Low energy houses can be constructed from dense or lightweight materials, but some internal thermal mass is normally incorporated to reduce summer peak temperatures, maintain stable winter temperatures, and prevent possible over-heating in spring or autumn before the higher sun angle "shades" mid-day wall exposure and window penetration. Exterior wall color, when the surface allows choice, for reflection or absorption insolation qualities depends on the predominant year-round ambient outdoor temperature. The use of deciduous trees and wall trellised or self attaching vines can assist in climates not at the temperature extremes.

Sustainable landscaping

Sustainable landscape architecture

Sustainable gardening

Rainwater harvesting

Water conservation

Lighting and electrical appliances

To minimize the total primary energy consumption, the many passive and active daylighting techniques are the first daytime solution to employ. For low light level days, non-daylighted spaces, and nighttime; the use of creative-sustainable lighting design using low-energy sources such as 'standard voltage' compact fluorescent lamps and solid-state lighting with Light-emitting diode-LED lamps, organic light-emitting diodes, and PLED - polymer light-emitting diodes; and 'low voltage' electrical filament-Incandescent light bulbs, and compact Metal halide, Xenon and Halogen lamps, can be used.

Solar powered exterior circulation, security, and landscape lighting - with photovoltaic cells on each fixture or connecting to a central Solar panel system, are available for gardens and outdoor needs. Low voltage systems can be used for more controlled or independent illumination, while still using less electricity than conventional fixtures and lamps. Timers, motion detection and natural light operation sensors reduce energy consumption, and light pollution even further for a Low-energy house setting.

Appliance consumer products meeting independent energy efficiency testing and receiving Ecolabel certification marks for reduced electrical-'natural-gas' consumption and product manufacturing carbon emission labels are preferred for use in Low-energy houses. The ecolabel certification marks of Energy Star and EKOenergy are examples.

Energy-saving lighting

Lighting

Windows

Energy conservation

Alternative energy

See also

Buildings

Self-sufficient homes

Passive house

PlusEnergy buildings

Energy-plus buildings

Low-energy buildings

List of low-energy building techniques

Green building

Zero energy building

Energy audit

Air and temperature''

Renewable heat

Solar thermal collector

Solar air heat

Solar air conditioning

Thermal conductivity - explananation of thermal conductivity—thermal conductance—thermal resistance relationships

Superinsulation

Solar

Active solar

Passive solar

Passive solar building design

History of passive solar building design

Daylighting

Passive daylighting

Active daylighting

Energy-saving lighting

List of pioneering solar buildings

Sustainable

Sustainability

Sustainable architecture

Sustainable landscaping

Sustainable landscape architecture

Sustainable gardening

Autonomous building

Green building

Energy Rating standards

House Energy Rating (Australia)

Home energy rating (U.S.)

EnerGuide (Canada)

National Home Energy Rating (U.K.)

LEED - (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

Ecolabel-certification mark

Carbon emission label

Low-carbon economy

References

External links

Study on Energy Performance of buildings The European Parliament 2009

Very Low Energy Houses - discussion paper - Nov 2006

IEA Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems Programme.

Common Fire Foundation Comprehensive Overview of Green Building, plus info on the net zero energy "Greenest Building in the Eastern US" (non-profit)

MINERGIE (official site)

Article Low Energy Housing

External links - examples

Minimum Energy houses in the Netherlands (1982-1983)

rockenergy: low carbon houses, low energy houses, 5-litre houses

photo from a low-energy house in Germany 1992

low-energy house in Denmark

low-energy, respective passive-houses in Norway

low-energy houses in Norway

Meet the Greenovate Hosts: Chris Prelitz

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Category:Low-energy building Category:Sustainable architecture Category:Sustainable building Category:Energy conservation Category:Building Category:House types Category:Sustainable urban planning

Coordinates	40°26′30″N80°00′00″N
Name	Joel Hodgson
Caption	Hodgson, in August 2008 at Dragon*Con.
Birth name	Joel Gordon Hodgson
Birth date	February 20, 1960
Birth place	Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Joel Gordon Hodgson (born February 20, 1960) is an American writer, comedian and television actor. He is best known for creating Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) and starring in it as the character Joel Robinson. In 2007 MST3K was listed as "one of the top 100 television shows of all time" by Time.com. Hodgson is currently "movie riffing" with fellow cast members of MST3K under the name Cinematic Titanic, performing live and producing content for DVDs and direct download.

Early life and career

Hodgson was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin in 1960. He began his career in seventh grade as a magician and ventriloquist. Joel performed for local events in his hometown of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and attended Ashwaubenon High School. Upon graduation, Joel moved to Minneapolis to attend Bethel College to study Theatre and Mass Media. While there, Joel further developed his magic act by adding comedy and began opening for musical acts at Bethel as well as performing in coffee houses and comedy clubs. Joel cites a Theatre of the Absurd class at Bethel for helping him crystallize the meaning of his comedy. In 1981 he won the Campus Comedy Contest and then the first annual Twin Cities Comedy Invitational in 1982. In November of the same year Joel moved to Los Angeles where he became a regular performer at the Comedy Store and the Hollywood Magic Castle, as well as the Comedy Magic Club. At the Comedy Magic Club, Joel was spotted by Late Night with David Letterman producer Barry Sand and three months later at age 22 had his network television debut. He later made four other appearances on the Letterman show, as well as four on Saturday Night Live as a guest act. Joel also was a featured performer on HBO’s "Eighth annual Young Comedians special hosted by John Candy" along with Bill Maher, Paula Poundstone, and the Amazing Jonathan.

He worked at the Comedy Store while in LA, also doing traveling stand-up in San Jose, San Francisco, Detroit, Kansas City and Minneapolis. Joel left stand-up in 1985, citing the need for a creative sabbatical, and moved back to Minneapolis.

Between 1984 and 1988, Joel's 'official' return to comedy, he built and sold sculptures, worked at a T-shirt factory, designed toys, and began designing and building props (including robots) for other comedians. In 1986 he co-wrote an HBO special with Jerry Seinfeld. He met Jim Mallon in 1987, and Mallon became production manager at the St. Paul UHF station KTMA Channel 23 in 1988. Hodgson was the first choice to portray "Philo" in the "Weird Al" Yankovic film UHF, but at the time of the filming (1988), he had begun the production of a new form of television program for KTMA.

Mystery Science Theater 3000

Building on his gift for designing toys and other gizmos, Hodgson built three robot puppets and created MST3K in 1988. He starred as the show's long-suffering but inventive protagonist, Joel Robinson, who in the backstory is responsible for creating his own robot companions. Hodgson has claimed that the 1972 film Silent Running influenced the premise of the show.

MST3K originally aired on KTMA, before becoming one of the first two shows to be picked up by the Comedy Channel, the forerunner of Comedy Central. The other show, also created and written by Hodgson, was the short-lived Higgins Boys and Gruber, a sketch comedy program that starred Steve Higgins, David Anthony Higgins and Dave Allen.

Hodgson surprised many fans when he left MST3K after its 100th episode in 1993. In contemporary interviews, he said he was uncomfortable with acting and being in front of the camera, citing that as the reason he quit the show. During a 1999 interview with The Onion A.V. Club, Hodgson added that he and producer Jim Mallon had been fighting over creative control of MST3K. His departure allowed the show to continue and gave him the opportunity to focus more on his preferred creation and production work than on performing, which he did only reluctantly.

Hodgson later made a surprise guest appearance in the season premiere for the final season of MST3K ("Soultaker," episode 1001).

In a 2008 Slashdot interview, Hodgson admitted that he felt leaving MST3K, "was a bit of a personal tragedy," and that he had, "...created the appearance to the press that I had other plans, but I didn't. It was all to keep [MST3K] alive." He also stated that he felt his run on MST3K, "...was the perfect job."

In a 2008 interview with Public Radio International's The Sound of Young America, Hodgson said of his departure from MST3K, "I was like totally happy at Mystery Science Theater. I loved it. I wanted to stay, but I was basically having a fight with my partner, Jim Mallon. So we weren't getting along and so I just felt like -- I thought it really could possibly jeopardize the show. It would have been easy to create factions out of the group. And by that time it would not have been a fun show to work on. And so, I felt like I saw it coming and I just thought [leaving] was the best thing at the time."

Work after MST3K

After MST3K, Hodgson formed Visual Story Tools (VST) with his brother Jim Hodgson. They created a special for an interactive sketch comedy program called The TV Wheel for HBO, which Joel produced and hosted. It aired only once, on Comedy Central, after the last new Comedy Central episode of MST3K.

Hodgson's other post-MST3K projects and contributions include Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, You Don't Know Jack, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Everything You Need to Know.

Over the years Hodgson and his brother Jim maintained a side project that utilized the repurposing of movie footage with digital effects; code named "jollyfilter."

Hodgson also played a recurring role as a disco-loving clothing store owner and DJ on the short-lived series Freaks and Geeks.

In 2007, he portrayed Blackbeard the pirate in two episodes of The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd and recently joined fellow MST3K alum Frank Conniff's monthly comedy revue Cartoon Dump, helming his self-created puppet "Dumpster Diver Dan."

Hodgson was featured as the cover story in the November 1996 issue of Genii magazine.

He has since starred in the upcoming science fiction computer game DARKSTAR - The Interactive Movie as Scythe Commander Kane Cooper.

Cinematic Titanic

On October 30, 2007, Hodgson announced he was starting a new show with the same "riffing on bad movies" premise as MST3K called Cinematic Titanic, together with former MST3K cast and crew members Trace Beaulieu, J. Elvis Weinstein, Frank Conniff and Mary Jo Pehl.

As of November 2010, he continues to tour with Cinematic Titanic.

References

External links

Category:1960 births Category:American comedians Category:American television actors Category:Living people Category:People from Portage County, Wisconsin Category:Prop comics Category:Television in Minnesota