Living in the Future Today: The ReNEWW House | Eckhard Groll | TEDxPurdueUSalon

thank you very much for the introduction

thank you very much for the introduction let’s see I proposed been facing some

let’s see I proposed been facing some

let’s see I proposed been facing some serious issues the 21st century and no i

serious issues the 21st century and no i

serious issues the 21st century and no i don’t mean the election results from

don’t mean the election results from

don’t mean the election results from last night but do you know how much

last night but do you know how much

last night but do you know how much water you’re wasting and i’m using the

water you’re wasting and i’m using the

water you’re wasting and i’m using the term wasting in a loosely form when you

term wasting in a loosely form when you

term wasting in a loosely form when you shave your legs while you’re showering

would it surprise you if I tell you it’s

would it surprise you if I tell you it’s about eight gallons and these eight

about eight gallons and these eight

about eight gallons and these eight gallons could provide fresh drinking

gallons could provide fresh drinking

gallons could provide fresh drinking water for child in Africa for about two

water for child in Africa for about two

water for child in Africa for about two days the energy that were using to heat

days the energy that were using to heat

days the energy that were using to heat up those six gallons could provide

up those six gallons could provide

up those six gallons could provide electricity for a child in Africa for

electricity for a child in Africa for

electricity for a child in Africa for about five days roughly so I’m needed to

about five days roughly so I’m needed to

about five days roughly so I’m needed to talk about issues issues related to

talk about issues issues related to

talk about issues issues related to energy water and waste by creating a

energy water and waste by creating a

energy water and waste by creating a sustainable environment there are the

sustainable environment there are the

sustainable environment there are the issues we heard about sustainable food

issues we heard about sustainable food

issues we heard about sustainable food supply right but let’s focus on those

supply right but let’s focus on those

supply right but let’s focus on those first two live in the future I propose

first two live in the future I propose

first two live in the future I propose that we need to generate our energy on

that we need to generate our energy on

that we need to generate our energy on site so we can put solar panels on the

site so we can put solar panels on the

site so we can put solar panels on the roof we can put a pin generator on the

roof we can put a pin generator on the

roof we can put a pin generator on the roof of depending where you live how we

roof of depending where you live how we

roof of depending where you live how we can use geothermal heat to provide maybe

can use geothermal heat to provide maybe

can use geothermal heat to provide maybe heating and cooling of your home and you

heating and cooling of your home and you

heating and cooling of your home and you can either use solar energy to create

can either use solar energy to create

can either use solar energy to create hot water for your home to live in the

hot water for your home to live in the

hot water for your home to live in the future I propose that we need to collect

future I propose that we need to collect

future I propose that we need to collect all on water so when you said on site

all on water so when you said on site

all on water so when you said on site appropriate collection mechanisms we

appropriate collection mechanisms we

appropriate collection mechanisms we have appropriate sanitation mechanisms

have appropriate sanitation mechanisms

have appropriate sanitation mechanisms and we can use and store it in the

and we can use and store it in the

and we can use and store it in the future to live in the future I propose

future to live in the future I propose

future to live in the future I propose that we recycle everything that we

that we recycle everything that we

that we recycle everything that we manufacture meaning the company that

manufacture meaning the company that

manufacture meaning the company that manufactures has to take all products

manufactures has to take all products

manufactures has to take all products back we’re using maybe composting

back we’re using maybe composting

back we’re using maybe composting toilets we’re using anything that’s

toilets we’re using anything that’s

toilets we’re using anything that’s related to food waste locally for

related to food waste locally for

related to food waste locally for composting so those are some nice ideas

composting so those are some nice ideas

composting so those are some nice ideas I think you would agree with me so the

I think you would agree with me so the

I think you would agree with me so the question is by when is this happening

question is by when is this happening

question is by when is this happening and would it surprise you if I tell you

and would it surprise you if I tell you

and would it surprise you if I tell you that the future is today meet the renew

that the future is today meet the renew

that the future is today meet the renew house the renew house stands for

house the renew house stands for

house the renew house stands for retrofitted net zero energy water and

retrofitted net zero energy water and

retrofitted net zero energy water and waste home it’s a home that was built in

waste home it’s a home that was built in

waste home it’s a home that was built in nineteen twenty-eight and it’s located

nineteen twenty-eight and it’s located

nineteen twenty-eight and it’s located it just a little bit east of the

it just a little bit east of the

it just a little bit east of the mcdonald’s at the intersection of

mcdonald’s at the intersection of

mcdonald’s at the intersection of stadium and northwestern campus or close

stadium and northwestern campus or close

stadium and northwestern campus or close to campus it’s owned by the two Research

to campus it’s owned by the two Research

to campus it’s owned by the two Research Foundation and we have listed we’re

Foundation and we have listed we’re

Foundation and we have listed we’re currently in our fourth year with

currently in our fourth year with

currently in our fourth year with another four years to come the four

another four years to come the four

another four years to come the four client says it says about 2,800 feet of

client says it says about 2,800 feet of

client says it says about 2,800 feet of on the basement floor

on the basement floor

on the basement floor first floor and three bedrooms on the

first floor and three bedrooms on the

first floor and three bedrooms on the second floor we renovated this as I

second floor we renovated this as I

second floor we renovated this as I mentioned by using only local resources

mentioned by using only local resources

mentioned by using only local resources and we have real occupancy but I mean by

and we have real occupancy but I mean by

and we have real occupancy but I mean by that is three of my graduate students

that is three of my graduate students

that is three of my graduate students using this as a playground right living

using this as a playground right living

using this as a playground right living there and the three bedrooms upstairs

there and the three bedrooms upstairs

there and the three bedrooms upstairs and then using the basement as a fully

and then using the basement as a fully

and then using the basement as a fully functional laboratory and we are fully

functional laboratory and we are fully

functional laboratory and we are fully instrumented or the monitoring system i

instrumented or the monitoring system i

instrumented or the monitoring system i will talk a little bit more about that

will talk a little bit more about that

will talk a little bit more about that in a little bit here’s some photos from

in a little bit here’s some photos from

in a little bit here’s some photos from the inside you will see we have a

the inside you will see we have a

the inside you will see we have a beautifully renovated inside kitchen

beautifully renovated inside kitchen

beautifully renovated inside kitchen open labs kind of open space environment

open labs kind of open space environment

open labs kind of open space environment you have an open living room and we even

you have an open living room and we even

you have an open living room and we even have something that the industry called

have something that the industry called

have something that the industry called the BioWar that means we’re not using

the BioWar that means we’re not using

the BioWar that means we’re not using chemical filtration systems to review

chemical filtration systems to review

chemical filtration systems to review the air inside the house we have the air

the air inside the house we have the air

the air inside the house we have the air going through the bio wall taking our

going through the bio wall taking our

going through the bio wall taking our VOCs and using as a filter and then is

VOCs and using as a filter and then is

VOCs and using as a filter and then is conditioned either heated in the winter

conditioned either heated in the winter

conditioned either heated in the winter coat in the summer and then returned to

coat in the summer and then returned to

coat in the summer and then returned to the space so it provides what we call a

the space so it provides what we call a

the space so it provides what we call a very comfortable in a very personal

very comfortable in a very personal

very comfortable in a very personal living environment is a photo of the

living environment is a photo of the

living environment is a photo of the building or the house when we renovated

building or the house when we renovated

building or the house when we renovated it on the outside we took all the

it on the outside we took all the

it on the outside we took all the paneling off and then we sprayed it with

paneling off and then we sprayed it with

paneling off and then we sprayed it with a very new spray foam with a very high

a very new spray foam with a very high

a very new spray foam with a very high insulation value that are those are

insulation value that are those are

insulation value that are those are values that are listed there we also

values that are listed there we also

values that are listed there we also spread out the Attic we replaced all

spread out the Attic we replaced all

spread out the Attic we replaced all windows with triple pane windows as well

windows with triple pane windows as well

windows with triple pane windows as well as

as

as other doors with a high installation was

other doors with a high installation was

other doors with a high installation was everything is very League tight to make

everything is very League tight to make

everything is very League tight to make it very high efficient to reduce our

it very high efficient to reduce our

it very high efficient to reduce our heating loads in the winter and our

heating loads in the winter and our

heating loads in the winter and our cooling loads in the summer after we did

cooling loads in the summer after we did

cooling loads in the summer after we did this of course we put the paneling going

this of course we put the paneling going

this of course we put the paneling going on so we want to be net zero energy

on so we want to be net zero energy

on so we want to be net zero energy right so how do we is that here how’d

right so how do we is that here how’d

right so how do we is that here how’d you get to net zero energy you need to

you get to net zero energy you need to

you get to net zero energy you need to produce energy right we’re doing this

produce energy right we’re doing this

produce energy right we’re doing this with solar panels on the roof but as you

with solar panels on the roof but as you

with solar panels on the roof but as you easily no Sun is not shining all day all

easily no Sun is not shining all day all

easily no Sun is not shining all day all right so you need storage we lucky we

right so you need storage we lucky we

right so you need storage we lucky we can use the grid as a storage so I

can use the grid as a storage so I

can use the grid as a storage so I during the day we have over production

during the day we have over production

during the day we have over production which we’re feeding into the grid and

which we’re feeding into the grid and

which we’re feeding into the grid and then at nighttime we’re taking that

then at nighttime we’re taking that

then at nighttime we’re taking that electricity back off the grid out for

electricity back off the grid out for

electricity back off the grid out for the needs inside the home Duke Energy

the needs inside the home Duke Energy

the needs inside the home Duke Energy was nice enough they gave us a great

was nice enough they gave us a great

was nice enough they gave us a great rate we can sell them the electricity

rate we can sell them the electricity

rate we can sell them the electricity exactly at the rate that would buy me

exactly at the rate that would buy me

exactly at the rate that would buy me back so that’s a cost neutral for us but

back so that’s a cost neutral for us but

back so that’s a cost neutral for us but we not only have the solar panel sabor

we not only have the solar panel sabor

we not only have the solar panel sabor photovoltaic panels we also have

photovoltaic panels we also have

photovoltaic panels we also have integrated warm water so these panels

integrated warm water so these panels

integrated warm water so these panels are a brand new design as a PV and then

are a brand new design as a PV and then

are a brand new design as a PV and then the thermal components on the back side

the thermal components on the back side

the thermal components on the back side we’re in the summer time we can heat up

we’re in the summer time we can heat up

we’re in the summer time we can heat up water almost to shower temperature not

water almost to shower temperature not

water almost to shower temperature not necessarily in the winter but we can

necessarily in the winter but we can

necessarily in the winter but we can still produce warm water but the sun is

still produce warm water but the sun is

still produce warm water but the sun is shining in the matter that water goes

shining in the matter that water goes

shining in the matter that water goes into these three storage tanks that you

into these three storage tanks that you

into these three storage tanks that you see on the bottom left and it has a dual

see on the bottom left and it has a dual

see on the bottom left and it has a dual function as I mentioned we can use it

function as I mentioned we can use it

function as I mentioned we can use it for

for

for oh where we can also reverse the flow

oh where we can also reverse the flow

oh where we can also reverse the flow and in the wintertime when it’s snowing

and in the wintertime when it’s snowing

and in the wintertime when it’s snowing you can heat up our panels and melt the

you can heat up our panels and melt the

you can heat up our panels and melt the snow off so we have electricity

snow off so we have electricity

snow off so we have electricity production in any kind of weather we

production in any kind of weather we

production in any kind of weather we have a ground source heat pump that

have a ground source heat pump that

have a ground source heat pump that means we have three more holes that have

means we have three more holes that have

means we have three more holes that have all 280 feet deep vertically to and in

all 280 feet deep vertically to and in

all 280 feet deep vertically to and in the winter we can pick up heat from

the winter we can pick up heat from

the winter we can pick up heat from there that is boosted with the heat pump

there that is boosted with the heat pump

there that is boosted with the heat pump to provide the living a comfortable in a

to provide the living a comfortable in a

to provide the living a comfortable in a living environment in the summer we

living environment in the summer we

living environment in the summer we taking the heat from the house and

taking the heat from the house and

taking the heat from the house and putting it back into the ground we also

putting it back into the ground we also

putting it back into the ground we also try to be net zero water we put a metal

try to be net zero water we put a metal

try to be net zero water we put a metal roof on the house and we’re collecting

roof on the house and we’re collecting

roof on the house and we’re collecting all water that goes into the downspouts

all water that goes into the downspouts

all water that goes into the downspouts and into large to storage tanks that are

and into large to storage tanks that are

and into large to storage tanks that are put into the ground that you see on the

put into the ground that you see on the

put into the ground that you see on the photo from those storage tanks the water

photo from those storage tanks the water

photo from those storage tanks the water goes into the house for an extensive

goes into the house for an extensive

goes into the house for an extensive filtration system to prepare rainwater

filtration system to prepare rainwater

filtration system to prepare rainwater to drinking water quality that water is

to drinking water quality that water is

to drinking water quality that water is used in all faucets as well as in the

used in all faucets as well as in the

used in all faucets as well as in the shower heads and from there it was

shower heads and from there it was

shower heads and from there it was actually back into the basement into a

actually back into the basement into a

actually back into the basement into a secondary preparation system it’s at

secondary preparation system it’s at

secondary preparation system it’s at this point called gray order I we’re

this point called gray order I we’re

this point called gray order I we’re preparing the gray water one more time

preparing the gray water one more time

preparing the gray water one more time not to drinking water quality but to a

not to drinking water quality but to a

not to drinking water quality but to a quality that allows us to use it in the

quality that allows us to use it in the

quality that allows us to use it in the toilets and then after that it’s

toilets and then after that it’s

toilets and then after that it’s actually discharged to the colonization

actually discharged to the colonization

actually discharged to the colonization of the city finally we would like to

of the city finally we would like to

of the city finally we would like to mention we are fully instrumented all

mention we are fully instrumented all

mention we are fully instrumented all right so we can we can measure

right so we can we can measure

right so we can we can measure temperatures

temperatures

temperatures the humidity and air flow throughout the

the humidity and air flow throughout the

the humidity and air flow throughout the entire house we can measure the

entire house we can measure the

entire house we can measure the electricity that we use at every outlet

electricity that we use at every outlet

electricity that we use at every outlet of every appliance in the house we can

of every appliance in the house we can

of every appliance in the house we can use the water news at every faucet at

use the water news at every faucet at

use the water news at every faucet at every shower head in every toilet of the

every shower head in every toilet of the

every shower head in every toilet of the house I started out by asking this woman

house I started out by asking this woman

house I started out by asking this woman she knows how many gallons of water she

she knows how many gallons of water she

she knows how many gallons of water she uses all right so let me go back this is

uses all right so let me go back this is

uses all right so let me go back this is our shower study I can tell you exactly

our shower study I can tell you exactly

our shower study I can tell you exactly how much you use for the pre-wash for

how much you use for the pre-wash for

how much you use for the pre-wash for face washing I can tell you if you

face washing I can tell you if you

face washing I can tell you if you should use shampoo and conditioner two

should use shampoo and conditioner two

should use shampoo and conditioner two and one because it takes less water than

and one because it takes less water than

and one because it takes less water than shampoo and conditioner separately

shampoo and conditioner separately

shampoo and conditioner separately alright so I hope I showed you a little

alright so I hope I showed you a little

alright so I hope I showed you a little bit of the glimpse of what we’re doing

bit of the glimpse of what we’re doing

bit of the glimpse of what we’re doing with the new in your house and I hope

with the new in your house and I hope

with the new in your house and I hope that you can see that you can live

that you can see that you can live

that you can see that you can live already a very sustainable today thank

already a very sustainable today thank

already a very sustainable today thank you very much

you very much

you very much [Applause]