Considering where they come from, no surprise that North House is sealed tight with R-60 insulation. Yet, their effort was complicated by the need to design for cold (let us say, extremely cold) winters and hot & humid summers. Coming from the north also creates another challenge: rooftop solar would have little value for much of the year, which led to putting solar photovolaic (PV) panels mounted vertically on the south, east, and west sides.
October 11th, 2009 · Comments Off on Supporting Rail Electrification with the Climate Bill
Electrification of rail is one of the most effective currently available technology paths for reducing carbon emissions.
It should be on the top of the policy agenda.
It is, basically, nowhere to be found.
Here is a guest post by the very thoughtful BruceMcF, looking at this gap and providing a path forward for addressing it.
Transport For America (t4america.org) has a call to action out on the Climate Change Bill. “ACES” passed the House, and the corresponding (but of course not identical) legislation is presently up for consideration in the Senate.
The premise of the call to action: Between 0% and 1% of the revenues is permitted to be used for existing clean energy transport technology; Transport is responsible for 30% of the CO2 emitted; thus, “You can’t solve 30% of the problem with 1% of the funds.
In particular:
The most promising single opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in transport inside a decade, electrification of long haul rail freight, is entirely out of bounds for any funding
Funding for electric rail and trolley bus passenger transport requires first gaining approval through Federal programs that discriminate against energy-efficiency
Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican from South Carolina, and Senator John Kerry, Democrat from Massachusetts, have joined forces in what might be one of the most important single opinion pieces published in a newspaper so far in 2009. Published in The New York Times, Yes, We Can (Pass Climate Legislation), provides an indication of a ‘bipartisan’ path toward significant climate legislation. In short,
Unlike (too) many Republicans, Lindsey Graham explicitly acknowledges climate change risks and the need for serious action. Graham, as perhaps the first crack in the Party, could lead other Republicans (including, for example, John McCain) to the floor to vote for legislation if, as “Yes We Can” suggests, additional resources are committed for nuclear power and clean coal combined with an opening of more areas for offshore drilling for oil and natural gas.
Graham will be attacked by Republican leading lights like Glenn Beck. The “deal” will be attacked by many who understand climate change’s risks, the dangerous fantasy and deception of “clean coal“, and the risks of digging our hole deeper with oil dependency in the face of Peak Oil, not mentioning those adamantly opposed to nuclear power (existing or additional).
Considering this, there are some fundamental questions to consider: Is this a situation where ‘being attacked from all sides’ suggests that the proper middle ground has been found? After all, there is no reality-based middle ground from anti-science syndrome sufferings like James Inhofe and those who actually understand the scientific process. Thus, being in the middle between global warming deniers and scientists isn’t a reality-based common ground. Thus, the attacks to come prove nothing beyond politics.
Thus, is this a compromising of what is necessary for what seems politically convenient? To a certain extent, “Yes We Can” leaves many doors open on this, with the devil in the details. Will Graham’s vote and support be ‘bought’ with $100s of billions of guaranteed funding for nuclear power, no matter whether it could be truly competitive in the face of other energy technology developments in the coming years? Is the “clean coal” element (simply) guaranteeing resources for research or is there going to be an iron-glad commitment of resources to coal even when there are clearly economically sensible paths to wean the US off coal electricity over the next twenty years (and the globe perhaps in 30)? And, so on. Thus, the impact truly will be understood within the devilish details.
One of the core questions to ask of any “compromising” within climate legislation is as follows:
Does it handicap future efforts to adapt to deeper scientific and economic understanding? (whether, to be ecumenical, to strengthen efforts to cut CO2 if the situation is as bad (or worse than) the scientific community is warning or to loosen targets if the situation is not as bad as currently thought)
That is a key question to consider when looking to Graham-Kerry compromising on climate legislation details.
Join me after the fold for examination of the OPED. [Read more →]
As with all the houses, s•ky blue almost certainly exceeds the U.S. Green Buildings Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes Platinum standards—the highest level achievable under the LEED rating system. s•ky blue achieves this efficiency combining technology with Kentucky architecture.
Along many other Decathlon entries, s•ky blue incorporates weather monitoring. The AWARE computer monitoring system (the Automated Weather Adaptive Response Energy ) also receives zip code-specific, short-term (24- to 72-hour) weather forecasts at 3-hour intervals. It then uses an energy model to evaluate the data and calculate the best scenarios for operating building systems in response, and chooses settings and recommendations for the house’s components. For example, with cold, overcast weather predicted, it might use order additional water pumped through the solar thermal system to build up as much hot water as the tank can mange. Occupants can, themselves, monitor the home’s performance and override the system — or choose to modify their own behavior in face of the house’s feedback.
To maximize space in the general portion of the house, the s.ky blue team has designed and fabricated numerous areas and spaces unforeseen to the eye. Built-ins and bump-outs act as wardrobe and storage compartments. For example, a pocket-table slides into the kitchen wall making it possible for a multifunctional dining and entertainment area. The Shaker inspired chairs that hang flat on the wall, concealed door slides and foldout office table compliment the spatial goals desired throughout the house.
Rainwater collection is standard fare with Decathletes. S•ky blue’s system might be unique, as it is connected to an automated watering system.
The stored rainwater is used to water the plants using a highly efficient water usage system. Sensors placed inside the plant pots determine if the plant needs water. If water is needed the system provides a small amount of water to the plant. The system then waits for a few minutes and checks to see of the plant still needs water and if so, the plant receives another pulse of water. This continues until the watering needs of the plant are met.
Note: s•ky blue= Solar KentuckyBlue (blue being the University’s color)
Thronging The National Mall at this time are thousands of curious people, visiting the Solar Decathlon with the 20 energy efficient solar powered homes, being awed by their designs, their technologies, and their visions for the future. Team Boston has centered their entire project around that very sense of curiosity, with CURIO House having as its core motto: “live curious”. While the House has incorporated a number of leading edge technologies and approaches, the true center of effort might actually be a question: How to design a home, a sustainable home, that will interact with its occupants to foster a changed relationship not just with their dwelling, but the overall interaction of humanity with our planetary system.
According to team members, this evolved somewhat from interactions on during the 2007 Solar Decathlon, where people asked “what can I do now?” and there was a feeling that too much of what was being shown was leading edge technology, not ready to move from the laboratory to store shelves. Thus, a question Team Boston considered: “What can you do in your home?”
A session at the Biomimicry Institute occurred ealy in the process, helping to evolve these questions with “How is it possible to evolve the home as a whole, including the person?”
With all of this in mind, Team Boston sought to maximize (and simplify) feedback systems as a tool for engaging the occupants as a partner in managing the home sustainably while developing flexible controls so that each CURIO house would evolve to meet the personalities, requirements, and desires of that home.
October 10th, 2009 · Comments Off on “CASH is green”
Each of the Solar Decathlon’s20 teams developed their own philosophy, developed within their own regional requirements and styles, and developed a sustainable home from that. Some teams aimed for the upscale market, creating visions for the Hampton beach goer or the empty nesters sipping wine in Napa Valley. While those on the high might find their home appealing, the Puerto Rican team focused their efforts toward developing something
Putting CASH Together
not just with appeal, but also affordability.
The Caribbean Affordable Solar House (CASH), with the slogan “CASH is green”, combines innovative approaches, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and attractive (livable) design with affordability.
Team California brought to the Mall a home where life will follow the sun. The Refract House, a three room (or, dependent on weather, four counting the patio) home is laid out so that life moves through the house with the sun. One wakes in the east, as the sun enters into the bedroom, life flows into the kitchen/central area, with the afternoon sun supporting enjoyment of the living room. Each living space has direct access into the patio, providing a core space for enjoying those beautiful Napa Valley days in sustainable style.
Team California strove for that high-end customer.
Our mission with the Refract House is to demonstrate that green living does not require a compromise in lifestyle
And, they’ve succeeded. Wander the house and the beauty of the design shines forth.
Amid praise for the roll-out for the Kerry-Boxer climate legislation, Senator Merkley laid out a cogent and clear message that laid out the situation in a stark manner.
There are things that are easier to wrap your hands around then ecosystems.
It is a pretty choice.
It is a choice between clean air and dirty air.
It is a choice between $1 billion a day in invested in US clean energy or sending $1 billion a day overseas to Venezuela or Saudi Arabia or …
It is the difference between developign U.S. technology and products or buying technology from overseas.
It is a powerful case for pushing forward with all due speed.
I just helped kick-off the Department of Energy’s 2009 Solar Decathlon. This is a unique student competition on the National Mall that showcases the latest energy efficiency and solar power technologies. It is a great chance to see students pushing the boundaries of what’s possible today …
As a sign of the times, the Obama White House links into Facebook, with Chu’s post linking to Chu’s facebook page (announcement of it on WH blog) where he posted some 19 Decathlon photos. Now, seeing that Chu’s post appeared on the White House web page, here is a question that I might have asked the Secretary if I had (or if I have) the chance:
Mr. Secretary: A huge number of people will visit this event. Even more will see it in news reporting. But, most Americans will have no idea that this exists. The Solar Decathlon is a wonderful tool to explain to people the economic, life-style, and American leadership benefits from seizing the opportunities for better building design incorporating sustainability, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.
Mr Secretary, why not propose to the President that the winning house be put on the White House lawn, near the organic garden, for a week so that all Americans will have a chance to learn about The Solar Decathlon, the tremendous achievements of these university students, and the opportunities that these 20 homes exemplify?
He said other companies should quit the group because the Chamber does not fully recognize the business possibilities in taking aggressive action on climate.
“I would encourage the Chamber of Commerce to realize the economic opportunity that the United States can lead in a new industrial revolution,”
Evidently, if we understand Donahue’s words correctly, Steven Chu is also having his strings pulled by some unseen conducter of environmental organizations. Perhaps Tom Donahue should take the time, with others from the US Chamber of Commerce, to visit The Solar Decathlon, to see the quite real opportunities that these houses create, and help figure out how to get the 100s of involved students working for Chamber members helping carve out profitable business opportunities for US businesses helping lead the transition to a profitable and climate-friendly future.
The University of Minnesota’s Solar Decathlon team‘s handout to visitors to the DOE Solar Decathlon, which opens Thursday on the Mall in Washington, DC, (which I had a chance to visit earlier today) is subtitled “A New Tradition”. Their ICON Solar House hopefully is just that, a representation and sign of “a new tradition” that will help create a prosperous climate-friendly future for America and Americans.
of the 2009 Solar Decathlon, with two Canadian teams out of the 20 energy efficient solar powered homes. Team Ontario/BC took their geography to heat, forming Team North to North House to Washington, DC.
. 
also receives zip code-specific, short-term (24- to 72-hour) weather forecasts at 3-hour intervals. It then uses an energy model to evaluate the data and calculate the best scenarios for operating building systems in response, and chooses settings and recommendations for the house’s components. For example, with cold, overcast weather predicted, it might use order additional water pumped through the solar thermal system to build up as much hot water as the tank can mange. Occupants can, themselves, monitor the home’s performance and override the system — or choose to modify their own behavior in face of the house’s feedback.
curious people, visiting the 
follow the sun. The 
handout to visitors to the 