ToolBase E-News volume 132
In This Issue:
HOME BUILDING AS A "COTTAGE" INDUSTRY:
According to a recent article in The King County Journal (Lori Varosh, July 12, 2005), Danielson Grove community in Kirkland, Wash. will showcase an innovative housing demonstration project designed to test the public's desire for non-traditional developments. The development of 16 energy-efficient cottage-style homes aims for a sense of "community" with front porches, community centers and common grounds. In addition to being BuiltGreen/Energy Star Certified, and a 'Natural Yard Care' neighborhood, Danielson Grove features ecologically-friendly development amenities that conserve open space. The developers want to attract neighbors and sell homes to people with a similar lifestyle focus on "quality versus quantity." For more information, read the article, or visit the Cottage Company website.
POWER TUBE, INC. DEBUTS GEOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGY:
A recent article in New Mexico Business Weekly (Clay Holtzman, July 15, 2005) highlighted a prototype geothermal technology created by Power Tube, Inc. that was presented at the Manufacturing and Training Center at the University of Mexico. The "Argus Power Tube" was created to turn the heat of the earth into electrical power. The product is 180 feet tall and can generate up to 10 megawatts of electrical power, or enough to power 1,600 average homes.
The designer intends to install the technology in underground wells that typically require water and steam and where geothermal power is used to generate electricity. The hope is to serve the needs of underdeveloped countries and incorporate low-cost, non-polluting and renewable sources of energy. For more information, read the article.
ALABAMA UNIVERSITY UNVEILS HEALTHY HOUSE:
With increased consumer awareness of and demand for improved indoor air quality, Tuskegee University recently constructed its Healthy House using guidelines from American Lung Association, through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. As featured in a recent article in The Birmingham News (Troy Goodman, July 18, 2005), the single-story house features minimal cut-out ventilation and plumbing holes in the floor and ceiling, and the attic crawl space is tightly sealed to reduce air leaks. The home has a fresh-air filter that feeds directly into the heating and cooling system as well.
Researchers are monitoring the home for pollutants such as VOCs and carbon dioxide. For more information, read the article.
EXTREME WEATHER HOME BUILDING:
In an effort to further develop energy-efficient, cost-effective construction in cold-climate regions, the Fairbanks, Alaska-based Cold Climate Housing Research Center is constructing the Cold Climate Building and Infrastructure Research and Testing Facility. According to a recent article in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (R.A. Dillon, July 21, 2005), the organization says that the new facility will test the cold resistance of insulation and other building products. In fact, the 15,000-square-foot facility, located on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, will be a case study for new cold-weather technologies and alternative power initiatives. Eventually, the developers hope the testing facility will also provide an "Alaska Tested-Alaska Tuff" certification for products that are well-suited for use in extreme cold climates.
The project is scheduled to end by the summer of 2006. For more information, read the article.
COST COMPETITIVE ELECTRICITY:
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) (July 13, 2005), highly-efficient photovoltaic solar cells will greatly reduce the cost of producing electricity from sunlight in the near future. These cells use PV concentrators in a larger-than-average module size and track the sun during the day, making them more suitable for large utility installations. Researchers say that advanced multi-junction PV cells are approaching 38 percent efficiency, and may continue to grow over time. One company aims to soon install the systems at only $3/watt. For more information, read the release.
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES PARTNER FOR HOME ENERGY SAVINGS:
According to a recent press release (July 14, 2005), the Partnerships for Home Energy Efficiency, a joint effort by the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has developed a web portal that provides information on how to coordinate home energy savings. According to the release, an average American family could save $150 a year by taking advantage of home energy efficiencies. The portal will provide energy saving solutions for homeowners, contractors and builders, building managers, realtors, and others. For more information, read the release, or visit the Partnership's portal.
