Archive for the ‘Solar’ Category
August 11th, 2008
Green Living 101
Stumble it!
Though here at Low Impact Living we’ve been working to spread the gospel of living green for a few years, some folks are new to this whole green thang. It can certainly be difficult to know where to start. We frequently receive emails from people saying “How do I get started with green living?” If this sounds like you, read on! (Or if you know someone who needs an eco-boost, please forward this post!) Even if you are a Green Jedi Master, read our recommendations below to make sure you can put a check mark next to everything on the list.
First, a quick primer. Humans put a great deal of strain on the earth’s ability to support us. Americans, particularly, live way beyond the planet’s means – each of us uses over 100,000 gallons of water and generates 22 tons of carbon dioxide per year, on average. And though we hear a lot about the impact of new developing companies on the environment, like China and India, Americans are responsible for 22% of carbon emissions, though we only account for 5% of the population. These carbon emissions contribute greatly to global warming, a condition that is reducing the biodiversity of our ecosystem, and threatening our long-term survival. For more information on how global warming will impact each of us, take a look at our global warming synopsis. You can also use our household environmental impact calculator to get a better view on your individual contributions to global warming and other forms of environmental degradation.
Fortunately, it’s not too late! Even small changes that you make today can add up to a big difference. The key is getting started.
Take stock, then take action
People often ask us for the one thing that they should do to reduce their impact on the environment. Our answer: buy less stuff. When you resist the urge to buy something (reducing its demand), you eliminate all of the materials and resources that go into creating the raw materials, manufacturing the item, packaging it, and shipping it. You also cut out the energy and resources you use to go get it and maintain it. And, you keep it out of landfills at the end of its life. Very simple, very easy.
That said, there are many things, most of them very simple, that can also have a big impact. Regardless of where you live – house, apartment, ashram, or whatever – take a look around. Odds are, opportunities for change abound. Consider each of the key resources below.
Water is a scarce resource – less than 1% of the earth’s water is potable. Climate change has caused shifting weather patterns, so we can’t always count on water being where we need it, when we need it. Take a big first step towards conservation by finding and fixing leaks. Turn off all water-using devices for an hour, and see if your water meter moves. If so, check everything you can see, like toilets and faucets. You may need to call in a plumber to help with repairing leaks.
Next, consider where you use water, including landscaping, appliances and fixtures, and showers and faucets. There are many things that you can do right away, while others might take more time or investment:
1. Do it today
+ Adjust sprinklers to eliminate runoff onto pavement
+ Water only during pre-dawn hours to reduce evaporation
+ Run appliances with only full loads (dish washers and laundry machines)
+ Take shorter showers, and turn off water while brushing your teeth
2. Do it this month
+ Adjust your irrigation controllers to account for plant needs
+ Install rain and moisture sensors
+ Install low-flow shower heads and sink aerators
+ Begin replacing water-intensive grass and plants with drought resistant varieties
+ Begin installing new, water-efficient Energy Star appliances
+ Install a new, low-flow toilet to save up to 10 gallons per day
3. Do it this year
+ Install a graywater system, which re-uses water from showers and washing machines for landscaping
Electricity generation affects the environment in several ways, including the emission of carbon dioxide – a whopping 40% of our national carbon emissions come from power generation. But it also takes about 39% of our potable water supply in the US to cool power plants. Reducing your electricity use will have big, positive impacts. Consider where you use electricity, including lighting, computers, TVs, air conditioning or heating, and appliances.
1. Do it today
+ Turn off lights and TVs when you leave the room
+ Replace light bulbs with energy-efficient versions, like compact fluorescents (CFLs)
+ Shut down computers, printers and other equipment at night
+ Install a power strip, plug electronics into it, then turn it off at night
+ Turn the thermostat up to 78◦ in the summer, and down to 68◦ in winter
+ Make sure air conditioner and heater air filters are clean
+ Hang clothes outside to dry
2. Do it this month
+ Weather strip and add insulation to your house
+ Install an Energy-Star programmable thermostat
+ Begin installing new, energy-efficient Energy Star appliances
+ Buy alternative energy from your utility, if available
3. Do it this year
+ Investigate alternative energy sources for your home, like solar power or wind power
Natural gas is cleaner burning than oil and coal, but it still has an environmental impact — it currently accounts for 20% of our carbon dioxide emissions. And, though most of our supplies currently come from North America, expected growth in demand for natural gas will require more imports from overseas. Some areas of the country use natural gas primarily for heating homes, others for creating electricity. Consider how natural gas is used in your home, which may include heating, hot water, cooking, and drying clothes.
1. Do it today
+ Turn the thermostat down in the winter to 68◦ or lower
+ Make sure heater filters are clean– replace them at least once each year
+ Turn down the temperature on your hot water heater to its lowest setting
+ Air dry your laundry
2. Do it this month
+ Weather strip and add insulation to your house
+ Install an Energy Star programmable thermostat
+ Begin installing new, energy-efficient Energy Star appliances
3. Do it this year
+ Install a solar, tankless, or high-efficiency hot water heater
Oil. Where do we start? Oil use in the US contributes 40% of our carbon emissions, but also impacts the environment through drilling, processing and storage, as well as spills. Our demand for oil seems ever-increasing, while supplies are dropping – we import about 2/3 of our oil supplies, while debate rages over opening our natural spaces to more drilling, processing, and storage. And spills.
Mostly, we use oil for transportation, but it also goes into petroleum-based products like plastic. It’s used for home heating, and to create electricity. Consider taking some of the following steps to reduce your impact:
1. Do it today
+ Drive less: walk, bike or take public transportation
+ Make the switch to non-petroleum based green products, like cleaners and paints
+ Choose products with less packaging, and give up bottled water
+ Purchase carbon offsets to fund carbon-reducing projects, like planting trees
+ Conserve electricity
2. Do it this month
+ Weather strip and add insulation to your house
+ Install an Energy Star programmable thermostat
+ Begin installing new, energy-efficient Energy Star appliances
3. Do it this year
+ Trade your gas-guzzler for a more fuel-efficient car
As you work through these items, you’re bound to find new things to do. Some things also might not work for you. Adopt what you can, make adjustments, and keep your eyes open for new opportunities.
Please also visit our green projects page for many more “how to” guides on eco-friendly green home improvement and lifestyle changes.
Popularity: 1% [?]
July 22nd, 2008
Clean Tech Intro: The Solar Family
Written by Michelle Bennett, courtesy of CleanTechnica.com
Solar power means more than solar panels. These days it can also mean collectors, towers, dyes, oh my! Here’s a guide to (most of) the different kinds of solar technologies that are out there today.
First, the basics: Anything that uses solar energy as a source of power is solar-powered. Simple, right? Well let’s not forget that the sun gives us more than a whole spectrum of light, it also gives us heat. Both are used for a wide variety of applications, not just electricity.
1. Solar Thermal
Solar thermal technologies use heat. Cleantechnica has already introduced solar thermal. The cheapest, easiest, and most financially sound solar investment you can make for a house is to install a solar thermal collector. It collects solar energy to provide warm water or warm air for your house, even in the far north. On a larger scale, mirrors can be used to focus heat from the sun to boil water and turn a turbine. Generating electricity with this method is called Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). Large scale CSP projects are already underway in deserts around the globe, and in some places they are invigorating the economy.
The cool thing about CSP is that it overcomes one of the major problems with renewable energy. It used to be true that solar farms stopped producing energy as soon as the sun went down. No longer. Heat is much easier and cheaper to store than electricity, so you can save it for the hours or days when the sun doesn’t shine. Power towers and molten salt are just two methods of producing solar power whenever we need it.
2. Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics are solar technologies that transform light into electricity. Certain elements and chemicals, called solar cells, can lose electrons when exposed to photons (light). Under the right conditions, these electrons are harnessed as electricity. For a more technical explanation, check out Wikipedia. To learn more about the use of solar photovoltaics on homes for energy-production, click here.
This is the most widely used and recognizable material used to make solar panels. Paired with solar cells, silicon can produce high efficiency solar panels. However, silicon panels tend to be more expensive to make, transport, and install because they’re heavy, rigid, and require plenty of high-quality materials. Thin-film silicon panels attempt to overcome these obstacles. The downside: silicon panels work best on cloudless days when the sun is directly overhead. That’s why silicon panels are often positioned on racks to face the sun. The cost of these racks, and loading the panels on them, often consume 50% of the cost of silicon panel installation.
Another strategy to reduce the cost of silicon panels is to use less of them, but still generate plenty of energy. This is possible by concentrating sunlight onto the panel. More intense light means more energy… if you don’t melt your panel in the process. This technology is called Extreme Concentrated Photovoltaics (XCPV).
4. Thin Film
Thin film solar panels are very thin and flexible; the solar cells can be placed on sheets of plastic or aluminum. They should not be confused with silicon thin-films, which use a different manufacturing method. Thin film solar panels tend to be easier to make, use fewer and cheaper materials, and are easier to transport and install. Some thin films absorb different wavelengths of light, which can make them more practical in cloudy regions. The downside: they’re still less efficient than silicon panels, so they don’t produce as much energy. Their efficiency can sometimes degrade over time, depending on the materials and environment. To learn about thin-film installations on homes, click here.
5. Solar Dyes
Here is another promising technology that is still being developed. Invented by the Swiss in the 1990s, the idea is to produce solar cells in cheap, easy, attractive dyes that can be painted or sprayed onto almost any surface. The benefit is both cost and application: the dyes are only one tenth of the cost of silicon panels and you can boldly take them where solar has never gone before. Imagine painting your house with solar cells and reaping just enough energy to power your microwave. That is the downside: solar dyes are not yet as efficient as thin film solar, and many dyes only last several years instead of decades.
6. Radical Solar Technologies
Some tech exists that push the definition of “solar power”. For example, algae can be used to produce biodiesel and ethanol. If you fill your car with this fuel, is your car solar powered? What about passive solar technology, which controls how and when sunlight affects buildings? Since the sun is a major engine driving our planet, the possibilities for harnessing its energy are infinite.
Have we missed a solar technology in this post? Let us know in a comment below.
To find a solar power installer near you, click here.
Images via Flickr Creative Commons License: Solar Tower by afloresm, Silicon Solar by laurenatclemson, CIGS by Elsie esq., Algae by Rosa y Dani. Solar Dyes via MetaEfficient.com
Popularity: 1% [?]
July 17th, 2008
Green Condos in the West
A couple of weeks back we did a feature on the great trend of green condo developments taking off all over the country– and we covered many developments in the East and South. Click here to learn about Green Condos in the Eastern U.S.
A green condo can be a wonderful alternative for (the vast majority of) those of us who cannot afford to build a new green single-family home. We want sustainable design, solar panels, energy-efficient appliances and so much more, but we can’t afford to build. Viola– the green condo!
This week we cover many of the excellent green condos available in the Western United States. There are so many to choose from it’s tough to pick just a selection to highlight here!
In the Los Angeles Area
Evo South is an exciting development in the heart of downtown LA. It is an urban tower of steel and glass– 23 stories with 311 residences. They are in the process of seeking LEED certification for the building. The units feature such eco-friendly elements as Bosch Energy Star appliances, low-flow water fixtures, Nature’s Choice carpeting and more.
If you prefer the beachy side of life, Green On 19 is a cool townhouse development in Santa Monica. These townhomes are the first of their kind in Santa Monica, and there are five units in the development. Architect Jesse Bornstein has integrated modern style, light and sustainability into his design. The units meet Energy Star New Home standards and feature solar power, bamboo and concrete floors, LED landscape lighting, xeriscape landscaping, and more.
In the San Francisco Bay Area
The Arterra is a relatively new development in the Mission Bay district. Arterra is also seeking LEED Certification. The Arterra has three sections: “sky”, a 16 story tower with city and bay views; “city”, a 9-level building with city views and green roof; and “park,” a 6-level building with two-story residences that come with private outdoor spaces. Altogether there are 269 units in the Arterra, and apparently 55% of them are already sold.
The Green City Lofts in Emeryville have 62 units of Energy Star Certified living. The steel superstructure and interior framing contains 25-90% post-consumer recycled content creating a more durable, earthquake-resistant, fire-resistant, rot-resistant, mold-resistant, and pest-resistant building. The units have radiant heating, no-VOC paints, double-pane windows, and cool metal roofs.
In Seattle
Enso is a thrilling condo development in Seattle. They are seeking LEED Gold certification. Units are for sale now and will be available in Spring 2009. The building is gorgeous and the units feature such eco-elements as concrete counters, sun shades, 100% recycled content carpet, no-VOC paints, and Ecoresin panels. The building also uses heat-pump technology, which is a very energy-efficient option for heating and cooling.
The Veer Lofts are bringing a kicky spirit to Seattle. They have three styles of lofts for sale– the “Flexi-loft” is 1 and 1/2 stories; The Full Loft is two stories and The Flat is a one-story. They are seeking LEED Certification and the units include daylighting, water-conserving fixtures, recycled building materials and drought-tolerant landscaping. Check out the funky website– it’s very fun!
In Portland
The Metropolitan in the Pearl District is a gleaming, modern tower that is a LEED Certified building. The Metropolitan balances luxury with a commitment to sustainable design and healthy living. The LEED Silver building has high performance energy efficient mechanical systems and glazing systems, storm water retention for landscape irrigation, the incorporation of durable, low-maintenance materials and the use of healthy materials and abundant natural ventilation for improved air quality.
In Denver
Just a few blocks from Coors Field in downtown Denver, 20|20 Lawrence Street features 60 residential condos atop an exciting mix of ground-level retailers. The development is LEED Gold (no small accomplishment!) The 50,000 watts of electrical power that will be produced from a roof-mounted photovoltaic system will represent one of the largest solar photovoltaic arrays in Colorado. The individual units feature sustainable hardwoods and low-VOC carpets and paints.
Click here to find green real estate for sale across the U.S.
Click here to find an EcoBroker to help you with your green real estate needs.
Popularity: 2% [?]
July 16th, 2008
Toyota Prius to Get Solar Power
Written by Nick Chambers, courtesy of gas2.0
Toyota’s next generation Prius, due out as early as next spring, will be outfitted with solar panels to help run the on-board electronics, according to a report from the Nikkei newspaper.
Smaller start-up car companies, such as Th!nk, have plans for solar power augmented cars on the books too, but the incorporation of solar panels on the Prius would mark the first time a major car manufacturer has done such a thing with one of its models.
Currently in its second generation, the third generation Prius has been widely anticipated for some time now. Due for a complete overhaul, the addition of solar panels to the Prius would corroborate the expectation of major changes in both style and function in the next generation model.
According to Marketwatch, the Nikkei reported that the solar panels would provide a portion of the two to five kilowatts needed to power the air conditioning unit. The solar panels would be supplied by Kyocera.
Toyota plans to pump up production of the Prius next year to 450,000 units. This would represent a 60% increase in production over 2007 numbers, Marketwatch also reported.
Although that sounds promising, Toyota has kind of dropped the ball this year by failing to meet demand for the popular hybrid and causing a worldwide Prius shortage. Blaming a lack of battery production capacity, Toyota has promised to open another battery facility soon.
Let’s hope they can actually meet demand for the Prius next year, especially if they plan on including such excellent and logical features as solar powered on-board electronics.
Related Articles:
Turbo Diesels Take on Hybrids
Volkswagen to Produce Plug-In Hybrid Electric Cars
Honda Launches Zero-Emission Hydrogen Car
Electric Cars for 2010
Popularity: 1% [?]
July 14th, 2008
Dyeing to Boost Solar Efficiency by 50%
Written by Michelle Bennett, courtesy of CleanTechnica.com
MIT has perfected a dye technology that could change the solar world as we know it.
The most efficient form of solar technology today is (arguably) extreme concentrated photovoltaics, essentially solar panels placed under a magnifying glass, but the problem with these systems is heat. Concentrated sunlight can melt silicon solar panels unless you include specialized cooling systems. Cooling technology costs money, and the panels require expensive tracking mechanisms to follow the sun through the day. MIT’s new solar system bypasses the heat and tracking problems all together.
Thin coatings of organic dyes absorb sunlight and redirect favored wavelengths into a pane of glass. The light is aimed and concentrated towards the edge of the pane where small solar panels are located. The concentrated light allows the panels to produce the maximum possible amount of energy all day, every day without cooling systems or complex tracking mechanisms.
The idea is not new, but its founders in the ’70s could not overcome technical challenges. The technology was abandoned when research funding dried up. Their dyes were unstable, and their optical experise was imperfect. Much of the light captured and concentrated into their glass or plastic was lost before it could reach the solar cells. MIT took tips from laser technology and organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) to perfect the technology. Their expertise increased the distance light can travel through glass or plastic to reach the solar panels, boosting energy production.
“In addition, the focused light increases the electrical power obtained from each solar cell “by a factor of over 40.”” According to Marc A Baldo, an associate professor at MIT who helped lead the project. For more technical details, you may need an AAAS membership to read the Science article.
Three Reasons Why This Could Rock the Solar World:
1) It’s Easy: The technology is neither complex or difficult to manufacture. All you need is a window frame laced with solar panels and an ordinary pane of glass or plastic. Apply the proper ratios of organic dyes and you’re ready to go. The finished product looks like smoked glass and could be used on rooftops or solar farms. Future improvements could bring them to ordinary windows. Hopefully it will be competitive in price with other solar technologies.
2) Upgrade Existing Solar: This technology can be applied to existing photovoltaic panels to boost their efficiency by as much as 50% with minimal additional cost. Upgrading existing solar panels will not only boost their energy output, but shift their cost/energy ratios. That means that even older, more expensive solar installations could become more competitive with non-renewable energy sources.
3) It’s Coming Soon: MIT claims this technology could be ready for commerical production within three years. A company has already been founded to capitalize on the technology, and it won two prizes at MIT’s Enterpreneurship Competition, totaling $30,000. They will also seek more investment over the next few months. Keep your eyes peeled for Covalent Solar.
But nothing is certain. Like any new technology, this one has its challenges ahead. The dyes, for example, have a demonstrated lifespan of ten years, but most solar panels come with twenty or twenty-five year warranties. Covalent Solar must also run the gamut of any fledgling business to bring their product to market. With so many improving and emerging solar technologies, they will face a lot of competition.
What makes this technology different is its implications for existing solar installations and expansion into new spaces. A window that helps power a building could become a powerful tool towards super-efficient or power-producing structures. The potential for low cost, high efficiency solar technologies has never been greater.
Related articles:
Learn about new thin-film solar applications.
Find solar installers near you.
Popularity: 1% [?]
