ToolBase E-News - 05/16/2007 (Plain Text Version)

Tucson Builder Unveils Second Net-Zero Energy Home

According to an article in the Arizona Daily Star (05/08/07), Tucson home builder, green building advocate, and PATH Partner John Wesley Miller recently unveiled his company's second "net zero energy" home in the Armory Park del Sol community in downtown Tucson.
In the most basic terms, zero net energy homes consume the same amount of energy they produce. Miller’s 2,168-square-foot, all-electric home features photovoltaic panels, high-efficiency appliances, and a rainwater-harvesting system. The home also features a three-car garage, a workshop, granite countertops, and is fully wheelchair accessible. Gov. Janet Napolitano presented an Arizona Innovation Award to the John Wesley Miller Companies for its work in building zero-energy homes in Armory Park del Sol. All homes in the Tucson development, many of which were built in partnership with the NAHB Research Center and Tucson Electric Power Company (TEP), are built to the high energy-efficiency requirements of TEP's Guarantee Home Program. For more information, read the article or visit the Armory Park del Sol website.

Consumer Spotlight Shifting to LEDs

According to a recent Associated Press article (05/11/07), light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are quickly becoming a challenger to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) in the alternative lighting industry. The popularity of alternative, energy-efficient lighting is increasing as traditional incandescent bulbs are being phased out; California and Canada will ban the sale of the bulbs by 2012, and a U.S. Senate committee is working on a proposal that will eliminate the bulbs in 10 years. Although CFLs are the most common alternative to incandescents, many consumers haven’t warmed up to them. LEDs may become the preferred alternative thanks to recent advances, such as improved energy efficiency, brightness, and light quality. LEDs also last about 50,000 hours, compared to 10,000 hours for CFLs and 1,000 for incandescents. To learn more, read the article. [return to top]

Harnessing Wind Power for Your Home

According to a recent article by 9NEWS Colorado (05/07/07), backyard wind turbines can generate 40 to 80 percent of the energy required by a typical home, providing consumers significant savings on their energy bills. The Skystream turbine, which is designed for residential use, is the first device to come out of the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Energy Program. The system costs between $8,500 and $11,000 to install, a fraction of the cost of previous wind technologies, and offers a quick return on investment according to the manufacturer. To learn more, read the article. [return to top]

Homes that Heat and Cool Themselves

According to a recent article in PC Magazine (Chloe Albanesius, 05/11/07), a building method that uses the natural properties of wood to produce homes that heat and cool themselves received the top prize at an annual inventors challenge sponsored by The History Channel and a division of the Inventors Hall of Fame. The "Enertia" building system, developed by Michael Sykes, uses milled wooden blocks that screw into place. Small spaces between the walls are connected to a glue-laminated, wooden “sunspace” that releases thermal energy in winter to heat a home. In summer, the process is reversed and the structure instead absorbs heat from home appliances and people in the home. To learn more, read the article. [return to top]

Plastic Solar Cell Efficiency Improving

Cheap plastic solar cells are now closer to becoming a reality, according to a recent article in RenewableEnergyAccess.com (05/04/07). A team of U.S. scientists at the Wake Forest University Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials announced that they had pushed the efficiency of plastic solar cells to more than 6 percent. Although the percentage may not seem like much compared to the efficiency rating of over 40 percent now achieved by photovoltaic cells, the plastic cell rating is twice what researchers had achieved two years ago, and they expect even higher numbers over the next two years. According to the researchers, this could make plastic devices, which are inexpensive and lightweight in comparison to traditional silicon solar panels, the preferred solar technology. The flexible solar cells could be wrapped around surfaces, rolled up, or even painted onto structures. In theory, these cells could replace roof tiling and home siding products, be placed on automobiles, or incorporated into building façades. To learn more, read the article. [return to top]

ToolBase.org Featured Technology—High-Wind and Impact-Resistant Asphalt Roofing Shingles

This summer, wind and hail will likely cause significant damage to roofs across the United States and result in billions of dollars in insurance payouts. However, new shingle products that are designed to resist damage from impacts and high winds can significantly reduce roof damage caused by severe weather. High-wind and impact-resistant shingles, which are one of the numerous innovations listed in the PATH Technology Inventory, meet the most stringent standards for impact resistance (Class 4) set by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and wind resistance set by UL and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International). Manufacturers use different proprietary methods to keep shingles attached to sheathing during high winds and to keep granules attached to shingles and prevent shingle breakage upon impact. Currently, the shingles cost about 50 percent more than traditional shingles, but may be worth the additional cost in areas prone to frequent and severe storms. Additionally, some insurance companies offer premium discounts for homeowners that use roofing products with a Class 4 rating. Although the shingles are easy to install, many require a six-nail pattern that can take longer than the traditional three-nail pattern. View the PATH Technology Inventory listing for High-Wind and Impact-Resistant Asphalt Roofing Shingles to learn more about this technology. [return to top]

Wireless Earthquake Sensors Help Mitigate Damage in Simulation

According to a recent article from the Washington University in St. Louis (Jennie Iverson and Tony Fitzpatrick, 04/16/07), the University’s Structural Control and Earthquake Engineering Laboratory has successfully demonstrated that a combination of wireless sensors and special controls called magnetorheological (MR) dampers can limit damage from a simulated earthquake. The wireless sensors are attached to the sides of buildings to monitor the force of sway when shaking occurs. The information from the sensors is transmitted to a computer program that in turn sends a message to the MR dampers, which act like shock absorbers for the building, reducing the damaging effect of swaying. To learn more about the technology, read the article. [return to top]

NAHB Research Center Opening New State-of-the-Art Product Testing Laboratory and Research Facility

The NAHB Research Center, the research arm of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), recently announced that the grand opening of its new, state-of-the-art laboratory testing and market research facility will take place on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 at 4:30 pm. According to a recent release (05/07/07), the ribbon cutting will mark the opening of the two-story, 42,000-square foot building that the Research Center will use to test the durability of building products used in new home construction, conduct vital market research for building product manufacturers, and perform code conformity and quality assurance testing, with the goal of improving the innovation, quality, and performance of American homes. For more information on the new facility and the NAHB Research Center’s capabilities, visit the website. [return to top]

2007 Next Generation Design Competition Winners Focus on Energy

A recent article on MetropolisMag.com (04/26/07) highlights the winners of the magazine’s 2007 Next Generation® design competition. One of the runners-up is the “i-rise” project, a prefabricated, multi-story residential unit that uses an integrated infrastructure for generating renewable energy, collecting rainwater, and treating liquid and solid waste, by using zero environmental impact technologies. Other runners-up included the iSave, an LED display unit for faucets and showers that makes users aware of water usage and encourages them to save; Electro-Conductive Gypsum Wallboard, a new building product that combines flat-wire technology with fire-resistant gypsum wallboard; and the SmartScreen, a textile that can help buildings save energy by using shape memory polymer strands that react to changes in temperature to open or close, thereby allowing or preventing solar heat gain. To learn more, read the article. [return to top]