Guilford Solar

Guilford Solar has a new name, logo, website, and blog

2010-03-09T08:52:00.003-05:00

Guilford Solar Communities Program has undergone a facelift: We have a new name, logo, website, and blog. We are now called Guilford Energy Resources, and we can be found at:
http://guilfordenergyresources.blogspot.com/ and at http://www.guilfordenergyresources.org/.

Entries that ordinarily would appear on this blog will now be found at the new blog site. So reset your bookmark!

Local Energy Series - Biofuels

2010-02-07T09:46:00.002-05:00

Prospects for Biofuels Production in the Piedmont. Dr. Ghasem Shahbazi, Director of Bioengineering at NC A&T State University, will provide an introduction to the variety of available biofuels. Then Derek Blackburn, also of A&T, will provide an overview of the existing biodiesel and ethanol plants in North Carolina. The featured biofuels business will be Red Birch Energy, which operates an industrial-scale biodiesel refinery in Bassett, VA. Among other things, Red Birch -- twice invited to Washington to present its business model -- will outline its future franchise option, which should be of interest to those looking into biofuels business opportunities. Finally, Burlington Biodiesel, which has operated a biodiesel production co-op for many years, will describe its current operations and make the case for the continuing existence of biodiesel co-ops in general.

What: Prospects for Biofuels Production in the Piedmont
When: Saturday, February 13, 2010; 9:30 AM - Noon
Where: Kathleen Clay Edwards Library auditorium, 1420 Price Park Rd., Greensboro, NC

Local Energy Series

2010-01-09T17:00:00.003-05:00

Guilford Solar is pleased to announce its “local energy” series of presentations, to be offered in 2010. Besides being perhaps the most effective strategy for attaining energy security, the implementation of local energy also advances the objectives of localization movements generally: agricultural and industrial job creation, the local circulation of currency, a heightened sense of community, and local self-reliance.

The series will consist of five presentations, and will focus on the two major sources of energy directly available to the Piedmont Triad region, namely, biomass and solar. The following is a brief introduction.

January 9: "An Introduction to Local Energy." Presenter: Peter Kauber. The presentation will begin with a definition and characterization of "local energy" conceptually. This will be followed by numerous examples of local energy, many drawn from the area surrounding Greensboro, but not limited to our area. This will include examples of biodiesel production, the use of landfill gas as a fuel, various uses of solar (space heating, water heating, electricity production), combined heat and power (CHP), and more general cases of energy recycling.

February 13: "Prospects for Biofuels Production in the Piedmont." Dr. Ghasem Shahbazi, Director of Bioengineering at NC A&T University, will provide an introduction to the varieties of biofuels, followed by an assessment, based on research done at NC A&T and elsewhere, of the prospects for biofuels production in the Piedmont. His presentation will finish with an update regarding the activities of the Biofuels Center of North Carolina. The featured biofuels business will be Red Birch Energy, which operates an industrial-scale biodiesel refinery in Bassett, Va. Among other things, Red Birch – twice invited to Washington to present its business model – will outline its future franchise option, which should be of interest to those looking into biofuels business opportunities. Finally, Burlington Biodiesel, which has operated a biodiesel production co-op for many years, will describe its current operations and make the case for the continuing existence of biodiesel co-ops in general.

March 13: "Varieties of Solar Energy and Use." Solar is one form of renewable energy that we have in abundance in North Carolina. Phil Strouth, of FLS Energy, will examine the use of solar energy to provide domestic hot water and electric power. Following Phil's presentation, Otto Afanador will discuss the application of solar energy to space heating and cooling. Both presenters will cover the various technologies available for capturing solar energy.

May 8: "The Net-Zero Energy Residence." Presenter: Michiel VanderSommen. From a housing perspective, the net-zero energy residence represents the ultimate in energy localization: local energy sources, local energy production (and conservation), local energy consumption. By definition, a net-zero energy residence produces at least as much energy as it consumes. The concept can be extended to provide energy support for personal transportation, by expanding the energy production capabilities of the residence (or residential community) to provide battery-charging for personal vehicles. Michiel will examine various techniques for meeting the net-zero energy objective, including passive solar design, the use of orientation, construction, and landscaping techniques for maximizing energy efficiency, and the application of energy production technologies that are appropriate for residences and residential communities.

September 11: "Ten Years Off the Grid." A home-owner and self-employed guitar teacher and guitar repair craftsman, Kirby Wilkins will describe what it's like to design and implement a photovoltaic system for powering a residence and a workshop and, equally important, what it's like to live "off the grid" for over a decade. Mr. Wilkins' efforts provide an excellent example of the successful implementation of local energy.

Local Energy Series Logistics

What: Introduction to Local Energy
When: Saturday, January 9, 2010; 10 AM – 12 Noon
Where: Kathleen Clay Edwards Library, 1420 Price Park Rd., Greensboro, NC

What: Prospects for Biofuels Production in the Piedmont
When: Saturday, February 13, 2010; 9:30 AM – 12 Noon
Where: Kathleen Clay Edwards Library, 1420 Price Park Rd., Greensboro, NC

What: Varieties of Solar Energy and Use
When: Saturday, March 13, 2010; 9:30 AM – 12 Noon
Where: Kathleen Clay Edwards Library, 1420 Price Park Rd., Greensboro, NC

What: The Net-Zero Energy Residence
When: Saturday, May 8, 2010; 10 AM – 12 Noon
Where: Kathleen Clay Edwards Library, 1420 Price Park Rd., Greensboro, NC

What: Ten Years Off the Grid
When: Saturday, September 11, 2010; 10 AM – 12 Noon
Where: Kathleen Clay Edwards Library, 1420 Price Park Rd., Greensboro, NC

2009 Schedule of Events

2009-02-05T09:00:00.002-05:00

For a summary of the 2009 Guilford Solar schedule of events, please visit: http://guilford.ces.ncsu.edu:80/index.php?page=events&event_id=13842

Learn how to cool effectively and efficiently

2008-11-20T18:52:00.002-05:00

Guilford Solar's monthly program for December will feature a presentation on effective and efficient cooling, by Michiel VanderSommen. Specifics are as follows:

What: Guilford Solar's December program
When: Saturday, December 13, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where: Barn Kitchen Meeting Room of the Guilford County Agricultural Center, 3309 Burlington Road, Greensboro, NC 27405
Cost: Free

Description:

For our December program, Michiel VanderSommen will offer a presentation on "Cooling Effectively and Efficiently." Cooling is a particular challenge here in the Piedmont Triad, as we lack useful wind and are saddled with high humidity. Michiel will concentrate on "passive" cooling but will also discuss the more conventional AC (and the maintenance thereof). He will consider the purpose of shrubbery, discuss such concepts as albedo and heat island, and cover the importance of shading, among other things. Because the topic of insulation (which is clearly relevant to cooling) was covered in our November Guilford Solar meeting, it will not be emphasized here.

For more information, call 336-375-5876

Learn about insulation

2008-10-15T13:28:00.002-04:00

Guilford Solar's monthly program for November will feature a presentation on insulation by John Anderson of Insulation Solutions, Inc. Specifics are as follows:

What: Guilford Solar's November program
When: Saturday, November 8, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where: Barn Kitchen Meeting Room of the Guilford
County Agricultural Center, 3309 Burlington
Road, Greensboro, NC 27405
Cost: Free

Description:

Mr. Anderson will describe, and discuss the differences among, four types of insulation: fiberglass, cellulose, open-cell foam, and closed-cell foam. He will compare the pros and cons of each type and rate their effectiveness. He will also talk about the effectiveness and importance of the installation process and its impact on energy usage and costs. "You can choose one of the foam insulations at a relatively high cost, but if it isn't installed properly the effect can be hindered".

For more information, call 336-375-5876.

Soaking up the solars

2008-09-12T17:10:00.004-04:00

So you think "drill here, drill now" isn't quite the way to go? We don't either. This is part of what you will see and what you will hear about at the October 4 Piedmont Green Gala. Be seen and be green.

First Annual Piedmont Green Gala

2008-09-05T10:16:00.004-04:00

Drop what you're doing and mark your calendars! On Saturday, October 4, the First Annual Piedmont Green Gala will be held at T.S. Designs, in Burlington. This will be the hands-down biggest green event ever held in the Piedmont Triad.

Featured will be solar and wind power generation, biodiesel production, alternative transportation (hybrids, biodiesel, electric cars), sustainable agriculture (organic gardens, composting), water conservation and grey water use, sustainable business practices, two workshops on renewable energy and energy efficiency tax credits, display tables, locally produced food and beverages, musical entertainment, and -- above all -- some folks who are nothing short of inspiring.

Check out the full list of features, time-schedule, and location details at the PGG website: http://www.piedmontgreengala.com/

Directions to T.S. Designs (in Burlington):

Normally, there are several straightforward routes for getting to T.S. Designs from I-40. However, due to recent road construction, I am going to recommend one route only:

--Whether you are arriving from the east or from the west on I-40, use Exit 143, and take Route 62 south.
--Proceed south on Route 62 for slightly more than a mile, until you reach Troxler.
--Turn right onto Troxler and proceed for approximately 0.3 miles to Willow Spring Lane.
--Turn right onto Willow Spring Lane and you will see the driveway for T.S. Designs on your left.
--NOTE: Event volunteers will provide "parking management." Please follow their instructions.

Be seen and be green!

Guilford Solar to present program on biofuels

2008-09-03T15:33:00.006-04:00

The monthly program for September will consist of a presentation on biofuels by Dr. Ghasem Shahbazi, of NC A&T State University. Specifics are as follows:

What: Guilford Solar September program
When: Saturday, September 13, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where: Barn Kitchen Meeting Room of the Guilford County Agricultural Center, 3309 Burlington Road, Greensboro, NC 27405
Cost: Free

Description:

Dr. Ghasem Shahbazi, Director of Biological Engineering at NC A&T State University, will present a seminar on ethanol as the dominant biofuel in the country. In this presentation, Dr. Shahbazi will compare ethanol production from corn versus lignocellulosic biomass. He will discuss various technologies for producing ethanol from lignocellulosic feedstock. He will also discuss various national biofuel plans and will present results from selected research projects at NC A&T State University.

Dr. Shahbazi is currently serving as a member of the board of directors for the Biofuel Center of NC. As such, he will provide insights into the planning and operation of the BC of NC and discuss the efforts directed towards recruiting biofuel manufacturers to set up plants in NC. Dr. Shahbazi has a MSc. degree from UC Davis and a Ph. D. degree from Pennsylvania State University in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. He is a veteran of 20 years of biofuel research at NC A&T State University, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

For more information, call 336-375-5876.

Three Major Solar Projects for NC

2008-08-24T13:00:00.005-04:00

After years of false starts, large-scale solar power is scheduled to come to North Carolina.

Progress Energy is planning a 1.2-megawatt solar farm on 10 acres in Wilmington, to be built at the same complex as the utility's coal-burning power plants, it announced Friday. The solar farm could generate enough power for about 800 homes on sunny days. It is expected to start generating electricity this year. The Progress Energy solar project will be developed, owned and operated by SunEdison, a national solar developer in Maryland. SunEdison will sell the power it generates to Progress, which will then redistribute the electricity to its customers.

SunEdison announced two other solar projects in the state this year:
* a 1-megawatt project on the Cary campus of software developer SAS, which will sell power to Progress.
* a 16-megawatt solar farm in Davidson County that will sell power to Duke Energy.

The Davidson County project appears puny compared with the 900-megawatt Shearon Harris nuclear plant in Wake County, but it's colossal by solar standards. The nation's largest solar project is about 14 megawatts, at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

North Carolina, a state where solar energy has never been adopted on a large scale, is suddenly developing three significant solar projects. "It's about time," said Stephen Kalland, director of the N.C. Solar Center at N.C. State University. "The technology has been there for some time." The interest in solar in this state is being driven by a 2007 state law requiring that power companies tap renewable resources. The law may elevate North Carolina to a national solar hot spot; utilities must develop an estimated 300 megawatts of solar power by 2021 to meet the renewables standard, Kalland said.

Progress Energy, Duke Energy and municipal power agencies are all reviewing proposals from developers of renewable power, including solar, wind and biomass resources. Duke plans to develop its own statewide solar power network on about 850 sites, primarily rooftops.

North Carolina's potential for 300 megawatts is likely to look less impressive over time. An 800-megawatt solar proposal is in the works in California. That project would put solar power on the same scale as the behemoths of energy -- nuclear power plants and coal-burning plants. Today, North Carolina has less than a half-megawatt of solar power, mostly rooftop projects on private homes that are subsidized by NC GreenPower, a Raleigh nonprofit group that has been supporting solar projects since 2004. NC GreenPower has 167 solar projects; many are so small that they don't generate enough power for one home.

The high cost of silicon wafers and rising demand for silicon by the computer chip industry have been major impediments to solar development. Generating solar energy once cost about five times as much as building conventional power plants, putting solar out of reach unless it was heavily subsidized. The cost of nuclear power is soaring, but solar power is still about twice as costly as nuclear, Kalland said.

North Carolina regulation of utilities presents another obstacle to solar. Solar developers such as SunEdison are not allowed to sell electricity to businesses or homes. They can only sell to power companies, which in the past were unwilling to invest in solar energy, because it was expensive. Solar systems produce emissions-free electricity without greenhouse gases or radioactive nuclear waste. The downside is that solar power operates only about 20 percent of the time, compared with nuclear and coal plants that run around the clock.

The financial terms of the SunEdison contracts are confidential, and utility officials declined to discuss how much they are paying for solar. Progress spokesman Mike Hughes said other factors necessary for solar development include negotiating for land, and often, providing connections to transmission lines. "It's one of the technologies where price has come down and likely will continue to come down," Hughes said.

---------------
John Murawski, Staff Writer
News & Observer
john.murawski@newsobserver.com or (919) 829-8932

Peak Oil on TV

2008-08-16T12:49:00.001-04:00

For those of you who were unable to attend the Guilford Solar presentation on peak oil and who are interested in seeing it, the presentation is being aired on Greensboro Community Television, Cable Channel 8, according to the following schedule:

Sunday, 8/17/08 @ 6:00 pm
Friday, 8/29/08 @ 12:00 noon
Monday, 9/1/08 @ 12:00 midnight

Be aware that the presentation lasts approximately 90 minutes.

August, September, and October events

2008-07-24T09:57:00.002-04:00

Many exciting events are on the horizon, as will be indicated below. First, a change in schedule: The published GSCP 2008 Schedule of Programs shows the August program topic as "Biofuels" and the September program topic as "Biodiesel." Due to presenter scheduling requirements, we will be reversing the topic order. In other words, "Biodiesel" will come first (in August) and "Biofuels" will come second (in September).

Okay, get ready for the fun:

Saturday, August 9: The August Guilford Solar program will feature Mr. Timothy Victor, a Ph.D. candidate in the Energy and Environmental Studies interdisciplinary degree program at NC A&T. Tim will present a seminar discussing the current energy situation, advantages and challenges for biodiesel fuel, common biodiesel feedstocks and production methods, and quality standards for this renewable fuel. Tim has a mechanical engineering degree from Cornell University and a master's degree in mathematics from UNC-G. He is currently investigating the chemical reactions that take place when biodiesel fuel is burned in diesel engines and their effect on engine emissions and performance. His work focuses on the use of computers and mathematical models to simulate and better understand these chemical processes.

Specifics:

What: GSCP program on Biodiesel
When: Saturday, August 9, 10 - 11:30 AM
Where: Barn Kitchen Meeting Room of the Guilford County
Agricultural Center, 3309 Burlington Road, Greensboro
Contact: 336-375-5876

Friday - Sunday, August 22 - 24: Southern Energy & Environment Expo. If you have never attended this annual event, you owe it to yourself to do so. If you have attended previously, no more need be said. Check the website for an account of what you will be treated to. This is one of the premier annual events in the southeast. Go to: http://www.seeexpo.com/.

Saturday, September 13: September GSCP program on Biofuels. Details will be forthcoming.

Saturday, September 27: Electric car extravaganza, to be held at the Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library. Local electric car superhero Lawrence Feir will run this one. Details will be forthcoming.

Saturday, October 4: Green Open House mega-event, T.S. Designs, Burlington. T.S. Designs has become the Triad showcase for almost everything related to sustainable energy and sustainable business practices. What is going to happen here on October 4 will blow your mind! Details will be forthcoming.

Mark your calendars, folks!

Peak Oil arrives in Greensboro

2008-06-25T22:40:00.002-04:00

Here are two items of importance regarding peak oil:

1. The News & Record is publishing a series on peak oil, and it will be hitting the stands soon. Morgan Glover, the reporter who authored the series, has been working for months on this. She is extremely knowledgeable about the topic, and I am expecting this to be an excellent series. The first installment is to be published on Sunday, June 29, the second on Wednesday, July 2, and the third installment is to appear on Saturday, July 5. Don't miss it!

2. Guilford Solar will be offering a 2-hour special on peak oil as its July monthly program. The specifics are as follows:
What: Guilford Solar July Program: "Peak Oil -- Theory and Evidence"
Where: Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library, 1420 Price Park Road, Greensboro
When: Saturday, July 12, 10 AM -- 12 Noon
Cost: Free
Description: Transportation is the lifeline of our current global and US economies. Over 95% of our transportation is dependent upon the refined products of oil -- gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and bunker fuel. As the price of oil sets new records weekly, the question naturally arises: Why is this happening? One increasingly common explanation is that the rate of production worldwide of cheap, high-quality oil has peaked or will do so in the near future. This is the "peak oil" hypothesis. Guilford Solar's July program will explain the meaning of peak oil and will examine the evidence that supports it. The presenter is Peter Kauber, who has researched the topic over the past four years. Kauber was employed by Marathon Oil Company during the 1979-1981 "oil crisis" and thus brings a historical and industry perspective to the discussion.

Note: Though I have not yet seen the contents of the News & Record peak oil series, I am expecting to reference some of its material in my own presentation on July 12. This will be my attempt to provide integration between what Morgan presents in her series and what I am already planning to present. Therefore, if you are expecting to attend the Guilford Solar program, reading the N&R series should function as a useful introduction to what I will be presenting on July 12.

Have a good read, and I hope to see you at the Library on July 12.

--Peter Kauber,
Guilford Solar

Duke to support residential solar??

2008-05-27T02:59:00.002-04:00

Here is an article from earth2tech (5-12-2008):

The debate between massive solar thermal plants and distributed roof top solar projects continues to get more interesting every day. Duke Energy’s CEO Jim Rogers says the utility will build and operate solar power, and plans to invest $100 million in solar rooftops, both commercial and residential, according to the Charlotte Business Journal reports. Duke still needs to get permission from the North Carolina Utilities Commission.

This is part of an emerging trend of utilities throwing their considerable assets behind solar installations as a way to own solar power generation. Utilities are feeling pressure from their home states’ renewable portfolio standards to incorporate more renewable energy sources. (North Carolina has a renewable portfolio standard that goes into effect in 2012 and will require utilities to generate 12.5 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2021.) Utilities are able to leverage their balance sheets to get capital at far better rates than small startups, allowing them to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in solar development.

Southern California Edison announced plans in March to invest $875 million in 250 megawatts of solar covering some 2 square miles of rooftops. PG&E’s CEO Peter Darbee recently told us that the company is in discussions to build and own its own solar power plants, but that there are some barriers for regulated utilities to cash in on the investment tax credits for solar. (Also check out our video interview with Darbee.)

Duke’s plan to spend $100 million on its own solar generation, is good news for an energy company that generates 70 percent of its power from coal, making it the third-largest consumer of coal in the United States. To his credit Rogers has been an advocate of backing renewable energy, and just last week called for “a small fee on every kilowatt-hour of electricity sold in the U.S.,” which he says would raise $11 billion annually for renewable energy research and development.

PG&E’s Darbee is calling for a change in policy whereby utilities could benefit from the investment tax credit (ITC) to build solar plants. Letting utilities tap into the ITC could be one of the best ways to connect considerable capital with solar power construction.

So....... Solar!

2008-05-27T02:37:00.002-04:00

Here is a press release from Duke Energy:

Duke Energy Announces Deal to Harness the Power of the Sun May 21, 2008 CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Duke Energy Carolinas today announced it will purchase the entire electricity output of the nation's largest photovoltaic solar farm to be built in Davidson County, N.C., north of Charlotte.

Under agreements signed with SunEdison, customers of Duke Energy Carolinas are expected to receive more than 16 megawatts of power from the solar farm beginning no later than Dec. 31, 2010. The agreements run for 20 years.

“We said we wanted to lead the way in the development of more renewable energy and we meant it,” said Keith Trent, group executive and chief strategy, policy and regulatory officer. “Today’s agreements, coupled with the other significant initiatives across our company, clearly demonstrate that renewable energy has an important place in our power generation portfolio.”
The SunEdison agreements are a result of a request for proposals, or RFP, that Duke Energy issued in April 2007. It was the first RFP of its kind in North Carolina and was specifically designed for potential renewable providers.

In addition to purchasing renewable energy from other providers, Duke Energy is advancing plans for its own distributed solar generation program. Distributed generation is energy created close to where it is used, rather than being produced in large power plants and sent to customers over the power grid. The company plans a filing with the North Carolina Utilities Commission in the near future that will seek approval for the program, and the authority to recover its investment. Under the plan, Duke Energy would install and operate distributed solar generation on customer rooftops and other spaces.

Duke Energy is also adding wind power to its generation portfolio. In April 2008, a wind farm in Indiana began supplying 100 megawatts of power to Duke Energy customers. In 2007, Duke Energy Generation Services entered the wind energy business and expects to have its first projects (about 180 megawatts) online later this year. Other wind development projects of more than 3,000 megawatts are planned in eight different western and southwestern states. In 2007, Duke Energy supported the development of the new Renewable and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) in North Carolina. It requires the utility to satisfy 12.5 percent of its customers’ power needs with renewables or energy efficiency by 2021. Specific solar requirements are implemented in 2010. By 2018, at least two-tenths of one percent of total retail sales must come from solar energy. In Ohio, the company also supported that state’s new advanced energy portfolio standard, which sets a requirement of 12.5 percent of a utility’s sales to be met with renewable energy sources by 2025.

Broader use of renewable energy is part of Duke Energy’s comprehensive plan to create a sustainable energy future for the Carolinas while the company continues to work to reduce its environmental footprint. The plan includes building new power plants; robust energy efficiency programs to reduce demand; and supporting state and federal energy policies that encourage the development of new technology. Together, these initiatives will allow Duke Energy to continue to meet customers’ need for power in an environmentally sound way.

Duke Energy's Carolinas’ operations include nuclear, coal-fired, natural gas and hydroelectric generation. That diverse fuel mix provides nearly 21,000 megawatts of safe, reliable and competitively priced electricity to more than 2.3 million electric customers in a 24,000-square-mile service area of North Carolina and South Carolina.

Duke Energy, one of the largest electric power companies in the United States, supplies and delivers electricity to approximately 4 million U.S. customers in its regulated jurisdictions. The company has approximately 35,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity in the Midwest and the Carolinas, and natural gas distribution services in Ohio and Kentucky. In addition, Duke Energy has more than 4,000 megawatts of electric generation in Latin America, and is a joint-venture partner in a U.S. real estate company. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: http://www.duke-energy.com/?sec=content.

Sun Edison LLC is North America's largest solar energy services provider and operates across a global marketplace. SunEdison provides solar-generated energy at or below current retail rates to a broad and diverse client base of commercial, municipal and utility customers. For more information about SunEdison, please visit http://www.sunedison.com/?sec=content.

Heat your home naturally

2008-05-15T20:38:00.002-04:00

The great secret that has undoubtedly eluded your local "professional" house-builder is captured in two words: Passive Solar. Low tech, very effective, well understood by the "uncivilized" and "primitive" inhabitants who preceded us here in the good old US of A, passive solar design is making a come-back. Find out all about it on Saturday, June 14.

What: Guilford Solar Monthly Meeting.
When: 10:00AM - 11:30AM, Saturday, June 14, 2008.
Where: Barn Kitchen Meeting Room, Guilford County Agricultural Center, 3309 Burlington Rd., Greensboro, NC 27405.
Cost: Zero.
Description: This month’s presentation will be about Passive Solar Design. Passive Solar is the system of making use of the sun’s energy without mechanical devices. It’s a system that was already used by the native Indians, but was “forgotten” in the modern world due to the availability of air-conditioners and heaters. Passive solar principles are now slowly making a comeback in buildings in the US.
Presenter: Our presenter is Michiel VanderSommen. For more information, contact Michiel directly, at 336-558-4405.

Solar hot water for homes and small businesses

2008-04-26T01:42:00.002-04:00

On Saturday, May 10, Guilford Solar will offer a program on solar hot water, one of the most cost-effective applications of solar energy.

Mr. William Bostic, President of Evergreen Energy Co., will be the speaker. The presentation will cover the fundamentals of solar energy, solar resources, and solar thermal technologies. Examples of solar hot-water systems applicable to homes and businesses will be discussed. Learn about the economic feasibility of implementing this technology.

What: Guilford Solar Monthly Meeting.
When: 10:00-11:30AM, Saturday, May 10, 2008.
Where: Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library auditorium, 1420 Price Park Road, Greensboro, NC 27410.
Cost: Free.

For more information, call 336-375-5876

Low-water landscaping -- an idea whose time has come

2008-03-14T12:47:00.002-04:00

Guilford Solar's April program will focus on low-water landscaping. Particulars are as follows:

What: Guilford Solar Monthly Meeting.
When: 10:00 - 11:30 AM, Saturday, April 12, 2008.
Where: Barn Kitchen Meeting Room, Guilford County Agricultural Center, 3309 Burlington Rd., Greensboro, NC 27405.
Program: Low Water Landscaping.
Presenter: Karen Neill, Guilford County Agricultural Extension Center.
Description: The topic of low water landscaping will tie into the Carolina Yards and Neighborhoods (CYN) program, an ongoing educational program that deals with water quality and water conservation. Participants will learn how to design, install, and maintain a Carolina Yard - a yard that works with North Carolina's environment rather than against it. Teaching points will be: design principles, right plant, right place, soils and bed preparation, recycling as it relates to environmental sustainability, storm water runoff and how it's best managed on site, along with the other principles that make up the CYN program.

For more information, call 336-375-5876.

Interactive green design

2008-02-22T14:07:00.004-05:00

Come and check out this really cool way to develop a "green" house design! One of our members, Michiel VanderSommen, will not only explain aspects of "green" design but will give you an opportunity to "drive" his interactive software, a tool that provides context-sensitive education and options for each element of "green" residential design. For those who attended Michiel's Jan. 12 presentation, this is an "enhanced" version of that talk. More details below.
--Peter Kauber

Where: Kathleen Clay Edwards Library, 1420 Price Park Dr., Greensboro; 373-2923
When: Wednesday, Feb 27th, 7PM
What: A New Home Design- Participants will interact with a new "green" home computer design developed by the presenter. Also there will be an explanation of green building systems by the presenter. This presentation will provide the general public with an overall understanding of what it means to make a house, located in the southeast, more energy efficient. Many aspects will be discussed and explained, such as insulation, natural cooling, lighting, heating and cooling. Michiel VanderSommen, who has a background in engineering, architecture, and the principles of green building, will conduct the presentation.

Melanie Buckingham, Environmental Resources Librarian
Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library
1420 Price Park Dr., Greensboro, NC 27410
336-373-2923
http://www.greensborolibrary.org/
melanie.buckingham@greensboro-nc.gov

Learn about sustainable agriculture

2008-02-22T10:28:00.003-05:00

The March 2008 Guilford Solar monthly program will be held on Saturday, March 8. Particulars are:

What: Guilford Solar Monthly Meeting.
When: 10:00 - 11:30 AM, Saturday, March 8, 2008.
Where: Barn Kitchen Meeting Room, Guilford County Agricultural Center, 3309 Burlington Rd., Greensboro, NC 27405.
Program: Sustainable Agriculture: Past, Present, and Future
Presenter: Philip Gillespie, Thunder Horse Sustainable Agriculture
Description (by presenter): "American agriculture is the most productive in the world. With advances in chemistry, biotechnology, and mechanization we produce food more cheaply and abundantly than any other producer. However, with 20% of America's imported fossil fuels going to agriculture in the form of motor fuels and petrochemicals, any oil shock can send food prices soaring. Is our method of agriculture really sustainable?"

Solar power for your home or business

2008-01-15T09:37:00.000-05:00

Solar energy is a renewable (“green”) energy that is available and accessible for most people throughout North Carolina, and that can be used for various applications. One important application is the production of electric power for residences or businesses.

The February Guilford Solar program will provide the general public with an overall understanding of electric power production from the sun. Included will be an overview of system components, costs, recent innovations, tax incentives, and power grid inter-connection requirements. Other related issues such as the siting of a solar system and the availability of local manufacturers, vendors, and installers will also be discussed. In addition, the implications of “net-metering” and the “NC GreenPower Agreement” will be examined.

Tom Honey, a local solar power installer with many years of experience and several installed PV systems in the Triad area, will conduct the presentation.

This event, co-sponsored by the Greensboro Public Library, will be held on Saturday, February 9, from 10 – 11:30AM, in the auditorium of the Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library, 1420 Price Park Road, Greensboro.

For more information, contact the KCEF Branch Library, at 336-373-2923, or the Guilford County Agricultural Center, at 336-375-5876.

January program: energy efficiency

2007-12-08T10:55:00.000-05:00

An Introduction to Energy Efficiency in the Home

Building “green” can have many meanings. Since energy efficiency is one of the most important, this presentation will provide the general public with an overall understanding of what it means to make a house located in the southeast more energy efficient. Many aspects will be discussed and explained, such as insulation, natural cooling, lighting, etc., but the emphasis will be on that element of residential energy consumption that is typically the greatest, namely, heating and cooling. While the presenter will avoid detailed discussions of technology, he will include basic explanations of how heating and cooling systems work—for example, there will be an account of how geothermal heat pumps work.

Michiel VanderSommen, who has a background in engineering, architecture, and the principles of green building, will conduct the presentation.

This program is co-sponsored by Guilford Solar and the Greensboro Public Library, and will be offered on Saturday, January 12, at 10am. Location: Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library auditorium, 1420 Price Park Road, Greensboro. For more information, contact Michiel VanderSommen, at mvdsommen@earthlink.net or at 336-558-4405.

Learn about peak oil

2007-11-04T10:21:00.000-05:00

Many experienced petroleum geologists expect oil production to peak in the very near future. Since the world economy runs on oil, and since demand for oil increases at roughly 2% per year, the impending failure of production to meet demand is likely to have serious economic—and social and political—consequences, worldwide. Guilford Solar will offer a program on peak oil, entitled “Peak Oil—Theory and Evidence,” on Saturday, December 1, from 10am until noon. This program will be held in the Barn Kitchen Meeting Room of the Guilford County Agricultural Center, 3309 Burlington Road, Greensboro.

Peter Kauber, who worked for Marathon Oil Company in the late 1970s and early 1980s, will conduct this presentation. A lecture format, with PowerPoint support, will be employed. Excerpts from the film The End of Suburbia will also be featured.

For more information contact Peter Kauber, at pkauber@triad.rr.com

Saved by the sun?

2007-10-26T10:49:00.001-04:00

Can solar power help save Earth from the ravages of climate change? In the face of rising oil prices and political turmoil in the Middle East, there is a new sense of urgency for finding ways to make solar power efficient and affordable. The NOVA video “Solar Energy—Saved by the Sun” presents a provocative mix of scientists and ordinary citizens who are all pushing the envelope of solar energy’s untapped potential. Join us on Saturday, Nov. 3, for a screening of this exciting NOVA program.

Please note that this program, co-sponsored by the Piedmont Environmental Center (PEC), will be held in the Center’s auditorium. PEC’s address is 1220 Penny Road, High Point. The program will begin at 10am.

Contact Peter Kauber, at pkauber@triad.rr.com, for more information.