Sustainable Design Update

The 100th Object - British Museum

It took curators four years put together the British Museum’s blockbuster exhibit “A History of the World in 100 Objects,” an attempt to tell the history of the world through objects pulled from the Museum’s huge collections.  The result:  a four hour BBC Radio show + book of the same name, soon to be published in the U.S.

Choosing the 100^th object we find was difficult and long debated.  In the end the curators chose a humble solar home lighting system for people who don’t have access to electricity.

As many SDU readers know we have been working on a home solar lighting system that can be assembled in the country where it is to be used.

Solar Home Lighting System

In 2008 an international research and development team lead by the Appropriate Technology Collaborative was awarded a grant by the Lindbergh Foundation in order to work with our partners in Guatemala and Nicaragua to build and evaluate various designs for LED lights that are superior in performance to the kerosene lamps widely in use in those low income countries today.  Energy efficient LED lights are both safer and more affordable than kerosene lighting.

The Appropriate Technology Collaborative will be working with engineers and educators in Guatemala to teach local tech school students how to design and install home lighting systems in February and March 2012.  We will have updates from the field.  Stay tuned.

More at:  New York Times

Photo Credits:  British Museum, John Barrie

by Matthew Grocoff, Esq. LEED Green Associate

In December 2011, Lowes will begin carrying a new Electron Stimulated Luminescence (ESL) R30 light bulb by Vu1 Corporation. The flood light is expected to retail for $14.98.

ESL sounds like a cool alternative to the CFL, and it’s a bit cheaper than comparable LEDs . . . but  don’t confuse price with cost.  I think the new generations of LEDs have already got this bulb beat in energy savings and life cycle cost.

Like LEDs the ESL bulb is mercury free and dimmable.

Here’s the specs: 600 lumens (same as typical indoor 60 watt flood) and 2800 Kelvin (warm color temp).  But here’s where it diverges from the new LEDs (so far Philips Ambient LEDs from Home Depot are my favorites, but Sylvania is right on their tail):

Watts:  ESL = 19.5 w vs. LED = only 12 w

Lifespan: ESL = only 11,000 hours vs LED = 25,000

So, for a bit higher purchase price the LED will use 7 watts less and last more than 10 years longer.  My money is on the LEDs to win this race.

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www.MattGrocoff.com

by Matthew Grocoff, Esq. LEED

Read the name of this blog again.  This is what Sustainable Design is all about.  Nest Labs, founded by former Apple wizards from the iPod and iPhone design team, announced today the launch of a thermostat that “learns,” making it simpler than ever to program schedules and, even better, save energy.

Nest has Auto-Away sensors.  It knows when you’re not home and adjusts the thermostat for you.  You can access and adjust the thermostat from a laptop, smartphone, or tablet.

I’m curious how this might work with a geothermal system and avoid pitfalls of using higher energy stages and auxiliary heating to bring up temps when you return.  Nevertheless, Cool School just got a new quarterback.  With a few hundred million thermostats out there, this baby is going to find a few dates to the prom.

I’ve posted a video on my Google Plus page – check it out.   Google+

http://www.nest.com/

Come join the conversation on Matt’s fan page, Facebook page, Google+and Twitter

www.MattGrocoff.com

by Matt Grocoff, Esq. LEED

Vermont households and businesses expended $2.5 billion on all forms of energy in 2009.  In 2011, this green mountain state found itself under water from a hurricane.  Now the state is making a push to provide 90% of the state’s energy from renewables by mid-century.

Before you start your celebration you should note that in their infinite wisdom Vermont considers tree-fueled biomass energy to be renewable.  Nevertheless, the state is making an aggressive push for solar and wind projects.

Read Vermont’s Comprehensive Energy Plan:  http://www.vtenergyplan.vermont.gov/

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by Matt Grocoff, Esq. LEED

Read the full article via OldHouseWeb

Steve Jobs used design to change the world.  He created the products needed to get us to a future he imagined. Jobs brought us the iPod, iPhone and iPad to engage in the same basic functions as other products.

Jobs insisted that, like a refrigerator, Mac products were appliances; you shouldn’t need to know much to use one.

I found three energy-saving products while at the Greenbuild International Conference in Toronto last week that are worthy of your home and maybe of Steve Jobs’ love.

1.  ecobee Smart Thermostat

They’re are plenty of programmable thermostats on the market.  But, if the interface feels like you are looking for a secret passage in an old Donkey Kong game then they are useless.  The ecobee Smart Thermostat is designed so that you can actually use it.

ecobee.com

2.  Philips AmbientLED

The Phillips AmbientLED is the first true LED replacement for a 60W incandescent light bulb.  It’s a got a warm 2700k color and a bright 800 lumen output.

Phillips AmbientLED

3.  Lutron Maestro Dimmer Switch / Vacancy Sensor

The Lutron Maestro is one of the first residential, consumer friendly dimmer switches that comes with a vacancy sensor.

Read the full article via OldHouseWeb

Come join the conversation on Matt’s fan page, Facebook page, Google+and Twitter

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E-Genius Electric Airplane

Known primarily for the space program,  the International Space Station, orbiting telescopes and robots on Mars, NASA also inspires new airplane designs that are an order of magnitude more efficient and much quieter than current models.

Shown above the e-Genius aircraft takes off during the 2011 Green Flight Challenge, sponsored by Google,  in September 2011.  The NASA CAFE  (Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency) program has been working for decades to create more efficient, even electric aircraft.  The results this year are several designs that get over 200 passenger miles per gallon or if flown solo, 100 mpg.  Better than my Prius unless I drive with 3 passengers in my car.

More at NASA

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