Although the competition is tense, the teams are making light of this category: solar lighting, to be exact. The University of Virginia is using a custom-designed luminaire to collect light; while the Auburn house uses a solar megaphone that magnifies available sunlight and is suitable for small spaces. At the Crowder College house, a special sensor detects the amount of natural light and adjusts the lighting accordingly. Virginia Tech is going state-of-the-art -- building skywall panels (not available to homeowners) filled with silicon-based gel that transmits light. But what can the average homeowner do to increase lighting efficiency? First, the students say, consider that the average incandescent lightbulb produces more heat than light -- not the most efficient means of lighting a space. Instead, the students recommend that homeowners save energy by replacing incandescents with compact flourescents. Next, the students must face a laundry challenge. Each team must wash and dry a load of 12 towels in a 6-hour period. The towels are weighed at the end to measure complete dryness. To save energy, homeowners can take a cue from the students, who either line-dried clothes using direct solar power, or by using a low-water energy efficient washer and low-energy rated dryers. After the laundry competition, it's on to the transportation competition. Each team's design must not only collect enough energy to run a home -- but also to power an electric car.
RESOURCES :
Energy-Efficient Building: The Best of Fine Homebuilding
ISBN: 1561583405
From The Best of Fine Homebuilding book series.
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
Solar Living Source Book: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainable Living
Model: 0916571041
Author: John Schaeffer (Editor), Doug Pratt (Editor)
(Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook, 11th Ed)
Real Goods
Website: www.realgoods.com
The Solar Electric House: Energy for the Environmentally-Responsive, Energy-Independent Home
ISBN: 0963738321
Author: Steven J. Strong, William G. Scheller
Chelsea Green Publiishing Company
Efficient Windows
Efficient Windows
Website: www.efficientwindows.org
Solar Decathlon
U.S. Department of Energy
Website: www.solardecathlon.org
Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Website: www.eere.energy.gov
Energy Star®
Website: www.energystar.gov
Energy Star
Website: www.energystar.gov
Photovoltaics
An introduction to photovoltaics, also called PV electricity.
Photovoltaics
Website: www.flasolar.com/photovol_main.php
Solar Buildings
Covers zero-energy building and other solar technologies.
Solar Buildings
Website: www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
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