Please read all my articles at examiner.com
Ford has chosen Portland as its first stop on a 14-city electric car tour, and according to reports on August 24, 2010, Ford says a big reason for the choice is that Oregon leads the nation in preparing for plug-in vehicles. So, is the company that introduced the Model-T getting ready to unleash electric vehicles that could kill the gasoline car?
That is a definite maybe. While the sticker price has yet to be announced for the Ford Focus Electric, operating costs are around 2 cents per mile, blowing away the competition from similar gasoline vehicles that cost around 15 cents per mile, assuming gas prices of about $3 per gallon. The car is comparable in many respects to the Nissan LEAF, but is expected to cost less than Nissan’s $32,780 price tag. Both vehicles will also be eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit and $1,500 from the state of Oregon.
Charging time can be an issue, with the vehicle taking 6 to 12 hours to charge up to its full 100 mile range, depending on if a 110 or 220 volt residential outlet used. However, it can be charged in as little as 15 minutes on a public quick charge station. There are not a lot of charging stations yet, but Portland General Electric has ambitious plans for up to 1,000 charging stations stretching between the Portland and Eugene area by June of next year.
Long road trips will have to wait until more quick charge stations are available, battery technology improves, or both. However, if the build out of electrical charging infrastructure is as fast as some anticipate, electric cars could soon be both affordable cars for commuting around town, as well as clean, efficient overland vehicles, with carbon footprints of only about 2 tons per year, versus 7 for gasoline vehicles.
A Ford Focus plug-in hybrid is also expected, but not until 2012.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Huge losses for Vestas. Will it affect plans for new Portland headquarters?
Please read all my articles at examiner.com
The same day it announced the decision to upgrade its North American headquarters in Portland, Oregon to a much larger $66 million building, Vestas, the world's leading manufacturer of wind turbines, reported on August 18, 2010, a larger than expected $154 million second quarter loss, sending its shares plummeting more than 20%. The company said it would cut 600 jobs, mainly short-term contractors, in its home country of Denmark, but prospects look better for North America, where Vestas has recently begun to see orders rebound.
Vestas earned a respectable $8.8 billion in 2009, but was still short of its original projections of $9.9 billion. It had predicted revenues of $12 billion for 2010, but then lowered its estimates to $9.6 billion, and now has lowered them further to $7.7 billion. The company attributed its drop in revenue and earnings largely to the credit crisis, which caused orders to rapidly dry up or be delayed.
However, Vestas has recently racked up an impressive series of wins with new orders totaling 503 turbines. But, they will be produced so late in the year that the revenue will not be booked until 2011.
Overall, Vestas remains bullish on North America, with CEO Ditlev Engel saying that the company will proceed with an expansion of 3,000 new jobs. He predicted losses in the first half of the year will be more than made up for by profits in the second half. As the European market has becoming increasingly saturated, areas like North America are seen as bright spots for the future expansion of wind power.
In mid 2008, the U.S. moved ahead of Germany to become the world's leading producer of wind energy. Estimates by the American Wind Energy Association say the U.S. could be on track to generate as much as 20% of its electricity from wind by 2030. However, they caution that 2010 could see much smaller growth than last year, with growth perhaps falling back to 2007 levels.
For the immediate future, the outlook for the wind industry, and for operations at Vestas' North American headquarters in Portland look cautiously optimistic.
The same day it announced the decision to upgrade its North American headquarters in Portland, Oregon to a much larger $66 million building, Vestas, the world's leading manufacturer of wind turbines, reported on August 18, 2010, a larger than expected $154 million second quarter loss, sending its shares plummeting more than 20%. The company said it would cut 600 jobs, mainly short-term contractors, in its home country of Denmark, but prospects look better for North America, where Vestas has recently begun to see orders rebound.
Vestas earned a respectable $8.8 billion in 2009, but was still short of its original projections of $9.9 billion. It had predicted revenues of $12 billion for 2010, but then lowered its estimates to $9.6 billion, and now has lowered them further to $7.7 billion. The company attributed its drop in revenue and earnings largely to the credit crisis, which caused orders to rapidly dry up or be delayed.
However, Vestas has recently racked up an impressive series of wins with new orders totaling 503 turbines. But, they will be produced so late in the year that the revenue will not be booked until 2011.
Overall, Vestas remains bullish on North America, with CEO Ditlev Engel saying that the company will proceed with an expansion of 3,000 new jobs. He predicted losses in the first half of the year will be more than made up for by profits in the second half. As the European market has becoming increasingly saturated, areas like North America are seen as bright spots for the future expansion of wind power.
In mid 2008, the U.S. moved ahead of Germany to become the world's leading producer of wind energy. Estimates by the American Wind Energy Association say the U.S. could be on track to generate as much as 20% of its electricity from wind by 2030. However, they caution that 2010 could see much smaller growth than last year, with growth perhaps falling back to 2007 levels.
For the immediate future, the outlook for the wind industry, and for operations at Vestas' North American headquarters in Portland look cautiously optimistic.
Solar air conditioning - cool green tech (part 4)
Please read all my articles at examiner.com
Previous articles here and here have looked at green tips and green building technologies for staying cool this summer, and with the announcement on August 18, 2010 that Vestas, the world's leading wind turbine manufacturer, will construct a super eco-friendly LEED platinum building in Portland for its North American headquarters, it appears energy saving technologies for homes and buildings are continuing to gain momentum.
Reports so far say the Vestas building will include an eco-terrace roof, under-floor ventilation, and a very high-tech feature called “operable windows,” which do in fact produce significant energy savings, so it is a shame that more commercial buildings do not use them. Those features are commendable, as well as the fact that the building is expected to have the largest array of solar panels in the area. Not mentioned, however, was if any solar heating or cooling options were considered.
Despite the common perception that solar technologies would not work well in a rainy city like Portland, both solar thermal and photovoltaic systems can and do work well here throughout the year, but they could work exceptionally well for cooling purposes during the hot dry summer season.
Solar absorption cooling is the most direct way to use heat energy from the sun to provide cooling. Absorption chillers are very efficient devices that have long been used for commercial refrigeration, but systems tend to be large, complex, and a bit expensive for residential use. Recent products, such as this, can in theory be used for some residential applications, but minimum sizes start at about 10 tons of air conditioning, while most residential central air systems are only about 3-5 tons.
For a commercial building, however, a solar thermal system could be an excellent way to produce both heating and cooling. Advanced vacuum tube heat collectors, such as these, are highly efficient alternatives to traditional flat panel systems, and are especially good for cooler and cloudier climates like Portland. Such systems can provide hot water and heating, as well as cooling.
LEED platinum certification requires leadership in using the latest technologies, so if one wishes to create a truly green building of this level, a solar thermal heating and cooling might be the kind of thing that sets such a building apart.
Next, the final article (for now) in this series on green technology for summer cooling will examine the use of advanced heat pumps for both cooling and heating.
Previous articles here and here have looked at green tips and green building technologies for staying cool this summer, and with the announcement on August 18, 2010 that Vestas, the world's leading wind turbine manufacturer, will construct a super eco-friendly LEED platinum building in Portland for its North American headquarters, it appears energy saving technologies for homes and buildings are continuing to gain momentum.
Reports so far say the Vestas building will include an eco-terrace roof, under-floor ventilation, and a very high-tech feature called “operable windows,” which do in fact produce significant energy savings, so it is a shame that more commercial buildings do not use them. Those features are commendable, as well as the fact that the building is expected to have the largest array of solar panels in the area. Not mentioned, however, was if any solar heating or cooling options were considered.
Despite the common perception that solar technologies would not work well in a rainy city like Portland, both solar thermal and photovoltaic systems can and do work well here throughout the year, but they could work exceptionally well for cooling purposes during the hot dry summer season.
Solar absorption cooling is the most direct way to use heat energy from the sun to provide cooling. Absorption chillers are very efficient devices that have long been used for commercial refrigeration, but systems tend to be large, complex, and a bit expensive for residential use. Recent products, such as this, can in theory be used for some residential applications, but minimum sizes start at about 10 tons of air conditioning, while most residential central air systems are only about 3-5 tons.
For a commercial building, however, a solar thermal system could be an excellent way to produce both heating and cooling. Advanced vacuum tube heat collectors, such as these, are highly efficient alternatives to traditional flat panel systems, and are especially good for cooler and cloudier climates like Portland. Such systems can provide hot water and heating, as well as cooling.
LEED platinum certification requires leadership in using the latest technologies, so if one wishes to create a truly green building of this level, a solar thermal heating and cooling might be the kind of thing that sets such a building apart.
Next, the final article (for now) in this series on green technology for summer cooling will examine the use of advanced heat pumps for both cooling and heating.
Dessicant cooling instead of air conditioning - cool green tech (part 3)
Please read all my articles at examiner.com
Previous articles here have looked at green tips for cooling down this summer and discussed a report from August 16, 2010 on how the green building industry in the Portland area is doing a booming business helping to meet some of these needs. Solar assisted air conditioning is one of the methods which have been mentioned for cutting energy costs, but the A/C process is still pretty energy intensive. So, what green technology alternatives exist to the use of A/C?
Green building principles can signficantly reduce cooling needs in homes and buildings, but these practices often work best in new construction, where overall building design can be more easily modified. Many of today's buildings were built around the assumption of central A/C. However, even in these cases, good energy saving alternatives exist.
Dehumidification is a major issue in marine inland climates like Portland, and many cooling systems rely upon it. A/C units have to chill air to very low temperatures to drive off, or condense moisture. They then must heat the air back up a little so it is not uncomfortably cold. This process is not very energy efficient, so new cooling technologies are focusing on ways to perform dehumidification using less energy.
Dessicant-based cooling, like Energy recovery ventilation systems, use substances such as silica gel, or materials called zeolites, to dry air out more easily than can be done with A/C systems. Energy is still required, because once the dessicant absorbs moisture, it must be heated to drive the moisture off and allow additional dehumidification to continue. But, the energy savings in this process can be considerable over current A/Cs, especially in situations where waste heat or solar energy can be used to help drive this process.
Earlier this summer, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory also announced the development of a process called DEVap cooling, which combines the use of dessicants into an evaporative cooling system. They estimate this process can save 50-90% more energy than today's A/Cs. However, it is not clear exactly when products based upon this process will be available, so until then, a variety of other technologies are being explored.
In addition to dessicant-based systems and solar assisted air conditioning, a number of additional green cooling technologies exist, including perhaps one of the most promising, solar absorption cooling. There have been challenges in the past to making such system practical and affordable, particular for residential use, but this is now changing.
Stay tuned for future articles on what some have dubbed the holy grail of solar technology: using the heat of the sun to keep you nice and cool.
Previous articles here have looked at green tips for cooling down this summer and discussed a report from August 16, 2010 on how the green building industry in the Portland area is doing a booming business helping to meet some of these needs. Solar assisted air conditioning is one of the methods which have been mentioned for cutting energy costs, but the A/C process is still pretty energy intensive. So, what green technology alternatives exist to the use of A/C?
Green building principles can signficantly reduce cooling needs in homes and buildings, but these practices often work best in new construction, where overall building design can be more easily modified. Many of today's buildings were built around the assumption of central A/C. However, even in these cases, good energy saving alternatives exist.
Dehumidification is a major issue in marine inland climates like Portland, and many cooling systems rely upon it. A/C units have to chill air to very low temperatures to drive off, or condense moisture. They then must heat the air back up a little so it is not uncomfortably cold. This process is not very energy efficient, so new cooling technologies are focusing on ways to perform dehumidification using less energy.
Dessicant-based cooling, like Energy recovery ventilation systems, use substances such as silica gel, or materials called zeolites, to dry air out more easily than can be done with A/C systems. Energy is still required, because once the dessicant absorbs moisture, it must be heated to drive the moisture off and allow additional dehumidification to continue. But, the energy savings in this process can be considerable over current A/Cs, especially in situations where waste heat or solar energy can be used to help drive this process.
Earlier this summer, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory also announced the development of a process called DEVap cooling, which combines the use of dessicants into an evaporative cooling system. They estimate this process can save 50-90% more energy than today's A/Cs. However, it is not clear exactly when products based upon this process will be available, so until then, a variety of other technologies are being explored.
In addition to dessicant-based systems and solar assisted air conditioning, a number of additional green cooling technologies exist, including perhaps one of the most promising, solar absorption cooling. There have been challenges in the past to making such system practical and affordable, particular for residential use, but this is now changing.
Stay tuned for future articles on what some have dubbed the holy grail of solar technology: using the heat of the sun to keep you nice and cool.
Green building technologies for staying cool - cool green tech (part 2)
Please read all my articles at examiner.com
Everyone is trying to save energy and stay cool this summer, which NASA says is on pace to be the hottest yet, and according to a report on August 16, 2010, Portland's green building industry is doing a booming business in part by helping to meet some of these needs. There are many ways to stay cool, but in addition to some simple low-tech strategies discussed here, new technologies being used in green homes and buildings are taking cooling to the next level.
This article will focus on residential cooling, since green technologies in this area often get a bit less fanfare for some reason than heating and electricity generation technologies, and, hey, it's been a brutal summer.
For most of the 20th century, cooling meant one thing, ventilation, with or without the help of a fan. The main difference when air conditioning was invented was dehumidification, which is certainly important for areas like Portland. However, by first providing proper ventilation, large amounts of heat and moisture can be eliminated, drastically reducing the need for air conditioning.
Solar attic fans take an old idea, saving 20-30% on cooling needs by sucking hot and humid air out of the top of your house, and make it even better by providing free electricity. Solar power means these fans work hardest during the hottest part of the day, and they can be easily installed by do-it-yourself homeowners without doing any electrical wiring.
Solar assisted air conditioners also try to cut the cost of air conditioning by using free electricity. Earlier this year, LG introduced a solar hybrid A/C. But, with only a 70 watt panel on a 1,000 watt unit, the savings are not huge. Lennox, on the other hand, introduced a unit with a single 190 watt module that they claim can cut energy use in half. The unit can also become part of a larger home solar power system with up to 15 modules.
A truly green building should also be properly insulated, sited, and shaded to reduce the need for cooling and maximize natural ventilation. In fact, with good passive design, which takes advantage of these natural thermal processes, little or no air conditioning may be required at all.
Stay tuned for future articles that examine the brave new world...of life beyond the air conditioner.
Everyone is trying to save energy and stay cool this summer, which NASA says is on pace to be the hottest yet, and according to a report on August 16, 2010, Portland's green building industry is doing a booming business in part by helping to meet some of these needs. There are many ways to stay cool, but in addition to some simple low-tech strategies discussed here, new technologies being used in green homes and buildings are taking cooling to the next level.
This article will focus on residential cooling, since green technologies in this area often get a bit less fanfare for some reason than heating and electricity generation technologies, and, hey, it's been a brutal summer.
For most of the 20th century, cooling meant one thing, ventilation, with or without the help of a fan. The main difference when air conditioning was invented was dehumidification, which is certainly important for areas like Portland. However, by first providing proper ventilation, large amounts of heat and moisture can be eliminated, drastically reducing the need for air conditioning.
Solar attic fans take an old idea, saving 20-30% on cooling needs by sucking hot and humid air out of the top of your house, and make it even better by providing free electricity. Solar power means these fans work hardest during the hottest part of the day, and they can be easily installed by do-it-yourself homeowners without doing any electrical wiring.
Solar assisted air conditioners also try to cut the cost of air conditioning by using free electricity. Earlier this year, LG introduced a solar hybrid A/C. But, with only a 70 watt panel on a 1,000 watt unit, the savings are not huge. Lennox, on the other hand, introduced a unit with a single 190 watt module that they claim can cut energy use in half. The unit can also become part of a larger home solar power system with up to 15 modules.
A truly green building should also be properly insulated, sited, and shaded to reduce the need for cooling and maximize natural ventilation. In fact, with good passive design, which takes advantage of these natural thermal processes, little or no air conditioning may be required at all.
Stay tuned for future articles that examine the brave new world...of life beyond the air conditioner.
Green tips to beat the heat - cool green tech (part 1)
Please read all my articles at examiner.com
The greenest electron is the one that never has to be produced, so on August 13, 2010, as temperatures soared to near triple digits in Portland and much of the Northwest, locally-based Pacific Power came out with its latest list of energy saving recommendations for beating the heat. Many of these seem pretty obvious, but sometimes the best technology suggestions are the simplest ones. So, what are some environmentally friendly ways to beat the summer heat?
First on Pacific Power’s list, as well as many other lists--like these suggestions from the EPA--is smart air conditioning. Ideally, avoiding air conditioning as much as possible would be the greenest solution, but at the current time, this would still not be practical in many situations. Future articles in this space will explore both more efficient air conditioning technologies and alternatives to them.
Since the A/C is not going away for most people anytime soon, it is best to know how to use it properly. It is generally optimal to set the A/C to about 78 degrees, and rather than turning it off when leaving home, it is usually better to keep it running, but set it to around 85. Some air conditioners have timer functions that allow temperatures to be raised automatically while away and then lowered again about 30 minutes before returning home. Appliance timers, such as this, are also available. Another option is installing a programmable thermostat, which is very quick and easy to do. Want proof? Watch the video at the end of this article.
Opening windows in the morning and evening to let in cool air is also a good way to cuts cooling needs, as long as windows can still be secured for personal safety. Blocking incoming sun with curtains and blinds, or these very hip, modern roller shades, which allow excellent outward views while reflecting most of the incoming heat, can be literally and figuratively quite cool, especially for south-facing windows.
Strategic tree planting is a longer-term way to reduce cooling bills, or if trees are planted in containers, they can be repositioned wherever needed. Other suggestions include using major heat generating appliances, like ovens (other than microwave ovens), dishwashers, and dryers mainly in the early morning or late at night. Summer is also a good time to consider upgrades to home insulation, as well as getting those new ENERGY STAR appliances and compact fluorescent lights.
These are just a few simple and low-tech tips to help everyone be green, save green, and stay cool this summer. Please share yours as well.
Future articles here will examine the higher-tech side of green cooling, including solar technologies that use the hot sun to keep temperatures nice and frosty.
The greenest electron is the one that never has to be produced, so on August 13, 2010, as temperatures soared to near triple digits in Portland and much of the Northwest, locally-based Pacific Power came out with its latest list of energy saving recommendations for beating the heat. Many of these seem pretty obvious, but sometimes the best technology suggestions are the simplest ones. So, what are some environmentally friendly ways to beat the summer heat?
First on Pacific Power’s list, as well as many other lists--like these suggestions from the EPA--is smart air conditioning. Ideally, avoiding air conditioning as much as possible would be the greenest solution, but at the current time, this would still not be practical in many situations. Future articles in this space will explore both more efficient air conditioning technologies and alternatives to them.
Since the A/C is not going away for most people anytime soon, it is best to know how to use it properly. It is generally optimal to set the A/C to about 78 degrees, and rather than turning it off when leaving home, it is usually better to keep it running, but set it to around 85. Some air conditioners have timer functions that allow temperatures to be raised automatically while away and then lowered again about 30 minutes before returning home. Appliance timers, such as this, are also available. Another option is installing a programmable thermostat, which is very quick and easy to do. Want proof? Watch the video at the end of this article.
Opening windows in the morning and evening to let in cool air is also a good way to cuts cooling needs, as long as windows can still be secured for personal safety. Blocking incoming sun with curtains and blinds, or these very hip, modern roller shades, which allow excellent outward views while reflecting most of the incoming heat, can be literally and figuratively quite cool, especially for south-facing windows.
Strategic tree planting is a longer-term way to reduce cooling bills, or if trees are planted in containers, they can be repositioned wherever needed. Other suggestions include using major heat generating appliances, like ovens (other than microwave ovens), dishwashers, and dryers mainly in the early morning or late at night. Summer is also a good time to consider upgrades to home insulation, as well as getting those new ENERGY STAR appliances and compact fluorescent lights.
These are just a few simple and low-tech tips to help everyone be green, save green, and stay cool this summer. Please share yours as well.
Future articles here will examine the higher-tech side of green cooling, including solar technologies that use the hot sun to keep temperatures nice and frosty.
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