How Can We Convert Malls, Homes and Offices into Microgrids? Whenever I am driving in a city, I look at the shopping malls, office buildings and residential streets and say to myself: Each of these I can convert into microgrids. Each of these I can take “off-grid,” either in one… Continue reading “How Can We Convert Malls, Homes and Offices into Microgrids?”
Wes Kennedy Weighs in on Stand Alone Solar Storage Systems On the Advanced Solar + Storage discussion board, Wes Kennedy answers student questions about distribution circuit capacity and AC coupling for retrofits… Student 1: Hey Wes, I have a quick comment on defining penetration levels. I think the definition you… Continue reading “Wes Kennedy Weighs in on Stand Alone Solar Storage Systems”
This Sustainable Scholar Has Lived Off-Grid for 30+ Years, Writes and Teaches About Renewable Energy Ian Woofenden is the epitome of a HeatSpring Sustainable Scholar. He built his first solar greenhouse at the age of ten, has pedaled his bike more than 20,000 miles since selling his car five years ago, shares his knowledge and… Continue reading “This Sustainable Scholar Has Lived Off-Grid for 30+ Years, Writes and Teaches About Renewable Energy”
Reassessing DC Voltage Drop Conventions This article originally appeared in SolarPro Magazine in Issue 8.3. | by Ryan Mayfield, Paul Gibbs and Paul Grana “Ask almost anyone who works for a system integrator how to size PV system conductors with respect to voltage drop, and… Continue reading “Reassessing DC Voltage Drop Conventions”
Learn a NEW Approach to Roof Life Cycle Analysis First published at the RCI 21st International Convention Phoenix, Arizona on March 27, 2006 Equivalent Uniform Annual Cost: A new Approach to Roof Life Cycle Analysis INTRODUCTION: Life Cycle Cost Analysis and It’s Problems Interest in life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) appears… Continue reading “Learn a NEW Approach to Roof Life Cycle Analysis”
Why Will Net Metering Dissolve? What Should Residential Solar Pros Do? Hawaii has officially abolished net metering (NEM) and switched to a different metric for compensating consumers for their non-firm energy… so what is the industry to do? If you are in the residential solar field today, changes are coming to your neighborhood… Continue reading “Why Will Net Metering Dissolve? What Should Residential Solar Pros Do?”
HeatSpring Named Co-Host & Partner for Women in Solar Energy Roundtable In the summer of 2015, HeatSpring set out to profile a few of the absolutely amazing women making waves in the solar industry… After discovering a shocking dearth of women students enrolled in our courses, and researching the far larger industry trend boasting… Continue reading “HeatSpring Named Co-Host & Partner for Women in Solar Energy Roundtable”
Jonathan Koomey’s Free Predictive Modeling Lecture “Why is predictive modeling essential for managing a modern computing facility?” Expert Instructor Jon Koomey answers. In his new free lecture, ‘Why is Predictive Modeling Essential for Managing a Modern Computing Facility‘, Koomey addresses exactly what a model is, why… Continue reading “Jonathan Koomey’s Free Predictive Modeling Lecture”
PV Electrical Codes, Time of Use and Inverter Clipping Considerations Dr. Sean White takes on student questions about National Electrical Code compliance, solar panel Time of Use (TOU) optimization and inverter lifespan. Student 1: Why do some AHJ’s (Authority Having Jurisdiction’s) still allow installations under a previous edition of the National Electrical… Continue reading “PV Electrical Codes, Time of Use and Inverter Clipping Considerations”
Best Practices in Green Roof Policy Implementation Curious about best policy implementation practices in the Green Roof revolution? When populations grow, how can a city expand with existing infrastructure? Do green roofs work for all communities? How do we manage stormwater? What role does federal funding play?… Continue reading “Best Practices in Green Roof Policy Implementation”
1 Simple Trick to Get the Most Of Your Condensing Boiler Want to get the most from your condensing boiler? Lower the temperature. by Roy Collver One of the most effective energy saving technologies we have available to us right now, is the condensing boiler. Coupled with a well-designed low temperature… Continue reading “1 Simple Trick to Get the Most Of Your Condensing Boiler”
3 Necessary Features for Your Drilling Job Site Management Plan 3 Necessary Features for Your Drilling Job Site Management Plan ‘Drilling Job Safer, Cleaner With a Site Management Plan’ by Brock Yordy This article originally appeared in National Driller Drilling is a disruptive process in which most of the damage… Continue reading “3 Necessary Features for Your Drilling Job Site Management Plan”
Minimize the Energy Your Building Needs with this new Free Tool Download Ann Edminster’s Free Tool ‘Minimize the Energy Your Building Needs (Energy Free: Homes for a Small Planet, Chapter 4)’ This chapter from Edminster’s award-winning, residential zero-energy primer covers key performance issues such as building geometry, enclosure design, comfort strategies and… Continue reading “Minimize the Energy Your Building Needs with this new Free Tool”
Six Drainback Questions for Radiant Heating Pros to Consider Vaughan Woodruff answers student questions regarding drainback systems on the Solar Approaches to Radiant Heating discussion board… Student 1: I have several questions on drainback systems for you… Question #1 When the solar storage tank has satisfied and the system goes… Continue reading “Six Drainback Questions for Radiant Heating Pros to Consider”
The Emerging Importance of Carbon Dioxide for Healthy IAQ Twenty years ago a colleague gave me a portable carbon dioxide (CO2) monitor to use during my training sessions. These sessions were often in small, inadequately ventilated rooms loaded with too many breathing trainees. Tony suggested that I try to… Continue reading “The Emerging Importance of Carbon Dioxide for Healthy IAQ”
Free Tool: 8 Key Considerations for the Electrical Design of Motors Are you an engineer interested in the electrical design of motors? According to Ken Lovorn, President and Chief Engineer at Lovorn Engineering, designing electrical systems for motors is far more than just multiplying the ampacity of the motor by a… Continue reading “Free Tool: 8 Key Considerations for the Electrical Design of Motors”
Infrared Thermography as a Quality Control Method for Foamed-in-Place Insulation – Injection Method Updated from the original printing in SPIE Vol. 1094 Thermosense XI (1989) Since November of 1985, FOAM-TECH has been utilizing an I.S.I. Model 91 Videotherm Camera to quality control the installation of foamed in-place (injected) polyurethane and polyisocyanurate insulation. Monitoring… Continue reading “Infrared Thermography as a Quality Control Method for Foamed-in-Place Insulation – Injection Method”
Post-ITC Planning: Key Questions for Everyone in the Solar Value Chain The solar industry received a holiday gift this year in the form of the extension of the ITC. But we aren’t entirely out of the woods. Numerous threats to NEM and rate cases at dozens of utilities across the nation… Continue reading “Post-ITC Planning: Key Questions for Everyone in the Solar Value Chain”
Ace the Green Roof Professional (GRP) Accreditation Exam: Free Practice Exam & Answer Key Become a Green Roof Professional: Are you looking to earn your Green Roof Professional (GRP) accreditation? Download a free practice exam and answer key created by Jordan Richie, Director of Education for Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.
NYC Sets Precedent for Requiring Geothermal Certifications The New York City Council recently passed local law 0609-A-2015 stating that all new city buildings or city-owned buildings undergoing a HVAC retrofit must use geothermal if the ‘geothermal system has the lowest net present value of all alternatives considered.’ This legislation is… Continue reading “NYC Sets Precedent for Requiring Geothermal Certifications”