Jersey building is first to power itself

LadyT

LadyT

JPP Modarater
Contributor
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-8/119622923054690.xml&coll=1

The 41,500-square-foot warehouse sits in an ordinary industrial park on the Branchburg-Readington border, the only clue to its unusual status a small sign reading: "Powered by solar energy."

Ferreira Construction's new headquarters uses a combination of renewable energy and high-efficiency products to reach a high plane in energy conservation. It is believed to be the nation's first commercial building that can produce more electricity than it uses -- known as "net zero electric" -- according to the U.S. Green Building Council and other environmental groups.


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Damocles said:
Very cool. My aim is to have this done at my house by the end of next year.
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I'd love to have something like installed on our house too. Do you think it would have to be over your entire roof? My only concern would be roofing repairs and such.
 
it would have to be a large part of it if you want a lot of energy.
One of the companies I invest in does solar roofing shingles so it looks like a regular roof.
Ovonic Solar.
 
Topspin said:
it would have to be a large part of it if you want a lot of energy.
One of the companies I invest in does solar roofing shingles so it looks like a regular roof.
Ovonic Solar.
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http://www.uni-solar.com/interior.asp?id=71

I'm looking through their website, but I just wonder if you need to have your roof serviced in the future underneath the solar panelling, how that's handled or if the panels themselves become you're new roofing.
 
LadyT said:
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-8/119622923054690.xml&coll=1

The 41,500-square-foot warehouse sits in an ordinary industrial park on the Branchburg-Readington border, the only clue to its unusual status a small sign reading: "Powered by solar energy."

Ferreira Construction's new headquarters uses a combination of renewable energy and high-efficiency products to reach a high plane in energy conservation. It is believed to be the nation's first commercial building that can produce more electricity than it uses -- known as "net zero electric" -- according to the U.S. Green Building Council and other environmental groups.


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One hundred years ago, baker's mills powered themselves too, with river water. Windmills too with wind power. They were self powered, the reason we moved away from that was because electricity from a utility was easier and cheaper.

I understand why this headline sounds impressive, but the goal of most people is not to be energy self-sufficient but to use energy as best suits their personal needs, which is usually price.
 
Looking in a flyer at home, I can buy a solar energy panel for about 150$ which would be enough to power a radio or a light bulb, maybe 2 light bulbs. And that's assuming I have sun and only during the day.
But more power to you if you want to do that, just no government involvement.
 
TheDanold said:
I understand why this headline sounds impressive, but the goal of most people is not to be energy self-sufficient but to use energy as best suits their personal needs, which is usually price.
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I would like for this to be the goal of our country though.
 
LadyT said:
I'd love to have something like installed on our house too. Do you think it would have to be over your entire roof? My only concern would be roofing repairs and such.
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Not over the entire roof, and you can install it on the ground as well... It would depend on the room you have. We even have an attached room that the batteries will fit in nicely.
 
with ovonic the solar panels are sheet like shingles it becomes your roof and is flexible can be raised (I suspect for repair)
Problem down here is we have no contractors utilizing them.
 
Damocles said:
Not over the entire roof, and you can install it on the ground as well... It would depend on the room you have. We even have an attached room that the batteries will fit in nicely.
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Maybe in our next house if we get more land I'd consider it. I'd just be a little nervous about putting it on top of the roof. I feel like you need access to the roof fairly often when you need to get stuff installed or repaired. I wouldn't want joe schmo from the street working anywhere near my panels.
 
This whole discussion is why solar is such a great investment now.
It's in it's infancey
It's the greenest
Cali, is doing a project installing one million household rooftops.
Contractors will flurish and spread it to the rest of the country.
 
Topspin said:
with ovonic the solar panels are sheet like shingles it becomes your roof and is flexible can be raised (I suspect for repair)
Problem down here is we have no contractors utilizing them.
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I don't know. I'd still feel uncomfortable with Joe Schmo who can barely speak english flexing my source of energy to make repairs.
 
Me too, I meant buying the stocks.
It may take a decade or two before Joe Smoe air condition/roofing guy can do it with his eyes closed.
The amount of CO2 reduction from getting off the energy company line is ginourmus.
 
Superfreak said:
I assume everyone is aware of the other big news... the Honda Clarity is coming to market. Only in limited parts of Cali next year as there aren't enough hydrogen fueling stations available yet. But given oil prices, I bet the expansion over the next five years is pretty rapid.

http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/
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See, this is what gets to me. Why is it always "Honda" or "Toyota" or "Nissan" that seems to be trying to look for something different. I mean, I'm not necessarily for hydrogen powered cars as I haven't really looked into them enough but why can't some American company get on the ball towards energy independence?
 
leaningright said:
See, this is what gets to me. Why is it always "Honda" or "Toyota" or "Nissan" that seems to be trying to look for something different. I mean, I'm not necessarily for hydrogen powered cars as I haven't really looked into them enough but why can't some American company get on the ball towards energy independence?
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Japanese cars cost more in general as they serve a more upscale market, THEIR customers are more the type that can afford greener cars, so they are more in the forefront of developing them.
 
the Japaneese businees model is much more long term focused
detroit worries about quarter to quarter.
 
TheDanold said:
Japanese cars cost more in general as they serve a more upscale market, THEIR customers are more the type that can afford greener cars, so they are more in the forefront of developing them.
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WHAT? On average they cost less than American cars... that is why they are selling so well. Yes, they do have luxury models as well, but how many honda civics and toyota corrolas etc... do you see? There is a reason they are increasing in numbers in the US.... fuel and cost efficiency.

Japan also looks out 5-10 years in the future, sees the FUTURE needs and works to meet future goals. The leadership of US automakers looks to the short term.... as do the auto unions.
 
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