Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008 - (Page 28)

TECHNOLOGY Solar Power Cost Justification Factors Q Recently cost of natural gas has gone up by 13 percent. Q Natural gas production has been Solar Power System Design and Installation Examples of current design and plans for installation illustrate improved technology and acceptance. By Dr. Peter Gevorkian In the very near future, global Palm Springs, California economies will face enormous chalResidential power demand for a sinlenges to resolve an ever growing need gle-family dwelling involves specific for ecologically friendly renewable en- limits of energy use allocations for area ergy resources. Replacement of conven- lighting, kitchen appliances, laundry, tional fossil fuel or nuclear energy and air conditioning systems. In this exresources by renewample, the allowed able energies will maximum lighting mandate industries, power consumpacademia and retion is 3 watts per search institution to square foot of habitprovide immediate able area. The launtechnological soludry load allowed is tions to curb the 1,500 watts for the global environmenwasher and dryer. tal pollution. The first 3,000 Within coming watts of the total decades, the green A roof mount slate type solar power tile installacombined lighting technology indus- tion. Photo courtesy of Atlantis Power. and laundry loads try will undergo are accounted at unprecedented growth and will repre- 100 percent and the remaining balance is sent a significant component of the US applied at 35 percent. The total appliance gross national product. To facilitate the loads when exceeding quantity of five technological growth, it is incumbent for are also derated by 25 percent. Air condithe United States to keep pace with other tioning and other loads such as pool, industrial nations to edu- sauna, and Jacuzzi are applied at their cate, inform and facilitate 100 percent value. The demand load caluse of the cleanest of all re- culation of a 1,400 square foot residential newable energy resources, dwelling indicates a continuous demand namely solar-power co-gen- load of about 3,000 watts per hour. If it is eration systems. As the rich- assumed that the residence is fully occuest industrial nation and pied and is in use for 12 hours a day, the largest consumer of the total, daily-demand load translates into global energy resources 36,000 watt/hours per day. and environmental polSince the average daily irradiance or luters, we must assume a na- insolation in Southern California is about tional moral imperative to 5.5 hours, the approximate solar power lead by example. system required to satisfy the daily deThe following are exam- mand load will be about 6,000 watts. Ocples of solar-power, co-gen- cupancies which are not fully inhabited eration system installations throughout the day may require somein residential applications. The descrip- what smaller systems. tion for each installation outlines basic In general, an average eight hours of system configurations. habitation time should be used for sizing decreased over last decade. Q Demand on natural gas within the near future will cause the prices to increase by 20-25 percent, which will inevitably be passed on to the consumer. Q At present only 5 percent of electri- cal power produced in California is generated by use of natural gas, this percentage within the near future is expected to increase to 5060 percent. Q There have been no new natural gas refineries being built in the United States Q Within three years all electrical- power-generating utility companies in state of California using coal fired turbines must be converted to natural gas. Q Since the cost of natural gas electrical-energy production is higher than hydroelectric power, due to market forces, cost of electrical power will most likely be equalized to a higher level. The Heavenly Retreat Project. Photo courtesy of Mr. Joel Goldblatt, New Mexico, USA. 28 May 2008 Sustainable Land Development Today

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008

Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008 Contents Our Voice Editorial Board SLDT Resources Addressing a Crisis with Wastewater Recycling Visionary Award Finalists The Jonquil City - How a City Revitalized its Downtown Industry Spotlight: Enviroquip Solar Power System Design and Installation Stormwater: The Return of the Cistern Site Amenity: Fiber Optics Surveying and Mapping Wastewater: Low-Pressure System Special Feature: The Urban Canopy as Infrastructure Industry News Advertiser Index Products/Services Showcase Classifieds The Last Word: Nature Bats Last…

Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008

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