SWE Conference 2007

CREDIT: OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORIES These near-zero energy homes in Lenoir City, Tenn., are the result of an innovative collaboration between Oak Ridge National Laboratories, TVA, U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Program, and Habitat for Humanity. teers to build the houses. The goal is to make “zero energy” homes that middle-class people can afford. TVA and Oak Ridge are working to create a kit for developers so they can quickly build such homes. The most recent expansion of the project involves an East Tennessee developer who wants to build “zero energy” homes in a luxury subdivision called Walden Reserve. Separately, the TVA is looking forward to using emerging technologies such as superconducting cable that would transmit electricity with greater energy efficiency and less power loss than now exists. In addition, Oak Ridge has developed solar hybrid lighting, in which an access-tracking dish on a rooftop can focus sunlight into a room’s center. The light goes into fiberoptic tubes and lights up a building’s interior, including rooms with no windows. Furthermore, TVA aims to be a leader in energy efficiency and reducing peak demand in the next five years, Keiffer said. The power company is doing a pilot program in which small commercial customers dim lights and turn up their thermostats during peak demand periods. The Southern Co. is ramping up efforts to find renewable sources of energy, including co-firing biomass such as switchgrass or wood waste at an existing pulverized coal power plant, said Sullivan. The Georgia Power unit sells electricity from landfill gas at a premium. Threat of climate change forces a hard look at green technologies Mary English, Ph.D., research leader at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment, said utilities and private corporations are being forced to seek alternatives because their electric grids are reaching peak capacity, and they know they may face tougher regulations. Congress and the White House may yet agree on legislation that puts a price on carbon-dioxide emissions, in which case utilities could sell carbon-free electricity. Other utilities, whose coal-fired plants are leading emitters of carbon dioxide, could face new costs. Furthermore, the Bush administration has pushed for a revival of nuclear energy, and the nuclear industry would get a boost if companies were forced to pay for carbon emissions. At the same time these policy issues are playing out, public awareness of environmental issues has increased. The interrelatedness of fossil fuel emissions, global warming, and long-term global climate change has entered the general consciousness. As a result, there is greater demand for products and processes that are green. Jeffrey Harris, vice president for programs at the Alliance to Save Energy in Washington, D.C., who previously headed the Researcher Dr. Mary English believes D.C. office of utilities and private corporations are the Lawrence reaching peak capacity on their elecBerkeley tric grids at the same time they are National concerned about tougher regulation. Laboratory, said he sees no inconsistencies in the greening of electric utilities, car manufacturers, nuclear-waste generators and others with mixed environmental reputations. “They are trying to find more efficient ways to deal with the nuclear fuel cycle and other serious issues, including security and terrorism. So does that mean they can’t try to make sure energy is used efficiently?” Harris said. “If they have something to contribute in both areas, it makes sense.” I 40 SWE CONFERENCE 2007

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SWE Conference 2007

SWE - Annual Conference Issue - October 2007 Contents President’s Note View from the Executive Suite Editor’s Page Reader’s Forum Is the Engineering Workplace “Warming” for Women? The Music of Technology Going Green in Tennessee Program Development Grants FY08 Officers Formally Inducted Membership Information A&B FY07 Membership Meeting Minutes Engineering World Career Toolbox Point of View Book Review SWE Smiles SWE Scrapbook Corporate Partnership Council Celebrating the 2007 SWE Award Recipients Spotlight on Students Conference Sponsors and Program Overview Thursday Conference Schedule Corporate Members Heritage Club Friday Conference Schedule Saturday Conference Schedule Opportunity Index

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