Carolina Sun, Summer 1999
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Volume 22 No. 2 Summer 1999 Carolina Sun Published by North Carolina Solar Energy Association GOAL by 20% 2010 15% 2005 10% 2000 If you didn’t come to Sunrayce 99 and 8.7% 1999 Solar Now Festival in Raleigh on June 0% 21 just because it was drizzling, you missed a lot of fun. We didn’t see a lot of solar cars running on their own power, Solar Center’s banner in front of the Solar House. but they did all arrive at the NCSU McKimmon Center, and we gave them a big welcome. Two solar car teams finished on their own power that day, University of Mis- souri, Rolla (who came in first overall in the race) and Queens University, Canada. There were 29 cars and teams in all, from universities and colleges across North America, and they did the best they could considering they had clouds ➊ ➋ all day from their start in Charlottesville, Virginia,thatday.Wedidn’tseeanysigns of anyone giving up, though—they tilted up all solar panels toward the set- ting sun to get whatever energy they could until it was pitch black outside. The entire McKimmon Center parking ➍ lot was filled with solar cars, students, ➌ and interested on-lookers. It was quite an impressive scene. ➊ Raffle winner holds solar mini-car. ➋ Queen’s University car crossing finish line 6/21. ➌ Solar Now Festival tent. Inside: Continued on page 10 ➍ Cars preparing for take off June 22. ➎ University of Missouri-Rolla car crossing 99 Triangle Area Solar Home Tour 3 finish line June 21. NCSEA News 4 Earth Day 2000 Preview 5 Duke Solar Headquarters to be at Centennial 6 Solar Center News 7 What One Member Can Do 13 Daylighting Study Shows the Light 13 On the House 14 ➎ NCSEA T-Shirt 16 NORTH CAROLINA SOLAR Chair’s Column ENERGY ASSOCIATION 2501 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 150 Raleigh, NC 27607 by Richard Harkrader Tel. (919) 832-7601 Fax. (919) 863-4101 Twenty years ago, when NCSEA was offering to integrate and balance the credits E-Mail: [email protected] formed, we were responding to the ‘74 and between the different technologies by lower- http://www.mindspring.com/~ncsea ‘79 oil crises and a new environmental ing one and raising others won many sup- 1999 Board of Directors awareness among North Carolinians. The porters in the Legislature. late ‘70s and early ‘80s saw solar take off, The detailed regulations and work sheets Chair: Richard Harkrader helped by tax credits and high energy prices. New Morning Solar Realty to accompany the new credits should be We were flying high, and then along came done by the time the new legislation takes Vice Chair/Chair-Elect: Hank Wall Reagan and his fossil fuel friends who effect on January 1, 2000. In the meantime, WoodWise Design & Remodeling pulled the plug on government assistance. installations started in 1999 but paid for in Secretary: Parie Hines At the same time, we did not help ourselves 2000 will qualify for the new credit, so do Brown and Jones, Architects by not exposing the scam artists who moved not put off making your renewable energy Treasurer: Wayne Jones in to capitalize on the generous solar tax investments. Brown and Jones, Architects credits. Overnight the industry died and Director, NC Solar Center: Larry Shirley solar got a reputation as a technology that Another important part of NCSEA’s Joyce Brown did not work. Since then, solar and all re- strategy is net metering. Net metering al- Chapel Hill Town Council newables have been fighting that legacy. lows small renewable electricity generators to tie onto the utility grid and exchange (not Van Crandall At our annual Board retreat in January sell) electricity with the utility. This is espe- Pioneer Electronics 1998, NCSEA began an ambitious quest for cially important for PV and solar thermal Arnie Katz a renaissance in solar and renewable energy generators who have excess electricity in the Advanced Energy Corp. in North Carolina. This year NCSEA is daytime but need it from the grid at night, Chris Larsen taking the offensive. We are taking to the and helps make these technologies, wind, NC Solar Center streets on October 16th with the Solar Home and others more cost effective. The utilities Tour, going to county and city commission Sherri Zann Rosenthal are opposing net metering, saying it is dan- Eno Commons meetings with the Million Solar Roofs Initia- gerous and discriminatory. On September tive and to the NC Legislature to spread the Scott Suddreth 21 at 10:00 a.m. and at 7:00 p.m. the message that solar and renewable energy are Rock Castle Solar North Carolina Utilities Commission will for real and ready to help create a clean and Lisa Wilson hold a public hearing in Raleigh for mem- sustainable North Carolina. We now have Design Collaboration bers of the public to give their opinion on improved technologies, a growing number Tom Wills net metering. We have requested this hear- of qualified installers, an active statewide Solar Consultants ing—this is the time to show the Commis- association and a hard-working Solar Cen- Jon Zubizaretta sion the level of support these technologies ter, all focused on this mission. Innovative Design have in NC. We need to pack the hearing Executive Director: Susan Luster NCSEA’s Policy Committee’s task is to room with at least 75 supporters. Please design and implement the strategy for the re- plan to attend even if you do not plan to Administrative Services: Your Office USA newable energy renaissance. As I reported to speak. you in the spring issue of Carolina Sun, we Soon the Legislative Study Commission decided to pursue revision of the NC energy on the Future of Electric Utilities in NC will tax credits, net metering, and a prominent begin meeting again. NCSEA will be there, role for renewable energy in electric utility continuing our quest for a renewable energy restructuring. renaissance. N I am very pleased to announce our first success—the unanimous passage of new CAROLINA SUN is a publication of the NC Solar Energy Association (NCSEA), a private NC renewable energy tax credits by both nonprofit organization founded in 1978 to Houses of the NC Legislature this July. Four Brown & Jones, communicate with solar enthusiasts and solar Policy Committee members—Chris Larsen, Architects building professionals in North Carolina. Mike Nicklas, Larry Shirley and I—worked NCSEA carries out many of its activities in with Representatives Paul Luebke, Joe Hack- Charles Brown, AIA cooperation with the NC Solar Center, and ney and Danny McComas, as well as with Wayne Jones, AIA encourages the public to contact the Solar legislature staff, on writing and lobbying Center (1-800-33-NC SUN) for solar informa- this bill. tion. (The NC Solar Center is sponsored by - dedicated to conscientious client service and environmentally the Energy Division of the NC Department The new credits are 35% for residential responsible design and construction of Commerce in cooperation with NC State investments in biomass, small hydro, solar, University.) and wind, with appropriate tax credit limits Solar Home Designs for each technology. For example, solar is Passive and Active Solar Design Managing Editor: Susan Luster divided into hot water ($1400 limit), passive Editorial Board: Chris Larsen, Tom Mincarelli, Additions/Renovations Fred Stewart, Scott Suddreth and active space heating ($3500 limit), and Daylighting Desktop composition: Klaus Holder PV, wind and small hydro ($10,500 limit). Renewable Energy Systems The same 35% credit applies for com- CAROLINA SUN accepts unsolicited mercial and industrial installations, with a 14 North Boylan Avenue manuscripts, artwork, and photographs. Raleigh,NC 27603 All materials are subject to editing. limit of $250,000! The hot water credit is a (919) 831-2625 slight reduction from the existing credit, but e-mail: [email protected] 2 CAROLINA SUN Summer 1999 1999 Triangle Area Solar Home Tour Saturday, October 16 2:00 p.m. or 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., • Arcadia community’s Common depending on location. House, their solar community center About 20 solar and dining/guest house. homes in Durham, State tax credits for solar and renew- Orange and Wake able energy installations were increased • Back to Solterra in Durham: Counties will be this summer by the NC Legislature. Houses on last year’s tour are now open to the public, Come learn how solar can be more completed, see them and others in and will feature pas- affordable than ever and help improve this intentional solar community. our environment’s air quality. sive solar design, • Several passive solar homes of active solar systems, different sizes, styles and techniques photovoltaic sys- Preview of upcoming National Tour of will be on view across the Triangle. tems, and a wind Solar Homes in the Triangle power system. • Sun-tempered homes: See homes This year’s Triangle area tour will with not as much thermal mass and Tickets are $15 for NCSEA mem- include many technologies and home direct gain as passive solar, but bers, $20 for non-members, and $10 for styles. It will show more houses than which have good orientation and students. Tickets can be pre-purchased ever and include almost all solar and south facing windows. or bought the morning of the tour. renewable residential technologies. Here are a few preview highlights: • Active solar water heating systems The self-drive tour will begin at the will be shown on older and newer Church of Reconciliation, 110 N. Elliot • Working wind turbine system and houses. Road, Chapel Hill, where maps and an tracking photovoltaic collector at a introductory program on renewable home in southern Wake County.