Whenever you see the electricity generation of a solar panel, there is usually a sharp peak around 2 pm, when the sun is directly overhead the panel. Although it costs more, mounting solar panels on pivoting bases that can track the sun can greatly increase the total energy harnessed. The company Envision Solar has designed “solar trees” that can move in four directions, turning that sharp peak into a plateau of maximum energy harvesting.  These trees, and other solar panel contraptions, are designed with parking garages in mind, since the panels can offer shade for the cars on previously undesirable surface.
Envision Solar has also developed the LifeVillage, a so-called “solar city in a box.” LifeVillage is an entire solar-powered, portable living area, ideal for providing electricity and shelter for hundreds of families in emergency situations.  Its combination of solar panels and light steel infrastructure allow it to be self-sustaining and easily transportable and buildable, with a smaller impact on the environment than typical energy sources or emergency bunkers. 
And with other solar panel companies introducing technology that can create rooftop photovoltaic systems and more efficient solar power converters, solar panels will still be considered a leader in alternative energy options in the future.

The Hamptons Green Alliance (HGA) is building a net-zero energy, carbon-neutral house. We at Verus are proud to be a part of this amazing project and to be working with, Certified Carbon Neutral custom home building firm, Telemark, who is the general contractor.

Telemark President, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Frank Dalene, is an environmentalist who builds quality custom homes and founded the Hamptons Green Alliance. It makes sense that he invented what he calls the International Carbon Equivalent Mechanism Attributed to Neutrality (ICEMAN™) to calculate and index the carbon neutrality associated with the production of materials and products using guidelines established as a result of the Kyoto Protocol, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and other similar efforts.

The market for green-built homes is growing especially as energy costs rise. We are seeing a move past LEED and into Carbon Neutral. According to a University of Michigan study, the building of homes represents 9% of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of a home. Living in the home represents the other 91% of the greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, building energy-efficiency into your home makes a tremendous difference in your annual footprint.

Housing represents 31% of the Greenhouse Gas emissions in the US each year. Of these emissions, 90% come from natural gas and grid electricity. Basically, if you can be energy efficient you can make an important reduction in global climate change!

Last week’s GreenBusiness Works Expo was true to its name—all “business.” It was refreshing to see so many green businesses and so much optimism. I guess that’s the benefit of working in a sustainable industry—sooner or later you know your product or service will be needed. The general feeling at the Expo was that everyone’s products and services would be needed “sooner.” I would venture to guess that the attendance at this year’s expo was up four-fold from last year. Stephanie Armistead should be commended for putting together such a comprehensive forum. When you get the likes of Interface, Chevron, Georgia Power and several state congressmen, you know you’ve hit a tipping point.

The Expo also included a Southern Solar Summit, which was a huge hit and many of the breakout meetings were standing room only. The big takeaway was “if Germany can do it, Georgia can do it.” We were reminded by three or four speakers that Germany, which gets about the same amount of sun as Alaska, is the number one user of PV solar, and Georgia lags behind New Jersey and N. Carolina. Hopefully, this message was not lost on the public officials in attendance.

I spent a lot of time at the RedBird LED display checking out their impressive LED display. I’m ashamed to say that I have not kept up with all the advances in LED lights. For example, I didn’t know there are now LED tubes that can replace T12 or T8 fluorescents (requires ballast removal). LED tubes are as elegant in design as they are efficient. The directional light they provide eliminates the need for expensive architectural fixtures.

The one product that impressed me the most was the thermal-solar-powered dehumidifier at the Hannah Solar display. Using desiccant crystals, moisture is taken out of air before it enters a standard HVAC system greatly reducing the load and energy needs. The hot “solar” water serves to dry the desiccant over and over. The system also has the benefit of cooling water before it reaches a hot water tank. Apparently, this is not new technology and has been used in Japan for many years.

Selfishly, the best part of the Expo was when VERUS’s very own Eric Taub and Keith Kantor, CEO of Service Foods, participated in a panel discussion on carbon. Keith’s is one of our clients and surprised us all when he announced that his sales rose 30% after Service Foods became Carbon Neutral early this year. Keith’s company should be commended for its green practices, which I am sure also contributed to its increase in sales. Keith coined a phase: “green is clean” and in the food industry “clean” is very important. Service Foods provides home delivery of all-natural food all over the country and it’s obvious that his customers appreciate his support of the environment.

We look forward to next year’s expo.