living the solar life - p2 infohouse

Volume 23 No. 1 Winter 2000Carolina Sun

Published by North Carolina Solar Energy Association

Living the Solar Lifeby Susan Luster, Executive Director, NCSEA

After four days of waiting out the re-opening of RDU airport following themost recent snowstorm, Mike Nicklasfinally returned home from his businesstrip to Dallas, Texas. He came home tofind over a foot of snow covering theground, but his solar house was perco-lating quite nicely. The snow had meltedoff the solar hot water collectors the dayafter the storm, and the sun had beenshining brightly every day through thesouth-facing windows and onto the brickand tiled areas of his solar home. I wasthere the whole time (he’s my husband),enjoying the sun-filled house despitethe cold and the icy roads that kept mehousebound.

Mike travels a lot, but this trip wasespecially significant. He saw for thefirst time, the McKinney SustainableElementary School under constructionfor which he had written guidelines as a

prototype sustainable school for the stateof Texas. This school has every imagin-able green product and renewable energy

Continued on page 14

Mike Nicklas, NCSEA co-founder, architect, solar activist.

Inside:Earth Day 2000 4

NCSEA Elections: Should VotingBe In Person, By Mail or Both? 6

Herb Eckerlin’s Dedicationand Tenacity Honored 7

Solar Center News 8

Annual Meeting DrawsLargest Crowd in Years 16

Students Light Christmas Treewith Solar 17

New Board Shares Goals 18

Best Tax Creditsin the USby Richard Harkrader, Immediate Past Chair

North Carolina now has the best re-newable energy tax credits in the coun-try. They are the result of NCSEAmembers taking action and turningaround a near disaster.

At the close of the 1998 session ofthe North Carolina General Assembly, agroup of Legislators in the Republican-controlled House introduced a bill tosunset all NC tax credits in 2000, in-cluding the Solar Energy Tax Credits.Before the beginning of the 1999 ses-sion when the sunset bill would be con-sidered, the NCSEA Policy Committeedecided that the best defense would bean aggressive offense, and instead of un-setting the solar tax credits we wouldexpand them into renewable energy taxcredits. Richard Harkrader, Mike Nicklasand Larry Shirley asked RepresentativePaul Luebke (D-Durham) to help.

Representative Luebke set us to workwith legislative staff in the Bill WritingOffice of the Legislature and with repre-senta-tives of the NC Department ofRevenue. He also helped us get the spon-sorship of Representative Joe Hackney(D-Chapel Hill), the Democratic leaderof the newly-elected House. In addition,we got the sponsorship of RepresentativeDanny McComas (R-Wilmington) whowas co-chair last year of the LegislativeStudy Commission on the Future ofElectric Service in NC.

Previously there had been 14 solarand other energy tax credits in NC law.The new renewable energy credit gatherstogether in one bill credits for biomass,hydroelectric, and solar, now including


NORTH CAROLINA SOLARENERGY ASSOCIATIONPO Box 6465Raleigh, NC 27628-6465Tel. (919) 832-7601E-Mail: [email protected]://www.mindspring.com/~ncsea

2000 Board of Directors

Chair: Hank WallWood Wise Design & Remodeling

Vice Chair: Sherri Zann RosenthalZann Developments LLC

Secretary: Lisa WilsonDesign Collaboration

Treasurer: Chris LarsenNC Solar Center

Past Chair: Richard HarkraderNew Morning Solar Realty

At-large Executive Committee Member:

Bob KingeryBurt’s Bees

Van CrandallPioneer Electronics

Bob FloraThe Flora Company

Bob LekerNC Energy Division

Sam OlinInnovative Design

Marcus RennerAppalachian State University

Ghasem ShahbaziNC A&T State University

Larry Shirley, DirectorNC Solar Center

Dona StankusDona Stankus, Architect

Tom WillsSolar Consultants

Executive Director: Susan Luster

Capital Earth Day Coordinator:Sally Beth Shore

CAROLINA SUNis a publication of the NCSolar Energy Association (NCSEA), a privatenonprofit organization founded in 1978 tocommunicate with solar enthusiasts and solarbuilding professionals in North Carolina.NCSEA carries out many of its activities incooperation with the NC Solar Center, andencourages the public to contact the SolarCenter (1-800-33-NC SUN) for solar informa-tion. (The NC Solar Center is sponsored bythe Energy Division of the NC Departmentof Commerce in cooperation with NC StateUniversity.)

Managing Editor: Susan LusterEditorial Board: Hank Wall, Chris LarsenDesktop composition: Klaus Holder

CAROLINA SUN accepts unsolicitedmanuscripts, artwork, and photographs.All materials are subject to editing.

Thoughts From the Chairby Hank Wall

Earth Day comes in April every year.Typically, student groups and environmentalgroups have small gatherings to celebraterecycling and environmental protection ef-forts. Some school science teachers focus onenvironmental concerns for the months ofMarch and April. On the decade anniversaryyears of 1980 and 1990 larger celebrationsand observations took place with thousandsof people attending hundreds of gatheringsacross the country. Over 28,000 people at-tended Earth Day 1990 activities in Raleigh.

I predict this year’s Earth Day will be thelargest in history for several reasons. First,it is a decade celebration falling on the year2000. Second, people are more environmen-tally aware and active than ever in our coun-try’s history, especially young people whohave had environmental studies since firstgrade. For young and old, Earth Day is anon-political and non-religious feel-goodevent that we all support at some level. But,this year we go beyond just Earth Day andcelebrateEarth Day 2000! Who woulddeny their children the opportunity to bepart of a national environmental celebrationwith that powerful of a name.

And it gets better. The Earth Day 2000message isour message:Clean EnergyNow! This is the slogan and logo of the na-tional Earth Day planners. That is the mes-sage of NCSEA. NCSEA is positioned tocarry the Earth Day 2000 message betterthan any organization in the state.

NCSEA has been promoting solar andother renewable technologies for twenty-two years. We are the clean energy groupin North Carolina.

I love the urgency of “Now.” Not… let’sthink about this for another decade but rather,now, and not next year. Clean energy now!Clean energy is easier to do now than everbecause:

• The cost of solar installations is lowernationwide than ever before.

• Tax credits for installing renewable tech-nologies are fantastic in North Carolina(we have the best in the nation).

• Power outages from Fran to Floyd havepeople wanting energy independence attheir homes and businesses.

• The Y2K concerns accelerated thegrowth of solar businesses statewide.

Clean energy is facing some barriers.CP&L and Duke Energy resist mightily tothe inevitable deregulation of the electricutilities. Deregulation would open up themarket for clean energy providers from Ver-mont to Arizona to sell their energy harvest

to North Carolina consumers. Polls consis-tently show that people are willing to pay ahigher rate and many would choose non-pol-luting energy providers.Utility deregulationis coming soon to a state near you; hopefully itwill come sooner and not later to our state.

Another barrier to clean energy now inNorth Carolina is the unfortunate delay inpassingnet metering legislation. If youchoose to invest in renewable energy equip-ment that produces clean energy for yourhome or business you should be able to runyour meter backwards and receive full creditfor what you produce. Thirty states havemoved forward on this vital legislation. Weare hopeful. Net metering would be a hugeboost for clean energy now. Net meteringhas a fax-back form to simplify the processof allowing consumers to get credit for theenergy they produce.

You can move this state forward by writ-ing to your state representatives about netmetering and deregulating utilities. You canbe part of making Earth Day 2000 a big cele-bration by volunteering to be part of theplanning for local gatherings. You can chooserenewable technology for a portion of yourenergy needs. Solar homes are bright andbeautiful and they make sense. If you arenot part of the solution you are part of theproblem.

Being part of the solution is fun and easywhen you talk about clean energy with yourchildren, invite people to your solar home,volunteer to be a presenter at a local school,choose energy-efficient cars and appliancesand this spring, help the nation celebrateEarth Day 2000. N

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2 CAROLINA SUN Winter 2000

APRIL 29th isCAPITAL EARTHDAY 2000State Capital Grounds,Raleigh 12:00-6:00 p.m.Celebrate Clean Energy for the NewMillennium with NCSEA!

NCSEA is taking the lead in planningfor the downtown Raleigh event thatwill be even bigger than Earth DayRaleigh 1990. Capital Earth Day willbe a culmination of an entire month ofEarth-centered events. The Internationaltheme is Clean Energy Now!

Activities Across the State:

• Greensboro Earth Day Celebration:April 17 downtown

• Durham Earth Day Celebration:April 22, Durham Athletic Park

• March on Umstead Park, Raleigh:Umstead Coalition, April 22

• Exploris Museum, Raleigh:Earth Day activities weeks ofApril 17-29

• Dioxin People’s Hearing:Unitarian Universalist Church,Raleigh April 29

• NC Green Festival (NC StateAgencies) downtown Raleigh, May 5

• EV Challenge: Raleigh May 5-6

• Division of Air Quality Fun Run,place to be arranged May 6.

We Need You!Help spread the CLEAN ENERGY,CLEAN AIR, CLEAN EARTH, NOW!message for the new millennium! Volun-teer involvement is critical for thisEARTH DAY to reach its full potential.

To volunteer, sponsor, be a vendor, ordo all three, call919-832-7601,or sendan email to: [email protected] it today!

Capital Earth Day Events:School Contests:We’ll have contestsin the Wake County Middle Schools forclean energy posters, solar cookers, andsolar water heaters. Final bake-offs, races,etc. will be held on Capital Earth Day.

Exhibitions: Nonprofits and other or-ganizations with a story to tell abouttheir actions on Clean Energy, CleanAir, or Clean Earth will have booths,displays, and activities.

Vending: Earth-friendly food vendors,artists, and those with wares that sup-port the Earth Day motto will be vend-ing all day.

Entertainment: On stage, we’ll havebands and performance artists doinggreat music, dance, and theater. A spe-cial kids stage and activities area willfeature performances just for children.

Partners: NCSEA is already workingin conjunction with the NC Governor’sOffice, Dept. of Environment and NaturalResources, NC Conservation Council,NC Conservation Network, ElectricVehicle Challenge and many more onCapital Earth Day 2000.

Check NCSEA’s website for updateson Capital Earth Day 2000:www.capitalearthday.org

Also, check outhttp://www.Earthday.netfor activities in your area.

Winter 2000 CAROLINA SUN 3

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Micro-Hydro • PhotovoltaicsEnergy from the Sun for the Heart and Soul

Earth Day 2000 — Dawn of the Solar Ageby Denis Hayes, Founder of Earth Day and Chair, Earth Day Network

(Editor’s note: This inspiring talk byDenis Hayes was presented at the na-tional solar conference last year.)

We have decided to organize EarthDay 2000 around an attitude of robustoptimism. With that in mind, we acknow-ledge a central, unavoidable truth. Thematerial patterns of 20th century Americaare not sustainable here, and the Ameri-can Dream is not replicable elsewhere.

To put things in perspective, weAmericans drove 60 percent more totalmiles in our automobiles last year thanthe Germans, French, British, Japanese,Canadians, Mexicans and Swedes com-bined. Per capita (including toddlers),the “average” American drives an in-credible 8964 miles per year. When thatvolume of American driving is multi-plied times the size of the Americannew vehicle fleet, which is 51 percentsport utility vehicles, vans and lighttrucks this year, the gulf is even greater.That is why Americans, with 4.5 percentof the world’s population, consume 43percent of the world’s gasoline.

Add to that the fact that the indicationsof global climate change are becomingmore frequent and more extreme:

• The 13 warmest years since we havemeasured temperatures with a thermo-meter have all occurred in the lasttwo decades.

• 1998 was the hottest year in at least1200 years.

• The most comprehensive globalwarming assessment, the report of

the 2000 scientists who contributedto the Intergovernmental Panel onClimate Change, found a “discerniblehuman influence on global climate.”

• Despite its almost legendary reluc-tance to get involved in “political”issues, the American GeophysicalUnion (AGU) announced this yearthat it “knows of no natural phenom-enon that could have caused thewarming already observed.” TheAGU issued an unprecedented callfor action, noting that remainingscientific uncertainties no longersupport a do-nothing approach.

Under these circumstances, “do noth-ing” is a generous appraisal of currentenergy policies. No country on Earthhas a serious, comprehensive sustain-able energy program. And the situationis deteriorating rapidly.

You may be thinking “Is this whatpasses as ‘robust optimism’ in environ-mentalist circles?” It’s almost time forthe “terrific news.”

The political problem we face is clear.Many of the largest, most sophisticatedand most ruthless companies in theworld-oil companies, coal companies,electric utilities, automobile companies-cannot imagine a world in which theuse of fossil fuels does not expand for-ever. More important, they see their ownsuccess as directly linked to oxidizingmore carbon each year into the indefinitefuture. They will do whatever it takes tocrush laws, regulations, treaties, policies,incentives or anything else that would

reduce the use of coal, oil or gas.

There is no realistic hope that our po-litical leaders, dependent on campaigncontributions, will tackle this issue in anymeaningful way. There will be cosmeticresponses. We might even ratify Kyoto.But no major political figure in thecountry is seriously proposing anythingvaguely like what the International Panelon Climate Change says is necessary.

In order to prevail, a critical mass ofpeople must rise up and demand actionfrom their representatives. That maystrike you as a mind-numbingly naïvesentiment, but it has been done before.

Earth Day 1970 led directly to thecreation of the Environmental ProtectionAgency and the passage of the CleanAir Act, the Clean Water Act and the En-dangered Species Act. The internationalcampaign for Earth Day 1990 soughtcommitments from heads of state thatthey would attend the Earth Summit inRio. Ultimately, more heads of state at-tended the Earth Summit than have evergathered on any other occasion in history.

In 1970, 20 million Americans stoodup and demanded fundamental changesin the way we abuse our planet. In 1990,Earth Day New York was the largest or-ganized demonstration in history—1.8million people. Simultaneously, therewere events in 10,000 other Americantowns and cities, and in 141 other coun-tries. An estimated 200 million peopletook part.

Continued on page 5


Earth Day 2000…Continued from page 4

Earth Day 2000 will be bigger.Our policy goals for the U.S. can be

summarized as the “Four Cleans.”

Clean Power.In the next decade, in-crease four-fold the amount of energyobtained from non-hydro renewablesources such as the sun and wind. By2020, produce at least one-third of thenation’s energy from renewable sources,and double the efficiency of energy usein homes, buildings, transportation andindustry.

Clean Air. Clean up our power plantsby setting progressively tighter limitson all power plant pollution-includingcarbon dioxide. Close the loophole thatallows old coal-fired power plants topollute much more than newer plants.

Clean Cars.Hold sport utility vehi-cles, pickup trucks and minivans to thesame air pollution standards as cars.Improve the fuel efficiency of new carsand light trucks to a combined average

of 45 mpg by 2010 and at least 65 mpgby 2020. Offer incentives that buildstrong markets for renewable fuels andfor clean vehicles powered by hybridmotors and fuel cells.

Clean Investments.Quadruple fed-eral investments in renewable energyand energy efficiency within five years,and continue this momentum over thelong term. Stop spending taxpayer dol-lars to subsidize the coal, oil and nu-clear industries.

We can choose to build a super-effi-cient society powered by renewablesand offering all the creativity, comfort,productivity, employment, entertainmentand security one could want. But it willonly come if we, the people, demand it.

What can you do?First, stop thinking of Earth Day as

“just a day.” Earth Day is a brand-almostuniversally recognized, and with broadpositive public response. We intend touse it in a full-blown media blitz inApril, 2000, to overcome the fossil in-dustry’s hugely expensive disinforma-tion campaign.

For the details of this blitz and to findout how you can participate, visit ourweb site at www.earthday.net. To date,Earth Day Network has organizers in136 countries. We will be in every coun-try in the world on Earth Day 2000. Weexpect to enlist half a billion participantsin the first major global campaign everorganized principally via the Internet.

Earth Day 2000 only comes once, andit is not coming a moment too soon.Join us in calling for a clean, prosper-ous energy future.

Denis Hayes is President and CEOof the Bullitt Foundation, 1212 MinorAvenue, Seattle, WA 98101-2825,(206) 343-0807, Fax (206) 343-0822.He is also chair of the Earth Day Net-work, heading up the 2000 celebrations.Find Earth Day on the web at:www.earthday.net N

Reprinted with permission from Solar Today,November/December 1999 issue, published bythe American Solar Energy Society.

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NCSEA Elections: Should Voting BeIn Person, By Mail or Both?by Sherri Zann Rosenthal

A spirited discussion was held at theAnnual Meeting this November con-cerning whether to stick to NCSEA’straditional practice of having only thosepresent at the Annual Meeting empow-ered to vote for and elect the Board ofDirectors and Officers.

When NCSEA was established, itwas a conscious decision to have theelection take place at the Annual Meet-ing, and for only those present to get tovote. As Mike Nicklas noted, the goalwas both to encourage the membershipto show up for the Annual Meeting, andto try to ensure that the most active andengaged members of the NCSEA werethe ones charting the course for the or-ganization. Others noted that when youare at the meeting, you get to see andhear from the candidates who are pre-sent, and that this affects the votes cast.

Susan Luster spoke up for providingsome means by which those who couldnot attend the Annual Meeting couldhave a vote. For example, there arethose who are active in NCSEA whomay live hours from where the AnnualMeeting is held, and who may have aconflict which prevents their attendance.There was a sense that these folks shouldalso have an opportunity to cast a vote.

A show of hands after the discussionindicated strong support for a “middleway:” the addition of an absentee ballotprovision to our election process. As aresult, your Board of Directors will bebrainstorming the mechanics of addingsome absentee ballot method, while es-sentially retaining a process in whichmost votes are cast at the meeting itself,after hearing from all the candidateswho are present.

This discussion was held as a wayfor the Board to get feedback from themembers on this issue. No final decisionswere made. If you have an opinion onthis topic, please feel welcome to dropus a line at [email protected]

Award-WinningProjects since 1994

callHank Wall: (919) 833-3389

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Help keep North Carolina healthy and green.Look for us in your workplace campaign.

EFNC, PO Box 196, Durham, NC 27702919-687-4840, 800-200-6311

NCSEA is a charter member of EFNC.


Herb Eckerlin’s Dedication and Tenacity Honoredby Larry Shirley, Executive Director, NC Solar Center

With a long list of achievements thatincludes the founding of the NC SolarCenter and the construction of the SolarHouse at NC State University, HerbEckerlin was inducted into the NorthCarolina Solar Hall of Fame at NC SolarEnergy Association’s annual meeting onNovember 20, 1999. A Professor of Me-chanical Engineering at NC State andon the NCSU faculty for more than 30years, Herb has played a major role inadvancing solar energy in North Carolinaand establishing it as one of the leadingstates working to make the transition torenewable energy sources.

It was my great honor to presentHerb for induction. My opening state-ment about him summed up his formulafor success: “When it comes to his com-mitment to solar energy, Herb is like abulldog—persistent, tenacious, and to-tally dedicated to the daunting tasks thatstand before him. And through it all, hehas an unyielding commitment to qualityin his work that distinguishes him. Inour profession, he is truly a class act.”

Herb’s career in solar energy spansalmost a quarter of a century. He haswritten and spoken extensively about so-lar energy, overseen more than a scoreof graduate students who have focusedtheir work in this field, and performedand supervised research on passive so-lar heating and cooling, active solar sys-tems and photovoltaics.

Throughout his career, Herb has beensteadfast in the importance that he hasplaced on solar energy and energy effi-ciency extension, training and outreachactivities. He travels throughout thestate extensively, training industrial plantmanagers to make their boilers andmanufacturing plants more efficient.For many years, he was the principal in-structor in energy efficient constructionfor home builders through the GraduateBuilder’s Institute. And, for nearly allof his career at NC State, he has had ajoint appointment with the IndustrialExtension Service, NCSU’s outreacharm for the College of Engineering,where he founded the Energy Preventa-

tive Maintenance Program and, throughhis Department of Mechanical andAerospace Engineering, the IndustrialAssessment Center. These programsprovide the vast majority of energyaudit, assessment and training servicesfor industry in the state, helping makethese plants and firms more competitivein the global marketplace.

For solar energy in North Carolina,Herb’s contributions have been nothingshort of extraordinary. In partnershipwith two other professors at NC State,Al Boyers and Ray DeBruhl, and archi-tecture firm Innovative Design, Herbwas instrumental in the design and con-struction of the Solar House at NC State.Dedicated in 1981 by Governor Hunt,the NCSU Solar House is one of themost visited and visible examples ofresidential solar design and applicationsin the United States.

Characteristic of his commitment,Herb worked tirelessly throughout the1980’s to keep the facility open to thepublic despite the elimination of mostfunding for solar energy during the Rea-gan Administration. Then in 1987, afterextensive negotiations and strong assis-tance from the NC Solar Energy Asso-ciation, Herb received funding from the

Energy Division of the NC Departmentof Commerce to start the NC SolarCenter. Since its dedication in 1988 andover its twelve-year history, the SolarCenter has responded to more than25,000 requests for technical assistanceand information; trained thousands ofprofessionals, policy makers and con-sumers in the application of solar tech-nologies; and provided a comprehensivearray of services that firmly establishedit as a national leader in the advance-ment of solar energy.

Since the founding of the Solar Cen-ter, Herb has served as its Faculty Chair-man, helping to greatly expand itsresearch capabilities with the openingof the Solar Research Annex in 1996and the addition of a photovoltaic systemto the Solar House in 1992. In the com-ing years, he is setting his sights onhelping craft the most effective energyefficiency and solar strategies for NorthCarolina schools, a sector that is explod-ing with growth as billions of dollars arepumped into new school construction.

For his great contributions to the ad-vancement of solar energy in the state,the NC Solar Energy Association salutesHerb Eckerlin and takes great pride ininducting him. N

Herb Eckerlin, North Carolina Solar Hall of Fame.


COLLEGE ofENGINEERINGNorth Carolina State University

The NC Solar Center is sponsored by theEnergy Division, NC Department of Commerce,in cooperation with North Carolina StateUniversity. However, any opinions, findings,conclusions, or recommendations expressedherein are those of the author(s) and do notnecessarily reflect the views of the EnergyDivision, NC Department of Commerce.

Division

North CarolinaDepartment of Commerce

Interconnection Program a National Leaderby Larry Shirley, Executive Director, NC Solar Center

Since 1997, the Solar Center has beenon the leading edge of the debate overinterconnection standards and rules thatare developed for customer-owned re-newable energy systems. The debate overtechnical and contractual interconnectionissues generally draws in utilities, towhose grid these systems are being in-stalled, system owners who must com-ply with interconnection requirements,and equipment manufacturers who aremaking the equipment that must meettough technical interconnection specs.

Interconnection is a hot topic aroundthe country as the grid-tied market forPV and wind systems continues to grow.However, the terms “interconnection”and “barrier” have become synonymousin many states and utility districts. At is-sue is whether the rules for interconnect-ing small renewable energy systems —which are typically net metered — aretoo stringent and thus discouraginghomeowners and small business ownersfrom installing clean energy systems.

Utilities, on the other hand, have anobligation to maintain a safe, workingelectrical distribution system and, there-fore, have legitimate concerns over thesafety of these individual systems beinginstalled.

Nearly fifteen states have settledthese issues with the development ofclear, simplified interconnection rules.These states include Rhode Island, Cali-fornia, Texas, New York, and New Mex-

ico. Meanwhile, at least fifteen otherstates are in the process of developingor finalizing their interconnection rules.

That’s where the Solar Center’s Inter-connection Project comes in. Under con-tract to the U.S. Department of Energy,the Solar Center serves as a technicaland informational resource for statesdeveloping interconnection rules. Firstwith Bill Brooks and now Chris Larsen,the Center has become known as the na-tion’s number one resource for informa-tion and analysis of these issues. Thisspring Chris will be presenting on thetopic in Atlanta, Wisconsin, Connecticut,and New Jersey. And the Center contin-ues to be actively involved with the de-velopment of rules in states such asVirginia and New Hampshire and hasprovided technical assistance to statesuch as New York, Colorado, Vermont,Oregon, Arizona, and Florida.

But what about North Carolina? Weare right in the thick of this issues. Asof early February, we are awaiting a rul-ing by the NC Utilities Commission onthe matter of net metering. We expectsuch a ruling will go a long way to de-fining how interconnection rules are ad-dressed here.

In the meantime, the Solar Centerhas convened a group of representativesfrom most of the state’s utilities to dis-cuss the technical issues at hand. Pro-gress has been made on a consensusbasis, and the Center remains confident

that whether or not we have net meter-ing in North Carolina, we will have thetechnical rules in place to facilitate theinterconnection of your PV (and hope-fully wind & hydro) system to the grid.Until these rules are finalized though,you still need to talk directly with yourutility to discuss current requirements.One key motivation in for net meteringis the need for standardization acrossALL utilities in our state.

If you are interested in learning moreabout this issue, visit the InterstateRenewable Energy Council (IREC)’sConnecting to the Grid web page(www.irecusa.org/connect.htm) whichwas developed by Chris Larsen. Thereyou’ll find state-by-state information aswell as valuable technical and non-tech-nical background. Or e-mail Chris [email protected]

Solar Center • Solar Center • Solar Center • Solar Center • Solar Center • Solar Center • Solar Center • Solar Center

NORTH CAROLINA

SOLAR CENTER

Solar Center NewsNorth Carolina State University • Box 7401 • Raleigh, NC 27695-7401 • (919) 515-3480 or 800-33-NC SUN



Crispy NewWeb Designby Henry Rogers, NC Solar Center

The Solar Center has finally updatedits website with a crispy new look and aninteractive site navigator. Okay, “update”is putting it mildly–it was more of a gutrehab than a new coat of paint. Thanksto our long-time program assistant, Pa-tricia Brezny (who recently graduatedfrom NCSU School of Design and hasrelocated to Asheville), the new home-page incorporates a new graphic identityfor the Center developed by Diane Paces-Wiles. You may have noticed this newlook on our Tenth Anniversary Reportand new Solar Center brochures. Theaddress hasn’t changed though, so yourbookmark to www.ncsc.ncsu.edu is solid.

The update is more than just a newlook, however. We are now using webframes and Javascript to make navigat-ing in the various sections of the web-site and in documents easier and faster(good-bye back button!). Be sure todrop by and check out the new digs.

Some new features to look for include:

• A more user-friendly search tool forprofessional resources in NorthCarolina.

• Updated staff page.

• A feedback form that actually works(we might even implement yourrecommendations).

• Information on the fantastic new taxcredits for renewables in NC (seestory page 1).

• And, more links to other sites on theweb that are almost as cool as ours(okay, the NCSEA site is actuallycooler than the Center’s, but not every-one can be Scott and Ann-MarieSuddreth!)

And we’ve kept your favorites… theentire on-line library of Solar Center factsheets, registration info for upcomingevents, background on the Solar House,videos lists, publications lists, and infor-mation on all the Center’s major programareas. N

Million Solar Roofs Initiative…Coming to Your Community Soonby Larry Shirley, Executive Director, NC Solar Center

When President Bill Clinton stoodbefore the United Nations on June 26,1997 and announced that the UnitedStates would install one million solarsystems on American rooftops by 2010,many energy experts laughed. How couldhe possibly get the American people toback such an ambitious goal? Someleaders even predicted the initiativewould die before it ever got started. “Justa lot of rhetoric,” was a familiar phrasewhispered at solar conferences andwithin the Beltway of Washington, DC.

Although the Million Solar RoofsInitiative (MSRI) is still quite young, itsforward progress since the President’sglobal warming address before the UNhas been nothing short of astounding.Today, 46 states and local communitiesare partners in the initiative, each pledg-ing to install 500 or more systems by2010. Cumulatively, the pledges nowexceed 950,000 rooftops, putting the in-itiative within an eyelash of reachingthe one million goal. The pledges rangefrom the 500 minimum level in severalindividual cities and towns to 100,000in Los Angeles, 20,000 in Sacramento,and 20,000 in the State of Maryland.

North Carolina became a Partner inthe MSRI in April 1999 making an initialcommitment of 1,000 solar systems intwo communities with plans for 10,000or more systems as additional cities andcounties join the effort. With support andsponsorship from the Energy Divisionin the NC Department of Commerce,the NC Solar Center was designated asthe lead organization to spearhead theeffort. The Center was later awarded acompetitive grant of $50,000 by the USDepartment of Energy to facilitate theMSRI in existing and new communitiesduring 1999-2000.

Initial MSRI programs were organ-ized in two areas, Watauga (Boone) andGuilford (Greensboro) Counties, both

previously designated as “solar commu-nities” by the Solar Center. Each countyhad established local steering commit-tees to guide an overall effort to expandthe use of solar energy in their commu-nity. Recently, Durham and Chapel Hillalso joined the MSRI effort.

Guilford County, home to Greens-boro, has worked with the Solar Centerin bringing solar educational programsto its citizens and professionals since1990. They participated in an exhibitionfor builders, established a solar resourcecenter at the downtown Greensboro pub-lic library, and conducted a solar home-building workshop in late 1999. For thisyear, they have planned professionaltraining workshops in photovoltaics andsolar water heating, for electrical andplumbing contractors respectively, to helpbuild the infrastructure to sell, installand service solar systems in the area.Known as the Guilford Solar Communi-ties Program, the local steering commit-tee has also planned a solar home tourand a major outreach program to stu-dents and teachers in early 2000.

Watauga County, nestled in the BlueRidge Mountains in the northwest partof the state and home to AppalachianState University (ASU), was initiallydesignated as a solar community by theSolar Center in 1998 and boasts an ex-tremely active and diverse steering com-mittee that includes ASU faculty andstudents, Watauga County officials, theMayor of Boone, and local contractorsand interested citizens. Training work-shops in photovoltaics and solar waterheating were held in 1999 for more than60 electrical and plumbing/heating con-tractors, each culminating with a hands-on installation for the attendees. The localorganization, named the AppalachianRegional Initiative for Solar Energy




Million Solar RoofsInitiative…Continued from page 9

(ARISE) also co-sponsored a solar hometour, participated in a builders’exhibition,and held a briefing session for buildingprofessionals in 1999. The new Millen-nium will bring consumer workshops,an outreach program to schools, estab-lishment of a resource center at thecounty extension office and a numberof special events and activities centeredon Earth Day 2000.

In both Watauga and Guilford Coun-ties, one of key ingredients for their suc-cess has been the co-sponsorship andstaffing support provided by the countyextension offices of the NC CooperativeExtension Service. Led by county Ex-tension director Sue Counts in WataugaCounty and Extension agent BrendaMorris in Guilford County, both officeshave become the focal point for meet-ings, information and community assis-tance in working to accelerate the useof solar energy in their communities.

The Town of Chapel Hill, thoughjust beginning its program, has alreadyallocated funds to hire a part-time localcoordinator and is planning a photovol-taic installation on one of the town’scommunity centers or fire stations as aninitial demonstration. Led by TownCouncil member Joyce Brown and

County Manager Cal Horton, efforts arenow being focused on the recruitmentof an experienced and skilled steeringcommittee to guide the program.

As MSRI efforts move rapidly for-ward across both North Carolina andthe nation, one wonders how such pro-gress is possible when the MSRI pro-gram receives so little federal money($1.5 million annually).

Part of the answer may be found inthe national focal point that it providesfor local organizations to rally aroundin promoting solar energy development.Such a “hook” was largely absent duringthe 1990s even though solar energy en-joyed consistently high popular support.The MSRI seems to provide this neededfocal point and an outlet for utilities,states and communities to use in gettingthe solar message out to the public.

In North Carolina, the Solar Centerexpects the MSRI effort to expandsteadily, drawing in new communitiesas existing local programs get recog-nized and publicized for their achieve-ments.

If you would like to see your localcommunity join the MSRI program andbecome a solar community, contact theSolar Center at 1-800-33-NC SUN or919-515-3480. North Carolina needsyour help as we go about the challeng-ing task of making the transition to a re-newable energy future.N

Solar Center Calendar of EventsThe Solar Connection Series Six Tuesdays, 7:00–9:30 PM,

Beginning April 11, 2000McKimmon Conference Center,NC State University, Raleigh

Photovoltaics for ElectricalContractors February 25–26, 2000 Guilford County Agricultural

Center, Greensboro

Solar Water & Space Heating March 17–18, 2000 Guilford County AgriculturalCenter, Greensboro

Designing & Building a Solar Home March 31–April 1, 2000 Kerr Scott Hall, Appalachian StateUniversity, Boone

Designing Low Energy Buildings:Passive Solar Strategies & Energy10 Software

June 9–10, 2000 D.H. Hill Library, NC StateUniversity, Raleigh

The Solar ConnectionSeries

The six-part series of workshops isdesigned for homeowners, home buyers,builders, architects, policymakers, teachers,students and general consumers. Theseminar series includes these sessions:

Session 1Passive Solar Design for New ConstructionApril 11, 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.Henry Rogers

Examine the use of passive solar energy fornew homes—design options, sitting issues, con-struction techniques and the effectiveness of avariety of materials and approaches. The sessionwill be led by Henry Rogers, Solar ExtensionSpecialist with the N.C. Solar Center.

Session 2The House As a System — Health, Safety,Durability, Comfort, and Energy EfficiencyApril 18, 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.Arnie Katz

Learn how safety, durability, comfort and lowenergy costs can be balanced and integrated toproduce a healthier and more affordable home.Presenter will be Arnie Katz from the AdvancedEnergy Corporation, a nonprofit organizationworking to advance energy efficiency in resi-dential construction.

Session 3Passive Solar Design for Existing HomesApril 25, 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.Hank Wall

Find out about several strategies that can beapplied to capture solar energy for use in yourpresent home —sunspaces, greenhouses, wallcollectors, and direct gain techniques. HankWall, Chairman of the N.C. Solar Energy Asso-ciation and President of Wood Wise Design &Remodeling in Raleigh, will lead this session.

Session 4Active Solar Water and Space HeatingMay 2, 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.Robert Stevens

Take full advantage of the sun and learn how toselect a system that is right for your needs. Thissession will review a variety of active systemsfor heating homes, domestic hot water andpools/spas. It will be conducted by RobertStevens, Solar Engineering Specialist at theN.C. Solar Center.

Session 5Photovoltaics: Electricity from the SunMay 9, 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.Shawn Fitzpatrick

Explore applications, design and installation ofphotovoltaic systems that use solar cells to con-vert the sun’s energy directly into electricity. Thesession will be led by Shawn Fitzpatrick, SolarEngineering Specialist at the N.C. Solar Center.


Session 6Green-Building ProductsMay 16, 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.Dona J.C. Stankus and Lisa Wilson

Environmentally sensitive building materialsare now available for use in your home. Learnhow to use recycled building products and re-source efficient materials that are durable andpromote a healthy indoor environment with aminimal impact on the global environment.The session will be conducted by Dona J.C.Stankus, AIA, a Raleigh architect, and LisaWilson, with Design Collaborative in Fuquay-Varina.

Photovoltaics forElectrical Contractors

Presented by the N.C. Solar Center,Guilford Solar Communities Programand Guilford County Office of the N.C.Cooperative Extension Service, thisMillion Solar Roofs Initiative workshopprovides an intensive two-day overviewof photovoltaic (PV) systems and theNational Electric Code as it applies to PVsystems. Current environmental concernsand the demand for emergency backuppower systems present new business op-portunities for electrical contractors.

Solar Water & SpaceHeating

Presented by the N.C. Solar Center,Guilford Solar Communities Programand Guilford County Office of the N.C.Cooperative Extension Service, this Mil-lion Solar Roofs Initiative seminar pro-vides a two-day overview of solar waterheating installation, maintenance andservicing techniques, including a sum-mary of solar space heating options andhands-on installation training for resi-

dential solar systems. Contractors com-pleting the course will be able to providecompetent, skilled installation, mainte-nance and service on domestic hotwater and space heating solar systems.

Designing Low EnergyBuildings: Passive SolarStrategies & Energy 10Software

The two-day, hands-on computerworkshop covers all aspects of design-ing energy-efficient small commercialbuildings. Developed for architects andmechanical engineers, the workshop isbuilt around the fast and easy-to-useWindows-based Energy-10 softwarepackage. Please call the Solar Center,1-800-336-2976, for more information.12 AIA LUHs (12 HSW) are availablefor the course.

Designing & Building aSolar Home

Presented by the N.C. Solar Center,Appalachian State University, and theAppalachian Regional Initiative for So-lar Energy (ARISE), this Million SolarRoofs Initiative workshop is for anyone— homeowners, architects, builders —involved in building a new solar home.The workshop addresses the most im-portant decisions when designing andbuilding a resourceful, efficient andhealthy house. Topics are covered in suf-ficient detail for attendees to feel confi-dent in their understanding of thecritical issues in each technology.N


Federal Funding for NC State Cell ResearchDr. Salah Bedair of NC State Uni-

versity’s Electrical and ComputerEngineering Department received aU.S. Department of Energy grant of$286,000 for his continuing pioneer-ing work in the development of high-efficiency solar cells. Dr. Bedair,whose wife also does cell research inthe Materials Science Department, is

considered one of the nation’s leadingresearchers for multi-junction PV.

The DOE award was for a projecttitled, “Novel Growth Methods forGaInNAs for High Efficiency SolarCells.” If this material is successfullydeveloped, solar cells may be convert-ing up to 40% of the sun’s energy toelectricity. N

MainstreamingEnergy Efficiencyafter HurricaneFloyd: the E-House

In the eastern North Carolina com-munities ravaged by the floods of Hurri-cane Floyd, heartache, misery, economiclosses and acute frustration abound. Es-timates by some organizations indicatethat as many as 11,000 new homes mayhave to be constructed to replace thosedestroyed, while many more are in needof major repairs and renovation to be-come habitable again. The amount ofnew housing and renovation work thatis needed is a staggering number, par-ticularly since the region was alreadysuffering from a severe housing crunchbefore Hurricane Floyd hit the region.

Five months after Floyd’s devastation,efforts to build new housing are just be-ginning to gear up. Many of the newhomes will be reserved for families wholived in floodplain regions and are nowresiding in portable trailers provided bythe Federal Energy Management Agency,staying with friends or relatives, or lo-cated in substandard, temporary hous-ing. For the welfare of their families,many of these people need to improvetheir living conditions as soon as possi-ble, placing a great deal of pressure onthe local and state authorities in chargeof the rebuilding effort.

In this kind of atmosphere, the temp-tation is to slap housing up as fast aspossible, ignoring important considera-tions such as energy efficiency, renew-able energy, quality and durability ofconstruction, and techniques and materi-als for making the home healthier andmore sustainable for the homeowner.And yet, with Floyd’s terrible destruc-tion comes an opportunity never beforewitnessed in North Carolina—a chanceto start over and do it right when itcomes to building homes in a large re-gion of the state.




Mainstreaming EnergyEfficiency…Continued from page 11

To meet this challenge, Advanced En-ergy, the Energy Division of the NC De-partment of Commerce, NC Solar Centerand NC Division of Emergency Manage-ment have joined together to constructthe first “E-House,” a new 1,000 sq.ft.dwelling in Kinston that utilizes energyefficient construction techniques and ma-terials aimed at significantly reducing thenew homeowner’s energy bills and pro-viding a healthy, durable and comfortablehome. Volunteers from these and othergroups have contributed hundreds ofhours to construct the home Habitat-style,resulting in much lower construction coststhat will make them much more affordable.The home is expected to be ready foroccupancy in early spring and is viewedas pivotal to the state’s efforts to promoteenergy efficiency in new construction aspart of the Floyd recovery process.

“Our hope is that the E-House canbe an example for the entire eastern re-gion that they can modify and replicateit in their communities,” said LarryShirley, Executive Director of the NCSolar Center. “As other communities be-gin their rebuilding efforts, the E-Housecan clearly show them that energy effi-ciency is affordable, environmentallyresponsible and, most of all, lowers theenergy bills for many of their citizenswho can least afford a house with highoperating costs.”

Future plans call for installation of asolar water heating system on one of thenew homes in Kinston. Training will beoffered for housing and community offi-cials across the region in energy efficientand solar construction strategies andtechniques.

For more information about how toget involved in the eastern North Caro-lina rebuilding effort, contact DeborahLamm, NC Energy Division, (919) 733-1919; Mark Munden, NC Division ofEmergency Management, (919) 733-0795; or Robert Stevens, NC SolarCenter, (919) 515-4092.N

Kinston House Energy Efficient Features Installed:The following construction practices

are included in the E-House.

• 100% continuous vapor diffusion re-tarder on crawlspace floor to reducemoisture problems

• air-sealed all electrical, plumbing andother penetrations using caulk and foam

• sealed window and door rough open-ings between framing and jamb withbacker rod

• two continuous beads of caulk underbottom plate to reduce air infiltration

• high density R-15 batts in walls, withspecial attention to ensure there wereno voids or compression of insulation.(note: in future homes, we prefer thatblown cellulose be used to reduce air

infiltration and increase coverage area)

• back ladders used on framing of exte-rior to interior wall junction to allowfor insulation of walls at junction

• ceiling in hallway was dropped to runductwork inside conditioned space,which dramatically reduces energylosses of the distribution system

• installed a super-quiet ventilation fanin the main bathroom with a variablespeed controller for improved and con-trolled home ventilation

• appropriately sized, SEER 12 heatpump

• low-E double pane windows

• ductwork sealed with mastic.

Volunteers building theE-House in Kinstonmade sure it was prop-erly constructedfor energy efficiency.


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Living the Solar LifeContinued from page 1

component. It has a water catchment sys-tem on the roof for irrigation and toiletflushing, recycled building materials, awindmill, passive solar and daylightingdesign. The Texas firm of SHW designedthe building, but the state had hiredMike’s firm, Innovative Design, to de-sign the sustainable components anddevelop statewide guidelines.

You may be familiar with InnovativeDesign’s North Carolina school projectsthat are passive solar and daylit. Theseinclude Sterling Montessori in Morris-ville, The New School in Fuquay-Varina,Durant Road Middle School in Raleigh,four daylit schools in Johnston County,and most recently, Dillard Road MiddleSchool in Raleigh. Because of savingsin lighting energy, and the reduced cool-ing load that less electric lighting means,their middle schools annually save$50,000 of a typical school’s energycosts. The Durant Middle School andthe McKinney School have been bothselected by the national AIA in their an-nual awards for top-ten most environ-mentally friendly schools in the country.

In addition to energy savings, day-lighting also creates a superior learningenvironment. Studies of Innovative’s firstthree daylit schools and their students’grade performance have quantified theadvantages of full spectrum natural lighton productivity. When comparing thestudents End-of-Grade Tests and Cali-fornia Achievement Tests, the studentswho attended the daylit schools for twoto three years outperformed students innon-daylit schools by 14%. Similar

studies in Colorado, California andWashington last year had similar posi-tive influences.

One of Innovative Design’s earlierprojects was the Solar House at NCSU,which was completed in 1981 and isnow home to the North Carolina SolarCenter. This building incorporates typi-cal Innovative Design components: it’sa “high mass” building, and it has an aircore system. The mass is great for storingand giving back heat in the winter, butis especially good in our hot summerssince it absorbs so much heat. The aircore system runs between the two floorsin the NCSU Solar House and takes hotair from the isolated gain sunspace anddistributes it through the mass in thefloor between the first and second levels.

The air core system in our house,which Mike designed, is a vertical loop,taking the heat off the top of the twostory sunspace, ducted across the atticand then distributes it down the north-west corner through a massive chimneywhere it stores the heat for later in thewinter night or serves to remove heatfrom the sunspace in the summer andstore it in the mass.

Mike practices what he preaches. Hehas been preaching solar a long time,having given over 200 talks. His firmhas designed over 650 solar buildings,many of which have been replicated andtotal 4500 built buildings. InnovativeDesign has copyrighted guidelines forsustainable schools that use renewableenergy, green materials and have sus-tainable systems such as the McKinneyschool in Texas.

His newest venture, Duke Solar, hascreated The Power Roof, a large-scale

solar system for industrial and large-commercial buildings that producessteam for process heat or electricity.Innovative Design has teamed up withJohn Myles of L.P. Cox and a few othersto form Solar Roof International, whichpartnered with Duke Energy to createDuke Solar. You can see The PowerRoof prototype, a huge roof-integratedsolar thermal system, in the ResearchAnnex behind the Solar House. Thisproduct has been granted several patents.Two buildings in Raleigh will house thefirst systems: a commercial buildingretrofit and Duke Solar’s headquarters,Centennial Green, on NCSU’s Centen-nial Campus.

Another exciting project that is nowunderway is in Porto Alegre, Brazil,where Springer-Carrier is renovating250,000 sq.ft. of roof to incorporate anew Power Roof with daylighting ontheir plant which manufactures heatingand air conditioning equipment.

An important part of Mike’s life hasbeen service to solar organizations likeNCSEA. Mike helped create NCSEAin 1978, along with Leon Neal, BenGravely, and Clarence Beaver. He wasalso chair of NCSEA in 1982-83. In1987, Mike, Herb Eckerlin (then facultychair of the Solar House) and PaulKonove (owner of Carolina CountryBuilders and then NCSEA chair) got thenotion that it was time to start a state-funded solar center. Within a year theyhad convinced Doug Culbreth of the NCEnergy Division to fund it and recruitedLarry Shirley to run it. During his 1983NCSEA chairmanship, Mike made awinning proposal to the American Solar


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Living the Solar LifeContinued from page 14

Energy Society to hold the 1985 nationalsolar conference in Raleigh, which hethen chaired, and for which he raised alot of money for NCSEA. In recognitionof his work in North Carolina, Mikewas inducted into the North CarolinaSolar Hall of Fame in its first year, withthe other three founders of NCSEA.

Mike currently serves as Vice Chairon the board of the American Solar En-ergy Society, NCSEA’s parent organiza-tion. He served about ten years on thisboard previously, including as chair. Hecreated significant initiatives for ASESin those years, including a series of issue-based roundtables, bringing ASES intothe policy arena, and bringing it out ofdebt. He hired ASES Executive DirectorLarry Sherwood, who has now been ablymanaging ASES for over ten years.Mike received two awards from ASES,both their Special Recognition Awardfor his volunteerism, and the CharlesGreeley Abbot Award for achievementin the solar field.

Mike then went on to the InternationalSolar Energy Society. After several yearsof board service, Mike was president ofISES, where he made his mark on theworld with a challenge to the Rio EarthSummit in 1992. His series of interna-tional round tables shaped ISES’s policyfor the Earth Summit, which Mike pub-lished and took to Rio, and which hepresented to many government and non-governmental organizations there. Forthis Mike was awarded ISES’s highestaward for service to the Society. I thinkthis level of recognition spurs Mike onto see if he can top it with one more, ormaybe he’s just ticking off items on thatlong list of a lifetime agenda he has.

Thank you for indulging me to tellyou this tale of a remarkable person whohas made an indelible, and large, markon the renewable energy field, and whohas inspired and encouraged me to dofar more in the solar field than I hadimagined or planned. I would never havewritten this article if Hank Wall, NCSEAchair, hadn’t asked me to write it as afeature for this newsletter.N

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Annual Meeting Draws Largest Crowd in YearsThis year’s annual meeting drew 75

people, more than we’ve seen in years.Perhaps it was talk of money that drewpeople in—tax credits that is. The after-noon program on the new renewable taxcredits spurred lots of discussion amongmembers about issues such as trainingand certification for installers of solarhot water, PV and wind systems.

The meeting itself including a wrap upof 1999 and awards for service were pre-sented to outgoing board members JoyceBrown, Parie Hines, Wayne Jones, ScottSuddreth, and Jon Zubizaretta. Outgoingchair Richard Harkrader was presenteda special award for being our Solar War-rior during 1999 and his perseverancewith legislative efforts with tax creditsand utility deregulation and restructuring.The highlight was Herb Eckerlin’s induc-tion into the North Carolina Solar Hallof Fame. Larry Shirley gave an inspiredoverview of Herb’s contributions to andguidance of the North Carolina SolarCenter as faculty sponsor (see page 7).Election results are as follows:

Officers:Chair: Hank Wall

Wood Wise Design & Remodeling

Vice Chair: Sherri Zann RosenthalZann Developments LLC

Secretary:Lisa WilsonDesign Collaboration

Treasurer: Chris LarsenNC Solar Center

New board members:Bob Flora

The Flora Company

Bob KingeryBurt’s Bees

Bob LekerNC Energy Division

Sam OlinInnovative Design

Marcus RennerAppalachian State University

Ghasem ShahbaziNC A&T State University

Dona StankusDona Stankus, Architect

Those who remain on from last year are:Van Crandall,Pioneer Electronics

Richard Harkrader,Immediate Past Chair

Larry Shirley,Director, NC Solar Center

Tom Wills, Solar Consultants

Outgoing Chair’s MessageAfter two terms as Chair of NCSEA I

am “out to pasture” and have reduced myNCSEA duties to past Chair, Chair of thePolicy Committee, and Environmental Re-presentative to the Legislative Study Com-mission on Electric Utilities. It has been anexciting time to be Chair because there areso many changes taking place in the en-ergy world and many new opportunities.I have a long list of thank yous to make: Ihave been helped by a great group of solarenthusiasts on the Board, by Susan Lusterour executive director and by the wholededicated crew at the NC Solar Center,especially Larry Shirley and Chris Larsen.Also, I am fortunate to have a supportivewife and business who allow me to put inthe many hours necessary pursuing thesenew opportunities.

It’s been over 20 years since NCSEAstarted. After the doldrums of the middle80’s and 90’s we are finally realizing a re-newable energy renaissance. In the nextfew years we will see small scale electricgeneration from renewables, natural gasand fuel cells spread to every corner of NCand the world. The new energy landscapewill be decentralized, clean and offer excit-ing opportunities. If in the 60’s plasticswere the future, which was replaced bycomputers in the 80’s and e-commerce inthe 90’s, energy will be in the spotlight inthe first decade of the second millenniumand will be the exciting place to be.

To kick off the energy decade right, theEarth Day 2000 theme is Clean EnergyNow! NCSEA is planning a big party andwe need everyone’s help. Everyone is wel-come to participate. We would like to havecelebrations, teach-ins and demonstrationsin all parts of North Carolina. Please con-tact NCSEA with your ideas and volunteerto help.

Other ways NCSEA and the NC SolarCenter are fueling the renewable energyrenaissance is by establishing Solar Com-munities around the state as part of NorthCarolina’s Million Solar Roof effort. Al-ready Boone and Greensboro have activecommittees dedicated to installing moresolar and renewable energy and we areworking with Durham and Chapel Hill tojoin them. The effort is centered on install-ing 10,000 new systems in the next 10years. Additionally, some NCSEA boardmembers are organizing ways to install so-lar systems on schools and have renewableenergy curriculums taught in the schools.

All of these grass roots efforts are im-portant contributions to the renaissance ofrenewable energy. There will be many oth-ers in 2000. Please join these events andbring your friends and family.

Thank you for the opportunity to serveyou these past two years.

Peace,Richard Harkrader

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Students Light Christmas Treewith Solarby Scott Suddreth, Rock Castle Solar

The Appalachian State UniversitySolar Energy Society (ASUSES) heldtheir Fifth Annual Renewable EnergyChristmas Tree Lighting on December6th. The event attracted more than 100spectators to the beautiful mountains ofBoone, North Carolina. A fifteen foottall Christmas tree was lit up using aphotovoltaic system built by membersof ASUSES.

There were refreshments as well aslive old-time mountain banjo tunes pro-vided by ASUSES member WayneWoods. The Switchmaster for the eventwas Jim Rice, head of ASU’s recyclingprogram. The Tree Lighting was fol-lowed by the Solar Raffle which con-sisted of $900 worth of prizes andraised money for the nonprofit society’snext semester of outreach.

ASUSES is the most active student-chapter of the American Solar EnergySociety. Based out of ASU’s AppropriateTechnology program, the group teachesmore than twenty-five free renewableenergy workshops per year. These work-shops are open to the public and usuallyattract forty or more people per topic.ASUSES also organizes an annual solar

home tour and a large Earth Day demon-stration on ASU’s campus that includesa county-wide solar oven cookoff.

All workshops start at 7:30 P.M. inthe Auditorium of the Kerr-Scott Build-ing (the Technology Building), whichis right across the street from the ASUsmoke stack. These workshops are opento everyone who wants to learn moreabout solar energy and sustainable inde-pendent living. For more informationcontact Paul Whitener at 828-264-1866,Heath Galloway at 828-963-6912, orScott Suddreth at 828-264-6026. Checkout the ASUSESwebpage athttp://www.appstate.edu/www_docs/student/clubs/solar/N

Here is the Spring semester’sworkshop series:January 24 How You Can Use Solar

January 31 Understanding Power and Energy

February 7 Solar Water Heating

February 14 Photovoltaics

February 21 Energy Efficiency in the Home

February 28 Voluntary Simplicity

March 6 Micro Hydro Electrical Power

March 20 Permaculture Design

March 27 Electric Vehicles

April 3 Wind

April 10 Passive Solar Design

April 17 Sustainable Building Methods

April 17-21 EARTH WEEK

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Best Tax Creditsin the USContinued from page 1

daylighting and wind. All technologiesget the same 35% credit with a limit ap-propriate to the cost of installing eachrenewable energy technology in residen-tial and commercial applications. Resi-dential biomass, hydro, solar PV andwind have a credit limit of $10,500 persystem. Residential hot water has alimit now of $1,400, with active spaceheating and passive solar credit limitsof $3,500. Commercial and industrialsystems for all technologies have acredit limit of $250,000.

You probably noticed that the solarhot water tax credit was reduced fromthe previous 40%/$1500 limit to 35%and $1400. Our offer to reduce our mostpopular credit was unheard of in theLegislature and won us friends. Alongwith our hard work and effective lobby-ing, this concession helped us to greatlyincrease and expand the credits withoutopposition—the tax credit bill passedboth the House and Senate unanimously!

The new NC renewable energy taxcredits took effect January 1, 2000. Thelegislation contains many important newprovisions in addition to the new tech-nologies, percentage and limits. Thecredit now is “per system” and creditsfor different systems such as a newhouse with passive solar and a solar hotwater heater can be taken in the sameyear. Additions to the capacity of exist-ing systems, but not replacement ormaintenance expenses, qualify for credit.

A new limitation for the residentialcredit is a taxpayer can only reduce his/her taxes by 50% in any tax year and theremainder of the credit, if any, must becarried forward to the next year. For com-mercial/industrial systems, the creditmust be taken in five equal installmentswith the same 50% limitation, however,an important new addition is that thirdparties, such as energy companies orpartnerships, can own a renewable en-ergy system and get the credit. This is anew way for nonprofits, individuals andbusinesses who do not have a tax liabilityto realize the cost reductions and energysavings of installing renewable energy

systems.

This new tax credit has attracted a lotof attention nationwide. North Carolinanow has the best state tax incentives forrenewable energy in the country.NCSEA’s hope is that everyone, NCSEAmembers and the public, will put thecredit to work immediately. If we sig-

nificantly increase our use of renewableenergy, DOE’s Million Solar Roof Initi-ative and solar manufacturers will takenote and bring new programs, new mon-ey and new renewable energy equipmentmanufacturing plants to NC. We willbenefit from cleaner air, lower energyexpenses and a sustainable future.N

New Board Shares GoalsVan Crandall

America is on the cusp of an energyrevolution. It’s exciting to see large pro-grams and projects focused on renewableforms of electricity production beingembraced and implemented elsewhere.Through my efforts as an NCSEA BoardMember, I will continue helping NorthCarolina citizens better understand theclear benefits and vast potential that dis-tributed electricity generation will bringto our state: its people, industries andeconomy.

Bob FloraI am a general contractor/green builder.

As such I hope to make a difference herein the beautiful mountains of westernNorth Carolina as to the kinds of construc-tion my clients choose to do. I am a hugeadvocate of solar energy and promote itsuse whenever and wherever appropriate.I am a member of the ASU Solar Cluband chairman of the ARISE committee, agroup of people educating the public con-cerning solar energy and its use throughworkshops, a library exhibit, and a bro-chure concerning the Million Solar RoofsInitiative.

As a board member of NCSEA I hopeto help increase the member base by activesolicitation and being available to anyoneneeding information about solar energy.I also am involved in furnishing solar in-formation to youth through active sciencecurriculum programs as well as an afterschool program for thirty students whoare eager to be involved.

Bob KingeryI plan to add fresh ideas and approaches

to the reach the goals of NCSEA. I hope tomove NCSEA to a higher level both in thenumber of ACTIVE members and finan-cially. Above all, I plan to add ENERGYto NCSEA.

Chris LarsenI work at the NC Solar Center, direct-

ing the Center’s work with utilities, andam completing a masters degree in me-chanical engineering at NC State Univer-sity. I look forward to helping NCSEA

shape a greener future for North Carolinathrough the crafting of sensible electricutility restructuring policies.

Bob LekerIn my job as a program manager for

the NC Energy Division, I manage energyconservation and renewable technologyprojects. As a board member for theNCSEA I hope to work towards main-streaming the use of solar technologies —providing opportunities for builders, corpo-rations, and institutions to incorporatesolar in the buildings and products theyprovide. I also hope to make sure that NCreceives the attention and support from ourregional contacts at DOE to help grow ourrenewable energy sector.

Sam OlinI am looking forward to meeting, shar-

ing and celebrating new ideas and peoplefor a sunnier, positive future. I hope tohelp make Capital Earth Day 2000 a great,pro-active success.

Marcus RennerI am a founding member of the Appala-

chian State University Solar Energy Soci-ety and a graduate student at ASU. I alsoserve as vice chair of ARISE, the Appala-chian Regional Initiative for Solar Energy.My goal is to help educate the publicabout solar and especially the benefits inNorth Carolina. I feel that the key to ensur-ing the future of solar is to educate youth.With my location in the mountains, I hopeto spread the NCSEA work to this area.

Sherri Zann RosenthalI developed Eno Commons Cohousing

neighborhood as a prototype to demon-strate that “Solar is Ready!” Eno Com-mons has 22 passive solar homes and apassive solar community center, and alsodemonstrates that production-built, afford-able homes can use 55% less energy thanthe average home being built today inNorth Carolina.

For the coming year, my main concernis that NCSEA have the resources to effec-tively let our policy makers, in North Caro-lina and the nation, know that renewable


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and decentralized technologies should begiven a level playing field with centralizedutility technologies, so that we can bringdown the pollution levels that cause globalwarming, smog, health problems, andclean air “non-attainment levels,” forwhich localities could lose federal funds.

Abolghasem ShahbaziI am an Associate Professor of Agricul-

tural & Biosystems Engineering at NC A&TState University and have been involved inrenewable energy research for over ten years.I am currently leading two research projectsin the Center for Energy Research & Tech-nology (CERT) at NCA&TSU: assessment& utilization of biomass energy in industry,and application of photovoltaic energy inresidential lighting. I am a member of theGuilford Solar Community Group.

My goals for NCSEA are: to help de-velop more outreach materials to expandNCSEA, to establish more educational in-itiatives and programs; and to write propos-als and receive funds to supportthe organization.

Larry ShirleyI have been on the NCSEA board since

1988, which is also the year I began myjob as Executive Director of the NC SolarCenter. I am past chair of the American So-lar Energy Society and currently Chair itsFundraising and Development Com-mittee. I also serve on the boards of the Na-tional Energy Education Project, EasternNC Sustainable Development Center andAmericans for Clean Energy.

My goals for NCSEA in 2000 includethe following: (1) helping it achieve a largerand more sustainable funding base; (2)helping it support the Million Solar RoofsInitiative to get more solar systems installedin communities across North Carolina; (3)working with the Policy Committee to seethat electricity restructuring in North Caro-lina is a boost to renewable energy, energy

efficiency, environmental protection andlow income consumers; and (4) workingwith NCSEA to let people in North Caro-lina know about our great new tax credits!

Dona J.C. StankusMy main goal as a member of the

Board of Directors is to provide supportand guidance for NCSEA to achieve itsmission of making renewable energy a ma-jor force in the market place. I intend toachieve this by team grunt work (AKAcommittee participation), making connec-tions with similar groups, writing/speak-ing/research and by bringing the viewpointof integrated design to the table. My per-sonal interests in NCSEA include educa-tion, policy and writing; my personal goalsare to continue to improve my knowledgebase in solar issues, specifically, and tohone my team-working skills.

Hank WallNCSEA has a twenty year history of

consumer education, professional trainingand legislative involvement on renewableenergy issues. I want to see NCSEA mas-sively increase our influence in North Caro-lina in the next three years.

In the next twelve months we may seenet metering laws passed in North Carolinaallowing those who produce power inde-pendently to get credit for what they feedback in to the electric grid. We may see util-ity restructuring become a reality so thatconsumers really do have a choice to buyfrom clean energy providers. If everyNCSEA member wrote their state represen-tative in Raleigh with a demand for cleanenergy mandates it would happen, becausevoters have power to change lawmakers’agendas when they speak out in large num-bers.

I offer a minimum personal commitmentof 30 hours per month during 2000 doingthe work of NCSEA chair. I believe it isthe right direction to push and I believe this

is a pivotal, critical window of opportunityto change energy policy and public attitude.

I also pledge to encourage you as read-ers and members to get involved in someway to hasten our transition from pollutingenergy to renewable energy.

Tom WillsMy goals are to increase our effective-

ness in the Environmental Federation’sworkplace-giving campaigns; simplify andyet expand the NCSEA website, tying it inwith our current activities and Sun articles;help complete a working version of theeducation committee’s slideshow and begintaking it on the road. My work installingwater heating systems puts me in touchwith lots of people who are already usingsolar power. I will work to keep them awareof NCSEA activities as well as keepingNCSEA abreast of issues “on the ground.”

Lisa WilsonI’ve been involved in the architectural

profession in the Raleigh area since themid 1980’s. My architectural career fo-cuses on sustainable design principles aswell as facilitating participatory program-ming workshops. I’ve been an advisoryboard member of Ecological Design Insti-tute in Sausalito, CA, since 1995. My pro-fessional goals include on-going researchin alternative building systems for afford-able housing and promoting healthy livingand working environments.

As a board member of NCSEA, I enjoycollaborating with a diverse group of peo-ple who share the common goal of promot-ing renewable energy. Being involved withNCSEA has given me the opportunity toreach out to my local community by partici-pating in events such as Sunrayce and theSolar Home Tour. My long-term goal is toassist communities in sustainable residen-tial development and continue to educatethem on the benefits of sustainable designand renewable energy.


North Carolina Solar Energy AssociationPO Box 6465Raleigh, NC 27628-6465

Non-profit Org.US. Postage Paid

Raleigh, NCPermit No. 1183

Thanks toour Advertisers:

Alicia Ravetto, AIABeaver Brothers

Brown and Jones, ArchitectsCarolina Country Builders

Design CollaborationEnertia Building Systems

Environmental Federation of NCGrass Roots Press

Hutton Power SystemsInnovative Design, Inc.

Raleigh Specialty ProductsRenaissance-Works, Inc.

Rock Castle SolarSelf-Help Credit UnionSolar Village Institute

Sundance Power Systems, Inc.Wood Wise Design &

Remodeling

JoinNCSEA

Thanks to our Supporters:Z. Smith Reynolds Foundationfor a $50,000 grant to promote renewableenergy in utility restructuring.

Salisbury Community Foundation for a $10,000 grant for general support.

Peter and Ona Pickensfor their generous gift of stock.

Mary Norris Preyer Foundation for a $5000 grant for Sunrayce’sSolar Now Festival.

Everyone who donated to NCSEA in its year end fund drive.

Life Members: Richard HarkraderPeter and Ona PickensJames and Mary Serene

Solar Web SitesNorth Carolina Solar Energy Association: www.mindspring.com/~NCSEANorth Carolina Solar Center: www.ncsu.ncsc.eduAmerican Solar Energy Society: www.ases.org/solarDuke Solar Energy: www.dukeengineering.com/services/dukesolar.htmlSolar Energy Industries Association: www.seia.orgUS Department of Energy: www.doe.govMillion Solar Roofs: www.eren.doe.gov/millionroofsNational Renewable Energy Laboratory: www.nrel.govDOE’s Energy Information Agency: www.eia.doe.gov/Worldwatch Institute: www.worldwatch.orgUnion of Concerned Scientists: www.ucsusa.org/energySearchable energy databases: www.internets.com/senergy.htm

New mailing addressfor NCSEAas of March 1, 2000

PO Box 6465Raleigh, NC 27628-6465The rest remains the same:Phone: 919-832-7601

Email:[email protected] address:www.mindspring.com/~ncsea orwww.capitalearthday.org

Thank you for bearing with us andour address changes this year.We plan to keep this post office boxfor many years.

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