The Week in Green is a series that highlights green technology, building science and sustainability in the news.
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Aerial photo of Florida International University's U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 entry.
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is an annual event held in Washington, D.C. It is a challenge that pits collegiate teams against one another to design, build and operate solar-powered houses. The winner of the challenge is the team that “best blends affordability, consumer appeal and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.”
The National Rural Electrical Cooperative Association published an article on Tuesday, September 20, 2011, “Consumers Seek Value in Smart Grid.” In an ongoing discussion of smart grid technologies, the GridWeek 2011 conference was held to identify and discuss not only the technologies, but the consumer behaviors that employ the technologies. As Derrill Holly writes, “while modernizing the nation’s energy grid represents opportunities for greater efficiency and diversification of energy resources, more emphasis has to be placed on those who ultimately will shoulder the costs.”
SpaceRef, in an article posted Thursday, September 22, 2011, discusses a partnership between NASA and the DOE that assesses building infrastructures via “smart system” technologies. “NASA Partners with DOE to Construct ‘Greenest’ Federal Building” highlights not only the collaborative process between the two, but the implementation of aerospace technologies to guide, instruct and contribute to the United States’ ongoing efforts in integrating building science and sustainability at all levels of community and government.
– Jean Danielson is director of operations for Indigo Dawn. She likes learning how to take technology vacations from listening to podcasts.
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