Roseland overviews many projects and initiatives throughout his book, which definitely help to demonstrate the various sustainability tools and initiatives that have been implemented throughout the world. However, I often wonder if the various programs still exist and/or met the goals they were aspiring to meet. In the chapter on energy efficiency and renewables, Roseland (97) highlights the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technology Program (SETP) program, the Million Solar Roofs Initiative (MSRI).
Sadly, the goal of installing 1,000,000 new solar energy systems in the United States by 2010 was never achieved. The program concluded in 2006. MSRI included 971 partners nationwide that constitute advocates who are schooled in the technologies and knowledgeable about their local and regional markets. However, the program did boast the following successes:
- 94 coalitions across the country signed on with the DOE as official MSR partners. These partnerships comprised 971 private sector firms, electric utilities, builder-developers, nonprofit organizations, and governmental entities.
- The installation of the equivalent of more than 377,000 solar water heating, photovoltaics (PV), and solar pool heating systems (approximately 47,000/year). This is a little of 1/3rd of their initial goal, however the program was ended 4 years early.
- The installation of 200 megawatts (MW) of grid-connected photovoltaic capacity and 200 MWth of solar water heating capacity.
- A dramatic growth in PV technology acceptance, from 8% of solar installations in 1997 to 41% in 2005.
- The calculation of the economic and environmental benefits that resulted from grid-connected PV installed between 1997 and 2005, which included:
- A health benefit savings of $90 million
- Decreased CO2 emissions of 3.3 million tons
- Cumulative GNP increase of $1.6−$2.6 billion (depending on installed cost, which ranged from $8–$10/Watt)
- MSR conducted more than 26 peer exchange workshops, attended by more than 650 people. More than 79% of MSR’s partners attended at least one workshop. Between 2003 and 2005, some 910 people participated in 10 interactive telephone seminars.
Though the goal was not reached, the program did seem to have a positive impact. However, I felt the last bullet related to the number of people impacted was extremely weak. When you break the number down to a yearly value considering the program was in existence for 8 years, only 195 people were impacted by the workshops. Maybe the program could have used a bit of the social marketing advice we have been learning about. If those techniques were used the program may have come closer to meeting its goal.
Along the lines of solar panels, I also wanted touch on the City of Boulder’s Solar Access Ordinance (Roseland 91). When I read that this ordinance guarantees access to sunlight for homeowners and renters in the city by setting limits on the amount of permitted shading by new construction. I immediately thought about how trees are impacted by solar panels. Check this out to see about the benefits of different tree plantings around your home. For example, shade trees planted on the east and west side of your home can reduce your cooling costs by 15-35%. So, you gain the benefits of the solar power on your home but in turn you loose the benefits of your nearby trees.
In 2008, the first court case related to this exact issue came about in Sunnyvale, CA. A man filed charges against his neighbors because their towering redwoods blocked sunlight to his backyard solar panels. The neighbor was forced to cut down their redwoods because of an obscure state law that protects a homeowner’s right to sunlight. When did it become a crime to grow a shade tree? Personally, I always thought of it as a huge benefit that we needed to see planted more often.
Oh the woes of sustainability!
Hmm. Interesting take on solar panels, especially about the court case at the end. I think something we need to take into account is how our actions can impact the lives of others, and that's something we don't necessarily do all the time. I'm wondering though, if the redwoods were planted before the solar panels were (which I'm assuming is the case), it would surprise me that the courts would make the neighbor cut down his trees.
ReplyDeletePost number two…
ReplyDeleteI think it is a damn shame that a compromise could not have been met in the bogus court case you cited. First, this will likely seem too much of a generalization to many, but I would think that if someone had the initiative to take the time and money to invest in solar panels for home energy savings – would that same individual not see the value of trees (redwoods nonetheless!!!) on or next to his or her personal property as well??? I mean consider just a few of the numerous alternatives:
1) Obviously, the trees were there before the solar panels and if the law does not recognize that exception then would it make a difference if the trees pre-date that foolishly applied law?
2) Is there not a section of the lot anywhere elsewhere that DOES receive sunlight? If not, could the solar panels be placed on a pole that reaches just high enough to break the canopy?
3) Did anyone consider the possibility of working out an agreement with a neighbor, who’s property does receive sunlight, to install the panels and share the cost and energy savings?
4) I wonder if the guy who filed charges would do the same again if he knew about the energy saving potential offered by a tree’s shade that you cited as well?
If law is so far removed from morality to rule in favor of solar panels over redwoods, then maybe it is time to re-write parts of the script we live by.
wow, i can't believe that happened. To be honest, I never really thought of the conflict between shade trees and solar panels...hello, reen! I think it is an interesting dilemma, though, but I have to image there is some way around it.
ReplyDeleteI am very sad to hear about the redwoods. I cant believe the trees were that much different from when the neighbor originally bought his house. He knew what he was getting into! On a lighter note, I know that solar energy has become more popular within the last year or so due to the drastic decrease in cost of PV solar panels. Solar energy has transformed to become more affordable and accessible to those who want to invest in the panels. Businesses in China and Japan are booming with these relatively "cheap" solar panels, putting American solar companies, such as Solyndra, out of business. As you say... oh the woes of sustainability!
ReplyDeleteThese woes of sustainability happen pretty close to home as the Elm Heights Neighborhood Association considers whether to designate their neighborhood as historic, with all the restrictions that involves. Some residents are clamoring or solar rights and for the right to trim trees and put panels at angles that may not be in the plane of the roof.
ReplyDeleteI will show you a project that is net zero energy where the panels were place on a pavilion in the sun so the building could remain in the shade of century-old oak trees. Good design can generally solve such conflicts.