Community News

Climate Review Reports 2003 and 2002 Tied for Second-Warmest Years on Record

The past two years tied as the second-warmest years on record, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported in its Climate of 2003 Annual Review . Global temperatures for both years averaged 1.01 degrees Fahrenheit above the long-term average. The warmest year on record was 1998, when average global temperatures hit 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit above the long-term average.

For the United States, 2003 was the twentieth warmest year on record, with a nationally averaged temperature of 53.7 degrees Fahrenheit. In the U.S., the last five five-year periods (1999-2003, 1998-2002, 1997-2001, 1996-2000) were the warmest five-year periods in the last 109 years of national records, and the latest six- (1998-2003), seven- (1997-2003), eight- (1996-2003), nine- (1995-2003) and 10-year (1994-2003) periods were the warmest on record for the U.S.

During the past century, global surface temperatures have increased at a rate near 1.1 degrees Fahrenheit/century, but this trend has increased to a rate approaching 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit/century during the past 25 to 30 years. There have been two sustained periods of warming, one beginning around 1910 and ending around 1945, and the most recent beginning about 1976. Temperatures during the latter period of warming have increased at a rate comparable to the rates of warming projected to occur during the next century with continued increases of greenhouse gases. To find out more, check out the annual review on the NOAA website at www.ncdc.noaa.gov.

U.S. and China Sign Green Olympic Protocol

Last month, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham joined China's Science and Technology Minister Xu and Beijing's Vice Mayor Fan to sign the Green Olympic Protocol for Beijing's 2008 Olympic Games. Secretary Abraham was in Beijing for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first energy-efficient building demonstration project in Beijing that will lead to more widespread use of clean energy technologies in Beijing, particularly for the 2008 Olympic Games.

The U.S. and China are the two largest energy consumers in the world. The two countries have established 11 teams to move forward on Green Olympics cooperation since a statement of intent was signed between the Department of Energy and China in September 2002. Two joint working group meetings were also successfully held in Beijing in 2002 and 2003 and have developed proposals for cooperation. The protocol signed will transform the statement of intent into a legally binding international agreement. 

N.M. Governor Richardson Calls For Solar Power Task Force

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson announced last month in his State of the State speech that he would set up a Solar Power Task Force to identify a commercial-scale solar power project by the end of the year that would be under construction by 2006. "New Mexico ranks second in the nation in solar energy potential, but to date, has done little to capitalize on this abundant natural resource," Richardson noted.

Richardson anticipated that the proposed solar power project will take a commitment from both the public and private sector to succeed. He also proposed a $6 million capital projects package dedicated to incorporating energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies at state facilities and public schools throughout New Mexico.

Builders' Show Highlights Zero Energy "Ultimate Family Home"

Attendees at last month's annual International Builders Show in Las Vegas had the opportunity to tour the Ultimate Family Home— a highly energy-efficient Zero Energy Home that, over the course of a year, will produce as much electricity as it uses. The 5,300-square-foot, three-level custom home is expected to produce a surplus of electricity from a system of photovoltaic (PV) panels, reduce energy demand by using efficient and "smart" appliances, and lower thermal transfer and loss through its structure with airtight ductwork, low-e windows and deep eaves.

The house draws on two rooftop-mounted solar energy systems: one for power and another for hot water. A highly efficient air-conditioning system combines with good insulation, air sealing and advanced windows to keep the home comfortable. Other energy-saving highlights include tankless water heaters that deliver hot water only on demand, fluorescent and LED lighting, and heat-reflecting roof tiles combined with a radiant barrier for added energy savings and comfort. The home will use 90 percent less energy than a similar home built strictly to code.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) partnered with Pardee Homes and energy consultant ConSol to introduce the Zero Energy Home concept with this single-family custom home at the Nevada Trails master-planned community. DOE started the Zero Energy Homes initiative to bring the latest research out of its national laboratories and into homes. A Zero Energy Home combines renewable energy technologies with advanced energy-efficient construction. Like almost all homes, a Zero Energy Home is connected to the utility grid. Because the home produces about as much energy as it consumes during a year, it is considered to achieve "net zero" energy consumption.

Organizations Showcase Energy-Efficient "New American Home"

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Builder Magazine , the National Council for the Housing Industry, Merlin Contracting, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Technologies Program, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and IBACOS (Integrated Building and Construction Solutions) collaborated to design and build The New American Home as a showcase for energy efficiency at the International Builders Show last month. This year's home, built by Las Vegas-based Merlin Contracting, was constructed in the Sahara Lake community, just west of downtown Las Vegas.

To design and build this energy-efficient home, Merlin Contracting and the home's architect, Lex van Straten, consulted with Building America's IBACOS Consortium to develop the home's energy features. Building America is a residential system research program sponsored by the DOE Building Technologies Program with technical support from NREL, the IBACOS Consortium, and other Building America teams. This home will be used for several IBACOS research projects.

The 2004 New American Home has been designed to reach a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score of 90, a score well above the minimum Energy Star rating requirement of 86. The home effectively integrates a number of high-performance energy systems. Specific technologies used in the home include a foundation and above-ground exterior walls built of insulated concrete forms, windows that limit solar heat gain, a roof system built with structural insulated panels (SIPs), a heat-recovery ventilator for the ventilation system, and superior efficiency air-conditioning units with a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) between 14.7 and 16. As a result of these improvements and advanced technologies, the home will use 50 percent less energy for space heating, cooling and hot water than a standard home.

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