Renewable Energy

Eco-Logical Building Solutions provides feasibility studies to assess what renewable energy options are available on any given site. Our analysis will prioritize which options are the most economical and practical to meet your needs.

The United States currently relies heavily on coal, oil, and natural gas for its energy. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable, that is, they draw on finite resources that will eventually dwindle, becoming too expensive or too environmentally damaging to retrieve. In contrast, renewable energy resources — such as wind, solar energy, geothermal — are constantly replenished and will never run out.

Wind Power

In a wind power system, wind turns a rotor attached to a turbine which drives a generator. The turbine is mounted on a tower to avoid turbulence and take advantage of the greater wind speeds at higher elevations, and has a "tail" to keep it oriented efficiently. A wind system can connect to the grid (with a sensor to disconnect it during outages) or stand alone.
Image courtesy DOE/NREL, Credit - Robert Slack

Solar Hot Water

A solar hot water system uses the power of the sun, rather than fossil fuel or electricity, to heat water. The two main parts in a typical system are the solar collector and the storage tank. Active solar water heaters (the most common system) use electric pumps to circulate water or a heat-transfer fluid through the collector; passive systems use gravity and water's natural tendecy to circulate when heated. Solar water heaters usually have a conventional backup system.
Image courtesy U.S. Department of Energy

Solar Photovoltaic (PV)

Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight into electricity. PV cells, made of semiconducting materials and typically producing 1 or 2 watts each, connect to make modules, which connect to make arrays. The rest of a PV system (mounting structures, A/C converters, and batteries or a grid connection) is referred to as the "balance of system" (BOS) components. The most common array design is referred to as a "flat-plate system", which responds to both direct and diffuse sunlight (diffuse sunlight accounts for anywhere from 10% of the light on a sunny day up to 100% when it's overcast).

Micro Hydropower

If you live near running water, micro hydro can be a very efficient and low-impact source of electricity which runs day and night. Peak output will typically be in the winter, when consumption is also likely to be greatest. Micro hydro is very site-specific; power is determined by head (or drop, the water's change in elevation) and flow (the volume passing through in a unit of time), as well as the distance between source and point of use. The system consists of a water intake, a pipe (called a penstock) that brings the water to the turbine, a shutoff valve for maintenance, the turbine and generator, an exit pipe, transmission lines, and a battery setup or equipment to provide A/C power.
Image courtesy U.S. Department of Energy

Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal pumps exchange heat with the earth, using the relatively constant temperature a few feet below the surface. Like air-source pumps, they can heat, cool, and supply hot water, but are quieter, last longer, and require less maintenance. The system circulates fluid through looped pipes in the ground, a well, or body of water, uses 25-50% less electricity than conventional heating & cooling systems, and keeps about 50% relative indoor humidity. It is durable and reliable, having relatively few moving parts; sheltered inside, they take less space than a conventional HVAC system.
Image courtesy U.S. Department of Energy