Bringing sunlight into buildings could reduce CO2
Image by Phil Toledano
Over 40 percent of the U.S. carbon footprint comes from residential and commercial buildings.
That’s according to energy researcher Marilyn Brown of Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Brown recently completed an assessment of the carbon emissions generated by buildings — from their cooling, heating, lighting, and construction. Working with scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, she’s helped develop a more efficient and innovative way to light a room. It’s called hybrid solar lighting.
Marilyn Brown: So you have roof mounted collectors that concentrate the sunlight into optical fibers. And these fibers carry the sunlight into the building, into light fixtures. These light fixtures also contain electric lamps. For instance, they may be combined with fluorescent tubes. So that, whether there is sunshine or not, the lighting in that room will be very bright and appealing.
Peak time for energy use is usually during the day, so lightening that load will result in less coal burned in power plants, and less CO2 emission, according to Brown. She said there are human benefits too.
Marilyn Brown: I think this is going to be quite transformational. And there have been studies that have showed that in addition to being highly efficient, you don’t have any losses with electricity production. It’s also very appealing. People do like to see sunlight.
Over the next 25 years, an estimated 50 to 75 percent more buildings will appear in the landscape than exist today. Researchers hope that advances in light collection and fiber optic technology will bring the cost down to where it becomes more affordable.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory Solar Technologies Program
Let there be light, optical cables included
ORNL hybrid lighting technology gaining momentum around nation
More about the Kill–a–watt meter from Treehugger.com
The U.S. Green Building Council has more about the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building rating system.
Energy and American Society – Thirteen Myths
Sovacool, Benjamin K.; Brown, Marilyn A. (Eds.)
Towards a Climate–Friendly Built Environment
Prepared for the Pew Center on Global Climate Change
Tackling Climate Change in the U.S.
Potential U.S. Carbon Emissions Reductions from Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency by 2030
A report by the American Solar Energy Society
Our thanks to:
Marilyn Brown
Professor
School of Public Policy
Georgia Tech University
Atlanta, Georgia
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This is such a cool idea. I can’t wait to see it in use.
How can I find out how to put solar panels on my house?
I just googled the name of my city plus “solar panel” and went right to a wealth of info about installing solar panels on my home … including some names and contact info for installers in my community. My city’s electric company has a 75% rebate program for installing solar panels! It actually sounds like a very good deal.
I’d love sunlight indoors – what a cool idea. I hope it gets more affordable soon!
An inexpensive alternative to achieve indoor sunlight are SunTunnels. We installed these in two bathrooms and a walk-in closet, and they provide enough sunlight to light up the rooms. During the day, there is no need to turn on the lights. Another advantage when compared to sun roofs, is that do not produce additional heat indoors when the sun is directly above the house.
you know bringing a plant indoors could also reduce co2
That works too. Indoor plants make great pets :)
Making buildings more energy efficient, through improvements in lighting, heating and cooling will reduce the CO2 that’s generated at power plants from burning coal, far from where most people live.
And I think it’s really significant that – as Marilyn Brown pointed out in this radio script – that over 40 percent of the U.S. carbon footprint comes from residential and commercial buildings.
Greener buildings are going to be of major importance in the world of the future …
With an eye to sustainable building practices I have been listening to the Urban Innovation Symposium series produced by The Next American City. http://www.americancity.org/ It is very interesting to hear the dialogue between large investors, corporations, NGO’s and urban planners on how best to address this critical issue.
I think having BOTH plants and indoor sunlight is fantastic. It helps the environment and also our mental well-being.