Green Housing Takes Root in Oregon

baldinux writes "I was reading an article in the Portland Tribune which showcased the City of Portland's noteworthy 'Rose House' (1.8mb PDF) project, part of the Office of Sustainable Development and Oregon Department of Energy's plan to encourage sustainable, energy-producing, environmentally-friendly housing for the future, a plan which is gaining national and international attention. The Rose House, at only 800 square feet (approx. 244 sq. meters), is equipped with solar panels and incorporates technologies that recapture lost heat and energy during normal appliance operation, such as ventilation. During peak hours -- when power is at highest demand -- the Rose House could produce surplus energy, feeding kilowatt hours back to the power grid, and `rolling back' the meter -- the power authority's way of purchasing the surplus energy and lessening the burden on comparatively 'dirty' power plants. The article suggests that homes like this could see net power bills as low as $0 per year. The environmental benefits of a lessened burden on centralized, often fossil fuel or nuclear, power generation plants would be considerable."

Comments

Re:fp?

[Infinityis]

So close....Second Post!

800 sq ft = 74.322432 m3

[davejenkins]

800 sq ft = 74.322432 m3, not 244 (you need to divide by 9, not 3...)
google omnipitam est.

Re:800 sq ft = 74.322432 m3

[Anonymous Coward]

Googlus omnipatum est. Write it out 100 times boy.

Solar Electricity

[Anonymous Coward]

I think I've read somewhere that solar panels cost more in energy to create than they ever produce. Is this correct? When I thought about it, it seemed entirely plausible, as there is a lot of steel in there that needs to be welded.

On another note, I've also read that the Chinese were not responsible for chopsticks, although they were responsible for fortune cookies. Apparently chopsticks were invented just 200 years ago in San Francisco.

Can anyone clear this up for me please?

Re:Solar Electricity

[kahei]

Both the facts above are correct, in Opposites World, the wacky world where everything is frack-to-bont!

In the real world, they're rubbish, but you knew that you wicked lil' troll you :)

Yuo 7ail iT

[Anonymous Coward]

during pla7, this

FP? I laugh at thee

[Anonymous Coward]

More like Last Post! <homestar> NeeerrrDDD!

FailzorS

[Anonymous Coward]

Is EFNet, and you is dyiNg.things

FIRST POST

[Anonymous Coward]

and the BazzAr Don't be a sling

Re:800 SF?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, but have you ever seen Slashdot editors check unit conversions?

After all, if even NASA can't do it, it must be harder than rocket science ;-)

BTW, yes 800 sq ft is small. I leave in a city in Europe with a wife and two kids, and have about 1000 sq ft, or a bit below 100 sq meters. But I can't move to something bigger due to the housing costs, in the vicinity of $300/sq ft.

But I don't waste much energy on daily commutes: I walk to work, my wife walks to work (we both walk back home for lunch), and my kids take a bus to their school which is a bit further away.

So my car is a bit big (no, it's not an SUV either) and, although not especially economical on fuel, not a gas-guzzler either.I use it almost only for holidays, for which the space comes really handy, and it typically transports all 4 of us.

Re:Odd Place, if you think of it.

[Anonymous Coward]

Because they understand the fight we are in. Mother Nature has been throwing storms,hurricanes,earth quakes, and the like at humans for centeries. Now, it's payback time! If she didn't want a fight, she shouldn't have thrown the first lightening bolt!

Re:live in a smaller house, driving a smaller car.

[G00F]

Now this is disgusting.
Americans also give away the most for countries/people that are unable to provide for themselves. Heck we even provide N Korean with toons and toons of supplies.

America provides quite well for itself, so it isn't a drain on any other country. (alothough we do make use of canada's plentiful water and damns.

The world isn't over populating. The population is growing to fast for some areas (the area we send toons of food and supplies to for example).

Anyways, I forgot what I was going to say, so I'm going to lunch.