This is Catawba Valley Habitat for Humanity's Zero Energy House in the Ridgeview Neighborhood of Hickory, North Carolina. It is considered to be the first Zero Energy home in the entire state. Built in cooperation with Appalachian State University in Boone, the ZEH features passive solar heating, photovoltaic panels, solar hot water heater, rainwater collection for garden use, icynene insulation, polar wall insulated siding, and a geothermal heat pump. As in all of their houses, CV Habitat used 2x6 exterior walls for more insulation, compact flourescent bulbs, high power exhaust fans in the bath, and low-e windows. Working with Advanced Energy (based in Raleigh, NC), CV Habitat also had the heating and cooling bills guaranteed at $17/month, which is not too far below the average for the other houses they build. The ZEH was was finished in Sept. 2005, remained open for a year as an office and educational venue, and was finally dedicated and turned over to a homeowner in early Oct. 2006.
Description: The WEICan facility at the North Cape is used to conduct wind energy research and test wind technologies. Various scales and styles of wind turbines can be seen from the trail that runs along the bluffs above the Gulf of St. Lawrence, in addition to the ocean view. The site includes an interpretative visitor center and a historic lighthouse. Photo Taken: July 2005.
Small and furry, bats are the only
mammals
to have achieved powered flight.
Their arms are spindly, with membranes stretched between the fingers on
each hand.
Despite their resemblance to rodents,
bats are not closely related to mice at all. Though their exact placement is
still uncertain, there is recent evidence that they may be more closely related
to the primates.
San Jose Councilmember Forest Williams and I making the final snip at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Zero-Emission Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Program.