white house re-enters the age of renewables

Solar comes back to the White House with SDA's PV and thermal installations.

Location: Washington, DC USA Client: The White House Use: PV and solar thermal systems for the White House compound and pool.

Background:
The National Park Service, which is responsible for all work done at the White House, had decided that any refurbishment of its facilities should include environmentally friendly design wherever possible. Architect James Doherty, the National Park Service liaison for the White House, proposed solar powered systems as part of a larger program of upgrades at the Presidential compound. “We felt if we were able to reduce our energy consumption, that would be a positive step forward,” Mr. Doherty said.

Special Features:
The National Park Service retained Solar Design Associates to design and install three solar energy systems at the Presidential compound. These systems demonstrate the most popular solar applications in use today.

• Two of the systems deliver thermal energy for hot water and pool heating and one produces electricity directly from the sun with photovoltaics.
• The PV system directly feeds solar-generated power into the White House distribution system, providing electricity wherever it is needed. PV Modules were provided by Evergreen Solar
• Solar thermal components were provided by SunEarth.
• DC/AC inverters were provided by SMA-America and consist of a bank of Sunny Boy 2500 inverter modules.

“I think it is important to the public to see the government embracing clean energy,” said Sam Vanderhoof of SMA-America. “SMA is proud to be a partner of the greening of the White House.”

Outcome:
SDA provided a full range of services for this important project. The firm:

• developed initial schematic designs for review and approval
• provided complete construction documents and component specifications
• provided procurement assistance
• conducted qualification of installing tradesmen
• provided on-site, hands-on technical support during construction
• conducted full system commissioning.

Steven Strong was with President Carter when he dedicated the first solar energy application at the White House in June, 1979. The system, which provided domestic hot water for the West Wing, worked fine until President Reagan removed it shortly after he took office. The Carter-era solar collectors wound up in government surplus and were subsequently acquired by Unity College in Maine to heat the water for the school’s cafeteria.

It was fitting, then, that Strong should be invited back when solar energy returned to the White House.

White House Architect James Doherty asked Solar Design Associates if they could integrate a solar thermal array into the new roof to be flush with the new standing-seam roofing and harmonize the aesthetics. “Can you make the solar look like a large skylight?” he asked.

Strong worked with Doherty to develop the design for the solar array to be integrated into the new cabana roof such that the collector glazing would be in the plane of the finished roof and become the weathering skin. This is one of Solar Design Associates’ signature design elements.

We specified selective-surfaced, all-copper solar absorber plates from SunEarth, Inc., of Fontana, California. These were installed in a drain-back configuration to serve the domestic hot water, spa and pool by means of heat exchangers. The solar thermal systems use water as a transfer medium.

"We have always preferred water as a working fluid,” said Strong. “It provides superior thermal transfer, requires less pumping energy, needs no maintenance or attention and is nearly free.”

In an address on energy that he gave February 6, 2003, President Bush said, “It’s important for our country to understand that by being bold and innovative, we can change the way we do business here in America. We can change our dependence upon foreign sources of energy; we can help with the quality of the air; we can make a fundamental difference for the future of our children."

SDA President Steven Strong at the White House solar installation “The Park Service is supporting the use of clean, renewable energy from the sun with these systems at the White House. It’s an important milestone in building awareness for solar energy usage in residential and commercial buildings, and a step in the right direction in promoting energy independence.” SDA President Steven Strong

SDA has helped dozens of federal, state and municipal government agencies power their facilities with renewable energy. We're familiar with government contracting requirements and would be pleased to help you green your agency.

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