1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: A Solar Home

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  • Jason
    Administrator
    • Dec 2008
    • 990
    #1

    1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: A Solar Home

    Some things move very slowly in the Nation's capital, especially when you have gridlock up and down Pennsylvania Avenue. So it was with President Obama's pledge to return solar panels to the chief executive's home. Obama promised to install home solar panels on the White House three years ago, and only this past week did work begin. The solar system that is being installed at the White House is not the first endeavor to harness the sun's energy to make the first family more comfortable in their humble abode. President Carter back in 1979 installed solar collectors to heat water for the White House, predicting that the solar panels will be "either be a curiosity, a museum piece, an example of a road not taken, or it can be just a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American people." It looked like they would be remembered for a museum piece as President Reagan removed the solar system in 1986. But the new solar panels on the White House add a new chapter to the White House's use of renewable energy.

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    • russ
      Solar Fanatic
      • Jul 2009
      • 10360
      #2
      Originally posted by Jason
      Some things move very slowly in the Nation's capital, especially when you have gridlock up and down Pennsylvania Avenue. So it was with President Obama's pledge to return solar panels to the chief executive's home. Obama promised to install home solar panels on the White House three years ago, and only this past week did work begin. The solar system that is being installed at the White House is not the first endeavor to harness the sun's energy to make the first family more comfortable in their humble abode. President Carter back in 1979 installed solar collectors to heat water for the White House, predicting that the solar panels will be "either be a curiosity, a museum piece, an example of a road not taken, or it can be just a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American people." It looked like they would be remembered for a museum piece as President Reagan removed the solar system in 1986. But the new solar panels on the White House add a new chapter to the White House's use of renewable energy.

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      Might tell the entire story - the panels were removed during the Regan administration as they were a leaking mess on the roof.

      I doubt if any of the presidents personally had anything to do with the installations - those actions were by staffers.

      The way the idea is presented also seems to try to confuse solar thermal and solar PV.
      [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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        • russ
          Solar Fanatic
          • Jul 2009
          • 10360
          #3
          Originally posted by joelg
          I think folks here would be interested in knowing how much solar energy the White House may be producing. We created a "Virtual Solar" system to simulate the White House roof's production, assuming the system is 10 kW (in line with reported estimates): The simulation is based on actual solar performance data from members of the Generaytor solar community, adjusted to the specific characteristics (azimuth, tilt, shading, etc.) of the White House roof. I am hopeful President Obama's action to install solar will increase awareness and inspire more people to give solar a try. Anyone interested can get a "Virtual Solar" system on his/her own roof and even compare with the White House roof.

          Joel Gamoran (Generaytor)
          Joel - That is 2
          3lbs of BS in a 2lb bag. Your somewhat WAG (wild assed guess) as to the sizing and all isn't terribly valuable.

          Solar on the WH is silly as I see it. The same size array could be located in a better location with better sun for more impressive results.

          Obama's entire green scene has been nothing but screwups and blather - zero substantial that would really help long term.
          Last edited by russ; 08-26-2013, 02:51 PM. Reason: removed link
          [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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            • Sunking
              Solar Fanatic
              • Feb 2010
              • 23301
              #4
              Yawn.
              MSEE, PE

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                • Philip
                  Member
                  • Apr 2011
                  • 87
                  #5
                  Bush put 10KW on the white house in 2003, the news was touted on the SMA website as they were the inverter supplier. Unfortunately they took the press release down in 2012 as it was nearing a decade old.

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                    • Sunking
                      Solar Fanatic
                      • Feb 2010
                      • 23301
                      #6
                      Originally posted by Philip
                      Unfortunately they took the press release down in 2012 as it was nearing a decade old.
                      Care to guess who made them take that PR down?
                      MSEE, PE

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                        • Philip
                          Member
                          • Apr 2011
                          • 87
                          #7
                          I guess it's possible, but a decade is a long time for a press release! I'm surprised it lasted that long though it did command bragging rights, "Designed in Germany, built in America".

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