Fort Report: Repowering America

Late last spring I discovered a mouse living in my outside air conditioner unit. No wonder it wasn’t blowing cold air. We cleaned it out, but the airflow still seemed obstructed. The technician replaced a component part, but then it began to smoke (the air conditioner, not the mouse). It was done. Another deflating thousand dollar plus moment in a homeowner’s life.

For many years, my wife and I have discussed using technology to remake our home into a sustainable energy producer, even re-imagining our house as a micro-energy farm. As I evaluated my air conditioning circumstances, I thought this might be the right time to move forward. I started looking into a geothermal system. Usually they are installed on new homes where they are easier to construct. The initial cost estimates were way out of range. However, as I worked through the problems, an energy evaluation revealed we could actually utilize a smaller unit. With an estimated savings in utility costs of $500 or more per year, the added expense looked more feasible, especially if the replacement system cost was discounted from the calculation.

What also helped is a federal policy that assists homeowners in bridging the cost barrier to installing new systems. A soon to expire tax credit is available for certain technologies, including geothermal. The Nebraska Energy Department also makes loans available for this purpose. In combination, these factors create real incentives for adopting new models of energy conservation.

If we can all piece together these kinds of initiatives, we can begin transitioning from large scale industrial models of power generation to smaller scale micro-generations, with customers regarded as co-partners in community energy production. Nebraska has progressed well in this regard. Awhile back when I was on the Lincoln City Council, we actively encouraged the Lincoln Electric System (LES) to build a second wind turbine and subsidize the cost. Now the LES is shifting toward a community based system of solar energy—a creative initiative that receives widespread support. I understand that in the next few years, LES’ power will be 48% renewable.

Efforts like this provide a view into the future of energy management. New advanced battery technology soon will be suitable for storing energy in homes. Recent lab advances are producing transparent material that could replace windows with solar panel “glass.” The combination of micro-solar generation conveniently built into existing homes, batteries to store energy, and smart technology that uses appliances during times targeted for optimum energy management—all are right around the corner. This would create significant savings for the average home. As technology prices begin to fall and these materials are more seamlessly integrated into construction, we could see a new energy revolution on our hands.

For now, I have a truck sitting in my yard drilling two wells. The men from Blair working on the geothermal project punched two holes, both 180 feet deep, into the ground on the side of my house. Small pipes run through the holes and circulate water to capture the underground temperature differential. The seven degree differential is harnessed in the geothermal unit and transferred into valuable energy: coolant during summer and heat during winter.

I’ve been thinking about doing this for a long time. I’m glad to start down the road toward the new energy future in America. I wonder where the mouse will go next winter.