Buildings Magazine

TANDEM SOLAR CELLS COULD HARNESS MORE
ENERGY

While there are multiple types of photovoltaic materials, researchers from MIT and Stanford University have found that combining two separate layers of sunlight-absorbing material can create solar cells that are more efficient than current options. The new design combines a layer of silicon with a layer of perovskite which absorbs higher-energy light particles. Because the two layers are connected, they require only one control circuit.

The researchers’ current design, a proof-of-concept solar cell, provides 13.7% efficiency – about the same output as that of current solar cells. However, the researchers say that low-cost improvements could boost the cell’s performance to about 30%, significantly higher than conventional silicon-based cells.

U.S. CITIES JOIN GLOBAL CLIMATE ACTION PLEDGE

In preparation for the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, the ICLEI World Congress 2015, a sustainability summit of local and sub-national governments, has launched the Compact of Mayors, a coalition of city leaders voluntarily making commitments to cut GHG emissions and prepare for the impact of climate change.

Two cities from the U.S. joined the Compact – Des Moines, IA, and Boulder, CO.

Also launched at the World Congress is the Transformative Action Program, which looks to improve access to existing capital flows to cities and regions while accelerating additional funding from both public and private investors. Development of the TAP is in response to the wide variety of difficulties that can be encountered when looking to acquire financial backing for energy efficiency projects.

“FLIP YOUR FRIDGE” CUTS EMISSIONS

Looking to prevent around 12 billion pounds of GHG emissions, the EPA has launched its “Flip Your Fridge” initiative, which encourages Americans to recycle older refrigerators and replace them with ENERGY STAR-certified models. The EPA estimates that if all 19.5 million U.S. refrigerators that are 15 years or older were replaced, Americans could save over $1 billion on energy costs per year.

As part of the initiative, ENERGY STAR partner utilities and energy efficiency programs are offering rebates and incentives toward the purchase of a new ENERGY STAR model, which typically use around half as much energy as the older units. Additionally, the EPA shows that consumers purchasing certified refrigerators can save as much as $260 in the first five years while reducing their carbon footprints by around 7,900 pounds.

2014 RAINWORKS CHALLENGE WINNERS HONORED

As part of its goal to help reduce water use on college campuses, the EPA has released the results of its third annual Campus Rain Works Challenge, which asked student teams from universities to propose additions to campus landscapes that would reduce stormwater impacts on water quality while also providing educational and recreational opportunities. Four winning teams were announced, offering localized ideas to improve water quality, promote rainwater harvesting, and incorporate renewable energy.

Teams winning first place came from the University of Illinois at Chicago in the master plan category and the University of Maryland, College Park in the demonstration plan category. Second place winners in the master plan category was the team from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and taking second place in the demonstration project category was Queens College, City University of New York. Honorable mentions included student teams from the University of Maryland, College Park, and Georgetown University.