Campus Ideas

Carports in the Denver West parking lot could provide many benefits
When walking from the Denver West shopping center to Building 15, I noticed all the fine sunshine going to waste as it bounced off car windshields, tarred lot surfaces, even me! I thought of all those reports I've read about PV carports being installed around the world and wondered whether this was something NREL could do now rather than wait for the permanent site to be completed.

If Denver West would be open to a cooperative effort, a small pilot project could be erected outside Building 15's entrance. Carports could be put up over the parking area that now bakes anyone who pulls into the handicapped spots. The carports would provide shade and provide power for lighting the area at night (or power security systems and backup power to the buildings). On a larger scale, the carports could power the buildings' HVAC systems.

Beyond the obvious alternative energy benefits, I could see such projects (located throughout NREL's campus) providing materials testing sites for carport/PV support frames (recycled plastics, composites, etc.); real-use testing for NREL's PV research, as well as outside companies' outdoor testing (power produced could run power-measurement and sensing devices, solar measurement recorders, etc.; public awareness for NREL's work and presence and for those companies that request NREL to test their products for real use (where displays wouldn't compromise proprietary data or design parameters) — the Visitors Center parking lot also could use some major shade; and future recharging stations for electric vehicles, hydrogen-generation facilities for fuel cell vehicles, and/or battery regeneration for hybrid-electric/fuel cell vehicles.

• Response: Using PV to provide shaded parking is a great concept, because it provides a large area for PV collectors and - as an added benefit - keeps our cars cool. As far as implementing such a project at Denver West, the Lab may not want to invest in PV and then locate the expensive PV array on a site we don't own. PV systems cost about $8,000\kW - so, in the case of the recently installed large (750 kW) carport for the Navy near San Diego, the total system cost was $7.6 million (California offered a large state tax credit at the time). Given our current low cost for electricity and no big tax incentives, the life-cycle costs and simple payback would be too long to justify the purchase.

  We did contact Denver West to see what they would allow and whether they would support this type of activity in the parking lot. They replied that anything constructed outside of a building is subject to the approval of the Denver West Architectural Control Committee, which is an independent group, not part of the main company. In terms of our main campus, long-term plans as outlined in the General Development Vision (GDV) show the need to build structured parking. Providing for this parking is also balanced with a policy that encourages staff to utilize alternative forms of transportation. The top level of the structured parking would be ideal for covering with PV. This has been brought up before. It's a good idea, but higher-priority demands on limited funding resources are a reality in our current funding environment.

  In the short term, 8-10 kW of PV on the S&TF was considered; but, again, the current funding environment is the issue. Also suggested in the GDV is the idea of a PV-covered walkway connecting the buildings. There is, however, a significant renewable energy project under consideration that is potentially cost effective and thus meets the strategic requirement of being a good business decision. Currently under evaluation is a concept proposal for a renewable fuel heating plant for the South Table Mountain site. This plant would utilize abundantly available forest thinnings and other waste wood fuels to generate thermal energy, which could displace up to 80% of STM natural gas use. Executive management and the Golden Field Office have authorized further study of this application. The implementation mechanism would be an energy savings performance contract (ESPC). Under an ESPC, a third party provides the funding and installation of such a project is paid back through the savings generated by the project over a period of years. (October 2005)

Bicycles should be allowed in west gate, not just walkway
I have an idea for something that could make a big difference for folks like me who bicycle commute. Often, it is much easier to come in through the west gate. As I understand it, NREL has an agreement with the surrounding community that NREL employees will be discouraged from using the west gate so that their neighborhoods are not inundated with traffic each day. This is clearly a good thing. However, bicycles do not cause much of a traffic problem since they are safe for pedestrians, essentially noiseless, don't take up much space, and are pollution-free. If NREL employees who commute by bicycle could use their badges to open the west gate, it would make coming in that direction much easier, particularly when it's winter and the gravel area (which is very inconvenient and uncomfortable on a bike in the best of weather) becomes wet and muddy. I would suggest that west-gate access would only be given upon agreement to NEVER use the gate in a car (a signed agreement would seem acceptable). I think that this is an easy, free, and sensible way for NREL to make alternative transportation easier for its employees.

• Response: From the Security perspective, this is a very vulnerable area and it doesn't make sense to open a gate large enough for two trucks to admit a bicycle or pedestrian. Also from a practical standpoint, it takes more time to wait while the big gate opens and closes than it does to negotiate the smaller path — by bicycle or on foot — that leads from the pedestrian gate.
  
  And, while you do make a strong "sustainability" argument, there actually is additional energy consumed every time the gate motor is engaged. Currently, all personnel at NREL have access to the walk-through gate. We feel this supports Sustainable NREL and provides adequate access to all who wish to walk or ride bicycles from the west.
  
  This concern might be better addressed with improvements to the walkway leading from the gate. We agree it is often muddy when wet, and maintenance personnel should give it some extra consideration when clearing snow. Sustainable NREL will send a request to Facilities on both accounts. (January 2004)

Landscaping improvements suggested for FTLB, SERF
Question: How about planting a couple of fast-growing shade trees on the west side of the Field Test Laboratory Building (FTLB)? Not only would this help the grass retain moisture, but it would provide some relief to offices on the west side of the first floor from the hot afternoon sun. Also, while we're talking about shade trees, why not plant some in a row all along the south edge of FTLB's front parking lot and in the islands on the southwest side of the FTLB between the parking areas, providing some shade for cars and the vegetation — as well as cooling down the hot blacktop a little bit.

Part 2: I suggest that more shade trees be planted around the Solar Energy Research Facility (SERF) parking lot. These trees would provide shade for cars, as well as during events frequently held in the SERF parking lot. It seems that the variety of tree planted years ago in the SERF parking lot is doing quite well — even in drought conditions. I expect that more trees of the same variety would fare quite well with little care. The trees also will enhance the appearance of our site.

• Response: We have received several good suggestions regarding landscaping. Funding for such landscaping improvements would be part of the Site Operations' budget. Sustainable NREL is working with Site Operations to explore the availability of FY04 funding or alternatively proposing such for FY05. We will keep you apprised of progress. We also suggest that you make your ideas heard in the upcoming staff survey — this will reinforce the growing interest in this area. (September 2003)

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