“…passive solar heating and cooling was in use long before 1970, being used for centuries by the Anasazi of New Mexico, as evidenced in Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde communities of A.D. 1100. These multi-family dwellings were built facing south to maximize the heating of the winter sun and were insulated on the north by tall walls at Chaco Canyon and Bandelier National Monument, or as a cliff dwelling, as at Mesa Verde.”
Bruce Hunn, a member of New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light’s Cool Congregations Committee and St. Francis Episcopal Church in Rio Rancho, wrote this great article for the American Solar Energy Society. The Cool Congregations Committee helps promote solar power in New Mexico and El Paso. Hunn and David Robertson, a fellow member of the committee, conduct volunteer energy audits in the Albuquerque area.
Here’s an excerpt of the article, entitled “Passive Solar Development in New Mexico: Celebrating the Pioneering Work of the 1970s and 80s.” The article was published in March 2022.
“With the National Solar Conference SOLAR 2022 being held in Albuquerque, it’s a great opportunity to honor the heritage of today’s passive solar heating and cooling technology. Technological development occurred during the 1970s and 80s, primarily at the Los Alamos National Laboratory – LANL – (originally the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory) and Sandia National Laboratories, with the continual support and collaboration of the New Mexico Solar Energy Association (NMSEA). In addition, many solar pioneers devoted years to the study of how passive solar works and how to improve its performance through analytical and physical modeling of these systems, as well as field studies of on-site applications.
Modern development of passive solar heating and cooling in New Mexico began in 1973 when the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (now LANL) expanded its nuclear research programs to include solar energy applications to buildings, under the direction of Dr. J. Douglas Balcomb. His principal colleagues initially were Stan Moore, James Hedstrom and Robert McFarland, but the program expanded to 10-15 researchers before this author joined a related program at Los Alamos in 1975.
At the same time, a creative and innovative inventor in passive solar concepts and materials, Steve Baer of Corrales, New Mexico, applied many passive heating concepts in collector and storage components in his Zomeworks business. He provided products and design services for housing and thermosyphon water heating projects in the Albuquerque area. Baer included these in the design and construction of his classic passive solar house in Corrales (built in 1971-72), where he and his wife currently reside. Truly, Baer is one of the classic passive solar entrepreneurs in New Mexico.”
Read Full Article
About the Author
Bruce D. Hunn served as ASHRAE’s Director of Strategic Technical Programs. Prior to that, he served as the Society’s Director of Technology. He’s currently an active Life member of ASHRAE. Hunn holds a B.A. in Engineering and B.S., M.S., and Ph.D degrees in Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Hunn has authored or co-authored more than 117 articles, technical reports, and papers as well as eight books or chapters in books, on energy use in buildings and solar
energy applications.
Ann T. McCartney: Oil and gas industry needs to clean up mess
/in Featured Articles, Media, NEWS, Permian Basin /by adminI am very concerned about the health of communities in New Mexico suffering from ill effects of oil and gas.
As a board member of Interfaith Power and Light, our faith communities and people of faith and conscience worked hard on the oil and gas air pollution rules finalized earlier this year by the Environmental Improvement Board.
We offered many comments and spoke in public hearings for rules to address spills, leaks, venting and flaring, which take a toll on all New Mexicans’ health and access to clean air and water. The rules passed by EIB were an important step and safeguard for New Mexicans.
The news that the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico (IPANM) intends to sue the state to reverse key provisions of the rules was very disheartening after such a long public process. Industry was part of the long rule-making process. As an ordinary person, I do not understand why IPANM would want to harm the health of our communities — except out of greed.
Read Full Letter
EarthBeat introduces Instagram video series for Season of Creation
/in Earth & Faith, Featured Articles, NEWS /by adminThe Season of Creation is officially underway. This ecumenical celebration of God’s presence in nature is observed by Christians worldwide, having begun Sept. 1 and culminating on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Oct. 4.
In hopes of encouraging mindful engagement with the season, EarthBeat has partnered with young poet Desiré Findlay to create short meditative videos for praying through themes of ecology and spirituality along the way.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @EarthBeatNCR to access all 10 video reels as they are rolled out one by one throughout the month, and deepen your prayerful experience of the 2022 Season of Creation.
Bruce Hunn’s Article Examines Passive Solar Development in New Mexico
/in Cool Congregations, Featured Articles, NEWS, NMIPL in the News /by adminBruce Hunn, a member of New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light’s Cool Congregations Committee and St. Francis Episcopal Church in Rio Rancho, wrote this great article for the American Solar Energy Society. The Cool Congregations Committee helps promote solar power in New Mexico and El Paso. Hunn and David Robertson, a fellow member of the committee, conduct volunteer energy audits in the Albuquerque area.
Here’s an excerpt of the article, entitled “Passive Solar Development in New Mexico: Celebrating the Pioneering Work of the 1970s and 80s.” The article was published in March 2022.
“With the National Solar Conference SOLAR 2022 being held in Albuquerque, it’s a great opportunity to honor the heritage of today’s passive solar heating and cooling technology. Technological development occurred during the 1970s and 80s, primarily at the Los Alamos National Laboratory – LANL – (originally the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory) and Sandia National Laboratories, with the continual support and collaboration of the New Mexico Solar Energy Association (NMSEA). In addition, many solar pioneers devoted years to the study of how passive solar works and how to improve its performance through analytical and physical modeling of these systems, as well as field studies of on-site applications.
Modern development of passive solar heating and cooling in New Mexico began in 1973 when the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (now LANL) expanded its nuclear research programs to include solar energy applications to buildings, under the direction of Dr. J. Douglas Balcomb. His principal colleagues initially were Stan Moore, James Hedstrom and Robert McFarland, but the program expanded to 10-15 researchers before this author joined a related program at Los Alamos in 1975.
At the same time, a creative and innovative inventor in passive solar concepts and materials, Steve Baer of Corrales, New Mexico, applied many passive heating concepts in collector and storage components in his Zomeworks business. He provided products and design services for housing and thermosyphon water heating projects in the Albuquerque area. Baer included these in the design and construction of his classic passive solar house in Corrales (built in 1971-72), where he and his wife currently reside. Truly, Baer is one of the classic passive solar entrepreneurs in New Mexico.”
Read Full Article
About the Author
Bruce D. Hunn served as ASHRAE’s Director of Strategic Technical Programs. Prior to that, he served as the Society’s Director of Technology. He’s currently an active Life member of ASHRAE. Hunn holds a B.A. in Engineering and B.S., M.S., and Ph.D degrees in Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Hunn has authored or co-authored more than 117 articles, technical reports, and papers as well as eight books or chapters in books, on energy use in buildings and solar
energy applications.