Page 22 RAIN February/March 1983 APPROPRIATE TECHNOLGY IN OREGON: A Solar Sampler In response to the energy crisis of the early 1970s, Congress established the U.S. Department of Energy Appropriate Technology Small Grants Program in 1978. Its purpose was to encourage the promotion, development, and demonstration of small scale, energy-related systems which match local needs, skills, and available resources. It lasted three years before Congress decided not to appropriate any further grant funds. For the first two years, the grant program for Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington was managed through the Region X office in Seattle, with assistance from the states. In 1981, to allow the program to become more responsive to local needs, the USDOE contracted with each state to manage its own program. Since 1981, Rain and Oregon Appropriate Technology (OAT) have managed the Oregon grants program for the Oregon Department of Energy. From 1979 through 1981, over 1400 proposals were submitted for projects in Oregon. Of those, 48 received funding. Today, most of the projects are now completed. They demonstrate a wide variety of energy-conserving and renewable energy techniques, such as micro-hydro and wind systems for generating electricity, solar heating and hot water, alcohol and methane produchon, wood gasification, residential and commercial energy conservation, recycling, community education, and research. This is the first in a series of five articles which describe some of Oregon's successful projects. In this issue we look at eight solar energy projects funded by the USDOE Appropriate Technology Small Grants Program. The "Trombe" wall is a passive solar energy design which uses concrete or masonry to store the sun's energy and radiate it directly into a room. At Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Oregon, a Trombe wall has been shown to be practical in meeting building heating needs in eastern Oregon, where winter temperatures are often as low as 10° F. The wall, constructed on the south side of the College Art Shed, provides an estimated 30 to 50 percent of the space heating needs. Construction of the Trombe wall was completed in mid-August of 1979. Since then, interest in solar energy sparked by the project led to the redesigning of an administration building to incorporate passive solar energy techniques. Wallace Johnson, chairman of Treasure Valley Community College's Science Department and the Trombe Wall project director, has spoken to many civic organizations about the project. By taking the initiative to use solar heating for saving energy and tax dollars, and by making results widely available, the College has stimulated several owners of commercial buildings in eastern Oregon to follow its example. Four years ago Richard and Marie Kuehl moved to Southern Oregon, sevpn miles outside of Grants Pass. Richard Kuehl, an engineer, decided to design and build a home incorporating an active solar space and water heating system. KuehTs 1980 grant allowed him to install and operate an efficient system using home tools and commonly available materials. The Kuehls' all-electric 1500 square foot home would use about 14,000 kWh per year. They have installed 480 square feet of solar panels with a 2500 gallon tank to store water heated by the collectors. The rest of the system also includes a water-to-air heat exchanger, a fan and duct system to deliver warm air to the house, a controller to turn on pumps which circulate water through the solar panels, and a water-to-water heat exchanger to preheat domestic water. The tank also has magnesium anodes
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