This ambitious home concept is buried within the sand dunes of Cape Cod, and plans to be completely off-the-grid using solar and wind power. The home’s location within the sand itself helps to regulate the internal temperature, and gives the home a low profile, so not to be a shoreline eyesore.
The interior of the home opens to a beautifully clean floorplan, making using of the large windows to bring in natural light. Designed by Studio Dural, we think it’s a fascinating concept. Our only question remains, what happens with sea level rise? The location looks precariously close to the surf, especially with the estimated sea level rises due to climate change.
In an age of spineless US Senators, de-investments in education, and other critical causes being put on the chopping block, it’s satisfying to hear that some states are continuing to show leadership.
California has long been the leader in the states for renewable energy. For sixty years, the state has explored solar and wind energy, and numerous clean energy firms have gotten their start in the Golden State. Now California marks their next step into the 21st Century with the passing of the nation’s strongest Renewable Portfolio Standard.
California’s new renewable energy standard, which requires that utilities purchase 33% clean energy by 2020, is now the highest in the nation. California Governor Jerry Brown signed the mandate into law today, once again reassuring the state’s trailblazing position on the clean energy front.
“With this vote,” American Wind Energy Association CEO Denise Bode said in a statement, “public officials have decided to create thousands more jobs for Californians–jobs in manufacturing, construction, operations and maintenance, and other areas. This action is pro-business and pro-California.”
Indeed — the clean energy sector is one of the few that has continued to grow during the recession. The state was actually reportedly already on the verge of meeting the previous RES, which set 20% clean energy as the standard. Hoping to continue to spur investment in the industry, policymakers bumped up the bar once again.
Here’s the list of state renewable energy standards: (note, the following means that electric utilities in Arizona, for example, will have to get 15% their power from renewable sources)
Arizona: ………………15% by 2025 California: …………..33% by 2030 Colorado: ……………30% by 2020 Connecticut: ……….23% by 2020 D.C.: …………………….20% by 2020 Delaware: ……………20% by 2019 Hawaii: ……………… .20% by 2020 Illinois: ………………..25% by 2025 Iowa: ……………………105 MW Massachusetts: ……15% by 2020 Maryland: ……………20% by 2022 Maine: ………………….40% by 2017 Michigan: …………….10% by 2015 Minnesota: …………..25% by 2025 Missouri: ……………..15% by 2021 Montana: ……………..15% by 2015 New Hampshire: …23.8% by 2025 New Jersey: …………22.5% by 2021 New Mexico: ……….20% by 2020 Nevada: ……………….20% by 2015 New York: …………..24% by 2013 North Carolina: ….12.5% by 2021 North Dakota:* …..10% by 2015 Oregon: ……………….25% by 2025 Pennsylvania: ………8% by 2020 Rhode Island: ……..16% by 2019 South Dakota*: ……10% by 2015 Texas: ………………….5,880 MW by 2015 Utah*: …………………20% by 2025 Vermont*: ………….10% by 2013 Virginia*: …………..12% by 2022 Washington: ………15% by 2020 Wisconsin: …………10% by 2015
