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Going Green by Staying Clean (Unabridged Version)
Going Green by Staying Clean (Unabridged Version)
Foltrauer
The Rambler
SUNY Farmingdale State College
October 24, 2013
Coming back from summer vacation, students at FSC are noticing a new structure erected
on campus. Its not the fountain in the square or the new childrens center, but the
The three-bedroom ranch with all the amenities of a fully-functioning suburban home is
actually still in the making. Its this modular home that was put together in a matter of days
after a foundation was put in placethat has been the talk of the campus. Installing an intricate,
One of the three state-of-the-art technologies that will be featured in the house is
photovoltaic solar cells (devices that are composed of layers of semiconductor materials) to
absorb photons (bundles of energy that constitute light) and convert their energy. The incoming
photons from the Sun knocks electrons loose from the atoms of the individual cells in the solar
panels. This reaction allows the electrons to be pulled into the flow of the electrical current
within the panels circuitry. Another cutting-edge technology is the houses hydrogen fuel
generator which uses hydrogen gas to power the house. When the Sun isnt shining, the
hydrogen fuel cells are employed. They are like batteries in that they store energy. But unlike
batteries, they also produce energy. The future has to start at some point and whats the best
place to do this? A college; to influence young people to move in this direction and promote
clean energy, said Dr. Shahrabi, Dean of the School of Engineering Technology who
the solar panels to have optimal exposure to sunlight. The house will have smart appliances
controlled by a smart meter so that the owner will be able to monitor the houses energy use at
any time, in any location, said Kathy Coley, the schools public relations representative.
Kimberly Gleason, a sophomore at FSC studying psychology, has seen the spacious
adobe and is happy that it has been built as an example to show people that it can be done and
done easily. Gleason, a conservation-conscious student who reduces, reuses and recycles, was
originally unaware of its purpose. Like nearly everyone else who spotted it, she only noticed it as
a curiously out-of-place house. There will be less mystery over it when its official opening takes
place (which is tentatively scheduled for December) after every last sophisticated detail is
installed. It is a very noble effort to take on such an endeavor to make more people conscious
about protecting the environment. Plus, since the house doesnt use oil it will help show the
community how to be more independent from foreign oilwhich is very important for our
The smart houseas it is being calledis green by being 100% independent from the
grid, that is, its self-sufficient with respect to energy usage. The technology that has been
integrated throughout the house can be integrated into any presently standing home. Home-
owners no longer need an oil burner or natural gas burner to heat the water in their homes. This
homes solar thermal heater will produce hot water using the Sun. It implements mirrors and
lenses to strengthen the rays of the Sun to reach temperatures as high as 3,000 degrees. Another
neat modernization is its shutters. Some of the houses windows (those facing the Sun) will have
louver blindswhich are automatic shutters that adjust according to the changes in luminosity
outside.
The future may recognize this smart house as standing proudly for being one of the first
inspirations amongst the wave of change America makes toward environmentally sustainable
existence. But for now it stands on FSCs campus to represent the new abilities that exist in the
industry and to suggest to future home-owners on campus and to local residents that these avant-