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Vashon Energy Project 
of LifeSense Institute

  Alternative energy for life 
 

Project Solar Harvest
 
November 2006 
Vashon Island, Washington
Chart 1:  Average Annual Available Solar Energy by Month
Chart 2:  Thermal Storage and Use for Annual Solar Heat Storage System

(charts provided to LifeSense Institute courtesy of BuildingCircles Organization and 
Jon D. McWhirter, Ph.D., P.E.).

Project Solar Harvest:  Preliminary Report 
Exhibit Presented at Island Earthfair, Vashon Island, WA, August 2006


Project Solar Harvest Exhibit of Conceptual Model at Island Earthfair 2006
Project Solar Harvest Exhibit of Conceptual Model at Island Earthfair
Project Solar Harvest Exhibit of Conceptual Model at Island Earthfair

We wish say thank you! to the folks at Island Earthfair, to Sustainable Vashon for their seed grant, and to True Value Hardware, Island Lumber and Hardware, Vashon Print and Design, and many private donors of cash and materials for funding this demonstration.

The demonstration was presented by LifeSense Institute, courtesy of BuildingCircles Organization, Robert Bornn, and Jon D. McWhirter, Ph.D., P.E.).
 


LifeSense Institute's Project Solar Harvest presented a public demonstration at Earthfair showing the principles behind the collection, storage and retrieval of energy from the sun for year-round heat in Northern latitudes.  Similar systems have been commercialized for use throughout much of the world.  These system innovations demonstrated by Project Solar Harvest are currently under development by Robert Bornn and Jon McWhirter, Ph.D., P.E. of BuildingCircles Organization.  The demonstration was at Island Earthfair on Vashon-Maury Island, Washington in August 2006. 

Public Education: At Earthfair during a period of three plus days (August 4th, 5th, and 6th, ) Robert Bornn and Laura Worth talked with approximately 100 people about our annual solar heat storage system.  There was excellent positive reception to the concept of storing solar heat in the ground for year-round use in an aesthetically acceptable, earth-integrated system that would be affordable to most homeowners. 

Except for a handful of people, no one seemed to already be aware that commercial systems to store heat in the ground for year-round use are currently in successful operation throughout much of the world, especially in northern latitude countries. More than 40 fact sheets with URLs describing the “state of the art” were distributed. 

Exploratory Research:  The simple conceptual “model” performed better than anticipated for more than three days.  Temperature data was gathered each day and preliminary analysis indicates that the approach is viable.  Even with sub-optimal insulation (this model used 4” of old newspapers), the system was effective. 

The double-paned windows admitted UV and visible light and served as modest insulation; 40 pounds of recycled metal converted the light to infrared energy (heat); the metal was floating in a 20 gallon tank of water and transferred its heat to the water for storage.  The model demonstrated that overnight the storage water retained enough heat to start each day at a relatively higher temperature than the day before (see below).  By the third day the water storage started at 20° F. higher than the first day.  Ultimately, by 4:00 PM on Sunday the cumulative heat in the system’s water storage had reached 125° F.  In a full scale system the storage could be in water, earth, or rock and would exceed 130° - 180° F. 

It was helpful to hear the questions and concerns of people with whom we discussed the system.  Answering questions from the public refined our explanation of the principles involved in the system for future demonstrations.  It provided information about issues to address that will maximize public acceptance of this type of system. 

Documentation: Photographic images of the model Solar Harvester system are available for public display as needed.  Thumbnails and enlargements are also published on this site. 

Future Applications: This Solar Harvest annual solar heat storage system is one of many innovations for sustainability underway through BuildingCircles Organization on Vashon Island in Washington.  BuildingCircles expects to integrate this system into their BuildingCircles Project



 
 
Time
Air
(estimated)
Metal
(recycled)
converts solar energy to heat and conducts to water
Water 
(or soil/rock)
stores heat underground for 
use all year
Friday 
8/5/06
. . .
1:00 PM
92° F
150° F
86.7° F.
2:00 PM
--
160° F
93.8° F.
3:00 PM
--
165° F
95.8° F
4:00 PM
--
170° F
97.2° F
5:00 PM
82° F
125° F
102.0° F
Saturday
8/6/06
. . .
1:00 PM
85° F
170° F
99.9° F
2:00 PM
--
175° F
105.0° F
3:00 PM
--
175° F
107.1° F
6:30 PM
82° F
140° F
109.6° F
Sunday
8/7/06
. . .
12:00 noon
92° F
160° F
107.0° F
1:00 PM
--
170° F
111.3° F
2:00 PM
--
175° F
114.4° F
3:00 PM
--
180° F
117.0° F
4:00 PM
85° F
165° F
125.0° F
+/- 5° F accuracy
PROJECT SOLAR HARVEST

Project Solar Harvest is a project of LifeSense Institute.  It provides public information about system inventions and innovations for the collection, storage, and retrieval of energy from the sun for year-round heat.

      • Imagine: “Neighborhood grids” to harvest solar heat all year. 
      • Facilitate:  Make it happen.
      • Share:  Make it affordable.



(Vashon Energy Project is a project of LifeSense Institute, a nonprofit corporation)


YOUR SUPPORT

We are actively seeking participants and donors for the Vashon Energy Project.  In-kind-donations (services, materials, and equipment) are welcome.  We anticipate collaboration with a network of local and worldwide professionals with expertise in relevant fields. We are forming a dynanmic advisory board to optimize our projects. If you have interest, please contact us to join our mailing list, learn of sponsored informational events, and programs and activitites.

 
Contact Information
Robert Bornn and Laura Worth
LifeSense Institute
P.O. Box 2443
Vashon Island, WA 98070
(206) 463-4284

robert@buildingcircles.org
laura@buildingcircles.org
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 

Sunrise over Dockton, Maury Island, Washington by R. Bornn
Sunlight on Quartermaster Harbor 
Vashon Island, Washington
Photo by R. Bornn
 

A vision of our future begins
with our preservation 
of the earth.
 

 

The Small Print:
LifeSense Institute is a Washington State nonprofit corporation.
LifeSense Insitute is registered for solicitations under the Washington State Charitable Solicitations Act, RCW 19.09.
LifeSense Institute is not currently a tax-exempt organization under IRC 501(c)(3).

This site is for educational purposes only.  It is not a substitute for professional consultation.
No claim is made or implied that the ideas, inventions, illustrations, and documents on this site are applicable to any
housing, building, or land use project.  Nor does the site represent in any way consulting services of any kind.
Nothing on this site is an offer to sell, transfer, license, or use proprietary technology.


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Copyright (c) 2006 by Robert Bornn and Laura Worth.  All rights reserved.
LifeSense Institute, BuildingCircles, Vashon Energy Project, Project Solar Harvest, Solar Harvester,
Imagine * Facilitate * Share, and Alternative energy for life are trademarks of Robert Bornn and Laura Worth.


Photos by Robert Bornn.
Web site by Laura Worth Web Design.