Solar Break-Thru: Two Energetic Electronic States from One Photon

Scientists Generate Two Energetic Electronic States from One Photon

Double yield via singlet fission could mean 35% efficiency boost for solar

December 2, 2010

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the University of Colorado, Boulder (UCB), have reported the first designed molecular system that produces two triplet states from an excited singlet state of a molecule, with essentially perfect efficiency.

The breakthrough could lead to a 35 percent increase in light-harvesting yield in cells for photovoltaics and solar fuels.

The experiments, using a process called singlet fission, demonstrated a 200 percent quantum yield for the creation of two triplets of the molecule 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPIBF) at low temperatures.

In singlet fission, a light-absorbing molecular chromophore shares its energy with a nearby non-excited neighboring molecule to yield a triplet excited state of each. If the two triplets behave independently, two electron-hole pairs can be generated for each photon absorbed in a solar cell. This process could subsequently increase by one third.the conversion efficiency of solar photons into electricity or solar fuels.

The researchers identified DPIBF as a promising candidate while searching for molecular chromophores that have the required ratio of singlet and triplet energy states.

Earlier, NREL and Los Alamos National Laboaratory had demonstrated an analgous two-electrons-from-one photon bonus using semiconductor quantum dots in a process NREL termed Multiple Exciton Generation. The latest advance is the first to demonstrate the electron multiplication phenomenon via  the singlet-fission process in molecules.

Until this most recent advance, singlet fission had been known as a somewhat obscure phenomenon occurring at low efficiency in a small number of molecular systems. In 2004, NREL and UCB revisited singlet fission as a potential way to maximize solar photon conversion efficiency. In 2006, NREL’s Arthur J. Nozik and Mark C. Hanna calculated the gains in thermodynamic efficiencies that were possible with solar cells based on singlet fission. These activities led to a much more extensive search for the best candidate molecules in a collaboration between NREL and the research group at the UCB led by Josef Michl.

The research has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.  Authors are NREL’s Justin C. Johnson and Arthur J. Nozik, and UCB’s Josef Michl.  For a technical summary of this article, please visit http://www.nrel.gov/news/pdfs/technical_summary_20101202_press_release.pdf

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Visit NREL online at www.nrel.gov

Top 10 (or so) in 2010- Solar News

On Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 4:03 PM, Adam Browning, Vote Solar <adam@votesolar.org> wrote:

Friends-

It's been a big year, and there's a lot to celebrate.  Here's our count of our top 10 (or so) in 2010:

- New 1 GW program for wholesale distributed generation in California.  We--and many allies--put nearly three years into the effort to build a new market for mid-sized solar.  These are projects that can utilize the existing distribution network to come on-line quicker and closer to load, yet still with enough scale to rival costs of natural gas generation. On December 16, the effort paid off when the California Public Utilities Commission unanimously adopted the Renewable Auction Mechanism - or RAM.  The 1 GW pilot program requires utilities to conduct biannual auctions for renewable projects under 20 MW in size.  The idea is to provide a regular drumbeat of sustained business opportunity and healthy competition that helps drive down costs; standard contracts with equitable terms and conditions that reduce transaction costs; and development security of $60/kW and relatively quick on-line times to help ensure project viability and market functionality.  All in all, it's an elegant design that rounds out California's solar market nicely and serves as a model for other jurisdictions seeking to tap the potential of the new wholesale distributed generation market. Keyes & Fox and the Solar Alliance were true heros in the effort.

- Colorado raised the bar to 30% renewables. Colorado is a great lesson in how solar success begets solar success.  An RPS standard failed three times in the legislature before a local coalition made history by taking a 10% renewable target to the voters with a ballot initiative in 2004.  It passed at the polls, and the year after, the legislature doubled the standard. This year the legislature upped the ante again - this time to 30% with a 3% DG requirement, placing Colorado squarely among our nation's leaders in renewable energy. Once a state gets a taste of the solar good life -- pretty panels on roofs, good local jobs, savings on electricity bills -- it's easier to grow from there.  Jobs were a huge selling point in this year's RPS effort: when we put out a report calculating economic benefits of an expanded solar goal, the response from press and partners was so robust that we need a bigger internet to hold it all.

- Big solar got real.  California utilities have signed over 7 GW of solar contracts, and utilities in Arizona and Nevada are just as busy gearing up to tap the sun for power.  With RPSs in the Southwest driving demand,  federal loan guarantees enabling financing, 'Solar Energy Zones' enabling smart-from-the-start development on federal land, and the FERC notice of proposed rulemaking on regional transmission planning, variable resource integration and cost allocation, large-scale solar is moving off the drawing books and into reality.  Renewable energy on this scale, at this level of grid penetration brings another set of challenges to the table.  In order to acheive renewable success suffient to beating climate change, we need smart planning to ensure resource adequacy --essentially, figuring out how to use variable resources, at a scale never before acheived, and still ensure that there is an electron available when someone needs it. As a part of this effort, we've intervened into the CPUC's Long Term Planning Process and are leveraging our position on the WECC's Scenario Planning Steering Committee and the State of Nevada's New Energy Industry Task Force, among other efforts, to plan for success in a way that maximizes our conservation values.  Jim and Kelly are working full-time on this effort.

- New York got a sign that it's time for solar. Literally.  Sometimes you have to find new ways to get your message across.  In the last days of our first run at a 5 GW solar program for the Empire State, Vote Solar ran witty and provacative pro-solar messages on an electronic billboard right next to the state capitol building in Albany. On their way in to work, lawmakers were reminded that "When there's a huge spill of solar energy, it's just called a nice day." Good times. Campaigns like this go a long way in making up for the tedium of regulatory proceeding minutiae, which comprises the other 95% of our efforts.  Going forward, NY remains a top target for Shaun in 2011.
 
- Keeping PACE.  We managed a national campaign that helped enable these innovative local finance programs for solar and efficiency retrofits in 23 states and the District of Columbia...that is, before Fannie, Freddie and the FHFA put on the brakes.  We're not going to lie to you...after all that time, effort, and, well, hope in a promising solution, that setback hurt like a stick in the eye. Currently, multiple lawsuits filed by impacted municipalities, Attorney General of California, and Sierra Club and NRDC are proceeding apace, and folks in DC are brewing up support for federal fix-it legislation.  Stay tuned.  Some ideas are too good to die.

- Designed solar-friendly utility rates. The structure of tariffs - how much you're charged for electricity at any given time - plays a huge role in determining a solar system's payback.  Our first intervention in Southern California Edison territory increased the value of solar to commercial customers by ~26%. Now Gwen is conducting our 4th and 5th General Rate Case interventions to ensure that solar customers in Northern California and New Mexico are fairly compensated for their investments.  Just three words--"General Rate Case"--they mean a sustainable solar market to you, but to Gwen it's long-nights with Excel spreadsheets that could dim the lights of a major city.
 
- Community solar made its mark.  The traditional panels-on-your-roof approach to solar simply doesn't work for everyone. Apartment dwellers and shade tree growers, we're looking at you. This year, Vote Solar launched a new effort to empower more people to participate in the solar economy through shared, community solar programs.  More on the subject our website, here.  Both Colorado and Delaware passed legislation enabling various versions of community solar; we are participating in the implementation, as well as administrative procedures in Arizona and California.  Look for more in the year to come; Peter is your contact for the latest.
 
- Solar made inroads in the heartland.  Missouri, Illinois, and Ohio all have solar carve-outs in their RPSs totaling nearly 2,000 MW of new solar by 2025. Implementation, on the other hand, has been a bear. Things are just more difficult in semi-deregulated sort-of-restructured markets with lots of coal interests.  Some utilities in Ohio, for example, would rather file for force majeure than, you know, comply.  Claudia has spent more time in the Show-me state, working with our partners, than she ever thought she would.
 
- California avoided this year's apocalypse, lifted cap on net metering.  The country's largest solar program faced a huge hurdle -- net metering, that critical policy that allows solar owners' meters to spin backwards, was capped at 2.5% of utility system peak load, a looming barrier that was set to hit the brakes on the growing local solar industry by mid-year. After a much harder-than-expected battle involving nearly two years of press and grassroots efforts on our end, the state legislature doubled the net metering cap to 5% in February and the Governor signed the bill immediately.  We note that incentive applications passed the 2.5% mark in PG+E territory in June.  Bullet dodged.  California now has over 745 MW of behind-the-meter solar generation, and is on the way to grid-parity.  Without this action, the state's solar industry would have been in a world of hurt.

- Project Permit helps make permitting better in Arizona.  Project: Permit is a campaign to use web 2.0 tools and grassroots advocacy to highlight the need for improved permitting practices. We identified Arizona as our pilot state and Phoenix (with 70% of the state's market) as our first municipal target.  After launching the interactive map and releasing a city-rankings report for Arizona, we worked with local installers (American Solar Electric and Solar City) to advocate for improved permitting in the city of Phoenix, a major market with sub-par permitting practices.  Vote Solar members in Phoenix emailed in support of improvement permitting practices prior to the city counsel's vote, and in May the Phoenix city council unanimously approved a new fee structure, lowering fees from upwards of $1000 to $225 for expedited projects. 

- Wholesale DG takes off.  Solar's new low price points make wholesale generation much more feasible. All that's needed is market mechanisms to take advantage of the opportunity.  In addition to the RAM, we worked hard in Arizona to develop new programs for wholesale distributed generation--count ~100 MW more in APS territory (As an aside, can we take a moment to collectively thank Commissioner Mayes for her super efforts for solar?  We are going to miss her and wish her the best in her next gig).  The New York Power Authority is angling for 100 MW of its own, San Francisco gets a 5 MW emission-free urban power plant, SMUD is off and running with a sold-out 100 MW feed-in tariff, all three investor-owned utilities in CA have DG PV programs (totaling 1.1 GW over the next 4-5 years), Southern California Edison has had great success with its Renewable Stanard Offer program....and that's just for starters.  Plenty of challenges remain: going forward, we expect that there will be contined discussion and activity at FERC, much more attention paid to best practices for ensuring project viability, and interconnection processes will be a key issue. 

- Silicon?  I love silicon. Our Valentines Day special was fun to make, but Hollywood did not come calling.  Someday we'll release the outtakes--but in the interim, just the threat is a good source of funding.
 
Speaking of funding (nice segue, eh?), it's been a shatteringly busy year, and we've been lucky enough to be able to grow to better meet the challenge. For much of VSI's existence, we've been just 3 people; in 2010, we welcomed Kelly Foley and Peter Olmsted to the team, increasing our staff size to eight smart, committed solar advocates and doubling our East Coast HQ.  If you are the kind of person that makes year-end donations, consider this: even a modest contribution makes a big difference to a small organization like Vote Solar.  And Lord knows there's a lot more to be done.
 
Happy holidays, friends, and best to you all in the new year.  Here's to solar heaven in twenty-eleven.

Onwards-

Adam + Team

The Vote Solar Initiative
300 Brannan Street, Suite 609
San Francisco, CA 94107

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video highlights of Greenbuild 2010

Tradeshows. With so much going on, educational sessions, tours, and a massive show floor, it's tough to see everything a show has to offer. That's why we're bringing some video highlights of Greenbuild 2010 to you. Just click on the videos below -- no registration required!

BASF Jack Armstrong talks building science at BASF's Greenbuild booth.

Beaulieu David Vita talks about closing the loop and Beaulieu's sustainability story during an interview at Greenbuild 2010.

Bentley Systems The Bentley Systems' team discusses how their company is helping to create a better built environment with BIM.

Derbigum Derbigum is "Making Buildings Smart." Find out how from Travis Wallace at Derbigum's Greenbuild booth.

Interface, Inc. Chief Innovations Officer John Bradford shares Interface Inc.'s mission and products.

NSF International During Greenbuild, Malcolm Fox talks about NSF programs and certifications with ED+C/SF's Derrick Teal.

Sika Sarnafil Sika Sarnafil's sustainability promise for vinyl roofing solutions.

Western Red Cedar "Mr. Cedar" (Paul Mackie) talks about the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association.

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Booze to Fuel-Recycled Energy Drinks

Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages Go Green: Recycler Turns Them Into Ethanol

By DANNY KING 01/06/11

 

What's happening with all the Four Loko and other caffeinated alcoholic beverages that the Food and Drug Administration deemed unsafe back in November? Well, at least some of them are being reincarnated as fuel.

An Abingdon, Va.-based ethanol recycler, MXI Environmental Services, expects to receive as many as half a million cases of such beverages after East Coast wholesalers started throwing them out, the Associated Press reported Thursday. MXI, which can recycle about 8,000 cases of the 23.5-ounce beverages per day, will distill the beverages' alcohol content for use as fuel and sell the cans to an aluminum recycler.

East Coast beverage wholesalers started dumping the beverages after the FDA sent warning letters to the companies that produced Four Loko, Moonshot, Joose and other beverages that the caffeine included in the malt alcoholic drinks was an "unsafe food additive" and that the products "pose a public health concern."

The FDA said it would prohibit the sale of drinks such as Four Loko and Joose, which contain as much as three coffee cups worth of caffeine -- and as many as three beer cans worth of alcohol -- per can.

See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/hpOnxS


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Battery News-Renewable Energy Innovations

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January 7, 2011, 8:18 am

Hold that Megawatt!

By MATTHEW L. WALD

AES Energy Storage As ordered by a computer, the AES Energy Storage plant in Johnson City, N.Y.,
absorbs or delivers energy to the grid at intervals of five seconds with thousands of lithium-ion batteries.

"Frequency regulation," an esoteric but increasingly important element of the electric system, is getting a new competitor.

Frequency regulation is as critical as voltage control or generating capacity but is not something that most customers notice, at least until it goes catastrophically wrong. It means fine-tuning the system to keep supply and demand in balance.

The problem is that the North American electric grid is supposed to run at 60 cycles, meaning that the electrons change direction 60 times each second. In practice, if electricity supply and demand are not perfectly matched at every instant, the system runs just a little bit too fast or too slow.

If the pace strays too far from 60 cycles per second, equipment like pumps and motors run too fast or too slow and a variety of equipment will shut down to avoid getting damaged. A sharp decline in frequency was one reason that the blackout of August 2003 spread as far as it did.

Traditionally utilities maintained the balance on a gross level by adding or subtracting generation and then fine-tuning by running a steam turbine, usually at a plant that runs on coal, a little faster or a little slower. Those turbines, which have a great deal of inertia at any given moment, could deliver or supply large amounts of energy promptly. But as more electricity generation has shifted to gas turbines, which resemble jet engines and have less inertia, or to wind generators, which tap the fickle breeze, the fraction of plants that can accomplish frequency control has declined.

But on New Year's Eve, AES Energy Storage, the subsidiary of a company based near Washington that operates power plants around the world, opened a plant in Johnson City, N.Y., near Binghamton, that sells frequency regulation. It absorbs or delivers energy at intervals of five seconds, as ordered by a computer at the New York Independent System Operator, which runs the state's grid.

It does so with thousands of lithium-ion batteries, which AES selected for the same reason that electric vehicle manufacturers like them: they have the ability to absorb or deliver large amounts of current promptly and can change direction easily. The batteries were built by A123, which also builds batteries for automobile use.

Batteries are a better bet than turbines, said John M. Zahurancik, vice president of operations and deployment at AES. "You're not revving these big engines up and down, you're running a device that doesn't care if it's run up and down,'' he said.

Meanwhile, in Stephentown, N.Y., near Albany, Beacon Power is working on a plant that will do the same work but while using flywheels.

Providing frequency regulation from coal plants adds somewhat to plants' emissions; but using a flywheel or a battery is cleaner, proponents say. The flywheel system loses about 15 percent of the energy, and the batteries lose about 10 percent, the companies involved report.

The AES project has a federal loan guarantee of $17.1 million, which is close to 80 percent of its cost, according to Mr. Zaharuncik; he declined to give a precise number. The project will eventually be able to absorb or deliver 20 megawatts for a period of up to 15 minutes, although typically it is making much smaller adjustments in each direction, he said.

While the technology could eventually be used to store energy for use at different times of day – say, capturing energy from wind machines at night, when electricity is in surplus, and delivering it during the day, when prices are higher – the regulation market looks like a surer route to profit for the moment. The AES project will eventually use 800,000 batteries, each roughly the size of a D cell, installed in 53-foot shipping containers.

Many places could use frequency regulation, but New York State is drawing these early plants because its system provides for payment to third-party providers of the service.

Wind and solar plants "introduce some additional variability that you don't have with traditional thermal units,'' Mr. Zaharuncik said. With a system that has a lot of renewable energy generators, he explained, "you need some other kind of resource that complements it. ''

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Re: January Update - Pew Clean Energy Business Network

On Thu, Jan 6, 2011 at 11:10 AM, Phyllis Cuttino, Pew Environment Group <advocacyemail@pewtrusts.org> wrote:

Dear Clean Energy Business Leader: Happy New Year and welcome to the first edition of the Clean Energy Business Network Newsletter, an informational report written just for businesses within America's clean energy economy. In June, 2009 the Pew Charitable Trusts released a report, The Clean Energy Economy: Repowering Jobs, Businesses and Investments Across America, which provided the first-ever hard count of environmentally friendly jobs, businesses, and investments across all 50 states. From this effort, we identified more than 68,200 businesses which account for more than 770,000 jobs - so that we may reach out and offer useful information for growing companies like your own. Each newsletter will provide you with updates about what Capitol Hill and the White House are working on to help grow the Clean Energy Economy and build America's global competitiveness. We will seek out opportunities which you may not yet have heard about, but may benefit your business. Plus, we can help you reach out to your representatives to have your voice heard. We are interested in your feedback and ideas about what you want to learn more about. Please send questions and comments to Jessica Lubetsky at jlubetsky@pewtrusts.org. Thank you, Phyllis Cuttino Campaign Director, Climate and Energy Programs Pew Environment Group   Newsletter Contents 1. U.S. Clean Power Sector Could Attract $342 Billion By 2020 2. We Can Make Progress On Clean Energy 3. Department of Labor Wants to Know How You Did It Successfully   1. U.S. Clean Power Sector Could Attract $342 Billion By 2020: The United States could attract $342 billion in clean power project investments over the next decade, according to the latest report released by The Pew Charitable Trusts and its research partner, Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The U.S. is among the three G-20 members with the most to gain by implementing strong clean energy policies. Additionally, strong policies could better position the U.S. to compete more effectively for a share of the $2.3 trillion that could be invested globally in clean power projects over the next 10 years. Global Clean Power: A $2.3 Trillion Opportunity examined projected private investment in wind, solar, biomass/energy from waste, small hydro, geothermal and marine energy projects. The underlying data for this report were compiled by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the world's leading provider of news, data and analysis on clean energy and carbon market finance and investment. The report modeled three policy scenarios to determine future growth through 2020: Business-as-usual: no change from current policies; Copenhagen: policies to implement the pledges made at the 2009 international climate negotiations in Copenhagen and; Enhanced clean energy: maximized policies designed to stimulate increased investment and capacity additions. In the U.S., total attracted clean power project investment is projected to be: Business-as-usual: $245 billion by 2020 Copenhagen: $259 billion by 2020 Enhanced clean energy: $342 billion by 2020 Other key U.S. findings include: The projected $342 billion in clean power project investment over the next decade would leverage installation of 171 GW of generating capacity, essentially tripling the amount of clean power that exists in the U.S. today. Over the next 10 years, the U.S. could attract $97 billion of additional clean power project investments under the enhanced scenario compared to business-as-usual. Read more from the report.   2. We Can Make Progress On Clean Energy When President Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, it marked the largest initiative on energy that the nation had taken since the 1970's. At the time, he stated, "We make a major step toward reducing our dependence on oil, confronting global climate change, expanding production of renewable fuels and giving future generations a nation that is stronger, cleaner and more secure." If there is anything we learned during that debate, it's that Democrats and Republicans can work together to pass meaningful energy legislation. The bill was supported by an overwhelming majority of Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate. When it comes to issues that matter to much of our country - namely, protecting national security, spurring innovation, reducing dependence on foreign oil, reviving the economy and creating jobs—we should be talking partnership not partisanship. Americans, and the Democrats and Republicans who represent us in Congress, can no longer prolong this energy stalemate. Read more.   3. Department of Labor Wants to Know How You Did It Successfully Over the next year, The U.S. Department of Labor will collect examples of actions that organizations and businesses have taken to support green job growth while at the same time adopt climate friendly actions. A sampling of best practices will be featured in a guide to be released on Earth Day 2011. To be considered as a featured best practice. Please describe (in 150 words or less) how your company has changed or adopted a plan to create green jobs within your company/organization and helped spur economic growth. Submissions will be evaluated, among other things, to the extent they provide insights as to the following: How your company's/organization's actions were climate friendly; How your company's/organization's actions contributed to the economy, including the creation of new & safe green jobs; and Motivations for the decision to make climate-friendly changes that support green job growth and how the changes were accomplished. Each submission should also include the name of the business or organization, location, and contact information. Submit your "Turning Green to Gold, Safely" best practice.

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Green Building Product News - The Builders Show!

On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 1:33 PM, Green Building Product News <Green_Building_Product_News@mail.vresp.com> wrote:

Green Product Digest  –  Builders Show 2011 Exhibitors Preview
	A Sneak Peek at Key Manufacturers' Exhibits at the NAHB Builders Show   The International Builders Show (Jan. 12-15 in Orlando, FL) is the largest showcase for building materials and practices on earth. In addition to its enormous indoor exhibit space, there are also sample homes outside the hall, plus a very impressive schedule of training seminars. There are plenty of classes in green building techniques for builders who seek to become Certified Green Professionals. Look below for some key exhibitors at this year's show:       Accumix • Booth W1391 AccuMix is the first ever thermostatic temperature controlled water heater with an ASSE 1070-2004 code-compliant mechanical integrated mixing valve which meets the provisions of UPC 413.1. This energy efficient unit is perfectly suited for use in public restrooms in retail stores, restaurants, medical environments, office buildings, factories, schools, or any commercial building.   Eemax • Booth W1391 Estimates show that 20% of water is wasted down the drain due to the time it takes for hot water to reach the faucet. The solution: boosting central heating systems at  point-of-use with an Eemax 2.5 or 4 gallon mini-tank water heater for near-instant hot water. The mini-tank line is easy to install, cost-effective, compact, plugs directly into a 110/120 wall outlet, and is floor or wall mountable. Huber Engineered Woods • Booth 3121 Huber Engineered Woods (HEW) linerless tape improves the ease and speed of installing its ZIP System roof and wall sheathing, which delivers superior moisture management and a tighter building envelope than traditional air barrier assemblies. The new linerless tape will be introduced along with new high-wind panels, and HEW will also demonstrate its AdvanTech subflooring. Kohler • Booth W2501 The Kohler Wellworth toilet line, with Class Five® flushing technology, now offers a model that will flush just 1.28 gallons. This water-conserving toilet can save a family of four 16,500 gallons of water and is certified with EPA's WaterSense label for using 20 percent less water than standard 1.6-gallon toilets while still meeting flushing performance guidelines.     Maze Nails, Booth W4286 Maze Nails is the nation's largest domestic manufacturer of hand-driven nails and nails for  pneumatic tools. While the company is best known for its hot-dipped galvanized nails – ideal for pressure treated lumber – they also produce nails for virtually every construction application. Maze Nails are SCS Certified to contain at least 85% recycled content (65% post consumer), which means that using Maze Nails exclusively on a project can contribute credits towards NAHB-Green certification.     Moen • Booth W1901 Moen will be showing off their elegant Eco-Performance showerheads, lavatories, and kitchen faucets. Key products include EPA WaterSense certified products such as the LIndley faucet, a model that offers advance features such as quiet flow, pull-down head, side-mounted single handle control, and a special water-saving function. As a company, Moen has earned the EPA's WaterSense Partner distinction.   The Original Rainwater Pillow • Booth W208 The Original Rainwater Pillow is an innovative rainwater harvesting system designed to be stored in horizontal wasted space (in crawl space or under deck), with pillow sizes from 2,000 to 200,000 gallons. Collected water can  be economically used to water lawn & garden areas. The Original Rainwater Pillow is a Green Approved Product for the National Green Building Standard.   Progress Lighting • Booth W4259 An Energy Star Partner of the Year, Progress Lighting has developed the Pro-Optic  collection, featuring 6" and 8" horizontal and vertical downlights for an easy, cost effective way to upgrade any competitive light housing to more energy efficient sources in existing spaces. Available with LED and CFL options, Pro-Optic Retrofit offers energy savings for a variety of remodeling applications.     Touch 'n Seal • Booth W5690 Touch 'n Seal CPDS Series 2 delivers both open and closed cell, Class 1 fire-retardant foam for use in sealing and insulating applications. Using an adjustable constant delivery rate, the operator can apply polyurethane spray foam to horizontal or vertical surfaces. CPDS Series 2 fits in the back of a standard truck and easily fits through standard doorways. Touch 'n Seal foams contain no CFCs and are Intl. Residential Code compliant.    Uponor • Booth W1728 Uponor's ProPEX® Lead-free Brass Fire Sprinkler Adapter is made of lead-free brass to conform to new lead-free plumbing requirements, and provide a cost-effective alternative to stainless-steel adapters. The adapter features Uponor's cold-expansion ProPEX fitting system for strong, durable and reliable connections without the need for torches, glues, solvents or gauges.   VacuFlo • Booth W4692 VACUFLO and Dirt Devil® Central Vacuum Systems play a unique role in green homes by removing 100% of vacuumed dirt and dust, ensuring healthy indoor air and reducing the discomfort of allergy sufferers by more than 60%. The systems also offer the benefits of a lifetime warranty so they won't end up in landfills. No additional electricity is required when using turbine powerheads for carpet, and their sound-dampening design leads to a quieter living space.   THE MONEY QUOTE: The green home building and remodeling market has reached the mainstream. As the leader in the nation's residential green-building movement, NAHB provides education, information and research to promote environmentally sensitive land development, resource conservation and energy and water efficiency. 'Green Day' celebrates advances in sustainable design and construction as well as new products and materials as the industry converges in Orlando for the largest light construction show in the world. National Association Home Builders

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