Did you know that soil is a natural insulator? Or that sunlight can be used to heat a room? How about using a bin full of rocks to heat a home?
Thanks to Upland Hills Ecological Center, located in Addison Township on Indian Lake Rd., area residents can learn about these unique alternative energy sources and many more through a learning environment designed to exist harmoniously with nature.
Founded in 1977, the idea for the center began with the Director of Upland Hills School Phillip Moore and the Founder of Upland Hills Farm Knight Webster in 1973. However, the actual history of the building goes back even farther to the construction of a wind generator.
“Around the time of the oil embargo, the school built a wind generator,” explained Acting Director for the Ecological Center Chris Tarr. “No one knew the embargo was coming or anything like that. It was already a natural-based school where the students often studied methods of alternative energy, and this was just one of those projects.”
However, many individuals did not see this as “just one of those projects” and word of the new power source spread through the media. Tarr said that the demands on the school for information eventually became too much, so the idea for the ecological center was born.
After four years of designing and three years of construction by volunteers, the official dedication ceremony for the center was held in 1980.
“It was not quite completed yet, but Moore wanted to have it then because his mentor R. Buckminster Fuller had come to Oakland University for a lecture; and since he was in the area, he was invited to attend the ceremony at the same time,” explained Tarr. “The center was in use by that point though.”
Built against the side of a hill, the Upland Hills Ecological Center is trapezoidal in shape, has windows running clear across the southern side, a stone wall against the hill on the north side and dirt covering half the roof.
“The building is designed to work with nature, not against it,” said Tarr.
The main alternative energy source used by the structure is solar power. The windows on the south side of the building, as well as clear story windows in the roof, allow the warm sunlight to filter into the rooms, heating the stone wall and black floors. During the summer, a carefully placed overhang keeps the hot mid-afternoon sun from shining into the structure, while the two sets of windows can be opened to create a natural air conditioning. The dirt roof adds to the building’s insulation.
Flat plate solar panels line the south side of the building. These absorb the sunlight and turn it directly into heat energy. The heat is directed by grooves in the panels to a bin of rocks located in the structure’s basement. These rocks trap the heat and then allow the warm air to rise into the building. Tarr said the system is a bit outdated and organizers are currently working on ways to disperse the heat better throughout the different rooms.
Photovoltaic solar panels are located on the roof and collect solar energy for conversion into either DC or AC power. The entire structure is wired for DC voltage, the more efficient of the two currents. Also, windowed roofing allows for natural lighting throughout most of the day.
Solar power is also used to supply the building with its only form of hot water. A solar water heater warms the water through a black box on the roof and then transfers it to regular water heater. Tarr said the method is very efficient, but there needs to be sunlight, so hot water is kept at a minimum during the winter, and the water is undrinkable since antifreeze must be kept in the system.
There are only two conventional energy sources still in use at the ecological center. A natural gas boiler is used to offset the solar heating in the building and DTE still provides some energy.
Originally, the structure used a wood burning stove during the winter months to offset the lack of solar heating, but since then a natural gas boiler has been installed.
“Something we’ve learned since the 70s is that wood fuel, although it is a renewable energy source, is more damaging,” said Tarr. “It’s way more polluting than most other energy fuels. Natural gas emits the least amount of damaging materials into the environment.”
Also, members of the center hope one day to be completely off DTE’s power grid. According to Tarr, a goal has been established to power the structure completely on energy provided by a combination of the wind generator and solar panels. In preparation for this, the wind generator has been raised 20 feet, to accommodate for tree growth over the years, and new solar panels are set to be installed near the roof on the north side of the building.
“We plan on being ready this August to install everything,” said Tarr. “Our goal is to become completely electrically dependent, and we hope to eventually be able to sell power back to DTE.”
When asked if the alternative energy sources featured at the center are cost effective, Tarr said often during construction no, but in the long run, definitely. She pointed to halogen light bulbs as an example – each one costs more than double that of a regular light bulb, but they are much more energy efficient and last four to five times as long.
“Now that there are so many problems that we are aware of and that we are going to pass to our children, many people are going to be looking for these alternatives,” added Tarr. “The demand for renewables has not been there, but as it grows, the cost will go down.”
Upland Hills Ecological Center is a nonprofit organization governed by a membership-elected board of directors. The center is mostly volunteer run, but organizers are preparing to add a paid director position.
“The whole purpose of the center is to bring awareness to the problems facing the Earth today, and to offer solutions and hope in a positive direction,” said Tarr. “We want to teach people to live with the Earth in harmony.”
The mission of the center is to design, fund and facilitate programs and opportunities that:
n Promote a responsible relationship with the natural world.
n Demonstrate and promote world sustainability.
n Bring the work and inspiration of world teachers to the Great Lakes Bioregion.
n Encourage experiential learning, creativity and playfulness.
n Promote global understanding.
n Enable us to be what we teach.
n Cooperate with other organizations.
For more information on the Upland Hills Ecological Center and its programs, visit www.uheac.org or call 248-693-1021.