Whether it is 2 or 3 households, the takeaway is that the array is not going to be powering the entire neighborhood. It would indeed be a nice symmetry if the substation that used to distribute power to the neighborhood could be used to generate the neighborhood’s equivalent energy use. Sadly the technology is not there yet.

In any case, I was curious about the assertion about oil/gas or electrical usage, so I looked up some stats from the Department of Energy:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/recs/recs2005/c&e/detailed_tables2005c&e.html

(see Space Heating, Total Households by Space Heating Fuels, page 2 of the pdf, under Pacific region) and it seems that primarily in the South does electric space heating get used more that other sources. Anecdotally, most of the houses I’ve visited in Seattle in talking with people about remodels etc, were gas or oil (only a couple had electric heat), because electric heat is generally more expensive:

http://www.seattle.gov/light/conserve/resident/homeheating/cv5_fcc.asp

I feel it is reasonable to use the DoE’s stats but I should follow up with City Light–they don’t have anything I could find published about the average use, outside of the reference you quoted above. They do mention above the average heating load as 12000 kWh or 41 mil Btus but not a total use including houses with or without electric space heating.

– it’s a very small site – I’m afraid the architect’s conceptual drawings don’t properly reflect this.
– the primary access and dominant view from the street will be from the drive off 65th. Although an entrance from the alley would be nice (if not required) I don’t believe the immediate neighbors would like to see a significant amount of park pedestrian traffic coming and going via the alley.
– there’s a clear desire for openness (direct sunlight) on larger portions of the site
– traditional park functions are seen as highly desirable.
– immediate neighbors should be buffered from potential park noise
– given lack of visibility from the street – it would seem prudent to anticipate the need to close the park after dusk.
– there is support and excitement about including a solar photo-voltaic system somewhere in the park’s program.
– keep in mind that future development may include replacement of restaurant w/ multi-story building – open yard on north side of Green Grocer is also site of potential future development.

In response to this – I’m thinking the following design program might better balance neighborhood priorities:
– install PV canopy over a large part of the narrow entry drive off 65th. This would best showcase the solar power display from the street. Solar panels would also serve as canopy for a range of activities at the park’s main entry (plant sales, staging for work parties, solar power lectures/demonstrations, community mulch pile, etc. etc.)
– install small demonstration solar hot water system over secondary entrance from alley. This could serve a “community kitchen” feature along property line facing east (towards restaurant) – which might simply be a long concrete, counter height surface with a wash basin for preparing potlucks, picnics, etc.
– place smaller size buildings in SW corner (where there’s the least sunlight) – tool storage, small office, display composting toilet, etc.
– leave majority of larger rectangle (including the sunniest area) open for gathering, picnics, play, bocce ball – whatever. Include benches, seat-walls, raised planters, small water features, chess tables, etc.
– plant smaller height deciduous trees to provide some shade for open space in summer – with full sunlight in winter
– build high walls at north and east sides of larger rectangle to screen off the restaurant’s outside seating area – add structure for covering walls with plants (living green walls) to keep area cool in the summer, provide sound buffer and avoid problems w/ graffiti (they also look great).
– I’ll try to follow-up w/ a sketch – can anybody help w/ this?

basically – suggesting that the solar power element be scaled back considerably to where it serves mostly a demonstration function while also providing a canopy for limited wet weather activities. Change is happening fast in the renewable energy world. Rather than installing a $400,000 dollar system with today’s technology – better to have smaller demonstration systems that could be adopted by individual home owners – and that could be swapped out for newer technologies as they emerge.

Its a sweet little space – but it is a little space. Keep it simple – and build in flexibility. Keep it green – use it demonstrate a range of readily available strategies we can adopt to reduce our own family’s contributions to climate change and resource depletion – most importantly, make it inviting and use it to build and strengthen community – cause that’s where real change happens…