by jboullion | Jun 29, 2009 | Uncategorized
Now in its fifth year, the Wisconsin Solar Decade Conference is your opportunity to see firsthand the latest developments in the world of solar energy. Register today to hear from top industry experts and attend dozens of exhibits, workshops and panel discussions as you discover the state of the technology, the state of the market and where both will be tomorrow!
•Learn about the latest solar energy applications for your home and business
•Discover opportunities to tap the renewable energy market and expand your business
•Network with fellow builders, contractors, homeowners and business owners
by jboullion | Jun 29, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article in Walworth County Today:
DELAVAN TOWNSHIP — A totally “green,” 19-room, luxury bed and breakfast inn being developed in Delavan Township will be the first of its kind in the Midwest.
The Green Leaf Inn, located off Wisconsin Highway 50 and west of Wisconsin Highway 67, plans to open in the summer of 2010 and will make Walworth County a major point of interest for the burgeoning eco-tourist movement.
The Inn will incorporate green energy sources, renewable and sustainable materials and practices, and environmentally responsible land and water use, according to a news release
That is the goal of Catherine McQueen and Fritz Kreiss, the owners of the Green Leaf. The couple has been in the energy industry for more than 17 years, and has been involved with the green energy movement from the start of their professional partnership, but the hospitality industry is a whole new field for them. With the Green Leaf, they’ve jumped in feet first.”
“Walworth County is a wonderful location,” Kreiss said. “Within easy driving distance to the three major population centers in the area (Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison), yet still relatively unspoiled. Lake Geneva was one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area in the 20th Century. We want to set the stage to keep it that way in the twenty-first.”
Their goal is to meet the highest standards for green building in all aspects of the Inn’s design and construction. The list of technologies and practices involved has proven to be daunting. “We had a background in green energy: solar, wind, geothermal, biomass,” says McQueen. “One of our early business ventures involved combined heat and power (CHP) units. But sustainable building, sustainable landscaping, water use, renewable materials, low-impact practices…we’ve put together quite a list of things to consider.” With no previous experience in the hospitality industry, they’ve also had to learn about aspects of zoning and permitting that were new to them.
“We want the Green Leaf Inn to be a learning center,” says Kreiss. “I think we can say it has already succeeded in that respect.”
by jboullion | Jun 26, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article in The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
Concordia University Wisconsin announced Wednesday that it plans to break ground in July for its new Center for Environmental Stewardship.
Construction of the 13,000 square-foot, two-story building is set to begin July 14. The structure will be built in Mequon on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan and work is expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2010 academic year.
The total cost of the building is expected to be between $3.5 million and $3.75 million and is being funded exclusively through charitable gifts already secured for the project.
Concordia officials said the building demonstrates the university’s commitment to environmental education, freshwater conservation and emphasis on sustainable energy resources. Plans for the center include laboratories, classrooms and a large seminar room that can accommodate 200 people for presentations.
With its lakefront exposure, Concordia officials say the building will be a center for the study of the Great Lakes and other environmental issues. The building will be designed to be a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold-level building.
“When completed, the center will offer many educational programs and research in water stewardship and other sustainability education topics for Concordia students as well as visiting area schools and the greater community,” said Bruce Bessert, director of the Concordia Center for Environmental Stewardship program.
Concordia has added new degrees because of the new center, and now offers a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and education with a minor in environmental studies, and a master’s degree in education with an emphasis on environmental education.
by jboullion | Jun 25, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a fact sheet published by Focus on Energy:
Rooftop wind turbines are one of the most talked about trends in renewable energy. City dwellers and suburbanites, inspired by the spread of large turbines and intrigued by the idea of producing their own energy, are today inquiring about rooftop wind systems in record numbers.
But just how viable are these systems? Can small rooftop wind turbines ever produce enough electricity to make the investment worthwhile? Find out the answers to these and other commonly asked questions below. . . .
Will a small rooftop turbine power my whole house?
No. Small turbines can only produce small quantities of electricity due to their small rotors.
Rooftops are ill-suited to harness the wind regardless of their location due to the trees and buildings surrounding a home. Rooftops in the city are particularly difficult places to harness the breeze. Not only are cities less windy than the countryside, but the air is turbulent because of trees and the variation in heights of buildings. Turbulence can wear out a turbine and reduce its life expectancy.
One analysis showed that a common type of rooftop turbine (being tested by Madison Gas Electric) “had generated about 45 kWh in about eight months (in a year about 65 kWh). The average single family WI home uses 10,000 kWh/year. Are you ready to live on 65 kWh/year?”
by jboullion | Jun 24, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a presentation by RENEW’s Michael Vickerman at the Energy Fair of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association:
Energy Policy Must Recognize Energy Realities
+ Supplies of liquid fuels peaked in 2008
+ Capital is disappearing before our very eyes
+ Energy and food are the original currencies
+ The shift from stores to flows is inevitable
+ Current economy is highly energy-intensive
+ Energy return on energy invested (EROEI) must inform decision-making
+ We can’t afford to prop up existing energy sinks or engage in wealth-draining military adventures
Three paths to choose
+ Business as usual
+ Clean green technology
+ Curtailment and community
