Considerations for a Green Building - Video

Check out this VIDEO from Forbes on Green Buildings.

Things to consider are ... a better building envelope, better mechanical systems, geoexchange systems, etc.  Options might include alternative energy sources like solar panels and wind mills / turbines. 



Via: Forbes LINK

Danish Island of Samsø : First "Town" to be Completely Energy Self-Sufficient ?

Danish Island of Samsø: First "Town" to be Completely Energy Self-Sufficient ??

It is one thing to be energy independent; it carries a little more weight if you are both energy independent and industrialized.


" ... Danish island of Samsø ... 30 miles long and 15 miles wide ... began its push toward sustainability in 1997. In just over a decade ... erected 21 electricity-producing wind turbines and a heating system fueled by wood chip- and straw-burning furnaces accompanied by several small solar panels."

"Eleven ... turbines are onshore and ten are offshore; all generate one megawatt each ... onshore turbines produce more electricity than the island consumes — enough to offset 690,000 gallons of oil — ... offshore turbines produce enough power to handle the island’s transportation energy budget ...invests excess power in new energy projects."

" ... inadvertently transformed the island’s workforce into green collar workers. Plumbers and carpenters regularly perform energy-efficient home conversions, and their expertise has allowed them to work on green projects elsewhere, including mainland Europe."

This video tells it all ....







Via: SmartPlanet LINK

Rock Port, Missouri - First 100% Wind Powered US City

Rock Port, Missouri is the First US city to get ALL its Renewable Energy from the WIND.

" ... 100% wind power status is due to four wind turbines ... Rock Port uses approximately 13 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year ... predicted that these four turbines will produce 16 million kilowatt hours each year."

"Excess ... electricity ... is expected ... to be purchased by the Missouri Joint Municipal Utilities for use in other areas ... University of Missouri Extension specialists say that there are excellent opportunities for sustainable wind power in northwest Missouri ... currently 24 wind turbines in Atchison County, 24 in Nodaway County and 27 in Gentry County. ..."

" ... benefits landowners, who can make anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 leasing part of their property ..."

" ... U.S. Department of Energy indicates that northwest Missouri has the state's highest concentration of wind resources and contains a number of locations potentially suitable for utility-scale wind development."

Via: ScienceDaily LINK

Cleveland State University Develops Innovative Wind Turbine

Dr. Majid Rashidi or Cleveland State University's College of Engineering designed a turbine that can generate power at low wind speeds.

" ... wind tower amplification system ... designed by Dr. Majid Rashidi of CSU’s Fenn College of Engineering, is a wind deflecting structure with small-scale turbines that can generate power at low wind speeds."

" ... patented ... turbine system, developed as a cost-effective alternative to traditional

Image via Wikipedia

power sources, is available for commercial use ... and plans are currently underway for additional systems to be installed in downtown Cleveland and rural areas of Northeast Ohio."

Via: Cleveland State University News LINK

Ocean Gate NJ to get Windmill

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The tiny town of Ocean Gate, NJ (approx. 2,200 residents) is the site of the "... first small wind turbine project in New Jersey. ... started ... with one man ... Jim Fry vacationed in Ocean Gate ... and wanted to move here full time ... decided to build a "green" home ... After listening to Fry, the mayor and council warmed to the idea of energy from the wind and became the first town in the state to adopt an ordinance providing for the use of a small wind energy system. ... expects its wind turbines to be in operation by Labor Day weekend."

"...two 50-kilowatt turbines that will power the municipal office building and the water treatment plant took ... Ocean Gate will not have to buy some 224,000 kilowatts of electricity ... about 18 tons of carbon dioxide will not be released into the air...."


Via: APP.com LINK