On August 6 and 7 a team comprised of Jim Madden and Dale D’Alessandro (who is a new AECP member) from Chesapeake Renewable Energy, a Richmond firm specializing in renewable energy system installation, Mark Lotts, Holly Lotts, Jeff Briggs and Matt Heck from James Madison University and representing the Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative, and Billy Weitzenfeld, AECP Executive Director installed and raised a 42 foot wind tower that houses a Bergey XL-1 wind turbine. They also installed a 102- watt solar panel. Both systems are producing electricity and will be used as teaching tools and demonstrations to promote the use of small residential wind and solar energy. These systems are part of the overall plan to develop a Sustainable Living Education Center (SLEC) at the Jacksonville Center in Floyd, VA. This is where the AECP office is also located.
AECP also recently installed a small rainwater collection system that will be used to promote water conservation. AECP member John Bodtmann helped with this installation. There is a straw bale structure under construction that will be used to promote green and alternative building and a small education room that will use exhibits to provide sustainable education to the general public – also in progress.
The wind system was made possible thru a partial grant from James Madison University through their Virginia Small Wind Incentive Program and funds donated by AECP, The Jacksonville Center, and the Jewish Communal Fund. The solar system was made possible through a full grant from AECP member – Community Housing Partners in Christiansburg. Funds for the SLEC education room are being provided by a grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Paint with no VOC’s and recycled, environmentally carpet have been donated by ECO Solution and Lees Carpets respectively.
“CLEAN” VEHICLE RESEARCH FACES MANY CHALLENGES
The FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership, a research collaboration among the U.S. Department of Energy, the big three automakers, and five major energy companies, which is seeking to develop emission-free and petroleum free vehicles faces many difficult challenges. The main goal of the partnership is to develop technology that will help automakers decide by 2015 whether it is possible to manufacture and sell hydrogen powered vehicles on a large scale. In order to achieve this goal the following must be accomplished:
- Develop cost-efficient ways to produce hydrogen from traditional and renewable energy sources (only renewable sources will produce truly clean emissions)
- Find ways to distribute hydrogen via filling stations
- Be able to store it safely in vehicles
- Be able to convert it to electricity with fuel cells
The research collaborative is also exploring technology that will provide more efficient and less polluting combustion engines, as well as improved batteries that can be used in hybrid vehicles with either fossil fuel or hydrogen powered vehicles.
AECP CONDUCTS HVAC WORKSHOP
AECP conducted a workshop on how to successfully prepare for the HVAC Tradesman License examination. The training was conducted on August 18 at the New River Center for Research and Training (NRCERT) in Christiansburg. Sixteen AECP members were in attendance. The class was led by AECP Executive Director, Billy Weitzenfeld who recently passed the examination and received his HVAC Master card.
IS NUCLEAR ENERGY THE ANSWER?
The nuclear energy industry was a clear winner as a result of the recent passage of the National Energy Bill. The nuclear industry was the recipient of significantly increased tax subsidies and a mandate to increase capacity and generation. Even some noted environmentalists see nuclear power as an answer to the threats posed by global warming. Proponents argue that nuclear power produces no greenhouse gases and even though there are risks – they pale in comparison to other fossil fuels and their contribution to global warming. The reality is that nuclear power is the most expensive of all energies to generate, is not renewable nor clean because the fuel source is uranium that must be mined, and the radioactive waste that is generated is potentially a greater threat than global warming. The true solution as many of us know is increased energy conservation and efficiency. Reduction of usage will reduce our production needs and make renewable energy sources such as wind and solar much more viable and marketable. Spending billions on nuclear energy and pennies on conservation and energy efficiency technology is a mistake of grand proportions – one that we may pay for with much more than money.