You Too Can Buy Wind Power
By Ron Kamen

Most people are concerned about the effects of global climate change, acid rain, the hole in the ozone, and the hazardous waste caused by the generation of electricity from coal, oil, gas, and nuclear power sources. But, we’re often overwhelmed about how we can make a difference. Now, for the first time in history, every New York State consumer can purchase renewable, emission-free wind energy.

$5 per month

Consumers can purchase 200 kilowatt hours of this wind power at a premium of only $5 a month. The average New York State resident (who consumes about 600 kwh a month) can now become 100% wind powered for only $15 a month more!

When you buy blocks of wind energy, you don’t change companies or have to get different wiring, and your regular electric bill will look exactly the same. You won’t see the results directly, but you’ll know that you’re getting clean energy into the grid, and supporting a greener New York State by pushing out some of the brown power.

The electricity produced by wind energy is just like the electricity from other sources. It is produced by huge windmills which work like other electricity producers—they put electrons into the New York State electric power grid. But unlike nuclear or coal or oil, it’s perfectly safe, there are no emissions, it’s abundant and doesn’t deplete resources, and it’s renewable.

Once the wind generated electricity goes into the grid, it’s mixed with the electricity from conventional sources of power. But, the more wind generated electricity that is put into the grid, the less power is generated from polluting sources.

Prices falling

Compared to “regular electricity” - in other words, the kind we’re billed for in our households and businesses - wind-produced electricity is still slightly more expensive, even though the prices have fallen rapidly as wind technology develops and becomes more popular. While the cost of wind power will become equal or cheaper than conventional electricity within a decade, paying the small “green premium” creates the market for New York State to have more new wind energy TODAY.

Wind Capacity in NY

There are 300 more megawatts worth of windmill installations in the works, and NYSERDA studies have shown that New York State has the potential to support the installment of at least 20% of the state’s energy needs, or 10,000 megawatts of wind energy production. But, unless we show that consumers are willing to pay the small green premium, the new wind energy won’t be built.

Large and small businesses, federal and local government buildings businesses have signed up for wind power and have received great publicity for doing it. In Westchester the Village of Croton-on-Hudson recently became the first municipal government to sign up for wind for 25% of its electric needs for the village buildings and street lights.

How to sign up

The wind energy is being made available by Community Energy, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based company launched in 1999 by individuals whose mission is to protect the environment by developing clean, abundant, renewable forms of energy.

The electricity comes from 30 megawatts of new wind turbines at the Fenner Wind Farm in Madison County, New York. These windmills are generating more than 80,000,000 kwh per year of clean, pollution free electricity per year.

Individual households and businesses can switch over in part or entirely to wind power by visiting Community Energy’s website (www.NewWindEnergy.com), or by calling the toll-free number (1-800-WIND-123) to sign up to purchase wind energy in 100-kilowatt-hour blocks priced at $2.50 per block. There’s a minimum purchase of 200 kilowatt hours at $5, to be billed separately, on top of the regular monthly electricity bill.

Wind Purchase Benefits

The beneficial impact of even just a $5 purchase has on the environment makes this a small premium to pay. Purchasing just one block of wind power in New York State reduces 1,853 pounds of Carbon Dioxide emissions, the main source of global climate change.

This is the equivalent to planting 126 trees PER YEAR! One new wind turbine annually removes more than 6 million pounds of CO2 and also reduces 30,000 pounds of SO2 (the main source of acid rain) and 12,000 pounds of NOx (smog).

The more people who sign up, the bigger the impact, and the faster New York State moves toward operating on green energy. Here’s something we can all do to create the demand for more renewable, pollution free, fuel-resources that will also move our country toward being more energy independent.

Ron Kamen is Community Energy's Director of New York State operations

The Green Gap: Home Construction

The second annual Green Building Survey of buyers and builders conducted in 2001 reveals a dramatic gap between what buyers say they want and builders’ perceptions of what buyers want. Builders must test their markets and satisfy this market demand if we are to progress towards an energy independent future. The survey showed:

• 91% of buyers said that energy efficient features in a new home were extremely or very important.
• Only 59% of builders stated that they believed buyers thought energy efficient features were that important.
• 96% of buyers said they were willing to pay extra for green building features;
• 55% said they would be willing to pay between $5,000 and $10,000 more for green features while only 19% of builders believed that buyers would pay $5,000 to $10,000 extra for such features.
• 61% said the Energy Star should be the standard for a new home while only 35% of builders said that it was a regular feature of homes they built.
• 80% of consumers say that new homes are not meeting their demands for sustaining the environment.

For the complete study see http://www.housingzone.com/green/index.asp [will open in new window]

“Green Roofs” Reduce Runoff and Save Energy

By Edna Sussman

In the tradition of the ancient model of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, green roofs are on the ascendancy as one of the solutions to the problems engendered by our built up society. Green roofs are increasingly being used to replicate the environment being destroyed by building footprints. Green roofs provide several benefits:

• (1) dramatically reducing storm water runoff;
• (2) moderating temperatures thus reducing energy demand;
• (3) reducing noise;
• (4) providing pleasing open spaces; and
• (5) increasing property values.

What is a green roof?

Our unattractive, unused and impermeable roof tops represent an enormous wasted opportunity. A green roof takes advantage of this opportunity by creating a vegetated roof cover, a thin layer of living vegetation that is installed on top of a conventional flat or sloped roof. Green roofs can be readily engineered to conform to the requirements of most roofs and can be installed on new construction or existing buildings. A typical installation is three inches thick and weighs 15 pounds per square foot, comparable to the weight of materials on many preexisting roofs.

Examples of Success

European installations have been in existence for many years, especially in Germany where they are required in many cities plagued with storm water run-off problems. Many successful and very varied green roofs have been installed all over the United States ranging in size from the several hundred square feet at the top of a town house to an industrial roof tens of thousand of square feet, from low meadows of sedum to elaborate tree and flower designs. Corporations, developers, municipalities and institutions of all kinds are finding green roofs an attractive solution. In the New York Metropolitan area green roof examples include Battery Park City in Manhattan, the Earth Pledge town house offices and the Queens Botanical Gardens.

Economic Analysis

Together with the underlying waterproofing systems, a typical installation in the United States today from one supplier costs $12 per square foot, somewhat higher than the cost of other roofing installations. However the additional cost is recouped through savings and increased value. Green roofs reduce costs created by energy demand and reduce or eliminate the costs associated with the installation of other storm water management infrastructure devices. Green roofs are expected to last 50 years and reduce the cost of replacement and repair of the underlying waterproofing membrane. Furthermore, green roofs enhance the value of property as they provide another very attractive amenity.

Future in the United States

As municipalities and developers struggle to cope with stormwater run off and the requirements of the new EPA Phase II Stormwater regulations, and all of us strive to reduce energy consumption, new solutions will have to be explored. Green roofs are an important option to consider as they both provide the opportunity to protect the environment and improve the bottom line. For extensive information about green roofs including a listing of suppliers see www.greenroofs.com.

An opportunity to learn more is also coming up at a conference on May 29 & 30, 2003 in Chicago titled “Greening Rooftops: First Annual North American Green Roof Conference, Awards, & Trade Show” and a confernce on April 7-8 addressing all roofing solutions ( solar, green roofs and others) entitled “New Roofs for a New Century” sponsored by the Environmental Business Association of New York State. See www.eba-nys.org for more information.

The Green Gap: Energy Sources

A summary prepared in 1999 by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, of a series of market research consumer studies reveals that consumers are willing to pay extra for renewable energy. The study shows:

• Customers favor renewable sources of electricity.
• Percentages favorable toward renewables increase when customers are educated about options. Solar and wind are the most favored sources of electricity generation.
• A vast majority of residential customers say they are willing to pay at least a modest amount more per month on their electric bills for power from renewable sources.
• Polls show that willingness to pay increases when customers are educated about utility energy options.
• Willingness to pay follows a predictable pattern with 70% willing to pay at least $5 per month more for electricity from renewable sources, 38% willing to pay at least $10 per month more, and 21% willing to pay at least $15 per month more.
• Customers may view with favor and remain loyal to utilities that provide power from renewable sources.

For details and the complete study, see http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/farhar_26148.html   [ link will open in a new window ]

Saving energy in the home
By Tony Lisanti

Two questions must be addressed to increase energy efficiency in the home: how is the energy in the home being used? Where is the energy going if it’s not being used efficiently? The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers programs for homeowners to answer those questions.

New Homes

The first is NYSERDA’s Energy Star Labeled Homes program which offers an incentive for the residential builder and home buyer to build/buy homes that meet Energy Star requirements. Each house must pass a stringent evaluation and is rated on a point system basis and improvements are recommended if the house does not meet the requirements. The evaluation must be conducted by an accredited Home Energy Rater. The town of Greenburgh is already requiring, through a recently enacted local law, that all new construction (of a certain size) meet these standards.

Older Homes

The second program is Home Performance With Energy Star. This program targets older homes and again requires a detailed analysis of the home. The methodology uses a variety of techniques to determine the energy use and waste in the home. For example, a series of diagnostic tests are performed to determine the air infiltration rates of the home. This test places the structure of the home under a slight negative pressure to determine paths of air leakage and allows a determination of actual heat loss. Another test determines the actual energy demand of the home versus the capability of the heating and cooling system. In many cases, the system is oversized for the actual heating load, causing energy to be wasted. Additional tests are performed to determine which parts of the house “communicate” with the outside more than the inside such as an attic that has been converted to living space. Systems utilizing duct work to heat or cool the house are tested for leakage and room for improvement frequently found. The house is tested for safety to determine if combustion gases enter the home from the heating equipment.

Training Programs

New York State is offering programs and incentives to train professionals in these home energy audit methods. At Robison, we are reaching beyond our historical base of selling home heating oil to participate in the current effort to save energy and are in the process of becoming an Accredited Home Energy Rating contractor so that we can test and evaluate homes in the Energy Star Homes program. To learn more about these programs call NYSERDA, visit them on the web www.NYSERDA.ORG or write to tlisanti@robisonoil.com Implementing the improvements that are recommended as a result of these programs can significantly reduce both energy usage and fuel costs and improve the comfort and safety of the home. The standards are achievable and taking action is affordable.

Tony Lisanti is Director of Energy Sales and Services at Robison Inc.

Towards Energy Independence
By Richard Dwyer

It is one thing to be dependent when there is no other option, but another thing when there are many other options. Our history as a people, for the most part, has bred a sort of rugged individualism, and a past national attitude of “WE can do this.” Our present generation moved into a new dimension of limited hindsight enhanced by poor foresight. An attitude of “what will be done for Me” is now the consequence. I do not embrace this most recent philosophy as true Americanism but rather Americanism’s antithesis.

In 1973 as a police officer, I patrolled Gas Lines, enforced fuel access based on odd and even plate numbers, witnessed empty gas tanks, dry oil tanks, mobility restricted, life styles affected and in some cases hostility generated and advantage taken. We imported less than 26% of our oil then, we import over 50% today. We controlled 80% of shipments of our crude then, and less than 40% of our crude now. Dependency comes with a price, a very high price in light of current events. I determined then I would not personallycontribute to increased dependency, but rather utilize options to insure independence instead.

Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Eric Sloan, the 1790 Finnish timber shortage and the space race all contributed to the solutions for the home I designed and built. In engineering I had learned that geo-thermal temperatures are constants (56 degrees), solar angles and inclinations are seasonally consistent and finally, once you have collected or produced temperature you should not let it escape, but rather should store and apply it. God created nature and gave us some powerful energy components to work toward our advantage. Inspired men with creative concepts expanded the good gifts given, developed applications and arrived at reasonable energy usage solutions.

Today it seems we have abandoned alternate energy options and accepted wasteful concepts based on expediency and self serving interests. Arrogantly we designed houses based almost solely on initial cost, outward appearance and esthetics. Energy consequently is consumed wastefully, simply because inefficient options are employed. Yet today’s existing homes can still be retrofitted with efficient energy applications and new home construction can incorporate options to reduce, significantly, fuel consumption.

I found my solutions in the following applications:

• Rigid foam structural walls and ceiling panels;

• A two story solar green house unit which collects acquired heat and distributes it into and under the basement’s cement floor allowing late summer heat to transfer itself into eight yards of solid concrete - the radiated heat from this system lasts the winter and is even enhanced by those bright sunny cold days which provide additional supplements of temperature;

• A thermal mass, chambered fireplaces system with an efficient Timberline insert, with exterior air intakes to minimize loss;

• Structural 42 inch roof overhangs to block summer sun yet allow winter sun to flood into living space accompanied by floor levels stair access to maximize natural thermal air flows which are enhanced, either winter or summer, by a cathedral ceiling fan;

• Energy efficient skylights to allow rapid heat release during August dog days with a complete house air exchange that takes only minutes to occur;

• The most efficient boilers mate hot water and baseboard heating systems,

All of this combined together provides comfort and efficiency. It is true that some additional costs were involved in the construction but the end result has saved more than four times the expenditure. The average monthly energy charge for this 3300 square foot home in 2002 was $90 per month, significantly lower than that incurred in the typical home.

If this generation can make investments in energy efficiency immediately with the goal in mind of serving “not ourselves alone but posterity also,” we may be able to alter our present course and find our national dependency on foreign energy supply eliminated and our way of life, our liberty and our pursuit of happiness enabled.

Richard Dwyer designed and built his energy efficient home

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