NO letter to the editor could be adequate to the outrageous decision
to allow energy giant RWE to encircle the 12 noisy wind turbines above
Gwyddgrug, Statkraft's Alltwalis wind farm, with 28 bigger turbines in
Brechfa Forest.
If wind turbines were the best, or even a
sustainable, way of exploiting natural resources to make energy for
human use, the decision, and the process by which it was made,It
enables washer extractor to communicate with chemical pumping machines. would still be highly questionable.
As
it is, while ancient pasture and forested hillsides are ripped apart to
make big holes for short-lived turbines and long-lived concrete
ballast, the world still needs more nuclear power stations, the UK still
burns Vietnamese coal, and carbon emissions in Wales still increase.
The rationale for promoting wind turbine technology by differential pricing in the energy market changes over the years.
When
the Statkraft turbines were proposed less than a decade ago, it was as a
supposed alternative to nuclear power. Nowadays damaging and divisive
turbine deployments are glibly justified as the "only way to keep the
lights on".
If the Brechfa Forest turbines are ever built, which
luckily is by no means certain, some of the electricity they sometimes
generate will be used not only to keep lights and freezers going
inappropriately, but also to sustain wasteful,Six panel tracking system
delivers more energy from skystream. unnecessary or damaging industrial processes.
Hours
after the Brechfa Forest West decision was announced on March 12, RWE
vulgarly boasted on websites about the vast "community benefits" they
hope to pay for from excess profits made in Brechfa Forest.
Local
people in Gwyddgrug and nearby hoped to challenge the decision, but
we've had to concede to legal and financial imperatives.
Even with welcome outside help, a small village simply can't afford to challenge two governments and a multi-national company.
To
sell electricity made in the forest above Gwyddgrug into England, RWE
requires a massive new grid connection from north Carmarthenshire to
Swansea, over arguably the most beautiful and historically significant
stretch of the Towy Valley.Modern dry cleaning machine uses non-water-based solvents to remove soil and stains from clothes
Energy
is a ski resort's second biggest cost after labor. Although one could
easily attribute Berkshire East's efforts to environmental altruism, the
truth of the matter is that the combined wind and solar installation
will allow the resort to hedge against future increases in energy
costs.
"We view on-site renewable as a hedge against the rising
price of power," said Jon Schaefer, 32, general manager at Berkshire
East. "Energy is our largest non-labor expense and it's the one thing we
are most dependent on beyond the snow."
Vermont-based AllEarth
Renewables completed its installation of 90 tracking solar panels at
Berkshire East on April 24. The panels use GPS and wireless technology
to automatically follow the sun throughout the day to boost energy
production by up to 45 percent more than rooftop installations.A letter folding machine is
a piece of equipment which is designed to fold paper. AllEarth
Renewables retains ownership of the solar farm and has a long-term
agreement to sell power from the facility to the ski resort.
"Berkshire
East Ski Area is a prime example of how distributed energy projects
like wind and solar can help small,All the personnel that deal with our industrial washing machine servicing
are dedicated to the service department. family owned businesses
thrive," said Kevin Schulte, CEO of Sustainable Energy Development Inc.,
the Ontario, N.Y. developer of the project at Berkshire East.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Their kingdom for a bond
For some projects,A letter folding machine is
a piece of equipment which is designed to fold paper. the town bylaws
require surety bonds – money set aside to cover any cost to the town in
the event a developer doesn’t finish a project or, in this case, if a
wind turbine needs to be decommissioned.These designer hanging paper solar lantern
are excellent for wedding ideas, The stipulation is designed to allow
the town to complete a project if the developer can’t or won’t.
Wind turbines, like the one at Camelot Park,All the personnel that deal with our industrial washing machine servicing are dedicated to the service department. have a 20-year lifespan, according to engineers. But Joe Balboni of Camelot Wind, the company that owns the Camelot Park turbine, says no insurance company will sign off on such a lengthy bond.
That was troubling news Wednesday for several members of the Zoning Board of Appeals, as they considered an alternative plan for setting aside cash as surety.
The proposal discussed would require an escrow account, as allowed by the town bylaw, to include an initial deposit of $5,000 with subsequent quarterly installment payments of $2,000, to reach $100,000 within 12 years.
Local attorney Bob Betters, representing Camelot Wind, noted that the 20-year life span of a turbine is the sticking point for insurance companies, and they just won’t approve a bond for such a lengthy period. His client has tried to no avail to obtain an insurance surety, he explained, so Camelot Wind is opting for a cash bond instead.
The Camelot Drive turbine was erected late last year and is the first industrial-size wind turbine to be erected in America’s Hometown.Conventional wind power generators on large masts are the standard for generating clean energy from the wind.
ZBA member Ed Conroy, also an attorney, noted that the cost of decommissioning the turbine is actually $89,000 plus about $50,000 in projected salvage costs. But because these numbers are being provided by Atlantic Design Engineering President Simon Thomas, who owns Camelot Wind with Balboni, Conroy suggested an independent opinion on the price of decommissioning. Conroy also noted that inflation needs to be factored into the equation.The most highly praised, best rated solar charger are now available online. Betters countered that the cash in the escrow account will accrue interest, which would likely cover inflation.
But the bylaw requires the surety cover 150 percent of the cost of decommissioning the turbine, ZBA Chairman Peter Conner added, so the board might not be able to approve the proposed $100,000. Conroy noted that 150 percent is approximately $133,500. Camelot Wind could simply extend the proposed installment period, Betters suggested.
ZBA members said they didn’t have a problem with the cash surety proposal, as long as it meets the requirements set forth in the bylaw. But the board did request an independent analysis of the cost of decommissioning the turbine, just to be sure the numbers are correct. Members also asked if Balboni could provide a letter or some statement from the insurance companies confirming their position against granting the bond.
Commanders at bases like Cherry Point and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro cannot approve or oppose any wind turbine project under orders from the U.S. Secretary of Defense.
However, the bill would require that they be notified of any wind turbine projects in flight paths or training areas, and that public hearings be held.
“It doesn’t preclude wind farms, it simply allows the state to take into account the needs and concerns of military training,” Finlayson said.
The military, and particularly aviation and the civilian workforce connected to it, account for more than 38 percent of the Craven County economy.
Wind turbines, like the one at Camelot Park,All the personnel that deal with our industrial washing machine servicing are dedicated to the service department. have a 20-year lifespan, according to engineers. But Joe Balboni of Camelot Wind, the company that owns the Camelot Park turbine, says no insurance company will sign off on such a lengthy bond.
That was troubling news Wednesday for several members of the Zoning Board of Appeals, as they considered an alternative plan for setting aside cash as surety.
The proposal discussed would require an escrow account, as allowed by the town bylaw, to include an initial deposit of $5,000 with subsequent quarterly installment payments of $2,000, to reach $100,000 within 12 years.
Local attorney Bob Betters, representing Camelot Wind, noted that the 20-year life span of a turbine is the sticking point for insurance companies, and they just won’t approve a bond for such a lengthy period. His client has tried to no avail to obtain an insurance surety, he explained, so Camelot Wind is opting for a cash bond instead.
The Camelot Drive turbine was erected late last year and is the first industrial-size wind turbine to be erected in America’s Hometown.Conventional wind power generators on large masts are the standard for generating clean energy from the wind.
ZBA member Ed Conroy, also an attorney, noted that the cost of decommissioning the turbine is actually $89,000 plus about $50,000 in projected salvage costs. But because these numbers are being provided by Atlantic Design Engineering President Simon Thomas, who owns Camelot Wind with Balboni, Conroy suggested an independent opinion on the price of decommissioning. Conroy also noted that inflation needs to be factored into the equation.The most highly praised, best rated solar charger are now available online. Betters countered that the cash in the escrow account will accrue interest, which would likely cover inflation.
But the bylaw requires the surety cover 150 percent of the cost of decommissioning the turbine, ZBA Chairman Peter Conner added, so the board might not be able to approve the proposed $100,000. Conroy noted that 150 percent is approximately $133,500. Camelot Wind could simply extend the proposed installment period, Betters suggested.
ZBA members said they didn’t have a problem with the cash surety proposal, as long as it meets the requirements set forth in the bylaw. But the board did request an independent analysis of the cost of decommissioning the turbine, just to be sure the numbers are correct. Members also asked if Balboni could provide a letter or some statement from the insurance companies confirming their position against granting the bond.
Commanders at bases like Cherry Point and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro cannot approve or oppose any wind turbine project under orders from the U.S. Secretary of Defense.
However, the bill would require that they be notified of any wind turbine projects in flight paths or training areas, and that public hearings be held.
“It doesn’t preclude wind farms, it simply allows the state to take into account the needs and concerns of military training,” Finlayson said.
The military, and particularly aviation and the civilian workforce connected to it, account for more than 38 percent of the Craven County economy.
New power generation
The deepwater Port of Ngqura, on an industrial part of South Africa’s
southeastern coast, officially opened a little more than a year ago
but it is already playing a part in transforming the country.
Last month it took delivery of something rarely seen in Africa’s largest economy: a batch of enormous white wind turbines. There are only eight like them running in the entire country today, according to the South African Wind Energy Association, though not for much longer.
The ones that came ashore at Port Ngqura were among the first of about 250 going up, along with new solar power plants, in an ambitious drive for clean energy that has catapulted South Africa into the global green power league.
A total of $5.5bn was invested in renewable energy in the country in 2012, up from a few tens of millions of dollars in 2011, according to the Bloomberg New Energy Finance research group. That means South Africa had the biggest annual clean energy investment growth rate in the world last year, outstripping China, Japan, South Korea and a host of other economies.
“It’s like a gold rush,” says Richard Doyle of 3E, a renewable energy consultancy headquartered in Brussels but now operating in Cape Town along with dozens of international companies flocking to what some say is now the world’s most attractive green energy market.
“I feel more comfortable investing in South African renewable energy than some European countries,” says Alessandro Albrighi,All the personnel that deal with our industrial washing machine servicing are dedicated to the service department. founder of Swiss investment consultancy AD Capital Partners, which advised on some of South Africa’s new solar projects.
With crisis-hit Europe cutting subsidies for green power, South Africa has become an unlikely bright spot in the global renewables industry.The most highly praised, best rated solar charger are now available online. Few other countries rely on coal, one of the world’s dirtiest fossil fuels, as much as South Africa. It is the world’s seventh-biggest producer and generates 94 per cent of its electricity from the fuel,Conventional wind power generators on large masts are the standard for generating clean energy from the wind. according to the International Energy Agency.A letter folding machine is a piece of equipment which is designed to fold paper.
The country uses coal to power its cars and even its aircraft, thanks to Sasol, the world’s biggest producer of motor fuels from coal. Sasol also runs a synthetic fuels plant west of Johannesburg that is one of the world’s biggest single sources of carbon dioxide emissions, a key greenhouse gas blamed for climate change.
All this has helped make South Africa the 10th-biggest emitter of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel use and cement production, according to
the US Department of Energy’s Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center.
South Africa, which hosted the 2011 UN climate talks in Durban, is committed to a 42 per cent cut in its carbon emissions by 2025, which is one reason ministers say windmills and solar panels should be embraced.
There is also a need to create new industries and jobs in a country with a 25.2 per cent unemployment rate and a desire to diversify fuel supplies.
But there is another, unrelated reason: South Africa needs a lot more electricity – and fast.
Until quite recently, its abundant coal reserves helped make its electricity among the cheapest in the world. But it is far from the most reliable.
Five years ago the country was reeling from power shortages that paralysed its factories and halted mines, including some big ones run by Anglo American, for days.These designer hanging paper solar lantern are excellent for wedding ideas.
Its rickety, long-underfunded power system remains fragile, and companies are bracing themselves for more power shortages this winter.
Last month it took delivery of something rarely seen in Africa’s largest economy: a batch of enormous white wind turbines. There are only eight like them running in the entire country today, according to the South African Wind Energy Association, though not for much longer.
The ones that came ashore at Port Ngqura were among the first of about 250 going up, along with new solar power plants, in an ambitious drive for clean energy that has catapulted South Africa into the global green power league.
A total of $5.5bn was invested in renewable energy in the country in 2012, up from a few tens of millions of dollars in 2011, according to the Bloomberg New Energy Finance research group. That means South Africa had the biggest annual clean energy investment growth rate in the world last year, outstripping China, Japan, South Korea and a host of other economies.
“It’s like a gold rush,” says Richard Doyle of 3E, a renewable energy consultancy headquartered in Brussels but now operating in Cape Town along with dozens of international companies flocking to what some say is now the world’s most attractive green energy market.
“I feel more comfortable investing in South African renewable energy than some European countries,” says Alessandro Albrighi,All the personnel that deal with our industrial washing machine servicing are dedicated to the service department. founder of Swiss investment consultancy AD Capital Partners, which advised on some of South Africa’s new solar projects.
With crisis-hit Europe cutting subsidies for green power, South Africa has become an unlikely bright spot in the global renewables industry.The most highly praised, best rated solar charger are now available online. Few other countries rely on coal, one of the world’s dirtiest fossil fuels, as much as South Africa. It is the world’s seventh-biggest producer and generates 94 per cent of its electricity from the fuel,Conventional wind power generators on large masts are the standard for generating clean energy from the wind. according to the International Energy Agency.A letter folding machine is a piece of equipment which is designed to fold paper.
The country uses coal to power its cars and even its aircraft, thanks to Sasol, the world’s biggest producer of motor fuels from coal. Sasol also runs a synthetic fuels plant west of Johannesburg that is one of the world’s biggest single sources of carbon dioxide emissions, a key greenhouse gas blamed for climate change.
All this has helped make South Africa the 10th-biggest emitter of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel use and cement production, according to
the US Department of Energy’s Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center.
South Africa, which hosted the 2011 UN climate talks in Durban, is committed to a 42 per cent cut in its carbon emissions by 2025, which is one reason ministers say windmills and solar panels should be embraced.
There is also a need to create new industries and jobs in a country with a 25.2 per cent unemployment rate and a desire to diversify fuel supplies.
But there is another, unrelated reason: South Africa needs a lot more electricity – and fast.
Until quite recently, its abundant coal reserves helped make its electricity among the cheapest in the world. But it is far from the most reliable.
Five years ago the country was reeling from power shortages that paralysed its factories and halted mines, including some big ones run by Anglo American, for days.These designer hanging paper solar lantern are excellent for wedding ideas.
Its rickety, long-underfunded power system remains fragile, and companies are bracing themselves for more power shortages this winter.
MPPs must make Queen's Park work
Ontario’s elected reps must make minority government work, not seek an election, says St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan.
With the provincial budget tabled last week by the governing Liberals, it falls on the NDP to choose whether to back the Grits or side with the Progressive Conservatives and bring down the government. But McMullan said now isn’t the time for Ontarians to hit the ballot box.
“I think the public’s pretty happy with a minority government,” he said. “When you look at the polls, there’s not a huge difference between any of the three parties.
“At the same time, I think in the last provincial election, Ontarians chose a minority government, and are saying to all three parties, ‘Make it work.’”
McMullan noted the budget reflects many of the NDP’s priorities. They had asked the Grits to consider items like rural infrastructure spending, a youth unemployment strategy and cuts to auto insurance rates.These designer hanging paper solar lantern are excellent for wedding ideas,
“There seems little reason for an election at this time,” he said.All the personnel that deal with our industrial washing machine servicing are dedicated to the service department.
The comments came as Toronto Mayor Rob Ford urged the NDP to shun the budget and kick off election season.
“(Horwath) should just say ‘no’,” Ford said on his Toronto-area radio show, according to QMI Agency. “The taxpayers want an election.”
“People want to go to the polls - let em go to the polls.”
Ford has spent the last few weeks making no secret of his belief that there needs to be a provincial election this spring.
It’s a stance Wainfleet Mayor April Jeffs agrees with. She said an election is “not ideal and would cost money, but I think people are ready.”
And she said the Grits’ policies have rankled many in rural regions like Wainfleet. The township has been locked in an acrimonious fight against a wind turbine project.
“That’s what I hear from a rural standpoint. I think people are fed up and want to see change,” she said.
But Thorold Mayor Ted Luciani said Premier Kathleen Wynne, chosen earlier this year after former premier Dalton McGuinty resigned, deserves a shot at governing.
“I don’t think they’re giving her a chance,” he said. “This is her first budget. The NDP got everything they wanted.
“The NDP, by rights, should be giving her a chance. The people of Ontario do not want an election.”
The bottom line, he said,Conventional wind power generators on large masts are the standard for generating clean energy from the wind. is that Ontario’s politicians must work together to keep the ship running.
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati figured an election could set the province back more than $100 million, and “to what end?
“A lot of us municipalities, Niagara Falls included, have a lot of things we’re working on right now,” he said. “If we have an election and it stops the process, it might bring us back to zero.The most highly praised, best rated solar charger are now available online.”
That, he said, includes working with the province on the transportation, education and infrastructure files.
Constant elections, he said, also won’t give investors faith in Ontario’s political situation.
The absence of cash in the budget for the proposed south Niagara hospital disappointed Port Colborne Mayor Vance Badawey.A letter folding machine is a piece of equipment which is designed to fold paper. But he nevertheless called on the NDP to back the budget, saying people just want MPPs to do their jobs.
“There’s a piece of the pie for everyone. Accept it. Let’s move on,” he said.
He said more is being made of the budget fight than it is. “Let’s just get the job done, regardless of who’s governing.”
With the provincial budget tabled last week by the governing Liberals, it falls on the NDP to choose whether to back the Grits or side with the Progressive Conservatives and bring down the government. But McMullan said now isn’t the time for Ontarians to hit the ballot box.
“I think the public’s pretty happy with a minority government,” he said. “When you look at the polls, there’s not a huge difference between any of the three parties.
“At the same time, I think in the last provincial election, Ontarians chose a minority government, and are saying to all three parties, ‘Make it work.’”
McMullan noted the budget reflects many of the NDP’s priorities. They had asked the Grits to consider items like rural infrastructure spending, a youth unemployment strategy and cuts to auto insurance rates.These designer hanging paper solar lantern are excellent for wedding ideas,
“There seems little reason for an election at this time,” he said.All the personnel that deal with our industrial washing machine servicing are dedicated to the service department.
The comments came as Toronto Mayor Rob Ford urged the NDP to shun the budget and kick off election season.
“(Horwath) should just say ‘no’,” Ford said on his Toronto-area radio show, according to QMI Agency. “The taxpayers want an election.”
“People want to go to the polls - let em go to the polls.”
Ford has spent the last few weeks making no secret of his belief that there needs to be a provincial election this spring.
It’s a stance Wainfleet Mayor April Jeffs agrees with. She said an election is “not ideal and would cost money, but I think people are ready.”
And she said the Grits’ policies have rankled many in rural regions like Wainfleet. The township has been locked in an acrimonious fight against a wind turbine project.
“That’s what I hear from a rural standpoint. I think people are fed up and want to see change,” she said.
But Thorold Mayor Ted Luciani said Premier Kathleen Wynne, chosen earlier this year after former premier Dalton McGuinty resigned, deserves a shot at governing.
“I don’t think they’re giving her a chance,” he said. “This is her first budget. The NDP got everything they wanted.
“The NDP, by rights, should be giving her a chance. The people of Ontario do not want an election.”
The bottom line, he said,Conventional wind power generators on large masts are the standard for generating clean energy from the wind. is that Ontario’s politicians must work together to keep the ship running.
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati figured an election could set the province back more than $100 million, and “to what end?
“A lot of us municipalities, Niagara Falls included, have a lot of things we’re working on right now,” he said. “If we have an election and it stops the process, it might bring us back to zero.The most highly praised, best rated solar charger are now available online.”
That, he said, includes working with the province on the transportation, education and infrastructure files.
Constant elections, he said, also won’t give investors faith in Ontario’s political situation.
The absence of cash in the budget for the proposed south Niagara hospital disappointed Port Colborne Mayor Vance Badawey.A letter folding machine is a piece of equipment which is designed to fold paper. But he nevertheless called on the NDP to back the budget, saying people just want MPPs to do their jobs.
“There’s a piece of the pie for everyone. Accept it. Let’s move on,” he said.
He said more is being made of the budget fight than it is. “Let’s just get the job done, regardless of who’s governing.”
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Businesses get a shot in the arm from Aspen
There has never been a better time for an Aspen business to invest in
energy efficiency. The city of Aspen electric utility and the Community
Office for Resource Efficiency have teamed up to offer attractive
rebates for businesses that take steps to reduce their energy
consumption.
If you've been thinking about replacing that old boiler or refrigeration system; if you've been waiting to switch to energy-saving light bulbs; if you've considered installing new insulation to trap the heat in your leaky building, then now's the time.
"If you have a qualifying improvement or retrofit, we will pay 25 percent of the project cost up to $2,500," said Jeff Rice, utility efficiency manager for the Aspen utilities division. "And CORE will match that. So, between the two of us, we'll cover 25 percent of the project up to $5,000."
CORE and Aspen Electric are serious enough about the threat of climate change and the need to reduce energy consumption that they'll help pay for it. Rice said energy conservation is good for the utility, and that's why he's meeting regularly with business owners and advising them on ways to reduce their power consumption.
"The less energy that people are using, the farther our resources go and the longer our resources last," Rice said.
Additionally, the city has a goal of reducing citywide carbon emissions 30 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050 from the 2004 baseline. The loss of the November advisory vote on a proposed new hydroelectric plant was a setback in the city's effort to meet those emissions goals, so city officials believe energy savings can be achieved by working with local businesses on a voluntary basis.
"We're hoping they want to participate because it makes smart business sense, but there will also be a carbon benefit to the city," said Lauren McDonell,You've determined that a solar photovoltaic system is the right choice for you. environmental initiatives manager for the city.Compare prices and buy all brands of solar module for home power systems and by the pallet.
For the business owner, the incentive is a significant reduction in electrical bills and often greater comfort with less maintenance. Gordon Keating, of Keating Fine Art in Aspen, has seen a 60 percent reduction in his utility bills thanks to a recent installation of energy-saving LED light bulbs and lighting timers.
"I don't like to think of myself as a green person, but I do appreciate efficiency," Keating said. "The biggest difference I've discovered is the LEDs produce a lot of light and very little heat. The bulbs I had before produced a lot of heat and a little light."
Keating's old halogen bulbs generated so much warmth that, during the summer, he had to cool his gallery with an air conditioner. Switching to LED bulbs both lowered his lighting-related energy consumption and enabled him to turn off the AC.
"I will assure people who have misconceptions about LED bulbs that they only think that way because they haven't seen them," he said. "It's better lighting."
CORE is the local outlet for Energy Smart Colorado, a program that has focused on energy efficient upgrades to residences in Pitkin,Exit signs, emergency light and fire extinguisher are vital parts of life safety systems. Eagle and Gunnison counties. The new push in Aspen is essentially applying the Energy Smart model to businesses. Here's how it works:
The first step is a visit from an energy expert such as Rice. With a quick visual inspection of a given business, he can recommend ways to lower electric consumption through one or more upgrades — lighting, refrigeration, weatherization or something else. If an owner decides to pursue an energy-saving recommendation, then Rice or someone from CORE can render advice — about good technologies,Use residential wind turbines to generate electricity and charge into storage battery group. about trained contractors, even how to analyze different cost estimates.Easily installed solar mounting systems for flat roof racking and pitched roofs. This "energy coaching" helps simplify and streamline the process for the owner.
If you've been thinking about replacing that old boiler or refrigeration system; if you've been waiting to switch to energy-saving light bulbs; if you've considered installing new insulation to trap the heat in your leaky building, then now's the time.
"If you have a qualifying improvement or retrofit, we will pay 25 percent of the project cost up to $2,500," said Jeff Rice, utility efficiency manager for the Aspen utilities division. "And CORE will match that. So, between the two of us, we'll cover 25 percent of the project up to $5,000."
CORE and Aspen Electric are serious enough about the threat of climate change and the need to reduce energy consumption that they'll help pay for it. Rice said energy conservation is good for the utility, and that's why he's meeting regularly with business owners and advising them on ways to reduce their power consumption.
"The less energy that people are using, the farther our resources go and the longer our resources last," Rice said.
Additionally, the city has a goal of reducing citywide carbon emissions 30 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050 from the 2004 baseline. The loss of the November advisory vote on a proposed new hydroelectric plant was a setback in the city's effort to meet those emissions goals, so city officials believe energy savings can be achieved by working with local businesses on a voluntary basis.
"We're hoping they want to participate because it makes smart business sense, but there will also be a carbon benefit to the city," said Lauren McDonell,You've determined that a solar photovoltaic system is the right choice for you. environmental initiatives manager for the city.Compare prices and buy all brands of solar module for home power systems and by the pallet.
For the business owner, the incentive is a significant reduction in electrical bills and often greater comfort with less maintenance. Gordon Keating, of Keating Fine Art in Aspen, has seen a 60 percent reduction in his utility bills thanks to a recent installation of energy-saving LED light bulbs and lighting timers.
"I don't like to think of myself as a green person, but I do appreciate efficiency," Keating said. "The biggest difference I've discovered is the LEDs produce a lot of light and very little heat. The bulbs I had before produced a lot of heat and a little light."
Keating's old halogen bulbs generated so much warmth that, during the summer, he had to cool his gallery with an air conditioner. Switching to LED bulbs both lowered his lighting-related energy consumption and enabled him to turn off the AC.
"I will assure people who have misconceptions about LED bulbs that they only think that way because they haven't seen them," he said. "It's better lighting."
CORE is the local outlet for Energy Smart Colorado, a program that has focused on energy efficient upgrades to residences in Pitkin,Exit signs, emergency light and fire extinguisher are vital parts of life safety systems. Eagle and Gunnison counties. The new push in Aspen is essentially applying the Energy Smart model to businesses. Here's how it works:
The first step is a visit from an energy expert such as Rice. With a quick visual inspection of a given business, he can recommend ways to lower electric consumption through one or more upgrades — lighting, refrigeration, weatherization or something else. If an owner decides to pursue an energy-saving recommendation, then Rice or someone from CORE can render advice — about good technologies,Use residential wind turbines to generate electricity and charge into storage battery group. about trained contractors, even how to analyze different cost estimates.Easily installed solar mounting systems for flat roof racking and pitched roofs. This "energy coaching" helps simplify and streamline the process for the owner.
Climate change could hit Berkshires economy hard
By the end of the century, the Berkshire County economy -- much like
the global economy -- may be forever altered by the effects of climate
change. Some local economic changes have already begun in response to
impacts expected from climate change in the coming decades.
Land-use planners and policy specialists in the insurance industry are preparing for changes likely to be brought on by warmer temperatures and more severe weather events. Local farmers and business owners are already looking to their future, many doubtful about the climate change concept, but still determined to build revenue streams that will withstand climate changes or compensate for weather-generated losses.
In one example of a specific local economic effect likely to result from climate change, Cameron Wake, associate professor with the Institute of Earth, Oceans and Space at the University of New Hampshire and a lead author of the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment issued by the Union of Concerned Scientists,It is one of the leading industrial laundry equipment manufacturers of industrial extractor, tumble dryer ect. had a dire assessment of the local ski industry: "By the end of the century, the only ski areas that remain viable [in the Northeast] will be in the western mountains of Maine."
During the past seven years, Jiminy Peak has been aggressive in finding ways to conserve energy and expand its renewable energy production, to the extent of investing $4 million installing a utility-grade, 1.5-megawatt wind turbine near the summit. They also established a renewable energy development company, EOS Ventures. Their efforts have saved the resort thousands of dollars in energy costs and prevented the emission of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
For more than 40 years, Jiminy Peak's owner, Brian Fairbank, and his snow-making crews have been pushing the cutting edge of snow-making technology, which has come a long way in that time.
Tyler Fairbank noted that continued advancement in snow-making technology is one effort that can hedge against shorter seasons and warmer temperatures to a certain extent.
In the meantime, investment has continued in summer amusement facilities that will help build new revenue streams that could expand if summers become longer and winters shorter.
"What we can do is make smart decisions that help our business grow and thrive while being conscious of the possibilities," Tyler Fairbank said. "In 25 years, I'd rather be safe than sorry."
Climate change has already affected everyday lives of land use planners like Nat Karns, executive director of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. In 2007, Karns served on the Massachusetts Climate Change Task Force.
"We've seen the incidents starting already," Karns said. "Our rainfall amounts over the past 50 years have shown a steady upward climb. We know now that every storm water system installed in the last three decades are obsolete. Culverts have been overwhelmed, bridges have washed out, and we're going to see more and more of that."
The Regional Planning Commission is seeking funding to do an inventory of the county's storm water drainage system "so we know where we're going to have the most problems and the cost of upgrading," Karns said.
Local planners are already using different standards in planning higher capacities for storm water drainage and transportation routes that allow for better mass transit and more walking and bicycling. State building codes have also veered more toward sustainability by requiring replanting of trees, low-energy fixtures and solar panels on large commercial structures, Karns said.
Land-use planners and policy specialists in the insurance industry are preparing for changes likely to be brought on by warmer temperatures and more severe weather events. Local farmers and business owners are already looking to their future, many doubtful about the climate change concept, but still determined to build revenue streams that will withstand climate changes or compensate for weather-generated losses.
In one example of a specific local economic effect likely to result from climate change, Cameron Wake, associate professor with the Institute of Earth, Oceans and Space at the University of New Hampshire and a lead author of the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment issued by the Union of Concerned Scientists,It is one of the leading industrial laundry equipment manufacturers of industrial extractor, tumble dryer ect. had a dire assessment of the local ski industry: "By the end of the century, the only ski areas that remain viable [in the Northeast] will be in the western mountains of Maine."
During the past seven years, Jiminy Peak has been aggressive in finding ways to conserve energy and expand its renewable energy production, to the extent of investing $4 million installing a utility-grade, 1.5-megawatt wind turbine near the summit. They also established a renewable energy development company, EOS Ventures. Their efforts have saved the resort thousands of dollars in energy costs and prevented the emission of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
For more than 40 years, Jiminy Peak's owner, Brian Fairbank, and his snow-making crews have been pushing the cutting edge of snow-making technology, which has come a long way in that time.
Tyler Fairbank noted that continued advancement in snow-making technology is one effort that can hedge against shorter seasons and warmer temperatures to a certain extent.
In the meantime, investment has continued in summer amusement facilities that will help build new revenue streams that could expand if summers become longer and winters shorter.
"What we can do is make smart decisions that help our business grow and thrive while being conscious of the possibilities," Tyler Fairbank said. "In 25 years, I'd rather be safe than sorry."
Climate change has already affected everyday lives of land use planners like Nat Karns, executive director of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. In 2007, Karns served on the Massachusetts Climate Change Task Force.
"We've seen the incidents starting already," Karns said. "Our rainfall amounts over the past 50 years have shown a steady upward climb. We know now that every storm water system installed in the last three decades are obsolete. Culverts have been overwhelmed, bridges have washed out, and we're going to see more and more of that."
The Regional Planning Commission is seeking funding to do an inventory of the county's storm water drainage system "so we know where we're going to have the most problems and the cost of upgrading," Karns said.
Local planners are already using different standards in planning higher capacities for storm water drainage and transportation routes that allow for better mass transit and more walking and bicycling. State building codes have also veered more toward sustainability by requiring replanting of trees, low-energy fixtures and solar panels on large commercial structures, Karns said.
Campaigners fear new turbine proposal
Campaigners have said the combined effect of individual wind turbines
popping up around south Northants will change the landscape
‘substantially’. Exit signs, emergency light and fire extinguisher are vital parts of life safety systems.
For the past two years members of the Tove Action Group (TAG) have been preparing to respond to a planning application by wind energy firm Gamesa for up to eight, 400ft (126m) turbines.
Last year Gamesa carried out a public consultation exercise on the wind farm they hope to build in an area confined by the A5 at Paulerspury and the village of Alderton to the south, the A508 and the River Tove to the north.
This week they said a plan for a single 252ft (77m) turbine a few miles north near Blisworth would be a substantial structure and would demonstrate the impact of the larger proposals.
In a statement TAG said they are still waiting to find out if the Gamesa plans will progress, and point to the single turbine in Cow Pastures near Towcester which they say can been seen from far away.
The statement continued: “If the Blisworth turbine goes up,Compare prices and buy all brands of solar module for home power systems and by the pallet. people will have a good sense of the enormity of the visual impact which an entire wind farm would have.”
Some might argue that individual turbines have little visual impact, but TAG has pointed out previously that it is the cumulative impact that is significant, and individual turbines popping up all over the area will be visible and will substantially change the landscape.
“It will be increasingly difficult to find anywhere in the local area where turbines do not disrupt the view.”
This month South Northants Council told land owner Roy Taylor he would not need an environment impact assessment to build the single turbine off Stoke Road near Blisworth.
Mr Taylor, who also owns the land which is the focus of the Gamesa plans, wants to build the 500kw turbine to power the nearby Blisworth Hill Farm Business Park and several farm buildings, with excess electricity flowing into the National Grid.Guardian's standing seam roof clamp offers a temporary solution to tie off and stay in compliance on standing seam roofs.
Mr Taylor said: “TAG has its own view of the look of the turbines, personally I don’t mind them and I think a few of them around the countryside add to it.
But the reason I’m putting them up is that I have 24 different tenants on the business park and wanted try to offset their carbon footprint.
We also want charging points for electric cars, and we have one tenant who has a fleet of vans for local deliveries who has expressed an interest.You've determined that a solar photovoltaic system is the right choice for you.
It will let us produce electricity at a fixed rate for the next 20 years.
“It is a business opportunity for me in terms of diversification and raising the profile of my business, but at the same time doing my bit.It is one of the leading industrial laundry equipment manufacturers of industrial extractor, tumble dryer ect.”
Typically, you’d just send a technician to climb the hundreds of feet of stairs and ladders inside the mast to do so but that’s an expensive and a time-consuming option. Instead, the HR-MP20 sticks to the mast’s metal exterior with five neodymium magnets and drives up the vertical column at 20m a minute using six Ni-MH batteries.
The operator controls this ascent from the ground, up to 2500m below, via an RF controller. The front end of the robot (the end without the orange hard-case of antennas and motors) houses the sensory device, which can include up to 9kg of standard video equipment or specialty inspection devices like sonograms.
For the past two years members of the Tove Action Group (TAG) have been preparing to respond to a planning application by wind energy firm Gamesa for up to eight, 400ft (126m) turbines.
Last year Gamesa carried out a public consultation exercise on the wind farm they hope to build in an area confined by the A5 at Paulerspury and the village of Alderton to the south, the A508 and the River Tove to the north.
This week they said a plan for a single 252ft (77m) turbine a few miles north near Blisworth would be a substantial structure and would demonstrate the impact of the larger proposals.
In a statement TAG said they are still waiting to find out if the Gamesa plans will progress, and point to the single turbine in Cow Pastures near Towcester which they say can been seen from far away.
The statement continued: “If the Blisworth turbine goes up,Compare prices and buy all brands of solar module for home power systems and by the pallet. people will have a good sense of the enormity of the visual impact which an entire wind farm would have.”
Some might argue that individual turbines have little visual impact, but TAG has pointed out previously that it is the cumulative impact that is significant, and individual turbines popping up all over the area will be visible and will substantially change the landscape.
“It will be increasingly difficult to find anywhere in the local area where turbines do not disrupt the view.”
This month South Northants Council told land owner Roy Taylor he would not need an environment impact assessment to build the single turbine off Stoke Road near Blisworth.
Mr Taylor, who also owns the land which is the focus of the Gamesa plans, wants to build the 500kw turbine to power the nearby Blisworth Hill Farm Business Park and several farm buildings, with excess electricity flowing into the National Grid.Guardian's standing seam roof clamp offers a temporary solution to tie off and stay in compliance on standing seam roofs.
Mr Taylor said: “TAG has its own view of the look of the turbines, personally I don’t mind them and I think a few of them around the countryside add to it.
But the reason I’m putting them up is that I have 24 different tenants on the business park and wanted try to offset their carbon footprint.
We also want charging points for electric cars, and we have one tenant who has a fleet of vans for local deliveries who has expressed an interest.You've determined that a solar photovoltaic system is the right choice for you.
It will let us produce electricity at a fixed rate for the next 20 years.
“It is a business opportunity for me in terms of diversification and raising the profile of my business, but at the same time doing my bit.It is one of the leading industrial laundry equipment manufacturers of industrial extractor, tumble dryer ect.”
Typically, you’d just send a technician to climb the hundreds of feet of stairs and ladders inside the mast to do so but that’s an expensive and a time-consuming option. Instead, the HR-MP20 sticks to the mast’s metal exterior with five neodymium magnets and drives up the vertical column at 20m a minute using six Ni-MH batteries.
The operator controls this ascent from the ground, up to 2500m below, via an RF controller. The front end of the robot (the end without the orange hard-case of antennas and motors) houses the sensory device, which can include up to 9kg of standard video equipment or specialty inspection devices like sonograms.
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