With the rising cost of electricity people are starting to look to alternative ways to power their homes. Think about the increased rent you could charge on your investment properties! The need to provide electricity using more environmentally friendly methods is also becoming more important. Having solar panels for your home (or investment property) is one method of producing alternative power and many people have already taken this on board. If you go to sell your home there are certain real estate agencies that deal specifically with environmentally friendly homes, but it is also worthwhile speaking to conveyancing services who can offer you professional advice.

Solar Energy

Solar energy is created by collecting the sun’s energy in the cells of solar panels and transferring it to power. Solar panels can be installed on the roof of your home and power your lights and your appliances. It can be used to heat your hot water system and your swimming pool and solar energy can even power cars. Small appliances like calculators can run on solar power. Solar power is a green alternative and does not create any carbon emissions in its production. Solar power is an extremely effective way of creating electricity.

Hydro Electricity

Harnessing energy created by moving water has been done for thousands of years. People would use flowing water to push a wheel that would then go on to grind grain. Today hydro electricity is created in much the same way. Water is directed to flow through a turbine which causes it to spin which then powers a generator. Much of the United States’ energy is created this way. Hydro electricity is a greener option and it is a recyclable energy source as the water can be directed back up through the turbine.

Wind Power

Australia has the resources to provide a substantial amount of energy created by the wind. The southern states are subject to the Roaring Forties and wind speed is enough to create a large portion of energy. Currently about two percent of Australia’s energy demand is being met by power created by wind turbines. There are fifty-two wind farms in Australia.

Geothermal

While it might only seem appropriate for those living near volcanic activity, geothermal power is actually viable anywhere you have some space to dig deep. Six feet down, the earth holds a constant of around 50° and 60° all year. By laying some pipes underground, running fluid through a “heat exhanger” – or heat transfer from one medium to another – and adding a compressor to the mix, it is possible to produce a consistent air flow that keeps you cool in the summer months and warm during the winter. To boot, a geothermal heating and cooling system provides better air quality than you get by circulating an A/C or heater.

With the increased importance of going green, more and more homeowners are beginning to consider clean energy options for their home. The alternative energy industries are relatively new so many consumers aren’t fully informed about the choices they have and the benefits and drawbacks of each. Wind and solar power are two growing alternative energy markets that many people speculate will play a critical role in sustaining our planet. While both wind and solar are clean energy sources, it is important to learn the pros and cons of each in order to determine which option is best for your home.

One benefit of wind power in comparison to installing a solar PV system is the lower initial cost. Studies have shown that the total cost per kWh produced is less for wind power. Therefore, at this time it is apparent that wind power is typically more cost effective than solar. Even though the initial cost of wind may be lower than solar, it is important to also consider the maintenance costs that will incur throughout the life of the system. Because PV systems have no moving parts, they require very little maintenance and can be operated unmonitored for extended periods of time. Every once in a while, the dust and dirt needs to be removed from the solar panels which can easily be done by spraying them off with water. On the other hand, due to the moving parts that comprise a wind turbine the system is much more complex and difficult to maintain. Another benefit of installing a solar system in comparison to a wind turbine is the unobtrusive nature of the system. In addition to the large size of a wind turbine, they tend to produce a considerable amount of noise in high wind conditions. Solar systems on the other hand make no noise and aren’t distracting to the residents. When considering these options, it is important to also factor in the local climate and weather patterns. Solar produces more energy during summer months, whereas wind tends to produce more during winter months. Some areas experience windy conditions and are therefore great for producing wind energy. In sunnier climates however, solar may be much more advantageous. The orientation of the home and yard space available also factor in to the feasibility of each system. Wind turbines are fairly large and require a large amount of yard space. They also need to be situated away from trees or structures that may obstruct the flow of the wind and hinder the efficiency of the system. For a solar PV system, an unobstructed Southern facing roof space is an ideal space to install the solar panels. As long as there is little or no shading and a large enough surface area, most roofs can accommodate a PV system. Investing in a clean energy source is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and save on future electric costs. When determining which is the best energy source for your home it is important to consider the location and orientation of your home and property, as well as the initial and future costs of each system. Having these clean energy options is great for the future of our planet. Both alternatives are very promising, so it’s now a matter of homeowners discovering which option is the most feasible for their home.

Energy Secretary Chu Approves Loan Guarantee to Record Hill Wind Project

U.S. Energy Secretary Chu has announced the Department of Energy’s $102 million loan guarantee to Record Hill Wind, LLC has been approved. The loan, to be given in combination with an investment by the Yale University Endowment, will support the Record Hill wind project – a 50.6 megawatt wind power plant near the town of Roxbury, Maine. The new project will not only supply green energy to thousands of residents but will fund 200 construction jobs. “This innovative project creates jobs in Maine while boosting domestic wind generation in order to achieve the Administration’s goal of doubling clean energy produced in America by 2035,” said Secretary Chu. “Clean energy is a major driver of American competitiveness, and investments like these are essential to secure our position as global leader.” The Record Hill project will use 22 turbines and new transmission lines to connect with the local power utility. Innovative Turbine Load Control (TLC) technology will be used to install the turbines, which involves a system that will reduce wear on the turbines, preserve the lifetime of turbine components, as well as reduce operation and management costs.

Collaboration Will Give a Boost to EV Charging Infrastructure-

GE and Urban Green Energy (UGE) have announced its newest collaboration called the Sanya Skypump, an electric vehicle charging station that combines both GE’s WattStation and UGE’s Sanya hybrid wind/solar streetlamp technology. The station will provide consumers with green power to charge their EVs which will help to sustain America’s sometimes unreliable electricity grid. EVs are rapidly growing in popularity, seeing that they are an excellent alternative to gas guzzling, high maintenance automobiles. However the main problem still, and the reason that most people in America still don’t own one as of yet, is due to the lack of a sufficient charging infrastructure. “Our collaborative efforts with GE Energy have resulted in the breakthrough Sanya Skypump, which is powered by the energy available in both the wind and the sun,” said Poul Heilmann, head of business development at UGE. “Consumers’ concerns for a more environmentally friendly form of transportation include the source of power for the electric car. The Skypump uses a UGE-4K wind turbine along with solar panels to offset a significant amount of the usage of a commercial charging site,” he continued. “We are thrilled to be partnering with GE Energy in bringing innovative and elegant design to enhance the adoption of renewable energy technology while minimizing the impact on the environment.” Beginning this fall, UCE will begin installing first Skypump stations in New York, Beijing, and Barcelona while the global installations will begin in early 2012. “Building upon the success of the GE WattStation™, GE continuously is seeking evolutionary EV solutions,” said Michael Mahan, product general manager at GE Energy Industrial Solutions. “By marrying the elegant design of UGE’s Sanya Streetlamp with the GE WattStation™, we have enabled the further adoption of electric vehicles by making access to renewable power easier.”

An artist’s rendition of the Sanya Skypump collab:

Renewable Energy Investments Skyrocket in 2010, Especially in Developing Nations-

According to a recently published UN study, global investment in green energy sources have increased by 32 percent during 2010, hitting a record high of $211 billion. The UN reported that the main factors of growth were due in large part to rooftop solar installations in Europe and wind farms in China. Surprisingly enough, the report showed that developing countries invested more in renewable technologies than larger, more prosperous nations during that year. “The continuing growth in this core segment of the green economy is not happening by chance,” said Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Program. “The combination of government target-setting, policy support and stimulus funding is underpinning the renewable industry’s rise and bringing the much needed transformation of our global energy system within reach.” Topping the list of green energy investors for the second year in a row was (of course) China who spent $48.9B, up 28 percent from 2009; South and Central America spent $13.1B, up 39 percent; Middle East and Africa spent $5B, up 104 percent; and India spent $3.8B, up 25 percent.

Environmentalists praise Germany’s eco mosque as a solution to how energy efficient infrastructures can be created-

A recent survey, conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit, put 10 of the 12 German cities analyzed in the ‘above average’ category, which ranked higher than many of the other 29 European cities surveyed. As three-quarters of Germany’s population live in cities which is only set to increase over the coming years, there’s concern that urban infrastructures will be strained and will exhaust the impact on the surrounding environment. However, solutions are sprouting and Germany is eying up new ways to offset their carbon footprint such as the latest plans for an ‘eco mosque’ to be built, with integrated wind turbines located in the minaret tower. Building smarter cities has now become a top priority for many countries, and will be discussed in this year’s Smart Cities conference, taking place in Amsterdam, 29th – 30th November. It has long been established that architectural projects are trying to incorporate greener ways of living into modern constructions. One example in the making that has provided an inspirational solution, is the development of an ‘eco mosque’, in Norderstedt, near Hamburg in Germany, where the new calls from the minarets will take the form of the gentle whir of the wind turbines coming from them. The mosque, the first of its kind will feature two 22 meter-high minarets which will each house a turbine, covering a third of the mosque’s energy needs. The €2.5m project, is the work of Selcuk Ünyilmaz, a pioneer in the field of energy efficient architecture, would become the first to turn the minaret, where the muezzin would sound the call to prayer, into a wind-fueled power source. “I thought about how we could give sacral architecture an ecological focus,” Ünyilmaz said. “My design combines the modern with the traditional, so I wanted to give the minarets a contemporary function.” Praised as an ideal way to take advantage of the traditional structures of buildings, and using them as green energy providers, this is an example of how using cutting-edge technology deployments, sustainable methodologies and a dash of unorthodox thinking can be used as a solution in trying to achieve a smart solution.

The move is in-line with Germany pledging to cease their reliance on nuclear energy by 2022, increasing the pressure to find the shortfall by boosting their renewable energy sector. The EU leaves a lot of discretion to the individual member states because of how geographic conditions can vary from place to place. Janez Potocnik, EU Environment Commissioner, speaking with EU Infrastructure, said that he found it ‘remarkable’ how different regions of the union deal with environmental policies, all operating under the same legislation.
“It is remarkable to see how well some member states exploit this environmental and economic opportunity, while others do not do enough, although they all have the same EU legislation at their disposal,” said Potocnik. Wind energy has previously proved itself to be an incredible power generator, as one sterling example in the small community of Samso, Denmark has proved. The island, home to 4,300 residents, won a contest in 1997 to become Denmark’s showcase for sustainable power by becoming carbon-neutral, and began by making individual contributions with trading in their oil-burning furnaces for more eco-friendly alternatives, to investing in onshore and offshore turbines, taking advantage of the coastal winds. Samso reached its target of becoming neutral, and now actually produces in excess 10% more electricity which is fed back into the grid bringing profit. The project, spearheaded by Soren Hermansen, has earned him recognition such as being named as one of Time’s ‘Heroes of the Environment’, and will be speaking at GDS International’s Smart Cities conference, taking place in Amsterdam, 29th – 30th November 2011.
The conference has sought some of the most passionate, engaging and relevant leaders in the urban planning field, such as Steve Lewis – Ceo Living PlanIT, Karl Falkenberg – Director General, European Commission, and Carlo Ratti – Director, Senseable City Lab MIT. Smart cities, 2011 combines top keynote speakers, interactive workshops and live Q&A sessions to bring an inspirational program to all attendees, tackling both current and future strategic and infrastructural issues facing the urban planning community. The conference also provides networking opportunities by intertwining social media feeds, with industry-progressing relationships. For more info, visit smartcitieseurope.com.

About the Author: GDS International is a leading business-to-business events company. We offer financial, healthcare, IT service management, telecoms and oil and gas summits for senior executives throughout the Asia Pacific, Africa, China, Europe, North America and Russia markets. Our value proposition is simple: we deliver real results. And we’re very good at it.

Origins and Explanations of Antagonism Toward Wind Farms-

An industry that is often affected by local opposition in the United States is that of wind energy development. It seems odd that businesses that attempt to bring clean energy and preserve the environment are frequently faced with disapproval from local communities. We talk about the necessary changes in our lifestyles in order to save the planet, yet when a practical solution is proposed we often seem to be against it. Why do people support clean energy in theory yet fight against wind farm development?

The answer lies in physical proximity. It has been suggested that any social opposition to a development stems from self-preservation. Communities try to reject anything that may be seemingly dangerous to their health, lifestyle, and even their community vibe. As expected, most people support the initiative of clean renewable energy, as long as it doesn’t affect them personally. If you were to ask ten Americans on the street about the issue, it’s likely that most would tell you they support the idea but wouldn’t want a wind farm in their backyard. When a wind energy developer proposes a site for a wind farm, he has to be prepared to face opposition from the local community. It may be just a bump on the road or a serious obstacle that threatens the project. Either way, he has to anticipate the possibility of this problem. In order to properly assess the situation and create a strategic grassroots campaign, the developer needs to understand the origins and reasoning of this opposition. Here are some of the most common issues wind energy developers have to address.

Traffic, Pollution and Noise During Construction
Usually, communities fear that the construction of a wind farm would create unbearable levels of noise and pollution. Chances are most people don’t know the processes involved and the technology used in the assembly of a wind farm. Therefore, it is crucial for a public affairs campaign to create and deliver a clear message about how the inconveniences, if any, caused by the construction would be minimized. Increased traffic, especially with the presence of heavy trucks, cranes and other machinery, is another concern. Presenting the public with a successful plan of traffic management could reduce the antagonisms and questions toward the project.

Noise from Turbines
Every single wind farm constructed in the U.S. has had to address the issue of noise created by the working turbines. Most people fear medical dangers associated with such noise. Various groups that oppose wind energy development claim that headaches, sleep disorders, problems with equilibrium, and even night terrors can be results of living near a wind farm. Therefore, the developers need to present the community with data, statistics and studies that reassure the safety of residents and the project. The government regulations regarding the noise limitations can also be used toward the project’s advantage.

Endangered Wildlife
Every community faced with a proposed wind farm has had legitimate concerns about the effects on the regional wild life. People fear the indefinite dangers posed by a working wind farm to inhabitants of both above and below ground. A developer’s solution should be to showcase that they care about preserving and protecting the natural habitat of the area. Presenting the public with environmental studies, regulations protocols and other ecological data that ensure the safety of the wild life would be a good way to start.

Obstructed Views
While some may enjoy the calm and serene views of wind turbines, unfortunately, many people find them to be unappealing. For instance, one of the biggest concerns from local Massachusetts residents with the Cape Cod wind development was that the offshore turbines would obstruct their scenic ocean views. The landscape is always a big part of a community’s lifestyle. In addition, it plays into the value of one’s property. People often fear the interference with their lifestyles and property depreciation as a result of neighboring a wind farm. In this case, the best strategy would be to stress the advantages of a wind farm to the environment and local economy. It is important to stress how these benefits significantly outweigh the disadvantages.

The bottom line is that wind or any other renewable energy developer should educate their public. The idea of saving the planet by producing and consuming green energy seems to be appealing to most people. Unfortunately, nobody wants to ‘sacrifice’ their backyard. Therefore, it is necessary to make the public understand the immeasurable benefits to the environment of developing wind energy. We need to make the local communities realize that allowing a wind farm in their neighborhood is not in fact a sacrifice, but rather a step toward a better cleaner world.

About the Author:
Al Maiorino started Public Strategy Group, Inc. in 1995. He has developed and managed multiple corporate public affairs campaigns in a variety of industries such as gaming, cable television, retail development, auto racing, power plant/wind farm projects, and housing/residential projects. Al received his BA in political science and a MA in American Studies from the University of Connecticut.

Colossal Wind Farm to be Developed Off Holderness Coast-

E.ON Energy has been granted approval by the U.K.’s Department for Energy and Climate Change to develop a 230 MW offshore wind farm. It is being built off the Holderness Coast in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and will have the capacity to provide 150,000 homes with renewable energy from up to 77 turbines. It is expected that the farm will prevent up to 300,000 tons of carbon emissions annually. Earlier this year, E.ON was given the go-ahead to develop a new substation on industrial land near Salt End, which will connect the Humber Gateway wind farm to the national grid through 30km of underground cable. The Telegraph reports that “by 2050 offshore wind could be worth £65billion to the UK and could support 220,000 jobs.”


“The UK’s offshore wind roll out is continuing at full speed,” said Peter Madigan, Head of Offshore Renewables for RenewableUK, late last month. “…the first turbines at Walney and Greater Gabbard have started delivering electricity to the grid. Once completed these two offshore wind farms will take the UK over the 2 gigawatt (GW) mark. We now need to ensure that we are best poised to capture the full benefits such a massive infrastructure project offers, including increased employment and business activity.”

Bloomberg Study Shows Wind Power is Now Cost Competitive with Coal-

According to a new report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, wind energy is now cost competitive with coal power in several regions of the world. With demand rising for wind turbines over the last couple years, many manufacturers have reduced their prices. The Bloomberg report reveals that the cost per megawatt last year for turbines reached $1.33 million – 17 percent less than in 2007. In areas throughout the U.S., Mexico, Brazil and Sweden, wind power now coal power costs $67 per MWh, with natural gas still being lowest at costs $68 per MWh and $56 per MWh. Hopefully the cost for wind power continues declining, so that more companies will begin to make the switch over to clean power and help end our dependence on heavily polluting energy resources like coal. Let us know your thoughts on this landmark study!

“World’s Most Famous Office Building” Purchases RECs to Offset Entire Annual Energy Consumption-

In order to entirely offset its massive energy consumption, the Empire State Building owners will purchase over 50 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy certificates (RECs) annually. In a two year deal with carbon offset company, Green Mountain Energy, the renewable energy contract will provide the towering 2.85 million square foot building with clean wind power and prevent 100 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. According to the company, that’s the equivalent of :

-Nearly every house in New York State turning off all their lights for a week;
-Taking approximately 40 million fewer cab rides; or
-Planting nearly 150,000 trees–more than 6 times the number of trees in Central Park.

“We are extremely pleased that an icon like the world-famous Empire State Building made this important commitment to support renewable energy,” said Paul Thomas, CEO of Green Mountain Energy Company. “This announcement is historic for many reasons. In addition to being the largest commercial consumer of green power in New York City, the Empire State Building’s renewable power purchase is now the largest purchase in our company’s 13-year history. This demonstrates that Green Mountain can serve all sizes of commercial customers with renewable energy at a price they can afford, and that going green doesn’t have to be a tradeoff.”