Adult Energy Resources and Information
Solar Energy
As part of the Ann Arbor Mayor’s Energy Challenge, City Council passed a resolution setting a goal of 5,000 Solar Roofs in Ann Arbor by 2015. The Energy Commission anticipates that many of these solar installations will be solar hot water systems, with more solar electric systems appearing as the program grows.
Solar in Michigan?
Residents of SE Michigan could receive an average of 4-6 hours of solar power daily
Clean, renewable resource!
If every residential building in Ann Arbor had a one kilowatt solar electric system on the roof, we could generate over 30 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity each year or about 10% of the Ann Arbor's 2000 residential electrical use.
Ann Arbor compares favorably to cities implementing solar programs in other parts of the country and is sunnier than both Germany and Japan, countries that lead the world in solar energy use. More specifically, Ann Arbor's solar exposure is:
97% of Madison, WI 98% of Chicago, IL 80% of San Francisco, CA 78% of Austin, TX 108% of Portland, OR
Solar Hot Water
A solar hot water system is one of the most cost-effective ways to use renewable energy in SE Michigan.
In a typical solar hot water system, panels on the roof allow the sun to heat a glycol solution that circulates through a heat exchanger in the hot water tank.
Residential systems typically cost about $6,000 and are eligible for federal tax credits.
Most systems pay for themselves in 6-10 years.
Solar Electric (Photovoltaics)
Not as cost-effective as solar hot water systems yet in SE Michigan,-paybacks of ten years or more.
Are becoming more popular as a means for homeowners to reduce their reliance on heavily-polluting and centralized coal plants.
Residential solar electric systems typically cost around $10,000 (more for systems with battery backup), not including applicable federal tax credits.
http://www.a2gov.org/government/publicservices/systems_planning/energy/Pages/Energy.aspx
Wind Energy
The Washtenaw Wind Project is currently conducting an investment grade wind study to test the feasibility of developing wind power in Washtenaw County. The Project was initiated as a resolution from the County Board of Commissioners to study the potential to develop wind and other renewable energy resources on April 15, 2006. The project cost approximately $70,000 to initiate. Through contributions by the Chrysler Corporation and resale of the tower and equipment at the end of the study, the total public cost of the project will be around $15,000. An 80 meter meteorological tower was raised at Chrysler's Chelsea Proving Grounds in May of 2008. The tower will study wind characteristics for 12-18 months. There are many people who have contributed time and effort to make the project possible. The primary project partners are Chrysler, LLC, The University of Michigan, The City of Ann Arbor, and Washtenaw County.
How do residential wind turbines work?
A wind turbine, which is installed on top of a tall tower, collects kinetic energy from the wind and converts it to electricity that is compatible with a home's electrical system. In a normal residential application, a home is served simultaneously by the wind turbine and a local utility. If the wind speeds are below cut-in speed (7-10 mph) there will be no output from the turbine and all of the needed power is purchased from the utility. As wind speeds increase, turbine output increases and the amount of power purchased from the utility is proportionately decreased. When the turbine produces more power than thehouse needs, the extra electricity is sold to the utility. All of this is done automatically. There are no batteries in a modern residential wind system. Small wind systems for remote applications operate somewhat differently.
Will a small wind turbine save me money?
The wind turbine typically lowers your electricity bill by 50 to 90 percent. It is not uncommon for wind turbine owners with total-electric homes to have monthly utility bills of only $8 to $15 for nine months of the year. In northern parts of the country where less air conditioning is used the bills can be very low year-round. The amount of money a small wind turbine saves you in the long run will depend upon its cost, the amount of electricity you use, the average wind speed at your site, and other factors.
What size turbine would I need for my home? Homes use approximately 9,400 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year (about 780 kWh per month). Depending upon the average wind speed in the area, a wind turbine rated in the range of 5 to 15 kilowatts would be required to make a significant contribution to meet this demand.
Will it help the environment if I install a wind turbine at my home? Yes. Wind turbines produce no pollution and by using wind power you will be offsetting pollution that would have been generated by your utility company. Over its life, a small residential wind turbine can offset approximately 1.2 tons of air pollutants and 200 tons of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and other gases which cause climate change).
Do wind turbines make noise or interfere with TV reception?
Small wind turbines do make some noise, but not enough to be found objectionable by most people. A typical residential wind system makes less noise than the average washing machine. Wind turbines do not interfere with TV reception.
Will I have to change any of the wiring in my house? No. A wind turbine is easily retrofitted to virtually any home without the need to change any wiring or appliances. In most cases, the utility will install a second utility meter to measure how much surplus electricity it is purchasing from the turbine owner.
What about towers? An 80- to 120-foot tower is usually supplied along with the wind turbine. Towers this tall are necessary to raise the wind turbine above turbulence generated by obstacles on the ground and trees. Wind velocity and, therefore wind turbine performance, increases with altitude. Several different types of towers are available, depending upon which manufacturer you select. Each type has its advantages; the most economical type of tower is the guyed lattice tower, but a hinged tower can be easier for you to install yourself and provides easier access for maintenance.
How much does a wind system cost? A small turbine can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $22,000 installed, depending upon size, application and service agreements with the manufacturer.
How reliable are wind turbines? Will I have to perform much maintenance? Most small turbines have very few moving parts and do not require any regular maintenance. They are designed for a long life (up to 20 years) and operate completely automatically.
How do wind turbines perform as an investment? The wind system will usually recoup its investment through utility savings within six to 15 years and after that the electricity it produces will be virtually free. Over the long term, a wind turbine is a good investment because a well-sited wind system increases property value, similar to any other home improvement. Many people buy wind systems in preparation for their retirement because they don't want to be subject to unpredictable increases in utility rates.
http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/planning_environment/planning/wind_power/index_html)
http://www.awea.org/faq/rsdntqa.html#Howdoresidentialwindturbineswork
How You Can Conserve Energy
* Use power strips to turn off stand-by lights. Even when turned off, items like your television, computer, and cellphone charger still sip power.
* Turn off computers and monitors when not in use.
* Keep thermostat relatively low in winter.
* Dry clothes outside whenever possible.
* Unplug small appliances when not in use.
Use Cleaner transport:
* Walk, bike, or take public transit whenever possible.
* Avoid allowing your car to idle. If you’ll be waiting for more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine (except at a traffic light). And don’t take the drive through, park the car and walk inside instead.
* Have your vehicle serviced regularly to keep emission control systems operating at peak efficiency. Check your car’s air filter monthly, and keep the tires adequately inflated to maximize gas mileage.
* Avoid short airplane trips, take a bus or train instead.
* Turn the air conditioner and heater off at night.
Add Energy Saving Features to your home:
* Purchase Energy Star or other energy efficient appliances and products.
* Install compact fluorescent bulbs in all your home light fixtures, look for low-mercury models.
* Make sure your walls and ceilings are insulated, and consider double-pane windows. Eliminate drafts with caulking, weather strips, and storm windows and doors.
* Insulate your water heater or even better, switch to a tankless water heater, so your water will be heated only as you use it.
http://www.myfootprint.org/
www.powerhousekids.com
Did You Know?
* More than 80% of the world’s air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions are caused by energy production and use.
* Using solar power to supply a million homes with energy reduces CO2 emissions by about 4.3 million tons per year—the equivalent of taking 850,000 cars off the road.
* Enough clean, renewable solar energy falls from the sky in one day to power the world for 27 years.
* Of every 100 people on the planet, 6 live in the United States. If everything were fair and equal, we would use as much of the world's energy as we have people--6 percent. Instead, we use between 25 and 30 % of the world's energy! Each of us uses twice as much energy as the average person in England, two and-a-half times as much as the average person in Japan, and 106 times that of the average person in Bangladesh! And using too much energy isn't just bad because we're going to run out of it someday. It's also bad because it produces pollution. Per person, people in the United States produce way more "greenhouse gases" than any other people on the planet.
* Worldwide, some 2 billion people are currently without electricity.
* Residential appliances, including heating and cooling equipment and water heaters, consume 90% of all energy used in the U.S. residential sector.
* Fossil fuels are depleted at a rate that is 100,000 times faster than they are formed.
* Approximately 30,000 lives are cut short in the U.S. each year due to pollution from electricity production.
* A car that gets 20 miles per gallon (mpg) emits approximately 50 tons of global-warming-inducing carbon dioxide over its lifetime, while a 40-mpg car emits only 25 tons. Over the average lifetime of an American car (100,000 miles), a 40-mpg car will also save approximately $3,000 in fuel costs compared to a 20-mpg car.
* The wind in North Dakota alone could produce a third of America's electricity.
* Solar water heaters offered the largest potential savings, with solar water-heater owners saving as much as 50% to 85% annually on their utility bills over the cost of electric water heating.
http://www.solarenergy.org/resources/energyfacts.html
You are the Earth.-Know the Planet So You Can Make It Better by David Suzuki and Kathy Vanderlinden
50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save the Earth by John Javna, Sophie Javna, and Jesse Javna
For More Information Check Out These Websites!
Ann Arbor Energy Challenge
Energy Star
Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association
American Solar Energy Society
Redefining Progress- Ecological Footprint Quiz
National Geographic- Green Guide
National Wildlife Federation
Roots and Shoots
Architecture 2030
Check Out These Books:
Low Carbon Diet- A 30 day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds by: David Gershon
You are the Earth.-Know the Planet So You Can Make It Better by: David Suzuki and Kathy Vanderlinden
Simple Things You Can Do To Save the Earth by: John Javna, Sophie Javna, and Jesse Javna
Green Living-The E Magazine Handbook for Living Lightly On the Earth by: the Editors of E- The Environmental Magazine
Inspiring Progress: Religion's Contributions to Sustainable Development by: Gary T. Gardner
The Bridge at the Edge of the World by: James Gustave Speth