VISITING SPEAKER: Making Residential Heating & Cooling Climate Friendly in NY State

Arjun Makhijani is President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research in Takoma Park, MD. A recognized authority on energy issues, Dr. Makhijani is the author and co-author of numerous reports and books on energy and environment related issues. He has testified before Congress, and has appeared on ABC World News Tonight, the CBS Evening News, CBS 60 Minutes, NPR, CNN, and BBC, among others. He has served as a consultant on energy issues to utilities, including TVA, the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, and several agencies of the United Nations. His 2008 book, Carbon Free, Nuclear Free (downloaded for free  at ieer.org) maps a U.S. course correction to curb climate change and achieve energy independence.

Clean Energy NEWS

Hawaii Enacts Nation’s First 100% Renewable Energy Standard
Hawaii enacted a law this week that mandates that all of the state’s electricity comes from renewable sources no later than 2045. The bill makes Hawaii the first U.S. state to adopt such a standard. This renewable energy standard is being hailed as “the most aggressive clean energy goal in the country.”

The legislation was drafted by Blue Planet Foundation, whose mission is “to clear the path for 100 percent clean energy.” Many believe Hawaii can reach the goal well before 2045 because the islands are already a renewable energy leader. “Hawaii’s renewable energy use has doubled in the past five years, with the islands currently generating about 22 percent of their electricity from wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable energy resources.”

Read the full report at EcoWatch


Republican pours money into U.S. climate, clean energy foundation | Reuters

A Republican businessman said on Monday he is pouring millions of dollars into a foundation that sees opportunities where the majority of his fellow party members do not: easing climate change and speeding the country's transition to clean energy.

Jay Faison of Charlotte, North Carolina, has given $165 million to Clearpath, his foundation dedicated to explaining to centrist Republicans climate science and business opportunities in solar and other forms of green energy. In addition, he is giving $10 million to a related political nonprofit to raise additional funds.

The foundation aims to move the Republicans away from the party line of raising doubts about the science of climate change.

"There's a lot of good solutions, but we are not going to get there if we keep arguing about the problem," said Faison, a founder of audio-visual system companies.

Read the report at Reuters.com

Adam Zyglis | The Buffalo News

Proposal to boost renewable energy is an investment in the state’s future | The Buffalo News

This region is in the difficult process of remaking itself from its smokestack past into a green energy hub with thousands of eagerly anticipated jobs in a growing industry.

That makeover is just one reason to support efforts by the state’s energy research authority to dedicate $1.5 billion over the next 10 years to push further development in renewable energy projects and extend the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard program that began in 2004.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority also wants to tweak the program to make it more efficient. The end result would be an increase in renewable generating capacity “by reducing project costs and trimming the cost of financing those developments.”

Read the Editorial at BuffaloNews.com


Ditching Fossil Fuels and Switching to 100% Renewables No Problem, Says Stanford Study

Is it possible for the U.S. to ditch fossil fuels? The answer is yes, according to researchers and engineers from Stanford University and U.C. Berkeley, who have developed a state-by-state plan to convert the country to 100 percent renewable energy in less than 40 years.

The study, published in the Energy and Environmental Sciences, showcases how each state can replace fossil fuels by tapping into renewable resources available in each state, such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and even small amounts of tidal and wave power.

The report, led by Stanford civil and environmental engineering professor Mark Z. Jacobson and U.C. Berkeley researcher Mark Delucchi, argues that converting the current energy infrastructure into renewable energy will help fight climate change, save lives by eliminating air pollution, create jobs and also stabilize energy prices.

Read the full report at EcoWatch


Clean Energy Seen as Opening for Developing Countries

Developing countries have the opportunity to leapfrog the west in economic development if they go straight to clean technology while rich countries struggle to wean themselves off fossil fuels, president Francois Hollande of France said on Wednesday.

“They are going to be skipping the stage where industrialized countries were stopped for a long time, for many decades,” he said. “We were dependent on fossil fuel, which means we now have to concentrate on the transition in the medium to long term of abandoning fossil fuels. But they have the chance to move immediately to the new technologies.”

He said clean technologies such as renewable energy were “dropping in price and will continue to drop”, while industrialized countries faced costs in having to scrap old infrastructure and rebuild it anew in a low-carbon fashion.

Read the full article at Climate Central
 

Scholarships for NYS Geothermal Heat Pump Conference

The New York Geothermal Energy Organization today announced the availability of 25 scholarships to its 2015 annual conference to be held March 17th and 18th at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY.  Dubbed “geopalooza” the 2-day event will focus on geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) as a way to cleanly and renewably heat and cool our homes and buildings, and eliminate on-site fossil fuel burning.  Attendees will hear from cutting edge technical and policy experts on how GHPs can be used to eliminate greenhouse gases and reduce energy bills. 

One focus of the conference will be net zero buildings, where GHPs and renewable electricity are combined to eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions for the building! 

Thanks to a generous donation from the Ives and Noble family, NY-GEO is able to offer 25 scholarships to the conference for students and low-income individuals.  Scholarship applicants are asked to send a blank email with “scholarship” in the title to nygeoinfo@gmail.com.  NY-GEO will respond with a simple 3-minute application form.

Scholarship application deadline is midnight, Wednesday, March 11th. 

Clean and efficient geothermal heating and cooling is the wave of the future, and attendance at this conference will put students in touch with a technology that promises to create jobs for decades to come as climate change and fossil fuel price volatility force a change in our building practices.

To learn more about the conference, go to http://ny-geo.org

The scholarships are available to students and low-income individuals who would otherwise be unable to afford conference fees.  They will cover full conference fees as well as meals and snacks during the conference.  Lodging and transportation will not be covered and, if needed, are the responsibility of the scholarship winners.

On Thursday, March 12th, awardees will be chosen in a lottery, and notified the same day.

Heat and Cool Efficiently with a Geothermal Heat Pump -- Upcoming NY Geo Conference

Are you concerned about how to keep your home warm as fossil fuel supplies continue to dwindle and the price rises?

Do you wonder if there is an alternative to high electric bills from air conditioning in the summer?

Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHPs) are the most efficient way to heat and cool buildings and are
becoming increasingly important as we recognize the need to reduce energy use in the face of climate change and volatile fossil fuel prices.

GHPs, when combined with renewable electricity such as solar PV panels, are the best way to get to net-zero energy consumption. Net-zero means that the total amount of energy used by a home or building is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site.

Net-zero is coming on strong in New York state.

UPCOMING CONFERENCE on GEOTHERMAL ENERGY:
The NY Geothermal Organization (NY-GEO) will hold its Annual Conference in Saratoga Springs, just North of Albany, March 17th and 18th. 

In addition to great speakers and workshops, the conference will feature a Top Job Competition, where 7 contractors will compete for the "2014 Top Geothermal Job" title.

Another highlight is the location - Skidmore College plans to be 50% geothermal by 2020 and we've got some great "hands on" tours planned for you to see geothermal in action! 

The first day of the conference will be mainly technical in nature, featuring engineer, contractor and product showcase tracks. The second day will focus more on policy and support for geo, and it will include tours of the Skidmore's geothermal facilities as well as the Top Job competition.

You are able to sign up for either or both days as fits your interest and schedule. Visit http://ny-geo.org/pages/geopalooza

Please see this flier, register today, and help us spread the word in your company and/or your community.

Feel free to call Bill Nowak with any questions.

Bill Nowak

Executive Director, NY-GEO

518-3136-GEO

Walking Relay and Fair for Renewable Energy

SUNDAY, April 28 Event 

calling for the 

Expansion of Clean, Renewable Energy in NY

Niagara County, NY -- On Sunday, April 28 at 1:00 pm the Niagara Group of the Sierra Club and the Beyond Coal Campaign are sponsoring a Walking Relay for Renewables and Renewable Energy Fair, hosted by Singer Farm Naturals.

Moms, dads, kids, students, activists, and community members will pass a solar torch from the nearby Somerset coal-fired power station to Singer Farm Naturals, a farm business powered by wind and solar energy. This event symbolizes moving beyond coal, gas, and nuclear to a clean, renewable energy economy for New York.

Relay for Renewables is part of Sierra Club’s WNY Clean Energy Campaign kick-off featuring billboards, print ads, and grassroots events throughout the region – calling on Governor Cuomo to meet and extend New York’s renewable energy commitments. Dirty-fuel sources like coal are responsible for 40% of New York State’s greenhouse gas emissions.

WHAT: Walking Relay for Renewables and Renewable Energy Fair featuring family
friendly activities, a solar-powered band, food, and great presentations on
solar, wind, geothermal, and energy efficiency.

WHEN:          Sunday, April 28 -- Relay Ceremony begins at 1:00pm

WHERE:        Singer Farm Naturals, 6730 Lake Road (Route 18) Appleton, NY [Map]

WHO:             Hosted by Tom and Vivianne Szulist at Singer Farm Naturals 
                        Sponsored by Niagara Sierra Club and the Beyond Coal Campaign
                        Music by Solar Punch

Renewable Energy Fair starts after the Relay.
Participants to include renewable energy companies Solar Liberty and Simply Solar, and Speakers: 
Tom Thompson: New York Solar Energy Society
Frank Westgate (wind),
Tom Szulist  (efficiency),
Bill Nowak (geothermal)

POSTER:  Click here.

Accelerating the Implementation of Renewable Energy

 7:30 p.m., Monday, November 26

 Daemen College, 4380 Main Street, Amherst, Room 336, 

Duns Scotus Hall

Free and Open to the Public

Keynote Speaker:

• Bill Nowak, Sierra Club Energy Committee member, Author of Clean Energy –FIT Report

Panelists 

• Dave Hahn Baker, Environmental and Political Consultant 
• Ellen Banks, Professor, Psychology, Daemen College 
• Sarah Carpenter, Sustainability Major, Daemen College

Moderator

• Walter Simpson, energy educator, Daemen College Instructor (www.energyreallymatters.com)

Printable Flier and Map: Click Here

Scientists have been telling us that global warming is likely to result in increasingly devastating extreme weather events as we continue to burn fossil fuels and add more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.  Superstorm Sandy is a horrific example of the type of extreme weather that is in store for us. But how can we respond effectively and achieve a clean energy economy with all due speed?  While renewable energy resources like wind and solar are said to be our future, the deployment of these technologies has been painfully slow despite existing government programs and incentives.  This public discussion will examine how a Feed-in Tariff (FIT) could speed up the transition from fossil fuels to renewables within a timeframe consistent with addressing climate change and providing needed green jobs.  In the last three years a Clean Energy FIT program has created more than 22,000 green jobs in Ontario!  Why not in New York?!

This panel discussion is presented as part of the Alternative & Renewable Energy Issues course in Daemen's Global & Sustainability program.  For information on this exciting new major and minor, visit www.daemen.edu/sustainability.  For more information about the panel discussion, wsimpson@daemen.edu or 839-0062.
 

Solar & Green Building Tour of WNY

On Saturday, October 13, 2012, over 1500 people from across WNY will experience the Solar & Green Building Tour, an annual event held by the Western New York Sustainable Energy Association (WNYSEA). With over 25 sites open across the region, for one day only, attendees will have an opportunity to learn about solar, geothermal, energy efficiency, net zero houses, green roofs, bale on bale construction, LEED buildings and adaptive reuse of historic buildings and more.
 
This event is an open house, not a guided tour. All sites are open on October 13 from 10am – 4pm unless noted otherwise. The event is free, open to the public and no registration is required.  A full list of sites in the Buffalo area is Here.

Awards Ceremony: WNYSEA will be kicking off the annual event with an awards ceremony at 9:30am, on Saturday, October 13 at Hispanics United of Buffalo – 254 Virginia Street on Buffalo’s West Side. WNYSEA will give its annual leadership award to both the University at Buffalo and Hispanics United for their efforts in promoting renewable technologies in our region. The public is welcome to attend. Rita Yelda, Director of WNY Drilling Defense, and Erin Heaney, Executive Director of the Clean Air Coalition of WNY will both receive WNYSEA Individual Leadership awards for their great work in Environmental Stewardship.

Presentation: Geothermal Heating -- April 18

WNY Sustainable Energy Association 

presents

The Reitan Speaker Series

• SPEAKER: Jens Ponikau, Geo-designer for Buffalo Geothermal Heating
• TOPIC: Everything You Wanted to Know about Geothermal Heating, but were Afraid to Ask!
• WHERE: Hallwalls - 341 Delaware Ave., Buffalo
• WHEN: Wednesday April 18th at 7pm - Free & Open to All

Buffalo Geothermal is a geothermal design and installment firm offering turnkey solutions in residential and commercial applications. Currently, BGH installs between 50-60 systems per year in the Buffalo and Western New York area. They include open and closed systems, and horizontal, vertical, and pond-loop systems. 

A native of Germany, Mr. Ponikau designed and installed 120 geosystems abroad and brought this design knowledge to Western New York, where he helped found Buffalo Geothermal Heating in 2008. He has been teaching numerous seminars to architects and engineers on geothermal technologies, and also made public appearances an radio shows, schools and the home show to further educate the public. Mr. Ponikau is an International Ground Source Heat Pump Association accredited geothermal installer and a graduate of the University of Hamburg, Germany.

Come Learn about this Renewable Energy Source at HALLWALLS, which has an active Geothermal System!

We hope to see you there!

GROWING BUFFALO'S GREEN ECONOMY

NY State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt

hosts a

Green Economy Summit

featuring Empire State Development Upstate Chairman

DAN GUNDERSEN

April 12, 9AM at Buffalo State College

To download a Conversation Starter for a Green Economy, click here

To visit the Green Economy Summit Wikispace, click here

GREENING the CONGREGATION

Being 'Green' doesn't just apply to environmental and climate activists who warn us about the hazards of global warming. The Green movement has made its way into our churches. The unifying concept is stewardship of Earth, caring for all of our natural resources to benefit present and future generations of people, animals and plants. That concept is also uniting members of different faiths and churches around global warming and the effects of climate change on humanity.

Recently, the National Religious Partnership for the Environment (NRPE) issued an interfaith statement and a letter to Congress to address those issues (1). NRPE partners include the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, the Evangelical Environmental Network and the National Council of Churches of Christ. Four thousand congregations of the Interfaith Power and Light campaign are mobilizing a national religious response to global warming while promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation (2). One consequence of global warming predicted by climate scientists is extreme weather events, like Hurricane Katrina. Western New Yorkers from eight different churches joined Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in New Orleans to provide hurricane relief, connecting people and rebuilding lives (3).

Large church buildings with vaulted ceilings can require enormous quantities of energy for operation. Climate scientists tell us that to fight global warming we must act by reducing substantially the emissions of carbon dioxide derived from burning fossil fuels, our primary sources of energy. Action in our churches could include energy-saving measures, such as installing energy-efficient heating and lighting (4), and improving weatherization. The financial cost of saving energy this way can be recovered over time in the form of lower utility bills. An Episcopal church in Massachusetts saved $17,000 per year after installing a new boiler with zoned heating, programmable thermostats, and more efficient lighting (4). A simple analysis of a church's energy footprint can identify how to save energy (5), and a detailed energy audit can determine how much can be saved.

Certain congregations are taking even further action against global warming, along the same science-based lines promoted by climate activists. Global warming pollution can be eliminated by switching to clean energy sources which emit no carbon dioxide and are renewable and sustainable. Some Unitarian churches have installed solar electric panels and geothermal heating-cooling systems (6). Local examples of Green power for large buildings include solar panels at the University of Buffalo and a geothermal system in Ani DiFranco's Asbury Hall (Babeville) at a former church, both subsidized by NY State to help reduce costs. Other churches have designated clean energy such as wind or hydro power as their electricity source for a small extra utilities cost (6). Local examples of wind and hydro are Steel Winds and the Niagara Falls Power Project. In addition to reducing global warming pollution, a shift to clean energy sources eliminates mercury pollution and other health-threatening emissions derived from coal-fired electricity plants.

On a final note, the Church of England came up with a creative solution to help reduce global warming: during Lent this year, all congregation members were asked to cut back on carbon emissions rather than chocolate consumption (7)!

Citations:
(1) New York Interfaith Power and Light
(2) Interfaith Power and Light Campaign
(3) Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - Katrina
(4) Churches go Green
(5) Shrinking the Footprint
(6) Churches relying on renewable energy sources.
(7) Cut out carbon for Lent says Churches

Local Event:
A talk "Could the WIND Bring New Jobs to WNY? YOU BET!" will be presented by Bill Nowak, Communications Chair of the Wind Action Group, on April 16th, 7PM (refreshments at 6:30 PM), at the WNY Climate Action Coalition meeting, Unitarian-Universalist Church, Elmwood & West Ferry in Buffalo.

Web Extras:

• Rev. Sally Bingham, president of the Interfaith Power and Light, talks about her life as an Episcopal priest and environmental activist: video, click here.

• For a closer look at Hurricane Katrina Relief through the eyes of local volunteer workers, click here.

• Video by the National Resources Defense Council about the impact of Katrina, 2 years later, and the inaction of the federal government, click here.

• Young Stewards of the Earth: video-slide show with music, click here.