I think that "Greensburg" is going to be the only one that I am familiar with....familiar meaning that I know that they rebuilt with as much renewable energy resourses as possible. Geothermal comes to mind as well as solar. Cloud County Community College community uses wind energy obviously since they train for wind energy maintance.
My husband's boss uses geothermal energy to run his house. I know it required him to have a fairly complicated mechanical room in his home. I also know they had to have a large area in which to dig. I am not really sure how this energy source works.
I know that Greensburg rebuilt as a green community but I don't really know what that means other than the wind turbines I see when I drive through town. I know that many communities limit water usage during the summer to conserve water. I think the pickups driven by my local city and county may be E85 compatible, saving on fossil fuels. Local farmers are also using a technique called ridge till, or no till as a water conservation effort. Many large cities have bicycle sharing programs. That's about all I know.
I guess that I am more familar with wind energy in communities after learning about Ft. Hays University campus wind turbines. It will be a wonderful change for the environment when it is up and fully functional. I would like to go see Greensburg to really understand what their choice to go "green" means in reality.
Like the others mentioned, Greensburg is the only "community" that I know that was rebuilt going as "green" as possible. The buildings were built using the most energy efficient materials as possible. There was a lot of discussion among the community as it was being built as not everyone agreed. I know they used wind, geothermal, and solar in their production of energy. I also know there are several individual "campus and business communities" that are trying to use as much renewable resources as possible such as FHSU and CCCC.
The Cloud County Community College wind turbine school I think will be a feather in CCCC's cap. According Dr. Adams at FHSU they have cornered the market on wind energy maintenance education.
I don't know a huge amount about how Greensburg was rebuilt. I know that they utilized wind, geothermal and solar power for many of their buildings. Other green technologies that I've seen implemented in the area include buses that run on biodiesel (in Salina), curbside recycling programs (many communities), collection of methane gas from landfills for energy production (Wichita), tax credits for the purchase of energy saving appliances (nationwide?), etc. (I know I'll think of more later but haven't had my coffee yet this a.m....lol.)
I just heard about the Wichita energy tax credits within the past week or so on the news. Don't know much more than that about it.
On a side note, remember a couple years ago the government bought up older vehicles in an attempt to get carbon monoxide machines off the road? That was definitely a time in which the federal government was trying to clean up our air. However, I also remember how disappointing it was - farmers are driving 20-30 year old gas/diesel guzzlers that get horrible mileage that did not qualify for the program, and newer more efficient machines could not be sold/traded back to these individuals. They were demolished instead.
What do I know about wind energy? I know from our field trip that even though energy is produced locally it isn’t always used locally. I was unaware before the field trip that energy from the Ellsworth Wind Farm was sold to other states. I assumed it was used primarily in Ellsworth and maybe Salina. Although, I am still unclear how that works. Some communities are producing wind only for their own use. For instance FHSU now has two turbines only for their use. To me this makes more sense than selling the energy to other places. My reasoning for this is that it gets sold for less than it costs to purchase other energy. If a community sells energy they make locally they will have to buy back energy at a higher rate. This is unavoidable though unless you have some way to store the energy because you won’t always be producing enough at peak usage times.
I also learned that turbines are not stationary. I thought that they were all lined up and aimed differently to catch wind coming from different directions. Now I know that they can rotate to be aligned in a way that maximizes their use of the available wind. I also think it is interesting that they can detect strong winds, shut off, and turn to avoid damage.
The cost to install turbines is high. A small community might struggle to come up with enough money to install one especially if updates to the transmission lines are needed. The government has provided subsidies for this purpose but they are expiring (I think). Some communities do not allow the construction of turbines within a certain range of their cities.
I know in large cities people often do not have or use cars. However, out here in Western Kansas cars are an important part of our lives. I try to walk when I do errands in town however, I find that I often have to travel to Hays for groceries or other supplies.
My knowledge of building green is fairly. There was a lot of hoopla before, during, and after the rebuilding of Greensburg. The show "This Old House" on occasion has used green insulation when putting in a basement (it looked like foam blocks). We have looked into putting solar panels on our shop. Out of necessity cities have to limit water supplies in the summer, mostly due to the drought conditions we have been experiencing the past few years, but that is not something cities are doing to promote green but instead survival.
I think that "Greensburg" is going to be the only one that I am familiar with....familiar meaning that I know that they rebuilt with as much renewable energy resourses as possible. Geothermal comes to mind as well as solar. Cloud County Community College community uses wind energy obviously since they train for wind energy maintance.
ReplyDeletegeothermal sounds interesting. Would like to know more about it.
DeleteMy husband's boss uses geothermal energy to run his house. I know it required him to have a fairly complicated mechanical room in his home. I also know they had to have a large area in which to dig. I am not really sure how this energy source works.
DeleteI know that Greensburg rebuilt as a green community but I don't really know what that means other than the wind turbines I see when I drive through town. I know that many communities limit water usage during the summer to conserve water. I think the pickups driven by my local city and county may be E85 compatible, saving on fossil fuels. Local farmers are also using a technique called ridge till, or no till as a water conservation effort. Many large cities have bicycle sharing programs. That's about all I know.
ReplyDeleteGood points! I would really like to visit Greensburg to see it in action.
DeleteI recently became familiar with the 2 new wind turbines at Fort Hays State that will sustain the campus by September of this year.
ReplyDeleteGreensburg, Ks was forced to rebuild their community and went with the go green concept in every way.
I wonder what 'every' way involves? Wind energy, solar, geothermal, rebuilding codes to be energy efficient?
DeleteI guess that I am more familar with wind energy in communities after learning about Ft. Hays University campus wind turbines. It will be a wonderful change for the environment when it is up and fully functional. I would like to go see Greensburg to really understand what their choice to go "green" means in reality.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I would really like to see a field trip to Greensburg.
DeleteLike the others mentioned, Greensburg is the only "community" that I know that was rebuilt going as "green" as possible. The buildings were built using the most energy efficient materials as possible. There was a lot of discussion among the community as it was being built as not everyone agreed. I know they used wind, geothermal, and solar in their production of energy. I also know there are several individual "campus and business communities" that are trying to use as much renewable resources as possible such as FHSU and CCCC.
ReplyDeleteThe Cloud County Community College wind turbine school I think will be a feather in CCCC's cap. According Dr. Adams at FHSU they have cornered the market on wind energy maintenance education.
DeleteGreat points! It would be interesting to talk to those involved to see how it is going and what they feel the benefits and savings involved.
DeleteI don't know a huge amount about how Greensburg was rebuilt. I know that they utilized wind, geothermal and solar power for many of their buildings. Other green technologies that I've seen implemented in the area include buses that run on biodiesel (in Salina), curbside recycling programs (many communities), collection of methane gas from landfills for energy production (Wichita), tax credits for the purchase of energy saving appliances (nationwide?), etc. (I know I'll think of more later but haven't had my coffee yet this a.m....lol.)
ReplyDeleteI just heard about the Wichita energy tax credits within the past week or so on the news. Don't know much more than that about it.
DeleteOn a side note, remember a couple years ago the government bought up older vehicles in an attempt to get carbon monoxide machines off the road? That was definitely a time in which the federal government was trying to clean up our air. However, I also remember how disappointing it was - farmers are driving 20-30 year old gas/diesel guzzlers that get horrible mileage that did not qualify for the program, and newer more efficient machines could not be sold/traded back to these individuals. They were demolished instead.
What do I know about wind energy?
ReplyDeleteI know from our field trip that even though energy is produced locally it isn’t always used locally. I was unaware before the field trip that energy from the Ellsworth Wind Farm was sold to other states. I assumed it was used primarily in Ellsworth and maybe Salina. Although, I am still unclear how that works. Some communities are producing wind only for their own use. For instance FHSU now has two turbines only for their use. To me this makes more sense than selling the energy to other places. My reasoning for this is that it gets sold for less than it costs to purchase other energy. If a community sells energy they make locally they will have to buy back energy at a higher rate. This is unavoidable though unless you have some way to store the energy because you won’t always be producing enough at peak usage times.
I also learned that turbines are not stationary. I thought that they were all lined up and aimed differently to catch wind coming from different directions. Now I know that they can rotate to be aligned in a way that maximizes their use of the available wind. I also think it is interesting that they can detect strong winds, shut off, and turn to avoid damage.
The cost to install turbines is high. A small community might struggle to come up with enough money to install one especially if updates to the transmission lines are needed. The government has provided subsidies for this purpose but they are expiring (I think). Some communities do not allow the construction of turbines within a certain range of their cities.
I know in large cities people often do not have or use cars. However, out here in Western Kansas cars are an important part of our lives. I try to walk when I do errands in town however, I find that I often have to travel to Hays for groceries or other supplies.
ReplyDeleteMy knowledge of building green is fairly. There was a lot of hoopla before, during, and after the rebuilding of Greensburg. The show "This Old House" on occasion has used green insulation when putting in a basement (it looked like foam blocks). We have looked into putting solar panels on our shop. Out of necessity cities have to limit water supplies in the summer, mostly due to the drought conditions we have been experiencing the past few years, but that is not something cities are doing to promote green but instead survival.
ReplyDelete