Monroe County and City of Rochester NY start Green studies

Last week was the beginning of the energy block grant program in Rochester area. Both County and City presented to the audience what their plans are for energy conservation planning. City of Rochester also started " Cool Rochester" program where individuals make a commitment to reduce their carbon foot print. Rochester's goal is to involve local citizens and reduce 1 Billion pounds of CO2 emissions in 3 years.
Larsen Engineers was part of this program and shared our efforts to make a difference in our own lives and educate others to do the same. The green message must get to the roots of our communities and see how we inspire each other to fight this fight for independence from imported oil.

Smart communities should treat small businesses as Goose that lays golden eggs

In this economy there are many communities that are facing decline in industrial commercial activities. This is the time to look at large tax payers as revenue producers and therefore worth preserving. Think of them as a goose that lays golden egg every day and can fly away to another pond. To assure getting the golden egg one must ask the goose what can we do make you happy and provide assistance to resolve any problems. This is the proactive approach.
In the same way, the Mayors and Supervisors should be calling the CEO of the companies that create jobs in their community and find out what are their problems. Sustainable green planning takes a comprehensive approach to involve all aspects of our community and find ways to make them cost efficient. Look for funding assistance to resolve critical problems and keep the existing businesses and job creating entities from leaving town. This requires change from the attitude that assumes that all tax payers will continue to stay in town. In free democracy the goose can fly to neighboring state and be treated like welcome guest with many incentives offered to move.
Only smart planning and proactive approach can help us deal with this issue.

Urban Sustainable Green Landscape is ready for change

I met a Village Mayor today and mentioned how communities need to look long range for saving energy and controlling costs. The reality is that taxes are high and costs must be contained by using new green power technology.
Wind turbines were mentioned in our conversation and the typical image of very tall units of megawatt production capacity came to their mind. They could not imagine what the wind turbines of small size would like spread over typical Village and Town landscape. Actual installation can only make it possible for people to visualize a positive image and support such future installations. Creative designs are needed to make an artistic impact to win over the hearts and minds of local residents.
Check the following links to see what is possible at very small in 1 to 50KW size located on top of buildings in the communities with wind potential. www.jetprotech.com.tw
We are planning a 1 KW demonstration project near Lake Ontario or in Finger Lakes community to collect performance data and project the cost of Power production. The expectation is that we can produce power under 6 cents per KWH and fix it for long term. With rising cost of power in 2010 onwards, installation of wind gardens in small communities will show one way to harvest what mother nature has given us to energize our communities.
Ram

Green Communities Create Wind Power Gardens

The opportunity for using wind generators for Urban America is here today, as I learned about two new wind turbine systems this week. Both designs adopt the shape of jet engines but offer energy generating applications where low speed wind is available in the communities. One looks like a large sunflower and the other like a lily or harebell shaped. Think of a group of them spread over acres of land and that is your so called " Wind garden" inspired by natural flowers. Man takes lessons from nature and solves the energy problem in communities working in harmony with nature. Nice thought, and now ready to become reality.

Generating power at a cost comparable to what we pay to power company is no longer a dream for future. It is here today for people who should take advantage of tax credits, alternative energy grant subsidies and low interest loans to finance the installation. If you pay more than 6 cents per KWH then why not make your own power now with guarantee for NO INCREASE for next 20-30 years. As more people learn about these practical systems, and accept the visual look on roof tops or top of power poles, we will see these small turbines making 200 watt to 50 KW power where available wind speed is 10 to 20 MPH.

Now it is possible to visualize wind power generators looking like flowers mounted on 20 to 40 ft high poles or roof tops of the buildings. Soon we will see the wind mills along the hilly slopes of wineries and agricultural farms producing power for the local use and allowing power for irrigation. The opposition to traditional wind power towers would diminish and prosperity will come to our communities, because these wind turbines look good and makes power for less than what we pay today.

This is what the sustainable green communities are all about. Let wisdom prevail to adopt such technologies for common good.

Ram

Urban wind turbines are here to make power in our communities

last week was great and inspiring for me. Small wind turbines that are affordable and aesthetically pleasing are under development and demonstration by many companies.

I was fortunate to meet the founder owner of one of these companies. This engineer is Princeton educated with PhD and expertise in thermodynamics & fluid dynamics. He shared information on many nature based products that could soon offer us renewable energy and conservation solutions to fight the war of independence from Oil.

My mind is now in high gear to think of the ways to try demonstrate these products in our Rochester NY communities and learn practical lessons and confirm the projections for costs and performance.

Imagine a large Fan in the shape of a sun flower , mounted on roof tops or poles making power in the areas where average wind speeds of 12 mph are available. This is reality now in many installations in Asia. Hopefully, soon these installations will be seen in America to benefit individual consumers with the help of tax credits or incentives from Utility and Government programs.

Bottom line is that we can make power at the point of consumption for under 10 cents per KWH. Why wait when we pay 10 to 12 cents per KWH to utility. Go for it if you live in windy cities.
Ram

ARRA Funding opportunity to Transform your Community

ARRA funding to make our communities Green may be perceived by some as " too Good to be true" and therefore not getting serious attention by Community Leaders. They are facing day to date challenges and getting so many mails- e-mails coming in at rapid rate. So when it says not cost to you, zero risk etc. the first reaction is to ignore it. Fortunately it is true that some program offer 100% financing for doing the green things to save energy, make green power etc.

How to make a believer is the challenge for those who want to convey the message to the Mayors and Supervisors, County executives in various States. New York State and upstate area is what we are focusing and it was my pleasure to talk at one of the communities- North Tonwanda, NY. Fortunately the group listened and took action to plan forming a green task force. Every step counts and we hope to make rapid progress.
http://www.tonawanda-news.com/local/local_story_209233724.html/resources_printstory

The money would not last forever as applications come in on First come serve basis.

The bottom line for Community Leaders is - ARRA is real and do not miss the opportunity to apply for these funds . The community will become more efficient in the use of energy and save money for more worthy causes in future.

Ram

Water or Energy - challenges for sustainability

Energy conservation and alternative energy are key to our energy future. What about water for many parts of the world? It is very expensive to produce clean potable water but manage it smartly is the responsibility of our deveopled communities. Just this week I saw the TV news covering scens of no water in the tap of some area of Mumbai India. few days later it is flooding story in the same city where schools are closed and cars are driving through 2-3 ft deep ponded pool of water on streets.
It is time to recognize the inevitable climate change events that are going to face us as global warming shifts the weather patterns. Communities must take watershed approach and join hands to deal with this issue related to storm water management . When rain falls, it is a free gift from Nature. What we do with it is in our hands. Communities need to harvest and reuse it as a planned effort. Create drainage districts so we can raise funds to model the storm water generation patterns and find ways to store it and allow it to replenish the ground water reservoir below the land. This is one of the key challenges of Sustainable green planning essential to the part of the world that historically has seen water shortages.

Sustainability means long term Green perspective

It is exciting to see that soon stimulus funding will be allocated to communities to make green infrastructure improvements accross America. The time has come to make for Muncicipal officials to make smart long term decisions. The money should be spent on green measures that offer money saving benefits forever. Here is an example to make the point. If a community gets $100,00 as grant then they could build a building addition with green features to add some space and convenience. On the other hand they could replace old lamps on street lights and save $35,000 to $50,000 each year forever. The money saved each year can be invested on other green projects "forever". Therefore, it will be prudent for the communities to involve the government officials and residents to focus on strategic energy planning and make smart decisions.

This will create long term benefit to all and help us deal with climate change and energy crisis.