(By Karen LaMantia) Energy 2005 Expo, August 14-17 was sponsored by the US Department of Energy’s Efficiency and Renewable Energy division, the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and was designed to help US government agencies save tax dollars and, yes, our planet by using energy wisely and converting to renewable energy programs. Though intended for the military, big government agencies and large corporations, the Energy Expo still had hope, good ideas and great technology options to offer for the rest of us. Fortunately, there was evidence of many helpful programs and useful technologies to make change possible on the ground, in our air, in our neighborhoods and maybe in our oil-seeking foreign policy, present at the Expo.
Energy 2005 Expo, August 14-17 was sponsored by the US Department of Energy’s Efficiency and Renewable Energy division, the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and was designed to help US government agencies save tax dollars and, yes, our planet by using energy wisely and converting to renewable energy programs.
Though intended for the military, big government agencies and large corporations, the Energy Expo still had hope, good ideas and great technology options to offer for the rest of us. Fortunately, there was evidence of many helpful programs and useful technologies to make change possible on the ground, in our air, in our neighborhoods and maybe in our oil-seeking foreign policy, present at the Expo. Here are a just a very few with some contact information if you’re interested in finding out more.
TRISON ”“ Geothermal HVAC (Heat Exchange) Systems. Trison is a contractor that can design and install systems that will use the difference in the temperature below the earth surface, compared to that above the surface, to exchange heat. The earth itself is a giant heat pump that can heat or cool huge buildings or one home. To find out how it works check out the website www.geoexchange.org
Solar Integrated Technologies ”“ Commercial and mobile power options using BIPV (solar panel is a continuous, flexible sheet, rather than a box of solar cells). This company has taken over the roofing and maintenance of rooftops on San Diego Schools in exchange for the space to produce energy on school rooftops. They sell power back to the schools at less cost that schools are currently paying for power. This saves on school power costs and on their maintenance bills for roofing. Reach them at www.solarintegrated.com
Fuel Cell Energy, Inc. ”“ Fuel cell power plants for clean efficient and reliable electric power generation for large residential or industrial complexes, for a wide range of customer needs. Check out the future at: www.fce.com
SEPCO - Solar Electric Power Company ”“ Streetlights, roadway and parking lot lighting options that are solar powered. Lighting for sports parks and fields can be installed at a much lower cost because they do not require digging trenches for the wires. ”“ Find out more at www.sepconet.com.
For those of us not building something new but taking advantage of energy saving options for existing buildings and homes:
Duro-Last Roofing ”“ a prefabricated, reinforced single ply roofing system that is leak proof, durable and maintenance free. The product is white and helps insulate the building and is part of the Federal Energy Star Roof Products. See www.duro-last.com . This product is used to create roofs for Solar Integrated Technologies (see above) but can be used as a roofing option without solar power options.
WW Creative Solutions ”“ Solar powered road, pathway and landscaping tiles that can be integrated into project designs for outdoor areas, airport runways, road markers and other ”˜off the grid ”˜ lighting needs. Find out more at: www.creativesolutions.com .
Options to help folks NOT use so much energy in the first place were a big part of the Energy 2005 Expo program with excellent materials coming from the Federal Government, and program sponsor The US Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Department and FEMP ”“ the Federal Energy Management Program. FEMP is designed to help Federal government agencies and the US Military be more energy efficient. They also help states, large corporations and yes, even US. Check out their website at www.eere.energy.gov/informationcenter or call 1-877-337-3463.
CPFilms ”“ Solar window films that save energy and provide UV protection. They also protect building occupants from flying glass in the event of earthquakes or explosion. Find out more on line at www.cpfilms.com
Is All The News Good?
There was a lot of noise at this meeting about Energy credits ”“ the newest stock in trade by speculators who want to sell yet another something that isn’t there. Energy Credit Brokers create a clean technology system (usually some form of power production) plug it into a grid somewhere and sell power. In addition to the power they sell, they also sell Clean Energy Credits to companies that do not wish to or are unable to meet clean air standard requirements, otherwise needed for them to remain in operation.
I was assured by a very personable gentleman, Andrew Skok, Executive Director of Strategic Marketing from FuelCell Energy Inc., that their production of Energy Credits was donated to the 2005 Energy Expo, to make the Expo Green and Clean. The plan- to offset the carbon dioxide and air pollution emission created by the planes, busses and trains that brought all the delegates to the Energy 2005 Expo. This sounds like a good plan for the Planet but was little help to the folks that breathe fumes from Long Beach Airport landings at ground level or changes to the ozone up higher.
Trading in Clean Energy Credits may help businesses reach their clean development goals and help us clean up our Planetary act, but it is still important to remember the folks on the ground, near pollution sources like the Port of Long Beach, still have to live with the pollution source next door. The Long Beach Green Port Plan will be presented to the public on Oct. 1st, 2005. It remains to be seen if we will all breath easier with it.
Karen LaMantia keeps her neighbors up to date with environment and justice action news through her website EarthNeighborhood. You can read and hear her EnviroFiction stories on line for a few laughs and some great ideas for healing our Planet one neighborhood at a time.
