Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Poultry Arks Gain Popularity

Poultry Arks


Following Jamie Oliver's tirade against factory farming of chickens, a Worcestershire garden and landscape company is hoping to lay a golden egg.

M&M Timber of Upper Sapey has just launched a new range of  "poultry arks" specially aimed at those who want to keep chickens in their own back gardens.

Launched at the Garden Centre Annual conference in Manchester last month, the poultry arks are expected to be the biggest sellers in M&M Timber's new pet and poultry housing range, which will soon be available at all major garden centres throughout the country.

Sales director Ian Rickhuss said: "We have heard from council officials that there has been a marked increase in the number of city dwellers seeking advice on keeping chickens at home."

"We are anticipating a huge demand for our new poultry arks this coming spring and have already begun deliveries to some of the larger garden centres."

"We are confident customers will appreciate the big difference in the build quality of our products, compared to inferior and often over priced foreign imports."

Collapsing Cooling Towers



It's time to move on. Our country needs to move from a fossil fuel past to a renewable energy future!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

The STIHL Tour des Trees

Ride The 2012 STIHL Tour des Trees


Here's a great idea for a fun and fit family vacation activity and you still have time to plan! Just think of the amazing scenery all along the way as well as teaching your children the importance of sustainability! 

The STIHL Tour des Trees is the signature annual fundraiser of the TREE Fund and is a week-long, 500-mile cycling event. The Tour des Trees, recognizing its 20th Anniversary in 2012, has raised more than $5 million for the TREE Fund and its mission to support research, scholarships and educational programs in the fields of arboriculture and urban forestry.

The 2012 STIHL Tour des Trees will launch from Portland, Oregon on August 5th and pedal 585 miles through Oregon’s rich coastline, vineyards, high desert and Columbia River Gorge looping back to Portland. Tour riders return year after year, joining their “Tree Family” to spread the message of the TREE Fund and for the camaraderie of their fellow riders.

There are a number of ways to get involved in the STIHL Tour des Trees:
  •  Ride the entire Tour
  •  Partially ride the Tour
  •  Donate to a rider
  •  Volunteer
  •  Or, join the Tour on its final day during the Ride for Research.
  •  For more information on how to get involved; Please visit http://www.stihltourdestrees.org./



Cutting ‘Fixed’ Overhead and Going Green

Cutting ‘Fixed’ Overhead and Going Green


On-site wind power is part of the energy savings mix for one Arizona station

A drive to reduce costs and go green led the owners of a Flagstaff, Ariz. service station to find new ways to reduce utility energy consumption. Late in 2009 the station owners installed small-scale wind turbines and have since made energy efficiency upgrades, cutting utility energy use by a total of about 20 percent.

The Chevron station, one of nine stations owned and operated by Hallum Inc., sits on the heavily traveled U.S. 89, a major route to the Grand Canyon. Two Skystream 3.7 wind turbines, made by Southwest Windpower, sit atop 33- and 45-foot high poles at the site. In addition to generating clean energy, the spinning turbines next to the highway draw plenty of attention from customers and passing motorists.

Cutting overhead

The wind turbines are part of Hallum’s long-term strategy to reduce costs. “Station owners look at electric bills as a fixed cost that you can’t do anything about. But you can. You just have to be proactive about it,” says vice president David Hallum. “Anything you can do to reduce long-term costs should be on the table. We took a look at our overhead and asked ‘what can we do with the resources available to us now?’”

Hallum Inc. engaged the local Southwest Windpower dealer to assess the company’s sites, and settled on the U.S. 89 location for its abundant wind and high visibility. The dealer provided trenching and concrete work, completed the electrical connections, assembled the turbines and raised the towers. The total installation process took just a couple of days, not including concrete cure time.

The owners also invested in new interior upgrades for better efficiency, with the help of Supermarket Energy Technologies, a firm specializing in efficiency retrofits. New refrigerator fan motor controllers and defrost sensors reduce running time by 80 to 90 percent. The station also saves with new lighting fixtures, LED cooler lights and restroom light motion sensors.

Visible green energy

Small-scale wind power can be an affordable and attractive alternative to other green energy options, such as buying carbon offsets. The spinning blades seem to capture people’s attention and differentiate the station from others in the area.

President Steve Hallum got interested in wind turbines largely as a cost-savings measure, but a green image also played a roll in his decision. “Part of it is making a statement to the public about being environmentally conscious. Wind power makes that statement,” he says.

David agrees. “I’m a firm believer. The use of wind energy at the station sends a message to everyone who sees it that we’re taking steps in the right direction. The more ways we can find to get away from conventional energy sources, the better,” he says.

The station manager notes that drivers often stop in to ask questions about the wind turbines that often spin as commuters and tourists pass by.

Small-scale technology

Today’s small wind turbines aren’t like the large turbines associated with wind farms that can stand well over 100 feet high. These are much smaller. And they’re not like old farm windmills either. Small-scale modern systems, with sculpted designs, composite blades, embedded software and wireless connectivity, deliver quiet, optimized performance in a variety of wind conditions.

Southwest Windpower developed Skystream 3.7 in conjunction with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to provide quiet, affordable wind energy systems to home and business owners worldwide. Today Skystream is available with solar panels and a sun tracking mechanism attached to the same tower, which delivers more consistent energy than either solar and wind power alone.

Although the Flagstaff project was undertaken independently by the station owners, Chevron Technology Ventures, the venture capital arm of Chevron., is an investor in Southwest Windpower.

Incentives reduce up front investment

Business owners of small-scale wind systems enjoy federal, state and local incentives, depending on their locations.

Hallum Inc. took advantage of a 30 percent federal tax credit, which was applied to the total installed cost the first year and $1,000 per year thereafter. Arizona Pubic Service, the local electric utility, also offered a $6,000 per turbine incentive, lowering the installation cost significantly.

Many states offer rebate or tax credit programs to encourage the adoption of wind and solar power systems. Some of the best incentives are offered in Arizona, California, Nevada, New York, Hawaii and Massachusetts. An up to date listing of incentives is available online at www.dsireusa.org.

Can your station benefit?

Because wind power is a site-specific technology, it’s not suited to every location. Ideal sites are in high wind areas without many obstacles like structures or tall trees. Usually locations like open plains, along coastlines, or on high ridges deliver the best performance.

Even the placement of the turbines in relation to the service station’s structures can have effects. Southwest Windpower recommends that any small wind turbine be situated on a tower that reaches at least 20 feet above any obstacle within 250 feet.

Any business investigating wind or solar projects should carefully consider whether local wind and sun resources will provide enough energy to make the project worthwhile. Online wind and sun estimating tools can help start the process, and a Southwest Windpower representative can follow up with a live site visit.

Mother Earth

MESSAGE TO THE CORPORATE POLLUTERS, THE GOVERNMENTS THEY ALMOST ENTIRELY CONTROL, AND THE MEDIA WHO PEDDLES THEIR FRAUDULENT SALES PITCHES.


What is the Main Ingredient of WD-40 ?

WD-40


Before you read to the end, does anybody know what the main ingredient of WD-40 is? Don't lie and don't cheat.

I had a neighbor who bought a new pickup. I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason). I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news. He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do.... probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open. Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off. It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job that was on the truck. I'm impressed!


WD-40 Who Knew?

'Water Displacement #40'. The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a 'water displacement' compound.. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40. The Convair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts. Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you... When you read the 'shower door' part, try it. It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It's a miracle! Then try it on your stove top ... Viola! It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed!


WD-40 Uses:

1. Protects silver from tarnishing.

2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.

3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.

4. Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.

5. Keeps flies off cows.

6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.

7. Removes lipstick stains.

8. Loosens stubborn zippers.

9. Untangles jewelry chains.

10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.

11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.

12. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.

13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.

14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.

15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.

16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.

17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.

18. It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows to help with the smell!

19. Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!

20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.

21. Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers...

22. Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.

23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open..

24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.

25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.

26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.

27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans

28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.

29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.

30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.

31. Removes splattered grease on stove.

32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.

33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.

34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).

35. Removes all traces of duct tape.

36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.


37. Florida 's favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.'

38. The favorite use in the state of New York , WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.

39. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.

40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.

41. WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.

42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone!

43. If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start.



P.S. The basic ingredient is........... FISH OIL.



Sunday, June 10, 2012

Skystream 3.7 at Capitol Building!

In May 2008, SWWP collaborated with the U.S. Botanic Gardens to bring the Skystream to the nation’s Capitol for display at the Garden’s summer “One Planet- Ours!” exhibition in Bartholdi Park’s outdoor display area. Southwest’s involvement furthered the interests of sustainability not only in a landscape sense, but also how citizens can lead a more sustainable life. Thousands of people viewed the Skystream 3.7 and became exposed to small-scale wind power. :)


Thought For The Day

Plum Island Animal Disease Center



Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) is a United States federal research facility dedicated to the study of animal diseases. It is part of the DHS Directorate for Science and Technology.

Since 1954, the center has had the goal of protecting America's livestock from animal diseases. During the Cold War a secret biological weapons program targeting livestock was conducted at the site. This program has been the subject of controversies and conspiracy theories.

Location

The center is located on Plum Island, off Connecticut, near the northeast coast of Long Island in New York state. During the Spanish-American War, the island was purchased by the government for the construction of Fort Terry, which was later deactivated after World War II and then reactivated in 1952 for the Army Chemical Corps. The center comprises 70 buildings (many of them dilapidated) on 840 acres.

Plum Island has its own fire department, power plant, and water treatment plant. Any wild mammal seen on the island is killed on sight. However, as Plum Island was named an important bird area by the New York Audubon Society, it has successfully attracted different birds. Plum Island had placed osprey nests and bluebird boxes throughout the island and will now add kestrel houses.

History

In response to disease outbreaks in Mexico and Canada in 1954, the Army gave the island to the Agriculture Department to establish a research center dedicated to the study of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle.

The island was opened to news media for the first time in 1992. In 1995, the Department of Agriculture was issued a $111,000 fine for storing hazardous chemicals on the island.

Local Long Island activists prevented the center from expanding to include diseases that affect humans in 2000, which would require a Biosafety Level 4 designation; in 2002, Congress again considered the plan.

The Wall Street Journal reported in January 2002 that many scientists and government officials wanted the lab to close, believing that the threat of foot-and-mouth disease was so remote that the center did not merit its $16.5 million annual budget. In 2002, the Plum Island Animal Disease Center was transferred from the United States Department of Agriculture to the United States Department of Homeland Security.

In 2003, a whistleblower who voiced concerns about safety at the facility was fired by the contractor he worked for. He had discussed his concerns with aides to Senator Hillary Clinton. A National Labor Relations Board judge found that the contractor, North Fork Services, had discriminated against the whistleblower.

As a diagnostic facility, PIADC scientists study more than 40 foreign animal diseases and several domestic diseases, including hog cholera and African swine fever. PIADC runs about 30,000 diagnostic tests each year. PIADC operates Biosafety Level 3 Agriculture (BSL-3Ag), BSL-3 and BSL-2 laboratory facilities. The facility's research program includes developing diagnostic tools and biologicals (vaccines) for foot-and-mouth disease and other diseases of livestock.

Plum Island's freezers also contain samples of polio and diseases that can be transferred from animals to humans. In 1991, the center's freezers were threatened following a power outage caused by a hurricane.

Because federal law stipulates that live foot-and-mouth disease virus cannot be studied on the mainland, PIADC is unique in that it is currently the only laboratory in the U.S. equipped with research facilities that permit the study of foot-and-mouth disease.

Foot-and-mouth disease is extremely contagious among cloven-hoofed animals, and people who have come in contact with it can carry it to animals. Accidental outbreaks of the virus have caused catastrophic livestock and economic losses in many countries throughout the world. Plum Island has experienced outbreaks of its own, including one in 1978 in which the disease was released to animals outside the center, and two incidents in 2004 in which foot-and-mouth disease was released within the center. Foot-and-mouth disease was eradicated from the U.S. in 1929 (with the exception of the stocks within the Plum Island center) but is currently endemic to many parts of the world.

In response to the two 2004 incidents, New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Congressman Tim Bishop wrote a letter to the Department of Homeland Security regarding their concerns about the center's safety: "We urge you to immediately investigate these alarming breaches at the highest levels, and to keep us apprised of all developments."

Lab 257, a book by Michael C. Carroll, Ph.D., has alleged a connection between Plum Island Animal Disease Center and the outbreaks of three infectious diseases: West Nile virus in 1999, Lyme disease in 1975, and Dutch duck plague in 1967.

Building 257

Building 257 located at Fort Terry was completed around 1911. The original purpose of the building was to store weapons, such as mines, and the structure was designated the Combined Torpedo Storehouse and Cable Tanks building. Fort Terry went through a period of activations and deactivations through World War II until the U.S. Army Chemical Corps took over the facility in 1952 for use in anti-animal biological warfare (BW) research. The conversion of Fort Terry to a BW facility required the remodeling of Building 257 and other structures. As work neared completion on the lab and other facilities in the spring of 1954 the mission of Fort Terry changed. Construction was completed on the facilities on May 26, 1954, but the Fort Terry was officially transferred to the USDA on July 1, 1954. At the time scientists from the Bureau of Animal Industry were already working in Building 257.

Building 101

The structure is a 164,000-square-foot T-shaped white building. It is situated on Plum Island's northwest plateau on a 10-acre site where it is buttressed by a steep cliff which leads into the ocean. To the east of the building's site is the old Plum Island Lighthouse.

Construction on Plum Island's new laboratory Building 101 began around July 1, 1954, around the same time that the Army's anti-animal bio-warfare (BW) facilities at Fort Terry were transferred to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Following the transfer the facilities on Plum Island became known as the Plum Island Animal Disease Center. The USDA's $7.7 million Building 101 laboratory facility was dedicated on September 26, 1956. Prior to the building's opening the area around it was sprayed with chemicals to deter insect or animal life from approaching the facility. Upon its opening a variety of tests using pathogens and vectors were conducted on animals in the building. Research on biological weapons at PIADC did not cease until the entire program was canceled in 1969 by Richard Nixon.

On September 11, 2005, the United States Department of Homeland Security announced that the Plum Island Animal Disease Research Center will be replaced by a new federal facility. The location of the new high-security animal disease lab, to be called the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), has been recommended to be built in Manhattan, Kansas. However, this plan has been called into question by a recent GAO study which states that claims by the DHS that the work performed on Plum Island can be performed safely on the mainland is not supported by evidence.

Activities

PIADC's mission can be grouped into three main categories: Diagnosis, Research, and Education.

Since 1971, PIADC has been educating veterinarians in foreign animal diseases. The center hosts several Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic schools each year to train federal and state veterinarians and laboratory diagnostic staff, military veterinarians and veterinary school faculty.

At PIADC, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) work together; DHS' Targeted Advanced Development unit partners with USDA, academia and industry scientists to deliver vaccines and antivirals to the USDA for licensure and inclusion in the USDA National Veterinary Vaccine Stockpile.

USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) performs basic and applied research to better formulate countermeasures against foreign animal diseases, including strategies for prevention, control and recovery. ARS focuses on developing faster-acting vaccines and antivirals to be used during outbreaks to limit or stop transmission. Antivirals prevent infection while vaccine immunity develops. The principal diseases studied are foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, and vesicular stomatitis virus.

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) operates the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, an internationally recognized facility performing diagnostic testing of samples collected from U.S. livestock. APHIS also tests animals and animal products being imported into the U.S. APHIS maintains the North American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank at PIADC and hosts the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnosticians training program, offering several classes per year to train veterinarians to recognize foreign animal diseases.

Research on biological weapons at PIADC did not cease until the entire program was canceled in 1969 by Richard Nixon.

Bio-weapons research

The original anti-animal BW mission was "to establish and pursue a program of research and development of certain anti-animal (BW) agents". By August 1954 animals occupied holding areas at Plum Island and research was ongoing within Building 257. The USDA facility, known as the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, continued work on biological warfare research until the U.S. program was ended by Richard Nixon in 1969. The bio-weapons research at Building 257 and Fort Terry was shrouded in aura of mystery and secrecy. The existence of biological warfare experiments on Plum Island during the Cold War era was denied for decades by the U.S. government. In 1993 Newsday unearthed documents proving otherwise and in 1994, Russian scientists inspected the Plum Island research facility to verify that these experiments had indeed ended.

The number of building "257" is a moniker for the entire site in 2004 when Michael Carroll, an attorney, published Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Plum Island Germ Laboratory. Many of the assertions and accusations made in the book are counter to the government's position and have been criticized and challenged. The review in Army Chemical Review concluded; "Lab 257 would be cautiously valuable to someone writing a history of Plum Island, but is otherwise an example of fringe literature with a portrayal of almost every form of novelist style." The book advances the idea that Lyme disease originated at Plum Island and conjectures several means by which animal diseases could have left the island. David Weld, the executive director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation, generically opinionated that "I personally just don't think that has any merit" yet refused to be specific or comment on the number of birds that come into contact with the island and fly back and forth between the mainland, possibly carrying infected ticks.

The testing facility at Plum Island is the subject of a novel, The Poison Plum, by author Les Roberts, and another, Plum Island, by Nelson DeMille. DeMille has said, "How could anthrax not be studied there? Every animal has it." His novel portrays the island as the scene of an incubator for germ warfare.

The center was also mentioned in the movie Silence of the Lambs by FBI agents who offer Dr. Hannibal Lecter a transfer to it in exchange for his help locating a serial killer. Lecter reads over a report on the location, sarcastically saying, "Plum Island Animal Disease Research Center...sounds charming", then, rejecting the offer, Lecter refers to Plum Island as "Anthrax Island."

When Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui, a suspected al-Qaeda member, was arrested in Afghanistan in July 2008, she had in her handbag handwritten notes referring to a "mass casualty attack" that listed various U.S. locations, including the Plum Island Animal Disease Center. In February 2010, she was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and attempting to kill U.S. soldiers and FBI agents who were seeking to interrogate her.



Friday, June 8, 2012

It's a Family Affair---And a Healthy One!

GALION -- Sixth-generation farmer Mendy Sellman and her husband, Russ have one word to describe the way they run their farm -- healthy.

The couple raise their cattle, hogs, turkeys and chickens with no hormones, antibiotics or other chemicals that would make their products less healthy on their farm, Rus-Men Farm, located at 710 Iberia Road about a mile and a half from Ohio 19 between Galion and Bucyrus.

"We also raise them in an atmosphere where they behave naturally and are not stressed. We do everything the healthiest way possible," Mendy Sellman said.

The Sellmans also grow corn, wheat and beans on the farm that their three children, 22-year-old Emily, 18-year-old Jesse and 13-year-old Elaina, help out with.

"We work together as a family," Mendy said.

Mendy's Sellman's relatives own farms that encompass the Rus-Men Farms, also known as Beach Farm.

"Our ancestors are buried just a road over on the original family plot. They were German Mennonites and passed down the farm down the road. My grandpa added this farm in the 1950s and added the Nigh Farm in 1971. We all still live here and I love it. I am 45 years old and have always lived here," Mendy said.

After she married Russ Sellman in 1993, he moved to the farm from his home in Loudonville.

"I grew up around farming so it was not new to me," said Russ Sellman, who was able to leave his job at Covert Manufacturing in Galion about a year ago to work on the farm full-time.

The Sellmans try to do everything they can locally to help support the economy.

"We do business with Link's in Leesville, we buy seed from Paul Lust and Jim Nigh, along with Central Ohio Farmer's Co-op in Monnett, and get our peeps from Eaglenest Poultry in Oceola. We try to do as much as we can locally," Mendy said.

Mendy noted their meats are processed at the nearest state inspected facility which is in Baltic, Ohio.

The Sellmans offer Thanksgiving turkeys each year on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

"We start at 7 p.m. on that Tuesday. This year, we pulled in to our driveway at 6:30 and there were about 20 carloads of people waiting already. It was amazing," Mendy said.

She said that is one of things she likes best about selling her products at local farm markets in Galion and Mansfield is the people.

The Sellman's have constructed a store at their farm. "We connect with so many people, I just love it," Mendy said.





Thursday, June 7, 2012

Proposed Deep Injection Well in Mansfield, Ohio

Good clear explanation and argument against fracking and all the auxillary processes that support it including injection well storage of fracking waste water. There are 192 of these wells in Ohio alone now with 187 more permits being applied for.



The Divide from Timothy McKee on Vimeo.

THRIVE: What On Earth Will It Take?

THRIVE is an unconventional documentary that lifts the veil on what’s “really” going on in our world by following the money upstream – uncovering the global consolidation of power in nearly every aspect of our lives.


Weaving together breakthroughs in science, consciousness and activism, THRIVE offers real solutions, empowering us with unprecedented and bold strategies for reclaiming our lives and our future.

THRIVE is more than a documentary relevant to the times. It is more than a well-researched and alarming insight into who really controls how the world works.

It is a recipe and blueprint for how we can, each and every one of us, thrive in the way that the rest of nature does – easily, naturally and with expansive grace. For this last point alone, it is more than worth the time to see.

Watch the film here for free!

Thought For The Day

Wind Powers Green Living Project in Kenya

Wind Powers Green Living Project in Kenya


In our series “In Action," the opportunities and benefits of personal wind turbines are shared through customer testimonials and regional case studies.

Jane and Robert Jann have been building a model for sustainable living in Awendo, Kenya for several years. Along with food gardens and a home built using low-impact construction techniques, this site includes small-scale wind power to pump drinking water. The couple hopes that the site will serve as a case study for sustainable development and eventually supply UV-purified drinking water for people living in the area.

Jane recently corresponded with Southwest Windpower about this project.

SWWP: Tell us about your project in Awendo?

JJ: We started out committed to making an environmentally friendly home. Our aim was to bring some basic and necessary services, like clean drinking water, into the community around us. In the project home, we drilled a 135-meter (440 ft) well.

Other activities initiated in the community included education about building with SSBs (stabilized soil blocks) to enable the people to build cheap affordable houses and are organizing the planting of vegetables and useful ornamental trees that bear fruit.

SWWP: How do you plan to purify water for the surrounding community?

JJ: The water is pumped directly into a 6,000-liter water tank. Later when we have enough energy to pump through the ultraviolet filter, we will pump water directly into sterile containers and share with the neighbors. Three immediate adjoining homes have expressed a wish to be connected to the water supply. We will consider this option as well when our energy production is ready.

SWWP: How many households or individuals will eventually benefit?

JJ: According to the last census in mid-2007, there would be close to 400-500 people, a mix of adults and children, to be supplied with clean drinking water.

SWWP: Tell us about the wind turbine the site uses.

JJ: We bought the first Whisper 200 in 2006 from a Swiss dealer. We installed it in Kenya that December. The whole wind turbine project was put together by my husband, Robert, who made all the calculations for the installation after we bought the wind turbine. We also bought the guy-wires from Switzerland. The turbine is on a 6 m (20-ft) tower, made from metal bought locally in Kenya.

SWWP: How will this project home serve as an example?

JJ: All the necessary Kenyan government officials within the district know of the project due to its unique position as a first individual effort. It was not intended directly as a model. There are nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) I worked with during my research into the project: KWAHO, Kenya Water for Health Organization, Rongo District; SANA, Sustainable Aid in Africa; Kisumu and Practical Action East Africa, Nairobi Office as well as the Kisumu office. I am currently looking into actively involving either the government or other NGOs with common interests.

SWWP: Do you have plans to take this model elsewhere?

JJ: A project on Lake Victoria will most likely evolve along the same lines as the Awendo project. We wish to make these projects happen, but time and money are key. As long as we have to work jobs to keep the projects going, it means a long, slow process. I make time to go to Kenya twice a year, mid-year for a month or two, and together with Robert for our December holidays.

If we find a suitable organization to take over our project in Awendo, we will establish the Lake Victoria site as an owner-occupied lodge/resort incorporating buildings that preserve the environment. We aim to integrate the site with the local fishing community. With wind energy, we are planning again to pump water from a well. Although local residents live near the lake, the water from the lake is not clean enough for drinking unless it is boiled or treated with chemicals.

The lodge would use wind, solar and biomass as the only energy sources. I am working on a business plan to present to possible investors. I am looking to establish a place that would allow the guests to get involved in the communal activities during their visits, as well as create employment where currently there is none.



Chevy Volt Powered By Wind Energy

Chevy Volt Powered By Wind Energy

In our series “In Action," the opportunities and benefits of personal wind turbines are shared through customer testimonials and regional case studies.

One lucky Chevy Volt was driven around Hereford, Texas, producing zero emissions not only from the car itself, but also from the source it was charged on. KPAN Radio, a local Hereford station, was given a week to test-drive a Chevrolet Volt provided by Stevens 5-Star, a local car dealership.

The station used their Skystream 3.7 personal wind turbine installed on site at their studio to fully recharge the Volt. By combining the two innovative technologies, the car drove many miles, but produced zero emissions, setting a precedent for how renewable vehicles and renewable energy sources might work in tandem in the future.

The Skystream 3.7 was installed at the studio in 2007 and annually produces about 20 percent of the electricity consumed on location.