London’s 2012 Olympic Park Adds Vertical Axis Turbines

Seven Vertical Axis Wind Turbines Added To London’s 2012 Olympic Park

By: Timon Singh

08/04/12

The Olympic Delivery Authority has installed vertical axis wind turbines in London’s Olympic Park after plans to place a single, giant wind turbine fell through. The London 2012 Olympic Games has received some flak for not meeting its green targets and failing to be the ‘Green Olympics’ that it promised to be, but the installation of the seven qr5 turbines suggests that Olympic organizers are still attempting to meet their sustainable goals.

Vertical axis turbines work differently to conventional three blade turbine and are actually deemed to be more efficient as they don’t require power or a minimum wind speed to start. The original Olympic plans discussed the potential installation of a large wind turbine at the Stratford park site, but it never happened. Now the smaller vertical wind turbines are stepping in to fill the renewable energy void that it has left.

The seven qr5 turbines are being provided by British wind turbine manufacturer Quiet Revolution, and although there is no official statement from either the company or the Olympic Authority on their installaion, it is known that the turbines stand 18 metres tall and can provide up to 7,500 kWh of power a year.

Speaking to The Guardian, a spokesman for the Olympic Delivery Authority said that the wind turbines each cost £40,000, but are expected to pay for themselves within 12 years. “Sustainability has been designed into the project from the beginning, and as a result the ODA will significantly exceed its 50 per cent target to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction of the Olympic Park,” he said.

“These seven turbines serve a valuable dual function by providing 40 per cent of the energy for high-powered streetlights as well contributing to the overall renewable energy target. The turbines are connected to the Park’s energy supply, which feed renewable energy into the Olympic Park energy network during the day, which offsets power used by the lamp at night.”

It's Summer and It's Fair Time!

Skystream Powers Belgium Agricultural Fair
A mid-summer celebration of all things sustainable

A Unique Event
With over 300,000 square meters of exposition space, the Libramont fair is Europe’s time to shine for the rural market. Emphasizing a “green” theme of recycling and renewable energy, Windeo wanted the Skystream wind turbines to gain more visibility among the farming industry population.

Starting today, the 250,000 expected visitors of the Libramont fair will see a greener event this year thanks to the Skystream 3.7. Our wind turbines not only welcome the fair-goers at the entrance, but they also provide energy to the fairgrounds, further instilling a “green” aspect.

Of the 1,500 exhibitors at Europe’s biggest outdoor event of the year, Windeo Green future is the only renewable energy partner at the fair. Aside from the entranceway turbines, Windeo added some visual aspects to explain that the systems produce “green energy” for the fair. In the Main Hall at Stand 33H-1.019 Windeo is also educating fair-goers about green energy. They a demo Skystream at their 50-m² stand along with a solar tracker and decorated grass on the stands roof.

The fair began today (July 27) and will run through Monday. If you’re at the Foire de Libramont, stop by and say hi to our friends at Windeo!

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Once in a Blue Moon......

Make Your Own Shower Mat Out of Recycled Wine Corks!

By: Diane Pham

Inhabitat

06/24/11

If you’re a consumer of fine wines, then you know that while the bottle can be recycled, the cork often finds its final resting place in the trash can. To make better use of these tiny stoppers, Danny Seo from the craft blog Daily Danny came up with an awesome DIY bath mat idea. All you need to create the cool mat is a whole bunch of wine corks (Danny suggests hitting up your local bar or restaurant), a shadow box/frame and viola! — just arrange your corks vertically inside the box so they fit snug and tight, and you’ve got yourself a brand new, quick-drying bath mat!

Renewable Energy Break

Wanted to share this great pic of a Mule deer taking a nap at the base of a Vestas 2.0 Megawatt V80 wind turbine at Wild Horse Renewable Energy Center in Ellensburg, WA.

Sustainability At The London Olympics

Pavegen Tiles Turn Footsteps Into Electricity

Pedestrians power round-the-clock lighting on a walkway at West Ham tube station, a key access point for London 2012 Olympic venues.

By: Kelsey Perry

7/27/2012

Pavegen, a UK paver company is turning pedestrian traffic into electricity by harvesting the energy from footsteps.

Pavegen tiles capture the kinetic energy created by footstep for immediate or future use. The pavers are currently being used at the West Ham tube station in London and this transportation hot spot is estimated to receive a million visitors during this year’s Olympic Games.You can see a live feed of the energy created from the 12 tiles here.

The tiles are set to make their largest commercial debut in September inside the Westfield Stratford City shopping center in London. The shopping center is estimated to have 30 million visitors in its first year.

The pavers contract slightly when pressure is applied from a footstep and this miniscule movement – about five millimeters – is enough to produce five to seven joules of energy, generating five to seven watts of electricity from the average step. When the paver is stepped on, .5 percent of the electricity created goes to automatically illuminating the tile’s central light and the rest is stored in the on-board battery for future use for things like lighting, sound and advertising signage.

The slabs were created by Pavegen founder Laurence Kemball-Cook in 2009. The 26-year-old engineer developed the prototype during his senior year at Loughborough University in Leicestershire, UK.

The tile’s surface is made completely of recycled rubber and the base of the paver is construction from 80 percent recycled materials. The pavers are made to withstand a large amount of footfall and are also waterproof.

A Cycle of Mutual Respect and Caring

After a long absence, we are back at it! *Crossfingers!*

Unfortunately, on June 29th, we were hard-hit by the derecho that came sweeping through Ohio, leveling our century barn, taking the top of our home as well as quite a bit of water damage in the lower level.

Hard to fathom that this barn, that once stood so tall and weathered so many storms, was reduced to such a compact pile of wood and metal.

All of these things were remedied with hammers, nails, saws, heavy equipment and so on. The worse loss imaginable was that of our beloved trees.

Four of these were 100+ year old Cedars. I'll never forget the fragrance around here on that day, or the weeks following their demise.


One in particular, was a cherished Burr Oak which was estimated to be around 400 years old. I can't help but think that this majestic tree, once in its infancy, sprouted forth from the earth and discovered life in a soil that was rich and undisturbed by man's chemical additives. And as it grew to great height, was standing and thriving as witness while the Sandusky Plains were being transformed.

It stood tall through nature's tests of wind, hail and even the fires that swept through these Plains. It was there providing shade, shelter from the wind, wood for warmth, and even sustanance from the meat of its fruit, the mighty acorn, to the Wyandot Indian tribe who roamed this part of the earth and eventually settled here in this abundant and fertile region.

I realize that a lot of you may not have this connection or appreciation of something that we see everyday and take for granted. So you can call me a "tree hugger", a "hippie", an "environmentalist activist", whatever label you'd like to pin on me, I'm good with it. All I ask is that you just take a few minutes, look outside (better yet, GO outside!) and begin your own appreciation of what we've been given.

Secondly, I would ask that you give serious consideration to what type of changes you can make in your lives everyday that will alleviate the impact on our natural resources. The earth gives back to us just as good as we give. A cycle of mutual respect and caring. Make it a goal to place a higher value on its well-being. You are the ones who will ultimately benefit.

**Side Note**

Our goal in the coming months is to repurpose the wood that we are able to salvage from the barn for use in our home. Not only will we have things that will be functional and long-lasting, but we will be contributing by skipping manufacturing processes, transport emissions, and wastes associated with the purchase of new furnishings, structural supports, art, etc. And no, our plan does not hurt any "economical structure". The laborers and artisans performing these tasks for us will be paid a fair and decent wage. That is all. Jumping down off my soapbox now! Have a great and blessed day! :)