Scottish renewable energy awards recognise industry's best and brightest

by ClickGreen staff. Published Sun 30 Nov 2014 15:32, Last updated: 2014-11-30

John Linton’s award-winning image of the Cathkin Braes wind turbine

The top names in Scotland’s renewable energy industry have been hailed at a top awards’ evening in the Scottish capital.

WWF Scotland Director Lang Banks was one of the evening’s winners after being been named 2014 Champion of Renewables at the Scottish Renewables’ Green Energy Awards.

The environmentalist, described by judges as “an outsider who makes people understand why renewables are so vital”, was awarded the coveted trophy at a 1,250-guest ceremony in Edinburgh last week.

The awards, now in their 12th year and sponsored by EDF Energy Renewables, were held as it was revealed renewables became Scotland’s main source of power in the first six months of 2014.

Onshore wind stalwart Harry Malyon, a director at Glasgow wind farm development company Coriolis Energy, began his career as a forester and was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution Award for more than 20 years as a renewable energy leader.

The first ever Rising Star Award was handed to Robbie Macdonald of tidal turbine developer Nautricity, whose managers credit the success of their testing programme to the 26-year-old’s “hard work, original thought and drive”.

Scottish Renewables Chief Executive Niall Stuart hosted the evening at Edinburgh’s EICC. He said: “The Scottish Green Energy Awards ceremony is the biggest night of the year for the renewable energy industry, and it’s particularly pleasing to celebrate 2014’s successes on the day our figures revealed green energy has become Scotland’s main source of power.

“This year’s winners are genuine pioneers and innovators who are making a real difference to our environment, economy and society – and there is no better way to recognise them than in front of more than 1,200 of their peers.

“The awards are all about celebrating the best of Scotland’s green energy industry. So many parts of that industry are reflected in this year’s roll call of winners, from community projects like the Barra and Vatersay turbine and brilliant business successes like Natural Power and MacArthur Green to outstanding pieces of technical innovation like the FloWave test tank, to mention but a few.

“The event goes from strength to strength and is a testament to the commitment of those who work in the industry.”

The full list of winners:

* Best Community Project Award – The Barra and Vatersay Community Wind Energy Project: the first in the world to use a beach landing to deliver turbine parts, this turbine is now generating electricity for the local economy after a determined effort by locals who realised its potential

* Best Innovation Award – FloWave TT Ltd for the FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility: a world-class wave and tidal device testing facility in Scotland’s capital city

* Best Photography Award – John Linton, Linton Pix: an image of the Cathkin Braes wind turbine and Commonwealth Games mountain bike track near Glasgow

* Best Supplier Award – Wind Towers (Scotland): Machrihanish-based turbine tower manufacturer bringing jobs and investment to Argyll, described as “a crucial part of the supply chain” by judges

* Business Growth Award – Natural Power: Dumfriesshire consultancy which opened new 100-employee offices in Stirling in January 2014 and boasted 46% revenue growth between 2012 and 2014, with similar projections planned for 2014-16

* Champion of Renewables Award – Lang Banks, Director, WWF Scotland: prolific and passionate advocate of renewable energy as a way to mitigate climate change. Member of Scottish Twitterati

* Contribution to Skills Award – Mines Rescue Wind Turbine Training Facility: the launch of this new purpose-built working-at-height facility in Crossgates, Fife, stemmed from the growing importance of creating a fit-for-purpose future renewables workforce

* Engineering Excellence Award – Xi Engineering Consultants for the Eskdalemuir Working Group: work which opened up 1GW of new capacity for onshore wind in south Scotland by examining the effect of turbines on the Seismic Monitoring Station at Eskdalemuir

* Export Award – Gaia-Wind Ltd: a Glasgow small wind turbine manufacturer with machines now operating in Australia, Israel, the USA and France. Export sales accounted for more than 60% of all deliveries in 2014

* Renewing Scotland Award – Biomass combined heat and power plant at Tullis Russell, Fife: the combined heat and power plant at employee-owned premium paper and cartonboard producer Tullis Russell is the largest of its type in the UK and will make a major contribution to Scotland’s renewable energy targets, as well as safeguarding 500 jobs at the Glenrothes site

* Rising Star Award – Robbie Macdonald, Nautricity: Robbie has “consistently risen to the challenges that have been presented to him” during the development of Nautricity’s CoRMaT tidal turbine, and displayed “great maturity in finding solutions to problems that are often outside his field of specialisation,” according to his employer

* Sustainable Development Award – ScotAsh: a joint venture between Lafarge Tarmac and ScottishPower, ScotAsh produces low-carbon cement products containing re-engineered pulverised fuel ash that have helped to reduce the carbon footprint of renewable energy projects across Scotland

* Outstanding Contribution Award – Harry Malyon: began his renewables career in 1992/3 and worked with planning groups to produce early wind industry guidance. Harry was one of the first six members of Scottish Renewables and chaired the organisation’s planning group for eight years. A true unsung hero

* Judges Award – MacArthur Green: the ecological and ornithological consultancy grew its profits by 200% in the 12 months from January 2012 and has expanded its remit from onshore and marine renewables into offshore, solar and hydro.

Christian Egal, CEO of sponsors EDF Energy Renewables, said: “These awards are a perfect showcase for the passion and ingenuity that is delivering renewable projects not only in Scotland, but much further afield.

“Scottish Renewables members are now taking their expertise to every corner of the globe, and we were pleased to be part of highlighting the talent and know-how that the Green Energy Awards rightly celebrate.”

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Wind area auctions will move the country toward more renewable energy options

To the Editor:

In response to your November 25th article about upcoming wind area auctions, it’s great to see the country moving toward more renewable energy options.

With people in New York still buried in their homes and families in California struggling to get water, we in Massachusetts can only dread what the winter will bring to us. As someone who’s struggled through the heat waves and the cold snaps of recent years, I’m acutely aware of how much these freak weather events are increasing. I worry about what lies in store for us in the coming months or years if we continue along this path.

That’s why it’s imperative that we take action now. Clean energy is achievable, and we can implement changes today that will resonate for years to come, protecting future generations. All it takes is a few simple alterations now to have dramatic and life-saving effects.

Environment Massachusetts’ new report on wind energy shows just how much of an impact wind power would have in our state. Wind power will have substantial benefits for Massachusetts, especially as we are primed to begin using offshore wind for our energy needs. We could lead the country in wind energy and be an example of what our nation can achieve.

This December, Congress will vote on whether or not to renew critical wind-energy tax credits, so we need to call them and let them know how important it is that they do so. If you don’t want to spend your future winters digging your way out of your car, call your Congressperson and tell them to take action!

Julia Persinger
Environment Massachusetts

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Wind area auctions will move the country toward more renewable energy options

5 Reasons Why You Ought to Purchase Luxury Home Air Filters

Do you possess an air cleanser? If you do, there is a good chance that you will certainly need to buy substitute filters after an amount of time. When it involves doing this, lots of are startled that they do have a variety of various options. In addition the makers who make air cleansers, there are also various other companies that make replacement filters, for numerous of the most often prominent brand names. If you do have an option, you will want to check out high end home air filters. This is because high end house air filters have a number of benefits. Five reasons why they need to be acquired are summarized listed below.

1)Better Brands

A number of the suppliers of house air purifiers and house air filters are renowneded firms. Also firms that focus on replacement components, such as filters, are coming to be populared. Not just any type of firm making air filters could assert to be a luxury producer and really imply it. Exactly what does this mean for it? It implies that by searching for high end house air filters online, you are most likely to locate and also be paired with quality, reliable brand names. As for exactly how you can go about locating these brands, you could do a standard net search. When doing so, it may be most effectively to browse with targeted expressions such as “luxury residence air filters,” “best air filters,” and so forth.

2)Better Results

Luxury air filters for the house are most likely to produce better results. These outcomes ought to include cleaner air, especially when working in combination with a high end air purifier. As it was previously specified, a mold of air filters could not think to be an excellent quality supplier unless they are, at the very least that is just how it ought to be. To assist you figure out if you are really purchasing a quality and also reputable air filter, you could turn to the web for help. There are number of web sites that enable web users to price and also review products. View if you can discover any type of ratings or evaluations for the high end air filters that you are planning to buy.

3)Last Longer

As recently specified, high end air filters have a number of perks. One of those advantages is that they have the tendency to last longer. This is because high quality, luxury items are frequently recognized for their strength and sturdiness as well as the very same need to be claimed for air filers. When checking out luxury air filters, you will find that most ought to have a longer usage rate. This is essential, as it can help acquire you more worth for your cash. Obtaining a good value for your money is important, as greater final product do have the tendency to cost even more.

4)Number of Common Alternatives

As explained over, lots of customers have a number of various choices when wanting to get luxury substitute filters for air purifiers. This is because a number of business specialize in making as well as offering substitute parts, including air filters. It is additionally essential to note that many of the companies that make and also market air cleansers, heating systems, as well as ac system additionally make and sell filters too. As a tip, when checking out luxury home air filters, make certain to analyze scores as well as testimonials, but additionally analyze expenses.

5)Alleviate of Looking for as well as Buying

The ability to effortlessly discover, compare, and also purchase luxury air filters is an additional benefit to buying them. Although getting top quality air filters can be a bit harder compared to purchasing any kind of cheap brand, it is more than feasible to do so. Many customers view the most effective success when shopping online. This is since on the internet shopping gives several access to multiple sellers and also the capability to swiftly compare those sellers as well as their prices. When it comes to shopping in your area, residence renovation stores are among the best places to obtain luxury air filters, in addition to luxury heating units, air conditioning units, and air cleansers, as they are more focused on top quality compared to expenses, when as compared to several department stores.

5 Reasons Why You Ought to Purchase Luxury Home Air Filters

Weatherproof your home for winter

Sponsored by: Eastern Connecticut Association of REALTORS®

It’s time to prepare your home against winter’s harsh weather. Take a tip from the Eastern Connecticut Association of REALTORS® – a few simple, precautionary steps can save money and add to the value of your home. Keep in mind the benefits of making the improvements and the risks involved in leaving some jobs unfinished.

ECAR offers the following winter weatherproofing tips.

HEATING SYSTEMS

Heating systems vary, but in general, industry standards advise a professional check-up every year for oil-powered units and every three years for those powered by gas. However, do-it-yourself maintenance also is advisable. With the furnace off, you should replace air filters, and vacuum dust from the blower, fan blades grills and air intakes. Replace any cracked or frayed belts.

If your furnace supplies heat using hot water in pipes or radiators, you may need to lubricate the motor that pushes water through the system. Remember: the efficiency of hot-water systems can be impaired if air gets caught within the systems, because air takes the place of hot water. Make sure the valve that lets air escape is working properly.

CHIMNEY FLUES

Checking your chimney is another important weatherproofing task. If you are uncertain about the condition of a furnace or chimney flue, it’s best to hire a chimney sweep to clear out creosote (the flammable oily residue that accumulates when wood is burned). If left uncleaned, creosote could be re-ignited, causing a chimney fire.

If you decide to clean out the furnace flue yourself, take apart exposed pipe sections and brush them outdoors. To clean a chimney flue, pull a sand-filled canvas bag back and forth through the opening, working from the roof. Make certain the flue is closed to keep soot from filtering inside the house.

SMOKE DETECTORS

Although battery-powered smoke detectors should be tested year round, it is crucial to test them in the winter because sources of fire – such as fireplaces, wood stoves and portable heaters – are used. Testing battery-powered units is simple: make sure the batteries work. A unit connected to the electrical system should also be tested, but probably does not need any maintenance except, perhaps, a light dusting.

AIR OR WATER LEAKS

Look for air cracks around windows, doors, pipes, ducts and other openings. It is important to seal these leaks with flexible caulk. Seams where siding meets windows and doors should also be caulked. On brick siding, fill in eroded joints with mortar, to keep out air, water and snow.

INSULATION

Check the attic to see if insulation needs to be added or replaced. This is the most significant area of heat loss in many homes, so it is also important to see that it has proper ventilation. Inadequate ventilation could lead to premature deterioration of the insulation materials. It may be necessary to check insulation in exterior walls, crawl spaces and along foundation walls, as well.

GUTTER CLEANING

Clean the leaves from all gutters. Then, make sure the drainage system works by running water through them.

Preparing your home for winter is a smart way to cut energy costs and make sure your home is safe. It’s a job that is well worth the time and effort.

Visit our web site at easternctrealtors.com or our blog at ECARVoice.com.

Alvin Kinsall is president and state director of the Eastern Connecticut Association of REALTORS®

Weatherproof your home for winter

GWE Raptor Waste-to-energy Technology Wins IChemE Energy Award

Worldwide wastewater treatment and green energy authority Global Water Engineering (GWE) has won a major international chemical engineering award for its process by which it transforms food processing sludge waste from an environmental problem into profitable green energy.

GWE Chairman and CEO Mr Jean Pierre Ombregt accepted the IChemE Energy Award from the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), which represents more than 40,000 chemical engineers worldwide and which staged the 2014 awards in the UK this month this month to recognise and reward chemical engineering innovation and excellence.

The IChemE Energy Award – sponsored by PM Group – recognises the best project or process to demonstrate innovation in renewable energy, alternative energy sources, efficient energy use or the development of energy production methods that reduce energy and water intensity.

GWE’s entry involved a world first with Chok Chai Starch in Thailand, where a GWE Raptor system is used to convert wet pulp waste product from the processing of cassava roots into biogas (methane) green energy, at their tapioca starch plant in Uthai Thani.

Mr Ombregt said the IChemE award was an outstanding confirmation from a world-respected body of the practical, profitable and immediate benefits of anaerobic treatments of waste water and sludge, which etc.

“Green energy alternatives such as wind power and solar power get most of the headlines for their achievements, but this anaerobic process is even more suited to industry in many instances, given that it provides reliable base load power and simultaneously treats wastewater to high discharge standards,” said Mr Ombregt.

Anaerobic biogas production is also proven in more than 60 successful GWE projects globally and has massive further potential worldwide wherever industry is dealing with a biological waste stream such as those produced by industries including food and beverage, dairy, beef, livestock, agribusiness and primary product processing.

The Raptor system greatly reduces an environmental pollution issue by processing and converting to useful green energy the leftover fresh pulp, which starts to ferment once stored. The rotting organic material can generate considerable odor and release heavily polluted wastewater leaching out of mountainous pulp piles.

“Advanced anaerobic technology such as that installed at Chok Chai Starch is also strongly applicable to any factory or process with one or more digestible solid waste streams.” says Mr Ombregt.

“Such plants – including breweries, fruit, food waste, agro industries, and energy crops including corn – can easily use this technology to generate energy. It opens the door to environmental and production efficiency gains globally,” he said.

The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) is the global professional membership organisation founded in 1922 as a professional institution for chemical and process engineers, IChemE has grown to its current status of over 40,000 members across 120 countries, with offices in Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK.

Picture: From left to right, Kate Silverton, host of the awards, Pascal Pipyn, GWE EVP Process and R&D, Jean Pierre Ombregt, GWE Chairman and CEO and a representative from PM Group, who sponsored the Energy Award (Image: Global Water Engineering)

Source: Global Water Engineering

GWE Raptor Waste-to-energy Technology Wins IChemE Energy Award

Rolling Hills solar panel project is just the beginning for district

By Judy Peterson

Jpeterson@community-newspapers.com

Click photo to enlarge

Photograph by George Sakkestad Rolling Hills Middle School in Los Gatos had solar panels installed in 2011, with more solar installations planned for the future. Marshall Lane Elementary School in Saratoga is also going solar.

When the Campbell Union School District installed solar panels at Rolling Hills Middle School in Los Gatos in 2011, it was the beginning of a now-celebrated energy conservation program.

The district received the Energy Leadership Award at the Green Schools & Colleges Summit held recently in Pasadena, and is also in line for special funding through the California Energy Conservations Assistance Act.

The Energy Leadership Award was for the net-zero energy multipurpose building at Blackford Elementary School. The building features rooftop solar panels, a full-glass front and skylights, daylight occupancy sensors to control lights, automated windows, thick insulation and a white roof. Energy is produced year-round by the solar panels and surplus energy is stored in a grid for later use. It’s expected to produce more than or equal to its energy consumption each year.

The Blackford multipurpose building is the first of eight energy efficient buildings the district plans to construct as part of its overall energy-saving strategy.

“Rolling Hills was the first school to have solar panels and we’ll be adding to that,” district spokeswoman Marla Sanchez said. “Marshall Lane will get solar, too.”

The district was also awarded a $7.5 million zero-interest loan for solar installation projects and energy efficiency measures that will be implemented at 11 schools. The loan was one of three awarded to school districts by the California Energy Commission. The projects are expected to save more than $480,000 a year.

Allison Williams contributed to this story.

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Rolling Hills solar panel project is just the beginning for district

Godfreys aims to clean up on stock market

Godfreys heads for stock market listing

Vacuum cleaner specialist Godfreys is making a $78 million entry to the share market to help fund its development of new high-tech cleaners.

The 83-year-old company wants to capitalise on a growing demand for advanced and health-focused products, such as bagless vacuums, air filters for allergy sufferers and robotic cleaners.

“In 2006, 75 per cent of our business was vacuum cleaners, and today it is just over 50 per cent,” managing director Tom Krulis said.

“So the cleaning category generally has a lot of growth, in terms of the products that are being developed worldwide.

“We’re following these trends, we’re innovating, we’re tooling up, we’ve got our own design team … and we’re passionate about delivering new products to the market.”

Mr Krulis and his management have overhauled the company since taking it back from private equity owners in 2011.

Godfreys was established during the Depression by Godfrey Cohen, who quickly went from selling vacuum cleaners in his father’s furniture store to his own setup in Melbourne’s Prahran market.

It now designs and makes it own cleaners, and holds the exclusive sales licence for Hoover, operating from 209 stores in Australia and New Zealand.

That network is expected to grow by at least 10 stores every year, Mr Krulis said.

Godfreys is offering more than 28 million shares priced at $2.75 each to raise $77.7 million, and expects those shares to begin trading on the share market on December 10.

It expects to make a net profit of $12.8 million in the 2014/15 financial year, up from $5.7 million in 2013/14.

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Godfreys aims to clean up on stock market

New and renewable energy ministry takes cue from PM Narendra Modi, starts work on solar projects

NEW DELHI: Installing solar panels on the Pakistan border, using super-chilled LNG to build cold storage and warehousing facilities, and putting barcodes to stop illegal use of subsidised cooking gas — the Modi mantra is making its presence felt in the energy domain and forcing officials to sit up and think out of the box.

Officials say that during discussions about seemingly routine and uninspiring energy issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes up with unusual ideas, which soon become tightly monitored instructions. The Cabinet Secretariat maintains a log of efforts made by departments responsible for implementing these ideas, sources said.

The PM’s vision is to harness cold temperatures at LNG terminals where gas in liquid form – at 160 degrees Celsius below freezing point – lands from cryogenic ships. At an LNG terminal, the super-cool liquid is gradually warmed up and gasified again in a process that can cool surrounding areas.

“There is reasonable potential of using this low temperature to generate liquid industrial gas such as nitrogen, oxygen and argon. Integrated cold-storages do exist adjacent to such terminals in China and Japan,” a source said.

The Prime Minister’s Office has shown keen interest in renewable energy, officials said. Modi recently advised the ministry of new and renewable energy to explore using barren land close to the country’s borders to generate solar energy. Solar projects need a lot of land, which is scarce and costly outside arid regions such as the Rajasthan desert and the uninhabited border regions, where electricity supply is a problem.

As per the PM’s direction, we’re soon going to put up two pilot projects of 5 MW each in Gujarat and Rajasthan on separate areas of 25 acres. Indo-Pak border is what we’ll begin with as a lot of land is barren and available in the Rann of Kutch,” a source at MNRE said.

The PM is keen on reducing the oil subsidy burden on both the exchequer and state oil firms. While the finance minister recently hinted at denying subsidised cooking gas to the rich and affluent, under the direction of the PM, oil companies are trying to recover every drop of LPG left in more than 15 crore cylinders after they are used.

Modi’s focus is also on reducing India’s petroleum import bill, which was over $155 billion last year, by raising domestic output with the use of new technology. As a result, state explorers Oil & Natural Gas Corporation and Oil India plan to revisit areas where success could not be achieved during earlier exploration campaigns. These areas include Upper Assam Belt, Naga Fold Thrust and the Himalayan region. Reviews using the latest Canadian technology have resulted in an oil and gas prospect in Jwalamukhi area of the Himalayan thrust fold belt, an industry source said.

Similar prospects were reported from Geleki, Cachar and Mizoram, the source said. Officials said the proposal to use the low temperature of LNG for refrigeration has enormous potential. India already has four operational terminals at Dahej, Hazira, Dhabol and Kochi, totaling over 22 million tonnes per annum capacity. Terminals are coming up in Gangavaram and Kakinada.

New and renewable energy ministry takes cue from PM Narendra Modi, starts work on solar projects

European Investment Bank Agrees GBP 168 Million Backing for Lincs Offshore Transmission ...

Tomasz Wyszoamirski/iStock/Thinkstock

The European Investment Bank has agreed to provide GBP 168 million for a new connection between the Lincs offshore wind farm and the UK national transmission network. The approximately 100-km connection, between high voltage transmission connections on the mainland and the 270-MW Lincolnshire wind farm, has been tendered under a dedicated regulatory regime for offshore transmission networks by OFGEM, the UK gas and electricity market regulator.

“Offshore wind will play a significant role as part of the UK’s energy mix over the coming decades and the European Investment Bank is committed to supporting long-term investment in energy infrastructure that both enhances production of electricity from renewable sources and connects renewable energy into the national network. We are pleased to continue support for offshore wind infrastructure in UK waters and investment in transmission connections under the OFTO regime facilitates new investment in offshore wind farms. This sector is creating hundreds of new jobs along the North Sea coast and supporting manufacturing and research across the country.” said Jonathan Taylor, European Investment Bank Vice President.

The transmission connection to the Lincs wind farm, 8 km off the Skegness coast, will include one offshore substation and connect to the national transmission network at an onshore substation at Walpole, Norfolk. The Lincs wind farm will comprise 75 turbines that when operational can produce enough clean renewable energy for over 200,000 homes, equivalent to around two thirds of the homes in Lincolnshire and contribute to the UK government’s strategy of ensuring that 15% of energy is from renewable sources by 2020.

Assets for the Lincs offshore transmission connection have been developed by Lincs Wind Farm Limited, a joint venture between Centrica, Dong Energy and Siemens Project Ventures. Under the OFTO regime the transmission assets will be transferred to Transmission Capital Partners, a consortium comprising Amber Infrastructure, International Public Partnerships and Transmission Investment, who will own and operate the connection under a twenty year agreement.

This is the sixth connection under the OFTO regime, developed to ensure that offshore renewable generation projects are economically and efficiently connected to Britain’s electricity grid, to be supported by Europe’s long-term lending institution. Previous OFTO connections supported by the EIB include Walney 1 and 2, Sheringham Shoal, Greater Gabbard and London Array.

Last month the board of the EIB, comprising all 28 European member state shareholders, approved EIB’s participation in Round 3 of the OFTO regime.

European Investment Bank Agrees GBP 168 Million Backing for Lincs Offshore Transmission ...

King's College brighter, greener with solar donation

Students aren’t the only bright ones at King’s College.

One of the college’s buildings will have a brighter glow that will help the school turn — and keep more — green.

King’s on the Square, the former Ramada Hotel on Public Square that King’s bought and converted into student housing, classrooms, labs and offices, will rely more on solar power to supplement its energy supply.

Panzitta Enterprises Inc., Wilkes-Barre, the general contractor for the King’s on the Square project, donated 214 solar panels that were being installed on the former hotel’s roof. Panzitta purchased the panels and is paying Endless Mountains Solar Services LLC, Wilkes-Barre, to install them. Panzitta will maintain ownership of the panels and will donate the generated power to the college.

The installation is the first known commercial use of solar energy in downtown Wilkes-Barre.

John Panzitta, president of Panzitta Enterprises, said he made the donation because of his and his family’s close affiliation with King’s.

“I”m a graduate, many members of my immediate family are graduates, said Panzitta. “I thought I’d make that contribution.”

He is one of seven members of his family who are King’s alumni.

The solar power will supplement the electrical power from the grid, Panzitta said.

“It will not provide all the power,” he said. “There’s not enough room on the roof to provide all of the power.”

There only is 12,000 square feet of space on the building’s tower roof to fit the panels. A lower roof is mostly in the tower’s shadow, so it does not get enough sun.

According to projections from Endless Mountains Solar Services, the panels will generate approximately $500,000 worth of electricity during their 25-year lifespan.

Panzitta said that will allow King’s to use money it saves on utility bills educate students, reduce its carbon footprint and advance its sustainability efforts.

He said the installation began last Monday and should have been finished by the weekend or today, weather permitting.

Panzitta believes the King’s property is the first commercial property in downtown Wilkes-Barre to use solar power, though the city maintenance garage on Conyngham Street and, of course, Endless Mountains Solar Services on Scott Street also utilize solar.

“The King’s community is appreciative to Panzitta Enterprises for this thoughtful gift that will result in measurable progress for the college toward a goal in the 2013-2018 strategic plan to make our campus more efficient, sustainable and attractive,” King’s president, the Rev. John Ryan, C.S.C., Ph.D., said in a statement issued to media. “By incorporating the solar panels, the carbon footprint of the building will be decreased by an estimated 2.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the life of the panels.”

Reach Joe Sylvester at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @TLNews.

King"s College brighter, greener with solar donation

Wind Power as a Viable Remedy to Satisfying Option Energy Needs

Although it is a lot cheaper to initially obtain linkeded into the neighborhood electric company’s grid than it is to establish and hook right into wind generators, in the long run one conserves cash by making use of the wind for one’s energy needs– while additionally developing much more independent. Not obtaining an electric bill while enjoying the advantages of the modern electrically-driven way of life is a wondrous feeling.

Electric costs and also gas bills are rising gradually– but the price of wind generator power is zero, and also the price of installing and connecting a turbine is progressively boiling down as need rises and more industrial success is realized by different companies producing the turbines and researching modern technologies to make them ever before a lot more reliable. In addition, individuals are relocating far from the traditional electrical grids and the nonrenewable fuel sources for individual reasons consisting of wish for greater independence, the need to live from another location or rurally without having to “go primitive”, political issues such as worries of terrorist strikes on oil industries or power grids, or worries concerning the environment. Once more, this motivation to get away from the typical energy sources is the same one that induces people to look for the power of the wind for their power, giving even more business opportunities to profit from wind turbine production as well as upkeep, which drives their expenses down for the customers. In nearly thirty states at the time of this composition, homeowners which remain on the grid yet that still choose to via wind energy (or other alternative types) are qualified for refunds or tax obligation breaks from the state federal governments that wind up paying for as much as 50 % of their complete “environment-friendly” power systems’ costs. In addition, there are 35 states at the time of this creating where these house owners are allowed to market their excess energy back to the power firm under just what are called “net metering regulations”. The prices that they are being paid by the neighborhood power firms for this power are standard retail prices– in shorts, the house owners are actually profiting from their own energy manufacturing.

Some federal government legislators are pushing to obtain the federal government to mandate these tax breaks and various other wind power incentives in all 50 states. Japan and also Germany currently have nationwide motivation programs in place. Nonetheless, “A lot of this is taken care of regionally by state regulation. There wouldn’t actually be a duty for the federal government,” the Power Division’s Craig Stevens states. And also as if imagined, there are power firms which feel that it’s unfair that they need to have to pay retail prices to exclusive people. “We must [simply need to] pay you the wholesale price for … your power,” according to Bruce Bowen, Pacific Gas & Electric’s supervisor of governing policy. Nevertheless, the business seem to be much more concerned regarding losing temporary revenues than regarding the advantages, particularly over time, of the enhanced use of wind generators or wind farms. Head of the Facility for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies of America V. John White mentions, “It’s quality power that reinforces the grid.”.

Wind Power as a Viable Remedy to Satisfying Option Energy Needs

VA clinic workers: Rats, mold are making us sick

CHULA VISTA – Rat feces and mold are making people sick at the Veteran’s Affairs Clinic in Chula Vista, say whistleblowers, who claim their complaints have fallen on deaf ears.

“It’s just incredulous to me,” said a former health care worker at the clinic. “I guess I have the range of emotions, I’m disappointed, I’m hurt, I’m angry.”

A complaint was filed on October 24th with California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health.  That complaint cites an “Infestation of rodents and massive fecal deposits in clinic air ventilation system” and “Mold and fecal deposits on air filters.”  Attached photos show ductwork at the clinic with what appears to be a thick layer of rat droppings, with a dead rat in the foreground.  A second photo shows an air filter caked with debris.

“ There is also an incident where there was rat droppings, poop, on one of the health providers’ desks,” said a second whistleblower who still works inside the facility.

“We’ve always felt that there was something in the building that was making us sick,” the worker added.

Team 10 contacted Cal/OSHA which referred the complaint to the federal government because the alleged problems were reported at a federal entity.

A spokesperson for OSHA told Team10 inspectors did not visit the building, but said “The employer is taking pro-active steps” to resolve the matter.  Jose Carnivale said some of the ductwork has been replaced and that the mold levels are “not significant.”

The workers who contacted Team 10 say that’s not an acceptable answer.  “The reason we submitted the OSHA complaint is you’ve only cut that section, you haven’t explained the portal of entry. You’ve got pictures of a dead rodent in there and a tremendous amount of fecal droppings. That means there’s coming and going in that ventilation system.”

The whistleblowers claim this isn’t the first time the ventilation system has caused health problems.

In November 2012 workers complained of illness due to chemical fumes from construction activity at the facility, which the VA rents from a private owner.  Employees said they felt nausea, numbness, shortness of breath, and one worker suffered anaphylactic shock.

In 2013, more sickness was reported among staff at the clinic, including wheezing, coughing, headache, itching and dizziness.  A Cal/OSHA complaint says the problems arose when a private contractor  used cleaning chemicals in the clinic’s duct work. 

  “A couple of the nurses passed out,” said Vietnam Veteran Charles Rowland, who then made daily trips to the clinic for wound care.  “ A couple of the  staff people passed out and were removed. The VA came out eventually and closed the clinic,” said Rowland, who claims he wrote a letter to the director of San Diego’s VA, but got little satisfaction from the answers supplied.

Rowland told Team 10 he was speaking out to help the health care workers who he said have veterans’ best interest in mind.

The VA claims it takes all complaints  about air quality and “funny” smells  seriously.  Assistant Director Wade Ebersole told Team 10  a bad smell was reported October 16th at the clinic.  On October 17th he said an independent third party contractor conducted an air quality assessment.

The foul odor was coming from the duct, which Ebersole says was replaced immediately. The moldy filter was also replaced.

The VA’s Chief of Environment, Health and Safety said the rats’ point of access on the roof was discovered and sealed.  He said at no time did rats enter the clinic proper.  He also claimed the VA was never told of any rat droppings on a worker’s desk.

The VA admitted there have been problems in the past where construction fumes entered the ventilation system leading to complaints and at least one closure.

The VA leases the space from Dr. Hamid Mani, an ophthalmology specialist  whose practice is right next door.
Mani told us “These are all bogus complaints,” and that the VA didn’t find any environmental problems in his building.

Mani said the complaints to Team 10 stem from a civil lawsuit filed by 12 employees of the clinic who claim they have health problems because of the “sick building” he owns.

The civil litigation is ongoing.

The VA clinic won’t stay on Mani’s property much longer. Ebersole told Team 10  the VA is looking for a 31,000 square foot facility in the South Bay to service the area’s growing number of veterans.

VA clinic workers: Rats, mold are making us sick

Paying for the green energy conspiracy

The Liberal provincial government, originally under Dalton McGuinty and then under Kathleen Wynne, have intentionally doubled the energy costs for Ontario citizens.

In what could be described as a criminal initiative, the Grits enacted the Green Energy Act, forcing taxpayers to subsidize wind turbines and solar activities, knowing full well it couldn’t possibly provide the needed power generation to keep costs reasonable.

Much of the reason the government has been able to escape with relatively little condemnation for the hoax is that most of the mainstream media and their subordinates have simply looked the other way. The unions of this province also deserve a lot of credit for high energy costs for the consumer by helping get the Liberals re-elected come hell or high water despite a string of scandals that cost the taxpayers billions.

But that was okay with the unions as long as their favourite party remained in charge to protect their financial power and big pensions.

For the most part the media did not hold the Liberal government accountable, many of them agreeing that green energy is a wonderful addition and taxpayers should be willing to shoulder the burden. This despite forcing fixed income seniors barely surviving in the face of rising food and gas costs to pay the highest hydro costs of any jurisdiction in North America.

Whether you’re on the right or the left, this green strategy was unconscionably wrong. Experts have repeatedly warned the public exactly why it was wrong from the outset only to have it fall on deaf ears.

Now your Hydro bills include a new charge called “global adjustment” which compensates for the government’s desire to close the coal-fired plants in favour of continuing into long-term contracts with renewable energy companies. The result is “higher than market value costs” for Ontario residents even though energy costs are decreasing in the United States.

A recent report issued by the Fraser Institute makes several reasonable recommendations to alleviate Ontario’s energy dilemma They make too much sense for the Liberals to even consider, however. The report seeks a moratorium on all new renewable energy initiatives, pursuit of regulatory and legislative options to reduce operating renewable capacity, keeping available for restart four of 12 coal-burning units and exploring the option of large-scale imports of power from Hydro Quebec to bridge the interval for nuclear power plant refurbishment and careful scrutiny of nuclear refurbishment investment value.

If mayor-elect John Tory wants to do something constructive for Toronto taxpayers and everyone else in Ontario he should be speaking to the Wynne government to do something for the citizens instead of the unions. And maybe MPP Lou Rinaldi, in his new parliamentary assistant capacity, could ask for a green energy review that would make it easier for everybody to pay their Hydro bills. But don’t hold your breath.

Rolly Ethier

Campbellford

Paying for the green energy conspiracy

Report: America could power itself 100 times over with solar energy

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Solar panels cover the employee parking lot on the Patagonia corporate headquarters campus in Ventura, California on Friday, September 19, 2014. (Photo by David Walter Banks/For The Washington Post)

It is widely known that among all the sources of alternative energy, the one with the greatest potential is solar. How could it be otherwise? Staggering amounts of solar radiation strike the Earth each day; the only trick is capturing more of it.

In a new report, the Environment America Research and Policy Center seeks to visualize and quantify this potential as it pertains to the United States. The report argues that the U.S. “has the potential to produce more than 100 times as much electricity from solar PV and concentrating solar power (CSP) installations as the nation consumes each year.” It adds that every single state could generate more solar electricity than its residents currently consume.

Here’s a visualization, showing states that can get 1 to 5 times their current energy needs from solar, states that can get 5 to 25 times their energy, states that can get 25 to 100 times what they’re using, and states that can get over 100 times their current needs:

Environment America, “Star Power: The Growing Role of Solar Energy in America,” 2014.

The map above, notes the report, was created by comparing technical estimates of solar potential from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory with state level electricity sales data from the Energy Information Administration.

The report also suggests that 35 million homes and businesses could potentially install solar on their roofs:

Environment America, “Star Power: The Growing Role of Solar Energy in America,” 2014.

Here again, the map is based on data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which laid out the percentage of potential rooftops that could host solar panels in various climates.

Granted, it is not that all of this solar potential will necessarily ever be exploited. But then again, we only need to exploit some of it. “It’s technically achievable, and we only have to capture a fraction of it, one hundredth of it to get all of our current electricity needs,” says Environment America’s energy program director Rob Sargent.

Chris Mooney reports on science and the environment.

Report: America could power itself 100 times over with solar energy

Cutting Down On Home Heating Costs

GREENVILLE, S.C. - This latest cold spell is spurring many homeowners to get their heat checked.

“Our service department has been hammered with phone calls,” said Ross King of Dipple Heating And Air.

We caught up with him at a house in Greenville where a service tech was inspecting the furnace.

King recommends every homeowner get their system inspected twice a year: Once before summer and again now before winter.

And don’t forget about those air filters. King says you should change them out once a month because a dirty one makes your system work harder.

“They need as much air coming into them as they do going out. When you have a clogged filter or a thick filter, it restricts the air flow coming into the system. So thin filters, very inexpensive filters and change them regularly is the best way to keep them going,” said King.

And if you still have an old thermostat with the lever, ditch it for a digital one, preferably one you can program. According to the Energy Department, you can save 10% a year on heating costs by using a programmable thermostat.

“If you’re going to work for the day or just out to the store, you can change your thermostat a few degrees. The system actually works a lot harder to try to bring your home up to temperature if you come down ten degrees. The only time I would ever bring your thermostat down by ten plus degrees is if you’re gone for an extended period of time,” said King.

Another way to save this winter is through your water heater. According to the Energy Department, it accounts for up to 25% of energy used in the home. It recommends turning down the water heater temperature to the “warm” setting.

And when in doubt, ask your heating or energy company how you can save. For instance through Duke Energy, eligible homeowners can get a free in-home energy assessment. You can sign up online. Or call 844.DING.DONG (844.346.4366).

For more tips to cut down your heating bill, click here.

Cutting Down On Home Heating Costs

Wind farms generate €12b in value

Business Nature Netherlands

Wind farms generate €12b in value

According to Natuur & Milieu (Nature & Environment), wind farms on the sea provide billions to environmental gains, if the social benefits are included.

The study the environmental organization published today states that if the avoided climate damage, from current electricity production from gas and coal, is taken into account, the positive balanced can amount to more than 12 billion euro.

Negative climate impacts are limited by the large-scale deployment of wind energy. According to Natuur & Milieu, the social returns thereof are wrongly calculated. The public debate focus sole on the high investment costs and subsidies. The Second Chamber will debate Minister Kamp’s (Economic Affairs) plans for offshore wind farms tonight.

Natuur & Milieu asked the office SEO Economic Research of the University of Amsterdam to make a social cost-benefit analysis of the wind plans at sea. The environmental impact of CO2 emissions from the combustion of fossil materials was included in the calculations. Offshore wind farms will ultimately reduce the CO2 emissions.

According to Natuur & Milieu, wind energy is a smart insurance policy. “Wind farms save high costs for future generations. They are an excellent insurance for our (grand) children. We must invest now to reduce future damage”, says director Tjerk Wagenaar.

The organization believes that the economic cost calculations for wind energy are currently too one-sided. “We are not building wind farms to develop optimal business models, but to keep climate change within limits. Therefore it is important to include climate effects, translated into CO2 costs.” says Wagenaar. “Otherwise you get the bizarre effect that we cheer for the best business model for a windmill while in that scenario the climate damage is perhaps the greatest. A social cost-benefit analysis takes these effects into account.”

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Wind farms generate €12b in value

Fall Body Cleanse and Detoxification Strategies

Spring and fall are traditionally the time to clean house and throw out all your junk. Shouldn’t you treat your own personal house, the body, the same? We all have a tendency to over indulge on foods that we know are unhealthy during the summer.

(Newswire.net — November 15, 2014) — 

Things like hot dogs, ice cream, and alcoholic beverages – oh my!

As cool temperatures approach, and as we pull out the fall clothes from last year, we find that we have put on a few pounds, or we don’t look as good in the mirror as we used to. In the spring we notice that our overindulgence of rich foods and alcohol has caught up with us. White or yellow-coated tongue and/or bad breath,  Fluid retention and/or congested sinuses, increased belly or visceral fat, cravings and/or blood sugar issues, gallbladder issues or you had it removed, abdominal bloating, overheating/excess sweating, weight loss resistance, acne, rosacea, itchy skin, fatigue unrelieved by more sleep, especially in the morning, moodiness, arthritis, fibromyalgia, chemical sensitivity – you’re a lightweight when you drink alcohol or smelling fragrances makes you anxious, and insomnia – especially early morning awakenings such as 1-4 a.m.- are all signs your body is on toxic overload.

Many people recommend an arduous cleanse that involves multiple steps and eating or drinking something disgusting. Others recommend products that purposely cause diarrhea, thinking that if we cleanse the colon we cleanse the body. That is kind of like getting in your car and revving it up to 100 miles per hour then letting it coast until it gets to your destination. That would be unsafe, hard to steer, and probably wouldn’t get you to where you want to go. Other people refer to detox as an oil change, getting the gunk out all at once. But even in our car we have oil filters, air filters and even fuel filters. Our body has the same things, liver, kidneys, and lungs. If these filters get overloaded they definitely needed to be cleaned, because we can’t replace them as easily as the ones on the car.

Another approach to keeping our bodies clean is through our day to day lives. There are a wide variety of things that help to keep the insides of your body clean. What most of them have in common is that they come from the produce section and not the pharmacy or even the vitamin section. Each one works with the body to optimize its cleanness.

Here is a partial list:

  — Artichokes

  — Apples

  — Almonds

  — Asparagus

  — Avocados

  — Basil

  — Beets

  — Blueberries

  — Brazil Nuts

  — Broccoli and broccoli sprouts

  — Cabbage

  — Cilantro

  — Cinnamon

  — Cranberries

  — Dandelions

  — Fennel

  — Flaxseeds

  — Garlic

  — Ginger

  — Grapefruit

  — Green Tea

  — Kale

  — Lemons

  — Onions

  — Parsley

  — Pineapple

  — Sesame Seeds

  — Watercress

  — Apple cider Vinegar

  — Olive Oil

  — Turmeric

These are everyday foods for most of us. It should be easy to include a few from the list each day.

Other things we don’t think of as ‘food’ that is helpful for detox include Bentonite Clay (Edible Earth) Activated Charcoal. These would not usually be included in our everyday diet, but could be used on a monthly or even weekly basis if our bodies were really dirty.

One thing people forget about when they think of detoxifying is sweating. Exercise that makes you breathe deeply and produces moisture on your body cleanses you through both the lungs and the skin. Saunas cleanse you through your skin. Foot baths and Epsom salt baths do as well.

You can do a quarterly or even semiannual cleanse. Or, you can incorporate cleansing into your daily life. Many who are truly health conscious do both. They live their daily lives in a way that keeps them as clean as possible, and then they do the occasional deep cleaning. Kind of like what we try to do in our homes.

Whichever you choose to do the key is to work with your body, by giving it the support it needs.

Source: http://blog.enrichgifts.com/2014/11/fall-detoxification.html

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Fall Body Cleanse and Detoxification Strategies

China's Reality in the US-China Climate Change Deal

Despite the skepticism, China made some substantial commitments in this week’s agreement.

The United States and China recently agreed to reduce carbon emissions in what has been called a landmark climate change agreement. This agreement followed months of negotiation. While the U.S. agreed to reduce carbon emissions by 26-28 percent of 2005 levels by 2025, China agreed to draw 20 percent of its energy consumption from alternative fuels and peak its carbon emissions by 2030. For China, the effort is plausible and may do more than analysts believe – indeed, it can be viewed as a good start toward reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy.

Often, the view of China’s environmental regime is negative. This is not only because China’s environment is severely polluted, but also because its track record on reducing carbon emissions is mixed. China has in the past set targets for the renewable energy composition of all energy sources. China’s Renewable Energy Law of 2007 aimed to quadruple GDP while only doubling electricity consumption by 2020. China also set a goal in the Eleventh Five Year Plan to reduce the energy intensity of GDP by 20 percent by 2010, implying a 2.8 percent annual growth rate in energy use. So far, these goals have not been met.

On the other side of the coin, China’s leadership is well aware that the role of its carbon emissions in climate change is problematic. Premier Li Keqiang declared a “war on pollution” in March 2014. Dan Rosen, in a report written for the Asia Society in October, points out that China has already made progress by destroying some highly polluting plants, negotiating requirements for particulate matter reduction, installing pollution controls on coal-fired plants, and revising the Environmental Protection Law (EPL) to allow for public interest lawsuits, among other moves. Rosen asserts that emissions reduction at the firm level will depend on enforcement of emissions laws, and that a litmus test for emissions law enforcement will lie in the number of public environmental interest lawsuits accepted by courts beginning January 1, 2015, when the revised EPL is put into effect. China therefore appears to be moving in the right direction using a number of different tactics.

Meanwhile, China has driven down the costs of renewable energy, particularly in the production of solar cells. China has also been investing heavily in its renewable energy supply structure, and currently has the largest renewable energy capacity in the world. The State Grid Corporation of China is working to integrate wind and solar-photovoltaic generation and storage devices into the main grid, and other efforts promise continuing strides in renewable capacity expansion.

Some analysts’ responses to this climate agreement have not focused on China’s renewable energy pledge, and therefore have been quite negative, stating that China has an easy task since it has until 2030 to peak on emissions. This goal may be less stringent than the policy implemented in the U.S., but certainly the other half of the promise to increase renewable energy sources to 20 percent of energy consumption will pose a sufficient challenge. It is also worth keeping in mind that this agreement was not meant to represent a ceiling on climate change policies but rather a floor. As John Kerry wrote in his November 12 New York Times op-ed that “there is no question that all of us will need to do more to push toward the de-carbonization of the global economy. But in climate diplomacy …you have to start at the beginning, and this breakthrough marks a fresh beginning.”

Certainly, the collaboration on research and execution described in the U.S.-China agreement will help improve the climate change outlook. The agreement expands the commitment to the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center, advances carbon capture, facilitates collaboration on phasing out hydrocarbons, establishes a low-carbon cities initiative, promotes trade in green technology goods, and initiates pilot programs in green energy use. These efforts move both nations in the right direction and represent clear strides toward intervening in the progression of climate change. China surely is making concerted attempts to secure our shared global future.

China"s Reality in the US-China Climate Change Deal

American Wind Energy on Twitter: "Will Congress extend successful tax incentive for wind?: http://t ...

Will Congress extend successful tax incentive for wind?: @utilitydive #windpower #windworks

American Wind Energy on Twitter: "Will Congress extend successful tax incentive for wind?: http://t ...

Plans for Brookhaven Solar Farm Power Debate

Nov. 13, 2014 9:04 p.m. ET

The town of Brookhaven in Long Island’s Suffolk County is caught up in New York’s ongoing love affair with solar energy farms.

More than 50 solar energy farms, with acres upon acres of white and gray solar panels pointed skyward, have been approved on Long Island and dozens more are in the pipeline, according to PSEG Long Island, the region’s power utility. Supporters point to the low cost of energy per gigawatt using such farms and their relatively small footprint, compared with larger power-grid structures.

But the latest plan for a new 60-acre solar installation on a sod farm in Shoreham has drawn opposition from residents who say that such facilities would be better built to replace abandoned warehouses or unsightly industrial areas. The critics also cite worries about what they say are possible long-term health effects.

The proposed Shoreham solar farm would include about 50,000 panels ranging between 8 feet and 10 feet. The project to erect the panels on the grounds of the DeLalio Sod Farms was approved unanimously by the Brookhaven Town Planning Board in late October.

Some residents have filed formal objections to the Shoreham solar farm and two other solar farms planned nearby, saying they ruin the area’s rural character and that the negotiations for the Shoreham farm, off Route 25A, was done behind closed doors. MaryAnn Johnston, president of the Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Associations, said a lawsuit is in the works.

“We are all in favor of renewable energy but this is an industrial-sized solar power plant,” said Ms. Johnston, who works as a paralegal. “A project of this size should not have been done quietly.”

A review of the approval and contracting process for the solar farm is under way, said

Marc Alessi,

a governor-appointed trustee of the Long Island Power Authority, which oversaw the Shoreham solar farm proposal before it was taken over by PSEG Long Island and the developer, sPower.

“I think if some of this stuff had been talked about at length, and we had agreed to house it away from an active farm, we could have avoided the disagreement,” Mr. Alessi said.

Solar power supporters say the new farm could offset the annual energy use of roughly 1,775 homes and the panels be hidden by rows of evergreen trees.

“A lot of the concerns were focused on health but there’s no risk here,” said Chris Wiedemann, the director of development for sPower, a California and Utah-based renewable energy company that is building the solar farm. Mr. Wiedemann said the company is awaiting building permits and construction could take between four months and six months to complete.

Brookhaven has a rich history with advanced technology. Inventor Guglielmo Marconi used a small shack on the campus of a nearby elementary school to train wireless operators and beam messages to ships at sea. The town of Rocky Point on the North Shore was home to the largest wireless station in the world, with a campus of 400-foot-tall steel antenna towers built by Radio Corp. of America in the 1920s.

The area is anchored by Brookhaven National Laboratory, a 5,300-acre U.S. Energy Department facility with nearly 3,000 employees. The facility is home to the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, a 2.4-mile atom-smashing supercollider that is the only one of its kind in the U.S.

Brookhaven lab also has the largest solar-energy project in New York state, providing 37 megawatts of power.

Paul Moskowitz, a retired environmental health scientist at Brookhaven lab who has lived next to the sod farm site since 1987, said he is disappointed the bucolic fields, a beloved spot in winter for playing in snow will be no more. But he says there were worse alternatives.

“I view it as a plus. I’d much prefer having a quiet, unoccupied field than a bunch of new houses with people using their leaf blowers and loud music,” he said.

Plans for Brookhaven Solar Farm Power Debate