The U.S. Coast Guard has set a goal of a net zero carbon footprint for housing at their Southwest Harbor Base in Maine. The base is using solar panels, solar hot water heaters and now a wind turbine for their energy needs. Efficiency-boosting retrofits will also be done, including new electrical systems and better insulation.
The newly-installed wind turbine sits atop a 70-foot tower and provides power to a duplex housing unit located on the base. The upgrades and retrofits will begin in October.
The Coast Guard is looking to install wind power at other bases in Maine and around the country. This push toward renewable energy is part of a bigger program by the Department of Defense to get 25 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2025.
As Capt. James McPherson of the Coast Guard said, "We want to be good stewards of the environment and we want to be careful how we spend tax payer dollars, but we also think the debate is over whether we need to go to alternative energy.” Yes, it is.
via Inhabitat
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written by Jeff C, August 31, 2010
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written by Michelle Dupree, August 31, 2010
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written by Joe, August 31, 2010
This IS a smart decision because the initial investment will be payed back AND MORE because they won't have to purchase energy from the grid or they are selling it back to grid.... actually saving the government money; your money! You're just dumb.
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written by Fred, August 31, 2010
Wise up sonny boy. I understand the economics just fine. I do engineering cost-benefit analyses in my work. Find some other direction to blow your smoke.
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I love the ideas that so many different people are trying, in order to make a cleaner greener world. I'm all for it. But getting government involved is the dumbest, slowest, and most expensive way possible to attempt progress. People who are willing to risk their own money, though? Bet on them, they will produce winners, both economically and technically.
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written by Off Grid Hipster, September 01, 2010
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written by Gerald, September 01, 2010
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written by Joe, September 01, 2010
And after years of doing site assessment/cost-savings, there hasn't been a system I've recommended in Wisconsin with over a 20 year payback. Most are around 15 years. Bring Maine's incentives, which are a little less than Wisconsin's, into the equation and it doesn't help the payback, true. But the amount of wind potential working on that turbine will make up for that. So- can't say for sure but there's probably a 15 year payback, system life of 30-40 years = ur dumb, they'll get their money back AND more.
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