SUN-WIND NEWSLETTER

Renewable Energy News & Events in the Puget Sound Rainshadow

December 20, 2004

It has been a very busy year for us here at Whidbey Sun & Wind, We've designed and installed several renewable energy systems this year, from a small, portable solar power system for educational use to a residential off-grid solar & wind power system with the modules and wind turbine mounted on a 160-foot tower. You can see some of our projects in the Portfolio section of our website at,www.whidbeysunwind.com/portfolio.html.

Solar energy is growing worldwide at around 30% per year. The current huge worldwide demand for solar electric (PV) modules, especially in Germany where they understand that oil is running out, has created a shortage, especially for large, energy-dense panels. We've had to wait several months for some PV modules.

For high energy use, that is. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that every year in the U.S. holiday lights consume 2.2 billion kilowatt-hours, or $220 million at the average of 10 cents per KWH. On a typical holiday evening the holiday lighting load adds up to about 14,840 megawatts, or the equivalent output of 14.8 nuclear power plants (source: Homepower magazine). LED light strings, which use 90% less energy (and last 20 times longer) than conventional lights are available at most stores selling holiday lights. I bought some this year from Ace Hardware in Oak Harbor.

I've promised not to blatantly market in this newsletter. However, I don't think it's in bad taste to inform you late Christmas shoppers with a conscience that we have Global Sun Ovens (solar ovens) and self-powered stove-top fans in stock at our office. Global Sun Oven is a company who make solar ovens here in the U.S., primarily for distribution in the developing world to reduce rampant deforestation (and respiratory disease) due to cooking with wood. They also distribute some of their ovens here in North America, where they work quite well for baking cookies, casseroles, etc. Eco–Fans are made in Canada and operate from the Peltier effect – producing electricity to run the fan from the heat differential between the stovetop and air. They work great in distributing heat through the house – and no cords.

The relatively high fossil fuel prices we've experienced lately are probably going to be the norm from now on. Here are some facts you may be interested in:

• The U.S. consumes 25% of the world's oil, but has only 3% of it's oil reserves.
• China's oil consumption increased 40% this year to surpass Japan as the world's second largest importer of oil, behind the U.S.
• One-third of the U.S. trade deficit over the past 30 years, over $1.16 trillion, has gone to oil-producing countries. The DOE estimates that each $1B in trade deficits cost 27 thousand U.S. jobs. That calculates out to 31.3 million jobs!
• 19 of the 20 hottest summers on record have occurred since 1970.
• The U.S. produced about one-fifth of the total global greenhouse gases in 1994 (source: EPA).
• The Columbia River Basin area is expected to have 35% less snow pack by 2050 (source: Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Oceans Climate Impacts Group, U of W).
• Since 1751, roughly 283 billion tons of carbon have been released into the atmosphere due to the use of fossil fuels. Half of these emissions have been released since the 1970s. (Source: Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center).
• Wind energy production in North Dakota alone could produce a third of the United States' energy needs. (Source: The Official Earth Day Guide to Planet Repair).

Many of the facts above are gleaned from the website www.apollopac.com. If, like me, you are dissappointed (that's a mild way to put it) in the outcome of the recent elections and , especially, at the lack of discussion about energy and the environment you may want to check out the website. The New Apollo Energy Project is the idea of congressman Jay Inslee of the 1st congressional district in Washington State, a champion of renewable energy. It's based on the challenge that President Kennedy gave to the nation in 1961 to put a man on the moon in a short period of time – despite the lack of technology to do it at the time. It also recognizes that we have to elect people to office who understand that weaning our nation from oil is THE top national security issue.

The Washington State Solar Tour, on October 2nd, was a success, with 101 sites Statewide, and 5 on Whidbey Island. It was our first year to include homes on Whidbey. We expect more local and regional homes to participate next year. It's the first Saturday in October. Keep an eye on our website and www.solarwashington.org for information on this and other events happening next year.

Solar Energy International is offering renewable energy workshops in Costa Rica this Winter, and on Guemes Island, near Anacortes in September. The Costa Rica workshops are:

Homebuilt Wind Generators Fundacion Durika, Costa Rica-www.durika.org Build wind generators from scratch with Hugh Piggott Monday - Sunday, February 21-27, 2005 * Tuition: US$650

Renewable Energy for the Developing World-Hands On Rancho Mastatal, Costa Rica-www.ranchomastatal.com Solar electricity, solar hot water, solar cooking, other RE technologies Monday - Sunday, March 7-13, 2005 * Tuition: US$650

To find out more about these and other renewable energy workshops check out the Solar Energy International website, www.solarenergy.org for details, or stop by our office for a program catelog. For more information on the Guemes Island workshops, logistics and lodging contact local coordinator Ian Woofenden, 360-293-7448, ian.woofenden@homepower.com.

We're ready to order a new batch of biodiesel for the Whidbey Island Biodiesel User's Group. We have a tank truck come to the Island to fill member's personal tanks. Details are discussed via a Biodiesel User's email network (currently only a mailing list, not listserve). If you would like to get on this email list, find out more information about getting a tank for yourself, etc, please let us know. Anyone is welcome try biodiesel from our 330 gallon tank here at the Renewable Energy Ranch (our home and office) :)

Please forward our newsletter to anyone you think might be interested. If you've received this as a forward and would like to be on the mailing list let us know. Names on this list will not be given out, nor used for blatant marketing. If you don't want to receive this newsletter, or want to change your email address, please let me know. These newsletters are posted on our website. If you have any information that you think may be of interest please send it to us.

Happy Hibernation and a Sustainable New Year to you!

Kelly Keilwitz, P.E.
Whidbey Sun & Wind, LLC
Renewable Energy Systems
987 Wanamaker Rd, Coupeville, WA 98239
ph & fax: 360-678-7131
sunwind@whidbeysunwind.com
www.whidbeysunwind.com
Renewable Energy Now!