What Are They Not Telling Us?
With the majority of the U.S. experiencing “down right” cold temperatures, I’ve decided to take a short hiatus from my “Traveling… interviews. They’re soon to be started again in April, 2010. In the meantime, I would like to discuss some fairly controversial topics.
This weeks topic was brought to my attention by an e-mail from my mother. The e-mail was about “technically recoverable” oil in the Bakken Formation of the U.S. Williston Basin in Wyoming and North Dakota. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s sole science agency, the U.S. Geological Service, the Williston Basin oil discovery is the considered the largest area in the U.S. for “technically recoverable” oil. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates there are over 503 billion barrels of oil in the Bakken Formation. The Stansberry Report Online states that 1000′ below the surface of the Rocky Mountains lies the largest untapped oil reserve in the world. Estimates are upwards of 2 trillion barrels contained underground. If this is true, then we have a tremendous source of domestic oil (fossil fuel) that could free our country from foreign oil dependance. Where my question comes in, the head of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Secretary Salazar, was a keynote speaker at the UN Conference on Climate Change. The title of his speech was “New Energy Future: The Role of Public Lands in Clean Energy Production and Carbon Capture”. If the U.S. Geologic Service advocates the Bakken Formation as a vast oil reserve for the U.S. and they are the sole scientific agency for the Department of the Interior (DOI), then does Secretary Salizar put his “stamp of approval” on the USGS Williston Basin findings and production of (fossil fuel) oil?
I’m a bit confused, could someone please enlighten me? Leave me a comment, question or suggestion at the “comment” link immediately following this post. The following link is what I viewed info.http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1911
I look forward to hearing your opinions on this. Next week will be another “controversy”. May God Bless You Tim
Costs vs. Benefits Climate and Energy Policy(as it relates to Agriculture and Forestry)
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This information is about a seminar I attended about the “25X’25 Carbon Work Group”. 25x’25 Carbon Work Group is a national alliance of agriculture, forestry, environmental, conservation and other businesses working together to advance the goals of securing 25% of our nation’s energy needs from renewable resources by the year 2025.
25X'25 seminar
left to right Karen McSpadden, Matthew Pelkki, Jim Wimberly and Terry McCullars
question/answer session
Respondent Panel Discussion
Tags: 25X'25, biomass, Carbon Workshop Group
Inner City Sustainability(A Place of Beauty)
My visit to Dunbar Garden, an inner city neighborhood sustainability project in the heart of Little Rock, AR, was educational, informative and well worthwhile. I kept hearing of a functional wind turbine set in an educational environment and when I found out where, I just had to visit. This is a place where the product of teaching sustainability and working in concert with our environment is placed in the hands of 5-12 year old children, teens and adults, giving them all a wise direction to go. John, the director/teacher of this facility, said that this young inquisitive generation give a lot of themselves with ideas that would surprise you. John then took me on a tour of some of the projects he and the students developed at the garden site and the 2.4KW wind turbine.
Dunbar 2.4KW Wind Turbine
The greenhouse has its electricity provided by the wind turbine. The wind turbine is grid tied but usually feeds electricity back into the grid as witnessed by its meter. It is mounted on a 50′ pole and has a 12′ blade diameter. The students really like the wind turbine and learn a lot about electrical generation from the wind. 
Honey Bee Home
DB 2.4KW wind turbine
Tags: Dunbar Gardens, wind turbine
A Visit to Pasadena, CA With Diane Tegarden
Diane and I met online several weeks before we tried a Skype video session, which was a “first” for both of us. This was the next best thing for a “Traveling” interview. I enjoyed seeing the person I was talking to “first hand” and getting to know her a little more. Diane is an accomplished book author with her own publishing company, “FireWalkerPublications”. I’ll tell how she came by her company name in a bit but first I want to tell you about Diane’s involvement with alternative energy.
generic installation in CA
Diane and her husband, Wade Webb, started a solar energy business in 1995. Their business was born as the result of an earthquake, with it’s epicenter located in Northridge, CA, about 30 miles from Pasadena. The earthquake was the cause of many residents losing electrical power. Using solar energy produced on site could have solved many problems associated with electrical energy. At the time of the earthquake Diane and Wade owned an alarm company and several of the alarm owners were without power. Solar power would definitely fill the needs of many in an environmentally friendly way. They operated their solar business through 2004. Diane told me about solar panels they have on their own roof(I’m waiting for her to take and send me some pics. It was raining the day I asked for them and Diane wanted to wait till the sun was out.) She told me her utility bill for the past two months was only $80, that they have and use a tankless hot water heater, she also hosts her own alternative/renewable energy radio/podcast talk show. It’s on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Tuesday of each month. Go to her website at :http://www.firewalkerpublications.com to find out how to listen, a list of guest interviews, the number to call and times and info about her writing publications.
I asked her how she came up with the name “FireWalkerPublications” and she described what event prompted her. Diane and Wade attended an event with Tony Robbins. Immediately following an intense mental preparation, they walked across a bed of glowing hot coals, thus the name “Fire Walker”. Diane told me the “firewalk” gave her a confidence that will be with her all her life. She has an amazing energy and we conversed on “ocean energy recovery”, “wave energy conversion”, “OWC(oscillating water collumn), “desalination” and a variety of other sustainable energy topics. Diane is much more than an author, publisher, talk show host, environmental activist, poet, internet network leader on Ryze and a wife to Wade, she is a dreamer with her feet planted(moving forward) firmly on the ground. I will look forward to listening and contributing(hopefully) to Diane’s radio podcast, that has an alternative energy theme, my passion. I am just beginning to read her book “Anti Vigilante and the Rip In Time”, about a preventable version of the future(using alternative energy sources).
CA Public Utilities Commission - generic picture
The Geo-thermal Springs of Hot Springs, AR
I have visited Hot Springs, AR on previous travels but not specifically to view the geo-thermal springs. According to Wickepedia, geo-thermal means power from heat stored in the earth. There are 47 protected springs located along the lower slopes of Hot Springs mountain within about a 400 yard area. The water averages 143 degrees F at its source with an average flow rate of 700,000 gallons per day.
Geo-thermal spring
Tufa rock
Fordyce Bath House circa1915
Please leave any comments, questions or suggestions by clicking on the “comments” link immediately following this article.
Tags: bath houses, geo-thermal, Hot Springs
Traveling…Around Fayettville, AR
As I started my trip from Little Rock, AR, the sky was cloudy and overcast with occasional spells of light rain. By the time I reached Fayettville, it was nice and sunny out. I took that as a good sign. When I arrived at my appointed destination, Butch Coger, my interview contact, was away taking care of some unforseen circumstances. His gracious sister, Paulette, was there and offered to take me around to see some of their sustainable energy projects. The first stop we made was a 3500 square foot home that Butch had built in their subdivision. A few days earlier, a hailstorm had hit the area, damaging some homes and autos. They had just replaced the shingles on the roof of this home and Paulette had noticed some of what appeared to be hail damage on the garage doors. They would have to be replaced.
garage mounted central vac
Recessed “cfl” lighting was evident through out the house. Just another sign of the house’s design for energy efficiency. Paulette showed me some of the attic access doors, conveniently hidden in closets upstairs. I could see the house was well insulated. It appeared to be doubly insulated, in that there was insulation on the inside sloped part of the roof as well as insulation on the “flat” portion forming the ceilings. I’ll find out some of the “R – insulation factors”, approximate utility bills and other about this house when I talk to Butch this week.
After the house, Paulette took me to view Arkansas University and the City Center, where Butch is doing some work on the Town Center. (Update: the correct name is the Fayettville Arkansas Town Center and by clicking on this “link”, you can get the “scoop” first hand) They are implementing energy savings lights. I’ll find out some more details on type of lights used and approximate savings while talking to Butch and post my findings later this week, to complete this post. I want to thank Paulette for the tour and the directions to the “bypass”(highway) that took me back home. View Butch’s site and contact him by clicking this link – Butch Coger. After this post is finished, I’ll be visiting a “geo-thermal” site for next week’s article. 
City Center at night
Please leave me a comment, question or suggestion by clicking on the “comments” link immediately following this post.
Tags: Coger, Fayetville, Paulette
17 Traveling…Heifer Ranch
Happy Thanksgiving week.
I talked my wife, Judy, into going to visit the Heifer Ranch with me this week. When we first arrived, Judy looked at this one fenced in area and asked me what was wrong with the horses back. About that time, it lifted it’s head and she said “That’s a camel”.
Camel(horse with a bad back))
water buffalo
sharing area with water buffalo
2 of the large horses
specially bred short hair sheep
bee's at Heifer Global Village
Please leave me a comment, question or suggestion by clicking on the “comments” link immediately following this post.
Tags: Heifer Ranch
Heifer International Headquarters
Heifer International was founded and started by Dan West over 60 years ago. His philosophy of “not a cup but a cow” was his start for building a world without hunger.
This week, I was able to tour the Heifer International Headquarters complex. It’s a remarkable structure designed and built to LEED Platinum certification.
Reesh Rowland, as the chief architect, created this sustainable masterpiece.
Recycled materials were used throughout this 94,000 square foot headquarters complex located in Little Rock, Arkansas, just south/east of the Bill Clinton Presidential Library. Most of the steel used was recycled, the countertops, bathroom stalls and carpets are made of recycled materials.
Heifer courtyard, Clinton library
underfloor plumbing and electrical
The outside landscaping utilizes native plants for soil stabilization and less maintenance and irrigation. The drive area was constructed using concrete because it has less chemical rain runoff than asphault. The actual individual parking spaces are gravel, which allows rainwater to seep into the ground where it falls preventing storm water runoff, that can cause pollution and erosion.
gravel parking, retention pond
The roof of the building is also designed to act as a rainwater collector. Through a designed slope and the materials used, the water from the rainwater on the roof is sent to a giant cistern.
huge cistern on right
The curved shape of the building, window shelves, overhangs, positioning of the building and open floor plan allow maximum lighting, heating and cooling from the sun to be achieved. Nikki Fullerton, my guide through the Heifer Complex explained that even though the initial cost of the building was higher than the cost to build by conventional methods, the savings in the cost of operation of the building outweighs the initial cost. It will cost 50% less for heating, cooling, lighting, and water than conventional buildings of the same size. The main aspect, however, is it’s environmental impact. In that aspect, it excells at being environmentally friendly.
Heifer International
Next weeks article will be on a visit to the Heifer Ranch. It’s nestled in the Quachita foothills on 1400 acres and promises to have a wealth of insightfull, interesting info. Till then, May God Bless You Tim
Please leave any comments, questions or suggestions you may have for me by clicking on the “comments” link imediately following this post.
Last Morning in Greensburg, KS
My last morning in Greensburg took me from the west of town to the east of town on Kansas state hwy 54/400. 
The new Kiowa County Memorial Hospital, on the western outskirt of Greensburg is planned to be the first critical access hospital in the nation to be LEED Platinum certified.
Hospital North Entrance
Temporary Hospital
Moving east along 54/400 Hwy, you come to the Dillons Kwik Shop. A little over a year after the tornado, the Kroger company broke ground for this hybrid grocery store/convenience mart. Built to be the equivalent of LEED certified, it was built with R-24 insulated concrete form walls and an R-24 rated insulated roof. With skylights and a high heat reflective albedo roof coating, photosensors and occupancy lighting, energy efficient appliances, a water heating system using waste heat from mechanical systems and motion activated LED lights for freezer and dairy doors to drought resistant plants and rock garden landscaping(to reduce irrigation), it was all built on a previously developed site near to community resources. Going further east on 54/400, we cross Main Street, pass Dwane Shank Motors, just past the city park, other small businesses and motels, we come to BTI Greensburg-John Deere Dealership.
I met Mike Estes, one of the owners of the John Deere Dealership in Greensburg, at the wind farm groundbreaking. Mike invited me to stop and look around his dealership to see some of the sustainable technologies at work. The May 4th tornado had completely destroyed their dealership and the Estes family decided to rebuild, only this time to a LEED Platinum certification. At the dealership, Terry Wilder was introduced to me as the person to answer my questions. I asked Terry if he was in Greensburg when the tornado went through. He said “Yes” and told me he had covered his wife and daughter with his own body, to protect them. He said “it was only by the grace of God that we survived”. As we proceeded through the dealership, Terry showed me some of its energy saving and producing systems. 
1.8KW Wind Turbine
We walked out in the back to look at the 2 wind turbines, one 5KW and the other 1.8KW, that produce electricity for the facility. Nearly everything imagineable in this building was energy efficient and sustainably designed. I wish I would have been able to see their monthly utility bill. I also wish I would have had more time to tour the churches and talk with more of Greensburg’s residents. Nearly everyone I spoke with tells of God’s grace in their lives. I saw and heard three recurring constants everywhere I visited in Greensburg. Sustainability, cooperation and God’s grace. Next week you’ll get an opportunity to see either a traveling segment on the Heifer International Headquarters or possibly a cave home. Let me know, by posting a comment, which you would prefer. Till then, May God Bless you. Tim
Tags: John Deere
Greensburg (Greentown) KS
Last week was the groundbreaking for Greensburg’s wind farm, this week is a relatively quick tour of the rebuilding of Greensburg. From homes, churches, businesses, schools, water tower to the lives of many is a positive rebuilding story. The citizens of Greensburg are of a strong, sturdy heritage. To just rebuild after such destruction takes a lot of “grit”. To rebuild in such a “green” manner using sustainable/renewable/alternative energy technologies is a further tribute to their motivation. I had the privilege of spending some time with and getting to know some of these friendly folks. One of the first places I visited was the home of Marion and Ella Mae Marrs.
They were very fortunate to have been out of town when the tornado struck but their home and two rental homes they owned were not as fortunate. Their homes and all of their life’s possessions were gone in a matter of minutes. Most of the houses in Greensburg(including theirs) were not bolted or fastened to the foundations. Their new home is. Built on the same site as their destroyed home, their new southfacing home takes advantage of having no windows in the west or east sides, eliminating most heat gain in the summer months from the sun. Ella Mae proudly showed me her utility bill for September ‘09, electricity was only $43. The walls and ceiling are filled with foam insulation. Marion told me, the inner walls were also insulated, making it nearly”soundproof” from room to room. He had done the woodworking and cabinetry inside and a portion of the electrical work. Their house had an open, airy feel, while taking advantage of so many sustainable technologies. Across from Marion and Ella Mae’s home was Gary Goodhart’s new home. Gary was a very personable man that had served on Greensburg’s city council for over 10 years. Gary and his family survived the tornado but not their house. They’re just now moving into their new energy efficient home. The town is called Greensburg Green Town because of the sustainable rebuilding process being implemented into every structure. I toured another newly constructed building, called “The Silo”. It gained it’s name because of it’s unusual shape. It is round, like a grain silo, and two stories tall. Thank you, Ruth Ann, for showing me around. Inside, Joyce Keith was refinishing some droors in the downstairs kitchen. Ruth Ann pointed me up the stairs and I just had to take a closer look. Through the windows on the second level, I had a 360 degree “birdseye” view. Through a southeast facing window, I could see the 2KW solar array used to power the “silo”.
With it’s well insulated walls and roof, southern clerestory and windows for natural lighting, the high performance windows, concrete floor for absorbing solar heat in the winter months, LED lighting, window overhangs to shade the inside from receiving direct sunlight in the summer, energy and water efficient appliances, solar hot water system, low VOC materials used, FSC certified cabinetry and much more, the “silo” is a very fitting welcome site to Green Town in Greensburg. Just to the northwest of the “silo” is Green Town “cubed”, the 5.4.7. Arts Center and Dillon’s Kwik Shop.
Green Town cubed is a group of 4 sustainable energy demonstration “cubes”. It includes; 1) the Ice Cube, 2) the Watering Can, 3) Green Haus and 4) the Recycling Bin. The 5.4.7. Arts Center was named for the date of the tornado, May 4, 2007. It’s a place for everything from art exhibitions to meeting 
for community organizations. Being the first building in Kansas to achieve the LEED Platinum certification holds it to a high standard. The building incorporates southern facing windows and skylights for natural lighting, high performance windows, 4″ thick concrete floor(mass) to absorb solar heat in the winter, energy efficient lights and appliances, tempered glass(for cooling), 3 wind turbines(600W each), geothermal heating and cooling, 8 PV panels on roof, low flow commodes, 1500 gallon rainwater collector, recycled newspaper insulation, recycled carpet 
as well as other sustainable features. This truly is a structure for Greensburg to be proud of. Within walking distance is the “Dillons Kwik Shop” built by the Kroger company, designed as a cross between grocery store, convenience store and gas station. This building was constructed equivalent to LEED certified. Just a short distance away, several structures call Main Street their home. I walked through and around some of these amazing buildings. My first stop was “City of Greensburg Sun Chips Business Incubator.” What is a business incubator? Think in terms of an “egg incubator” but used for businesses to be started and “hatched”. This business incubator is a building designed to offer retail spaces to local businesses displaced
by the tornado. The building was made possible through the collaborative effort of architectural firms of MVP and BNIM, funded by Sun Chips, the USDA Rural Development and Leonardo DiCaprio. As a result of all involved cooperating, the building is completed to LEED Platinum standards. It boasts R-22 concrete form walls, southern facing, energy efficient windows, skylights and clerestories for natural lighting, overhangs and light shelves for daylighting control, 6.8KW rooftop solar array(providing 10% of energy need), geothermal heating and cooling(57% energy savings), low flow shower heads and commodes, rain collection system(95% water savings) and a water recycling system. At 9,580 square ‘, this building is truly a sustainable energy marvel. After walking past several other newly constructed buildings and sites, I next stopped at the Greensburg City Hall. 
The new City Hall building is LEED Platinum certified. It was built with
R-22 insulated concrete form walls, the roof is angled to maximize natural light, east & west windows are minimized to reduce solar heat, rooftop PV array, low water usage fixtures, low VOC materials were used along with other sustainable technologies. Aesthetically, it appears to be”out of the future”, with it’s angled roof and extra large overhangs. The next stop to the east is the Kiowa County Courthouse.
The courthouse was originally built in 1914 and was one of the only buildings not completely destroyed by the tornado. Renovation needed on the building was done using sustainable energy technologies to make it more comfortable and efficient. Spray foam insulation was added to the walls and it uses geothermal heating and cooling supplied by 32 wells. The energy certification goal is LEED Gold. Just southwest of the courthouse is the USD 422 Greensburg K-12 school. The energy certification goal for this school is LEED Platinum. There are so many other structures in Greensburg 
deserve to be featured. The Solar Eco Home donated by the Univesity of Colorado at Denver, Dwane Shank Motors, Greensburg State Bank, Prarie Point Townhouses and many other well designed homes, businesses and churches that more than deserve recognition for their incorporation and use of sustainable/alternative/renewable energy and efficiency. Next week I’ll highlight
the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital with a 50KW wind turbine in west Greensburg, the local churches, Dillon’s Kwik Shop and the John Deere Dealership with it’s own windturbines and radiant floor heating in east Greensburg. Till then, May God Bless you, Tim Please leave any questions, comments and/or suggestions for me by clicking on the word “comments” immediately following this post.
Tags: business incubator, GreenTown
