Sustainable Milton
Renewable Energy
 | ||||
Solar Energy
Wind Power
is widely implemented in Europe. Denmark gets over 20% of it's electricity from Wind. In the US, Texas is promoting small and large-scale wind farms.
Here in Mass, wind is most plentiful and predictable along the coastline and across Cape Cod and the Islands. Hull has 2 wind turbines generating electricity for Hull residents, resulting in a 500 mWh electric bill of $63 (vs. $87.50 for 500 mWh here in Milton - 25% lower). Hull also has a residential-sized turbine at their Estuary Center. Cape Wind is proceeding through the standard regulatory review process in hopes of installing 130 wind turbines in Nantucket Sound, to provide 3/4 of all electricity for Cape Cod.
Geothermal
energy is used to heat most of Reykjavik, Iceland. Small-scale geothermal heating systems are available as well, using heat pumps for heating and heat sinks for cooling. Read how it works. Heat pumps are very efficient, but they still require electricity for power. If that electricity is from wind or water (hydro), for example, then the geothermal system can be completely renewable.
Energy from the Sea
can be harvested from Waves and Tides. The Irish have underwater turbines that weigh 100 tons each and can provide electricity to 800 homes. Portugal is installig he world's first Wave Farm. Watch an 8-minute video here.
Ethanol
can be grown as corn, so it is renewable, but burning E85 creates ozone, better known as smog. Ozone is good up in the atmosphere, but causes asthma and other health problems down on the ground. Read more or listen on NPR.
Know your Biofuels!
Comparison chart with Corn, Sugarcane, Cellulosic, Soybean, Cooking Grease, Algae and Gasoline here.
Hull 2
Cape Wind on The Daily Show!
is utilized everywhere, from New Jersey to Nevada. Homeowners across the country are discovering that installing solar energy systems not only reduce their impact on global warming, but it also saves money.
