Monthly Archives: January 2009

Good energy starts in the head

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The supplier of electric energy Elektrizitätswerke Schönau (EWS), located in Schönau im Schwarzwald in Germany set itself the target of offering electricity from renewable energies and to renounce electricity from nuclear and coal-fired power stations completely. The EWS evolved from a citizens’ initiative, which formed due to the nuclear incident in Tschernobyl 1986. After two citizen decisions 1991 and 1996 the EWS succeeded in buying the local electricity network from the former electricity supplier for 6.5 million D-Mark. The financing of this high amount was only possible by a spectacular country wide appeal for funds, which did not only made the purchase possible but also showed that every „little“ citizen can achieve something.

The citizens of Schönau completely produces their electricity themselves by block heat and power plants and photovoltaic power supplies. The spare electricity is sold along. Since the liberalisation of the electricity market in Germany in 1998 the EWS offer everyone their electricity country wide for a competitive price. In order to cover this increased demand for electricity, the EWS exclusively buy additional electricity from independent electricity producers, which do not have any financial participation in nuclear power plant operators or their subsidiaries and produce their electricity from new installations of renewable water power and climate friendly cogeneration of heat and power. This is even certified by the german TÜV an independant service provider for ensuring quality, security und reliability. By the „Sun-Cent“ which is included in the electricity tariff the development of new environment-friendly electricity plants is promoted, in particular that of private persons, who otherwise could not operate these plants economically.

Further information about the history, the support program and the method of changing your power supply provider you will find on their website.

This article was thankfully written by guest author Timm Frenzel. If you are interested in writing an article for Allternatives please contact me.

VisionGreen and its Greeny car

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All the news coverage about the Greeny – VisionGreen’s ecological friendly car – is from 2007. The website still promises change.

Cars without emissions, eco-houses and green cities, clean air and healthy people, new ways and fresh thinking. That’s what we dream of and what we work for – day and night and sometimes in-between.

Do sustainable living and having fun go together? Can we embrace responsibility and enjoy beauty? Dare dreams and create realities?

Yes, we can! That’s why we want to challenge us and others every day to step out and free our minds from stuffy drawers and old prejudice, from resignation and inaction, from senseless norms and silly conventions. Instead we trust our strengths, our vision and our reason to make our world a little greener.

Sometimes many little things can indeed make huge changes.
Come and join us – join the revolution.

Source: VisionGreen

What’s the status of this company and its first product? I haven’t seen a single Greeny on the roads, yet. Does anyone have news?

Toyota Prius 2010

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The all new third-generation 2010 Prius Hybrid automobile is a continuous development of its predecessors based on the Hybrid Synergy Drive. Its estimated EPA rating is 50 mpg/combined with the new 1.8L Atkinson-cycle engine that has no efficiency-robbing accessory-drive belts. Its performance is significantly improved. A smaller battery-control module and other space-saving strategies gives passengers more space for themselves and for luggage. Drivers can select four driving modes: Normal, EV, Eco and Power. In “EV” mode the car usually runs on battery power only. “Eco” restricts the throttle and reduces acceleration with an aim toward increasing fuel economy. “Power” enhances engine responsiveness, which helps drivers merge onto freeways.

You can get solar roof panels fpr your 2010 Prius which power a ventilation fan that reduces interior temperatures. You can activate the air-conditioning system as you approach your Prius so that the interior isn’t scorching hot when you get to your Prius.

An optional Pre-Collision Safety System determines you are heading for a collision that is unavoidable. The system retracts seatbelts, prepares brake assist and readies air bags. An optional Lane-keeping-Assist system can alert you if the car is drifting out of your lane. An optional Intelligent Parking Assist system allows the Prius to virtually parallel-park itself with minimal driver intervention.

All the system and assistants sound a bit like the future. I hope the hybrid technology will become the future very soon. It makes totally sense and if you are thinking about getting a new car consider one with a MPG of at least 45 miles!

IRENA – Initiative for the founding of the International Renewable Energy Agency

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My hometown Berlin is applying for the seat of the IRENA agency which I totally support!

Its supporters define IRENA as the following:

IRENA aims at becoming the main driving force in promoting a rapid transition towards the widespread and sustainable use of renewable energy on a global scale. Acting as the global voice for renewable energies, IRENA will provide practical advice and support for both industrialised and developing countries, help them improve their regulatory frameworks and build capacity. The agency will facilitate access to all relevant information including reliable data on the potential of renewable energy, best practices, effective financial mechanisms and state-of-the-art technological expertise.

IRENA will develop comprehensive solutions, such as fostering all types of renewable energy, and consider various renewable energy policies on the local, regional, and national level. Additionally, IRENA will consider the specific environmental, economic and socio-cultural conditions. Lastly, it will involve stakeholders from the energy industry, academia, institutions and civil society. IRENA will regularly consult and cooperate with organisations and networks already engaged in the field of renewable energy in order to complement and pool their work resources, hereby creating added value.

Learn more about IRENA on the website created by the German government about the IRENA Conference.