Volume IV, 2011-12
100% Renewable, 100% Possible Planning a Clean Energy Future for Long Island
Offshore Wind Meeting Long Island’s Clean Energy Goals
Climate Change A Chance to Repower Our Economy
LIGreenGuide.org
SP_GL_Green Guide Co-Op_8.11.11.pdf
SOLAR ELECTRIC
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
|
1
8/11/11
5:06 PM
SOLAR HOT WATER
|
GEOTHERMAL
|
WIND
|
POOL HEATING
Not all solar panels are created equal. SunPower is up to 50% more efficient and 100% better looking. GreenLogic Energy is proud to be a SunPower Dealer of the Year. To make an appointment for a free solar evaluation for your home go to GreenLogic.com or call 877-771-4330.
Welcome
. . . To the Future
Dear LI GreenGuide Reader; March 11, 2011 was a tipping point on energy. It happened 6,000 miles away but changed minds oceans away. The horrific earthquake and tsunami that shook Japan that day caused immeasurable destruction and suffering. The ensuing meltdown of nuclear facilities at Fukushima exposed workers at the reactors and residents nearby to dangerously high levels of radiation. But it also exposed the fact, dramatically visible on worldwide TV, that nuclear power comes with a hidden but potentially very high price tag. Realizing that these risks are enormous despite their low probability, many governments reevaluated their energy policies. It took only four days for Germany’s conservative government to shut down seven nuclear reactors while the country began to reconsider its reliance on atomic power. A month later, Chancellor Merkel invited the governors of all German states to Berlin and announced the end of nuclear power for this highly industrialized economy. “We plan to phase out our nuclear energy and go for renewable energy,” Merkel said, laying out a plan to replace the 23% of electricity generated by nuclear reactors with truly clean and safe energy. “As the first big industrialized nation, we can achieve such a transformation toward efficient and renewable energies, with all the opportunities that brings for exports, developing new technologies and jobs”, she said. And Germany was not alone. Switzerland, with 40% nuclear powered electricity, decided to phase out its reactors while banking on energy efficiency and renewables. As of June 2011, eleven other European countries remained opposed to nuclear power, along with countries like Israel, Australia and New Zealand. Coincidentally, 2011 spawned a number of studies evaluating whether our energy needs could be met entirely by renewable energy sources. Surprisingly, the answer is that this is not only possible but economically feasible. More about this in our “Imagine” article on page 12. While the U.S. still lacks a comprehensive energy policy that addresses climate change and enables the switch from fossil and nuclear to efficiency and renewables, there are encouraging developments at the state and local level. New York State has a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050 and utilities across the state must meet 45% of electricity needs from clean energy sources by 2015 (30% from renewables and 15% from efficiency improvements). But in order to actually meet these goals clean energy initiatives need to ramp up significantly and quickly. LIPA has commissioned two large scale solar projects, now under construction at Brookhaven National Lab and various Suffolk County parking lots, that will give a 50 megawatt boost of clean power to Long Island. Bigger yet, the Power Authority has received proposals for a combined 1,200 megawatts of clean power from two large offshore wind farms planned for Rhode Island Sound and the Hudson Canyon. Both wind farms would be far offshore and virtually invisible from land. In other good news, the newly formed Long Island Green Homes Consortium, made up of seven towns, will now help homeowners reduce energy costs. Starting with a comprehensive energy audit (free or at reduced cost) and low-cost financing, homeowners might have no out-of-pocket expenses for energy efficiency investments. Once a home is energy efficient, it’s time to go solar. Don’t miss our Solar Tour and Green Buildings Open House (first Saturday in October), then do the math and find a reputable contractor with our SunshineIsFree.org solar calculator and contractor locator. Prices for solar have come down a lot and there are still good rebates from LIPA and tax credits for solar electric and solar hot water heating. Welcome to our fourth LI Green Guide! I hope you are ready to help re-energize Long Island! September 2011
Gordian Raacke Executive Director Renewable Energy Long Island LIGreenGuide.org
1
Long Island Green Guide
LIGreenGuide.org
2
Long Island Green Guide
Contents 12 – 1 00%
Renewable: Imagine
Gordian Raacke on rebuilding our economy with renewable energy
16 – Water Resources: When It Rains…
What happens to storm water when it rains, and how can it be used efficiently?
17 – Water Resources: Your Water Footprint
Calculate your water footprint and learn how to reduce your water consumption
18 – O ffshore Energy: An Ocean of Energy
How offshore wind energy can provide abundant, safe, and reliable electricity for the region
22 – S olar Energy: Everything Under the Sun Delia Kauffman on solar projects across Long Island
24 – A Green Cause: Delivering a Climate Message
to Congress — By Bicycle
Why Ms. Hunt-Martorano went to Washington…
25 – H ome Green Home: Do Try This at Home Big and small improvements around your house that will make your wallet smile
LIGreenGuide reEnergizing Long Island
Publisher Renewable Energy Long Island Editor-In-Chief Gordian Raacke, Executive Director Managing Editor Catarina Raacke Design Katie Sweetman Based on designs by Cro2 Design Printing 4over4 Contributing Writers Gordian Raacke Ashley Hunt-Martorano Thomas Muse Kyle Rabin Delia Kauffmann Renewable Energy Long Island (reLI) 62 Newtown Lane, Suite 103 East Hampton NY 11937 631-329-8888 info@RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org LIGreenGuide.org SunshineIsFree.org WindWorks4LI.org
26 – C limate Change: Crisis and Opportunity Gordian Raacke on the state of the planet and the opportunity it brings
28 – S olar Facts: The FAQs All you need to know to go solar
Megawatt Sponsors:
Watt Sponsors: Empower Clean Energy
The LI GreenGuide Directory has moved online to LIGreenGuide.org, here you can list your business or service, find resources, professionals and everything “green” on Long Island. Academic Organizations; Architects; Builders; Building Trades; Consultants; Designers; Distributors/Wholesalers; Energy/Home Performance; Auditors; Energy Service Companies; Engineers; Environmental Organizations; Farmers; Government; Green Home Services; Green Remediation; Green Choice Provider/Marketer; Landscaping; Lawyers/Legal; Lenders/Financial Services; Manufacturers; Non-for-Profits; Other; Professional Associations; Publishers/ Printers (Magazines/Books/Other); Real Estate Broker; Real Estate Developer; Retailer; Solar Contractor; Specialty Contractor; Transportation; Wind Developer/Contractor To assure the most up-to-date information and full description of services offered, we asked businesses, professionals, and other organizations catering to the “green” marketplace on Long Island to enter contact information and a brief description of their products and services. Listings are provided as a public service and are free of charge. Each application has been reviewed and approved for this list. We have not verified the information provided to us. You should carefully evaluate any business listed before purchasing from or retaining their services.
LIGreenGuide.org
3
Long Island Green Guide
Convening Long Island leaders bringing a regional focus to sustainability initiatives
Visit si.molloy.edu or call 516-678-5000, ext 7562 7180 Republic Airport | Farmingdale, New York 11735
In addition to organizing ongoing projects working to promote clean energy with local municipalities, and places-of-worship, the Sustainability Institute has also become part of the Long Island Green Homes Consortium—a cooperative effort of seven Long Island municipalities. The Long Island Green Homes Project helps homeowners get free comprehensive home energy audits and low cost financing in order to implement cost effective energy efficiency upgrades to their homes. Visit longislandgreenhomes.org today! The mission of the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College is to promote transformative education and informed and respectful debate on vital environmental issues. si.molloy.edu LIGreenGuide.org
4
Long Island Green Guide
H2M Is Where Vision & Implementation Meet To Form A Better Future
LEED Accredited Professionals Representing All Aspects of Design
architects + engineers
www.h2m.com
575 Broad Hollow Road Melville, NY 11747 631.756.8000
Electrical Training Center 65 Elm Street Copiague NY, 11726
46 Hour Basic Designing & Installing Photovoltaic Systems This dynamic 46 hour course is designed to train electrical contractors, journeymen, and other skilled trades’ people in designing and installing solar photovoltaic systems. This is an intense all inclusive course that will cover solar and electrical theory, practical installation methods and techniques, PV business management and concludes with the installation of a grid connected solar photovoltaic system. After completion of the course the student will sit for the NABCEP “PV Entry Level Exam”. (Lecture and Hands-on Format)
Majestic Son & Sons has been serving Long Islanders with solar solutions for over 30 years. Let us put the power of the SUN to work for YOU!
NABCEP Certification Exam Preparation Course
This course is designed for individuals that will be taking the NABCEP Photovoltaic Installation Exam. This 20 hour course will cover NABCEP job tasks that the test is based upon. NABCEP Certified Instructors We are an approved provider for NABCEP, IAEI and PIE Continued Education Credits
508 Route 112 Patchogue, NY 11772 (631) 758-0792 info@majesticsonli.com www.majesticsonli.com
Call for dates and more information!!! Phone: 631-226-8021 www.electricaltrainingcenterli.com http://www.facebook.com/electricaltrainingcenter
Solar Electric ☼ Solar Water Heating ☼ Geothermal Cooling & Heating
LIGreenGuide.org
5
Long Island Green Guide
Less Paper, Less Wait, Less Worry
>more Green! ®
Enroll to receive electronic periodic statements today with e-Statements. ®
e-Statements are here!
For >more® details, visit www.nycbfamily.com
Free Online Banking with Bill Pay* At home, in the office, or on the road – with Online Banking you’re in control of when and where you manage your accounts.
(877) 786-6560
*No monthly service charges apply. A separate fee applies to optional services such as Money HQ®. Please talk to a branch representative or ask for our fee schedule for more details. The Bank is not responsible for typographical errors.
(800) 535-2269
Queens County Savings Bank • Roslyn Savings Bank • Richmond County Savings Bank • Roosevelt Savings Bank Garden State Community Bank • Ohio Savings Bank • AmTrust Bank are Divisions of New York Community Bank — Member FDIC Atlantic Bank is a Division of New York Commercial Bank — Member FDIC Equal Opportunity Lender
5584.indd 1
8/3/11 1:48:26 PM
Professional IT Solutions with Personalized Service Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software Development and Integration Manufacturing / Orthotic Software Solutions Response / Orthoware KONsys Energy Management Software Microsoft Platform Products and Services Network, System and managed Services Cloud Based/Hosted Solutions Virtualization Websites
PECONIC LAND TRUST (631) 231-3255 solutions@2mtech.com www.2mtech.com 700 Veterans Memorial Hwy Suite LL05 Hauppauge, NY 11788
Conserves Long Island’s Working Farms, Natural Lands, and Heritage for Our Communities Now and in the Future To learn more about our work and how you can join us, please call us at 631.283.3195 or visit our website at www.PeconicLandTrust.org.
We Make it Easier for You LIGreenGuide.org
6
Long Island Green Guide
Delivering cost-effective energy saving solutions today for a cleaner tomorrow. For a quarter of a century, CSG has been providing cost effective solutions to lower energy use and help prevent climate change. We design, develop and deliver innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy programs that produce results. To learn how CSG can help your organization be part of a sustainable environment, visit www.conservationservicesgroup.com
Clean Energy Solutions, LLC
ENERGY SPECIALISTS
BUILDING EFFICIENCY
(631) 587.3325 (office) (631) 707.0007 (cell)
~ SOLAR
www.CleanEnergySolutionsLLC.com info@CleanEnergySolutionsLLC.com
210 Young Street ~ West Babylon ~ New York 11704
How will you know if a Solar Panel is underperforming? Our Monitoring System shows you per panel performance and e-mails you if there is an issue. Why wire your solar panels in series when that limits all the panels to operate at the lowest performing panel?
• Owner Operated, No Sub-Contractors • Long Island’s leading MicroInverter Experts • Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
• 25 Year Warranty on Panels and Inverters • Parallel wiring means every panel is fully optimized • Shade Tolerant, No High Voltage DC
New York Solar Solutions, LLC 1532 Rocky Point Rd. Middle Island, NY 11953 1-888-350-SOLAR info@newyorksolarsolutions.com LIGreenGuide.org
7
Long Island Green Guide
WE MAKE YOUR BUSINESS OUR BUSINESS
Personal business advisers at the Stony Brook Small Business Development Center are waiting to talk to you. We offer FREE, one-on-one counseling.* One of our trained and certified professional advisers can provide assistance with: • Business and Marketing Plans • Marketing Research • Workshops • Technical Assistance • Cash-flow Analysis *Counseling is available in Spanish
Our location Research and Development Park Building 17, Room 146 • Stony Brook Road • Stony Brook, New York Satellite offices are located in Patchogue, Riverhead, and Southampton.
Ask about our Renewable Energy Resource Guide
Call for an appointment today. Contact Leslie Rurup at (631) 632-9837 or e-mail her at Leslie.Rurup@ stonybrook.edu
Stony Brook SBDC—winner of a 2009 NYSERDA grant for education in renewable energy businesses Stony Brook University/SUNY is an affirmative action, equal opportunity educator and employer. 11070080
SOLAR ELECTRIC • SOLAR POOL HEAT SOLAR HOT WATER
Solar... It’s All We Do
energy By
CHOICE, ltd.
FINANCING AVAILABLE
It’s the RIGHT Choice.
Owner Operated... from Design to Installation and Forever...
631-757-6984
www.energybychoice.com NASSAU LIC#H18G7500000
LIGreenGuide.org
8
LICENSED AND INSURED
SUFFOLK LIC# 43921-MP
Long Island Green Guide
cegsolar ad 2011:Layout 1
8/12/11
4:12 PM
Page 1
Solar Design & Installation • Roof Mounted • Ground Mounted • Commercial • Residential • Financing Available
www.cegsolar.com 631.283.0184
92kW System Calverton National Cemetery, NY
Community Development Corporation of Long Island
JOIN US IN GOING GREEN! Programs for ALL Long Islanders: ▪ Long Island Green Homes Consortium ▪ Weatherization ▪ Residential & Commercial Energy Upgrades ▪ Green Development & Rehabilitation
www.longislandgreenhomes.org
2100 Middle Country Road, Centereach, NY 11720 ▪ 631-471-1215 x146 ▪ www.cdcli.org
LIGreenGuide.org
9
Long Island Green Guide
LIGreenGuide.org
10
Long Island Green Guide
More Power For Your Community
When You Need It Most.
There’s no question there will be a greater demand for energy during the next few years. The real challenge is to safely and efficiently generate more power when needed with no direct emissions or use of water. At AES Energy Storage, we’re leading the way with powerful innovations that meet the world’s ever-changing power needs. We’re a global company that utilizes advanced energy storage technology to reduce emissions, and strengthen the power grid to improve performance and help prevent outages. We’re supplying cleaner, greener energy that’s better for our families and our communities.
To learn more about the benefits of energy storage, visit aesenergystorage.com
LIGreenGuide.org
11
Long Island Green Guide
100% Renewable
Imagine By Gordian Raacke
Imagine a world which meets its energy needs without changing the climate. Imagine buildings so energy efficient that they run entirely on solar energy. Imagine factories powered by wind turbines, planes using hydrogen made from wave energy and tidal turbines, and electric cars charging their batteries in solar parking lots at work. Ridiculous? Not really. Doable? Absolutely. In fact, it’s already being done. The Danish island of Samsø, entirely dependent on oil and coal in 1997, decided to question the status quo. The islanders began to make their homes more energy efficient, switched to biofuel heating and installed solar panels and wind turbines. By 2005, this island of 4,300 people was using 100% renewable sources to generate more energy than it needs. Now, communities and whole regions in many countries are planning for a 100% clean energy future. Scientists, researchers and think tanks now say that making the transition to 100% renewable energy is not only necessary but possible within a few decades. Their studies warn that to avoid catastrophic climate change we need to quickly transform the way we generate and use energy. But they also point out that this ‘great transformation’ of our economy and way of life has enormous benefits, including reduced energy costs, creation of jobs, improvements in air and water quality, and fewer global conflicts over scarce resources. The world over, a growing number of government officials, business leaders, and researchers are now questioning a “businessas-usual” strategy. Many are beginning to formulate sustainable and realistic alternatives for our energy future (see sidebar for some examples). The wind, water and sunlight (WWS) plan by Delucchi and Jacobson, featured in a Scientific American cover story, actually calculates how many renewable energy systems the world will need to meet all energy needs: 3.8 million 5MW wind turbines, 89,000 300MW solar power plants, 1.7 billion 3kW rooftop solar electric arrays, about 5,000 100MW geothermal plants, 270 new 1,300MW hydro-electric plants, 720,000 0.75MW wave devices, and 490,000 1MW tidal turbines. Surprisingly, they find that cost of energy in this 100% renewable energy economy will be similar to the cost of energy today. Like many other studies, they conclude that the barriers to this global transformation “are primarily social and political, not technological or even economic”. While the switch to renewable fuels in the transportation sector will take several decades, repowering our electric supply with clean energy sources could happen relatively quickly. So what would it take for Long Island to generate all of its electricity from renewable energy sources? First, we would need to boost existing energy efficiency initiatives to make all existing LIGreenGuide.org
long island’s annual electricity consumption could be met with
100% clean and
renewable sources and new homes and commercial buildings better insulated and air tight. Lighting, appliances as well as heating and cooling equipment would be upgraded to high efficiency standards. Once wasteful electricity use is reduced by one third from this major upgrade of the island’s building stock, much of the remaining electricity consumption could be met with solar arrays and wind turbines, both on-Island and offshore, as well as other renewable energy sources brought in by transmission cables from off-Island. For example, solar arrays could contribute 20%, while offshore and land-based wind power could provide another 20% or more of our electricity needs. By bringing in the remainder (approximately 27%) of additional power from hydro and other renewable off-island sources as needed, Long Island’s annual electricity consumption could be met with 100% clean and renewable sources. The economic benefits would be significant: much of the $1.7 billion LIPA spends annually on imported fuel and power would stay on Long Island. Investing instead in a ten year initiative to make Long Island’s housing stock and commercial buildings energy efficient, while installing massive amounts of solar arrays and other renewables all over the island will result in much needed construction jobs and stimulate the regional economy for the next decade and beyond, during the conversion to a ‘green’ economy. Long Island, as a whole, will be much less exposed to volatile price swings of fossil fuels. Anyone who improves the energy efficiency of their buildings or installs renewable energy technologies will benefit financially by lowering their energy bills. While Long Island could be a leader in building a truly sustainable economy, we would not be alone. There are now numerous regions worldwide which envision meeting their electricity needs entirely from renewable energy sources. For example, 12
Long Island Green Guide
the energy report, a groundbreaking 2011 report by the World Wildlife Fund presents a scenario of a world run entirely on renewable energy by midcentury, finding that “such a transition is not only possible but also cost-effective, providing energy that is affordable for all and producing it in ways that can be sustained by the global economy and the planet”. WWF estimates that by 2050, the world would save nearly €4 ($5.7) trillion per year through energy efficiency and reduced fuel cost.
Energy Storage
The zero carbon australia 2020 plan by the Melbourne Energy Institute at the University of Melbourne, shows that it is technically feasible and affordable to replace all fossil fuel electricity with 100% renewable energy within ten years. The 2010 plan is part of a larger effort of Beyond of Zero Emissions, to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors including transportation, buildings, land use, agriculture, and industrial processes.
Anyone who’s ever started their car on a cold winter morning knows the value of having energy available when it’s most needed. Until recently, large-scale storage of electricity was primarily done by pumping water up a hill, then running a hydro turbine to generate electricity when needed during peak demand. Now, advanced battery technologies make it possible to store large amounts of electricity and make them available almost instantly when needed. These new sophisticated energy storage systems can improve the performance and reliability of conventional power supply systems while allowing the most efficient energy resources to be fully utilized. They also help integrate emission-free energy sources such as wind and solar power into the utility’s power supply by storing electricity when the wind blows or the sun shines and releasing it when needed. These storage systems do not produce any direct emissions and do not require water resources to operate. Working with leading suppliers of utility-scale advanced battery systems, AES Energy Storage offers this technology to help utilities and renewable energy developers manage the variability of generation and demand on the grid. AES, which is already operating or building these systems in New York, West Virginia, and Chile, has proposed a 400 MW project to the Long Island Power Authority. If constructed, this would be the largest energy storage project in the world.
world in transition: a social contract for a great transformation, released shortly after
the nuclear meltdown in Japan in 2011 by WBGU, an independent scientific advisory body established by the German government, makes an urgent case for a ‘post fossil-nuclear metabolism’. The report calls on state governments and the United Nations to immediately begin the transition to sustainable energy practices and aims for a fully decarbonized energy system in Europe by 2050 at the latest, with the elimination of nuclear energy and massive expansion of the renewable energy sources. two papers published in the U.S. in 2011 by Mark Jacobson of Stanford University and Mark Delucchi of UC Davis find that worldwide energy needs, including electricity, transportation, heating and cooling, can be met by using wind, water, and sunlight (WWS). By 2030, all new energy needs could be met exclusively with WWS sources, and by 2050 all energy needs would be met this way.
San Francisco’s mayor has called for the city to supply 100% of its electricity needs from renewables by 2020 and a task force is developing an implementation plan. The German state of Schleswig-Holstein plans to produce 100% of its electricity with renewable energy sources by 2020, and is already meeting 50%. The new Scottish government aims for 100% renewable electricity by 2020 with much of it coming from offshore wind farms. It will take determination to turn these clean energy visions into reality. Challenging the “business-as-usual” strategy will encounter opposition from fossil fuel interests. “All truth passes through three stages,” philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer said more than 150 years ago. “First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” What is evident is that current energy patterns are unsustainable. We have the technologies and the know-how to build a sustainable energy supply. So what are we waiting for? LIGreenGuide.org
13
Long Island Green Guide
solar ElECTrIC • solar HoT WaTEr PlUMBING & rooFING sErVICEs “I have had four competing solar companies give me estimates, and have had mixed results from each and every one. I have researched PV for some time now, and as an electrical engineer have a good understanding of what is involved. I found SUNATION to be one of the most knowledgeable and professional experts the industry has to offer. It is a rare occurrence in this day and age that a company rises to a level of professionalism offered by your solar consultant and SUNATION as a whole” – Ed Hayes, Setauket
MorE INsTallaTIoNs THaN aNY oTHEr solar CoNTraCTor oN loNG IslaND FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLE LISEIA A NYSEIA Task Force
Long Island Solar Energy Industries Association
Power your world with SUNATION, Long Island’s #1 Contractor LIGreenGuide.org
14
Long Island Green Guide
www.SUNATIONSOLARSYSTEMS.com
r o f w o n Call a FREE Estimate! You can have the planet’s most efficient solar system installed by Long Island’s most experienced contractor for
631.750.9454 OAKDALE • SOUTHAMPTON
NO MONEY DOWN
RESIDENTIAL | COMMERCIAL | MUNICIPAL NABCEP Certified Master Electrician on Staff The first and only SunPower Certified Solar Professional Master Designer and Master Installer We Never Subcontract LIGreenGuide.org
15
Long Island Green Guide
Water Resources
When it Rains Rain is a good thing right? . . . . But in many urban areas managing rainwater sucks up lots of energy. New York city is changing that by asking: When it rains . . . why not use it? One inch of rain falling on the street and sidewalk of a typical city block can produce 6,500 gallons of stormwater runoff. In NYC this water is combined with residential black water and is processed at one of many city sewage treatment plants. The so called enhanced tree pit can treat one inch of stormwater runoff from a 1,530 square foot area of the street and sidewalk amounting to 954 gallons. The plants
and trees within this new mini stormwater system provide greenspace, microhabitat for wildlife and a general cooling effect of the surrounding cityscape. It’s a good way to put rainwater to work in cities or towns. This is how it works: Runoff from the street is diverted by curb cut and routed into the enhanced tree pit, where specially engineered soils and native plant species are used to absorb water and filter associated pollutants. In some enhanced tree pits, storage chambers hold additional runoff, available for plant uptake or groundwater recharge.
The enhanced tree pits were constructed with additional subsurface storage technologies; as a result, stormwater
would be stored for an extended period of time to allow for infiltration and provide a reservoir of water for the trees.
Municipal Green Infrastructure
‘Now more than ever... the concrete jungle needs plants’.
muse design inc.
Rain Gardens
c Striving to ‘weave a green thread’ o into every municipal design / build project.
For more information visit www.musedesign.net or call (631) 725-8725 Urban Wetlands LIGreenGuide.org
Ecological Site Design
Landscape Planting
16
Site Management
Curbside Rain Capture Long Island Green Guide
Water Resources
How Big is Your Water Footprint? GRAC E ’S
Everything moves fast in our modern world. This quick pace of life doesn’t give us much time to consider all of the things that we buy, use and consume as we go through our daily routine. By overlooking those everyday items — from coffee to toilet paper — we might also be discounting the enormous amounts of water it takes to grow, produce, process and transport them. Being conscious of your water footprint is important because freshwater resources in this country and around the world are under stress. (Managing Long Island’s water resources is a challenge, given the ever-shrinking supply of water fit for consumption.) The GRACE Water Footprint Calculator (WFC), the centerpiece of the H2Oconserve website (H2Oconserve.org), allows you to reflect on how much water your household uses and how water is connected to almost every aspect of your life. By answering a brief set of questions, the WFC will help you explore your household’s water footprint and learn ways to conserve.
take the water footprint quiz
H2Oconserve.org 1. What is virtual water? a) water from cyberspace b) water that goes into making a product c) water that isn’t real
2. What is a water footprint? a) a water imprint in the shape of your foot b) the total amount of water that flows through plumbing c) the total amount of water you use in your day 3. Which of these items has the biggest water footprint? a) a cotton t-shirt b) one ¼ lb. hamburger c) 1-liter-sized bottled water
What is a Water Footprint? Your household’s water footprint is the amount of water you use in and around your home throughout the day including the water you use directly (i.e., from a tap). It also includes the water used indirectly to produce the food you eat, the products you buy, the energy you consume and even the water you save when you recycle things like paper and plastic. You may not drink, feel or see this virtual water, but it makes up the majority of your water footprint. When you understand that water is “hidden” in many goods and services, choices like eating less meat and processed food or just generally buying less stuff can dramatically reduce your water footprint. For instance, the water footprint of a quarter pound hamburger is 660 gallons while that of a cotton shirt is 713 gallons. As you can see, all the virtual water embodied in these goods can add up to a flood! Also included on the H2Oconserve website are over 75 water conservation tips to help you reduce your water footprint, ranging from installing a renewable energy system at your home to using water more wisely when watering your lawn. The recommenda-
1. b, 2. c, 3. a (713 gallons)
LIGreenGuide.org
WATER FOOTPRINT CALCULATOR
tions on this list help you save water and money. There are also issues pages about water use in and around the home, in energy production and in the products we use and consume every day, as well as links to information and resources about water and water conservation. Check out GRACE’s WFC to calculate your water footprint. You might be surprised at just how much water you consume in a day. Remember Long Islanders — although you may live above your water supply, you are not above conserving water! For more information, contact water@gracelinks.org. 17
Long Island Green Guide
Offshore Energy
An Ocean of Energy Living on Long Island means loving the ocean. Whether it’s cool summer breezes or long winter walks along the shore, the sound of the surf or flavor of fresh seafood, every Long Islander has at least one reason to appreciate this abundant natural resource. Now, there is yet another reason to love the ocean: endless energy. Centuries ago, settlers used windmills and our reliable ocean breezes to mill grains. Today, thanks to modern offshore wind turbines, we can tap into the ocean’s vast supply of renewable energy to generate emission-free electricity. While wind energy development in the United States is exclusively land-based, many offshore wind farms are operating in Europe, generating clean electricity since 1991. Nine European countries have approximately 3,000 megawatts in operation and 19,000 megawatts contracted for and under development — equivalent to over twice the total electricity demand for all of Long Island. In Asia, Japan and China have also begun to generate electricity with offshore wind turbines. Offshore wind got off to a slow start in the U.S. where it took a decade to get federal approval for a Cape Cod offshore wind park. But with wind resources being stronger and more consistent than onshore, many states along the Atlantic are now looking at, and beyond the horizon to meet electricity demand. To date, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts all have approved contracts for offshore wind power, or have laws requiring energy from new offshore wind parks. Having abundant offshore wind resources near areas with high power demand, like New York and Long Island, is particularly appealing. The newest offshore wind turbines are larger, with rotor LIGreenGuide.org
blade diameters of up to 500 feet — twice the wingspan of a Boeing 747 — each producing 5 to 7 megawatts, enough power to supply over 2,000 homes on Long Island. Also, offshore wind farms are now being designed to be much larger. While a few years ago projects in Europe were just 100 to 200 megawatts, some now exceed 1,000 megawatts, and can generate as much electricity as a recently built conventional power plant on Long Island. Larger wind parks with a greater number of turbines produce economies of scale, reducing the cost per unit of electricity produced. Currently, most installations are in relatively shallow water, up to about 75 feet, but new foundation designs borrowed from the oil and gas industry, now used in Europe, allow installations in deeper waters farther from shore, where they disappear beyond the horizon. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that the technical potential of offshore electricity generation from wind in the U.S. is threefold our current electric generation capacity. Given such potential and the need to find ways to generate electricity without generating greenhouse gases, the U.S. Department of Energy has made development of offshore wind power a priority along the Eastern seaboard, and designated certain areas as suitable for offshore wind parks. While only one offshore project has been fully permitted to date, more than a dozen have been proposed along the East Coast, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico. Closer to home, the Long Island — New York City Wind Collaborative, led by LIPA, the New York Power Authority, and Con Edison, has been evaluating a wind farm of up to 700 megawatt to be located 18
Long Island Green Guide
deepwater wind,
a Rhode Island based developer, has submitted proposals to LIPA for two 900 megawatt wind farms, each consisting of up to 200 turbines. LIPA could purchase 600 megawatts of power from each of the two projects, which combined could serve a remarkable 20% of Long Island’s power needs. One project, called the Hudson Canyon Wind Farm, would be located approximately 35 miles south of the western end of Long Island, and another one, called the Deepwater Wind Energy Center, is to be built in Rhode Island Sound, approximately 30 miles east of Montauk. Given the distances to land, the turbines will be virtually invisible from shore.
offshore wind in the u.s. could generate three times as much as conventional electricity produced today
The Rhode Island Sound project is designed to supply power to New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut — via submarine cables connecting southern New England with eastern Long Island. Construction is planned to begin in 2015, with the first phase in operation by 2017 and the second in 2018.
13 to 15 miles off the Rockaway Peninsula, with electricity to be shared. And in May of 2011, LIPA received a proposal for two offshore projects that could supply 20% of Long Island’s electricity needs by 2019 (see sidebar). In another encouraging development, Atlantic Wind Connection (AWC), funded by Google, is planning a network of transmission lines for 7,000 megawatts of offshore wind power spanning 300 miles along the Eastern Seaboard, from New York to Virginia. This will make it easier and less costly to transport electricity from offshore turbines to population centers along the coast. The benefits of wind power over conventional power generation are significant. Wind turbines operate without emitting greenhouse gases and other air pollution, consume no fossil or nuclear fuels, need no water for cooling, and cannot experience catastrophic melt-downs. Offshore wind parks must be carefully designed and located in order to minimize harmful effects on birds, marine life and the sea floor. While these impacts depend on the individual site, many years of experience at European offshore farms shows that birds typically avoid flying through wind farms, and that impacts on marine life, including marine mammals, from the operation of properly sited wind farms are insignificant. Still, potential impacts should be minimized by locating wind parks away from busy bird flyways and taking steps to minimize dangers to marine mammals during construction. Offshore wind farms are not only good for the environment but help keep energy costs stable and predictable. Once built, there are no fuel costs and surprise surcharges to pass along to utility ratepayers. The fuel that powers a wind turbine is free and not controlled by OPEC. So instead of exporting consumers’ energy dollars to pay for imported fuel, more of it stays in the local economy. Wind farms create jobs for highly skilled workers, during fabrication and installation of the foundations and turbines and with the construction of undersea cables. Skilled workers are also needed for ongoing operation and maintenance. Hundreds of workers are typically employed for each wind farm and even more in the manufacturing of products that go into wind farms. Nationally more than 85,000 employees work in the land-based wind industry. By some estimates the U.S. offshore wind industry can create tens of thousands of jobs in the future. Taking a walk on the beach and witnessing the vast ocean that surrounds us, often helps put things in perspective. Now, just beyond the blue horizon, we can envision a world where we can meet our energy needs using a sustainable technology that relies on an abundant and free fuel source, helps us create jobs and keeps money in the local economy, and last but not least, doesn’t pollute our air or change our climate. LIGreenGuide.org
The Hudson Canyon project will supply western Long Island, northern New Jersey, and possibly New York City, via submarine cables linking the three regions. Construction is envisioned to begin in 2016, with the first phase in operation in 2018 and the second and final phase in operation in 2019. Deepwater Wind is also planning a large-scale wind farm for New Jersey and a smaller 30 megawatt offshore demonstration project for Block Island that is on track to be the first offshore wind project in North America. The company has already won two competitive state solicitations to become the preferred offshore wind developer for these projects and is now hoping to win LIPA’s approval to supply 1,200 megawatts of wind power to Long Island.
19
Long Island Green Guide
Because LONG ISLAND’S FUTURE
depends on more sustainable food, water and energy systems.
Sustainable Table® SustainableTable.org Eat Well Guide® EatWellGuide.org The Meatrix® TheMeatrix.com Network for New Energy Choices NewEnergyChoices.org H2O Conserve H2Oconserve.org Ecocentric Blog EcocentricBlog.org
A clean energy future for Long Island is just over the horizon.
Deepwater Wind is developing offshore wind farms that will deliver clean, renewable energy. Our wind farms will be located over the horizon in deep ocean waters, 15 – 25 miles from the coast, where they will be virtually invisible from the shore. At these deep water sites, the wind blows strong and steady, producing as much power as traditional fossil fuel plants, but without the harmful air pollutants. And offshore wind is a smart economic choice too. When you stack up all of the long-term benefits of offshore wind against the costs of a traditional fossil fuel plant, offshore wind is the clear winner.
National Grid is committed to being an innovative leader in energy management and to safeguarding our global environment for future generations.
To learn more, visit www.dwwind.com.
We offer many ways to learn about saving energy and provide energy efficiency incentive programs. Visit www.powerofaction.com/efficiency
LIGreenGuide.org
20
Long Island Green Guide
www.SUNATIONSOLARSYSTEMS.com
Ask about our S
Solar Hybrid
LICENSED MASTER PLUMBERS
unDrum
Systems
integrating ele ctric, pool hea ting, hot water and home heating
Meeting All Your Plumbing And Solar Thermal Needs
. . . r e f f O We
24 HOUR SERVICE
UNIQUE SOLAR SOLUTIONS
Call about our solar thermal packages and find out how we can SAVE you UP TO 60% OFF your heating and hot water bills
The SunDrum Solar system delivers both hot water and electricity. The SunDrum Solar System is hidden under the PV panel and takes up no additional roof space, unlike separate solar thermal systems.
ROOFING SERVICES AVAILABLE • Turn key packages • Flat roof specialists, integrating solar and roofing
631.750.9454
Affordable. Always on. Hassle-free. Eco-friendly.
OAKDALE • SOUTHAMPTON
RESIDENTIAL | COMMERCIAL | MUNICIPAL
Sunnovations’ hot water system provides costeffectiveness and performance. How? The system doesn’t have a bunch of components that other solar hot water systems need to operate. Rain or shine, you will always have hot water. Because our system is hybrid-powered you have hot water even on cloudy days and during the wintertime.
LISEIA A NYSEIA Task Force
Long Island Solar Energy Industries Association
LIGreenGuide.org
21
Long Island Green Guide
photo courtesy of bp solar international, inc.
Solar Energy
Everything Under the Sun By Delia Kauffmann
Long Island is a sunny place, and, thanks to recent LIPA initiatives, it’s now becoming a sun-powered place. The huge solar farm at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, now being built, will soon feed 32 megawatts of clean power into the LIPA grid. Planners say the installation will generate enough electricity to power 4,500 homes and prevent 30,950 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year from being produced. That’s what a conventional power plant would generate in producing the same amount of electricity. Brookhaven researchers will tap into real-time data from the solar plant and also get their own, small array of solar panels for use in experiments. They will also monitor how the new use of the 195 acres of land, where up to 167,000 photovoltaic panels will be installed, will affect animal life there. Scientists plan to equip box turtles with transmitters, to track whether they pass through 4-by-12-inch openings that will be placed every 75 feet at the base of security fencing, to see how the altered land below the panels will be utilized by wildlife.
32 MW solar farm at Brookhaven National Laboratory. It’s a perfect way to combine practical, smart and eco-friendly. Commuters park their cars in the shade, while the 6,700 solar panels above produce up to 17 megawatts, which powers the equivalent of up to 1,800 homes. This means that Long Islanders can breathe more easily since 14,300 fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide are dumped in the air each year. This is equivalent to 2,734 fewer cars on the roads. The Brentwood “power-lot” is just the beginning. Construction started in August at the County’s H.Lee Dennison building in Hauppauge and more power lots are planned for other LIRR stations and County parking lots in Suffolk. In total, these powerful lots will have a generating capacity of 17 megawatts, enough to power 1,850 homes. You could say, the future’s looking bright for Long Island.
The Practical, the Smart and the Eco-friendly Another sunny idea, conceived by LIPA and Suffolk County, are the new solar parking lots at Long Island Rail Road commuter stations like Brentwood where construction began in August 2011.
“Through United Way’s YouthBuild program, I was able to receive hands-on training in weatherization, energy-efficiency and green-building. I just completed an internship at Brookhaven National Laboratory and look forward to a great career in construction and a positive future. Without YouthBuild, I don't know where I would be.” –Ivan Rodriguez
YouthBuild Long Island, 2011 Graduate
INTERESTED IN JOINING YOUTHBUILD LONG ISLAND? For more information, visit www.unitedwayli.org/youthbuild or call 631.940.8841 x11
FIND US ON
LIGreenGuide.org
22
Long Island Green Guide
Brookhaven National Laboratory Contributing to a Secure Energy Future
Brookhaven Lab works on today’s energy challenges to bring about tomorrow’s energy solutions. The Laboratory’s energy-research programs include: • solar energy • energy storage • energy efficiency • biofuels The Laboratory’s Center for Functional Nanomaterials (pictured with nano-images) is a state-of-the-art facility where studies of the ultra-small may lead to ultra-big discoveries in energy alternatives that are clean, safe, sustainable and renewable.
managed for the U.S. Department of Energy by Brookhaven Science Associates, a company founded by Stony Brook University and Battelle
www.bnl.gov
®
NETWORKING® MAGAZINE
2020:
Guide to Going Green
EVNERTYH! MO Subscribe to and Advertise in the Premiere Business & Technology Publication with editorial and advertising on who and what’s green.
Be Seen If You’re GREEN www.NetworkingMagazineUSA.com
631-288-1586 LIGreenGuide.org
Ext. 109 / Monique@NetworkingMagazineUSA.com 23
Long Island Green Guide
A Green Cause
Delivering a Climate Change Message to Congress … By Bicycle! By Ashley Hunt-Martorano
LIGreenGuide.org
mechanics en route, luggage transport from each overnight location, car support throughout the ride for breakdowns, accidents or riders who just need a lift, and relaxing massages from volunteer therapists. We rode through lower Manhattan to the gorgeous campus of Princeton University, through historic Valley Forge, PA passing monuments of our nation’s first president, up and down the rolling hills of Amish Country alongside buggies powered by horses and eventually through cities, Silver Spring, MD and Washington, D.C. At the end of each day, we learned about various topics related to climate change from such leading experts as Michael Lemonick, Eugene Linden, Bracken Hendricks and Bill McKibben. While there were many avid cyclists and even some tri-athletes participating in Climate Ride 2011, there were also many novice riders such as myself. By day five, I realized that not only could someone like me, who was new to cycling, do this, but that I could surely also have an impact on our country’s energy and climate future. I was afforded this opportunity the day after we arrived in Washington D.C. by meeting with legislative aides from my
photo by ashely hunt-martorano
Three hundred. That is the number of miles I pedaled my bicycle from New York City to Washington D.C. as part of a fundraising bike tour. If you had told me a year ago that this was in my future, I would have thought you were joking. I began cycling in March 2011 because I had heard about this really amazing nonprofit, Climate Ride, which organizes the event and supports participants who are required to raise at least $2,400 for beneficiary organizations. I trained with a local bike club (Suffolk Bike Riders Association, SBRA) for eight weeks and then participated in my first century ride (100 miles in one day) to prepare for Climate Ride. No amount of training, however, could prepare me for this experience of a lifetime. Climate Ride, established in 2008, is the brain-child of cofounders Caeli Quinn and Geraldine Carter and aims to raise funds for worthy causes and raise awareness of climate change and the need for societal change. From May 13-17 I, along with 120 other cyclists of all ability levels pedaled across a span of five days with full support from a network of amazing volunteers that organized and provided all meals and water stops, bicycle
Ashley Hunt-Martorano celebrates her arrival at our nation’s capital on Day 5 of Climate Ride. Congressman and Senators’ offices. I felt empowered speaking my mind and relaying my message of why I did something as crazy as riding my bike 300 miles. I felt supported by the 85 donors who gave $4,303 to support 350.org, my beneficiary of choice. I felt emboldened by my fellow Climate Riders who came from all walks of life and ranged in age from 5 to 65. And most importantly, I felt proud of myself for not just continuing to talk about the problems, but instead taking a risk and putting myself out there, even though I was not completely confident that I would succeed. There are a lot of ideas out there about how we should approach climate change. Some pundits deny this is a problem or tout that it is either too 24
costly or too difficult to solve. My experience on Climate Ride taught me that these uncertainties and doubts are nothing more than excuses. Excuses were not going to get me to my destination of our country’s capital and they will surely not solve our climate crisis. Instead, we need to come together and work towards implementing policy that will help us reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions. If the problem seems big, rest assured that it is. But we can take on the challenge, one pedal stroke after another. You can raise funds for Renewable Energy Long Island, one of Climate Ride’s new beneficiary partners, and learn about participating in Climate Ride at ClimateRide.org. Long Island Green Guide
Home Green Home
Do Try This at Home As a homeowner, you have plenty of ways to improve your residence, but with some green thinking, you could not only increase the value of your property, but give yourself and your family more comfort and pleasure, be an active part in making your community less polluted, and even save money. Here are a few ideas to make the future brighter … for your home, your family, your wallet and your planet.
sors and shielded dark-sky compliant fixtures for outdoors. And if you insulate the hot water pipes in your house, and use low-flow showerheads you can save you even more on your energy bill. With all the money you saved, you could splash out by having a solar hot water or solar electric system installed on your roof, which would then save you even more in the future. Sunny Side Up Adding a solar hot water heater to your existing system can cost as little as $3,000 after rebates and tax credits and pay for itself in 5 years or less (more at RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org/shw.cfm). Just like with a conventional system, you’ll always have plenty of hot water but most of it will be heated for free by nature. There are many local companies who will help you go solar. “The first step is determining which energy-saving measures are best for you,” says Mike Bailis of SuNation Solar Systems. Once decided and after LIPA rebates and income tax credits, a typical home can have an emission-free solar power plant installed on its roof for under $20,000, supplying some or all of its electricity needs. A client of EmPower Solar said: “This is an investment in me and my family”, which underlines that going solar is an investment in the future. It improves your home and quality of life. GreenLogic Energy’s Marc Clejan comments: “We’ve had many customers who lowered their energy consumption up to 40%, for some it might be as much as 90%”. Once in place, you get credit for excess electricity generated by your system, turning your electric meter backwards. At night, the electricity comes from the LIPA grid. The net effect is that your electric bill is drastically lowered, or, that your usage and netbilling of LIPA electricity is zero, or, like a customer of Quad State Solar put it in a recent interview, “it’s unlimited, free electricity” Do the math for yourself: you can find reLI’s solar calculator and listing of pre-screened contractors at SunshineIsFree.org.
Stay Cool the Cool Way Be smart about cooling your home and keeping your pool fresh. Close doors and shutters to avert direct sunlight, fans can help stay cool and sometimes allow you to turn the A/C off. Program your thermostat to tailor your central A/C operation to your personal schedule, or get a LIPAedge thermostat installed for free by LIPA, which allows you to adjust your central A/C system over the internet. How cool is that? And if you have a pool, check out LIPA’s cool pool pump rebates as well. If you need a new fridge, remember to buy one with an ENERGY STAR label but don’t plug in the old hog in the garage or basement. LIPA will pick it up and may pay a bounty of $35 for it. Get a Physical for your Home Save up to 10% on your energy bills each year by caulking and weather stripping to seal leaks around windows and doors. Then, save even more by tightening up your home from basement to attic. Schedule a Comprehensive Home Assessment with a BPI accredited contractor. These professionals will perform a thorough energy check of your home and explain how you can reduce your utility bills. According to one Long Islander, Elizabeth Conlon of the Leisure Village Women’s Club, Murtha Construction, a BPI certified contractor who does energy audits and home retrofits, “answered many questions our residents had regarding the LIPA [energy audit] survey and the work to be accomplished to achieve the savings we all wish for and need.” You’ll get rebates for many of these energy efficiency improvements. For example, if you have central A/C and heat with oil or propane, LIPA will pay 25% of the cost of insulation, air-sealing, and duct sealing. You can get an energy audit for free or at a reduced cost and access low cost financing from NY State via LongIslandGreenHomes.org.
Whether you decide to go solar and make your own electricity and hot water, or make energy efficient changes around your house, it will save you money and you will make a difference for yourself, your community, and the planet.
want to get it straight from the horse’s (homeowner’s, that is) mouth? Go on reLI’s free Solar Tour and Green Buildings Open House, first Saturday in October every year. More at RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org/ solartour.cfm. Cant wait that long? Check out reLI’s eTour — a Virtual Tour of Long Island’s Coolest and Greenest Homes at RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org/ media.cfm.
Curb your Energy Hogs Not only your fridge, but your dishwasher can be an energy guzzler too! So, put it on a leash and only let it run when full and during off-peak hours (6:30 p.m. to 9:30 a.m.). Save even more by choosing “no heat” or “air dry” options. When buying new appliances, an easy way to spot energy- and water saving models is to look for the ENERGY STAR labeled ones. Another energy-eater is that old light bulb, so replace it with modern CFL or LED lights. Don’t light places that don’t need to be lit and use motion-senLIGreenGuide.org
25
Long Island Green Guide
Climate Change
Climate Change: Crisis and Opportunity By Gordian Raacke
A Global Climate Crisis The primary cause of climate change is the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which emits carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Increasing greenhouse gases in our planet’s fragile layer of air, gradually increases average global temperatures. Get in your car and drive 20 miles, and you just dumped 20 pounds of climate changing carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. Collectively, our actions add up to pumping more than 90 million tons of CO2 into the sky every single day. The consequences of dramatically thickening the heat-trapping layer of our atmosphere are predicted to be catastrophic for humans and much of earth’s biosphere. Despite successful efforts of coal and oil interests to portray climate change as an issue that LIGreenGuide.org
is still debated among scientists, there is broad consensus on the fact that climate change is happening and mostly caused by human activities. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), established by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations, has issued extensive reports confirming unequivocally the consensus of scientific opinion that Earth’s climate is being affected by human activities and that “most of the observed warming over the last 50 years is likely to have been due to the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations”. In fact, there is not a single national academy of science in the world that disagrees.
image from national snow and ice data center, boulder, co.
I like to bring back souvenirs when I travel. A few years ago, I went hiking in Montana’s Glacier National Park and came back with a bottle of water that I show to perplexed visitors at my office. I collected this sample of liquid glacier at the foot of what’s left of Grinnell Glacier. Of the 150 glaciers that used to be in the park there are only 25 left. Rangers told me that the park may have to be renamed because the remaining glaciers may disappear altogether as early as 2020. As we melt the world’s glaciers and polar ice caps at an unprecedented rate and raise sea levels, more extreme weather events such as catastrophic storms, widespread droughts, vast wild fires, and enormous floods are becoming the new normal.
Breaking All Records For the past million years CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere have stayed below 300 parts per million (ppm). Since the industrial revolution and the burning of coal, and later oil and gas, they began to rise sharply and have reached 392 ppm today. The 10 hottest years on record, since thermometer measurements begun 130 years ago, have all occurred in just the last 13 years, with the 2000 to 2009 being the hottest decade since 1880. A planet running a fever affects everything from melting arctic permafrost to faster species extinction. Warmer temperatures evaporate more moisture from soils leading to droughts and dust bowl conditions in some areas, while increasing heavy rains and floods elsewhere. The number of major floods over the last five decades has increased dramatically on all continents, and more than thirteen-fold
The orange line indicates the median extent of polar ice between 1979-2000, the white area shows the current polar ice cap in Sept. 2011. in the Americas. And warmer air absorbs more moisture which can provide more fuel for destructive storms and hurricanes. As temperatures rise, polar ice caps and glaciers melt, raising sea levels. The latest reports show that arctic warming has accelerated so much that sea level rises are now expected to be much greater than assumed just a few years ago. On Long Island, sea levels are expected to rise by 4 1/2 feet over the next 70 years. Island Living While politicians on Long Island are still holding their meetings 26
on dry land, cabinet ministers of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean held an underwater meeting in 2009 to highlight the need for urgent action for island populations. Rising seas of just a few inches can greatly amplify storm surges and resulting coastal property damage. Long Island has already been identified as having the highest risk in the U.S. for resulting damage. According to a new report, property damage alone from storm surges during a hurricane could amount to $99 billion on Long Island, more than any other of the top ten high-risk urban areas. Higher seas and more severe Long Island Green Guide
climate change is an opportunity to transform our economy, create jobs, and keep money in the local economy storms also damage the barrier beaches and wetlands which protect our shorelines. This can mean erosion or complete loss of beaches, increased flooding, loss of roads and other infrastructure damage, and saltwater contamination of drinking water. Greater carbon dioxide levels also make the ocean more acidic, making it difficult for shellfish to form its shells, while warmer waters may drive lobsters away. Time to Retool While it may be tempting to tune out and ignore calls for the dramatic shift we need to make to prevent irrevers-
Underwater Cabinet Meeting in the Maldives in 2009
ible and catastrophic climate change, the climate crisis has a silver lining. It is not only the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced but an enormous opportunity to transform our society from an unsustainable fossil fueled economy to a sustainable and renewable energy powered economy. Capturing this opportunity will let us retool our lagging economy with 21st century technologies while creating jobs and keeping money in the local economy. And the best news is that we already have everything we need to make this historic power shift. All that’s lacking is the political will.
Call Today to Take Advantage of FREE Electricity from the Sun!
5.2 kW Flush Mount systeM
75 kW CIGs systeM
4.8 kW tRACkInG systeM
Quad State Solar, Inc. can answer all your questions about solar electricity What are the advantages of a Solar Electric System? ✓ Solar Electric “PV” Systems produce “FREE ELECTRICITY” for your home. ✓ They reduce your own and America’s dependency on foreign energy. Why am I just now beginning to see so many more solar electric systems installed on roofs in my neighborhood? ✓ Thanks to enhanced financial incentives, along with liberal financing, most homeowners can now afford solar for less than they are paying for electric. Why go green with QSS? ✓ Experience. Integrity. Service. Hundreds of completed installations. A decade of service on Long Island.
sIte suRVey | plAnnInG | peRMIts | ApplICAtIon | InstAllAtIon | eleCtRICAl hook up
Quad State Solar, Inc.
Licensed & Insured, Since 2000 Owner, Jonathan Lane, NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™ Nassau License# HI777900000 | Suffolk License# 32544-H NYC License# 1328935 | CT License# ELC.0195526_PV1
516.471.1920 x714 | www.quadstatesolar.com LIGreenGuide.org
27
Long Island Green Guide
Solar Facts Long Island with its high electric rates and above average amount of sunshine is an ideal location for solar energy. Now, reduced prices for solar panels, LIPA rebates and state and federal tax credits for solar electric systems make it even more attractive for Long Islanders to tap into the power of the sun.
How do the solar income tax credits work? NY State taxpayers can claim a state income tax credit of 25% (capped at $5,000) for their primary residence. Federal tax credits are available for 30% with no cap for residential and commercial installations.
What is a photovoltaic system? A solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) system consists of solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity, plus an inverter that converts the electricity and connects the system safely to utility power lines. What do these systems cost? A small residential system (3kW) could cost around $18,000 with net cost after rebates and tax credits, of less than $7,000. Panels typically come with a 25 year warranty and a good system will last much longer with very little maintenance.
reLI’s Free Solar Calculator and Pre-Screened Contractor Locator For easy one-stop shopping use our online solar estimator! 1. Obtain independent solar information 2. Calculate and print you solar estimate 3. Request bids from reLI Pre-Screened Contractors with the click of your mouse
How does solar power protect the environment? Solar power improves air quality and public health. Over 25 years, a 3 kW PV system in NY will eliminate 80 tons of carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas responsible for global warming and climate change.
BEFORE YOU BUY SOLAR Make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible so you don’t waste your solar kilowatts. State-of-the-art energy efficient lighting and appliances will maximize your investment in solar power. Visit RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org for useful ideas for saving energy and money at home or at your work place.
What is Net Metering? When you use electricity from LIPA, the meter spins forward. But, when your system generates more power than you consume, the meter spins backward and the excess energy is fed back to LIPA. Monthly billing is only for net consumption and you pay only for the net amount of electricity supplied by LIPA.
RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org LIGreenGuide.org SunshineIsFree.org WindWorks4LI.org 631-329-8888 info@RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org
reLI is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization promoting clean energy, a safe environment and a healthy planet.
LIGreenGuide.org
28
Long Island Green Guide
Renewable Energy Long Island Become a Professional Member of Renewable Energy Long Island Today. reLI’s Professional Membership will help your business succeed in this green marketplace. Here are just a few of your membership benefits: n n n n
Free web listing on reLI’s Professional Member website Use of reLI Professional Member Logo on your website and other promotional materials List your upcoming events on reLIs online Calendar of Events Discounts on your print and web advertisement at LIGreenGuide.org
Join at RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org/join.cfm
Renewable Energy Long Island would like to thank our generous Professional Members for their continued support of our programs.
Silver
Gold Deepwater Wind EmPower Solar enXco GreenLogic Energy Murtha Construction Quad State Solar SUNation Solar Systems The Clean Energy Group
2M Technologies Chaleff & Rogers Clean Energy Solutions LLC Energy By Choice, Ltd Fantastic Energy Solutions, Inc. Greener Country John Hubler Solar Inc. Ludlow Homes Solar & Wind Concepts
reLI Consumer Tools
Bronze
For an up-to-date listing of reLI’s Professional Members, please visit RenewableEnergy LongIsland.org/members.cfm
A-Best Energy Power Alternative Energy Systems Anker Environmental Designs Center Island Electric CJ Power Technologies Division 7 Inc Go Solar, Inc. Harvest Power Majestic Son & Sons, Inc. Mercury Solar Systems Solar Dad & Sons Sunrise Energy Concepts Tough Trac The Electrical Training Center The Neutral Group Town of Brookhaven
Solar Tour & Green Buildings Open House on Long Island Visit green Long Island homes on reLI’s self-guided tour the first Saturday of October each year.
LI GreenGuide
SunshineIsFree.org
Long Island’s most comprehensive green resource.
Solar Calculator and Pre-Screened Contractor Locator.
Renewable Energy Long Island (reLI) is a not-for-profit organization promoting clean energy, a safe environment and a healthy planet, specializing in consumer information services and professional consulting services to government agencies, not-for-profits and private sector.
RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org LIGreenGuide.org SunshineIsFree.org WindWorks4LI.org 631-329-8888 info@RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org
Retire your old central air system Save money and get a LIPA rebate up to $700
Save money with LIPA’s Cool Homes Early Retirement Option Is your central air conditioner (CAC) on full blast and it still feels cooler outside? Then it’s time to upgrade to a new, energy-efficient CAC that can save you up to 40% on your electric cooling costs. Replace your older, inefficient, working CAC through LIPA’s Cool Homes Early Retirement program.
Proper sizing and expert installation are key to maximizing savings Too large or too small a system for your cooling needs can actually increase your cooling costs. Working with a LIPA Cool Homes Contractor will guarantee the system you choose is the correct size and professionally installed for peak efficiency and maximum comfort.
$700 in LIPA rebates Replacing your old CAC through a LIPA Cool Homes contractor will qualify you for up to $700 in rebates.
LIPA…working with you for a more energy-efficient Long Island. For program details and a list of participating Cool Homes contractors, visit www.lipower.org/efficiency or call 1-800-692-2626.