A consortium of nine companies called Dansk Microvarme is carrying out a 6-year project to develop the necessary technology and deploy it in the village of Vestenskov. The island generates 50% more wind power than it uses. The problem is that pure wind energy cannot be stored. So, when the wind doesn’t blow, there is a lack of energy, and the village might be forced to resort to fossil fuels. That’s when the idea of hydrogen and fuel cells comes in. The project being developed in Lolland consists of using excess wind power to obtain hydrogen, which is then used in fuel cells to generate electricity and heat.

The fuel cells are part of micro combined heat and power (CHP) technologies. When the hydrogen goes through a chemical process to generate electricity, it also produces heat, which is used to heat homes in the village.

The local government wants to position Lolland as a model for large-scale hydrogen technology. In order to do so, it is progressively developing the technology and making it available for household consumption.

The project is divided into three main phases:

The first one goes from 2006 to 2007; during this period a test/demonstration plant was built to make hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis. Besides, fuel cells were produced, as well as equipment to connect them to the village’s energy supply grid. Basically, the whole thing works like this: there is a plant in which hydrogen is produced, then, hydrogen is sent through pipelines to homes, where the fuel cells are, and there, the electricity is generated.

The second phase starts in 2007 and includes this year. The main aim of this period has already been achieved, which sought to connect the first five households in Vestenskov to the hydrogen plant. Homes were equipped with micro-CHP units which produce electricity and heat. The units are the size of a refrigerator. As I’ve mentioned in the previous paragraph, hydrogen is directly distributed through underground pipes to the houses, from a large electrolysis plant in a field behind the village’s nursing home.

And the last phase, beginning this year, has as a central goal supplying 35-40 households with hydrogen based on the experiences from the test homes. Homes will get a fuel cell module the size of a small central heating unit. It is expected that all the houses in Vestenskov will be connected to the hydrogen system by 2012.

This project is a smart way of profiting from the excess wind power generated in the island. Besides, Lolland has taken what could have been considered a problem (not being able to store wind power) and transformed it into an opportunity; getting stronger in fuel cell technology to become a leader in the sector.

VIA: Sustainable Cities

The building I just mentioned is the Kroon Hall, home of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. It consumes 81% less water and 58% less energy than other similar buildings.

The Kroon Hall also uses renewable energy; it has solar panels on its roofs that provide it with 25% of its electricity needs. Solar power is also being used for heating around 50% of water, with solar water heaters.

As regards recycling, the Kroon has a system to reuse water. Storm water is collected, as well as grey waters. These are filtrated using native aquatic plants. Grey waters and storm water are used for flushing toilets and for irrigation. On the other hand, plumbing includes low-flow mechanisms, and so do irrigation fixtures, which greatly lowers the demand for water.

Other initiatives include profiting from natural light, and controlling artificial lights with sensors that turn them off when there is no one around. Construction materials include FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) wood, 16% recycled materials, 34% of all materials came from regional sources, a special type of concrete that helps insulate, and low-impact paint. Now that the building has been completed, all appliances and equipment are Energy Star TM rated.

All of these strategies got the Kroon 59 points on the LEED certification, more than enough for obtaining Platinum.

Concerning its pledges to reduce GHG emissions, for now, Yale has achieved a 7% decrease, even though the campus grew 3.2% in size.

Some of its projects include working on energy efficiency on the whole campus, and increasing the dependence on renewable energies. Yale not only uses solar power, but also co-generation in one of its two main power plants, biofuel, and hydrogen cells. There is also a project to implement wind power.

Further, green purchasing is encouraged as a means of making consumption greener and showing the institution’s commitment to environmental actions.

The whole of the campus works to increase recycling levels. And this isn’t new for them, given that Yale’s recycling efforts began in 1970. Students have participated in the recycling competition we’ve told you about in Sustentator called RecycleMania and came out fourth. Plus, last year the university recycled and donated more than 1,400 tons of trash.

The last initiative I’m telling you about (there’s really so much) is the Yale Sustainable Food Project, which has developed and manages an organic farm on campus. It also works to make the food sold on campus more sustainable, considering and spreading the idea that food has an important environmental impact.

It is very encouraging to see young people learning to care for our planet, and actually making things happen.

VIA: Courant

For more: Yale Sustainability

Energy efficiency is the relationship between the amount of energy consumed and the products and services obtained. It can be improved by the use of technology, legislation and education.

A program of energy efficiency should include the following issues: power consumption for residential, commercial and industrial sectors, efficient machines, cogeneration, sustainable architecture, and transportation. It should also include  appropriate legislation; because for example, low energy prices cause an artificial increase in demand. Finally, education at schools, universities and companies is crucial; we must all be involved in this subject. Energy efficiency should be part of the long term energy planning.

Countries with low energy resources have the highest levels of energy efficiency in order to reduce imports, examples are Japan, Denmark and Chile.

Chile installed the Energy Efficiency Program (PPEE) in 2005.  PPEE includes an educational program for primary schools, replacement of electric engines in the industrial sector, efficient lighting in the residential, commercial and public buildings; and studies of cogeneration for the power system.

Japan has an Energy Saving Program which “contributes to promoting the efficient use of energy, protection of the global warming and sustainable development”.  This Program was launched in 2000.

In the United States, the Department of Energy (USDE) “is committed to reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil and developing energy efficient technologies for buildings, homes, transportation, power systems and industry”. Some Energy Tips can be found at the USDE website.

The Ministry of Power of India is promoting energy conservation through the National Awareness Campaign.  The program focuses on the need of conserving energy by educating children and getting their parents involved in the cause.

In Finland, the Government is encouraging people to use energy efficient ways of transport like walking, cycling and using public transport.  Besides, people using private cars are informed about energy efficient vehicles.

As we can see, countries are creating innovative ideas in order to reduce consumption of energy. We will shortly describe one that is growing steadily.

Sustainable Architecture improves energy efficiency.  It uses different techniques to reduce the energy requirements of buildings. It considers weather conditions and surrounding ecosystems of the buildings in order to obtain the maximum performance with less impact. It also considers building materials, reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling (insulating materials), lighting, using renewable energy sources.

The following video describes the construction of a building using sustainable architecture techniques.

VIA: U.S. Department of Energy

Construction of North West Cambridge begins in 2012, and it will be the “greenest development of its size and scope in the UK”. It will be built in the 120-hectare site owned by the university and will lodge Cambridge’s expansion in the next 25 years. Estimates are the amount of students and staff will rise about 8,000.

Construction has not been approved yet. But what is sure is that housing in North West will initially seek to achieve level 5 on the Code for Sustainable Homes; and level 6, which means being zero carbon, by 2016. Commercial, academic and public buildings will aim to obtain an ‘excellent’ on the BREEAM (Building Research Establishment’s  Environmental Assessment Method) rating.

North West will have 2,500 student beds, a center for academic and commercial research, a local centre with a supermarket and shops, a primary school, a hotel, a nursery and new homes which will be for sale.

The design and the materials to be used will be defined closer to the established date for starting the construction. It has, however, already been decided that the energy system will be decentralized. This means that electricity will come from many different small energy sources. One alternative being considered is cogeneration or combined heat and power (CHP).

What is CHP? When electricity is generated, usually heat is created, as a by-product, and it is generally discarded, or wasted. Whereas, CHP captures this heat and uses it for heating.

The project will cost around £1 billion. In order to raise part of this money, Cambridge issued bonds for the first time, last week.

Another initiative of North West will consist of making water usage as efficient as possible. This is most relevant, given the fact that water is not exactly abundant in the area, and due to climate change, this scarcity is expected to worsen. What are the plans? Water usage will be halved, and the drainage system will be designed to be sustainable. Among other things, grey water will be recycled, and rainwater will be collected and used.

VIA: The Ecologist