The Solar Village by John Wilson

Global emergency action plan

2011-09-02T05:15:00.001-07:00

Economic disaster. Global warming. Social upheaval. We now have less than ten years to make the switch to renewable resources. Failure is not an option. Economic stability, averting catastrophic global warming, and social well being are within our grasp if we all work together. Join us.

1. Understand the Problem

As of 2010 we have about ten years to make the switch to renewable energy. We are in a race against time. By 2020 it is estimated that global pollution from fossil fuel usage (carbon, methane and others) will, if we maintain our current trajectory, reach levels that will likely cause catastrophic runaway global warming. This is very clearly a global emergency, unlike anything humanity has ever had to deal with before. This unprecedented global emergency requires that we all work together as effectively, quickly, diligently and cooperatively as possible.

Reference: Six Degrees by Mark Lynas, page 277 and Jeremy Rifkin, author of The Empathic Civilization, as quoted by Hughes Beslin in his article in the European Energy Review magazine article The Rifkin vision, We are in the twilight of a great energy era, also see Jeremy Rifkin - Global Emergency video below for a good overview. Perhaps most importantly, James Hansen, arguably the leading scientist on climate chage has said that we have less than a decade to make changes.From the book Plan B 3.0 by Lester Brown "Researchers such as James Hansen, a leading climate scientist at NASA, believe that global warming is accelerating and may be approaching a tipping point, a point at which climate change acquires a momentum that makes it irreversible. They think we may have a decade to turn the situation around before this threshold is crossed. I agree." It is Lester Brown who makes the statement "I agree" in relation to what James Hansen and NASA are saying. Lester Brown is a leading authority on climate change and what we need to do to avert it.You can and should download and read Plan B 3.0 by Lester Brown right now by clicking on this link to a PDF copy of the book.

The other critical issue is that increasing use of fossil fuels along with dwindling reserves is causing economic chaos and uncertainty. Witness the 2008 economic global depression caused by oil reaching $140 per barrel just be before the financial meltdown. Also see Jeff Rubins talk at the Business of Climate Change conference and read his book about our world getting smaller as well as Jeremy Rifkin's Solar Civilization talk that provides recent analysis on the economic devastation caused by oil prices, also see Jeff Rubin - Economics of Global Warming video below for a good overview.

The only quick and economically sensible solution to these problems is the rapid transition to renewable energy and ultimately renewable resources in general.

2. Action, Create Solar Villages

First, we start by addressing our own lives, becoming the change we wish to see in others as Gandhi is often quoted as saying. In our own lives, as is common with most other people, it is the house we live in, the food we consume, and the travel by vehicles that contribute most significantly to climate change as long as these activities are based primarily on the use of non-renewable fossil fuels, non-renewable uranium and non-renewable resources in general.

Food production as it is currently practised by industrial scale agriculture is heavily dependent upon fossil fuels for fertilizers, pesticides, and fuel for transportion around the world. Our homes, in the materials and energy we use to build them, and in the energy we consume each day through electricity from the grid (largely coal and nuclear in many places), as well as the use of gas and oil for heating, are major contributors. Vehicles like cars, SUVs, buses, trucks and trains currently consume massive quantities of fossil fuels. For all of these there are renewable alternatives that we must now make the switch towards in our daily lives.

As we begin to transform our own lives over the next few years, we must also begin to engage with our community, and start to transform the broader community systems, from food production, to houses, transit, commercial buildings and eventually big industry. Our earth community must become thousands of linked Solar Villages, working together to make the switch to renewables, in the next ten years.

Step 1 - Local Organic Food - Review the food you consume to make sure it is as much local and organically grown as possible. Consume as little meat as possible. Grow your own food organically and/or using permaculture techniques where and when you can.

Step 2 - Solar House - Make your home run on renewable energy. Make your energy use as efficient as possible. Switch to solar where possible for electricity generation and water heating. Switch to renewable options like like wind and hydro through the grid for the energy you can't generate on your own rooftop. Replace natural gas usage with pipeline supplied biogas converted to natural gas at organic waste processing plants.

Solar House How To Video >>

Step 3 - Electric Vehicles Powered by Renewables - Make the move to electric vehicles for long distance travel that can't be accomplished by walking, biking, skateboarding etc. Electric transit like streetcars, electric subways, electric trains and even electric boats are now widely available (plus make sure they are supplied with electricity from renewable sources).

Electric Vehicles Powered by Renewables How To Video >>

Step 4 - Community Development of Solar Villages - Get your community implementing solar systems on rooftops of commercial buildings through cooperative groups. Drive your government at all levels to use green energy legislation and feed-in tariffs (like the ones in Germany and Ontario, Canada) to cost effectively drive the industrial development. Feed-in tariffs are the most effective way to make the transition as shown by many studies. Remember that feed-in tariffs (FIT) require that any proponent, from home owner, to large utility scale solar/wind farms, have equal access to the grid, must provide the up-front-capital, and are guaranteed long term payment over a period of twenty years when the systems produce (thus the proponents take the risk), while rate payers (NOT tax payers), foot the bill. So, the less you consume, the less you pay, plus if you invest in renewable energy with FIT you can participate in earning potentially enough profit to offset the additional cost born by your consumption as a rate payer.

Community Development of Solar Villages How To >>

Time to get to work. Remember it is what you do that matters. Join us >>

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Reference Videos

VIDEO: Jeremy Rifkin - Global Emergency

VIDEO: Jeff Rubin - Economics of Global Warming

VIDEO: Solar House

VIDEO: Electric Vehicles Powered by Renewables

VIDEO: Part 1 - Community Development of Solar Villages

VIDEO: Part 2 - Community Development of Solar Villages

Planting onions, mesclun mix and strawberries

2011-05-15T17:53:00.000-07:00

Got some organic seeds from the local Harmony market. First, I cleared the straw which I'd laid out to protect the soil and reduce weeds while waiting to plant. Before planting I cleared the straw away from the first bed to be planted this year. We'll start with onions, mesclun mix and strawberries as they can go in during spring and need a long time to grow until they produce. I prepared the beds by turning the soil just enough to get the weeds out. Lots of worms and even what looked like earth worms. I think that is a good sign.

Grumpy gardener.

Next, I mixed in some of the compost that we prepared last year from yard clippings, layered with straw and soil. It looks good and should provide a natural fertilizer to help the new plants grow by amending the soil. I had also added a sprinkle of bone meal a few weeks ago when we planted the fruit trees. I raked the compost into the prepared garden bed which is about three feet by twenty feet.

Now time to put the seeds in. First, along the far fence I put in about six feet of mesclun mix so we can enjoy some delicious, tasty fresh salad as early as possible. Next, I put in a mix of yellow and red onions. Finally, we have about six strawberry plants near the entrance to garden. Once covered with soil I surround the planted rows with straw to try to keep the weeds down a bit and also to help with moisture retention. Finally, I get the hose out and give them a good soaking to get the soil settled in around our precious seeds. A prayer for our future crop and we are done the first bed.

Just as I was writing this the sun set and then a rainbow seemed to drop down just like it was saying that a pot of gold was sitting in our garden. True enough. Stay tuned, as we've got about four more beds to plant in the coming weeks.

Planting a fruit tree orchard

2011-05-09T05:13:00.001-07:00

Now that we know we live on zone 3 we see that peach trees appear to be out. We'll plant apple, pear and cherry trees. With a piece of paper I plan out our tree placement around the house on the gentle slopes to ensure good water drainage. Our space allows for about six trees maintaining about twenty four to thirty feet between trees as required to give them enough space for their full grown size.

Off to the tree nursery to pick the healthiest trees we can find. We decide on three different varieties of apple thees (macintosh, liberty and granny smith) as they indicate a tolerance for our zone. We are hoping the close proximity to our house will provide a little extra protection from weather extremes allowing us to get away with these desirable varieties that we like very much. We choose a Bartlett pear tree and one other type. A variety of types is required for pollination. In addition we select a sweet cherry tree that is self pollinating. We carefully lay the six trees in the back of the Prius along with a big bucket of bone meal that we'll use to promote good root growth.

Now for the fun part, planting the orchard. We mark out the six spots we will plant by digging a small marking hole, checking each location for full sun and good drainage. We dig a four foot diameter hole for our five foot trees growing in a bucket. We then sprinkle some bone meal around the full area that the tree will grow into, about twelve feet in diameter for our semi dwarf trees. Using our compost prepared last year we mix a wheel barrow full of half compost and half soil. We place the tree in the prepared hole, fill in with our mixed compost and soil mix, level, and then fill in the top layer with removed soil. Around the four foot diameter of our hole we create a small retaining mound to keep water from running away too quickly. Finally, we cover the four foot circle around the tree with a layer of straw (a gift from a sister in laws Halloween decoration). Water throughly. Repeat for remaining five trees. Done.

Next we'll get into maintenance including pruning, fertilization, and protection from pests and disease.

Solar Dream Home

2010-09-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

Looking at the south side of the solar house. The solar panels provide an awning for the windows and deck below to keep the house cool and comfortable in summer. Total rated generating capacity of this solar systems is 6.1 kW/hour. Combined with the wind turbine we have 7.1 kW/hour of renewable energy generating capacity.

Above and behind the solar panels is a skylight with operable windows. This provides ventilation of warm air that rises out of the top of the house. At the same time the skylight windows provide lighting during the day for all areas of the house (open concept allows for this).

To the far right, on the south side are some large multi-story windows. This is our greenhouse. We currently have some plants growing here. Our plant is to start growing herbs and other vegetables with the addition of an aquaponics system.

We have had solar PV panels for about ten years now. As you can see there are two types of panels on the awning. The silver rimmed panels were made by Sharp. Each of these sharp panels is rated at about 110 watts. The new panels, darker and without any silver rim are made by Sanyo. The newer Sanyo panels are rated at approximately 220 watts each.

A pergola exists below the upper windows and above the lower windows. Eventually we will grow vines up this structure to provide additional cooling and shading in the summer.

From a distance you can see how well the house blends into the natural environment around it.

On the south east side we have a deck for enjoying morning breakfast outside. Windows on all sides are operable to make it easy to adjust ventilation for various times during the day and year.

The gray roofing on the far left is zinc metal roofing. This provides a long lasting material and also it reflects excess heat in the summer to keep the house cool.

On the south side of the house, with easy access from the kitchen, are a herb garden around the deck, and a vegetable garden near where you see the sunflowers.

Over the years we've grown lots of potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, squash, zucchini, peppers, garlic, cucumbers and many others.

With help from some expert organic gardeners we are able to produce a fair amount of our summer vegetables out of our own garden.

Most other areas of the property have been allowed to naturalize.

Here is a close-up of the herb garden along the edge of the deck. The door at the end of the deck provides easy and quick access to the herbs for cooking while in the kitchen.

You can see the wind turbine off to the left. We kept the wind turbine fairly close as the wire for connecting this device is quite expensive.

One of the sticking points with trying to get to 100% renewable energy has been our BBQ on the right. We have no furnace so the only place we use a fossil fuel is the BBQ. Recently I've discovered that bio-gas can be produced that will eventually enable me to burn a renewable resource when using BBQ. Stay tuned.

Drying your clothes on the line saves money, energy and time. Outdoor dried clothes also smell heavenly.

As you can see we do have a car. Our Toyota Prius is about five years old now with around 300,000 kilometers on it. With an eight year warranty on the batteries we've never been worried about reliability. The car has performed very well and saves us around 50% in gas bills. On top of that the emissions reduction are 70-90% depending upon which vehicle you compare with. Our next car will be a pure electric vehicle.

Here you can see our green roof. The green roof should last about fifty or more years, so longevity is one benefit.

Here you can see how well the house blends in with the natural surroundings. The lower end of the north side meets up with some trees near one of the drainage scuppers.

Lots of wild flowers are growing on the roof. This layer of 3-6 inches of soil and grasses provides a natural air conditioning system for the house reducing the effects of heating by 20-30% in the summer.

The parts of the roof the we completed a year earlier have much more growth. This beautiful roof changes naturally through the seasons and over time.

Some animals like to get up on top when we have the ramp up.

This rock formation adds a little flair to the roof. Also, we've found and learned that adding"edges" increases the diversity of the plants that grow and provides a more robust ecosystem that can maintain itself through various changing weather conditions.

The last part to have soil added has been the top of the roof. This area is still establishing itself with native plants.

Scout our dog loves to run down the ramp.

We may look at growing berries or other plants that might like the climate on our roof.

The west side of the roof was planted later and is still establishing itself. Rather than leveling the soil we've left piles which provide more edges for improved diversity.

The bottom end of the east side of the green roof blends into the surrounding property. Green roofing removes the "head island" effect created by most conventional roofing. As well green roofing reduces rainwater runoff substantially. We've got a cistern to collect the rainwater from the roof.

A the top of the sound end of the roof you can see some gardening tools ready for use. Also, the top edge of the solar panel array is also visible on the right.

Our solar panels that produce more electricity annually than we consume on the south side of the house. This picture was taken from on the roof looking down. You can also see the vegetable garden on the top right.

These solar PV panels are connected to the Ontario power grid. We have a contract with the OPA (Ontario Power Authority) for 20 years and get 80.2 cents/kW (Canadian) for our energy production which is measured on a second "generation" side meter that we had installed. We'll make $500-1000/month with this setup depending upon the time of year.

Here you can see some clean-up I've done on the green roof now that the solar PV system has been installed.

We also have a wood stove to provide supplemental heat when needed.

There are the solar panels with my daughters trampoline off in the distance.

What a view from the top of the roof.

Looking west at the top of the roof. On the right is the skylight with operable windows for ventilation and cooling in the summer. Those windows also provide all the light we need throughout the house during the day.

Now that construction on the green roof is done we'll be taking down the ramp we used to get the soil up. I must have done a thousand runs up that ramp with a wheel barrow full of soil. Building a green roof is quite simple especially on top of an industrial type roof (ours is EPDM as the water proof). Starting at the bottom I layered Delta dimpled membrane, added about six inches of soil, and then moved on up to the next layer. At the bottom, before putting soil on we've got a ridge of gravel and drainage tube at the bottom edge of the roof.

Looking wet on the north side of the skylight.

You can see the gravel drainage system at the bottom edge of the green roof. Also, on the ground is our large water cistern for collecting rainwater.

Hard to believe this is our green roof.

What a view to the south we have from the living room and kitchen, looking out of these huge windows.

For more info and detail on our house go to http://www.naturallifenetwork.com/wilson.cfm . Also check out our documentary videos on the project at http://www.thesolarvillage.com/ .

Canadian solar revolution

2009-11-09T05:04:00.000-08:00

Five years ago, having come back from Freiburg Germany, the solar capital of Europe, I was inspired by their zero emissions solar PV manufacturing facility there, feed-in tariff driven investment opportunities available to the general public, community owned wind farms, and solar PV on almost every other building I looked at, both residential and commercial. All in a climate that is not so unlike our own. Having seen this I scheduled a meeting with the minister of Energy here in Ontario, only to be shuffled off to Donna Cansfield, the then deputy. She listened as I asked for four things, one of which was the feed-in tariff given what I had seen in Freiburg. She was of course well aware of this idea from other groups lobbying for this type of change...no doubt CanSIA and OSEA to name just a few. The thing is, as it turned out, she became the Minister and brought in the RESOP and I went ahead to put a new PV system in on the program knowing the ROI was twenty years....better than the 75 years on the original solar system.

So, why are we doing this? We need to create a sustainable econonomy that uses sustainable renewable energy and materials so that our children have a future, an economy and jobs. Solar PV companies create jobs. I think I saw that Canadian Solar has 4000 employees. Arise must have created quite a number in the former East Germany where they've set up shop. Day 4 is creating jobs. Sanyo and Sharp do a reasonable business in Ontario and provide some jobs in Ontario. More exist and given the numbers/rules with FIT/MicroFIT I think it looks like many more will want to enter the Ontario market. Producing as much as possible as soon as possible locally is the sustainable thing to do.

If someone had asked me, knowing what I know now, not knowing the details of what it takes to setup manufacturing shop in Ontario, I'd have thought a reasonable approach would be to have the first 12 months content rules that support the existing market...is that 18% or something similar so that the pioneers in the industry are allowed to proceed at full throttle, knowing that further content requirements are coming. From 12-24 months 40%, and then after 24 months 60%. The current rules appear to be a political decision to demonstrate action on the issue of manufacturing job losses. Given the horrific nature of that situation, if I were in the place of an auto sector worker, this political decision makes perfect sense as they need jobs right now. Given that I would say, if the rules can't be changed, then we have a challenge worthy of our efforts.

In either case I am prepared to put my money where my mouth is. I will proceed with an additional 5 kW solar PV investment whether the rules are adjusted or not. I suspect many other investors will do the same. With the trust I've built up with current providers I think it is likely that they will be able to find a way to meet the content rules while maintaining quality and price. However, it is not the pioneers that will drive this next phase. The very nature of the investment opportunity will now drive new large scale investment from new players. That will start now no matter the content rules. That will drive the change we need. Looking back ten years ago, this is actually a better situation than I could have imagined. More challenging given the content rules, nevertheless in many ways better than I would have thought possible.

From my childrens perspective, which drives my investment decisions and thoughts on strategy, the next logical area that needs to be addressed is an "ecotax" on electricity. Given the costs on our society of "dirty power", we should add something like 1 cent/kW to the cost of electricty for everyone. This should drive conservation and efficiency efforts related to energy consumption and help cover the additional costs of programs like FIT/MicroFIT, and make residential/commercial/industrial consumers looking for a hedge on their energy costs through FIT/MicroFIT. Like content rules that that are designed to achieve certain political/social/economic ends, this type of tax is going to be painful, but it is the right thing to do, and it should be implemented ASAP even though it would be hard to make changes towards efficiency quickly enough to offset this additional cost. Hard but not impossible.

Build a sustainable house with straw bale construction

2009-07-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about building with straw bales is the opportunity to involve others, whether amateurs or experts, in the construction of your home. With minimal instruction and supervision, a team of inexperienced family, friends, and other enthusiasts can help you to erect your straw bale walls in just a few days. We call it a “straw bale happening”.

What is it? Friends, family and a small group of experienced straw bale builders gather for a few days to prepare and stack straw bales for a building. For a volunteer, it’s a chance to exchange experience with others, and plan for your own future straw bale structure. The new skills you learn can be used in preparing to build your own home. Whether or not you plan to build with straw bales yourself, the opportunity to participate in a straw bale happening provides a great sense of accomplishment. It just feels good to help others. And the best part – it’s fun!

Common Questions

What about the three little pigs? Sure enough that is what most of us think of the first time we hear about a straw bale home. The reality is that straw bale homes may be the most sensible, long lasting, and sturdy homes you’ll ever build. In terms of withstanding earthquakes you can’t do much better than a straw bale home. As far as fire and pests are concerned the thousands of straw bale homes in existence, some for more than fifty years, have proven that these are not an issue. As long as the straw bales are kept dry, your natural insulation material will last for a hundred years or longer.

A Sense of Community

Working together like this, you develop a sense of teamwork and camaraderie. Networking with people of all ages and backgrounds, who share in a common interest and purpose, leads to the sharing of ideas, solutions to problems, and an all-important level of encouragement. The resulting optimism and positive attitudes generate a sense that it can be done – and we’re doing it together. It’s amazing to witness the enthusiasm of volunteers so interested in learning by working hard, for free, for somebody else.

What did I learn? In April, my family hosted a straw bale happening. Having participated in one before, I thought I knew what I was doing. Aware of the complexity of the job, however, and having no formal training, we decided to bring in some experts. Chris Magwood, Peter Mack, and Tina Therrien, of Camel’s Back Construction, provided their expertise in organizing and supervising the work party. And what we gained from their knowledge and experience was well worth the added cost.

I also picked up some great tips for building with bales, for example:

Staple the chicken wire the outside frame before starting to stack the bales of straw.
Complete one row before starting the next one.
Decide which wall needs to be the straightest (usually one side will have a bit more “character” than the other). Then use huge (and I mean huge!) wooden mallets on each side of the stacked bales to straighten the walls.
Don't forget to stuff gaps on the outside and around posts before start the next layer.
You can apply either two or three layers of stucco. If you plan to add color, apply the final pigment layer with a paint roller several weeks after completing the first two layers. This allows time for the stucco to dry properly, and the color layer will hide any cracks or flaws.

Straw Bales vs. Conventional

The natural curved lines and spaces formed by straw bale walls produce a spiritual sense of closeness to earth, a sense of harmony with creation and life. Look at the teepee, igloo and many other examples of aboriginal dwellings. When you enter one of these structures, this spiritual feeling surrounds you. You can feel it if you spend a night in a cozy warm round teepee. This is the feeling I get in my own natural home, both inside and out. When guests visit my home, they feel it too.

Shortly after finishing our straw bale day, I spent a day insulating other parts of our home with Roxul insulation. I realized with startling clarity that straw bales are much more pleasant to work with than conventional insulation material. It doesn’t irritate the skin, you don’t need protective goggles, and a day of straw bale building is actually lots of fun. Now, who can say that about a day of working with slag waste insulation or fiberglass insulation?

See a documentary video about this award-winning sustainable straw bale house:

http://www.wilsonnaturalhome.com/

For lots more pictures of the process see our web site: http://www.naturallifenetwork.com/wilson/journalpg31.asp

Earth, our home, viewed like a god

2009-06-14T05:19:00.000-07:00

Why are none of the major news sources taking notice of this very important movie, Home, by Yann Arthus-Bertrand? Seeing things from a new perspective can help change the way we think in an instant. Like a god you can fly above the earth and see the beauty and the horror. We have only ten years, so say the scientists. We must all act quickly to save our home, planet earth, for our children. We know that renewable resources are the answer. Nature shows us how every day and has for the last 4 billion years. We can switch to 100% renewable energy and resources in the next ten years. Surely, if nothing else, for love of this wonderful home, for our brothers and sisters around the world and for our children, we must take up this challenge, all of us, right now!

You've got just today to see it free on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU

If you miss it, then please make sure to see it at a theatre when it is showing near you and buy the DVD when it comes out.

CEO goes green

2009-05-23T12:50:00.001-07:00

Ray Anderson has a great book which I ready a few years ago - Mid-Course Correction . If this billion dollar company can do it then we all can do it. The process is one that makes sense to me and is common to my own experience. First, you need a big something to slam you in the face that says, hey, what are you doing about this issue of global warming. For our children we all must work towards a sustainable future. The solutions all exist. Technology for improving efficiency measures are abundant and cost effective. Implementing renewable energy options individually and on large scales are now possible and increasingly supported by government economic policy such as Green Energy Acts that align community goals with economy.

Eden Mills: Going Carbon Neutral

2009-01-20T07:08:00.001-08:00

Click to Play

We are a small Canadian village with an ambitious goal. Inspired by the lead of Ashton Hayes (www.goingcarbonneutral.co.uk), a village in England, we are engaging in a grassroots initiative to tackle the urgent issue of a warming planet. We want our children and grandchildren to know that we not only cared but tried to do something.

RENEWABLE ENERGY COULD POWER THE ENTIRE COUNTRY

2008-12-17T07:14:00.001-08:00

New Documentary, Hope for a Change, Presents a Hopeful Message among all the Environmental and Economic Doom and Gloom

TORONTO, CANADA (December 17, 2008) - Toronto-based documentary producer John Wilson announced the release of his new 60-minute documentary today, Hope for a Change, which is available exclusively from his web site hopeforachange.net. Wilson says his documentary “presents a refreshingly hopeful message for the future” that if Canada followed a model employed in Germany, it would be the first country to be 100% powered by renewable energy (such as hydro, wind and solar). At the same time 250,000 new jobs would be created while allowing Canada to meet its climate change commitments.

To prove it, Wilson’s documentary features a variety of experts on the subject. Dr. David Suzuki, a world-renowned scientist and environmentalist, opens the documentary by proclaiming that we are in a “great turning” period in history in which there is a “fundamental shift in the way we live on this planet” taking place, and which is taking us towards a new model of sustaining life with renewable energy sources.
Dr. Hermann Scheer, a member of the German parliament who successfully led the fight for the Renewable Energy Act in Germany, explains that Canada could build a sustainable economy based on 100% renewable energy within five years. The knowledge and technology are available today, and “nothing can be implemented faster than renewable energies”.
The real problem today lies in resistance from the “conventional power players” who have a vested interest in keeping things the way they are, but Canada could learn from what Germany has achieved with the Renewable Energy Act which provides the legal basis and economic incentive for this transformation. Scheer concludes by saying we can “win the future”, and at the same time, give people hope with a proven plan that can address the current environmental and economic crisis. It’s all possible today and it’s just a matter of “getting the information and the recognition of the real alternative” out to the public.
Wilson himself is living proof of his hopeful message as the owner of an award-winning solar & wind powered, straw bale, and green roofed sustainable home which is the subject of his 2004 documentary Natural Living. In 2006, Wilson released the popular YouTube video The Solar Village that featured residents of Freiburg Germany providing guided tours of their solar homes, wind power parks, and zero emissions factories all, as it turned out, made possible by the Renewable Energy Act created by Dr. Hermann Scheer.
The DVD can be ordered directly from hopeforachange.net for $15 which includes shipping and handling. Wilson wants to get the message out so he has said that anyone who purchases the DVD may publicly present the documentary and retain the proceeds.
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If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with John Wilson, please call Leigh Geraghty at 416-648-6601 or email Leigh at leigh.geraghty@gmail.com. A full media kit with bio, digital photos, synopsis, FAQ and video trailer is available at hopeforachange.net.

Hope for a Change: Renewable Energy documentary video

2008-12-02T10:57:00.000-08:00

The challenge of the century is the imperative to move to 100% renewable energy. This must happen in the next three or four decades as we approach three critical limits. First, the finite reserves of non-renewable's (fossil fuels and uranium). Second, increasing demand for energy. Third, increasingly destructive impacts from global warming. Combined these threats pose the greatest challenge ever faced by society. Our children's future depends on our rapid move to 100% renewable energy everywhere.

Economically, socially and scientifically the only way to avoid disaster is a global switch to 100% renewable energy. Only this can realistically address the challenge. No other option can be implemented as fast. Only with renewable energy is the reserve and growing demand problem resolved, and yes sufficient free supply is available, with more than 1000 times more renewable energy reaching earth from the sun (and available equitably and locally everywhere in the form of solar, geothermal, biomass and wind). By rapidly reducing and eventually eliminating the emission of carbon, global warming can be averted with many economic, social and political benefits.

The secret ingredient for making this transition to sustainable renewable energy is a simple idea. Copy the lead of Germany and implement fully a Renewable Energy Act that has the following requirements:

1. Guaranteed access to the grid
2. Guaranteed long term price
3. No limit

With these three simple laws all countries can follow the lead of Germany and make the switch to 100% renewable energy in the next ten years. Using non-polluting, equitably available renewable energy we can then maintain economic, social, political and individual autonomy. Peace, freedom and happiness can be ours in a world that need not war over resources. That is the ultimate hope for a change envisioned by this documentary.

For more information or to order the DVD go to http://www.hopeforachange.net/

World Wind Energy Conference

2008-06-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

2008 World Wind Energy Conference concludes on a positive note

Jun 27th, 2008 10:11 AM

Kingston Conference signals new era in community power and looks to Ontario for leadershipKingston, Ontario, June 27, 2008 – The 2008 World Wind Energy Conference wrapped up yesterday and the overwhelming mood of the 800 conference attendees pointed toward the fact that Ontario should act quickly to institute a Green Energy Act as part of its energy policy.

Kristopher Stevens, Executive Director of the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA) says the 3 day Conference was a great success and provided opportunities for international leaders to share their experiences and ideas.

“I’m delighted with the response we’ve seen here these past couple days. There’s been a real sense of enthusiasm and motivation among attendees and panel speakers that I hope ends up extending beyond this conference and into the communities, workplaces and levels of government here in Ontario.”

On Tuesday, during an appearance as Ontario’s new Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Renewal, George Smitherman made his first public address at the Conference. The Minister said he was open to hearing more about a Green Energy Act, but required more information from interested groups on what they wanted to include in any proposed act.

The Energy Minister’s speech was praised by delegates for showing openness to studying legislation and processes from around the world, particularly in Germany, a country producing 40% of its energy from renewable sources.

“We’re encouraged by the Minister’s willingness to explore how the Ontario government can reach our renewable energy targets,” stated Jose Etcheverry of the David Suzuki Foundation. “More importantly, we’re pleased to hear that there’s interest in hearing from stakeholders in Ontario and abroad on how to expand renewable energy sources.”

Dr. Hermann Scheer, architect of Germany's Renewable Sources Act's response addressed the Conference this week and focused on Canada’s immense renewable energy potential. "

Because of existing Hydro potential it’s possible that within 5 years Canada could meet its electricity needs with a 100% renewable system by a complimentary mix of hydro and wind,” Scheer advised the audience. “The economic and technical capacity exists; you just need the political will and policy framework! You could do this faster than the construction of any nuclear power plant and create far greater benefits!" he added.

At the beginning of the Conference OSEA released a poll that indicated 93% of Ontarians support the creation of a Green Energy Act that would set firm targets for increased renewable energy production in Ontario, including 62% who strongly support the creation of such an act.

“OSEA’s Green Energy Act polling proves what we’ve always known: Ontarians are hungry for green energy and through this conference, we’ve been shown renewables are doable”, said Mr. Stevens. Over 40 countries were represented with over 800 attendees and appearances were made by 4 provincial Minister’s as well as Ministers from Germany and India.

“The Conference was one of the most diverse and high profile ones over the past seven years,” said Stefan Gsaenger, Secretary General of the World Wind Association. “Renewable energy is the world’s greatest industry opportunity and the success of Ontario’s conference as measured by its international representation proves the world is ready for a huge economic and renewable takeoff.”

The Conference passed a number of resolutions establishing commitments to renewable energy, including developing, using and expanding appropriate national, regional and international financing mechanisms for the exclusive realization of renewable energy.

These include funds that are supporting community power investment such as a Community Power Fund here in Ontario.For more information, contact:

Kristopher Stevens
Ontario Sustainable Energy Association
Mobile: 416-303-1201

Jose Etcheverry
David Suzuki Foundation
Mobile: 416-843-2484

Tim Weis
Pembina Institute
Mobile: 780-717-6519

blip.tv

2008-06-02T11:22:00.001-07:00

Have created the Solar Village show at blip.tv web site. Pretty cool as they provide an easy means supporting distribution to iTunes and other video sharing sites.

Check out: http://www.blip.tv/

Heavenly music

2007-02-22T19:10:00.000-08:00

I thought I had heard the voice of god on the way home. Her voices were beautiful. Check it out on CBC readio. Listen for yourself at CBC Radio Censor This. Quite an incredible and inspiring expression of beauty and freedom.

The Solar Village: Zero Emissions Factory

2007-02-18T09:50:00.001-08:00

Solar Fabrik built their zero emissions factor with the aim of demonstrating what they will expect of others in the future. Wise use of energy, water, air, and materials plus carbon dioxide neutral production. They've shown it can be done and it is a huge employee motivator and a source of fascination for visitors, suppliers and customers. As a producer of environmentally friendly technology it goes without saying that Solar Fabrik takes full advantage of renewable energy sources.

Over five hundred square meters of solar panels on the south side produce limitless solar power. A carefully thought out energy concept. The building faces south towards the sun. In winter when the sun is low the sunlight reaches deep within the building helping to heat it. In the summer when the sun is high the solar modules and glass facade shade the building and keep it cool.

The solar architecture is enhanced by a special ventilation system. Fresh air blows into the building through underground ducts. The soil has a constant temperature of about 12 degrees celsius. The cool fresh air is pre-heated in the winter. The flow of hot air in the summer is cooled. The factory it supplied exclusively with renewable energy.

Solar energy enhances the quality of life. Using solar energy doesn't mean doing without. Using solar energy means we can carry on as normal without depleting resources for future generations.

Sustainable Communities Documentary Video

2007-02-18T06:19:00.000-08:00

The Solar Village is a documentary video that explores how we can create sustainable communities today. Rather than discuss these workable ideas in the abstract this documentary takes you to the people who are making the modern world work on solar power today. It is possible now to create communities that are more comfortable than our current ones while using clean reliable renewable energy (see how right now by checking out the video clips instantly available for Chapter 3: Village and Chapter 4: Solar). Beyond renewable energy the people of Freiburg Germany show us how to build large scale solar apartment houses, privately financed wind parks, and zero emissions factories (that can even produce solar panels). In this documentary you will meet the people, planners and politicians who are making it happen. Whether you are a home owner, builder, designer, architect, politician, activist, business person or artist, this documentary will provide you with an inspiring look at how the future of sustainable communities works today.

Planting a fruit tree orchard

2000-12-31T16:00:00.000-08:00

We live in southeastern Ontario Canada so planting fruit trees anywhere other than Niagara takes some special care. They don't call it the great white north for nothing. So, we plan for trees that are suitable for zone 3 at a minimum. Fruit trees are not available for colder zones 2 and 1. As you may have guessed zones 4 and 5 take you down south of the 49th parallel.

Now that we know we live in zone 3 we see that peach trees appear to be out. We'll plant apple, pear and cherry trees. With a piece of paper I plan out our tree placement around the house on the gentle slopes to ensure good water drainage. Our space allows for about six trees maintaining about twenty four to thirty feet between trees as required to give them enough space for their full grown size.

Off to the tree nursery to pick the healthiest trees we can find. We decided on three different varieties of apple threes (macintosh, liberty and granny smith) as they indicate a tolerance for our zone. We are hoping the close proximity to our house will provide a little extra protection from weather extremes allowing us to get away with these desirable varieties that we like very much. We choose a Bartlett pear treen and one other type. A variety of types is required for pollination. In addition we select a sweet cherry tree that is self pollinating. We carefully lay the six trees in the back of the Prius along with a big bucket of bone meal that we'll use to promote good root growth.

Now for the fun part, planting the orchard. We mark out the six spots we will plant by digging a small marking hole, checking each location for full sun and good drainage. We dig a four foot diameter hole for our five foot trees growing in a bucket. We then sprinkle some bone meal around the full area that the tree will grow into, about twelve feet in diameter for our semi dwarf trees. Using our compost prepared last year we mix a wheel barrow full of half compost and half soil. We place the tree in the prepared hole, fill in wi our mixed compost and soil mix, level, and then fill in the top layer with removed soil. Around the four foot diameter of our hole we crete a small retaining mound to keep water from running away to quickly. Finally, we covert the four foot circle around the tree with a layer of straw (a gift from a sister in laws Halloween decoration). Water throughly. Repeat for remaining five trees.