Resource Guide -- Renewable Energy and Sustainability
Renewable Energy
General / Biofuels / Solar Energy / Wind Power
Sustainability
General /
Calculators, Offsets & Tools / Global Warming
/ Green Living /
Higher Education & Sustainability / Local Environmental Groups
Focus the Nation
Information on MATC Focus the Nation event, January 31, 2008
Focus Exhibitors
Renewable Energy
Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
http://www.dsireusa.org/
At long last, energy efficiency is on its way to becoming the norm, and state, local and federal entities are stepping up to the plate with a whole host of incentives to promote it. Search by state to find out what is available in your area. You can also discover where to buy green power, your state's wind power status, and more. Updated weekly.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, from the U.S. Department of Energy
http://www.eere.energy.gov/
The Department of Energy has done a good job of packing this multi-tiered site with every kind of information you could want on the topics of efficient/renewable energy (up to and including Web games for the kids). Find extensive sections on hybrids and fuel cells, wind & hydropower technologies, fuel cells, geothermal, solar of course, home energy audits, and more. Plan to spend some time here.
Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century
http://www.ren21.net/globalstatusreport/g2006.asp
Born of the 2004 International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn, Germany, “REN21” is a global policy network forum dedicated to ramping up renewable energy use worldwide through information exchange and advocacy. Look here for a global perspective on renewable energy policies, status of projects, and breaking news.
Alternative Fuels and Advanced Data Center
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/
Biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, natural gas, propane -- extensive information and research available here. Includes sections on vehicle conversions, emissions, fuel economy, idle reduction, a make/model search, and much more. Sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Energy's Clean Cities initiative.
Biodiesel: The Official Site of the National Biodiesel Board
http://www.biodiesel.org/
One-stop biodiesel information center from the biodiesel trade association that has been around for fifteen years. New to biodiesel? Facts sheets galore, including basics, cold weather guides, how and where to buy, tax incentives and more.
PrairieFire Biofuels Cooperative
http://www.prairiefirebiofuels.org/
Madison's own biofuel cooperative, where members own, access and build "infrastructure to support vegetable-oil-based fuel sources and usage." PrairieFire offers biofuel pumped or delivered, vegetable oil collection and a drop-off site, professional installation of conversion kits, mechanics for repair and maintenance, and workshops. If you are interested in not only talking the talk but driving the drive, stop in and say hello -- corner of E. Wash and First.
Wisconsin Biodiesel Association
www.wibiodiesel.org
"Home grown fuel for a better Wisconsin." Another excellent source of information for the interested or practicing biofuel user. Lots of resources, FAQs and local news.
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American Solar Energy Society
http://www.ases.org/
This nonprofit organization is on a mission to increase the use of solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies in the United States. Can you guess when it was founded? Try 1954. They are serious, they are knowledgable, and they are organized. From the site: ASES programs will help you: learn about renewable energy, reduce your energy costs, get involved, get started with solar, get answers, and stay informed."
FindSolar.com Solar Estimator
http://www.findsolar.com/
Thinking about solar? Here you can estimate the price, savings and system size for your site with the easy-to-use "My Solar Estimator" tool.
How Stuff Works: How Solar Cells Work
http://www.howstuffworks.com/solar-cell.htm
This site requires a lot of clicking through pages, but it's worth it. Clear explanation of how those photovoltaic cells work, and how they can be used to power a calculator, or a house.
PV Watts
http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/codes_algs/PVWATTS/
Here is a more advanced solar electric calculator for grid-tied systems that allows the user to specify system parameters.
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AWEA: American Wind Energy Association
www.awea.org
Any and all things wind energy you will find here, from policy analysis to promoting small wind systems in your community.
Power of Wind: Wind Energy 101
http://www.powerofwind.com/node/5
We've all heard it: windmills hurt birds. Is it true? Some doubt wind energy can ever provide a substantial amount of electrical power. Are they right? Answers here, along with the basics of windpower. Once you have the basics, it is easy to click over to more advanced windpower analysis and explanations.
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Sustainability
Dr. Art's Guide to Science
http://www.guidetoscience.net/cs/drart/print/docs/drart/chapters.htm
Some think science will save us. Others believe only science using "systems thinking" has a chance. Not sure what that means? Here Dr. Art takes a look at the big ideas that serve as a foundation for a systems understanding of science. It may look like a kids' site, but for those of us publically educated before, say, 2005, it may be worth a look-see.
Earth Trends
http://earthtrends.wri.org/
From the site: "EarthTrends is a comprehensive online database, maintained by the World Resources Institute, that focuses on the environmental, social, and economic trends that shape our world."
Environmental History Timeline
http://www.runet.edu/~wkovarik/envhist/
Feeling lost? Need some collective memory? The environmental movement began many, many years ago. Find out here from whence you came.
Environmental News Network
http://www.enn.com/
News junkie? Environmentalist? Even semi-enviro, or part junkie? This is the site for you. Cutting edge news on how global warming and other enviro diasters/successes are playing out around the world.
FuelEconomy.gov
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
Everything you need or want to know about hybrid vehicles, gas mileage, green house gas emissions from vehicular traffic, fuel economy ratings, and more.
Grist Magazine
http://www.grist.org/
If you read just one online enviro news mag, this is it. Their tagline: "Gloom and doom with a sense of humor." Just take a look -- you'll get hooked.
National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture
http://www.sustainableagriculture.net/
It's not just about finding a way to carry on with current energy consumption only minus the emissions. Sustainability, or the lack thereof, touches all national systems, agriculture being one of the largest. Topics include pesticide use and corporate organics, fair trade, food sovereignty, genetic engineering, irradiation and more.
Redefining Progress
http://www.rprogress.org
This time the discussion centers on economics. Click on "Sustainable Economics" for an interesting twist on the "Gross National Product" -- here's it's called the "Genuine Progress Indicator" and factors in such things as volunteer work, crime stats, enviro degredation, public infrastructure, state of leisure and so on. We may not agree with everything, but thank you RP for bringing it to the table.
Sustainability Institute
http://sustainer.org/
Committed to living sustainably? Recognize the name Donella Meadows? If not, you'll want to spend some time at this site.
SI philosophy: "...unsustainability does not arise out of ignorance, irrationality or greed. It is largely the collective consequence of rational, well-intended decisions made by people caught up in systems – ranging from families and communities to corporations, governments and economies – that make it difficult or impossible to act in ways that are fully responsible to all those affected in the present and to future generations." Founder Donella Meadows (1941-2001, born in Illinois, a fellow midwesterner) also wrote a Pulitzer-nominated column, the Global Citizen, which offered news commentary from a systems point of view.
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Average Energy Use and Cost for Residential Addresses, from MG&E
http://www.mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/
Easy-to-use tool for finding out the high, low and average energy use or average bill amounts for any address within Madison Gas & Electric's service area.
Better World Club
http://www.betterworldclub.com
Not only an alternative to other automobile clubs (this one donates to environmental causes and offers bike roadside assistance), the Better World Club provides onsite calculators to determine carbon emissions for both auto and air travel, and the opportunity to purchase offsets right then. If you are a member and book flight travel from the site, they will purchase offsets concurrently at no additional charge.
Ecological Footprint
http://www.earthday.net/footprint/
There are many calculators out there, but this one has been known to startle even the most savvy of tree-huggers. Put in your own personal stats, your own lifestyle info, and the Ecological Footprint will let you know exactly how many planets we'd need if everyone lived like you do. Anybody get just the one planet in their results? We didn't think so. (But hey, miracles happen. If you did get the extraordinary one planet result, please email and we'll sign you up for an honorary membership in the MATC green group.)
How Stuff Works: How Carbon Offsets Work
http://science.howstuffworks.com/carbon-offset.htm
Just how do offsets work anyway? Clear language answers here.
LiveNeutral.org
http://www.liveneutral.org
Calculators for home, auto and flight travel. Simple to use. Gift certificates available. Surprised by your results? See the accompanying Carbon Reduction Tips section. (Did you know that
a clogged auto air filter can increase gas consumption by 10%?)
Native Energy
http://www.nativeenergy.com
This is the organization that provides offsets for the emissions associated with the movie and book An Inconvenient Truth. Offset projects create renewable energy projects that offer economic benefits for Native Americans in the United States.
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Climate Bathtub Simulator
http://sustainer.org/tools_resources/climatebathtubsim.html
From the site: "The Climate Bathtub Simulation is a brief, animated, interactive simulation game that teaches several principles regarding the dynamics of the global carbon cycle and climate change. Designed for children and adults, its purpose is to improve understanding of how changes in carbon dioxide emissions will affect levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere."
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
http://www.ipcc.ch/
This is the group that won the Nobel Peace Prize along with Al Gore in December 2007 "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change.” Reports, graphics and speeches, including the most recent, definitive assessment of climate changes.
RealClimate
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2007/05/start-here/
“Climate science from climate scientists.” Compendium of resources for everyone from the complete beginner to climate scientist. If you have a question and can’t find the answer here, we’d like to know about it. Includes fascinating comments section.
What is Global Warming? from National Geographic
http://green.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-overview.html
A short, impactful movie about the basics of global warming is the highlight of this page. If you don’t understand what it all means, start here.
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Planet Green
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/
It's a beta site, hasn't been around for long, but the Discovery Channel has done good. Don't be put off by the first "MakeItSo" home project ("Make a Paper Reycling Tote"); this is not an arts & crafts site. (Nothing against arts & crafts, of course -- the knitted veggy project is awesome.) But check out the navigation at the top of the page -- and the wide variety of subjects treated -- and settle in for some serious idea intake.
The Green Guide
http://www.thegreenguide.com/
National Geographic has put together an online magazine that reads like a cross between Redbook and the Whole Earth Catalog. Who knew? Seriously, if you're looking for a treasure trove of product reports, quizzes, shopping tips and tools for living from a name you can trust, take a look.
National Resources Defense Council’s Green Living
http://www.nrdc.org/greenliving/
You get two for one at this URL: The Green Life, and Green Living Toolkit. The first is a personal journal about living more sustainably, the second gives you the information you need to start making your own changes.
Slow Food USA
http://www.slowfoodusa.org/
Slowness has a long way to go before it is considered something to aspire to -- with the possible exception of Slow Food. In a time when the life expectancy of a child in the United States is shorter than their parent's, people are starting to take a closer look at eating habits and how they relate to a larger picture of sustainability and quality of life. Something to chew on.
AASHE: Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
http://www.aashe.org/index.php
Interested in how higher education is attempting the move towards sustatinability both in practice and pedagogy? This is the mothership. Start here.
Campus Climate Challenge
http://climatechallenge.org/
From their site: "The Campus Climate Challenge is a project of more than 30 leading youth organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada. The Challenge leverages the power of young people to organize on college campuses and high schools across Canada and the U.S. to win 100% Clean Energy policies at their schools."
CERET: Consortium for Education in Renewable Energy Technology
http://www.ceret.us/
Funded by a National Science Foundation Grant, CERET is providing technical education in the field of renewable energies right here at MATC through online and face-to-face classes taught by experts.
Presidents Climate Commitment
http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/
"The fight against global warming will shape the 21st century." So speak the 478 top U.S. college and university presidents -- our own Bettsey Barhorst among them -- who pledge to fight global warming on their campuses. From specific strategies for energy reduction to including sustainability throughout the curriculum, these leaders are affecting the day-to-day lives of communities everywhere.
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Environmental Law and Policy Center
http://www.elpc.org/
Their tagline: "Protecting the Midwest's Environment and Natural Heritage." This public interest environmental advocacy group -- including attorneys, financial analysts, and public policy specialists -- takes a broader look at enviro issues across the entire region. Projects include the Midwest High-Speed Rail Network and a Recycled Paper Coalition. Resources, tools, information and activism, with an emphasis on maintaining and improving the natural places of the great midwest.
Madison Environmental Group
http://www.madisonenvironmental.com/
This is a consulting firm with a number of highly-successful, impactful programs under its belt, including Madison's Community Car project, the EnAct program, the Car-Free Challenge, and many more. Opportunities abound.
Solve Global Warming Wisconsin
http://www.solveglobalwarmingwisconsin.org/
This is a joint project of a number of Wisconsin groups -- 1000 Friends, Biodiversity Project, Clean Wisconsin, Sierra Club, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and more -- and includes petitioning, pledging, information-sharing, event calendar, and more.
Sustain Dane
http://www.sustaindane.org/
Mpowering Madison, Rain Barrel Project/Water Saving Kits, sustainability e-learning, Green Pages, Green Visitor's Guide, discussion groups, eco-municipalities -- it's all here.
Please feel free to suggest a site.
Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
CERET: Consortium for Education in Renewable Energy Technologies
Earth Charter
EnAct, Madison Environmental Group
Film: Everything's Cool
Film: An Inconvenient Truth
Focus on Energy
H & H Electric, Inc.
Heifer International
Madison Gas & Electric
MATC Libraries
MATC Green Pledge
Midwest Renewable Energy Association
Wisconsin Partners for Sustainability
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Last Modified: March 31 2008 |
