Envisioning a sustainable future

[begingri]

LTU aims to make district self-sufficient on energy


BY JOHN GALLAGHER
DETROIT FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER


Southwest Detroit has always been one of Detroit's most heavily industrialized districts.

Now, thanks in part to innovative planning by students at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, the area is aiming to become one of the city's greenest districts.

The LTU students are participating in a project to make southwest Detroit the city's first net-zero energy community, meaning a district that produces more energy than it actually uses.

One idea would wrap the dilapidated Michigan Central Station in solar panels. Other ideas include connecting energy hubs like the station through a series of bike lanes, mass-transit lines and other green infrastructure.

The ideas might take years, and probably millions of dollars, to achieve. But, if nothing else, the LTU project emphasizes that no single project would be enough to achieve the goal of energy self-sufficiency, said Constance Bodurow, an LTU professor and director of the southwest Detroit project.


Continued at: http://www.freep.com/article/2011031.../1002/business

[Richard]

Germany is working on transparent solar film that would be applied over windows like clear window tint,the problem with solar right now is it is advancing so fast now that by the time one solar producing factory was built ground up it was obsolete.

http://www.en.iwm.fraunhofer.de/pres...details/id/27/

A 25 acer solar site can produce almost as much energy as the Hoover dam that can be done right now.

[old guy]

I STILL think that solar streetlights are a great idea. It's a manufacturing business that's growing rapidly. Creating energy with renewable resources is where we should be heading, but implementing infrastructure that eliminates the need for an external power source is even more efficient. I hope to see places like Detroit jump on the manufacturing bandwagon in these areas before it all comes from overseas. Bring on the critics.

[Gistok]

I just drove by Roy O'Brien Ford [[9 Mile & Mack in St. Clair Shores... for those not old enough to remember the famous commercials of old...)... and saw they had 3 windmills up above the dealership. Anyone know the details? Being just in from the lake, they probably help power some part of the dealership... just not sure what. The blades were really moving.

[maxx]

Heard on a recent Bill Maher Show: 3% of Arizona covered with solar panels could meet most of our electricity needs today.

http://www.nrel.gov/csp/maps.html

[RaumVogel]

I just drove by Roy O'Brien Ford [[9 Mile & Mack in St. Clair Shores... for those not old enough to remember the famous commercials of old...)... and saw they had 3 windmills up above the dealership. Anyone know the details? Being just in from the lake, they probably help power some part of the dealership... just not sure what. The blades were really moving.

Turn up the volume: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa0WsxWACuc