SIREN - Southern Indiana Renewable Energy Network

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Solar Tour Guide 2010__

Note: Cycling Solar Tour will depart the Farmers Market at 2pm Saturday, Oct. 15. Duration around 2 hours including stops at solar installations, covering less that 10 miles of easy to moderate riding.

New Net Metering Rules! | Become a Member |

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Why are we doing this? Watch a short video.

SIREN 2010 Energy Showdown Results:

View the Energy Showdown wrap-up presentation here.

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS: Woodie & Pam Bessler
Total Energy Reduction for the year was 46.28%

Pam and Woodie won our second quarter prize as well as our grand prize, a 1kW PV solar system (come watch the system installation on May 22nd, 2011). Click here to read how they did it.
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Other Notable Energy Heroes:

Q1 Winner: Meagan Eller
Total Energy Reduction for the year was 21.98%

Read Meagan's post here to learn the secrets to her success.

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Q3 and Q4 Winners: William Emigh and Maggie Sullivan
Total Energy Reduction for the year was 34.23%

Will and Maggie were able to make some very impressive reductions, even though they had already reduced their energy consumption well below that of the average household. Click here to read about their adventures.
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Honorable Mention: Lisa Thomassen and Family
Total Energy Reduction for the year was 27.01%

Read Lisa's simple energy-saving tips.

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For more great energy-saving tips, check out the Green America website and fore even more detailed tips, check out the Coop America Newsletter.

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SIREN is a community group of volunteers working together to expedite the transition to renewable energy production in Southern Indiana. Come to a meeting or join our email discussion list to learn more.

Feel inspired? Join a SIREN committee (paid membership is NOT required). Download our membership form and become a SIREN member.

SIREN's Vision:
Our Vision is of a Southern Indiana powered by renewable energy resources.

The Mission and purpose of SIREN is:

1. to provide a forum for the study, education and promotion of renewable energy technologies and resource conservation for its members and the public;

2. to facilitate the installation of renewable energy throughout Southern Indiana;

3. to be a point of connection with state, regional, national and international renewable energy networks.

Our goals include:

Energy conservation and alternative energy oriented public outreach and education through events such as energy fairs, film screenings, speaker presentations, and demonstration projects

Facilitating cooperation amongst renewable energy consumers, system installers, component manufacturers and retailers, electric utilities, and state and local government

Promoting the adoption of renewable energy systems in our schools and other public buildings

Creating a cooperative of renewable energy producers in the region

Providing grant writing assistance and renewable energy design and installation training

Bring greater public visibility to renewable energy systems through the installation of interactive, energy producing sculptures.

Can I purchase renewable energy from my Southern Indiana electricity provider?

In many areas the utility scale provider offers their customers the opportunity to request that a portion of their electricity be generated from renewable resources for a relatively modest increase in cost. The renewable energy in this area is generated from landfill gas, photovoltaics (solar panels), windmills, and anaerobic digesters. As more customers request renewable energy, more systems will be brought on line. This is a great way to make a clear statement of your choice as a consumer without the level of investment required to produce renewable electricity at your home.

For Duke Energy Customers: GoGreen Indiana program

You can make a difference in preserving our world's resources for future generations. Duke Energy's GoGreen Indiana program enables you to purchase green power blocks that help advance the development of renewable, environmentally friendly energy sources.

And participating just got easier with new lowered prices. As a Duke Energy GoGreen Indiana participant, you can purchase the minimum of two 100 kilowatt-hour (kwh) blocks of green power for only $4 a month, which is about 18 percent of an average residential customer’s electricity usage. Beyond this minimum, you can purchase additional 100 kwh blocks of green power for $2 a month. All you have to do is decide how many blocks you want to buy, and it will be added to your energy bill. It’s that easy!

Under the program, Duke Energy will obtain energy from environmentally friendly generating sources located within our service area as they become available. We’ll also purchase renewable energy from third parties in the form of renewable energy certificates.

Benefits of Duke Energy's GoGreen Indiana.

· Advances the development of renewable, environmentally friendly energy sources.

· The energy you support is delivered directly onto the electric system, reducing the need for energy from fossil fuel sources like oil and coal.

· Diversifies energy supply and lessens demand for fossil fuel generation.

Making a difference starts right now.
Sign up for Duke Energy's GoGreen Indiana today, and for as little as $4 a month, you can help offset carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere, and preserve our world for future generations.

Enroll Now.

· Complete the online application.

· Or call 1-800-423-5401.

Hoosier Energy/REMC: Enviro Watts: Renewable energy can be bought in 100 kWh blocks at a rate of $1.00/100 kWh. http://www.sciremc.com/Portals/1/EnviroWattsForm06.htm . 812 876 2021

Indiana Power and Light (IPL): Green Power 100%, 50%, 25%, or 10% of your monthly electricity can be generated from renewable sources for $0.001913/kwh 888-261-8222

What renewable energy resources exist in Southern Indiana?

While there is an arguably large amount of biomass waste (which could be co-fired with coal at existing generation facilities) in Southern Indiana, SIREN focuses primarily on the solar potential of the region. Most of Southern Indiana has nearly five hours of direct sunlight per day which makes it a viable region for the installation of flat plate solar collectors and for passive solar systems designed to heat space and/or water.

Geothermal energy projects as well as viable wind energy projects will be pursued and supported as well.

The more energy you save the less you need to generate!

Here are 10 energy saving tips:

1) Turn off your computer, lights, stereo, TV and other appliances when not in use.
2) Unplug adapters (like your cell phone charger and MP3 player) when not in use, as the charger will use energy 24/7 even when your item is not charging. Use a power strip for items (like an entertainment system) and turn power strip off when not in use (anything with a remote control is constantly drawing electricity).
3) Use compact fluorescent light bulbs or better yet, LEDs, instead of incandescent light bulbs.
4) During the daytime, use natural lighting when possible-open your blinds to brighten up the room. During the night, close your blinds or curtains to keep the heat in your room.
5) Enable your computer's energy-saving features. Always turn your computer off if you will not be using it within the next hour.
6) Choose energy-efficient computer systems when you replace a system. Flat-screen monitors use 50-70% less energy.
7) Adjust the temperature control on your refrigerator and hot water tank so that function properly while not using excess energy. (If coils are located behind fridge allow ample space from wall so that they may dissipate heat as the appliance was designed. Dust coils.)
8) Buy ENERGY STAR appliances.
9) Use cold water when you do your laundry.
10) Air dry your laundry.

Join SIREN today and help offset fossil fuel use by promoting renewable energy in your community!

Other Resources:

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): vast library of renewable technologies and accompanying federal outlook http://www.nrel.gov/

Indiana Coalition for Renewable Energy and Economic Development (ICREED): Indiana based renewable energy lobbying group http://www.indianacleanpower.org/

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE): comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. http://www.dsireusa.org/

Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC): US non-profit organization committed to accelerating the sustainable utilization of renewable energy. http://www.irecusa.org/

US Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): news about advances in renewable energy and energy efficiency in Indiana and links to Web sites http://www.eere.energy.gov/states/state_specific_information.cfm/state=IN

Bloomington based site assessment/installation contractor, Al Jarvis, solarindiana@yahoo.com

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