Global emergency action plan

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

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

 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 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

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/ .