Our Garden Atriums “Net Zero” sustainable housing development has been heralded by a Finnish University’s sustainable institute as the most sustainable project in the U.S. Yet, it’s our first effort. And the physical aspects – the technology to reach “Net Zero,” or 100% sustainability – just isn’t all that difficult.
When people – including many architects and engineers to whom clients turn – ask about being Net Zero, they’re often told it just isn’t economically feasible.
Nonsense!
Before launching this development – which required placing 100% of our personal assets at risk – I thought about our existing infrastructure …
Isn’t it easier and cheaper to
renovate the millions of existing buildings?
We can’t just trash all our buildings. And what do we do with communities’ infrastructures – roads, water lines, wastewater lines and power lines? Well …
Infrastructure maintenance costs are rising; community revenue is declining. Ruptures in water and wastewater lines – as well as bridge failures – are increasing in frequency. And it’s a lot easier and less expensive to create new Net Zero buildings than fix up existing ones.
Professionals who haven’t done it may say it’s not practical – because they haven’t actually done it. And utilities talk sustainability out of one side of their mouth, but they exist to sell you their service. And communities falter because public servants tend to be risk averse, and fear trying anything new could precipitate public outcry.
Now … here’s a positive model. An entire community is not only generating 100% of their electricity sustainably, but is making money doing so. From a “Natural News” article …
“German village generates 321 percent renewable energy than it needs, selling it back to the national power grid.”
Monday, December 19, 2011 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer, NaturalNews
Developing a renewable energy system that creates energy independence and even a considerable new source of revenue is not some sort of sci-fi pipe dream. BioCycle reports that the German village of Wildpoldsried, population 2,600, has had such incredible success in building its renewable energy system. Wildpoldsried generates 321 percent more renewable energy than it uses, and it now sells the excess back to the national power grid for roughly $5.7 million in additional revenue every single year.
By utilizing a unique combination of solar panels, “biogas” generators, natural wastewater treatment plants, and wind turbines, Wildpoldsried has effectively eliminated its need to be attached to a centralized power grid, and created a thriving renewable energy sector in the town that is self-sustaining and abundantly beneficial for the local economy, the environment, and the public.
You can view some amazing pictures of the Wildpoldsried village at: (http://inhabitat.com/german-village…).
Possessing admirable vision for the town and strong motivation to see the project as a whole succeed, Mayor Arno Zengerie has led the way for many years in making Wildpoldsried’s energy independence efforts a success. As far back as 1997, the village has been investing in building and promoting new industries, maintaining a strong local economy, generating new forms of revenue, and ultimately staying out of debt. And the best way it saw fit to accomplish much of this was through the implementation of self-sustaining, renewable energy technologies.
Not only did Wildpoldsried successfully reduce the amount of time expected to generate the necessary funds to build local treasures like a sports hall, theater stage, pub, and retirement home with the revenue generated by its thriving renewable energy sector — the village has already successfully built nine community buildings, with more on the way — but it also achieved all this and more without going into debt.
“We often spend a lot of time talking to our visitors about how to motivate the village council (and Mayor) to start thinking differently,” said Mayor Zengerle, who now gives talks around the world about the successes of his award-winning village. “We show them a best practices model in motion and many see the benefits immediately. From the tour we give, our guests understand how well things can operate when you have the enthusiasm and conviction of the people.”
Be sure to read the full, inspiring account of Wildpoldsried’s history of, and successes in, renewable energy at:
(http://www.jgpress.com/archives/_fr…).
Is there anything special about this community of 2,600 that prevents us from replicating what they’ve done?
No.
They now enjoy a sustainable supply of electrical power – meaning it can continue indefinitely – at lower costs to citizens than traditional utilities.
Why are our communities not doing this?
A few years ago, we conducted market research, in three different geographies, concerning what are called “Live-Work-Play Communities.”
What are they?
Developers, tired of fighting municipal bureaucracies, were buying large tracts of land outside of city limits. There they created entire communities, with a variety of housing, schools, light industry, and commercial, retail and recreational spaces. And they created their own utilities.
Their utilities are not all “sustainably” designed – though they could be. They’re newer and more efficient. They cost community members less, as their maintenance costs are less and they’re more efficient.
The municipalities were unhappy; they were losing some of their better tax base … giving them even less revenue to offset increasing infrastructure maintenance costs. Yet, they’re unable to change their infrastructure systems or their bureaucratic processes.
The town cited in this article provides a proven model that’s successful in all ways. Either our communities adapt to changing times or … residents will continue “voting with their feet.”
