In Only 14 Years...

Sciencey Friday  MOIF

In only 14 years the Bavarian town of Wilpoldsried has gone a deeper shade of green. From natural and renewable resources Wildpoldsried produces 321% more energy than it uses and sells the excess energy for about $5.7 million each year! Community buildings and private homes use solar panels. They also have five bio-gas digesters, nine windmills, three hydroelectric projects,  ecological flood control and a natural waste water treatment system. The town has also reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 65 % and if they continue making more efficiency improvements hope that number will be 125% by next year. They are planning to add a Siemens Smart Grid (see video below) and 37 electric cars with a solar charging facility.

I find this so exciting. There is nothing special about this town which relied in the past primarily on farming to bring in money. They actually formed several local companies to construct, install and manage their wind turbines, with local residents as investors. A national policy encouraged homeowners to install solar panels by making them cost-effective.

If a little town in Germany can do it why can't we do it here? C'mon California get us started!

Machen!