Renew Fairfield | Energy / Watt Savers: Iowa's Energy Success Stories browse

The Iowa Citizen Action Network Education Foundation, Iowa Energy Center, Iowa Renewable Energy Association, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources compiled this publication to share the stories about communities around Iowa that have turned to alternative energy and increased their energy efficiency. The stories, however, are not only about energy policy, but also about economic development, social equity, environmental awareness, and collective action. They created better communities by re-designed their energy systems intelligently. Here are a few highlights:

Integrated Modular Ethanol System, West Amana, Edward L. Woolsey: Applied Agricultural Technologies (AAT) designed an automated corn-to-ethanol plant that incorporated livestock and eliminated waste. Corn is processed into 190-proof ethanol and high-protein cattle feed . In turn, the cows' waste yields methane gas for electricity production. One input, corn, produces ethanol, cattle feed, beef, and electricity. The system cleverly integrates different element to produce renewable fuel without waste. (Note: Because of the chemicals applied to conventional corn fields, the gasoline involved in transportation, and moral concerns about using food as fuel, some experts argue that ethanol is more trouble than it is worth and suggest that we turn to other biofuels, such as switchgrass, algae, and lumberyard waste, instead.)
Straw Bale Solar & Wind Powered Off the Grid Home, Fairfield, Michael & Carol Havelka: A home-grown success story! The Havelkas built their straw bale home with all local materials and installed solar panels and a wind panel for electricity. Intelligent design incorporated passive solar design, daylighting, and tight insulation to reduce the need for lighting, heating, and cooling systems. Because they also conscientiously sourced their building materials locally, the Havelkas saved money, supported their local economy, and saved the gasoline that would have been wasted during transport.
Trees Forever Plants for Energy Efficiency: This Iowa-based community program sponsors strategic tree plantings that provide shade and break the wind. The USDA Forest Service Urban Forestry researchers, Dr. Greg McPherson, David Nowak, and Rowan Rowantree estimate that the landscape planting improve energy efficiency by 15-30%, shade trees reduce air conditioning bills by 25-50%, and windbreaks reduce fuel bills by 10-20%. The community saves money and energy; it also gains beauty in public spaces and social capital as citizens work together to plant the trees.
Iowa Weatherization Assistance Program: The program decreases national energy consumption and reducing heating and cooling costs for low-income families, particularly the elderly, children, and the disabled, but improving the energy efficiency of their homes. This approach melds the energy policy with social policy; everyone wins. Low-income families save money instead of losing money through walls they cannot afford to insulate. And we all benefit from the cleaner environment and greater national energy security. The Fairfield chapter of Habitat for Humanity offers a similar service by building highly energy-efficient homes so that tenants can spend less money on their energy bills.