If You Build It They Will Come
I’m certain that eco-friendly habitat is not new. I don’t tend to stay abreast of such developments. This one caught my eye for two reasons. The site is a former industrial property (urban blight is such an unnecessary waste of real estate) and they are examining the use of a wind turbine to partially power the place. You would think wind farms are a dime a dozen and everybody wants a wind turbine, but you would be wrong. I am hoping projects like this (if it gets built) will help the acceptance of wind power.
Forbes Park, the earth friendly residential “eco-lofts†being developed on the 18 acres of former industrial waterfront property in Chelsea, Massachusetts, has tapped Boreal Renewable Energy Development to collect data and measure the available wind resource in consideration of adding a wind turbine to supply the majority of the new community’s energy needs.
Granted, they are still evaluating the site for feasibility but that is what they should do. Nothing will kill the RE momentum faster than the exposure of some boondoggle projects that don’t deliver. Always under promise and over deliver.
“The feasibility study we are conducting at Forbes Park will estimate the economic, regulatory and environmental viability of installing a wind turbine…
Securing this reliable source of energy is just one example of the clean and green approach to development at Forbes Park. Constructed using durable materials in the recycled industrial buildings on the site, the condominiums are earth friendly and feature heavy use of passive solar heat and passive cooling via large hopper-style windows to maximize natural light and air, as well as rain-water capture and reuse systems, to name a few.
Chelsea’s Senator Jarrett Barrios, a strong proponent of renewable energy alternatives, shares, “The team at Forbes Park ‘gets it.’ They are not only revitalizing a long-forgotten Chelsea neighborhood, but their addition of a wind turbine to meet the needs of this virtual island just off Crescent Street will serve as a symbol for the clean and green approach at Forbes.â€
Here’s a clever idea I hadn’t thought of.
Another notable feature is the fleet of electrically powered shared cars, charged nightly by excess wind power and available on-demand, thereby affording residents the opportunity to cut back to a single vehicle or none at all.
All we can do is hope – unless you happen to live in Chelsea, Massachusetts.
- Posted in : Environment, Positive Change, Renewable Energy
- Author :Rt
Comments»
I really like the electric car idea, not sure if shared cars are Americans cup of tea, but that is no reason not to have the charge option available for people who own their own electric or plugin hybrid cars. I will have to go check this site out, as I live kind of close to it.
I think the idea was to share a “run to the store” car – not the primary vehicle. Those who do not commute by car may find an “occasional” vehicle very much to their liking. It’s not just fuel that makes a car expensive, the insurace (especially) and the maintenance are large factors as well.
My public transportation system is trying to help me but I haven’t dared try it yet. I love the autonomy of my own car and can’t seem to break away from that. That said, my 84 year old mother is driving a golf cart most of the time (church is a big exception, wind in the hair is a problem – will vanity never cease :)