Upcoming Events
Please send us suggestions for future meeting locations and programs! We love to hear from you!
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Greetings!
Saturday, June 13 InREA held a members meeting and open house. We had wonderful attendance for both and enjoyed the talk from State Representative Wes Culver and from Gordon Moore of McCormick Motors. And we enjoyed a great lunch provided by InREA Treasurer Leon Bontrager and Home & Mobile Energy.
To see pictures from the day, courtesy of InREA member Gary Reese, visit the InREA photo gallery online. |
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Notes from Membership Meeting
InREA members and all of the board discussed several points of business:
Completing and filing for nonprofit status is a high priority, as well as getting it done inexpensively! Several members in attendance shared their experiences in filing, and we will continue to work achieve this goal.
In addition, discussion of forming several committees was supported in order to continue to grow the association and to disseminate our mission. A financial committee to work with the Treasurer; a membership committee to work to increase the membership base; an educational committee to plan and organize a schedule of statewide events; and a public relations committee to work on the website, press releases and develop marketing materials; were considered the most pressing groups to organize.
Please let us know if you have interest in organizing or being a part of one of these committees.
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From State Rep. Wes Culver
State Rep. Wes Culver (R-Goshen) admitted that he probably didn't know as much about renewable energy as the folks sitting around him, but that was ok with him - he wants us to educate him. Culver noted that he is an "odd duck" in his party, and he called upon InREA members to help him educate and share stories with other legislators to help change how the state views renewable energy. We need to get them to "stop looking so short sightedly, and look at the long term," he stressed.
Following his talk, Culver took questions and engaged in discussions on things from Cap and Trade to what needs to happen to bring green jobs to the state.
See an article about Culver's talk on the InREA website under "News".
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Gordon Moore & McCormick Motors
2009 InREA's Renewable Energy Pioneer Award Recipient
Gordon Moore of McCormick Motors has actively been changing the face of his business for the last decade. He admits that he did not set out to become a "green" company, and that some of the changes that he's made were "surprise" energy savers, but nevertheless, that's what he's done - developed a model of a green company.
Starting out small with behavior changes, like turning off lights and equipment when not in use, and moving to large system overhauls, like re-routing all floor drains and installing a 6kW solar system, have all had a big impact on McCormick Motors.
By fixing leaks in the air compressor system and replacing
the system with an energy efficient one, it now draws energy about 30 minutes a
day as needed rather than previously running 24 hours a day! And by installing a waste oil furnace which burns liquid waste - like used car oil -
the dealership has reduced their liquid waste by 99% and enjoys free heat in
the winter!
Congratulations go to Gordon Moore and McCormick Motors for all of the steps they have taken, and continue to take, in being a responsible, green business!
McCormick Motors' great lengths are detailed on their website www.mccormickmotors.com. Included here is a progress chart of the solar plant and a schematic drawing by Home & Mobile Energy of the 6kW solar system installed at the dealership, the presentation "Making Cents of Energy" put together by Moore and Goshen College students outlining specific steps taken by the dealership, and information about the Employee Energy Conservation and Efficiency Fund set up by Moore to encourage his employees to make improvements in their homes to become more energy efficeint.
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Upland Brewing Company Solar Thermal System
Upland Brewing was the site of the April 11th InREA membership meeting. We thought that those of you who were unable to attend this meeting would like some of the details on this installation. In addition to a tour of the installation, we also heard remarks from State Rep. Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington) and Rep. Eric Koch (R-Bedford) about energy legislation pending during the 2009 session of the Indiana General Assembly. Both Pierce and Koch are members of the House Commerce, Energy, Technology and Utilities Committee.
Upland Brewing Company of Bloomington, IN features a 10-panel evacuated tube system that helps Upland save money and carbon while they brew some of the finest ales in the land. They even re-branded their signature pale ale as Helios Pale Ale in honor of the sun!
The Upland's solar brewery is one of only a handful of breweries using solar energy in the U.S. We hope that many more will follow their lead. Beer from the sun: What could be better? Stop by Upland for a tour and a taste if you're in the neighborhood! Project OverviewThe ten panel solar thermal system was designed and installed by Mann Plumbing, Inc. of Bloomington, IN. Mann Plumbing approached Upland Brewing Co. in the spring of 2008 about the concept, and Upland decided to apply for a state grant from the Alternative Power and Energy program. Upland was awarded a grant sum of $24,000.00 for the project. The installation began in early April of 2009, and took about two weeks to complete. System DesignThe solar thermal system consists of ten Apricus AP30 evacuated tube panels that provide a rated production of 350,000 BTU per day. The solar heated water is stored in three two hundred gallon AO Smith hot water tanks. The hot water storage is designed with the first tank as a priority tank, meant to heat to 160 degrees before the system begins to then heat the other two tanks piped as one. This control strategy allows the large panel array to quickly charge the priority tank for use in the brewery's kitchen by late morning. Production ResultsThe system produces as expected, allowing solar water temps up to 140 degrees by mid-afternoon on a good solar day, even with frequent draw-down of domestic hot water for the kitchen and bathrooms. Additionally, the brewery is using the solar heated water as a preheat for the mashing process which requires water to be at 175 degrees, and for cleanup of the brewery floor area. The system has a data logger integrated into the solar controller, so we hope to have information available for a true case study in the future. A big THANK YOU to Upland Brewing Company for hosting our membership meeting in April. | |
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As always, thank you for your involvement in InREA and we hope to see you at our next meeting!
Sincerely,
Laura Ann Arnold
Indiana Renewable Energy Association
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