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In the Summer 2008 issue: |
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As a Second Nature participant you support one of civilization's oldest, yet one of the world's most current and innovative forms of renewable energy … wind! According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), wind projects saw a 45 percent growth in 2007. How wind energy worksWhen the air is warmed by the sun's energy, some currents warm faster than others. The air over land heats up faster than the air over water, for example. The warmer air rises and cooler air rushes in to replace it, creating wind. A wind turbine works by using the wind to make electricity: the wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator that makes the electricity. |
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Why it's such a great idea
Midwest wind powerThe upper Midwest has some of the highest wind power potential in the world. Iowa and Minnesota rank in the top four producers. 3 Alliant Energy purchases electricity from more than 300 large-scale turbines located at 15 wind farms in the upper Midwest. These include:
Current plans also include
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The future of wind powerNearly 48 billion kWh of electricity will be generated by wind power in the U.S. in 2008. That's enough to power 4.5 million average American homes, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Wind turbines are more powerful than ever, too, with the average turbine installed in 2007 twice as powerful as the average wind turbine installed in 2000, according to the AWEA. To learn more about wind power and to see photos of wind farms located throughout territory, visit alliantenergy.com/wind. 1 www.awea.org/faq/co2trees.html
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Kids' ProjectWatch plant seeds ride on the windA plant's seed contains all the nourishment it needs to grow into a new plant. But to get plenty of its own light, water, and air, the seed must travel away from the parent plant. Seeds make the trip in different ways. Some are carried on the furry coats of animals, while others are eaten by birds that then deposit them elsewhere! Many are blown from the parent plant by the wind. The design of seeds can tell you a lot about their mode of transportation. Bristles help some seeds attach to fur, while others have hairs or wings to help propel them through the air or water. On a windy day, some seeds can travel over 30 miles! Try this experiment to see how the wind might scatter a seed. (Scientists call this “dissemination.”) Supplies:
Directions:
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Green Information SourcesCheck out these environmentally friendly resources, and send us your favorites so we can share them with other Second Nature participants. Send your recommendations to secondnature@alliantenergy.com. Web sites:
Books:
Magazines:
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In the Spotlight |
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Residential Customer: Torkelson's lifestyle reflects environmental stewardship |
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This month the customer spotlight shines on Margaret and Warren Torkelson of Garner, Iowa. From purchasing big ticket items like energy-efficient appliances and roofing to smaller details like planting one more tree, Margaret and Warren Torkelson make an effort to be environmentally conscious. “As the daughter of a farmer, I was raised to think about being efficient and resourceful,” Margaret says. She recalls the time her Dad removed the light bulb in her brothers' room when the boys kept forgetting to turn off their light! |
Second Nature participants Margaret and Warren Torkelson in front of their Garner, Iowa home. |
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At their Garner, Iowa, house, the Torkelsons have removed light bulbs, too - not to eliminate light, but to install energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. They've taken advantage of Interstate Power and Light Company rebates for those bulbs, as well as for their furnace, air conditioner, insulation, and windows. The Torkelson's lifestyle also reflects their environmental stewardship. They run their electric dryer and dishwasher at night. They wash their hair in the evening (with an energy efficient showerhead of course!) and let it dry naturally. When they head to bed in the winter, they turn the thermostat down until they come home from work the next evening. They keep the bathroom door closed when they go to bed, too, so that the room is warm in the morning. Outdoors, they've added trees to boost afternoon shade and a new spruce to lengthen the windbreak on the lot's northwest edge. Heavy clothes are dried on a clothesline in summer and a wooden rack in winter. “Encouraging others to be environmentally conscious is also important to us,” says Margaret. The Torkelson's main environmental concern is apathy about the use of nonrenewable energy sources. At Garner-Hayfield High School where she teaches special education, Margaret enjoys helping the students learn about the environment. She and Warren are currently helping their church explore geothermal heating and cooling as well as additional insulation. While the church project will be completed this summer, one gets the feeling that the Torkelsons efforts will continue. Home improvements with the environment in mind are an ongoing process at the Torkelson home, purchased in 1987. Improvements include:
As you can imagine, they were able to take full advantage of their energy tax credit in 2007!
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You're InvitedWe'd love to shine our spotlight on you and/or your business in an upcoming issue of the Second Nature Newsletter . Drop us a line at secondnature@alliantenergy.com if you're interested.
Product Content LabelView the Product Content Label for the Alliant Energy Second Nature Program. |
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