High-Performance Green Buildings (top)
The Woods Hole Research Center (WHRC) and several other CIRenew participants have constructed green homes and buildings to demonstrate their commitment to a better energy future. Businesses active in CIRenew provide local consumers with green architecture and high-performance construction techniques. We have also been leading workforce training and consumer education on green buildings by organizing workshops, tours, and classes and developing information resources.

Clean Energy Workforce Development & Training (top)
Cape Cod Community College, in collaboration with other CIRenew participants, is spearheading local efforts to develop a comprehensive education and training curriculum in energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy technology, and green building, including design, engineering, environmental mitigation, installation, and operation and maintenance.

	CCCC Pres. Kathleen Schatzberg accepted a $50,000 gift from Cape Wind's Jim Gordon to jumpstart what has become the state's template for community-based clean energy workforce development and education.

   CIRenew participants are working in coordination with Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School, Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, and other organizations in the creation of a unifying framework for expanding local energy education and training programs.
   Under the leadership of MJ Curran, now-retired director of its Environmental Technology Program, the college received a seed funding grant from Cape Wind Associates to jumpstart renewable energy curriculum development, followed by a major grant from the National Science Foundation. Stephanie Brady, her successor, has further developed this initiative.
    Courses and training programs offered by the college have been taught by CIRenew participants from Self-Reliance, Cape Light Compact, Water Energy & Ecology Information Services, Clean Energy Design, Cotuit Solar, and Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Based on the success of local programs, the college and the tech schools are working across the state to expand clean energy education and workforce development in Massachusetts.
   For information contact Richard Lawrence, rlawrence@capecod.edu, 508.362.2131 x 4796

 

PV & Wind Installations (top)

Installing PVs at the WHRC Ordway Campus

Woods Hole Research Center and Cape Cod Community College host the two largest PV installations on Cape Cod.
     Clean Energy Design, Cotuit Solar, and SolarWrights are the leading solar energy installers in the region. Clean Energy Design has installed residential and small commercial turbines at a number of locations on the Cape.
     Cape & Islands Self-Reliance has coordinated installation of numerous solar systems on Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard.
     Through Cape Light Compact's Solarize Our Schools program, Cape and Vineyard consumers helped fund the installation of a solar system on a school or other public building in every town on the Cape and Vineyard.
   For information on local installers, search the "Green Pages" at the CIGoGreen Guide.

Biodiesel Applications & Infrastructure (top)
Cape & Islands Self-Reliance collaborated with local fuel retailers to introduce biodiesel to the Cape and Vineyard and to create a biodiesel filling station to make this renewable, domestically produced fuel more accessible to owners of diesel automobiles, trucks, construction equipment, etc. Self-Reliance also was the first organization to offer bioheat - a mixture of biodiesel and conventional heating oil - in Massachusetts.
    The Self-Reliance oil cooperative works with Loud Fuel to make bioheat available to local consumers across the Cape and southeastern Massachusetts. For information call 508.563.6633 or visit www.reliance.org.

 

Renewable Energy Demonstration Trailer (top)

Tom explains the functioning of the trailer's inverters in converting dc to ac power.

The Renewable Energy Demonstration Trailer makes frequent appearances at community events in the Cape & Islansd region, elsewhere in Massachusetts, and throughout New England to raise awareness of renewable energy technologies.
    Developed by Tom Wineman, a founding CIRenew member, the trailer includes a wind turbine, photovoltaic panels, and solar thermal panels which combine to make a functioning and self-contained energy system and domestic hot water system.

Cape & Islands Go Green Guide & Energy Information Clearinghouse (top)
Water Energy & Ecology Information Services is leading the effort to create web-based resources promoting a sustainable energy future for the Cape & Islands region.
    The Cape & Islands Go Green Guide (www.cigogreen.org) offers tips and tools for increasing energy efficiency, purchasing green power, using green energy, and living wisely. It is the home of CIGoGreen energy action plans for residents and visitors, businesses and organizations, officials and agencies, students and schools, and communities. It also supplies a local Green Pages featuring information on local entities offering green products and services.
    The Cape & Islands Energy Information Clearinghouse (www.cirenew.info) provides access to resources and tools for helping individuals and communities in weighing tradeoffs and effectively managing the transition to a sustainable energy future.

 

Fuel Cell Demonstrations (top)

Fuel cell supplied electricity and hot water to the U.S. Coast Guard on Cape Cod

Two fuel cells have been installed in demonstration projects on the Cape. While in operation, the projects provided useful insights on this still-emerging technology.
    At the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Air Station Cape Cod, a 250-kW fuel cell system went on line in Spring 2003. It was installed to supply electricity to hangars and administrative buildings and hot water for use in the barracks. This molten carbonate fuel cell, powered by natural gas, was deployed with support from the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Defense, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, and Keyspan. The system operated successfully for a couple years but suffered from problems with its electrolyte.
    At Cape Cod Community College, a 200-kW fuel cell was installed in Spring 1999 to feed electricity into the campus grid, provide seasonal space heating for the library, and serve as an educational tool for the college’s Environmental Technology Program. This phosphoric acid fuel cell also was powered by natural gas before it failed.