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| An ocean of solar panels provides the energy to operate all of the electricity needs of the village. |
On the delightful Anna Maria Island, an appendage that hangs out in the Gulf of Mexico, just south of the majestic Skyway Bridge that ties together St. Petersburg and towns to the south of Tampa Bay, this island has a funky Key West feel to it. The architecture is Bahamian-colorful – bright purple accents on yellow, orange and turquoise homes and businesses – with tourists and locals cycling around town or dodging from shade tree to shade tree. It’s hot out in the sun.
But here in Anna Maria Island there is something special: The Historic Green Village. This little enclave of funky businesses, apartments and homes generates all the energy they need from the sun.
Green Village achieved LEED Platinum certification and a Net Zero Energy designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. That’s something that can be claimed by only 100 communities in the world.
This achievement was led by Lizzie and Mike Thrasher, who spend six months on the island and six months in England. They are multi-millionaires who made their money with a baby food company she owned in England. Her husband is an interior designer.
Eleven months after its birth, the Green Village began generating more energy than it consumed. “Our vision was to create a showcase for homeowners, building contractors, school students, business and government decision-makers and influencers—so that they can see what’s possible and can then adapt our ideas in their areas," said Lizzie. "We hope that our ‘show and tell’ project becomes recognized globally as a benchmark in sustainable working and living."
Under LEED Platinum criteria, each Historic Green Village building is heavily insulated, a cost-effective way to conserve energy in any home, and equipped with access to geothermal heat pumps reducing the air temperature to a comfortable level. Additionally installed are photovoltaic solar panels on the rooftops that enable excess electricity to flow from one neighboring micro-grid to another.
Moreover, solar water heating is used in the Village Café, the first business to open its doors to the island community. The café, painted with low-emitting materials, sealants and solvents, is housed within the Rosedale Cottage and owned by the Thrashers.
Ninety percent less potable water is consumed because the property established an interconnected water system harvesting rainwater, stormwater and greywater. Rainwater is stored in bladder cisterns under the deck of the Village Café and spread to flush the various Green Village bathrooms, as hard cisterns below the parking lot irrigate the surrounding native plants with its collected stormwater. Greywater from the café, treated inside brackish purifiers, is also released to further refresh the landscaping.
Our tour guide of this remarkable place was the crusty husband of one of Jo’s knitting friends who lives on the island. Tom Stockebrand knows his stuff. He works for Lizzie because of his knowledge of solar energy. He guided us to the front porch of an apartment and before us spread the hundreds of solar panels which are used as the carport roofs, as well as appearing on the roofs of many of the buildings.
Back on ground level, he pulled up the floor of the patio outside the restaurant so we could see the plumbing of the enormous water bladders for storing the rainwater. Now he is uncovering the myriad charts of energy generation and use. He is concerned that the latest addition to the village, the bake shop, has upset the balance. Because of the ovens and the heat generated which then requires additional air conditioning to cool the interior of the shop, the project has slipped backwards. The solar panels are capable of generating 92 per cent of the current energy consumed. So he frets about making up the deficit.
Tom climbed the stairs to a just-completed but unoccupied three-room apartment. He showed us the massive insulation, the thermal windows and the highly-energy-efficient appliances. The new tenant will be charged for electricity used at 90 per cent of the going rate charged by the utility that normally supplies the juice to run our lives.
All energy usage for the entire village is monitored on a minute-by-minute basis for each of the buildings. Even individual equipment inside some of the units (the Bunn coffee-maker in the restaurant, as well as the chilled display cases may be monitored. In the café, Tom connected the TV set to the internet so he could demonstrate the power usage of each building. That data is sent from Anna Maria Island to Boston, Massachusetts, on a live basis and is available to the public for viewing and analysis.
Green Village achieved LEED Platinum certification and a Net Zero Energy designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. That’s something that can be claimed by only 100 communities in the world.
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| This shows the energy generation and usage for one day. Click on the picture to enlarge. |
This achievement was led by Lizzie and Mike Thrasher, who spend six months on the island and six months in England. They are multi-millionaires who made their money with a baby food company she owned in England. Her husband is an interior designer.
Eleven months after its birth, the Green Village began generating more energy than it consumed. “Our vision was to create a showcase for homeowners, building contractors, school students, business and government decision-makers and influencers—so that they can see what’s possible and can then adapt our ideas in their areas," said Lizzie. "We hope that our ‘show and tell’ project becomes recognized globally as a benchmark in sustainable working and living."
Under LEED Platinum criteria, each Historic Green Village building is heavily insulated, a cost-effective way to conserve energy in any home, and equipped with access to geothermal heat pumps reducing the air temperature to a comfortable level. Additionally installed are photovoltaic solar panels on the rooftops that enable excess electricity to flow from one neighboring micro-grid to another.
Moreover, solar water heating is used in the Village Café, the first business to open its doors to the island community. The café, painted with low-emitting materials, sealants and solvents, is housed within the Rosedale Cottage and owned by the Thrashers.
Ninety percent less potable water is consumed because the property established an interconnected water system harvesting rainwater, stormwater and greywater. Rainwater is stored in bladder cisterns under the deck of the Village Café and spread to flush the various Green Village bathrooms, as hard cisterns below the parking lot irrigate the surrounding native plants with its collected stormwater. Greywater from the café, treated inside brackish purifiers, is also released to further refresh the landscaping.
Our tour guide of this remarkable place was the crusty husband of one of Jo’s knitting friends who lives on the island. Tom Stockebrand knows his stuff. He works for Lizzie because of his knowledge of solar energy. He guided us to the front porch of an apartment and before us spread the hundreds of solar panels which are used as the carport roofs, as well as appearing on the roofs of many of the buildings.
Back on ground level, he pulled up the floor of the patio outside the restaurant so we could see the plumbing of the enormous water bladders for storing the rainwater. Now he is uncovering the myriad charts of energy generation and use. He is concerned that the latest addition to the village, the bake shop, has upset the balance. Because of the ovens and the heat generated which then requires additional air conditioning to cool the interior of the shop, the project has slipped backwards. The solar panels are capable of generating 92 per cent of the current energy consumed. So he frets about making up the deficit.
Tom climbed the stairs to a just-completed but unoccupied three-room apartment. He showed us the massive insulation, the thermal windows and the highly-energy-efficient appliances. The new tenant will be charged for electricity used at 90 per cent of the going rate charged by the utility that normally supplies the juice to run our lives.
All energy usage for the entire village is monitored on a minute-by-minute basis for each of the buildings. Even individual equipment inside some of the units (the Bunn coffee-maker in the restaurant, as well as the chilled display cases may be monitored. In the café, Tom connected the TV set to the internet so he could demonstrate the power usage of each building. That data is sent from Anna Maria Island to Boston, Massachusetts, on a live basis and is available to the public for viewing and analysis.
Tom is a retired engineer who happens to drive around in a 1983 S-10 Chevy pickup truck that’s been converted to battery power. So he talks the talk and walks the walk.
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| Tom Stockebrand |
He keeps tabs on the costs of running his truck: 5 cents per mile for electricity from the grid (assuming 11 cents per Kilowatt). He drives the truck about 5,000 miles a year and expects 4-5 years out of his bank of batteries. (at a cost of $2,500 for the bank). That works out to 12 cents per mile additional for the battery costs.
He can drive his truck for 50 miles on a charge.
The downside: No power steering. No air conditioning, although it could be retro-fitted. He has, when he needs to go a longer distance, put a small generator in the truck bed. That generates power to the batteries. He says he once drove 240 miles out and 240 miles back, using his generator.
He says he uses the truck for 100 per cent of his driving except for long trips when he switches to his wife Joan’s Prius.
The most-asked question? Doesn’t he run out of juice? You run out of gasoline once in your lifetime, he says. So you adjust your lifestyle. Same goes for battery power. He says the nice thing about a battery-powered truck is when it gets low on power, he can still get home. But it is a slow, slow journey. When you run out of gas you stop instantly.
The downside: No power steering. No air conditioning, although it could be retro-fitted. He has, when he needs to go a longer distance, put a small generator in the truck bed. That generates power to the batteries. He says he once drove 240 miles out and 240 miles back, using his generator.
He says he uses the truck for 100 per cent of his driving except for long trips when he switches to his wife Joan’s Prius.
The most-asked question? Doesn’t he run out of juice? You run out of gasoline once in your lifetime, he says. So you adjust your lifestyle. Same goes for battery power. He says the nice thing about a battery-powered truck is when it gets low on power, he can still get home. But it is a slow, slow journey. When you run out of gas you stop instantly.
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