WORLD RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSEMBLY CALLS FOR HUMAN RIGHT TO RENEWABLE ENERGY News Release, Dec.2, 2005 The World Renewable Energy Assembly (WREA) 2005 in Bonn/Germany has ended with the final communique entitled "The Human Right to Renewable Energy". More than 450 representatives from politics and parliaments, from science and industry as well as NGOs and social movements met in Bonn from Nov. 26th to 30th, 2005 following an invitation of the World Council for Renewable Energy(WCRE). At this 3rd World Renewable Energy Forum the WREA issued the following Final Communique: The Human Right to Renewable Energy. "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights". This first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights articulates a basic human commitment. Only by this commitment a humane life in peace can be assured.Energy is the fundamental prerequisite of every life.The availability of energy is a fundamental and indivisible human right. It is an experience of the 20th century that the established systems of energy supply, mainly based on fossil and nuclear energy,are not in a position to provide this human right to everybody. It is violated billionfold. Due to the near depletion of conventional energy sources and their dramatic environmental and climate damages, this right cannot be provided to an ever increasing number of people. The human right to energy can only be accomplished by renewable energy. There is no more time to waste for the mobilization of renewable energy. Until now, international efforts clearly lag behind the necessity and the existing opportunities. The numerous UN conferences promise more than they can deliver because they are tied to consensual decision-making in every step. UN organizations and multilateral development banks were either not willing or hindered to shift their priorities towards renewable energy. The Kyoto Protocol falls far short of its requirements. Its main problem lies in the focus on emission rights and trading instead of reducing emissions by a change of a paradigm shift toward renewables. The promotion of nuclear power is fixed in international right, contrary to renewable energy. The fossil and nuclear energy system still receives around $ 500 BILLION U.S. in subsidies annually, about 50 times more than renewable energy! International governmental institutions reflect this discrimination of renewable energy. The International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) promotes the proliferation of nuclear technology, the International Energy Agency(IEA) is operating as a satellite of the fossil energy industry. Both are misleading governments by down playing risks of nuclear and fossil energy and by negating the potential of renewable energy. Both agencies are leading their governments to an energy policy ignorant of the future. This fact has to be recognized and the persons in charge have to be named. They have to account not only for their actions, but also for their inaction. Prices for conventional energies are increasing in the course of their depletion [of natural resources] and their disastrous damages. Renewable energy is steadily getting cheaper due to its continuous improvement and economics of scale. Humanity now is at the crossroads. Today and in the future, the cost of renewables enable a sustainable, cheap and sufficient energy supply for everybody. Any further postponing is irresponsible. There are economic reasons, ecological reasons and the question of peace that speak in favour of renewable energy. All together, a basic ethic decision in favour of renewable energy is resulting from these reasons. The World Renewable Energy Assembly(WREA) welcomes the official plan of the new German Federal Government to take the initiative for the creation of an International Renewable Energy Agency(IRENA). This initiative will be successful if its creation is not depending on an overall consensus but implemented by a group of like-minded governments in conjunction with an invitation to all governments to join this agency. It is most important to initiate a strategy of phasing out fossil by mobilizing biofuels in order to avoid the arising gap of oil and gas shortage and the increase in price. Furthermore, it is necessary to World Renewable Energy Assembly calls for Human Right to Renewable Energy Continued from page 1 organize a world trade regime which does not oppose the development of domestic biofuel economies and an agriculture related to it. The World Renewable Energy Assembly highlights the proposals of the 2nd World Renewable Energy Forum 2004 and its" World Renewable Energy Agenda" A Renewable Energy Proliferation Protocol to be added to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, A renewable energy priority for financing renewables in development aid and development banks, focussing on micro-finance following the model of the Grameen Shakti Bank, Global industrial norms and standards for renewables, and An international university for renewable energy under the auspices of UNESCO. Our guiding model is the stimulation and promotion of local initiatives instead of waiting for international agreements any further. Mobilization of renewables is a unique new chance, not an economic burden. The World Renewable Energy Assembly will be themed "Energy Independence for all". Note: CFRE is a member of the World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE). SPOTLIGHT ON...OFF-GRID MEMBERS Two more of our members have moved into their off-grid renewable energy powered house. Liz and Frank Barningham built a house according to the Albarda energy-efficient thermal wall-style near Durham and Barry and Nancy Ince built a marvellous log home close to Lion's Head, only a few kilometres south of the Coordinator's homestead!! Congratulations to you for taking this decisive step to reduce the footprint on our earth!   German residence selling power from solar panels to the grid. POWER PIPE by Julianne Wright During a recent large renovation and addition to my home (completed by my brother George Wright), the question of water heater sizes arose. We were adding 1500 square feet of radiant floor, and another bathroom. We were going to need a boiler and a water heater. Instead we chose the option of one large tank and a new product called the power pipe. To reduce the size of heater needed, we decided to conserve energy instead of using more of it. The power pipe can save between 30% and 70% of the hot water you consume by warming the cold well water (normally at 45 degrees F) up to 70 and even 80 degrees by extracting the heat from your drain water and thereby cooling your drain water. The greatest amount of heating occurs during dishwasher cycles and long hot showers. The hot water that travels to your hot water tank from the cold water supply is first circulated around your drain stack. The supply line comes wrapped around a section of copper drainpipe. As hot waste water goes down your drain, it skins the walls of the pipe where it warms up the section of pipe. Due to the high conductivity of copper, the heat is conducted into the cold water. After many turns around the pipe, nearly all the heat is given up to the cold water. There are no moving parts, and only 4 connections to make. This simple, trouble-free product has saved us a lot of hot water and also saved us from buying a second hot water heater/boiler. We purchased 9 feet of pipe to extract the largest amount of heat possible. The cost was around $1 000, and took our plumber about an hour to install it. CHRISTMAS IS COMING... With the festive season upon us we are looking for ideas for gifts to our loved ones. Well, here are a few suggestions: How about a 'Happy Face' t-shirt, a beautiful way of carrying our message of 'Sun and Wind for clean and safe renewable energy' with the CFRE logo into our communities. Made from a special organic cotton fabric, it is long-wearing and has a wonderful silky feel to it. Send us a cheque for $22 which includes postage and we'll be happy to get them out in time for Christmas. All sizes ,except small still available! How about giving a Gift Membership to a relative or friend, only $ 15 and we'll include a gift announcement and even throw in one of our 'CFRE-You asked us' publications($4 value)! Let's give us a hand to spread our message, especially at this time when everybody is concerned about reliable energy supply! ENERGY TIP FOR DISHWASHERS (OFF-GRID HOMES) by George Wright We heat our water with solar hot water panels in the summer, and our woodstove’s jacket heater in the winter. The two systems give us 110 degree F water almost year round. The few weeks a year when the stove is no longer used and there hasn’t been sun for a few days, our Bosch instantaneous hot water heater picks up the slack. For the most part, we have lots of hot water, but not always enough excess electricity from our PV panels and wind generator to run the dishwasher. To remedy the situation, we use the Bosch to boost the solar/wood-heated water from 110 to 160 degrees F (the max for both the Bosch and the dishwasher, which also happens to be made by Bosch). This step insures that the dishwasher’s heater doesn’t come on, which considerably reduces the amount of electricity needed to run the dishwasher. The half gallon or so stored in the pipes running from the Bosch heater to the dishwasher is normally at room temperature, and there - fore has to be heated by 80 to 100 degrees. To solve the problem, I installed a tee and a valve heading down the drain (and out to the flowers). Every time the dishwasher is started, we dump (open the valve) the room-temperature water in the lines until we feel the valve get too hot to touch. Then we close the valve to avoid wasting any hot water. We also use the valve during the rinse cycle, if we remember, of course. LOCAL WIND FORUM ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY AND COOPERATIVE PROJECTS By Annette Verhagen , board member CFRE In October, I had the opportunity to attend a one day workshop on wind projects on behalf of CFRE. Hosted by OSEA and several sponsors, the intention was to provide information and resources to farmers, municipalities, communities and individuals to advance the development of distributed wind energy projects in Ontario. The forum included a visit and talk from the Ontario Minister of Energy, Donna Cansfield. She imparted to the audience the provincial government's enthusiasm for an accessible market for renewable energy projects. Their goal is to have 5% by 2007 and 10% by 2010 of total electricity generated to be from renewable sources. The Request for Continued on page 5 Proposals process will be revised for smaller generators (Standard Offer Contracts) by the end of 2005. They are aware of the barriers and they want to remove them. There were many speakers including author Paul Gipe from the U.S., a manager from a farmer co-op in Germany and William H. Kemp. Freiburg Solar Info Centre powered by the sun. One interesting talk was with Joyce McLean from Toronto Hydro. She told the story of the Toronto turbine WindShare co-op. The process was very interesting and difficult but she had some great information for groups who are starting a co-op. Her points were to: Understand the players first Don't assume that Council and staff will be on-side just because it's a good idea Only approach Councillors when you have a fully formed idea and proposal, but then be nice and persistent Check with the planning department - are there rules, restrictions to site(s)? Are renewables identified in the Official Plan? Answer all questions - bring in experts if necessary Create a constituency - find a (many) champion(s) on Council and outside Consider the economic spin-offs and how they would benefit the local municipality Anticipate the hard questions and answer them Very useful to also inform MPPs and MPs about your project and seek their support as well Depending on location, Ministry of Agriculture may be very supportive of project She noted that unfortunately, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs has yet to write renewable energy into the overall provincial policy statement and she encourages people to have them to do this because it is critical that there is common treatment across municipalities. Overall, this was a great workshop with too much information for one article! THE WORLD IS CONGREGATING IN MONTREAL! The United Nations Conference on Climate Change is taking place in Montreal from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9 and over 180 countries have sent high level representatives. With all the hype on the federal election hardly any reports from this high profile event are on the news. But CFRE is there, thanks to Elise Gatti, long-time member and supporter. She took a couple days off from her studies at Laval University in Quebec City to attend a few of the events. We are looking forward to her report in our next issue. Thanks so much, Elise, we really appreciate your contribution. P.S.: I wonder if Canada will get an earful there about its shameful record on meeting its commitments on the Kyoto Protocol - 24% over on CO2 emissions as of the 1990 benchmark year! Isn't high time to turn to an energy mode that does not pollute?? Renewable Energy, sustainable, clean AND SAFE!! NOTABLES.... We were waiting for an announcement on the Standard Offer Contracts that OSEA and CFRE and numerous other organizations were advocating to the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) but at press time nothing has been forthcoming. The release of the OPA report is now expected by Dec. 9. We are eagerly looking forward to a favourable decision, which we hope to send out to our members on e-mail and post to our web site www.cfre.ca . QUOTABLES... "The mill cannot grind with the water that's past." George Herbert Some of the several hundred years old, restored homes in Osterwieck, Germany Wind Power for Lion's Head Residence WE LOST A VISIONARY... Harold Madill, the Solar King of Lion's Head, mentor for the Coordinator, passed away Sept. 25 in his 84th year. A man ahead of his time... that's the way the death notice read. And really, he inspired many others as well and in a way led to the founding of our organization. We shall keep him in fond memory! QUOTABLES... "It is impossible to solve a problem with the same methods that caused this problem." Albert Einstein FROM THE COORDINATOR... Oh boy, it will be tough to cram all the information and happenings over the last 3 months into a one page report, but I'll give it a try! As mentioned in the September issue I took some time off and went to Germany where, after an enjoyable class reunion and visit with relatives, I travelled to the northernmost part of the country to attend a 3-day International Windenergy Conference and Exhibition in Husum. What an uplifting experience to see the displays of over 500 companies and organizations from countries as far as China connected with wind power! I made some great connections, brought back lots of info material and found out that in 2008 Toronto will be the host for this important international event! It was amazing to see wind turbines on my train travel in this environmentally advanced country. Not only advanced in wind energy but also in solar power, due to the government's Feed-In Law where the utilities are required to pay up to 3 times the price for that clean electricity from roof-installed systems that they charge their customers. Hydro rates are much higher there to begin with, so conservation and efficiency are practiced widely. I was so intrigued with their advances in solar power systems that I decided to take a 4-hour train trip to Freiburg, the Solar Capital of Germany, located in the south-western part of the Black Forest. The city is home to the Fraunhofer Institute, world famous for its solar energy research and development. During my short stay I met a few of the researchers involved and admired their innovative way in catching ever more energy from the sun to power our society! On my return I was gratified to find a generous response to our funding appeal, either by donations(thank you so much, Margaret and Audrey!),or by multi-year renewals. On November 3rd the NWMO, a government appointed nuclear industry led group, revealed their recommendations on managing the thousands of tons of nuclear waste, the deadly legacy from our commercial reactors. Not surprisingly they recommended to have this waste, dangerous for hundreds of thousands of years, shipped to a deep rock disposal site somewhere in Ontario, Quebec or Saskatchewan. Admitting that ‘used nuclear fuel' will need to be contained and isolated from people and the environment essentially forever (pg. 348) they still did not call for a quick phase-out of this perverse way of generating electricity! CFRE, after participating in the Seaborn Panel hearings on the same subject in 1997(see our intervention on the advocacy page of our website www.cfre.ca), was involved with the discussion sessions of the NWMO and, together with a large contingency recommended a quick phaseout of nuclear energy generation . Instead, our provincial government, after giving Bruce Power another sweetheart deal in the restart of their remaining 25-year old reactors is musing about building new ones!! On the other side it is somewhat encouraging that the Ministry of Energy is starting to heed the insistent calls of the environmental community to come up with a Standard Offer Concept(SOC). I attended an invitation only Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Strategy session in Toronto, organized by Pollution Probe and the new Canadian Renewable Energy Alliance. Following that I embarked on submitting a detailed comment paper to the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) after reviewing their 50 page document on Standard Offer Programs. I called for more focus on solar PV as a favoured solution to the ‘Home Power' scenario. On November 13 I was one of the presenters at a workshop in Flesherton, organized by former CFRE board member Vitold Kreutzer. He is our most active advocate for renewable power for homes, farms and small business after his experience with installing a 1.8 kW solar PV system at his home baking business. Almost 100 people turned out to this free admission event on a blustery Sunday afternoon to hear 3 other presentations: John Hogg of Freebreeze Energy Systems, Liz and Frank Barningham about their newly built off-grid home, modelled after Hans Albarda's great energy-efficient structure, and Vitold talking about his successful interaction with Hydro One, building- and hydro inspectors to be able to get on their net metering contract. At the intermission he even treated us all with his superb organic baking and refreshments! Thank you, Vitold, for helping CFRE in its advocacy work for really clean and safe renewable energy!! People were definitely inspired and we gained 5 new members right there with more to come. As we are entering the Christmas Season and the year 2005 nearing its end I would like, on behalf of our directors, to wish you all a blessed and healthy Christmas Holiday and a peaceful 2006 with lots of renewable energy!! CFRE's 10th Anniversary!! Coordinator at the Husum International Wind Energy Exhibition Go to next newsletter Go to previous newsletter Return to Newsletter list Return to main page