Posted: 5/23/06
The benefits of an energy efficient home
Hokah man, others speak about saving energy alternatives
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Common sense and a financial investment could save you money on your energy bill.
That was the message that Alan Stankevitz of Hokah presented to about 65 people during an Alternative/Renewable Energy Mini-Conference on May 17.
The afternoon event at the Four Seasons Community Center in Caledonia also featured speakers on wind energy, anaerobic digesters, and hydrogen fuel cells.
Stankevitz first discussed passive measures to tap the sunís energy, such as having good south-facing windows or things like concrete slabs that have good thermal mass.
Insulating your house and replacing wasteful appliances with more efficient ones are always a good investment too, he added.
Solar collectors and photovoltaics are an active approach, and make economic sense, although they can mean a big initial investment, Stankevitz said.
He has (10) 4í x 10í solar hydronic collectors that produce 150 degree hot water. This hot water is then pumped through tubes into the house and is used to heat an 80-gallon tank for domestic hot water needs and also pumped through an insulated sand bed. The sand bed once heated by the solar collectors radiates heat into the living space. This system takes care of about 40 percent of his heating costs.
Stankevitz uses photovoltaics for most of the rest of his energy needs. He has a solar electric, grid-intertie system, and actually sells power back to Tri-County Electric because he generates more electricity than he can use. Not all states allow this, Stankevitz said. He encouraged people to check into it.
He also recommended a rebate program that Minnesota offers of $2,000 per kilowatt up to 10 kilowatts for electric photovoltaic system. He said he invested $16,000 in photovoltaics and received an $8,000 check from the state of Minnesota. The program ends at the end of 2007. For more information on it, call 1-800-657-3710.
Another good source of information at the Midwest Renewable Energy Associationís annual conference near Stevens Point, Wisconsin. This year it will be June 23-25. More information can be found at the web site, www.the-mrea.org.
A lot of information on Stankevitzís house can be found on the website www.daycreek.com.
The event was hosted by the Houston County EDA Commercial-Industrial and Ag-Business Subcommittee.
Organizer Joyce Iverson said comments were generally positive and constructive. People wanted to see similar events, more geared to smaller farms, with more specifics on costs and financing assistance, she added.
Caledonia Argus
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E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com