Wisdom Way Documentary

Catherine Stryker of Cat's Eye Productions has posted excepts from her documentary film about Wisdom Way Solar Village on Youtube for all to enjoy. There are four clips, to watch the whole thing click over to Amherst Community Television.

Wisdom Way Data

Some great reading from Robb Aldrich of Steven Winter Associates on the performance of the units at Wisdom Way.

SWA Report on WWSV Heating Systems

Changes That Pay

A recent article in the Boston Globe Magazine outlines some ways to save energy and lists some resources for audits, building materials, and an upcoming rebate program for appliances. On the last page the article makes mention of RDI's Wisdom Way project which ADI designed.

The Ay's Have It - Clean Energy A Must

Clean Energy Connections, hosted at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, MA on Tuesday, November 10th, was well-attended and optimistic in nature, with over five hundred clean energy organizations, business owners, and job seekers listening attentively to keynote addresses and plenary sessions. More than 60 universities, colleges, businesses, and organizations exhibited at the conference, providing ample opportunities to exchange ideas and information, to learn about the ever-evolving renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, and to prospect for jobs and new employees.

According to keynote speakers, Dr. Robert Pollin and Mr. Truman Semans, approximately $120 billion in government spending will boost the U.S. “green” economy over the span of several years. Seventy percent will fund energy efficiency projects with 30% funding renewable energy technology. Additionally, Massachusetts’ total share of the funds is $2.3 billion, which will result in roughly 42,530 “green” jobs with renewable energy “poised to become” the tenth largest job cluster in the state. Though success in the green economy is predicted to skyrocket and greatly contribute to the nation’s financial recovery , it alone will not revive the U.S. economy. Moreover, it will take persistent policy overhauls to improve the flow of money from government to private organizations.

Anne Perkins of Rural Development Inc. (RDI) and Bill Austin and Jacqui McCreanor of Austin Design Inc. (ADi) manned our integrated display. As folks stopped at our table to chat, we shared with them RDI’s affordable housing enterprises and our ecological designs for single family homes, communities, and remodels. And in turn, we learned about an increasing interest, on the parts of both individuals and private organizations, in retrofitting existing buildings, adding renewable energy technology to new and existing buildings, and investing in strong local community centers dedicated to the health and robustness of its citizens and economies.

Great contacts were made and a good time was had by all. On the whole, it was a great and educational day.

What's up, Governor?

Governor Deval Patrick is laying the groundwork to lead Massachusetts toward the statewide adoption of zero net energy building standards by 2030, similar to the Architecture 2030 Challenge. We believe this is an entirely necessary step and applaud the Governor for taking it. We would just like to point out that one of the examples given on the state's website sounds mighty familiar.

Wisdom Way in the New York Times

A nice write up of the Wisdom Way Solar Village project in the New York Times. Austin Design worked with RDI as a client to design these low energy units. There is a nice video with Chris and everything. From way back in April but we'll re-post it here.



New York Times Article

New York Times Video

Walking the Walk - Austin Design's Deep Energy Retrofit & Electrical Audit

We are passionate about energy efficiency and renewable energy. We recommend energy efficiency measures to our clients and design zero net energy homes and communities. Now our own office is currently undergoing a deep energy retrofit and we are excited to discuss with clients the steps we are taking to reduce our carbon emissions and to save energy, operating costs, our health, and the environment.

Today, an electrical audit marked the beginning of our journey. Kevin Harrington of Connecticut-based firm Paquette Electric visited our office in Colrain, MA to assess our electrical loads and energy consumption, and to identify energy conservation measures. The free electrical audit is sponsored by WMECO’s Small Business Energy Advantage Program and pays up to 35% of the costs for retrofit lighting measures and up to 50% of other energy-efficient installations.

On average, The Grange (the long-standing nickname for the old school building and former local grange that is now the office for Austin Design Inc.) consumes 1,200 kW of electricity per month.

Below are several pictures of Kevin gauging our retrofit lighting needs. We look forward to keeping our readers abreast of the electrical analysis report and the additional retrofit developments as they unfold at The Grange.

Austin Design Works with RDI to Build Affordable, Green Homes

After designing the Zero Net Energy home in Colrain, MA for Rural Development Incorporated (RDI), Austin Design has signed on to design Wisdom Way Solar Village.

Wisdom Way Solar Village will be built across the street from the fairgrounds in Greenfield. While these homes will not qualify as Zero Net Energy, they will come close to producing as much energy as they consume.

Austin Design will design 10 duplexes (twenty homes) for the project. All homes will be first-floor accessible.