20th Anniversary Year

1979-1999
Alternate Energy Association

For 20 learning filled years the AEA has explored new technology and ancient wisdom, evaluated data and experiences, shared each others enthusiasms and worked to promote alternate energy solutions.

We have been, and we continue to be, a group of inspired tinkerers... designing, quantifying, kibbitzing, helping and doing.

We are for the headstrong, the pioneers... our patience with standard politics is distinctly limited... our personal energy, like our other alternative energies, is too precious to be dissipated on inefficient, questionable processes...

Isn´t yours?

Join us.

Join us as we celebrate.




So how do tinkerers celebrate?
We visit friends, we kick around new ideas, and we reminisce.
And to put it all in perspective,
let´s do a little history..

Our current president, award winning designer and energy engineer, John Robbins, remembers almost all 20 years...


I began to attend grade school in 1960, yet it wasn´t until 1970, at the first celebration of Earth Day, that I first heard about solar energy, presented then in the context of a solar home. No other mention of solar energy was ever made during any of my several years of public high school and engineering college after that, except in my self-designed independent study curriculum in college or other occasions when I brought it up.

After spending several years studying music and later editing film for television, the late 1970s energy crisis occurred. I knew near to nothing about how energy was produced, transmitted, used or wasted. President Carter called for investments in conservation and alternate energies by citizens, businesses and governments. A couple actions he advised included turning down thermostats in winter and carpooling. Within a week, I not only turned down my thermostat, but also organized a 3-person carpool. I also bought the 2 books I could find in the late 1970s on alternate energy: THE WHOLE EARTH CATALOG and ALTERNATE NATURAL ENERGY SOURCES IN BUILDING DESIGN. AE was a difficult topic to learn about back then.

Especially after reading the latter book, it became obvious that I needed to learn a considerable amount about how structures and other energy consuming processes work in order to understand the best ways to conserve energy and apply alternate energies most successfully.

So I quit my job in 1979 and went to school for 2-3 years. There was no available, local, conventional education focused on conservation and alternate energies, so after getting my associate degree in civil engineering, majoring in light construction, I pursued an independent study program focused on residential energy conservation and alternatives. During breaks from school, I insulated my house walls and attic, plus used over 5 dozen tubes of caulk sealing it up. I started replacing my single pane windows, a task which took 4 years, with triple pane units. Soon after that, I taught an energy management and alternatives class which I wrote for a couple quarters until the college cancelled the class for lack of student interest. Another local college had similarly cancelled another course in energy economics during the same mid 80s time frame. After all, by the early mid-80s, the energy crisis had subsided, drying up most public interest in the topic.

Then during 1983, I discovered 2 things. First, an article about a Sr. Paula Gonzalez in the newspaper said she was looking for help converting an uninsulated, unheated chicken coop into a passive solar, superinsulated residence for herself. I called her up and immediately volunteered, becoming one of the many workers on this project during the mid-1980s. Second, I heard a public service announcement on WGUC radio that a group called the Alternate Energy Association was selling tickets to a Solar Home Tour. I bought 4 tickets, one for my brother and 2 for my teachers, and organized a carpool to attend the 2-day tour of about a dozen houses, the likes of which I'd never seen. I immediately joined the AEA.

AEA was the only place and group around where there was consistent discussion about solar and superinsulation, about cutting-edge building and conserving technologies and experiments. The heart of the group included a controversial solar design-builder, an architect-attorney, a mechanical engineer and a chemical engineer, each trying to learn and share with each other their learning about super-efficient, passive solar design and building. These central members of AEA bought and shared books which became the group library, attended and reported back about energy conferences and shared thoughts and experiences candidly.

They were ambitious, avid learners and had much to share with each other. The focus was constantly on what to do, how to do it, and how well did it work. Sometimes there were arguments, but they were usually about the whys and hows, not the whos or whats. I was very attracted to the format and agenda of AEA from the very beginning. It led me to build a passive sunroom and install solar water heating on my own home, eventually to start my own business.

As president in 1999, AEA´s 20th anniversary, I am challenged by this AEA model focused on the implementation and evaluation of aggressive conservation and alternate energies in our own lives.

Unlike today, back in 1979 when AEA began, there were lines at gas pumps and fuel prices were spiraling upward relentlessly. 1977 and 1978 had been two of the most severe winters ever in Cincinnati, which combined with high energy prices to make matters much worse than in recent years. It is true that the U.S. government is talking more about alternate energies now than it has since those Carter years, but with energy prices now low and supplies seemingly endless, the mandates and opportunities for conservation and alternate energies seem weak and abstract to most in the society.

In the meantime, there are, in amazing contrast, many people and groups who are moving deliberately and aggressively to implement aggressive conservation and alternate energies. These implementers are not unlike the leaders who started AEA, except that information and technology today are so much less experimental and much more available than back then. These implementers today are much less likely to be members of AEA than back in its early days when AEA had more draw to these types. Is this inevitable?

In fact, there are more information and education sources about aggressive conservation technologies, alternate energies and their success stories than anytime in my memory. For instance, there are countless books and publications about super-efficient, passive high-performance buildings nowdays, none of which was available when I was a student.

Granted, these resources are still not in conventional classrooms, even design schools, nor are they applied by most design firms or builders, but they indeed are voluminous in libraries, book stores and on the internet. There are so many resources available nowdays that it's hard to qualify what to study, although I do not offer this as any sort of excuse for the seeming routine avoidance of these resources. I just see information overload as one challenge AEA may confront more and more in the future.

As AEA continues in its 20th year, I ask each member of its current Steering Committee to think about and evaluate AEA in these contexts. We each represent fairly diverse interests and experiences. But while there are at least 80 government and non-government "environmental organizations" in Hamilton County alone, a truly mind-boggling number from my perspective, no other group besides AEA is or has been as focused on the what's, why's and how's of implementing aggressive conservation and alternate energies in our own lives and lifetimes. No other group is founded on the idea that members should implement and share their implementation experiences in their own homes and businesses, ala Baker, Roberts, Gonzalez, Davis, Shelly, Robbins, etc. AEA is an experience, not just a discussion or awareness group. I know no other similar group among the other 80.

So when AEA presents a meeting, be reminded that we are challenged to report fairly and show honestly what can be and is being done. By us. By others we know. Locally and regionally. Out of the daunting mirk of all the countless publications and stories, environmental groups and politics, AEA's biggest challenge is to deliver the practical messages about what we can each do, what works best where, what we've each tried, how these things have worked, or not worked. What are the publications and directions we advise others to read and follow? What do we do next? There are so many other organizations which can address all the other topics.

During the upcoming meetings, I hope to hear in our presentations answers to these questions and challenges. I see this hope and goal as my most important role as president in 1999.

So roll up your sleeves and let´s celebrate!

We visit friends. Take our webtour... Last month´s meeting we cruised the latest alternate energy sites, found out there were whole malls that featured our delights, and picked up search tricks. Some of the highlights are posted at our website. Come to our next meeting and meet the gang... There´s... Randy, of Entropy Ltd, who likely just climbed down from someone´s roof after tweaking their PV system, or was hoisting someone´s wind turbine... he´s got your next solar hot water heater ready. or Ken, our treasurer and solar cooking guru, who hosts our annual solar cookout and does workshops on how to build your very own cooker... all in one afternoon! He recently posted all sorts of helpful hints and pictures of his solar cookers for our website. or Stu, our vice and resident gadgetry tester... if there´s a new efficient appliance or beta version, he´ll be signed up... ask him about solar roof shingles... or Joe, our webmaster, can tell you all about organic orchards, keeping bees and ceramic woodstoves... Joe and Ceil´s beautiful underground house, an early Solarcrete creation, is frequently on our annual energy efficient hometour... or you can visit now at their website. or Jim, our weatherization expert, knows all the pitfalls in local housing and frequently opens his gorgeous earth-sheltered hideaway to visitors on our Annual Energy Efficient Home Tour every October. Nancy Stein, westside hometour host, Ray and Barb Davis, eastside hometour hosts,... In fact, come see the pictures from last year´s tour right now!

We kick around new ideas... How about... Doing an online database of salvage building materials... We can all save on our next projects. We´d love to collaborate with Holly at Hamilton County´s Environmental Services (513-946-7779) who has a database & newsletter where you can find all sorts of treasures looking for new owners. Going to that subdivision of all underground houses out in Indiana? Wouldn´t that be cool? Scheme about forming our own Gaviotas... Haven´t heard? Gaviotas is the village, the model for how to re-invent the world... now there´s no excuse, not even "if it weren´t for the"... They did it under incredible circumstances and with amazing flair. Gaviotas, the book by Alan Weisman, was reviewed in our February newsletter. Or check out the newest model electric car... this year in May we´ve got plans to preview the new hybrid Toyota!! Or maybe next time we´ll test-ride some human-powered vehilcles! Maybe an outing at Van Melle´s, the candy manufacturer in Northern Kentucky... a leader in implementing environmental and alternate energy solutions in the commercial world, with solar hot water, photovoltaics, geothermal and future wind generator plans. They have the snazziest sunbenders over their skylights! We also have invitations to see Dave´s shotcrete domes under construction and Skip´s wind turbine and pellet stove in operation. And with luck Jeanette´s Culvert House may be through the engineering calculations. And Cossie has plans for Earth Day at one of our local college campuses. Or maybe we´ll take Tennie´s suggestion and do an event on Feng Shui Have a great idea for us? Drop us a line.

We reminisce... Paula Gonzales, of Earth Connection... The answer to the steering committee´s challenge may dovetail nicely with some of the most exciting times in AEA history. Back in the days when the energy crisis was the power behind activity at the AEA, there was a period roughly 15 years ago, around the time when I served for a while as president, that the AEA´s focus was more global and it´s members were more numerous and energetic. We applied for and got grants to fund an impressive list of visiting lecturers and drew crowds of the curious and the beginners. In our work at Earth Connection, we again see the emergence of a new wave of interest. Though we are now in a transformational period, with only tentative beginnings apparent, that flood of literature for individual readers, to which John referred, is a signal that the personal energy is being nurtured and will emerge in some form soon. As many things in nature move in cycles, so it may be time for the AEA to consider long term planning to prepare for this new interest. At Earth Connection, this is our focus. This outreach work is our ministry. And collaboration would be welcome. With the AEA, we at Earth Connection could co-sponsor workshops for the novices who have been reading and incubating projects. This wave can not be neglected nor fail to develop without serious harm to our futures. In places like Holland, the environmentalists have found allies among the insurance community who are beginning to awaken to the reality of the global ecological hazards that are on their doorstep as the North Sea rises and the weather becomes more volatile. That recognition is beginning to come forward into the consciousness of our community here in the Tristate. At EarthConnection we have just completed an enthusiastically-attended 4-week seminar series on "Envisioning A Sustainable Future", which I gave as EC´s founder. The number grew each week, so we are certain that many folks out there want to learn how to simplify their lives and help heal the planet!! We welcome new faces!!. To accomodate those who would like a tour of this unique structure which is warmed in winter by last summer´s sunshine, EC is open on Tuesday nights until 8 pm and on the first Saturday of each month from 10am to 2 pm. The EC Center, constructed from many reused and recycled materials, features an experimental active solar heating system, historic timber-frame construction, super-insulation, energy-efficient lighting, an extensive resource center, organic gardens, alternative landscaping and short woodland trails. Also, the building may be rented for meetings, seminars and retreats. For information call 451-3932. Ken and the first Solar Cookers... I remember the first workshop on solar cookers ever given here. It was a sunny day and Rich Komp was the instructor. Before long I was building solar cookers. Beginning in ´89, I´ve built them for many folks including the one for a gentleman who called a couple years ago and needed a cooker in a couple days so he could get it on a ship going to Honduras. Total now is more than 50 but the interest in solar cooking seems to have disappeared. I have also held workshops such as the one several years ago at the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History. One particularly memorable day was the workshop at my home for the women of Grailville. I supply the parts and they assembled the units. We frequently test our new cookers by baking chocolate chip cookies. On this occasion, two of the women were from other countries and planned to take their cookers overseas with them. (We especially want to thank Ken for all his good-natured help with our cookouts, for his generous and meticulous work in supplying parts and pointers, and for his creativity in improving the early design. Let´s show Ken that solar cookers are alive and well, we´re just incubating new variations... like maybe a version that´s mountable in a sunny window with access to the cookspace from inside the house, maybe a thermometer, a timer, a PV powered fan for convection... send Ken a note via our PR director!) Remember When? Tell us about it.

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