art weaver
Contact Info
Send me e-mail at art@renovusenergy.com - this is really the only reliable way to reach me, and even then, it may take some time for me to reply. Be persistent! but please also be patient. Thank you for understanding.
Personal Statement
- Stay put - as much as possible. Moving yourself and your stuff around by any means of transport is expensive and energy intensive.
- Stay warm - by insulating your home and business well beyond current building code standards, and by generating your own internal heat through exercise, eating organically and locally, and keeping your mind active.
- Stay happy - by realizing that all things are impermanent... this too shall pass.
As 2008 draws to a close, it seems that current events are becoming much more turbulent and unpredictable. However, I think it's worth remembering that many people actually did predict the upheavals which we are now confronting - climatic, economic and social. For the most part, these voices were ignored.
Now, of course, most people will feel an instinctive impulse to insulate themselves and their families from a less-than-certain future by doing whatever it is that makes them feel more "secure".
For what it's worth, here's my short list of recommended actions:
Right now, as you read this - and we absolutely must learn, teach, and internalize this - we must start living, moment-to-moment, as if we understand that the Earth is a finite, closed system with limited resources. All of our decisions, even seemingly small, insignificant ones, must be based on this understanding. It comes down to changing how we individually behave - leaving as small a footprint as possible on our world. Forget about trying to change big stuff like governments, corporations, universities and the like. Change your own life first and everything else will fall into line.
Unless you are prepared to claim that in your activities of daily life you generate an amount of energy equal to that which you consume, then you are not living sustainably. Period. How much food do you grow - personally? How much sustainable energy do you generate - personally? If you're like most people, the answer to both questions is zero. You're only a consumer - dependent on an unsustainable economy for your life support. Does this make sense?
When you add up fossil fuel energy (kilowatt-hours, BTUs, therms) and food energy (calories), you rapidly discover that most people could not afford to buy enough renewable energy resources to sustain their consumption habits. In fact, it's not even close. The only hope for future sustainability lies in reduced consumption and much greater efficiency combined with renewable energy.
The real issue is this... Reducing one's consumption - one's footprint - is a spiritual endeavor rooted in the acknowledgement that we are all connected to each other and to the Earth. For myself, that feeling of connectedness gives rise to a deep sense of personal responsibility. Renovus is an evolving manifestation of that responsibility.
Renewable energy is but one adaptation among many - though a very essential one - which we must accept as the basis for our continued existence on this planet. Without a doubt, socioeconomic and ecological sustainability must become the rule. We must recognize that change begins not with policies or initiatives, not with governments or corporations or universities, but with individuals. This means you.
Brief Bio
For those interested in credentials in the area of renewable energy, I have received certification in PV design and installation from NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) and am an eligible installer for NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research & Development Authority) programs providing incentives for grid-connected solar (PON-1050) and wind (PON-1098) systems.
Prior to founding Renovus with two partners, I was a staff scientist at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source doing research in x-ray biophysics and proteomics. In the now distant past, I received M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Mayo Medical School and Mayo Graduate School, which are of little significance except, perhaps, to provide a veneer of credibility for those uncertain about renewable energy, unfamiliar with sustainable business practice, or uncomfortable with social change. Renovus represents a confluence of my interests in renewable energy technology, sustainable business, and social evolution.
To our knowledge, the Renovus building is the first zero-energy commercial building in Ithaca, NY. In other words, the building produces and exports more energy to the utility grid than it consumes in its day-to-day operation including the energy used by its radiant floor heating system. Passive solar design and superinsulation in conjuction with active solar technologies - a 10kW photovoltaic system on the roof (since March, 2005) and a solar thermal space heating system (being installed as I write this) - will assure sustainability well into the future. In a word, our building has Quality.
Renovus history
- novus: novel, unusual, extraordinary / news, novelty, a new thing
- novus: new, fresh, young, inexperienced, revived, refreshed.
Of course, there's a lot of history to Renovus... I'll get to setting it all down eventually.
The accelerating pace of environmental degradation and social upheaval caused by a rapidly increasing world population along with ever diminishing fossil fuel resources are obvious motivations for establishing a company like Renovus. Less obvious motivations are strongly held visions of a less violent, less conflict-ridden, more cooperative, more tolerant, more socially diverse world.
I am frequently asked where the name Renovus comes from. Here are couple of definitions of the Latin word novus:
The prefix Re suggests a simple interpretation like "re-newal". Of course, Rê was also the Egyptian sun god... so Renovus = Renewal from the sun? or, Something new under the sun?
Renovus is more than a business - it is a concept whose time has come.
Resources
- Jim Augustyn, The Solar Cat Book, 1979.
- Jim Augustyn,
The Return of the Solar Cat Book, 2003.
- Jim's books are for people
who think they know something about cats, but are having some difficulty
grasping the fundamentals of renewable energy. In all seriousness, there is a
lot of information here presented in a completely non-threatening way - sort
of like a "Renewable Energy for Dummies" book - if that title existed (which
it doesn't - yet).
- Home Power
magazine.
- There is no better introduction to the industry and to nuts and
bolts education about renewable energy than this. In general, forget about
buying books on renewable energy - they are either too academic or out-of-date
as soon as they are published with the notable exception of...
- John Wiles, PV Power Systems and the 2005 National Electrical Code:
Suggested Practices, Version 1.7, October, 2007.
- Unlike a bound
text, at least this is a living, breathing document that is periodically
updated by John Wiles at New Mexico State University's Southwest Technology
Development Institute. John is an acknowledged authority on code issues
related to the design and installation of PV systems. This document is not
for those who are technically challenged - it is full of details that really
need to be understood if you're serious about installing PV safely and up to
professional standards.
- Paul Gipe,
Wind Power: Renewable Energy for Home, Farm, and Business, 2004.
- A
first rate introduction to small wind turbines, indeed to the whole industry.
If your attention span and interest are sufficient, you should read this
book.
- Danish
Wind Energy Association website.
- An amazingly comprehensive site
for answers to wind energy questions ranging from elementary to highly
technical.
- Tom Lane, Solar Hot Water
Systems: Lessons Learned 1977 to Today, 2004.
- An excellent
introduction to the basics of solar water heating systems from someone who has
lots of real, practical experience.
- Dan Holohan,
Hydronic Radiant Heating, 1998.
- A practical, no-nonsense,
installer-oriented introduction to the basics of radiant hydronic heating
systems. So there!
- Helen Nearing, Living the Good Life, 1970.
- Helen and Scott Nearing, Continuing the Good
Life, 1979.
- These classics are now nearly unknown to younger
generations, but fortunately are still in print. Read if you want to know how
to take control of your life and livelihood... they did it, so can you.
- Joseph
Jenkins, The Humanure Handbook, 2nd ed., 1999.
- It takes an
uncommon spirit to actually do what Joe describes. For three years now,
following Joe's instructions and advice, we have composted all our human
manure at our home. There are a million ways to rationalize your way out of
this... very, very few have any merit.
- Joseph
Jenkins, Balance Point, 2000.
- In particular, see the book's lengthy
Appendix for practical references - things you can do right now to make a
difference.
- John Abrams, Companies We Keep, 2008.
- John's
book is subtitled "Employee Ownership and the Business of Community and
Place". It serves as a model for the evolution of Renovus Energy into
an employee-owned cooperative (but still for-profit) corporation.
- Authentic
business
- One of the original websites devoted to sustainable business
practice.
- World Scientists' Warning to Humanity, 1992.
- A
serious document signed by the world's Nobel laureats which received almost
no attention when first published. As you read it, ask yourself why
this is.
- World Scientists' Call for Action, 1997.
- If you can
read this document as well as the "Scientists' Warning" and not act, then you
must ask yourself what is wrong with your thinking. Individually or
collectively, it is not rational or logical to not act.
- Population
Connection
- This group has produced a 7-minute video which has a
startling effect. It is impossible to watch it without understanding that
humanity faces a quality of life catastophe as our population rises to 12
billion by 2050 while the world's resources remain constant or diminish (oil,
arable land, water).
- All is one
- A short flash video which presents the
concepts of connectedness and, implicitly, personal
responsibility for everything in our world. I love it... it makes me feel
good.
- Democracy Now!
- Amy Goodman is a hero of our times for questioning authority and speaking
the truth. Period.
- Arundhati Roy
- An astonishing woman, global
citizen, and outspoken critic of "big dams" in India, globalization and war.
Arundhati Roy is another hero of our times.
- Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to
Your Life's Purpose, 2005.
- Awesome and challenging.
- Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now: a Guide to
Spiritual Enlightenment, 1999.
- A new voice with a strong will and
exceptional writing skills. Highly recommended.
- Joseph
Jenkins, Balance Point, 2000.
- An adventure, a journey, with an
elementary but compelling message accessible to all readers in search of a new
direction in their lives.
- Marlo Morgan, Mutant Message Down Under,
1994.
- Another adventure, another journey, with a compelling message
accessible to all readers in search of a new direction in their lives.
- Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the
Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, 1974.
- This classic needs no comment
except to say that it is essential reading for anyone who considers themselves
literate. It's all about Quality.
- Robert M. Pirsig, Lila,
1991.
- Subtitled - "an inquiry into morals". It's all about
Quality - again.
- Tom Brown, Grandfather, 1995.
- It's
about connectedness and reconnecting...
- Miguel Angel
Ruiz, The Four Agreements, 1997.
- This primer will change
your life if you understand and act accordingly.
- Miguel Angel
Ruiz, The Voice of Knowledge, 2004.
- All that we know, or think we know,
is essentially a lie...
- Carlos Castaneda, Journey to Ixtlan,
1972, and later books.
- No comment... read at your own risk.
What follows is a selected list of links, books and other resources that I have found useful in learning about how to live. They are listed roughly according to the level of anxiety they seem to cause in most people. Unless you were very, very lucky, your parents and teachers never introduced you to any of this - it's not their fault - they didn't know. Obviously, some of these sources cross boundaries and defy categorization - that's a good thing - everything is connected, remember? Good luck on your own journey... perhaps some of this may be of use.