One Man's Passion Powers the Heartland
Jun 7, 2009
Source: Catherine Hart
Department: Greensburg GreenTown
On June 5 I had the pleasure of interviewing Mark Bauer, founder of Bauer Power, with offices in Michigan and Illinois. Mark is a
passionate and knowledgeable proponent of renewable energy who has channeled his enthusiasm into building a company that
reflects its owner's generosity of spirit. This spring, Bauer donated a pole-mounted solar panel to GreenTown's Silo Eco-Home.
Folks who've come to visit marvel at its location in our home's backyard, with its capacity to provide 2000 watts of power.
Mark met GreenTown Executive Director Daniel Wallach in the spring of 2008 at the US Green Building Council's regional
conference in St. Louis, where Daniel visited with him about the local Green Initiative. Mark came for a visit to Greensburg and
was impressed with the people and the green building efforts. Later in the year, while pondering possible recipients for his
annual philanthropic project, he decided on providing solar technology to the Silo Eco-Home. He says, "The timing was great. I'm
just so glad I could do it, and feel so blessed that I could do this for you guys."
This spring the Bauer Power guys came to town for three days to install the solar panel at our South Sycamore location. It is a
free-standing unit which is designed to be tilted at varying angles to capture the sun's full capacity. During the summer it will be
in its flattest position, more parallel to the ground. In the winter months, when the sun is lower in the sky, it will be angled to
take full advantage of the sun's rays. To change the position, we just have to remove one bolt from its hole and put it back in
another. What could be simpler? This is the only maintenance required of the system.
Ninety percent of the energy that is produced is usable by the Silo Home. Given that this is a 2,000 watt system, this means that
1,800 of these watts go right into the building, as the current transfers from DC to AC. Bauer contrasted this to the highly
inefficient coal delivery system in this country, from which users realize 15% efficiency rates.
Mark Bauer wants readers to know that this technology is a very viable option. His company has installed hundreds of similar
systems throughout the Midwest since 2002, across the whole gamut of settings: from schools to businesses to homes. And there
are generous financial incentives for homeowners and businesses who wish to install photovoltaics, wind turbines, and geothermal
heat pumps. There is a federal tax credit of 30% for these systems, with no upper limit; additionally, some states offer generous
credits as well. (To research the details of available credits, Bauer recommends going to the website for Database of State
Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency (DSIRE) where there is both a state-by-state breakdown of credits, as well as an overview
of the federal support for renewables.
When I asked Mark to suggest other websites to interested readers, he said that the American Solar Energy Society and the
American Wind Energy Association were both very helpful sites. Mark says that "The big message is that this is a choice. Every day
companies roll out this technology off the shelf." Solar power is working TODAY, he stresses, and is not some pie-in-the-sky
futuristic technology.
Thanks to Bauer Power, GreenTown's Silo Eco-Home is one place that such claims will be borne out. We will carefully monitor our
energy usage; the entire structure will serve as a living laboratory for solar technology and other sustainable features. Stay tuned.
Read the story at Greensburg GreenTown.
Jun 7, 2009
Source: Catherine Hart
Department: Greensburg GreenTown
On June 5 I had the pleasure of interviewing Mark Bauer, founder of Bauer Power, with offices in Michigan and Illinois. Mark is a
passionate and knowledgeable proponent of renewable energy who has channeled his enthusiasm into building a company that
reflects its owner's generosity of spirit. This spring, Bauer donated a pole-mounted solar panel to GreenTown's Silo Eco-Home.
Folks who've come to visit marvel at its location in our home's backyard, with its capacity to provide 2000 watts of power.
Mark met GreenTown Executive Director Daniel Wallach in the spring of 2008 at the US Green Building Council's regional
conference in St. Louis, where Daniel visited with him about the local Green Initiative. Mark came for a visit to Greensburg and
was impressed with the people and the green building efforts. Later in the year, while pondering possible recipients for his
annual philanthropic project, he decided on providing solar technology to the Silo Eco-Home. He says, "The timing was great. I'm
just so glad I could do it, and feel so blessed that I could do this for you guys."
This spring the Bauer Power guys came to town for three days to install the solar panel at our South Sycamore location. It is a
free-standing unit which is designed to be tilted at varying angles to capture the sun's full capacity. During the summer it will be
in its flattest position, more parallel to the ground. In the winter months, when the sun is lower in the sky, it will be angled to
take full advantage of the sun's rays. To change the position, we just have to remove one bolt from its hole and put it back in
another. What could be simpler? This is the only maintenance required of the system.
Ninety percent of the energy that is produced is usable by the Silo Home. Given that this is a 2,000 watt system, this means that
1,800 of these watts go right into the building, as the current transfers from DC to AC. Bauer contrasted this to the highly
inefficient coal delivery system in this country, from which users realize 15% efficiency rates.
Mark Bauer wants readers to know that this technology is a very viable option. His company has installed hundreds of similar
systems throughout the Midwest since 2002, across the whole gamut of settings: from schools to businesses to homes. And there
are generous financial incentives for homeowners and businesses who wish to install photovoltaics, wind turbines, and geothermal
heat pumps. There is a federal tax credit of 30% for these systems, with no upper limit; additionally, some states offer generous
credits as well. (To research the details of available credits, Bauer recommends going to the website for Database of State
Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency (DSIRE) where there is both a state-by-state breakdown of credits, as well as an overview
of the federal support for renewables.
When I asked Mark to suggest other websites to interested readers, he said that the American Solar Energy Society and the
American Wind Energy Association were both very helpful sites. Mark says that "The big message is that this is a choice. Every day
companies roll out this technology off the shelf." Solar power is working TODAY, he stresses, and is not some pie-in-the-sky
futuristic technology.
Thanks to Bauer Power, GreenTown's Silo Eco-Home is one place that such claims will be borne out. We will carefully monitor our
energy usage; the entire structure will serve as a living laboratory for solar technology and other sustainable features. Stay tuned.
Read the story at Greensburg GreenTown.
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