Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Amory Lovins wrote the article “Energy Strategy:
The Road
Not Taken” and the US President Jimmy Carter, elected in 1976,
initiated massive energy efficiency and renewable energy policies
and programs, providing grants to almost anyone who might have
a potential solution to our energy problems.
The authors, Smiley and Kopka, began their professional
careers in this era of promise, a continent apart and unaware of each
other's work. As the principal investigator working on a grant from
the US Department of Energy, Kopka and her research associates
inventoried, catalogued and documented the history of passive
energy heating and cooling in 19th century vernacular architecture
and landscapes in the United States, within a program called
“Small and Appropriate Technologies”, which was granted
with USD 300 000, and was written to the Purdue University
School of Horticulture, where Susan was working as assistant
professor. At the same time Smiley had also applied for
small grants under the same grant program, granting up to
USD 10 000 to anyone who had a reasonably good research or
energy application idea. Smiley was awarded a grant to conduct
a windmill technology exchange with the Nordic Folkecenter
for Renewable Energy (FC), led by Preben Maegaard. Kopka and
Smiley would meet more than 10 years later and combine their
professional experiences and aspirations, and marry in 199.
25.2
From Denmark to Alaska
Smiley first met Preben Maegaard at the Third Alaskan Alternative
Energy Conference in Anchorage, Alaska. In 1979 they planned
a technology transfer of wind power know-how from a Danish
group of pioneering technicians to a group from his hometown of
Homer, Alaska.
In October of 1980 six Danes came to Alaska. Over a two-
week period the team built an 11 kW Danish-designed windmill
from scratch, constructing everything but the gearbox and electric
generator. Alaskans John Rogers, Tim Murnane, Frank Kohout,
and Otto Kilcher provided machine tools, welding, electrical and
carpentry skills. The windmill blades were built in Tim Murnane's
boat building shop using mahogany—the only good wood
available in Homer wood shops. Jacob Bugge, John Carlson, Bendy
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