The Golden Gate National Park Service recently installed wind turbines in Crissy Field in San Francisco. All that wind that blows out there that is often utilized for sailing, kite flying and disrupting picnics will be used to generate electrical power for the 7,500 square foot urban environmental education center and a free electric car charging station.
Celebrating it’s 10th year in operation, the center is a hub for engaging youths in a conversation about conserving the environment. Through educational workshops, hands on trainings and camps, the center showcases the benefits of exploring and preserving nature and the installation of the charging station and wind turbines are just another teaching tool.
The turbines are of a different design than the windmills seen in other parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, whose giant blades are blamed for killing birds. Because of the coastal bird populations, these wind turbines have a more compact blade configuration and are designed to be bird friendly.
As part of their environmental studies program, students at nearby Galileo High School will be visiting the site weekly to evaluate the energy savings and overall impact of the new turbines.
With the creation of the new wind turbines and the electric car charging stations, the Crissy Field Center is now a LEED Platinum building. For those of you who don’t know what that means, LEED Platinum is the highest distinction in sustainability a building can get.
Not only are Crissy Fields’ new wind turbines great for conserving energy, they are a symbol for promoting sustainability and will act as an educational tool for people interested in learning about what it means to be green. Plus those of us with electric cars can get a free charge.
Thanks toluminalt.com & sfbay.ca for the photo.
