Energy Fair propels conservation efforts

Electric car, windmill big draws at 4-H Fairgrounds

Chris Scafe doesn’t own a house yet, but he plans to make sure that when he does, his house includes plenty of energy conservation measures.

That’s why Sunday afternoon he attended the annual Home Energy Conservation Fair at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds.

“I’m looking for everything I can learn about wind and solar power,” Scafe, of Lawrence, said.

Scafe was one of dozens who stopped by to look at a giant windmill propeller on display at the booth staffed by representatives of the Ramsey Environmental Group, of Belton, Mo. The company also sells other items such as mold test kits, air purifiers, vacuums and dehumidifiers.

“We’ve had a lot of interest today,” said Tiffany Lederle, of REG.

The prospect of increasing heating costs this winter as well as overall conservation seemed to attract people’s interest, REG representative Jordan House said.

“We’ve had people ask us to come up with a proposal and even some architects who were interested,” House said.

About 400 people attended the energy conservation fair, said Michelle Crank, one of the organizers of the event. About 90 people took a bus tour of sustainable homes in the area, she said.

“I’ve noticed a lot of interest in solar power and in the electric vehicles,” Crank said.

Jordan House, of Ramsey Environmental Group, Belton, Mo., discusses the benefits of wind power Sunday with visitors at the Home Energy Conservation Fair. About 400 people attended the event at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds.

There are always a lot of people who ask about electric cars, said Mike Chancey, who drove one from his home in Kansas City, Mo., to display at the fair.

Chancey showed off a 1995 Solectria, which he bought over the Internet for a price much cheaper than the $39,000 the cars were selling for when they were brand new. The car actually is an “incomplete GEO Metro” that was refitted to run on 13 car batteries, Chancey said.

But he said few people are really interested in buying them right now.

“There are a lot of people who talk about these cars but not a lot of people who do anything about it,” Chancey said. “If gasoline goes up to maybe $5 a gallon then these (electric cars) will definitely take off.”