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2010 Thought Leader in Energy Art Toy: Walking the Talk

By Business Review West Michigan Click to read web article

May 12, 2010, 1:00PM   

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Congratulations, Art Toy has been selected as a Business Review Thought Leader in Energy for 2010.

Business Review West Michigan selects only a few individuals for this annual recognition, which honors those individuals who are pioneers in alternative energy.

Company: Four Elements Energy Inc., Lawrence
Title: President
Age: 50 
Education: B.S. in chemistry, UCLA; M.S. in synthetic organic chemistry, UCLA; Solar Photovoltaic Knowledge Certified, Northwest Michigan College; Certified wind turbine/tower installation, Bergey Windpower Co.
Industry: Renewable energy systems design and installation
Years involved with alt energy: 13


Art Toy believes his background in pharmaceutical R&D, IT, energy and climate change, as well as military service during Desert Storm give him a unique perspective in the world of renewable energy systems.

Although he designs and installs renewable energy systems, Toy’s greatest focus is educating the public about energy self-reliance and helping them transition their homes and businesses to a “more-diversified energy future.”

What sparked your interest in alt energy?

While attending UCLA, I developed a passion for preserving our planet’s natural resources when I minored in oceanography and geology.

This passion has evolved over the years into the arena of helping our society transition from a fossil-fuel based economy to one in which the majority of power comes from non-fossil fuel based sources.

What would you say is your greatest accomplishment pertaining to alt energy?

I am very proud to have brought increased awareness of the practicality of renewable energy systems to the people of West Michigan.

My family has done this by not only talking the talk but walking the walk by living with renewable energy systems in our restored 1899 dairy farm house.

My family saved the farmhouse from the wrecking ball by moving the building from Kalamazoo to Lawrence, a distance of 33 miles.

We also installed a 10 kilowatt Bergey wind turbine, geothermal heating/cooling system, solar thermal collectors for heating domestic hot water, a deep wrap around porch and a Belvedere atop the house to provide natural convention cooling in the summer.

Our home is now part of the national annual solar homes tour to show actual examples of what people have done to their homes with sustainable designs and renewable energy systems.

What is the great challenge facing our region, state and/or nation, as it pertains to energy?

The introduction of plug-in hybrid vehicles onto an electrical grid that has evolved over the last 100 years.

We must quickly upgrade the security of the electrical grid to prevent unauthorized access … to safeguard the grid from regional and/or nationwide cyber attacks.

What does Michigan need to do to compete internationally in alternative energy?

Michigan must lead by example in the integration of a variety of renewable energy systems to provide electrical power.

To do this, Michigan must have the highest percentage of electricity produced by renewable energy compared to other Snow Belt states with comparable climates.

The world is currently looking to Germany and Denmark as examples; these countries are internationally recognized for their renewable energy programs.

Keep in mind that Michigan has similar solar and wind potential when compared to Germany and Denmark.

There is no reason why the world could not look to Michigan as a leader in this arena by implementing the highest renewable energy portfolio standard, RPS, of all Snow Belt states.

This would, in turn, jump start a competitive internal market in the Great Lakes region.

A statewide RPS must be applicable to all public and municipal utilities in order for all Michigan utility clients to equally participate in any utility-sponsored renewable energy program.

The financing of larger-scale projects could be achieved through various renewable energy financial funding instruments whereby investors could pool their capital as long-term investments to fund wind farms and solar farms similar to how the construction of traditional municipal power plants are funded.  

Kalamazoo HOME EXPO-(18 JAN 2010)  FOUR ELEMENTS ENERGY will be at the Home Builders Association of Greater Kalamazoo HOME EXPO during March 17-20th this year.  We will be again, presenting seminars about 'Renewable Energy Basics' Wind Energy, Solar PV, Solar Thermal and Solar Air Heating.  In mid-February, we will be installing a functional Bergey XL at the Home EXPO Site (former Sam's Club location in Portage).  The Bergey XL-1 will be up for the duration of the Home EXPO.

Renewable Energy Conferance at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute-(18 JAN 2010) Four Elements Energy will be presenting at the 8th Annual Renewable Energy Conference, March 20th, 2010 at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute 8:30am-4:00pm.  The Renewable Energy Conference is shaping up to be a wonderful informational event.   Dan Alway will be presenting "Introduction to Renewable Energy in Your Home" at 11:00 am. For Conference Details- Check Here

Four Elements Energy FIRST to Install Dual Meter in Consumers Energy Feed-In Tariff Program (18 JAN 2010) 
(Lawrence, Michigan 6 January 2010) –In the Fall of 2009, Four Elements Energy successfully installed the first Residential Consumers Energy Michigan wide Dual Meter Feed-In Tariff Solar Electric System in Otsego, Michigan. The 2.5 Kilowatt solar photovoltaic electric system sits atop the garage roof of a home in Otsego, Michigan. The system is now part of the Consumers Energy Experimental Alternative Renewable Program, EARP. The EARP is a program designed by Consumers Energy to achieve its state mandate to provide 10% of its electrical power by renewable means by 2015. All the electricity that the solar PV array produces will be paid $0.65 a kilowatt/hour to this home owner for the next 12 years by Consumers Energy. Just as a comparison, most residential Consumer’s Energy customers are currently paying Consumer’s Energy just under $0.12 a kilowatt/hour for electricity. Based on the projected annual electrical output, the projected pay back for this solar PV array while participating in the EARP, including a 30% Federal Tax Credit is approximately 9 years.  For commercial solar electric installations, the payback is expected to be even shorter based upon the benefits of the Feed-In Tariff, Federal Tax Credits, Accelerated Depreciation of the Capital Equipment and the added benefit of businesses located in Smart Zones. Larger arrays would have an even shorter payback. This program is modeled after the very successful Feed-In Tariff program in Germany. To view a more complete description of this project with pictures, please go to: www.fourelements-energy.com  
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 Art Toy [L] and Lloyd LeZotte [R] with Four Elements Energy installs a 2.5 Kilowatt solar photovoltaic electric system connected to the Consumers Energy grid atop a home in Otsego, Michigan. Consumers Energy will pay the home owner $0.65/ kilowatt hour for the next 12 years for the electricity generated by this system.About Four Elements Energy, Inc. – Four Elements Energy, Inc. installs solar electric systems, solar thermal systems, micro-hydro and wind turbine systems. The company provides on-staff licensed architectural services for green building & net-zero building design, green energy consulting, system design, project management, site assessments, grant writing and installation services. They also conduct residential and commercial solar/wind site and energy efficiency assessments.

NABCEP Certification 28 FEB 09

Four Elements Energy is proud to announce that two of it's team members have received the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification in Solar Photovoltaic Systems. Mr. Toy and Mr. LeZotte completed the training in February 2009. NABCEP is the national certification organization for professional installers in the field of renewable energy.

NABCEP is committed to providing a certification program of quality and integrity for the professionals and consumer/public it is designed to serve. Professionals who choose to become certified demonstrate their competence in the field and their commitment to upholding high standards of ethical and professional practice.

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