Member Profiles

Featured Member: Hans Ohlman

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Hans Ohlman has owned and operated Ventax Robotics in Ayr for many years. Trained in Germany as a mechanical engineer, he had throughout his entire life entertained a keen interest in alternative energies, particularly wind power. Based on his recent invention of a revolutionary VAWT (Vertical Axis Wind Turbine) he has recently started a new company, Ventax Wind Power Inc. He is currently putting the finishing touches on the first commercial prototype of a 20kw turbine. It is installed on a windy ridge 5km west of Ayr, visible from the 401.

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Richard Stevenson

Richard Stevenson was born in Leamington, Ontario
and moved to Kitchener in the late 1980s to attend Conestoga College. Upon graduation, he joined MacDonald Steel and currently holds the position of Product Manager in the Environmental Systems Division. Richard has been on the Board of LIFE for 2.5 years and currently holds the position of Treasurer.

Richard cites a growing concern for the environment as his reason to join LIFE, “I didn’t want to stand by the side lines and watch, I wanted to do something to help. The environment is becoming a more of a concern for me and I’m concerned what the future holds for the children of today.” After traveling through parts of Europe and seeing multiple wind farms, he found them to be a beautiful addition to the countryside. “When I wind farms, I see clean energy, which means cleaner air, cleaner water and no radioactive waste.” His family has done many things to make their lives more environmentally friendly and will continue to strive for more changes this year.

“From CFL bulbs, low flower shower heads, decreasing landfill waste, composting, and rain barrels, we are continually trying to make a small difference ourselves.” At his place of employment, he has worked with Wind Energy Solutions, a midsize turbine manufacturer, New World Generation, an upcoming Canadian Wind Turbine manufacturer, and AirStream Fans, who build high efficiency replacement fans for steel and cement plants. Richard is married to Shelley and they have two wonderful children, Connor age 9 and Hayley age 5. They reside in Shingletown, Ontario.

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Derek Satnik – Mindscape Innovations

Derek Satnik is an electrical engineer by trade and has worked in consulting since 1999. He is a director on LIFE's board, and a member of the Canada Green Building Council’s Real Estate and LEED for Homes committees, President of CREW (Community Renewable Energy Waterloo, www.crewzone.ca). He is a member of Conestoga College’s Program Advisory Committee supporting the development of a renewable energy trades program. For his day job, Derek is a managing partner of Mindscape Innovations (www.mi-group.ca), which offers full lifecycle solutions for environmentally and technologically advanced homes and communities. As a member on the Board of Directors at LIFE, Derek has been helping the co-op to navigate through the legal and political obstacles involved with wind energy. Derek helped lead the charge to get documents in order, get LIFE incorporated, create mission and policy statements, and negotiate with equipment vendors. Needless to say, Derek's looking forward to a rest once we get our test tower up and running!

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Linda Laepple

Linda Laepple is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of LIFE Co-op. She is a fulltime organic farmer with deep roots. Growing up on soil that's been in the family for over four centuries, caring for the environment comes naturally to her. She shares her passion for a sustainable future with her husband. Living what they preach, they have seen many changes in the past 8 years when the Laepple's, a family of 8, immigrated to Canada and purchased their property on Bleams Road outside Shingletown, near Baden. (see www.localorganic.ca) Linda invited like minded people to join in her vision, aiming to work toward a sustainable community in a grass roots fashion. Linda feels that whenever an extra hand was needed, another concerned citizen joined the steering committee and the co-op. You can contact Linda at laepple@golden.net.

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Energy Conservation At Home – One Family at a Time

I did want to share a few of the things that we have done and are planning to do this summer.

  • Installed fluorescent light bulbs
  • Our recycling efforts are in full swing (we almost have more recycling than garbage each week)
  • Reuse of bathtub water
  • I've recently begun working from home to eliminate my commute (car pollution) to North Waterloo
  • Installing two rain barrels tomorrow!
  • Install a tankless water heater

The thing that we are most excited about and look forward to every month are our 'blackout' days. One Sunday of each month our family becomes totally unplugged. We do not consume any electricity (with the exception of the fridge/freezer which must remain on) and we do not drive. Our two little girls, Charlotte and Tessa, have been enjoying our picnic-style dinners, outdoor play and candlelit evenings on this day. We are trying to teach them that every little bit makes a difference! I hope our blackout day catches on! It's not a grand scale energy saver but education is key and we feel it's important to start educating our girls when they are young.

Melanie Bristow

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