The Ideal Blog

After creating the first four-year degree sustainability degree in the United States, Maharishi University of Management is unveiling the newly constructed Sustainable Living Center (SLC), an awe-inspiring educational facility and home to the renowned Sustainable Living Department. Designed as a modern urban educational facility, the 6,900 square foot building integrates the benefits of sustainability including [...]

Sky Factory Flips the Switch To Become the First Net-Zero Solar Powered Business in Iowa Ideal Energy is pleased to announce the completion of a 54 kilowatt solar array, designed and constructed for The Sky Factory, a global fine art and technology company based in Fairfield, Iowa. Join Ideal Energy and The Sky Factory in [...]

Ideal Energy founders Troy Van Beek and Amy Greenfield were featured on Oprah’s Next Chapter: America’s Most Unusual Town, which aired on March 25, 2012. In the episode, Oprah spends the day in Fairfield, Iowa–one of the safest, greenest and most unusual communities in America; home to the Transcendental Meditation Movement. During the episode, Oprah [...]

A conversation about rural living, clean energy, and good design Amy Greenfield + Mitra Muehlman Mitra Muehlman’s interest in building deepened during his studies at Maharishi University of Management’s Sustainable Living program. For his senior project, Mitra designed and began construction on his own 700 sq ft. timber frame home, based on principles he learned [...]

Keep your wind turbine generating power and profits Ideal team members Mark Stimson & Troy Van Beek have been busy recommissioning a Whisper 500 wind turbine. The turbine has been powering two homes for about 10 years in rural Southeast Iowa. It’s in good condition, and with a few repairs and modifications the output and [...]