North Dumpling Island
Encyclopedia
North Dumpling Island is the northernmost of two islands in Fishers Island Sound, and lies approximately 0.3 nautical miles north of South Dumpling Island. The two-acre (8,000 m²) island is privately owned by Dean Kamen
, inventor of the Segway Human Transporter, and is home to the North Dumpling Light
house. It is located one mile off the coast of Connecticut
, south of Groton, Connecticut
, but is within the territory of the New York State town of Southold
.
on the island, Kamen joked that he was seceding from the United States
, and later signed a non-aggression pact
with his friend, then-President George H. W. Bush
. Recently, with the help of Fritz Morgan, Chief Technology Officer of Philips Color Kinetics, the island's electrical system was converted to a combination of wind
and solar power
, operating independently of the regional electrical grid. This was accomplished by replacing all lighting on the island with LED
s, which resulted in a 70% reduction in in-house energy consumption. Power generation and consumption are monitored and managed by a Teletrol
building controller. Kamen has reported that North Dumpling now has solar panels on every building, a 10 kW wind turbine and a 'little' Stirling engine
for backup power, which burns only local fuel. He claims that the island is completely carbon neutral
.
Though its secession is not legally recognized, Kamen refers to the island as the "Kingdom of North Dumpling," and has established a constitution
, flag
, currency
, and national anthem
, as well as a navy
(consisting of a single amphibious vehicle
). Kamen is said to refer to himself as "Lord Dumpling" or "Lord Dumpling II." In addition to North Dumpling Light
house, the island features a replica of Stonehenge
.
Dean Kamen
Dean L. Kamen is an American entrepreneur and inventor from New Hampshire.Born in Rockville Centre, New York, he attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute, but dropped out before graduating after five years of private advanced research for drug infusion pump AutoSyringe...
, inventor of the Segway Human Transporter, and is home to the North Dumpling Light
North Dumpling Light
North Dumpling Light is a lighthouse in Fisher's Island sound in Long Island Sound, New York.-History:The lighthouse was established in 1849 and the current tower was first lit in 1871. The lighthouse was deactivated in 1959. The foundation is wood pilings and stone and the construction is brick...
house. It is located one mile off the coast of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, south of Groton, Connecticut
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
, but is within the territory of the New York State town of Southold
Southold, New York
Southold is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is located in the northeastern tip of the county, on the North Fork of Long Island. The population was 20,599 at the 2000 census...
.
Overview
After he was initially denied permission to build a wind turbineWind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
on the island, Kamen joked that he was seceding from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and later signed a non-aggression pact
Non-aggression pact
A non-aggression pact is an international treaty between two or more states/countries agreeing to avoid war or armed conflict between them and resolve their disputes through peaceful negotiations...
with his friend, then-President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
. Recently, with the help of Fritz Morgan, Chief Technology Officer of Philips Color Kinetics, the island's electrical system was converted to a combination of wind
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
and solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
, operating independently of the regional electrical grid. This was accomplished by replacing all lighting on the island with LED
LEd
LEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
s, which resulted in a 70% reduction in in-house energy consumption. Power generation and consumption are monitored and managed by a Teletrol
Teletrol
Teletrol is a United States company based in Manchester, NH. Teletrol is a supplier of building automation systems and components. Its products are designed to centralize the management and control of heating/cooling and lighting systems to reduce energy consumption and operating costs for...
building controller. Kamen has reported that North Dumpling now has solar panels on every building, a 10 kW wind turbine and a 'little' Stirling engine
Stirling engine
A Stirling engine is a heat engine operating by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas, the working fluid, at different temperature levels such that there is a net conversion of heat energy to mechanical work....
for backup power, which burns only local fuel. He claims that the island is completely carbon neutral
Carbon neutral
Carbon neutrality, or having a net zero carbon footprint, refers to achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset, or buying enough carbon credits to make up the difference...
.
Though its secession is not legally recognized, Kamen refers to the island as the "Kingdom of North Dumpling," and has established a constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
, flag
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
, currency
Currency
In economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
, and national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
, as well as a navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
(consisting of a single amphibious vehicle
Amphibious vehicle
An amphibious vehicle , is a vehicle or craft, that is a means of transport, viable on land as well as on water – just like an amphibian....
). Kamen is said to refer to himself as "Lord Dumpling" or "Lord Dumpling II." In addition to North Dumpling Light
North Dumpling Light
North Dumpling Light is a lighthouse in Fisher's Island sound in Long Island Sound, New York.-History:The lighthouse was established in 1849 and the current tower was first lit in 1871. The lighthouse was deactivated in 1959. The foundation is wood pilings and stone and the construction is brick...
house, the island features a replica of Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
.