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 Local Communities Commit to Green
The Delaware Valley has a lot to be proud of with many local municipalities making changes towards sustainable energy solutions.
Abington Township is planning an energy audit. The PA Department of Energy awarded $36 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support energy efficiency and conservation projects in Pennsylvania communities. Abington Township is slotted to receive over $500,000 which they plan to use for an extensive energy audit to determine the most imp active sustainable improvements. Abington already does a great job with its strong recycling and compost programs that divert 57% of township waste from landfills.
Cheltenham Township also received some of the federal grant money in which they plan to invest in efficient mechanical and lighting systems at the municipal buildings. Cheltenham is considering a Transition Town designation also.
Delaware County was awarded nearly $3.7 million to complete several projects that will improve energy efficiency and expand renewable energy use in the county. Among its projects, the county plans to install a photovoltaic solar power generation system at the Government Center Complex in Media, PA. This system will decrease the burden on the local utility and is intended to be a model project, spurring regional interest in alternative energy. Once implemented, it will be the largest public solar energy project in the area. Recovery Act funding will also be used to establish a grant program for municipalities within Delaware County that have requested assistance for energy efficiency projects.
Media became the first Transition Town (TT) in Pennsylvania. In Media, a Transition Towns designation means that scores of conscientious citizens who live in and around the borough have committed themselves to trying to meet more of their needs locally so that they use fewer resources, especially oil and other carboniferous sources of energy. Besides its active and influential Environmental Advisory Council, the borough was cited by the Sustainable Development Fund for committing to buy at least 20 percent of its energy from clean and alternative sources by this year and encouraging at least 7 percent of residents to do the same. Several other communities in the region are considering TT status. To learn more about the Transition Town program, visit http://transitionus.org/
There are many local groups in the Delaware Valley working to create more sustainable communities. Does your municipality have an Environmental Advisory Council? Act 177 of 1996 authorized municipalities to establish these councils which are comprised of a group of residents appointed by local elected officials that advise on protection and conservation. For more information on EAC’s visit http://eacnetwork.wordpress.com/.
If your local does not have an EAC, perhaps there is another group working to promote sustainability in your area. Groups like Wissahickon Growing Greener in the Whitpain/Blue Bell area, Sustainable Springfield, GreenPV (Perkiomen Valley) organized in the Collegeville/Limerick/Schwenksville area, Penn Wynne Green on the Main Line all provide great local resources to help citizens create greener communities.
There are also organizations for businesses like the Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia.
Congratulations to the Delaware Valley for making energy efficiency and sustainability a priority. If I missed any group, please comment to let everyone know of them.
April 22, 2010 marks the fortieth anniversary of Earth Day. Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day, was a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin. He proposed the first national environmental protest in 1970 “to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda.” On April 22, 1970 twenty million Americans took to the streets, parks and halls to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment.
Whether you are a fervent protester, committed recycler or unsure where to begin, the fact is keeping our communities and this planet clean by living sustainably is vital to our health and well being today and for future generations. While Earth Day made this issue a national political agenda item, the need for clean water, healthy air and soil is not partisan…it’s human.
Get out and enjoy spring. There a many activities to celebrate Earth Day beginning this weekend. To find events near you, visit Earthday.net
Feel free to post back and let us know what you did to celebrate. We love to hear from you.
 Earlier this month, Philadelphia Mayor Nutter presented his budget proposal to city counsel which included a $300 annual trash fee per household. Other local municipalities, like Norristown, recently announced a trash hauling fee as well.
In our busy lives it’s easy to put the trash out on the curb and forget about it. Don’t get me wrong, I have at times been a big fan of the ignorance is bliss philosophy. When it comes to the challenge of trash, there are serious consequences that are not only affecting us now but will compound for our children and future generations.
From our curbs trash goes to landfills some of which are in our neighborhoods and in some cases, trash is hauled around the world on barges spilling into our oceans along the way.
I recently spoke with a resident of Norristown who was outraged that the borough would add expenses to struggling families in these economic times. I listened and empathize with the financial burden on so many American families today and agree with my N-town neighbor…garbage costs.
- It costs us all financially whether you pay a hauler yourself or pay a tax or fee to your local government.
- It costs us in land as this trash must be “stored” somewhere. Currently we fill and close one landfill a year in the U.S.
- It costs our health as these garbage “storage” facilities can and have polluted groundwater and air. Landfill leachates rank as some of the most frequently recorded pollutants. Emissions from landfills produce smog causing respiratory problems like asthma.
- It costs us environmentally by contaminating soil and producing powerful green house gas. Decomposition in landfills can create methane gas.
In other cities in other parts of the world trash is handled quite differently it is common to pay to have your waste removed and the more garbage you produce the more you pay. The incentive to produce less waste of is real and monetary. Perhaps this model, would work well in U.S. cities.
There have been some brave experiments like that of “No Impact Man” and his family in New York City who spent a year of their lives working towards producing no trash. To find our more about his project visit Colin Beavan’s blog.
The really good news is that we can make small changes which will help these waste woes. Here are a few easy tips that will make a difference!
- Minimum Packaging – try to buy items with the least amount of packaging
- Preferred Packaging – if you buy packaged goods and we all do choose those packaged in recyclable materials like aluminum, paper and plastics #1 and #2
- Bring your own bags – millions of plastic bags are thrown away annually.
- Avoid disposables – Here are some tips that can really save you money. Cloth napkins instead of paper, Rags instead of paper towels, Stainless steel lunch containers and water bottles.
- Donate or Freecycle.org – Don’t throw out items that still have some life left in them. Someone else can benefit.
- Recycle – Every item that can be recycled or repurposed stays out of the land fill.
I have touched on a few happenings in the world of trash. If you have ideas about garbage, let me know.
 The Department of Housing and Urban Development has created an office of sustainable housing that will work on improving energy-efficient homes and financing for those homes. The new Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities will also work with city, county and rural governments to locate housing near jobs, schools and transportation. To promote sustainability, OSHC will use a $50 million fund to invest in energy-efficient homes and buildings in order to “lay the groundwork for the clean energy economy,” HUD said. As part of that effort, the office wants to improve on HUD’s energy efficient mortgage products and other energy retro financing options. Shelly Poticha is the director of OSHC. “Through our new Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities, we will begin to tie the quality and location of housing to broader opportunities such as access to good jobs, quality schools and safe streets,” said HUD secretary Shaun Donovan.
There are so many tax credits to take advantage of right now if you own a home or want to. Here we have compiled a summary to help you take full advantage. 
FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER
Amount of Credit: $8,000
You qualify if …
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You never owned a home
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You have not owned a home in the past 3 years
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You earned less than $125,000, or $225,000 for joint filers. (Those with MAGI between $125,000 and $145,000, or $225,000 and $245,000 for joint filers, are eligible for a reduced credit.)
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You settle on your new home before June 30, 2010.
HOMEOWNER’S BUYING A NEW PRINIPAL HOME
Amount of Credit: $6,500
You qualify if…
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You lived in your last home for 5 of the last 8 years.
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You must not have a lapse in homeownership.
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You earned less than $125,000, or $225,000 for joint filers. (Those with MAGI between $125,000 and $145,000, or $225,000 and $245,000 for joint filers, are eligible for a reduced credit.)
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You settle on your new home before June 30, 2010.
How do you file for the homebuyers tax credits? Form 5405
For more detailed information consult your tax adviser and visit www.irs.gov
HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
Amount of Credit – $1,500 (Some project offer higher credits. See below.)
Projects that qualify include…
All improvements must meet certain Energy Star criteria and be placed in service from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010.
Improvements must be for taxpayer’s principal residence, EXCEPT for geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, and small wind energy systems where second homes and rentals qualify.
The maximum amount that can be claimed for all products placed in service in 2009 & 2010 for most home improvements is $1,500, EXCEPT for geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, fuel cells, and small wind energy systems which are not subject to this cap, and are in effect through 2016.
To qualify you must have a signed statement from the manufacturer certifying that the product qualifies for the tax credit. Many manufacturers provide these Certifications on their website. Be sure the product you are buying has the Manufacturer’s Certification and keep a copy for your records.
Improvements made in 2009 will be claimed on your 2009 taxes filed by April 15, 2010 on IRS Tax Form 5695 (2009 version). If you are building a new home, you can qualify for the tax credit for geothermal heat pumps, photovoltaics, solar water heaters, small wind energy systems and fuel cells, but not the tax credits for windows, doors, insulation, roofs, HVAC, or non-solar water heaters.
For more detailed information consult your tax adviser and visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits
 Are you holiday’d out? Had enough egg nog, parties, and cookies? Ready for a bit of hibernation? Before you can put on your slippers and flannels you must deconstruct your holiday décor. Here are some Sensibly Green tips
TREECYCLE your live tree!
What does your trash service do with the trees they pick up? Most trash haulers offer a Christmas tree pick up and take your tree to the landfill. I called five of the regional haulers and all of them deposit trees in landfills including J.P Mascaro & Sons and Allied Waste Services (formerly BFI, now Republic).
The good news is that many municipalities offer tree drop off days. To find a center that accepts and turns holiday tree into compost go to http://www.earth911.com
Have you heard of The 3/50 Project? Founded by Cinda Baxter in the spring of 2009, The 3/50 Project began as a blog article response to the bleak economic news being hurled at all of us by the media. The challenge Cinda proposes is that we consumers shop at three local businesses and spend $50 per month at these establishments. The challenge is not suggesting that we add an additional $50 of spending to our monthly budget but rather that we tweak our current spending habits by buying local.
Why should we do this? By supporting local businesses we grow and strengthen our local economy. These local shops pay property tax, provide jobs, and pay sales tax. Sure big chain stores and franchises pay taxes and may hire local folks but the bulk of the money you spend in that store leaves your town and ends up far away. According to The 3/50 Project site, “For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.” 
We are all busy and shopping online can seem like a convenience but there are tradeoffs to every shortcut. The obvious tradeoff is that you can’t see or touch the product you are buying and you must wait for it to arrive. If the product arrives damaged, it is extra time and a maybe a trip to the post office to wait even longer for your gift to arrive again.
Our budgets may be a bit tighter this year and online shopping it not always the best bargain when you factor in the shipping costs. And then there is some potential risk with scams and credit card theft, but let’s not even go there.
Think sustainable shopping this season. Sustain your local, independent business owners with the holiday gift of shopping in their stores. If you combine local shopping with the following ideas you will have “greened” up your holiday shopping.
- Save fuel by grabbing your friends, neighbors or family and piling into 1 car and heading to a town center where there are plenty of shops to choose.
- Bring your own bags…this should be rote by now.
- Avoid items that are disposable and have excessive packaging.
- Try giving an experience like museum, or special events tickets.
- Look at Freecycle for great kids gifts. www.freecycle.org
Happy holiday preparation! Remember, if you’re stressed, you have missed the point. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy each other. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. Be grateful.
For more information on The 3/50 Project go to http://www.the350project.net
Thanksgiving kicks off a season of holidays for many in the U.S. For me Thanksgiving is THE holiday. It’s origin in gratitude for friendship, working together, and celebrating the harvest makes it a superstar of holidays. It is the holiday that’s purpose is to celebrate connections; our connection to one another, our food and the earth.
Here are some green thoughts for the season…
 Yule Log
Want to enjoy a warm cup of organic local apple cider by a roaring fire? Make sure your wood is local hardwood like oak or hickory. Those woods burn the longest and provide the most heat. Try an artificial wood log made from recycled wood waste but be sure that the brand you buy does not contain paraffin which is a petroleum based chemical that produces toxins when burned.
Wrapping Paper
Opening presents is fun at every age. Most of the wrapping paper you find in the mega stores in NOT recyclable and therefore ends up in a landfill. Save money and recycle by using the comic’s page or the holiday ads from the newspaper. Try old maps or brown paper bags that your kids (or the inner artist in you) can decorate. Wrap you presents with another useful gift like a scarf or holiday dish towel or bandana. Make “ribbon” by cutting strips of fabric from old sheets, towels or clothing. The ribbon can then be used as a cleaning rag or recycled at a center that takes cloth.
 Yummy Holiday Food
The best ways to green your holiday table is to buy local and organic whenever possible. Unless you live in Hawaii your after dinner coffee will not meet that criteria (buy fair trade) but it is easy to buy local when it comes to your turkey, dairy and veggies. Local means you are reducing the carbon footprint of your table and eating more nutritious food as well.
 Gift Giving
How about taking recycling to another level and regift for the holidays. Not only is regifting green by it will save you green and in this economy that is sensibly green.
I am not talking about wrapping up the dusty item that you couldn’t give away at your last yard sale. But that that fondue pot resting in the original box in the back of the closet because you are lactose intolerant would be a great gift for your friend who loves to entertain. Think regifting is for you, check out www.regiftingrevival.com.
My sincere thanks to all who are reading this blog; have a joyful holiday filled with gratitude. Remember, small changes that you make can change the world.
At a meeting I attended last week someone asked the question, “Is using a dishwasher more energy efficient then washing dishes by hand. She wondered if the dishwasher manufacturers weren’t the ones promoting the idea that built in dishwashers are the greenest way to handle our dirty dishes.
I wondered if that may be true. Over the years, I have read many articles on this debate and did not really take time to research the sources so I thought I would tackle this conundrum myself.
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Hand Washing |
Dishwasher |
Energy Star Dishwasher |
| Water Usage |
2 gallons per minute |
6 gallons per cycle |
4 gallons per cycle |
| Energy |
.30 kWh per 2 gallons |
1.59 kWh per load |
0.87 kWh per load |
Here are the stats I compiled from www.energystar.gov
All things being unequal, we must assume the same amount of dishes for the comparison to be accurate. A standard dishwasher holds an eight place setting and six serving pieces.
Can you hand wash and rinse a load of dishes with just 2 gallons of water? If so, then hands down, hand washing can be the greener choice. If so, perhaps you should contact the Guinness Book of records for your amazing dishwashing skills. In the interest of science, I attempted this feat. I used a double sink and filled bowl #1 with 1 gallon of warm soapy water for scrubbing. In bowl # 2, I prepared a 1 gallon jug filled with warm water to use for rinsing. On the counter piled a 4 piece place setting and 2 serving pieces. As my grandmother taught me, I started with the glassware, then silverware, onto plates but I was out of rinsing water. And frankly, the pieces that were done were not sufficiently rinsed to my liking. I then attempted the experiment again with four gallons of water. I kept the same 1 gallon for washing and now had three gallons to rinse. I was able to wash and rinse less than half of the amount of dishes a machine would with the same amount of water. It is hard to beat the machine.
According to the Energy Star website, using a dishwasher “can save you over 230 hours of personal time over the course of a year. That’s almost 10 days!” That’s what I’m talking about.
So the answer is….built in dishwashers win. If you have an Energy Star dishwasher and only run it when it has a full load then it is clear cut. If you have the dishwashing skills of a ninja then perhaps you can beat an older, average machine.
Let’s not forget the reduce and reuse part of the 3 R’s mantra. If we don’t dirty a dish it does not need to be washed so only use 1 glass or cup per day per person. Skip the separate salad plate and just use one plate per person at dinner. Skip the serving dishes all together and serve directly from the pot or pan you cooked in.
Greenest Choice: Energy Star dishwasher run only when there is a full load.
Happy washing!
 Wissahickon Growing Green Features
Tax Credits for Home Energy-Saving Projects
When: Wed Oct 7, 2009, 7-9 pm EDT
Where: Whitpain Township administration building, meeting room B, Wentz Road, Blue Bell PA
Join WGG member Jennifer Bryan as she tells us how she has made changes to her older Philadelphia area home, one energy saving way at a time. She’ll talk about personal challenges and also offer advice on how to use state and federal tax credits for money back on these projects. Topic to be followed by open WGG discussion. Free and open to the public. RSVP: WissahickonGrowingGreener@gmail.com or 215-542-8849.
RSVP: http://www.bigtent.com/home/calendar/event/19773732
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