green voice

The central act of living, that children naturally understand, is to deeply value all things and to seek to be a part of their wondrous, mysterious ways of being.

by Bill Hutchins

At a green building conference recently,  the moderator of a breakout session asked what steps we can take to "build greener." Someone responded, "Install solar panels." Someone else suggested we "super-insulate." Another replied "build with local materials."

Appreciating those as important considerations, and with some trepidation, I raised my hand and said, "Don't build."

Granted, it seems odd for an architect who makes his living from building to recommend not building. But I went on to say that perhaps 80 percent of the projects we've done over the last 20 years didn't "need" to happen.  I told the gathering that when I meet with clients who want to build an addition on their home these days, I often end up talking them out of building an addition at all.
Instead,  I encourage them to reconsider how they LIVE in the space they already have.

Editor's Note: Due to space constraints, this article was PRINTED in a shorter version. This is the longer version.

Author's Note: This month's column is inspired by the 40th anniversary of Earth Day (April 22, 2010) and an imminent decision which is weighing heavy with me right now. I have one child and am considering having or adopting a second. I don't think I get a pass on thinking hard about how many children to have just because I'm trying really hard to reduce our impact. While making many efforts to reduce our consumption and environmental footprints below the average American, my family is still probably using significantly more resources than the average Indian.


First Things First: Getting past premises
Population is a tough topic and talking about it often devolves in to fighting about it, I think due to some preconceptions people have. If the following two premises are accepted then we can have a rational discussion.
1.The earth is a finite resource - and its ability to support growing populations (and/or consumption levels) is LIMITED. (Put another way: there is an upper limit for the combination of population and consumption).
2.Technology improvements can increase our efficient use (and disposal) of resources, but also have realistic limits, and cannot overcome the limits of growth provided by a finite planet.
If these premises are not accepted then I'm not sure we're operating in a joint reality, or living on the same planet. And maybe you should stop reading now...

Consumption and Population
In my 10 years being an active environmentalist, I haven't done as much learning and exploring in the field of population. Early on I was "fooled" into believing my best efforts to impact the environment were to focus pretty exclusively on consumption. The idea is that by addressing over consumption you could reduce negative impact, increase positive impact through pro-social types of consumption, and increase personal quality of life through reduced work, debt, stress.... Since I was living/working in the highest consuming part of the world (the US), it was pretty natural that the focus of efforts should be addressing the developed world problem of over consumption. (As I was being taught, it would be the developing world's task to address overpopulation).

It's recently come to my attention though, that since the levels of consumption of average Americans far exceed those in the developing world where most of the world's population is, that population reductions in the developed world are much more valuable on a per capita resource use reduction basis than in the developing world. Developed world consumption level is often WAY above average making their footprints extent far beyond their borders sniping resources from and depositing wastes on other populations.

Unfortunately, I come to this article with incomplete information. I am likely to present a lot of problem and not much in the way of solution. I hope I can share more developed thinking on this in the future. In some of the recent heated conversations I've had (including being called racist), I am listening, hearing and learning that the proposed solutions to population issues are fraught with moral, ethical and religious principles which sometimes fly in the face of the not obviously clear science around the issue.

We can take a course of action which says any attempts at population control, stabilization, reduction are "off the table", but then I think we all, everyone of us, really needs to seriously consider bringing American daily average consumption closer in line with the rest of the world. Let's be generous here: If 3 billion people are living on less than $2.50/day, it shouldn't be so unrealistic for us to consider Americans aiming for something like $10/day. If you think we can do it, let's do it. That or seriously consider options for a deliberate, equitable, humane program for encouraging our population to get in line with our planet's ability to support it. You know, which ever is easier...

Population "Control" or "Reduction" or "Shrinking":
The words we use or have been used in the environmental/population debate have a lot of power and meaning. No one likes to use the term population control, but let's face it whether you call it control or not, the idea is that our species is intelligent enough to avoid the less civilized, "natural" solutions afflicting other species as they reach the carrying capacity of their environment. If other species grow their population beyond the carrying capacity of their habitat, they will have a violent or starvation-filled population die-off or crash in order to bring their population into alignment with their habitat.

The phrases "population reduction" or "reduce the number of people" can quickly raise hackles. True, the options for reducing population are limited to having more deaths and/or having fewer births. Let's take the presumed more humane approach and have confidence we can consider alternatives taking place over generations through pre-emptively avoided births, and not more scary culling meanings - ideally that strive to increase quality of population over quantity. (I could have used a "Find/Replace" to change all the "reduction" words to "shrinking", but I hope you'll give me the more positive meaning.)

"The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war." - Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
Yes, talking about ideas for population solutions is a hard issue with equity, social justice, economics, moral/ethical and religious aspects. However, I think the situation is dire enough that if we don't sweat it out working on solutions that may involve perceived or actual sacrifice, we will eventually fight and bleed and suffer even more as a result of our inaction. There are already many parts of the world (and even places in our country) where scarce resources result in gross inequity, and often fighting or even deaths. The American/developed world lifestyle is implicated at least indirectly in those deaths since we put such a disproportionate demand on the extraction and exportation of resources from areas that don't have enough for themselves.

It is hard to engage people to talk about population without running into barriers of fiercely held moral, ethical or religious beliefs. However, I feel it's preferable to sweat through those discussions, debates and barriers than to bleed through a solution when lack of agreement leads to fighting.

"Selfish?... have babies."
Periodically for at least 8 years there has been a large sign on back of Walt Rave's truck (otherwise known as the guy who walks around Old Town Takoma with the dead fox in a trap) intending to communicate disapproval of human population growth and its impact on other species and the environment. Years ago a friend and I had a long conversation with Walt about the ambiguity of his slogan. Walt was surprised to learn my friend's quite legitimate interpretation. That if you are selfish, have children, and they will teach to not be selfish. This, of course, flew in the face of the intended meaning: if you are selfish, you have children because you're not thinking about other living things (humans and otherwise).

Though, as recently heard on Mike Tidwell's last Earthbeat radio program, studies show children or grandchildren are the number one motivating factor to do anything environmental. It's precisely our hereditary investment in the future which makes us give a damn about the future they will be inheriting.

"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." (Eldridge Cleaver variation or African Proverb)
When looking at population and growth there's often a focus on the country or region of growth. It makes sense to view overall growth as well, as that's the context we have for whether our planet can sustain the current population, increased growth, or actually requires a smaller population. Often fertility rates (children per women) are quoted to show/state that a population for a country or region is not growing. Then the conclusion is made that that group doesn't need to do anything about population. But left unsaid is whether the current global population level is sustainable (at current or idealized consumption rates). And therefor does that group need to be part of any population reduction?

A Human Right - A Religious Mandate
So if it's a human right to procreate as much as we want, is there also a human responsibility to consume resources and create waste at a level that is both equitable and sustainable? Is it okay to consume/dispose at a rate that compromises other species' survival? Is it okay to consume/dispose at a rate that compromises or limits the ability of other humans access to the same standard of living that we enjoy?

And, if there's a faith-based guidance that procreation should have no limits, then that faith must also embrace either a proportional REDUCED level of consumption or the periodic non-violent or violent die-off (aka suffering) of its own (or another) population.

On average, the consumption rate of 300 million Americans is such that if everyone else (6.5 billion) consumed like we did, we'd need 4 more planets to supply the natural resources and absorb the waste. If we can't figure out any population solutions, we will either have to significantly reduce consumption, or continue to live with the inequity of some populations consuming more than their fair share of resources, and lots more (a majority maybe) of people consuming below what many would consider a minimum standard of living.

What is the human rights or religious response to this situation?

Limits to Growth
After reading "The Population Bomb" by Paul Ehrlich (1968), many people came away with the thought that there was imminent human die-off coming. And it would be ugly. And when it didn't come exactly as expected, there was much criticism of the author. But this is the trouble with activist soothsayers. They make their predictions explicitly so that people respond to them and prove them wrong. In being proved wrong they have "succeeded" (via their predictions not coming true), though we may find it hard to believe them or times in the future when others make similar predictions. (For more on the paradox of the activist soothsayer, see "Believing Cassandra: An optimist looks at a pessimist's world" by Alan AtKisson (1999))

The classic book on future world modeling is "Limits To Growth" by Dana Meadows, et al (1979). In it a dire future is "projected" with the explicit instructions that we have just enough intelligence, technology and political will to avoid the projections. That we have the social clairvoyance, and that if we make the effort, we can work out the necessary solutions, just in time to avoid the worst consequences. Is this level of optimism in the face of our current situation and in light of human nature and selfishness unrealistic? Maybe... but sometimes that's all we have to keep us moving forward.

Happy Earth Day (Month)!

Sat Jiwan Iklé-Khalsa is now "low-flow" blogging at: www.Truthful-Living.blogspot.com and is a recent green home renovator and a green building/renovation consultant . Find past articles, local green building stores, info, resources, including annotated green house renovation photos and services at: www.Truthful-Living.com or call 301.891.8891

First Step? - One not so controversial idea

For whatever reason it seems people concerned about any domestic population policy are fully on board with current international family planning policies. The recent studies show that without any incentives or coercion, providing access to reproductive health services and empowering and educating women results in smaller families. Given that County Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg announced (Gazette, 2/10/10) a recent report showing the county is under serving the demand for family planning services by 66%, she has plans to increase access in the county. Seems this proposal, and programs to empower and educate women is something that a lot of people can and should support. At least as a first step before assessing other population proposals that might require a little more sweat...

Earth Day (Month) Events and non-events:
April 22, 2010 marks the 40th annivesary of Earth Day. Find events near you or participate in highlighted events or activities below...

Thursday, April 15 - Chesapeake Climate Action Network's fourth annual "Artists for the Climate" event 7:30pm. Join authors Bill McKibben, Jeff Biggers and Mike Tidwell, and Lissy Rosemont of the Junior League Band for an evening of inspiration and action. Foundry United Methodist Church, 1500 --16th St, NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tickets $10-15 at www.ChesapeakeClimate.org

Friday, April 16 - "End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion & The Collapse of the American Dream" screening (and discussion) - Transition Takoma presents the award-winning documentary and discussion to get involved and learn what your neighbors are doing to create a better future. Takoma Park Presbyterian Church
310 Tulip Ave. (corner of Maple Ave, three blocks from Takoma Metro) Admission free; donations welcome

Saturday, April 17
Conversation with Steve McFadden, sustainable agriculture expert and author of "The Call of the Land: An Agrarian Primer for the 21st Century," presented by Montgomery Victory Gardens and others. 6-8pm, TPSS Coop, 201 Ethan Allen Ave, community room, enter through the rear of the building. Donations collected for admission, no one turned away.

Native Plant Sale from Chesapeake Natives 1-4pm - Looking to do some planting this spring? (beyond vegetable gardens)? Get some high quality, native plants at a good price. 7125 Willow Ave, Takoma Park, MD (rain date April 24) www.ChesapeakeNatives.com

Sunday, April 18 - Silver Spring Earth Day 5K, 9 am Downtown Silver Spring - run and raise donations to support The Nature Conservancy. Goal: $25,000 to build an oyster sanctuary in a Maryland river. www.SilverSpring5k.com

Saturday, April 24 - Mainstreet Takoma Clean-Up Day, 9am- 12pm - make Old Takoma sparkle. Activities include weeding, mulching, planting flowers, and picking up litter. Meet at Laurel Ave. by the clock tower, by Morrison Park at Takoma Junction, or Triangle Park at 4th and Blair in the District.

Sunday, April 25 - Earth Day Celebration -- Old Takoma, 8am - 4pm - Come celebrate Spring and Earth Day with events at TPSS Co-op and at Takoma Park Farmers Market, special promotions at local businesses and the Takoma Voice Bike-Around. Details and schedule of events at: http://www.mainstreettakoma.org/event/51

Two bicycle shops opening in Takoma!
Green Commuter - (opening April 2010) specializing in electric bikes, and sales and service for conventional bikes in Takoma Junction - www.TheGreenCommuter.net
Takoma Bicycle - (open now) springing up where Takoma Park Bikes used to be in Old Town - www.TakomaBicycle.com

Eco-garden Service - Purple Mountain Organics offers bio-diesel powered grass-to-garden conversions, and other services: "...initial cultivation of garden plot to construction of raised beds/planters, to consultation services with our specialists for your specific green living needs." (and sells tools, seedlings, supplies at TPSS coop (Takoma Location) - www.PurpleMountainOrganics.com

What's that quote? Life is not about the destination but the journey along the way. While the endpoint may not be clear, along the way we'll save some money, save some energy and save the planet... that way our journey can be extended at least a little longer. This month we'll have a few questions from readers and clients. I wish these questions had simple and comprehensive answers, but since they don't, I'll give you at least half an answer and some headings in the right direction. With an additional promise to followup on each of these issues in future columns...

WIND POWER:

I'm interested in buying wind power for my home. What are the differences in products from local suppliers? How much will it cost? - Working through Wind Power Options on Walnut

When evaluating different renewable energy electricity products, you want to look at location, source and verification... along with price. A comparison to food purchases would be evaluating where it's grown, how it's grown and if it has third -party certification.

If a wind product is produced locally, then it has the ability to not only offset global carbon emission, but also pollution in our local air shed. Additionally, it can help the local economy by producing green jobs and tax revenues closer to home.

You may choose to buy a wind product that is 50% wind to save some money or 100% to maximize the environmental benefits. Some clean energy suppliers even mix in other sources such as methane gas from landfills or solar power from solar panels, that you may want to avoid or prefer.

When you get wind power for your home, it will almost certainly be a combination of local grid power and a Renewable Energy Certificate, or REC, representing the displacement of dirty power by clean wind farm power. This REC may represent local, regional or national wind farms and may or may not have individual certification by a third-party organization such as Green-e. Added verification costs a little more and for smaller residential REC purchases, some companies may not include this in order to keep prices lower. But as a customer you may find third-party certification desirable. Of the companies below, only WindCurrent is listed as a certified Green-e supplier for residential purchases..

Here's some local clean power options, ranked roughly in their quality and price. The higher-quality, greener options tend to cost a bit more. (prices are for 100% wind power in cents/KWh)

* Conventional - Pepco - "Standard Offer Service" (this is for comparison if you don't choose an alternative supplier) - MD 12.5 or DC 11.3 - basic dirty power ~50+% coal, ~30+% nuclear, plus natural gas, other...

* Light green - Clean Currents - "C-green" (2yr lock in option) MD 11.7 or DC 11.4 - Combines national (Texas, Iowa) RECs with local standard power and costs less than Pepco's current summer rates, similar to winter rates.

* Regional - WGES (Washington Gas Energy Services) - "CleanSteps" (2yr lock in option) MD 12.9 or DC 12.8 - Combines regional (as far as Illinois) RECs with local standard power and costs more than Pepco's current summer rates. Fossil fuel company selling some green power. (Check with Jared Hughes, Takoma Park resident and local sales rep, who might be able to get you a cheaper gas price as well. 301.270.3012)

* Local and "organic" - WindCurrent - "Chesapeake Wind-Solar Current" - 2.5 cents plus your current electricity rate - Stand alone purchase of very local wind RECs (99% from PA, NJ, MD) along with 1% solar RECs from DE.

Also, if you're a Montgomery County resident you can save an additional .5 cents per KWh (about $25-50/year) through the Clean Energy Rewards Program. The wind power suppliers above are all part of that program.

(HISTORIC) WINDOWS:

I live in the Historic District, and want to replace or improve some of my old windows to increase comfort and efficiency. Some of the windows have old storm windows. I'm hearing different opinions about replacement/new windows vs storm windows. What should I do?

- Megan, Wondering about Windows on Willow (in the Historic District)

In general, the energy payback on replacing windows is not cost effective for a homeowner. If the windows are original and need to be replaced to historic requirements, then they'll likely be less efficient, will cost even more and take even longer to pay back. There are more effective ways to make energy improvements that should be done first.

Most windows (even "efficient" ones) aren't all that much better than old windows. Unless you pay TONS of money for SUPER-efficient ones that only really make sense in Northern climates. (Replacing faulty/old/sticky windows in preparation for a home SALE or for your own aesthetic or functional desires is another matter that's not about energy savings.)

Old wood single-pane windows (as long as they don't have big gaps or holes are about R1 insulation value. Cheap new windows can get you R2, but so can having a good storm window. Good quality (argon-filled, low-E) new ones may get R2.6 - R3, but so can an insulating shade. Really efficient windows can get to R5 - R9, but may not qualify for historic use. They say, even a good window (R3) makes a bad wall (R10 - R20).

I think the best things to do with old windows is:
1. Fix any leaks and do a little maintenance so they operate well.
2. Consider exterior or interior storm windows.
3. Consider insulating window shades (or drapes). The window quilts are pretty expensive and hard to find, but pleated honeycomb types that have side rails to prevent air flow can noticeably improve the PERCEIVED temperature of the window and will add a little in actual insulating R-value as well.

In addition to a modest R-value increase, two things new/double pane windows have is 1. they may open/close better than your old windows. 2. the "perception" of warmth. The glass itself will be warmer and tend to encourage the homeowner to keep the heat at a lower temperature. So try placing chairs further from single pane windows so you won't be tempted to compensate by turning your heat up, or try drapes or insulated shades.

Here's some other energy-saving perception tricks to be combined with keeping the thermostat low...

1. Place furniture closer together in winter (further in summer).
2. invest in good quality thermal slippers and socks to keep you feeling warm.
3. Have one incandescent light bulb in your house. And place it close by your favorite reading spot as a miniature space heater.

Making Do With What You Have - learning the fine art of window glazing and using various weatherstripping materials (fuzzy strips, foam rubber strips, rope caulk, v-channel strip and felt pads) you can greatly reduce the air infiltration of older windows. Borrow a weatherization book from the library or find instructions on the internet or pay someone else to do it.

Interior or Exterior Storm Windows - with historic districts, if you have existing storm windows you should be able to replace them with similar ones. Otherwise you may look into interior storm windows. Unfortunately I don't have good information about the R values and paybacks for these options (yet), but you can expect to pay a lot less than new windows, yet still see some energy improvements. If you go for "designer" grade interior or exterior storms, they will look better and cost more.

Exterior Triple Track Storms - These are your standard exterior design with two glass pieces and one screen for use on double hung windows. (Though some wooden frame, single-pane options are found on even older windows.) You can look for higher quality, heavier gauge material, adjustable sill extender, LOW-e coating, low air infiltration rating - and quality installed with stainless steel screws and caulking around except at the weep holes - about $160/medium standard window (installation not included).

Baltimore-based www.BurchCompany.com offers designer-quality triple track storms with many custom options. (not sure on prices).

Interior storm options comes in different flavors; here's a few:

- www.WindowTherm.com, Advanced Energy Panel - $80-90 each. Aluminum frames with foam compression seals, two sheets plastic and locking clips.

- www.ClimateSeal.com, single pane flexible plastic, vinyl frame, with magnetic seals like a refrigerator

- Build your own with wood and two layers of plastic for about $1/sq foot plus your time - A guy I know in Maine has this (and many other energy improvements) detailed at: www.ArtTec.net

Insulation Installation Inspiration: start small and have fun

I recently bought an older house. I know it needs some energy upgrades. I'm in DC and can get a free energy audit with blower door test, but I figure I'll do what I can do easily, then call them to find places I missed. What do-it-yourself project should we do first? - Jeff, Eager to Save Energy on Eastern


Takoma DC resident Jeff Farbman trims a piece of rigid foam board for insulating the rim joists in his basement.


Spray foam is used to seal the existing cavity and to "glue" the rigid foam board in place. (Photo by Sat Jiwan Ikle-Khalsa)

We had another insulation party. Well, it was just two of us, but fun anyway. He bought the materials, I brought over some home-brewed organic beer and we set to work on the weakest part of most houses: the band or rim joist - that's where the walls of the house meet the foundation. It is often a place where outside air infiltrates and there's inadequate insulation. With a little effort, not much skill, and some spray foam and rigid foam insulation we were able to greatly reduce leaks and improve insulation value. See photos. (Next party: air sealing and insulating the attic. That might be two separate parties. Let me know if you want to join.)

Sat Jiwan Iklé-Khalsa is now "low-flow" blogging at: www.Truthful-Living.blogspot.com and is a recent green home renovator and a green building/renovation consultant . Find past articles, local green building stores, info, resources, including annotated green house renovation photos and services at: www.Truthful-Living.com or call 301.891.8891

RESOURCE BOX:

Pepco Offers and Rebates Through EnergyWise Rewards Program:

Recently PEPCO has made available several free offers and rebates for saving energy or deferring energy use to non-peak times. You may want to take advantage of some of these offers: (they either have to do this as a condition of recent rate increases, have stimulus money to spend or figure they'll save more on peak electricity costs than they'll spend on these offers.) For more info see recent PEPCO bill insert, EnergyWiseRewards.pepco.com, or call 866-353-5798.

* Discounts on Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) can be found at participating (usually big box) retailers in Maryland and DC.

* Appliance Rebates: $50 for refrigerators, $25 for window A/C units, $20 for electric hot water heater. (Conditions usually require Energy Star qualified products, but be sure to find the BEST Energy Star products which can save even more energy than basic ones.)

* If you have central A/C, you can choose to get a free programmable thermostat, professionally installed.

* AND/OR be on a voluntary cycling program where PEPCO can turn the compressor part of your A/C unit on/off for periods of time during peak energy use (the circulation fan will still run). Depending on your self-selected 25%, 50% or 100% participation level your house temperature will rise a bit during cycling times, but you'll also get paid up to $40-80 annually, plus a bonus payment the first year. By reducing peak power demand, dirtier and older peak power plants can be kept offline or run for few hours.

Transition Takoma - Local Food Working Group forming

Standing room only at the recent Transition Town screening of "Fresh! New Ideas about What We're Eating" - at Seekers church. (Photo by Sat Jiwan Ikle-Khalsa)

It was standing room only at the recent Transition Town screening of "Fresh! New Ideas about what we're Eating". Following up on that, a working group is forming to focus on local food issues. Join to be part of the discussion AND ACTION. Visit: http://groups.google.com/group/transition-takoma-food-group

by Sat-Jiwan Khalsa •

Last summer I covered green cooling strategies and water management topics as a way to cope with two our region's seasonal challenges. This month I've compiled some additional questions and answers about saving money, resources and reducing energy use in the effort to stay cool and keep your basement dry or manage other water issues. For the previous articles you can check the archives on-line at www.Takoma.com or free resources section on my website, www.Truthful-Living.com (Going Green: June 08, "Dry basements", July 08 "Strategies for Global Warming Summers", and August 08 "Cooling & Coping and Dealing with Downpours")

Beating the Heat

In addition to doing the best you can with nighttime cooling, closing windows and shades during the day, attic ventilation, awnings, and strategic fan use, you can maximize your efforts by reducing the heat and moisture that comes from cooking indoors. Try to move as much cooking as you can out of the house that you're trying to keep cool and dry with minimal air conditioning. If you have the opportunity, take advantage of "traditional" outdoor cooking by using a grill and/or moving toaster/toaster oven, food that's cooling down, and maybe a hotplate or portable "induction" cooktop to your porch or yard. As one drawback of widespread central air conditioning is the loss the front stoop culture, a side benefit of cooking outside will be increased social interactions with your neighbors,

Q: Which is the greenest grill? Gas or Charcoal?
A: It's common "green wisdom" that gas grills are preferred to charcoal because they have less particulate emission (and are faster and cost less to operate). And, while it's true that charcoal briquettes are often made of renewable waste wood sawdust, they often have nasty chemical additives or are "lump" charcoal made from larger, harvested wood. So instead of picking between the lesser of "two evils", and to really answer this green grill question, we should consider a few other options. (note: I'm not a grilling aficionado, but you can reclaim some flavors by using aromatic woods in which ever grill you use.)

Electric Grill - If your house is powered by wind or solar, an electric grill can eliminate emissions and the need to purchase or add fuel.

Corn (Pellet) Grill - There are some bio-mass grills that will take "pelletized" fuels such as corn or wood pellets.

Solar Oven/Cooker - Though limited by time of use and the weather, a solar oven/cooker can deliver great results for slow cooked meals of soups, stews, baked potatoes and vegetables.

Rocket Grill - take a tip from a play book of developing countries where a majority of cooking is done over open flames and fire wood scarcity and particulate emissions are problems. The celebrated "rocket stove" is used there to burn smaller pieces of wood, more cleanly at higher temperatures - reducing forest demands and combustion emissions. Based on this technology, Sean Gallagher of Takoma Park crafted a "rocket grill" to efficiently burn small pieces of wood that are otherwise mulch material.

Left: Rocket stoves are often made of salvaged materials such as metal buckets and tin cans. (source: solarcooking.wikia.com/) Right: Sean Gallagher's "rocket grill" combines technology from the developing world to more cleanly and efficiently host a barbeque. An insulated chimney is set up to burn smaller pieces of wood at higher temperatures. (photo: Sat Jiwan Ikle-Khalsa)

Working With Water

Q: Leanne asks: I was thinking about buying one of the barrels from www.Aquabarrel.com [in Gaithersburg]. I was wondering what size you all have? Also, do the workshops offer discounts on the barrel? I noticed the kits online are close to $200.
A: Aquabarrel is probably the best designed rain barrel I've seen (but I haven't used one personally or talked to an owner yet). They are made locally with some recycled/recovered materials... but they are a bit pricey (maybe less if you have a good reason to visit their place up on Route 270 and can pick them up yourself or do a bulk order with neighbors). Whole Foods in Silver Spring has barrels for $99 each. The design seems decent and nice aesthetically... made from reused olive barrels assembled in North Carolina (previously from Greece I'd guess).

Typically the rain barrel workshops have a discount and sometimes give free barrels for first 10 participants. Brookside Gardens, Friends of Sligo Creek and the Anacostia Watershed Society have regular events (See Takoma event July 19). And there many on line, do-it-yourself guides.

We have 4 barrels at 55 gallons each (standard size). They don't catch nearly all the water. So you probably need/want some kind of overflow area to complete the system, getting water away from the house with sloped grading, then using swales, dry creeks, and/or a rain garden to get that water back into the ground water further away from the house.

If you really want to catch a lot of water to reuse, look at above- and in-ground cisterns. If you just want to prevent run-off into the sewers, a big rain garden or two should do it. More info from Friends of Sligo Creek: www.FOSC.org

Beating the Heat AND Working with Water:

Sometimes you can save resources by working with more holistic solutions. Dehumidifying uses a lot of energy and if not run properly or poorly made, the units can burn out quickly. Elin helped kick off this discussion on the Takoma Green Building Group listserv, and tips about how to buy, how to operate, modify and alternatives all came up.

Air Tap "Hot Water Heat Pump" by AirGenerate, combines a few functions: heating water, cooling the air and doing a little dehumidifying at the same time. (source: AirGenerate.com)

Q: Elin asks: I've been spending time researching dehumidifiers for my basement. In the land of damp basements, would you be willing to post your experiences with various brands of dehumidifiers?
A: Personally, I've only been using and paying attention to the one in our house (5-yrs+ old, Kenmore Energy Star model). Even though it's Energy Star, I know it's an energy hog (and loud), so I'm investigating alternatives or more moisture avoidance in basement. And to top it off, most just kick out a lot of heat into the room they're in, reducing the attractiveness of an otherwise cool basement. Sometimes it uses 8 kilowatt hours (kWh) per day, doubling our energy use! I did some testing with a watt meter and even though it's rated to get 1.73 liters/kWh, it's operating 30-40% below what it claims. (Maybe it needs a tune up.) Since that amounts to about $150/yr, considering a new, more efficient one at this time could make sense.

A friend just made a purchase and advises: "I got the one that was the most efficient (2.022 L/kWh) and under $500. I just downloaded the Energy Star spreadsheet, sorted by efficiency and went down the list until the prices came out of the stratosphere. The bigger, MUCH more expensive models are MUCH more efficient (like 3.5 L/kWh), that's almost twice as efficient. They are "whole house" dehumidifiers that can be hooked up to vents, or run free-standing."

This house on the 2008 Arlington Green Homes tour created a drainage well/channel to keep water away from their foundation under a flagstone and gravel walk way. (Note the effort to keep plants, grass, soil, bugs away from the house.) (photo: Sat Jiwan Ikle-Khalsa)

Keith Winston of Earth Sun Energy Systems says that often they are run continuously and that can make motors burn out. Even with proper humidity settings, if a cheap unit "never turns off", you can just attach it to an outlet timer. Joe Edgel of www.greenrenovation.us tells us how he replaced a burnt out motor for about $50 instead of buying a new unit.

Keith and Mark Foster suggest a "Heat Pump Water Heater" (for the right situation, homeowners and usage patterns). It's kind of like a bolt-on dehumidifier or air conditioner for your water heater tank. One brand is AirTap by AirGenerate. Heat goes into the water, the air is cooled and some dehumidifying occurs (though only about 1 liter per day).

And as always, you can get more mileage from that dehumidifier or heat pump water to use on plants, do laundry, flush toilets, etc...

Sat Jiwan Iklé-Khalsa is now "low-flow" blogging at: www.Truthful-Living.blogspot.com and is a recent green home renovator and a green building/renovation consultant . Find past articles, local green building stores, info, resources, including annotated green house renovation photos and services at: www.Truthful-Living.com or call 301.891.8891

For latest green articles and discussion visit the Green Voice blog: www.takoma.com/green

Upcoming Green Events:

Takoma Rain Barrel Workshop - Sunday, July 19, 1pm, at Heffner Community Center, 42 Oswego Ave, Takoma Park. $30, pre-registration and payment required by July 15 (space is limited). To register, call TP DPW 301.891.7633 - check or money order payable to City of Takoma Park to TP DPW, 31 Oswego Ave, Silver Spring, 20910.

Transition Town Film and Discussion - Sunday, July 19, 4:30-6:30pm, at TPSS Coop (201 Ethan Allen Ave, Takoma Park - basement function room around back). Come for a one-hour film screening of "Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil" - When oil and food imports were drastically cut in Cuba, self-reliant communities moved from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. Stay for a potluck discussion about how Transition Takoma and other regional "Transition" groups can prepare and adjust to peak oil and global warming. Bring a (preferably) local food dish to share and if you can, some reusable dishes. More at: TransitionMaryland.Ning.com

DC Solar Tour and Takoma Green Tour - (Save the Dates) This year's regional tour of solar homes is taking place on the first weekend in October (Oct 3-4, 11-5pm). On Saturday you can take a more walkable and bikeable tour of green homes in the Takoma area. And if you're not too busy with the Takoma Old Town Street Festival on Sunday, you can venture out to other DC-area solar and green homes. Check for future information at: www.SolarTour.org

by Sat-Jiwan Khalsa • 

With the economic downturn still weighing heavy on many families, how can we continue to eat well, or even eat better, while saving money? Do you believe the Whole Foods slogan, "More of the good stuff for less", or do you feel like the unofficial nickname, "Whole Paycheck", more accurately reflects shopping there?

This month we take a quick survey of some of the natural and organic food prices at some local stores. Who has the best deals? Where CAN you get the good stuff for less? And what are some other tips for saving money with different shopping and eating habits?

by Sat-Jiwan Khalsa •

The economic media buzz, as well as sales contracts on three houses on my block, lead me to think the current economic recession is at the beginning of an upswing. I don't tend to put much weight into mainstream "media buzz," but I don't doubt its ability to lower AND raise something as fickle as "consumer confidence." Everything is certainly not all rosy and peachy like our spring blooms, but sometimes a little positive thinking is what we really need.

Whether the effects are true and whether the economic stimulus programs are the cause doesn't matter much. As consumer confidence improves we should be focused on how best to rebuild OUR economy, not the economy of Wall Street, stockholders, CEOs and foreign investors. As we start spending more dollars, let's rebuild the local, sustainable economy that serves us and our communities, making both more self-reliant.

by Sat-Jiwan Khalsa •

What's certain in life? Death and Taxes... and the costs of dirty energy going up! While gas prices have gone down due to the (temporary) economic downturn, they'll soon be up again as we keep tapping limited and dwindling resources with a staggering global demand. Conservation and efficiency are certainly the cheapest and fastest ways to extend that dwindling supply, but we'll need to seriously integrate lots of renewable energy supplies as well.

Efficiency and renewable energy incentives have been around for a few years, in their most recent form, and in general they are getting better with age. While, some components of the bailout and stimulus bills are certainly dubious, the energy incentives have multi-faceted benefits for the green jobs economy: reducing global warming emissions, creating jobs (especially ones good for retraining auto, steel and coal union workers), saving money for homeowners, reducing imported fuels and promoting energy independence!

I dropped the ball (ha!) on writing my new year's resolutions article, but now I have the chance to make it up to you with some suggestions to keep with you throughout the year.

Some of the most common green building home improvement questions I try to answer are: Where do I start? How can I save the most energy, money and resources? And What's the biggest bang for the buck? As I've answered these questions by showing people my home for green and solar tours and counseling clients on how to go green, there are a number of statements that get repeated often enough to create earworms or mantras.

The Polar Bear Plunge Annapolis report

Over 100 dedicated climate activists (many from Takoma Park and Silver Spring) showed up in Annapolis on January 10th to participate in the 4th annual Keep Winter Cold Polar Bear Plunge. Why did these people (your humble Going Green column author included) brave the threat of sleet and rain, not to mention the very real bone-chilling waters, to take a quick dip in the Chesapeake Bay in mid-winter? The simple answer is: so you didn't have to...

Getting your kids outside, even in the cold

Sligo Naturalist

Alison Gillespie

A lot of times people are surprised to find out how much I like winter. Maybe because I am such an avid gardener, people expect me to hibernate somewhere until the warmth returns.

But winter is one of my favorite times to hike. You see things in winter you don't see any other time of the year. There's a feeling of standing backstage at a big opera; everything is quiet and still and hushed, and the bare branches are like open stages where nature's more reluctant divas cannot hide.

One of the best hikes I ever took was a lone winter walk I made one January afternoon outside Irvine Nature Center in Baltimore County almost a decade ago. I left my office and the stuffy, hot air of the indoors behind and felt the cold burn at my cheeks as I walked past farm fields full of stubble and frozen mud to find the woodland trail along a favorite creek.

Foxes ran alongside the trail a few feet ahead of me at one point, and as the sun waned along the horizon, I watched an enormous silent owl as it glided through the branches over my head. I had never seen one before, and I was the only person there to witness its silent beauty that day. When I returned to my car, snow began to fall and I felt as if I was the only person alive on earth watching it fall from the sky.

by Susan Harris

Have you heard about the "Eat the View" campaign that's petitioning the Obama administration to grow a Victory Garden at the White House? Led by Roger Doiron of Kitchen Gardeners International and widely promoted by food and garden writer Michael Pollan, Eat the View uses big names plus great videos and graphics to garner gobs of publicity for this excellent cause - over 450 newspaper items so far.

And the Victory Garden idea has proven very popular with the voters at OnDayOne.org - it's the leading candidate among nine finalists in the climate category. President-elect Obama himself has said that he's read about the proposal, via Pollan's New York Times article about our grossly misguided food policy, in which he endorses a Victory Garden for the Obamas. And in an interview with Barbara Walters, Obama stated his intention to "green the White House." He then went on to talk about saving energy, but environmentalists in the outdoor world would dearly love to see some much-needed greening of the 18 acres around the White House.

The Voice asked a number of the well-credentialed environmentalists and policymakers who live in Takoma Park or Silver Spring to give us a few ideas that could be enacted soon, sometime this year, at the local or state level.

March of the energy efficiency experts

by Kellie Woodhouse

As going "green" becomes more fashionable, a new Silver Spring company is taking a fresh look on what it means to be eco-friendly for homeowners.

Energy Penguin, founded this past August, is an energy auditing business that advises customers on the rudimentary changes needed to make their homes energy efficient, safe and comfortable. The new start-up company educates homeowners on how the different components of a house interact with each other and what actions will efficiently improve its performance.

While the latest "green" homeowning craze includes solar panel heating systems and swamp coolers, Energy Penguin stresses that until a homeowner solves a house's elementary inefficiencies, large investments in "green" additions will not have the desired impact.

Read the rest of this article in the Voice Biz Buzz blog: http://www.takoma.com/biz/2008/12/dont-be-chilly-willy.html

It looks like it is only in Quebec, but what a good idea:

Click Here

It takes 10 times as much grain to feed a person with an cow doing the initial digestion on the vegetable matter as not. Given how many of our compatriots are using agricultural lands to power their driving habits via ethanol, now is a particularly useful time to cut way back on meat eating. Particularly if you also want to live in a world without food riots.

I understand that not every person can make this change, but most of us don't have an excuse.

Sensational article here or a bit more sober but still plenty alarming link at Wikipedia.

The signs in Whole Foods about the cost of paper make it tempting (and Whole Foods will take back and claim to recycle plastic bags), but, if you haven't remembered your reusable bags, try to avoid the plastic anyways.

I am starting to write a series of entries telling people what to do (carbon tax, stop using bottled water) to protect the environment, and why it should be done (why as far as the physical, chemical, and biological effects that various actions have; global warming, plastic particles in wild animals on the bottom of the ocean). Before I address what and why, however, I would like to describe how to think about deciding what to do about our actions affecting the environment.

There is a whole body of various environmental derived theories of spirituality and ethics, but I'm not going to write about those. They mostly extend the ideas of rights or inherent value from just humans to other sentient beings or just to all of life, or even to landscapes as they existed before humans. The problem with these sorts of theories is that they tend to blow up a big beautiful romantic bubble of idealism that is popped the first time someone gets a roach infestation. It's fine to try regard all life as being equally deserving of legal rights as ourselves, but for many people that perspective is distant from why we should bend over and pick up some trash or stand up and turn off a light.