Reading Advisory Committee on
Cities for Climate Protection
Program
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Cities for Climate Protection
Program
Reading Neighbors' Climate and Energy Campaign (Reading NCEC)
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October is Energy Awareness Month!
Authors: Gina Snyder and Michele Benson.
This year's theme for Energy Awareness month is "A Sustainable Energy Future; Putting All the Pieces Together", encouraging us all to see ourselves as a piece of a larger puzzle—fitting into the big picture, shaping our energy future, and moving our nation toward energy independence.
According to energysavers.gov, no matter how large the problem may appear, the fact remains that each of us is a part of the solution. Every day, each of us makes decisions that can stimulate sustainability and a new energy economy. When we put all the pieces together, each one of us has the means to shape our energy future and move our nation toward energy independence.
The following is a simple list of energy conservation/efficiency measures to make energy awareness month a success.
Today
> Start a new habit of turning off the lights in unoccupied rooms.
> Survey for incandescent lightbulbs to be replaced with compact fluorescents (CFLs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). CFLs can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescents and LEDs save even more. The best targets are 60-100 W bulbs used several hours a day.
> Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). While you are turning the temperature down, make sure your water heater has an insulating blanket. An insulating blanket will pay for itself in one year or less!
This Week
> Visit the hardware store and get the supplies to winterize as needed - buy that water-heater blanket, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, and compact fluorescents, caulking and weatherstripping, as needed. Get a programmable thermostat if you don’t have one.
> Caulk around leaky windows.
> Make sure your furnace or heat pump receives professional maintenance. Clean or replace filters in your furnace, air-conditioner, or heat-pump. If you have a forced hot air system, consider having the vents cleaned if it has been a few years—at least vacuum out the vents. Heating can account for almost half of the average family's winter energy bill.
> Install a programmable thermostat and adjust it to conserve according to your schedule.
This Month
> Collect and review your utility bills. Target the largest energy consumer or the largest bill for energy conservation measures.
> Insulate your hot water pipes to prevent heat loss.
> Insulate heating ducts in unheated areas, such as attics and crawlspaces. Keeping ducts in good repair can prevent heat loss of up to 60 percent.
> Seal up the largest air leaks in your house—the ones that whistle on windy days, or feel drafty. Don’t forget to check utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets. Better yet, hire an energy auditor with a blower door to point out where the worst cracks are. You can light a candle on a breezy day and slowly run it around your windows and doors; see if the candle flickers, being extra careful around all flammable materials such as drapes. Adding up the little, invisible cracks and holes may equal as much as an open window or door, without you ever knowing it!
> Schedule an energy audit with the RMLD for more expert advice on your home as a whole.
This Year
> Insulate. If your home lacks insulation: contract to have insulation blown into the walls, consider a deep energy retrofit, and/or increase your attic insulation. There should be enough insulation in the attic so that rafters are not visible.
> Replace aging, inefficient appliances with ENERGY STAR models. Even if the appliance has a few useful years left, replacing it with a top-efficiency model is generally a good investment. Check with the RMLD for their ENERGY STAR appliance rebates.
> Upgrade leaky windows. It may be time to replace them with energy-efficient models or to boost their efficiency with weatherstripping and storm windows. The typical home loses more than 25 percent of its heat through windows.
> Reduce your air conditioning costs by planting shade trees and shrubs around your house—especially on the west side.
> During winter, open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
There’s no better time than now to increase your home’s energy efficiency. Join America in action during Energy Awareness Month.
Reading Action for International Climate Day
Authors: Tracy Sopchak and Gina Snyder
October 24th has been designated as ‘International Day of Climate Action’ and plans for activities across the entire planet include big city and small town rallies, mountain climbers on high peaks with banners, underwater demonstrations in island nations threatened by sea level rise, churches and mosques and synagogues and ashrams engaged in symbolic action, star athletes organizing mass bike rides--and hundreds upon hundreds of community events to raise awareness of the need for urgent action. Reading’s activity will include a gathering on the town common starting at 8:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 24th.
What is the Day of Climate Action about? Developed by an organization led by noted author Bill McKibben, 350.org, they are seeking to make people aware of the need to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere to 350 parts per million (ppm), a concentration that scientists have identified as the safe upper limit to avoid the most damaging of the impacts of climate change.
Prior to the industrial revolution, our atmosphere had about 280 ppm of CO2, contributing to the stable and mild climate conditions that we have enjoyed. However, current measurements show that the atmospheric concentration is nearing 390 ppm. Rallies around the crucial concentration of 350 ppm are meant to send a message to world leaders that this issue is of critical importance.
Why now? This December, world leaders will be gathering in Copenhagen, Denmark to develop a new global treaty aimed at stabilizing man-made green house gas emissions that lead to climate change. This would replace the Kyoto Protocol, drafted in 1997, which adopted the 350 ppm goal of limiting atmospheric CO2.
At present, 183 nations have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, to express their intention to approve it. While the United States is not among them, Massachusetts and the New England states are engaged in a Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative using one of the mechanisms in the protocol to limit CO2 emissions. The Kyoto Protocol runs out in 2012. And, according to members of the 350.org organization, the replacement protocol being proposed for the Copenhagen Climate Conference “doesn't meet the severity of the climate crisis”.
In order to send a clear message to world leaders at the Copenhagen Climate Conference, the organization aims to unite people, using the power of the internet, in a planetary day of action on October 24, 2009. On that day, people around the world will be organizing many actions to incorporate the number 350 at an iconic place in their community and uploading a photo of their event to the 350.org website. The images will be collected from around the world and delivered to the media and world leaders in time for the Conference in December.
What can you do to support 350.org in and around Reading?
Join Reading residents on the town common at 8:00 am on Saturday, October 24th to demonstrate for 350.org. Please call Ron D’Addario at 781 439 9146 for more information.
Join The Reading Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection at our Sustainability Workshop. We’re meeting with climate-related groups from neighboring towns to compare notes and seek opportunities for regional collaboration on Wednesday, October 21st, 7:00 – 9:00 pm (contact readingmassccp@hotmail.com for information).
Join residents from many towns in our region at the Old North Bridge in Concord, MA, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm on Saturday, October 24th for a support rally.
What message will we be sending to our world leaders in Copenhagen? In the words of the 350.org members: “the solutions to climate change must be equitable, they must be grounded in science, and they must meet the scale of the crisis … in order to start the global transformation we so desperately need….Together, we can show our world and its decision-makers just how big, beautiful, and unified the climate movement really is.”
Reading Schools Participate in Walk to School Day!
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
This year’s International Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 7th. Reading schools are celebrating as part of the Safe Routes to School Program. Everyone benefits from walking, but children especially benefit from improved fitness and ‘getting the jiggles out’ on the way to and from school. Many benefits beyond increased fitness are generated by walking to school, including cleaner air and developing good habits that will reduce risks of certain health problems later in life. Walking to and from school builds confidence in kids and it fosters a greater sense of community. Parents who walk and/or bike to school with their children can be sure it is time well spent, especially in these busy and rushed times.
Everyone should help get ready for walk to school day, whether you are a parent with children, or you live on a street where children can be walking on their way to school. Please take a few steps now to make it easier for pedestrians this fall. If you need help getting started, a walkability checklist is available from walkablereading@comcast.net that can help you make sure your neighborhood is a friendly place to walk. Using the checklist, you can get some ideas of how to take action if you find problems.
First, decide the route you'll use to walk (you can explore new routes to walk to school for you and your children, and you can choose routes to friends’ homes or just somewhere fun to go). The second step involves observing some walkability details (also on the checklist). As you walk, note the locations of things you would like to change, or explore alternative routes if you find some problems on the route you’ve chosen. At the end of your walk, think about how you would rate your route overall, and if you’ve seen areas needing improvement, take some of the actions for each of the items below.
1. Did you have room to walk? Some options if you felt the route wasn’t pedestrian friendly, would be to ask neighbors to help clear the sidewalk. Other options include picking another route for now, or working with the public works department to fix specific problems. Contact Reading’s traffic safety officer, Michael Lee, to get help.
2. Was it easy to cross streets? Sometimes it can be difficult to cross the streets, so be sure to identify cross walks to use. Teach your children to STOP-LOOK-AND-LISTEN (looking both ways) before crossing a street. If you identify trees or bushes that block the view of the crossing, ask your neighbors to trim them. If cars are parking and blocking access to crosswalks, leave nice notes on problem cars asking owners not to park there. Again, Officer Lee is a great resource to help with any traffic issues.
3. Did drivers behave well on your route? One of the best ways to encourage good driving is to set an example yourself. Encourage your neighbors to slow down and be considerate of others, and be sure to report unsafe driving to the police. As parents learned at the Coolidge school parents’ night, the more that kids walk and bike to school, the safer the area becomes for everyone.
4. Was it easy to follow safety rules? Be sure to educate yourself and your children about safe walking. Help to organize parents in your neighborhood to walk children to school. Be sure to wear bike helmets when biking and wear bright clothes or reflective items when it starts to get darker.
5. Was your walk pleasant? Help to make your neighborhood pleasant for walking by planting trees, flowers and flowering shrubs in your yard. For a real eco-turn on your walk, take along a trash bag and clean up any litter you find.
Schools in Reading with specific activities for walk to school week include:
- The Parker Middle School, led by Chris Copeland: Thundering Thursdays, a dance, and a Homeroom Travel Survey.
- The Birch Meadow Elementary School, led by Eric Sprung: stickers to children as they cross the street at the crosswalks around the school area and handing out prizes and water on the playground.
- The Killam Elementary School, led by Cathy Giles: an all school assembly and then take a walk around the school grounds.
Check with Reading School web pages, edline, or school staff to find out what other activities may be planned.
Remember, everyone can be involved in creating a more walkable and bikeable community, it’s not just for children.
Energy Programs Mean Customer Savings
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
Are you feeling “fiscally” exhausted? Perhaps you’ve just gotten the kids back to school, with a whirlwind of shopping for clothes, backpacks and supplies. You may be staring down some tuition bills as well. And just when you try to catch up on the bills, winter is looming with higher energy costs and holiday expenses.
In these strained economic times, if you are looking to be a bit more frugal, or wish to reduce your energy use like many of us, or want to do your part to lower your contributions to climate change, look into getting an energy audit. To help you save energy in your home, Reading’s Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection recommends looking into the energy efficiency services offered by the Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD).
The RMLD recently hired an Energy Efficiency Engineer, Jared Carpenter. This new employee position was created to assist RMLD customers in achieving energy savings through conservation and energy efficiency. Jared’s approach will always start with the no-to-low cost measures along with some recommendations for capital investments that are proven energy savers. This is a win-win for both your pocket book and the environment.
You can easily set up an appointment for Jared to complete an evaluation of your home energy usage and habits. The evaluation of your energy use habits can provide insight into many opportunities for low-to-no cost savings. It may amaze you that simple changes in your daily routines can save you money, and reduce your carbon footprint.
Jared will also assess the home’s weatherization, heating and air conditioning, electrical equipment and appliances, their efficiency, and how they are used. With the information collected, an energy efficiency evaluation will be made, and recommendations of how to reduce your energy usage will be presented.
"There are many misconceptions about going Green and conserving energy. I always hear people say they think it costs money to go Green and conserve because new equipment is needed. This is not the case. Controlling and reducing your energy use is simple and easy as long as you know where to start," according to Mr. Carpenter. On projects that would require a contractor and/or architect, Jared is available to work with customers through the selection process, and interact through the implementation process as requested.
Today, more residents are investing in renewable energy technologies. Jared can offer an impartial assessment of your proposed investment in an unfamiliar market. Unfortunately, there are a few misconceptions about renewable energy. One is that you will make money by generating energy back into the grid or back to the light department. This generally is not the case, and thus should never be the driving force to invest in a renewable energy technology. Speaking with Jared can clear up any misunderstanding of rates and charges and provide accurate calculations. By working with the RMLD and Jared, you can also take advantage of RMLD’s Residential Renewable Energy Rebate program.
The RMLD also offers appliance rebates for specific ENERGY STAR purchases of central or room air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, and programmable thermostats. Spending a few dollars more on high quality efficiency products at the time of purchase, ends up saving you money during the lifecycle of the appliance. Within a short period of time, the saving in energy cost covers the extra cost of the appliance. From that point on, the energy savings is money in your pocket. You can contact Jared at 781-942-6412 or email jcarpenter@rmdl.com
To learn more about the RMLD’s rebate programs you may access the programs at http://www.rmld.com or call a Customer Specialist at 781-944-1340. Note: the Town of Reading’s Department of Public Works offers water conservation rebates; for example $200 for ENERGY STAR front load washers, for more information call 781-942-9077.
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
Make your plans now to tour green buildings! On October 3rd, Green Buildings Open Houses (GBOH) are sponsored throughout the northeast and in nearby towns by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA). It is the largest sustainable energy event in the Northeastern USA and happens annually the first weekend in October. Most buildings are open from 10 AM to 4 PM and admission is generally free.
The Green Buildings Open House Tour is a great opportunity to learn about energy efficiency, conservation and renewable opportunities from homes in our area. This major sustainable energy event showcases real homes and buildings that have incorporated many of the suggestions that you’ve read about in many Green Sense columns.
The 2009 Green Buildings Open House offers a unique opportunity to see first-hand how energy efficiency and conservation approaches, installation of clean renewable energy, and smart building practices are working for our neighbors. Homeowners and facilities managers are available to answer questions about their experiences, and offer practical insights into the decisions, planning, and benefits of “going green.”
According to NESEA, “the Green Buildings Open House demystifies healthy buildings, energy efficiency improvements and clean energy, proving that green buildings are comfortable, affordable, and attractive.” A ‘Sustainable Green Pages’ directory of experienced service providers who can improve the energy efficiency of your home or install a renewable energy system will also be available. “Clean energy is here, it’s real, and it’s working today.”
If you attend one or more of the Open Houses, you will learn about and see clean electricity technologies, green building design principals, energy efficient appliances, and green building materials and products for the home. It’s an unparalleled opportunity to learn how to reduce energy bills, foreign oil dependence and green house gas emissions.
Examples of what you may see include solar panels, solar hot water collectors, co-generation heating/electricity systems, wind turbines, composting/low flow toilets, radiant floor systems, energy efficient wood stoves, and geothermal heating systems.
Most sites are free, although some guided tours may charge, simply check the NESEA website (URL provided below) for details. The criteria to be on the Green Building Open House tour include:
• Sites with strong, replicable examples of energy efficiency and/or renewable energy.
• Environmentally significant features that reduce a the site’s ecological footprint, reduce imbedded energy, conserve water and ensure that buildings are healthy living and working environments.
• Sites on the tour have safe operating systems and have passed the appropriate inspection when there is a requirement to do so.
• Site profiles are usually available that feature owner-installed systems as well as contractor-installed systems.
For example, in nearby Lowell, a homeowner who is also a plumber has installed water re-use and water collection systems throughout his residence, including solar hot water for both hot water domestic needs and heating. This house was also on the tour last year and the homeowner has a depth of information, insight and suggestions that can help anyone making decisions on how to make your home more energy efficient.
The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association Open House Tour is sponsored in conjunction with the ASES (American Solar Energy Society) National Solar Tour and National Energy Awareness Month. Its goal is to showcase energy efficiency and renewable energy features in the many advanced buildings within NESEA's 10-state territory (the six New England States, plus Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania). It connects consumers with professionals who can provide the services and products needed to retrofit current buildings and build new buildings capable of deep energy reductions and the on-site generation of clean power.
To find Green Buildings Open House locations, search NESEA's database of Green Buildings Open House sites to find the ones you are most interested in visiting by reading the descriptions of each site's sustainable features at http://www.nesea.org/greenbuildings/. Pick out the buildings that you’ll want to see and then head out on October 3rd to get the information to help you make energy upgrades to your home!
Use Foot Power to Extend Summer Activity
Authors: Michele Benson, Stephanie Anderberg and Gina Snyder
Summer may seem to have ended with children heading back to school, but there is still good weather for getting out and walking or biking. Since summer outdoor actives may have been comparatively less than the norm, with one of the coolest and wettest July’s on record, and the kids may feel they got shortchanged on summer, it’s a great idea to start the school year actively by biking or walking to school.
Biking and walking to school provide excellent physical and mental exercise for children. Not only do they benefit from the physical aspect, but also the time in route allows children to mentally prepare for the day ahead or to unwind and socialize on their way home. It is a great opportunity for parents to connect with their kids if they tag along (it’s good to have at least one parent or older child with a young group of walkers and bikers). If parents are biking, set a good example by wearing a bike helmet, along with the kids. As days get cooler and shorter, use reflectors on your children’s outer clothes so they will be more visible.
Reading has joined the ranks of community leaders, parents and schools across the U.S. using Safe Routes to School programs to encourage and enable more children to safely walk and bike to school. Both of Reading’s middle schools and all elementary schools are now participating with walk-to-school events of their own. International Walk to School day is October 7th, offering a great opportunity for parents to participate in the event by walking or biking with their children to school.
The Safe Routes to School program suggests adding walking or biking to the school commute mix. The American Heart Association and the Department of Health and Human Services tell us that children and adolescents should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day of the week. Walking or biking to and from school is an ideal way to get some of that activity at no extra cost! If you can trade driving to or from school for a walk with your children, it gives you extra time to connect with them directly.
Some students may live a bit far from their school to walk or bicycle, and some parents have tight schedules getting kids to school before heading off to work. For those parents who drive their children to school, some strategies that can reduce traffic congestion at the school are the use of park-and-walk and carpooling. Reading’s park-and-walk program makes use of off-site locations as parking areas for parents who then walk their child the rest of the way to school or join children of a known walking group in route to complete their journey. Some established park-and-walk areas suggested by Reading’s Safety Officer Lee are: Blueberry Lane for Wood End School, St Athanasius for Killam, and any of the roads off of Summer Avenue for Joshua Eaton and West Street for Barrows.
Another critical concern with a lineup of cars transporting children to and from school is the exhaust fumes billowing from idling cars. Parents may not realize when they are waiting to pick-up their kids after school that it is the worst place and time for vehicle idling. Please observe the school zones’ -No Idling- by turning off your vehicles as you wait.
Exhaust fumes contain air pollutants that can be especially harmful to children. Children have respiratory systems that are not fully developed and spend more time at higher activity levels, which can cause them to breathe more deeply and take in more air pollution. They are also more likely to have asthma or other acute respiratory problems that can be aggravated by air pollution than other age groups.
We encourage drivers to turn off their engines for many reasons, but most especially to protect our children. Not driving to and from school will protect them even more. Walking or biking to school protects the environment and your children’s health. When children decide to lace-up their sneakers to walk, or strap on their bike helmets to pedal to school instead of riding in a car, they reduce the amount of air pollutants emitted by vehicles, give themselves a health boost and help to protect their environment. Why not take a few steps and make a difference?
Board of Selectmen Support Updated “Bottle Bill”
Authors: David L. Williams, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
The Massachusetts Bottle Bill was passed into law in 1982. Covering carbonated beverages and beer, this was the first statewide recycling program in Massachusetts, and it remains the most successful in terms of percentage recycled. The 2009 proposed bottle bill update would add water, sports drinks, juices, and other on-the-go beverages to the existing bottle bill, excluding milk, medicines, and infant formula.
The proposed bill (see http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht03pdf/ht03515.pdf) would add many newer beverages, once an insignificant part of the total sold but which now comprise about one quarter of all beverages. Reflecting changes in consumers’ tastes, the five cents on these additional drinks at the point of purchase would be redeemable at a redemption center. The cost of the handling (3.25 cents) is paid by the distributor, and this cost might also be passed on to the consumer. However, the float on the nickels and the recycle profit will partially offset the distributors’ costs. The expected redemption rate is expected to be about 80%, and unredeemed deposits are to be returned to the state and earmarked for the Clean Environment Fund. This could raise $15 to $20 million per year for the Commonwealth for cleaning the environment.
So, if you litter your cost would be 5 cents a bottle, and someone has to pick up after you. If you send it to the recycle bin you lose 5 cents, and this costs the town the pick-up fee. If you trash the bottle, you lose 5 cents and it costs the town the added cost for trash handling, and the plastic is burned in a waste-to-energy facility. If you redeem your bottles, your 5 cents is returned to you.
The present bottle bill is 28 years old. The addition of non-carbonated beverage bottles addresses the remarkable increase in the sale of water and other non-carbonated drinks, which is now about 25% of the beverage market. Before World War II, most bottles were glass and were redeemed, washed and re-used. Now, most bottles are made of PET plastic, and there is a good market for this material for fabric and non-food containers.
The new bottle bill is supported by several environmental groups as well as MassRecycle who favors the bill, but would prefer to see it limited to containers of two liters or less. These bottles would be accommodated at the present automated refund centers, and larger bottles are usually used in the homes and are more often recycled. Reading’s Board of Selectmen passed a resolution to support the revised bottle bill.
Beyond the economics and politics of the bottle bill; the bill also protects the environment. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is made from petroleum in an energy intensive process. Had 3.2 billion pounds of PET bottles been recycled (in 2002), we would have saved 6.2 billion barrels of oil. The lack of recycling is a waste of material and energy. It also contributes to global climate change emissions and is equivalent to 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide released by its oxidation in landfill decomposition or by direct burning.
Finally, there is the more general problem of litter. It is estimated that one third of all beverage containers are consumed on-the-go, and beverage containers comprise about 50% of the volume of litter along the road.
Estimates are that the new bottle bill would increase the recycling rate for these non-carbonated beverages from its present 20% to 80%. This revision of the bottle bill provides a worthwhile advantage for a small additional cost, and one which would be borne primarily by any consumer who fails to redeem their nickel.
It is also worth noting that Reading already has high quality water (from the MWRA) that is tested by EPA approved methods and the results are sent to all the residents. While bottled water sold inter-state is regulated by the FDA, the standards are much less stringent. So, why buy bottled water at all? Our water tastes great, and it’s now less stylish to carry bottled water and more in style to carry a reusable container—saving you the whole ordeal of paying, redeeming, recycling or just throwing away a bottle. However, if you really need bottled water on-the-go, you should be able to return the bottle for your refund.
There is much debate on both sides of the question, and we encourage you to check with your local official to be sure s/he is representing your position on this issue.
How about a Little WaterSense?
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
When the mercury rises on your thermometer, so does water use. “Peak” water use describes the time of year when residential water use is at its highest, usually in late July or early August, depending on where you live. From lawn and garden watering to car washing to filling backyard pools to even washing beach towels more frequently—it all adds up to about four times as much water or more than you use the rest of the year!
A few easy tips from EPA's WaterSense program provide homeowners with opportunities to save water and more than $100 annually on your water bills. “Peak water use can be expensive, taxes local water systems, and threatens future water supply and quality,” said Peter S. Silva, EPA’s assistant administrator for water in a press release. “A few simple changes can help consumers reduce their water bills, and in turn, save them money.”
Here are some tips to help reduce water use:
Water yards and landscapes only when needed. Watering in the very early morning or late evening is best. Peak hourly use usually occurs between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., with a secondary peak between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Reading has water restrictions on automatic sprinklers, and offers a $25 rebate for residential Moisture Sensors so that you know when absolutely needed.
Consider converting to WaterSense labeled toilets (Reading offers up to $120 rebate on a new 1.6 gpf toilet), faucets and faucet accessories. The lower the gallons-per minute on faucet aerators the better—go for 1.5 gpm rather than 2.0 gpm. These fixtures use at least 20 percent less water and can save $60 per year.
Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes, and scrape dishes instead of rinsing when loading the dishwasher. Be sure to regularly clean out the garbage trap in the dishwasher.
For a summer refreshment, keep a pitcher of water in the fridge instead of running the tap until it is cold.
Put your favorite handyperson to work fixing leaks around the home, which can waste about 200 gallons per week. Fixing leaks can add up to about $50 in utility bill savings annually.
Look for leaks:
A good method to check for leaks is to examine your winter water usage. It’s likely that a family of four has a serious leak problem if its winter water use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month.
Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.
One way to find out if you have a toilet leak is to place a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Make sure to flush immediately after this experiment to avoid staining the tank.
Those drip, drip, dripping faucets and showerheads can also waste a lot of water. A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. A home with WaterSense labeled toilets could use that water to flush for six months!
Faucet leaking can be reduced by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and replacing them if necessary. If you are replacing a faucet, look for the WaterSense label.
A showerhead leaking at 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons per year. That's enough water to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher. Most leaky showerheads can be fixed by ensuring a tight connection using pipe tape and a wrench.
Another opportunity tackles a major family water consumer: laundry. A front-loading washer uses about half the water of a top-loading washer, saving about 8,000 gallons (about $160) annually. With rebates from the Town of Reading and RMLD, you can save $250 off the purchase price, bringing the cost competitive to a top-loader.
In 2008 alone, WaterSense labeled toilets, faucets, and faucet accessories helped Americans save more than 9.3 billion gallons of water and realize more than $55 million in savings on water and sewer bills. To make it easy to get those savings, take advantage of Reading’s water conservation rebate programs through the Department of Public Works.
For more tips and information on EPA’s WaterSense, visit http://www.epa.gov/watersense/water/peak.htm.
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
It’s almost time for new car models to hit the market and there are new incentives to buy a “greener” vehicle, but how can you know if your selection really is “green”? EPA has released its latest Green Vehicle Guide, with 2010 model information. This guide (available at www.epa.gov/greenvehicles) can be used to choose the cleanest and most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets your needs. Low emissions and good fuel economy are both important for the environment (EPA’s guide provides more environmental information than the website for the CAR Allowance Rebate System (CARS), www.fueleconomy.gov).
The online guide is as easy to use as just a few clicks of your mouse (to look up a vehicle, click on a model year (such as 2009), state (e.g., Massachusetts) and vehicle type and model, then click the “submit” button to generate your search), or you can look up a type of vehicle (e.g., all station wagons for the model year 2010 in Massachusetts); or look up the greenest vehicles.
You can also perform an advanced search, which allows you to search across multiple years, states and makes while at the same time allowing you to narrow your search using criteria not available in the basic searches. If you really want to be thorough, you can choose a year and download the entire guide into an adobe acrobat file, a text file, or a Microsoft spreadsheet. With a spreadsheet you can perform any search or sort the information right on your screen.
To find the “Greenest” vehicles, explore the environmental performance section, which has multiple choices:
You can choose one entry in each category of Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Scores. This gives you the choice to find vehicles having a score equal to or higher than the score you are looking for.
You can choose the emission standards you want the vehicle to meet.
You can also choose the fuel economy that you are interested in based on City, Highway and Combined fuel economy. You will get results listing those vehicles having a fuel economy equal to or higher than the fuel economy you entered.
There are two more choices in the “Greenest” section - SmartWay and SmartWay Elite. Clicking either or both of these boxes will restrict the query results to only those with either a SmartWay or SmartWay Elite designation. To search for vehicles under these programs, you have to choose a year, a state, and either or both of the SmartWay and SmartWay elite checkboxes.
And then it’s as easy as clicking on the submit button to search for vehicles that meet these criteria.
If you’ve heard of the “Cash for Clunkers” program, you can use the EPA’s site for find the best choices in the 2009 model year vehicle selection. “Cash for Clunkers” is the common name for the CAR Allowance Rebate System (CARS). CARS is a more than $1 billion government program that helps consumers buy or lease a more environmentally-friendly vehicle from a participating dealer when they trade in a less fuel-efficient car or truck. According to cars.gov, “the program is designed to energize the economy; boost auto sales and put safer, cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles on the nation's roadways.”
Consumers qualifying for this program can receive a $3,500 or $4,500 discount from the car dealer when they trade in their old vehicle (that’s the ‘clunker’ part, if your car is worth more than $4500 at trade-in, this program won’t benefit you) and purchase or lease a new one. Consumers do not need to register anywhere or at anytime for this program, the rebate is provided from the federal government to the dealer who passes the savings on to the consumer. But, more funding had to be added to the program already, so it may run out again before November, 2009.
“Cash for Clunkers” is not just a government stimulus benefit, but also provides environmental benefit by replacing older gas-guzzlers with new fuel-efficient vehicles. The Green Vehicle Guide gives you the tools to select wisely.
So if you are in the market for a new car, take this opportunity, make the best fuel-efficient choice possible to suit your needs.
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
With hot and muggy days to deal with, air conditioning is in the forefront of most people's minds during the summer. But did you know that a room air conditioner running for 6 hours a day uses about thirty-five dollars per month of electricity while a circulating fan running for the same amount of time uses only about two dollars? By using less energy at home, you can reduce your electricity bill and also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Energy STAR program (Energy STAR is a label that identifies energy-efficient products which meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy)has just released some ‘cool’ tips for a cost-effectively cooler summer:
* Turn off lights and electronics when not in use so they don’t generate unnecessary heat. Almost all electrical equipment generates some heat as a byproduct of using energy.
* Replace incandescent light bulbs in your light fixtures with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs which use two-thirds less energy and generate less heat than conventional bulbs.
* Add more insulation to keep your home cooler this summer. Insulation not only helps keep the heat from escaping your home in the winter, it also helps to keep the heat out during the summer. Attics can get particularly hot in the summer so if you insulate them well, you can keep your home cooler. Attic air circulation (roof and soffit vents) is also an important component in keeping a cooler home.
* Seal air leaks around your home to keep the heat out and the cool air in. The biggest air leaks are usually found in the attic or basement, but also come in around doors, windows, vents, pipes, and electrical outlets. Use caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping to seal the leaks.
If you have air conditioner(s):
* Get a programmable thermostat and set it to save while you are away or asleep. Set the air conditioning to a higher temperature when you are not in the room. Using it properly can save up to $180 per year in energy costs.
* Using fans instead of air conditioners is a great way to save energy by circulating the air inside of a room. Remember to adjust your thermostat when using your fan—additional energy and dollar savings could be realized with this simple step!
* Inspect your central air conditioners duct system for obvious signs of leaks and disconnections (the ducts in many homes leak 20 percent or more). Seal any leaks with foil tape or a special sealant called “duct mastic.” Also consider insulating ducts in unconditioned areas (like the attic, basement, or crawlspace).
* Maintain your cooling system. Check your air conditioner’s air filter every month at a minimum and change the filter every 3 months. Remove leaves, dirt, and other debris from around the outdoor components to improve air flow and efficiency. Have a qualified professional tune up your system with a pre-season maintenance checkup, and if it’s time to replace your old system, look for models that have earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR.
If you use fans:
* Look for EnergySTAR fans. EnergySTAR qualified ceiling fans move air over 45 percent more efficiently than conventional fans. This means you'll use less energy to get the same amount of cooling. EnergySTAR qualified ventilation fans perform better and are typically less noisy than conventional models because they use high-performance motors and a better overall design. Qualified fans consume 70 percent less energy than conventional models.
If you have a pool:
* By checking with your pool or spa maintenance company about reducing filtration time, you can save on your energy bills. Investing in a pool or spa cover is another great way to improve energy-efficiency, especially as the weather cools. Also, solar pool/spa heating systems can provide a return on investment after only a few years.
To locate a store near you that carries EnergySTAR qualified heating and cooling equipment, try the store locator at www.energystar.gov. Just select "products," click on "heating and cooling equipment," choose the item you are interested in purchasing, and click on "Find a Store."
Author: Gina Snyder
Solar water heaters—also called solar domestic hot water systems—can be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. They can be used in any climate, and the fuel they use—sunshine—is free. If you have a sunny roof, solar hot water is one of the best ways to take advantage of the energy of the sun in New England.
Most solar water heating systems for buildings have two main parts: a solar collector and a storage tank. To get the most savings from a solar hot water system, you should have a well-insulated storage tank to hold the heated water. It can be just a modified water heater, but it is usually larger and very well-insulated.
The most common collector is called a flat-plate collector, consisting of a thin, flat, rectangular box with a transparent cover that faces the sun. You mount it on a south-facing roof. Small tubes run through the box and carry the fluid — either water or other fluid, such as an antifreeze solution — to be heated. The tubes are attached to an absorber plate, which is painted black to absorb the heat. As heat builds up in the collector, it heats the fluid passing through the tubes and sends it to your storage tank. Systems that use fluids other than water usually heat your water by having it pass through a coil of tubing in the storage tank where the sun heated hot fluid is stored.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy group, there are two types of solar water heating systems: active, which have circulating pumps and controls, and passive, which don't. These are also divided into two options each.
Active Systems: The active solar water heating systems can have pumps that directly circulate household water through the collectors and into the home. These work well in climates where it rarely freezes. The second type of actively circulating system pumps a non-freezing, heat-transfer fluid through the collectors and a heat exchanger. This heats the water that then flows into the home. These are popular in climates subject to freezing temperatures.
Passive Systems: Passive solar water heating systems are typically less expensive than active systems, but they're usually not as efficient. However, passive systems can be more reliable and may last longer. The basic passive systems feature one or more black tanks or tubes in an insulated box. Cold water first passes through the solar collector, which preheats the water. The water then continues on to the conventional backup water heater, providing a reliable source of hot water. Passive systems are best not used when outdoor pipes could freeze in severe, cold weather.
Another passive system type is called a thermosyphon system. These depend on the principal that warm water rises as cooler water sinks. The collector must be installed below the storage tank so that warm water will rise into the tank. These systems are reliable, but contractors must pay careful attention to the roof design because of the heavy storage tank. They are usually more expensive than the basic passive systems.
When using a solar hot water system, you need to consider whether a back up hot water system for cloudy days and times of increased demand might be needed. Conventional storage water heaters usually provide backup and may already be part of the solar system package (e.g., thermosyphon systems).
The Department of Energy has many resources on its solar hot water heating pages, including calculators and other tips on saving on hot water. For New England, they also provide the contact information for the Solar Energy Business Association of New England (SEBANE), located in Boston, at phone: (617) 227-6980 and on the web at: http://www.sebane.org.
If you are considering installing a solar system on your home or business, contact the RMLD’s Energy Efficiency Engineer (781) 944-6412 on the availability of a rebate. Tax rebates are available as well, look for information in an upcoming column!
Are you Ready to Change Your Game?
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder.
A new report “Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States,” issued at a White House briefing last month concludes that “Climate change is happening now in the United States and globally, and its impacts are expected to become increasingly severe for more people and places unless the rate of emissions of heat-trapping gases is substantially reduced.” The report, which summarizes the science and the impacts of climate change on the United States now and in the future, was published by the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). This program, which began as a presidential initiative in 1989 and was mandated by Congress in the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-606), coordinates and integrates federal research (from thirteen separate federal agencies) on changes in the global environment and their implications for society.
The program has prepared, according to its website, “the most comprehensive and authoritative report of its kind,” a game changing report, focusing on climate change impacts in the U.S. and on impacts to society and the economy such as energy, water, agriculture, and health.
The report also highlights the choices we face in response to human-induced climate change. Some Key findings include:
* Climate changes are underway in the United States and are projected to grow, including increases in heavy downpours, rising temperature and sea level, rapidly retreating glaciers, thawing permafrost, lengthening growing seasons, lengthening ice-free seasons in the ocean and on lakes and rivers, earlier snowmelt, and alterations in river flows.
* Crop and livestock production will be increasingly challenged. Increased heat, pests, water stress, diseases, and weather extremes will pose adaptation challenges for crop and livestock production.
* Threats to human health will increase. Health impacts of climate change are related to heat stress, waterborne diseases, poor air quality, extreme weather events, and diseases transmitted by insects and rodents. Robust public health infrastructure can reduce the potential for negative impacts.
The 190-page report focuses on the need for mitigation and adaptation measures as necessary elements of an effective response strategy. “Future climate change and its impacts depend on choices made today,” the report states. The report includes a series of recommendations for advancing climate science, and notes that it is not too late to act.
NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco noted that decisions made now will determine whether climate change will result in big changes or small changes, noting “If we take immediate and sustained action to reduce heat-trapping pollution, we can in fact avoid the most severe impacts ...” Lubchenco noted that the report should help dispel impressions that climate change impacts will be distant in time and far-off in location, “climate change is happening now, in our own back yard, and it affects the things that people care about,” according to the June 30th issue of EOS, an American Geophysical Union publication.
According to the Yale Forum on Climate Change and the Media, others associated with the report added, “We do need to act soon, sooner rather than later” to avoid the most serious impacts. What they have been quoted as saying is: “We do need to really act soon.”
Several scientists working on the report expressed optimism that emissions could be reduced in time to avoid the worst climate change predictions. According to EOS, Rosina Bierbaum, co-director of the World Bank’s World Development Report 2010, noted that lowering U.S. emissions “is a Herculean task. We can do it, but we have to greatly invest in energy [research and development], use all the tools we have today, and develop the new tools for tomorrow.” Bierbaum coauthored a report for the United Nations Foundation titled “Confronting Climate Change” where it was noted that the technology exists to seize significant opportunities around the globe to reduce emissions and provide other economic, environmental and social benefits. But to do so, policy makers must immediately act to reduce emissions by:
- Improving efficiency in the transportation sector through measures such as vehicle efficiency standards, fuel taxes and registration fees/rebates that favor purchase of efficient and alternative-fuel vehicles.
- Improving design and efficiency of commercial and residential buildings through building codes, standards for equipment and appliances, incentives for property developers and landlords to build and manage properties efficiently, and financing for energy-efficiency investments.
- Expanding the use of biofuels through energy portfolio standards and incentives to growers and consumers.
Scientists are calling the report a “game changer.” And now is the time for all of us to change our game and implement the many suggestions for reducing our use of energy. Call the RMLD and get an energy audit if you haven’t yet, and implement their recommendations.
For more information, visit http://www.globalchange.gov/usimpacts
Author: Tracy Sopchak
My family and I recently moved across town and we learned some ways to reduce our environmental impact by keeping in mind the environmental mantra: Reduce-Reuse-Recycle. Let’s start by considering the first part of this triangle: reduce.
Reduce Your Stuff
We reduced the amount of stuff we’d have to move by giving away anything we didn’t really need. Cleaning out my clutter made me realize how little of it I truly needed. So really, it was a time to realize that the first step to a green move is to fight the urge to acquire lots of stuff throughout our lives. The less stuff we accumulate in the first place, the less we have to move.
Here are some options for getting rid of your unwanted stuff:
Charities:
The Reading Public Library will accept used books, CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes in good condition.
Mission of Deeds on Chapin Ave will all the things that could be used to set up a home (http://www.missionofdeeds.org/index.html).
The Salvation Army Thrift Store in Wilmington allows you to drop off just about anything (625 Main St. (978) 988-9488).
Clothing Drop Boxes: There are various boxes around town that take clothing and shoes. One is centrally located at the MBTA Train parking lot off of Woburn Street at the north end of the lot.
Morgan Memorial has a truck that accepts many different kinds of items (corner of Main and Franklin, http://www.goodwillmass.org).
GotBooks has drop-off locations around town for donating your unwanted books and movies (http://www.gotbooks.com). Several schools have drop boxes that donate some of the funds raised from used book sales to the school.
Craig’s List and Freecycle are online networks that you can use to sell or donate your unwanted items (http://www.craigslist.org or http://www.freecycle.org).
Junk Removal Companies:
There are companies you can pay to come to your home to remove just about anything you don’t want, including electronics, wood and garbage. Be sure to choose one that will responsibly recycle or dispose of your items.
Reuse Packing Materials
You can safely move your stuff without having to spend a fortune on expensive packing materials or waste the resources that would be required to make them. Here are some options:
Ø Boxes:
Local liquors stores give away wine boxes, great for packing books.
Local appliance stores give away large boxes, great for lightweight items.
Offices give away sturdy computer boxes with handles to ease lifting and paper boxes with sturdy tops, great for stacking.
My own closet supplied me with shoeboxes, great for gathering up those smaller last minute items on your way out of the old house.
Craig’s List and Freecycle are great sources for acquiring used moving boxes.
Ø Wrapping and padding for fragile items:
Use your shredded paper from your own office or recycled newspaper to pack dishes or glasses.
Socks and towels, that you also need to move, can be used to pad fragile items to keep them safe.
Recycle Packing Materials
Once you’ve unpacked in your new home, make your used packing materials available to someone else. Continue the reuse cycle! Freecycle or Craig’s list are, again, great options for this. If you do need to dispose of boxes, cut them into pieces small enough to fit in a paper shopping bag and put them out with your recycling on recycling day.
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
Aaahh, summer vacation! If you are thinking about taking off some time this summer, you can easily make “greener” choices all along the way. And the good news is that greening your travel can also mean saving money – a nice perk in these cash-strapped times.
Where to go? The greener choice is often the closer choice, as so much of the environmental impact of vacationing will come from transportation choices. And with so many impressive destinations close by, you’re off to a great head start just by living in New England. Use the internet to find travel and tourism bureaus for nearby states/provinces and metro areas, and check out their package deals sections for ideas and savings. And check out sites like VisitNewEngland.com or VisitingNewEngland.com for more ideas.
How to go? Green travel choices depend on the number of travelers in your party and the distance of travel. Bus and rail are usually the best options all-around (some people even bike or hike for vacation travel!), and when visiting a city, often a bus or train can get you directly downtown.
Choosing between flying and driving is trickier. When traveling alone, or with just one companion, flying could be your greener choice, especially when traveling on newer airplanes and fuller flights. When possible, avoid congested airports (as bad as idling your car engine is, imagine idling your jet engine, waiting to take off!) and look for direct flights. When traveling with a small group, driving might be better than flying. And if there is an empty seatbelt in your vehicle, consider providing a greener vacation to a friend or relative by asking them along. As with flying, plan ahead to avoid congestion – plot out your route, start time and meal stops to avoid large cities during peak commuter hours. Also avoid vacation traffic at predictable times such as around long weekends.
Where to stay? Camping requires little or no energy for heat, lighting and electronics. Rustic cabins are also a good choice. Staying with friends or relatives can maximize resources and save you money. When staying in hotels, take advantage of water saving measures they propose, such as reusing your towels. Also remember to turn down air conditioning and turn off lights and electronics when leaving your room. If there is a hotel shuttle to nearby destinations, leave your car in the lot and save on gas. When planning a luxury vacation, use the internet to study “ecotourism” options and research carefully to determine if benefits are bona fide.
What to do there? When visiting a city, learn about its public transportation and destinations served. Some smaller tourist towns have seasonal trolleys or buses circulating between key sites. Many larger transit systems offer tourist passes and some have arrangements for discounted admission to popular destinations. When visiting a state park or national forest, walk or hike to get in touch with nature. Where allowed, bike or canoe.
What to get as souvenirs? Less is more! Find souvenirs and gifts that are consumable, such as candies or jams; useful, such as clothing or tableware; or supportive of the local economy, such as locally made pottery or jewelry. Talk your kids out of toys that won’t get used after a few days. Avoid products made from endangered animal or plant species – they are not only unsustainable; they could also cause you legal troubles.
What to eat? Eating out meal after meal can get old pretty quickly. It can be expensive, is often overfilling, and sometimes not very healthy. It can also result in lots of trash. Try stopping at a grocery store for picnic ingredients or a light meal of cheese and fruit and save money and reduce the take-out trash, and feel a bit healthier, too! Another wallet-smart and environmentally-healthy choice is to bring your own reusable water bottle to refill at drinking fountains (with foreign travel, be sure to check into local water quality first).
Any combination of these tips are sure to ‘green’ your vacation. And don’t forget the new ‘staycation’ trend - you can use these tips and enjoy many options right here in Reading.
Authors: Joan Boegel and Gina Snyder
Whether you are concerned about reducing the carbon footprint of your diet or looking for heart-healthy alternatives to red meat, seafood could be the answer. However, when it comes to fish, shell-fish, and crustaceans, there are many choices – some more environmentally responsible than others, so finding the best options takes a little research. Fortunately, there’s lots of help available for you to ensure that you are choosing sustainable seafood, meaning that the particular species is managed in a way that provides for today’s needs without compromising the ability of the species to reproduce and be available for future generations. To determine whether your seafood is sustainable, you’ll need to understand whether it was wild caught or farmed, where in the world it came from, and where it fits on the food chain. This article provides some information, along with some very good websites to help you to answer those questions.
You may have noticed that the fish counters at local supermarkets show the country of origin of each fish and indicate whether it is wild or farm-raised. That’s a good start, but much more information is available on-line with seafood guides produced by the Seafood Watch program of the Monterey Bay Aquarium (www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx), the Blue Ocean Institute (www.blueocean.org/seafood/seafood-guide), and the Environmental Defense Fund (www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=1521). These are very helpful in identifying and explaining the “ECO-BEST” options and those to avoid. You can print out a pocket guide and bring it along when shopping or dining out. Tech savvy consumers might even want to use Blue Ocean Institute’s FISH PHONE (text 30644 with the message FISH and the name of the fish in question), for instant answers by text message.
If seafood is wild-caught, the primary environmental issues are overfishing, habitat destruction, by-catch, and greenhouse gas emissions. Overfishing – harvesting more fish than nature can replenish – has depleted the populations of many once plentiful food fish species including Atlantic Cod and Chilean Seabass. Large fish that take a long time to mature and are slow to reproduce are most vulnerable to overfishing. Some fishing methods can be destructive to the ecosystem. For example, bottom dredging and trawling drag heavy equipment along the seafloor damaging habitat. Seine purses, trawl nets and long lines risk significant by-catch, the unintended capture and subsequent death of non-target fish, marine mammals, turtles and birds. Fishing methods with the least adverse environmental impact are hook-and -line, trolling and traps.
The farther that fishing boats need to travel out to sea, the more fossil fuel they’ll use. Keeping the fish on ice and transporting it to market uses energy, too. However, there are well-managed wild fisheries. Wild Alaskan Salmon is an excellent choice due to the health and abundance of the population and effective management of the fishery and habitat, but here in New England, it doesn’t make sense to buy it fresh. Transporting fresh fish by airplane from Alaska to the east coast adds enormously to its carbon footprint. For fresh fish on the Atlantic coast, herring and sardines are a good choice as small, plant-eating fish that live in large numbers close to shore. These fish species have the added advantage of low levels of toxic contaminants because they are plant-eaters.
Fish farming, or aquaculture, has grown rapidly in the past several decades, so that now almost half the seafood consumed by people worldwide is farm-raised. Though aquaculture plays an important role in meeting the demand for seafood without some of the environmental impacts inherent to wild capture, fish farms can be problematic. For example, shrimp farming in Asia has destroyed sensitive mangrove ecosystems. Atlantic Salmon are raised in crowded net-pens open to the ocean and wastes from these fish are discharged into the ocean, causing pollution. Salmon are carnivores, so they are fed fish meal and fish oil, using two to ten pounds of smaller fish to produce each pound of salmon, creating a similar trade off to corn-fed beef – using far more energy to grow the meat than it provides in return. This is not a good environmental bargain.
The most sustainable fish farms are those that raise plant-eating fish in a closed tanks or inland ponds. Tilapia and catfish are sustainably farmed in this way, providing more protein than required to raise them. Also, filter-feeding mollusks like clams, mussels and oysters can be successfully farm-raised with minimal adverse environmental impact.
So, before you buy or order seafood, make sure that your choice is healthy for the planet as well for you.
Friends and Family Day Opportunities to be Earth Friendly
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, and Gina Snyder
Friends and Family Day is coming this Saturday, June 20th, at the Birchmeadow Fields. By using the Birchmeadow Fields, the event has grown in size and popularity for Reading and neighboring towns. It is a great way to kick off the summer season.
The Cities for Climate Protection committee invites everyone to stop by our booth and learn how to reduce your energy use, pick up information on local transit options, and to find out ways to enjoy local eating and protect the climate at the same time.
Following our tradition, we will again be offering our annual 1-2-3 Pledge, highlighting simple steps you can take to reduce your climate impact. Previous pledges focused on energy use, recycling and transportation choices. This year's 1-2-3 Pledge is all about how we can choose foods wisely to reduce climate impact. Pick up information on local farms, organic gardening, eating sustainably and a sustainable seafood guide for the northeast. We’ll have lots of information on how to be earth friendly, including other ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by careful selection of your choices of food products.
Those who take the 1-2-3 Pledge can take home a packet of wildflower seeds to plant and help create a habitat and food supply for butterflies, birds and other natural wildlife.
This year's pledge also includes the familiar ‘bonus’ check box – this year’s check box addresses a simple step everyone can take to reduce your environmental footprint by choosing to avoid bottled drinking water. Bottled water is hard on the environment in several ways, including wasteful packaging, transportation costs, and in some cases, the depletion of water supplies in pristine areas. Tap water has no packaging and uses an extremely efficient ‘transportation’ system to get to your home. Also, town water supplies are checked frequently for contaminants, and quality is more highly regulated than bottled water. If you want that filtered cache, home water filters can easily be used, and reusable bottles filled with water from your own tap are an earth friendly way to have water when out and about.
When you come to this Town-wide event, please walk or ride your bike if possible. There are good sidewalks on the streets nearby, and some opportunities for pedestrian access that are more interesting than driving:
The Higgins Conservation area, situated between Birch Meadow Drive and Rice Road, connects not only Forest Street via Rice Road to Birchmeadow, but also has paths that connect to several streets off of Grove Street, including Henzie and Criterion. Paths leave at the ends of these streets and it is a short walk through the woods to Birchmeadow.
The group of streets known as "the poets" off of the other end of Forest Street - Whittier, Tennyson and Wadsworth - connect at the end of the cul de sac on Whittier via a short sidewalk, to Birchmeadow.
The Birchmeadow area is surrounded by lovely residential streets, perfect for biking. And, there are lots of new bike racks at the high school and the playing fields, too. So get the family out to enjoy the day and get some exercise at the same time!
The Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection would like to thank all the citizens of Reading for your participation in our community’s events, and your continuing efforts to reduce our community’s greenhouse gas emissions. We look forward to seeing you at Friends and Family Day, June 20th from 11 AM to 3 PM.
Summertime, Eating Local is Good
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina SnyderEating local vegetables and fruits in season is a great way not only to improve your diet, but also to reduce your carbon footprint. One big part of the reason that what you eat can have an impact on climate change is due to something called “food miles”. This is how far and by what transportation the food product arrived in your home. It’s pretty obvious that if a food product didn’t have to travel very far, it shouldn’t have as many harmful emissions associated with it.
But it isn’t quite that simple. Clearly, anything that had to be air-freighted (such as perishable, high-value food items) comes with a very expensive carbon footprint, no matter how grown. In fact, some calculations show that air-freighting food is 10 times more carbon intensive than container shipping, and five times more carbon intensive than trucking. But other factors come into play. For example, anything grown locally in a hothouse that uses fossil fuels to keep it warm, is going to have a big footprint.
You don’t have to investigate everything that you buy to find out how it was grown and transported however. There are some simple guidelines to follow. In general, vegetables, fruit and grains grown in North America (the closer the better) have a lower carbon footprint than from other continents. Many low carbon diet websites also recommend minimizing meat and dairy. These are higher in carbon or GHG emissions than vegetables, because growing the animals is an energy intensive enterprise (cows particularly, in a western diet, emit methane gas, and agricultural practices release nitrous oxide. These are very significant greenhouse gases).
There are also very high energy inputs associated with the production of feed for animals (particularly corn). Greenhouse gases are contributed during the time it takes to grow these large animals (e.g., they take a longer time to grow than plants, and a lot of plants are used to feed them during their lives) and meat is a fairly heavy product, so there are high transportation emissions compared to a similar quantity of vegetables.
Another way to lower the carbon footprint of your diet is to choose less processed foods (e.g. homemade potato salad versus packaged potato chips). Food processing requires lots of energy, which uses fossil fuel and creates emissions.
Processing and packaging both require high energy inputs. And nutritionists point out that many processed foods contain ingredients, like high fructose corn syrup, that are highly processed themselves. Orange juice is an example of a highly processed food that was in the news this year for its carbon footprint. On average, it takes 4 oranges to make a glass of orange juice, then it has to be transported, chilled, from thousands of miles away. And, according to Tropicana, a large part of the carbon footprint of its OJ included emissions related to fertilizer production and application. Choosing organic alternatives is another way to reduce the carbon footprint of your diet.
So, what can you do to lower the carbon footprint of your diet?
Choose less packaged foods, in-season locally grown fruits and vegetables, organically grown, if possible, and cut back on eating meat.
A few other tips, to keep in mind:
Buy only what you need, waste has a big impact too. For what you do have to throw out – compost your food waste.
Another way to cut back on wastage is to ask about portion sizes at restaurants to avoid over-ordering. And, if you cook large meals at home, freeze leftovers for future lunches or quick dinners, rather than tossing them or having them spoil.
Don't forget to factor in your mode of transportation to the store. Using a lot of gas going to the store can negate the benefits of every thoughtful purchase in your shopping cart. Walk, bike or combine shopping trips whenever you can.
These are some very simple things to reduce the carbon footprint of what you eat. Eating more whole fruits and vegetables, and walking or biking to the store when you can, will also have the added benefit of improving your health and fitness.
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
Have you heard yourself saying “I never had allergies before, but THIS year, I do!”? Or perhaps like many people, your allergies have been worse these past few years.
It seems that allergens are escalating and more and more people are experiencing allergy symptoms each year.
Researchers are studying the increase in allergy complaints, and are investigating everything from caffeine intake to family size for clues. They have found that one cause could be air pollution, where vehicle exhaust irritates respiratory systems, causing them to react more to allergens. And one cause that might surprise people, believe it or not, could be climate change.
Plants thrive on carbon dioxide, so the more carbon dioxide is in the air, the faster plants will grow and the more survive long enough to pollinate. Scientists are starting to see a trend of increased plant size and the amount of pollen and other leaves and material that they produce. In fact, scientists have found that increased carbon dioxide has resulted in pollen production increases of 60 percent to 90 percent in some ragweed varieties.
Lewis Ziska, a weed ecologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, researched how warmer temperatures and carbon dioxide emissions affect the growth of ragweed. "We are seeing, with increasing CO2, the greater ability of the plant to produce pollen," Ziska said in an ABCNews story last year. "Initial results suggest that pollen is more allergenic; so, all of that adds up to an increase in the misery index."
And with the growing seasons extending over time, the pollen season is also longer. This is coupled with the migration of plants with the changing climate - allergen-producing plants are also extending their range and irritating new target audiences.
Whatever the causes of increased allergies, the good news is that you can take steps to reduce your exposure and symptoms. Careful selection of landscaping plants, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, can help you make sure you minimize the allergens growing right in your own back yard. They suggest that you should consider plants that rely on insects for cross-pollination, which are known to have pollen grains that are much heavier and don’t travel through the air quite as easily.
Plants that they have studied that release pollen to the winds and increase your allergies:
Several types of grasses - Bermuda, Fescue, Johnson, June, Orchard, Perennial Rye, Redtop, Salt Grass, Sweet Vernal, Timothy.
Some of the shrubs and trees that are more likely to cause allergies include – Cypress and Juniper; and Alder, Ash, Aspen, Beech, Birch, Box Elder, Cedar, Cottonwood, Elm, Hickory, Maple, Mulberry, Oak, Olive, Palm, Pecan, Pine, Poplar, Sycamore, Walnut, Willow.
Particularly bad weeds they have identified include - Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac, Cocklebur, Pigweed, Ragweed, Russian Thistle, Sagebrush.
Try instead these plants suggested to be friendly to allergic gardeners:
A number of flowering plants including - Begonia, Cactus, Chenille, Clematis, Columbine, Crocus, Daffodil, Daisy, Dusty Miller, Geranium, Hosta, Impatiens, Iris, Lily, Pansy, Periwinkle, Petunia, Phlox, Fose, Salvia, Snapdragon, Sunflower, Thrift, Tulip, Verbena, zinnia.
A particular grass variety they recommend is St. Augustine
For shrubs and trees they recommend - Azalea, Boxwood, English Yew, Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Viburnum; and Apple, Cherry, Chinese Fan Palm, Fern Pine, Dogwood, English Holly, Hardy Rubber Tree, Magnolia, Pear, Plum, Red Maple.
Other things suggested by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation that you can do include:
When working outdoors, wear a NIOSH-approved face mask, hat, glasses, gloves and a long-sleeve shirt to reduce contact with pollen. Many of these have the added benefit of protection from harmful sun rays.
If you are allergic to molds, avoid wood chips or mulch that can retain moisture and encourage molds to grow, instead use stone, oyster shell, or special plant groundcovers (vinca or pachysandra).
Be cautious about using hedges since their branches easily collect dust, mold and pollen, and keep them pruned.
Keep the windows in the house closed while mowing and for a few hours afterwards.
Limit your gardening to cool or cloudy days, and in the later afternoon or evening when pollen concentration in the air is generally lower.
Immediately shower and change your clothes when you go back indoors and make sure to wash your hair to remove allergens trapped there.
Don’t let allergies keep you inside! Try some of these strategies to minimize your exposure to allergens and get out and enjoy the beautiful season.
Being "Environmentally-Friendly"
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
The term "environmentally-friendly" has been used to refer to those behaviors, products and services that contribute to sustainable development by minimizing disruptions to our environment. This term seems to be intuitively understandable by a wide range of people.
But what is meant by sustainable development? According to the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development, sustainable development is "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
While this term "sustainable development" means different things to different people, there are a number of common elements that are widely accepted. The President's Council on Sustainable Development ‘s 1996 report, Sustainable America: A New Consensus, affirms, among other things:
“Economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity are linked. We need to develop integrated policies to achieve these national goals.... A growing economy and healthy environment are essential to national and global security....
Finding common values and shared goals is a better way to shape the future than endless reruns of the stale drama of confrontation....We believe that consensus will move America forward both faster and farther than confrontation. Moreover, we believe that consensus is the public's job, not the government's. Government is important in implementing what people agree on, but we all need to do the hard work of listening, learning, and finding common ground.”
When asked, people often say they will pay more for green products, they will compost their organic wastes, they will walk more and drive less, and so on. And they usually mean it. But when we see what products people buy, what trash they set out for collection, and how they get from place to place - all too often we find that these same people are making the same old choices.
Most people would be willing to lead a life that is much more sustainable, but a wide range of obstacles get in the way. The mayor of Providence, R.I. noted in a New York Times article last year that we have been doing things like filling potholes and reducing crime since cities began, but energy efficiency requires a whole new infrastructure to evaluate and measure.
Many communities around the country, like Reading, signed climate-protection agreements with enthusiasm in the past five years, committing to bringing down greenhouse-gas emissions. Since then we have all been trying to figure out how.
The result? “It’s really hard.”
All the big items in the inventory of emissions — from tailpipes, from heating and cooling buildings, from all our technology and lighting, even from using hot water, — are the product of residents’ and businesses’ individual decisions about how and where to live and drive and shop.
Many of us have seen “An Inconvenient Truth” and even more dreaded news on the impact of all these emissions, but we still have our busy lifestyle to contend with.
What are the solutions? In Reading, where transport is a big part of our emissions, people need to get out of their cars — and, when they drive, to drive the most efficient vehicles. Older homes need to be retro-fitted, to be better at keeping in the cool air in the summer or the warm air in winter. More people even need to do the simple things, like changing to compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).
It takes thought and effort to change one’s lifestyle, but it is not insurmountable. Many changes do not take more time, just a different action, like throwing a plastic container in a recycling bin instead of a trash bin, or flicking off a light switch when leaving a room. There certainly are big measures required to be "environmentally-friendly," but don’t discard the small measures—many small steps taken by many people will add up to an enormous step toward sustainability.
While the Town’s website has our link to many articles and ideas, we are asking our readers to give some thought to how they can help us help our town bring down those emissions. Tell us how we can engage you, your neighbors, your activity groups, to become more “environmentally-friendly.” We are here to help, if you are willing to try. readingmassccp@hotmail.com
EPA Finds Greenhouse Gases Pose Threat to Public Health, Welfare
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, and Gina Snyder
“Six greenhouse gases pose a threat to the health and welfare of current and future generations of Americans.” This was the official finding signed by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson on April 17, 2009. This was an historic action according to the EPA’s webpage, “the first formal recognition by the U.S. government of the threats posed by climate change.” (1) This finding was brought about in large part by action taken by Massachusetts.
Massachusetts sued the EPA on the issue of regulation of greenhouse gases and on April 2, 2007, in Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497 (2007), the Supreme Court found that greenhouse gases are air pollutants covered by the Clean Air Act. The Court held that the EPA Administrator must determine whether or not emissions of greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare, or whether the science is too uncertain to make a reasoned decision (2).
“This endangerment finding confirms that greenhouse gas pollution is a serious problem now and for future generations," said Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "This pollution problem has a solution- one that will create millions of green jobs and end our country's dependence on foreign oil."
As the proposed endangerment finding states, "In both magnitude and probability, climate change is an enormous problem [Climate change is a shift in long-term weather patterns: temperature, precipitation, wind, and more]. The greenhouse gases that are responsible for it endanger public health and welfare within the meaning of the Clean Air Act."
EPA's proposed endangerment finding is based on rigorous, peer-reviewed scientific analysis of six gases - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride - that have been the subject of intensive analysis by scientists around the world. The scientific analysis also confirms that climate change impacts human health in several ways. Findings from a recent EPA study titled "Assessment of the Impacts of Global Climate Change on Regional U.S. Air Quality: A Synthesis of Climate Change Impacts on Ground-Level Ozone," for example, suggest that climate change may lead to higher concentrations of ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant.
Additional impacts of climate change include, but are not limited to:
1. increased drought;
2. more heavy downpours and flooding;
3. more frequent and intense heat waves and wildfires;
4. greater sea level rise;
5. more intense storms; and
6. harm to water resources, agriculture, wildlife and ecosystems.
Each of these in themselves may have many ramifications on the earth and our ecosystems, affecting every living element, and for many, extinction will be the result. Many of our New England trees will not survive, and there are health implications of an increasingly warm climate.
This issue not only affects us locally, but people around the world already are feeling the effects of diseases that are migrating as the climate warms, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). "Global warming is unlike many other health threats," said Dr. Jonathan Patz, a professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, "because, unlike single-agent toxins or microbes, climate change affects multiple pathways of harmful exposures to our health. Energy policy,” Patz continued, “now becomes one and the same as public health policy.” (3)
While the news may seem overwhelming, there are ways to mitigate these results, things that everyone can do, besides reviewing the information on the webpages referenced in this article. The World Health Organization notes that reducing fossil-fuel burning -- in part by promoting more people to travel by foot, bicycle or public transportation rather than by car -- would reduce air pollution, improve personal fitness and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and subsequent global warming. Using these modes of transport can make a difference and small actions taken by many people add up.
EPA is taking public comment on their finding, see the first reference below.
References:
1. http://epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment.html
2. http://www.epa.gov/publicinvolvement/epafindsgreenhousegases_article.html
3. http://www.america.gov/st/health-english/2008/April/20080416152929lcnirellep0.5135767.html
4. http://www.mass.gov/dep/air/climate/index.htm
To read more: "Prepare for Health Effects of Climate Change, World Experts Urge" - http://www.america.gov/st/health-english/2008/April/20080416152929lcnirellep0.5135767.html#ixzz0FElPrkw8&A
Putting some "Green" Back into the Lawn
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, and Gina Snyder
Among the human-tailored landscapes that influence carbon and water cycles in America are lawns. NASA scientist Cristina Milesi estimated that more surface area is devoted to lawns than to any other single irrigated crop in the country. “Even conservatively,” Milesi said, “I estimate there are three times more acres of lawns in the U.S. than irrigated corn.”1 Even though lush lawns take in some carbon dioxide, experts say this benefit is not enough to offset the climate and environmental impact of watering your lawn beautiful.2 Water conservation is now mandatory in many cities and towns like Reading, as climate change-induced droughts are seen across the nation.
According to EPA statistics, “an American family of four can use 400 gallons of water per day, and about 30 percent of that is devoted to outdoor uses. More than half of that outdoor water is used for watering lawns and gardens. Nationwide, landscape irrigation is estimated to account for … more than 7 billion gallons per day.”3 This has become a drain on the pocketbook as well as our water supplies.
Some experts estimate that more than 50 percent of commercial and residential irrigation water use goes to waste due to evaporation, wind, improper system design, and over watering. Following are some common outdoor water inefficiencies, with some simple solutions to reduce water waste and produce great results:
Many people water their lawns too often and/or for too long, over-saturating plants. Water only when your grass shows signs of drought stress and then water slowly and deeply (put a cup in your sprinkler zone and make sure it gets at least an inch of water). The key is to force grass roots to go deep into the soil, following the water, deeper than most weed roots. Shallow, frequent watering does not encourage deep roots. Do not water daily; weeds and weed seedlings thrive on daily watering.
Irrigation systems can waste water when they leak, spray unevenly or water the pavement. If you have an irrigation system, maintain it regularly to help ensure that water is distributed evenly on the lawn and does not over spray onto paved areas.
Irrigating on a set schedule results in watering when the rain has done the work for you for free. Invest in weather-based irrigation controllers to reduce water use by 20 percent compared to conventional equipment, potentially saving nearly 24 billion gallons per year across the United States—approximately equal to more than 7,000 hoses running non-stop for a year. Use soil moisture sensors to determine the amount of water in the ground available to plants. These sensors, when professionally installed and properly maintained, can potentially save a household more than 11,000 gallons of water annually.4
When selecting turfgrass to establish a lawn, consider species that will be best adapted to our environmental conditions, intended use, sun or shade area, and the maintenance level you plan to provide. In the Northeast, many species of cool-season grasses (characterized by maximum growth in the spring and fall and semi-dormant during hot and/or dry periods of summer) can be used alone or in mixtures to produce a dense lawn. Several species of cool-season grasses for lawns are: perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and fine fescues.5 You can learn more about each grass online, at the library or by contacting your local hardware store or nursery.
When mowing, set your lawnmower 3-inches high and keep the blades sharp. It is a myth that if you mow short, you can mow less often and your lawn will be okay. Your grass needs grass blades to do photosynthesis (convert sunshine into sugar) to feed the roots. When mowing, be sure to leave the clippings on the lawn. It adds organic matter and nutrients back into the soil. Avoid "clumping" - that happens when you mow when wet or when you don't mow often enough.3
The best solution of all is to reduce lawn area! Keeping lawn appearances up during dry hot summers in New England is placing extra stress on our water systems, and is expensive. Cutting back on lawn size by placing islands of drought resistant trees and plants is an attractive way to save on lawn maintenance, time, and money.
For more information:
1. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Lawn/lawn.php
2. http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2006/0404-greener_grass_less_water.htm
3. http://www.richsoil.com/lawn-care.jsp
4. http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/outdoor.htm
5. http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/selectturf.html
May is the Time to Start Biking
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, and Gina Snyder
The month of May can often mean beautiful weather in New England, and it’s the perfect time to get out and walk or go biking! And the main event to help you get going in May is National Bike Week from May 11 through 15th. It’s a great time to rediscover bicycling as an option for transportation, recreation and health!
Bike Week events spill over into both weekends from May 9th to May 17th, with happenings across Massachusetts and information available at the website www.baystatebikeweek.org. Locally, a Bike Clinic is scheduled at Memorial Park (Harrison Street in Reading) on May 16th at 11:00 AM sponsored by Friends of Reading Recreation (FORR). Join REI and FORR for their annual bike clinic day - now in its third year! REI bike technicians will do minor adjustments and give advice on keeping your bike in safe condition. Information on bikes, bike clothing and accessories, bike safety and helmets will also be available. This event is free, first-come-first-served.
Many more activities are centered around Cambridge and Boston, with listings for events elsewhere in the state on the Bay State Bike Week website. For example, MassBike is offering free Into to Bicycling Skills classes in Somerville and Arlington, which are open to all. Details for events like these also listed at www.massbike.org/news/bikeweek.htm. Locally, REI is offering fee-based classes on bicycle commuting and maintenance, more information is available on their website or at 781-944-5103.
Some statewide events are listed on the Bike Week webpage, for example:
The MassCommute Commuter Challenge invites businesses and their employees to compete for the most bicycling commuters. Categories are scaled to include similarly-sized businesses. Competing employers can earn bonus points for bicycle commuter support such as secure bike parking, locker facilities, or bike commuter groups. All participants are invited to the Bike Bash later in May, to be held in Cambridge.
The ‘250,000 Mile Pledge’ invites Massachusetts residents to tally their bicycling miles for the week, and add them to the group total. Last year, the cumulative total surpassed 100,000 miles!
If you commute to Boston, and bicycle commute on Friday, May 15, you can stop by Mayor Menino’s Bike Week Festival at City Hall Plaza. The event features free breakfast, a bike expo, and music, and runs from 7am to 10am. Just ride your bike to Boston, or combine bicycling with transit (check MBTA.com, as bicycles are not allowed on many peak-hour routes). Be sure you have your bike and helmet with you at City Hall Plaza!
If you can’t make it to these events, why not make your own Bike Week activities? Invite some friends along on a ride! Have your kids draw a chalk bike course on your driveway, using cones or toys for obstacles. Or use Bike Week as your “spring training” for any charity bike rides you may be considering participating in later this year.
Bicycling is an important element of the climate protection solution. In Reading, nearly two thirds of our greenhouse gas emissions come from cars and trucks. While cars and light trucks are convenient for longer trips or for transporting large items, a bicycle can easily serve your needs for many shorter trips and errands. And bicycling does not emit large volumes of greenhouse gases like motor vehicles do.
In addition to the environmental benefit, bicycling is good for your health and for your wallet. If you can swap one or two trips a week from driving to bicycling, you will save on gas and manage to sneak some exercise into your busy schedule. Plus, you’ll be in a better position to enjoy spring in New England!
Don’t forget to wear your helmets and ride safely. If you have questions on bike safety and how to safely share the road with motor vehicles, contact Safety Office Mike Lee of the Reading Police Department, or visit http://bicyclesafe.com/ for some important lessons on bicycling safety.
Are there Vampires and Wall Warts Living off your Household Electricity?
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, Gina Snyder
A surprisingly large number of electrical products ranging from televisions to computers to air conditioners, cannot be switched off completely without being unplugged. “These products draw power 24 hours a day, often without the knowledge of the consumer,” according to Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories. There are several terms that have been coined to describe this including “standby power," “energy vampires,” “vampire load,” and “phantom load.” And added to the list are your AC/DC power adapters or “wall warts” for cell phones, MP3 players, Gameboys, digital cameras, Portable DVD players, video camcorders, and laptops.
Any of these electrical products individually draw relatively little standby power but according to the LBL, “the typical American home has forty products constantly drawing power. Together these add up and can account for 10% of residential electricity use.” That may not seem like a lot, but in the U.S. there are more than 1.5 billion of the wall-warts in use, with a billion new ones shipped every year, nearing astronomical proportions.
Standby power is electricity used by appliances and equipment while they are not performing their primary function. That power feeds the circuits and sensors needed to receive a remote signal –like your TV - and power supplies used by portable electronics (the black cubes—sometimes called "vampires" or ‘wall warts” —that convert the current that these appliances need).
How can you identify products that draw standby power? Almost any product with an external power supply, remote control, continuous display (including an LED), or that uses rechargeable batteries, will draw power continuously. Oftentimes if you place your hand on the black box it will feel warm – this is a by-product of the power consumption. Sometimes there is no obvious sign of continuous power consumption and you need a meter to be certain.
Here are some ways to reduce standby power sipping the electricity in your home-
§ Use power strips with timer for TV, cable, VCR/DVD players, computers and video game products. You can program the strip to turn off during the day and especially over night when not in use.
§ Use a power strip for all the AC/DC power adapters. Power up devices at night and turn the strip off during the day. Do not leave power adapters plugged in 24/7.
§ If you aren't frequently using a device, unplug it. (This can work for electronics used infrequently, such as TVs in guest rooms and VCRs). It’s better not to unplug and plug in appliances too frequently because it may fatigue or fray the wires and plugs, which can be dangerous.
§ When shopping, search for low standby products. ENERGY STAR products have lower standby power use.
§ Buy a low-cost watt-meter, measure the devices in your home and take targeted action. You will certainly be surprised at what you discover and this exercise might even pay back the cost of the meter in savings.
Sometimes standby power use is necessary - certain appliance functions do require small amounts of electricity- for example:
- Maintaining signal reception capability (for remote control, telephone or network signal)
- Monitoring temperature or other conditions (such as in a refrigerator)
- Powering an internal clock
- Battery charging
- Continuous display
Good design can make the power requirements for these functions very low (but not yet zero).
Unfortunately, standby power use is growing. Although programs directed at consumer electronics have stimulated manufacturers to cut standby power use in many products, at the same time, the number of new appliances that continuously draw power is increasing rapidly, especially in the developing countries. So take action and unplug of as many of those “phantoms” as you can!
Charts of energy use to supplement this information and more can be found at http://standby.lbl.gov/
Getting Reading Ready for the Good Weather!
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, Gina Snyder
The volunteer community group Walkable Reading is an informal group dedicated to “encouraging and enhancing increased pedestrian and non-motorized access to the community for all, through education, promotion and advocacy.” This coming week, starting on Arbor Day, April 24th, Walkable Reading is encouraging everyone to take action to spruce up sidewalks and walkways for spring.
This simple program encourages all of us to get out and check out the sidewalk area in front of our homes and take a few ‘steps’ to be sure that walkers, joggers, and people on bikes and with strollers will have safer, more attractive walkways to travel on. Here’s what Walkable Reading suggests:
- Check to see if any of your shrubs or trees have branches that obstruct the sidewalk and pose a potential hazard to pedestrians. Tree branches and shrubs on your property that overhang the “public way” are your responsibility to remove/clear. (Generally, sidewalk clearance should be about 5’ wide and 8’ high.) Take a ‘step’ and get out the clippers and prune obstructing branches, or call a professional to help. Note that if the offending tree(s) is on Town property, call the Reading Forestry Division (781-942-9092) if it needs to be pruned back.
Don’t know how to tell if the tree is on Town property? The public way extends about 5’ from the pavement edge. Often you’ll find a “Tree lawn” within this space. A tree lawn is the “grassy” space between the sidewalk and the street. Maintaining the tree lawn ensures attractive streetscapes in the town; however, if a tree is growing in the area that is part of the public way, it is owned by the Town.
- The second ‘step’, is to check to take care of any debris that is cluttering the walkway (litter, winter road sand, doggy debris where dogs may have neglected to remind owners to pick up after them, etc.). Sweep leftover winter sand to the street for the street sweeper, or sweep it up and dispose if the sweeper has already gone by, or collect it for personal use in de-icing next winter; pick up litter for disposal; and, if it is dog waste, – well, do the best you can, but remember not to put it into street drains.
If the sidewalk has holes, cracks, or tree roots that are tripping hazards, report sizeable holes/cracks/roots to the Reading Highway Division (781-942-9082).
- The rest of the ‘steps’ are up to you! Planting flowers or trees, or re-seeding the tree lawn to make it greener will improve the walkability of your neighborhood while adding to its “curb appeal”. Getting out and walking enhances the feeling of community in our neighborhoods (one of the dreams envisioned in last year’s World Café), and walking to your errands reduces traffic and gives your health a boost at the same time as being environmentally friendly.
Sidewalk maintenance will likely have to be reduced due to the economic downturn. We can help by keeping our sidewalks clean and clear. And after you have finished, don’t forget to take advantage of the cleared sidewalks and get out there to walk, cycle, and jog. (Cyclists are allowed on town sidewalks except in the downtown – always yield to pedestrians). Maps of walking routes with sidewalks in all areas of town can be found on the Town of Reading webpage, from the home page (www.readingma.gov), scroll down to “GIS maps” under “important links” and then choose “GIS map library” for the “Neighborhood Walks Map”.
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, Gina Snyder
Next week is not just school vacation week in Massachusetts; it’s also Earth Week - Earth Day is April 22nd. Many people are opting for a “staycation”, vacationing at home, and here are some ‘green’ ideas for both kids and adults:
Start your garden – growing some of your own food is a great way to help reduce pollution! It saves on packaging and delivery. Also, kids really enjoy gardening. If you can’t plant vegetables, plant some trees to grow to shade your home in the summer, or select plants that encourage bees, butterflies, toads or other helpful wildlife. Clover is great food for many of our animal friends, and it is also a wonderful “fallow crop” for replenishing your soil’s nutrients. If you don’t have a yard, you can plant in large flower pots. Plants are a wonderful addition to our environment!
Build habitat – if you have enough space, leave one area of your yard untouched. Bees prefer overgrown vegetation, and are critical for natural pollination. If you’re good at building, make houses for birds, butterflies or bats. Bats are great because they eat mosquitoes and reduce the need for pesticides.
Walk or bike – check out nearby destinations that your family can walk or bike to. Many Reading homes are quite close to our wonderful conservation lands and our own Town Forest, which give you a chance to explore nature. The town website has maps of neighborhood walks and conservation lands (1). Can you walk or bike on errands to save driving? The new grocery store has bike racks under cover, the Town Hall and Reading library have bike racks, and the library has plenty of books about “green” topics. There are a lot of great reasons to read with your kids, and an added environmental benefit is that while you’re reading you can turn off the TV and video games and cut down on energy use.
Take transit – there are more public transit options beyond going into Boston – although Boston has lots of great family-friendly and inexpensive destinations—check out the website for ‘Boston Central’! The MBTA bus can take you to Lake Quannapowitt, or to other local towns as it goes through Wakefield, Melrose, or Malden. You can also ride the train north from the Woburn station, to check out the National Parks historic Lowell Mills. Or catch an Amtrak train to New Hampshire & Maine!
Try a recycled craft – make a quilt out of worn out favorite clothes, or recycle colored paper in your blender to make new paper. Reuse Clementine boxes as shelving, or turn an empty Altoids tin into a tiny dollhouse. The library and the internet are great sources of ideas for recycling crafts.
Have an energy scavenger hunt - Borrow (from the RMLD) or buy a kill-a-watt meter and use it to test out appliances and electronics. Ask the kids to list the readings for each item and identify which things can be unplugged when not in use, to save the most energy.
Explore Reading – you don’t have to go away to have a vacation! With some out-of-the-box thinking, you can have an adventure right here at home. Parker Tavern is open on Sundays, and shows what colonial life was like in Reading. There are many inviting restaurants and cafés to visit, supporting our local economy. Local greenhouses provide a colorful outing for small children and have supplies for that garden you want to get started on! Reading’s parks & playgrounds offer many options for recreation.
A vacation week close to home can be great for many reasons. You avoid the hassles of traveling. You save money. It’s a great opportunity for family time and fostering a sense of community. And, best of all, your local “staycation” can also be good for the environment. Enjoy!
(1) http://www.readingma.gov/Pages/ReadingMA_GIS/maplibrary
Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
For each fossil fuel-fired electric generating unit in the Northeast that generates 25 megawatts or more of electricity, their allowance to emit carbon dioxide (CO2) recently got capped! Even with the cap, as it stands now, if their allowance is not enough they can buy more allowances to keep operating from the auctions run by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). On March 18th, $117,248,629.80 was raised in the third auction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions allowances. The auction generated funds that will be invested in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other consumer benefit programs in the ten participating Northeast and Mid-Atlantic RGGI states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont).
In a column last May, Green Sense described the cap-and-trade system, where the government issues permits allowing firms (large power generators) to emit a certain amount of a pollutant -- each permit under RGGI allows one ton of carbon dioxide. Regulators then limit the amount of emissions by imposing a cap on the total number of permits.
The system allows for permits to be "banked", borrowed, and bought and sold, creating a new type of ‘property’. The companies that find that they can operate using less than their allotment of permits have extra to sell. Other companies might produce more pollution than would be allowed by their allotment of permits and have to buy additional permits from those companies with extras to sell. The idea of the permits, or allowances, is that companies can trade with a wide variety of entities to achieve the lowest cost solution to their pollution. The goal is to spur innovation in the clean energy economy and create green jobs in each RGGI state.
We are talking big numbers here: 31,513,765 allowances were auctioned, each representing 1 ton of carbon, sold at a clearing price of $3.51 each. The proceeds are distributed to the 10 RGGI states in proportion to the CO2 allowances each state offered for sale. The second auction held in December 2008, sold all 31,505,898 allowances that were offered at a clearing price of $3.38 each. That auction raised $106.5 million. (See January 7, 2009 news story published by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.(1))
“The states are very pleased with the results from the latest RGGI auction,” said Pete Grannis, Chair of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Inc. Board of Directors in the RGGI’s press release. “Our continued success provides further support for President Obama's position that a national cap and trade program with allowance auctions is the right policy for the country and the right approach for addressing the most pressing environmental and economic issue of our time: climate change.” (2)
In Massachusetts, over 44 Million dollars from the auctions will be allocated to the following (3):
• Electric and Natural gas energy efficiency programs get about half, $22 Million
• Administering the program gets $900 Thousand
• Low income boiler replacement programs $4 Million
• Green communities $10 Million
• Loans for local energy efficiency $3 Million
• Energy efficiency skills and innovation $5 Million
This program is intended to help our climate. The participating states have regulations in place to cap and then reduce the amount of CO2 that power plants in their region are allowed to emit, limiting the region’s total contribution to atmospheric greenhouse gas levels. Power sector CO2 emissions are capped at current levels through 2014. The cap will then be reduced by 2.5 percent in each of the four years 2015 through 2018, for a total reduction of 10 percent.
In the meantime the funds that each state gets from the auctions will be spent to help citizens to reduce their energy consumption, the bulk of the funds are to be allocated to energy efficiency. Since the cost of these allowances will be passed along to power consumers, it will make even more sense (and dollars, too!) for consumers to reduce their electricity use. On the benefit side, the Town of Reading is looking into applying to become a part of the Green Communities, to be eligible for some of the $10 Million in funding associated with the Green Communities Act. Watch this column, the town webpage and the local news for more details as we enter into this new and exciting time for energy efficiency and green energy opportunities.
(1) http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/states/news_detail.cfm/news_id=12380
(2) http://www.rggi.org
(3) http://www.mass.gov/air/climate/index.htm#rggi
Celebrate the Earth on April Fourth
Authors: Michele Benson, Stephanie Anderberg, and Gina Snyder
To find out how to bring ecological routines into your life, come to the Earth Day Fair in Reading, Saturday, April 4th at the Reading Municipal Light District (RMLD) at 230 Ash Street in Reading from 11 AM to 3 PM.
There are many things individuals and families can do to save energy and also to help combat climate change, while at the same time improving our environment right here at home. This year’s third annual fair has even more exhibits than last year! From Adopt-a-Trail to ENERGY STAR appliances to renewable energy technologies, you can find information on how to green your living right here in Reading! And for the first time ever, there will be a bike swap at the same location!
ReadingCares is sponsoring their first “Bike Recycling & Give-Away” in the RMLD’s parking lot. Bring in your out grown bikes, in good working condition, to be donated to children looking for their first bike, or to upgrade to a larger bike. Drop off donated bikes Friday, April 3rd, from 9AM to noon or Saturday, April 4th, 8-10AM at RMLD, 230 Ash Street. If you have donated a bike before the give-away, and are hoping to find a replacement, you will receive a voucher, which can be used toward a "new used" bike. Bicycles must be in good riding condition. Those who have donated a bike will have a first opportunity to choose beginning at noon to 1PM. Bicycles will then be available to the public from 1-3PM on Saturday, April 4th during the ACCCP’s Earth Day Fair right next door in the RMLD main building. For more information on the bike swap, contact info@readingcares.org. To complement the swap, at the Fair, the Reading Police Department’s Safety Officer, Mike Lee, will be instructing on bike safety.
Other activities for kids and adults alike can be found with a visit to Tracy Sopchak and Sovay and Gavin Anderberg’s tables for an assortment of children’s fun filled activities. RMLD will also be demonstrating electrical safety with the interactive ‘Hazard Hamlet’, and offering a large selection of activity books.
Don’t forget to stop by and meet Olive, a Red Eared Slider turtle and her friend Billings who have a story to tell about our wetlands. The Reading Conservation Committee and the Walkable Reading community group will also be providing information on getting out and about in Reading. With springtime and better weather on its way, come and find out where to enjoy the outdoors while getting exercise right here in town. And for when you do need to travel out of town, MassRIDES will be at the Fair to answer your commuting and carpooling questions.
Would you like to learn more about solar and wind power technologies? North Shore Solar and Windpower, and Nexamp Energy and Carbon Solutions will be hosting tables at the Fair. Speak with local renewable energy companies that offer renewable energy systems in Massachusetts. Take the opportunity to learn about the use of solar and wind power to produces electric energy for your homes or business.
Reading’s waste disposal provider, the Covanta waste-to-energy facility, will tell about Covanta-sponsored mercury product recycling in Reading. This is especially tied to energy, as those wonderful energy-savers, CLF bulbs, do contain a small amount of mercury and Covanta provides an easy way to recycle those bulbs in Reading. Reading’s DPW and the community group, Reading Recycles, will have more information on recycling, including a showing of a couple short documentaries on the world’s recycling issues at the Reading Recycles exhibit.
Now that we are final seeing the end of winter weather, come and speak with Reading’s local garden clubs about beautifying your yard with a garden. Crystal and Reading Garden clubs will be hosting tables — learn tips for a green thumb! Come and see all the wonderful products and ideas to help Reading be a little more earth-friendly – we hope to see you April 4th.
Authors: Michele Benson, Stephanie Anderberg, and Gina Snyder
What will you be doing at 8.30pm on Saturday March 28? Now’s the time to plan for Earth Hour 2009 an innovative environmental action you can do, without even leaving your home!
Everyone can participate in Earth Hour, as simply as flicking off a switch – literally. You can participate by yourself or with family or friends. All it takes is:
- Turn off all non-essential lights on Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 pm for the next hour.
- Encourage family, friends and local businesses to participate.
Earth Hour is a global lights-out phenomenon, led by World Wildlife Fund, to demonstrate that individual action is important and adds up to make a big difference. According to their website, to date, a record 1,429 cities and towns in 80 countries have already committed to turn off their lights on March 28 at 8:30 p.m. (Earthhour.org). But as much as Earth Hour is a global event, it is also an event for the family. “There are no hard and fast rules surrounding participation in Earth Hour. We only ask that you flick that switch and have fun doing whatever you choose to do during that time,” states Earth Hour Executive Director, Andy Ridley.
Build up some excitement by starting the Hour with a countdown - at 8:20 p.m. on March 28th:
- Start powering down for Earth Hour by unplugging your small appliances such as the microwave and coffee maker.
- For the hour, unplug all your chargers for rechargeable batteries like your cell phone and any other adaptors you have around your home (if you leave these items unplugged when not in use, you can save a few dollars in energy costs every month).
- Turn off and unplug your television and other devices like DVD players and video game consoles. Here’s a tip: if you have all of your electronics plugged into a power bar or surge bar, you can switch them all off at the end of the day, everyday. This can help you save money every month.
- Shut off your computer - Power down all of the devices at your desk for one hour. You can simply switch off the power bar or surge bar.
- Last but not least, turn down all of the lights in your home. It's unusual to sit around in the dark, but it's only for one hour. Just think of what it must have been like before the invention of the light bulb!
Here are some ideas to make Earth Hour a celebration of the evening:
Candle-lit games night: What a great time to get out the board games or play a game of flashlight tag. Get family and/or friends gathered for some old-fashioned quality time to remember that games can be played without a computer or TV screen and that fun can be had with mom or dad.
Take a tour: Explore your neighborhood and take an evening walk (don’t forget the dog!).
Set up a scavenger hunt in and around your house to mark off areas where energy can be saved. Place flags or stickers in spots where appliances or computers can be unplugged and lights turned off, highlighting the spots where they can make a difference.
Family Feud: Nothing like pitting mom against dad and brother against sister in some light-hearted competition to get inspired! Healthy competition, whether it's tracking and comparing the carbon foot print of each household member or creating a family challenge for your household, make saving energy a sport where everyone can win!
On the romantic side, prepare dinner in time to enjoy it by candlelight, take a relaxing candle-lit bath with a dash of scented oil or just share a romantic night with a loved one.
Finally, use this year's Earth Hour to give some thought to what you can do year-round to take action for the planet, like turning off the lights when no one is in the room and using cold water to wash your clothes. With family, take the opportunity to engage family members and children in conversation and have them come up with their own ways to save energy, limit waste and make a positive impact on the environment.
And mark your calendars for the Earth Day fair on April 4, where you can get more ideas on saving energy and the environment!
Learn to make a smaller Footprint at the Fair
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, and Gina Snyder.
Earth Day is the perfect time to think about footprints. An ecological or environmental footprint takes the simple concept of leaving a footprint on the earth and asks what amount of resources do we use for our lifestyles, what impact are we having on the earth? Let’s see how we can leave smaller footprints behind.
To find out more about ways to step more softly on the earth, come to the Reading Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection’s third annual Earth Day Fair on April 4, from 11 AM to 3 PM at 230 Ash Street – the Reading Municipal Light Department is hosting our fair. Find out what Reading has to offer! And find out about some products that step more lightly on the earth.
Just as you might suspect, there's more to good stewardship of the earth than putting newspapers in a recycling container. Our choices - products we buy and use (and their packaging) affect our homes and our planet. Reusing what we have and recycling - are all ways to reduce our impact. Some of the things we can do will take very little time. Other choices will require research, persistence, and conscious effort.
When building or remodeling our homes, for example, we can use earth friendly products including flooring made of cork or bamboo -- both renewable resources. We can add insulation made from recycled newspaper or recycled cotton so that heat stays in during the winter and stays out in the summer. Formaldehyde-free cabinets, and countertops made from recycled glass, are other options. The Home Depot will be at the Earth Day fair to let people know more about environmental living and building products they offer.
We can reduce the footprint of our appliances, too! Did you know that your refrigerator has a voracious energy appetite? It is one of the biggest consumers of electricity among household appliances, and responsible for 10-15 percent of the electricity you use each year. Older refrigerators, as a rule, are far less efficient than the newest ENERGY STAR rated - as much as 50 percent less efficient.
To turn down the energy appetite on another household appliance—the washing machine - choose an ENERGY STAR front-load washer. Front-loading washers use 40-75% less water and 30-85% less energy than typical top-loaders. The result will be seen on your water, electric, and gas bills if you use gas to either heat your water or dry your clothes. The front-load washer has become more reasonably priced, especially when you take advantage of rebates from Reading ($200) and RMLD ($50). Find out about ENERGY STAR appliances from Doyons TV & Appliances at the Fair.
Greening the earth has never been easier; find out how by visiting the local Garden Club tables. Planting more trees will help you save energy both by shading your home from the hot summer sun and because they act as wind breaks; and they soak up carbon from the atmosphere. Other plants also take up carbon dioxide; come and learn how to plant while using less water from Herb FARMacy. They will share tips on how to choose hardier plants, group plants that need more water together, and how to put in mulch to help hold moisture.
Come and learn about Reading’s recycling program for the things that you do have to dispose of. Reading’s Department of Public Works will be there to answer your questions on recycling, water conservation and the town’s rebate programs. Join them and other groups offering many opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy making some smaller footprints.
We hope to see you on April 4th.
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, and Gina Snyder
With spring just around the corner, and the economy in a downturn, organically growing some of your own food is not only good for the environment, but might be a way to cut some costs at the market. Having homegrown fruits and vegetables at your table is rewarding and nutritiously satisfying. A backyard garden can become a family affair by having children help bring your seeds to life and learn about plant care as your garden grows.
You can learn more about how organic backyard gardening offers an economical way to have nutritious, safe local food and make positive contributions to the environment at the ACCCP’s Earth Day Fair, Saturday, April 4th, Rita C. Wollmering, Founder of The HERB FARMacy in Salisbury, will be hosting a table. Rita is a dynamic, engaging speaker on horticultural topics with a specialty in herbs and “going green”. She brings a depth of knowledge, broad experience and personal passion. Named "Best of New England" by New England Travel and Life, come and take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to speak with Rita about basic organic growing principles as well as practical steps to build your soil, fight diseases and manage pests. Learn the growing requirements (soil, sunlight, water) of different types of vegetables as well as tips for planting, harvesting and preserving.
There are many benefits to backyard gardening - getting out in the nice weather, exercise tending plants, and you can control use of pesticides and artificial preservatives. Environmentally, home gardening also reduces transportation costs of getting fruits and vegetables from the farm to your table, saving on use of energy and fuel for transportation, refrigeration and packaging.
To get started, first buy resistant plant varieties, and rotate your crops, never planting the same family of vegetables in the same spot two years in a row. To learn about resistant plants for the New England area, speak with your local garden shops, visit the library, or ‘google’ the topic.
After planting, keep an eye out for pest damage and try to pick off visible pests before they multiply. Spray with horticultural oils or soapy spray to discourage pests that you cannot pick off. Modify the habitat to make it less attractive to pests, for example, wrap the stems of squash plants near their roots with foil so that stem borers cannot find a place to get in.
Learn about and encourage healthy bugs like ladybugs, lacewings, cryptolaemus beetles, spined soldier bugs and other predatory insects to come into your garden and feed on garden pests. You can do this by planting bee balm, buckwheat, calendula, candytuft, ceanothus, chervil, cilantro, clover, daisy, dill, erigeron, evening primrose, fennel, and goldenrod.
You can order some beneficial bugs, such as Praying Mantis Egg Cases, on-line. The praying mantis is a fascinating insect with a voracious appetite. Not only will they eat aphids, crickets & grasshoppers, they are one of the only insects fast enough to catch mosquitoes.For larger pests, such as rabbits or even deer, many gardeners suggest planting an edging of marigolds or pumpkins around your more inviting plants. Some gardeners use tall fencing, others sprinkle chili powder on plants to discourage chewing. Another option is to hang bars of soap to discourage munching deer.
If all else fails, look for alternatives such as organic pesticides. If you can identify the pests, ask for advice on discouraging those specific species - garden centers are now stocking many of these non-or less-toxic products.
More information will be available at the ACCCP’s Earth Day Fair, Saturday, April 4th, at the RMLD, 230 Ash Street, Reading.
Finally, a philosophical attitude may help, tolerating a little bit of damage by "pests" here and there. After all, we all share this planet as part of the ‘web of life’!
Combined Heat and Power to meet your Power Needs – at the Earth Day Fair, April 4th
Authors: Gina Snyder, Michele Benson and Stephanie Anderberg
According to a new report released by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), “Combined Heat and Power is a compelling but underutilized source of energy efficiency. The report, "Combined Heat and Power: Effective Energy Solutions for a Sustainable Future" (December 2008) is available at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/distributedenergy/pdfs/chp_report_12-08.pdf. The report outlines many exciting opportunities to use Combined Heat and Power (CHP) for environmental effectiveness, economic viability and improved competitiveness to meet U.S. energy needs.
What Is Combined Heat and Power?
CHP (also known as cogeneration) is generating power and thermal energy from a single fuel source. It is the production of electricity or mechanical power at the same time as producing useful thermal energy (heating and/or cooling) from a single fuel source such as natural gas, biomass, biogas, coal, waste heat, or oil. This concept is not new, it has been around for more than 100 years in industrial settings, but wasn’t seen as cost-effective at the lower energy prices of the past century.
CHP is inherently more efficient than the separate generation of electricity from power plants and thermal energy from boilers or other heating equipment. The size of the newest CHP systems can range as low as 5 kilowatts for a single-family home to several hundred megawatts for a large industrial site. Instead of purchasing electricity from a local utility and burning fuel in a furnace or boiler to produce heat, consumers use CHP to provide these energy services in one energy-efficient step. As a result, CHP improves efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The first residential CHP system installed in Massachusetts was installed in February, 2006 in Braintree, according to an article in the Christian Science Monitor (http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1114/p01s02-usec.html). The unit in Bernard Malin's basement is a “softly thrumming metal box that uses natural gas to heat the hot water and generate $600 to $800 worth of electricity a year - a bonus byproduct of heating his home.” Since that time, many of these units have been installed in Massachusetts. Use of this technology in Massachusetts was most recently showcased on WBUR radio on March 1st this year.
According to the EPA, (see http://www.epa.gov/cppd/climatechoice/technology.htm),”the installed cost of a residential cogeneration system ranges from $10,000 to $15,000 for systems currently available in the United States. Electricity bill savings achieved in demonstration projects in Boston were $600 to $800 per year. Savings will vary depending on location and electricity rates. Two vendors are currently in the U.S. market, and more are planning to enter:
· “Climate Energy (Massachusetts) (http://www.climate-energy.com/) offers its FreewattTM system. It uses natural gas and produces 1.2kW of electricity and 11,500 Btu/hour thermal. Warm Air systems have been commercially available in the USA since June 2007, and their hydronic/domestic hot water system is available as of April 2008.
· “Marathon Engine (Wisconsin) (http://www.marathonengine.com/cogeneration.html) offers its EcopowerTM system which produces electricity and recovers heat for domestic hot water. It produces 4.7 kW of electricity and 40,000 But/hr thermal.”
CHP has been around for years in industrial facilities (but the equipment was too large, noisy and expensive for a residence), and larger units that put out up to four kilowatts have been widely available in Europe and Japan for years. Now, this smaller version is available and in use in the US, and there are even a few installations within the RMLD’s service territory (RMLD serves Reading, North Reading, Wilmington and part of Lynnfield).
If you are looking for ways to get a return on your energy investment, become more energy efficient and reduce your carbon footprint, Combined Heat and Power is worth looking into! Come to the ACCCP’s Earth Day Fair, April 4th at the RMLD, 230 Ash Street Reading, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and learn more about what CHP has to offer, from Climate Energy.
March Winds may Blow but you Can Stay Cozy
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
According to forecasters, we still have some cold weather in store before spring warms things up. Now is a good time to get rid of drafts, tune things up and prepare for spring cleaning. Energy-saving improvements to your home, such as sealing off drafts and increasing attic and floor insulation, can pay for themselves in a short time. Most energy conservation measures that save on heating bills will also keep your house cooler in summer, helping to reduce your air conditioning costs. These measures will also make your home more comfortable by moderating temperature swings and eliminating drafts. Some measures also reduce maintenance needs for your home and add to its value.
The most important factors in home heating costs are in the design and construction—the quantity of insulation in the ceiling, walls, and floor, the tightness of construction, and the proper use and efficiency of your heating equipment.
Think of your house as a bucket and the heat in your home supplied by your furnace as water in the bucket; if there is a hole—no matter how small—the water will leak out. If there is a hole in your home’s insulation, weather-stripping or caulking, heat escapes in winter or leaks inside in summer. These leaks can be minimized by insulating the ceiling, walls, and floor, and by caulking air leaks around windows and doors.
Many different insulation products are available. When choosing one, always consider the R-value, a measure of effectiveness (R means resistance to heat flow). The higher the R-value, the better the insulator. (Labels on some products, such as windows and doors, may list the U-value which is the inverse of the R-value (U=1/R). The lower the U-value, the greater the resistance to heat flow.)
Compare insulation materials by the cost per R-value. Some insulating materials have a high R-value per inch of thickness, but are more expensive per R-value than other products. Consideration may also be taken when choosing insulation to select those made from natural and/or recycled materials.
Careful installation of insulation and weather-stripping is critical. In a study conducted by the Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory, a 5 percent gap in the coverage of ceiling insulation, such as the area above your attic access, reduced the overall R-value of the ceiling by over 40 percent. Similar findings were reported for gaps in the wall and floor insulation.
The EPA’s insulation recommended levels for retrofitting a wood framed building:
§ Uninsulated Attic - R49 to R60
§ Existing 3–4 Inches of Attic Insulation - R38 to R49
§ Floor - R25 to R30
Insulation often includes a vapor barrier to prevent the flow of moisture from inside the house into the insulation. If insulation gets damp, its insulating value decreases. Where severe condensation occurs, the moisture produced may cause mold, deterioration of materials or rotting of wood.
Some insulation products have an attached vapor barrier - for example, fiberglass batts with asphalt-impregnated kraft paper or metal foil. Others, such as unfaced batts, loose-fill cellulose, fiberglass, or rock wool that come in bags, have no built-in vapor barrier. For these products, moisture flow can be stopped by polyethylene plastic installed on the interior side of the insulation or by using a vapor barrier paint.
The vapor barrier should go between insulation and the home’s interior. When using insulation without a built-in vapor barrier, either install polyethylene plastic on the interior side of the insulation, or apply a vapor barrier paint on the ceiling and walls of rooms with high humidity, such as baths, laundry, and kitchen. An exhaust fan to vent humidity to the outside should also be included in these rooms. Paints, which help prevent moisture flow, are available at hardware stores. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, make sure you take the proper precautions when using any of these products.
Weather-stripping is a strip of metal, plastic, rubber, or fiber that blocks air leaks around doors, windows, and other openings in the building envelope. Caulking, which is a pliable material, or foam sealants, are used to seal gaps. They are also used to seal the seam between different building materials, such as between window jambs and siding.
When choosing weather-stripping and caulking products, consider cost and longevity. The caulk should have at least a 25-year life. Options include acrylic latex caulk with silicones, silicone caulk, and urethane caulk. So, if your windows or doors are rattling in the March winds, check for leaks, caulk the cracks, and keep the warmth from leaking out of your home.
Now is a good time to do these projects, it’s not quite time for spring cleaning, but a good time to stop the chill drafts of winter.
For more helpful information visit the EPA’s website http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_sealing.hm_improvement_sealing
Information provided by “Home Energy Projects, An Energy Conservation Guide for Do-It-Yourselfers” by the Southface Energy Institute, 2000
When it’s Cold and Chilly, Here’s a craft to keep you warm and cozy …
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
Whether to save money or save the environment, a lot of folks are turning down the heat this winter, but some days it seems Nature just isn’t playing fair, and the deep freeze is on! If you’re looking for ways to resist turning the heat back up, here is a cozy suggestion: a rice pillow.
It’s quite simply a pillow filled with rice (or similar grains), which you can heat in the microwave, in one-minute increments, and use like a hot water bottle. Use a larger one under the blankets while you read or watch TV. Put smaller ones near your feet when you are going to bed, and a larger one to pre warm the bed instead of an electric blanket. Don’t forget the children, rice pillows can make their beds nice and cozy at night without worry of any hazards. You can even get neck wraps and eye masks to soothe tired muscles.
In comparing warming a rice pillow to using an electric heating pad or hot water bottle, the rice pillow is more energy efficient, because the microwave is a very efficient way to heat things, and it doesn’t need refilling with every use. It also molds better to your shape, to provide more direct contact and warmth. A rice pillow can also be stored in the freezer for soothing life’s bumps and bruises. Kids love rice pillows too, and some stores offer stuffed-animal shapes for more fun.
You can buy rice pillows and other similar products at health food stores as well as many pharmacy chains and department stores. Or if you’re feeling crafty, you can make your own!
To make a rice pillow, cut two rectangles of tightly woven cotton fabric. Sew the wrong-sides of the fabric together, along three sides, and then turn right side out. Fill the bag with rice (not instant rice!) and sew it closed. Now make a removable, washable cover using slightly larger rectangles of colorful fabric. You can use buttons or non-metal snaps to close the pillowcase over your rice pillow.
Some crafters like to use jasmine rice or buckwheat hulls in their pillows, as these have different scents when heated. Some folks add dried lavender, cinnamon or cloves to the rice. Others suggest adding scented oils to their rice, but if you do so, be very careful not to over-heat your rice.
You can buy rice in bulk to save money, and sew up a pile of rice pillows for your family and friends. It’s a gift that will get a lot of use!
For more details and ideas on making your own, visit these websites:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4422065_make-rice-filled-neck-pillow.html
http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=280
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_linens_fabrics/article/0,,diy_13765_4414798,00.html
Authors: David L. Williams
Before the recent slump in the economy, the Town of Reading signed a contract with a hauler for our recyclables. This company picks up our paper and commingled recyclables from our red bins and has been selling the materials to the highest bidder, because once they pick them up, they own the recyclables.
Unfortunately for the recycling market, the materials which would ordinarily be used for such things as car parts and book covers are now being stockpiled or even being sold at a loss. Fortunately for the environment, this loss is still less than the cost of sending the materials to a landfill, so recycling still matters and residents are not only encouraged to keep recycling, but state rules continue to require recycling (as of 1990 specific materials banned from disposal or transfer for disposal include aluminum, metal & glass containers, single polymer plastics, and recyclable paper, among other things). Even with the sudden downturn in the recycling markets, the most environmental solution remains the most economical for the town.
One reason that prices have fallen so steeply is that much of the material was being sent to China and that market has dried up. Although there were concerns that the Chinese market was poorly managed, causing health and environmental problems, this market supported higher prices. The decrease in Chinese demand has affected the West Coast more than the rest of the country, but another reason for the price slide is that plastics, metal, paper and glass from recycling continue coming even as no one is buying them. In the manufacturing sector of the economy, plants would be shut down if they were ‘producing’ these materials at a loss.
The market decline has made several recyclers re-evaluate the collection of materials. In the rush to increase recycling rates, many programs have included marginal quality materials that have limited end markets. There is still a good market for recycled office paper. One prominent market for this material is bath tissue, and this market will continue in almost any economic downturn. In cardboard, the cellulose fiber is much shorter, and has limited usefulness as a recycled material.
Recently, the New York Times reported that Boston is one of the hardest hit recycling market areas in the Northeast. Mixed paper that used to be worth $50 per ton in October is now worth about $5/ton, and is still going down. However, Boston city officials have said recycling is still better than a cost of $80/ton for landfill.
Harvard University sends its mixed recyclables to a nearby recycling center. This center used to pay $10/ton, but in November they sent a letter saying that they were charging $10/ton; this was followed almost immediately by another letter saying that the charge had risen to $20/ton.
The same New York Times article also reports a unique protest. At an elementary school in West Virginia, second graders who began recycling at school in September were told that the program might be discontinued. The children chose to forgo recess and instead to use the time to write letters to the governor and mayor, imploring them to keep recycling. The teacher said, “They were telling them ‘We really don’t care what you say about the economy. If you don’t recycle, our planet will be dirty.’” The result was that the city plans to start trucking the recyclables to Kentucky.
Hopefully Kentucky has a better solution – even if it is waste-to-energy cogeneration for the combustibles. Let us also hope that the market for recyclables recovers before our Reading contract needs to be renewed. Recycling markets recovered from a similar downturn in the 1970’s.
Recycling is also more than good economics. The use of recycled paper prevents the destruction of virgin forests and much of the environmental pollution in papermaking. Similarly, the recycling of plastics minimizes the use of petroleum to manufacture virgin plastics. All of this re-use avoids the destruction of these recyclable materials in combustion, or in landfill degradation (carbon dioxide or methane generation). Similarly for metals re-use, there is the savings of natural resources and the energy used to produce virgin metal. This energy savings is especially important for aluminum, which is recovered from ore by electrolysis, a very energy-intensive process. As we know, in a capitalist economy, there generally needs to be an economic incentive driving us to do the right thing, and “to keep our planet from being dirty.” Right now the incentive is still there to keep Reading recycling, so remember to remove your recyclables from the trash, use your red bin, help Reading and help the environment by recycling.
REFERENCES:
- T. Heisler, “Back to Junk Value, Recyclables Are Piling Up” The New York Times, Page A1, December 8, 2008.
- R. Guzowski, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Dec.15, 2008, www.gazettenet.com.
Authors: Michele Benson, Stephanie Anderberg and Gina Snyder
The Presidential Climate Action Project has undertaken the task of outlining how the new U.S. President can effectively tackle the issues of energy security and climate change. Spearheaded by the University of Colorado and several partner organizations, the project has engaged the nation’s science, policy, business and civic leaders to produce a Presidential Climate Action Plan (PCAP).
The plan contains a broad menu of policy and program recommendations for the President, rather than advocating any particular policy. According to their website, (http://www.climateactionproject.com/about.php) the best thinking of America’s leaders in government, science and civil society has been engaged to identify actions that will empower all elements of society to meet the challenges of energy security and climate change.
Some of their recommendations at the federal level include:
• Challenge the nation to improve economy-wide energy efficiency 50 percent by 2030.
• Direct the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop model codes for zero-net-energy performance in new commercial buildings by 2025 and in new residential buildings by 2030.
• Dramatically increase the DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program (PCAP recommends $1.4 billion annually) for low-income families to help insulate them from rising energy costs.
• Provide communities with new resources for energy efficiency by urging Congress to fully fund the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program authorized in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
America’s renewable energy resources are the second part of the PCAP’s recommended “one-two punch against climate change and economic instability.” According to the plan:
“Renewables provided only 10 percent of America’s installed energy capacity and 9 percent of total electric generation in 2007, but they are the fastest growing sources of electric power in the U.S. today.
During the first half of 2008, at least 17,000 megawatts of wind, solar and geothermal energy were under construction in the United States. Wind power capacity grew 45 percent between 2006 and 2007; energy capacity from solar photovoltaics grew 40 percent.
According to the DOE, the U.S. could obtain 20 percent of its electricity from wind power alone by 2020 with major investments to improve the transmission system. McKinsey & Company predicts that over the next three to seven years, the unsubsidized cost of solar energy will be competitive with conventional electricity in California and the Southwestern United States.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology estimates that geothermal projects can provide
100 gigawatts of cost-competitive, clean electric power over the next 50 years.”
This is good news, so how can we make it happen? For starters, every one of us can let our representatives know how important it is to act quickly on these issues. In addition, since one of the cheapest, most effective and safest ways to reduce global warming pollution is to increase our energy efficiency, we can improve our individual energy efficiency. According to the PCAP website, by using energy efficiency technologies and today’s know-how, we could cut our global warming pollution by a third.
To learn more about the Presidential Climate Action Plan, the Reading Climate Action Plan, and your own options for energy efficiency, come to the Reading Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection’s sponsored session on February 5th where you can learn more about the recommendations for action in the first 100 days of the new administration, and learn what you can do to reduce your energy consumption. It will take place at the Reading Senior Center on Pleasant Street from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Everyone is welcome.
While the issues of climate change and the economy can seem overwhelming, the message of the PCAP is that the solution to these problems can lead to great improvements throughout the entire country. “The good news is that the bold steps that are needed to solve the climate crisis are exactly the same steps that ought to be taken in order to solve the economic crisis and the energy security crisis. The large and rapid investment in a job-intensive infrastructure initiative is the best way to revive our economy in a quick and sustainable way.”
It will take a combination of national and local actions for this change to come about - it is going to take action from everyone to make it happen. The Reading Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection looks forward to working with interested citizens to bring these exciting opportunities to Reading. As always, you can contact our committee at readingmassccp@hotmail.com.
Authors: Michele Benson, Stephanie Anderberg and Gina Snyder
Every time we drive, fly, run appliances at home and keep our houses lighted, warm and cool, we emit carbon dioxide, trapping heat in the atmosphere. This is what is called a carbon footprint, defined as:
The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2 is the chemical symbol for carbon dioxide).
In other words: When you drive a car or fly in a plane, the engine burns fuel which creates a certain amount of CO2, that can be calculated based on its fuel consumption and the driving distance. When you heat your house or water with oil, gas, coal, or wood then you also generate CO2. Even if you heat with electricity, the generation of the electrical power may also have emitted a certain amount of CO2. When you buy food and goods, the production and transportation of the food and goods also emitted some quantities of CO2.
Your carbon footprint is the sum of all emissions of CO2 (carbon dioxide), which were generated by your activities in a given time frame. Usually a carbon footprint is calculated for the time period of a year.
There are many websites offering carbon calculators. We urge our readers come to learn about carbon emissions, and discuss ways to reduce your energy use at the ACCCP's National Teach-in, Thursday, February 5th at the Reading Senior Center at 6:30 PM.
There are many things each of us, as individuals, can do to reduce our carbon emissions. The Teach-In event at the Senior Center will also provide information and an opportunity to sign up for follow up. The choices we make in our homes, our travel, the food we eat, and what we buy and throw away all influence our carbon footprint.
You can estimate your personal carbon footprint using a simple calculator from the Environmental Protection Agency web site (http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html).
You can use the online calculator to get a rough “ballpark” estimate of your personal or family’s greenhouse gas emissions and explore the impact of taking various actions to reduce your emissions. The calculator is broken into three categories and also has a selection of follow up actions.
To get started:
1. Calculate your vehicle miles traveled for the year.
2. For the most accurate results, use electric, gas, and/or oil bills to use real numbers for your household’s energy consumption. Remember that your energy bills vary by season, so tally for the year or use an average of winter and summer values if you can.
3. Visit the What You Can Do (http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/actionsteps.htm) section of the climate change website to learn about actions you can take to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.
The EPA calculator starts with your zip code to more accurately estimate your electricity-related emissions.
The first section asks about household vehicles.
Pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent are calculated based on either your mileage if you know it, or you can default to EPA's estimate of the greenhouse gas emissions from a typical passenger vehicle in the United States. (Note that you can get further information from fueleconomy.gov, which estimates emissions over the full fuel lifecycle - including extraction, processing, and transportation of fuel).
The second section asks for household electricity and fuel information.
Electricity emissions factors are categorized by geographic subregion.
Natural Gas carbon coefficient,117 pounds of CO2 per million BTU. "Typical" annual CO2 emissions of 9,500 pounds are based on national average monthly consumption of 7,915 cubic feet of gas.
Fuel Oil carbon coefficient, 161.29 pounds of CO2 per million BTU. "Typical" annual CO2 emissions = 11,400 pounds/household, based on national average monthly consumption of 42 gallons of oil.
Propane (LPG) carbon coefficient,137.34 pounds of CO2 per million BTU. "Typical" annual CO2 emissions = 6,800 pounds/household based on national average monthly consumption of 45 gallons of propane.
The final section asks about waste disposal practices.
Estimates of greenhouse gas emission benefits from recycling newspaper, glass, plastic, metal, and magazines were developed using national waste data and life-cycle greenhouse gas emission factors for waste management. Calculations assume that it would be possible for households to recycle 100 percent of all recyclable materials generated as waste. EPA estimates that on average, each person generates 0.041 metric tons of newspaper, 0.043 tons of glass, 0.014 metric tons of plastic, 0.012 metric tons of metal, and 0.009 metric tons of magazines per year.
There are other good carbon calculators available. Many of them ask about air travel, and how much meat you eat, since those are major contributors to greenhouse gases. There are also some specific calculators, for example:
Commute Calculator: Did you know you could spare 19 pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere by conserving one gallon of fuel? A Commute Cost and Carbon Emission Calculator can be accessed from Standford University's Parking and Transportation Services. http://transportation.stanford.edu/alt_transportation/calculator.shtml
Wedding Calculator: Asks if you “Want to start your new life together, carbon free?” The ZeroCarbon wedding calculator from Carbon Fund found at http://www.carbonfund.org/site/pages/individuals/category/Weddings/ also offers carbon offsets that you can purchase to ‘reduce’ your footprint.
You can also do an internet search on “carbon calculator” to find what else is available. Bring your results or bring your household information to a “Teach In”, 6:30 PM on February 5th at the Reading Senior Center at 49 Pleasant Street, sponsored by the Reading Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection.
Massachusetts Attacks “Fuelishness”!
Authors: Gina Snyder, Michele Benson and Stephanie Anderberg
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has unveiled a new webpage to help drivers reduce fuel consumption. Found at www.mass.gov/gastips, the website has information on Eco-driving Practices, Ecodriving Tips to Become a 'Hypermiler', and some downloadable files on these topics. They have links to sites such as Ecomodder.com (an automotive community where performance is judged by fuel economy rather than power and speed) and CleanMPG.com (a news site where safe ‘hypermiling’ is discussed), among others.
The attack on fuelishness includes the basic recommendations that Green Sense has been writing about: “Drive Less! Use Transit, Bicycle and Walk, and Reduce Travel.” But the advice is an easy read and confirms some of the information found on other sites about idling and engine warm ups, along with a few additions to the good advice. For example, while it is helpful for your mileage to avoid short trips, if you are running errands with multiple stops, go to your farthest destination first to warm up your engine more quickly for better fuel economy.
We’ve all seen the advice to drive the posted speed limit or the minimum speed allowed on a highway. But why is this good advice to increase the mileage you get from your fuel? Mass.gov provides this explanation, “Vehicle fuel consumption increases about 5% for every 5 miles per hour (mph) driven above 60 mph. Overall savings in fuel costs from slower driving can range from 7% to 23%.”
Do rapid starts and stops really help you get there faster? Not much faster and at a very high cost. “’Jack rabbit’ starts and hard stops can increase fuel use by up to 40% but reduce travel time by only 4%.” A good place to watch your speed is through Reading Square’s traffic lights; there is no sense in speeding from one red light to the next. The best way to use the least fuel is to accelerate gradually and coast up to stops where not prohibited. Mass.gov/gastips calls this “Moving from ’Lead Foot’ to ‘Feather Foot’”. Another location in Reading to try driving at a slow steady speed to conserve momentum and match your speed to the light timing, is on Walkers Brook Drive. Slow and steady driving keeps cars moving more efficiently. By driving sensibly you can save 5% to 33% in city driving costs. For smoother driving on toll roads, the MassPike FAST LANE transponder allows for smoother travel through road, tunnel, and bridge toll plazas in 12 Eastern states. In some locations, transponder users pay a lower toll as well!
Removing unnecessary items from your vehicle can also save you fuel. “Every extra 100 pounds in or on the vehicle could reduce your mpg by up to 2%.” Also remove unused roof, ski, and bike racks, and try not to carry items on your roof or on a trailer; they increase aerodynamic drag and fuel use.
Another strategy to get the most from your fuel is to use the highest gear possible. This means using the highest gear, or Overdrive, on highways if your car has this feature. This gear uses less power while reducing fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, and engine wear.
The website also has some notes on good maintenance practices including:
1. Change your engine oil with correct grade oil (1-2% mpg benefit);
2. Replacing any clogged air filter (up to 10 % mpg benefit);
3. Tune your engine (4% average mpg benefit);
4. Tighten Your Fuel Tank Cap (A loose, damaged, or missing fuel tank cap can cost you as much as 30 gallons of fuel a year. Unsecure or missing fuel caps can also lead to fuel contamination and engine malfunctions that waste money); and
5. Check Your Tire Pressure Monthly (Proper tire pressure is safer, extends tire life, and can improve mpg by up to 3%).
Note: Tire pressures change an average of 1 PSI for every 10ºF change in air temperature, and can deflate naturally up to 1.5 PSI per month.
Above all, avoid idling! Idling gets ZERO mpg. Do not idle or race your engine to warm up the engine; it will warm up more quickly when you are driving. If you need to idle, shift to neutral, so the engine is not working against your brake and consuming more fuel.
Follow this advice and not only get more miles for your fuel dollars, but you’ll also avoid wear and tear on your vehicle! For more tips and links, visit www.mass.gov/gastips.
Author: Tracy Sopchak
These days I see “green” product labels everywhere I look in the grocery store and at the pharmacy. One label may read “Recycled Content” or “Non Toxic”. Another may read “All Natural”. These labels sound great and make me feel good about supporting the “green” market. But I also wonder which claims are sound and which are nothing more than the modern marketing machine manipulating me into buying a product that I think is a sound environmental choice. Marketing or labeling a product or service as “green”, when it really isn’t a good environmental choice, is known as “Green-washing”. A group by the name of TerraChoice has recently issued an article on “Green-washing” which details the following “Six Sins of Green-washing1-excerpts”:
- Sin of the Hidden Trade-Off: A product is labeled “green” based on a single environmental attribute without attention to other issues that a complete environmental analysis would deem more important.
Example: a paper product that advertises recycled content without attention to manufacturing impacts such as air emissions, water emissions, and global warming impacts.- Sin of No Proof: Any environmental claim that cannot be substantiated by easily accessible supporting information.
Example: household lamps and lights that promote their energy efficiency without certification.- Sin of Vagueness: Any claim that is so poorly defined or broad that its real meaning is likely to be misunderstood by the intended consumer.
Example: a product labeled “Chemical-free” when, in fact, nothing is free of chemicals. All plants, animals, and humans are made of chemicals, as are all of our products.- Sin of Irrelevance: An environmental claim that may be truthful but is unimportant and unhelpful for consumers seeking environmentally preferable products.
Example: “Chlorofluorocarbons free.” CFCs have been legally banned for almost 30 years. No products are manufactured with them.- Sin of Lesser of Two Evils: “Green” claims that may be true within the product category, but risk distracting the consumer from the greater environmental impacts of the category as a whole.
Example: Organic cigarettes.- Sin of Fibbing: Environmental claims that are simply false.
Example: A shampoo that claims to be “certified organic”, but for which TerraChoice’s research could find no such certification.So how can we be sure that we are making environmentally sound purchases? Here are some tools that can help you decipher truly green products from their green-washed counterparts:
- Eco-labels identify products that have been certified by a qualified and independent third-party. Here are some examples:
- Climate Cool products are those that “reduce or offset the greenhouse gas emissions with which they are associated to achieve a net zero impact on the earth's climate.4”
- ENERGY STAR products “use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment.3”
- Green Seal Certified products are “the most environmentally preferable currently available; thus, they are leadership standards. 4”
- USDA Organic foods are “produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.4”
- EcoLogo products meet “standards for environmental leadership from an open, transparent consensus-based process that considers multiple environmental issues throughout a product’s lifecycle.1”
- Shopping Guidebooks, such as: “The Better World Buying Guide”. For every category of grocery or product, such as coffee, shampoo or dairy, this guide provides a list of name brands and rates them on how well they support important issues, such as ‘The Environment’ when supplying their product.
Remember, legitimate environmental claims can be certified by independent outside third-party auditors or you can check the claims using guidebooks or the web – legitimately ‘green’ manufacturers provide test data and other relevant information on their web sites. As Ellis Jones says, “As citizens, on average, we might vote once every four years, if at all. As consumers, we vote every single day with the purest form of power...money. The average American family spends around $18,000 every year on goods and services. Think of it as casting 18,000 votes every year for the kind of world you want to live in.2”
- The “Six Sins of Greenwashing” A Study of Environmental Claims in North American Consumer Markets by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing Inc., November 2007.
http://www.terrachoice.com/files/6_sins.pdf- The Better World Shopping Guide. Ellis Jones. New Society Publishers. Copyright 2006. p5.
http://www.betterworldshopper.org/?gclid=CIz-tqfiypcCFRgqHgodZSplTA- The Environmental Protection Agency: ENERGY STAR http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home.index
- The Green Office: Third Party Certified http://www.thegreenoffice.com/content/view/58/127/
Bringing back those Starry Nights
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, and Gina Snyder
Winter is the best time to see the starry sky at night. While the dark frostiness of a winter night may make you want to stay inside, the stars not only seem brighter in the cold clear nights of winter, they actually are more visible. That's because cold air is thin on moisture, giving the sky a crystal clarity that isn’t there in summer's steamy atmosphere. Bundle up and step outside to be treated to outstanding displays of the winter constellations such as Orion the Hunter, which includes three bright stars that form an unmistakable line known as Orion's Belt.
If you yearn for a sight of the countless stars or the Milky Way’s soft river of light arching clearly overhead, the new website of the New England Light Pollution Advisory Group (NELPAG, at http://www.nelpag.org) explains how to help get the best out of the night sky. Too often, the stars are overwhelmed by the artificial glow that envelops our cities and towns. That glow is due to light pollution, which is defined as any adverse effect of artificial light, whether from sky glow, glare, light trespass, or light clutter, resulting in decreased visibility at night.
While our “’round-the-clock society” means that the outdoor environment is lit up for safety and security, an awful lot of the light is directed up into the sky, instead of onto the ground. In fact, according to NELPAG, “Illumination experts estimate that each year billions of dollars’ worth of electricity is wasted as light that streams uselessly up into the sky. And more is at stake than the loss of star-filled nights. Bigger and brighter lights don’t guarantee a safer nighttime environment. Moreover, medical evidence is mounting that exposure to light at night disrupts the body’s natural renewal cycle and might even put you at greater risk for certain diseases.”
They go on to state, “Fortunately, light pollution is almost entirely preventable. Lighting professionals and manufacturers are finally embracing the cost-saving benefits of installing well-designed, fully shielded fixtures that direct all their light downward, onto the ground. Because these have far less glare, you're able to see your surroundings clearly rather than being blinded by the lights' harsh brilliance.”
Every light source that can be seen shining upward represents electricity being wasted. Any outdoor fixture that directs some of its light above horizontal is sending light directly into space rather than onto the ground, where it should be going.
For 20 years, the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA, see http://www.darksky.org/) has argued that such poorly designed outdoor lighting wastes tremendous amounts of electricity. The IDA's most recent estimate, based on government statistics of energy use and conservative assumptions about lighting use, concludes that each year roughly $2 billion in electricity is lost to space from the United States alone.
According to the IDA, keeping a single 100-watt light bulb on all night, every night, requires more than 400 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year (the energy equivalent of burning more than 500 pounds of coal). The simple act of turning off unnecessary lights can save a huge amount of electricity.
The IDA has some ‘Practical Actions’ that homeowners can take:
· Use light only when and where it’s needed. Turn of lights when they are not needed and create a curfew for lights-out. Minimize interim light use with timers and motion detectors.
· Use only as much light as needed. Over-lighting reduces the eye’s ability to see outside of the lit area. In addition, excess light can produce glare, which also reduces visibility. Selecting the correct lamp wattage for your needs increases safety and reduces costs.
· Shine lights down, not up. A well-designed fixture will direct the light where it’s needed most—at the ground. Select new fixtures that are fully shielded; retrofit or replace poor quality fixtures. For more information on selecting dark-sky friendly fixtures, refer to IDA’s Web site and the fixtures featured in the IDA Fixture Seal of Approval (FSA) program.
· Use efficient light sources for outdoor lighting around homes and businesses. Consider a compact fluorescent for good, energy efficient, economical lighting—a low-wattage lamp gives plenty of light for most properties and applications, and in a fully shielded fixture, it makes an excellent choice. When higher wattage lamps are necessary, be sure that they are fully shielded and energy efficient.
So, take some steps to save energy and bring back the starry skies, and enjoy the view!
Putting Climate Protection in Your New Year’s Resolutions
Authors: Michele Benson, Stephanie Anderberg and Gina Snyder
Happy New Year! For 2009 and every year, we offer some suggestions for energy saving/climate protecting New Year’s resolutions! This list focuses on a variety of easy actions to consider. If you have already taken these actions, we applaud you and ask you to share your story with us (email readingmassccp@hotmail.com).
1. Reduce Your Energy Use: Pledge to reduce electric energy use by 10%. It can be as simple as getting the family to shut things off when not in use. Don’t let the TV run as background noise if no one is watching. Unplug laptops and cell phone chargers when not being used. Turn off video game consoles – these are energy hogs! Shut off lights when leaving a room, even if you plan to return.
2. Look for ENERGY STAR ratings: The ENERGYSTAR label assures you that the product meets high-energy efficiency standards. Resolve to buy only ENERGY STAR certified electronics and appliances. And take advantage of RMLD’s rebate program for certain energy-efficient purchases.
3. Join the Change-A-Light Campaign via RMLD.com: Changing light bulbs is one of the simplest ways you can help reduce energy use. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) last longer and use less than 1/3 of the energy of an incandescent bulb. (Please note: CFLs contain small amounts of mercury, so it is important to dispose ofthem in an environmentally responsible manner.) Better yet, light emitting diodes (LEDs) use up to 90% less energy and are nearly indestructible. At this time of year, you may be able to find strings of LED holiday lights on clearance, to stash away for the next holiday season. So resolve to save on light energy in 2009.
4. Spare the air: Carpool/rideshare, use public transportation, walk or bicycle. If your commute is difficult to shift to another mode, using sustainable transportation for other trips may prove manageable. When the weather improves, walking and biking can also fulfill a resolution to exercise more. And turn off your parked car; idling wastes fuel as well as polluting our air.
5. Combine vehicle trips: “Trip chaining” is a helpful strategy for reducing your climate emissions. Instead of running individual errands and returning home after each one, plan trips to accomplish multiple errands in one trip, or if possible, in one stop. Once you are at the post office, for example, you can walk to the banks and the drug stores in Reading without moving your car. Also, ask a neighbor if they’d like to come along, or if you can pick up something for them, reducing someone else’s trips is just as good for the environment as reducing your own!
6. Give a LOT of thought to what you really need in a vehicle: Can you downsize from your current vehicle, or find a more fuel efficient or less polluting version of what you have? And you’ll enjoy spending less on gas. Use http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm to help find a safe, fuel-efficient vehicle.
7. Reduce trash by the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle mantra: Reducing what you buy reduces throwaways. Do you really need that tempting product? Can you get along without it? Too often, durable goods end up in the trash because of impulse purchases. Reuse what you can (e.g., use a reusable water bottle and tap water rather than disposable bottles of water, reuse plastic containers such as margarine tubs). Recycle as much as possible (Reading has an extensive recycling program). Give old clothes and furniture to charity or have a swap party.
8. Resolve to eat healthier: Cutting back on meat helps the environment because it takes tremendous energy to grow and process meat products. Resolve to eat locally as much as possible when local farms begin to produce. Plan your garden now so you will be ready when spring comes. By buying your food from local suppliers or growing your own vegetables, you are helping to reduce transportation emissions.
9. Compost your vegetable wastes: Even in winter, you can begin a compost pile (or save it for spring by using a large barrel outside and when the weather improves, empty into your composting bin or pile). Save on trash hauling costs and put back into your garden the nutrients and organics that the compost will provide.
10. Bring your re-useable bags whenever you shop. Spread the word – make a trend of being environmentally conscious. The more these actions become habit and the more people join the effort, the better we’ll protect our climate and our environment!
The members of the Reading Advisory Committee for Cities for Climate Protection (ACCCP) wish all of our readers a very Happy and Healthy New Year!
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, and Gina Snyder
Anyone traveling during the holidays knows that these are some of the busiest travel periods of the year. Unfortunately, all that travel consumes fossil fuels and generates emissions from all those planes, trains, and automobiles. But there are ways to minimize the climate altering emissions and use of scarce fossil fuels, and use less non-renewable energy in this uncertain economy, without being stuck at home all winter. Analysts at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) have found that with the right choices in our mode of transportation, we can plan a trip that is easier on both our wallets and the environment. Here are some of their findings:
(1) The number one most efficient way to travel (aside from walking or biking to your destination) is to hop on the bus. Buses (or motor coaches) are one of America’s best-kept green travel secrets. According to UCS, compared with flying, traveling on a bus generates 55 to 75 percent less global warming pollution per passenger, depending on the distance traveled.
And from a cost perspective, bus travel is much less expensive than flying and can even be cheaper than driving. Since there is no single online resource for booking tickets from different bus lines, it does require some searching to find companies that serve your departure and destination cities.
(2) A second option, if you are driving and you don’t own a fuel-efficient vehicle, is to rent one when driving on longer trips. Economy-class vehicles, which typically get 30 or more miles per gallon, can save more than $100 over a 500-mile trip compared with driving an SUV you own (including fuel costs, rental fee, maintenance, and depreciation), while generating less than half the global warming pollution. Upgrading to an even more efficient hybrid can further reduce emissions without increasing your total costs (the lower fuel costs offset the higher rental fee). Before you arrive at the rental counter, consult www.fueleconomy.gov to obtain fuel economy estimates for all of the cars available at that location.
Carpooling can make driving a more fuel efficient option. And if family members are going the same way, it can be more cost effective and fuel efficient to rent a van for larger capacity than to drive two separate vehicles.
(3) Taking the train is a great option if the train serves your destination. UCS notes that on average, U.S. passenger trains emit approximately 0.43 pound of global warming pollution per passenger mile compared with 1.08 pounds for a typical car carrying a single person. Train travel can also save you money when traveling between large cities, since train stations that are often much closer to city centers than airports allow you to avoid cab rides into town.
(4) If you need to fly (and the UCS report indicates that flying can actually be more fuel efficient for really long distances), then choose airlines that offer coach-class seating exclusively. Because first-class seating takes up more space than coach seating, the average first-class passenger on a domestic fight is responsible for twice as much global warming pollution as someone seated in coach. If you choose an airline that has only coach seating, you are traveling on a more fuel-efficient choice.
(5) Also, if possible, avoid peak travel dates. Whether you’re sitting on the tarmac or stuck in traffic, the congestion associated with peak travel times translates into more global warming pollution. When a car or SUV is stuck in traffic, it can consume fuel at double the rate it uses at steady cruising speeds. UCS notes that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says 574 million vacation days went unused in 2006, so if you are one of those people who did not use all their vacation dates, this year you can avoid the overcrowding by attaching an extra day or two on either end of your vacation to avoid peak travel congestion—and avoid higher transportation fares as well.
So keep these tips in mind as you plan your holiday travel, and have a safe and happy holiday from all of us at the Reading Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection.
Reference http://www.ucsusa.org/publications/earthwise/earthwise-current.html
To learn more about green travel options, visit the UCS website at www.ucsusa.org/gettingtheregreener
Green Gifts for the Holidays and the Year
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, and Gina Snyder
There are many ways to “green up” your holiday gift giving. And with a tough economy, you may find that some green gift ideas are also easier on the wallet than conventional choices. Here are some examples:
Give a gift that keeps on Giving: Energy saving gifts such as rechargeable battery sets, solar accessory chargers, or LED lights will help the recipient save money year long. Or help folks save on their heating bills with warm socks, sweaters or throw blankets. If you like to sew, you can make homemade draft dodgers from your fabric scraps to keep cold drafts at bay (http://www.planetshoup.com/easy/sew/draftstp.shtml ) or rice pillows for heating in the microwave to help with aches and pains (http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=280 ).
Preserve the outdoors: If your loved ones live in or near a state that sells state park permits, call to find out about giving these as a gift. Your money goes twice as far because in addition to buying a gift, you are also supporting the preservation of open space!
Help with the Garden: For the person who likes to garden or even a new home owner, why not try a rain barrel? Diverting rooftop runoff to a rain barrel not only reduces the amount of water that flows to the street, but it also can be used for irrigation. It’s estimated that a rain barrel can save 1300 gallons of water during the summer season. (If you buy your rain barrel from Reading, there’s an instant $25 rebate on a $55 barrel from www.ci.reading.ma.us/Pages/ReadingMA_Water/conservation/Rainbarrelorderform2008.pdf).
Re-use from fall holidays: Next year, don’t carve all of your pumpkins for Halloween – save one or two sugar pumpkins to bake after Halloween or Thanksgiving and use them for your holiday baking! Puree the baked pumpkin and add it to a package of spice cake mix for a simple pumpkin muffin recipe (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Pumpkin-Muffins/Detail.aspx ). In addition to being a very healthy food, pumpkins are locally produced and result in less environmental impact than out-of-season produce shipped from overseas.
Support green growing: Check to see if a local community supported agriculture (CSA) farm delivers near your loved ones, and ask about buying gift shares. The recipient will enjoy getting a variety of fresh produce throughout the next growing season! (http://www.biodynamics.com/csa1.html )
Wrap it with reuseables: Use fabric bags, bandannas and holiday linens to wrap gifts in durable, reusable materials. Wrap shoe boxes and lids separately so gifts can be opened without tearing the wrap. Reuse maps, magazine pages and comic sections as gift-wrap.
Make recycled art paper: Save colored paper from your recycling. Select similar colors – various shades of blue for example - and tear them into small pieces. Add a tiny bit of an accent color or two, if desired, and toss the pieces into your blender, with some water. Puree until you have paper pulp, and pour it into a shallow container. Use a piece of screen or plastic canvas to draw out a new sheet of paper, which you can dry and use for gift tags or greeting cards. Or press the pulp into a soap mold, add a string loop, and remove the shape to dry into an ornament. (http://greenliving.about.com/od/greenfamily/ht/RecyclePaper.htm )
Circulate it: For a fun gift exchange idea, ask the participants to select a favorite book or movie to give. Recipients can enjoy the gift for a year, then next Christmas, everyone can re-wrap that favorite to give to another person in the group. Take a moment to remember your childhood favorite books and movies, and imagine the fun of sharing these “old friends” with your current friends!
For some unusual “green” gift ideas that you can either purchase online or find in some stores, check the Tree Hugger website http://www.treehugger.com/giftguide/ . Watch for a future column to give some tips on ways to check if those ‘green’ claims are really green.
Best wishes for a happy holiday season to all of our readers!
Make Your Home Warm and Snug this Winter - While Keeping Heating Bills to a Minimum
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, and Gina Snyder
Heating your home is a necessary part of the New England winter, but it can be expensive. Don't resign yourself to chilly rooms and big bills, review the tips below to check and get the benefits of heating efficiently.
Fine-tune your central heating
Heating controls can keep your rooms at a comfortable temperature without wasting energy. Make sure you have (and use) a programmable thermostat - you could save around 15% off your heating bill.
Set your thermostat at the lowest comfortable temperature - typically between 64°F (18°C) and 68°F (20°C) during the day and lower at night. Lowering your thermostat by just 1°C could save you more than $150 during the heating season.
Also use a timer to set when the hot water comes on and goes off.
Set your heating to suit your routine - for example, if you work from 9am-5pm, set your heating controls to come on for a few hours in the morning and again for when you arrive home in the evening. By installing a programmable thermostat and heating your home and hot water only when necessary, you'll save energy and mone
Get your heating system/boiler serviced
To make sure your heating is safe and efficient, get your system serviced once a year. Schedule the service for autumn, so there's still time to organize repairs before the cold weather sets in. Change filters on forced air furnaces.
Unserviced boilers can release dangerous carbon monoxide. If your boiler needs replacing, go for an energy efficient boiler - you could cut your heating bills by 30%.
Clean heating ducts and radiators
If you have forced-air heating ducts, check the ducts once a year for leaks and seal with a duct tape that can take the heat. Have the entire system professionally cleaned as recommended by your heating system's maintenance manual and routinely vacuum dust from duct grilles and radiators.Insulate your attic and walls
Full attic insulation could save you up to $400 per year, cavity wall insulation around $200 per year and solid wall insulation up to $1000 per year. Plus there are some low interest loans and offers available for insulation to help you with the initial investment.
Check for drafts
It's uncomfortable sitting in a draft - and it means heat is escaping from your home, wasting valuable energy. Walk around inside your home on a windy day and work out where the drafts are coming from. Or, use a candle and hairdryer to help you see where there are drafts. Have someone go outside and blow the dryer around the outside frames of your windows and doors, and follow with a candle on the inside. Check around electrical outlets as well. If the candle flickers or goes out, you need to weather strip or caulk.
Look for:
· badly fitting windows
· gaps around doors
· mail slots without draft excluding brushes
· gaps in floorboards
If you can feel cold air coming in around the windows or doors in your home it means warm air is escaping. Sitting in a draft doesn't just give you a pain in the neck, in a typical home 20 per cent of all heat loss is through ventilation and drafts.
Draft proofing works
Filling any gaps will decrease the amount of cold air entering your home. There are several types of materials available, ranging from foams and sealants to weather strips and shaped rubber or plastic. Most materials are available from Do-It-Yourself stores. Check the quality of the products - it will affect their performance and durability. Caulk around the window frames with tubes of caulking in the same color as the trim, lay in a bead and smooth it with a finger. There are also many designs of sealant strips, some are self-adhesive, and easy to install on leaky doors.
So, don’t let winter’s chill draft into your home, follow these tips and make your house cozy and warm while being energy efficient!
Reference
Reading Takes the Next Step to Identify Energy Savings
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, and Gina Snyder
Town meeting voted funds last month to support a performance contract with an Energy Services Company (ESCO). Energy Service Companies provide full building energy audits and a suite of design, engineering, financing, installation and maintenance of energy conservation measures for energy efficiency, to reduce energy and water consumption, and improve environmental performance of buildings.
What is Performance Contracting? This is a method of contracting that allows a property owner to purchase energy-efficient upgrades to their present facilities. Performance Contracting allows for a single procurement of services from an Energy Services Company (ESCO) who is responsible for the design, procurement and installation of energy efficient products. This method includes financing from the energy savings, thereby avoiding up-front money or capital outlay. The ESCO providing the services will guarantee the energy savings of the project. The advantage to this type of contract is that once the project is finished and paid for, the property owner (in this case the town) reaps the benefits of the energy savings in years to come.
State Law Encourages Energy Service Contracting: In February 2006, Massachusetts enacted a law to help municipalities pay for energy efficiency projects. Titled "An Act Relative to Contracts for Energy Management," this law makes it easier for municipalities to contract for work that will improve the energy management in their buildings while saving them money at the same time. The new procurement rules encourage municipalities to invest in energy conservation measures by entering into performance contracts with an Energy Services Company. Under conventional procurement requirements, cities and towns have to hire service providers (auditors, engineers, architects, general and subcontractors) and separately procure equipment. An ESCO is a ‘one-stop shopping’ alternative.
ESCO contracts include first an energy audit of the public buildings, then recommendations for energy conservation measures - such as automatic light switches, new boilers, new windows or roofs, improved plumbing - and an estimate of how much energy the municipality would save if such measures were put in place. The municipality then selects the energy conserving measures and the ESCO acts as the general contractor, purchasing and installing the improvements, and the municipality pays with the savings. The ESCO guarantees a certain amount of energy use reduction and if it fails to meet its guarantee, the ESCO pays the municipality for the extra energy usage.
Financing is usually done through a tax-exempt lease provided by a bank, rather than through the bonding municipalities usually use to pay for such work. This bypasses the politics of bonding, the long approval process, and avoids adding to a municipality's debt burden. Monthly lease payments are made by the municipality to the bank, with energy cost savings providing the cash needed to pay the leases. According to Green Decade (www.greendecade.org/download/ESCOs.pdf), “Because of the way the performance contract is structured, the only way savings would not equal or exceed the monthly payments would be if utility costs skyrocketed or if energy usage increased unpredictably and dramatically.”
Cities for Climate Protection Member Success with ESCO: Several other Cities for Climate Protection members have contracted with ESCO’s and Somerville’s contractor won the 2008 “North American Energy Service Company Green Excellence Award of the Year”, issued by Frost & Sullivan. According to the news release, “In August 2007, the City of Somerville awarded a contract to Honeywell to help implement a series of actions to retrofit municipal buildings and facilities to save energy and money, increase the share of renewable energy, and reduce carbon emissions. These actions also include a plan to expand the City's use of renewable energy to at least 10% by 2010.”
“Since April 2007, Honeywell has enabled the City to reduce emissions and replace traditional electricity and energy sources with renewable energy. By installing a 10 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the Somerville High School, the City is saving 17% on its electric bill for the school and displacing some of the school's traditionally-generated electricity with more environmentally-friendly power.” A solar hot water heating system on their elementary school roof helps heat the school's swimming pool and Honeywell has also installed a cogeneration system at the Public Safety Building. http://www.iclei-usa.org/news-events/somerville-mas-energy-service-co-receives-award-for-excellence/
While ESCO’s are not set up for individual residences, Reading residents can still reap benefits from energy savings by contacting the Reading Municipal Light Department and signing up for a free energy audit and following up on the recommendations. The upcoming program for Reading’s municipal buildings offers great promise for reducing energy use. Watch for future Green Sense articles to chronicle this process.
Fall Harvest - a Bumper Crop of Leaves
Authors: Michele Benson, Stephanie Anderberg and Gina Snyder
This year has produced a bumper crop of leaves! You have at least four options for those leaves: rake them up and a) take them to the compost center on Strout Avenue, b) bag for curbside collection, c) compost them in your yard; or d) take the ‘no action’ alternative – leave them where they fell!
The last weekend for taking leaves to the compost center is after Thanksgiving. Open from
8:00AM - 2:30PM on Friday and Monday,
8:00AM - 5:00PM on Saturday, and
Noon - 5:00PM on Sunday.
Compost Center hours end December 1st (according to the schedule at http://www.ci.reading.ma.us/Pages/ReadingMA_Recycling/compostJul2008.pdf). The final week of curbside leaf collection will also be December 1 – 5, 2008. For curbside, the leaves must be placed in paper bags and be put curbside on your regular trash day.
If you don’t have a community sticker to go to the compost center, or you don’t get all your leaves collected in time, you can set up composting in your yard, and use it year round - not just as a way to deal with yard debris but also your vegetable waste from the kitchen. Composting is an easy way to get great fertilizer or potting soil ready for spring gardens and it cuts back on the use of bags and the burden on municipal trash collection.
A compost pile can be set up in a corner of the yard with a few supplies.
• Choose a spot 3- to 5-feet square, preferably out of direct sunlight.
• You can clear the area of grass, but if you put a thick layer of leaves down, you’ll knock out any grass or weeds. Build a simple enclosure with chicken wire, scrap wood, or cinder blocks. Be sure to leave enough spacing for air to reach the pile. One removable or open side makes it easier to access.
If you don’t want to build your own compost ‘pile’, home composting bins are also available from Reading Public Works. The bin is constructed from 100% post consumer recycled plastic. According to the DPW, the bins “assemble in ten minutes without the need of tools. The design provides for efficient composting of grass clippings, leaves, and vegetable waste to 2/3 of original volume ... These bins will hold more than a yard of compostable material and come with a five-year warranty. “
The bins are $25.00 payable to the Town of Reading, pay at the Town Hall and pick up bins up at the Public Works Garage, 75 Newcrossing Rd.
• Start the pile with a 4-inch layer of leaves, loose soil, or other coarse yard trimmings. If you are going to compost food scraps, and if you want your compost to decompose more quickly, you should use a slightly more involved process and mix them with yard trimmings when adding them to the pile. Alfalfa meal or clean cat litter may be added to the pile to absorb odors.
Some tips on composting:
• You can compost leaves, grass, and yard clippings, vegetable trimmings, egg shells, coffee grounds and filters, paper towels/napkins, tea bags and even vacuum cleaner lint, wool and cotton rags, sawdust, shredded newspaper and fireplace ashes – these all work great for composting.
• In dry weather, sprinkle water on the pile, but don’t get it too soggy.
• To get good compost more quickly, turn the pile every few weeks (e.g., with a pitchfork) to circulate air and distribute moisture evenly.
• Don’t be surprised by the heat of the pile or if you see worms, as both are a sign of thriving compost and part of the natural decomposition process.
• Generally, the compost is ‘done’ in 3 to 6 months when it becomes a dark crumbly material with uniform texture. Spread it in the garden, flower beds or under shrubbery come spring and summer - or use it as potting soil.
A few things to AVOID when composting:
While many foods can be composted it’s important to NOT compost meats, dairy products, fats, oils or greases as they may attract pests (e.g., pets or less domesticated critters).
If you have the space, composting is easy and saves you from going to the compost center or purchasing the paper bags to put your leaves in. It’s a great way to recycle the final harvest of the fall and give back to your garden in the spring!
Green Your Holiday Cooking Methods and Save
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson, and Gina Snyder
It's not difficult to keep added holiday energy costs to a minimum when cooking those special treats and holiday meals; just follow these simple tips from the California Energy Commission:
Energy Tips when using the Oven
· Don't open the oven door to take a peek at what's cooking inside. Opening the oven door lowers the temperature inside by as much as 25 degrees. Instead, turn on the oven light and check the cooking status through the oven window.
· Roasting a turkey or holiday ham is a long, slow-cook process, so there's no need to preheat your oven, even when the recipe suggests it. In fact, unless you're baking breads or pastries, you may not need to preheat the oven at all.
· When you do use your oven, plan ahead and cook several items at the same time. Just make sure you leave enough room for the heat to circulate around each casserole and pie plate.
· In an electric oven, you can turn the heat off several minutes before your food is fully cooked as long as the oven door remains closed, enough heat will be stored inside to finish cooking your meal. The same principle applies to your electric range-top - the metal heating elements stay hot even after the electricity is turned off.
· If you use glass or ceramic pans, you can turn your oven temperature down 25 degrees, and foods will cook just as quickly.
· Self-cleaning ovens use less energy for normal cooking because of the higher insulation levels built into them. Consider using the self-cleaning feature immediately after using your oven, to take advantage of the residual heat.
Stovetop Tips
· When cooking on top of your range, match the size of the pan to the heating element. Believe it or not, a six-inch pan on an eight-inch burner will waste more than 40 percent of the energy!
· Clean burners and reflectors provide better heating, while saving energy.
· Buy quality reflectors, the best on the market can save as much as one-third of the energy used when cooking on top of the stove.
Other Options for Saving Energy when Cooking: Don't Overlook other Cooking Appliances
· Fast and efficient microwave ovens use around 50 percent less energy than conventional ovens. Consider using a microwave oven to bake potatoes or yams, steam your favorite fresh vegetables, or heat up leftovers. They're especially efficient for smaller portions or items, but when it comes to the turkey or large items, your oven or stovetop are usually more efficient.
· Slow cookers (crock-pots) are great energy savers that can save you money all year long and they’re perfect for busy families. On average, they will cook a whole meal for about 17 cents worth of electricity.
· Electric skillets can steam, fry, sauté, stew, bake, or roast a variety of food items - and some can double as serving dishes.
· A pressure cooker cuts cooking time by about two-thirds.
· A toaster oven is ideal for baking or broiling small food items, because they use one-third the energy of a bigger oven.
Simple Energy Tips for your Refrigerator
In addition to your stove, your refrigerator and freezer also get a real workout over the holidays. While newer refrigerators are much more energy efficient than older ones, they remain one of the largest energy consumers in your house, often accounting for as much as 15 percent of your home's total energy usage.
· Help your refrigerator and freezer operate efficiently and economically by keeping the doors closed as much as possible so the cold air doesn't escape. However, leaving the door open for a longer period of time to take out multiple items is more efficient than opening and closing it several times.
· It's easy to keep your refrigerator and freezer full at Thanksgiving. It's also energy efficient because the mass of cold items inside will help your refrigerator recover each time the door is opened. But don't cram it so full that cool air can't circulate properly around your food.
· Remember to let leftovers cool off before putting them in the fridge.
Let the Holidays bring in New Habits - use these energy-saving methods all year long! Watch your energy bills drop even as you use less of our precious energy resources - just one more thing to be thankful for this holiday season. And don’t forget the pledge to Reduce Your Energy Use by 10%.
Tips adapted from http://www.energy.ca.gov/releases/2006_releases/2006-11-01_kitchen_tips.html
Authors: Joan Boegel and Gina Snyder
If you’re concerned about the high cost and environmental impact of heating and cooling your home, you might want to consider drilling in your own backyard. No, you are not likely to strike petroleum oil, but you can tap into a form of geothermal energy. Here in New England, though the air temperature varies greatly with the seasons, the temperature in the ground remains nearly constant at about 52º F year-round. Geothermal heat pump technology, also called ground-source heat exchange or geo-exchange, takes advantage of this by collecting and concentrating energy from the earth to heat a building during winter. In summer, the heat pump cycle is reversed and heat is transferred out of the building into the earth.
Members of the Reading Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection recently visited Don Reynolds, co-founder of Atlantic GroundSource, a small start-up company that installs geothermal systems in New England. Don explained that ground-source heat exchange systems are extremely efficient. Geothermal heat pump systems run on electricity, but use only about one-fourth the amount of purchased energy that would be needed to heat and cool a building using a conventional furnace and air conditioning system.
Geo-exchange systems consist of three parts: (1) the ground-source loop, (2) the heat pump which uses a vapor compression cycle – operating on the same principle (in reverse) as your refrigerator - to concentrate collected heat, and (3) the air distribution system consisting of fans and ductwork. A closed-loop ground-source heat exchange system circulates a non-toxic anti-freeze solution of water mixed with propylene glycol through plastic piping in the ground.
Closed loop systems can be horizontal or vertical. Horizontal systems involve burying loops of pipe in trenches just below the frost line, typically 6 or 7 feet deep. This works best for new construction in situations where there is plenty of land area available adjacent to the building and where the geology allows relatively easy excavation to that depth. In Massachusetts, with lots of shallow bedrock, trenching is difficult, so vertical loops tend to be more practical.
Vertical loops are also preferred for retrofitting of existing homes. This involves drilling 6 inch-diameter holes, usually between 100 and 400 ft deep. Two lengths of piping are placed in each hole and connected at the bottom with a U-tube to form a loop. A typical 2000-sq. ft. home would require two 300-ft. deep loops, spaced 20 to 30 feet apart. Another option is an open-loop system where a well is drilled and ground water is circulated though the heat pump and discharged back into a recharge well or to surface. Open-loop systems can be very efficient, but are not recommended for residential applications due to permitting and water quality concerns.
Mr. Reynolds cited the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) as a trade association that has promoted geothermal technology through their training and certification programs. As a certified installer himself, Don stresses that the selection of an IGSPHA-certified, experienced local driller who understands the regional geology is essential to a successful vertical loop installation project. Don’s company, which recently opened a new Eastern Massachusetts office at 48 Elm Street in Stoneham, intends to “grow our business by offering high quality equipment, including ENERGY STAR labeled Climate Master heat pumps, along with excellent customer service.”
So, should you be considering ground-source heat exchange? If you are planning to build a new home, this is definitely worth considering. With new construction, the entire system from ground-source loop to heat pump to inside duct work can be designed and sized for optimum performance and efficiency. Retrofitting an older home could make sense if you currently have forced hot air heat and central air conditioning. You may be able to reuse the existing ductwork and get improved thermal comfort, humidity control, quiet operation and low maintenance, which are benefits characteristic of a geothermal system.
Geothermal heat pump systems are expensive, starting around $25,000 for a typical home. However, Don pointed out that new federal tax credits and 0% interest financing available from the MassSAVE HEAT loan program can make the high cost more affordable. Besides reducing their carbon footprint, some homeowners could recoup their investment with the savings on utility bills in less than 10 years. If you want to pursue this alternative for heating and cooling, you can learn much more about the technology by checking out these websites:
www.atlanticgroundsource.com Atlantic Groundsource
www.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/heatpumps.html U.S. Department of Energy
www.igshpa.okstate.edu/index.htm International Ground Source Heat Pump Association
www.geoexchange.org Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, Inc.
What a Difference a Bulb Can Make!
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
Nearly two million people have taken the ENERGY STAR National Change-A-Light, Change the World pledge since the campaign began in 2005. This growing community (1,947,380 individuals) has pledged to save energy and help fight global warming by changing from incandescent lightbulbs to compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). These pledged actions have resulted in a collective reduction of 3,615,597,981 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, 2,313,410,762 kWh of energy, and have saved $261,032,953 in energy costs. (These statistics only include those that have signed the pledge, so the actual savings are undoubtedly much higher).
These reductions are remarkable, especially to realize they are attributable to lightbulbs! This certainly proves that small actions CAN make a big difference. Small actions done by many people have a major impact. So if you haven’t changed your lightbulbs, now is the time!
According to ENERGY STAR’s Massachusetts Change-a-Light pledge statistics from 2005 to 2008:
Individuals: 74,762
Reduced Greenhouse Gases: 167,328,208 pounds
Dollars saved: $12,141,487
Energy Savings 106,779,629 kWh
Light Bulbs: 326,638We can take pride in our contributions under RMLD’s pledges for Reading, Lynnfield, North Reading and Wilmington from 2006 to 2008:
Individuals: 1968
Reduced Greenhouse Gases: 6,356,562 pounds
Dollars saved: $591,160
Energy Savings 9,219,269 kWh
Light Bulbs: 22,541If you want to join the pledge, sign up at: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=globalwarming.showPledgeHome&CPD_ID=6376 or from the link on RMLD’s webpage http://www.rmld.com.
Switching from traditional light bulbs to CFLs is effective and incredibly easy! Every American can make a change right now by reducing energy use at home and prevent greenhouse gas emissions at the same time. Lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of the average home’s electric bill. ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent light bulbs, last up to 10 times longer, cost less than ever, and provide a quick return on investment.
All CFLs are not created equal: To earn the government's ENERGY STAR mark, a CFL must meet strict energy efficiency standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy, as well as meet quality and lifetime guidelines.
CFLs:
· Last 6 to 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs
· Use 75% less energy than ordinary bulbs
· Save about $40 or more in energy costs over each bulb’s lifetime (change five bulbs to ENERGY STAR qualified options and save more than $200)!
· Fit in almost any fixture, for indoors and outdoors
· Are convenient in hard-to-reach and high-use fixtures because of their long life
· Generate 75 percent less heat, cutting home cooling costs
· Provide the same amount of light (lumens) as standard incandescent bulbs, but use fewer watts (energy)
· Are backed by a minimum 2-year manufacturer warranty
· Can prevent more than 400 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions each over their lifetime
For special light fixtures, be sure to get the right type of CFL for the fixture to ensure that it will perform properly and last longer. Read the packaging to see that the type you choose works for the fixture you have in mind. For example: For recessed fixtures, it is better to use a ‘reflector’ CFL instead of a standard type. If a light fixture is connected to a dimmer or three-way switch, select CFLs that are labeled as appropriate for a dimmer or three-way switch. To get the right amount of light, choose an ENERGY STAR qualified light bulb that offers the same light output, or lumen rating, as the light you are replacing. This information will be marked on the package.
Used CFLs should be disposed of properly: Because they contain a small amount of mercury, it is recommended that you drop off any fluorescent bulbs at Reading’s DPW Garage, New Crossing Road 781-972-9092. Despite the small amount of mercury in the bulb, using a CFL actually results in LESS mercury emissions than using a conventional lightbulb because coal-fired power plants emit mercury, so the difference in power needed to operate a CFL more than offsets the mercury content of the lightbulb.
CFLs are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the bulb from its packaging, installing it, or replacing it. Always screw and unscrew the lamp by its base (not the glass), and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket. If you break a CFL, follow the EPA’s clean-up recommendations at http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/#fluorescent or check http://www.rmld.com/conservation/fluordispfaq.asp.
If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars. So help make the difference with this small action.
Green Savings on your Next Car
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
The Green Vehicle Guide website (www.epa.gov/greenvehicles) now includes model Year 2009 information. This guide from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) helps you choose the cleanest and most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets your needs. According to the EPA, “Low emissions and good fuel economy are both important for the environment.”
The guide provides details for each year for all manufacturers’ models including engine types, fuel types, type of transmission (e.g., manual or standard). Whether in the market for a new or used car, for any year, you can choose a particular model or a type of vehicle (e.g., small cars, station wagons, pick up trucks, etc.). The website provides scores for several environmental categories based on data that vehicle manufacturers submit to EPA (EPA randomly checks some of the submissions, but not all, to check that the data are complete and accurate).
The air pollution score reflects vehicle tailpipe emissions that contribute to local and regional air pollution, creating problems such as smog, haze, and health issues. Vehicles that score a 10 are the cleanest, meaning they emit none of these types of pollutants. (Every vehicle listed in the Guide does meet minimum federal EPA or California emission ‘requirements’. But manufacturers may choose from a range of eligible emission standards for each vehicle; for each model year, each manufacturers’ vehicles are averaged, so some are much better than others at meeting emission requirements.)
The fuel economy estimate provides ‘EPA miles per gallon’ (mpg), city and highway estimates for each car and light truck. These estimates are the same as those seen on the window stickers of new vehicles and in the Fuel Economy Guide published annually by EPA and DOE, online at www.fueleconomy.gov. EPA notes, “These estimates are meant to be used to compare the fuel economy of one vehicle to another. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how and where you drive, vehicle maintenance, and driving conditions.” Keep in mind that around-town gas mileage can be improved by taking your foot off the gas well in advance for a stop, slowly starting off from a stop, and never idling when parked.
The Green Vehicle Guide has been updated to reflect EPA’s improved fuel economy procedures (beginning with model year 2008 vehicles). The new procedures give fuel economy values that more accurately represent real world conditions; for most vehicles, this means values that are several mpgs lower than in the past.
The greenhouse gas score is possibly the most complicated. This score reflects emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases based on the vehicle's fuel economy. Vehicles with higher fuel economy burn less fuel to travel the same distance and as less fuel is burned, less CO2 is emitted. Vehicles with higher fuel economy receive a higher Greenhouse Gas Score.
The emissions of CO2 and the Greenhouse Gas Score vary by fuel type, since each fuel type contains a different amount of carbon. The Greenhouse Gas Score includes the three major greenhouse gases emitted by motor vehicles: carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N20) and methane (CH4), adjusted to reflect the relative global warming potential of each gas.
This score reflects full fuel lifecycle estimates, considering all steps in the use of a fuel, from production and refining to distribution and final use, although the actual manufacture of the vehicle is not included. For petroleum products, full fuel lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions include those created during extraction, refining, and distribution of the fuel. For renewable fuels, it reflects the emissions from farming and processing the feedstock; CO2 that is absorbed by the growth of the renewable feedstocks is also accounted for, resulting in improved Greenhouse Gas Scores for renewables. The scores are based on national average fuels and processing methods using the Department of Energy’s GREET model.
Finally, the SmartWay indicator is a designation earned by those vehicles that score a 6 or better on each of the Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas Scores and achieve a combined score of at least 13 when added together. Higher Air Pollution Scores indicate vehicles with reduced levels of the emissions that cause smog and health problems. Higher Greenhouse Gas Scores indicate improved fuel economy vehicles with reduced levels of the emissions that cause greenhouse gases.
You can compare up to three models by clicking on the 'compare' icon. This provides a side-by-side comparison of the models you check off. The overviews also include a convenient link to each car's safety rating information.
If you are in the market for a new or used vehicle, definitely use this website to help you uncover the hidden value in fuel economy. You can save yourself money on fuel and while helping the environment.
What Happens after REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE for Reading’s Trash
Author: David L. Williams
Remember the three R’s of conservation – REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE - as indicated by the three arrows of the recycling insignia. However, some things we buy are not recyclable and end up as a fourth R – Refuse, or Trash. In Reading, we generate about 10,000 tons of trash per year, and our recycling rate is about 18%. Certainly more material could be recycled: an average of 44% is recycled when fees are imposed to dispose of trash, with waste reductions ranging from 18 to 65 % (based on a study at Duke University of 14 cities with new Pay-As-You-Throw programs).
However, some trash is always generated and Reading tries to make the best use of its refuse/trash. Many of us remember the Reading dump, before recycling, although there was some re-use from the dump. Under present day conditions, sending everything to a landfill is seen to be wasteful and inefficient. About five years ago, Reading began to send its trash to a waste-to-energy plant, Covanta-Haverhill, which is also actively involved in projects to protect our environment.
Covanta-Haverhill is one of about 30 waste-to-energy facilities in the United States. This facility receives trash from 14 local communities, the largest of which is Lawrence. Our trash is picked up and hauled by a separate contractor. Our site disposal, or tipping, fee is about $61/ton.
The Waste-to-Energy facility operates two 825 tons-per-day municipal waste combustors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The steam from the boilers is supplied to a steam turbine that drives an electric generator capable of producing up to 49 Megawatts of renewable electricity. The plant uses about 5MW and the remainder is provided to the New England power grid. The combustors have state-of-the art pollution control equipment which destroys organic compounds, such as dioxins and carbon monoxide; a Covanta LoNOx system which controls nitrogen oxides; a lime scrubber that neutralizes sulfur dioxide and hydrogen chloride; a carbon injection system that reduces metal emissions, including mercury; and a baghouse that removes dust from the flue gas before it exits the stack. The MA DEP has strict compliance regulations (stricter than the US EPA), and Covanta-Haverhill maintains emissions even lower than those required by the MA DEP.
On-site recycling is provided by a magnet that removes most of the iron from the trash before it is burned. The process is impressive; mattresses are broken apart and the springs are pulled up. After combustion, the ash is moistened, cooled and processed to remove additional metals for recycling. The facility recycles about 15,000 tons of metal per year, including 110 pounds of mercury that is diverted from the waste stream. Mercury is collected in a separate program and recovered from thousands of thermostats and thermometers, and about 200,000 linear feet of fluorescent lights each year.
Mercury containing items should never be put in the trash. Our non-mercury thermometers in the free mercury exchange program at the town hall have been donated by Covanta as part of this mercury reduction program. Mercury containing devices (e.g. fluorescent bulbs and thermostats) can be brought to the DPW facility on New Crossing Road (across from the old Reading Landfill site, where Home Depot now is).
Covanta’s combustor and metal recovery processes reduce the volume of solid waste being land-filled by about 90% and the remaining ash goes to Covanta-Haverhill’s landfill on Ward Hill Neck. This was originally a municipal waste landfill which is capped and equipped with landfill gas collection systems used to run Covanta’s recently constructed 1.6MW landfill gas fired engine. The leachate treatment facility does not discharge any wastewater to the city of Haverhill, and recycles waste water in order to use as little fresh water as possible.
The Covanta facility is a National Environmental Performance Track member and, as such, has reduced its diesel fuel use by 7000 gallons and recycled over 7000 tons of glass in its landfill projects. It also operates a 10KW wind turbine. Covanta engineers are presently evaluating a commercial scale wind project and the installation of solar panels on closed sections of the landfill.
As part of its community outreach, Covanta-Haverhill hosts a quarterly Recycling Committee for its 14 client municipalities, with Dan Harty (Mercury Separation Program Manager) as the coordinator. Reading has been well represented at these meetings for many years. Reading offers recycling of paper, paperboard, metals, glass, plastics and other items listed at http://www.ci.reading.ma.us/Pages/ReadingMA_Recycling/index.
Covanta-Haverhill also provides escorted tours to anyone interested in learning more about the Waste-to-Energy process. If you have an opportunity with a school or civic group to tour the facility, you will be well rewarded.
Please be sure to take advantage of Reading’s recycling programs to remove as much as you can out of the trash, and Covanta-Haverhill will handle the rest.
References:
www.covantaholding.com/site/haverhill/covanta-haverhill.html
EPA Pay-As-You-Throw, EPA530-R-94-004
Have an Orange, Black and “Green” Halloween!
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
Can Halloween be done with ‘green’? In today’s economy you might be looking to save a little on the costumes and decorations for this fun seasonal holiday. We offer some tricks on staying local, low- budget, and green while enjoying the treats the season is known for.
Work with Imagination. There’s nothing like a cardboard box to make an excellent costume. Perfect for making a robot, a play house, a train or a dog house (you can cut a door and put a stuffed animal in the front) or put two boxes and two kids (or a couple) together to make a pair of dice (recycle old shag carpeting to make fuzzy dice).
Check with friends, relatives and neighbors. They may have treasures in their closets or dress-up boxes. If your kids insist on being comic book or cartoon stars, a previous year's Spider-Man or Ariel costume is just as good as, and a lot less expensive than, a new store-bought one.
Use your old sheets. If you or yours prefer to go for the gore, it is easy to create a post-catastrophe costume. (How do you mend a broken Jack-O-Lantern? With a pumpkin patch!) Wrap yourself in bandages torn from an old sheet, then liberally apply red food coloring, non toxic paint or ketchup (you can use old pillows with the stuffing coming out for a gorier effect). An old favorite with much the same parts is the mummy, which involves a little bit of bandage-unraveling. And don’t forget the original sheet costume: cut two eye holes for a ghost costume (be careful of tripping hazards).
And don’t forget other old stand-bys, especially for younger kids: pirate and ghost costumes are easy and can be as scary or creative as your trick-or-treater can imagine.
After Halloween, you can either wash and store your homemade costumes for use in subsequent years, trade with friends, or donate the clothing from which they were made to day care centers, shelters, or charitable organizations.
And while you are looking through the closets for costumes, you can decorate your yard with some of the outgrown clothing on a scarecrow: Use a variety of old clothes and use a pillowcase for the head, draw the face with markers, and stuff with recycled newspaper or leaves. Have a party and have a contest to build the best scarecrow, then place them outside to decorate for the holiday.
Perhaps the most local opportunity for decorations for the season is the pumpkin. (What is a pumpkin's favorite sport? Squash!) Many local farms grow pumpkins, and they make beautiful decorations whether set out on the doorstep or carved to put a candle in. Make sure you save the seeds when you carve your pumpkin, they are a real treat. Pumpkins are traditionally sold for decoration rather than cooking, but the seeds are high in protein, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and fiber (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/63171/the_nutrition_of_pumpkins_and_pumpkin.html). They also contain zinc and essential amino acids. Low in fat, they also make a great snack. Toast them in the oven or store them up to 2 months in an airtight container in the refrigerator and you can add them to sautéed vegetables, sprinkle on top of mixed green salads, or make a dressing for the salad by mixing the seeds ground with fresh garlic and herbs with olive oil and balsamic vinegar or lemon juice.
And for those trick-or-treaters at the door? For some healthier, organic, handouts, try Newman's Own individually packaged organic popcorn, pretzels, and chips, with proceeds going to charities. Or try organic trail mix bars and cereal bars, which come in a variety of flavors. And, while organic chocolate is a little more expensive, it is easier on the environment.
To carry the goodies- instead of using paper or plastic disposable bags to collect treats, use or buy a reusable bag. With this you can also be creative, working with the costume theme. Make use of old straw baskets, for a farmer or Dorothy from Oz. A construction worker can use an old toy toolbox. Ghosts and goblins can use an old pillowcase. And, if you buy a reusable shopping bag, remember to use it for your shopping year-round.
Please also remember to remind children not to litter in all the excitement, and if you drive to a destination, please turn off your engine when parked.
What's the ratio of a pumpkin's circumference to its diameter? Pumpkin Pi! So remember, the equation is this: it’s easy to incorporate eco-friendly ideas into this fun-filled holiday, a healthy environment equals a healthy planet for all.
Bicycle Rodeo – Practice Safe Biking in Reading
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
Reading is one of ten Massachusetts towns to receive a “Bicycle Rodeo” program through the state’s ‘Safe Routes to School’ (SRTS) program this year. According to the organization “Bikesbelong” (www.bikesbelong.org), the term "Bike Rodeo" may seem kind of corny, but it has a long history - the Kiwanis clubs have historically sponsored these events for a number of years. Lately there has been a trend for more bicycle-knowledgeable organizations getting involved to take the kids through the rodeo, which generally takes 45 minutes or so. In that time they can be told, then shown and even practice some key concepts of sensible cycling pertinent to their age group. This is not meant to be an Effective Cycling course, but they learn about blind corners, stopping at stop signs, staying off sidewalks, yielding to pedestrians, avoiding the ‘door-zone’, intersections, crosswalks and driveways.
According to bikesbelong.org, nearly 40% of adults in the U.S. ride bikes, and bicycling is a powerful and influential force in our culture and economy. Bicycling accomplishes many things, it: promotes health, creates jobs and supports independent businesses, lowers healthcare costs, strengthens family bonds, provides a recreational outlet for youth, builds closer-knit communities, reduces polluting emissions, decreases road congestion, and lessens our dependence on foreign oil. For adults, the bike rodeo is a perfect reminder that bicycling is a viable transportation option. If you are considering taking up bicycling or want a refresher on safety, safety tips from Mass Bikes are available online at www.massbike.org/skills. Here are a few examples:
Besides your bicycle, key equipment to have is a helmet that fits correctly. Essential Equipment also includes a front white light and a rear red light. It is very helpful to have a good, solid lock (or two), and racks and/or panniers are wonderful if you want to carry stuff. Helpful tips from Massbikes include:· Wear comfortable clothes – use reflective ankle bands on baggy pants and remember: layers, layers, layers! If you dress in layers you can add and subtract layers as wind and weather conditions vary.
· When on the road, ride in a straight line and yield when you must deviate from that line.
· You can also take your bike on the commuter rail. Bikes are allowed on all
trains except during weekday peak hours in the peak direction (folding
bikes, when folded, are permitted on commuter rail any time). For more detailed
information visit http://www.mbta.com/riding_the_t/bikes/.
As for a kids’ bike rodeo, students don’t practice in rush hour traffic, or make left turns from a multi-lane arterial. But, they are given the basics of signs, signals, stops, and some helpful instruction on defensive cycling. This bike rodeo will be presented by trained MassBike instructors. (Adults can learn about other MassBike classes at www.massbike.org.)The event is for children in grades 4 through 8, and requires pre-registration. It will be held on Saturday, October 11th, 2008, from 10am – 12noon (with room for 40 children per hour) at the Parker Middle School. Participants should bring their bicycles and helmets, as well as any equipment they carry on their bikes (locks, lights, baskets, etc).
Groups of children will receive instruction about equipment, helmets, locks, and skills during each of the two hours. This is sponsored by Friends of Reading Recreation, R.E.I., the Reading Police Department and the W. S. Parker Middle School Safe Routes to School (SRTS). Whether rain or shine, this event will be held. In the event of rain, the event will be in the gymnasium. Anyone arriving by car is advised to park on either Temple Street or King Street.
Space is limited to only 40 children per hour. Pre-registration is required to participate – register online at www.forr01867.org or stop by Reading Recreation Department in Town Hall. Volunteers are always welcome, please contact: Michelle Hopkinson at 781-944-7875 or michelle.hopkinson@comcast.net.
“Parker is appreciative of the community effort by R.E.I., Reading Recreation, the Reading Police Department, and MassBike to offer a bicycle rodeo to Reading’s 4th to 8th grade children,” said Doug Lyons, the principal at Parker. “MassBike already came to some of our wellness classes and it was very entertaining. We hope as many families as possible take advantage on October 11th”.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Stop Your Engines!
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
Sitting in a parking lot or by the side of the road with your vehicle idling may seem fairly harmless but it is actually harmful to the modern automotive engine, wastes gasoline, and adds to air pollution. Each day, Americans waste approximately 3.8 million gallons of gasoline by voluntarily idling their cars (http://www.thehcf.org/antiidlingprimer.html).
Reading has begun an anti idling campaign, starting with a municipal policy and promoting no idling in school zones and municipal locations. The program will eventually embrace the community as a whole. Many people are not aware of the harmful consequences idling has on our health, on the vehicle itself and on our environment. So here are some facts on engine idling.
First, let’s start by busting some myths:
Myth 1: Cars should run in an idling mode for several minutes before being driven.
Wrong: Modern engines do not need more than a few seconds of idling time before they can be driven safely. Moreover, the best way to warm up a car is to drive it, since that warms up the catalytic converter and other mechanical parts of the car, in addition to the engine.
Myth 2: Each time you start your car you waste more gasoline than if you let it idle.
Wrong: Automotive engines do not operate efficiently when they idle. Experts say there is a maximum 10 second break-even rule. If you are idling longer than 10 seconds, both you and the engine are better off if the engine is turned off and restarted.
Myth 3: Repeatedly restarting your car is hard on the engine and quickly drains the battery.
Wrong: Frequently restarting your engine does negligible damage to the engine and does not drain modern batteries excessively. In fact, the opposite is true; idling an engine forces it to operate in a very inefficient and gasoline-rich mode that, over time, can degrade the engine’s performance and reduce mileage.
Do you idle your car to warm up the engine before driving? This is a practice that can damage your engine and wastes fuel. Do you idle your engine in situations that require frequent restarting, such as drive-through service lines, car wash lines, carpool lines, and departure from concerts and sporting events, or while talking to friends or using the cell phone? Many of these situations offer opportunities to shut off your engine and improve your car’s performance, save money, and reduce needless carbon dioxide emissions (http://www.pscleanair.org/actions/vehicles/individuals.aspx).
While Massachusetts’s law prohibits idling for more than five minutes, this is far longer than needed. The best way to warm up a car is to drive it moderately for several miles within 10 seconds of starting the engine. Once the car is warmed up, any non-active-traffic pause of more than 10 seconds will result in wasted gasoline, needless pollution, and possibly degradation of the car’s performance and mileage.
“But,” you may say, “winter is coming, won’t my engine need to be warmed up?” People feel a need to warm an engine in extremely cold weather and there is some truth in this point. However, in all but the coldest weather 30 seconds of idling will normally warm the engine block and circulate the oil sufficiently to begin to drive and truly warm up the engine and catalytic converter (to hear a real mechanic explaining many of these myths, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZED_OgIdR4). In cases of severe winter cold, as many northerners know, an engine block heater is by far the safest and most economical way to heat a very cold engine.
Idling can be a hard habit to break. But, turning off your engine while parked, waiting for your kids, waiting in a drive-through line, or cutting back on the several minutes of idling to warm up your vehicle on a cold day will save you money, be better for your engine, and reduce air pollution; all good reasons to break the habit. But protecting health may be the best reason of all. You may have noticed the new signs at our schools with the familiar no idling icon and “Please Turn Engine Off”. These signs will also soon be in place at other municipal locations – please heed their advice. These signs are part of the town’s effort to encourage small changes that can make a big difference in climate protection and the health of our residents.
Authors: Gina Snyder
Energy independence is a hot topic these days, but there seem to be many arguments about how we can attain that independence. To get some insight on what we can do as individuals, the 2008 “Green Buildings Open House” will take place throughout the Northeastern United States Saturday, October 4, 2008 10am - 4pm. In Middlesex County, there are homes that will be open for tours in Andover, Lexington, Bedford, Natick and Lowell, to name a few locations. To see the complete listings, go to http://www.nesea.org/buildings/openhouse or specifically to search for locations near you, go to http://www.nesea.org/buildings/openhouse/listings.php?action=Search.
Why take an interest in energy efficiency and using the energy of the earth and the sun for your energy needs? Saving energy not only means helping the United States gain energy independence, it also saves you money. Thinking globally, fossil fuels add to greenhouse gas emissions that lead to climate change, so the more we can do to gain energy independence, the more we do to protect our climate. The many homes offered on the Green Buildings Open Houses tour have been retro-fitted to be more energy efficient and to use geothermal and solar solutions to energy needs. It’s a fascinating and educational opportunity to learn how people just like you have gained energy independence by making those energy improvements you’ve been thinking about doing.
In Andover, you can see a home that needed to replace the roof shingles, windows, doors, sliders and siding. They insulated while replacing the siding and installed energy efficient replacements for their leaky windows and doors. When they moved in, they discovered that their house was very cold in the winter, “The house would stay at 60F even if we cranked the thermostat up to 80F.” By insulating and replacing windows and doors (and they have installed solar electric and hot water) this family was able to decrease their energy use and provide a great example for retrofitting an older home.
In Lexington, you can tour a home with energy conservation measures that have helped reduce electricity usage from 10,000 KWH per year to 3,600 KWH per year. They achieved this with EnergySTAR appliances (refrigerator, dishwasher, and clothes washer), a switch from using an electric clothes drier to line drying, and that number one easy option – changing lights to compact fluorescent – they also have some LED lights, too. Another easy way to save energy used by this home is that they put their computers to sleep instead of leaving them on all the time. On the high technology end, they have 16 Evergreen Solar 190 watt panels (3040 watts total) with a Solectria PVI 2500 inverter system that was installed in May 2008.
For an even more cutting edge view on how to retrofit to save energy, there is a home on tour in Lowell with a geothermal radiant cooling system that uses 56 degree well water to meet 100% of their cooling needs. After cooling the house, the well water is then distributed to a multiple zone sprinkler system. One hundred percent of the domestic hot water needs and some heating (using the same radiant system used for cooling) is supplied by 120 Thermomax evacuated tubes and a large homemade box collector to produce hot water that is then stored in 2 large tanks. In addition, this home has a grey water system that recycles shower water and uses that water to flush toilets (saving about half of their water bill). The grey water system also incorporates a heat recovery system that recovers 25% to 30% of the heat off the outgoing shower water, to heat the incoming cold water. The hosts of this home say, “A working solar oven and a newly installed waterless urinal are both working great. A high efficiency, energy saving dryer vent will also be on display.” They are looking forward to opening their home to people interested in saving energy.
Additional tour locations can be found at http://www.nesea.org/buildings/openhouse, and include two sites in Natick, one an organic farm with solar power and passive solar green houses, and the MA Audubon Society - Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary with its solar heated nature center where a sunspace with “waterwall storage tubes and underfloor rock storage are backed up with a small wood stove. Natural daylighting and ventilation and composting toilets are features of the original renovation.” The Audubon building includes an array of 128 Evergreen Solar panels that provide all the electricity currently needed to operate the nature center.
Energy efficiency retrofits, EnergySTAR appliances, solar hot water, solar power and geothermal all offer solutions to the energy crisis. These homes on tour offer a way to take a peek at what you can do to gain some of your own “energy independence”.
Choosing the Best, Greenest Route to School
Authors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina Snyder
Roughly 10% of children nationwide walk to school regularly, and that increases to 25% of those kids living within a mile of their school (http://www.walktoschool.org/why/physical-activity.cfm). Increasing these statistics will help address the problem of children's declining physical activity which has attracted attention from those concerned with the health and well-being of the young. The percentage of overweight children in the United States is growing at an alarming rate — according to the CDC, 1 out of 3 kids are now considered overweight or obese. This is an alarming statistic and Reading’s schools and Safety Officer have a way for you to help your children avoid becoming part of this statistic.
Reading has joined the ranks of community leaders, parents and schools across the U.S. using Safe Routes to School programs to encourage and enable more children to safely walk and bike to school. According to Reading Safety Officer Lee, Parker Middle School and Joshua Eaton Elementary are into their second year participating in the Safe Routes to School program, with the J Warren Killam and Wood End Elementary Schools joining in this year.
The American Heart Association and the Department of Health and Human Services tell us that children and adolescents should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day of the week. Walking or biking to and from school is an ideal way to engage in the right kind of activity. It also gives children time to get themselves energized for their school day, and to unwind and socialize on their way home. If you can trade your daily drive to or from school for a walk with your children, it gives you extra time to connect with them directly, and meet other parents along the way.
Some parents feel that their students live too far from their school to walk or bicycle, or want to avoid having their students out in bad weather. For those parents who drive their children to school, some strategies to reduce traffic congestion at the school include the use of park-and-walk and carpooling. Reading’s park-and-walk program makes use of nearby off-site locations as parking areas for parents who then walk their child to school or join children on a known walking group along the route to complete their journey. This is a great way to reduce the traffic congestion in the immediate school zone. Some established park-and-walk areas for elementary school children suggested by Safety Office Lee are: Blueberry Lane for Wood End School, St Athanasius for Killam School, and any of the roads off of Summer Avenue for Joshua Eaton.
Another critical concern with transporting of children to and from school is the exhaust fumes billowing from a lineup of idling cars. Parents may not realize when they are waiting to pick-up their kids after school, that it is the worst place and time for vehicle idling. The exhaust fumes contain air pollutants that can be especially harmful to children. We encourage drivers to turn off their engines for many reasons, but most especially to protect our children. Reading schools will kick off a no idling campaign at all schools this fall. Parents will be asked to pledge to turn their cars off and not idle their vehicles while waiting for their children.
The first choice remains not to drive to and from school – that is the best option for children, children’s health and their environment. When children decide to lace-up their sneakers to walk, or strap on their bike helmets to pedal to school instead of riding in a car, they reduce the amount of air pollutants emitted by automobiles, give themselves a health boost and help to protect their environment.
For more information see http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/ and http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitness/exercise.html.
Clear a Path for the PedestriansAuthors: Stephanie Anderberg, Michele Benson and Gina SnyderSeptember means autumn is upon us, one of the prettiest seasons in New England. It’s a good time to get out, take a walk or a bicycle ride and look at all the beautiful foliage. Massachusetts and the other New England states are famous for fall foliage, so autumn is a good time to consider the condition of your trees and plantings. As you consider your fall clean up needs, please give an eye to the right of way for walkers and bicyclists along your property frontage. Autumn not only offers great walking weather, but since students are heading back to school, more pedestrians are out and about and need to have a clear path along our sidewalks.
There are so many benefits to walking, but one major reason to consider walking (or bicycling) instead of using your car is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - particularly in Reading, where emissions from transportation are our town's foremost source of greenhouse gases. The more of us who leave our cars parked and use our personal foot-power instead, the healthier we will be and the cleaner our air will be. And each of us has a role to play in making sure the sidewalks and paths in front of our property and in our neighborhoods are pedestrian friendly and passable. This is especially important if your property is along school routes, or near the library, downtown or town parks.
So please take some care to check the plants and trees bordering your sidewalk or path. Have any shrubs overgrown the path such that they decrease the width of the sidewalk? Do any tree branches hang too low for an adult to walk beneath them? If there are obstructions, take a few moments to remove them. Also check the type of plants to be sure pedestrians won't brush up against anything like poison ivy or thorny bushes. (Wearing work gloves while removing brush and plants can help protect you from these pestiferous plants, and remember to compost your trimmings instead of co-mingling them in your trash.)
Walkable Reading offers a walk-ability checklist from Walk America (you can pick up a copy at the Reading Town Library or at the Hot Spot, or ask for a copy from walkablereading@comcast.net). The checklist has some questions and some tips to help you see how walkable your neighborhood is and to improve local walking conditions. Some of the questions offer tips on things you can do to check your sidewalks for walkability.
Take a walk in your neighborhood. Do the sidewalks provide enough room to walk? Sidewalks should be continuous and not obstructed. Was it easy to cross streets? Note areas where crosswalks/traffic signals are needed and bring them to the attention of the local safety officer or Town Hall. Was your walk pleasant? If not, what could make it more pleasant? If where you walk could use some picking up, some flowers or trees, or if you have ideas on how to make it more pleasant, you might consider talking with your neighbors or the Garden Clubs about neighborhood beautification. Share copies of this column or the checklist with your neighbors.
If your home or business property does not have a sidewalk, think about how you might provide space for pedestrians in your landscaping. You can do this by making a pathway near the street and removing any shrubbery or walls that go up to the edge of your street.
Finally, it is very important not to block your sidewalk or path. In fact, Reading bylaws forbid obstructing the public way, so be sure to avoid blocking the sidewalk with vehicles or trash cans (or snow when you clear your driveway in winter). Parking vehicles on tree lawns is also bad for the grass and trees that provide a buffer from traffic, so be sure to keep the car on the street or completely in the driveway.
There are many benefits to encouraging walking in your neighborhood. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving limited resources, having people out walking can make your neighborhood safer and more pleasant. Entice your neighbors out of their vehicles and help our children get to school safely by giving them an inviting place to walk!
Authors: Ron D’Addario
Located approximately 30 miles north of Reading along the coast of New Hampshire sits the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant. You may be interested to know that our Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) is an entitlement holder of 8 megawatts of electricity from this power plant.
Originally Seabrook was owned by 10 separate utility companies serving 5 New England states. After much controversy and construction delay involving the Clamshell Alliance and the principal owner of the plant, the Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH), the owners filed for bankruptcy. In 2002 most of the shareholders of Seabrook sold their shares to Florida Power and Light (FPL) which bought 88.2% of Seabrook Station. The remaining 11.8% is split among a number of municipal utilities in Massachusetts.
Since the Seabrook Station has a capacity of 1244 megawatts of electricity, the RMLD’s 8 megawatts amounts to less than 1% of the total output. The RMLD record for June of 2008 indicates that approximately 11% of our energy originated at Seabrook with another 2.9% from the Millstone nuclear power plant in Connecticut. As a result, the RMLD’s electricity from nuclear power for June of 2008 totaled approximately 14% of its electrical energy.
The Seabrook Station has one pressurized water reactor. Water is heated and pressurized by 193 fuel assemblies which use uranium as their fuel. Since no burning takes place as in a coal, oil, or gas furnace, no carbon dioxide, a green house gas, is released into the atmosphere. Rather, through the process of fission, atoms are made to split and release neutrons which then strike other atoms. The hitting of atoms generates heat which is used to raise the temperature and pressure of water. This pressurized hot water reaches temperatures higher than the boiling point of water as in a home pressure cooker.
Through many tubes this pressurized hot water enters a steam generator which is similar to a boiler. The very hot tubes turn the surrounding boiler water into steam that is channeled to a steam turbine used to turn a generator that makes electricity. The steam is then condensed for reuse by a dual 3 mile tunnel which transports cold Atlantic sea water to the reactor and the resulting heated water back into the ocean.
The concern with all nuclear reactors is the resulting nuclear waste. Since the USA does not reprocess spent nuclear fuel, the resulting waste remains highly radioactive for thousands of years. Presently in the USA most nuclear waste is contained on-site in stainless steel lined concrete pools of water. According to Florida Power and Light, in the next few years these “wet storage” sites will reach their maximum storage capacity. Many plants including Florida Power and Light plan to utilize dry storage techniques for temporary storage until a long term storage area is operational. At that time, all US nuclear waste, 58,000 metric tons, will gradually be transported by truck and train to this permanent nuclear storage site.
Dry storage requires that the nuclear waste be water-cooled for five years prior to placement in dry, stainless steel canisters that are stored in concrete modules 21 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 19 feet tall. Consequently, the highly radioactive waste would have a two to four feet thick barrier of steel and concrete. These modules are designed to provide a radioactive shield as well as protect the canisters from natural disasters until permanent storage is found. Yucca Mountain, Nevada is the principal site being considered; however, legal challenges are delaying its use.
(See: www.fpl.com/environment/nuclear/pdf/usedfuelbrochure.pdf)
Nuclear physicist, Frank N. von Hippel, in his article “Rethinking Nuclear Fuel Recycling,” Scientific American, May 2008, advocates for dry storage of nuclear waste. He contends that the alternative of reprocessing fuel is too costly, reduces waste marginally, and increases the risk of using the resulting Plutonium in the spent fuel to make nuclear weapons.
With 20% of our energy in the US generated by nuclear power and the concomitant increase in the cost of oil and natural gas, nuclear power will be needed to generate clean (no CO2) energy for some time. With a new Presidency in the offing, the future of nuclear power will again be on the table. We all need to learn more of this very potent source of energy which could be our salvation or our ruin.
Window Replacement Offers More than Just Dollar Savings
Authors: Gina Snyder, Michele Benson, and Stephanie Anderberg
What better time than summer to tackle one of the easiest ways to upgrade your house to be more energy efficient? New ENERGY STAR-qualified windows can help reduce your energy use by up to 15%. This could be very important this year as energy costs are at an all time high.
And not only do these EnergySTAR windows, doors, and skylights lower energy use — they also make your home more comfortable, create less condensation, and protect your valuables from sun damage better than conventional clear-glass double-paned alternatives.1
An understanding of some basic energy concepts can be helpful in choosing appropriate windows and skylights. According to the U.S. Department of Energy2 (U.S. DOE), there are three major types of energy flow through windows that you should think about:
(1) solar heat gains in the form of radiation (helpful in winter, but hot in summer);
(2) non-solar heat exchange: because of the temperature difference between the indoors and outdoors (heat losses and gains in the form of conduction, convection, and radiation); and
(3) airflow, both intentional (ventilation) and unintentional (infiltration).
For any type of window, door, or skylight, the greater the temperature difference from inside to out, the greater the rate of heat flow. A U-factor is a measure of the rate of non-solar heat flow through a window or skylight. (The more familiar R-value, often used to rate insulation, is a measure of the resistance of a window or skylight to heat flow and is the reciprocal of a U-factor.) Lower U-factors (or higher R values), thus indicate reduced heat flow. U-factors allow consumers to compare the insulating properties of different windows and skylights.
There are many options for window replacements that make a window energy efficient:
- Improved framing materials include wood, vinyl and fiberglass composites that reduce heat transfer for better insulation.
- Low-E glass has a special coating (a low-emittance coating is a microscopically thin, virtually invisible coating) that reflects infrared light, keeping heat inside in the winter and reflecting it back in the summer. Low-E coatings also reflect the ultraviolet light that can degrade furnishings and fabrics, and so help protect your home’s interior.
- Multiple panes in the windows, usually two panes and sometimes three, with air or gas filled space in the middle, insulate better than a single pane. They also offer some sound insulation for a quieter home.
- Special gas fills in double paned windows such as argon, krypton and other gases insulate better than regular air.
- Warm edge spacers separate the glass panes and keep the panes the correct distance apart and reduce heat flow and prevent condensation.
Single-pane windows are impractical in our heating-dominated climate. It’s also best to avoid aluminum-frame windows without thermal breaks if possible as these windows tend to have low inside surface temperatures during the heating season, giving rise to condensation problems. Wood, vinyl, and fiberglass are the best frame materials for maximum insulating value.
How to Select Window U-Factors