January/February 2012 by Greenability magazine

January/February 2012

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Greenability is Kansas City’s source for green home design and remodeling, renewable energy, energy audits, lawn and garden care, organic and local food, recycling and reuse ideas, and local green businesses. Each issue is printed with soy-based ink on FSC-certified, recycled paper that is chlorine-free, and the energy used in printing is offset with renewable energy credits.

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Publisher’s Letter

2012: The year of living sustainably

n publishing Greenability, I continue to be amazed at the environmental efforts made by people in Kansas City. From government officials and business owners to teachers and parents, all have their own stories of efforts to lead sustainable lives. As we start 2012, we hope Greenability will inspire you to make big and small changes of your own. In this issue, we take you on an environmental journey from babies to cars. I confess that the birth of my first grandchild makes me more aware than ever of all the potential toxins in everything from plastic baby bottles to chemical-laden, baby skin-care products. So we’re happy to share 11 ideas from local parents who also were looking for and found better options. Also, you’ll meet a group of local guys in the Mid-America Electric Auto Association who have reduced their environmental footprints by converting gas-powered vehicles ranging from scooters to trucks to plug-in electrics. In our special section on Net-Zero Energy Homes, we get a look into the lives and houses of two local couples who have made a huge commitment to create the energy they use. Through energy-efficiency strategies and renewable energy systems, they have eliminated natural gas usage and generate clean energy on site. If you want more information on how you could achieve a net-zero home, check out our feature on nine books that cover solar energy, off-grid energy systems and net-zero homes. For most homeowners, the starting point for reducing energy use begins with an energy audit. EnergyWorks KC is a new program that offers incentives to Kansas City, MO residents to get an audit and then proceed with the insulation and sealing recommendations. Financial rebates of $1,000 for

homeowners and $3,000 for business property owners are great incentives, in addition to $1,200 KCP&L and MGE rebates. It’s never been a better time to tackle those energy-efficiency projects and start saving on energy bills. To keep updated on green events and issues in Kansas City, sign up for our free e-newsletter on our Facebook page, or use your Smart phone to scan the QR code on this page. It’s a quick and easy way to get timely eco-news about Kansas City. If your organization or company has an upcoming green event that is open to the public, email us (calendar@greenabilitymagazine.com) the information for a free listing in our online Greenability calendar. It’s the most extensive resource for green events in Kansas City. Check www.greenabilitymagazine.com regularly to find family activities, workshops and speakers, gardening classes, environmental group meetings and outdoor adventures. And finally, we extend our appreciation to Bridging the Gap for recognizing us with a 2011 Green Business award. It was an honor to be in the same group as Ripple Glass and Posty Cards. We also want to thank our commentary writer, Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint, for taking time out of his busy schedule to encourage readers to recycle their old cell phones. This year, let’s all commit to protecting the environmental future for our children and grandchildren.

Julie Koppen Publisher julie@greenabilitymagazine.com

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Volume 6, Number 1 January/February 2012

Graphic Design

Publisher Julie Koppen

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OPERATIONS & Circulation MANAGER Mary Lynn Coulson marylynn@ greenabilitymagazine.com

Photography

Cover Photography

copy Editor Kim Broers

Julie Koppen

Patricia Zollmann-Kissinger

Net-zero home of Peter and Colleen Olson Advertising julie@greenabilitymagazine.com

Writers Benjamin Bachwirtz Mary Bush Dan Hesse Peter Mussatto Michelle Reichmeier Michelle Strausbaugh

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Contents January/February 2012

Features

13 17 30 36

11 eco-friendly ways to raise baby EnergyWorks KC promotes eco-sense and dollar savings Solar energy industry brings expertise to Kansas City

Net-Zero Energy Homes

21 Even a big house can get to

net-zero energy use

Kansas City couple takes eco path 27 to net-zero energy home

31 9 volumes for energy savings

Head to the GreenZONE for expert hints on repurposing

Departments

4 34 37

From the Publisher Commentary: Sprint CEO Dan Hesse

Locals get a charge out of building electric vehicles

Greenability Directory

DISCOVER HOW SOLAR CAN HELP LOWER YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL. ESTIMATE YOUR YEARď&#x161;şROUND ENERGY SAVINGS AT BRIGHTERGY.COM/SAVINGS

economical / responsible / clean /

.com

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Locals get a charge out of building electric vehicles By Peter Mussatto Photography by Patricia Zollmann-Kissinger

Members of the Mid-America Electric Auto Association meet monthly to learn about electric vehicles. Front row, from left: Don Buckshot, Fred Noble, Wayne Bates, Richard Pease, Mike Chancey and Clyde Schwanke. Back row: Ken Parsons, Steve Werts, Jim Donovan, Al Pugsley, Larry Davis and Larry Kinder.

t the east end of the Waldo Community Branch Library parking lot in Kansas City, a dozen men gather to look under the hoods of vehicles sporting bumper stickers that read: “Electrified” and “I get a charge out of driving my electric vehicle.” They

are regulars, meeting once a month to talk with fellow members of the Mid-America Electric Auto Association (MAEAA). MAEAA is the Kansas City metro chapter of the Electric Auto Association (EAA), which began in San Jose, CA in 1967. It is the original chapter for the Midwest, and currently has 40 members. Meetings for the group are held at the library the second Sunday of every month.

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Greenability Challenge

The vehicles look no different from others at the library. These are not flashy drag racers or sleek roadsters. What is unique about them is that instead of gasoline, each one is powered by a dense bank of batteries weighing between 400 and 1,700 pounds. MAEAA’s founding member, Mike Chancey of Kansas City, shows off his electric vehicle (EV), a red Honda Civic. “I’ve had 12 electrics, but this is the only one I’ve converted myself,” said Chancey. “I’ve always liked Civics, so I bought a Civic and converted it.” There are two types of EVs on the market: commercial and conversion. The first includes those made by major auto manufacturers, such as the Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus. While these vehicles generally have better mileage and battery quality than conversion EVs, they are largely unavailable in the Kansas City area and out of the price range of many consumers. All of the vehicles in the parking lot of the Waldo Branch Public Library are conversion EVs. Although a good used EV can be purchased for about $4,000, the cost of building a conversion EV is typically $8,500

A brief history of EVs Although electric vehicles (EVs) might seem futuristic, the idea of an EV was first conceived in 1828, when Hungarian engineer Ányos Jedlik invented a small-scale model car powered by an electric motor. In 1891, William Morrison of Des Moines, IA, developed a 6-passenger electric-powered wagon, the first practical EV. From the late 19th century until the 1920s, EVs were the vehicle of choice for most Americans. EVs outsold all other cars in 1899 and 1900, including gasoline and steam-powered vehicles. The Phaeton, built by the Woods Motor Vehicle Company of Chicago in 1902, cost $2,000 and had a range of 18 miles on one charge. The first commercial EV application was established in 1897, when the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company of Philadelphia built a fleet of taxis for New York City. But America’s fascination with EVs proved short-lived. The development of better highway infrastructures, cheap oil prices and mass production of internal-combustionengine vehicles all contributed to the decline of electric vehicles. In 1990, California passed a zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate that required auto manufacturers to offer commercial EVs in order to continue selling gasolinepowered vehicles in the state. In response, major auto manufacturers began producing electric-powered cars (including GM’s ill-fated EV1), but the movement was brief. Under pressure from oil company and auto manufacturer lawsuits, California reversed its ZEV mandate in 2003, and the market for commercial EVs in the U.S. all but vanished. Today, several major automakers have EVs either on the market or in the works. Among them are the Nissan

Wayne Bates converted a Chevy S10 pickup to electric power.

Leaf, Chevy Volt, Ford Focus EV and Tesla Model S. greenabilitymagazine.com greenabilitymagazine.com

Greenability Challenge

Top Photo: Al Pugsley purchased a KIA Sorrento conversion EV with a computerized battery management system that protects the batteries from being overcharged. Bottom Photos: With a degree in electrical engineering, Steve Werts converted his Volkswagen Beetle to an EV.

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for components and batteries, plus the cost of a used vehicle. It usually takes about 200 hours of labor to complete a conversion, depending on the features. These conversion EVs use a system of either lead acid or lithium batteries. Al Pugsley, a MAEAA member from Prairie Village, explained the difference between the two battery systems. “The lead acid battery requires that you check the water level depending how much you drive,” he said. “Lithium batteries are much lighter. My battery pack with 100 batteries weighs about 360 pounds.” Pugsley’s EV, a grey KIA Sorrento, is powered by a series of batteries that use a computerized management system, so none of the batteries is overcharged when he plugs it in overnight. Pugsley became a passionate advocate for EVs after he saw the 2006 documentary, Who Killed The Electric Car? That year, he became an official member of MAEAA. MAEAA members’ reasons for converting their vehicles to electric power are as varied as the cars they drive. For Ken Parsons, a Brookside resident and philosophy professor at Avila University, the decision to convert his orange 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback began as a joke in an email sent by one of his friends. “A friend of mine gave me this car and he said, ‘You know, you can take it. There’s a problem with the gas motor,’” said Parsons. “And then another friend jokingly said, ‘Well, why don’t you convert it to electric?’” Parsons began looking online for instructions on converting a car to an EV. After ordering a conversion kit, he spent a total of 75 hours working to convert his Volkswagen to a lead-acid-powered EV. Although the cost of conversion was not insignificant, he enjoys the long-term benefits of owning an EV. “There’s no fuel pump, no gas tank, no starter, no antifreeze, and no oil,” said Parsons. “Other than filling my batteries with water every three weeks, replacing my windshield wipers is all the maintenance I’ve done to my car in three years.” In addition to low maintenance costs, EV owners have the advantage of regenerative braking. Steve Werts of Prairie Village has been a member of the EAA since 1991, when he lived in Phoenix, AZ. Werts, who holds a degree in mechanical engineering, converted his red Volkswagen Beetle to an EV. He explained the differences in the transfer of energy between an

Greenability Challenge

internal combustion engine and an electric motor, and how it relates to regenerative braking. “You put your foot on the brakes and the brakes convert the energy that you’ve put into the car with gasoline into heat,” said Werts. “With an electric motor, that energy, rather than being converted to heat, is converted into electricity and put back in the batteries.” The average conversion EV has a range of 30 to 50 miles on a single charge, depending on whether it uses lead acid or lithium batteries. With 90 percent of vehicles in the United States traveling 30 miles or less per day, EVs would meet the needs of many daily commuters. Additionally, an EV costs about 3 to 5 cents per mile for electricity, much lower than the 13 to 16 cents per mile for vehicles with an internal combustion engine. So why are Americans not seeing more EVs on the highways and in the dealerships? Larry Kinder, MAEAA member from Overland Park and distributor of LilyPad EV charging stations for Kansas and Missouri, said the biggest issue is availability. While very few EVs are available in the Midwest, price is also a consideration. The 2012 Nissan Leaf has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $35,200, and the Tesla Model S lists for $64,400. (Both qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit.) The lithium ion batteries are expensive to produce, and constitute a significant percentage of the EV price tags. “I think people are predicting the price of those batteries will fall every five years or so,” said Werts. “So, that will be a big driving force behind making electric cars affordable for everyone.” Although lower-cost commercial EVs may be several years away, the members of MAEAA are doing their part to educate consumers about EVs. “This organization is primarily about supporting the local enthusiasts and working through each other’s difficulties and problems,” said Chancey. For Larry Kinder, making the current transportation infrastructure more EV-friendly is his way of accomplishing these goals. His company, LilyPad EV, sold 24 charging stations in Kansas City and St. Louis in the past three years and hopes for 50 to 100 next year. Even as commercial EVs become more available, Don Buckshot, an MAEAA member from Roeland Park, doesn’t foresee the group disbanding any time soon. “There will always be some folks who want to do their own thing,” he concluded.

Top Photos: Ken Parsons began thinking about building an electric vehicle after a friend gave him a 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback that had engine problems. Bottom Photo: Larry Davis stores the batteries for his EV in a box located in the bed of his truck.

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Greenability Challenge

4 ways to learn about

electric vehicles

Join the local group of electric vehicle owners and EV fans in the Mid-America Electric Auto Association, www.maeaa.org. The group meets at 2 p.m. the second Sunday of each month at the Waldo Community Branch Library, 201 E. 75th St., Kansas City, MO.

Track the progress of EV production and availability. For a complete list of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, including those that will be available soon, check out Plug-In-America at www.pluginamerica.org/vehicles.

View the award-winning documentary, Who Killed the Electric Car? The Sundance Film Festival premiere showcases an investigation into the events leading to the quiet destruction of thousands of new, efficient electric vehicles. See the trailer at www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com.

Compare the amount of CO2 produced by gas- and electric-powered vehicles, at www.afdc.energy.gov. On average, an internal-combustion engine automobile produces 87 lbs. of CO2 during a 100-mile trip, while an electric vehicle produces only 54 lbs. of CO2. For Fred Noble, an electric scooter was a great choice.

Greenability

returns to the

Remodeling

Show

February 10-12 American Royal Center Kansas City’s largest exhibition of products and services that showcases sustainability and eco-conscious living!

In the HGTV’s series Cash and Cari, estate sale guru Cari Cucksey combs through basements, attics and garages in search of hidden treasures. She then helps clients organize, price and sell the items to the highest bidder. These items can be restored to their original shape or “re-purposed” into entirely different, but usable items. Cari will speak at the following times on the GreenZONE stage:

Friday........... 1pm,.3pm.&.6pm Saturday....... Noon,.2pm,.4pm.&.6pm Sunday.......... Noon,.2pm.&.4pm

Friday and Saturday 10 am-9 pm; Sunday 10 am-6 pm Tickets: $10.00 for adults; children 12 & under FREE $1 off per ticket with Price Chopper Shopper Card For info call (816) 931-4686 or visit www.kcremodelingshow.com

Green Ideas

eco-friendly ways to

raise baby

By Michelle Reichmeier

or many parents, creating a healthy environment at home takes on added urgency when a new baby is on the way. With a little research, parents can find a variety of eco-friendly baby options and

advice, including some from local parents who have parlayed their own concerns into creating safer and healthier baby products. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know where to begin? Local mom Erika Jones created the Organic Baby Resource website (www.organic-baby-resource.com) in 2008 when her daughter was six months old. After researching how best to care for her baby, she wanted to share the information she gained from personal experiences, organic industry veterans and medical experts. Parents with similar goals share their experiences, feedback and knowledge on her site. Here are 11 ideas to help get you started.

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1 Begin during pregnancy

An expectant mother should start by establishing healthy eating habits with organic foods that were grown free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Kansas City Food Circle (www.kcfoodcircle.org) is a great local resource for a list of local organic farmers markets. Most grocery stores also carry fresh and prepared organic foods.

2 Make playtime eco-friendly

After struggling to find safe toys for their children, Jeff and Charlene Smith founded Young Minds at Play (www.youngmindsatplay.com) in 2010. All toys are constructed in Weston, MO with materials and packaging that are Americanmade, which minimizes fuel and emissions in the production and delivery process. The products consist of locally-sourced hardwoods, a safe beeswax/oil finish and 100-percent recycled packaging. The company made national news last year with a Dr. Toy Award for the best green product. Other wooden or eco-friendly baby toys can be found at The New Dime Store in Brookside, Zoom on the Plaza and The Learning Tree, Toys R Us and Hobby Haven in Overland Park.

diapers wisely 3 Choose Disposable diapers consume 70 percent more energy per diaper change than the average reusable diaper, according to the Canadian Cloth Diaper Association. Disposable diapers last for centuries in landfills, and an average baby will go through 8,000 of them, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. On average, parents spend about $3,000 per child on disposable diapers. However, supplies for cloth diapering can be purchased for an average of $500, which is what parents using disposable diapers will spend in the first 12 weeks.

Local parents Kevin and Brookie-Lee Glaser opened Happybottomus in 2008 to provide support for parents raising their children in a more eco-friendly environment. The store, located in Overland Park, sells all major brands of cloth diapers. Not sure if cloth diapers are right for you? Teeny Greeny (www.Teeny Greenykc.com) in Overland Park lets customers test their cloth diapers for two weeks to help them decide which style fits their baby and their lifestyle. Biodegradable diapers made with plantbased plastics are another option, and they are compostable. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to use biodegradable trash bags when throwing the products away. To protect babyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sensitive skin, check for Seventh Generation diapers and toddler training pants that are free of chlorine processing, fragrances, petroleum-based lotions and latex.

4 Breastfeed or find BPA-free bottles

Pediatricians agree that breastfeeding has the best health benefits for the mother and baby, and it obviously has no destructive environmental impact. However, for supplemental feedings or bottle-fed babies, choose BPA-free supplies to minimize chemical exposure from plastic. Buy Buy Baby in Overland Park (www.buybuybaby.com) has a variety of BPA-free breastfeeding accessories, baby bottles and feeding utensils for toddlers. Parents can purchase more eco-friendly baby bottles that are safe for their baby from BornFree at www.newbornfree.com. After use, these bottles can be returned to BornFree, where they will be recycled into other products such as furniture and toys.

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5 Make organic baby food

7 Look beyond designer clothes

Babies begin to eat solid food at about six months. One option is to make your own baby food from organic fruits and vegetables. Cook produce like you would for yourself (without additional salt or seasonings), then puree and freeze portions in small containers or ice cube trays so they’re ready to defrost and serve when needed. Or purchase fresh or prepared organic baby foods.

Designer baby clothes are cute and can be hard to resist, but there are better options for the environment and baby. Choose organic cotton, hemp, wool or bamboo fabrics made without toxic chemicals. Second-hand clothing and hand-medowns are both sustainable options.

8 Wash without chemicals

6 Compost baby wipes

In 2009, Elements Naturals introduced the nation’s first compostable, plant-based baby wipes. Recently, the company achieved B Corporation status, meaning it is now one of 427 U.S. companies honored for its efforts to solve social and environmental problems. Elements Naturals makes the wipes in the U.S. and donates a portion of its proceeds to 1% for the Planet, an organization that encourages companies to donate 1 percent of sales to environmental groups to help inspire positive changes. These products can be purchased online at www.elementsnaturals.com. Another option is Seventh Generation baby wipes, which can be found at local grocery stores. These wipes consist of plant-derived ingredients with no alcohol, synthetic cleaners, fragrances or dyes.

Another way to protect a baby’s sensitive skin is to carefully choose laundry detergent. Try washing baby products with pure soap and warm water, or make your own non-toxic cleaner with baking soda and vinegar. Happybottomus and Teeny Greeny offer detergents designed specifically for washing cloth diapers and eco-friendly soap for clothes. Look for detergents such as Dreft, All Free & Clear and Seventh Generation.

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Nothing feels more rewarding than donating to a good cause. When you open a Count on More® Rewards Checking account, your normal every day purchases will earn points you can use toward donations to select environmental organizations like Bridging The Gap in Kansas City. Donation gifts are available in $50 increments. The feeling is much bigger.

9 Download the “app”

The “Peaceful Nursery: Green, Healthy Tips for your Baby’s Room” app features a clear, easy shopping checklist of healthy items to buy for the nursery. Healthy home and lifestyle designers Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes created the app to provide expectant parents with guidance and organizational tools.

10 Choose non-toxic products

Babies spend a great deal of time in the nursery, so it’s important to avoid exposure in the baby’s room to the synthetic chemicals contained in everyday products such as paints, carpet, furniture and bedding. Eagles Rest Natural Home (www.eaglesrestnaturalhome.com) in Lawrence sells organic baby comforters, sheets, mattresses and changing pads. Owner Diane Gercke started her business because she didn’t want her baby to sleep in toxic bedding.

care of baby’s skin 11 Take Marketing for a multitude of baby creams, lotions and powders can be overwhelming. Keep products as organic and fragrance-free as possible. A good option for baby lotion is plain olive oil. It’s both inexpensive and un-perfumed. Teeny Greeny sells a variety of skin care for mother and baby. Or check out organic products from Live Clean Baby or Shea Moisture. And make sure the bathtub toys are free of BPA, PVC and phthalates, like those made by Hevea Pond Bath Toys.

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As a participant in the EnergyWorks KC program, Linda Hyrne has learned about energy-efficiency measures she can make on her home in the Washington Wheatley neighborhood.

EnergyWorks KC

promotes eco-sense and dollar savings By Mary Bush

ansas City resident Linda Hyrne is looking to the new EnergyWorks KC program for help in making her 20-year-old home in the Washington Wheatley neighborhood more energy efficient. EnergyWorks KC (EWKC) is an innovative, federally funded grant program designed to bring new energy and financial savings to both home and building owners in Kansas City. The project is funded by a $20-million U.S. Department of Energy grant awarded to the City of Kansas City, MO. The city was one of 25 selected from 175 applicants to receive the funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. To accomplish its goals, the city is partnering with the Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC), a nonprofit organization that promotes energy efficiency in Kansas and Missouri, and the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), a non-profit planning organization for the bi-state Kansas City region. Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) and Missouri Gas Energy (MGE) are also participating in the project. The program incentives are available to most Kansas City, MO residents. The grant is targeting some neighborhood areas with especially high needs, including the Central Industrial District, Eastwood Hills, Ruskin, Washington Wheatley, Westside, Winnwood-Sunnybrook and the Green Impact Zone, a 150-block area in the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s urban core that has experienced abandonment and economic decline. 17

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For Linda Hyrne and other homeowners, the grant helps provide information and access to energy auditors to identify all of the areas where a house is leaking energy and costing money. Property owners can expect to pay an average of $500 for an energy audit. In most cases, these costs can be reimbursed through utility rebates. Under the program, Hyrne had a certified energy audit that took about four hours and included a property inspection and a pressurized blower-door test that quantified air leakage. She said the audit uncovered both big and small problems. “The largest problems were with the insulation in the attic and my heating and air conditioning system, which isn’t running in an energy-efficient manner,” said Hyrne. “But there were a variety of smaller problems, such as putting insulation behind the socket covers to eliminate outside air coming in. The analysts gave me a little kit that I could use to take care of that.” Hyrne learned about EWKC’s energy analysis program through her neighborhood association. Rebates of up to $1,000 on qualified improvements and a no-interest loan option will help her save money on the front end; after improvements, she’ll save on utility costs for as long as she owns her home. EnergyWorks KC has several important goals, starting with saving energy and reducing greenhouse emissions, according to co-directors Jerry Shechter, sustainability coordinator for the city’s Office of Environmental Quality, and Bob Housh, MEC executive director. “Most buildings are fair game for our program,” said Shechter. “Residential and industrial properties, churches, small commercial buildings – we want them all to realize the benefits and receive the savings both in energy and real dollars that are available.” MEC provides a ‘help line’ for customers to learn about rebates, tax credits and other financing incentives. Additionally, the customer support staff helps individuals and businesses connect with certified energy-efficiency analysts to learn about immediate upgrades that have the greatest energy savings impact and financial payback. There are no income restrictions, and owners of existing commercial, industrial, residential and institutional buildings are eligible to participate. Although EWKC’s program is for Kansas City, MO residents, MEC’s customer service representatives are knowledgeable about energy-saving programs that apply to all metro residents, including those living in Kansas. Another major goal of the EWKC is work-force development, starting with MEC hiring the program staff from targeted neighborhoods. MARC is also providing job training and development for “green” jobs and careers as well as an area-wide education program promoting the advantages of energy efficiency. Additionally, the program will work with MARC and the city in a joint effort to help defray costs of deconstructing dangerous buildings that includes abating hazardous materials such as asbestos. Many times, these buildings are demolished with large machines and construction debris is taken to the landfill. However, MARC is providing deconstruction training to contractors and unemployed neighborhood residents, and EWKC will provide the cost of deconstruction projects in excess of standard demolition

costs. Trainees learn how to salvage materials such as sinks, doors, windows and hardwood floors, so the materials are diverted from landfills and used elsewhere, or taken to resale organizations such as Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. Trainees also receive Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training, which makes them more valuable in the job market. “They are learning a skill – one which is badly needed as more buildings come down,” said Shechter. Those skills are being put to good use in EWKC’s partnership with Blue Hills Community Services, as Blue Hills works to renovate a vacant building located in the city’s Green Impact Zone at 50th and Prospect Avenue. The building will be used as a business incubator and office space as well as a neighborhood and job-training center. Finally, the EWKC is charged with encouraging individuals on both the supply and demand sides to view energy efficiency as a valid first choice in home or business improvement. “We want everyone who has anything to do with real estate to understand the financial efficiencies of energy savings,” said Housh. “Whether it’s the home or building owner, real estate agent, appraiser, bank loan official, all can play a part in transforming Kansas City’s energy market.” In October, Kansas City Mayor Sly James and City Manager Troy Schulte announced several new financing initiatives to EWKC’s program to do just that. They include:

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•

EWKC rebates of up to $1,000 to qualifying homeowners and $3,000 for small commercial property owners who make energy-efficiency improvements that have a 15 percent or greater projected energy savings. These rebates are designed to extend and enhance existing rebates available through KCP&L and MGE’s Home Performance with the Energy Star Program, which currently can provide up to $1,200 rebates for Missouri customers. Incentives for lenders to support property and home owners who apply for an energy-efficiency loan. Low- or no-interest rate incentives for energy-efficiency loan customers. ‘Buy down’ interest-rate incentives for customers who need to secure a loan for energy-efficiency projects. This program potentially allows those customers to secure a no-interest loan for one year. EWKC, along with the city’s Water Services Department, is also funding efforts to promote water conservation and efficient use of the city’s resources. Since about one third of the city’s electric bill is related to customer use (pumping and waste treatment), EWKC is working with the water department and Bridging the Gap to educate consumers on conservation measures such as low-flow aerators, high-efficiency showerheads and toilets, installation of rain barrels and rain gardens and downspout disconnections. Using the incentives and information EWKC offers, the program has targeted 1,600 residential and 400 commercial and other building types to reduce energy use by at least 15 percent. Housh says EWKC’s newly announced incentives and its goals dovetail perfectly with the work MEC has been doing since it began 28 years ago. “We want to appeal to those who wish to save energy and money by providing real financing incentives to help them do that,” said Housh. “Our hope is this will encourage lots of new demand for energy efficiency in homes and businesses for years to come, and give this industry a real boost while this opportunity is here.”

• • •

Energy rebates, incentives and resources EnergyWorks KC 816-513-3401 www.kcmo.org/EWKC Contact EnergyWorks KC for more information on incentives and rebates to improve the energy efficiency of your home or business.

Metropolitan Energy Center 816-531-7283 www.EnergyWorksKC.org Call for information about rebates, tax credits and other financing incentives. Get a list of certified efficiency auditors.

Home Performance with Energy Star Program www.hpwes.net Qualify for up to $1,200 in bill credits from MGE and KCP&L when you conduct a home energy audit using a certified Home Performance with Energy Star auditor and implement at least one of the qualifying improvements recommended by your auditor.

Cool Homes & Energy Sense www.kcplsave.com KCP&L offers qualifying Kansas City, MO customers rebates up to $1,250 toward the purchase of a new energy-efficient air conditioner or heat pump. Get a list of participating dealers.

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www.geoecs.com

Net-Zero Energy Homes

greenabilitymagazine.com

Even a big house can get to net-zero energy use

Net-Zero Energy Homes Peter and Colleen Olson used geothermal and a solar system to create a net-zero energy home.

By Michelle Strausbaugh

urveying the degradation continually inflicted on the environment makes some homeowners wonder if their efforts at sustainability might be an exercise in futility. Peter Olson is not one of them.

“All I can say is I feel an obligation to do anything I can do,” he said. How much do we have to destroy before we stop? How can energy-dependent

consumers put the brakes on consumption? “I think about that a lot,” Olson said. “My wife, Colleen, is focused on it all the time. In every action she takes she thinks about it, and I really admire that.” Both Olsons are physicians. Peter, who spent 24 years in the Navy, is an anesthesiologist for a large Kansas City practice. Colleen is an active-duty military physician based at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, where she currently spends most of her time. While the couple had the desire to cut costs, their drastic energy makeover was not about money, Peter said.

Greenability

When the Olsons chose a large Lee’s Summit home, they knew they would need to work harder to mitigate its carbon footprint, and through their efforts they have achieved a highly energy-efficient home.

Preserving and adding natural water features to the Olson property helps attract wildlife to the three-acre lot.

“My wife and I are very much concerned about the

Constructed in 1995, the 5,000-square-foot house is larger

environment and where this world is heading. It’s scary,”

than their previous home, where electricity and gas together

Olson said. “My wife makes sure she recycles everything. She

ran $600 a month. Olson expected higher heating and

will not put stuff down the disposal that she can put outside

cooling costs with the added space, where four adults and

for nature to compost. She is all about green, and we made a

two children reside fulltime.

family decision to become as green as we could get.”

He also planned to add 1,500 square feet to house a

Colleen’s deep commitment can be verified by two police

sunroom, pool house and sauna. Not the smallest carbon

officers who once investigated what she was up to in the

footprint, he admitted, but one he began ameliorating from

woods at 3 a.m. Illegal dumping, maybe? Nope. They soon

the beginning.

thanked her and sent her on her way. Contributing scraps to the Earth’s composting process was no crime, after all.

“When I came here I knew I wanted to make things as green as possible, and I would do so in stages,” he said. After

On a much larger scale, the Olsons have now outfitted

moving to the house in the spring of 2009, he started the

their Lee’s Summit home to the highest standard of energy

process with a geothermal heat pump installed that summer.

efficiency: net zero. And they have the billing statements

He disconnected from gas service entirely and replaced the

to prove it.

gas water heater with an 80-gallon electric, super-insulated greenabilitymagazine.com

The Olson family reached net-zero energy use even with a 1,500 square-foot room addition, and (left) an enclosed room for the heated pool.

water heater, using the original tank to preheat the water via geothermal circulation. By adding geothermal alone, Olson said he garnered a

In the process, the Olsons had an energy audit performed on their home and had extensive insulation installed along the entire roofline and the walls in the new addition.

15- to 20-percent savings, not to mention eliminating the

Next up: a three-tiered stack of solar panels. Olsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

$25 monthly/$300 annual fee for simply being hooked up to

original vision was to install the panels on his roof, but he

a gas line.

learned that space would not be sufficient.

The geothermal system was $27,000, but after a federal tax

To accomplish the Olsonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; goal of offsetting 100 percent

rebate and a 30-percent tax credit, he paid only $17,000. The

of their electric consumption, Keith Graepler of Free Energy

estimated payback on the system is 7 to 10 years.

determined the best site would be a narrow strip of land

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below the back yard, one that necessitated stacking the

Watching the payback in action is one of the rewarding

panels three-high and custom-fabricating a steel substructure

features of the micro-inverters in the systems he installs.

to support them. Pre-engineered racking is only two levels,

Graepler said he still gets texts from Olson asking: “Did you

but that would have met only two-thirds of the Olsons’ goal.

see the solar array today?”

The 29.61KW solar array links 126 panels set facing almost

The Enphase Energy micro-inverters Free Energy uses

straight south and extending lengthwise about 142 feet.

come with a free monitoring system that can be viewed

Graepler said it was the biggest residential solar system in

online in real time from anywhere. It shows the power

the city when it was installed.

produced by each individual panel and notifies the owner by

KCP&L rebates helped pay $50,000 of the solar system,

e-mail if there’s a problem. State-of-the-art micro-inverters

and the Olsons will receive a 30 percent federal tax credit on

are superior to earlier-model string inverters because an

the total cost.

issue with one panel won’t affect the production of the rest of

Payback on the solar investment is expected to be 5 to

the array, he said.

8 years. The short-term energy savings was an immediate benefit. The array was installed August 22, and the electric bill for August 24 to September 23 amounted to a whopping 10.8 cents. Graepler talked about the financial investment for those considering the switch to solar power. “There’s a great misconception that being sustainable, and especially getting to net zero, is some outlandishly expensive, break-the-bank kind of proposition,” Graepler said. He does a lot of re-education on that front, especially for those who balk at initial installation costs. He focuses on the value of thinking more long-term and the fact that the expense is still cheaper than paying the power company month after month, year after year. That’s just plain “silly,” he said. “You’re not investing money at all. You’re throwing it away. You might as well be buying a sports car.” Graepler blames a cultural context in which consumers are programmed only for short-term financial gain, geared from childhood to consume as much as possible as fast as possible. His European colleagues can’t understand American sensibilities regarding energy. “It doesn’t make any sense to them,” he said. In fact, he thinks “nothing else makes sense if you can make it work on your property. And as long as there’s sunlight, you

The 29.61KW solar array located behind the Olson home includes 126 panels, making it the largest residential solar system in the city, according to Free Energy.

can find a way to put solar panels in and make them work.” Another common misconception is that going that route

But payback comes in the intangible rewards, too, ways

will force homeowners to trade luxury and comfort for a net-

just as important to someone like Olson, who regularly

zero scenario. His client didn’t make that sacrifice, Graepler

worries about things like the refuse of humans contaminating

pointed out.

oceans, about all the big, little things like grocers providing

“Regardless of how big or little solar arrays are, you can get anybody to net zero, and they all have a similar payback.”

no choice but plastic bags for consumers. So much damage is announced in the news every single day. greenabilitymagazine.com

“People read that stuff and go on with their lives and just live day-to-day,” Olson said. “We need to get back to a Native American kind of philosophy of living within our environment,” he said. “Certainly they had a philosophy of being one with the Earth. That’s very appealing to me and my wife.” On a sunny Saturday in November, Olson knelt beside his koi pool to clear leaves clogging the pump for its waterfall. Behind him, workers were in the final stages of completing the new sunroom. “A lot of other things could be done,” he said. “I don’t have anything specific in mind, but I can tell you we will continue to look and pursue what we can to continue to be environmentally friendly.”

Peter Olson explains how his solar system feeds into the KCP&L electric grid when his system produces more energy than his house uses.

What is net-zero energy? Energy independence might sound like a distant dream to some, but two area homeowners have proven that the eco-balancing act known as “net zero” pays off. They have demonstrated its extreme practicality by converting their homes to accomplish zero-net energy use, making as much energy, or nearly as much, as they use. Net-zero homes balance energy needs by reducing energy use, increasing energy efficiency through systems like geothermal, and creating sustainable energy on site with technologies like solar and wind. Usually, these homes are connected to the electric-utility grid. They primarily fuel their own needs, and when producing more electricity than needed, the systems feed back the surplus to the electric-utility grid. When the systems do 25

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not produce enough to meet the home’s needs, the system pulls electricity from the grid. Over the course of time, the energy needed and energy produced even out to net zero. In some cases, homes can be completely “off-grid,” producing their own energy — usually from solar —and storing it in a battery system for future use. In Missouri, utilities are required to provide netmetering services to property owners who install renewable energy systems, and give owners a credit for energy their homes or buildings supply back to the grid. Kansas does not have a similar requirement. For more information on Missouri laws governing renewable energy, contact Renew Energy ( www.renewmo.org ) or Missouri Solar Energy Industry Association (www.moseia.org).

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Net-Zero Energy Homes

Jerry and Susie Delgado installed 33 solar panels to help them reach net-zero energy on their Clay County home.

Kansas City couple takes eco path to net-zero energy home By Michelle Strausbaugh Photography by Patricia Zollmann-Kissinger

eep respect for the earth as a whole, and their own small acreage and its inhabitants in particular, is evident in the stories Jerry and Susie Delgado tell around their kitchen table.

It’s there in the 150 native trees they’ve

planted since moving to the Clay County

Decreasing their carbon footprint today is

bluebird houses erected, a mother rabbit

a continuation of that. Theirs is a two-Prius

rescued, and the brush pile left unburned

life sustained by two teachers’ salaries. Jerry

until the resident foxes no longer needed

works at the Career and Technical Education

its shelter.

Center for the North Kansas City School

“You try to do the best that you can for the

District, and Susie teaches elementary

environment,” Jerry said, his words reflective

school art. Susie is the one who designed

of the way both were raised to make do and

the windbreak with tree saplings on the

reuse everything, from butter tubs to hand-

northwest side of their home. Jerry is the self-

me-down clothes to the cardboard box as

described “geek” who experimented until

snow sled.

coming up with the most efficient speed —

when we had not much space,” Susie said. Greenability

of growing up stuck with us.”

property three years ago. It’s apparent in

“My family always had a garden even

“It kind of brushes off. The ethic of that time

58 mph — to run their cars. That nets them an average of 54 miles to the gallon.

The Delgados’ sustainability efforts include growing and canning their own food, collecting rain to be used on the garden and providing food and shelter for wildlife.

Together, they made decisions to switch incandescent light

By January, the Delgados were able to focus on making their

bulbs for CFLs, install high-efficiency appliances, convert to

home an air-sealed envelope, from sealing the rim joists in

a low-flow shower and toilet, make use of rain barrels, install

the basement to putting blown-in cellulose in the attic. Small

a skylight with solar-powered shades, glass in a screened

jobs, like insulating electrical outlets, they did themselves.

porch, and go with the LCD television over a plasma screen because it uses half the wattage.

Last, but definitely not least, came the decision to install solar panels. Cromwell Environmental assessed the property,

When the couple moved in August 2008 to their 1,900-

recommended the location and presented four levels, or

square-foot ranch-style home — built in the mid 1980s — it

phases, of panel installation. Though the Delgados had

was their plan to analyze its energy efficiency. That November,

expected to have the panels attached to their home’s roof,

an energy audit by Enhanced Energy Solutions revealed

the best site turned out to be their detached garage.

more than a few air leaks at doors, windows, attic, knee-wall seams and more.

Using its west-facing roof slope made more sense than spending the money on a ground-based system, according

“You name it, this was a sieve,” Jerry said.

to Cromwell’s Chris Rogge. The decreased cost of solar

They decided to seal it — but not before the house asserted

panels made it more affordable to add more panels there.

a more crucial priority. The furnace gave up the ghost, triggering a search for the most efficient heating option.

“We can always find a place to locate them and a method to mount the panels,” he said.

They chose an all-electric system, including an electric heat

The Delgados opted to start in July 2010 with a small

pump. They considered geothermal, but found the cost to

system of 14 panels for 3.24 kW of power. Their decision was

adapt existing homes to be higher and the heat pump more

based on the assurance that they could add panels later.

consumer-friendly. Since heat pumps only heat to a certain

“We were very happy after the first month,” Jerry said.

temperature, an auxiliary heating system was needed. While

The first month the system went “live,” their electric bill was

the majority of homeowners buy a gas backup, Jerry said,

$50 less.

their choice of electrical coils not only provided the backup

With the benefit clearly proven, the couple added a second

boost needed for colder temperatures, it left the door open

phase in April 2011, for a total array of 33 panels and 7.64 kW

for adopting solar or wind power at a later date.

of power. greenabilitymagazine.com

“We were hoping to have 85- to 95-percent efficiency,”

was $18.03, only $7.60 of it for actual electricity usage. The

Jerry said, “and over the past six months with the 33 panels,

month before they owed zero for energy – just the monthly

we generated 91 percent of our own electricity.”

“customer charge” of $10.43.

More than 50 percent of the system’s cost came back to

Jerry beams like the proud father of a newborn while

them in the form of rebates and tax credits. For their $44,548

shepherding a visitor from inverter box to electric meter to

solar array, they paid $21,016, after KCP&L rebates and

show off the digital readings and his savings. A video on his

federal tax credits of 30 percent.

cell phone shows an earlier, old-style electric meter running

They expect a 6- to 10-year return on their investment, Jerry said, depending on the cost of energy in the marketplace. People who see the shiny, new solar array are often curious. “Does that thing really work?” they ask. Jerry doesn’t really need his voice to convey a resounding “yes.” The satisfaction is written all over his face.

backwards as his solar array fed energy to the grid. All of it amounts to “zero regrets,” Delgado said. “It feels good to know we’re helping the environment while lowering our costs,” said Susie. “Eventually we’ll be in much better shape because of the solar panels.” The couple wasted zero time before thinking about other

“It’s amazing how predictable solar production is,” Rogge

energy-saving measures for the future. Jerry has looked into

said. He has an application that pulls up his installations to

a small wind-power system that would produce electricity at

keep track of their production. “It’s interesting to see the

lower wind speeds to augment production during the night.

difference between a south-facing array and an east-west

But windows are probably the next item on their to-do list —

array,” he noted, “but pretty much all of the systems are out-

that plus continuing to advertise what they’ve learned.

producing what we projected they would.” A spreadsheet Jerry created shows exactly how much energy the Delgados’ array produces. For October, their bill

“We try to convince people” of solar power’s benefits, Susie said. Jerry admits to going beyond mere education. “I preach,” he said. “As far as we’re concerned, we won the lottery.”

The Delgados’ commitment to energy efficiency extends beyond their house to their two hybrid Priuses, which average 54 miles to the gallon.

Solar resources for featured homes

Cromwell Environmental

Free Energy

Lawrence, KS 785-749-6020 www.powertomorrow.com

Independence, MO 816-461-8877 www.freeenergycorp.com

All aspects of green building, including indoor air quality, green construction, solar design and solar installation (both photovoltaic and solar hot water).

Energy audits, geothermal and solar heating and cooling systems, air sealing, insulating and radiant barrier installation. Contact Free Energy to learn about public education sessions on renewable energy benefits and costs.

Greenability

Solar energy industry brings expertise to Kansas City

he Missouri Solar Energy Industries Association

Scranton, a principal at BNIM Architects, has

(MOSEIA) will meet in Kansas City January 27 for

contributed to the design and construction industriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

a professional development seminar, Innovative

understanding of the relationship between the natural

Solar Technologies and Best Practices for Building Green Communities. Architects, nonprofit representatives, builders and others interested in the renewable energy industry are invited to join in the discussions and networking at this one-day seminar.

# Pierre

Moses, product analyst with the Make it Right

Foundation, will share the experiences of including solar technology in the rebuilding of communities after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.

# Tim

Craig #

Duggan, landscape architect for the Make it Right

Foundation and formerly of BNIM Architects in Kansas

and built environments.

# Gary Steps, founder of Butterfly Energy Works, will discuss the concepts that constitute net-zero energy in the built environment. Johan #

Alfsen,

international

training

manager

for

QuickMountPV, will address waterproofing a roofmounted solar system. For more information on registration, contact Heidi Schoen, executive director of MOSEIA, at HeidiSchoen@moseia.org or 314-677-4076.

City, will discuss sustainable landscape design.

Feel Good Savings! Save money--while improving the

energy efficiency of your home or business! To learn more:

816.531.7283 â&#x20AC;˘ www.EnergyWorksKC.org greenabilitymagazine.com

Net-Zero Energy Homes

volumes for energy savings

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been a better time in Kansas City to make your home more energy efficient. Incentives and rebates abound. Get started by checking out these nine books that will guide you in saving, reducing or eliminating energy costs.

1. Convert Your Home to Solar Energy By Everett M. Barber Jr. and Joseph R. Provey Loaded with practical tips and resources, Convert Your Home to Solar Energy features handy cost calculators and tips on taking advantage of rebates and tax incentives. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also advice on how to find specialized contractors. The authors cover every phase of designing, installing, operating and maintaining a solar energy system for your home.

2. Green Sense for the Home: Rating the Real Payoff From 50 Green Home Projects By Eric Corey Freed and Kevin Daum The authors of Green Sense for the Home provide in-depth analysis of 50 green home projects from their two very different points of view. Freed represents the environmentalist perspective and always considers the carbon footprint of home design. He demonstrates why a project is good for the home and the environment and explains how to accomplish the project with eco-friendly resources. On the other side, Daum scrutinizes the practicality and affordability of each project.

3. Toward a Zero Energy Home By David Johnston and Scott Gibson By reducing or eliminating utility bills, zero-energy homes offer a new direction for housing in America. The concept defines a home that produces as much energy as it consumes. Authors Johnston and Gibson feature 12 houses that were built for zeroenergy living. They explore the design and construction of energy self-sufficient houses from start to finish.

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4. Solar Electricity Basics By Dan Chiras Whether your goal is to reduce your energy bills or to attain complete energy independence, Solar Electricity Basics is a great introduction. Dan Chiras provides a clear understanding of solar energy and solar electric systems. He discusses the theoretical, practical and economic aspects of residential solar installations. This includes inverters, batteries and controllers, system installation and maintenance, permits, covenants, utility interconnection, and the costs and financial incentives involved in buying a system.

5. Solar Water Heating: A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Water and Space Heating Systems By Bob Ramlow and Benjamin Nusz If you’re looking for a practical solar manual for installing your own solar energy system or starting your own solar energy company, pick up Solar Water Heating. The authors include numerous diagrams, making this book a great resource for everyone from the novice to the solar professional. Glean from Bob Ramlow’s long career of installing and maintaining solar energy systems. He begins with a review of the history of solar water and space heating systems. Solar Water Heating presents an introduction to modern solar energy systems, energy conservation and energy economics.

6. Practical Green Remodeling: Down-to-Earth Solutions for Everyday Homes By Barry Katz Green building expert Barry Katz makes a compelling argument for energy-efficient remodeling, as he guides readers through the process. Katz explains how different choices impact a home’s overall environmental footprint, as well as the bottom line. The book illustrates how homeowners can complete a remodeling project using off-theshelf materials, producing less waste while increasing energy efficiency and lowering maintenance costs.

7. Off the Grid Homes: Case Studies for Sustainable Living By Lori Ryker In Off the Grid Homes, architect Lori Ryker makes a case for houses that are not tied to the electric grid. She points out the obvious – that we are pouring thousands of dollars into running our homes each year, which depletes our budgets and wreaks havoc on the environment. Ryker describes off-the-grid homes as a win-win solution. Learn how to harness the power of the environment by using clean-energy generators such as photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, solar water heaters and geothermal systems to conserve resources and save money. Ryker’s guidance could also be used to employ resource-conserving technologies for houses that are tied to municipal energy sources.

greenabilitymagazine.com

8. New Green Home Solutions: Renewable Household Energy and Sustainable Living By Dave Bonta and Stephen Snyder By embracing conservation and renewable energy in our homes, the authors of New Green Home Solutions show readers how to achieve energy independence and help save the planet. Most of the energy-derived pollution we individually produce comes as a direct result of how we heat, cool and light our homes. This resource shows how renewable energy, better insulation and more efficient appliances could reduce energy demands by 60 to 80 percent.

9. Off the Grid: Modern Homes + Alternative Energy By Lori Ryker Author Lori Ryker once again shows readers how to achieve an off-the-grid home. In Off the Grid: Modern Homes + Alternative Energy, she profiles 10 homes in regions as diverse as New York City, urban Germany, suburban South California, rural Canada and the remote “bush” of Australia. Each of these homes demonstrates how beautiful design can use less energy. Learn why understanding a site’s geography and climate are vital to knowing which off-the-grid technologies will be the most efficient. See how each technology, from geothermal heat pumps to wind turbines to photovoltaic arrays, can be integral to the beauty and design of a home.

It’s our people that make the difference. GeoThermal Done Right! (816) 777-1223 www.geoenergys.com

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Greenability

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Commentary

Recycling

Electronic recycling programs benefit consumers and environment By Dan Hesse

print was named number 3 on Newsweek’s 2011 Green Rankings, an achievement that showcases the hard work and dedication of Sprint’s employees. It also confirms that the goals we have laid out, and the steps we are taking, are making Sprint a more sustainable company. However, serious environmental challenges lie ahead and the wireless industry can drive positive change.

At Sprint, we have kept more than 26 million devices out of landfills.

Americans generate 2.5 million tons of e-waste a year. The sheer volume is a serious problem, and it’s compounded by the fact that some electronics contain environmentally sensitive materials that can pose a serious health risk if not disposed of properly. The EPA estimates 140-million cell phones alone – 65,000 tons – are discarded every year. Cell phones are shoved into drawers, computers go into closets, and in the end only 25 percent of electronics are collected for reuse or recycling. The rest end up in landfills. These

staggering numbers have driven companies to develop take-back programs that encourage customers to recycle the electronics they sell and reward them for doing so. At Sprint, we have kept more than 26 million devices out of landfills. We offer the Sprint Buyback program, which accepts eligible devices from any carrier or manufacturer – the first wireless carrier in the U.S. to do so. Through the program, Sprint customers can get a credit of up to $250 applied toward the purchase of a new device or toward their bill. Sprint customers who want the latest iPhone are able to get an instant credit for their old device toward their purchase. Apple, Best Buy and Dell reward customers for recycling their electronics. Like Sprint, these companies make it easy to return products for recycling, and they offer customers gift cards that can be used toward future product purchases. This allows consumers to reap the environmental and financial rewards of recycling. While weekly curbside recycling for electronics isn’t yet available, companies are making it easier for consumers to dispose of their electronics responsibly. Before you purchase your next cell phone, computer, or camera, find out about electronics buy-back programs that can help you do the right thing for the environment and your wallet. Dan Hesse is the chief executive officer of Sprint Nextel.

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Events

KC Rep presents

environmental thriller

his season, the Kansas City Repertory Theatre tackles environmental issues with the world premiere musical, The Great Immensity. The continent-hopping adventure follows an ominous plot surrounding

an upcoming international climate summit. This original musical is part mystery and part morality tale that asks the question: how can we change ourselves and our society in time to solve the enormous environmental challenges that confront us? The Great Immensity gives voice to people whose stories make the reality of climate crisis tangible and inspire us all to make profound

The Great Immensity February 17 - March 18 Kansas City Repertory Theatre Copaken Stage 14th and Main streets Dan-AD-Final

4/5/10

11:40 AM

changes. It draws on interviews with individuals such as botanists, paleontologists, climatologists and indigenous community leaders. The musical runs February 17 to March 18 on the Copaken Stage, located at 14th and Main streets in Kansas City, MO. Tickets are $20-$65. Contact the Rep Box Office at 816-235-2700 or visit www.KCRep.org for information about performance times and ticket options.

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Need more information, or want to get started? Call Mary Lynn at 816.931.3646

Head to the GreenZONE for expert hints on repurposing

ari Cucksey of HGTV’s Cash & Cari will tackle repurposing ideas at the GreenZONE of the Kansas City Remodeling Show February 10-12 at the American Royal Center, 1800 Genessee. Cucksey will speak several times each day on how to repurpose useable items found in basements, attics and garages. As owner of RePurpose Estate Services, she helps clients unearth items of value to reuse, sell or donate. In its fifth year, the GreenZONE showcases businesses and organizations promoting products, services and ideas that support eco-conscious living and sustainable lifestyles. These include renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable home design, green remodeling resources, recycling and organic food. Greenability magazine is the GreenZONE media sponsor. Show hours are 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and free for children 12 and under. For more information, contact Pat Riha Productions at 816-931-4686 or www.kcremodelingshow.com.

HGTV Cash & Cari Host cari cucksey brings reuse and repurposing ideas to the GreenZone February 10-12 American Royal Center

We’ll pick it up... We accept new and used furniture and building material donations that are in good, useable condition. We offer a free collection service for large, pre-approved loads. You can also drop off your tax-deductible donation to ReStore KC. For a complete list of items we accept visit www.restorekc.org or call (816) 231-6889.

Special thanks to our community partners

greenabilitymagazine.com

GREENABILITYDIRECTORY BUILDERS/REMODELERS

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Bennett Home Improvement & Building

cfm Distributors, Inc.

708 NW R.D. Mize Road Blue Springs, MO 816-564-1251 cell 816-229-4711 office

www.cfmdistributors.com

www. homeimprovementandbuilding.com Bennett Home Improvement installs “green” technologies that will enhance your home’s value while saving you money and protecting our environment.

1104 Union Ave. Kansas City, MO 816-842-5400

Cfm Distributors is the Midwest’s employee-owned provider of sustainable heating, cooling, and refrigeration solutions for home, office and industry.

EnergyWorks KC

EDUCATION Johnson County Community College Center for Sustainability 12345 College Blvd. Overland Park, KS 913-469-8500

816-531-7283 www.EnergyWorksKC.org www.kcmo.org/EnergyWorksKC EnergyWorks KC provides resources to help you make smart, easy, energy-efficiency improvements to your home or business to save energy and enhance comfort.

www.jccc.edu/sustainability

FreeEnergy

Want a new “green” career? Explore JCCC’s sustainability programs and train for a career in the growing “green” industry.

816-461-8877

Mid-America Regional Council (MARC)

Residential & commercial energy audits, spray-foam insulation, air sealing, efficient HVAC & duct system design, geothermal GSHP, solar PV power, solar thermal.

600 Broadway, Suite 200 Kansas City, MO 816-474-4240

info@FreeEnergyCorp.com www.FreeEnergyCorp.com

www.marc.org

The Hayes Company

MARC is a non-profit association of city and county governments and the metropolitan planning organization for the bi-state Kansas City region.

Kansas City, MO 816-444-6352

www.thehayesco.com The Hayes Company offers Home Performance services for energy efficiency through energy audits, insulating, duct sealing, weatherization and HVAC balancing.

Sustainable Investment Solutions™ We help socially and environmentally conscious investors manage their money to make a positive impact on their own lives and our whole world. Investment Advisory Representative

• Fee-only services from an Accredited Investment Fiduciary™ • Focused exclusively on SRI financial planning for over 15 years • Customized screening, shareholder activism and community investing

Email or call today for your free one-year subscription to our quarterly newsletter on socially responsible investing, Affirmative Thinking.

Jim Horlacher MBA, AIF® TreeHuggerJim@FirstAffirmative.com | 913.432.4958 | www.firstaffirmative.com First Affirmative Financial Network, LLC is an independent Registered Investment Advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Jim Horlacher is an Investment Advisory Representative of First Affirmative Financial Network.

Greenability

Heartland Utilities for Energy Efficiency (HUEE)

Kansas City Repertory Theatre

816-835-7593

www.HUEE.org HUEE promotes energy efficiency through Atmos Energy, Independence Power & Light, Kansas City Board of Public Utilities, Kansas Gas Energy, Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative and Metropolitan Energy Center.

Metropolitan Energy Center 3810 Paseo Kansas City, MO 816-531-7283

www.kcenergy.org

Metropolitan

ENERGY CENTER

The mission of the Metropolitan Energy Center is to help create resource efficiency, environmental health and economic vitality in the Kansas City region.

Missouri Gas Energy

www.missourigasenergy.com Missouri Gas Energy offers an energy efficiency rebate for customers who purchase a qualifying energy-efficient, tankless natural gas water heating system.

Small Step Energy Solutions

Copaken Stage One H&R Block Way 13th & Walnut Kansas City, MO 816-235-2700

www.kcrep.org

An original musical that is part mystery and part morality, The Great Immensity explores the reality of climate change, deforestation and endangered ecosystems.

FINANCIAL SERVICES First Affirmative Financial Network 913-432-4958

www.firstaffirmative.com First Affirmative Financial Network is an independent, fee-only, fiduciary investment management firm specializing in socially and environmentally responsible investing.

UMB Financial Corporation 1010 Grand Boulevard Kansas City, MO 816-860-7000

www.umb.com

Shawnee, KS 913-708-8004

www.smallstepenergy.com Small Step Energy Solutions specializes in home energy auditing and green energy building consultations for both new and existing homes.

UMB offers complete banking, asset management, health spending solutions and related financial services to personal, commercial and institutional customers nationwide.

GREETING CARDS

EVENTS

Posty Cards, Inc.

February 10-12 816-931-4686

1600 Olive Street Kansas City, MO 816-231-2323

The GreenZONE at the K.C. Remodeling Show offers green, home improvement exhibits and programs February 10-12 at the American Royal Center.

Featuring Sustainable Sentiments® locally grown, green greeting cards. Build client and employee relationships with environmentally inspired cards for birthdays, holidays and other occasions.

GreenZONE

www.postycards.com

www.kcremodelingshow.com

agriculture Natural Liquid Fertilizers

Proven performance delivering healthy plants, healthy soil and healthy yields without chemicals

gardens

Tom Gorby - Aggrand Dealer 913.593.5797 www.ecoflkc.com

safe lawns - Fish & Kelp based - Affordable - Easy to use Available at these fine locations: Grass Pad – Olathe Rolling Meadows Garden Center – Olathe

athletic fields greenabilitymagazine.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT

LOCAL & ORGANIC FOOD

Habitat ReStore

Conveniently Natural

4701 Deramus Kansas City, MO 303 W. 79th St. Kansas City, MO 816-231-6889

3711 Southwest Trafficway Kansas City, MO 913-475-8004

www.convenientlynatural.com

Habitat ReStore collects quality, new and used building materials and sells them to the public at a discount. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity home building.

Conveniently Natural is Kansas City’s premier organic and vegan meal delivery service. Finally – a convenient and affordable way to eat healthy.

LAWN & GARDEN Eco Fertilization and Lubrication Tom Gorby, Aggrand dealer 913-593-5797

Good Natured Family Farms is an alliance of more than 150 family farms that raise animals humanely and care for the Earth in a sustainable way.

FRES UY

www.goodnatured.net

Good Natured Family Farms

www.restorekc.org

LOCA

www.ecoflkc.com

Eco Fertilization and Lubrication is an independent distributor of Aggrand natural and organic liquid fertilizers for use by homeowners, agriculture and landscape professionals.

PHOTOGRAPHY Blixt Photography 210 W. 5th St., Suite 102 Kansas City, MO 816-442-7389

Missouri Organic 7700 East 40 Highway Kansas City, MO 816-483-0908

www.blixtphoto.com

www.missouriorganic.com Missouri Organic offers a convenient and affordable facility for customers to drop off green waste and purchase quality compost, topsoil and mulch.

Blixt Photography is the boutique-style studio of Chad Hickman and Ryan Hill, specializing in editorial, wedding and portrait photography.

Rooster Rubber LLC 1720 Wabash Avenue Kansas City, MO 816-241-6400

bdarling@roosterrubber.com www.roosterrubber.com Rooster Rubber manufactures 100-percent recycled, colored rubber products for landscaping, playground safety surfacing and equestrian arena footing. Never mulch again!

Anyone can say they are “GREEN”

We have proven it. We are Kansas City’s only audited & certified electronics recycler!

The Surplus Exchange 518 Santa Fe, Kansas City, MO 64105 (816) 472-0444 • www.surplus exchange.org

Greenability

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Real estate

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Reece & Nichols

Brightergy

Dan Martin – Green certified realtor 816-686-3959

15209 W. 99th St. Lenexa, KS 816-866-0555

Whether selling or buying, choose an agent who can help you find or market your energy-efficient, sustainable, green home.

www.brightergy.com

DanMartin@ReeceAndNichols.com

RECYCLING

Cromwell Solar

Deffenbaugh Industries

825 Vermont, Suite B Lawrence, KS 785-749-6020

2601 Midwest Drive Kansas City, KS 913-631-3300

www.deffenbaughinc.com

www.PowerTomorrow.com

Deffenbaugh is Kansas City’s hometown hauler for more than 50 years and the first to launch weekly residential and business recycling.

The Surplus Exchange

For the past 12 years, Cromwell Solar has been Kansas and Missouri’s leader in the design and installation of solar energy.

Decent Energy, Inc.

518 Santa Fe Kansas City, MO 816-472-0444

913-440-0744

www.decentenergy.com

www.surplusexchange.org The Surplus Exchange responsibly recycles electronics locally and offers pickup from metro commercial locations. Visit the Tech Shop and furniture showroom.

Your Wholesale Source for Landscaping Products and Services Servi ces

• Industrial Tub Grinding • Custom Screening • Contract Consulting • Soil Testing • Soil Consulting

Top Soils

• Pulverized Top Soil • Customs Soil Mixes • Green Roof Soil Blends • Rain Garden Soil Blends Ask abo ut Mis souri Organic products Compost availab le in bags. • Nature Wise

Mu lch

Brightergy is the region’s most experienced solar design, installation, financing and leasing firm with hundreds of commercial and residential installations across the Midwest.

kevin@missouriorganic.com www.missouriorganic.com http://blog.missouriorganic.com

• Premium I • Natural Darkwood • Cedar • Hardwood Chips • Erosion Stabilization

$25 Off Nature Wise Compost

3-9 yards minimum

Hurry Offer Expires Soon.

7700 E. 40 Hwy., Kansas City, MO 64129

816-483-0908

Decent Energy provides integrated efficiency and renewable energy solutions, including energy audits, solar air heat and solar electric (pv).

Sustainability Training for Business People Why is sustainability important? It can help businesses save money, control overhead trends, address vulnerabilities, maximize supply chains and lead to new revenue streams. Find out about these and other important topics with sustainability training from the Center for Business and Technology at JCCC. Earn a Sustainable Business Leadership Certificate with four courses, just four hours each. ■ Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Business ■ Risk Management and Corporate Sustainability ■ Sustainability Planning and Strategies ■ Sustainable Business Planning: A Facilitated Workshop For more information, contact Randy Winchester at 913-469-8500, ext. 3430 or email rwinches@jccc.edu.

Visit www.centerforbusiness.org then click on Certifications/Licensures Center for Business and Technology at Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS 66210

greenabilitymagazine.com

Sustainable business

ECS Geothermal

Larsen & Associates, Inc.

209 Richardson St. Smithville, MO 816-532-8334

785-841-8707 Contact: Jessica Pryor

www.geoecs.com

Larsen & Associates provides geothermal installation services including loop installation, line purging and charging, pressure grouting, thermal fusion and drilling.

www.larsenenvironmental.com

ECS Geothermal has been installing geothermal heating and cooling systems and radiant floor heating in Kansas City for almost 20 years.

WINERY

FreeEnergy

Fahrmeier Family Vineyards

816-461-8877

9300 Mitchell Trail Lexington, MO 816-633-2150

info@FreeEnergyCorp.com www.FreeEnergyCorp.com FreeEnergy is a full-service sustainability company. We design and install solar PV, solar thermal hot water and geothermal GSHP.

GeoEnergy Source Systems

www.ffvineyards.com Established in 1947, Fahrmeier Family Vineyards handcrafts unique artisanal wines of uncompromising quality in the fertile hills of Lexington, MO.

Do you want your green business or service to be seen by environmentally conscious readers? List it in the Greenability Directory.

Noland Road & Walnut Independence, MO 816-777-1223 816-914-3560

www.geoenergys.com For more than 20 years, Kansas Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only totally integrated geothermal company. Check www.geoenergys.com for a recent projects list.

For information, contact Julie Koppen 816-931-3646 or julie@greenabilitymagazine.com

Albert Tamm Lumber Co. Roberts & Dybahl American Fire Sprinkler Anthony Plumbing Heating and Cooling Applied Ecological Services, Inc Black &Veatch Heritage Cast Stone BNIM Brookside Building Performance Central Fiber CFM Distributors JE Dunn Construction Construction and Abatement Services Cromwell Environmental Decent Energy,Inc. Urban Mining Homewares Brigid Greene Demilic USA LLC E&K of Kansas City Kohler ECS Geothermal Elmwood Reclaimed Timber Environmental Works, Inc EPA Region 7 Green Light Ground Source Systems, Inc James van Eman Architects Grundfos Metropolitan Energy Center Hendrickson Tree Care Company efficie nt comfortable sm a r t r e n e w a ble h isto r ic

www.ProjectLivingProof.org

Henderson Engineers Key Lighting Roberts & Dybahl, Inc. Illumination Sales Elements of Green The Hayes Company The Jeske Company Trex KCP&L Smart Grid Habitat For Humanity Kansas City Restore Loma Vista Nursery MARC Solid Waste Management District PPG Industries Missouri Gas Energy WaterFurnace International Missouri Department of Conservation Missouri Department of Natural Resources LaFarge Patti Banks Associates Heartland Utilities for Energy Efficiency Rothers Design-Build Hermes Nursery Platte Clay Electric Cooperative Solar Solutions of Kansas City Vanderford & Assoc. University of Missouri-Kansas City United Heating and Cooling University of Kansas School of Architecture Aggrand Mark One Electric SFE Enterprises York International UPG 41

Greenability

HEALTHY

FARM FRESH

CHOICES

Heritage Turkey and Ham • All-Natural Beef Roasts • Bison • Artisan Sausage • Farmhouse Cheese • Tofu Free-Range Chicken • Acorn, Butternut, and Spaghetti Squash • Eggs • Milk, Cream and Eggnogg Local Honey • Assorted Jams and Jellies • Louisburg Apple Cider • Farm to Market Bread Missouri Apples • Garden Fresh Hot House Tomatoes • Cal-Ann Farms Local Living Basil • Schweizer Orchards Crooked River Farms Fresh Herbs • Missouri Pecans • Chestnuts • Sauces and Seasonings by Chef Mark

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