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Publisher’s Letter
Green up your home and garden
I
’ve never been one to embrace the cold of winter. I’m constantly dreaming of spring, planning for summer or hoping there is a trip to a warmer location somewhere in my near future. I love the seasons, but could happily skip grey skies and frigid weather. So when I first heard about winter sowing from Greenability’s graphic designer, Kim Tappan, my gardening soul lit up, hoping this might be the answer to winter survival in a new year. Of all the exciting things we share with you this issue, it’s the Plant your Garden in January story that gives me something I can do right now to make this season greener. For the longer view, our special section on Green Homes gives us all something to strive for as we read the stories of others who are following their dreams of a more sustainable home. You’ll meet a Lawrence couple who built a prefabricated house with a geothermal system, a Merriam pair who tightened up a childhood home and added solar panels, and a real estate investor who gutted a 114-year-old structure in the hope that if he made it super energy-efficient and added renewable energy, it would sell fast. You’ll also learn about energy rebates and a calculator for determining potential energy savings in your own home. To help with plans for a more sustainable abode, we’ve found seven local sources for green home improvement materials. You’ll discover reclaimed wood, antique hardware, bamboo cabinets, recycled glass countertops and repurposed flooring. If you need some inspiration on what to do with these materials, check the recaps of five books on green home restoration, with ideas and projects that range from very simple to complicated.
Around town, there are a few enterprising ideas that we thought you would want to know about. A new green business incubator has opened in the Blue Hills Business Center on Prospect Avenue to assist 10 small contractor businesses. The facility was renovated with many sustainable features, including a 10 kW solar system. In Independence, MO, the city has become the first of its size in the country to completely convert its street-light system to energy-efficient LEDs. Both of these projects are leading the way in their fields. In this issue’s Commentary, Scott White, founder of the Kansas Energy Information Network, shares his insight on the environmental and economic benefits of wind energy in Kansas. To be considered for writing a commentary, just email me your topic and expertise at julie@ greenabilitymagazine.com. If reading an issue leaves you still wanting more, we invite you to keep closer tabs on what Greenability is writing about by following our Facebook page and signing up for our free weekly e-newsletter at www.greenabilitymagazine.com. This season, I hope you join me in planting a winter garden and taking that next step to make your house more energy efficient. Just know I’m already planning ahead for warmer weather and our next issue, and some great edible gardens are in your reading future. Cheers to a new year!
Julie Koppen Publisher julie@greenabilitymagazine.com
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Volume 8, Number 1 January/February 2014
PUBLISHER Julie Koppen julie@greenabilitymagazine.com OPERATIONS & CIRCULATION MANAGER Dani Hurst Brown dani@greenabilitymagazine.com COPY EDITOR Kim Broers WRITERS Dani Hurst Brown Douglas Peel Scott White ASSISTANTS James Gottsch Johannah Waldo GRAPHIC DESIGN Kim Tappan/Tappan Design Connie Saum
COVER PHOTOGRAPH Valerie Kutchko PHOTOGRAPHY Mary Baise Brynn Burns Jesse Crupper Valerie Kutchko Ann Maxwell Rick Robson Kim Tappan ADVERTISING Julie Koppen julie@greenabilitymagazine.com WEBSITE MANAGEMENT Tim Gieseking COPYRIGHT All contents of this issue of Greenability are copyrighted by The Koppen Group Inc., 2014. All rights reserved.
GREENABILITY January/February 2014 (ISSN 1938-5749) is published bi-monthly (6 times per year) for $24 per year by The Koppen Group, Inc., 1600 Olive St., Kansas City, MO 64127. Periodicals postage paid (USPS 2020) at Kansas City, MO and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER Send address changes to GREENABILITY, P.0. Box 414056, Kansas City, MO 64141-4056.
CONTACT US Phone 816-931-3646 Fax 816-960-4841 www.greenabilitymagazine.com
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ON THE COVER Kimberly and Dwight Purvis built their dream, green, geothermal home on the southern edge of Lawrence, KS.
5
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compared to products in the industry made wit Generated by : www.cascades.com/calculator 100% virgin fiber, yourvirgin savings are: 100% fiber, your savings are: 2,117 lb(s) of17,514 Rolland Enviro100 Satin gal.of17,514 US of water 2,117 lb(s) Rolland Enviro100 gal. US Satin of water 100% post-consumer 100% post-consumer 189 days of 189 water consumption days of water consumption Sources : Environmental Paper Network (EPN) 18 trees 18 trees www.papercalculator.org Million BTUs www.papercalculator.org Million BTUs 1 tennis court 0.9 1 tennis court
Gallons Water of Water 954 of Gallons Sources : Environmental Paper Network (EPN) of Energy of Energy Pounds 64of Pounds of Solid WasteSolid Waste Pounds of Pounds of 176 Greenhouse Gases Greenhouse Gases
lbs by of2,214 waste lbs of waste Generated by2,214 : Generated www.cascades.com/calculator : www.cascades.com/calculator
17,514 gal. US17,514 of watergal. US of water 20 waste containers 20 waste containers Sources : Environmental Network Paper (EPN) Network (EPN) 189 days of water 189 consumption days of water consumption Sources : Paper Environmental www.papercalculator.org www.papercalculator.org
5,755 lbs CO 2 5,755 lbs CO2
10,913 miles10,913 drivenmiles driven
28 MMBTU 28 MMBTU
2,214 lbs of waste 2,214 lbs of waste
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5,755 lbs CO25,755 lbs CO2
10,913 miles driven 10,913 miles driven
136,491 60W136,491 light bulbs one 60W for light bulbs for one hour hour 28 MMBTU
17 lbs NOX 17 lbs NOX
28 MMBTU 136,491 60W light bulbs for light one bulbs for one 136,491 60W hour hour
emissions of one truckofduring 24 during 24 emissions one truck 17 lbs NOX days days
17 lbs NOX emissions of one truck during emissions of one24truck during 24 days days
CONTENTS January/February 2014
Features
13 35 36
7 resources for green home improvement materials Green business incubator opens in renovated space Independence is first city to switch on LED lights
Departments
4 37 39
From the Publisher
GREEN HOMES
19 23 28 29 32 33
Lawrence couple builds circular energy-efficient home Couple recreates small home for sustainability Get a rebate for energy-efficiency efforts Investor pushes historic house into renewable energy future New program makes energy efficiency an employee benefit 5 books on green home restoration
Commentary: Wind energy brings economic benefits to Kansas Greenability Directory
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Plant your garden in January
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Plant your garden in January By Ann Maxwell Photography by Mary Baise, Ann Maxwell and Kim Tappan
From left: Kim Tappan, the graphic designer for Greenability, and Ann Maxwell have perfected the art of starting their gardens outside during the cold of winter.
E
ach year when I take down the Christmas tree and store away the last shiny ornament, I am mentally taking inventory of my empty milk jugs, potting soil and hoard of seeds. Unlike most Midwest gardeners, I actually start planting outside in January. It satisfies my overwhelming urge to dig in the dirt – even when there is snow on the ground. My method of planting is called winter sowing. I first learned about it six years ago when I read about this growing method devised by gardener Trudi Davidoff. I was in the depths of the winter blahs, so I decided to try my hand at it. I read everything Davidoff wrote about it at www.wintersown.org. Now I love to start my flowers, herbs and vegetables in the dead of winter. It has become my obsession.
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Initially, I did my winter sowing alone. But I have since paired up with a gardening partner, Kim Tappan, and together we plot our gardens each year. We first met at a local garden club. I garden on a city lot in Ottawa, KS, and Kim lives on a 10-acre farm north of Ottawa. We’ve discovered that we have the same gardening obsessions and seed-hoarding tendencies. We’ve been known to share a quick dinner and spend the rest of the evening fawning over our seeds and planning next year’s summer gardens. Last August, we attended a tomato tasting at the Local Pig in Kansas City and started selecting our 2014 heirloom varieties then. By sharing, we can have twice as many varieties and seeds. Kim calls me her mentor, and I call her my mentee. But she has far exceeded that role and is producing plants that I never could grow. She remains humble, laughing that she couldn’t do it without me. But I am learning she has that green thumb and growing obsession, as I do, and is skilled at gardening logic.
Start with winter sowing To grow outside in the winter, you need to create a minigreenhouse – or in our case, many mini-greenhouses. We make ours from one-gallon plastic milk or water jugs that we collect from the Franklin County Recycling Center. I don’t drink much milk, so I depend on the recycling center, and the folks that run it know that when I come in it’s for a “withdrawal” rather than a deposit. You could also use clear two-liter soda bottles, whipped topping tubs, take-out containers or rotisserie chicken containers, just as long as they let light penetrate.
6 reasons to try winter sowing The winter sowing method of planting outside requires very few things, but has many advantages. Here are just a few:
1
It’s inexpensive.
The supplies include several one-gallon recycled milk or water jugs, seeds, potting soil and either adhesive tape or pipe cleaners.
2
It recycles your plastic.
Whether or not you drink milk, you can help recycle the plastic containers by either saving them or getting them from the recycling center.
3
No electricity is required.
Unlike inside seed-starter kits, this method of growing does not rely on grow lights or warming pads to germinate seeds. Mother Nature does the work with a little help from you, the gardener, in keeping the soil moist.
4
It produces healthier, sturdier plants.
Seedlings that have “grown up” in the elements are better acclimated to our climate and ready for life in the garden in the spring.
5
It provides an outlet for seed-hoarding
tendencies.
If you are a seed saver, collector or someone who just likes to buy seeds, this is a great way to get them started before the other tasks of the spring season take all your time and you’re tempted just to buy a flat of annuals instead of starting from seed.
Throughout the season, Ann Maxwell enjoys gardening with her 4-year-old great-granddaughter, Macy Herzog.
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It’s a fun way to enjoy gardening
in the winter! greenabilitymagazine.com greenabilitymagazine.com
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Seeds planted in milk jugs and placed outside during the winter months can handle freezing temperatures and snow. As spring arrives, the plants begin to sprout and soon will be ready to plant in the garden.
The basic concept is to plant your seeds in potting soil placed in the container, add water, cover, label the container and place it outside in a full-sun, protected area. I put mine near the house. Kim puts hers on the south side of her barn. The seeds will sprout when the weather is right. We occasionally check on them and add water if necessary. But usually these milk-jug, teeny greenhouses require little attention. When it’s warm enough in the spring, we plant the seedlings into our outside gardens. Some of the seeds that have grown well for us and flourished into the summer and fall include: • Flowers (mostly perennial): coneflowers, butterfly weed, blazing star, passion flower, cardinal flower, cardinal vine, standing cypress, lupine, Mexican hats, blanket flower, coreopsis, black-eyed Susan, mallow, yarrow, sweet William, hyacinth bean, purple and red flax, bee balm, cleome, golden rod, verbena, wallflower, foxglove, nasturtium, columbine, salvia, morning glory and snap dragon. • Herbs: anise hyssop, basil, bee balm, cilantro, primrose, lavender, parsley, pineapple sage and sage. • Vegetables: beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, corn, eggplant, parsnip, peppers, spinach and tomatoes. We really don’t recommend planting beans or lettuce, since they come up so fast in a spring garden. We like choosing vegetables that have a longer germination time, such as tomatoes, broccoli or cabbage. But if you plant any seed that has a shorter germination time, the plants will keep well in the jugs for quite a while, even if they are crowded. One thing we discovered is you can cut your big square of plants taken from the jug almost like brownies (smaller squares) for planting. Or as Kim and I phrase it, sometimes we will take the whole “hunk of seedlings” from the jug and plant them in one spot.
Make your own mini-greenhouses To get started, you’ll need several milk jugs or plastic containers, a box cutter, knife or scissors to cut the plastic, and either duct tape, clear packing tape or pipe cleaners for closing the milk jug. Collect your seeds, potting soil and a paint pen to label your containers.
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First, make a horizontal slit with a sharp knife right at the side of the lower end of the milk jug handle. Then place the scissors into the slit and cut around the jug; stop cutting about 1-1/2 inches from the starting point, leaving this portion intact to make a hinge. Then poke drainage holes in the bottom of the jug and along the very lowest portion to provide adequate openings for drainage and watering. You can water from the bottom so as not to disturb the seeds/seedlings. The small opening at the top will be left uncovered to allow snow, rain or ice to enter. I have read many theories on the best soil mix type, but prefer a light consistency that drains well and will not compact. I pre-soak 3 to 4 gallons worth of a perlite peat moss mixture in advance, to be sure it is well saturated. Then if it’s a typical winter day, I do all of my planting tasks in the kitchen sink. It’s messy, but worth it. In the bottom of each milk jug, I place 3 to 4 inches of soil and add a little more water until it drains out the bottom. The soil should be really wet because that’s how this system works. Then plant the seeds according to the packet directions. In nature, the seeds are just scattered, so that’s what I do. (I am trying to mimic Mother Nature.) Then lightly
Kim Tappan started passion flower vine, bee balm, Russian sage, standing cypress, Mexican hat, coneflowers, French lavender, agastache, purple and red flax, mallow, blanket flower, columbine, salvia, to name a few, in her winter sowing milk jugs.
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smooth the soil so that the seeds make contact with it. I tell them to “sleep tight” and “do your thing.” Close the lid and secure it. This does not have to be a complete seal. Kim does this by twisting a pipe cleaner between a hole she punches on the top portion and one on the bottom for easy opening and closing. I use several methods with whatever tape is handy. Now, label your treasures with a fade-resistant, waterproof marker – or you could be in for some surprises come spring.
Situate in a sunny spot
Above: Many of the plants in Ann Maxwell’s garden were started from seed during the winter. Below: The results for both gardeners have been beautiful golden rod, cardinal flower, cleome and red coneflowers.
To find a perfect home for your greenhouses, look for an outside location that is out of the wind, preferably in nearly full sun. They should face the elements, but not be in the direct path of dogs or cats. I lost some expensive petunias because my cat jumped on to the jug and knocked it over. Some folks place their jugs in under-the-bed plastic storage boxes with drainage holes in that as well. We both check on our jugs often to make sure they don’t dry out. It is best to keep the soil moist. How often we add water really depends on the weather – wind, rain or snow. One day after a big snowfall, Kim had a neighbor arrive to plow her drive. Over the noise of his loader, Kim was yelling at him, “Don’t touch my jugs!” Of course she had to explain the growing process to him and show him the plant jugs that were covered completely with snow. He avoided them, but she’s pretty sure he had no idea what she was talking about. Germination really depends on your seeds. We experiment so much knowing it is inexpensive. We had great luck this year with most of the seeds we saved and acquired. But we didn’t have as much luck with older seeds. We bought a few packets that assured us of 95 percent germination, and that held true.
Enjoy your garden Kim has a list the length of her arm of requests from friends who want plant starters this spring. We both have enjoyed introducing kids to gardening and teaching them about winter sowing. We have been saving quite a few seeds this year, and it will be fun to share and exchange seeds with other like-minded gardeners. But mostly, we just like the process of getting our fingers in the dirt during the winter. 11
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Kim Tappan and Ann Maxwell plant many native species that attract butterflies and other pollinators, like this luna moth.
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resources for green home improvement materials By Douglas Peel
The reclaimed antique flooring in this Mission Hills, KS home came from Elmwood Reclaimed Timber’s Vermont Moonlight Medley collection, an eclectic blend of native reclaimed antique hardwood found throughout the Midwest and New England. It includes walnut, cherry, ash, oak and hickory woods.
T
here are many ways to give your home a beautiful makeover while leaving a smaller footprint on the planet. Reclaimed and recycled materials add unique features and are sometimes less expensive than newer materials. These seven resources for building supplies and materials provide options for a greener home improvement project.
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1 Reclaim KC Many old buildings and homes in the heart of Kansas City were built with high-quality wood from old-growth forests. Over the next five years, the city of Kansas City estimates that more than 1,000 of them will be demolished and sent to the landfill. Reclaim KC, a program of the Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC), sees this as an opportunity and a challenge to save this irreplaceable wood and the energy embodied in it. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the 600 tons of wood in those homes is equivalent to 300,000 kilowatts (kW) of embodied energy. “There is energy embedded in everything we make and use, and if we throw it out, we are wasting that energy and unnecessarily releasing that carbon into the atmosphere,� said Warren Adams-Leavitt, MEC executive director. Reclaim KC plans to process and recondition wood from demolished structures, then resell it. Basic lumber processing that includes de-nailing, surface cleaning and some rough finishing will be the initial focus. Future Reclaim KC plans call for expanding its business line to include finished wood products. Other home materials such as doors, hardware and fixtures also will be restored and sold through Habitat ReStore. Currently, the program operates out of two locations. Albert Tamm Lumber Co., just east of downtown Kansas City, is providing free storage space, and Faultless Starch is providing a workshop area in one of its buildings in the West Bottoms. Reclaim KC is working with PlanetReuse to process and store wood from within its system. Reclaim KC aims to prevent tons of wood from reaching the landfill, while providing economic and employment opportunities. Additionally, the program will offer periodic workshops on using and repurposing materials, and workforce training in building materials reuse in collaboration with local workforce development and training organizations. For more information, contact the Metropolitan Energy Center at 816-531-7283 or find ReclaimKC at www.kcenergy.org.
2 Habitat ReStore Homeowners who want to use eco-friendly building materials and help their community can do both at Habitat ReStore. All materials available for purchase are donations, and ReStore requires all donated materials to be in good, reusable condition. Sales support the work of Habitat for Humanity Kansas City, which provides low-cost homes for families in need. Habitat ReStore has raised more than $4 million for its charitable cause since December 2012, and has prevented more than 25,000 tons of materials from becoming waste. Habitat ReStore collects and sells a wide variety of used and new building materials including flooring, carpeting, wood, drywall, fencing, hardware and electrical supplies. It sells other household furnishings such as furniture, appliances, bathtubs, cabinets and doors. An online product and price guide is available at www.restorekc.org. A quick look shows that washing machines are listed for $50 to $200 and roofing shingles cost 10 to 25 cents each. The two Kansas City, MO Habitat ReStores are located at 4701 Deramus Ave. and 303 W. 79th St. Call 816-231-6889 or visit www.restorekc.org for more information.
Kim and Steve Gasperi made several trips to Habitat ReStore until they found just enough blue slate and gray retaining wall bricks to build their patio and fire pit in Kansas City. greenabilitymagazine.com
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The staff offers design consultation with an emphasis on color, space planning, selection of materials and project installation and coordination. Design services include an initial consultation in the showroom or in a customer’s home, research and recommendations, including extra materials customers need that are not offered at the store. Contact Elements of Green at 816-842-0500 or visit www.elements-of-green.com. The store is located in the Crossroads of Kansas City, MO, at 1919 Wyandotte St., but will be moving in early 2014 to 322 Southwest Blvd.
In this Blue Springs, MO home, Elements of Green designed the kitchen with bamboo cabinets, Marmoleum linoleum flooring, Fire Clay tile, reclaimed marble and granite accents, and seashell countertops from Travina. Cork flooring was used in the rest of the home.
4 Elmwood Reclaimed Timber
3 Elements of Green
Elements of Green is a locally owned, home improvement retail store that focuses on environmentally-friendly products for remodeling and new construction projects. Products include cabinetry made from renewable Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified bamboo or recycled materials. All cabinetry construction materials are certified as not containing added volatile organic chemicals (VOC), urea or formaldehyde. The company sells Travina® countertops made with locally recycled glass from Ripple Glass and porcelain tiles made with a 40-percent recycled ceramic content. Elements of Green offers other home products as well, like the Solatube® lighting system which reflects natural sunlight from the rooftop into the home.
B:7.25” T:7.25”
Elmwood Reclaimed Timber reconditions and sells old-growth wood and stone sourced from old building structures, and it acquires wood from local tree trimmers and landscapers. The locally owned company offers many different types, grades and styles of reclaimed wood for flooring, paneling, beams, siding, countertops and fireplace mantels. Customers can browse the company’s selection online by type, style, color and price. For example, a customer looking for a country feel might be interested in Elmwood’s rustic grade, old-growth hardwood wide-plank flooring. Customers considering several options can order wood samples to get a better idea of what style would work best for their home. Elmwood Reclaim Timber also custom-mills lumber for specific customer needs. Elmwood recycles nearly all its waste in its effort to become a zero-waste facility. Even sawdust finds
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a new home as bedding for the cows at Shatto Milk in Cameron, MO. All of its reclaimed wood has received the Forest Stewardship Council designation for the company’s commitment to sustainable practices. Customers can find Elmwood products in many recognizable locations, including Union Station, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Hallmark Cards, Ameristar Casinos, The Gap, Urban Outfitters and AMC Theatres. Individuals or companies interested in selling wood to Elmwood Reclaimed Timber can submit a product description online. For more information, contact Elmwood Reclaimed Timber at 800-705-0705 or visit the showroom, 22701 S. Peculiar Dr., Peculiar, MO. View products online at www.elmwoodreclaimedtimber.com.
include compiling documentation and coordinating shipping and warehouse storage. Many local and national commercial projects also have sourced materials from PlanetReuse. The company worked with The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts to help it incorporate reclaimed ipe wood from the Far Rockaway Boardwalks in Brooklyn, NY, as an alternative to the originally designed cedar on an exterior wall. In the Power & Light District, Johnny’s Bar and Restaurant has tabletops that came from 10,000 square feet of oak flooring reclaimed in Union Station. The original floor had been glued and nailed, so it couldn’t be reused as flooring. But with the help of local Habitat ReStore, the flooring was repurposed for interior finishes at Johnny’s.
5 PlanetReuse
If your home building project calls for a unique reclaimed material that you can’t find, then PlanetReuse can help source the materials, get samples sent to your door, and close the loop on purchasing and delivery. Operating solely as an online reclaimed materials marketplace, PlanetReuse has material sources and customers nationwide. Reclaimed materials include lumber, brick, stone, countertops, carpet tile, furniture, insulation, air conditioners, doors and hardware. PlanetReuse works with building owners and demolition and construction contractors to coordinate the removal of reusable building materials from demolition sites. These services
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PlanetReuse provided the reclaimed sinker cypress wood for the flooring, walls and ceiling in this room designed by El Dorado Inc. architectural firm.
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PlanetReuse also provides consultation services for designers who need assistance finding reclaimed materials for their building projects. Its design team will match the proper materials with customers’ specific needs. PlanetReuse also will source material within a 250-500 mile radius to reduce carbon emissions and assist projects working toward certification through Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED). Contact PlanetReuse at 816-298-7947 or www.planetreuse.com.
6 Midwest Materials Exchange
For homeowners who enjoy the online bidding process, Midwest Materials Exchange (MME) offers the opportunity to find and bid on greener home improvement materials. Founded by Kansas City’s local environmental organization, Bridging the Gap, MME allows customers to give away, sell and bid on reusable materials online for free. MME users can find sellers’ reputation ratings and ways to contact them with questions or for more information. For home projects, buyers might find lumber, pallets, stone or other building materials. The MME
site also offers electronics, textiles, fabrics, plastics, metals, paper, chemicals and gardening materials. Customers who do not find specific homebuilding materials can elect to receive email alerts if materials become available. MME is planning two happy-hour “working session” in 2014 where buyers and sellers can meet to negotiate the sale or exchange of materials. The sessions are free, and participants can register at the MME website for notifications. For more information, contact MME at 816-561-1061 or visit www.midwestmaterialsexchange.com.
7 Beaver Timber
Beaver Timber offers building products from reclaimed, old-growth timber that includes beams, floors, countertops, fences, mantels and siding. The company reclaims various species of wood, including hickory, poplar, beech and walnut, all sourced from old building structures and fallen or dead trees. Beaver Timber also builds custom furniture and offers custom-milled lumber. Contact Beaver Timber at 913-831-2518 or visit www.beaver-timber.com.
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Greenability
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greenabilitymagazine.com
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Above: The Deltec Homes design has an open, circular oor plan. Right: Homeowners Dwight and Kimberly Purvis built their energy-efficient dream home on seven acres just south of Lawrence, KS.
By Julie Koppen Photography by Valerie Kutchko
K
imberly and Dwight Purvis may seem like a couple unlikely to build their own house. By profession, he plays the French horn in the Topeka Symphony Orchestra and she spent 25 years as a pharmacist. But the pair wanted a home that was unique,
energy-efficient and would last the rest of their lives. And they wanted to build it themselves. After extensive research and a trip from their hometown of Lawrence, KS to visit the Deltec Homes headquarters in Asheville, NC, they decided to buy a prefabricated home kit that had built-in energy-efficiency features.
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Greenability
Lawrence couple builds circular geothermal home
“Once we saw what we could build, we came home and put our house on the market,” said Kimberly Purvis. “We were ready to get started.” “Deltec Homes’ kits are called “panelized building systems.” The house structure is prefabricated in the factory and shipped to the jobsite for placement on a permanent foundation. They are designed for homeowners to build themselves, usually with some contracted help. The Purvises had help from three friends who are cabinetmakers, a photographer friend who also filmed the process, and a trained field consultant who had experience building Deltec Homes. “When we toured the plant, I was really impressed with how they used a computerized saw to cut all of the pieces of wood used in the construction of a house,” said Dwight Purvis. “In that process, they waste 81 percent less material than traditional construction. Except for some pallets, there was no waste on the jobsite.” For the Purvises, the building process began Nov. 12, 2012, when the panels and materials for their house were delivered. The crew of seven started building the next day, and by November 18 the house was up and weather-tight. The experienced builder helped them for the first 30 days. Then with a set of instructions and some contracted help for plumbing, electrical, spray-foam insulation and roofing, the Purvises finished building their home. For the past five years, Dwight also has been building custom furniture and residential built-in units through his business, Purvis Woodwork. But this job went well beyond bookcases and cabinets.
Built for energy efficiency Many energy-efficiency features came built into the house at the factory. The Purvises chose the Deltec Homes option of a highperforming “Energy Wall” that includes an R-5 thermal shield of 1-inch rigid foam board on the outside of the wall panels to reduce thermal leakage. A pre-compressed foam gasket air block is used to seal the sheathing to the wall panel frame, significantly reducing air leakage. Headers are insulated with recycled insulation to fill the gap between the double 2 x 10 foot headers at the top of each wall panel. The framing uses
Top: In the kitchen, Kimberly Purvis used leftover tile for the backsplash. She installed the pieces by attaching magnets to each tile and placing them on a galvanized steel panel attached to the wall. The tiles are interchangeable, so she can change the look of the backsplash when she chooses. Above: The unique circular structure of the Purvis home is clearly visible by looking up while standing in the unfinished lower level of the house.
2 x 6 foot studs (instead of standard 2 x 4 foot studs) and spaces them 24 inches apart, instead of 16 inches, to maximize the space for insulation and reduce material use and heat loss associated with having more studs. greenabilitymagazine.com
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The zero-vent roof was insulated with spray foam to
For example, when it’s 32 degrees outside, the heat pulled
eliminate air loss. The AirTight-brand foam contains no urea
from the ground is already 55 degrees, which reduces the
formaldehyde, so there is no off-gassing. A reflective Oxford
amount of energy needed to raise it to the homeowner’s
Shingle metal roof made from 95-percent post-consumer
desired house temperature.
recycled aluminum is extremely durable and energy efficient.
In the summer, the process is reversed, with the system
A cool roof coating and aluminum substrate allow the roof
extracting heat from the house and moving it back into the
to reflect the sun’s radiant energy and significantly reduce
underground loop or diverting it to preheat the water in
cooling costs in the summer. Because the house is built so
the hot-water tank. In the Purvis house, there is a dedicated
tightly, a fresh air ventilation system was added. Three sun
geothermal hot-water heater that makes all of their hot
tunnels were installed to bring in additional natural light from
water.
the roof area.
Geothermal adds more energy savings The heating/cooling system and hot-water heating are powered by a geothermal ground-source system. By
To install the Purvis house system, Larsen & Associates, Inc., of Lawrence, KS, drilled four 180-foot deep wells within 60 feet of the house. Each “loop” supports one ton of HVAC system operation, enough for a four-ton system. Then Ground Source, Inc., of Holton, KS, installed the WaterFurnace geothermal heating, cooling and hot water system.
tapping into the ground’s relatively consistent 55-degree
“I use the back of the refrigerator as an example of how
temperature, a geothermal system is able to use the thermal
geothermal works,” said Paula Schumacher, director of
mass to heat and cool air. During the winter, a geothermal
operations for Larsen & Associates. “The loops on the back
heat pump uses an underground loop to draw heat from
are pulling heat out of the fridge just like a geothermal system
the ground. It can be used with a conventional duct system,
is pulling it out of the house on a hot day and throwing it into
radiant floor heat or hot-water heating.
the ground. Then the geothermal system picks up the cool
In the kitchen, the cabinets have a no-VOC finish, the Silestone quartz countertops are made from 35-percent recycled content and the backsplash is designed from leftover tile pieces.
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Greenability
underground air at about 55 degrees and puts it back into
large dogs. The bedroom floor is covered with a Leggitt &
the system.”
Platt carpet that has 100-percent recycled construction and is
For the Purvises, the geothermal system should reduce
100-percent recyclable.
their heating and cooling costs by up to 70 percent over a
The living room furnishings include furniture made by
high-efficiency HVAC system. An energy monitoring system
Dwight and by Kimberly’s great-grandfather, as well as finds
installed in their home shows the homeowners how much
from second-hand and consignment stores. A recent antique
energy they use.
headboard and footboard find will soon be repurposed
“The monitoring system won’t save them energy,” said
into a bench.
Tim Dugan, owner of Ground Source, Inc. “But it gives
For cabinetry in the laundry room, the couple repurposed
homeowners a chance to see how, by changing their
an old cabinet they bought at Habitat ReStore for $56. Dwight
habits, they can reduce their energy use by another 10
installed new doors and painted it. Then they stacked two
percent or more.”
old bookcases from their sons’ childhood rooms onto each
Homeowners are eligible for a one-time federal tax credit of 30 percent of the total geothermal system cost. The rebate
end of the cabinet. They painted it all to match, making a practical wall for laundry tasks and storage.
is effective through December 2016. Some utility companies
Outside, the deck is constructed with TimberTech decking,
also offer rebates. More energy rebate information is available
a product that is made from 51–percent post-consumer
through the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and
recycled plastic and post-industrial wood floor. The company
Efficiency at www.dsireusa.org.
reclaims 99 percent of the waste material created during the
Finished with green features
manufacturing process, saving 332 tons of material annually from the landfill. The deck rail was made of repurposed hog
The house is 52 feet in diameter, with the primary
wire from a tractor supply store. The homeowners chose it
2,070-square-foot living space on the main level. The living
because it was sturdy and inexpensive, has a long life, and
room, dining area and kitchen are all one open room, with a
didn’t obstruct their view.
separate master bedroom and bathroom, laundry room and
“We loved doing this and we love our home,” Kimberly
a half bath for guests. Future plans call for finishing the lower
said. “We hope that we can help others who want to do the
level as a guest area for the Purvis’s two adult sons when
same thing.”
they visit. Inside, the couple paid attention to details, using many green finishes and features. In the kitchen, the cabinets have a no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) finish, the Silestone quartz countertops are made from 35-percent recycled content and the backsplash tile is compiled of all the leftover tile pieces used in other parts of the house and on other projects. Kimberly wanted a unique and changeable look, so she adhered the tiles to a galvanized steel backsplash using magnets instead of adhesive and grout. The steel was left over from other parts of construction. “I love the look of using all of my scrap tile, and I can change it when I want,” Kimberly explained, holding up a few tiles that she planned to include. The living area’s floors are all made of bamboo, a fastgrowing plant that is renewable. The couple also chose it for its durability and easy maintenance in a household with two
Construction of this Deltec Homes kit took six days for the homeowners and their five helpers to build to the point that it was weather tight.
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Couple recreates small home for sustainability By Dani Hurst Brown
F
or Jan Schoonover, relocating from a loft in New York City’s West Village to a small, single-story bungalow in Mission, KS, was more than just another move; it was a move back home. After living in New York for more than 30 years,
Schoonover and her husband, Ashok Gupta, knew it was time for a change. She cites numerous reasons for wanting to move back to Kansas — a burgeoning local food scene, a more reasonable cost of living, and more availability of art studio space among them. But reconnecting with family and friends in the area topped the list. Schoonover has deep roots here that go back to family wheat farmers and homesteaders living off the land before Kansas was even a state. So settling in this spot with her husband just felt right.
Ashok Gupta and Jan Schoonover returned to her Midwest roots and are making their small Merriam, KS home a prototype for a sustainable renovation.
Homeowners Jan Schoonover and Ashok Gupta had the exterior of their Merriam, KS, home completely removed so that extensive insulation could be installed in the walls and roof before it was repaired, resided and reroofed. Photo: Jesse Crupper
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Greenability
The couple bought Schoonover’s childhood home seven years ago after her father died, but it wasn’t until 2012 that they actually moved in and set about making it their own. Gupta is director of programs and a senior energy economist at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Schoonover is an abstract painter and fabric artist with a studio in the Livestock Exchange Building in the West Bottoms and has shown artwork in galleries all over the country and as far away as Beijing, China. For Gupta, a native of India, the house is a personal manifestation of years of working in the environmental field. He wants to make it extremely energy efficient and be part of a bigger effort to encourage energy retrofits on a broader
Rim joists throughout the basement were insulated with foam to make the area airtight. Photo: Rick Robson
industrial scale for an even larger impact. “We’re here now and trying to be good members of the
were able to gauge which projects would give them the best
community,” says Gupta. “Remodeling our home with an
return on their investment. This helped them prioritize and
emphasis on energy efficiency was a good opportunity to
pare down to meet their budget.
practice what I preach.”
The seeds are planted At just 1,119 square feet, the size of their small abode works
Crupper says doing the research and crunching the numbers is a crucial step in any energy retrofit because traditional advice and conventional wisdom aren’t always spot-on.
in the couple’s favor when it comes to meeting their energy
For example, the audit provided the option of replacing all
efficiency goal. But getting to that goal was quite a process.
the windows in the house with newer, energy-efficient ones to
After they moved in, Schoonover and Gupta scheduled
increase the overall R-Value (a measure of thermal resistance,
a home energy audit with High Performance Homes, which
or how well a material insulates) of their walls. But when they
informed them of various energy leaks, offered suggestions
looked at the numbers, they decided against that idea. It was
for improvements and estimated their projected energy
an expensive option, and replacing all the windows wouldn’t
savings. With audit in hand, the couple sought out a team
have improved the R-Value of the walls enough to make
of architects who would listen to their ideas and help them
financial sense. Instead, they opted to fortify the existing
create and execute a plan with an emphasis on energy
windows and concentrate their efforts and resources on
efficiency. They chose DRAW Architecture + Urban Design
projects with greater returns.
in Kansas City.
“Golden rules really aren’t all that golden,” says Crupper.
Jesse Crupper, an architect who was part of the DRAW
“Ashok wanted to do the projects that were smart. He didn’t
team working on the house, says Schoonover and Gupta set
want to go beyond what was necessary, so his house could be
out with two clear goals in mind: expanding the dining room
a showcase for what an average person could do.”
space and making the house exceptionally energy-efficient. Using the energy audit as a guide, the team began by
The remodeling begins
laying out a “dream scenario” for the couple that included
The energy audit indicated that air leakage was a significant
making all the changes the audit suggested and getting
issue, with an estimated 69 percent of the home’s air lost to
contractor bids for each project. With those estimates, they
the outside every hour. Because of this, supplementing the greenabilitymagazine.com
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As part of the renovation process, all of the siding was stripped from the home so new insulation could be installed, bringing the walls to R-30. Photo: Jesse Crupper
insulation inside and out was a top priority for contractor Rick
of the wall improvements were complete, the walls measured
Robson of Robson Custom Homes.
R-30, which is 900 percent better than where they started.
“They came to the table with a super-high level of interest,
To complete the exterior remodel, Robson installed
energy and dedication to sustainability and energy efficiency,”
HardiePlank lap siding, a fiber cement siding. Robson says
Robson says. “They were committed to completing the
that although the cement in the HardiePlank lap siding
important long-term projects. And that’s what sustainability
increases its carbon footprint slightly, its projected longevity
is all about: not just talking about doing, but actually doing.”
offset this concern for the homeowners.
To insulate the exterior walls, Robson and the team first removed all the existing metal siding and sent it to Advantage
Replace the roof and add solar
Metal in Kansas City, KS, to be recycled. They then drilled
To further increase their home’s energy efficiency,
into the existing walls and filled them with blown-in cellulose
Schoonover and Gupta opted to replace their existing roof
insulation to raise their overall R-Value.
with Energy Star-rated cool roof shingles. These shingles are
Next, they installed a weather-resistive barrier called Solitex
highly reflective, meaning less heat gets transferred from
Mento to seal the walls. This material provides an effective air
the roof into the rest of the home, which can help regulate
barrier while allowing any water vapor build-up in the walls
temperature extremes in the attic and reduce the home’s
to breathe out rather than accumulate. They then installed
overall energy needs.
1.5” of R-Max foam board insulation on the entire exterior
Robson says this type of shingle is commonly used in
wall surface, which provides a thermal break and adds an
warmer climates, but that it makes a good addition to any
additional R-12 to the overall R-Value of the walls. When all
energy remodel if it’s financially feasible for the homeowners.
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Greenability
To take advantage of the roof’s sun exposure and offset
was installing ReWall NakedBoard, a product available at
some of the house’s energy needs, Schoonover and Gupta
Elements of Green in the Crossroads. The wall panels are
decided to have KCP&L Solar install a 3 kilowatt (kW) roof
made of compressed recycled polyethylene-coated cups
mount solar panel system. KCP&L Solar, a non-regulated
and cartons with shreds of recycled materials left exposed.
part of the utility, is now installing residential and commercial
Schoonover liked this one-of-a-kind design so much she
solar. The system will be tied to the KCP&L electric grid. When
decided to showcase it rather than paint over it.
the system produces more than it needs, the extra power is fed back to the grid for a credit to the homeowners. When it does not produce enough electricity to meet their needs, the system pulls electricity from the grid. Overall, the solar panels are expected to provide about a third of the home’s energy needs. Although the house qualifies for a 30 percent federal solar tax credit, it did not quality for a KCP&L solar rebate because it is located in Kansas. According to KCP&L, rebates are available in Missouri through 2020 or until the rebate limits are met, whichever comes first. For rebate information, visit www.kcpl.com/solar.
Improvements above and below The attic, basement and crawl space were identified as
New interior energy-efficiency fixtures While raising the overall R-Value of the home was a major part of this remodel, it was not the only focal point. In order to maximize these improvements, the couple needed to update their heating and cooling system and the water heater. Schoonover and Gupta replaced their old water heater with a new Energy Star-rated GE GeoSpring heat-pump water heater, which is estimated to use up to 62 percent less energy than a standard electric 50-gallon water heater. It can also be remotely monitored and controlled to further reduce energy usage. The existing furnace was operating at about 70 percent efficiency. The couple replaced it with a new Carrier dual-fuel heat-pump furnace with a modulating valve that operates
areas contributing to the home’s overall air leakage problem, so each needed individual attention. The attic was an obvious fix. The energy audit revealed that the attic had an insulation value of about R-13. Building codes require at least R-30, and Energy Star-rated homes have a minimum requirement of R-49. After the existing insulation was augmented with blown-in cellulose insulation made from recycled magazines and newspapers, the attic achieved a rating of R-50. Because stone walls are not great insulators, the basement and crawl space needed updating, as well. The rim joists above the wall were insulated with 12 inches of spray foam. Schoonover requested that one of the stone foundation walls in the basement remain untouched in order to preserve some of the home’s original, unique characteristics. The other three walls received a polyethylene vapor barrier and a 2-inch blue-board insulation behind a stud wall that was filled with unfaced R-13 batt-fiberglass insulation. The finishing touch
A small 75-foot-square addition was added to the back of the house to enlarge the dining area. Once completed, solar panels were added to the new roof. Photo: Dave Robson
greenabilitymagazine.com
26
at 98-percent efficiency. The unit is electric, but also has a
new flooring from Elmwood Reclaimed Timber in Peculiar,
natural-gas backup for when it’s too cold outside for the
MO. They opted for end block tiles, in which the wood is
system to utilize heat from the outside air.
cut perpendicular to the growth rings, which adds an even
Car charging station Gupta and Schoonover did not own a car the entire time they
greater measure of durability.
Gardening on wheels
lived in New York, and gave the issue careful consideration
Schoonover recalls that her dad was an avid gardener, and
before deciding to purchase a plug-in electric Prius when
says she hopes to make use of the garden space around the
they moved here. The couple had a 110-volt charging station
home. She’s started with a “vegetable garden on wheels,”
for the car before the remodel, but decided to invest in a
a handmade wooden cart that she can move around with
220-volt station so they could charge the car more quickly.
the existing sun. Last season she grew herbs, broccoli and
The kitchen/dining addition Schoonover and Gupta both enjoy cooking, but their
onions. She also maintains a garden of native plants on the west side of the house, which includes purple coneflower, prairie goldenrod and hairy sunflowers.
kitchen and dining space was very small. They decided to
“Back in New York, I had space in a community garden
expand the dining room slightly to accommodate their dream
in the West Village where I gardened about once a week,”
of cooking and entertaining.
Schoonover says. “But here, I can garden in my own yard
The scale of the project helped keep its carbon footprint low. At just over 75 square feet, the new addition would help them maximize their existing space without detracting from
every day.”
More to come
their goal of extreme energy efficiency. Plus, it was small
The Schoonover/Gupta home remodeling project is just
enough that the couple could outfit it with some of the best
the beginning of the couple’s plans for making Kansas City
and most sustainable products without breaking the bank.
their home and helping others see the beauty and benefits of
While it did not make financial sense for them to replace all the windows in the house, they opted for new energyefficient Alpen windows in the addition. For sustainability’s sake, Gupta and Schoonover chose to source antique reclaimed heart-pine wood for the addition’s
Before the renovation, an energy audit was completed on this 1,119-square-foot house to determine the most cost-effective energy retrofits. Photo: Rick Robson
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Greenability
a sustainable home. “There are a lot of people doing great things in this community,” says Gupta. “And I think there is still a lot of good work to be done here.”
Get a rebate for energy-efficiency efforts By Dani Hurst Brown Utility companies in and around Kansas City are offering an array of energy - efficiency rebates and incentives to help make improvements easier and more cost-effective for their customers. Available incentives encompass a variety of energy-efficiency technologies, and can benefit both residential and business owners. Examples include rebates for purchasing energy-efficient appliances, for installing new ground-source heat pumps, and for setting up net-metered photovoltaic solar panel systems on their properties. In some instances, utility customers may qualify for basic maintenance services on qualifying existing equipment, even if they do not purchase a new system. Rebates and incentives vary by location. For specific and current information on available rebates and
Metropolitan ENERGY CENTER
incentives, check your local utility company’s website. There might be a rebate available for a project you are already considering. Area utilities include: • Atmos Energy www.atmosenergy.com • Independence Power & Light www.ci.independence.mo.us • Kansas City Board of Public Utilities www.bpu.com • Kansas City Power & Light www.kcpl.com • Kansas Gas Energy www.kansasgasservice.com • Missouri Gas Energy www.missourigasenergy.com/MGE
The Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC) is working with a few local utility companies to offer the Home Performance with Energy Star program, in which customers can receive up to $1,200 in rebates when they hire a certified contractor to conduct a home energy audit and then implement qualifying improvements. For more information, visit www.hpwes.net. Residents who want to see how energy-efficiency measures can be implemented in their home can tour Project Living Proof, a 100-year-old house renovated by MEC to showcase energy efficiency and sustainable technologies. Visit www.kcenergy.org/ projectlivingproof for more information.
• Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative www.pcec.coop
Going Places
30 years and counting of efficiency & sustainability Metropolian Energy Center, your home energy and alternative fuel experts, are on the move. A new executive director, two new pilot programs, and a renewed emphasis on alternative fuel vehicles, building science education and contractor training has the road ahead looking brighter than ever. To learn more, call or email MEC today!
MetroEnergy.org 3810 Paseo Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64109 816-531-7283 office@kcenergy.org
greenabilitymagazine.com
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The 114-year-old house in the Volker neighborhood of Kansas City was gutted, restored and outfitted with energy-efficiency features and solar energy.
Investor pushes historic house into renewable energy future
By Julie Koppen Photography by Brynn Burns
T
he decision to make a house super energyefficient and install renewable energy is most often made by passionate homeowners looking for energy savings and a lower environmental footprint.
But one historic home in Westport was bought by
SunSource Homes with the implicit intention of “flipping” it for profit, while proving that energy upgrades could make economic and business sense. “We wanted to show that a remodeler or investor could buy an old house, make it energy-efficient and still make it a viable business option,” said Keith Graepler, a SunSource Homes owner.
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Greenability
So when a house in foreclosure came on the market in
will allow them to store household items that do not fare well
the Volker neighborhood of Westport, Keith Graepler and
in extreme heat or cold, or at some point to finish it into a loft
Aaron Carson, SunSource Homes partners, jumped at the
bedroom or office.
opportunity. The house was unlivable, but it had potential
Over the past 50 years, many of the historic windows had
and was priced right. The two put together a renovation plan
been removed and replaced, but those windows were failing.
that included extras that most houses don’t have: a solar array
The crew replaced nearly all of the windows with Energy Star-
and energy-efficiency upgrades that will reduce the house’s
rated efficient windows. They managed to save the original
energy bills to near net zero.
leaded-glass windows near the entrance by repairing and
“We know there were many other green finishes we could have used inside and out,” said Graepler. “But we invested a large portion of our budget on energy efficiency instead.”
Start with a wreck
caulking them to make them airtight. In the kitchen, all the appliances are Energy Star-rated energy-efficient. Water-saving features were added to the bathrooms and kitchen, including a low-flow showerhead, an energy-efficient water heater and water-efficient toilets.
The two-story, four bedroom, 114-year-old house was suffering from many years of neglect and poor repair work. There was interior water damage and structural roof damage caused by a leaking roof, a non-functioning heating and cooling system, collapsed sewer pipes, a broken hot water heater, a structurally unstable kitchen floor and a leaking second-floor bathtub that had rotted the floor joists above the kitchen. “It was a wreck,” said Graepler. “On top of everything else, someone had broken in while it was empty and stolen all of the copper water pipes, so there was no running water. If someone had been able to turn on the water and fill the bathtub, it probably would have fallen through the rotten floor joists and ended up in the kitchen.” The SunSource Homes crew began by stripping the house to its bones. They removed all the old paneling, plaster walls and ceilings and took out the old wiring and remaining plumbing. They got engineering advice on fixing the sagging roof structure and reroofed all but one section that had recently been replaced.
Make it airtight and energy-efficient After installing all new plumbing and the wiring for electrical, Internet and security systems, the construction crew used spray foam to insulate all of the exterior walls, the interior roof deck and basement rim joists. These are the areas where most houses leak the majority of their conditioned air. It’s estimated the foam insulation will reduce the house’s energy costs by at least 50 percent. Because SunSource insulated the roof deck, instead of the attic floor, the new homeowners will have access to an additional 800 square feet of conditioned storage space. This
Before and after photos show some of the extensive renovation work done on the house. Most of the interior finishes are new, except for the leaded-glass windows and restored original oak flooring. greenabilitymagazine.com
30
Install renewable energy SunSource Homes replaced a broken gas furnace with a York high-efficiency air-source heat pump. The crew then installed a 6.37 kilowatt (kW), 26-panel solar system on the south-facing roof for optimal solar energy production. The
New energy calculator to help homeowners estimate savings
Kansas City Power & Light electric grid. The homeowners will
W
receive a credit on their bills in those months. At other times,
in energy-efficiency improvements.
goal was to get as close as possible to net-zero energy. This means that in some months, the solar system will produce more electricity than the house needs and feed it back to the
the house may draw some electricity, and the owners will be billed. But depending on how the new homeowners use the house, over the course of a year, the energy costs could be near net-zero. “Our overall goal was to reduce the house’s energy needs by up to 90 percent, and still get a return on our investment,” said Graepler. “If the new owners are careful with their energy usage, they could have no energy bills in some months.” The midtown house had been an eyesore for years and
ith the launch of a free “Beyond the Bulb” energy calculator, Kansas City homeowners can easily learn how
much they could save on energy bills by investing Start at www.beyondthebulb.org, answer a few questions about your house and see what could be saved on energy bills with a variety of energy improvements. The website provides regional information about energy savings, conservation and efficiency investments, focusing on the types of conservation and energy-efficiency improvements
could have been torn down, leaving a vacant lot in a historic
that homeowners and small businesses typically
neighborhood. Instead, SunSource Homes helped the area
need, including lighting, air and duct sealing,
retain one more original house and was able to restore at
insulation, ventilation, furnace efficiency, HVAC
least a few of its historic features, like leaded-glass windows
and water conservation.
and original hardwood floors. The end of this green rehab story is a positive one for the
The calculator’s findings are estimates of potential savings. The next step is to schedule
neighborhood, the investors and a new owner. The house
an energy assessment with an approved, trained
went on the market last October and sold within 10 days,
energy analyst. A list of analysts and financing
proving that a restored historic house that is energy efficient
options for recommended improvements is
and solar powered is a desirable home.
available at www.beyondthebulb.org. Beyond The Bulb was developed by the MidAmerica Regional Council (MARC) through a partnership with EnergyWorks KC (EWKC), a program of the city of Kansas City, MO. Other partners include Metropolitan Energy Center, Bridging The Gap, Kansas City Power & Light Co. and Missouri Gas Energy. The EnergyWorks KC initiative is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings Neighborhood Program. For more information, visit the Beyond The Bulb website at www.beyondthebulb.org, or contact Roger Kroh, MARC energy conservation project manager, at rkroh@marc.org or 816-701-8280.
The kitchen features new Energy Star-rated appliances for energy efficiency.
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Greenability
HEAL-KC makes energy audits an employee benefit By Dani Hurst Brown (From left) Jenifer Degen, contract manager for the city of Kansas City, MO; Steve McDowell, BNIM principal and CEO; and Oz Qureshi, HEAL-KC program director, Metropolitan Energy Center, are working together on the HEAL-KC pilot program. Photo: William Birdsong
F
or homeowners who have considered making energy-efficiency updates to their homes but are concerned about the cost, help is on the way. Through the joint efforts of the Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC), the city of Kansas City, MO and participating local employers, HEAL-KC aims to help residents interested in energy efficiency tackle the financial barriers. HEAL (Home Energy Affordability Loan) is a benefit program companies can offer their employees to help alleviate the economic obstacles that may prevent them from doing energy retrofits on their homes. Through the program, employees of participating companies can receive a free energy audit (a $500 value) as well as access to low-interest loans for the updates the audit recommends. The free energy audits carry no obligation, so employees can decide when and if they want to complete any retrofits recommended in the audit. After the audit is complete, employees receive a Personal Energy Plan that will pinpoint existing energy leaks in their home and recommend possible efficiency updates. The plan also will outline the estimated cost of the project(s) as well as available financing options. One option is for employers to deduct the cost of the loan from the employee’s payroll check. “It isn’t hard to sell people on the idea of energy efficiency,” says Oz Qureshi, program director of HEAL-KC. “The question is, where do people get the money to make the changes?”
The Clinton Climate Initiative created this employee-based benefit program four years ago, and sought to replicate it in other states after the success of the original pilot in Arkansas. Kansas City, MO was one of the cities chosen for a pilot program. The EnergyWorks KC program is funding the initial $118,000 for implementation and the city has appropriated $229,000 to the loan fund for employees who live in the metro area, but not in Kansas City, MO. The goal is to provide 100 employees with an energy audit and convert 50 percent of those into energy retrofits. BNIM, a local architectural firm, is the first company to participate in the program, and Qureshi said it received immediate interest among BNIM employees. If the pilot is deemed successful after its scheduled completion at the end of March 2014, MEC will begin offering the HEAL-KC program to other regional employers. Qureshi says the positive impact of HEAL-KC goes beyond those who actually complete retrofits, and includes reaching those who were previously unconcerned with the topic of energy efficiency. “Introducing energy efficiency into the workplace makes it water-cooler conversation,” Qureshi says. “This idea still exists on the fringe, and we are trying to mainstream it and make it the norm. Just by getting more people talking about energy efficiency, we are adding it to the collective conversation.” For more information about participating in the program, employers can contact Qureshi at MEC, 816-531-7283, or learn more at www.kcenergy.org. greenabilitymagazine.com
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5 books on green home restoration by Douglas Peel
Green Restorations
By Aaron Lubeck
For those who own older homes, Aaron Lubeck offers his expertise as a restoration contractor and preservation consultant for a more sustainable renovation. In Green Restorations, Lubeck discusses restoration for specific rooms and equipment, including bathrooms, kitchens, living areas, attics, exteriors, windows, plumbing and HVAC. For example, the chapter on plumbing contains information on water recycling, including the capture and use of gray water and how to use a cistern.
Simply Imperfect
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence
Some people wish to live simpler lives. Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of appreciating the simple, everyday things in life which also may be imperfect or primitive. In Simply Imperfect, a fully revised and updated edition of The WabiSabi House, Robyn Griggs Lawrence presents ways to incorporate the minimalist art of wabi-sabi, including reducing clutter and noise, making and growing things yourself, using recycled and used materials, creating sacred space and making time for meditation and self-reflection. For example, Lawrence writes that a person can use salvaged materials creatively, such as turning a lidless teapot from a flea market into a flowerpot or draping shawls or scarves over stains on a sofa instead of replacing it.
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Green Restorations also covers financial topics, including using historic rebates and incentives to pay for green building and historic rehabilitation tax credit programs by state. Lubeck includes photographs, diagrams and charts in his examples. Lubeck is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and is president of Trinity Design/Build, which focuses on retrofitting old houses using green building methods.
“Salvage brings soul — and stories,” Lawrence writes. In her book, she tells the story of a couple from Idaho who built their 836-square-foot home from materials almost completely salvaged from nearby landfills and demolition sites. She also shares personal stories that illustrate the wabi-sabi way of life, such as her visit to a cottage in British Columbia that she calls Quietude where there is an abundance of homegrown food and quiet. Lawrence speaks and writes about many sustainable topics, including eco-conscious building and organic gardening. She is editor-at-large for the magazines Mother Earth News and Mother Earth Living.
Energy-Wise Landscape Design
By Sue Reed
Sometimes saving energy can be as easy and practical as planting the right tree or shrub on the correct side of your house. In Energy-Wise Landscape Design, author Sue Reed offers practical resources for homeowners who want to improve the beauty of their property and save on utility bills. Her book is divided into seven sections, with the primary focus on designing and maintaining landscapes to heat and cool your home more efficiently. For example, she suggests using a large, south-facing tree to help shade your house in the summer. But the same tree can block winter sun
Housing Reclaimed
By Jessica Kellner
Many potentially reusable building materials are wasted in the construction and renovation of homes. In Housing Reclaimed, Jessica Kellner cites the waste generated from building materials. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 135 tons of construction debris reach the landfill annually. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates 250,000 homes are torn down each year, with much of the materials destroyed. Kellner shares stories about individuals and organizations
Solar Water Heating
that could help warm your house. A simple fix is to thin higher branches and remove some lower branches to allow more winter sun to reach your house. Reed provides an overview of ways to incorporate renewable energy sources for home designs, including solar, geothermal, hydro-electric and wind. In the book’s appendix, she lists many common types of trees and shrubs with general growing conditions, height and appearance. Reed is a registered landscape architect with 25 years of design experience.
that have built homes with their environment and communities in mind, instead of designing homes entirely for the real estate market. One Alabama family built their house from nearly all salvaged materials, with no debt. Housing Reclaimed includes information on housing deconstruction, in which materials are recycled and reused. Jessica Kellner is editor of Mother Earth Living magazine, and she speaks and writes about sustainable building.
By Bob Ramlow and Benjamin Nusz
Capturing sunlight to heat residential water is one way to tap solar energy. In this revised and expanded edition of Solar Water Heating, authors Bob Ramlow and Benjamin Nusz provide information on the history of renewable solar energy, solar water-heating economics, types of solar collectors, solar and space heating systems, system installation and system operation and maintenance. Solar Water Heating contains cost comparison charts that compare electric, natural gas, and solar water heaters. Ramlow and Nusz include
diagrams and photographs to illustrate different systems and their installation. This volume is designed to be a comprehensive guide for readers interested in upgrading their homes with solar water and space heating. Ramlow is a founding member of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and a certified solar thermal master trainer and installer. Nusz is also a certified solar thermal master installer and trains solar professionals at Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin.
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Green business incubator opens in renovated space By Douglas Peel
The Blue Hills Business Center building at 5008 Prospect Avenue was renovated with many sustainable features.
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once-vacant building on Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, MO has been transformed into a green business incubator that is jump-starting businesses in the neighborhood and integrating green business practices. The Blue Hills Business Center at 5008 Prospect Avenue opened in June 2013 with funding from local and federal government agencies. The 14,618-square-foot building houses the Blue Hills Community Services office, the Blue Hills Contractor Incubator and event space for public and neighborhood groups.
The $3.1 million renovation provides space for green career development, training and business development for small business contractors. It will serve as a focal point for community programs and services for the neighborhood. Within the center, the Blue Hills Contractor Incubator supports 10 small construction companies with business development training to help increase employment opportunities in a distressed community. The facility also has a classroom setting, a 70-seat theater, up-to-date kitchen facilities and audio-visual equipment for events, training and meetings. In addition, the Blue Hills Business Center included these sustainable features in its renovation: ■ Occupancy control lighting and daylight harvesting ■ Energy-efficient HVAC and fresh air circulators ■ Usage of low-VOC (volatile organic compound) products, including flooring, adhesives, sealants, paints and coatings ■ Two electric-vehicle charging stations and eight bicycle racks ■ Water use reduction by using drought-resistant, native plants for landscaping, and plumbing fixtures that use 41 percent less water ■ Increased thermal barrier for better energy efficiency ■ 80 percent landfill waste diversion ■ Solar panels that provide 10 kW of solar harvesting and that are separately metered to supply the power grid ■ 50 raised garden beds and 150 fruit trees for community gardening, with produce given to area residents and food pantries.
Sustainable Home Comfort Products from Your Backyard cfm Distributors is the Midwest’s employee-owned provider of sustainable heating, cooling, and refrigeration solutions for home, office and industry. We feature York and Coleman products made right here in the Midwest.
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Independence is first U.S. city to switch on LED lights
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ndependence, MO is the first city in the country with a population of more than 100,000 to make a 100-percent switch from high-pressure sodium lights to LED fixtures. LED lighting provides a natural white light, improving visibility while using only half the energy of other fixtures. In August 2010, the city began a pilot project to evaluate the feasibility of replacing traditional street lighting fixtures with LED lights. Independence Power & Light (IPL) installed LED fixtures on a small number of city streets to test their effectiveness. As part of the process, residents and area businesses were given an opportunity to share their observations, and they noted that the lights provide a uniform, quality white light. IPL estimated that completely changing to the new LED lighting could save the city more than 5 million kilowatt (kW) hours, for an annual savings of $350,000. The new lights require less maintenance, which the city estimates will save $150,000 a year in maintenance costs alone. In addition to the long-term financial benefits, the LED lighting program will remove more than 31,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, according to the manufacturer. “With these new LED street lights, we can improve visibility, making our residents feel safer, and encourage more social activity,” said Independence Mayor Don Reimal. “Not only are these lights more cost-effective, using 50 percent less energy – they are more sustainable, giving us the satisfaction that we have made a positive impact on our city and left another positive legacy.” The project was slated for completion in December 2013.
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Commentary
Environment & Economy
Wind energy brings economic benefits to Kansas By Scott White
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he state of Kansas has long prospered from the export of its abundant natural resources and agricultural products. More recently, thanks to forward-looking policies and plunging technology costs, the state’s robust wind resource is being converted to electricity and exported to cities and states near and far. Since the first 100-megawatt (MW) wind farm was built in Gray County in 2001, Kansas has increased its wind capacity to 2,840 MW, with many times that
scarce water resources. In the future, this will be of even greater importance. Wind farms pump millions of dollars into rural communities. In 2012, 104 MW of a 400-MW wind farm were erected in Kingman County, and the county alone saw $1 million in revenue from sales taxes, donation agreements and mortgage registration taxes. Revenue to local businesses was much more than that. Similarly, Elk County will receive more than $900,000 a year from a donation agreement with the 200-MW Caney River wind
Wind farms pump millions of dollars into rural communities. under development. And like wheat and beef, the state exports a large share of this energy – currently more than 40 percent – to states as far away as Alabama and Tennessee. Wind energy is a great fit for our sparsely populated areas, complementing normal uses of open land by allowing farming or grazing around the turbine and only taking 1 to 2 percent of the land out of production. Currently, lease payments for the average Kansas turbine guarantee around $8,500 annually to landowners, whose livelihood is often at the mercy of weather and other uncontrollable conditions. In Western Kansas, this is an income source that doesn’t compete for
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farm – and that’s just the amount to be shared by the community. Wind energy has also brought jobs to the state: hundreds of permanent, good-paying jobs, thousands of short-term construction jobs and hundreds more manufacturing jobs. Except for the manufacturing jobs, these are in rural areas of the state, where they make a significant impact. However, recent proposed legislation to repeal the very policies that have enabled wind power in Kansas, like the Renewable Energy Standard (RES), are sending contrary signals to the wind industry and could stifle future development. Socalled “free market groups” have targeted these policies across the country on the premise that
wind energy costs more than traditional sources of electricity and will lead to higher utility costs, and thus thousands of lost jobs. While a flawed report that was widely circulated by sympathetic legislators argued that the RES would raise Kansas electric rates by 1.5¢ to 8.2¢/kilowatt hour (kWh), a Kansas Corporation Commission report last March concluded that wind power, which comprises about 12 percent of the regulated utilities’ power, has been responsible for raising rates by 0.016¢/kWh – a ninth of the low-end projection of the anti-wind forces. Meanwhile, an Oklahoma utility increased its wind order from 200 MW to 600 MW based on price alone. Whenever I see wind farms, I appreciate both their graceful beauty and the multiple benefits this technology brings to the state. I hope we see many more in years to come. Scott White is a consultant and researcher, and the founder of the Kansas Energy Information Network. In 2012, he co-authored the report The Economic Benefits of Kansas Wind Power.
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Learn It. Live It. Save It. For information, call Dan Eberle at 913-469-8500, ext. 3388, or visit www.jccc.edu/solar-technology.
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GREENABILITYDIRECTORY BUILDERS/REMODELERS SunSource Homes Inc. 7832 Rosewood Lane Prairie Village, KS 816-783-3863
www.SunSourceHomes.net SunSource Homes offers net-zero design/build construction services, solar PV system design/installation, net-zero energy design, architectural services and sustainable remodeling.
Green Light Window Films 505 NW Blue Parkway Lee’s Summit, MO 816-246-5335
www.greenlightwf.com Turn dual-pane windows into triple-pane efficiency at 20 percent the price of replacement windows for tremendous return on investment.
The Hayes Company Kansas City, MO 816-444-6352
EDUCATION Johnson County Community College Center for Sustainability 12345 College Blvd. Overland Park, KS 913-469-8500
www.jccc.edu/sustainability Want a new “green” career? Explore JCCC’s sustainability programs and train for a career in the growing “green” industry.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY cfm Distributors, Inc. 1104 Union Ave. Kansas City, MO 816-842-5400
www.cfmdistributors.com Cfm Distributors is the Midwest’s employee-owned provider of sustainable heating, cooling, and refrigeration solutions for home, office and industry.
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Greenability
www.thehayesco.com The Hayes Company offers Home Performance services for energy efficiency through energy audits, insulating, duct sealing, weatherization and HVAC balancing.
Heartland Utilities for Energy Efficiency (HUEE) 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 Blvd. 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
UMB Financial Corporation
www.missourigasenergy.com
1010 Grand Blvd. Kansas City, MO 816-860-7000
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 Shawnee, KS 913-708-8004
www.umb.com UMB offers complete banking, asset management, health spending solutions and related financial services to personal, commercial and institutional customers nationwide.
GREEN JOBS
www.smallstepenergy.com Small Step Energy Solutions specializes in home energy auditing and green energy building consultations for both new and existing homes.
ENTERTAINMENT Kansas City Zoo
Greenability Job Network www.greenabilityjobs.com
The Greenability Job Network offers a free, online search service for job seekers, and a targeted, affordable place for companies to post jobs.
GREETING CARDS
6800 Zoo Dr. Kansas City, MO 816-513-5800
Posty Cards, Inc.
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FINANCIAL SERVICES
1600 Olive St. Kansas City, MO 816-231-2323
www.postycards.com Featuring Sustainable Sentiments® locally grown, green greeting cards. Build client and employee relationships with environmentally inspired cards for birthdays, holidays and other occasions.
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HOME IMPROVEMENT
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1919 Wyandotte Kansas City, MO 816-842-0500
www.elements-of-green.com Kansas City’s source for sustainable building, remodeling and finishing solutions like cabinets, countertops, flooring, tile, paint, solar and cleaning supplies.
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www.restorekc.org 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.
LAWN & GARDEN Missouri Organic
Missouri Organic offers a convenient and affordable facility for customers to drop off green waste and purchase quality compost, topsoil and mulch.
LITTER REMOVAL Adopt-A-Highway Litter Removal Service of America 800-540-8694
sarah@adoptahighway.net www.adoptahighway.net
620-632-4470
www.csa.schenkerfarms.com Get veggies, meats, eggs and more raised with organic methods and delivered right to your workplace. Easy enrollment at www.csa.schenkerfarms.com.
Good Natured Family Farms www.goodnaturedfamilyfarms.com 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.
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LOCAL & ORGANIC FOOD
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Greenability
SunSource Homes Inc.
RECYCLING
7832 Rosewood Lane Prairie Village, KS 816-783-3863
The Surplus Exchange 518 Santa Fe Kansas City, MO 816-472-0444
www.SunSourceHomes.net
www.surplusexchange.org The Surplus Exchange responsibly recycles electronics locally and offers pickup from metro commercial locations. Visit the Tech Shop and furniture showroom.
SunSource Homes offers net-zero design/build construction services, solar PV system design/installation, net-zero energy design, architectural services and sustainable remodeling.
REUSABLE MOVING SUPPLIES Green Box to Go
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KC’s green, reusable alternative to cardboard boxes for residential/commercial moves. All delivered and picked up from your home or office.
www.brightergy.com Brightergy is the region’s most experienced solar design, installation, financing and leasing firm, with hundreds of commercial and residential installations across the Midwest.
Do you want your green business or service to be seen by environmentally conscious readers? List it in the GREENABILITY DIRECTORY. For information, contact Julie Koppen 816-931-3646 or julie@greenabilitymagazine.com
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