A Guide To Green Living In The South Sound SPECIAL PUBLICATION SUMMER 2009
Eco-Friendly
Landscapes Practical tips to green gardening
Evergreen College
Nurturing Sustainable Lifestyles in the South Sound
Eco-Friendly Buildings From Start to Finish
The Use of Solar Power in the South Sound
Recycling
A few steps toward a greener environment
Prison Gardening
Reducing the cost and environmental impact of prison operations
SUMMER 2008 • South Sound Woman • www.SouthSoundWoman.com
rgreen Colleg
e Nurturing Sustai nable Lifestyles in the South Soun d
May 2009
1Eco1-Friendly Buildings
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Volume 1
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Number 1
27 Prison Gardening
to Finish From StSaterpthens By Maddy
Reducing the cost and environmental impact of prison operations By Carrie Rethlefsen
18 The
Use of Solar Power in the South Sound
Table of Contents
6 Eve
Going Green 4 5
Letter From the Editor Green Living Definitions
Definitions of terms used throughout this issue
Education & Community 8
21
9
Recycling
A few steps environmentoward a greener t By Corinna Radtke and Galen H ammel
Kids Can Make A Difference
Peak and REI Outreach Unite
Little Hands, Big Ideas
Project Ideas and Puzzles for the kids
Green Building 14 Woodward Community By CJ Russo
A community comes together to live green
16 Alternative Energy By Elizabeth Diane
How to start using solar energy in your home
Green in Action
2Eco4-Friendly Landscapes g
enin to green gard Practical tips za By Mary Jo Bu
19 Transportation
All aboard the green bus
23 Green Cleaning Tips By Elizabeth Diane
Household products become cleaning products
26 Worm Composting
Natural composting becomes tea
29 CSA’s By Grier Jewel
Buy Local Produce Green Living 2009 l Page 3
From the
Editor W
e are lucky in the South Sound to have amazing resources, especially for those who are interested in living a more sustainable life. When I started this project, I knew there was the interest and the need for Publisher/Editor information, but I Michele McGehee had no idea what was available. As I started thinking about stories and asking for ideas from the experts, I was amazed at the resources we have locally. From solar energy to composting, businesses and people are jumping on the concept of sustainable living. And it is exciting! So what is sustainable living? It is the simple concept of living a life that can help sustain the local community. My goal for this publication was to help inform you, our readers, about the possibilities without overwhelming you. Sometimes it takes baby steps to get where we need to be and with all the information out there, it is hard to decipher what the right path is to better living. It could be as simple as planting a garden or as complicated as building a ‘green home’ with all the bells and whistle. It doesn’t matter the magnitude of the project or endeavor. What matters is that we as a community start looking around to see what we can do to help sustain our community and create a healthy environment. We will continue to support this publication via our website. We would like to hear from you and all the things that you are doing toward sustainable living. Visit www.sustainablesouthsound.com to learn more and share you stories.
MAG A Z I N E S TA F F Publisher/Editor
Michele McGehee VP Operations
Justin Weil
Sales Director
Kenneth Russell Account Executives
Sherry Milczewski Patrick Parish Mallory Schultz Design/Layout
Katy Jacobs Elliot Bower Marketing Assistant
Carrie Rethlefsen
Contributing W riters Mary Jo Buza Elizabeth Diane Galen Hammel Grier Jewel Corinna Radtke Carrie Rethlefsen Maddy Stephens
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Green Living in the South Sound is a annual publication that is free and available at locations throughout the south sound. To receive your copy, visit our web site at www.sustainablesouthsound.com or call our office.
W E WA N T TO H E A R F R O M YO U
If there is a story you would like us to share or know of an organization or person that is making a difference in our community, email us at info@catalystmediagroupinc.com. © 2009 by Catalyst Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. All photography, articles and advertising, or any part thereof compiled by Catalyst Media Group, Inc. Company, are exclusive property of Catalyst Media Group, Inc. and protected by copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Catalyst Media Group, Inc. Catalyst Media Group, Inc. is an environmentally responsible company.
www.sustainablesouthsound.com
PO Box 4207 • Spanaway, WA 98487 Phone: 360.350.1237 • Fax: 253.292.3667 www.catalystmediagroupinc.com
Page 4 l Green Living 2009
A glossary of terms to help you understand the language of sustainable living. Biodegradable Products that can decompose into harmless raw materials in the natural environments are biodegradable. Most foods, paper products and natural materials are biodegradable.
Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) ICFs are rigid foam forms that hold concrete in place and serve as thermal insulation. They are lightweight and help a home to become more energy efficient and create durable construction.
Built Green The program provides consumers with four easy-to-understand rating systems, which quantify environmentally friendly building practices for remodeling and new home construction in Washington State.
LEED Rating System LEED certification is a self-assessment system that was developed by the US Green Building Council. It provides a standard for environmentally sustainable construction, which looks at the efficiency of the building and encourages healthy work and living environments. LEED certification is based on a 100 point scale and ratings are given out from Basic Certification to Platinum Ratings. For more information, go to www.usgbc. org/leed.
Carbon Footprint Estimates how much carbon dioxide a person or home uses and releases into the atmosphere. You can figure out your own carbon footprint at: http://www. carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx Carbon Neutral Being “carbon neutral” means removing as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as we put in. Compostable Composting is when you take biodegradable materials and place them together to create a nutrient-rich product. Many people begin home composting piles for their biodegradable materials, especially food products. Daylighting When you strategically place windows and reflective surfaces in places that during the day natural light will fill your spaces. It aims to reduce your energy costs while helping with global warming. Energy efficient products or facilities They use less energy and are often rated by energy star.
Beaches Rainforests Pacific NW Hawaii
Natural Building A natural built home uses materials that are focused on sustainability by using durable, minimally-processed, recycled and renewable resources. The aim is to produce healthy living environments, better air quality and lessen the environmental impact of buildings. Post-consumer Recycled Content When a portion of a product is made from materials that have already been used such as water bottles, paper and even vacuum cleaners. Rapidly Renewable Materials Rapidly renewable materials and products are made from plants that are typically harvested within a ten-year cycle or shorter. Typical examples of rapidly renewable material includes bamboo, wool, cotton insulation, agrifiber, linoleum, wheatboard, strawboard and cork.
Renewable Materials Renewable materials are substances derived from a living tree, plant, animal or ecosystem which has the ability to regenerate itself. A renewable material can be produced again and again. For example, when we use plantation wood to make paper we can plant more trees to replace it. Solar PV panels An affordable electricity source that creates the energy from the sun. They are easily placed on residential homes and commerical buildings. Often tax breaks are offered to homes that install these solar panels.
Glossary of Terms
def • i• ni• tions
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) High performance building panels used in floors, walls, and roofs for residential and light commercial buildings. The panels are made by sandwiching a core of rigid foam plastic insulation between two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB). SIPs are manufactured under factory controlled conditions and can be custom designed for each home. The result is a building system that is extremely strong, energy efficient and cost effective. Sustainable Is when an action satisfies a need without compromising future generations. The less you take and use, the more sustainable you become. Sustainable is thinking about your actions today, with the thought of future generations in your mind.
For more information on Green Living visit us online at, www.sustainablesouthsound.com
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Green Living 2009 l Page 5
Education & Community Outreach
Evergreen State College The
Nurturing Sustainable Lifestyles in the South Sound Photos By Evergreen College
F
rom edible forest gardens to a salmon-safe certified organic farm to campus housing options in which students consciously choose a different way to relate to their natural world, Evergreen provides students with the opportunity to learn to attune themselves with nature, embark on new ways of thinking and gain knowledge that will help the South Sound progress as a center for green technology, business and living. It also provides a model for communities and colleges far beyond the South Sound. With coursework that integrates concepts of biology and ecology, conservation, community service and sustainable ways of engaging in business, politics, agriculture, art, management, history, economics, social work, science, teaching and music, Evergreen students are preparing to thrive in a greener economy. Washington State’s 2008 Climate Action and Green Jobs bill specifies that the current number of green jobs in the state should triple by 2020. Evergreen students are practicing green business development now. Students recently launched the Center for Sustainable Entrepreneurship, an effort to gain business skills and effectively use them in ways that are also socially responsible.
The Living Classroom Evergreen’s thousand-acre campus features miles of trails, a half mile of beach on Puget Sound, wetlands, forests and even an organic farm. Eighty percent of Evergreen’s land is not built up. Most of it is used as a living classroom. Beyond even that, the trees soak up and store a huge amount of carbon – keeping it out of our atmosphere.
Natural Food, Close to Home Evergreen’s organic farm is used to teach a broad range of courses such as small-scale organic agriculture, ethnobotany, visual arts, beekeeping, forest ecology, ecological agriculture, and the science of food and cooking. Organic produce grown at the farm is served in campus eateries, sold through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and a twice-weekly farm stand on campus, and donated to local food banks. When you buy from local organic farmers, you’re not only eating food grown in a more natural way, you are also helping to reduce the pollution generated by transporting food long distances.
Teaching Sustainability While other colleges are experiencing a reduction in coursework related to sustainability and the environment, Evergreen is increasing the integration of these topics. Its distinctive interdisciplinary curriculum creates opportunities for integrated learning not possible at other colleges. Beyond the undergraduate curriculum, Evergreen also offers a rigorous Masters in Environmental Studies program that integrates the biological, physical, and social sciences with studies in public policy. The Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education at Evergreen has launched the Curriculum for the Bioregion, an effort that focuses on Page 6 l Green Living 2009
Education & Community Outreach EVERGREEN incorporating environmental and sustainability issues into general education college courses throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Walking the Talk Evergreen is one of only a handful of colleges in the country that has actually reduced its greenhouse gas emissions. In 2007, Evergreen reduced its carbon footprint by 300 metric tons and 2008 will demonstrate an even greater reduction. Evergreen has purchased a fleet of electric cars to replace many of its gasoline and diesel vehicles, has an active commute options program, and uses Energy Star efficient appliances throughout its operations. The college also built the first publicly funded LEED Gold Certified building in Washington. It is also working to renovate its buildings for improved energy efficiency and waste reduction. Evergreen students pay a self-imposed clean energy fee to ensure that 100 percent of the college’s electricity comes from renewable sources. Since September 2008, Evergreen has reduced its landfill waste by more than 97,000 pounds by expanding its composting efforts, reducing paper use, initiating an electronic waste recycling program and raising student, staff and faculty awareness.
a regional and international reputation that is working to accelerate practical and profitable solutions to global warming by galvanizing leadership, growing investment and bridging divides.
A Greener Future From developing new economic models for sustainable forestry and construction to measuring the carbon footprints of cities and businesses to active involvement in the fair trade, organic farming and ecological agriculture movements, Evergreen students and alumni are taking what they have learned and applying it to change the world for the better. This is the essence of Greener Living: engaging consciously to live better and in a better relationship with our world. GL
To learn more, please visit www.evergreen.edu
How can you live more sustainably? Caring for Each Other By the time they graduate, more than 70 percent of Evergreen students will have done community service and volunteer work to help the poor, feed the hungry, and improve the environment. In the 2007-08 academic year, Evergreen students provided more than 19,000 service and volunteer hours in the community, supporting dozens of local non-profits and thousands of people in need. Hundreds of Evergreen alumni work locally, regionally, nationally and internationally to promote a more sustainable world. For example, Evergreen alumni founded and continue to lead GRuB (Garden Raised Bounty) in Olympia. GRuB is a non-profit that serves atrisk youth, provides meaningful employment to low-income high school students, fosters community partnerships, and inspires sustainable community values in its work to grow organic produce and build raisedbed gardens for low-income families and seniors. Evergreen alumni also founded Climate Solutions, an Olympiabased organization with offices in Seattle, Portland and Missoula and
Begin at home At Evergreen, that entails a wide range of campus initiatives. For example: • buying only “green” electricity • building more environmentally sustainable buildings • promoting “green” business • supporting community service • encouraging environmentally friendly commuting. Check out Evergreen’s Greener Living Guide at: www.evergreen.edu/sustainability/greenerlivingguide.html Calculate your family’s carbon footprint and find the best ways to reduce it at: www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html or www.ecy.wa.gov/forms/carbonfootprint_pledge.html Green Living 2009 l Page 7
Education & Community Outreach PEAK & REI
PEAK
&REI Outreach Unite
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nvironmental education for children is vital for the future of the planet. Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI), based in Washington, believes in educating youth through community outreach programs. Kevin Hagen, the Director of Corporate Social Responsibility explained that PEAK programs are “about preparing the next generation of environmental stewards: our children.” The program believes that the next generations must have an association and appreciation of the environment they live in or there will not be anyone here to protect the environment. “Our resources depend on those generations,” Kevin explained, “They must have a connection to the outdoors and the places that we have come to love like the national parks, open spaces and public lands.” Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids (PEAK) program is a partnership between REI and Leave No Trace, a nonprofit organization that promotes education for helping the earth. The program ensures that environmental education is in elementary school classrooms and provides tools that help children get a sense of the outdoors and show how we depend on nature. One of the best parts about PEAK is that it is free and anyone can become connected. Last year alone over 187,000 kids were involved with PEAK. Typically volunteers from REI or Leave No Trace Behind run the program. “Employees love that they have an organized way to give back and connect with their local communities. They all bring a huge amount of enthusiasm with them,” explains Kevin. The volunteers bring backpacks to the classrooms, community groups or schools that include a wide variety of projects and activities that can be presented in learning modules based on interest and age. All of the modules are creative, fun and interactive for the children and are activity-based around a game or experience. One game begins by giving the children a string with an identity like a tree, cloud, frog or land. As the children play, the string winds together and turns into a web. The experience gives the children a new perception around interconnectivity of our natural surroundings. The main mission of PEAK is getting kids outdoors. “To make sure that people will be around to protect the outdoors,” Kevin explained, “we need to have an emphasis on getting kids into the outdoors to experience wildlife and to enjoy being outside.” Children learn that if we take care of nature, then nature will take care of. The PEAK program has heard endless positive stories about how PEAK had impacted children’s lives. REI also involves children and their families each summer in their free Passport to Adventure program. The Passport to Adventure summer experience offers five family-friendly hikes and bike rides at each of the REI store locations. Kevin says, “The mission of PEAK is a great place for REI. We are all about figuring out how to make the co-op part of the solution and getting kids outdoors. We are more than just a store. We are all excited about the opportunities that we offer children.”
For more information, visit http://www.rei.com/aboutrei/reikids02.html.
Page 8 l Green Living 2009
Education & Community Outreach KIDS
Small hands, Big Ideas By Carrie Rethlefsen
Fun from Junk! Recycle
Where Did Your Food Come From?
Take items that are normally thrown away and make an art project out of them! You can use paper, egg cartons, milk cartons, pop bottles, buttons, tin foil, boxes and anything else that might get thrown away. Mobiles are really fun to make and you can use egg cartons to make them. You can draw all over them and then hang them in your room!
Think about all the food that you have eaten today. Do you know where that food came from? Sometimes the food we eat comes from far away and sometimes you can get it from people in your own city. Think about how much your food may travel to get to you! It may have been brought over by boat. Try to keep a list of food that you have eaten and then talk to your mom or dad about where that food came from. We love to eat, so we should learn about where it comes from! Plan a trip to a local farmer’s market or local farm and see what you can buy right in your own neighborhood.
Try these fun activities and make sure to check out the word search on the next page!
For more green activities, visit www.sustainablesouthsound.com
Compost! Do you love to play in the dirt? Well, you can play in the dirt and learn about what happens when you throw something out. It is really fun to do. You just find tin cans, dirt and anything that you want to bury. Some of the best things to bury are Styrofoam, paper, banana peels, orange peels, apples, plastic, a small toy that you will not miss or anything in the trash. After you have your items, bury each of the materials separately in their own tin can. Label each can so you know what was in it later. After each material is in the tin can and covered with dirt, you can water them. Then, just leave them sit for two weeks. Now it is time for fun. You get to dig all your materials up and look at what is still there! Some of the stuff may have changed a lot and some may be the same! Talk about it with mom or dad! It is really cool!
Green Living 2009 l Page 9
grid. Words can go&horizontally, vertically and diagonally in all eight Education Community Outreach KIDS
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www.WordSearchMaker.com
Bicycle
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Landfill
Conserve
Local
Earthworm
organic
Energy
Recycle
Farms
Reuse
Garden
Solar
Habitat
Sustainable
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Find the words in the grid. Words can go horizontally, vertically and diagonally in all eight directions.
Buildings from start to finish
Green Building
Ecofriendly By Maddy Stephens Photos compliment of Artisan’s Group and Apple Homes
T
he construction field is being adjusted to fit the pressing needs of the earth and the people who live on it. As many industries and fields of work are being re-evaluated to minimize ecological damage, the construction and design fields follow suit. Building and remodeling green is a way for the South Puget Sound to green it’s lifestyle. Readjusting our methods for building and reconstructing the our homes means that creative workers in the industry and willing customers will have to work together to find solutions. These green building practices are put into place by systems that allow for a lesser net energy waste. Before using technical components like those mentioned above, however, green builders must look at the site to see what resources will be available to them as they work. Next, builder and architect teams meet with the future homeowners to asses their needs. Depending on the homeowner’s needs, builders and architects will use energysaving systems such as structurally insulated panels. Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) are used for floors and walls of green-built homes. Plastic foam insulation is sandwiched between two strand boards, made of recycled wood products extracted from the South Puget Sound area. SIPs uses local wood products, meaning that traditionally hazardous materials used for insulation (fiberglass and formaldehyde), are not used. The absence of these toxic materials ultimately betters the health of homeowners. In addition to being composed of recycled materials, SIPs are 60 percent more air tight than traditional insulation methods. Homeowners using SIPs spend less on heating and cooling and release a lower count of polluting agents typically released during heating and cooling processes. Although SIPS are more expensive than traditional methods, homeowners reap the benefits of cleaner air and find that SIPS systems last longer and have a higher retention of retail value, a lusted commodity given today’s real estate market. Working in synthesis with the SIPs used for the construction of green homes is the Reverse Cycle Chiller. The Reverse Cycle Chiller uses a highly efficient heat exchanger to transfer energy
to a water line, achieving temperatures up to 120 degrees in the heating mode, and down to 50 degrees in cooling mode. The water line can then supply a central air handler, a radiant floor heating system or multiple zoned air handlers. The system supplies a more consistent, comfortable level of heating that operates efficiently, even at low temperatures. Systems like SIPs and the reverse cycle chiller could not be used as effectively if it weren’t for the collaboration of builders and architects. By working together, the two firms can merge their ideas into a house which is more environmentally sound. Apple Homes and The Artisan’s Group are two companies making waves in the South Puget Sound area. Apple Homes is a building contracting company that collaborates with The Artisan’s Group to first design, and then to build sustainable homes. The Artisan’s Group, an Olympia-based firm, centers it’s design projects upon sustainability and aims for synthesis with natural surroundings. The projects undertaken by both firms are contemporary and antique, cutting edge and comfortable, bold and innovative. Apple Homes picks up where The Artisan’s Group leaves off, putting the designs into physical action. The cooperation between these two corporations is unique and special, and together they have made positive changes in our Green Living 2009 l Page 11
Green Building ECOFRIENDLY BUILDING
immediate community as a result of their collaborative focus on customer satisfaction and ecological responsibility. This tandem of Apple Homes and The Artisan’s Group is currently working on two projects, one of which involves the construction of a new home, the other involving the remodeling of an exhisting home. The Hautala Project is a new home designed by Tessa Smith of The Artisan’s Group. Hautala is a good example of the green building movement which is transforming the Puget Sound. Hautala uses both SIPs and the Reverse Cycle Chiller. According to Paul Huff of Apple Homes, green built homes like Hautala can stay standing for as long as 200 years, whereas their non-green counterparts are generally only predictably in tact for twenty. The future homeowner of the The Hautala Project “wanted to downsize and expressed a concern for energy efficiency,” said Paul of his client. Apple Homes and The Artisan’s Group rose to the cause, instituting SIPs and the Reverse Cycle Chiller, along with other green-building mechanisms like a rain water storage tank and a radiant floor heat source. Paul’s articulation of the consumer’s needs in The Hautala Project illustrates the tremendous focus placed on cooperation between client and company. The initial stages of any undertaking are a pre-building checkup on the building site. “Spaces are compositions,” said Tessa. “…you have to ask questions like, ‘what’s Page 12 l Green Living 2009
available on site? What resources do we have already?’” The Hautala Project is not unlike other green building projects in that it’s success stems from a triangular line of communication between Tessa, Paul, and the client. The three meet to assess client needs and an ensuing design is crafted around the merge of client needs and the specialized knowledge that Paul and Tessa bring to the table. What specific techniques does the Hautala project employ that make it more sustainable? It uses resources that the site already embodies, it’s design takes it’s roots in client needs. Sounds like a great place to start, but just what is it that makes the wheels of this project spin? Hautala is what Tessa and Paul call a “dark green home.” It’s described by Tessa as, “not bleeding edge, but definitely cutting edge.” Hautala, like all other projects undertaken by this dynamic duo is, in Paul’s words, “not a conglomeration of parts, but a system.” A huge part of sustainability is solid design, which is exactly what Hautala undertakes with its synthesis of systems. While building green from scratch is an environmentally savvy move, remodeling a normal home to meet green standards can also save the homeowners time, money, and can lessen homeowner’s impact on the environment. This designer/builder team is working on another project to be released this June—The Emory Project, a remodel project occurring in Olympia. As in the Hautala project, the first task undertaken by the build-design team was to scope out the site. The Emory Project already had a well, a septic system and a well-equipped building site. As in The Hautala Project, the Emorys had some specific requests. The owners, “only wanted to add 750 square feet, wanted dynamic light use, solar hot water connectors and a water ventilation.” Hearing these requests, Apple Homes and The Artisan’s Group began the process that would ultimately save important resources of the South Sound and would lessen the homeowner’s annual output of pollution and energy waste.
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The Emory Project managed to use principles and practices similar to those used in the process of building a new house. For instance, because The Emory Project was a remodel, the builders couldn’t just install the SIP system implemented in the Hautala Project. Instead, Apple Homes coated the building with foam and sprayed foam on the inside walls of the house, effectively creating a SIP-like system which would prevent the cold air from coming inside. Apple Homes also dismantled an existing garage and incorporated leftover wood from the demolition in the remodel.
Leftover sheathing and insulation was distributed from the site and posted on Craigslist. Next, those with interested in the extra sheathing and other materials came to pick them up from the construction site. Nothing from the site was thrown away, everything was reallocated to a different use, meaning that the project put out less waste collectively than non-green remodeling expedentures. The home also uses solar hot water collectors, radiant floor heating with geothermals heat glass on the southern exposure which brings in heat from the outside to heat the home. There is less money spent on heating bills and that there’s less energy pollution emitted from The Emory Project than a non-green home. Both projects are a result of a collaborative effort between designers and builders, making them a success. Adaptable, willing workers and homeowners who are ready to make the leap towards green living can find solutions in the green building and design processes. Too often, design is approached as a quick fix to procuring a roof above the heads of future homeowners. Projects like Hautala and Emory illustrate the holistic thinking that can effectively eliminate excess costs for homeowners and lessen the burden shouldered by our beautiful ecosystems. GL
Green Living 2009 l Page 13
Cohousing is coming to Olympia
What does green mean to you?
By CJ Russo
B To DeWils it means taking conscious steps to minimize our overall foot print and protect the environment – not because it’s the trendy choice, but because it is the right thing to do. We believe in: Sustainably harvested woods, low VOC finishes, reduced waste, increased recycling. To find out more call
360-539-5057 4444Lacey Blvd. SE Suite G Lacey, WA 98503 cabinetsbytrivonna.com
Page 14 l Green Living 2009
etween two quiet dead-end streets bordering a wooded ravine just six blocks from the Westside Olympia Food Coop are three acres of land. Storm water tanks, sewer, water and power lines have been buried. This is a long time dream coming true for a group of committed people who have put an enormous amount of time and energy into the design and planning of Woodard Lane Cohousing. This will be Olympia’s first cohousing community to reach completion. The idea of cohousing began in Denmark and was brought to the US in the early 1980s. Many such communities are popping up around the country as people look for ways to live more lightly on the earth and in closer connection with others. There are now at least 18 cohousing communities in the state of Washington. Cohousing is a type of collaborative housing in which residents actively and consciously participate in the design and operation of their own neighborhoods. The physical design encourages both social contact and individual space. Private homes contain all the features of conventional homes, but residents also have access to extensive common facilities such as open space, courtyards, gardens, a play structure and a common house. Some of the benefits of living this way are the many opportunities for social interactions, shared meals several times a week, lots of playmates for kids and support for parents. Certain
Green Building WOODARD LANE things like a shop and tools, lawnmower, and a sauna can be shared. Someone will watch your kids when needed, take care of your pets when you’re away, and you are likely to encounter a smiling face on a day that you might really appreciate it. The 4-plexes will be clustered around a central common area of green space. We will have a large common house with a community kitchen and dining area, a play area for children, a laundry room, and a guest room. The grounds will be taken care of by everyone, and a large vegetable garden and chickens will be shared projects. At this point, the member families of Woodard Lane Cohousing hold weekly meetings to develop policies and design buildings. Decisions are made in a non-hierarchical manner, usually by consensus. One of our members is a certified NVC trainer, and we are conscious about using that model in our interactions. (NVC is the method taught by Marshall Rosenburg, sometimes called Compassionate Communication.)
Barbara Whitlow
Cherie Cloud
Loan Officer Yelm Highway
Br.Mgr/Loan Off. Belfair
Kayce Lambert
Chad Yerrington
Loan Officer Downtown
Loan Officer Downtown
Our homes will be as green and affordable as possible, with an emphasis on providing optimal natural light and connection with nature. We will have solar panels for hot water, radiant floor heating, a small footprint and efficient design in order to minimize energy costs. Our builder, Scott Bergford, is Built Green certified and will be using non toxic materials whenever possible. He just received the Energy Value Housing Award of “Builder of the Year”. By the time this goes to print we will hopefully have poured the foundations for the three buildings of Phase One. These will be three 4-plexes which will house eleven families, leaving one unit for the temporary common house. When we have enough interested families, we will begin Phase Two. At completion there will be a total of 19 units plus the large common house. Although our current 9 households span four generations and include two families with small children, we are particularly seeking more families with children. For more information or to get involved, please visit www.woodardlanecoho.org or call CJ Russo at 360-866-4557. GL
Tami Hale
Br.Mgr/Loan Off. Hawks Prairie
Michelle Lord
Br.Mgr/Loan Off. Lacey
Green Living 2009 l Page 15
e v i t a n r e t l A
Green Building ECOFRIENDLY BUILDING
y g r Ene
Think Clean, Abundant, Life
By Elizabeth Diane
I
magine waking up each morning knowing that the shower you take, the laundry you dry, the coffee and toast you make are all done with clean power produced at your home. And imagine paying much less each month for your power bill, getting a check in the mail for your investment, increased equity in your home and a significant break from the IRS on your taxes. If you want to start ‘greening’ your own home and wonder where to put your energy, look at the sun for the greatest impact to mitigate global warming and save you money. According to the EPA, buildings in the US account for 68% of total electricity consumption and 38% of the carbon dioxide emissions. Below are a few ideas that can make a global impact and help your bottom line.
Solar PV Panels Why not convert an abundant, clean, inexhaustible source of energy into power? The PV (photovoltaic) system turns light into electricity or photons into voltage. And there are plenty of those photons passing through the abundant grey clouds of the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, when you invest in solar, you can deduct 30% of the cost of the solar energy system from your federal taxes. And new for 2009, there is no limit to how much you can deduct. What other investment earns you a 30% return in its first year? Consultation with a solar expert will also pay for itself. Kirk Haffner of South Sound Solar in Olympia explains: “We measure your building site for solar potential. We accurately calculate how well a solar system will perform at this location. We inspect your home to ensure the roof, framing, electrical, plumbing, etc. are satisfactory. We review the home design and layout to optimize the route from the solar to the home systems.” Kirk adds, “Even though many of my customers talk about costs, payback, clean energy and sustainable communities, they often point to the real reason why they are making the decision to install solar−their children and grandchildren.” In the near future, all of us can be generating energy from our rooftops. Page 16 l Green Living 2009
Green Building ECOFRIENDLY BUILDING Solar Hot Water Systems For almost everyone in the US, the energy to heat water for household use is typically 20 to 40% of our total power bill. It becomes clear when you think about showers, baths, dishwashers and laundry coming from a tank that is continually fueled to keep a hot temperature. Using the energy of the sun, you can greatly reduce the amount of electricity or natural gas it takes to heat up that cold water and keep it warm for your next shower. On average, you can expect solar hot water to provide 60 to 70% of your annual hot water needs, according to Kirk Haffner. A tankless hot water heater retrofitted to replace or supplement your hot water heater is an additional way to reduce energy usage.
Daylighting Daylighting is the term used by architects for bringing the right amount of daylight into an interior space in order to enhance the quality of light and reduce electricity. Consultation with a designer or architect is a wise approach to maximize your options. According to Elizabeth Diane of Lucid 9 Design, the placement of windows in combination with appropriately sized overhangs, landscaping trees and sun shades can eliminate the need for air-conditioning in the northwest, while allowing natural light to brighten your rooms, with eliminates the need for lighting during the daylight hours. A simple retrofit for existing homes and rooms without windows are tubular daylighting devices such as a Solatube. These roof-to-ceiling tubes capture the sun’s light and directs it into the room, casting a full spectrum light to enhance your interior environment.
Passive Solar Design Making a comeback from the 70s with a mainstream approach is home design that allows the sun to keep your house warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Passive solar design allows the sun to heat an interior thermal mass, such as tile or concrete, capturing the heat and radiating it into the house at night as temperatures drop. Careful analysis is made to shade the home from hot summer sun and allow for natural cooling. This can lower your annual heating and cooling bill by 20 to 40%.
More to Consider Other sources of alternative energy for the home are on the rise and becoming more affordable. Geothermal is a system that uses the earth’s constant ambient temperature (or in some parts of the country, tapping into heat reservoirs below ground) to keep air at a comfortable and consistent temperature. And in some areas, wind is a great way to produce extra power. The most efficient devices use elegantly-designed to produce power even with a just a little wind. An important aspect of any alternative energy system is looking at the efficiency of the entire system. If you have a leaky house from poor or deteriorated insulation, substantial energy savings are made by installing good insulation. There are local businesses that use infrared photography to determine where your home is losing heat. It makes the most sense to address a heat-leaky home as a first
step to reduce power consumption. Blow-in environmentally friendly insulation is an inexpensive way to fill the gaps. Now imagine sipping a cup of tea heated by the sun and hearing on the morning news that you and people like you have made a difference in reducing pollutants and global warming. Your choice supports more innovation in renewable energy so that the norm is inexpensive, abundant, clean energy for everyone and most homes are producing at least as much or more power than they consume, resulting in net-zero energy homes. It would be a beautiful new day. GL
Elizabeth Diane Residential Green Building Designer Lucid 9 Design, Inc. “Design Beyond Measure” www.lucid9design.com lisa@lucid9design.com With contribution from Kirk Haffner, South Sound Solar, www.southsoundsolar.com, 360-951-786
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Green Building SOLAR POWER
The Use of
Solar Power An interview with Brad Burkhartzmeyer of Sun’s Eye Power.
In the South Sound
S
olar power is probably the cleanest, most viable form of renewable energy and it can be used in different ways to help power your house. Many gardens now use solar lights or solar garden water features. The availability and wide use of solar power in gardens shows exactly how versatile it is as a source of energy. So how does solar work in the South Sound? We asked Brad on the basics of using solar energy in our community. GL: Do we get enough sun in the South Sound for solar energy? BB: On average, the South Sound gets 3.7 sun hours per day. Of course that varies from season to season. For example, in the summer time that number jumps to 4.6, but in the winter it drops to 1.5. GL: What does that mean to the average home owner? BB: It helps to look at global sun hours. For example, the sunniest place on earth gets approximately 8.0 sun hours a day. Denver gets 5.5. So if you look at our average number, we aren’t doing too badly. Of course, in the winter months, we would have to rely more on the power grid. GL: How does a solar system work for a home owner? BB: In the state of Washington, citizens are paid to create solar energy. It doesn’t matter how much they use. We have a separate solar meter that reads the amount of solar energy the system is producing. GL: How long does it take for system to pay for itself? BB: On average, it takes 12-15 years for a homeowner to pay for a system. If you are business, it takes about 4 years. As a business, you can depreciate the equipment and there are tax advantages. Panels
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BRAD BURKHARTZMEYER 4009 Nor th 19th Street • Tacoma, WA 98406 253.414.4099 • www.sunseyepower.com Page 18 l Green Living 2009
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come with a 25 year warranty. Once the system is paid for, you get free electricity. That is assuming That is assuming the electricity prices stay the same. If rates increase, payoff time would be shortened. GL: What types of people are requesting solar systems? BB: There are the 50+ customers that are the same types of people who are buying hybrid cards. They have money and are concerned with the environment. They are doing it for personal and political reasons and want to save the environment. The second group is people who are interested in being independent and living off the grid. Many live in isolated places and they don’t have a lot of money. They start small and build their systems. They store the power in batteries and use it out of the batteries at night. Businesses are also starting to install solar panels. Google is a good example. They have solar panels on their roof and parking lot and have been successful in incorporating it into the corporate environment. GL: What is the average electricity usage for an American household? BB: The average household uses between 12,000 kilowatt-hours to 20,000 kilowatt-hours per year. In comparison, Germany households use an average of 5,000 kilowatt-hours per year, more than half the average American. It would take a lot of panels to generate that much power. The important thing about solar is that you learn to conserve and know that you are producing a portion of your electricity. GL: What is some advice you can give our readers? BB: When it comes to houses, smaller is sometimes better. The larger the house, the more energy you need to support it. And most importantly, understand your energy use. Saving energy is a lot cheaper than creating power. A few suggestions: • Turn off the lights off during the day. • Use solar tubes or skylights to bring in more light in dark areas of your house. • Turn off electrical items that you are not using. • Check your insulation and increase if necessary. • If you haven’t already, install double pane windows. • Use energy efficient furnaces and appliances. Think small and energy efficiency.
For more about Sun’s Eye Power, please visit their website at www.sunseyepower.com.
Big green
bus
Green In Action
All Aboard the
Photos courtesy of Intercity Transit
I
ntercity Transit buses may be blue and silver, but they’re all green at heart. If you’ve wondered how you can get on board with the green movement, riding the bus (or supporting public transportation in other ways) can be a big step in the right direction. Intercity Transit takes the place of hundreds of vehicles that would otherwise be on the road any given day, and that’s based on statistics gathered before the crazy spike in gas prices happened. Ridership has since gone up by 74 percent since 2002. When people leave their personal vehicles at home and share the ride, they’re contributing to cleaner air and water. They’re reducing stress and setting a great example for others to follow. Intercity Transit works hard to set an example too. Their buses run on ultra-low-sulfur biodiesel, reducing particulates by 20 percent, carbon monoxide emissions by 13 percent, and total hydrocarbon emissions by more than 10 percent. They recycle water used to clean the vehicles, and they select environmentally friendly products whenever they’re available. Intercity Transit reuses and/or recycles office materials, as well as materials used in maintaining the buses. They even recycle the vanpool vans themselves when their service life comes to
an end. The vans are donated or loaned to local community service organizations to transport volunteers and the people they serve. The biggest secret of all about riding transit is it’s not a sacrifice. Intercity Transit can hook you up with a great ride to anywhere you need to go locally and as far north as Tacoma. They offer bus service on 22 fixed routes around urban Thurston County, with convenient connections to Pierce Transit, Sound Transit, Grays Harbor Transit and Mason Transit. If riding the bus doesn’t work for you, but you still want to share the ride, Intercity Transit can connect you with others who want to share the ride either in a van or a car. Either way, you’re still doing your part. If you have a disability that makes it difficult for you to participate, Intercity Transit offers a qualified-rider program called Dial-A-Lift, which will pick you up at your door and deliver you to your destination. There’s even a program called Village Vans that helps meet the needs of low-income individuals seeking work or enrolled in an established worker training program. Even if you just can’t incorporate transit into your life, you can still support it in your community by encouraging your employer to offer transit passes to employees, inviting a Green Living 2009 l Page 19
Green In Action TRANSPORTATION
Bicycles
Are a Green Mode of Transportation
speaker from Intercity Transit to give a talk at your club or organization, and attending the public meetings Intercity Transit hosts to weigh in on the policy decisions necessary to help transit meet the public’s needs. Today, a growing number of people in Thurston County choose to leave their vehicles at home and share the ride. Some ride the bus, some participate in vanpools, while others join carpools. Some have even figured out a way to incorporate exercise into their commute by riding their bikes part of the route and taking transit the rest of the way. Every bus is equipped with an onboard bike rack, making the trip easy and convenient. You can visit the Intercity Transit website to learn more about how public transportation is making a difference for our local environment. Visit HYPERLINK “http://www. intercitytransit.com” www.intercitytransit.com and click on “About Intercity Transit” under the “News & Info” tab. There you’ll find a link to a wealth of information, including Intercity Transit’s use of alternative fuels, recycling, reducing emissions and earth-friendly initiatives. While you’re checking out the website, be sure to click on the “Travel Options” tab on the start page to learn how easy sharing the ride can be. GL
Page 20 l Green Living 2009
What continues to be one of the greenest modes of transport besides walking? Riding a bicycle. Traditional bicycles remain the greenest solution for personal mobility. Bicycles burn no fossil fuels, if constructed well can last for years, require little maintenance, and are easy for anyone to operate. In Europe, some cities have embraced bicycle transportation and encourage the public to hop on this two-wheeled way of getting around. Holland has a “pedal-and-park” bike sharing system for urban commuters. Paris government has purchased a thousand bicycles for free urban commuting. Bikes are parked in popular spots city-wide so the public can easily share the vehicles. In our communities and towns in the South Sound, you can find clearer and safer bicycle paths. Particularly in urban areas, there are also designated racks on which to park bikes when not in use. Public transportation also supports bikes. You can share the ride! Bicycles can be a very good, healthy way of getting around but only if safety measures are taken. Cyclists who ride sober, with the flow of traffic, wearing helmets and using lights at night are 99.999 percent more likely to survive their rides, according to research by Johns Hopkins. Many bicycle riders are not entirely familiar with the laws of bike riding, which could put them in danger. It pays to visit your department of motor vehicles or transportation department to get a copy of the laws governing bicycles. Although laws vary from place to place, here are some general rules that can keep you safe. ß Always ride wearing a helmet ß A headlight is encouraged to make you more visible in dim light ß Do not “ride” another person on your bicycle if it is a single-rider bike. ß Ride only in the street, not on the sidewalk ß Follow the same rules of the road that cars would obey, including signaling and stopping at traffic signals
Green In Action RECYCLING
Recycling By Corinna Radtke and Galen Hammel
I
f you picked up this magazine you probably expected to read about the latest and greatest in green technologies, but here is our surprise for you… recycling! It is the foundation of all environmentally conscious behavior and its beginnings can be found in the early 20th century in Europe. In 1921 Great Britain started to recycle paper and soon after, the two World Wars intensified efforts across the world to recycle materials that had become sparse. After World War II, with the growing economy, bolstered by the birth of baby boomers, consumerism, convenient packaging and the mass production of plastic goods entered our daily lives. But with these came massive amounts of trash. Slowly, people realized that you could not just “toss and forget”. The capacities of landfills and waste management facilities were and still are finite. In the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, the long term effect of dwindling natural resources and increasing pollution became a cause for concern. During that time more and more landfills were closed, some because of stricter environmental regulations and others because they were simply full. As a reaction to these developments the public awareness rose and the recycling movement experienced a major growth spurt. In the beginning, it was mostly a grassroots, volunteer basis. Community organizations, such as the boy scouts, held “recycling fundraisers” encouraging neighborhoods to donate their recyclables and become more environmentally aware. Nowadays recycling options are available throughout the country and although approximately 80% of our trash is recyclable, Americans only recycle about 26% of their garbage, but what does that mean?
Some astonishing facts: The average American uses 650 pounds of paper each year. Recycling these 650 pounds of paper would save almost 6 trees per person each year, multiplying that by 300 million Americans, makes approximately 1.8 billion possible trees saved a year. Recycling one ton (about 2,000 pounds) of paper could save 17 trees, enough oil to run the average car for 1,260 miles (two barrels), enough power for the average home for six months (4,100 kilowatts), 3.2 cubic yards of landfill space and 60 pounds of pollution. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a heap of mostly plastic trash, weighing 3.5 tons and over twice the size of Texas, has been amassing for 40 years in the Pacific Ocean between San Francisco and Hawaii. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours. In spite of this, Americans throw away enough aluminum to rebuild our entire commercial fleet of airplanes every three months. Green Living 2009 l Page 21
Green In Action RECYCLING Feel like recycling yet? Most of us can probably still remember the debates about energy independence during the presidential campaign. The above facts state one thing very clearly; there are huge energy reserves within our daily lives in the United States and recycling is an efficient way to tap into them.
So what can each and every one of us do? We could learn from our neighbors, one of them is my home country Germany, which ranks in the top ten of the most energy efficient countries in the world. When I go to the super market at home I bring my own bags, like literally every other German. We are so used to the concept of reusing our shopping bags that I’m still surprised when a friendly cashier asks me if I want paper or plastic. In Germany, you actually get some of your money back when you bring empty bottles back to the store, where they are collected by an automated machine and later recycled and most Germans recycle every bottle. We have a well-developed public transportation system, even in rural areas in order to reduce traffic and oil consumption. In my family, everybody recycles, in fact I don’t know anybody who doesn’t recycle. When my American finance was in high school, his science teacher
Built GreenŽ is a program to encourage the construction of homes that: • Provide greater energy efficiency and reduce pollution • Provide healthier indoor air • Reduce water usage • Preserve natural resources • Improve durability and reduce maintenance
THINK GREEN
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4HIS PRODUCT WAS FUNDED THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE 7ASHINGTON 3TATE $EPARTMENT OF %COLOGY
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Page 22 l Green Living 2009
So what else do we need to know about recycling before we can go out and do it ourselves? It is important to understand how the recycling process works. It begins with the purchase of recycled or recyclable products. After the products are used, they are collected for recycling, sorted by hand or machine, shipped, and finally reprocessed into new products or materials. The new products are then available to be purchased and can continue the cycle. Other strategies to reduce trash are to buy in bulk, avoid over packaged products, buy concentrated products and refillable containers. Currently, in the United States about 26 percent of the waste generated is recycled or composted, 8 percent is burned at incinerators and the remaining 66 percent is disposed of in landfills. So now that you know some more about recycling, how it is done and why it is one of the most important strategies to achieve greater energy efficiency in our future, we hope that our article inspired you to spread the word and make it happen. GL And don’t forget, after you read this magazine, pass it on or recycle it!
www.builtgreenomb.org 360-754-0912 or 800-456-6473
told him how bad old batteries are for the environment. When they end up in landfills they spill metals, acids and other compounds that, if released, contaminate the ecosystem. But whenever he had an old battery, he didn’t know what to do with it, so with a feeling of guilt he slipped it into the normal trash. In Germany, we have collection boxes for used batteries in most supermarkets so you can just dispose of them while you’re shopping. Unfortunately, there are many such things, like old computers, car parts, videotapes, CD’s, Styrofoam and so on that many people do not realize are dangerous trash.
The graph shows the number of homes certified as Built GreenŽ since the program’s 2005 inception.
If this article interested you here you can find more information: How to deal with different hazardous waste: www.obviously.com/recycle/guides/hard General recycling information: www.earth911.com How to recycle Batteries: www.rbrc.org or call 800/822-8837 for a battery drop-off location near you Local Information: www.ci.olympia.wa.us/cityutilities/garbage www.co.thurston.wa.us/wwm
Green In Action GREEN CLEANING
Green Cleaning By Elizabeth Diane
A
mericans spend millions of dollars a year on household cleaning products that we assume are safe. However, a recent study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that “the air outside may be safer to breathe than the air inside the home.” According to the study, people spend an average of 90 percent of their time inside and indoor air quality is an important concern. In the past, homes were ventilated with open windows that had leaky seals. Builders now make homes “tighter” and open windows have been replaced with central air conditioning, trapping allergens, chemicals and stagnant air in our homes. Now, more than ever, it is important to know what chemicals you are introducing into your home environment. Almost all common household cleaners contain some toxic ingredients; many contain carcinogens or suspected carcinogens. While prolonged exposure and occupational use increase risks, even “normal” household use can cause lasting health problems. So what’s the better decision when it comes time to clean? Many agree — replace toxic products with safer nontoxic alternatives. With the wide variety of cleaning products and equipment available, consumers who want to protect the environment are often faced with numerous choices, but with little clarity on what the labels and descriptions mean – and often at a relatively higher cost. These “greener” products can be found in health food stores, some supermarkets or through catalogs. Merry Maids, the leading provider of household cleaning services, suggests making your own cleansers with common household items. One of the easiest steps to take is to clean without bleach or chlorine. Household cleaners that contain bleach can be replaced with nontoxic alternatives such as baking soda, borax, soap and even vinegar. An added bonus is that these natural products are cheaper, too. Also, don’t use paper products that are bleached white with chlorine as they’ve been shown to increase the risk of cancer. Instead choose tissue, toilet paper and even office paper that is labeled “processed chlorine free” (PCF).
Elizabeth Diane Residential Green Building Designer Lucid 9 Design, Inc. “Design Beyond Measure” www.lucid9design.com lisa@lucid9design.com
Tips
Easy recipes for safer household cleansers ß For a good all purpose cleaner, mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) of water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc. ß Scour copper and brass with 1/2 cup vinegar mixed with one tablespoon of salt. ß Deodorize garbage cans or scrub vinyl floors with full-strength pine oil. ß Use baking soda in place of your abrasive bath and kitchen cleaner. It also removes stains and odors from refrigerators and coffee pots. ß Freshen the carpet with 1/2 cup crushed lavender flowers and 1 cup baking soda. Vacuum after
30 minutes. Try this mixture as a deodorizer for diaper pails and kitty litter. ß Scrub your toilet bowl with a non-toxic combination of one cup borax and 1/2 cup white vinegar. You can also add one cup of white vinegar to the rinse compartment of your automatic dishwasher for a spotless rinse. ß Rub a slice of lemon across a chopping block to disinfect the surface. These ideas are not only good for the environment, but also good for your pocket. Whenever you decide to throw away those less environmentally-friendly cleansers, be sure to dispose of the contents safely and reuse or recycle containers. Green Living 2009 l Page 23
Green In Action ECOFRIENDLY LANDSCAPES
Ecofriendly
Landscapes
By Mary Jo Buza
I
deas for Green Living begin with energy conservation, but it has potential to go way beyond that. The ideas for green living or eco-friendly landscapes that I explore here extend to issues of environmental pollution prevention and water conservation. If we apply green living concepts to our landscapes, it will improve sustainability.
Tip #1 Small Engines – Big Problems
While gas-powered mowers are a time-saving device, there are energy efficient alternatives that do not pollute. Consider replacing your gas-powered equipment with reliable, rechargeable electric equipment. Electric equipment not only promotes energy conservation, but also promotes clean air. The small gas-powered engines in our mowers, leaf blowers and weed whackers are considered a major source of air pollution by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). There are other advantages to electric equipment – they are significantly quieter than their gas-powered counterparts – as much as 50% quieter. My electric mower sounds more like a vacuum cleaner than a lawn mower. Electric equipment is easy to start - no more huffing, puffing and cursing as you struggle to start your gas-powered equipment. Starting my electric mower is almost as easy as flipping on a light switch. An electric mower also weighs much less than a gas-powered mower and therefore much easier to use. Page 24 l Green Living 2009
For example, a few strategically planted trees can help to keep a building cool in the summer and reduce energy needed for air conditioning. Ideally a ‘green’ landscape should have little or no negative impacts on our environment. Incorporating just a few of eco-friendly landscape ideas will reduce the consumption of energy, conserve water, reduce environmental pollution – and save money.
Tip #2 Reduce Air Pollution with a Rake?
Call me old fashioned, but I still use a rake to remove leaves. A rake is significantly cheaper than a leaf blower and has zero impact on the environment. In a single hour, a gas-powered leaf blower will produce the same emissions as a car that travels 350 miles. Good reason to start using a rake again.
Tip #3 Conserve Water – Drip Irrigation
There are many ways to conserve water in your landscape and installing a drip irrigation system is one of the most important. Drip irrigation delivers water directly to your plants with minimal waste and is considered to be 90% efficient. With a traditional above-ground irrigation system, only 50% to 70% of the water applied actually reaches the roots of the plants. With this much waste, we are literally throwing money away. Over time, the drip irrigation system will more than pay for itself by reducing your monthly water bill.
Tip #4 Reduce the Size of Your Lawn
Last year, several clients requested a landscape design with little or no lawn in the front yard. They rarely used the front yard for recreation or any activity, except to mow it. From a design perspective, replacing part of your lawn with trees and shrubs is an opportunity to create diversity and build wildlife habitat. The average American lawn costs about $700 to maintain each year; this includes herbicide, fertilizer, water and equipment maintenance. Replacing or reducing the size your lawn will save you time and money.
Tip #5 Use an Automatic Timer
Green In Action ECOFRIENDLY LANDSCAPES Author Mary Jo Buza, is a landscape designer and has over 20 years experience designing and teaching gardening in the South Sound region. For more information on a custom landscape design or consultation, call 923-1733. Or check out her website: www.maryjobuza.com.
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For those interested in smaller steps to water conservation, consider adding automatic timers. Automatic timers, found in most home improvement stores, control the time you water, and this helps you conserve. These easy-to-install timers are attached between your faucet and your hose and no electric hook-up is required. Have you ever set out your lawn sprinkler and become busy doing other things you forgot about your sprinkler and overwatered? I have. This simple low-cost gadget will eliminate overwatering.
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Tip #6 Plant Trees to Conserve Energy and
Reduce Air Pollution
Trees provide important habitat for birds and other wildlife. But many people do not know the important role trees have in reducing air pollution. Trees act like the lungs of our planet; they breathe in carbon dioxide and remove it from the atmosphere and release oxygen. Carbon dioxide is one of the major pollutants that contribute to global warming. Planting deciduous trees will help you save energy, too. To maximize the benefits of trees, plant tall deciduous trees on the south and west facing sides of your house. This will help shade your home during the hot summer months and reduce air conditioning costs.
Tip #7 Recycle Your Plastic Containers
Most nurseries will recycle and reuse plastic containers that are two gallons or larger. Before you purchase plants, ask the nursery if you can return the pots to be recycled or reused. Last year I found out one of my favorite nurseries recycles both one gallon and four inch containers as well. I am sure glad I asked.
We would like to hear from you. If you have an ecofriendly green landscaping tips, please let us know. We would like to share them with our readers.
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Green In Action WORM COMPOSTING
Worm
Composting A
nice cup of good, hot tea can renew your mind and body. Centuries ago people learned that the flavor and beneficial essence of certain plants could be drawn from their leaves, bark and roots by steeping them in water, sometimes fortifying the brew with a bit of milk and honey. We know that a nip of soothing mint tea will settle the stomach, a cup of fragrant chamomile tea will soothe frayed nerves and a cup of vitamin rich alfalfa tea can stimulate a weak appetite. By steeping these plant materials in water, we are able to extract the nutrients from the plants. Like herbal teas for our bodies, worm castings are one of the best and safest complete organic fertilizers for your garden. Worms can also be a major player in your overall composting plan. You can turn your food scrapes, junk mail, personal papers and bank statements into food for the little critters. The worms eat the paper and food scrapes and turn it into dark, rich and almost odorless material filled with nutrients and soil microorganism called ‘castings’. You can then steep the castings in water to create a ‘tea’ that can feed the roots of plants. It can also be sprayed directly on plant foliage. So if you are looking for an organic solution to garden fertilizer, consider brewing up a nice cup of worm casting tea for your plants and enjoy a herbal cup of tea for yourself. GL
For additional information, visit www.sustainablesouthsound.com or visit our local resource, Yelm Earthworm & Castings Farm at www.yelmworms.com. Page 26 l Green Living 2009
Your organic garden
needs organic soil and amendments, earthworms, worm compost, casting tea and a little free helpful advice, too!
· Worm bins · Plant food · Veggie starts & seeds
Call 360.894.0707 for directions or visit YelmEarth.com
Green In Action PRISON GARDENS
Prison Gardening By Carrie Rethlefsen
I
July 25th - animal awareness Day
this is our first year for this and we will have all sorts of organizations dealing with animals here passing out information and some wonderful wild animals on the stage that have been rescued.
ntS
oct 31st - Halloween
enteRtaInment
June 18th - Senior Day with entertainment explosion!
FoR may 2009
n 2003, Dan Pacholke became the Superintendent of the Cedar Creek Corrections Center in Littlerock, Washington. As Superintendent, Dan had a vision to expand the prison, but water usage was too high to expand. Instead of feeling defeated, Dan decided to find a solution. The influence of The Evergreen State College and the sustainability courses that were taught by Bob McIntosh and Nancy Park influenced him to learn more about the water usage at Cedar Creek. As Dan was learning more, The Evergreen State College Professor, Nalini Nadkarni, had begun to use the Corrections Center to grow flowers, harvest seeds and re-plant them. Nalini’s involvement at Cedar Creek helped to create a partnership between the Department of Corrections and The Evergreen State College. This partnership helped create the Sustainable Prisons Project. Their mission is to, “reduce the cost and environmental impact of prison operations by training prison staff and offenders in science, sustainability and skills for the emerging green economy.” Dan and Nalini began to think of ways that they could use water more efficiently and the idea of an organic farm emerged. The 3-acre organic farm was created and the vegetables produced on the property help to offset food costs and support sustainable living at the center. Dan implemented rainwater reuse and catching systems within the
15th- Slow Roller (Greatful Deadgrass) 16th- Intrusions 17th- Blackberry Bushes (Bluegrass) 21st- vince Brown 22nd- Southern Skies (Bluegrass) 23rd- David Wayne (Folk Rock) 24th- Sundowners (Country) 28th- Def Lester 29th- Jess & Jacob (Bluegrass) 30th- tracey Hooker All Bands play 31st- Quatro (Jazz) from 11a.m.-2p.m.
Green Living 2009 l Page 27
Green In Action PRISON GARDENS prison and made the switch to low flush toilets, reduced water for laundry and stopped watering any vegetation on the property that could not be naturally sustained or eaten. The organic garden provides therapeutic value to the inmates at Cedar Creek. Gardening has a calming effect on people, and has provided a therapeutic outlet for the inmates. The organic garden also opens up a curiosity and interaction from the inmates and Dan noticed a change in the conversations that happen within the prison. By adding hands on projects for the inmates, important life skills are developed that help them after their release. These life skills help the inmates appreciate their natural surroundings and teach them skills that can be carried into all aspects of life. It changes what is happening in the prison and transforms the atmosphere from a place of confinement to an environment that supports rehabilitation and skill building. When Dan realized that becoming a sustainable prison was also cutting the cost of operations, he began to explore other money saving sustainable projects, such as composting. So he asked, “How can we do something without buying anything new?” In the theme of sustainability, they did not spend any money on the composting system. Instead they used old ecology blocks, picked a roof off an old building and set up their compositing system. The current composting system at Cedar Creek takes in several hundred pounds of waste each day. In addition to composting, he realized that if they took the cardboard that they normally recycled and instead made money off of it, that he would have a winning plan. And he did just that. A garbage-sorting
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center on the prison property was born. Dan states, “All garbage is now hand sorted on a volunteer basis. Hand sorting does two things: First, it maximizes what you can recycle, and second, you become more aware of what goes into the dumpster.” The ideas began to grow and soon Cedar Creek Correctional Center became a haven of sustainability ideas in action. They began worm composting, interior organic gardens, bee harvesting and honey making, and throughout the entire process, they cut down on water. “Water usage went down from 130 gallons to 100 gallons per day, which saved over 250,000 gallons of water during the dry months of summer. Finally, we could support an expansion of the prison. We had broken a fundamental threshold,” Dan explained. With the help of the Department of Ecology, Dan found out that since they had cut down their water usage so significantly, the water they put into the treatment plant also went down considerably. They also found that their composting efforts to implement plate scraping service to collect all of the organic waste of the plates reduced the food particles going down the drain and decreased the amount of bio-solids going to the treatment plant. This decrease meant that Cedar Creek did not need to invest any money to increase its inmate population. Cedar Creek Correctional Center saved hundreds to thousands of dollars each month by composting, recycling, and growing their own vegetables and the $1.4 million dollar water project they had projected went down to $0 because of the sustainability programs. Dan believes that creating links between the institution and community is important. The prison projects are not just something behind a fence; they could also share their success story and help teach others what they had learned. They started to offer lecture series so people can see what was happening. This provided environmental education to the public, employees and inmates. Fast forward to today and the prison expansion project is done. The living units are completed and are all equipped with rainwater flush toilets and urinals and the building is LEED silver certified. The Prison Sustainability Project started with a simple interest of trying to expand a prison and deep down inside of that was environmental economics to reduce costs along with lessening the Department of Corrections footprint on the planet. Dan concludes, “You think of a prison as being more behind the times, but the work we do locally is cutting edge.” GL
Green In Action CSA
CSA’s
Buy Local
By Grier Jewel
I
s your potato pooped? Does your lettuce limp? Are your onions too weak to weep? If your veggies are like much of today’s produce, they have good reason for being a bit run down. Odds are they have traveled about 1,300 miles to reach your neighborhood grocery store. Even with the cosmetic enhancements of a chemical spray and beauty wax, there is no denying the fact that your ‘cukes have led a hard life. One might well understand the sort of fatigue your food suffers after so many miles and numerous middlemen, not to mention the rude squeeze of countless impolite hands. If your spinach speaks Spanish, just think about what it must have endured to find its way into your proud pasta dish. Have some compassion, but look a little closer to home next time. There is a better life waiting for you and your food, and it is just around the corner. Thanks to an opportunity to buy directly from farmers who know how to treat a tomato right, you can bring home produce that is fresh from the garden. Known as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), or membership gardens, CSA’s share the bounty of lively fruits and vegetables without all the drama of a long road trip. A membership garden allows non-farmers to dig into outof-this world regional produce without, well, having to dig. By paying in advance for a season’s share of produce, customers are helping to sustain local farmers, reduce gas consumption, support the local economy and live in relationship with the seasons. Jim McGinn of Rising River Farm in Rochester says that CSA membership is a real grounding, stable part of our business. Although he and his wife have other outlets for selling their produce −such as the farmer’s market and Food Co-op− CSA gives them the confidence of knowing they have a steady base of customers. “The farmer’s market is great, but there’s always that unknown factor. It’s comforting to know that when you are planting, you have a base and that people will be buying from us for 20 weeks.” McGinn points out that CSA’s allow farmers to grow what they are good at growing. This means each farm varies in its produce. Customers who want their arugula may not get it unless they have a farmer who grows it well. To this end, McGinn says CSA’s require a customer who is willing to explore new foods. “CSA’s work well for members who welcome produce that they would not ordinarily buy,” he says. “You’re forced to try new things. It’s not for people who need to shop for specific meals.” Sheila Gray, director of Lewis County Washington State University Extension, agrees. “You need to be adventurous in your vegetable eating. You might end up with something you haven’t traditionally eaten before.” Gray says that many farms Green Living 2009 l Page 29
Green In Action CSA
include newsletters and recipes with their deliveries. For those at a loss for how to entertain their palates with eggplant, these recipes provide a big boost to one’s culinary creativity. According to Asha McElfresh of Wobbly Cart Farming Collective in Rochester, “CSA’s are for people interested in local, fresh, organic foods who want to cook according to what’s available. It’s a different way of thinking.” Instead of planning a meal and then shopping, CSA members prepare their meals in harmony with each week’s harvest. This natural way of eating suits Anita Goin’s family perfectly. “We love to eat with the seasons. On Wednesdays, the day we get our ‘veggie box,’ we can’t wait to see what’s inside. As a family, we delight in opening it to discover the delicious and wonderful goodies that are inside. Each week, our family’s meals are planned around the contents of our box where we make the super fresh, locally grown, organic vegetables the stars of each meal. This has made for some fun, sometimes adventurous and always delicious dinners for our family.” The Goin family’s affection for fresh food doesn’t end at the table. Joining a CSA is very much in keeping with their values of living lightly on the earth. “We love that by buying our food locally through our CSA membership, we are leaving a smaller carbon footprint than we would by purchasing food that’s been jetted and trucked from half the planet away.” Although some CSA invite customers to pick up their food at the farm, they typically make weekly deliveries to local dropoff sites. The cost varies, depending on the size of share. Prices range from $200 to $600 for one season. A few also offer weekly subscriptions. An important consideration for anyone thinking about joining a CSA is the number of shares available for purchase. As Jim McGinn says, “I want to make sure everyone gets enough tomatoes.” At Wobbly Cart, McElfresh says people tend to think about joining when the weather is good. Even though it helps the farm to
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have members join as early as the previous fall, she says they will take members at any time. Ann Vandeman of Left Foot Organics in Olympia stresses the importance of signing up as early as possible.” The idea of a CSA is to provide that upfront cash before the crop is harvested and the money starts coming in.” She says that although they prefer to have customers pay for their subscriptions in full, they can also make arrangements to pay in installments. Vandeman, who employs people with developmental disabilities at a competitive wage, says that CSA memberships make up about 40% of their produce income. She encourages anyone who is interested in signing up to visit their website. Since many CSA farms have their own online sites, this is an easy way to compare prices and offerings when looking for the right fit. “Look at our newsletters and get a good idea of what’s going on,” she suggests. ”People ask me all the time what to expect from week to week, so I tell them to look at past newsletters and that will give them a good idea of what they’ll get from us. There’s always an element of surprise, though. It just depends on nature, and nature is full of surprises.” What can you expect from a CSA besides an enzymatic explosion of organic garden goodness? Depending on the season, and the weather, you might open your box to find a fresh assortment of peas, strawberries, purple beans, swiss chard, cauliflower, leeks, carrots, corn, arugula, kale, garlic, green onions, broccoli--the list goes on and varies from farm to farm. The most important ingredient, however, appears to be the excitement of members who open their weekly surprise package and dig in with gusto. For thousands of South Sounders, this opportunity to reconnect with the season’s local bounty is worth a lot more than they pay per share. For families like the Goin’s, it just might be worth all the frozen peas in China. GL
For resources and more information, visit www.sustainablesouthsound.com
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