Whidbey Green Guide 2009

Inside: new heights to rs a o s r e Solar pow

Living sustainably and enjoying

a green lifestyle on Whidbey Island

Whidbey

GreenGuide reduce • reuse • recycle • protect • preserve • restore

A special publication of The Whidbey Examiner • May 2009 360.678.8060 • 6 NW Coveland St., Coupeville • www.whidbeyexaminer.com

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Whidbey Island Green Guide • Published by The Whidbey Examiner • May 2009

Low-impact development protects Island water Choosing plants

By Justin Burnett Examiner Staff Writer Low-impact development is a term that’s increasingly in the consciousness of those interested in sustainable living and protecting the environment.

According to Curtis Hinman, a watershed ecologist and faculty member at Washington State University Extension’s Pierce County office, the term can refer to a wide variety of environmentally sensitive techniques, all focused on stormwater management.

Hinman is the author of the LID Technical Guidance Manual for Puget Sound, a reference being used by communities across the state, along with several other publications aimed at promoting low-impact development throughout the region.

While there are a number of techniques aimed at managing stormwater, they are all designed to protect water resources, ranging from rivers and wetlands to the Puget Sound marine environment.

Stormwater can be contaminated with everything from lawn

Justin Burnett / The Whidbey Examiner

Coupeville residents Bill and Monica Haselbauer show off the rain garden they installed as an attractive – and affordable – alternative to a traditional stormwater management system, which in their case would have involved unsightly plastic drainage pipes hanging over the edge of the bluff.

chemicals and pet waste to automobile lubricants and heavy metals. Any kind of development introduces impervious surfaces such as streets, rooftops, parking

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lots, sidewalks and compacted soils that block stormwater from being naturally absorbed into the soil. Low-impact development strategies can be used to keep stormwater from running directly into a body of water.

One popular strategy is replacing traditional pavement with permeable paving. Another is the use of garden roofs, such as the one on the shelter at Clinton Beach Park near the Clinton ferry terminal. But perhaps the most widely used method is the installation of rain gardens.

“It is really the workhorse,” Hinman said. “You can put those things anywhere.”

A rain garden can easily be mistaken for an ordinary garden.

But a special soil mixture and carefully selected plants are used to capture and filter runoff from surfaces such as paved roads and

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parking lots.

Because they are such effective water filters, rain gardens can help protect Whidbey Island’s aquifer from contamination, said Stacy Smith, natural resource planner for the Whidbey Island Conservation District.

Local governments are increasingly turning to rain gardens to manage stormwater runoff. In 2008, Island County installed a large rain garden in front of its jail facility on North Main Street in Coupeville.

Island County Public Works is planning to install three traditional rain gardens in Freeland Park, along with a “rain gardenin-a-box” designed specifically for use in urban areas that will serve as an educational tool. The cost of the project is covered by a $75,000 state grant.

The City of Oak Harbor and the Town of Coupeville are in the process of revising their codes to require low-impact techniques on new development projects.

“They’re all coming along; they’ve bought into it,” Smith said. “It’s an environmental and

Here are the top 10 plants for use in a rain garden: • Cornus sericea, red-twig dogwood • Physocarpus capitatus, Pacific ninebark • Carex obnupta, slough sedge • Juncus tenuis, dagger-leaf rush • Scirpus microcarpus, smallfruited bulrush • Acer circinatum, vine maple • Mahonia aquifolium, tall Oregon grape • Fragaria chiloensis, wild/coastal strawberry • Philadelphus lewisii, mockorange • Ribes sanguineum, red-flowering currant The Whidbey Island Conservation District offers a variety of resources on rain gardens, including some available online. Go to www.whidbeycd.org/LID.htm.

health concern.”

It’s not just a matter of growing public awareness; state law now requires such techniques in certain circumstances. In 2008, the state Pollution Control Hearings Board ruled that communities of 100,000 or more people must require LID techniques in new development.

Jurisdictions with populations between 10,000 and 100,000 also are affected. Although they don’t have to require LID techniques yet, they were essentially told that it’s only a matter of time and they should prepare for the eventuality, Hinman said.

Municipalities with populations of under 10,000, such as Coupeville, were not affected.

“You guys get to slip under the radar,” Hinman said.

However, Coupeville officials aren’t waiting for the command before investigating and applying water-resource protection standards.

For example, when Bill and Monica Haselbauer built their high-bluff home on Parker Road, they took Town Planner Larry Kwarsick’s suggestion and built two rain gardens instead of allowing their stormwater to spill over over the bank into the waters of Penn Cove.

Monica Haselbauer said they were happy to comply with Kwarsick’s recommendation. The rain gardens not only were inexpensive, but they’re a lot more attractive than the alternative.

“I think they look a lot nicer than big old lines going over the cliff,” she said.

May 2009 • Published by The Whidbey Examiner • Whidbey Island Green Guide

Page 3

Alternative energy a booming business

By Justin Burnett Examiner Staff Writer In today’s environmentally conscious times, the goal of being “green” has never been more popular.

The idea has made recycling and other easy, inexpensive green practices part of everyday life. But increasing interest in renewable energy indicates that a growing number of people are willing to make much larger investments in a sustainable future.

According to Mike Nelson, director for Washington State University’s Northwest Solar Center, reliance on renewableenergy has exploded over the past 10 years. Internationally, the use of solar-energy systems is growing about 30 to 40 percent a year, while wind and hydropower are not far behind.

“It’s definitely accelerating at rocket speed,” Nelson said.

According to Kelly Keilwitz, owner of Whidbey Sun and Wind Renewable Energy Systems, Whidbey Island is no exception.

“It’s become very clear, by a virtual consensus of climate scientists, that global warming has been driven by human activity,” he said. “[People] see the importance of getting off fossil fuels.”

When Keilwitz started his business in 2000, there was little local awareness and interest in renewable energy, and the cost of installing a residential alternative-energy system kept many homeowners from exploring the possibilities.

It wasn’t until Washington state began offering financial incentives for people to install solar- and wind-powered systems that the price became within reach.

“That’s what really opened the door for financial viability,” Keilwitz said.

One program allows homeowners to be paid for the energy their systems produce and contribute to the power grid. Another allows homeowners to get a credit on their electricity bill.

Still more savings can be achieved through the selling of renewable-energy credits, more commonly referred to as “green tags.” Because the power created by renewable-energy systems is generated without the use of fossil fuels, it is considered a commodity. Businesses and organizations wishing to market themselves as “green” purchase the tags from utility companies, who then credit the energy-pro-

Justin Burnett / The Whidbey Examiner

Kelly Keilwitz of Whidbey Sun and Wind Renewable Energy Systems scrubs down a solar-energy system he installed at the home of Coupeville resident Vern Olsen.

serve,” Moore said.

Fran Einterz, owner of the historic Jenne Farm and a member of the Reserve Trust Board, said he also would argue against 100- to 200-foot wind towers in the heart of the Reserve.

They would be too insensitive to scenic integrity, he said. But smaller wind towers may not be as problematic and would be historically accurate, as windmills were once common on Whidbey Island.

“It would be hard to argue against them on a purely historical basis, because that doesn’t hold water,” Einterz said.

Einterz and his wife, Joyce Peterson, have long considered installing a 30- to 40-foot wind tower. However, a smaller wind tower doesn’t generate as much power as a larger one can.

As alternative energy systems such as wind towers increase in popularity, Einterz said the Trust Board will continue to work on finding a balance between preservation and sustainability.

“It’s an ongoing question that the Trust Board is wrestling with,” he said.

ducing consumer. According to portunity to spark a public dia- scape, he said.

“You’d have a hard time getKeilwitz, a system that powers log on the issue. Sherman said only one-third of a home’s total he suspects that many of those ting me to go along with a 100energy consumption can gener- who are most adamant about foot pole sticking up in the Reate enough credit to completely historic preservation are also offset the home’s regular power very much in favor of alternative energy such as solar and wind. bill.

“What an interesting debate,” While financial incentives have helped boost business, Sherman said.

Whidbey Sun & Wind is your local According to James Moore, Keilwitz said Whidbey Island’s chair of the Island County Hisnatural climate also plays a role. renewable energy expert Because it’s in the rain shadow torical Committee, there are formed by the Olympic Moun- rules that address cell-phone tains, the Island gets enough towers in the Reserve, but none sunshine to make a solar-energy that cover wind towers.

Moore said he believes it’s system practical.

Central Whidbey also is a only a matter of time before an prime location for wind power. application for a wind tower However, while many local resi- comes before the committee.

If a wind-town proposal is dents have expressed interest in wind systems, the resource has presented, Moore said he would yet to be tapped in any wide- be against it. Wind towers would run contrary to the Reserve’s spread way.

One of the windiest places on purpose of preserving scenic the Island is the flat, open prai- vistas and an open rural landrie landscape of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve. But Whidbey Sun & Wind has been installing solar because the average residential electric, solar water heating and wind power wind tower is as tall as 160 feet, they could prove controversial systems in our community and across the northern within the historic landscape.

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Whidbey Island Green Guide • Published by The Whidbey Examiner • May 2009

Local builders emphasize energy savings

By Justin Burnett Examiner Staff Writer Imagine owning a home that is not only easier on the environment, but uses 90 percent less energy.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize the potential savings. If your current energy bill is $100 per month, over 10 years such a home would save you $10,800. After 30 years, it could save you as much as $32,400.

According to Ted Clifton of Clifton View Homes in Coupeville, most American homes can achieve that kind of energy savings.

“That’s very typical of about 75 percent of homes in the U.S.,” he said.

Clifton, who has been in the construction business for more than 30 years and is chair of the Built Green program sponsored by the Skagit/Island Counties Builders Association, does not use traditional stick-built construction methods. Instead, his projects employ green building technologies and rate well above the energy-efficiency standards required by state code.

Clifton’s interest and commitment to sustainable building practices is evidenced by the many green-building awards

Justin Burnett / The Whidbey Examiner

Robert Stockmann of Whatcom-based Pinnacle Inspections conducts a blower door test on a Scenic Heights home. The test helps pinpoint drafty areas that allow heat to escape and drive up winter heating bills.

that adorn his office walls.

This year, a home he built was recognized by the National Association of Home Builders as Concept Home of the Year. The Sheldon home in Coupeville, which incorporates solar panels, extra insulation and other energy-efficient features, enjoyed a heating bill of just $400 for the

entire past year.

The home also was also selected as the Skagit/Island Counties Building Association’s Residential Project of the Year for homes under 2,000 square feet.

Perhaps no one knows the importance of energy-efficient construction methods better than Tobie Johnson, a Scenic Heights

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resident whose home was built in the 1960s. Tired of paying high heating bills and planning to remain in her home as she grows older, Johnson hired Clifton to make her home more green.

“Being baby boomers, we’re looking down the road,” she said. “It just makes sense. I don’t like waste.”

According to Clifton, the best thing a homeowner can do to improve energy efficiency is to make a home more airtight.

Green building isn’t just about saving trees, he said. It’s also about building better homes.

“The saying goes, ‘build it tight, build it right,’” he said.

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For existing homes such as Johnson’s, the first step is to give the home an energy rating and to determine where air – and heat – is escaping. Clifton often hires a subcontractor to perform what is called a “blower door test.”

A blower door consists of a calibrated fan for measuring an airflow rate, and a pressuresensing device to measure the air pressure created by the fan flow.

The combination of pressure and fan-flow measurements are used to determine the building’s level of airtightness.

The process involves sealing an entryway and installing a fan to suck the air out of the structure. The fan measures the resistance, and the results are used to rate the airtightness of the building.

The process also can reveal specific areas, such as windows and walls, that harbor air leaks that reduce energy efficiency.

As for new homes, the vast majority of Clifton’s homes are framed using the structurally insulated panel system, referred to as SIPS. Compared to traditional stick-built methods, buildings made of SIPS materials are more energy efficient.

The panels consist of two pieces of orientated strand board with an insulation core – they look something like a sandwich – SIPS-built homes can reduce energy consumption by 50 percent, according to the Structural Insulated Panel Association’s Web site.

Another commonly used green-building technology is the blown-in blanket system, said Jon Roberts, president of Oak Harbor-based Cascade Custom Homes. Loose material is blown into the space to be insulated, ensuring better coverage.

“We’re trying to make the most energy-efficient thermal envelope we can,” Roberts said.

And people have noticed.

About 85 percent of the homes he builds employ such technology, Roberts said.

Local builder Dan Miranda, owner of Viewridge Construction, uses insulated concrete forms as part of his green building techniques. Essentially a See BUILDING. page 4

May 2009 • Published by The Whidbey Examiner • Whidbey Island Green Guide

Building: Insulation; from page 4 concrete slab wrapped in an insulating layer of Styrofoam, it’s essentially another way to make a home energy efficient.

The cost of using insulated concrete forms is no greater than that of traditional building methods, Miranda said.

“Because it costs the same, you’d be silly to use the standard,” Miranda said.

While only about half of the homes he builds use the ICF method, Miranda said the number is growing. A project he did on Madrona Way near Coupeville regularly drew the attention of curious onlookers.

“I must have had a hundred people stop and look at that house,” he said.

According to Gary Nordeen, a senior building science specialist with the Washington State University Extension’s energy program in Olympia, there is no “silver bullet” when it comes to green building technologies.

For example, homes built using insulated concrete forms generate less construction waste than a stick-built home. However, production of some of the materials used can have a large carbon footprint. For example, the cement manufacturing industry was the fourth-largest producer of carbon dioxide in the U.S. in 2007, according to a 2009 Environmental Protection Agency study.

“All have pros and cons,” Nordeen said.

He also said it’s no surprise the green building industry is

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Tips To Make Your Home More Green: • Recycle your old computer towers, monitors, TVs, and laptops through the E-cycle program. Free recycling for the above items at: Oak Harbor Recycle Park, Coupeville Recycle Park, Island Recycling in Freeland.

• Don’t break it, take it in for free disposal!

Free disposal for fluorescent and CFL bulbs at Oak Harbor Recycle Center, Coupeville Solid Waste Complex, Island Recycling, and Bayview Recycle Center. Also accepted are all types of batteries.

Justin Burnett / The Whidbey Examiner

• Mulch it, don’t burn it! Branches and yard waste accepted at Mailliard Landing in Oak Harbor or Coupeville Solid Waste Complex for less than regular garbage fee.

Dan Miranda of Viewridge Construction works on a house built with green building technology. Miranda is one of a number of Whidbey Island builders focusing on building sustainable homes.

on the rise. Fluctuating energy and fuel prices, a sour economy, growing environmental awareness and more-affordable building technologies all have an impact on the construction industry.

Builders have more incentive to go green than ever before.

“It’s to a builder’s advantage to do that, because consumers want green things,” Nordeen said, adding that he is convinced the trend will continue.

“I believe it’s a snowball effect, and it will get bigger and bigger,” he said.

Saving energy at home Top 10 ways to cut down on energy bills: n Seal ducts of forced-air heating systems in crawl spaces with mastic glue or some other type of sealant.

Homes typically lose 22 to 40 percent of their heated air to poorly sealed duct joints. n Make sure the roof of your home has adequate insulation. n Identify air leakage in your home with a blower

door test; 30 percent of the average heating bill is attributed to air leakage. n Make sure windows and doors are sealed properly; caulking, foam gaskets and weather sealing can help reduce your heating bill. n Keep your chimney flue closed when not in use. n Use compact-fluorescent light bulbs, which use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs.

n Set your water heater to 120 degrees, which is sufficient for most household uses. And if it’s not an insulated model, wrap an insulating blanket around it. n Install curtains or replace single-pane windows with double-pane windows. n Replace water fixtures and toilets with low-flow alternatives. n Invest in energy-efficient washer and dryer systems.

For more information, please call 360-679-7386.

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Whidbey Island Green Guide • Published by The Whidbey Examiner • May 2009

Whidbey drivers rev up fuel-savers

By Justin Burnett Examiner Staff Writer

PSE offers home energy evaluations

While a shiny new Mercedes Benz or BMW may be the traditional head-turner, Coupeville resident Jack Fournier’s ride is breaking the mold.

Whether he’s rolling down Front Street or pulling into Prairie Center for groceries, people just can’t seem to resist asking him about his wheels; “Where did you get it” and “How fast does it go” are the most common questions. At 83, Fournier admits he never gets tired of the attention.

“I sometimes drive down Front Street for the fun of it, just so people wave at me,” he said.

As an added plus, the vehicle also happens to be a babe magnet.

“The women say, ‘Oh, it’s the cutest thing I ever saw,’” Fournier said.

If you are the owner of a more mainstream vehicle and are thinking it’s time for an upgrade, consider this: Fournier’s car isn’t a sexy sports car or a restored American muscle car.

In fact, with a top speed of 25 mph, it’s unlikely to burn rubber or break any speed records.

Fournier’s hotrod is an electric car, and it happens to be Coupeville’s first.

Fournier bought a GEM, or Global Electric Motorcars vehicle, in summer 2008 to get around town and spend less money on fuel. While Washington gas prices are now hovering at about $2.25 a gallon, in July 2008, local residents were paying upwards of $4.50 per gallon of gas.

With a curb weight of 1,170 pounds, Fournier’s GEM can travel about 30 miles before it needs to be recharged. As he never drives it beyond town limits, the vehicle has been quite convenient. But best of all, he said, it’s saving him money.

“Oh boy, it sure did,” he said.

“I have to count my pennies of course.”

When Fournier first purchased his GEM, the vehicle was saving him about $60 a month in fuel. At today’s fuel prices, that tallies out to about $35. Either way, it’s a gas tank a month he doesn’t have to pay for.

But Fournier is the first to admit an electric car is not for everyone. With a top speed of 25 mph, the vehicle can’t legally travel on a state highway, which makes getting to Oak Harbor impractical.

For most people, that’s pretty

Puget Sound Energy has announced a series of community events, home energy evaluations and renewable energy development opportunities on Whidbey Island.

The utility company is offering HomePrint energy evaluations to residential customers who heat their homes with electricity from Puget Sound Energy. The results will show where homeowners can save energy and potentially cover the cost of switching to PSE’s Green Power Program, according to Linda Irvine, community resource conservation manager for the City of Langley.

The in-home energy analysis costs $95 and includes a personal visit by an advisor who will conduct a review of major energy systems, such as central heating and air conditioning, water heating, weatherization, lighting, appliances and home electronics. Energyefficient light bulbs, pipe insulation and low-flow showerheads will be installed for no additional charge. Customers will receive a detailed report showing their home energy usage.

Interested Whidbey residents can call 1-800-562-1482 to see if they qualify and request an appointment.

PSE is also launching the Whidbey Green Power Challenge, with the intent to increase the number of households enrolled in the Green Power Program from 650 to 1,000. When the goal is achieved, PSE will provide $25,000 toward a community solar project on the Island.

The cost of the Green Power Program to customers typically ranges from $4 to $10 per month and goes to support the development of renewable energy. Island businesses and organizations that currently purchase Green Power include the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce, Christopher’s on Whidbey, the Clyde Theater, Island Athletic Club, Island Transit, Karlson Gray Gallery, Prairie Center Red Apple Market and Whidbey Island Soap Company.

PSE will hold informational workshops on June 3, June 13 and Aug. 8. Call 360-3313060 or visit the PSE office at 1794 Main St. in Freeland.

The Web site is PSE.com.

Justin Burnett / The Whidbey Examiner

Coupeville resident Jack Fournier stands in front of his GEM electric car. Fournier, the first person in Coupeville to own an electric car, purchasing the car in 2008 to cut down on fuel costs.

unrealistic. However, the idea of making a big dent in fuel costs seems to be increasingly popular in Coupeville.

Marshall and Jan Bronson also purchased an energy-efficient vehicle last year. Their Smart Car is fast enough to travel any road and gets about 40 miles to the gallon.

“We just absolutely love it,” Jan Bronson said. “We can hardly bear to drive anything else.”

Both vehicles are pricy however: the GEM runs about $14,000 and the Smart Car starts at about $16,000. Plus, the Smart Car has at least a one-year wait-

ing list. But what seems to be an increasingly common, and more affordable, means of transportation is the scooter.

Coupeville residents such as Ken Pickard and Gary Piazzon have been riding them for years because they get around 60 to 70 miles per gallon. But perhaps the most visible scooter rider is Admiral’s Cove resident Pauline Ornburn.

Ornburn putts around on a pink scooter while wearing a pink helmet has earned her the nickname around town as the ‘Barbie Biker.’ She insists she wasn’t going for the Barbie

look; rather, the pink-on-pink setup simple reflects her personal taste.

“I just like the color pink,” she said with a smile.

Ornburn purchased the brand-new scooter for $600 in April 2008. Her other vehicle, a Jeep, had gotten too expensive to drive, she said. What used to be a $5 trip to Oak Harbor now costs her just about 50 cents.

However, Ornburn admits that fuel savings isn’t the only reason she rides a scooter.

“It’s fun to drive and it makes me happy,” Ornburn said.

Justin Burnett / The Whidbey Examiner

Admirals Cove resident Pauline Ornburn is one of many people in Central Whidbey that have begun riding scooters to save on gas. However, with her eye-catching pink ride and matching pink helment, she’s likely the only one to have acquired the nickname ‘Barbie Biker.’

May 2009 • Published by The Whidbey Examiner • Whidbey Island Green Guide

Page 7

Online guide teaches best habits Homeowners can benefit from energy tax credits Puget Sound Energy is en- In addition, PSE customers can able for upgrades to windows for cleaner Washington waters couraging residential custom- take advantage of PSE rebates and doors, insulation installa-

Washingtonians have a new online tool kit to help them keep Puget Sound and other Washington waters healthy and clean.

“Washington Waters: Ours to Protect” is a Web site packed with downloadable posters, tips and advice. The site outlines tangible actions that every Washington resident can take to protect the state’s waters – actions that are essential to fish, wildlife, people, and the state’s economy.

“Solid scientific research confirms that we, as individuals, are the key to healthy, clean waters all across out state,” said Jay Manning, director of the Washington Department of Ecology.

“People usually want to do the right thing, but they often do not know what that is. With Washington’s growth and the issues we face in restoring Puget Sound, this topic has never been more relevant.”

Recent Ecology reports reconfirm that surface runoff is the main pathway for toxic chemicals getting affecting Western Washingont’s marine environment – including the waters surrounding Whidbey Island.

Everyday activities of people contribute to this continuing pollution problem.

Read the guide online www. ecy.wa.gov/washington_waters.

Safely dispose of household toxics

Most of us use products containing hazardous substances – items as common as flashlight batteries, paints and cleansers.

Each of these contain at least small amounts of toxic substances.

Tossing these items out with the trash puts the environment at risk. Instead, dispose of hazardous products and their containers at any Island County Solid Waste transfer station. There’s no fee for residential disposal.

Hazardous products include: n Flourescent light bulbs n Paints and stains n Solvents & strong cleaners n Gas and oil n Lubricants n Automotive fluids n Pool and spa chemicals n Yard and garden chemicals n Hobby chemicals n Household batteries, including rechargeable batteries from cell phones, toys, toothbruches, etc.

n Any products comntaining lead, cadmium or mercury.

You also can take steps to protect our water resources – and the health of your family – by choosing safer products at the store.

You also can recycle your old fluorescent light bulbs by mail.

Waste Management NW recently launched ThinkGreenFromHome.com, a program for recycling small household items including CFLs, batteries and eventually other household electronics. For $14.95, customers can order online and receive prepaid-postage recycling kits delivered to their door. Vapor-lock packaging in the kits reduces the risk of airborne exposure and environmental contamination from lamps broken during storage and shipping.

Learn more about recycling fluorescent bulbs at 1800recycle.wa.gov, or call the Recycle Hotline at 1-800-732-9253.

Steps to being a ‘green’ car owner

When caring for your car, there’s a lot you can do to reduce your impact on the environment – and keep Whidbey Island’s waters clean for future generations. n Fix oil and fluid leaks in your vehicle. Use ground cloths and drip pans under the car when working on it at home. n Use absorbent rags or kitty litter to soak up any oil spills, then dispose of the oily waste in the garbage. Do not allow brake fluid, oil, grease or antifreeze into the street where they will eventually reach water. n Reduce your vehicle use.

Consolidate errands and try alternative modes of transportation such as carpooling, walking,

bicycling and Island Transit’s fare-free public bus. n Park your vehicle on gravel to prevent pollution runoff. n Wash your car on the grass rather than on pavement to prevent dirty, soapy water from running into storm drains or ditches.

Use biodegradable, low-phosphate cleansers. Another option is to take your car to a commercial car wash that recycles and treats wash water.

Community groups that hold car-wash fundraisers may borrow, at no cost, special kits to keep pollutants out of storm drains. In Oak Harbor, call 360279-4674. In Island County, call 360-679-7339.

ers to take advantage of up to $8,000 in combined utility rebates and potential federal tax credits to make energy efficient home improvements this year that will help support green jobs and could pay for themselves by next year with energy savings that will continue for years to come.

The recent federal stimulus bill extends energy efficiency federal tax credits into 2010 and increases the maximum dollar amount allowed to $1,500.

and incentives totaling as much as $6,500 for energy efficiency home improvements, including the purchase of Energy Star rated appliances or equipment and converting from electric to natural gas home and water heating.

By combining the two opportunities, PSE customers can maximize savings. For example, a home-insulation upgrade could qualify for as much as $1,600 from PSE and another $1,500 in tax credits. Both PSE rebates and federal tax credits are avail-

tion, energy efficient HVAC equipment such as Energy Star rated natural gas furnaces, airsource heat pumps and ductless heat pump systems, and Energy Star rated water heaters.

Homeowners should consult with their tax professional and contractor on equipment qualifications before deciding which home improvements to complete in order to claim the tax credits.

Visit PSE.com or call a PSE Energy Advisor at 1-800-562-1482.

Page 8

Whidbey Island Green Guide • Published by The Whidbey Examiner • May 2009

Eating local: good for you, good for the planet

By Maribeth Crandall Contributing Writer

Learn more

I have a slight problem with dyslexia. However, “backward thinking” isn’t always a disadvantage. These days it seems to be helpful in understanding environmental issues, like the current global food crisis.

I’ve heard lately that because of unpredictable weather, rising fuel prices and growing global demand, staples like rice are in short supply. Scarcity leads to higher prices. The World Bank estimates global food prices have risen 83 percent in the past three years. A corresponding shortage threatens 20 million of the planet’s poorest children.

Experts warn that long-term solutions are likely to be slow, costly and complicated.

Which brings me back to my backward thinking. If you didn’t grow up on a farm, you may have had to be taught where food comes from. Looking at my daily intake of food, I have a lot of questions about how that banana got here, or who grew the grain in my bread?

Say you have a cup of coffee in front of you right now. Where

Learn more about growing your own food, Community Supported Agriculture and your local farmers markets at a Sustainable Living Seminar set for 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 27 at Hayes Hall, Skagit Valley College, Oak Harbor. For details, call 360-2794762 or visit www.oakharbor.org and click on “Community Links.”

Kasia Pierzga / The Whidbey Examiner

Wilbur Purdue, right, sells produce at the Willowwood Farm booth at the Coupeville Farmers Market. The market is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

did that coffee come from? Did you grow the beans yourself?

Not likely. Let’s trace it backward from the grocery store shelf to the truck that brought it from, say, a field in Colombia.

THEO

Loyal Reader

It’s ju $ 19.50/ st on-Isla year nd $ 23/y & off-Islaear nd!

Coffee is the second largest legal export commodity after oil.

The United States drinks about a fifth of the world’s coffee.

After these beans are crushed and dried, they’re transported

by freighter using Venezuelan oil to New Orleans, where the beans are roasted using natural gas from Texas. Then they’re taken to Seattle in an 18-wheeler that gets six miles per gallon of

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diesel. A smaller truck takes the beans to the grocery store where you bought them. It sounds costly and complicated and depends on international trade agreements and the importing of oil and burning of fossil fuels and poorly paid workers who are exposed to pesticides and farming practices that destroy habitat and … oh, stop it, stop it!

If you don’t have a green thumb or a garden plot, you can subscribe to a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. It works like this. A local farmer grows a variety of fruits and vegetables (usually organic). You pay a subscription fee and get a box of good, locally grown, seasonal produce once a week or once a month. You’ll be eating healthier, supporting local farmers and reducing the fossil fuel consumption it takes to transport all that produce to your grocer.

Produce grown by farmersin-training at the Northwest Agriculture Business Center program based at Greenbank Farm is available through a CSA program. The cost is $500 for 20 weeks of fresh produce, harvested on Tuesdays and Fridays beginning in late May. For information about subscribing, visit www.agbizcenter. org and click on “Greenbank CSA.” For information about the CSA Training Center at Greenbank Farm, contact Anza Muenchow at 360-222-3171 or anza@ agbizcenter.org.

Another way to “eat local” is to shop at our local farmers markets. The one in Oak Harbor is open from 4 to 7 p.m. every Thursday. Markets in Coupeville and Bayview and the one at the South Whidbey Tilth campus operate on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Greenbank Farm hosts a market from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

By eating more locally, you’ll reduce our collective carbon food-print, support local farm families and enjoy the flavor, freshness and added nutrition of locally grown food.