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Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
Green Living Journall 100 Gilead Brook Road, Randolph VT 05060 Publisher/Editor: Stephen Morris 802.234.9101, (fax) 901.234.9101 editor@GreenLivingJournal.com Advertising Manager: Amelia Shea 603.924.0056 amelia@GreenLivingJournal.com
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From the Editor Little Fishes By Stephen Morris that my specialty will be little fishes, the panfish such as The idea began, as do so many grandiose ideas, in the sunfish and perch that can be found in nearly every body depths of winter. The ground lies dead and frozen beneath of water larger than a mud puddle. Panfish are numerous a sheet of arctic ice. The days are expanses of tedium, (often overcrowding their habitats), easy to catch, delicious, wild and nutritious. There was even a recipe for olive punctuated by flashes of excruciating pain. The nights oil-poached Bluegill Salad with are endless, the silence broken Summer Veggies that sounded ... too frequently ... by the evil, well within my reach. little man in the basement who It is safe enough to embrace laughs deliriously as he shovels I learned to love radish greens. a delusion when it’s zero outmoundfuls of dollar bills into the No need to forage when you side and Spring seems as distant insatiable furnace. can find nutritious, delicious as ... well, Spring when it’s zero The culprit, as it so often is, degrees outside. But now, here’s was a book, in this case Hunt, new greens right in the the sad, sordid truth. My shakeGather, Cook by Hank Snow, subgarden. Why didn’t I know titled Finding the Forgotten Feast. down cruise in May resulted in This book teems with the vision me up-ended with my waders full these things were delicious? of a bountiful earth where the of water in a small pond that was waters thaw, the rivulets becommore scum and algae than water. ing babbling streams, and seeds, Wotta revoltin’ development this having fooled winter by playing possum, spring to life and turned out to be! begin reaching for the sun. Now, the Fourth of July is around the corner. It’s ninety The human animal sallies forth to gather the bounty: degrees outside, with humidity to match. The holiday buffet will feature blueberries, watermelon, and unthinkable wild mustards and radishes, lamb’s quarters, nettles and hunks of flesh from the grill. In short, my plan to live off curly dock, elderberry, mulberry ... it’s all there for the the land has flown the way of Memorial Day. Does this pick-up. Come on in! The Publix or Price Chopper of mean I am a failure? Nature is open for business, and everything is completely The short answer is “yes,” so I will do the politician’s free. thing of ignoring the short, direct answer in favor of Some of the items I dispensed with quickly. Vermont something more ornate, bombastic, and flowery. Instead clams and crabs, for instance, leave a lot to be desired. Ditto of focusing on what I didn’t do to improve my ecological the seaweed. Nor do I see myself field-dressing a feral pig profile this last quarter, here’s what I DID do: or a brace of pheasant. I decide to specialize in wild plants • I began mowing my lawn with a rechargeable electric and little fishes. mower. This book is really no more than an update of Euell • I learned to love radish greens. No need to forage Gibbons Stalking the Wild Asparagus, but–what the heck– when you can find nutritious, delicious new greens right in that book worked its magic on me forty years ago. Come the garden. Why didn’t I know these things were delicious? spring, I resolved, I will take control of my life. I will Hm-m-m. That’s not a very impressive roster of accomcontrol my fate. I will live by my wits and instincts. I will plishments. I know … I also promoted our community by rediscover the animal within. giving them a voice in our esteemed journal. We’ve always After thinking through the issues deeply, I decided prided ourselves in offering the very best in environmental writing, but increasingly we’ve sourced that writing in our own backyard. Erbin Crowell from Neighboring Cooperatives has contributed regularly to Green Living in recent years. No finer, more articulate spokesperson exists for cooperatives, although a case could be made for Dan Rosenberg of Real Pickles Cooperative. Both are card-carrying, missiondriven members of the cooperative movement. New to the pages of Green Living Journal is Bob Bacon who eloquently makes the case that there is value in those old windows. You might think of the resulting energy Little Fishes - Continued page 6 4 •
Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
Contents
HOMEMADE BUTTER
FROM THE EDITOR Editorial: Little Fishes...................................................4 Short Takes .......................................................................9 Letters ............................................................................... 7 EDUCATION Urban Homesteading ............................................... 28 Coops .............................................................................. 31 MAX ................................................................................. 42 ENERGY AND BUILDING Hot Water ..................................................................... 11 CoHousing ................................................................... 14 CoHousing Solar ......................................................... 18 Pellet Stoves ................................................................. 22 Windows ........................................................................ 34 HEALTH Acupuncture ................................................................ 30 Echinacea ...................................................................... 44 MONEY Help! Where Did My Interest Go ........................... 40
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From the Editor Little Fishes
Continued from page 4
savings as “green gold.” A slightly different form of riches flows from the article on the health benefits of echinacea, contributed by Juliette Abigail Carr of Old Ways Herbal in Shoreham, Vermont. Also in the health category, a tip of the hat to Frederick E. Steinway, licensed acupuncturist from the so-called “Happy Valley” of western Massachusetts. Green Living readers have been scribbling away madly, too. Graham Pringle contributed our signature piece on “utopia” and sets the stage for Don Schramm who penned the description of the “excellent solar adventure” undertaken by his co-housing development in Burlington, VT. It’s the type of project championed by the authors of “sustainable communities” written by a trio of members of the greater Green Living community, and it doesn’t get much closer to home that having mini-reviews of books by my wife and son in the same issue. No wonder there was no time for fishing! These are my own “little fishes,” and I prefer them on the printed page to the charcoal grill. Now Labor Day approach-eth. Needless to say, the fish of central Vermont have been spared for another season. But maybe there’s still time for you to
DON SCHRAMM
float your own boat, dangle the tootsies in the still warm water, and read about how you can fortify yourself for the inevitable winter. Savor the summer. Savor life. Stephen Morris is the national editor of Green Living Journal.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Schedule Household Hazardous Waste Collection Schedule 2014 Series Summer Spring 2012 2011Series Series 2011 Fall 2014 Series Saturday, 3/22/14 Saturday, 3/29/14 Saturday, Saturday, 3/24/12 7/93/19 Wednesday, 7/13 3/28/12 Saturday, 7/23 3/31/12 Saturday, Wednesday,3/26/14 3/23 Saturday, Saturday, 3/26
Saturday, 4/12/14 Wednesday, 4/16/14 Saturday, 4/26/14 Saturday, Saturday, 4/14/12 8/13 8/17 4/18/12 Saturday, 8/27 4/28/12 Saturday, 4/9 Wednesday, Wednesday, 4/20 Saturday, Saturday, 4/30 9/13/14 9/17/14 Saturday, 9/27/14 Saturday, 5/10/14 Wednesday, 5/14/14 Saturday, 5/17/14 Saturday Saturday, 5/5/12 9/10 Wednesday 5/9/12 9/14 Saturday, Satiurday 9/24 5/19/12 Saturday, 5/7 Wednesday, Wednesday, 5/11 Saturday, 10/11/14 10/15/14 Saturday,5/21 10/25/14 Saturday, 6/14/14 6/18/14 Saturday, Saturday Saturday, 6/9/12 10/8 Wednesday 6/13/12 10/12 Satiurday 10/22 6/23/12 Saturday, 6/11 Wednesday, Wednesday, 6/15 Saturday, Saturday, 6/256/28/14 Acworth, Dublin, Acworth, Acworth,Bennington, Bennington, Chesterfield,Chesterfield, Chesterfield, Dublin, Fitzwilliam, Dublin, Fitzwilliam, Fitzwilliam, Greenfield, Acworth, Bennington, Chesterfield, Dublin, Fitzwilliam, Greenfield, Hancock, Harrisville, Hinsdale, Jaffrey, Keene, Hancock, Greenfield, Harrisville, Hancock, Hinsdale, Harrisville, Keene, Hinsdale, Marlborough, Keene, Hancock, Harrisville, Hinsdale, Jaffrey, Keene, Marlborough, Marlborough, Marlborough, Marlow, Nelson, Nelson, Richmond, Peterborough, Stoddard, Nelson, Marlborough, Peterborough, Nelson, Richmond, Peterborough, Rindge,Stoddard, Stoddard, Rindge, Surry, Marlow, Nelson, Peterborough, Richmond, Rindge, Stoddard, Sullivan, Surry, Swanzey, Troy and Walpole Surry, Sullivan, Sullivan, Swanzey, Swanzey, Troy, Troy, Walpole, Walpole, andand Winchester Winchester Sullivan, Swanzey, Troy, Walpole, and Winchester
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Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
FREDERICK STEINWAY
JOHN ROULAC
All collections will be held at the Keene Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility located adjacent to the Keene Recycling Center, 55 Old Summit Rd, Keene, NH. from 8 am - 1 pm
SHORT TAKES
Letters To The Editor Dear Stephen/Green Living: I really appreciate your summer issue book reviews of The Vermont Nature Guide, Gardening Without Work, and How to Prune Fruit Trees, but was disconcerted to see my name and Green Living positively associated with Amazon. com. I consider Amazon a dangerous and rapacious company. It’s true that both Amazon and Tesla (which you referenced in “You Can’t Ban the Future”) have successful, disruptive business models and brilliant CEO/founders, but in terms of societal impact, I expect Tesla will be a positive force while I see Amazon’s impact as very much a negative one–especially in the long term. A full explanation of Amazon’s dangers requires a nuanced conversation about economics, but the short version is Amazon successfully practices winner takes all capitalism. They make a tiny bit of money (and often not even that) on an enormous number of transactions, depriving financial oxygen to everyone else. The problem is only one or a very few companies can do this, and such companies accrue enormous power. It’s true that in the short term consumers often save money shopping on Amazon (a significant piece of that comes from them not charging sales tax, which has been hard on state budgets), but in the long term once Amazon’s dominance is sewn up, expect prices to rise, and all along the way for them to continue to squeeze authors and publishers and vendors who sell via their website. As a vendor and publisher, I’ve felt Amazon’s firm grip on our shoulder, as they change contract terms and rewrite agreements unilater-
Dear Editor:
ally. This is a common experience for Amazon vendors, but one that is kept quiet because Amazon intimidates or extracts retribution, as the recent standoff with the publishing giant Hachette shows. Money = power. In Amazon’s business model of scorched earth pricing, they are king. They have huge commercial technological advantages and wield considerable political power. Take for example, the strangely favorable ruling they received from the Department of Justice on their case involving book publisher ebook pricing or Jeff Bezos’ (Amazon’s CEO) recent purchase of the Washington Post. For what is pocket change for Bezos ($250 million), he gets to control or heavily influence the national conversation about political issues affecting his companies. We now live in times when the super wealthy have more power than in Gilded Age of robber barons. Sadly, those with the most cash and toys really do win, at least politically. So, please join me in avoiding purchases from Amazon. com. Admittedly, I still do occasionally buy things from them, but it is truly occasional and I regularly pay more to buy elsewhere (including from other online vendors—though, note: try and avoid ABE Books which Amazon also owns, along with dozens of other companies such as Zappos.com). It may cost a few extra dimes or dollars now, but is a great investment in all our futures. PS: Originally Jeff Bezos planned for Amazon.com to be named relentless.com. How revealing is that? And to this day, if you type in www.relentless.com, it will take you to Amazon. com. Marshall Glickman Green Living founder
To all friends of Real Pickles: We’ve finished our first year as a cooperative business! Dan Speaking of which, 2015 will be Green Living Journal’s 25th. Start suggesting ways to celebrate!
Dear Editor:
Your article on Firewood is terrific. I learned a lot. Over the years I have learned some practical steps to take in addition to your good advice. Attached is a list I have compiled In case you find your fall edition might find helpful. Dave Peterson, 122 Shutesbury Rd, Leverett MA 01054 Letters - Continued on page 8
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SHORT TAKES Hello Letters To The Editor I read with interest your article about Tesla Motors. Continued from page 7
HEATING YOUR HOUSE WITH WOOD Use deciduous trees, not evergreens; avoid chimney fires. Cut or split a year before use; or dry in sun all summer. When dry, cover from weather until use. Use a modern burner with functioning parts. Bank the fire when away or asleep. Use outdoor air to feed fire and chimney. (4” plastic pipe?) Flush house air at breakfast and supper; oxygen to breathe! Dress warmly, keep active; generate body heat! Close off empty rooms or unused spaces . Capture appliance heat; fridge, stove, washers, driers. Vent clothes drier into cellar or indoor space in winter. Maximize passive solar these ways: Live in few, small rooms, low ceilings, mostly southerly. Ideal: east kitchen, west evening, south all day. Drape sunless windows and all windows at night.
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While the loss of repairs may be one facet of auto dealers dislike of Tesla, the more important reason is that Tesla has elected to sell directly to the consumer. Auto dealers are concerned that should Tesla prove successful in this type of selling, auto manufacturers may elect to also try selling direct to the consumer eventually affecting auto dealership sales. Fred Balicki Athol, MA
Hello Stephen
It has been 8 years since I cycled from Canada to Key West in pursuit of helping other people with Cystic Fibrosis live longer and stronger lives through the incorporation of exercise-based recreation in their lives. Since pedaling that 2,100 miles, over 430 people across the United States have been helped with over $230,000 of assistance to directly pay for costs related to pursuing active lifestyles. This summer I’m participating again in the 8th Annual Champ’s Challenge for Cystic Fibrosis and will be fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Lifestyle Foundation (CFLF). I would like to ask you to support the cause and make a donation to my fundraising page. All donations are secure and sent directly to the CFLF by FirstGiving, who will email you a printable record of your donation. The CFLF will also send a letter of receipt for tax deduction purposes. Please share my page with any of your friends and family that may be inspired to donate as well. If you are interested in the event, and participating either AT the event, OR by riding/running on your own as a ‘Virtual Participant’ please check out the page, www.ChampsChallenge.org for more info and to register. Thank you always for your support of the CFLF and its mission! Brian Callanan
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SHORT TAKES Wild Oats Market and Williams College Student Group Pioneer Innovative Food Assistance Initiative Wild Oats Market has introduced Suspended Groceries, a new approach to food assistance that focuses on making fresh foods, which are not frequently stocked by food banks, more readily available to everyone. Suspended Groceries is the brainchild of Kinetic, a student-run think tank at Williams College that encourages student groups to turn their passions into tangible results. While researching problems and solutions related to food security, the group who designed Suspended Groceries came upon a simple concept called Suspended Coffees, where people paid in advance for a coffee meant for someone else. The students applied this concept to groceries, and proceeded to pitch their idea to grocery stores located near the college. After meeting with the students, Wild Oats Market in Williamstown quickly “signed up,” and became the first grocery store in the area to offer Suspended Groceries. Currently, shoppers at Wild Oats can “suspend” any or all of the following six items for someone in need: • 1 carton of Feather Ridge Farm eggs • 1 32 oz container of Stonyfield organic yogurt • 1 bunch of fresh broccoli
• 1 10 oz package of Cascadian Farm organic frozen berries • 1 lb. of organic rolled oats • 1 cup of house-made soup Wild Oats has made it very easy for shoppers to participate in Suspended Groceries. When checking out at any register, the shopper simply selects one or more items from the Suspended Groceries display at the register and adds a coupon for each item to their order. The shopper is charged for the suspended item(s). The suspended purchase is noted on the register slip and is documented by Wild Oats Market. “Suspended Groceries is a ‘first’ in the area, if not the country,” said Wild Oats General Manager David Durfee. “Wild Oats Market is delighted to be working with Kinetic to introduce it to the community. Both the Williams students who developed this idea, and Wild Oats Market, as the first grocery store in the area to implement it, hope to see Suspended Groceries expand and, like Suspended Coffees, become an integral part of our culture.” For more information please contact: Robin Riley, Wild Oats Market, Williamstown, MA 413-458-8060 or marketing@wildoats.coop
Rutland Vermont USA/ WeBiomass Inc. has announced the release of commercial biomass boiler systems that will affect the debate on commercial biomass use, with particulate emissions up to ten times lower than most currently available commercial biomass boiler systems. Through an agreement with Smart Heating Technologies, Czech Republic, WeBiomass will distribute and support in the USA and Canada, low and ultra-low emission commercial scale biomass boiler systems. These systems particulate emission levels meet the most stringent EPA and urban clean air requirements for biomass, while reducing energy costs up to 60% compared to oil, LP gas, and electricity. Specifically engineered for commercial applications of 15,000 to 220,000 square feet, Smart Heating Technology systems are ideal for municipal, school, federal, agricultural, manufacturing and most commercial or light industrial applications. Providing 150kw to 2 Mw output (500,000BTU- 6.8 million BTU) these systems provide high efficiencies, modulating output, cascade ready, and low maintenance as well as internet monitoring, service diagnostics and fuel flexibility including conventional wood pellet, engineered pellet fuels (from agricultural, municipal and other waste streams), wood chips, saw dust, and other biomass resources.
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ENERGY & BUILDING
Hot Water: Now, More Options Than Ever The prevalent method for Americans to heat water is to maintain a reservoir of fully heated water 24/7 so that it is ready for those 10-15 minutes a day when you take a shower. Isn’t this a bit like keeping your car idling in the garage? Thankfully (or should we say “tankfully”) there are now some more fuel-efficient alternatives available. Tankless water heaters, also known as demand-type or instantaneous water heaters, provide hot water only as it is needed. They don’t produce the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters, which can save you money.
How They Work
Tankless water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. Either a gas burner or an electric element heats the water. As a result, tankless water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don’t need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water. However, a tankless water heater’s output limits the flow rate. Typically, tankless water heaters provide hot water at a rate of 2–5 gallons (7.6–15.2 liters) per minute. Gas-fired tankless water heaters produce higher flow rates than electric ones. Sometimes, however, even the largest, gas-fired model cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple uses in large households. For example, taking a shower and running the dishwasher at the same time can stretch a tankless water heater to its limit. To overcome this problem, you can install two or more tankless water heaters, connected in parallel for simultaneous demands of hot water. You can also install separate tankless water heaters for appliances such as a clothes washer or dishwater that use a lot of hot water. Other applications for demand water heaters include the following: • Remote bathrooms or hot tubs
• Booster for appliances, such as dishwashers or clothes washers • Booster for a solar water heating system.
Advantages and Disadvantages
For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, demand water heaters can be 24%–34% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters. They can be 8%–14% more energy efficient for homes that use a lot of hot water (more than 85 gallons per day). You can achieve even greater energy savings of 27%–50% if you install a demand water heater at each hot water outlet. ENERGY STAR® estimates that a typical family can save $100 or more per year with an ENERGY STAR qualified tankless water heater. The initial cost of a tankless water heater is greater than that of a conven-
tional storage water heater, but tankless water heaters will typically last longer and have lower operating and energy costs, factors that offset the higher purchase price. Most tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of more than 20 years. They also have easily replaceable parts that extend their life by many more years. In contrast, storage water heaters last 10–15 years. Tankless water heaters can avoid the standby heat losses associated with storage water heaters. However, although gas-fired tankless water heaters tend to have higher flow rates than electric ones, they can waste energy if they have a constantly burning pilot light. This can sometimes offset the elimination of standby energy losses when compared to a storage water heater. In Hot Water - Continued page 13
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Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
ENERGY & BUILDING Hot Water
Continued from page 11
a gas-fired storage water heater, the pilot light heats the water in the tank so the energy isn’t wasted. The cost of operating a pilot light in a tankless water heater varies from model to model. Ask the manufacturer how much gas the pilot light uses for the model you’re considering. If you purchase a model that uses a standing pilot light, you can always turn it off when it’s not in use to save energy. Also consider models that have an intermittent ignition device (IID)
Hybrid Comes to Hot Water
More recently the advantages of conventional and on-demand units have been combined in units that blend the benefits of advanced technology and simple supply by pairing an innovative, on-demand tankless system with an ample 40-gallon storage tank. By design, the system has a large capacity of hot water as well as technology to help maintain and quickly replenish the hot water supply. Here are the operating basics of a typical unit manufactured by Rinnai: 1. When a hot water fixture (shower, faucet, etc.) is turned on, heated water exits the system from the top of the tank. While hot water exits the top of the tank, cold water enters the system and is directed toward the bottom of the tank. 2. Automatically sensing a change in temperature, the system activates a pump that draws cooler water located at the bottom of the tank up and through the heating components of the tankless unit. 3. The heated water exits the tankless unit and is then directed toward the top of the tank. 4. While the fixture is on and cold water continues to be directed to the bottom of the tank, the tankless technology continually replenishes the system with hot water. 5. When the hot water fixture is turned off, cold water stops entering the tank, but the tankless unit continues replenishing hot water until the selected set temperature is satisfied.
And Now … the Heat Pump Alternative
For many hears Europeans have heated water using
heat pump technology, but the concept, simple as it is, never made it to this side of the Atlantic. The Accelera® 300, distributed in the United States by Stiebel Eltron, works just like an air conditioner, but instead of dumping the heat outdoors like an air conditioner, it transfers it into the tank of water. The heat pump system contains a fan that forces room air through an evaporator (1). The evaporator contains a liquid refrigerant that extracts heat from the ambient air as it evaporates. As the refrigerant warms it changes into a gas. The warm gaseous refrigerant passes through the compressor (2) which increases its pressure. As the pressure increases, the temperature of the refrigerant rises until the refrigerant becomes hot. The hot refrigerant then passes through the condenser (3), which is wrapped around the water tank. Because heat travels from hot to cold, the refrigerant transfers its heat to the water. The refrigerant, which is now super-cool liquid, then passes through an expansion valve (4), where it becomes a gas again and the process begins anew. The Accelera® 300 uses environmentally-friendly R134a for its refrigerant. It also establishes new standards for the fuel economy and efficiency when it comes to heating hot water. The energy used to heat the water is extracted from the surrounding air and transferred into the super-insulated tank. This is sufficient to meet 90% of heating needs. A second “booster” element provides the additional input to accommodate peak demands. This element is positioned as the very top of the tank where the water is hottest. It is designed and engineered to run as little as possible so that comfort is maintained while savings are maximized. In a warm climate, an Accelera® 300 is placed either in the garage, where it takes heat from the outside air, or inside the house, where it helps with the air conditioning load. In a cooler climate, the unit is typically placed in the basement where it also functions as a dehumidifier. You get hot water at a discount plus a drier basement. Conventional, tankless, hybrid, and now heat pump … the consumer has never had so many options.
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ENERGY & BUILDING
Cohousing in Vermont: By Graham F. Pringle Cohousing started in the mid 1960s in Denmark as a better way to raise a family than in a suburb or a city apartment, caught on rapidly in Denmark, where it is now a common housing option, then Holland, where again it is now a mainstream housing option, and was introduced to America in 1988 by the husband and wife architectural team of Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett in their book, Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves, and is catching on here too, though more slowly. The basic idea is of a small, tightly knit community living in
a housing cluster on two sides of a broad pedestrian path or around an open area or courtyard, in either case providing a place where children can play safely. The front doors of the houses would face this common space and cars would be restricted to the backs of the houses, which might also have terraces, decks, or small garden spaces, and where the more private living areas of the house would be located. Mothers could watch their children from their kitchen windows, and members would frequently cross paths with their neighbors when leaving or entering their houses, yet would still enjoy their privacy. Add to this a common house for community
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meals, meetings and further socializing, some shared facilities such as laundry or a community-wide heating system, the further sharing of gardening equipment and maybe bicycles, plus a set of rules that include consensual decisionmaking and joint responsibility for maintenance of the property and you have cohousing—a viable alternative to suburbia, where one’s neighbors are friends and not just the people who live next door. Vermont has taken this message to heart with a total of six cohousing communities (the greatest number per capita of and American state) ranging from six to 32 households. The two major ones are in Burlington on Lake Champlain and Hartland in the Connecticut Valley, and they have very different ideas of what cohousing can achieve beyond being friendly communities with some shared resources, including a large common house for meals, meetings and social events.
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Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
This 32-household community sits on a five-acre lot on the eastern edge of Vermont’s largest city, Burlington, beside Lake Champlain. The long, narrow site has its western end on Burlington’s East Avenue, across the street from the state’s largest medical facility, the Fletcher Allen Medical Center, and on its eastern end lies a 65-acre woodland preserve, the University of Vermont’s Centennial Woods Natural Area. The other two sides face the back yards of houses on neighboring streets. The community, partly due to the small size and shape of its site and partly from choice, follows the Danish model Cohousing - Continued page 15
ENERGY & BUILDING
Two Communities, Two Visions of a compact community built on two sides of a gently sloping path leading to Centennial Woods. On one side is a four-story common house containing 18 apartments along with a large dining room and open kitchen area, opposite which are two groups of two-story townhouses facing the winding pedestrian path. On the same side as the common house are two somewhat larger adjoining townhouses, and completing the 32 residential units are two conventional two-story houses on the avenue, flanking the driveway to the parking area. Nine of the units are subsidized and designated as permanently affordable housing. While the age spread runs from infancy on up, the averRead about the excellent solar adventure of this project starting on p. 18. age age of members is higher than in most cohousing communities, partly because of its proximity to medical services, and the mere fact that it’s an urban community in a state where young families mostly prefer a more rural setting where Your Local Renewable Energy Partner Since 1975 children have more space to play. The first thing one notices at Burlington Cohousing is the easy relationships that exist between members from very different Start the process NOW walks of life and equally different incomes. Points of origin also for a fall installation range widely, from the immediate vicinity to far away Nepal, which has contributed two of its families. Whatever a member’s status may be in the outside world—which ranges from that of sushi chef at a nearby restaurant to that of an anthropologist with a Ph.D. from Sweden who drives a city bus for a living when not painting wildlife in Net Zero Solar Geothermal places like the Himalayas, to that of (Photovoltaic) Integrated Systems a professor of Astronomy at nearby UVM—it remains parked at the door, and within the community
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Cohousing - Continued page 16
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ENERGY & BUILDING
CoHousing
Continued from page 15
there is a great sense of egalitarianism with no social distinctions whatsoever, a remarkable achievement in status-conscious America. Part of this is due to the community’s architectural planning, which as with the original Danish model is designed to maximize casual encounters between members. The front doors of the townhouses face the common pathway, as do the outside doors of the ground level apartments of the common house, leaving just the two conventional houses somewhat isolated. To further enhance the contact between members, the community mailroom is in the common house at the far end of the dining/kitchen area from the main entrance, adjacent to the interior doorway to the apartment section. Also in keeping with the original concept, considerable emphasis is placed on communal dinners in which members who wish to dine together congregate in the dining room on even-numbered nights of the week except weekends, when there is often a potluck meal. Thus a communal dinner is offered either twice
SHEDS • GArAGES • bArnS ADDitionS ScrEEn HouSES • cAmpS Sun porcHES lumbEr • bArk mulcH SAwDuSt
or three times a week, cooked by the members in informal rotation, with other members signing up to eat two days ahead. On occasion, dinner will be followed by a talk or a slide show by a member who has taken an unusual trip, such as a visit to Cuba on one occasion, and a lecture on an astronomical telescope site in Chile by the UVM astronomer who had recently visited it. This is the only Vermont cohousing community that directly follows the Danish model, and it was through reading McCamant and Durrett ‘s book soon after its publication that Don Schramm and his partner Barbara Nolfi, both long-time Burlington residents, were inspired to pursue the idea of creating a similar community within the city limits of Burlington. After a 15-year hunt for a site, they (and Joan Knight, another Burlington resident who joined forces with them in 1994) finally found one that was affordable, previously a small market garden, and construction began in 2006. In 2007, after 18 years of waiting, the community became a reality. Today Burlington Cohousing is a thriving community with an especially active social life while still preserving individual privacy. Members can join in the community’s activities as they please, their only obligation being to play their part in the planning and maintenance of the community. While not paramount, environmental concerns have not been overlooked; the buildings were designed for energy efficiency and a community-wide photovoltaic solar system has recently been installed. But the importance of Burlington Cohousing as a model for the future lies in its ability to integrate people of many different backgrounds into a cohesive, caring community. More CoHousing - Continued page 17
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Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
ENERGY & BUILDING More CoHousing Cobb Hill
Continued from page 16
On the opposite side of the state, Cobb Hill is a very different type of community. Located in a rural town in the Connecticut Valley, it consists of 23 households and sits on 260 acres of fields and forest, its houses rising pair upon pair up a steep hillside, with a working farm at the foot of the hill. The community was the brainchild of Donella (Dana) Meadows, an environmental scientist and principal author of the 1972 book on the future of society under various patterns of economic growth: Limits to Growth. Meadows, a parttime farmer as well as a professor of environmental science, created the Sustainability Institute in 1996 on the present Cobb Hill site. Then with a few fiends and colleagues she founded the community, with an organic working farm as its nucleus, as a practical demonstration of sustainable living. Dana died unexpectedly in 2001, but her work has gone on, her Sustainability Institute renamed the Donella Meadows Institute in 2011 and relocated to Norwich, Vermont, and Cobb Hill Cohousing is great example of a sustainable lifestyle wrapped around agricultural and the environment. Apart from an organic farm worked with horses on seven acres of land leased from the community at a dollar a year, Cobb Hill is home to eight other small agricultural enterprises, owned and operated by various of its members. This is not a compact community with front doors facing a common pathway, but a spread-out community of single family homes and side-by-side duplexes with their front doors facing outwards to the road, on which are parked the cars. The hill itself is too steep for easy walking or for children to play (instead there’s
flat area for this at the bottom of the hill), which again limits the amount of casual interaction. The common house does act as an anchor at the foot of the hill, but except for meals—dinner is served twice a week in its spacious dining room—and for meetings, there’s no compelling reason for people to use it, except for three members who live in small studio apartments within it. (With 19 households in the houses and duplexes, and an old farmhouse on the edge of the property, these three apartments make up the rest of the 23 housing units.) So the first impression on entering the community is not one of casual interactions between friendly neighbors, but of a hard-working community with little spare time on its hands. Creating a sustainable environment comes before socializing, even though that’s important here too. But at Cobb Hill, work rather than proximity is what connects its members. Apart from the agricultural aspect, in which the whole community is involved in one way or another, and the stewardship of so much land, there’s a considerable commitment of time in feeding the centrally located wood-burning boilers that are the heart of the community’s heating system and in winter need to be fed with cord wood many times a day by members working in teams. For such a small community, that in itself is a major work commitment. But the value of Cobb Hill as a model for others is that more communities such as this are badly needed if local economies growing as much of their own food in a sustainable manner are ever to return the working landscape to a state of health. Perhaps that’s too much to hope for, but more communities like Cobb Hill would be a good way to start.
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ENERGY & BUILDING Cohousing’s Excellent Solar Adventures By Don Schramm Cohousing in Burlington, Vermont can have a long incubation period. We moved into Burlington Cohousing East Village in November 2007 after working towards it for 18 years. It felt like a Phoenix constantly arising from the ashes. Along the way we developed an in-depth mission statement that gave higher priority to affordable housing and engaged residents than to energy-efficiency and environmentally friendly power. While we tried to include passive solar, living roofs, tight and highly insulated structures, sustainable materials, and solar panels in our designs, our budget limited us to no living roofs and only conduits for future solar power. Since move-in, Burlington Electric Department and the State of Vermont have initiated a number of solar programs with incentives. As we have been weaving our way through our processes to get to a smaller environmental footprint, they have been stumbling their way through their processes as well. East Village has enthusiastically embraced solar power after a number of skirmishes about private
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use of our common areas. Our physical community consists of a barn, two single family homes, 10 townhouses, a duplex, and 18 flats in the main building which also holds the common kitchen, dining room, living room, and guest bedrooms. All of these buildings have flat roofs except for the single family homes and our barn. We now have 175 solar panels providing 70 percent of our common use electricity and monthly credits on the electric bills of 11 of our 32 families. Of these panels, 83 are on the main building roof, 30 on the barn roof, 14 on one townhouse, and 16 each on three townhouse roofs. There are likely more solar panels to come and the issue of “private use of public areas” is still a hot one. This issue grew gradually. When we moved into our newly built housing, we had exhausted our construction budget and there were many important features missing from our community. So the next two years we were busy repairing the 1940s barn that came with the land, building parking sheds, adding roof decks, creating guest rooms, furnishing the common kitchen, dining room, and living room, and many other smaller projects. We accomplished a great deal but at the same time glossed over some of the processes involved. In the fall of 2009, two different families requested permission to install solar panels on the townhouse roofs above their heads. Both were approved by the Owners Association. The first family sailed through the process but ended up lacking the financing. The second family met some objections—first from several people unhappy overlooking their solar panels and second from owners concerned that eventually the community as a whole may want to use that roof for general solar power. That project went forward with the stipulation that in case the community wants our general solar system to be combined with those on this single townhouse, the owner would add her panels to the plan at no extra cost to her. Soon afterward 14 solar panels went up on her townhouse roof. This system used a single inverter and a set of storage batteries. Any power generated beyond what was used or could go into the batteries went out onto the electric grid. At that stage our community began to confront conflicts that boiled down to individuals or families requesting some private use of public areas—in many cases roof space. A task force began brainstorming how to deal with such conflicts. There was unanimous agreement that the community as a Co-housing Solar- Continued page 19
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Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
ENERGY & BUILDING Cohousing Solar Continued from page 18 whole owned all the buildings’ “skins” and roofs. If we as a community agreed to use the space for everyone’s benefit, there was no conflict. For example, we built a deck out over the third floor roof for community relaxation and gardens. That was a case of public use of public areas. When some families wanted to put air conditioner condensers on that deck then we had an issue. Those were eventually resolved by putting the condensers on the uppermost roof one story higher. In August 2010 a consortium of three owners proposed installing 113 solar panels on the main roof and south barn roof. Other residents could have joined the consortium but chose not to. It would have been better if the Owners Association itself could have taken on this project but it did not qualify for the federal solar tax grants which was 30 percent of our total costs. So we formed the Burlington Cohousing Solar LLC which would finance and organize the project and sell the power to the Owners Association. Now the questions began to fly. Would the panels damage the roof and if so who would pay for the repairs? Would they be insured and who would pay for that? How much would the fourth floor residents be disturbed by the installation? Were we truly being ecologically responsible in buying solar panels manufactured in other countries using resources and energy to ship them? The Solar LLC followed the new procedures for “private use of public areas,” answered all the questions thrown at them, and started the installation that Fall. While this was a “private use” in the sense that three solar LLC partners would get a return on their investment, it appeared to be for the overall good of the entire community. The majority of our common electric power would now come from solar. Our electricity rate would remain stable. In fact it ultimately went down $2,000 a year because our lower power purchases dropped us into a lower rate category. The Owners Association has the option of buying out the investors at a set cost anytime after the first five years. Through this process our Solar LLC had the assistance of Community Energy Exchange, an L3C organization which facilitates the development of community energy projects in Vermont. They helped design the system, choose the installer, set up the LLC, and do the general administration. In return they were given a small ownership stake. The installer, Vermont Solar LLC, suggested that we use micro-inverters on each panel rather than a couple of inverters for the entire system. With microinverters, a problem with one panel will not impact
the total electrical output of the entire array. Also micro-inverters are connected to the internet and the status of any panel can be assessed online. There were some risks to this approach because micro-inverters did not have an established track record. Many of them actually failed on our main roof before the manufacturer decided that we had a gotten a batch of lemons and had the installer swap them out for newer versions. That was a year ago and we have had no failures since. Unlike the first solar installation with a battery backup, this one simply used the electric grid for “storage.” During the installation, we had a misunderstanding. A couple of residents lost their parking spaces when the crane arrived. They were upset enough that the crane had to be sent back while we resolved the dispute by providing more information and apologizing profusely. We had neglected to keep our neighbors fully informed of the details of what was going to happen. There was some peripheral “heat” around the issue that our conflict resolution committee helped ameliorate. The 113 solar panels have now been in operation for almost three years and Co-housing Solar - Continued page 20
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ENERGY & BUILDING Cohousing Solar Continued from page 19
Underneath the question of “Which roofs” were deeper questions. When is it appropriate to allow the “private use” of our “public areas”? For what purhave produced about 90 megawatt hours of power poses would we allow “private use” and how do we equivalent to offsetting 62.2 tons of carbon. decide? Our task force had worked out a thoughtful With this amazing success, one would expect clear procedure for residents to follow when requesting sailing with the next solar project. That was not to be their “private use of public areas” and that was helpthe case. In the spring of 2012 Burlington Electric ful when some residents wanted to build a stone wall Department opened a new solar program—Group and others to put in various types of sunshades. But Net Metering. This program enabled any resident of the procedure did not go far enough. In retrospect Burlington to install solar panels anywhere within we began to realize that we should never have agreed the City and get credit on their electric bill based on to the earliest proposals from residents to install how much electricity was produced by their panels. their own solar panels without fully developing a Ten families in East Village decided to give this idea policy for the “private use of public areas.” The large a go. We estimated that after applying the Vermont solar project went through relatively easily because Solar Incentive and the Federal Tax Credits, our everyone seem to benefit from it. It too should have per panel cost would be about $800 and each panel waited for policy development. would provide $50 to $55 of credit each year. Various We were getting close to the deadline for the Verfamilies would be purchasing different numbers of mont Solar Incentive, so we put off the full debate panels based generally on how much electricity they as to how we decide on what happens on our roofs. used. Together we would be installing 48 panels on With three owners in one five-townhouse complex two or three townhouse roofs. willing, we decided to put the panels there. We fol“Which roofs?” seemed to be the major question. lowed the “private use of public areas” procedures There are three blocks of townhouses that could hanand got approval from the Owners Association to dle solar panels. The duplex could take 40 altogether. move forward with the installation with the stipulaOne five-townhouse block could take 80. The other tion that exactly which roofs the panels would be could take 64. We asked the townhouse owners how installed on would follow a community forum on the they felt about solar panels going on the roofs above use of our roofs. their heads. One said she could not afford solar Nineteen people showed up for the forum and panels now but was planning to install them on the the discussion was lively. This was clearly a case of roof above her in the future and did not want to lose “private use of public areas” because the electrical this opportunity. Another said they wanted to put a credits generated by the new solar panels would only stairway up to their roof and sunbathe on it. Interestgo to 10 of our 32 families. Nevertheless the project ingly this family was one of those purchasing solar fit well our mission “to actively co-create and suspanels. A third owner said that she did not want solar tain a neighborhood that is nurturing to people and panels on her roof. Four owners were supportive of nature.” Our hope too was that we would find the having solar panels on the roofs above them. No one means in the future for the other 21 families to parclaimed that they owned their “roof ” but there was a ticipate in group net metering and then the benefit strong feeling that they should have some say about would be community-wide. Some folks want energy what happened up there. independence similar to the first solar project that went in. That owner uses batteries to store power to use at night or White cedar from GOODRIDGE LUMBER, White cedar from GOODRIDGE LUMBER, INC.INC. when an outage occurs. Some sugVermont’s Vermont’s NortheastNortheast gested that a mix of energy indeKingdom! 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Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
Cohousing Solar - Continued page 21
ENERGY & BUILDING Cohousing Solar
General Project Details
Continued from page 20
our consensus-based decision process, conflicts of interest may possibly be less relevant because not just a majority but everyone needs to be on board. Is there a way residents can have some say in the decision as to what happens over their heads—at least if there will be serious disruption of their lives during installation or ongoing? The group net metering project sputtered its way through probably because “enough” of our residents seem to benefit. The 48 solar panels were installed in late Fall 2012 and started producing power in January of this year. Each month 10 families see a credit on their electric bills. There is a move afoot to expand group net metering so that every family that wants to can participate and those who want to add more panels will be able to. Burlington Electric even has a program now of low-interest loans tied to property taxes that will cost less each year than the savings on electric bills. This time though, the community seems to want a thorough thrashing out of the issues around “private use of public areas.” This seems to be a debate about competing private uses of common areas. Although photovoltaics may be in keeping with our mission statement, we need not conflate “in the interest of the community” with “undertaken by the community.” Essentially if it is not the Owners Association doing and owning a project, then we still only have one private use vs. another private use. It is unlikely now that further solar panels will go up in our community unless we develop together a plan for a full build-out that all families will participate in. Perhaps we have to devise a method whereby individuals can invest and their financial interests will be protected but the community as a whole will own the panels. The discussion about how this might happen is planned for this Fall and it is likely to be a lively one. ***
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Burlington Cohousing Common Circuit 25.4 kW Solar Project
Expected First Year Energy Production: 31.450 MWh Developer: Burlington Cohousing Solar LLC with help from Community Energy Exchange L3C Installer: Vermont Solar LLC, www.vtsolar.com 113 Solon 225W Photovoltaic Modules with Enphase M215 Inverters Total System Cost: $144,864.00 Less Federal Grant: $43,459.00 Less State Incentives: $24,069.00 Net Cost: $77,336.00 Cost per Solar Panel: $684.39 Cost per installed kW: $3,044.72
Burlington Cohousing Group Net Metering 11.52 kW Solar Project
Expected First Year Energy Production: 13.868 MWh Developer: Burlington Cohousing Net Metering Group with help from Community Energy Exchange L3C Installer: Vermont Solar LLC, www.vtsolar.com 48 Solarworld SW240 W Photovoltaic Modules with Enphase M215 Inverters Total System Cost: $57,610.00 Less State Incentives: $6,912.00 Less Federal Tax Credits: $15,210.00 Net Cost: $35,488.00 Cost per Solar Panel: $739.33 Cost per installed kW: $3,080.56
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ENERGY & BUILDING
A Pellet Stove in Your Future? Source: Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20585 Here are your tax dollars at work! Today you can choose from a new generation of woodand pellet-burning appliances that are cleaner burning, more efficient, and powerful enough to heat many average-sized, modern homes. Pellet fuel appliances burn small pellets that measure 3/8 to 1 inch in length.
Choosing And Installing Wood- And PelletBurning Appliances
When choosing a wood- or pellet-burning appliance, it’s important to select one that’s properly sized for the space to be heated. When an appliance is too big, residents tend to burn fires at a low smolder to avoid overheating, which wastes fuel and is one of the biggest causes of air pollution. An undersized unit will not provide sufficient heat. You should discuss your heating needs with a reputable dealer. A good rule-ofthumb is that a stove rated at 60,000 British Thermal Units (Btu) can heat a 2,000-square-foot home, while a stove rated
at 42,000 Btu can heat a 1,300-square-foot space. Wood-burning appliances and fireplaces may emit large quantities of air pollutants. Wood smoke contains hundreds of chemical compounds including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, organic gases, and particulate matter, many of which have adverse health effects. In many urban and rural areas, smoke from wood burning is a major contributor to air pollution. Because of this, some municipalities restrict wood heating appliance use when the local air quality reaches unacceptable levels. Others restrict or ban the installation of wood-burning appliances in new construction. Before installing a wood-burning system, you should contact your local building codes department, state energy office, or state environmental agency about wood-burning regulations that may apply in your area. If you have an older wood-burning appliance, consider upgrading to one of the newer appliances certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some include a catalytic combustor that allows combustion gases to burn at lower temperatures, thereby cleaning the exhaust gas while generating more heat. All woodstoves sold today should bear an EPA certification sticker. Higher-efficiency appliances usually have lower emissions and are also often safer, because complete combustion helps to prevent a buildup of flammable chimney deposits called creosote. The location of the appliance (and chimney) will influence how well heat is distributed and conserved in your home. Most wood- and pellet-burning appliances are essentially space heaters, and should be put in the room where you spend most of your time. Ideally, there should be a way for heat to circulate to the rest of the house, such as a fan or blower assembly. For safety and to maximize efficiency, you should consider having a professional install your wood- or pellet-burning appliance. A professional will carefully evaluate everything from your chimney to your floor protection. A certified professional can also help you choose the best appliance to heat your home. The National Fireplace Institute maintains a list of certified industry professionals.
Types Of Wood- And PelletBurning Appliances
The following is a brief overview of the different types of appliances available. Pellet Stove - Continued page 23 22 •
Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
Pellet Stove Continued from page 22
High-Efficiency Fireplaces And Fireplace Inserts
Designed more for show, traditional open masonry fireplaces should not be considered heating devices. Traditional fireplaces draw in as much as 300 cubic feet per minute of heated room air for combustion, then send it straight up the chimney. Fireplaces also produce significant air pollution. Although some fireplace designs seek to address these issues with dedicated air supplies, glass doors, and heat recovery systems, most traditional fireplaces are still energy losers. When burning a fire, you should turn your heat down or off and open a window near the fireplace. High-efficiency fireplace inserts have proven effective in increasing the heating efficiency of older fireplaces. Essentially, the inserts function like wood stoves, fitting into the masonry fireplace or on its hearth, and using the Pellet Stove - Continued page 24
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ENERGY & BUILDING Pellet Stove Continued from page 23
temperatures of 1,100°F—hot enough to burn combustible gases. existing chimney. A well-fitted fireplace insert can function These stoves have several components that help them nearly as efficiently as a wood stove. burn combustible gases, as well as particulates, before they Some modern fireplaces heat at efficiencies near those can exit the chimney. Components include a metal channel of wood stoves and are certified as low emission appliances. that heats secondary air and feeds it into the stove above the Although designed to include the fire-viewing benefits of a fire. This heated oxygen helps burn the volatile gases above the traditional fireplace, this generation of fireplaces can effectively flames without slowing down combustion. While many older provide heat as well. Through vents under the firebox, room stoves only have an air source below the wood, the secondary air is drawn in, heated through a heat exchanger, and sent back air source in advanced combustion stoves offers oxygen into the house either through vents at the top of the fireplace or to the volatile gases escaping above the fire. With enough through ducts leading to nearby rooms. Some of these fireplaces oxygen, the heated gases burn as well. In addition, the firebox are approved to route heated air to a basement auxiliary fan. is insulated, which reflects heat back to it, ensuring that the The air then travels through ducts to other rooms in the house. turbulent gases stay hot enough to burn. New advanced nonThe fireplace should have a dedicated supply of outside air for catalytic combustion stoves often have efficiencies of 65 t0 combustion. 75%, HHV. Another benefit is that the secondary channels funnel hot Catalytic Wood Stoves, Advanced air toward the glass doors, keeping them clean for viewing the Combustion Woodstoves, And Centralized fire. They can also be slightly less expensive than conventional Wood-Burning Boilers woodstoves fitted with catalytic combustors. Like wood Wood stoves are the most common appliance for burning stoves, centralized wood-burning boilers have been improved wood. New catalytic stoves and inserts have efficiencies of up over the years. Some modern, centralized wood heaters use to 83% HHV (higher heating value). wood gasification technology that burns both the wood fuel Advanced combustion woodstoves provide a lot of heat and the associated combustible gases, rendering them up but often only work efficiently when the fire burns at full to 80% efficient. In addition, systems are available that can throttle. Also known as secondary burn stoves, they can reach switch to oil or gas if the fire goes out. Masonry Heaters Masonry heaters are also known as “Russian,” “Siberian,” and “Finnish” fireplaces. They produce more heat and less pollution than any other wood- or pellet-burning appliance. Masonry heaters include a firebox, a large masonry mass (such as bricks), and long twisting smoke channels that run through the masonry mass. Their fireboxes are lined with firebrick, Owned and operated by environmentalists. refractory concrete, or similar materials That’s why every purchase is that can handle temperatures of over a trustworthy investment in 2,000°F (1,093°C). a better world. A small hot fire built once or twice a day releases heated gases into the long masonry heat tunnels. The masonry absorbs the heat and then slowly releases it into the house over a period of 12 to 20 hours. Masonry heaters commonly reach a combustion efficiency of 90%. Most are intended for burning wood, but they were historically designed to burn almost any type of solid fuel. The relatively small but intense fire www.GreenLinePaper.com also results in very little air pollution and very little creosote buildup in the 800-641-1117 | 717-845-8697 chimney. Because most of the heat from Please visit our website to unearth an abundance of recycled and tree-free office papers, compostables, tissue & towel products, kitchen/restaurant supplies, non-toxic cleaners, the fuel is transferred to the masonry fair trade and organic foods, and an organic personal care line. and slowly released into the room over
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Pellet Stove - Continued page 25 24 •
Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
ENERGY & BUILDING
Pellet Stove Continued from page 24 the day, this type of heater does not need to be loaded with fuel as often as other types of wood heating appliances. In addition, if the masonry heater is built where sunlight can directly shine on it in the winter, the heater will absorb the sun’s heat and release it slowly into the room. A wide variety of masonry heater designs and styles are available. Larger models resemble conventional fireplaces and may cover an entire wall. Smaller models take up about as much space as a wood or pellet stove. They can be custom-built or purchased as prefabricated units. Some large designs may cost $5,000 or more. Plans and kits are available, but they are not easy do-ityourself projects and require masonry expertise. In addition to their expense, masonry heaters have one significant disadvantage when compared to conventional wood stoves and fireplaces—they cannot provide heat quickly from a cold start.
or flue. As a result, the installed cost of the entire system may be less than that of a conventional wood stove. Pellet fuel appliances are available as freestanding stoves or fireplace inserts. Freestanding units resemble conventional wood heaters in that they generally heat a single room well, but not adjacent rooms unless they have a fan to force the warm air into those other spaces. Pellet-fireplace inserts fit into existing fireplaces. Several companies now make pellet-fired furnaces and boilers for replacement of, or a supplement to, gas- or oil-fired furnaces and boilers in residential space heating systems. All pellet fuel appliances have a fuel hopper to store the pellets until they are needed for burning. Most hoppers hold between 35 and 130 pounds (16 Pellet Stove - Continued page 27
Pellet Fuel Appliances
Pellet fuel appliances burn compacted pellets usually made of wood, but they can also be derived from other organic materials. Some models can burn nutshells, corn kernels, and small wood chips. Pellet fuel appliances are more convenient to operate than ordinary wood stoves or fireplaces, and some have much higher combustion and heating efficiencies. As a consequence of this, they produce very little air pollution. In fact, pellet stoves are the cleanest solid fuel, residential heating appliance. Pellet stoves that are certified by the EPA are likely to be in the 70% to 83% efficiency range. Pellet stoves have heating capacities that range between 8,000 and 90,000 Btu per hour. They are suitable for homes as well as apartments or condominiums. Most pellet stoves cost between $1,700 and $3,000. However, a pellet stove is often cheaper to install than a conventional wood-burning heater. Many can be direct-vented to the room and do not need an expensive chimney
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Pellet Stove Continued from page 25 and 60 kilograms [kg]) of fuel, which will last a day or more under normal operating conditions. A feeder device, like a large screw, drops a few pellets at a time into the combustion chamber for burning. How quickly pellets are fed to the burner determines the heat output. The exhaust gases are vented by way of a small flue pipe that can be directed out a sidewall or upwards through the roof. More advanced models have a small computer and thermostat to govern the pellet feed rate. Pellet appliances usually require refueling only once a day. However, because the fuel is compressed, the bagged pellets can be difficult to lift. Some models use bulk-filled storage systems and are fully automatic. Most pellet appliance exteriors (except glass doors) stay relatively cool while operating, reducing the risk of accidental burns. Pellet stoves burn fuel so completely that very little creosote builds up in the flue, posing less of a fire hazard. Unfortunately, pellet appliances are also more complex and have expensive components that can break down. Moreover, they need to be cleaned by the homeowner on a weekly basis and by a professional on an annual basis. They also require electricity to run fans, controls, and pellet feeders. Under normal usage, they consume about 100 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or about $9 worth of electricity per month. Unless the stove has a back-up power supply, the loss of electric power results in no heat and possibly some smoke in the house.
per year. Pellet fuel appliances are almost always less expensive to operate than electric resistance heating, oil, and propane-fueled appliances. Most pellet fuels have a moisture content of 5% to 10%. Well-seasoned firewood is usually around 20%. A few pellet manufacturers contain either petroleum or non-petroleum lignin used as a lubricant in the pellet production process, though most contain no additives. The Pellet Fuels Institute launched the PFI Standards Program, a third-party accreditation program providing specifications for residential and commercial-grade fuel. This standard assures the consumer of the highest quality pellet when certified pellets are purchased. You can also check pellet fuel quality by inspecting the bag for excessive dirt and dust, which can form clinkers in the stove. There should be less than one half of a cup of dust at the bottom of a 40-pound (18-kg) bag. Pellet stoves designed for low-ash content (typically top-fed stoves) tend to operate poorly when used with pellets of a higher ash content. Many pellet appliance manufacturers are redesigning their products to burn pellets with varying ash contents. Most pellet fuel appliance dealers either maintain a supply of pellets or recommend a supplier. You may also check the local telephone listings under “Fuel” or “Pellet Fuel,” or inquire at a local tree nursery or at home and garden supply stores.
Wood And Pellet Fuels Selecting And Storing Wood
Pellet Fuel
Pellet fuel is normally sold in 40-pound (18-kg) bags at about $3 to $4 each or about $180 to $250 a ton. Most homeowners who use a pellet appliance as a main source of heat use two to three tons of pellet fuel
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All species of wood have similar heat (Btu) content on a per pound basis when completely dry. Therefore, denser woods will generally cost more and burn longer. Woods like oak, hickory, and pine will burn overnight. Because a lot of energy can be wasted burning wet wood, you should use wood that has been properly seasoned. Properly seasoned wood is harvested in the spring and allowed to dry throughout the summer. Look for wood that is of even color, without any green. It should have a moisture content of 20% or less by weight. Store your wood away from the house in case termites discover the woodpile. The top of the pile should be covered, but leave the sides open so air can circulate. If possible, store the wood a foot off the ground (on concrete blocks, for example) to keep it dry.
EDUCATION
Guide to Urban Homesteading From MOTHER EARTH NEWS, by Rachel Kaplan You may not have enough garden space to grow your own wheat or corn, but you can harvest an amazing amount of many crops from a collection of containers. Plus, in the city, it can be much easier to build a community of like-minded neighbors who can share tools, knowledge and friendship. Here’s what it can look like: In a single year, six households working with the organization Daily Acts in Petaluma, Calif., produced more than 3,000 pounds of food; foraged 2,000 pounds of local fruit; collected more than 4,000 pounds of urban organic waste to be used as compost and mulch; planted more than 185 fruit trees; installed five greywater and rainwater catchment systems that saved tens of thousands of gallons of water; tended to bees, chickens, ducks, quail and rabbits; and worked to reduce energy use and enhance public transportation opportunities. All of this from six households! Learning traditional skills such as canning, fermenting, soup-making, seed saving, sewing and
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1. Observe and Interact
Through observation, you will make wiser, more responsive choices about your homestead that will have long-lasting results. Learn everything you can about your bioregion: Can you trace the water you drink from source to tap? Who is growing your food? Where do your garbage and sewage go? Observation should not only include a clear-eyed assessment of the natural resources where you live — water, sun, wind, and available space for growing — but also interactions with your neighbors. For example, consider how close your neighbors are to where you want to site your chicken coop. Sharing a flock, chores and the bounty with your neighbors will be more efficient.
2. Grow Food in the City
Community gardens provide a great opportunity for you to learn next to other committed gardeners on a small plot of land. If you find yourself looking over the fence at your neighbor’s unkempt yard, you could offer to turn it into a productive garden and share the bounty. Use vertical spaces, flat rooftops, and abandoned lots. You could even de-pave a driveway. In some cities, the economic downturn has yielded an impressive array of undeveloped lots, many of which can be turned into abundant food-growing zones. You can grow a lot of food in a small space. On a patio or parking lot, you could plant a garden in raised beds, or in barrels or storage bins with drainage holes punched through the bottom. Many carrots, leeks or potatoes will grow in 5-gallon buckets, and lettuce can spend its whole life in small pots.
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Farmers markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA) projects and local food co-ops are all great options. Cut out the middleman by joining or starting a bulk-food buying group to purchase staples directly from wholesalers. You can also glean from unused fruit trees, or forage for wild edibles depending on what’s in season.
4. Small-Scale Composting
Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
Homesteading - Continued page 35
EDUCATION Homesteading Continued from page 28 Compost is the divine alchemy of the garden — the trick of turning “garbage” into fertility. Build a simple compost bin for your backyard in an afternoon by hammering together three wooden pallets. Purchase a pre-made plastic compost bin with a lid if you struggle with vermin visitors or nervous neighbors. You can even simply drill drainage holes in the bottom of a large garbage can with a lid. A worm bin is a small-scale composting container that can be maintained indoors to transform your smaller kitchen scraps into vermicompost.
5. Raising Livestock in the City
Animals can turn a backyard garden into a minifarm and provide nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Backyard chickens and rabbits are the most common animals on urban homesteads, and urban beekeepers are growing in number. Check with your local municipality to find out which animals are allowed in your area. Undertaking animal projects with others will spread the work and responsibility.
6. Create Kitchen Magic
Not only will cooking save you money, but it will give you control over the ingredients. Take advantage of cooking classes held near you, gather friends together for kitchen projects and potlucks to share recipes and techniques, and invest time and energy into learning how to provide your own staples.
7. Preserve Food
9. Manage Urban Water Resources
Greywater is lightly used water that empties from washing machines after the rinse cycle, and from bathroom sinks, showers and baths. Check city ordinances before configuring a greywater system. Catch and store rainwater in swales and earthworks, gutter downspouts diverted into rain barrels, and cisterns.
10. Green Transportation: Cargo
Bikes, Bicycle Sharing and Car Sharing Embrace bicycle travel for mental health as well as physical well-being. Then, hook up a trailer — a cargo bike will pull you into finding out just how much you can haul with two wheels. If you must drive, consider homebrewing biodiesel fuel. Urbanites are often surrounded by restaurants willing to unload their used vegetable oil. Excerpted from MOTHER EARTH NEWS, the Original Guide to Living Wisely. To read more articles from MOTHER EARTH NEWS, please visit www. MotherEarthNews.com or call (800) 234-3368 to subscribe. Copyright 2014 by Ogden Publications Inc.
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8. Conserve Energy and Produce Your Own Energy
Renters and owners alike can perform energy fixes. Add thermal window shades or clear acrylic panels during winter. Caulk window frames and insulate heating ducts. Adjust your thermostat to be cooler in winter, warmer in summer. Switch to efficient light bulbs, which will pay for themselves in energy savings within a few years. Use the energy of the sun whenever possible. Install a solar hot water system if you can; string a clothesline no matter what.
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HEALTH
How To Get the Most From Acupuncture By Frederick E Steinway
“Human energy is a renewable resource”
Acupuncture may appear strange or foreign, with terms and a language that may not explain at first, what it can offer us. As with everything that is transplanted from other gardens, it takes time to accommodate to the new environment. Certainly top of the list is the word for the treatment itself. “Needles” in American culture refer to sewing needles and hypodermic needles. This is not at all what is involved in acupuncture. “Filaments” may become a better adapted word to describe them. “Filum” the root word denotes a thread—certainly more accurate term for the tool of this trade. Next is what we can get from this unusual treatment. Is it only for emergencies of illness that has existed for many long years, and now become severe? What is this method good for exactly? Acupuncture licensees are specially able to discern patterns and trends in a person which may become off-center as time proceeds—and then correct them preventively. Natural methods are not quick fixes, but can be labor intensive, working evenly through time, needing persistence and patience. Acupuncture points have been objectively confirmed through CAT scan. They are not hearsay or arbitrary traditions handed down. They have an actual basis, corresponding with changes in the faint electric properties of our own selves. This electric flow is much the same as our feelings, thoughts, sensations, and subconscious minds. Therefore, if we really wish to get through to our own souls, acupuncture is a preferred method. It is not necessary to seek out an acupuncture provider who is also trained in psychotherapy methods. Acupuncture treatment produces psychotherapeutic effects through its own spontaneity and as a catalyst. Understanding this, it becomes possible to use the treatments to effect changes one is seeking. It is said that a strong and flexible psychological wellbeing occurs when we consciously relate to the archetypes which may be active in our experience. These archetypes cannot be directly known, since they are by nature of unconscious realms. But we can relate better to their activity, and respond to their effects. One can know their own psyche is in good condition when there is a conscious sense of meaningfulness in experiences day and night. This sense of meaning has a quality of being in the presence of something greater 30 •
than oneself, something familiar and essential, a humbling sense of awe or recognition that is part of one’s own being. One can strengthen their abilities to more consciously relate to archetypes which are being activated in living, through cultivating inner quietness. One can be physically very active yet at the same time continue keeping inner quietness. Then it is possible to see things as they happen. In acupuncture the name for this is “Life Gate”. The experience can be very much like when one approaches a lakeside or small stream. The surface of the water reflects back our own world, but when quiet, the water becomes translucent, allowing us to see the world beneath the surface. Curious swimming fishes, graceful plants, patterns of sand, and colorful stones appear. Life experiences can often be of just reflected surface—deceptive, flat, and enervating. But when one looks carefully, a new world appears, and the experience becomes richer, more interesting, nurturing, and enlivening. The activated archetypes cannot always be known, but we can relate to them through their sense of meaning involved. Then by crafting a permaculture design, painting, music, or movement which retains that memory of meaning (or ‘numen”), we initiate a sacred dialogue with the unconscious part of our collective selves. Acupuncture can help and support this process through its ability to quieten body forces. Because the acupuncture filaments catalyze movement and circulation of subtler body-forces, treatment times can be an opportunity for mindful awareness of this quieter aspect of one’s being, as we breathe quietly resting in a “shava-asana” on the treatment table. This is why the provider may sometimes discreetly leave the room during a treatment, to get themselves out of the way, so the forces can claim their space for the person comfortably at rest on the table. When life forces or “prana” of the body are still, a kind of clear light can shine out from around us. In this way one can live in a melodic way, and shine out a dynamically active peace, as we flow on through our time and space. Frederick E Steinway, licensed acupuncturist, nurtures a quiet private practice in the PocumtuckValley bioregion of Massachusetts (the ‘happy valley’). Website for the practice is acupuncturewomencare.net.
Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
EDUCATION
A Brief History of Co-ops By Stephen Morris The International Co-operative Alliance defines a co-operative as an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise. The cooperative movement was started by a Welsh cotton merchant named Robert Owen (1771-1858), who had the novel idea that his workers deserved decent working conditions with access to education for themselves and their children. He envisioned “villages of cooperation” where workers would grow their own food, make their own clothing, and self-govern. He started several such villages, but they failed. His work was furthered by Dr. William King (1786–1865) who started a monthly publication called The Cooperator that gave practical advice for running a shop using cooperative principles. The publication, which made its debut in 1828 offered a mixture of philosophy and practical advice applying cooperative principles. King advised people not to cut themselves off from society, but rather to form a society within a society, beginning with a shore where they could shop for their everyday needs. King’s guidelines gave cooperatives some uniform boundaries. These evolved into what was published in 1895 as the Rochdale Cooperative Principles, issued by the International Cooperative Alliance. The principles have been revised only three times over the past 100 years and still provide the foundation for cooperatives of all size and types. The principles are widely printed in the literature (and now websites) of cooperatives worldwide.
The Rochdale Principles
Definition A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically controlled enterprise. Values Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others. Principles The cooperative principles are guidelines by which cooperatives put their values into practice.
1. Voluntary and Open Membership Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination. 2. Democratic Member Control Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote), and cooperatives at other levels are also organized in a democratic manner. 3. Member Economic Participation Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any of the following purposes: developing their cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership. 4. Autonomy and Independence Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy. 5. Education, Training and Information Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of cooperation. 6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures. 7. Concern for Community Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities, through policies approved by their members.
Visit us online at GreenLivingJournal.com • Green Living • Fall 2014 • 31
ON THE NIGHTSTAND Rich With Pizza by Patrick Morris Rich With Pizza (The Public Press, 2014) is a warm, funny, and eclectic collection of stories from Patrick Morris who, as everyone knows, is the author of Rich With Pizza.(He is also the son of the editor of Green Living Journal, not that this in any way compromises our journalistic integrity.) This book is really, really, really good, and it will change your life in many ways. It will make you lucky and much better-looking. It will touch you in ways you’ve never been touched before. Hm-m-m. These are the stories of a kid who grows up in rural Vermont and goes on to take The Big Apple by storm. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and in the end, you, too, will be rich with pizza (whatever the heck that means). Available from Amazon.com.
Sustainable Communities: Creating a durable local economy by Rhonda Phillips, Bruce F. Seifer, and Ed Antczak This is part of the Earthscan series of “tools for community planning.” This book is both a work of scholarly research and a how-to manual from three people who have been intimately involved in the revitalization of Burlington, Vermont’s “Queen City.” Burlington appears regularly on everyone’s Top Ten list these days (most liveable, healthiest, most sustainable), but it wasn’t always this way. The waterfront that now hosts a different festival every summer weekend, was until recently better known for its abandoned rail cars and rusty fuel tanks. This is the story of its renaissance, written by three cando bureaucrats who were there each step along the way. This book is long on buzzwords and self-congratulation, but … hey, Burlington has a lot to be proud of! Who can blame anyone for displaying civic pride on their sleeves? The Queen City is deserving of its crown jewels, and this book provides insight and inspiration to how that success was achieved.
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Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
ON THE NIGHTSTAND No Regrets Remodeling: How to Create a Comfortable, Healthy Home that Saves Energy by the editors of Home Energy Magazine. 2Nd edition, Energy Auditor & Retrofitter, Inc. 2013) This book is jammed with case studies, color photos, and resource lists to help you plan and design a home that is less costly to operate and maintain while being a healthier environment. Consisting of previously published pieces from Home Energy Magazine, this book is oriented to the home owner who is looking for help in making the intelligent decisions that will lead to money savings, home comfort, and improved safety. Available from HomeEnergy.org or your local bookseller.
with their charter, grant or patent date, on 160 lightlylined writing pages. Once completed, the book will be a unique and highly per- sonalized account of the owner’s Vermont experience. The 6” x 9” journal is a perfect traveling companion, deliberately sized to fit in glove compartments, purses, backpacks, briefcases, and totes. It has a durable cover and spiral binding to facilitate writing on-the-go. Printed on cream-colored, acidfree, archival paper the Vermont Travel Journal is designed to preserve memories and become a treasured keepsake. With over 4,000 members, the 251 Club of Vermont is one of the largest membership organizations in the state. For information on the club, or to order a copy of the Vermont Travel Journal, visit vt251.com or call 802-234-5039.
The Vermont Travel Journal, Sandy Levesque, Editor (Gilead House Publishing, 2014) If you think the residents of Burlington are home town boosters, the residents of the rest of Vermont are even more crazy about their entire state. The 251 Club of Vermont, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2014, exists to encourage members to visit all of the state’s 251 towns and cities. Now the task has been made more convenient and enjoyable with the publication of a new travel journal designed specifically for the Vermont explorer. “This project is as purely Vermont as a quart of maple syrup,” says Sandy Levesque, club director and editor of the journal. “Vintage Vermont postcards from another century provide the design element and contemporary lists of travel resources, such as maps, books, and websites, are included. Every element, from editing to design to physical production, was handled in Vermont.” All of Vermont’s 255 civic/geographic entities or “places” – 237 towns, 9 cities, 5 unorganized towns, 3 gores, and 1 grant – are listed alphabetically, along Visit us online at GreenLivingJournal.com • Green Living • Fall 2014 • 33
ENERGY Windows-Improving Energy Efficiency & Comfort By Robert J. Bacon, President, Window Improvement Masters If you own, operate, or simply occupy a building today you are likely facing some very difficult decisions about how to improve the thermal performance of your windows so you can stay comfortable without breaking the bank. If you’ve looked into replacing them you’ve undoubtedly found that attractive, high-quality windows are expensive. You may have also learned from your own experience or that of friends and neighbors that the inexpensive plastic ones simply don’t last. So… now what? The truth is that, no matter the cost, window replacement doesn’t always provide the desired improvement, and the good news is that there are many, far more costeffective options available. Windows are essential to the successful operation, function, security and comfort of virtually every building, regardless of location, style, use, or construction. In addition to providing occupants with vital natural light, view, ventilation, ingress, egress, and security, windows also play an important role in establishing the architectural style and character of our buildings. Many of the buildings built before the “modern” era, for example, would simply not be as attractive without the elegant scale and proportion of the original multi-pane windows. Throughout history windows have reflected the values,
style, and technologies of the day. For centuries the crafters of these complicated and high precision building components were held in high esteem for the beauty and durability of their work. Many of America’s early windows are a living testament to this quality having already been in service for two hundred years or more with the potential to remain in use for yet another two hundred years. Most of America’s old windows were made of dense and stable old growth wood that is now extinct, and many of these were glazed with hand blown glass that is no longer commonly available. Like many other building products, windows began to change as a result of the new materials and technologies born of the industrial revolution. One of the more visible of these was the availability of larger, clearer, flatter and more affordable sheets of glass. A less obvious but much more profound effect of industrialization is the legacy that long-term value has become a diminishing factor in our individual and cultural economic calculations. Motivated by the short term aims of capital growth, today’s mass produced products often lack once essential long-term qualities such as durability and serviceability thus compelling the unsustainable cycle of disposal and consumption that are so well exemplified by the replacement window industry. Windows - Continued page 35
Join our Meet the Farmer Series Throughout the harvest season, area farmers have been making special visits to our teaching kitchen to share an informative slide show and answer questions. After the presentation, our chef takes over to offer a cooking demonstration using produce or meat direct from the farm. And of course, there’s always plenty of delectable food to enjoy. Upcoming sessions include “‘Weird’ Potatoes and More” with Edgewater Farm and “Early Fall Harvest” with Blue Ox Farm.
Class schedule available in our stores and online at coopfoodstore.coop Culinary Learning Center located at our Lebanon Co-op www.coopfoodstore.coop
Farmer and Co-op employee Dave Phillips of Sunny Brook Farm in Sharon, Vermont.
Rte. 120, Centerra Marketplace, Lebanon
45 S. Park St. and 43 Lyme Rd., Hanover 34 •
209 Maple St., White River Junction Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
ENERGY Windows Continued from page 34 The plastics industry was quick to capitalize on the new demand for energy efficiency sparked by the oil embargo of the 1970s. Their brilliant but arguably disingenuous market strategy was to convince American consumers that: a) their old windows should be replaced with dual-glazed units to improve their energy efficiency, and b) the replacements should be made of plastic to eliminate the maintenance of wood. While it’s true that loose fitting sash with only a single layer of glass are not as energy efficient as tight-fitting modern dual-glazed units, this conveniently ignores the abysmal thermal properties of glass in the first place; and, while the plastic industry touts that you don’t need to paint plastic – the truth is that it just decomposes under exposure to sunlight and self-destructs with variations in temperature because of its high rates of expansion and contraction. These intrinsic truths about the nature of glass and plastic are the reasons why vinyl replacement windows are marginally effective as well as largely unserviceable and short-lived; and, while two layers of glass coupled with effective air seals may cut the heat loss through any given opening in half, disposing of a valuable, serviceable, and often beautiful building component only to replace it with one that is short-lived and not serviceable is neither an energy efficient nor an environmentally sustainable improvement strategy – especially since there are far more effective, less costly, less consumptive and
more attractive alternatives available. To fully appreciate the alternatives to replacement we need to look beyond just the window component itself and consider the entire assembly of fenestration components available to achieve the comfort and optimal window performance we’re after. Consider that windows must perform the following functions over a wide range of daily and seasonal operating conditions: 1. Natural Light & Optical Comfort– Depending upon its solar exposure and the function of the space it serves, we often need to regulate natural light from total blackout in some cases thru a range of filtered light to reduce glare to the admittance of full sun when solar heat is a benefit. 2. View – Many windows afford a view of the outdoors during the day but privacy often requires that we prevent a view into the space at night. 3. Ventilation & Indoor Air Quality – Achieving optimal energy efficiency calls for select windows to be conveniently used for natural ventilation during periods of favorable weather yet be air-tight when outdoor temperatures are very hot or very cold. 4. Ingress and Egress – Assuring life safety requires that all windows provide some measure of defense against intrusion into the building but in sleeping rooms and some assembly spaces windows must also provide for emergency access in or emergency escape out. Windows - Continued page 36
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Windows Continued from page 35 5. Property Protection – In addition to requiring some measure of defense against theft by intrusion, property protection also involves preventing or reducing damage or degradation of the window’s frame, sash and trim. 6. Thermal Comfort & Energy Efficiency – Windows play a significant role in keeping the interior space within the human comfort range and today windows should be expected to do so while minimizing the demand for energy. It is impractical for any single component to satisfy all of these many demands so several supplemental components are commonly used to augment the basic window to optimize the utility and performance of the fenestration. Moreover, in addition to these functional demands, we should also expect our purchases to satisfy a number of performance and aesthetic objectives. These include the qualities of low maintenance, attractiveness, durability, ease of operation, affordability, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Properly chosen many of the supplemental components listed below are capable of performing multiple functions (as indicated by the numbers in parenthesis that refer to the six functions outlined above) while also meeting our lifestyle needs and environmental goals: a) Awnings (1,5) b) Exterior Shutters (1,2,5) c) Exterior Storm Sash (1,5,6) d) Insect Screens (3) e) Window Sash and Glazing (1,2,3,4,5,6) f) Interior Devices (Blinds, Shades and Shutters) (1,2,6) g) Interior Treatments (Shears, Curtains, etc.) (1,2,6) h) Interior Insulation Panels (6) i) Supplemental Interior Windows (1,2,3,6) Broadly speaking there are only three ways to improve the function and performance of existing windows. Listed in ascending order of cost and descending order of costeffectiveness they are: A) Repair, Restoration and Weatherization B) Supplemental Components (all but ‘e’ above) C) Window Replacement Windows- Continued page 37
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ENERGY Windows Continued from page 36 window components, especially interior mounted window It’s axiomatic that Option A) Repair and Weatherization treatments, transparent insulation panels, and supplemenshould always be done first but, of the remaining two tal windows, will result in greater comfort, greater energy options, Option B) Supplemental Components offer far greater efficiency and greater cost effectiveness than any known versatility and cost-effectiveness than Option C) Window replacement window at any price. Further, these alternatives Replacement. Except for the window itself (Item e) all of to window replacement eliminate the need to dispose of existthe fenestration components listed above is an example of ing assets or change the original appearance of your building. a “Supplemental Component.” The materials used for each R. J. Bacon is President of Window Improvement Masters, have varied by location and the details of each have evolved LLC. Contact them at PO Box 10, 19 Archertown Rd. Orford, NH over time with technology but, with the exception of the 03777. Call 1-603-353-4512 or online windowimprovementmaslast two, all of these supplemental devices have been used to ters.com . enhance the operation and performance of the basic window in some form or another throughout history. The last two, Interior Insulation Panels and Supplemental Interior Windows have only come about quite recently in response to the dramatic escalation of energy costs and a newly awakened public awareness of the negaFDA Cleared 97% Sensitivity tive environmental impacts of energy Pain-free Affordable Ann J. Barker, RN, LMT, CTT NE Journal of Medicine use and material waste. Though very “…millions over-diagnosed with mammography…” effective, early insulation panels were American Cancer Society often opaque which was a real drawwww.btiscan.com “Radiation is cumulative and any level may cause cancer…” back for use during the day when natural light and view are very desirable. Brattleboro, VT Ann Nashua, J. Barker,NH RN,•LMT, CTT Plexiglas and thin transparent films 603-897-9645 www.btiscan.com Groton, MA solved this but air sealing the rigid Brattleboro, VT • Groton, MA • Nashua, NH sheets and the mounting and removal of the thin film remained problematic. Introduced in the late 1990s, an Program Program attractive patented dual filmGraduate insulation Graduate panel featuring a gasketed aluminum in Community Mental Community Mental frame, the Advanced Energyin Panel™ by Health & Mental WindoTherm of Hoosick Falls, NY, Health Mental doubled the insulation value and of &Health Counseling single layer products and Health made sea- Counseling sonal changeover a much easier and more convenient process. (www.advanClasses meet one weekend a month cedenergypanel.com) Classes meet one weekend a month Supplemental interior windows are • Nationally recognized, competency-based program Classes meet one weekend aweekend month Burlington, Vermont • Nationallyin competency-based program the latest advance in efficient window Classes meet one arecognized, month in and Burlington, VTclasses •one 48- and 60-credit Master’s degree options continuing education Classes meet weekend a month in Burlington, Vermont technology. 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Using both Specializations focused on clinical services and Manchester, NH, Burlington, VT Health and Substance Abuse for Children, thin-film and rigid sheet membranes, Accepting applications now for administration in Services Integrated Community Mental and Brunswick, ME this new supplemental interior window Youth and Families or Adults. Manchester, NH, Burlington, Health and Substance Abuse Services for Children,VT product also addresses the common Youth and Families or Adults. and Brunswick, ME needs in every climate to reduce excessive heat gain and glare on southern Phone: 800.730.5542 | E-mail: pcmhadmissions@snhu.edu | www.snhu.edu/fosters1 800.730.5542 | pcmhadmissions@snhu.edu | snhu.edu/pcmh and western solar exposures. In almost every situation, the effecPhone: 800.730.5542 | E-mail: pcmhadmissions@snhu.edu | www.snhu.edu/fosters1 | pcmhadmissions@snhu.edu | snhu.edu/pcmh 6h-snhu121813.indd 800.730.5542 1 12/12/13 2:03 PM tive use of well-chosen supplemental
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Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
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Visit us online at GreenLivingJournal.com • Green Living • Fall 2014 • 39
MONEY
Help! Where Did My Interest Go? It’s painfully obvious to more and more Americans that the interest from their bank accounts, money market funds, and other fixed income investments has plummeted in recent years. Why the huge drop? Simply put, because the U.S. Treasury, the bedrock upon which most interestpaying and fixed-income investments are based, has purposely dropped rates paid on the securities they sell to banks, insurance companies, money market funds, and individuals to all-time lows in order to stimulate the economy in various ways.
Inflation Can Actually Turn Returns Negative
Meanwhile, inflation, while lower than before, marches on. The Consumer Price Index rose by 1.5% in 2013, but as many people know, that doesn’t seem to reflect their ever-shrinking pocketbooks. Housing, tuition, healthcare, gas, insurance, tickets, dining out – all seem to be rising much faster than 1% annually! The key point is that basic savings and fixed income account rates are now lower than inflation so that in terms of actual buying power your true savings “interest” may actually be negative. In short, your money buys less and less each year. So, caught in this squeeze between record low rates and continued inflation, what‘s an investor to do? The simple answer is you have to work harder – be more creative – in searching for higher yields that do, in fact, exist. Or retain a financial advisor to help you.
Creative Income Alternatives to the Rescue
Fortunately, there is a wide variety of higher-yielding, socially responsible alternative income investments available today. And while they are not FDIC insured like bank accounts, many are designed to protect your principal, and all of them have been used for decades by conservative savers, including individuals, retirees and institutions. · Bonds. Government and corporate bonds have been the foundation of fixed income investing for centuries. A bond is simply a debt instrument that pays the buyer a stated interest rate until maturity, when the principal is repaid. When you think about it, that’s not much different than a CD, except bonds are not FDIC insured. But many U.S. government bonds are similarly backed by various U.S. government agencies, yet can pay more interest. Municipal bonds are backed by a variety of state agencies and typically pay interest tax-free. You can also easily find bonds issued by major U.S. corporations, as well as foreign
governments and companies. Most bonds are rated for credit-worthiness by various services, including Standard & Poor’s. They come in a variety of maturity lengths, and are available both individually or through bond mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) . There are many factors to consider in choosing bonds including duration, yield, credit quality, taxability, current pricing – and of course, socially responsibility -- that you can research on the Web or an SR Financial Advisor can go over with you in detail. · Community Investment Notes. Community Investment Notes are another kind of debt/ fixed-income instrument worth considering due to their higher-than-bank-yields today. These are issued by various Community Loan Organizations – such as Enterprise Community Loan Fund and the Calvert Foundation -- that allow investors to earn a competitive interest rate while providing funds to help fund affordable housing, community health centers, food co-ops, schools and other facilities for low-income neighborhoods and cities. These truly high-impact investments provide investors with a very rewarding sense that their money is working to help people that need it most. The notes come in various maturities and terms. · Dividend stocks, funds and ETFs. One of the most well-known alternative income investments is dividend-paying stocks. These are typically largecompany stocks that pay monthly, quarterly or annual dividends you can take as cash or reinvest in additional shares. While such stocks are affected by the rise and fall of the general markets, they tend to be less volatile than non-dividend-paying stocks for the simple reason that investors may be less willing to sell shares when they are receiving regular income. Another plus is that stock dividends are typically taxed at the lower dividend rate of 15% or lower (depending on your income), versus higher income tax rates. Besides individual dividend-paying stocks, today there is also a large variety of mutual funds and exchange traded funds – including SRI choices -- that pay dividends while at the same time providing broad diversification. · Preferred stocks. Many people are unfamiliar with this special kind of high-paying security that has characteristics of both bonds and stocks. Like bonds they are issued at a “par value” – in this case typically $25 a share -- but they have no fixed maturity date. Yet like stocks, they pay dividends, not interest. Most importantly, while they tend not to rise or fall as much Interest - Continued page 41
40 •
Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
MONEY
as common stocks, they usually pay higher dividend rates, perfect for many income investors. Long the favorites of institutions and wealthy investors, highyielding preferred stocks in actuality are available to most anyone. · Fixed and Fixed Index Annuities. Another traditional favorite of income investors is fixed annuities -- including fixed index annuities. These are essentially savings products issued by insurance companies (non-FDIC insured), that pay an annual interest rate that is either fixed or variable. Regular fixed annuities have historically paid higher rates than CDs, but their new offspring, fixed-index annuities that link their returns to various stock market indices, can offer even higher rewards. The key is that both fixed and fixedindex annuities guarantee your principal will never go down, protecting you from market losses. Annuities also grow on a tax-deferred basis, like Traditional IRAs.
sion of Financial West Group (FWG), Member FINRA/ SIPC. He can be reached at 802-325-2200, twalker@ fwg.com or www.PAMGVermont.com. Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction: 55 Main St., Suite 415, Newmarket, NH 03857.
It’s Easy to Branch Out
Because no one expects to see savings rates return to 5% anytime soon, learning to pump up your investment yield today is as important as knowing how to cut household expenses. Fortunately you have many alternative income sources to help you, including socially responsible investment brokerages, Portfolio Managers, and insurance companies. Ask them to prepare an alternative income proposal for you -– and get your interest back. As with all investments, there are risks and an investor can lose a part or all of their money. Todd Walker is a Financial Advisor Representative based in Wells, VT with Progressive Asset Management Group, the socially responsible investment divi-
Todd Walker 3738 Lamb Hill Rd., Wells, VT 05774
802.325.2200 twalker@fwg.com • www.PAMGVermont.com Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction: 55 Main St., Suite 415, Newmarket, NH 03857
Visit us online at GreenLivingJournal.com • Green Living • Fall 2014 • 41
EDUCATION
MAX On the Road By Jack McCornack What started in 2008 as an ambitious project to create a do-it-yourself, 100 miles-per-gallon sports car within a budget of $10,000 has come full circle. MAX (Mother’s Automotive eXperiment) now has more than 100,000 miles in its logbook and consistently achieves 100 mpg at speeds from 45 to 55 mph. The project proves triple-digit fuel efficiency is feasible — even on a tight budget, and especially if you build your own car. If I can make a 100-mpg car in my Oregon garage, what could the major automakers be giving us? It’s important to understand upfront that MAX is not comparable to a modern sedan, with all of the creature comforts most drivers expect. But it doesn’t need to be. MAX is marvelously practical as a second car, or as a primary car for those who rarely need more space than a two-seater provides. You can use MAX to get groceries or go to work. MAX is ideal for somebody like me. I live 30 miles from town and put in a lot of miles on extended business trips. I rarely need to take more than one person with me. MAX suits me well The biggest thing you lose when you drive MAX is your anonymity. It’s a conversation starter. Car enthusiasts love its resemblance to a classic race car, so expect to field questions from curious strangers any time you stop at a gas station. This 100-mpg car can run on diesel, biodiesel or straight vegetable oil. The engine is a 32-horsepower turbocharged diesel — specifically, a Kubota D1105T, which normally powers anything from RV generators to heavy-duty lawn mowers. Every state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV) has its own rules for custom-made DIY cars. I reviewed all 50 states’ vehicle codes and found that most have relaxed registration rules for antique and classic car replicas. In many states, a replica has to meet only the equipment and emissions standards of the year it replicates. This encouraged me to style MAX after antique and classic cars. To register your own MAX, tell your local DMV clerk that it’s a replica of a 1958 Lola Mark 1 or a 1960 Lotus Seven (depending on the body style you choose). As for safety, MAX is built to road racing standards rather than federal government standards. MAX has superior safety equipment, such as tubular steel impact barriers on its sides and rear (covered by the fiberglass body), roll bars and headrests behind the seats, racing safety harnesses, and a removable roll bar (and deer deflector) behind the windshield. To build your own car from scratch and keep the cost 42 •
MAX is practical as a second car, or as a primary car for those who rarely need more space than a two-seater provides.Doug Snodgrass photo
under 10 grand, you’ll need to weld your own chassis. You can take an evening welding class at a local junior college (as I did), or ask a welder among your circle of friends to instruct you. Perhaps you can barter services with a neighbor. And you can always have a chassis built for you by a professional. The rest of the job is just normal car work. You’ll need the usual automotive hand tools and a few unusual ones (a drill, an angle grinder and a POP riveter). Choosing a streamlined body requires you to tackle some fiberglassing to fit the body on the chassis. None of the jobs is particularly difficult, but there sure are a lot of them. An experienced auto mechanic working with a pre-built chassis would invest at least a hundred hours in the project. Inexperienced mechanics would work most Saturdays to finish within a year. I wanted MAX to be small, light and streamlined, so I chose an efficient engine with the least amount of horsepower needed. MAX doesn’t reinvent the wheel: It uses the Locost chassis, a 32-horsepower Kubota diesel engine, and running gear (transmission, axle, brakes) from a Toyota Corolla. I drove MAX for two years with an off-the-shelf Locost body because I had it in stock at my shop, Kinetic Vehicles. All that time, I knew I’d have to make a better body to achieve 100 mpg. But over the course of thousands of test miles, I learned volumes about engine, drivetrain and chassis compatibility. At that stage, my only invention had been an adapter to fit the Kubota engine to the Toyota transmission.
Green Living Journal • Fall 2014
MAX - Continued page 43
EDUCATION Build Your Own Car That Gets 100 Miles Per Gallon The major automakers make compromises so their cars will fit everybody, whereas DIY cars can be built to the dimensions and tastes of their builders. Because I built my own car, it fits me like a tailored suit. It’s the most comfortable car I’ve ever owned for cross-country cruising. MAX’s bucket seat is a perfect fit for my personal bucket, and the pedals and steering wheel are exactly where I want them. The windshield and convertible design did hurt mileage a bit — MAX currently gets about 95 mpg — but I’m hoping to get it back with a contoured fi- The roadster version of MAX is a joy to drive, but you can also add a top. Doug Snodberglass roof that has cleaner curves grass photo. than the current ragtop. I’ll make it we’ll have to share. a removable hardtop and probably take it off in the sumExcerpted from MOTHER EARTH NEWS, the Origimertime. nal Guide to Living Wisely. To read more articles visit Losing 5 miles per gallon sounds pretty serious, but www.MotherEarthNews.com. Copyright 2014 by Ogden on MAX that’s only 1 gallon of gasoline every 2,000 miles — a small price for feeling the wind in what little hair I have left. Want to try your hand at building a 100-mpg car? Study the book Build Your Own Sports Car: On a Budget by Chris Gibbs, and find all of the plans you need at Kinetic Vehicles (my shop can even build a chassis for you) at www.kineticvehicles.com. Become a part of the MAX community at http://goo.gl/c1JaTF by trading tips, tricks and tactics in the online forum. The Original Country Market where old-time You don’t have to build your own car exactly like customer service is an every day treat! MAX. There’s already an electric MAX on the road, and Come experience the difference! another builder is seeing just how low his budget can Farm Fresh Produce Meat & Seafood Market go. The more MAX cars we build, the more information Country Bakery Specialty Cheeses
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HEALTH
Make Your Own Echinacea Tincture Throughout New England, gardeners treat themselves to the charming long-season blooms of echinacea, or purple coneflower as the ornamental cultivars are sometimes known. Folks often wonder if the echinacea in their garden bed is the same as the famous immune-boosting herb. The answer is simple: probably! Most echinacea cultivars contain the same medicinal properties as the official medicinal variety; tasting the flower will tell you for sure.
Uses
Echinacea is one of the most heavily studied medicinal herbs, with dozens of scientific studies exploring its therapeutic uses. Although its exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, research indicates that echinacea preparations decrease the occurrence, duration and severity of acute infective illnesses by stimulating our bodies’ immune function. Most studies have examined echinacea’s use against colds, the flu, and upper respiratory infections; however, it is also commonly used to boost the immune system against
many other types of infection, including urinary tract infection, ear infection, sinusitis, and more. Echinacea is also useful as a topical antimicrobial against infected wounds, athlete’s foot, etc. Echinacea won’t make you feel better right away— there are other herbs to help alleviate that stuffy nose—but it may help you get better, faster. Start taking it when you feel the first tickle in the back of your throat, and you may shorten or even avoid a spell of illness. For greater success, combine echinacea with another immune-boosting herb like elderberry, or with herbs to help relieve individual symptoms such as hyssop or bee balm.
Safety
People with a rare allergy to chamomile or other plants in the Aster family should avoid using echinacea.
How to Use Tinctures
Tinctures are medicinal herbs extracted and preserved in alcohol, which draws out alcohol-soluble medicinal compounds. Echinacea is high in alcoholsoluble compounds, so echinacea tinctures pack a powerful medicinal punch. Tinctures are typically diluted in water, juice, or tea to make them easier to swallow, although this is not strictly necessary. Take less if you’re trying to prevent coming down with something, if you are generally sensitive to medicines, or if you are underweight. Take more if you’re already sick, if you are generally impervious to medicines, or if you are overweight. Adults, give ½ to 1 teaspoon, every 4 to 6 hours. Children, give ¼ to ½ teaspoon, 3 to 4 times per day. Decrease frequency as they get better.
Species
Harvesting Echinacea
Several species of echinacea are used medicinally, but Echinacea purpurea is the most commonly found species (this is the “purple coneflower” ornamental). The research on E. purpurea is extensive and indicates a high medicinal benefit, and the plant is easy to grow at home. Other species (E. pallida and E. angustifolia) are threatened in the wild and difficult to grow, so please avoid wild-harvested products to help preserve the biodiversity of our native plants.
Taste it
Almost all echinacea cultivars are medicinal. To Echinacea - Continued page 45
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HEALTH Echinacea Continued make sure, simply taste a flower or a bit of the root. If your mouth goes tingly and floods with saliva, it’s medicinal. If not, that plant lacks important medicinal compounds and should not be tinctured.
Plant Part
An echinacea root tincture is a good place to start your practice as a tincture-maker, as it is simple to make and contains the plant’s strongest medicine. In time you may decide to try your hand at a whole plant echinacea tincture, which provides a more thorough, complex set of medicinal compounds. Whole plant tinctures require advanced planning, however: tincture young leaves in the spring, flowers and buds in the summer, and roots in the fall, then combine the tinctures.
Harvest
Dig echinacea roots in the fall when the nights are chilly, the leaves are starting to turn, and the plant is going dormant. Gently loosen crowns from the soil. Divide crown into several sections to replant, making sure each section has roots and small dormant buds at the base of the stem. You can put aside a section of roots to tincture or cut pieces off the sections you will replant. Replant all sections except what you will tincture so your plants will come back next year.
Recipe for Fresh Echinacea Root Tincture
This is a weight-to-volume tincture, which means the ingredients are carefully measured and put together in a specific ratio. This allows us to predict the strength and decide on an appropriate dose. The best tinctures are made with watered down grain alcohol, not vodka; however, grain alcohol is harder to find, so this recipe calls for ubiquitous 80-proof vodka. If you manage to get grain alcohol, do not use it at its full concentration. Instructions on tincturing with grain alcohol can be found on my blog.
You will need:
For tincturing: 80-proof vodka Glass jar Kitchen scale Measuring cup Wax paper
You will need:
For tincturing: Mesh strainer or colander lined with cheesecloth Potato ricer (recommended)
1. Wash roots gently. Chop finely and weigh in ounces. 2. Multiply the weight of the roots by 4; this will give you the volume of vodka you need. For example, if I have 2 ounces (weight) of echinacea, I need 8 ounces (volume) of vodka. 3. Combine chopped root and vodka in a glass jar. Mash echinacea down to help the alcohol get inside the roots. Cover the mouth of the jar with wax paper (to prevent the alcohol from deteriorating the lid), then screw on the lid. 4. Clearly label with the plant name, date, location harvested etc. and store for 6 weeks or more, shaking daily. If you need it sooner, you can start dipping into the jar after about a week, but it won’t have reached its true strength yet. If you forget to shake it every day, give it extra time to steep before you strain it. 5. When the tincture is strong and dark, pour it through a mesh strainer, then squeeze strained roots in a potato ricer to extract the last, strongest part of the tincture. Store in a labeled glass jar or bottle in a cool, dark place. Juliette Abigail Carr is a clinical herbalist in South Newfane, Vermont and the proprietor of Old Ways Herbal. She teaches about family herbalism and homesteading at her family’s farm and locations around the state. Read more and contact her at oldwaysherbal. com/blog
Visit us online at GreenLivingJournal.com • Green Living • Fall 2014 • 45
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