Go green

2016 $1.00

The

THE NEWS SUN

THE

HERALD

REPUBLICAN

2

Go Green

kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

April 15, 2016

Welcome

Mike Marturello mmarturello@kpcmedia.com Special Sections Editor

Dennis Nartker 102 N. Main Street, Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 347-0400

dnartker@kpcmedia.com Reporter

Jennifer Decker

Terry G. Housholder

jdecker@kpcmedia.com

thousholder@kpcmedia.com

Amy Oberlin

President/Publisher

Reporter

aoberlin@kpcmedia.com

Reporter

Randy Mitchell randymitchell@kpcnews.com Chief Executive Officer

Sue Carpenter asaggars@kpcmedia.com Reporter

S. Rick Mitchell rmitchell@kpcnews.com Chief Financial Officer

Michael Swann mswann@kpcmedia.com Advertising Director

Ann Saggars asaggars@kpcmedia.com Creative Manager

Tracey Robideau trobideau@kpcmedia.com Special Sections Graphic Designer

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Jenny Ernsberger Sue Yeager Jeff Jones Cindy Miller Terri Myers Michele Trowbridge Herb Hillabrand Michele Waid The News Sun, The Herald Republican and The Star are publications of KPC Media Group Inc. ©2016 All rights reserved

These days, going green is an everyday part of living.

Still, there still is certain information about local resources that you can’t find on an environmental website or magazine.

Hence, Go Green, this special section that we hope you will find useful.

Solar power is becoming more affordable and many people in northeast Indiana are turning to it as a viable source of electric power.

With the abundant natural resources and service providers in northeast Indiana, it is easy to go green. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, the folks at Northeast Indiana Solid Waste Management District, can lend

a hand with information and finished products like mulch and compost.

In this section you will find much information that can help you go green and stay green in northeast Indiana. Plus we hope you read the advertising messages from the many local businesses that can help you with a variety of services and products.

This section may also be found at kpcnews.com.

ON THE COVER: Steve Smith of Four Corners Gallery near Lake James, inspects solar panels atop his workshop. Solar powers the kilns at Four Corners and has greatly reduced the gallery’s reliance on electric from a power company. Photo by Amy Oberlin

Northeast Indiana

Solid Waste Management District

Household Problem Waste Program IT’S A GREAT TIME TO CLEAR OUT: Old Paint Cans, Cleaning Fluids, Used Oil as well as Lawn and Garden Sprays

$5.00 Vehicle Fee

IT’S ALSO A GREAT TIME TO RECYCLE: TV’s, Computers, Fluorescent Bulbs and Vehicle Batteries Additional Fees Apply

Starts Friday, April 15 8:00 am-12:00 pm (Fridays only through November 18) Visit our website for a full list of items we handle and their fees at www.niswmd.org 1-800-777-5462 • We are located one mile east of I-69 on State Road 4.

April 15, 2016

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Go Green

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Waste district can help you reduce carbon footprint keeping it quick, energy and waterefficient and carbon-light.

Carbon footprint refers to the • Backyard — gardening can reduce amounts of greenhouse gas (carbon your carbon footprint; grow your own dioxide) emitted by a person or populavegetables. Buying local produce in tion over a certain period of time as a season reduces the amount of fuel result of a direct or indirect activity. required to get food from farm to refrigThe more these gases are emitted into erator; the atmosphere, the worse it is for the • Child care — lend, borrow or environment. swap baby equipment and clothes, and Every time you drive your car, consider making your own baby food purchase food not grown locally or from locally grown vegetables; leave your lights on when not at home, • Computers — purchase laptops that you’re increasing your carbon footprint. consume 90 percent less energy than a The desire to be greener and act more desktop computer; responsibly towards the earth stems • Walking — transportation uses over from selfless motivation. half the oil extracted worldwide and is When you make changes that affect a major cause of carbon emissions, use the environment such as bringing your you legs or cycle whenever possible; own bags to the grocery store or using drive a hybrid; carpooling just once a fan instead of an air conditioner at a week saves 20 percent in energy home, you’re thinking of the greater use; good.

• Don’t waste food — about 25 Until recently, most people had never percent of all food prepared annually heard of a “carbon footprint,” said Pam in the U.S. gets tossed into landfills DeCamp, education manager for the creating methane gas.

Northeast Indiana Solid Waste Manage• Insulate your home — use weather ment District. Carbon footprint could be stripping and caulk; the most important concept of our time.

• Save water by turning off the faucet “Almost everything we do results in when brushing teeth or shaving; carbon emissions,” she added.

• Compost food and yard waste; Here are ways DeCamp suggests we • Avoid black trash bags — black can reduce our carbon footprint: pigmentation cannot be recycled; • Take advantage of renewable • Use rechargeable batteries; energy; • Power down computers — a • Sun and shade — Instead of computer turned off saves at least 25 relying on heating and cooling, use sun percent less energy than a computer left exposure and shading to keep the home on or idle with a screen saver. comfortable.

• Turn down central heating — just • Lighting — Take advantage of one degree less will help reduce a natural lighting, replace light bulbs with heating bill by 8 percent.

CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs that • Hang up clothes to dry rather than last up to 15 times longer and can use using a dryer. up to 80 percent less energy.

Think about the amount of junk mail • Ovens — seek out the most efficient you receive each year. The energy used model available; use microwave ovens to produce, deliver and dispose of junk that are more energy-efficient than mail produces more greenhouse gas stoves. emissions than 2.8 million cars. Contact • Doing the dishes — make good direct mail companies to take your name habits at the sink or dishwasher by off their lists.

BY DENNIS NARTKER dnartker@kpcmedia.com

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Hanging up clothes to dry will help reduce carbon footprints.

April 8 - May 23, 2016

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April 15, 2016

Home owners can do battle with invasives

BY JENNIFER DECKER jdecker@kpcmedia.com

ANGOLA — It’s pretty wild. In a battle of wills, non-native invasive versus native species fight for survival.

Invasive plants compete with and crowd out more desirable native species. Invasive species can create economic hardship.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has a link on its website, in.gov, to the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network. The network is a regional effort to develop early detection and rapid response resource for invasive species. Under that link, there is a place for Hoosiers to report sightings. As of April 5, there were 32,040 county reports and 611 species.

The website says of more than 2,000 species of Indiana vascular plants, 25 percent are non-native to Indiana.

Nate Simons, Blue Heron Ministries executive director, said there are five different categories of invasive species.

“The worst is oriental bittersweet that can wrap around a tree and strangle it,” he said. “Shrubs are probably the No. 1 invader of open (spaces), like autumn

olive, bush honeysuckle, multi-flora rose and Japanese barberry” Other species include with Simons’ comments: • Grass: “We’re watching giant reed and reed canary grass, indicative of wetlands,” he said.

• Flowers: “One that keeps coming in sand areas are spotted knapweed and purple loose strife. Something new is Japanese knot weeds that are tall and planted for bank stabilization.”

At the DNR website, examples of non-native plants include purple loose strife, Japanese honeysuckle, autumn olive, glossy buckthorn and garlic mustard.

Some other invasive exotic plants include narrow leaf bittercress, musk thistle, round-leaved bittersweet and burning bush.

Simons said almost always a herbicide is used to combat invasive species. Also, prescribed burns and mowing helps slow growth. There is one exception of a species.

“There are some species of purple loose strife we import a beetle,” he said, adding the beetles eat the plants to the ground.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Garlic mustard is a plant that can be found throughout northeast Indiana this time of year. The best way to control it is to pull it and either compost it or throw it in the trash.

“On a small scale, you can dig them up, but on a large scale, that’s impractical.”

Simons said some other examples of invasive species include zebra mussels, Asian carp and pathogens like Dutch elm disease.

Some of the detrimental plants are sold in nurseries and are planted by people who aren’t aware. There are several native plants that can be used instead for landscaping.

For more details about Blue Heron Ministries, visit blueheronministries.org.

Last year, 30 GPI facilities participated in TICCIT, and planted trees with close to 20,000 students across the U.S. and Canada.

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Jay Orn’s Cell: 260-704-5263 Dick Rowe, Plant Manager

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Add real value to your home or business ... when you redecorate or spruce up your home this fall with hardwood mouldings.

RP Wakefield can help you increase the value of your home, as well as its beauty! We manufacture innumerable sizes and styles including casings, bases, handrails and picture mouldings. All available in red oak, hard maple, poplar, cherry, ash, rustic alder, walnut, hickory, aniegre and many other species. Many are in stock at Auburn Hardwood Mouldings.

Add a crown mold to the great room, a chair rail to the dining room or a wide 5” baseboard to the living room or combine several pieces to make your own customized trim for the master bedroom. The possibilities are endless to what you can create.

Is a fireplace on the wish list for this year? RP Wakefield also manufactures hardwood mantels and surrounds and also mantel shelves in a variety of lengths.

Check us out to see what project we can do

together for the value and beauty of your home.

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Native saplings are donated by GPI to each child to plant in a milk carton they have saved from lunch. These “carton-into-tree units” are then given to the children to take home and plant in the ground. As the trees grow, students are taught how the cartons biodegrade, completing the “trees into cartons, cartons into trees” cycle.

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TICCIT (pronounced “ticket”, which stands for “Trees into Cartons, Cartons into Trees”) is an outreach and educational program for school-aged children held every year at the end of April to honor Earth Day and highlights the renewability and sustainability of paper and paperboard packaging. As part of the program, Graphic Packaging International, Inc. (GPI), a producer of consumer paperboard packaging, has been making presentations at local elementary schools, to instruct students about the benefits of recycling, how paper is made, and why trees are important to the earth’s lifecycle.

CASINGS • BASES • HANDRAILS • PICTURE MOULDINGS • IN STOCK AT AUBURN HARDWOOD MOULDINGS

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April 15, 2016

There’s buried treasure in your yard.

And a 30% tax credit— if you act fast.

Go Green

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METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Remember that many little improvements can add up — providing valuable monthly savings for you, while protecting our environment for the future.

INSTALL BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2016

The deadline to receive a 30% tax credit for installing a cash-saving geothermal heat pump at your home is December 31, 2016.

That might sound like a ways off, but the installation process takes time, and contractors’ schedules fill up fast.

So don’t wait.

Contact your local Energy Advisor or visit PowerMoves.com/Geothermal today.

Energy Efficiency Programs from Your Electric Cooperative

5 simple ways to go green at home and save money METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

(MS) — Thinking green throughout the year can offer some significant benefits. Here are some easy ways you can go green in your own home and lower your energy bills: • Invest in a programmable thermostat. It will automatically adjust the temperature in your house, saving you energy while you’re out for the day, away on vacation or sleeping.

• Switch all of your lightbulbs to CFLs (compact fluorescent light) or LED bulbs. They last longer and use up to 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs, saving you money on your electric bills.

• Insulate well. Use insulation with a high R-value, such as Roxul Comfort-

batt, to top up insulation in your attic.

Aim for an R-value of 50 or a depth of 16 inches. For whole home efficiency, ensure other areas of your home are well-insulated, such as crawl spaces, basement headers, walls and ceilings. It will keep your house cool in the warm weather and take the stress off your air conditioning unit.

• Stop air leaks around your home by sealing existing gaps and cracks. Use caulking or weather stripping around doors and windows.

Installing a door sweep is also a good idea.

• Replace old appliances with energy-efficient models. Only do laundry or run the dishwasher when you have full loads.

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April 15, 2016

Managing and disposal of hazardous household waste

BY SUE CARPENTER scarpenter@kpcmedia.com

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Household hazardous waste, like left over paint, must be disposed of properly.

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GARRETT — Spring-cleaning brings hours of discarding unwanted or unused items around the house.

But many residential household items found in the garage, basement or under the kitchen sink are considered hazardous waste and require proper disposal methods instead of curbside pick-up. Hazardous household waste was formerly collected during tox-days in various communities, but proved to be expensive.

Under Indiana state code, general, household hazardous waste generated from the home is exempt from hazardous waste regulation. However, home owners are still required to ensure proper disposal that does not pose a health threat or create a public nuisance.

Individuals can be held liable for the misuse or illegal disposal of household generated waste.

Hazardous waste should not be disposed of in the trash or in the gutter.

Hazardous waste disposed of in the trash poses a serious threat of injury to trash collectors and landfill operators. This kind of waste also creates environmental problems when disposed of improperly.

Empty containers may be discarded with trash but hazardous waste must be disposed of on a designated drop off day at the designated location only.

Automotive items such as used motor oil, automotive fluid, oil filters, gas and oil mixtures and antifreeze are among hazardous waste items.

Also on the list are: latex and oil-based paints, stains, paint thinners and strippers, asphalt sealers, roofing tar, cleaning fluids and oven cleaners, Drano, pet shampoo and sprays, fertilizers for both lawn and farm use, pool chemicals, weed killers, bug sprays and aerosol cans.

The Household Hazardous Waste drop-off program at the Northeast Indiana Solid Waste Management District accepts these items from 8 a.m. until noon from on Fridays at its facility located at 2320 W. C.R. 800S near Ashley from April through November.

A specially designed containment building has been installed at the site to safely store the collected items where a trained technician is on site to classify and safely store the incoming material during these hours.

A fee of $5 per vehicle minimum will be assessed for drop-off, payable with

cash or check only. The site is located one mile east of I-69 on S.R. 4.

Ways to manage household hazardous waste The best method of managing household hazardous waste is to prevent its generation in the first place. This involves selecting the least toxic item to do the job and buying only the minimum amounts necessary. Buying in large quantities is not a bargain if half of it has to be discarded.

Look for the word “danger” on cleaners, polishes, paint strippers and pesticides. “Danger” means the product could poison you, cause serious damage to your skin or eyes, or easily cause a fire. There are four different types of hazards. Choose products marked “caution” or “warning” or better yet, products that don’t need warnings.

Choose water-based products, such as latex paint, white glue and water-based paint stripper.

Reduce your need for yard and garden pesticides. Besides killing bugs and weeds, they may also poison children, irritate eyes or skin, cause cancer or kill birds and fish. Build healthy soil by adding compost or aged manure and using slow-release organic fertilizers. Buy plants that will grow well in the Indiana climate and in your yard. Try non-chemical products to control pests. The less-toxic pest control alternative is preferred.

Oil dumped on the ground or in storm drains is not treated and may end up in our streams and lakes, threatening fish, birds, lakes and drinking water supplies.

Take used oil to a recycling center, household hazardous waste program, or automotive service station that accepts used motor oil from the public.

If the material is still useable, has not been damaged, its shelf life has not expired or has not been banned, check with friends and neighbors to see if they might be able to use it. Also with community groups such as Little League, Habitat for Humanity, etc. to see if they can use the product. Items that should not be shared are banned or restricted pesticides and products that are not in original containers or whose labels are not readable.

For more information regarding disposal of household hazardous waste or other questions, phone 800-777-5462 or go to niswmd.org.

©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com

April 15, 2016

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Smart watering conserves water, saves money METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Summer heat can be harmful in various ways. People and pets can quickly succumb to the summer sun, which can cause sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke when people and their animals spend too much time outdoors without adequate protection.

Landscapes are also vulnerable to summer heat, which can quickly spoil the most lush lawns and robust gardens. Effective watering can help lawns and gardens withstand summer heat, but improper watering can deprive landscapes of the water they need to survive. Homeowners concerned about their lawns and gardens surviving the summer can take the following approach to conserve water, save money and maintain their landscapes.

• Start early. Homeowners may feel that the hottest times of the day are when lawns and gardens will be most in need of water, so that’s the best time to set sprinklers or grab the hose and get to work. But in many areas, watering between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., when summer temperatures tend to peak, can be both wasteful and ineffective. That’s because watering between those hours will cause much of the water to quickly evaporate, robbing lawns and gardens of the water they need to withstand the heat. Homeowners who water when water is most likely to evaporate may feel they need to water more, and that only wastes water.

It’s best to consult a local landscaping professional in your area to determine the best time to water each day, but in many

regions the best time to water is between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., when temperatures are generally lower, the sun is not at its peak and winds are not as strong.

• Place sprinklers correctly. If you do not have an in-ground irrigation system and don’t intend to install one, you will likely use lawn sprinklers to water the lawn. When placing these sprinklers, turn them on and then document their trajectory before moving on to the next area. You want to make sure the water from the sprinklers is not landing on sidewalks, patios or streets, especially if your community typically institutes drought restrictions that limit how much you can water. In such instances, you’ll need to make the best use of the water you’re allowed to use, so make sure none of it is watering the driveway.

• Let well-fed lawns go dormant during drought. Lengthy droughts tend to be accompanied by water restrictions, and such restrictions can frustrate home owners who don’t want to see all of the hard work they’ve put in to this point go to waste. But grass that has thus far been well cared for can withstand drought and still recover when rains once again fall and temperatures cool come autumn. If you plan to let the lawn go dormant, keep kids, pets and visitors off the grass, as dormant lawns are highly susceptible to damage.

Summer is an enjoyable time of year, but lawn and garden enthusiasts may be concerned for their properties when summer heat sets in. A few simple strategies can help lawns make it through the season unscathed.

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April 15, 2016

Solar usage warming up

BY AMY OBERLIN aoberlin@kpcmedia.com

FREMONT — Here comes the sun.

It will be all right for a couple of private Steuben County properties, which will be in their second year with solar power systems.

Last fall, Alliance Electric of Coldwater, Michigan, installed 24 solar panels on four pads at Dave and Vicki Foster’s rural home at 7499 N. C.R. 200E. Some power produced goes directly to heating and lighting the home. Energy is also shared with the Steuben County Rural Electric Membership Corp.

“It got us away from paying one more utility bill,” said Vicki Foster. While the family pays its monthly bill for energy used, it also gets a monthly payback for what it puts back into the power grid.

The solar panels are mounted on poles for optimum use of the sun’s rays

year-round.

“We can rotate this pole with a solar time tracker to follow the sun,” said electrician Dennis Peet. “By installing 24 solar panels on two poles, the electric company is paying us.”

Peet said the solar time tracker has been working well and has been well-received by customers. The rotating technology follows the sun westward, then “goes back and waits for the sun in the morning,” said Peet.

Renewable Energy Systems of Avilla installed 40 solar panels on a barn at a property owned by Steve Smith near Lake James, Four Corners Gallery Studio and Pottery, 3765 N. C.R. 300W. Even on a cloudy, rainy day, Smith said the system produces 9 kilowatts of power.

“From when we first went on line See SOLAR page 9

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Andy Gollnick, Scott Lowder of Alliance Electric, Josh Durbin of Steuben County REMC, Dennis Peet and home owner Dave Foster stand in front of solar panels installed this fall at the rural Fremont farm. They are installed on poles that turn to track the sun and get the most of the radiant energy.

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April 15, 2016

SOLAR From page 8

in August, the system has produced 6546 KW,” said Smith, who is served by Northern Indiana Public Service Co. While there is an initial outlay to put in a solar system, Smith suggested it was “better than any stock.” His investment is expected to pay for itself in seven years.

“In months like December and January, we only save about $50 a month but in July and August, as much as $500,” said Smith, who is proud to be an environmental steward.

He said he’s kept more than 11,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, as compared to coal or gas.

Josh Durbin, Steuben County REMC special services coordinator, said the desire to be environmentally responsible is the best reason to install a solar electric system.

“Technology is advancing,” he said. “I encourage people to use as much of the solar in-house as they can.”

Among the forerunners in the solar industry is a Hamilton business, Solar Usage Now, which has focused on thermal solar energy. The Indianapolis International Airport is home to the largest airport-based solar farm in the world.

Go Green

Purdue students get involved in solar assessments WEST LAFAYETTE — Students from Purdue University are getting in-the-field experience by helping local residents determine the potential of solar energy for their homes.

A group of undergraduate and graduate students are completing a solar certification program through the U.S. Department of Energy. To complete the certification, students are conducting on-site solar assessments for home owners.

William Hutzel, a mechanical engineering technology professor at Purdue University, conducts research in high-performance buildings.

The idea of solar energy, he said, continues to push into the Midwest.

“We’ll see the situation slowly change in the coming years,” he said.

“The cost curve for solar energy is coming down one year after the next.

We’re not at a tipping point here in

Indiana. Other states are a step ahead of us.”

Solar energy use is promoted heavily in states along the East and West coasts. Minnesota instituted a number of programs that encourage residential and commercial consumers to move to solar electricity.

Money stands as both the pro and the con for using solar energy.

Hutzel says federal incentives help home owners while the savings from an array of rooftop solar panels potentially can cut customer energy from the local utility in half.

“Incentives play a huge role, but you’re looking at $15,000-$18,000 comes out of your pocket after incentives,” he said. “No one wants to make that investment unless it’s a proven fact.

“Lacking either utility subsidies or state subsidies means it’s still

somewhat of an uphill battle.”

Assessments conducted by the students include trusses in the home, if the solar panel array is intended for the roof, and electrical infrastructure.

Shading also is considered to make sure a panel array is receiving direct sunlight at key times.

Power bills are also examined by students, as well as a few surprising aspects.

“You want to do the cheap things first,” Hutzel said. “Students will look at the equipment and appliances in the home. If there’s a 20-year-old refrigerator, it has to go first. You do the obvious things that reduce your electrical load, then provide solar.”

Midwest Renewable Energy Association is providing the solar credentialing as a grassroots effort to get students involved in this.

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April 15, 2016

Going solar is on the rise METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Installing solar panels on homes is one way for home owners to reduce their energy costs.

Our commitment to the environment is more than jjust a commitment.

Rising energy costs and a growing desire to live more eco-friendly lifestyles has spurred interest in solar panels to power our homes. Although solar panels have been around for quite some time, only recently have homes cloaked in panels aimed at capturing the rays of the panels begun to be so visible.

The World Meteorological Organization reported that the solar industry saw a robust expansion of 41 percent in 2013, and that popularity continues to grow.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, in 2015 the solar industry grew 34 percent more than 2013 figures.

Through the first half of the year, the solar industry supplied 40 percent of all new 2015 electric generating capacity — more than any other energy technology. Solar energy now has the cumulative electric capacity to power more than 4.6 million average American homes.

According to Green Tech Media, American solar companies are now installing one solar system every four minutes. If the market continues to grow at this pace, through 2016 there will be a system installed every 20 seconds. These gains in the solar industry may have been spurred on by the Solar Investment Tax Credit, which the SEIA says has helped to lower the cost of solar energy by more than 73 percent.

How does solar energy work?

Solar energy is turned into electric power through the photovoltaic cells located in the solar panels. The PV cells transform sunlight into direct electric current. An inverter built into the system converts the DC electricity into the alternating current that powers homes. The AC is sent to the home’s electrical panel and used to power lights and other devices.

What happens at night?

Unless a home is self-contained and off the grid, the average home owner will not have to worry about night usage or batteries to store energy. He or she will continue to use energy off of the traditional electrical system at night. Many electrical costs will be offset by the amount of extra solar energy put back into the grid. There are a variety of programs, and some home owners may even reverse bills further based on how much electricity is generated.

Solar panel needs Although it is ideal to have a south-facing location for panels, this is not an absolute necessity. According to SolarEnergy.net, positioning solar panels to face west or south will work, and even southeast-, east- and north-northwest-facing panels can produce adequate energy savings.

The type of roof may affect costs.

Solar panels will not harm the roof when installed correctly, but ornate Spanish tiles or other roofing material may increase solar panel installation costs. Many homeowners find that the solar panels protect the roof from extreme weather, heat and cold, providing an extra bonus to solar energy.

Solar panel costs The “soft costs” associated with solar energy can be substantial. Such costs include permits, installation and labor.

Energy Informative indicates that the solar panels themselves are relatively affordable, at an average cost of $6,500.

However, the entire process of installing residental solar systems can end up costing anywhere between $15,000 and $40,000.

Home owners may be able to lease solar panel systems to make solar energy a more affordable option.

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April 15, 2016

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Raising eco-friendly children is not that complicated METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Raising eco-friendly children is less complicated than it once was. From very early ages, today’s kids are exposed to environmental topics and how they can do their part to maintain and protect the planet’s resources. Between activities at day care and lessons at school to information they receive from educational television programming, some kids are taking their own environmental initiatives — and involving their parents along the way.

Inspiring children to be eco-friendly can be enjoyable and get those creative juices flowing. The following are eight ways children and their families can work together to protect the environment.

1. Precycle. Kids can attempt to reduce waste by recognizing products that could be wasteful and then avoiding

those items. Toys or everyday items with excessive packaging that we use without thinking are just some examples of items that can be precycled.

2. Repurpose. Look at items that normally end up in the trash and find new and fun ways to repurpose them.

Children can make crafts out of junk mail, catalogs and old newspapers. Juice boxes or plastic containers can be turned into boats or accessories for dolls and action figures. Use natural materials found in the yard or on a nature walk to make a fairy garden or imaginative world for small toys.

3. Reuse. Toting lunch or snacks around can be more eco-friendly when reusable containers are part of the equation. Explore the many lunch bags, See ECO-FRIENDLY page 12

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Reducing waste through composting is another easy way kids can embrace going green.

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ECO-FRIENDLY From page 11

beverage cups, thermoses, Bento boxes, and other packaging available. Many are made from recycled materials as well.

4. Walk. Encourage getting around without firing up the car. Walking, jogging, biking, or scootering around the neighborhood is more eco-friendly than driving. Many adventures can unfold when seeing the world from a pedestrian’s vantage point, but things are easily missed when riding inside cars or trucks.

5. Conserve water. Lessons learned in conservation are important. Water is one resource that is crucial to human life. Kids can explore ways to cut down on water consumption or use water more efficiently. The environmental resource Green Lifestyle Changes says that a 10-minute shower with a standard shower head can use upward of 80 gallons of water and generate up to four pounds of CO2 emissions.

Simply reducing shower time can save energy and water. There are other ways to conserve as well. Make it a family

April 15, 2016

project to collect rain water to use for washing cars or watering plants.

6. Rent rather than buy. From toys to video games to movies, people have more entertainment options than ever before. And nowadays it’s easy to access a fresh supply of entertainment without making purchases that require the manufacturing of new items. Streaming rented content rather than buying packaged versions can reduce waste in a number of ways.

7. Turn off/turn down. Turn off lights, appliances, electronics, and much more when they’re not in use. Also, encourage children (of an appropriate age) to unplug certain electronics so appliances aren’t consuming electricity while in standby mode, which is called vampire power.

8. Change body care products.

Introduce kids to earth-friendly soaps, shampoos, toiletries, and cleaning supplies.

Children are the next generation to take on the task of protecting the planet.

When they begin an eco-friendly lifestyle early on, they may be more likely to employ the same strategies in adulthood.

Go green when lighting your home METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

To live more eco-friendly lifestyles, many people need only make some relatively minor changes. But even the simplest efforts, when multiplied across millions of households, can add up to profound results.

Inside Energy, a collaborative journalism initiative created to inform the public on energy issues, reports that the average American household uses 911 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per month, which can cost around $114. According to researchers at the Virginia Water Resources Research Center in Blacksburg, Virginia, fossil fuel-fired thermoelectric power plants consume more than 500 billion liters of fresh water per day in the United States alone. Reducing energy consumption is an effective way to conserve water and other resources. One way to do this is to switch to energy-efficient light sources, which may entail replacing your existing light bulbs with more modern and efficient alternatives.

Incandescent bulbs were once the

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standard for home use. Available for roughly 135 years, incandescent bulbs are now being phased out because they consume too much energy. Eartheasy.com, a solutions-based website for sustainable living, has found that electric lighting burns up to 25 percent of the average home-energy budget. The electricity used over the lifetime of a single incandescent bulb costs five to 10 times the original purchase price of the bulb itself. Traditional incandescent bulbs consume significant amounts of energy during heat production, while only a small portion of the energy used is involved in lighting the bulb. Experts have found incandescent bulbs convert less than 5 percent of the energy they use into visible light, with standard light bulbs averaging about 2.2 percent.

Unlike incandescent bulbs that have to heat up a filament to high temperatures to produce light, energy-efficient light bulbs, such as LEDs, CFLs and halogen See LIGHTING page 13

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METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

While there are many ways for home owners to reduce their home energy consumption, few are as easy and simple as replacing standard incandescent bulbs with more eco-friendly alternatives.

LIGHTING From page 12

bulbs, work differently. Each has its share of positive and negative attributes. Here are some of the facts about the other bulbs available.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs • CFLs use 75 percent less energy than incandescents.

• CFLs last up to 10 times longer than older bulbs.

• CFLs will brighten slowly after being turned on, so it can take a few minutes to reach full illumination.

• Turning CFLs on and off frequently can shorten their life span.

• CFLs contain mercury, so they need to be handled delicately and recycled to keep mercury out of the environment.

Halogen light bulbs • Halogen lights are not the most energy-efficient choice, but they still consume roughly 25 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs.

• Halogen bulbs produce instant bright-

ness and can be dimmed.

• Halogen bulbs more accurately show the colors of objects, which can be advantageous in certain settings.

• Halogen bulbs last about a year or two.

Light-emitting diode light bulbs • LED bulbs are very energy-efficient, with an energy savings of 85 percent compared to incandescent bulbs.

• When used for three hours per day, LEDs can last from 18 to 46 years.

• LEDs brighten instantly, and many are dimmable.

• Some LEDs cannot cast light in all directions and may not accurately show colors of objects.

• LEDs are some of the most expensive bulbs, although newer LEDs are being produced for less.

Eco-incandescent light bulbs • Eco-incandescent bulbs employ halogen technology and are 28 percent more efficient than standard incandescent bulbs, according to Philips.

• Eco-incandescent bulbs are typically less expensive than other incandescent bulb replacements.

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April 15, 2016

How to make spring projects more eco-friendly METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

The arrival of warmer weather means different things to different people. Some anticipate opportunities for outdoor fun, while others may be considering redecorating or remodeling their homes. For the latter group, home improvement season provides a great opportunity to make homes more eco-friendly.

When planning home improvement projects, it’s best to first choose a project and then look for ways to make the project more environmentally friendly. Such an approach may not only benefit the environment, but it also may benefit home owners’ bottom lines.

Interior decorating Longer days and warmer temperatures often translate into wanting to freshen up the interior of a home. Heavy draperies and comforters are put away, and lighter fabrics are taken out of storage. Whenever possible, reuse or repurpose items you already have rather

than purchasing new items. Longer drapes can be cut and hemmed to be used as window treatments in other rooms. Making a patchwork blanket out of old T-shirts is a crafty project that makes use of items that would otherwise be destined for landfills.

When laundering linens, skip the energy-using dryer and let items line dry in the sun and fresh air.

If you decide to purchase some new items, look for products made from sustainable or organic fabrics. Hemp and bamboo textiles have grown in popularity. Hemp and bamboo plants grow quickly, and their durability makes these materials smart choices.

When replacing items around the house, donate older items to a charitable organization.

Flowers and plants Spring and summer call to mind beautiful blooming plants. Relying on native, sustainable plants is practical, environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, sustainable plants are native plants. Native plants sustain local wildlife more effectively than non-native alternatives, so include native plants in your sustainable garden. Native plants also are less reliant on pesticides and herbicides to keep them healthy and viable.

Don’t forget to bring plants indoors as well. Even though you may be opening the windows more, indoor plants can filter and purify indoor air. The NASA Clean Air Study, led in association with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, found that certain common indoor plants naturally remove toxic agents such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from the air. Efficient air cleaning is accomplished with at least one plant per 100 square feet of home or office space.

Proper disposal Spring cleaning is another tradition for many families come the end of

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winter and dawn of spring. Many people use spring as a time to go through closets and garages to remove items they no longer use or need. In an effort to clean up fast, some people may dispose of chemical products, paints, treated lumber, and many other items in ways that can be damaging to the environment. Always learn local municipal guidelines for proper disposal of potentially harmful products. Area recycling centers may have drop-off areas for stains and paints, used motor oil and other potentially harmful products.

Before discarding something, see if it can be donated or sold. This will result in fewer items ending up in landfills.

Exercise caution outdoors as well.

Runoff from cleaning products used on home siding or driveways can leach into the surrounding soil or find its way into sewage drains that ultimately direct fluids to public waterways. Choose environmentally responsible products whenever possible.

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April 15, 2016

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How to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at home METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, and according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, these gases are significant contributors to climate change.

While climate change poses a considerable threat, it’s important to note that much of the increase in greenhouse gases over the last 150 years can be traced to human activities. By changing certain behaviors and practices, men and women can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The following are a few simple changes men and women can make in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their homes.

• Buy Energy Star products. A 2012 report from the United States Energy Information Administration noted that electricity production generates the largest share of greenhouse gas

emissions. The Energy Star label indicates products have been tested and approved as energy-efficient, meaning they consume less electricity than other similar products. The Energy Star label can be found on a host of home appliances, including lighting, heating and cooling equipment and electronics.

Home owners who want to pitch in to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also lowering their utility bills should only consider those products that have earned the Energy Star label.

• Revisit your cooling and heating habits. Home cooling and heating systems consume a considerable amount of energy, and inefficient use of these systems is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. But cutting back on these emissions does not mean you have to sweat out sultry summer afternoons or hide under the covers upon the arrival of winter. Replacing air filters according to manufacturer guidelines and using programmable thermostats so you aren’t heating and

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cooling your house when no one is home are some easy ways to dramatically reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that emanate from your heating and cooling systems. Such efficient use of these systems also saves you money on your monthly energy bills.

• Recycle. Recycling can greatly reduce your home’s greenhouse gas emissions. Many communities now mandate that residents recycle plastics, glass containers and paper goods like newspapers and magazines. Recycling can be so simple that it’s easy to forget just how beneficial it can be. When products are recycled, that reduces the need to extract resources, manufacture replacement goods and dispose of products, each of which contributes to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

If you and members of your household have yet to embrace recycling, you’re not only increasing greenhouse gas emissions, but also you may even be breaking the law. If your community

sponsors a recycling program, simply separate recyclable items from the rest of your trash and leave them out on the curb on designated pickup days. If no such program exists in your community, separate items to recycle and periodically bring them to your local recycling center, which may even pay you for certain items.

• Compost food waste. Instead of discarding leftovers in the garbage can, compost that wasted food so it does not end up in landfills, where it will contribute to methane gas in the air.

Composting food waste can improve the soil in your yard and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and it also makes you feel better that you’re making use of wasted food that would otherwise go straight into the garbage can.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions may seem like a massive undertaking, but concerned men and women can employ several simple strategies to do their part to protect the environment.

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