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Redirecting our energy a week ago, my living room looked like the inside of a spaceship—shiny silver covering the white painted bricks I’ve lived with for the past eight years. Finally, we had insulated our home. Now walls are being built, but honestly, after feeling how comfortable my formerly drafty living space could be, I wouldn’t have cared if we kept the aluminum foil interior design (I suspect my wife would have cared, though...). Unbelievably, we’ve achieved this level of comfort while setting our thermostat four degrees lower. Four degrees! Imagine how much less energy I’m going to use. Now, start imagining this on a bigger scale. What if neighborhoods, cities, states and countries all made it a priority to increase the efficiency of existing buildings? What Marcellus Shale holds in potential energy is a joke compared to the potential of efficiency. And even better, efficiency won’t threaten your water supply—in fact, it goes a long way toward promoting clean air and water by sparing it pollution. Unfortunately, our economy doesn’t put a price tag on clean air and water. But it does reward extraction, which is something big companies make fortunes on. What can we do to change that? Policies have been put in place here in Pennsylvania and around the country to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels. Twenty-four states, including our own, have mandated that renewable energy be part of the energy mix. Pennsylvania has reached a point where the amount of solar energy being produced far exceeds the modest goals of the legislation. This has caused the commodity market based on solar production to crash. Supply has Grid Alive 2 outstripped demand. The debut of Grid At the center of our Alive was a a lot of cover story (page 15) fun, and we’re having is House Bill 1580, a our second one on piece of legislation that March 22. Come meet aims to restructure the the people featured in this issue of Grid, netcurrent law. The solar work with some really industry predicts that, cool folks, enjoy great even in a worst case scemusic, drink local nario, energy customers beer, eat local cheese, would only see their and indulge a couple of would-be Dick bills go up four cents Cavetts, Nic Esposito a month; those repreand me. Event details senting the coal indusare on page 29. try warn that, overall, it could cost billions.
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publisher
Alex Mulcahy 215.625.9850 ext. 102 alex@gridphilly.com managing editor
Liz Pacheco liz@gridphilly.com art director
Jamie Leary jamie@gridphilly.com designer
Melissa McFeeters melissa@gridphilly.com distribution
Claire Connelly 215.625.9850 ext. 100 claire@gridphilly.com copy editor
Andrew Bonazelli production artist
Lucas Hardison writers
Who do you believe? I can’t say with certainty which forecast is more accurate. But I can say with certainty that solar energy is cleaner than coal and natural gas, and we would be wise to keep things like air and water quality on our minds as we formulate policies. (And just to be clear, the solar industry isn’t a charity case; it’s created nearly 5,000 jobs, and has the potential to create many more.) I’d like to encourage you to do two things this month to make a difference in our energy landscape. Call the office of House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (717-772-9943) and let him know you want House Bill 1580 brought to a vote. Switch your home and business energy provider to the Energy Co-op. They offer renewable energy, and they’re local. Let’s work with people we trust. Soon we’ll be unveiling a community energysaving contest with the Energy Coordinating Agency. Stay tuned for details!
Tenaya Darlington Lucas Hardison Kirsten Harper Lauren Mandel Marisa McClellan Char Vandermeer Samantha Wittchen photographers
Alan Allum Albert Yee illustrator
Melissa McFeeters interns
Kimberly Richards Marisa Steinberg ad sales
Alicia McClung 215.625.9850 ext. 114 alicia@gridphilly.com bookkeeper
Alicia McClung published by
Red Flag Media 1032 Arch Street, 3rd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107 215.625.9850 g r i d p h i l ly . c o m
alex j. mulcahy, Publisher alex@gridphilly.com
p hoto by lucas hard ison
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green building
Kensington-based Onion Flats. In essence, the plan is to make the building envelope as tight as possible and use high-efficiency appliances so only a relatively small solar installation is required to generate the extra energy. The smaller the array, the lower the development’s cost. To achieve the high level of control over the building envelope that a Passive House project requires, Onion Flats will use modular blocks constructed in Pottstown and assembled on-site. Ridge Flats will feature triple-pane windows, and double-thick walls will provide extra insulaCase study tion and eliminate thermal bridging, which happens Developer to create when heat travels through a non-insulated structural buildings that don’t consume member, such as a wood frame. The byproduct of this construction method, and something that will be very energy by samantha wittchen welcome to apartment dwellers, is that the thermal ext year, the view of East Falls from the Falls Bridge envelope will also act as an acoustic envelope, making each will look much different. The Ridge Flats, a modern, mixed- apartment very quiet. Both the PRA and Onion Flats are betting hard on Ridge use development that will include retail shops, a café, interior Flats. For the former, this visionary courtyard, 100,000 square feet of residential space, a covered garage and project could catalyze progress in utiEast Falls oasis plenty of bicycle parking, has been given the go-ahead by the Philadel- lizing some of the large supply of land Solar panels and roofs will phia Redevelopment Authority (PRA). But what’s most remarkable sitting in the city’s land bank. For the green provide on-site about the development is what’s missing: 90 percent of the energy. The latter, Ridge Flats is by far the largest renewable energy.
Saved by zero N
project, designed by Onion Flats, one of Philadelphia’s premier green building firms, will be the first net-zero energy apartment complex in the U.S.; this means the building won’t consume any more energy than it is able to produce on-site through renewable sources. To reach net-zero, Onion Flats will follow the Passive House standard. This energy-efficient standard is already commonly used in Europe, but hasn’t gained much traction in the U.S., where the more comprehensive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building standard has been winning out. There are only 32 projects in the U.S. certified by the Passive House Institute, and the majority have been single-family homes. The Passive House standard specifies very high insulation values and aggressive air sealing techniques, which, compared with a typically constructed building, will reduce the heating and cooling loads on the building by 90 percent. The remaining 10 percent can then be provided by on-site renewable energy sources. In the case of Ridge Flats, that will be a 300-kilowatt solar array. “We’re using Passive House as a GRid Lexicon building science, which is allowing Net-zero • the state a building N us to afford the amount of [solar] PV achieves when it generates as necessary to get us to zero energy,” much energy as it consumes says Tim McDonald, president of the 8
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and most ambitious project they’ve tackled, and its success could mean a lot for both Onion Flats and the larger building industry. “By demonstrating that we can build zero-energy buildings at the same cost [as conventional buildings],” says McDonald, “we can change the way buildings are built.” Let’s hope so, because zero never looked better.
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spring workshops
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food
Home Sweet Home Indulge your inner child with these sweet-treat puddings by marisa mcclellan
D
uring my childhood, the one good thing about getting a cold was the guarantee that there would be pudding. My mom firmly believed that pudding was good for tender stomachs, and since it was made with milk, it offered enough nutrition to get us back on the road to recovery. She’d alternate between a baked rice pudding and (on more harried days) vanilla pudding from a packet. Thanks to this early conditioning, I’ve gone through life believing that pudding comes in just two varieties and is only to be eaten on days when you’re feeling under the weather. Still, I’d always heard rumors about other varieties of pudding. Chocolate. Caramel. And the oh-soexotic tapioca. I had to learn more. I set off on a six-month pudding adventure. I learned how to make rich, custard-style puddings as well as easy puddings thickened with corn starch, and I found my favorites. The three recipes you find here are the ones that I return to again and again. A wonderfully creamy rice pudding made using a risotto technique. A corn starch-thickened pudding that gets its flavor from toasted sugar. And a luxurious chocolate pudding elegant enough for dinner parties.
Chocolate Pudding 2 4 2 5 2
cups whole milk large egg yolks cup granulated white sugar cup corn starch Tbsp cocoa powder oz semi-sweet or dark chocolate, chopped cup whipping cream tsp vanilla extract
Place milk in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until it barely reaches a simmer. While the milk heats, combine egg yolks and sugar in a bowl; beat with an electric mixer until they are pale and fluffy. Add corn starch and cocoa powder, and whip to combine. While mixing, slowly drizzle the hot milk into the bowl. Once the milk is fully integrated, return mixture to the saucepan (if there is any milk residue in the bottom of the pot, wash it before refilling). Heat pot over medium heat, stirring constantly (pay plenty of attention to the bottom of the pot so that it doesn’t scorch), until thickened. Add chopped chocolate and stir until it’s entirely melted into the pudding. Finally, add whipping cream and vanilla extract, and stir to incorporate. Pudding can be served warm or chilled.
Risotto-Style Rice Pudding
1 1 1 4
Tbsp butter cup Arborio or Carnaroli rice tsp ground cinnamon vanilla bean, split and scraped cups milk (preferably whole) tsp sea salt cup brown sugar
Melt the butter in a large, heavy-bottom pot over medium-high heat. Once it begins to foam, add rice and stir to coat. Let the rice toast for 2 to 3 minutes. Add cinnamon and vanilla bean seeds, and stir to combine. As soon as the
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Photo by -
spices begin to smell fragrant, add about 1/2 cup milk and stir. When the rice begins to look dry, add another small amount of milk, stirring to combine. Repeat until all the milk is used. Continue in this fashion, adding the milk in small amounts each time the rice begins to look dry and stirring to combine until all the milk is gone. Just after you’ve added the last of the milk, stir in the sea salt and brown sugar. Serve warm or chilled.
Caramel Pudding
4 2
cup granulated white sugar cup water cups milk (preferably whole) cup corn starch tsp sea salt tsp vanilla extract
Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Let it simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, until a deep, rich color develops. While the sugar cooks, whisk the corn starch, sea salt and vanilla extract into 1/2 cup milk. Set aside. When the sugar has achieved a rich, tan color, remove pot from heat and whisk in the remaining 3 1/2 cups of milk. The mixture will hiss and bubble madly. Return pot to heat and stir until the sugar dissolves into the milk and has thickened slightly, about 10 minutes. Whisk in the corn starch slurry and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the pudding has thickened. Remove pot from heat and spoon pudding into serving dishes or a storage container. Let pudding set in the refrigerator until completely cool.
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food PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITY MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN ONLINE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES A COLLABORATIVE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY LEARNING EXPERIENCE “The principle of sustainability is reshaping the way we think about the world, encouraging us to improve the way we design, build and live in the 21st century” — Rob Fleming, Program Director
cheese of the month
Baby Bloomer In France, spring goat cheese is prized for the delicate, vegetal flavor imparted by grass blades the nanny goats nibble. In Philadelphia, you can get a taste of this early succulence when you cut into Baby Bloomer. This aged log of local goat cheese is based on a recipe for Bucheron, a French specialty that looks like a cake roll. Its center is dense and supple, and the surface is covered in “bloom”—a fine layer of snowy mold. Imagine a creamy chèvre with a lemony prickle. Baby Bloomer was developed by Chester County cheesemaker Debbie Mikulak. After she retired last year, Mikulak sold her farm to a pair of aspiring cheesemakers from Havertown, Will and Lynne Reid. Will gave up his desk job at a tech firm to become a full-time goat-milker and cheesemaker. The results so far are promising, and fans of Amazing Acres’ unusual local goat cheeses have been delighted to see them return. Look for Sea Smoke, a puck of goat cheese striped with ash—a Snow White-like treat from the same maker. Spring goat cheese pairs well with the first farmers market produce: berries, fiddleheads,
T-Rail Pale Ale American Pale Ale / 5.5% ABV
in early february, Philadelphia watering holes welcomed Old Forge Brewing Company to their taps with a series of events celebrating the brewer’s newly broadened distribution. Among their suds is a new canning line of 16 oz. Endless Summer and T-Rail Pale Ale. T-Rail Pale pours a light amber color with a thin head… okay, yes, you’re probably going to enjoy this straight from the can—who are we kidding here? It’s light on carbonation, checks in at 5.5% ABV, and offers a soft and balanced one-two of hops and malts. Basically your quintessential session beer.
the feed
VISIT
www.PhilaU.edu/greengrid
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Amazing Acres goat cheese is available in Philadelphia at the Fair Food Farmstand, Di Bruno Bros. and Weavers Way Co-op. Amazing Acres Goat Dairy, 184 Grove Rd., Elverson, Pa. 610.913.7002; amazingacresgoatdairy.com
on tap
Old Forge Brewing Co., Danville, Pa.
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mushrooms and ramps. Try serving rounds of Baby Bloomer on top of spring mix or steamed baby vegetables. It’s also lovely for breakfast, smeared on fresh bread with a spot of homemade preserves. —Tenaya Darlington, madamefromage.blogspot.com
While the sustainability of cans vs. bottles is still up for debate, for beer enthusiasts the arguments for aluminum—specifically, superior protection from light and oxygen—tend to be more convincing than the mostly aesthetic arguments for glass. And the idea that you can’t get good beer in a can has long since been put to rest, so when you’re finished with that “pounder” (or is it a “tall boy”?), that’s something to think about on your way to the recycling bin. —Lucas Hardison More at oldforgebrewingcompany.com
Elevation Burger has taken flight locally. The hamburger chain, which boasts organic, grass-fed burgers and fresh-cut fries has added another location to the Philadelphia area.
Add another restaurant using local and seasonal ingredients to your list. The much-anticipated The Pickled Heron opened this winter in Fishtown, featuring former Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia chefs Todd Braley and Daniela D’Ambrosio.
There’s a new destination for farm fresh produce. Blue Moon Acres is opening a retail outlet this spring at their farm in Pennington, N.J. Expect organic produce, fruit, flowers, pasteurized eggs and other local goods.
3945 Welsh Rd., Willow Grove
2218 Frankford Ave.
11 Willow Creek Dr., Pennington, N.J.
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There Goes The
Will legislators kill Pennsylvania’s solar industry? story by liz pacheco • photos by albert yee
After several years of explosive growth, Pennsylvania’s solar industry is in trouble. The same legislation that initially encouraged the fledgling industry now threatens to cripple it. While current lawmakers have proposed a solution, not everyone agrees that the solar industry deserves to be saved. Is the sun setting on our solar future?
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the stat e o f so l a r
L
ike crops awaiting harvest, solar panels fill the field across from Longwood Gardens’ Route 1 entrance. The array is impressive; 6,669 ground-mounted panels over nine acres. Although much bigger than corn stalks, the panels aren’t intruding on the landscape. They rise and fall, following the curves of the bowl-shaped field. The company hired for the project originally wanted to level the field and, in all likelihood, would have put down asphalt and gravel. “We wanted to find and contribute to a new aesthetic standard for solar fields and installations,” says Paul Redman, director of Longwood Gardens, a nonprofit horticulture center in Kennett Square, Pa. “We developed an experiment to look at seed mixes that would establish low-growing, slowgrowing native vegetation that could be planted in and around and among solar panels,” says Redman. Once the plants grow, the panels will appear to be floating in a meadow. Longwood first started exploring solar panel options almost five years ago. After two years of research, they announced a twophase plan to install three megawatts of solar energy by 2018 — on a sunny day, these panels, in addition to Longwood’s long-term commitment to energy conservation, would satisfy 100 percent of their energy needs. In June 2011, 1.5 megawatts of solar energy (via the 6,669 panels) was installed, enough to supply 30 percent of the Gardens’ current energy needs. Paul Redman, Director But Longwood’s goal of Longwood Gardens, of 100 percent solar enhas outlined a longergy is in jeopardy — as is term solar plan for the nonprofit. The 1.5 Pennsylvania’s entire solar megawatt solar field is industry. The Alternative only the first phase.
Energy Portfolio Standard Act of 2004, the law that determines how much solar our utility and electric supply companies are required to buy, is no longer encouraging new solar projects. Solar advocates have introduced legislation in an attempt to restructure the law’s requirements and keep the industry viable. But critics of the bill — largely consisting of fossil fuel advocacy groups — believe it unfairly favors one energy source over another. So, what’s at stake? Without supportive legislation, Pennsylvania’s leadership in renewable energy is threatened, and with it the nearly 5,000 jobs created by our state’s solar industry. The Boom Five years ago, Pennsylvania had only 300 solar energy systems. Today, there are more than 5,600. The explosive growth is part of a national trend — one partially driven by tax incentives,
from solar. (The rest comes from other renewables, including wind, hydro and geothermal.) While solar requirements are different in each state, Pennsylvania’s are small compared to our neighbors. In Delaware, the overall renewable energy requirement is 20 percent by 2019, with four percent from solar; New Jersey’s is 22.5 percent by 2021, with two percent plus an additional 5,316 gigawatts from solar. “The credit program, as we initially established it back in 2004, was designed to gradually push the amount of solar on an annual basis a little higher,” explains Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester, who helped create the state’s solar requirement. “[The act] wasn’t going to shock the ratepayers by creating a substantial shortage, but was just going to persistently nudge the solar installations in Pennsylvania forward.” While Pennsylvania’s solar requirements were considered aggressive at the time, the policy really was very conservative, says Ron Celenta-
The credit program, as we initially established it back in 2004, was designed to gradually push the amount of solar on an annual basis a little higher…[not] shock the ratepayers by creating a substantial shortage.” —rep. chris ross
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and rebate and grant money from states and the federal government. When the economy collapsed in 2008, Pennsylvania introduced $180 million in funding for solar. At the same time, the federal government introduced $11 million in stimulus grants and a tax incentive program. But the issue so hotly debated right now involves legislation passed under former Gov. Ed Rendell. The Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard Act of 2004 set requirements for how much renewable energy utility and electric supply companies are required to buy. By 2021, 18 percent of Pennsylvania’s energy must come from renewable sources. Of that 18 percent, only one half of a percent must come
no, a solar engineer and consultant at Celentano Energy Services who helped develop the solar standard. “We didn’t want to have a requirement higher than what could be met because there would be penalties,” he explains. And at the time, “Pennsylvania never had any kind of grant or rebate for pretty much anything.” After 2004, when the market changed and funding increased, Pennsylvania’s solar industry was in an incredible position to grow. “We had a nice, perfect storm,” explains Kristin Sullivan, the energy manager for the City of Philadelphia and director of its Solar City America program. Suddenly, the solar industry was booming. The Money Maker To fulfill the state’s solar mandates, utility and electric supply companies don’t install solar panels; they purchase solar renewable energy credits, or SRECs. When a person or business installs solar panels, they generate electricity that reduces their electric bill. Simultaneously, they’re generating energy credits utility companies are required to buy. “[SRECs are] basically a commodity and they have value because of the fact that you generate electricity without creating emissions,” explains Celentano.
Visitors to Longwood Gardens can learn about the new solar field from a demonstration flower installed in the idea garden.
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the stat e o f so l a r
In Pennsylvania, the SREC market has changed dramatically. “When we started [the Longwood] project, the [SRECs] were at a value of around $265,” says Redman. “And by the time we commissioned and flipped the switch on this project, I think they were at $155.” As of February 2012, an SREC in Pennsylvania costs $35. Comparatively, an SREC costs $205 in New Jersey, $285 in Ohio, $60 in Delaware and $540 in Massachusetts. The low SREC price was made worse by another factor: no more third-party support. By the end of 2011, the state rebates were nearly depleted, the federal grant program had expired, and the tax incentive changed from a cash grant to a tax credit. A state’s portfolio standard dictates the SREC market. Although Pennsylvania’s solar requirement is small, those creating the policy didn’t think the industry would grow as fast as it did. “Subsequently, we have three times more SRECs available on the market than the regulations require,” explains Andrew Kleeman, senior vice president of new markets at Mercury Solar Systems. Kleeman is also founder of Eos Energy Solutions, Philadelphia’s largest solar integrator before it sold to Mercury in 2010. “And as simple supply and demand would dictate, the price of
those SRECs has collapsed. So not only did we lose the state and federal subsidies, we also lost the long-term subsidy of SRECs because they’re worth almost nothing today.” The Stall Out For Longwood, the collapsed SREC market doesn’t affect the first phase of their solar installation. They have a Power Purchase Agreement with EcogySolar, which means the company owns the solar equipment and in turn, sells the power produced back to Longwood. EcogySolar, not Longwood, is impacted by the SRECs’ reduced value. But this means the next installation of 1.5 megawatts could be delayed. Although targeted for 2018, without a third party to buy the SRECs, the next phase can’t go forward. Projects across the state are facing the same challenge. In Philadelphia, the Water Department had proposed installing a three-megawatt system on top of water storage basins. (The Water Department even planned to use Longwood’s seed mix experiment.) Originally, more than 45 solar developers were interested in partnering with the Water Department. Only three submitted proposals. With SREC prices spiraling further downward, the city would have had to
take on significant risk to make the project viable. “The city intended to buy the electricity and the SRECs would go to a third party. But at such low prices, the economics just weren’t working,” says Sullivan. “It would not have been the best use of taxpayer dollars.” The Navy Yard and the University of Pennsylvania have also put their solar plans on hold. The Waiting Game Since the SREC market crashed and the monetary support from the state and federal governments ended in 2011, the Pennsylvania solar industry has practically ground to a halt. “It’s quite clear and it already has been happening that we’re losing jobs,” says Ross. “And we’re certainly losing an opportunity to take advantage of solar installations.” Some solar businesses have laid off workers, others have “just [moved] to other states, like Massachusetts, to do work. Or they’ve just closed shop,” says Celentano. “They just can’t do it.” While the Standard Portfolio Act is too complicated to change (for now), those in the industry are looking to shift the law’s timeline. They’ve proposed House Bill 1580, which was formally introduced by Ross last October. The bill would
Solar, DIY Two Philadelphia handy men take solar into their own hands by bernard brown
You would think Greg Scott was talking about building bookshelves from a box, not installing a solar array on his roof. “Once you know how to build stuff for a reason, you sort of figure out how to build things,” he explains. Scott, together with his do-it-yourself partner Tom Weissert, thinks we can do it, too. Scott and Weissert have installed both a solar hot water system, which heats water with solar warmth, and a photovoltaic (PV) array, which converts sunlight into electricity, on Weissert’s house in Narberth, and they are close to installing another PV system at Scott’s house in West Philly. Scott is adamant: This is a project well within the reach of other do-it-yourselfers. “If you want a fully guaranteed, don’t-have-to-think-about-it job, then you should pay the considerable extra cost of using a commercial contractor. However, it is doable as a home project if you have some skills. If you can do work around your house, some plumbing or a little electrical, this is for you.” He continues, assuring that one “can do much of the work and still get a good quality installation for 18
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little more than the cost of the components.” To be fair, Scott and Weissert aren’t the average tinkerers. Weissert has a Ph.D. in physics, while Scott, a man of many gigs, has a background building racecars and teaches high school robotics. He is also a volunteer and part-time teacher with the West Philly Hybrid X team, in which high school students build competitive electric cars. (As if that’s not enough, he also plays at least five instruments in the big band Big Push). With plenty of experience already in computer-aided design, it was relatively simple for him to draw up plans for a solar energy system. Solar arrays cover almost every shingle on the front of Weissert’s south-facing house, even the slice of
pitched roof that extends between the first and second floors. The two hot-water arrays are outnumbered by four of the PV. In 2007, Scott and Weissert began with the hot water, by far the more challenging project. “We designed our own system and installed it, and got up there on the roof and just did it,” says Scott. “We investigated some of the controllers that were available and thought they were pretty crude, but we had some old controllers [from robotics projects], so we took one and modified it and wrote our own programs for it.” Solar PV systems, once boutique projects for early adopters, are getting more popular. Yet, as Scott put it, they are still “BMW” projects. “Even with all the govern-
increase the solar requirement for 2013, 2014 and 2015 and then lower the requirements in later years. Pennsylvania would still reach the same half percent required by the standard portfolio. The bill also proposes closing the Pennsylvania borders to restrict SREC purchases to in-state projects — something other states, like New Jersey, have been doing for years. As the legislation currently stands, Pennsylvania accepts SREC credits from outof-state projects, and this drives their value down further. Both Kleeman and Celentano were very involved in creating this bill and they see it
as the only way the solar industry can be saved. “If this bill doesn’t pass, the incredible industry that Pennsylvania built on prudent investment, both private and public sector, is gone,” says Kleeman. Even multi-state or ross national companies, like Kleeman’s own Mercury Solar Systems, would be less likely to invest in Pennsylvania. “The same amount of investment in another state just yields a higher return,” he explains. When first introduced, the bill had more than 100 co-sponsors in the state’s House of Representatives and a companion bill has since been introduced in the state Senate. But before 1580 can be voted upon, it has to pass through the House Consumer Affairs Committee. Those against the bill, like the state’s Chamber of Business and Industry and the Energy Association of Pennsylvania, have cited three main arguments against its passing: the solar industry shouldn’t be given a “bailout”; the
ment rebates, you’re still looking at about $20,000, and that can take a while to get it back.” Scott and Weissert assumed they could do it themselves for cheaper. “This just can’t cost this much to do,” Scott recalled saying. “If you get it down to around 10 grand, then it starts to get attractive… So, we just kept gnawing at it and gnawing at it, and the final price is under $2.50 a watt,” or about $11,000 in installation costs, thanks in part to a wholesale equipment purchasing arrangement they reached with San Diegobased WholeSolar. Recent advances in solar energy technology also facilitated the do-it-yourself approach. Solar panels don’t connect directly to your house’s electrical system or to the grid; the current they generate needs to be mediated by an inverter. This box changes the direct current (DC) coming out of the panels to the alternating current (AC) that powers most of what we use. Early home-PV systems relied on a single inverter to process the output of all the panels, however many there were. “The problem is that you have to run them in series,” notes Scott. Running panels in a series meant that a decrease in output of one panel would cut the flow from the entire array (think of the old Christmas lights, where one bulb burning out would darken the entire string). Enter the “micro” inverter. “With micro inverters, each panel has its own inverter,” explains Scott. These smaller, smarter inverters allow installers (whether professional or amateur) to set up the panels in parallel. Now, if the shifting shadow of a utility pole shades one panel, the others can keep right on pump-
ing their electricity into the system. State tax credits and a change in how PECO accounted for home power generation also made the project easier. “PECO used to buy from you at wholesale and sell at retail, which made the wiring a nightmare.” Now, Scott explains, “they pay at the same rate they charge you. You could do it with one meter; they like to use two, but both are at the same rate. One runs forward and one runs backwards. It’s kind of fun.” There were concerns about getting permission from Licenses and Inspections, but “it turned out the guy just wanted some drawings,” recalls Scott. The computer-aided drawings sufficed, and he and Weissert also found smooth sailing in the suburbs. “From the township perspective, they were supportive, not a problem at all, and they were equally supportive with the hot water permit.” In both locations, an electrician and solar inspector were needed for the final permit and PECO application for the grid-tie. Scott’s own home PV project is on hold, pending some other work on his roof. “Our circuits to the attic are already installed. As soon as we can get the roof on, we only need about a day to finish up.” Scott and Weissert don’t want to stop with their houses; their vision is for a more project-sustainable community model of home PV installation. They’re still hammering out how this would work and are always looking to others for inspiration and help. “I’m not an electrician, I’m not a carpenter,” says Scott. “I want to demystify the process. I’d like to see solar panels on every house in Philadelphia.”
We’re certainly losing an opportunity to take advantage of solar installations.” —rep. chris
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the stat e o f so l a r
Save money. Increase comfort. Add value to your home. Improve Your Community.
“I could live with a drafty house if I had to. But I heard about EnergyWorks through a sustainable living magazine I write for called GRID, and I knew it was just too good a deal to pass up. At 0.99% it would practically be a free loan, so I figured I had nothing to lose. I am very satisfied.” - Samantha, Homeowner, West Powelton
www.energyworksnow.com 215.609.1052 20
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changes will cost ratepayers too much money; and closing Pennsylvania borders to SREC credits violates the Constitution’s Interstate Commerce Clause. While the commerce clause could technically be violated under the bill, other states like New Jersey have closed their borders without being challenged. And Kleeman, Celentano and others don’t see 1580 as a bailout, but a fix to the supply-demand relationship. They estimate the cost to ratepayers to be, at most, four cents a month. The Energy Association of Pennsylvania, the trade association that represents electric and natural gas utility companies, doesn’t agree with this estimate. “We think [1580 will] raise the bills of customers for years to come,” says Terry Fitzpatrick, president of the Energy Association. “And we’re concerned about that because there are other things that have to be paid for.” Fitzpatrick has been one of the leaders against 1580 and has raised questions about its ability to truly “fix” the market: “What happens if this doesn’t work? What if the credit prices don’t go up enough? Is this industry going to come back again for more money because the credits still aren’t worth what they want?” What Fitzpatrick doesn’t consider is the potential for solar to reduce the bills of all ratepayers. “[Solar energy] actually suppresses the cost for the ratepayers at times of peak power,” says Ross. With additional solar energy supplementing the grid, it’s no longer necessary to turn on a more expensive, less efficient plant. Advocates view this bill as necessary to keep renewables in the state. Those against 1580 see it as an unnecessary concession to the solar market. “They feel that the government shouldn’t be stepping in and helping the industry,” says Celentano. “[But] they’re obviously giving a substantial favor to the fossil fuels industry.” The Energy Center at PennFuture, a leading environmental advocacy organization, released a study in December 2011, citing fossil fuel subsidies for coal, oil and natural gas to cost Pennsylvania taxpayers $2.9 billion per year. But even this number doesn’t lend much transparency to the issue. “There are certainly fewer state business assistance programs today than there were a few years ago,” explains Gene Barr, president of the Chamber. Barr, like Fitzpatrick, is against the
bill. He doesn’t want to favor the solar industry, although he recognizes the importance of renewable energy. “We certainly support the development of solar technology, wind technology, all energies,” he says, “because we’re going to need all those energies coming out.” So where does the solar industry go from here? If the bill makes it through the committee, there’s a strong chance 1580 will pass in the House and Senate. But time is running out. The government’s calendar year ends May 31 and
If this bill doesn’t pass, the incredible industry that Pennsylvania built on prudent investment, both private and public sector, is gone.” —andrew kleeman
after that, the bill will have greater difficulty coming to a vote. In the meantime, projects like Longwood’s are delayed. “Right now, to be honest with you,” says Redman, “we’re really not doing anything.” Pennsylvania solar advocates are hoping to convince the House Consumer Affairs Committee to vote on 1580 when the legislature reconvenes in mid-March. Pennsylvania residents can contact House Majority Leader Mike Turzai at 717.772.9943 to express support for bringing the bill to a vote.
C
We’ve been Greening on the Railroad. Now One SEPTA Station is Among the Nation’s Greenest.
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
SEPTA rebuilt its Fox-Chase Station to be eco-friendly by design, and people-friendly on purpose. It earned the nation’s first LEED Silver Certification for a train station. This recognizes leadership in energy and environmental design. It is an unprecedented accomplishment and an honor for SEPTA.
go green go 215-580-7800
septa.org
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guest column
by lauren mandel
1 Existing Conditions
2 Community design collaborative Plans
Gardening the Skyline S
canning the puddled, coal tar roof of the SHARE Food Program’s distribution center in North Philadelphia, it’s hard to imagine the expansive space as an active farm. The warehouse sits at the highly trafficked corner of Henry and West Hunting Park Avenues, amidst a tangle of power lines, abandoned buildings and the decommissioned Tastykake factory. But if you were to add a row farm, raised beds and a few greenhouses to the roof, the view might not seem so bad. Embracing an Ancient Practice Down on the ground, Philadelphians are enthusiastic about urban agriculture. With a healthy crop of community organizers, food justice advocates and young farming professionals, the city has quickly become a national leader in metropolitan food production. Local trendsetters continue to use diverse urban agricultural techniques, applying them to vacant lots, community garden plots, backyards and balconies. But what about rooftops? Rooftop farming is nothing new. Some historians believe the practice dates back to 600 B.C.E., when inhabitants of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (in present-day Iraq) raised produce and fish on the building’s rooftop. Singapore now leads the global rooftop agriculture movement, mostly a result of the government’s commitment to food localization. By comparison, rooftop agriculture is just beginning to take root in the U.S. Brooklyn currently leads the nation in rooftop food production, but the trend has also sprouted up in Chicago, San Francisco and Portland. 22
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Philly urban agriculture expands to rooftops
So, where does Philadelphia fit into this growing metroagrarian scene? Local groups, like the Philadelphia Rooftop Farm and Cloud 9 Rooftop Farm, have been instrumental in raising awareness and excitement about rooftop food production through discussion and the development of pilot projects. These groups have yet to produce a commercialscale rooftop farm, although this could soon change thanks to SHARE. Cultivating the Philly skyline SHARE’s 180,000 square-foot facility currently serves more than 500 local food cupboards. The nonprofit, founded in 1986, works to increase food access by providing affordable food packages. Steveanna Wynn, the current executive director, took over SHARE in 1989, and brought on environmentalist and urban farmer Bill Shick in 2010 to establish the facility’s on-site farm, Nice Roots Farm. In less than two years, the production area has blossomed into a community hub for neighborhood volunteers and urban agricultural enthusiasts from around the city. “The farm raises more than 20 crop varieties each season,” says Shick, “the most popular of which are collards, mustard greens and sweet potatoes.” Nice Roots Farm is primarily grant-funded, which enables Shick to sell his chemical-free produce practically at cost to customers from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Many community members did not have regular access to affordable, local produce prior to the farm’s establishment, explains Shick, which makes the demand for his urban vegetables high.
3 Eagle Street Rooftop Farm
Nice Roots isn’t the only agricultural success at SHARE. Urban apiarist Trey Flemming maintains 32 hives at seven locations throughout the city, 14 of which are on SHARE’s warehouse roof. The urban bees feed on diverse flora found in street plantings, parks, roof gardens and vegetable gardens. Compared with rural agricultural crops, these small-scale polycultures are generally not treated with her-
4 Beekeeping
4 Life Wellness Center
vegetable, herb and flower crops, as well as the honey already produced on-site. Morris Zimmerman, architect and the Design Collaborative’s team leader, explains that the plan also integrates extensive green roof areas and solar panels in locations where the building can’t structurally support a thick soil layer. In order to ensure that the Design Collaborative’s rooftop vision was attainable, Zimmerman consulted with the Philadelphiabased green roof firm Roofmeadow, where I work. As Roofmeadow’s rooftop agriculture specialist, I worked with Zimmerman to develop soil depth, pricing, and phasing strategies for SHARE’s rooftop farm. For now the design is still in the conceptual phase, but the Design Collaborative’s efforts have begun stimulating funding interest. About $1 million is needed to repair the existing roof and waterproofing membrane, with an additional $1 million for the rooftop farm. Two million dollars may seem like a lot, but it’s a small price for the opportunity to embark on a new agricultural venture—one that builds community and supports food equity through the innovative design of underutilized space.
With a healthy crop of community organizers, food justice advocates and young farming professionals, the city has quickly become a national leader in metropolitan food production. bicides or pesticides, which means the pollinators don’t bring chemicals back to the hive. For these bees, SHARE provides an invaluable resource: real estate. Turning plans into action The success of Nice Roots and the rooftop apiary has Wynn and Shick eager to expand their agricultural operations. With the property virtually built to capacity, the only direction to expand is upward. In 2011, Wynn partnered with the Community Design Collaborative, a Philadelphia-based collective of design professionals that volunteer their services to assist nonprofits. The Design Collaborative was tasked with developing a master plan for the site, with rooftop farming as a key element. The Design Collaborative’s master plan proposes several types of agriculture for SHARE’s 3.5-acre roof, including row farming, raised beds and greenhouse hydroponics. These production areas are meant to prioritize high-value
lauren mandel, mla is a project manager and rooftop agriculture specialist at Roofmeadow (formerly Roofscapes, Inc.), the Philadelphia-based green roof firm that consulted with Zimmerman on the SHARE project. Mandel is writing a series of books on rooftop agriculture, called Eat Up, and blogs regularly on the topic at eatupag.wordpress.com .
Compared with the thriving farm SHARE already has on the ground, 1 the current view from their warehouse rooftop is bleak. But there’s hope that 2 plans created by the Community Design Collaborative can help turn the space into a thriving rooftop farm. 3 The Eagle Street Rooftop Farm in Brooklyn, N.Y. is a great example of what the space in Philadelphia can become. The 6,000 square-foot green roof is a thriving organic farm, supplying a neighborhood CSA, onsite farm market and several area restaurants. SHARE’s rooftop is already 4 home to 14 hives as part of Trey Flemming’s Urban Apiaries business. Rooftop hives provide a unique and diverse environment for bees. The hives will be included in the project, which already has support from Philadelphiabased Roofmeadow, which contributed to the design process. Roofmeadow is a green roof firm that has worked on projects both locally and nationally. 5 An example of their work is Life Expression Wellness Center in Sugar Loaf, eastern Pennsylvania, whose roof is covered in a flower carpet.
To find out more about rooftop farming initiatives in Philadelphia, visit philadelphiarooftopfarm.wordpress.com and cloud9rooftopfarm.wordpress.com .
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shoots
ladders
by char vandermeer
Cleaning Out Your Closet
As winter rolls by, it’s time to prep for the spring gardening season
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March is a great time to start planning your backyard garden. Take some graph paper and map out your space. Then, starting thinking about the plants you’ll want to start from seed come April.
xcavate those pots from the darkest depths of your basement. Now chuck your gloves in the washing machine and unearth your gardening tools. April is here, my friends; the gardening game is on, and even before you put a single seedling into a backyard pot, there’s plenty of work—scrubbing, sketching and seeding—to be done. And, just so we’re clear, for Shoots & Ladders, there’s only one kind of garden: one that’s edible and grows in containers. It’s ironic that a hobby featuring dirt, sweat and bugs requires obsessive attention to cleanliness, but that’s the way the sod crumbles. Sure, it would be nice to assume that all your tools and implements were stored in a state of orderly tidiness. But if you’re anything like me, October rolled around and you tossed a bunch of well-used dirt on the community pocket park (with the park leader’s permission), and threw the crusty pots in the deepest corner of your basement. Alas, bad bacteria lingers. So, while your gloves are in the spin cycle, you’ll need to make sure your pots and gardening tools are just as squeaky clean. A good scrubbing with very hot, very soapy water (or a weak 10 percent bleach solution, if you’re really obsessive) should be first up on your gardening to-do list. While your pots are drying, grab a pen and some graph paper, and start scribbling. Taking note of the dimensions of your space and the number of available pots, draw a few rough sketches of your dream garden. As tempting as it is to cram dozens of pots tightly together, keep in mind that if all goes well, foliage and fruits will expand well beyond the confines of your containers. In other words, give your imagi-
nary crops a little breathing room. This restraint will ultimately increase your yield by encouraging light and air circulation, and decreasing risks of disease and pestilence. While you’re at it, think about how much sun your designated patch gets, remembering most vegetables—including container garden usual suspects like tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, eggplants and peppers—require six to 10 hours of direct sunlight per day. My north-facing roof garden, for example, enjoys full sun throughout most of June, all of July and early August, but by mid-August that pesky third floor casts a shadow over more than half the deck, rendering certain corners much less desirable than others. Fortunately, one of the great advantages of container gardening is mobility, so know from the get-go which plants can endure partial shade—this will allow you to get the most out of your garden. With this in mind, I always try to have a few pots of chard, lettuce, turnips, radishes and hearty greens going to make the most of a less-than-ideal situation. Happily, the greens will keep through most of October, and occasionally into November. Now with pots cleaned and your plot planned, it’s time to get dirty. If you’re so inclined, and you still have the energy, April’s a great time to start a few plants from seed. Starting a garden from seed is both economical—especially if you partner up with a few friends and split the cost of your seeds and seed starting mix—and rewarding. Peppers, eggplants and tomatoes are all excellent candidates for indoor starts, and you’ll have a lot more seed options than you’d have at the greenhouse in late May. All you need to do is clear off a sunny windowsill or two, rinse out some yogurt cups (punch drainage holes in the bottom), fill them with seed-starting mix, and follow the planting directions on the seed packet. Make sure to keep your seeds warm (you may want to consider a heat mat to warm them from the bottom up) and well-lit (once your seeds germinate, they need at least 12 hours of direct light). Oh, and happy, happy spring. char vandermeer tends a container garden on her South Philly roof deck; she chronicles the triumphs and travails at plantsondeck.com
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11/30/2011 3:51:18 PM
mar
Green Your Home Fair
Learn sustainability and resource tips for your home. The fair will feature energy workshops, do-it-yourself demonstrations, green vendors and prizes. Hosted by the New Kensington Community Development Corporation.
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→→ Sat., Mar. 10, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Kensington CAPA High
School, 1901 N. Front St. For more information contact Tom Potts at 215.427.0350 x119, tpotts@nkcdc.org
mar 13
Sustainability Movie Series: What’s Organic about Organic?
This film examines how organic farming evolved from a grassroots movement into a multibillion-dollar international industry. →→ Tues., Mar. 13, 7:30-8:30 p.m., $10,
Ambler Theater, 108 E. Butler Ave., Ambler. Purchase tickets at amblertheater.org/pennypack
mar
The Urban Agriculture of Philadelphia: 14 Potential Environmentally, Economically and Socially Sustainable? A panel discussion on urban agriculture in Philadelphia presented by University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Environmental Studies and the Earth and Environmental Science Department Undergraduate Advisory Board. →→ Wed. Mar. 14, 12-1:30 p.m., Free, University of
Pennsylvania – Carolyn Hoff Lynch Auditorium, Chemistry Building, 34th and Spruce Sts. For more information and a list of speakers, visit sas.upenn.edu/earth/ies_ss.html
mar
Daisy Organic Flour and Pasta Demo
Roberta Strickler from the Daisy Organic Flour Mill will teach about the various types and uses of flour. Strada Pasta’s Andrew Gerson will provide a pasta demo.
14
mar
The Brewer’s Plate 2012
Join Fair Food for their eighth annual Brewer’s Plate: a one-ofa-kind tasting event that pairs craft beer with local gourmet food.
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→→ Sun., Mar. 11, 5-9 p.m., $75 general public,
$125 VIP, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St. For more information, visit fairfoodphilly.org/farm-tours-events/thebrewers-plate-2012
mar
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Home Grown Institute Conference
More than 50 hands-on sustainable skills workshops and activities, including kids and teen programs, seed exchange, tool swap and a local, organic lunch. →→ Sat.-Sun., Mar. 24-25, $99 one day/$149 both
→→ Wed., Mar. 14, 7-9 p.m., $20, The Restaurant School, 4100 Walnut St. Register at brownpapertickets.com/event/217815
mar 17
La Salle University’s Second Annual Sustainability Symposium
Primex’s Ron Kushner will teach how to garden the organic way with basics on soil amending, composting and controlling insects and disease.
This year’s symposium will explore urban sustainability in the Greater Philadelphia region through an interactive, interdisciplinary model to discuss the unique and innovative cross-sector approaches distinguishing the movement.
→→ Sat., Mar. 17, 10-11 a.m., $10, Primex Garden Center,
→→ Sat., Mar. 17, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Free, La Salle
mar
Organic Vegetable Gardening
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days, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 8000 Cherokee St. Register at thehomegrowninstitute. org/Register.html
mar
The Pickled Heron Dinner for KCFC
Learn about the benefits of joining Kensington Community Food Co-op while enjoying a dinner prepared by The Pickled Heron’s chefs using food from the co-op.
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→→ Mon., Mar. 26, 7 p.m., $40, The Pickled Heron,
435 W. Glenside Ave., Glenside. Register at Primex or by calling 215.887.7500.
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University, 1900 W. Olney Ave. Register (required) at
2218 Frankford Ave. To register, visit kcfoodcoop.com
sustainabilitysymposium2012lasalle.eventbrite.com
Photo by R. Ke n n e dy for GPT MC
mar
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An Evening with Tanya Denckla Cobb
Author Tanya Denckla Cobb discusses trends in the local food movement from her book Reclaiming Our Food: How the Grassroots Food Movement Is Changing the Way We Eat. Followed by a reception and book signing.
ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY BEFORE IT WAS TRENDY!
→→ Fri., Mar. 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m., $10, Greensgrow Farms,
2501 E Cumberland St. To register, visit greensgrow_reclaimourfood.eventbrite.com
mar
Smart Growth Alliance
Join the Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance for a panel presentation focused on three regional smart growth projects and obstacles to their completion.
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→→ Fri., Mar. 30, 8-11 a.m., $35 public sector/ $50 private
sector, PECO Building 2301 Market St. Register at delawarevalleysmartgrowth.org
APr
S U S TA I N A B L E BUILDING & REMODELING
2012 Philly Farm & Food Fest
Join farmers, food producers and other members of the local food community for cooking demonstrations, Q&A sessions, live music and more.
01
→→ Sun., Apr. 1, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Free/$35. Pennsylvania
CALL 215.510.0647 OR EMAIL INFO@THESTOCKGROUP.NET
Convention Center, 1101 Market St. For tickets and more information, visit phillyfarmfest.org
Morel Hunt fundraiser for MS — April 28 + we are vending at PhillyFarmFest.org
WWW.THESTOCKGROUP.NET
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APr
United By Blue Cleanup
Enjoy a free cookout at 5 p.m., followed by a few hours of picking up trash along the Schuylkill. Supplies and snacks are provided.
03
→→ Tues., Apr. 3, 5-7 p.m., Bartram’s Garden, 54th St.
and Lindbergh Blvd. For more information, visit unitedbyblue.com/upcoming-cleanups
apr
06 07 08
Earthship Biotecture Seminar Led by Earthship founder Michael Reynolds, the three-day seminar will cover all topics related to the sustainable building design that utilizes recycled materials.
Easter/ r Passove
dline ordeisrMdonedaay April 2n
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→→ Fri.-Sun., Apr. 6-8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $400, Rainey
Auditorium at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 South St. For more information and to register, visit earthship.com/pennsylvania
apr 10
Sustainability Movie Series: PLANEAT
With the help of innovative farmers and chefs, PLANEAT advocates eating less meat as a step towards solving some current environmental and health problems. →→ Tues., Apr. 10, 7:30-8:30 p.m., $10,
Ambler Theater, 108 E. Butler Ave., Ambler. Purchase tickets at amblertheater.org/pennypack
Philadelphia Gardens, Inc. GREEN + SUSTAINABLE GARDEN INSTALLATION + DESIGN TONI ANN FLANIGAN PHILADELPHIAGARDENS.COM 215.951.9193
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YOU’VE READ THE MAGAZINE, NOW SEE THE SHOW!
FROM THIS MONTH’S ISSUE
MUSICAL GUEST
March 22 Trinity Memorial Church 22nd and Spruce Sts.
Solar engineer and consultant
TICKETS
Ron Celentano
$5.00
on how legislation could kill Pennsylvania’s solar industry.
Order online at gridphilly.com
Rooftop agriculture specialist
Lauren Mandel
DOORS OPEN AT
discusses the possibilities of rooftop agriculture in Philadelphia.
Johnny Miles
5:30 p.m.
Dirty laundry. Clean conscience. Join Philadelphia’s first sustainable, ultra-convenient, bike-driven laundry service
We pick up dirty laundry on bikes.
Then we wash it using green, local Sun and Earth detergents and high-efficiency machines that sip water and save energy. You’ll get your clothes back, folded, in 24 hours. Visit WashCycleLaundry.com to schedule your first pick-up at and find out why more and more of your neighbors trust Wash Cycle Laundry to do their laundry every week.
Show starts at 6:15 P.M. HOSTED BY
CO-SPONSORED BY
DRINKS PROVIDED BY
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
SUSTAINABLE
19103
MAYOR’S OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY
Alex Mulcahy Grid Publisher
Nic Esposito
Urban Farmer and Novelist
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We’re on a Boat Lessons about sustainability taught by a life at sea by kirsten harper
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y boyfriend had always wanted to live aboard, so when he went to school to learn how to build wooden sailboats it seemed an opportune time to begin this adventure. We learned how to sail from scratch and bought a used, 30-year-old boat for a bargain during the height of the recession. When we moved out of our apartment in May 2010, I knew we’d be learning to live very differently. After donating all our furniture and many of our non-essential earthly possessions to friends and Goodwill, I was prepared to get by with less stuff. What I didn’t anticipate was the new way we’d come to view our resources. Nothing is automatic about living on a boat; everything must be brought in, refilled and checked for levels. It’s a totally different reality than living on land, where one is fully plugged in to a seemingly endless supply of water and energy. The average indoor water usage for an American is 69.3 gallons per day, with 11.6 gallons used for showers, 15 gallons for washing machines and 18.5 gallons for toilets. In our floating, low-impact home, we average about eight gallons per day, not counting clothes-washing, which is done on land. Boat toilets use very little water, and showers involve a handheld showerhead that is only “on” when a button is pressed, which helps prevent overuse. With a water capacity of 250 gallons stored in three tanks below the floorboards, anyone would think twice before letting the water run. summer aboard, we learned to string up a large When guests are gently After all, we’re personally responsible for the chore of canvas canopy over the deck to protect us from direminded that water filling the tanks again when they sputter to a disappointrect sunlight and keep cooler breezes moving over ing drip. During guest visits, we can see ourselves two the deck. Open hatches and a few well-placed fans isn’t endless aboard years ago, taking long showers with abandon and letting also help keep it livable. our ship, you can see the water run when we wash our hands or brush our But we get the most direct, satisfying sense of teeth. When guests are gently reminded that water isn’t that this is the first time conservation when we take our home out for a endless aboard our ship, you can see that this is the first spin. Once the channel in the north Chesapeake they’ve contemplated time they’ve contemplated the possibility of a limit. It has opened a bit, we put up the sails and cut the the possibility of a limit. engine. The only sounds left are the boat’s bow cutmakes us realize how much we’ve changed. Our power usage has gone down, too, with an average ting through the waves and the lines creaking and It makes us realize how consumption of about 60 to 70 kilowatt hours per month, tightening as a gust of wind fills the sails. The hull of much we’ve changed. and 288 kwh more in the winter when we use an electric our ketch rig heels over gradually as a new balance is heater. Overall, that’s about five to 10 percent of what established and we charge ahead, all 50,000 pounds an average American household consumes. We have LED lights, which of fiberglass, wood, tanks full of water and diesel, batteries, a generator, use much less power than conventional bulbs, our refrigerator is a small equipment and all our belongings. Everything is pulled by the wind at a drawer style unit, and in the cold months we battle the chill with a kero- comfortable clip, leaving nothing but a smooth line in the water behind us. sene heater used only in the room we’re spending time in. We also sleep with a lower ambient air temperature, opting for more blankets instead. Kirsten Harper is an illustrator, designer and frequent contributor to Grid. Summertime offers some very different challenges to boat living, To see some of her work, visit kirstenharper.com . To read more about her namely beating the heat. After some oppressive days during our first adventures at sea, visit kirstenharper.squarespace.com/blog/category/sailing 30
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p hoto by alan allum
APRIL 20 – 29, 2012
WINE • JAZZ • FORENSICS • BASEBALL • VACCINES • ART • CHOCOLATE COMEDY • HISTORY • ROBOTICS • FASHION • TECHNOLOGY • AGRICULTURE FILM • GENETICS • ARCHEOLOGY • NEUROSCIENCE • GASTRONOMY! Experience over 50 immersive events at local bars, restaurants, museums and theaters. Right here at home. Visit www.philasciencefestival.org for tickets and information.
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