York Goes Green

Greetings Everyone!!

“You don’t know what you’ve got, until it’s gone”

That phrase sure was on a lot of people’s minds last week during the power-outage. It definitely highlights how much we rely on energy – even when we are not thinking about it. I sure hope everyone’s power has now been restored.

In terms of business, sorry for the late reminder notice – but our next meeting will be tomorrow night at 7pm at the York Library.

On the agenda:

1. What is a watt? A kilowatt? Paul Kittel will give a brief presentation he’s developed that helps clarify commonly misused terms in discussion about Energy.

2. Continue planning for the York Energy, Climate and Sustainability Fair scheduled for May 1st from 9-2pm.

3. Planning and promotion for the showing of “No Impact Man” on Friday, April 23rd at 7pm.

4. Do you know an organization or an individual who might like to sponsor the York Energy and Climate fair? We are trying to raise a total of $2,000 to cover marketing/promotion and reusable grocery bags as give-aways. If you know of someone who might be interested, please let me know.

Also: We are looking for volunteers to help us with the set-up, staffing and breakdown of the fair. Debbie Archambault (debbie@travelexpertsofyork.com) has offered to coordinate the volunteers. Please let her know if/when you are available to help. We are planning on a bigger turnout this year, so we’ll need as many volunteers as we can muster.

That’s all for now – hope all is well!

Eric

Eric Hopkins
Chairman
York Energy Efficiency Committee
eric@yorkgoesgreen.org

March 8th, 2010 by Eric | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (1)

There are many ways to be green (or if you prefer, environmentally conscious). Andrew Hayford, a York High School sophomore, is one of 10 students nationally to receive a $1000 Planet Connect grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation for his proposed project to reduce beach pollution in southern Maine.

From the March 3, 2010 Portland Press Herald:

Hayford’s plan details his commitment to collect trash along Maine’s beaches and record those findings to benefit beach pollution research for marine science groups. His campaign also is designed to engage community members of all ages and affiliations in helping to eradicate the state’s ocean pollution.

…For phase one of the project, dubbed “Clean Beaches, Clean Ocean,” Hayford will compile a list of pollution-prevention tips that he intends to distribute to local businesses who pledge to get the word out to their customers, who are likely to frequent southern Maine beaches. He also hopes to speak with York elementary school officials to propose a project asking grade school students to submit ocean-themed art work contest to be considered for an anti-litter advertising campaign. The winning submission will be transformed into a “Blue Ocean Friendly” decal to be displayed at participating businesses that pledge to join the litter-prevention campaign.

…Andrew is even more eager to educate others about the harmful effects of litter. The garbage is not just on the beach. It’s in the water.
“I’m really hoping to get the message across to people of all ages that our beaches need to be taken better care of,” said Andrew.

“Whatever kinds of trash you can think of, we find on the beach – from cigarette butts to tampon applicators, tires and lobster traps. It’s important for people to remember that these waters are essential for marine life and human life.”

Read more about the grant and the Hayford family’s other environmental contributions.

Kudos to Andrew for his commitment to making our beaches cleaner and congratulations on the grant award.

March 4th, 2010 by wayne | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Deborah Mcdermott writes in the York Weekly about a federal grant awarded to a consortium of six towns, including York. The grant will benefit both individuals and businesses.

Homeowners and small business owners in southern York County will soon be able to apply for a low-interest loan to make their buildings more energy efficient, thanks to the success of local residents who have secured a $500,000 federal stimulus grant.

The Seacoast Energy Initiative learned Friday, Feb. 12 the Maine Public Utilities Commission selected its proposal to receive the federal funds. The PUC is the state agency administering the grants.

The SEI towns that are included in the proposal are Kittery, Eliot, York, South Berwick, Ogunquit and North Berwick. The SEI members comprise each town’s energy committees.

It is anticipated that, if there are no glitches, the first loans will be approved in six months.

The program establishes a revolving loan fund of $410,000. Any homeowner or small-business person can qualify for the loans, regardless of income. This is important for the southern York County area, where most people make too much money to qualify for low-income programs.

The loans will be for no more than $10,000, at an interest rate of 3 percent.

Building improvements expected to be covered by the loan include weatherization work and upgrades to all electrical, air and fuel systems.

The loans will be administered by the Biddeford Saco Area Economic Development Corporation, a nonprofit agency with experience running revolving loan funds.

Read the rest of the article.

February 22nd, 2010 by wayne | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Solar panels and wind turbines are enticing, but energy experts insist that homeowners should first start with the most efficient and lower cost improvements.

This energy pyramid targets specific areas you can tackle based on cost and complexity, helping you prioritize. It identifies precise actions, areas of the home, and appliances to target and classifies them into 10 categories, with the easiest and least expensive on the bottom of the pyramid. Start at the bottom and work your way up the pyramid, as time and finances allow.

The utility company Minnesota Power developed The Pyramid of CONSERVATION—residential version to help its electric customers conserve energy. If you go to the site and click on a topic in the pyramid, you can find more information to help you save energy and money.

February 17th, 2010 by wayne | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Senator Bowman has been a champion for Property Assessed Clean Energy Bonds – or PACE – which is a revolutionary way of financing home-energy projects though the use of property taxes.   There has been some push-back from the financial industry – but the objections may not insurmountable.  A measure in Maine is currently being debated in the State House on LD 1717.

Today, the Portland Press Herald ran a story on LD1717

By ETHAN WILENSKY-LANFORD, Kennebec Journal February 15, 2010

A diverse group of interests is gathering in Augusta to shape new legislation on energy efficiency that aims to land perhaps $75 million in federal stimulus money for the state.

The bill, L.D. 1717, would allow towns and cities to lend money to homeowners for energy conservation projects through the Efficiency Maine Trust. It is sponsored by Rep. Patsy Crockett, D-Augusta.

These loans, however, would be attached to properties, not individual lenders, and would be repaid through property taxes.

This lending mechanism was designed to allow homeowners to extend their payments enough to see immediate net savings through decreased energy costs, according to Bob Howe, a lawyer representing the Maine Association of Building Efficiency Professionals.

If a property is sold before the loan is repaid, the remainder would be transferred with the property to the next owner to continue repaying.

This proposal has run into problems with the banking, credit union and real estate industries, however, according to lawmakers and advocates.

A national model for lending mechanisms of this sort – called “property assessed clean energy,” or PACE – usually calls for property liens created by efficiency loans to take precedence over other liens, such as mortgages.

Chris Pinkham, president of the Maine Association of Community Banking, said that provision could create problems in the secondary mortgage market, which allows banks to bundle and sell mortgages to investors.

“We think the concept is great,” he said. “At the same time, we absolutely have to make sure that our normal outlets for the sale of mortgages are not hesitant about accepting these changes.”

Last summer, Pinkham said, he received a letter from the Federal Housing Finance Authority, which regulates main players in the secondary mortgage market Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, warning of “superior liens” such as those proposed by L.D. 1717.

The FHFA suggested these loans might increase indebtedness and foreclosures and decrease values of mortgages in the secondary market.

Sen. Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, co-chairman of the Utilities and Energy Committee, said the financial community brought up good points the committee had not previously considered for this legislation.

“If we did not have all the stakeholders in one room,” he said, “it could have blown up the whole bill.”

A revision has been submitted to give efficiency loans “junior status” against mortgages, which Hobbins expects will satisfy bankers’ concerns. The group of stakeholders is also working on establishing a reserve fund to address defaults on these efficiency loans.

Interested parties will meet again before reporting back to the committee on Thursday.

The bill is being considered as “emergency” because of stimulus funds awarded by the Department of Energy.

February 16th, 2010 by Eric | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Thanks to YEEC member Dorothy Healy for pointing out this free event in Portsmouth:

John Aber and Tom Kelly talk about THE SUSTAINABLE LEARNING COMMUNITY: ONE UNIVERSITY’S JOURNEY TO THE FUTURE
At 7:00 PM on Wednesday February 17, 2010 at the River Run Bookstore on Congress Street, downtown Portsmouth.

Details about the book:

University communities have the potential to serve as models in the development and application of sustainability principles and practices, not only by what they teach and study, but also by how they operate facilities and engage with off-campus partners. With the oldest endowed campus-wide sustainability program in the country, established in 1997, the University of New Hampshire has become a leader in advancing a campus culture of sustainability. The UNH experience provides a unique window into the development of a new and integrated approach to teaching, learning, research, and operations. It is also a valuable guide for other institutions that aim to enhance the quality of campus life while reducing their environmental footprint. The book’s organization along four functional domains (curriculum, operations, research, and engagement) allows faculty, staff, students, and managers to focus on sections of particular relevance to their university roles. Each chapter develops standards of best practices and presents interesting case studies to humanize the larger effort.

ABOUT THE EDITORS
JOHN ABER is Professor of Environmental Science and former Vice President for Research, University of New Hampshire. TOM KELLY is Chief Sustainability Officer and Director, Office of Sustainability Programs.

See more event details.

February 15th, 2010 by wayne | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The record snowfalls in the mid-Atlantic region has led a few uninformed or dishonest pundits to claim that it somehow disproves global warming. Joe Romm, a climate-change expert and former Energy Department official, summarizes the actual science that applies.

We are not in a deep freeze.  Quite the reverse.

Let’s see.  The 2000s were easily the hottest decade on record (as NASA and  NOAA and the World Meteorological Organization report).  And 2009 was one of the hottest years on record — tied for second hottest in NASA’s dataset.  And we are now in the warmest winter globally, as I noted in my Monday post, “Massive moisture-driven extreme precipitation during warmest winter in the satellite record — and the deniers say it disproves (!) climate science.”

Heck, even over the tiny fraction of the planet’s surface that is the continental United States, NOAA just reported that January was “0.3 degrees above the long-term average” — notwithstanding the media coverage (and hype by the anti-science ideologues) that might have left you with the serious misimpression last month was unusually cold.

An article on the subject in the Feb. 11 New York Times points out that:

Speculating on the meaning of severe weather events is not new. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and a deadly heat wave in Europe in the summer of 2003 incited similar arguments about what such extremes might — or might not — say about the planet’s climate.

But climate scientists say that no single episode of severe weather can be blamed for global climate trends while noting evidence that such events will probably become more frequent as global temperatures rise.

Jeff Masters, a meteorologist who writes on the Weather Underground blog, said that the recent snows do not, by themselves, demonstrate anything about the long-term trajectory of the planet. Climate is, by definition, a measure of decades and centuries, not months or years.

But Dr. Masters also said that government and academic studies had consistently predicted an increasing frequency of just these kinds of record-setting storms because warmer air carries more moisture.

“Of course,” he wrote on his blog Wednesday as new snows produced white-out conditions in much of the Eastern half of the country, “both climate-change contrarians and climate-change scientists agree that no single weather event can be blamed on climate change.

“However,” he continued, “one can ‘load the dice’ in favor of events that used to be rare — or unheard of — if the climate is changing to a new state.”

Read the whole article at Climateprogress.org.

February 13th, 2010 by wayne | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Greetings Everyone!!

I wanted to fill people in on a couple exciting updates:

1. Paul McGowan will be presenting a fascinating seminar called, “Awakening the Dreamer” at Bob and Jackie Brisebois’ house this Friday night.

The seminar is focused on the ecology of the earth, social justice and spiritual fulfillment. It is designed around a series of very powerful videos, reflection and conversations.

Bob and Jackie would like to invite people to their house for this seminar on Friday, February 12th from 5:00 to 9:30. Food and drink will be provided.

If you would like to know more about the seminar go to www.awakeningthedreamer.org and click on the symposium. There is a great video that gives an overview.

If you are interested, you can contact Bob at bob0326 [at] aol.com.

2. YEEC will be hosting the film, “No Impact Man” at the York Library on Friday, April 23rd at 7pm. The film will be used as a way of generating some advance “buzz” for the fair on May 1st.

3. I spoke to the 4th graders at Coastal Ridge Elementary School this afternoon. The students have been studying renewable energy and have put together a series of 30 second PSAs highlighting different renewable energy technologies. The videos are extremely cute – and I’m working with their teachers and parents to get permission to show them during the fair.

That’s all for now – hope all is well!

Eric

Eric Hopkins
Chairman
York Energy Efficiency Committee
eric [at] yorkgoesgreen.org

February 10th, 2010 by Eric | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Greetings Everyone!!

It’s still cold outside – but it’s not so dark anymore – and brighter days lie ahead.

In the interim, we’ll be meeting this Tuesday night at 7pm in the upstairs room of the library. We will continue to plan for the upcoming Energy Fair, talking about open issues – and areas where we could still use some help.

We’ll also be showing some clips from the film “no impact man” at the end of meeting.

On a separate note, over the last four years, YEEC member Heather Henriksen has coordinated a home-composter sale for York area residents through the Maine Resource Recovery program. Her work has been a tremendous success – she’s sold over 300 composters! – but she’s looking a little help this year organizing it. It’s not a big time commitment – and it’s a great way of connecting with the community. Email her at hhenriks [at] maine.rr.com if you are interested in learning more.

Be well. Stay warm!
Eric

Eric Hopkins
Chairman
York Energy Efficiency Committee
eric [at] yorkgoesgreen.org

February 7th, 2010 by Eric | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Jeff Beaudoin points out that the Nike outlet in Kittery has a bin set up to recycle used athletic shoes. Nike accepts any brand as long as they are actual athletic shoes (running shoes, sneakers, etc.). No shoes containing metal; no cleats or dress shoes or sandals.

Go to http://www.nikereuseashoe.com to see how the shoes are broken down into three parts and recycled into components of basketball and tennis courts and other sports surfaces.

February 6th, 2010 by wayne | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A state geologist released a report detailing some of the enormous local effects of global-warming-caused sea level rise. A Jan. 27 article by Susan Morse in the York Weekly details some of these impacts and policy implications.

YORK — A predicted 2-foot rise in the sea level over the next 100 years could potentially bring the Short Sands shoreline to Ocean Avenue, with a sand dune reaching behind businesses along that road, according to information released by a state geologist.

Along Long Sands Beach, waters could rise, during the highest annual tide, to a level above existing culverts on the beach, said Peter Slovinsky, senior geologist with the Maine Geological Survey.

Slovinsky made his comments during a Coastal Hazard Resiliency Tools Project meeting held on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at York Village Elementary School. An estimated 20 people attended the meeting, held by the Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission.

“The future trend is sea-level rise will accelerate due to melting glaciers,” Slovinsky said.

The State of Maine adopted the prediction of a 2-foot sea level rise over the next 100 years, said Slovinsky. A 1-foot rise in sea levels can change a 100-year storm into a 10-year storm, he said.

“We know the probabilities are changing,” Slovinsky said. “What we’re trying to do is lay the groundwork for some type of change looking into the future. Let’s think of something that would be a no-regret action a community could plan for, which would have a positive impact on natural and built environments.”

State-suggested local changes include creating a higher standard on elevation levels for new homes; mandating flow-through foundations for new construction in flood zones; constructing new beach culverts; building dunes on Short Sands Beach, and using tidal gates to get water out of flooded areas.

“If we don’t do anything about sea-level rise, the storm damage every year is going to get more costly,” Shoreland Resource Officer Ben McDougal said last week. “We’ve talked about it as a staff, so we’re ready to start dealing with it.”

McDougal and Community Development Director Steve Burns said the first step will likely come as ordinance proposals in November 2011.

One potential ordinance could raise the current building standard of 6.9 feet of elevation above high tide by half a foot. This would mean new construction in some shoreland areas would have to be built further inland to meet the new elevation standards.

Ogunquit has set the elevation level at 11 feet, a measure considered too drastic for York, said McDougal and Burns.

“A rule like that would affect York tremendously,” said McDougal. “We need to talk with people and work incrementally. We want to work with the community and developers on sea-level rise.”

…The areas most affected by sea-level rise, agreed planners, include homes or buildings along the ocean and tidal areas, York Beach Square and Short Sands Beach. The sea-level rise is also anticipated to speed up the loss of marsh in York Harbor and Cape Neddick.

The state does not include York Beach Square in its latest flood plain maps, a factor that bewilders local officials.

Long Sands Beach is stabilized by a seawall, Slovinsky said. Current state law prevents seawalls from being raised, he added.

Public meetings on the local effects of sea level rise and possible mitigating actions will be scheduled sometime in the future, according to officials.

Read the rest of the article online.

February 2nd, 2010 by wayne | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (1)