Climate Change 2017. What Must Be Done? Cont’D from P.1 350 Ppm by 2100, If We Began Reducing Emissions in 2013 at the (Optimistic) Rate of 6% Per Year

ISSUE 42 • FEB-Apr 2017 Look for G.E.T. in Cape Cod! FREE! R S ! SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR VT, NH, MA, ME, NY and Beyond E A Y 7

Energy Independence, Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Living and MORE! www.greenenergytimes.org | 802.439.6675 HIDDEN Climate Change 2017. Hunting and Wildlife in the TAXES What Must Be Done? Northeast By George Harvey air, if we want to get By Thaddeus Rumple Americans pay billions of dollars each back to 350 ppm CO2 year in hidden taxes. No one asked for in the air by the end of them. No one voted for them. No legislature the century, which is passed them into law. But they are real, and a first approximation, we all pay them, whether we like it or not. a first target, for what The really horrible thing about these hidden must be done to keep taxes is that they are increasing dramatically climate close to the and could even cause an economic melt- Holocene range, the down. I will give a couple of examples. relatively stable climate In the 1960s, it became clear that the of the past 11,700 years insurance industry was exposed to dangers during which civilization that could wreck it. Multiple weather events, developed. such as two bad hurricanes in the same (You may say, well year, could leave it unable to pay claims that is a stiff require- promptly. Since this could cause economic ment, so let’s just allow havoc, the federal government decided to climate to be hotter. But provide a guaranteed flood insurance plan. that would mean you In theory, the plan was covered by premi- are willing to accept a ums, so the taxpayer would not be stuck continually receding with any bills. shoreline, with eventual Over the course of time, however, it The Rolling Stone Interview Dec. 22, 2016 loss of all coastal cities. When that would hap- became evident that there were inherent By Dr. James Hansen, 11 January 2017 flaws in the system. The experience was that pen is debatable – an inherently difficult 1% of all properties accounted for 30% of I do few interviews because of the nonlinear problem – but each new piece the flood insurance claims. Some properties time required and my difficulty in mak- of evidence is pushing it sooner than the ing things clear orally. The Rolling Stone experts had been estimating. And remem- Tagging a moose for study. Photo Credit: Lisa Bates, were flooded multiple times, with combined Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife payouts exceeding the value of the proper- interview by Jeff Goodell (http://bit.ly/ ber that coastal cities include more than ties. Rolling-Stone-interview) was an excep- half of the world’s large cities, likely many The congress acted on the situation, tion, a testimony to his abilities. of the cities you love, with lots of history. An article in the December 15, 2016 passing the Flood Insurance Reform Act of An important number in the story was Consider the implied humanitarian and issue of Green Energy Times, “Climate 2004 to address it. Among its provisions was not right but is being corrected. It made economic debacles, with hundreds of mil- Change Has Impacts on Hunting Heritage a limit on the number of times a property me wonder how to make that number lions of refugees.) in the Northeast,” seems to have cre- could collect on claims at two times in any simple enough for people (including Back to the number: we showed in a ated a fair amount of interest, based on ten-year period. Once the second claim had ourselves) to remember easily. 2013 paper (http://bit.ly/2013-paper) that reader responses. We were contacted by a been paid, the property needed mitigation The number is the amount of carbon we would need to extract number of people, some to be qualified for guaranteed insurance. that we must somehow suck out of the 100 GtC1 to get back to Cont’d on p.27 of whom had direct Cont’d on p.25 This act was passed by a strong bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives and unanimously in the Senate. This is where things get tricky. You might think that the claims would decline when Liberating Science - You Can’t Fire the Planet By George Harvey properties that were particularly vulnerable to flooding were removed from the insur- Many Americans think of science as support both science and the scientists. into their own hands. For example, when ance system. This, however, was not the beyond the reach of ordinary people or We can do this effectively, as long as we the United States Department of Agricul- case. In the years 1978 to 2003, the average even local government. Where amateurs accept truth as truth and facts as facts. ture (USDA) released updated hardiness payout was $481 million, and the record among our founding fathers enjoyed Those who are dismayed at our govern- zone maps in 2005, it was Cont’d on p.37 high payout was $1.3 billion. But in the years making exciting scientific discoveries and ment abandoning the environmental and 2004 to 2016 that record was broken five developing inventions, in our more recent climate protections can take heart in an times, the average payout was $3.3 billion, history we came increasingly to regard example from California. Governor Jerry IN THIS ISSUE: and the record high payout became $17 bil- ourselves as dependent on large orga- Brown, speaking to a group of scientists, lion. This is a shocking increase in costs. nizations, especially the federal govern- addressed a question about what that A 1¢ Carbon Pollution Tax p. 3 The increased costs can also be seen in ment. We thought this was quite proper state could do if Donald Trump delivered Electric Buses in the Area p. 5 the increasing amounts of premiums, which because much as we appreciated and on a promise to cut NASA’s funding for have gone up almost continually since respected science, we were amateurs. climate research. His tone was defiant. Off-Grid Solar pp.10-11 1978. In that year, the cost of premiums Now, however, other amateurs who “If Trump turns off the satellites, Califor- Net -Zero Montpelier pp. 21, 31 was almost $82 million. Given inflation, we have no respect whatever for science, or nia will launch its own damn satellite,” he could expect that to have even truth, are running the country. Many told them. “We’ve got the scientists, we’ve Events & Conferences pp. 9,20,33 Cont’d on p.23 of us feel there is nothing we can do but got the lawyers, and we’re ready to fight.” Why Build Passive House? pp. 28-29 stand around and wring our hands. It would not be the first time the states There is something we can do, however. – or universities, non-profit organizations, Climate News pp. 23-25 We can take charge. We can protect and and even ordinary people – took things Winter Gardening p. 37

Thank you to Our Sponsors For Their Support A SolAr G.E.T. IT! Powered ComPAny

Image: Flickr EEN ENERGY T MES GR... be energy independent! ™ GREEN ENERGY TIMES (G.E.T.) the other side of the fence. Enjoy it. Ck out our Ad Size Dimensions GREEN ENERGY TIMES (G.E.T.) Sustainable Sports section on pp. 38-39. TABLETABLE OF OF CONTENTSCONTENTS 17491749 Wright’s Wright’s MountainMountain Road • Bradford, VTVT 0503305033 Please have fun responsibly, not only EDITORS’ PAGE, SUBSCRIPTIONS ...... 2 t/f: 802.439.6675 • [email protected] Late Breakingfor the sake ofNews a future, environmentally but Button 2.3125 x 1.375 t/f: 802.439.6675 • [email protected] NET METERING EXPANSION ...... 3 G.E.T.’G.E.T.’s COMMUNICATIONSs STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS TEAM: TEAM: Summer!Sorry, What a great Climate season we Change have in Didalso with Not your ownSlow health Down. in mind. Check out NEWS & VIEWS … 3 Publisher/Editor/Production ...... Nancy Rae Mallery front of us. Let’s make it a summer of awareness the sunscreen recipe on p. 35, and the tips TRANSPORTATION SECTION ...... 4 6 Publisher/Editor/Production ...... Nancy Rae Mallery 1¢ CARBON POLLUTION TAX...... 3 1/16 Page vert. 2.3125 x 3 General Factotum ...... George Harvey and notOn forget February the planet4, an article, or our “Exposed: future while How we world throughout leaders were the duped It’s a Green into investing Life ... after billions all section RHOADES CAR, NO IDLING IS A LAW ...... 4-6 General Factotum ...... George Harvey TRANSPORTATION SECTION ...... 4-6 Copy Editor ...... Ray Brewster areover doing manipulated all of the summer global things warming we do!data,” appearedin in the the back Daily of Mail,this issue. a British tabloid. (http:// EV FORUM, SMART COMMUTING ...... 6 CopyAwesome Editor Saucegirl ...... MichelleRay Brewster Harrison bit.ly/NOAA-busting)This issue is full of ways The to title accomplish describes just the contents ofWhile the articlei love sports, accurately, for me but, gardening unfortu -also CONSIDER USED EV’S...... 4 1/8 Page horiz. 4.875 x 3 that - with our main feature all about Building Brings me such contentment and wonderful COMMUNITY NEWS ...... 6 7 CoordinatingWeb Editors ...... Director...... George Harvey,Michelle Daniel Harrison Hoviss nately, the article did not accord very well with the real situation. CHINA BUILDING ELECTRIC BUSES...... 4 Effi ciently, which is one of the two big issues organic food for the summer and winter that SOLAR FARMS; GREEN BIKES PROJECT ...... 7 ADesign/Layout huge special thank...... you to allCarrie of our Fradkin, contributing Nancy Rae writers! Mallery, Dr. John Bates, a NOAA scientist who had devised a set of rules for checking data, was ELECTRIC BUSES IN THE AREA...... 5 1/8 Page vert. 2.3125 x 6.1875 that we all need to tackle for a carbon-free will be coming along. Our Agriculture section is RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION 8 17 AdPrinting Design/Layout Valley News ...... Lebanon, NHNancy Using Rae Recycled Mallery, News-print P.J. Fischer & future.upset because the administration had released datafull beforeof great it info had you been will properly enjoy and checked, fi nd helpful. BREATHE IN BREATHE OUT...... 6 Smudge-Free Environmentally Safe Inks* in advance of the COP21 conference in Paris. Unfortunately, the Daily Mail took this a few SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS ...... 8 12 1/6 Page 4.875 x 4.125 Printing...... Valley News Lebanon, NH Using 100% Recycled News- On the front cover, you will read just how While we did not cover the terrible news ENERGY NEWS...... 7 Advertising: .....Nancy Rae Mallery, Bradford, VT 802.439.6675 somesteps are further, tackling implying this problem that withthe data the effiwas cientflawed, aboutand that Michael NOAA Rupert’s deliberately passing, manipulated we do want to G.E.T. TO KNOW YOUR SOLAR INSTALLERS ...... 8 print & [email protected] Environmentally Safe Inks* COMMUNITY SOLAR CHALLENGE...... 7 make-oversinformation in Rutland, to discredit Vt. A the cover idea article that alsoglobal warmingtake ahad moment paused. to honor the legendary life that Advertising...... Michelle Team: Harrison, Londonderry, NH 603.437.0167 SOLAR IS INEXPENSIVE ...... 10 1/4 Page vert. 4.875 x 6.1875 helps to simply the IPCC Report and the climate he devoted to what he foresaw for our planet SOLAR LOANS GUIDE...... 7 ...... Nancy Rae [email protected], Bradford, VT 802.439.6675 Many readers doubtless inferred that global warming had, in fact, paused, and that NOAA SOLARFEST - 20 YEARS! ...... 12 [email protected] mitigationswas guilty that of wefraud. need And, to takein fact, note those of and elements DO ofand the our media future that before would many like ofto usslow even action had a RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION...... 8-15 ...... Dana Rubin, Burlington, VT 802.922.6534 dana@ GEOTHERMAL & MICROHYDRO NEWS ...... 14 1/4 Page horiz. 10 x 3 ...... Michelle Harrison, Londonderry,greenenergytimes.org NH 603.437.0167 somethingon climate about. change lit into the article as somehowclue. being I know proof that that he climate was responsible change is fora hoax. opening GOING SOLAR: DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE #2...... 8-9 Solar is feverishly moving forward with my eyes, from an old A.M. Coast to Coast a good WIND: ...... [email protected] Moore, Danville, VT 802.748.2655 The year 1998 set a record with a big jump in average temperatures. The year 2005 broke WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO GO OFF-GRID...... 10 ...... Danielle Turo,[email protected] Danville, VT 802.424.1482 examples all over the region -- beit on a com- 15 yrs ago. It made me cry with horror of the WHY VT & NOT KANSAS? ...... 15 1/3 Page horiz. 10 x 4.125 [email protected] munitythat scale,record. homes, That new as well record as businesses was broken - it’s in 2010, futureand that that one we in are 2014. not facing.When COP21I only hope was that INTEGRITY ENERGY OFF-GRID STORY...... 11 ...... Mary Yuryan, Keene, NH 603.762-9314 underway, we already knew 2015 would break the record again. And since then, 2016 set a ...... Hope O’Shaughnessy, Portsmouth,[email protected] NH 413.222-2820 happening! We have a lot of great news about he understood the impact he had on so many WOODSTOCKINCENTIVES ICE ...... RINK GOING SOLAR...... 16 1712 new record. These observations indicate no slow-down. NOAA’s information has also been 1/2 Page horiz. 10 x 6.1875 ...... Bill [email protected], Bath, NH 603.747.2160 solar, wind and some exciting info for micro- of us. If you never read his book , Collapse, I SOLARHEATING FOR A& SIGNATURECOOLING ...... 1813 ...... Lindsay Miller,[email protected] Sheffield, VT 802.626.9440 hydro,more for rigorously all of you withvalidated a potential by a number site. of scientificrecommend organizations. reading it or watching the video. RENEWABLESHADE + SHADING PROJECTS _$AVINGS & PROGRESS ...... 1419 ...... George Keller,[email protected] So. Randolph, VT 802.763.7472 But,At Green summer Energy is not Times, all about we genuinelywork. We wish climateIt was change printed were by our a hoax. own Thatlocal wouldChelsea mean Green 1/2 Page vert. 4.875 x 12.5625 BUILDINGS FOR OUR FUTURE - FEATURE! ...... 20-24 Distribution: Alan Phenix, [email protected] Moore, Mona Sweat, George mustthat not we forget could to relax. G.E.T. What Outdoors! fun that There would are be! Publishing Co. RENEWABLE PROGRESS IN MASS...... 14 ...... Plumb, CarolBrendan Levin, D’angelo,Jeff & Wenda CT RiverSkelsie, Valley Julia Lloyd 802.683.5226 Wright, many topics that you might fi nd interesting to Last but not least: G.E.T. going to SolarFest! NATION’SGREEN BUILDERS LARGEST WIND IN OUR GETS MIDST GREEN ...... LIGHT...... 1521 2/3 Page 10 x 8.25 Johnny Hinrichs, Wally & [email protected] Reed, Barb & Greg Whitchurch, Unfortunately, the hoax is denial of climate change. Marty Philbrick, Larry Plesant, Jessica Goldblatt, Larry Chase, help you survive the season that is upon us. Congratulations to them for 20-years of helping INCENTIVESWINDOWS; BUILDING ...... SCIENCE ...... 16-1722-23 Distribution: Roslyn Moore, Mona Sweat, George Plumb, Bill Vacationing and playing locally is a great way to advance solar in our state and beyond. It’s a Jim VanValkenburg, Hippo Distribution, Manchester, NH; and LOW HANGING FRUIT-NEW COLUMN ...... 24 ourPearson, New York Marty Team. Philbrick, Hopefully Larry we Plesant, have not Jessica forgotten Goldblatt, to mention Deb to keep emissions lower. From hiking, to biking, great way to combine play and education and BUSINESS & FINANCIAL...... 18-19. Full Page 10 x 13 DeMoulpied, Michael Clark, Larry Chase, Patty Kenyon, Lighthouse A Massive Solar Farm Is Planned anyone. It is your help that spreads the way to a sustainable, camping, picnicing, swimming, it’s right here - relax and dance the night away with music that FINANCINGNEWS, CLUES, CLEAN & PRODUCT ENERGY IN REVIEWS VT...... 25 18 resilientDistribution, planet! Portsmouth, Thank you NH... all for Hopefully your help, we haveand for not all forgotten you all to mentiondo! Let anyone. us know It is yourwhat help YOU that are spreadsdoing for the our way planet! to a sustain- where we live, and work.For We ARE Hinsdale, the ‘greener’ on New will Hampshire. probably not let you stay seated out there CORPORATEENERGY EFFICIENCY: SUSTAINABILITY PP 26 27...... 19 able planet, starting here in the northeast! under the stars. G.E.T. will be there this year Please support our advertisers. They make G.E.T. happen! FEATUREDWEATHERIZATION EVENT: NESEA IN NH BE17 ...... 2026 Thank you all for your help! Ranger Solar, with offices in Yarmouth, Maine,and is proposing we are looking a solar to farmhelp themin Hinsdale, celebrate NH. allIt FEATURE: TRANSITIONING CITIES & TOWNS...... 21 ABOUT G.E.T. would be the largest in New England, with a capacityof their of 65 hard megawatts. work and effIt is orts.to be There developed is only one SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: PG 28 30 Aon aboutNew 400 acresDe of landnition that is zoned of for industrialSolarFest. use. The If you array have would never be been built there at a before,cost NET-ZEROSTART A VEGGIE MONTPELIER GARDEN UPDATE ANYWHERE...... 2128 2 Green Energy Times is produced by 100% solar power, off-grid of $50 million, according to a company spokesman. with a 3.8 kW PV system. We live and know that Energy Inde- this is the year to make it happen! 100%EMERGING RENEWABLE FRONTIERS:GRASS CITIES IN THE ...... UV...... 2129 pendence is indeed possible - with clean, sustainable renewable SUSTAINABLEThe town of Hinsdale, which is in the southwestern corner of New Hampshire, stands to SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION...... 22 energy along with reducing your needs. We walk the talk! PERMACULTURE ...... 30 Sustainablebenefit in a meansnumber that of waysthe frompeople the liv- project. During the construction phase, the project PLYMOUTH, NH HIGH SCHOOL...... 22 Our mission is to create Energy Awareness, Understanding ingwould in a create given about politically 185 jobs or geograph- in the area. Once it is completed, which Ranger Solar hopes SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION...... 31 and Independence - Socially Responsible Living. VERMONT LAW CLIMATE COLUMN...... 22 Yellow Black Yellow Magenta Cyan icallywill happen defined before area thedo notend liveof 2019, beyond it will pay the town at least $500,000 each year in lieu of TEACHING TEENS; INDIAN MUSEUM ...... 31 Solar Power works! … anywhere! under the sun! property taxes. At that point, the solar array will still have about three to six employees. CLIMATE CHANGE...... 23-25 G.E.T. is published bi-monthly, Feb.15, Apr. 15, Jun.15, Aug. 15, the limits of the renewable resources CLIMATE CHANGE PG 32 Oct. 15 & Dec.15, by NRM Advertising Company. It is free and of thatThe solararea farmfor either will produce input (energy enough power to supply 13,000 to 19,000 average homes in GLOBALREASON WARMING IN A DARK HIATUSPLACE-BOOK...... REVIEW ....2332 available throughout 90% of VT & 80% of NH: the Upper Valley- andthe area,matter) according or output to the (food, company. material The environment will benefit from the fact that it will U-MASS. CLIMATE STUDY FOR NE...... 24 St.J.down to Brattleboro,Windsor-Ludlow, Barre-Montpelier-Bur- IPCC REPORT -MITIGATION EXPLAINED ..... 32 goods,offset andapproximately absorption 25,000 of pollution). metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. NY CLIMATE PRECIPITATION NEWS...... 24 lington, Stowe, Mooretown-Waitsfield, Morrisville, Hardwick, DINING …IN THE GREEN ARIANA’S ...... 33 Danville, NEK, Grand Isle, Woodstock-Rutland-Bennington; NH: TheyThe purchase Board of orSelectmen trade from voted environ- unanimously to allow payment in lieu of taxes for the solar VT CLIMATE RESEARCH...... 25 Woodsville-Hanover-W. Leb.-Plainfield, Enfield-Claremont, RESOURCES: PG 34 mentallyfarm. Ranger conscious Solar is sourcesnow taking for thethose development work forward with state agencies. DR. ALAN K. BETTS: POLITICAL GULF...... 25 Keene-Concord-Plymouth-Laconia, Littleton, & towns in between, necessities that cannot be locally sat- GUIDE TO ADVERTISERS ...... 34 Greenfield Center, MA. New: Rye & Portsmouth, NH BUILDING & ENERGY EFFICIENCY ...... 26-31 isfied. They live both in numbers and INGRED.OF MONTH - PLASTIC ...... 35 If you would like to have G.E.T. available somewhere you have not WEATHERIZE UV LAUNCH...... 26 seen it, let us know! in a manner that allows present and SUNSCREEN RECIPE ...... 35 G.E.T. is also online at www.greenenergytimes.org. future generationsClimate of all life in thatResistance Leaders HOME OF FUTURE IN WOODSTOCK, NH...... 27 SUSTAINABLE LIVING PP 36 39: We encourage you to patronize our advertisers. We strive to selec- Byarea Darren to enjoy Springer a healthy habitat over WHY BUILD A PASSIVE HOUSE...... 28,29 tively include trust-worthy services & products. G.E.T. cannot be FOOD COOPS; HOME, SWEET DREAMING ...... 36 held responsible for advertising claims. theThe long U.S. term. election of 2016 was consequen- technology improved. But in many ways, it THE MAGIC OF PRE-FAB BUILDING...... 30-31 Please support our advertisers. Keep it Local! tialAdopted in many by theways, Executive including Committee, for our work VT has become harder. NET-ZEROGRILLING; MONTPELIER GREENING OF DESIGN EYECARE...... 3137 To advertise in G.E.T. contact Account Executives listed above. fightingChapter ofclimate the Sierra change. Club onAs Apr11,I think 2014about. Solar panels and plug-in vehicles that HEATINGSUSTAINABLE EFFICIENCY SPORTS...... PG 38 39 32-33 By advertising in Green Energy Times or sponsoring us, whereThe same we orare very in 2017, similar I have de nition been hasthinking looked “boutique” to fossil fuel competi- KEEP YOUR EVENT OUT OF LANDFILL ...... 38 you not only help to create energy awareness, understanding and ECO-CONSCIOUS HEATING...... 32-33 backalso beento the adopted start of by:my Vermonters career in 2005. for tors in 2005 are now making real gains in G.E.T. OUTDOORS! ...... 39 independence for a sustainable future, but also help to support That was a time when the EPA did not market share. The fossil fuel industry has RESOURCES, LISTINGS & CLASSIFIEDS ...... 34 our efforts to make it all happen! Please call one our Advertising Sustainable Population, October 2013 Representatives today! recognize the dangers of climate change. already received more federal research dol- GUIDE TO ADVERTISERS...... 34 Editorial Policy: Green Energy Times works with a variety of Coal accounted for half of our electricity lars than wind, solar, hydropower, biomass, IT’S A GREEN LIFE AFTER ALL...... 35-39 writers and also publishes community submissions on vari- generation. The LED bulb and cold-climate geothermal, and all energy efficiency INGREDIENT OF MONTH: DEODORANTS...... 35 ous topics. We aim to publish content that is independently heat pumps were not available, and the technologies, combined. Now it is set to re- researched, unbiased and relevant to our audience. Submissions Chevy Volt had not debuted. Vermont had ceive over $100 billion in additional federal TEEN GIRLS CHEMICAL EXPOSURE...... 35 are subject to our guidelines. Publication is subject to our editorial one six- megawatt wind project, and solar subsidies over the next ten years. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE...... 36-37 judgment & schedule. electricity was not yet affordable to a broad Instead of ending those subsidies ELMORE ROOTS: UNDERSTORIES...... 36 Subscriptions: $30/yr. Online or with the form on this page. clientele. and investing in clean energy, the next WINTER PERMACULTURE ...... 37 Green Energy Times would like to thank everyone who has We can be proud of what we accom- Congress appears focused on rolling back submitted articles or helped in any way to make this all a real- YEAR-ROUND SALAD GARDENING...... 37 ity. We want to also thank our advertisers & ask that you sup- plished since then, because of smart incen- Clean Air Act protections and fuel efficiency port them. Say that you saw them in Green Energy Times. Now tives, an historic clean energy stimulus standards. LEARNING TO LIVE WITHOUT PLASTIC...... 38 let’s all G.E.T. moving ahead towards a clean, renewable future - package, rising fuel economy standards, There is not much hope coming from one where our children & grandchildren will be able to breathe & new clean air pollution limits, actions by politicians generally in Washington. But grow, live & love on this beautiful planet where we live. forward-looking businesses, and creative I was reminded at a recent gathering of SUBSCRIPTION FORM Thank you for reading G.E.T. Please send your comments & sug- state energy policies, including Vermont’s. hundreds of Vermont town energy and 1 YR…$30 2 YRS…$50 3 YRS…$65 gestions to: [email protected] JOIN OUR G.E.T. TEAM Disclaimer: G.E.T. allows space to, but does not endorse, contrib- Today, U.S. energy-sector carbon dioxide grassroots leaders that there is still hope name ______uted content from professionals or vendors. emissions are at their lowest levels since here in Vermont and in communities across We have numerous positions open to help *G.E.T.’s Carbon Footprint Disclosure. Green Energy TImes is 1991. The burning of coal produces less our nation. These committed citizens repre- addressGreen ______Energy Times g.e.t. our message printed on as high of a recycled content paper as one can get - than a third of our electricity. Wind energy sent what I think of as a network of “climate city.state.zipout. We ______have positions available for help locally. The printing process uses eco-friendly water-based inks. is one of the top technologies being added resistance” leaders, and by this I mean those There are not any totally green printers in the area that we are to the U.S. grid. Solar provides enough opposing the polluters’ agenda in Wash- phone ______with many things such as: aware of, so it would mean trucking them MUCH further to have power for over six million homes and has ington D.C. The good news today is that G.E.T. published in a totally green manner, thus increasing car- email ______• Distribution • Ad Sales bon emissions, as a consequence. We chose to move from printing created over 200,000 American jobs. we have more businesses joining the clean • Writing Contributions that used soy based inks because the soy is only used for the col- In Vermont, we are using less electricity energy economy and creating new jobs in website ______ors - not black, which is the most prominent color.... G.E.T.’s dis- than a decade ago, thanks to improved effi- the clean energy workforce. We have the If you have some free time and a desire to help tribution emissions are also kept to a minimum, as well. With the ciency. We have hundreds of megawatts of technologies we need to cut greenhouse toOff makeer good a in difference, U.S. only. Canada: please $US let 34.00. up Foreign:know. $USPerfect 40.00 wonderful help that we g.e.t. within many communities, it keeps Gift subscriptions available! One year = 6 Issues! solar and wind power on the grid. We have gas emissions. forplease a retired send checkperson to looking 1749 Wright’s for something Mountain to Road do, our carbon footprint a bit lower. Hopefully our footprint is offset Bradford, Vermont 05033 because we are 100% solar powered! Our Graphic designer, Amy over 17,000 clean energy jobs, and the sec- Those technologies are getting more af- part-time or as much time as you can give. ond lowest electric rates in New England. fordable by the day. Take the LED light bulb. 802.439.6675 Niebel, who owns and operates Double Plus Green, in Brookline [email protected] is also Solar-powered. Because all of our employees work from All of that said, I must admit back in The Department of Energy created the L Help our mission to create a sustainable future for home, our carbon footprint is kept to a minimum. We all grow 2005 I thought it would get easier to make Prize to promote investment the planet.www.greenenergytimes.org Serious inquires only. Reply to info@ and harvest organically and live as sustainably as possible. We DO progress on fighting climate change as in LED bulbs, and Philips won Cont’d on p.7 Energygreenenergytimes.org Awareness, Understanding or call 802.439.6675. & Independence! walk our talk! Peace! NEWS & VIEWS WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 3 Notes from Dr. James Hansen 24 January, 2017 What Could We Do with a One-cent per Gallon-of-gasoline Carbon-pollution Tax? By Rick Wackernagel photovoltaic power systems. The In Vermont – and conversion produced an average elsewhere -- we A possible allocation of revenue from a carbon-pollution tax of $1 per metric ton of carbon dioxide in Vermont return on investment of 9%. A need to accelerate statewide demonstration group of 50 adoption of low- Public infrastructure homes would cost $150,000, with carbon practices Park & ride lots 32% $1,582,000 homeowner incentives and site visits and technologies to for prospective ZENers. achieve our climate Energy efficiency w Addison County Community Trust goals. To increase Weatherization Assistance Program 40% 1,995,000 and Cathedral Square Corporation adoption rates we Public-sector development & dissemination of low-carbon redeveloped a blighted mobile home Climate guru James Hansen is con- need to address four innovations sidered by many to be the father of park, into Vermont’s first net zero main barriers: Research & development - Low-carbon Technology-development climate change awareness. We know that 11% 570,000 energy affordable rental community, • High upfront costs Council the daily state of the county has many “McKnight Lane.” It features modular of energy efficiency Information, education, demonstrations, coaching & other concerned about what can be done. Dr. 11% 552,000 homes constructed by VERMOD, and renewable dissemination based in Wilder, Vermont. This project Hansen’s own blog reflects his most up energy. Program management - planning, coordination, development, replaced an uninhabitable mobile to date thoughts about current news, 4% 200,000 and it can help know what he is recom- • Limited financial reporting home park with much-needed new resources. mending. Here is a note from his January Contingency 2% 101,000 affordable housing. The owner pays 24, 2017 blog posting: • Lack of knowledge the nominal energy costs, making the of low-carbon Total 100% $5,000,000 monthly cost for the low income No Interviews: residents very affordable. Each home A lot of requests today for inter- alternatives. • Lack of confidence includes a Sonnen back-up battery, views, partly because of Keystone which provides energy resiliency. Rent Pipeline being in the news. that low-carbon alternatives will perform as low-cost practices and technologies. advertised. for a VERMOD unit is significantly less than for On the surface, little can be said that w Niches for R&D in Vermont exist. These an average manufactured-home assisted by A small carbon tax could significantly isn’t obvious from what has been said are in the form of combinations of unique the statewide weatherization program. A help us address these barriers. It could pay already. need and resources. One need is thermal- feasibility study for redeveloping other for cost-effective programs currently limited Deeper down, the story is complex. I efficiency upgrades, which EAN estimates suitable mobile-home parks will cost by lack of funds. A tax of $1 per metric ton am fed up with both sides. will cost $9 billion. One resource is $130,000. I am sore about the Obama Admin- of carbon dioxide would cost less than 1¢ Vermont’s housing stock, among the istration’s lack of interest in a settle- per gallon of gasoline and generate about Financial assistance, lower-cost low- oldest in the country. Vermont also has an carbon alternatives, information and ment of our legal case that could have $5 million per year. Here are possible ways abundance of skill, knowledge and committed future administrations to this tax could help. demonstrations add up to increased rates motivation. Just as one indicator, roughly of adoption. A carbon tax can be a way to have a plan for reducing emissions, • Reducing energy use in low-income 1,000 building professionals attended specifically reductions at least as steep make adopting low-carbon practices and households. These households have very Efficiency Vermont’s 10th Building Better by technologies easier, cheaper and less risky. as in the Deep Decarbonization plan limited capacity to pay for energy efficiency. Design conference this February. A presented by John Kerry at Mar- These principles could support plans for Vermont’s Weatherization Assistance technology-development council could be other states. rakesh (80% reduction by 2050). This Program (WAP) is the state’s largest effort to the means. Such councils have produced could have provided a mechanism to help them, prioritizing households below rapid innovation in East Asia. Drawing Rick Wackernagel is an itinerant climate constrain irresponsible actions by later 60% of median members from activist. Sources and budgets are available administrations. income. In some public, nonprofit from the online version of this article. Interview level comments are in my places, WAP has 3-year and private sectors, Rolling Stone interview by Jeff Goodell waiting lists. Vermont A SIMPLE CARBON FEE these councils and my related remarks, titled: Rolling has a goal of getting … a carbon fee could be an identify and Stone. More useful depth requires that 90% of its energy from effective tool to cut emissions, prioritize opportuni- I finish writing Sophie’s Planet, which I renewable sources by but how do you get the politics ties, and coordinate am doing now. [Sophie is Mr. Hansen’s 2050. At current their development. granddaughter. - ED] funding, WAP could right to get it done? … To the building [The Rolling Stones article is re- reach just 79% of these Well, you have to make it professionals above, printed on page 1 of this issue of households that year. Biomasssimple. You can’t Heat do thisfor 3,000- we could add Biomass Heat for Green Energy Times. – ED.] Adding $2 million per page crap, like they did with architects, engi- Clarification: year gets us to 88%. If Businesscap-and-trade & Schools in 2009. You neers, physicists and Business & Schools research and develop- other scientists from My “no interviews” note engendered gotta simplify it down to the some misunderstanding. It was a bit too ment (R&D) efforts can Dartmouth, brief. reduce weatherization absolute basics, and you do it Middlebury, UVM My point is that we must ration our costs 10%, we can get in a way that the public will not and VTC. If the only time onto the most effective actions. to 93%. let you change it. If the public thing the council The legal front becomes all the more • Relieving the is getting this dividend, they accomplishes is reducing the cost of important. We missed an opportunity shortage of Park & Ride won’t let you change it. with the last Administration. Now our (P&R) space. Eight thermal upgrades work is cut out more clearly, with no areas of Vermont with - Excerpted from an interview with by 10%, we will time to lose. high residential Dr. James Hansen, published in come out $880 The undergirding of the ultimate densities have no P&R Stevens ‘RollingHigh School, Claremont,Stone’ NH -- Dec. 22, 2016. million ahead. Stevens High School, Claremont, NH climate solution will be a rising areas within 10 miles. High Efficiency Dry Chip • Informing, High Efficiency Dry Chip carbon fee. Times of turmoil can Eleven of 79 P&R lots educating and be the best time to get effective are frequently over capacity.& Wood We could Pellet Boilerdemonstrating. Systems Recent pilot projects build & Wood Pellet Boiler Systems change. Merits of a revenue-neutral reduce the number of underserved areas by familiarity with and confidence in low-carbon rising carbon fee, for job creation, half and remedy the shortage of spaces at Best alternatives.Quality Boilers Here are just three in and around Best Quality Boilers economic growth, bringing home existing lots by 20% for a little over $1.5 Top Vermont.Workmanship Top Workmanship production as transport costs rise – million. w Solarize Upper Valley tripled installed besides health and environmental HEAT LOCAL! HEAT LOCAL! • Reducing the cost of low-carbon Servingphotovoltaic NH, VT & MA capacities within a year in Serving NH, VT & MA gains from reduced pollution – must participating communities. The project be made clear. On the long run, technologies. Although costs of renewable Whelen Engineering, Charlestown, NH director then developed a do-it-yourself Whelen Engineering, Charlestown, NH that’s the most effective way to stop energy have dropped, high upfront costs still plague low-carbon technologies. In the SolarizeDesign toolkit. Now, technical specialists Design foolish fossil-fuel expansion. can remotely support communities There are an uncountable number long term, these technologies are cheaper. In the short term, however, they take a lot of runningInstall their own Solarize campaigns. Two Install of actions that can help. We need specialists, costing $270,000, could cover people to stay involved and more to money. Vermont’s Energy Action Network (EAN) estimates the upfront costs of Vermont’s remaining towns in three years. get involved. Meanwhile,Service studies show faster adoption Service I did not mean that I was getting investments needed to achieve our 90%-renewable-by-2050 goal at $33 billion. after the campaign than before and discouraged – on the contrary, we are diffusionFuel into neighboring communities. Fuel more committed than ever. I want to R&D can reduce these costs. The public make the broad story clearer, and I sector has an important role here. It can w Zero Energy Now converted 22 conven- think that short interviews are not the undertake R&D the private sector finds tional Vermont homes into high-perfor- most effective way to do that. unattractive, for example, emphasizing mance, energy-efficient homes with 4 February 2017 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 TRANSPORTATION Affordable Electric Cars Consider Used Options! By David Roberts Plug-in electric outlet overnight at about five miles cars are often of range per hour of charging. Access praised for to 240V power can speed things up their low cost considerably to 10 to 20 miles of range of ownership. per hour of charging depending on the Electricity vehicle and supply current. Some AEVs costs less than gasoline to run on, vehicle also include DC fast-charging capability reliability is good, and competitive prices which provides an 80% charge in 30 min- offer smart consumers a compelling value. utes. Fast charging is usually optional, so An added bonus is these cars have a much if this is important to you, make sure the smaller environmental footprint over their vehicle you are looking at includes it. lives compared to gasoline-powered op- Monetary incentives for new electric tions. As electric car adoption continues to car purchases generally do not apply to grow, we are seeing more used cars enter used vehicles. There may be exceptions the market. These are often available at a to this, so check online for information fraction of the cost of a new purchase and on incentives available in your area. Non- can further reduce household transporta- monetary incentives, such as access to tion costs. carpool lanes, should be available regard- The increased supply of used electric less of whether you purchase a new or cars is driven by early adopters who leased used electric car. electric cars to take advantage of tax credits, reduced the risk of depreciation, and allowed them to keep pace with new and updated models. This trend is expected to accelerate over the next few years, so several used electric cars are likely already nearby if you are in the market. The table summarizes used electric car pricing and availability based on a search of Cars.com and Tesla.com in late January 2017. There were over 430 used plug-in vehicles advertised within 250 miles of White River Junction, Vermont. The Electric cars have proven to be table excludes a few low- availability mod- extremely reliable but getting a car els, such as the Ford Focus Electric and VW checked out by a qualified mechanic be- eGolf. Some buyers have looked further fore buying can help avoid any costly sur- afield and had cars shipped from larger prises. Electric car batteries are one of the markets in the south and west, so broaden- most expensive components to replace. ing your search area could be worthwhile. Fortunately, the batteries are engineered Used Electric Car Pricing and Availability for eight- to ten-plus-year lifespans and the vast majority continues to work well. Cars.com and Tesla.com within 250 miles Smartphone apps are available for a of White River Junction, VT few models that can connect with the For those new to electric car technology, on-board diagnostic systems to provide a there are two basic types: Plug-in hybrid detailed report of battery health. vehicles (PHEVs) are powered by either Want more information? There are battery or gasoline and, generally, travel 10 many excellent online resources and to 50 miles on the battery before seam- forums with information on electric cars lessly switching to running on gasoline for and used vehicle pricing. Visit www. extended range. DriveElectricVT.com or just search for All-electric Vehicles (AEVs) are powered used electric cars in your area to get solely by a battery. Claimed range varies started. by model from 80 to 300 plus miles before recharging is needed. Range is reduced by David Roberts is the Drive Electric cold temperatures, but vehicles can handle Vermont coordinator. He has driven an travel needs for most drivers. all-electric Nissan LEAF for the past four Both varieties of vehicles can be charged years and says, if you have to drive, drive by plugging into a standard 120V home electric.

China is Building Electric Buses In early February, we got data on electric and hybrid-electric bus sales from China. Chinese sales of e-buses were about 115,700 for the year, bringing the number of e- buses in use, worldwide, to about 173,000. The Chinese multiplied the number of e-buses in the world by three. This ia another benefit for transitioning to a carbon-free future; by creating jobs to change our current infracture. Building these buses employed a lot of people. The United States currently claims 400 electric buses, including all that are in use, all that are on order, and all for which money has been allocated for purchase. Fortunately, at least one new e-bus factory is being built in this country by BYD, a Chinese company. We at Green Energy Times have an idea: Let’s make America great again! TRANSPORTATION WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 5

which took effect in January, 2017 and sions. “BED is proposing a custom Tier III lectric us rials in t and changed the utilities’ efficiency goals electric bus program to address the trans- E B T V NH somewhat. James Gibbons, Director of portation needs of Vermonters served by By George Harvey and low operating costs. It is significant Policy and Planning at the Burlington Green Mountain Transit Authority (GMTA), In the December, 2014 Green Energy that the electric buses worked well in Electric Department (BED), explained, the University of Vermont and potentially Times article, “Proterra’s All Electric Bus” the cold New England winters. With that “The old mantra of efficiency is reducing other Burlington entities,” Gibbons said. (http://bit.ly/GET-Proterra), we noted experience, the idea spread, and testing use, but the new one is to reduce emis- He noted that replacing a single diesel that the city of Worcester, Massachusetts is currently underway in the Upper Valley sions.” bus with an electric bus would displace 77 had recently started running six Pro- of New Hampshire and Vermont, and in A portion of the standard, Tier III, pro- tons of CO2 annually. terra buses. Since then, Worcester has Burlington, Vermont. vides for utilities to engage in innovative BED’s Tier III program would offer to reported that the buses have functioned The Burlington program arose from the strategic electrification, and encourages a transit company incen- as promised, with short charging times Vermont Renewable Energy Standard, them to find new ways to reduce emis- tives to use an electric bus, Cont’d on p.6

Keep us in mind for low rolling resistance Nokian and Bridgestone tires. We work on all Hybrids and Electric Vehicles, and specialize in Toyota Prius.

369 Miracle Mile, Exit 19 off I-89 (802) 388-7620 Lebanon, NH  (603) 448-6969 33 Seymour Street Mon.-Fri. 8-5 • Sat. 8-Noon Middlebury, VT 05753 [email protected] 6 February 2017 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 TRANSPORTATION -- ENERGY NEWS SMART COMMUTING IN NH & VT OUR PLANETARY GARAGE Transportation emissions are among the worst offenders that add to the rising CO2 levels in our atmosphere. In recent months we have learned that our efforts have begun AIR POLLUTION IS KILLING TOO MANY PEOPLE to reduce the detrimental air quality counts (NHDES), but as you may have learned from By John Bos numerous other reports such as the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), http:// climatechange2013.org/, global warming is still advancing faster than expected. There is a Sanskrit proverb that Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) observes, “For breath is life, and if you concentration of 1,200 parts per million How do we get our emissions down now? By making new commuting choices! breathe well you will live long on earth.” (ppm) in only seven minutes when a small LOTS OF CHOICES. Smart Commuting is all about knowing your options and plan- Breathing is the only autonomous sys- five horsepower gasoline engine is run in ning ahead. There are many choices to get around in New Hampshire and Vermont, The tem of the body that we can also control. a 10,000 cubic foot room. Now consider first place to start in Vermont is “Go Vermont” for statewide choices to travel more effi- This means that although the body gov- the CO air impacts of a 135 horsepower ciently. Whether getting around town, commuting to work or school, or planning a day erns our breathing, we can change how automobile in a single car garage of 1,600 trip, share the driving or ride with someone else to help save our planet and to save we breathe through conscious breathing cubic feet. approx. $2,000 annually. The statewide VT site also lists services for commuters, tourist, practices such as pranayama. If one can comprehend those scien- and shoppers. Think about this in the context of new tifically demonstrable facts, here is a data compiled by sixteen scientists from follow-up to this example. In 2014, some In New Hampshire you’ll find a similar site at “NH Rideshare” where you can find car- eight international institutions who 260 million vehicles were registered in pools, transit routes and schedules, bike and walk trails and links to statewide transportation information. worked with the World Health Organi- the U.S. This figure includes passenger zation (WHO) which found that more cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, and other When carpooling, remember to use the local Park n Ride lots to meet your connec- than nine out of ten people on Earth – a vehicles, but NOT jet aircraft which emit tions. Start your trip planning at connectingcommuters.org or nh.gov/dot/programs/ mind-numbing 6.76 billion people – are massive amounts of air pollution. rideshare/ for statewide choices. breathing polluted air. The WHO analysis, While calculating the total number of which gathered data from 3,000 locations, motor vehicles on the planet is an inexact IN NEW HAMPSHIRE using pollution monitors on the ground, science, the number is growing rapidly. UPPER VALLEY RIDESHARE (UVRS) - Carpool matching, benefits and support for com- modeling and satellite readings, found The automotive trade journal, Ward’s muters in/out of Upper Valley. 802-295-1824 x208. uppervalleyrideshare.com. China to be the world’s deadliest country Auto, has estimated that the vehicle count ADVANCE TRANSIT (AT) – Free weekday bus for Lebanon, Hanover, Enfield, Canaan, NH, for outdoor air pollution. exceeded 1 billion sometime during 2010. and Norwich and Hartford, VT. Dartmouth and DHMC Shuttles. ADA & Travel Training Air pollution is now claiming about 6.5 Another calculation in July 2014 estimat- Services. 802-295-1824. advancetransit.com million lives each year according to the ed that there were 1.2 billion vehicles on WHO report, with most deaths in China, CARROLL COUNTY TRANSIT - Services and connections to Belknap County. 888-997- the world’s roads, and that there would be 2020 tccap.org/nct.htm India and other developing countries. 2 billion vehicles in service by 2035. That said, America does not get off easily. Our planetary garage is not big enough CITY EXPRESS - Serves Keene. 603-352-8494 hcsservices.org/services/transportation/cityExpress.php About 15% of the affluent cities in the U.S. to prevent air pollution from killing COMMUNITY ALLIANCE TRANSPORTATION - Services for Claremont & Newport. 603- from Los Angeles to New York City fail to people. This is why the Chinese govern- 863-0003 meet air quality standards. ment has announced plans to take up to 6 CONCORD AREA TRANSIT (CAT) - Serves Concord 603-225-1989 concordareatransit.org Air pollution is but one of the life- million vehicles that don’t meet emission threatening impacts of human-caused standards off the roads by the end of the CONTOOCOOK VALLEY TRANSPORTATION (CVTC) - Monadnock Rideshare for the southwest region 877-428-2882 cvtc-nh.org global warming. Denial of global warm- year, in a bid to mitigate that country’s air ing is not just an opinion, it has become pollution crisis. COOPERATIVE ALLIANCE FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION (CART) - Serving a dominant mark of people’s political Petroleum powered vehicles are the Chester, Derry, Hampstead, Londonderry, Salem and Windham, limited service to Plaistow. 603-434-3569 cart-rides.org identity. Putting that aside, I want to sug- only one source of air pollution that we gest an approach to understanding the humans DO control. As a culture we are DARTMOUTH COACH - Services to Boston, Logan Airport and NYC 800-637-0123 dart- importance of air quality for those who in deep denial about the irreparable dam- mouthcoach.com reject the conclusions of over 97% of the age we have visited upon our collective MANCHESTER TRANSIT AUTHORITY (MTA) - Manchester, with links to Nashua and world’s scientific community about global home. Earth cannot begin to reverse its Concord. 603-623-8801 mtabus.org/services/local-buses warming. slide into an uninhabitable climate with- NASHUA TRANSIT SYSTEM (NTS) - Buses and trolleys with bike racks. 603-888-0100 Here’s a question: how dangerous is it out the help from those who live on it. RideBigBlue.com to operate a gasoline engine in a closed Breathe in, breathe out. NH RIDESHARE – Your Source for Transportation Alternatives. nh.gov/dot/programs/ride- garage? What happens is that carbon John Bos lives in Shelburne Falls, MA. share/ monoxide (CO) emissions reduce the He writes frequently about environmental amount of oxygen to the brain, causing WINNIPESAUKEE TRANSIT SYSTEM (WTS) - Services Belmont, Franklin, Tilton, Laconia. issues and invites dialogue at john01370@ 603-528-2496 bm-cap.org/wts.htm CO intoxication, and lack of reasoning. gmail.com. CO concentrations reach the Immediately IN VERMONT UPPER VALLEY TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (Vital Communi- Cont’d from p.5 ties) - Works with UV employers and communities to promote and improve commuting Electric Bus Trials in Vt and NH options. 802-291-9100 vitalcommunities.org/transport/index.htm bus manufactur- VERMONT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC TRANSIT - Lists transit, ferries and more er, is helping by at aot.state.vt.us/PublicTransit/providers.htm loaning it a bus for a month. AMTRAK - Long distance train service. Discounts for AAA members and student advan- AT operates tage card. (800) 872-7245 amtrak.com a number of CHITTENDEN COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY - Burlington bus service with bus routes that links to Montpelier, Middlebury and commuter route to Milton. cctaride.org run through Upper Valley CONNECTICUT RIVER TRANSIT - Services in Bellows Falls and Springfield. crtransit.org communities in Vermont and GO VERMONT - Offers carpool matching and commuter connections in VT 800-685- 7433 connectingcommuters.org New Hampshire. A long-standing GREEN MOUNTAIN RAILROAD - Day trips from White River, Champlain Valley, Bellows special feature Falls and Rutland. rails-vt.com of AT is that bus rides are free on GREEN MOUNTAIN TRANSIT AGENCY - Local service in Barre, Montpelier, Grand Isle, Advance Transit hopes to have their new electric bus out on Tuesday, Feb. 21st. Initially it Stowe and Lamoille. 802-223-7287 gmtaride.org all routes. will be working one of the hospital shuttles. Photo: Courtesy of Advance Transit. Chris An- GREY HOUND/VERMONT TRANSIT - Long distance bus services. 1-800-231-2222 grey- dreasson, AT’s hound.com/ for which BED could claim Tier III credits. Director of Operations, told us, “The big is- Both the utility and the transit organiza- sue is with the colder weather. Will the bus LAKE CHAMPLAIN FERRIES - Transport between New York and Vermont via Lake Cham- plain. 802-864-9804 ferries.com tion benefit. The details have not yet been keep the customers comfortable? How worked out, but the expectation is that long will the charge in the battery last MARBLE VALLEY REGIONAL TRANSIT- For Rutland, Killington, rural Manchester, Poult- they will be soon. Gibbons said he had in cold weather?” With all the benefits of ney and Rutland to Bellows Falls. City routes Free on Saturday. 802-773-3244 thebus.com/ learned that GMTA is evaluating the total electric buses, companies need to know cost of owning so-called “clean diesel” that they are as comfortable and reliable RURAL COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION (RCT) - Buses, vans, and volunteer drivers. Routes via The Jay-Lyn, The Highlander (Newport - Derby Line); The US RT2 Commuter and compressed natural gas buses, and as those that are currently in operation. (St. J. to Montpelier) and Free routes to rural areas. 802-748-8170 riderct.org BED’s incentive for using an electric bus is Both of these programs are just now an important consideration. under way, and reports will doubtless STAGE COACH - Commuter buses from Randolph and Fairlee to Dartmouth, Local village In the Upper Valley, Advance Transit come in over the next few months. We will buses. 800-427-3553 stagecoach-rides.org (AT) will also test an electric bus. BYD, a keep track of progress. ENERGY NEWS WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 7 2 Publicly Supported Solar Loan Programs: Solar in Your Community Challenge A Guide for States and Municipalities DOE Offers Challenge, Opportunity to Advance Community Solar solar. The 30-page guide describes general factors that state and municipal governments should consider when assess- ing whether to launch a public solar loan program, explains various loan program design elements, and offers several case studies. Download the guide at:http:// www.cesa.org/ assets/2017-Files/ Publicly-Supported- photo: © Dennis Schroeder/NREL Solar-Loan-Programs. pdf. Learn more about CESA at cesa.org. The Department of Energy has launched they estimated they needed and manage On January 3, 2017, Clean Energy States NREL’s website is nrel.gov. a contest to promote innovative, replicable the array democratically as a limited liabil- Alliance (CESA) announced a new guide- community solar projects. The “Solar in ity corporation (LLC). Because there is no book, which was written by Travis Lowder Your Community Challenge” is a great third party, the members get the full ben- from the National Renewable Energy opportunity to get creative; it also offers efit of the tax credits and buying in bulk. It’s Laboratory (NREL) for CESA’s Sustainable 2 $5 million in cash prizes and technical as- a successful, innovative approach. Solar Education Project. Climate Resistance Leaders sistance. Put your vision for a clean energy To help Vermonters learn more, the States’ policies and programs are now Cont’d from p.2 future to work and get involved as a team, Vermont Energy and Climate Action Net- clearly the main driving force for renew- the prize. They created a bulb 83 percent an expert or a consultant. Applications are work (VECAN) recently hosted a webinar able energy progress in the U.S. They can more efficient than an incandescent of due March 17, 2017. with staff from the Department of Energy play an important role in spurring local comparable output, and one with the Approximately 50 “teams” across the U.S. to outline this opportunity. Find it on You lending for residential rooftop PV instal- light output equal to a typical 60-watt will receive seed prizes of $20,000-$50,000 Tube at http://bit.ly/Solar-Comm-Chal- lations. bulb sold for around $50 to $60 when it and up to 100 teams will receive technical lenge. With this guidebook, Clean Energy went on sale in 2012. This year, an even assistance vouchers of a similar amount. VECAN also has many resources to get States Alliance aims to help inform state more efficient LED bulb can be found for Teams are groups of diverse stakehold- your creative ideas flowing, including a and municipal officials about best practic- as little as 89 cents. When we succeed ers who are pursuing a solar project or a community solar toolbox on our website es and the various approaches to opening through policy and innovation in driving program that would make solar available http://www.vecan.net/going-solar-in- up the lending marketplace for residential the price for clean technologies that low, to underserved groups, such as low- and vermont/. This contains information on everyone who wants to save money is middle-income households, tribes, non- siting solar projects, models of community going to buy them. profits, and state/local governments. solar, information about net-metering, In Vermont over the last six years, the The focus on solar models is for low- success stories and other resources. One price for solar PV electricity gear has income earners. These groups spend a of the more unique resources is a set of declined by 75 percent. Similar dramatic far greater percentage of their income on documents produced by the Vermont Law price declines are happening with bat- energy than most people – and would ben- School’s Institute for the Energy and the tery storage technologies. Congress can efit most from reducing their energy costs Environment — a guide for direct commu- try to roll back policies, but no one can through a stable lower cost option like nity ownership and have model documents roll back economic reality. solar – that also includes the 30 percent for operating a LLC and leasing land. In Vermont, we have energy efficiency renewable energy tax credit. While there While there is some uncertainty about programs and a Renewable Energy have been innovative partnerships to foster the future of this program with a new Standard which will keep us moving greater access for those without a “tax ap- federal administration, SunShot represen- forward. By continuing to lead, and by petite,” developers partnering with munici- tatives have indicated they plan on moving joining communities and states which palities, schools or nonprofits to pass on ahead as scheduled for now. share values similar to ours, we can keep the investment tax credit that these groups So, get creative! Think big! Consider the light burning for climate progress cannot access by themselves, there is far putting a diverse team together – people during the potentially dark years ahead. more need and opportunity. This challenge with expertise in areas like finance, law, If the federal government withdraws could help open that door. and community engagement – and see from its role of recent years, that does This challenge also provides the chance what kinds of community solar solutions not absolve our responsibility to do our to help incubate other types of innovative you think will work for people with more part. If anything, it means we must fight community solar projects, such as the Mad limited access to the transition to clean harder than ever before. River Community Solar Farm (MRCS) which energy. President Kennedy once said, “We is generating about 225,000 kWh a year for More information is available at http://bit. choose to go to the moon in this decade its member-owners. Members of the MRCS ly/2lwSlwh, or call VECAN’s AmeriCorps mem- and do the other things, not because project purchased the number of panels ber Katie Emerson at 802-223-2328 x 118. they are easy, but because they are hard…because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.” Today, we are counting on “climate resistance” leaders here in Vermont and COMING across this country to harness the sun, COMING - APRIL 1, 2017 wind, and water, and our technological APRIL 1, 2017 innovation to protect our planet from climate change, not because it is easy, REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS but because it is hard and necessary. We must accept the challenge, we cannot REQUESTSTANDARD FOR PROPOSALS OFFER PROGRAM postpone action, and we must win. STANDARD OFFER PROGRAM Darren Springer was Chief of Staff in the • NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS Office of Governor Peter Shumlin. Previously, he served as the Deputy Commissioner for • • NEWRFP RENEWABLE SIZE: 7.5 ENERGYMW the Public Service Department and worked • PROJECTSMAXIMUM PROJECT SIZE: 2.2 MW four years for Senator Bernard Sanders, as a Senior Policy Advisor for Energy and • RFP SIZE: 7.5 MW Environment and later as Chief Counsel. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: He has a J.D. from Vermont Law School. • MAXIMUMVERMONTSTANDARDOFFER.COM PROJECT SIZE: 2.2 MW Springer lives in Burlington. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: VERMONTSTANDARDOFFER.COM 8 February 2017 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS A Series: Part Two of Three Going Solar: Do Your Due Diligence – Net-Metering Value By Jonathan Teller-Ellsberg Read Part 1 in G.E.T., Issue # 41 Vermont’s residential electric rates have risen fairly consistently in the past, aver- It seems that it should be easy enough aging 3.0% per year in the ten years from to convert expected solar production of 2006 through 2015, though the most electricity into the net metering value recent five years have seen a slowing of you receive. As a first approximation, you the trend. simply multiply the number of solar kWh In New Hampshire, things have been expected by your cost of electricity. more volatile with some years seeing However, there are many complications expensive spikes and other years mean- that arise. Among them are the following: ingful reductions in cost. Over the past • Assumptions made regarding the future 10 years the annual average change in cost of electricity, residential rates was an increase of 2.1%. • The degradation rate of your solar Unlike Vermont, New Hampshire’s most panels, recent five year experience has been accelerating rate increases. • How solar production is valued by the There is no one right answer as to the utility, and best or correct inflation rate to assume • Possible additions or subtractions from for future electric costs. However, it is regular net metering. essential that you know what assumption You know what your electric rates are your potential installer is using, and that today, but what will they be in the future? you compare different proposals with an Different installers use different assump- understanding of the impact of different tions of future electric rate inflation in assumptions on this count. If possible, their proposals. I have seen proposals insist that all the installers giving you using anything from 2.5%Got to 4.5% annual Solar? proposals use the same assumption for inflation on electric cost/value. future electric rate of inflation. If you know the power of compounded All solar panels will decline in produc- A graph of predicted value using different assumptions of solar panel degradation (either none or 0.7% per year) interest, you know that changing this tivity over time. How fast they decline is and electric rate inflation (either 3.5% or 2.5% per year). Each case starts with production of 6,000 kWh in year 1 at a aspect of value projection can have a referred to as the degradation rate. Long- value of 15 cents/kWh. Over 25 years, the case assuming no degradation and higher inflation adds up to 26% more huge impact on how valuable the solar term research by the National Renewable total value than the case that assumes degradation and lower inflation. Which is right? Only time will tell. CC BY-SA. installation looks. Over the course of 20 Energy Lab has found that the average! years, the difference in overallSOUTHSHIRE lifetime degradation rate is 0.5% per year. projected value between the lower of Any decent quality solar panel will Has your potential solar installer built you get. For example, if a kWh from the those two inflation rates andGot the higher Solar?is come with a performance! warranty an assumption of solar panel decline into utility costs a flat 15 cents, then each and roughly 25%. If the projectionCOMMUNITY goes out to guaranteeing thatSOLAR degradation won’t their projection of your system’s long- every solar kWh your system generates 30 years, which some installersGot do, then Solar?be excessive. Typically, this will be for term electricity production? If not, then will show up on your bill as a credit of 15 the increase in overall lifetime projected year-over-year declines of 0.7% or less, they are giving you an inflated projection. cents. value from using the higher! inflation rate and overall 25-year cumulative declines of Be sure to ask what degradation rate they But it’s not always that simple. Some- compared to the lower is roughly 40%. 20% or less. use in their projections. times your rates from the utility vary SOUTHSHIRE! I recommend that, if they are not depending on your overall monthly us- !Got Solar? ! already doing it, you ask them to run the age and solar production. This has been COMMUNITYSOUTHSHIRE!SOLAR projections using the worst-case degrada- the case, for example, with Washington tion allowed under the panel manufactur- Electric Co-op (WEC) in Vermont. Some of COMMUNITY!SOLAR er’s warranty. If the panels decline more your solar production might be credited Got! Solar? slowly than that, it will be added frosting at 22 cents per kWh, some at 10 cents, Got Solar? ! on your solar cake. and some at 20 cents, depending on how !SOUTHSHIRE The value of solar electric production your overall solar production during the !COMMUNITY!SOLAR depends on your state’s regulations and month compares to your overall electric ! utility policy. Under plain vanilla net me- usage in the month. ! SOUTHSHIRE tering, each kWh generated by your solar Or the rate you are credited for solar !COMMUNITY!SOLAR ! array will be worth the same dollar value might depend on whether the solar- SOUTHSHIRE (in the form of savings) as the cost of a generated electricity is used directly !! ! kWh that you receive from the utility. within your home or if it flows out to the COMMUNITY SOLAR With some utilities, that is exactly what grid to be used by neighbors. This is the Now! ! you do! Cont’d on p.9 Join the communityNow! you solar do! revolution LowJoin cost, theNow community worry you freesolar do! revolution and local Join the community solar revolution Low cost,NowNowContact worry youyou us today!free do!do! and local LowJoin cost, the community worry freesolar revolutionand local JoinCall the community Contact 802-‐379-‐9973 us today!solar or revolution email LowLow cost, cost,scs@powerCall Contact worryworry 802-‐379-‐ us9973 -‐ guru.comfree today!free or andand email local local NowCall scs@power 802-‐379 you-‐9973 -‐guru.com do! or email Contact us today! Join theA lsocommunityscs@power, check Contact us out -‐guru.com today!solar our website:revolution Call Call Also, check 802 802-‐-‐379379-‐ 9973 out our or or website: email email LowSouthshirecommunitysolar.com cost,Ascs@powerlso scs@powerworry, check out -‐guru.com free our and website: local Southshirecommunitysolar.com Southshirecommunitysolar.com AlsoAContactlso, ,check check us out today! our our website: website: Southshirecommunitysolar.com Southshirecommunitysolar.comCall 802-‐379-‐9973 or email scs@power-‐guru.com PO Box 507 North Bennington VT ❂ 802.379.9973 ❂ scs@power-‐guru.com PO Box 507 North Bennington VT ❂ 802.379.9973 ❂ scs@power-‐guru.com PO Box 507 Also North , check Bennington VT ❂ out 802.379.9973 our❂ website: scs@power-‐guru.com PO Box 507 North Bennington VT ❂ 802.379.9973 ❂ scs@power-‐guru.com PO Southshirecommunitysolar.com Box 507 North Bennington VT ❂ 802.379.9973 ❂ scs@power-‐guru.com

PO Box 507 North Bennington VT ❂ 802.379.9973 ❂ scs@power-‐guru.com SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 9 Going Solar: Do Your Due Diligence Cont’d from p.8 case with the New Hampshire Electric (if any) is provided for ten years, and A Guide to Residential Solar PV Co-op, where a kWh of solar production is provided at a fixed value, even if the from a residential solar array might be underlying electric rates change. For Vermonters and others in New England worth 12 cents or might be worth 9 cents, And yet, I have seen solar installer depending on who used those particular proposals that apply an assumed inflation A new, free guide produced for the There are many ways to build and electrons. rate to the adder as well as to the underly- Vermont Public Service Department will finance a solar PV system. The guide can Or the rate you are credited for solar ing electric rates. Further, the projected help homeowners navigate the process of help residents decide whether doing so might depend on the time of day of pro- value shown in these proposals failed to going solar. makes sense. The guide includes relevant duction separately from whether or not end the solar adder after 10 years, instead Vermonters interested in installing a information needed at different points you are using the energy directly. including it out for the full 30-year projec- residential solar photovoltaic (PV) system during the decision-making and installa- And sometimes you may be charged a tion used by that installer. In one instance have a new resource to help them move tion process. fee for grid services that depends on the that I have seen, this represented a bogus towards energy independence. “A Ver- • Reasons Vermonters choose solar amount of solar electricity you generate. inflation of the lifetime solar value of over monter’s Guide to Residential Solar” was • The components of a PV system Again using WEC as an example, there $19,000! produced by the nonprofit Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) for the Vermont • Opportunities, needs, and other you have a “grid service fee” of 4.8 cents In addition, this proposal also ignored considerations per kWh, but only on solar production solar panel degradation. Compared to an Public Service Department and is avail- • Ways to finance a solar system above 255 kWh per month. assumption of panel decline at 0.5% per able for a free download http://bit.ly/ If your state regulations and utility poli- year, the proposal was inflating projected VT-guide-to-residential-solar. • Solar savings and incentives cies include these kinds of complications, solar value by an additional $6,250. “Vermont has seen tremendous growth • Choosing contractors and reviewing it will be difficult—approaching impos- The combined exaggeration of solar in residential and community-scale solar contracts with over 6,000 installed net-metered sible—for an installer to provide a very value in this instance, over $25,000, was • Solar system permitting accurate prediction of the value you will a full 37% of the supposed lifetime value solar projects in the state,” noted Public • After a system is installed get from solar, even assuming a known being predicted. Talk about caveat emp- Service Department Commissioner Chris number of solar kWhs being generated. tor! Recchia. “As thousands more Vermonters Appendices cover questions to ask a explore the possibility of going solar, the solar contractor, a project checklist, a At best, the installer can provide a good- Jonathan Teller-Elsberg works for faith rough approximation or range of Vermont Public Service Department is glossary, and other resources. Solaflect Energy, a Vermont-based manu- committed to providing quality informa- The New England Solar Cost-Reduction likely value. facturer and installer of solar trackers. He Even so, your installer should be able to tion to help them navigate the process. Partnership is working to reduce the has a master’s degree in Energy Regulation It is our hope that affiliated agencies and costs of solar deployment across five New explain how they calculated any estimat- and Law from Vermont Law School. ed value and explain the features of your organizations will help spread the word England states by targeting non-hardware utility’s rate structure that complicate the To be continued in the April 15th edition about this helpful new booklet.” solar “soft” costs. calculations. I have talked with telephone of Green Energy TImes issue # 43. sales representatives from some of the large, national solar companies, and it was clear that they had no understanding at all of the nuances of rate structures and regulations in Vermont (where I live and work). As a result of their convenient ignorance, they promised me significant value from their solar array that was pure fantasy. In most of Vermont, net metering has been supplemented by the “solar adder.” SAT., APRIL 8 • 9AM - 3 PM Your Renewable Energy Solar Electric and Hot Water Combination With new regulations going into effect in Resource Center 2017, the solar adder is being eliminated and replaced with two “adjustors,” expla- 2017 LEAP Design, Installation and Service nation of which is beyond the scope of Energy Fair this article. (Those who have gone solar in Crossett Brook Middle School 30% federal tax credit - ask us about rebates 2016 or earlier are grandfathered to retain Duxbury, VT Visit our zero energy resource showroom their solar adder and avoid the adjustors.) Solar Hot Water • Solar Electric • Solar Heating The key here is that these features can • Free admission! mean bonus credit on the electric bill • Over 75 Exhibits • Talk to dozen of experts 603-632-1263 above and beyond that from plain vanilla Largest Energy Fair in Vermont! net metering. In the case of both the solar www.energyemp.com For more info visit www.waterburyleap.org adder and the adjustors, the bonus credit Solar Electric Ground Array 1010 February JUNE 15, 2017 2014 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 802.439.6675 SOLAR PV - VERMONT connection to the world are simply lost By N. R. Mallery unless we have an alternative source for Why Would You Go Off-Grid? our energy needs. Sometimes a generator can help, but if there is no means to get fuel, that is temporary, as well. However, a renewable energy system with battery storage can pretty much assure the energy security that we have come to rely on so heavily today. An off-grid energy system is your own personal power company. This means that those who live off-grid or even on the grid with battery storage which can be discon- nected from the grid, have much greater The author’s off-grid home near Bradford, Vermont. The driveway is one half mile from a grid connection. The 3.8kW solar system with battery storage has supplied more than energy security. her household’s electrical needs the majority of the time for nearly 15 years. Courtesy photo. Surprising News for Interest in off-grid living, generating your own electricity through a renewable energy system, is Off-grid Assistance starting to grow again, for a number of reasons. Just a few of the reasons are as follows: Green Mountain Power (GMP), which supplies electricity to about three-quarters of the people in Vermont, now has a You might want to go off-grid But going off the grid is not just ‘plug You might want to go off-grid program to help those who go off-grid, and play.’ There is a responsibility for do so. They are the first utility to take this just to save money. maintenance of the system. It is impor- for energy security. step. For a utility company to offer assis- You plan to build in a location where tant to understand that for an off-grid Taking responsibly for your own energy tance to go off the grid may seem strange, the cost to bring in electricity from the system to work to your benefit financially, needs through a renewable energy and we might feel compelled to ask what grid is more costly than if you just went attention needs to be made to assure system gives you security that you not incentive is there for an electric utility to off the grid with a solar or perhaps a that everything is running smoothly. only have energy when you want it but help customers disconnect from it. hybrid wind and solar, or solar and a Most of the time it will be, but if there is a also continuously — even when the grid The answer is that by helping some micro-hydro system, depending on what problem that is not attended to, neglect- goes down. Let’s face it — power lines go customers go off-grid, GMP can reduce you have available. ing to monitor the health of your system down in storms, or you lose power for a maintenance and even retire some The cost of solar today has dropped so could be costly. These problems and costs number of reasons. In a massive outage, electric lines. Also, helping a customer go low that your payback time, if there is a in most cases can be avoided. Batteries it can sometimes take a day or even a off-grid is itself a service, for which GMP is loan, is much less than what most now require maintenance. The battery bank is week or more to restore power to some of actually paid. Each site is unique, so there pay for being connected to the grid. When your own personal power company. But, the more remote homes. And as we saw is no standard price. your system is paid off, you have electric- as you will see in the next issue of Green when Irene hit this area, sometimes whole Those who live in GMP’s territory and ity with no utility bill. Imagine how much Energy Times, like solar applications which towns are without power, and the crea- are interested in their help to go off-grid this can save you! In some situations this have no moving parts and can last 30 ture comforts and necessities of life are should visit http://bit.ly/GMP-off-grid or is break-even the moment the system is years or longer, so can a battery bank. If suddenly gone. When this happens, the call Craig Ferreira at 1-802-747-6818 or installed, because the solar system costs taken care of correctly, both can last for a things we rely on every day, such as refrig- 1-888-835-4672. For anyone else, many will likely be quite a bit less than the costs very long time. Stay tuned for more about eration, cooking, heating and cooling and solar installers advertising in Green En- to bring in power from the grid. this in our April 2017 issue. even the reliance on our computers and ergy Times can be very helpful.

• INSTALLATIONS • SALES • SERVICE • DESIGN • Roof Mounts, Ground Mounts Trackers grid-tie, off-grid, grid-tie battery backup solutions 802.522.2381 Solarize Ammonoosuc Campaign’s Installer • 30% Federal Tax Credits • www.omearasolar.com • [email protected] Serving Orange County, VT, Grafton County NH, & the surrounding areas SOLAR PV - NEW HAMPSHIRE & VERMONT WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 11 Integrity uses the components that are Many An Off-Grid Solar Story from: judged best for the job. This tends to mean Canadian Solar or SolarWorld modules. For thanks charge controllers, Post uses OutBack and to our MidNite. For inverters, he uses SolarEdge, Sponsor: Integrity Energy SMA, and Fronius for grid-tied systems, and East Bethel, Vermont Outback Power and Schneider for off-grid. Post said customers who opt for systems He elaborated, “People should know with battery power should understand that that it is a different lifestyle. People who An off-grid battery lifetime depends very much on are most successful living off-grid are very how the batteries are maintained. “A bat- conscious of the energy they are using, solar system tery bank that is only used in a grid-outage and they know their systems – they have installed by and spends the rest of its life in float (trickle a good understanding of how the systems Integrity Energy charge to maintain 100% state of charge) work. We tell our customers about batteries will last significantly longer than a battery upfront, which is why we give them the at Lake that is cycled heavily daily or not main- two options of lead-acid and AGM. AGM Champlain tained properly,” he said. “In general we tell needs nearly no maintenance. Lead acid people to expect 7 to 10 years from a well batteries need to be checked regularly and features nine maintained and properly sized AGM bank refilled properly, and many people need to SolarWorld and 10 to 15 years for a similar lead-acid be educated about equalizing.” 265-watt bank.” Cont’d on p.19 modules. Photos courtesy of Integrity Your Local Solar Leader Energy. SOLAR ELECTRIC, SOLAR HOT WATER, HEAT PUMPS, ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING, BATTERY STORAGE By George Harvey When Amos Post founded Integrity est in such systems seems to be increasing, Energy in Bethel, Vermont in 2011, he had especially recently. He says people recog- worked for groSolar for nine years, gaining nize the importance of resilience and see experience with solar photovoltaic (PV) sys- that they can be better prepared for power tems. He soon brought John Mattern, also disruptions since solar costs are declining. a veteran of groSolar, to work with him. There was more to their backgrounds than just their years of experience with solar installation, however. Post had already received NABCEP PV installation certification, and Mattern had fourteen years of experience as a carpenter. While Integrity Energy focuses on PV installations, it does just about any sort of these a customer might wish for at a home or business in Vermont or New Hampshire. The company can install a system on a rooftop or on the ground. It has experience with grid-tied systems, both with and without backup, and with off-grid. The company’s owner will Post says opportunities to do off-grid answer your call, meet your budget, systems do not come very often, but inter- AND build your project. 802.869.2588 802.490.0640 Consultation • Design • Installation • Service Residential & Commercial Also offering Heat Pump Installation saxtonsriversolar.com Contact us for a free solar evaluation [email protected] Prioritizing Life Cycle Environmental Costs, EU and Serving Maine, New Hampshire & Northern Massachusetts USA Components • Serving VT, NH, MA www.ReVisionEnergy.com | 866.700.6065 MasterCard/Visa Accepted

䌀䰀䔀䄀一䔀一䔀刀䜀夀匀吀伀刀䄀䜀䔀吀䠀䔀䰀䄀匀吀䈀䄀吀吀䔀刀夀䘀伀刀䄀一䔀圀䜀䔀一䔀刀䄀吀䤀伀一夀伀唀ᤠ䰀䰀䔀嘀䔀刀䈀唀夀⸀ 伀瘀攀爀愀挀攀渀琀甀爀礀愀最漀Ⰰ 吀栀漀洀愀猀䔀搀椀猀漀渀昀漀甀渀搀愀戀愀琀琀攀爀礀搀攀猀椀最渀琀栀愀琀栀攀挀漀渀猀椀搀攀爀攀搀琀漀戀攀渀攀愀爀氀礀瀀攀爀昀攀挀琀⸀ 吀漀搀愀礀Ⰰ 䤀爀漀渀䔀搀椀猀漀渀椀猀瀀爀漀甀搀琀漀漀昀昀攀爀愀渀甀瀀搀愀琀攀搀瘀攀爀猀椀漀渀漀昀琀栀椀猀椀渀挀爀攀搀椀戀氀攀搀攀猀椀最渀琀栀愀琀椀猀猀瀀攀挀椀昀椀挀愀氀氀礀洀愀渀甀昀愀挀琀甀爀攀搀昀漀爀刀攀渀攀眀愀戀氀攀䔀渀攀爀最礀猀礀猀琀攀洀猀⸀

䰀䤀吀䠀䤀唀䴀䤀刀伀一椀渀昀漀䀀椀爀漀渀攀搀椀猀漀渀⸀挀漀洀㜀㈀ ⴀ㐀㌀㈀ⴀ㘀㐀㌀㌀一䤀䌀䬀䔀䰀䤀刀伀一眀眀眀⸀䤀爀漀渀䔀搀椀猀漀渀⸀挀漀洀 12 February 2017 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 SOLAR PV –VERMONT Ice Skating with Solar Is Coming to Woodstock, Vermont Woodstock’s Union Arena to Go Net-Zero with Solar By Barbara Whitchurch to develop healthy activities,” said arena that rates buildings on “If you can make an ice rink net-zero, manager EJay Bishop in an interview with their energy efficiency you can make anything net-zero,” said the Valley Standard. “It’s an economic and other standards. Harold Mayhew, Woodstock Union engine that produces approximately $2.5 As many homeown- Arena Board President. million toward the local economy” -- and ers know all too well, As most Vermont readers know, Ver- it is not supported by tax dollars at all. Not as much as we may mont has a statewide goal of being 90% bad for a non-profit! want to reduce our renewable by 2050. There are myriad proj- It costs a lot of money to run an ice are- long-term expenses, it’s ects in the works that will help the state na, and a sizeable chunk of that goes to challenging to balance our budgets with the achieve that goal. But ice skating rinks do energy costs. Ice arenas are big, and they Above: Union rink and skaters; below is the Union Arena in Woodstock, VT. not customarily make that list, until now. use huge amounts of electricity to run the costs of upgrading our Courtesy photos: EJay Bishop, exec. director, Union Arena Community Center. The Woodstock Union Arena is a popu- equipment that makes and maintains the structures. “They were lar place, with approximately 100,000 ice, not to mention the lighting, heating having such a hard time visits each year. Built in 2003, with 17,000 and ventilation. keeping the doors open, they couldn’t once they get to net-zero. square feet of open space, the arena is Despite its popularity, this 13-year-old afford to do any of the work to cut down To even think about getting to net-zero, open year-round -- and many local resi- arena was in deep financial trouble three on energy consumption,” said Mayhew, the arena needed to assess what they dents go there every week. In addition to years ago. The Woodstock community who joined the Board of Directors in 2013 already had, and what they already had skating and ice-related sports, the arena has a shrinking youth population, and and later became president. Energy costs needed a lot of work. So, the first tier of is available to rent for concerts, outings, the realities of rising energy costs were at about $140,000 a year had reached the plan involved completely rebuilding antique shows, art shows, school gradu- pressing in. Harold Mayhew, a Barnard about a third of the rink’s total budget of their existing refrigeration plant (the thing ations, theatre festivals, concerts, fund- resident and architect who actually de- $500,000. that keeps the ice hard.). Encouragingly, raisers, and sports practice. According to signed the original rink, became involved Under Mayhew’s direction, the Board since tier 1 was finished, they’ve realized a their website, the Union Arena, Inc. is a again several years ago when their energy came up with the following four-tier 12% annual savings, and they expect that non-profit organization whose mission is bill had pushed the rink to the brink of strategy: number to go even higher as more of the “to offer affordable and accessible healthy closing. Mayhew has previously designed By reducing their heating, fuel and tier 2 renovations are completed. activities for all families and the overall arenas, including the Kreitzburg Arena at electricity costs to zero (commonly Tier 2 will tackle the HVAC system (AC, population of the region.” Norwich University and the rink at Maine’s known as “net-zeroing” -- a fairly new verb ventilating, heating) and lighting, and “The arena provides a sense of pride; Bowdoin College, which became the na- in the lexicon), they could make the arena tier 3 will install solar panels, to offset the a community gathering place to enjoy tion’s first hockey rink to be certified by sustainable. This would not only help their cost of the energy demand. (The solar family, friends and visitors; and a place LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environ- budget but would benefit the environ- system will be installed by a local solar mental Design), a building code standard ment by reducing their carbon footprint. company, whom we are not free to reveal In turn, it would make their programs at this time.) Tier 4 will integrate all of the more affordable for the Woodstock com- improvements together in two to three munity. In fact, they anticipate a dramatic years’ time. The net con- reduction in the costs of these programs sumption will be reduced Cont’d on p.39

Free Fuel Delivered Daily.

Call today for a free site assessment & estimate. 802-728-3600

Local Team. Off-grid and grid-tied systems for: Camps • Homes • Farms Deep Experience. Communities • Businesses Vermont Values.

Endorsed by the Sun

Vermont’s Employee-Owned Solar Company [email protected] SOLAR PV – NEW HAMPSHIRE WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 13

telling them they did not need to invest was started, with an understanding that money or take on any obligations to get it was appropriate, only to have a town of- Solar Power For A Signature ongoing benefits from the solar array. ficial decide that it needed to be altered. By George Harvey All they needed to do was to sign up for An existing underground electric line group net-metering. The needed to be relocated, but after work Grossman family would on retrenching had begun it had to be get solar power with a stopped and relocated again, resulting in reasonable investment loss of time and money. payback. The group In some cases, the town asked for up- would get 45% of the grades on the plan. One neighbor object- output of the 163.8 ed that the solar array would be unsightly kilowatt system, just for and reduce the value of a house that had signing. been bought as a retirement investment. Even when things are When the Grossmans offered to put up a easy, they are not always fence so the array could not be seen from so easy. Hollis had no a road, the town wanted a staggered line zoning for solar arrays. of over fifty white pine trees. And so the This did not mean they trees were planted. could just go ahead. It In March, a new zoning ordinance was meant that a new ordi- brought up for a vote by the citizens, and nance had to be crafted. it passed. The array could go forward. The Frank Grossman filed array was the last to do so under a state his first documents with law limiting the overall amount of group the town in November, net-metered solar to two percent of the 2015. Planning board peak demand. members wanted more It is the nature of solar power that it The Tolemac solar array. Photo courtesy of Solar Source. than just a description can be installed quickly, once things are of what was to be done. all approved. Solar Source of Keene, New Frank and Kathy Grossman clearly enjoy larger array can sell power commercially. Some wanted documen- Hampshire completed the Tolemac Solar doing beneficial new things. When they They wanted a payback on the system in tation on the array, with drawings and an array in short order, and it is one of the moved to Hollis, New Hampshire (near a reasonable time, but they did not feel engineer’s official stamp. The original plan prettiest we have seen. It went online on Nashua), one of the existing features of a need for huge profits. They considered had not anticipated that board members January 20, 2017. their home was a solar hot water system. their options, and came up with a novel would need to be educated. Pictures of the array’s progress can be With the passing time, they decided to solution. The town’s decision-making process seen at http://www.tolemacsolar.com/. upgrade and expand that system. The They decided to build a large enough produced inconsistent results. Some work new system, now five years old, provides array to do group net-metering for their not only hot water but heat to the house, family and friends. With a little calculation, reducing fuel consumption to about a they found that they could pay the sys- third of what it had been. tem off in ten to twelve years, even if they Still looking for ways to make things gave a fairly large amount of its power Free Fuel Deliveries better, they started considering options away for free. Frank Grossman echoed his for building a solar array on their land. A wife’s feelings when he said, “It is payback From the Fuel that Lasts Forever net-metered array can reduce a family’s to society, rather than directly to us.” electricity load to nearly nothing, but a They approached friends and relatives,

Rebates and Tax Incentives Available Now Choose the company with over 15 years of solar experience and over 80 years of roofing experience.

Commercial & Residential Solar Specialists the Melanson co, inc. www.SolarSourceNE.com ~ 603-352-4232 14 RENEWABLE ENERGY February 2017 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Renewables Progressing in Mass. More Renewables in NYS Projects will leverage nearly $1 billion in private investment and By George Harvey add enough electricity to power more than 110,000 homes. In December, the Massachusetts Clean in terms of its policies for solar power. NYS’ 50% renewable by 2030 goal is getting ever-closer. Energy Center released the 69-page “2016 During the course of 2016, the state’s legisla- Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report,” ture was very active on the subject of renew- providing information on how clean businesses able energy generation. It produced a bill re- CAPITAL REGION are performing in the state. Its information quiring 1,600 MW of offshore wind power plus • Hecate Energy Greene County, Greene is very encouraging. (http://bit.ly/MA-clean- an additional 1200 MW of land-based renew- County: Hecate Energy LLC will build a 50 energy-report) able power. Governor Charlie Baker, a Republi- MW solar facility in Coxsackie. The report says clean technology is an $11.8 can, regards climate change as a clear threat to CENTRAL NEW YORK billion industry in the U.S., and in Massachu- the state, as well as the world, and when the bill • Fulton Unit 1, Oswego County: Brook- setts, accounts for 2.5% of the gross state reached him on August 8, he signed it. Hecate Energy is developing a 20 MW solar PV project field Renewable Energy Group, will install product. There are over 105,000 clean technol- Another legislative action undertaken was in Greene County, NY. Photo: Hecate Energy. a new 890 kW high-flow turbine-gener- ogy jobs in the state, an increase of 45,000 jobs a mandate for energy storage. In August, the ator at a hydroelectric facility in Oswego since 2010. This growth rate is much higher Commonwealth adopted a goal to decide County. than the general increase of employment in the whether to set a procurement target. It is the On January 12, 2017, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced $360 million in • North Division Street Dam Hydroelec- state. Notably, the jobs tend to pay rather well, third state in the United States to set a procure- tric Facility, Cayuga County: The City of provided by small, locally-owned businesses. ment target, after Oregon and California. awards for 11 large-scale renewable energy projects throughout the state in his Auburn will upgrade equipment, increase One sub-sector of clean technology that In September, Massachusetts published a capacity and restore operation of the has stood out in particular is solar power. In report, State of Charge, which provided a set of State of the State address. These projects provide strong support for the Clean hydroelectric facility, resulting in a new 2015 and 2016, 63% of all renewable energy recommendations on policy for growing stor- capacity of 1.12 MW. jobs in Massachusetts were directly related to age capacity. The report concluded that storage Energy Standard that requires that 50% solar power. The numbers of these jobs grew would increase energy security while reducing of New York’s electricity will come from MID-HUDSON 22% during the time, making solar power an both carbon emissions and consumer costs. In renewable energy sources by 2030. • Swinging Bridge, Sullivan County: important employment area for the state. A December, the Massachusetts Department of The awards will leverage almost $1 bil- Eagle Creek Hydro Power LLC will add 0.85 third or more of these jobs were entry level, so Energy Resources issued its announcement, lion in private sector investment for clean MW to an existing hydroelectric facility in many people entering the job market can find saying it is prudent to have a goal on energy technology projects such as wind, solar, the town of Lumberland, resulting in a to- positions. According to the Solar Energy Indus- storage. The department has until July 1, 2017 fuel cell and hydroelectric installations. tal installed capacity of more than 7 MW. tries Association, Massachusetts was ranked as to adopt targets for procurement. The projects are expected to generate • Regen DG Project, Westchester Coun- the number six state in the United States for Importantly, other technologies are also be- enough clean, renewable energy to pow- ty: Bloom Energy Corporation will install installed solar capacity at the end of 2015, with ing supported by the state, its institutions, and er more than 110,000 homes each year a 1.05 MW fuel cell at Regeneron Pharma- 1020 megawatts (MW) installed. its businesses. Scientists at Massachusetts Mari- and reduce carbon emissions by more ceuticals, Incorporated in Tarrytown. than 420,000 metric tons, equivalent to The solar industry has suffered from some time Academy began testing an underwater MOHAWK VALLEY problems in 2016. The year saw an additional turbine at the Cape Cod Canal in Buzzards Bay. taking more than 88,000 cars off the road. • Belfort Unit 3, Herkimer County: 52 MW installed, as the state dropped to the It is technology they believe could represent a The 11 projects include two wind Brookfield Energy Marketing LP upgraded number 10 spot for total solar capacity. This fact fundamental change in power generation. The farms, one utility-scale solar farm, seven its existing facility in Beaver River with two may be easy to misconstrue, however, because machine centers on an oscillating set of blades. hydro projects, and one fuel-cell project, modern high-efficiency runners, resulting of events that will undoubtedly change the Mass Maritime’s scientists say it is a “hydro- reflecting the strength and diversity of in a total installed capacity of 2.4 MW. energy landscape of the state. In fact, when the kinetic energy solution.” New York’s clean economy under the year closed, the site solarpowerrocks.com rated We hope for more good news from Massa- Governor’s Reforming the Energy Vision NORTH COUNTRY Massachusetts as the best state in the country chusetts. (REV) strategy. Once operational, these • Number Three Wind Farm, Lewis Coun- projects will add over 260 megawatts of ty: Invenergy Wind Development LLC will clean, renewable energy for use in New build a 105.8 MW wind farm in the towns York State. of Lowville, Harrisburg and Denmark. Due to the robust response to the • Glen Park, Jefferson County: North- Clean and green — two renewable energy choices solicitation and the approval of the Clean brook New York LLC, a subsidiary of Cube Energy Standard, which calls for the Hydro Partners, LLC: Upgraded equipment for low cost / low carbon footprint hot water development of renewable and clean at existing hydroelectric facility, resulting energy sources under REV, the amount of in a total installed capacity of more than the solicitation was increased $210 mil- 32 MW. lion, from $150 million to $360 million. • Tannery Island Hydro, Jefferson County: The 11 large-scale renewable energy Ampersand Tannery Island Hydro LLC in- Accelera® Heat Pump Water Heaters projects include: stalled and upgraded new Cont’d on p.15 › We’ve been engineering heat pump water heaters since the 1970s. Our philosophy has always been to make it right. Then make it better. We’ve been the largest seller in Europe for over 35 years. New! Accelera® 220 E (58 gal) Accelera® 300 E (80 gal)

Sales and installation available from:

Jim Renaud Revision Energy Arctic Refrigeration Portland, Maine Greenfield, Mass. 207.221.6342 413.774.2283 Gary MacArthur Brandon Turner Marlboro, Vt. Renewed by the Son 802.257.7026 Erving, Mass. 413.829.1103 Chris Wetherby ASHS, Inc. Spartan Giordano Rutland, Vt. Stiebel Eltron Solar Hot Water Spartan Solar 802.558.3429 Greenfield, Mass. › Superior German engineering & 413.768.0095 40 years of experience with solar thermal drives us to manufacture D.A. Gratz Hatfield, Mass. and supply only the best. 413.247.6161

See us in Boston at Building Energy booth 443, or call for more information or where to buy. Simply the Best 800.582.8423 www.StiebelEltron.us 17 West St. | West Hatfield, MA 01088 RENEWABLE ENERGY WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 15 Nation’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Gets Green Light By Kit Kennedy, EcoWatch - Reprinted with permission from EcoWatch first offshore wind endangered North project off Rhode Atlantic right whales, Island, which began which migrate up and commercial opera- down the East Coast. tion in December. At its Block Island The LIPA contract project, the company will enable Deep- successfully put these water to finance protective measures the 90-megawatt in place. We intend to South Fork project work with Deepwater by guaranteeing a to replicate similar buyer for the proj- ecosystem-protection ect’s electricity. measures for the South The South Fork Fork project, assuming the project moves power as part the plan to get 50 percent project would be ahead. of New York’s electricity from renewables the second—and Big Benefits by 2030 are a testament to what bold state leadership on climate and clean biggest—offshore Scaling up offshore wind power in New energy can achieve. In this new era, we’ll wind power project York, beginning with this LIPA project, can need this state leadership more than ever. in the country, bring a host of benefits to New York’s elec- Kit Kennedy oversees many of the Natu- following the tricity grid, as described before. The jobs ral Resources Defense Council projects 30-megawatt (MW) and economic potential of offshore wind relating to energy efficiency, renewable FM_160234_US_03 Block Island Wind are huge, as well. A SUNY Stonybrook energy and global-warming solutions. Farm in Rhode study found that a single, 250-megawatt Island waters. offshore wind power project could create The South 2,800 jobs and generate $645 million in Fork project local economic output, while a compan- Bringing would power ion study found such a project could G.E.T. 50,000 homes New York be built with “essentially no impact” on to NY! in Long Island’s consumers’ electric rates. In fact, the U.S. nyses.org State made clean South Fork energy history Department of Energy (DOE) estimates region, help- that by 2050, with the right policies in on January 25, ing to meet 2017, when place, the offshore wind industry could peak demand support 160,000 jobs nationwide. the Long Island in the area. It Power Authority The LIPA vote also means that 2017 is would deliver already shaping up to be a pivotal year (LIPA) approved electricity via a contract for the Block Island Wind Farm for U.S. offshore wind, as developers aim an underwater to build on the success of the nation’s first nation’s largest cable directly offshore wind offshore wind project by pursuing plans to East Hamp- for a dozen or more projects up and down project, which will be located in the wa- ton, helping the town meet its ambitious ters off Eastern Long Island. The approval the East Coast. goal of getting 100 percent of its electric- In December, bidding for the leasing is the first step toward meeting a historic ity from clean sources by 2030. commitment announced by Gov. Andrew rights to a federal offshore wind energy Deepwater Wind has already secured area south of Long Island went through Cuomo earlier this month to put in place a lease for the project from the federal enough offshore wind power to light 1.25 33 rounds of bidding before the Norwe- government but still needs to go through gian developer, Statoil, won the auction million New York homes within 13 years. the federal and state permitting and It is proof positive that New York means for a record $42 million. The U.S. Depart- environmental approval process. Because ment of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean business when it comes to clean energy. the project will be sited 30 miles from With his commitment to add the 2,400 Energy Management, which manages Montauk, it will be beyond the horizon federal ocean energy resources, an- megawatts of offshore wind by 2030, and therefore invisible from shore, which Gov. Cuomo has now positioned New nounced the nation’s next offshore wind will avoid any possible complaints about energy lease auction, which will be for York State to be the leader in realizing visual impacts. the infrastructure, jobs and economic 122,000 acres off the North Carolina coast. development benefits of the emerging Protecting Marine Ecosystems Meanwhile, Massachusetts has commit- U.S. offshore wind industry. In terms of ecosystem and wildlife is- ted to build 1,600 megawatts of offshore Here are the latest details. The board of sues, Deepwater Wind has already shown wind power over the next decade, and the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), its commitment to protecting the marine Maryland is moving forward with plans to the area’s public power provider, voted ecosystems. It has worked with the Natu- put 870 MW of offshore wind in place. to approve a power purchase contract ral Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Gov. Cuomo’s support for the South with Deepwater Wind, the U.S. offshore and other environmental organizations Fork project and his commitment to wind developer that built the nation’s to develop plans to protect critically developing 2,400 MW of offshore wind

More Renewables in NYS Cont’d from p.14 $24.24 per MWh of production over the One Less Bill. equipment resulting in a total installed 20-year terms of the awarded contracts. capacity of more than 1.8 MW. NYSERDA’s previous ten Main Tier solicita- SOUTHERN TIER tions for large-scale renewables have resulted in approximately 2,152 MW of • Eight Point Wind Energy Center, Steu- new renewable capacity at 70 locations ben County: NextEra Energy Resources throughout the state, generating more LLC will build a 101.2 MW wind farm in than five million MWh of renewable the towns of Greenwood, Troupsburg and energy every year. The power generated West Union. from these 70 projects is expected to pro- Here’s what you can be doing WESTERN NEW YORK vide enough clean power to supply over while your solar system is paying your electric bill: • Burt Dam Incremental Hydro, Niagara 825,000 homes per year, representing a Play with your kids • Ride your bike • Hike • Fish • Hunt County: Ampersand Olcott Harbor Hydro total of $1.24 billion in investments in the Go out on the lake with a friend • Kayak • Nap LLC recently upgraded equipment result- Main Tier program. Call us today to plan for your installation this summer •Purchase your system with no upfront costs! ing in a total installed capacity of 600 kW. Learn more about Reforming the Energy Support for these new projects is being Vision (REV) at www.ny.gov/REV4NY. For provided by NYSERDA. The weighted more about NYSERDA’s programs, visit average award price for this solicitation is nyserda.ny.gov. RevolutionSolaR.com • 607-441-0367 16 February 2017 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 UP TO DATE INCENTIVE INFO: WWW.DSIREUSA.ORG INCENTIVES • central wood pellet boilers (excluding Visit http://cpace-nh.com/index.htmlfor outside wood systems) - $2,000 more information. FEDERAL VERMONT • circulator pumps - $50-$600 point of Residential Solar PV Rebate Program CLEAN ENERGY purchase discount FEDERAL INVESTMENT • cold climate heat pump point of • Rebates for solar electric/thermal proj- TAX CREDIT DEVELOPMENT FUND purchase discount ects 10kW (or thermal equivalent) or less The federal investment tax credit (ITC) The Small Scale RE Incentive Program, • New Solar PV = $0.50/Watt DC or 30% of for most technologies, including solar, administered by Renewable Energy Residential New Construction total project cost, whichever is less. Max wind, heat pumps, and fuel cells, is 30% of Resource Center (RERC), provides funds to • enroll in Residential New Construction $2500. expenditures. For commercial geothermal help defray the costs of new solar thermal Service – up to $2,000 in incentives and free • Expanded Solar PV = $0.50/Watt DC or generating systems, microturbines, and and advanced wood pellet heating systems. home energy rating and expert technical 30% of total project cost, whichever is less. combined heat and power the ITC is 10% For more information: www.RERC-vt.org or assistance throughout construction and Max $2500. of expenditures. call (877)888-7372 eligible for ENERGY STAR label Contact [email protected] SOLAR THERMAL INCENTIVES – PER • Washington Electric Coop and Vermont USDA RURAL Gas Systems customers may also receive Residential Solar Water Heating RATED CAPACITY OF SYSTEM additional incentives (contact EV*) Rebate Program DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM • $0.40 per kWh/year for residential and USDA Rural Development Program - Rural commercial customers Other Opportunities To Save • $1500 - $1900 per system based on Energy for America (REAP) annual system output • $0.80 per kWh/year for Special Category • Advanced Power Strips – coupons at Finance the purchase of renew- customers register at participating retailers* Commercial Bulk Fuel-Fed Wood able energy systems, and make energy **special customer category limited to municipalities, improvements; energy audits. Funding non-profit housing authorities, public schools., and • Pool Pump – up to $600 rebate on C&I Pellet Central Heating Systems is awarded on a competitive basis; grant non-profit hospitals and health care centers. All incen- qualifying ENERGY STAR models • 40% of the heating appliance(s) and funding cannot exceed 25% of eligible tives are subject to availability and may change. • Meter Loan – borrow “Watts Up” meter installation cost, up to a maximum of project costs and combined loan guaran- to measure the electric consumption of $65,000. An additional 30% up to a maxi- tees and grants cannot exceed 75% of eli- Pellet Heating your appliances mum $5,000 is available for thermal storage. gible project costs. • Advanced wood pellet heating systems -- $2500 3000 per boiler (+$500 if an audit is • Commercial Refrigeration Evaporator Systems must be 2.5 million BTU or less Applicants include Feasibility studies/ completed and +$500 if the system includes Fan Motors - $60-$100 each w/ point of regular REAPs: agricultural producers at least 20 days’ worth of pellet storage). purchase discoun Residential Wood Pellet Boiler/Furnace and rural small businesses. Energy audits and renewable energy development • Custom Rebate $1.25/ft2 of heated space, 1. *all rebates/incentives subject to availability, lim- • 40% of installed system up to $10k $60,000 max or $80,000 max for public/ its and may change – for complete incentives and assistance: local governments, tribes, land requirements, and for participating retailers/contrac- • Must meet thermal efficiency and par- grant colleges, rural electric coops, public non-profit sector tors, visit efficiencyvermont.com or call 888-921-5990 ticulate emissions standards power entities. Grant must be used for • Details at www.RERC-vt.org Construction or improvements, purchase or call (877)888-7372 Contact [email protected] and installation of equipment, energy audits, permit fees, professional service VT TAX CREDITS NEW HAMPSHIRE www.puc.nh.gov – Sustainable Energy fees, business plans, and/or feasibility • Vermont offers an investment tax credit or tel. 603-271-2431 for more informa- studies. Find more at www.rurdev.usda. for installations of renewable energy equip- Renewable Energy Incentives tion and current program status gov/NH-VTHome.html or call 802-828- ment on business properties. The credit is Offered Through the NH Public 6080 in VT or 603-223-6035 in NH equal to 24% of the “Vermont property por- LOCAL INCENTIVES tion” of the federal business energy tax Utilities Commission BIOREFINERY ASSISTANCE credit from 2011 to 2016. For solar, small Commercial Solar Rebate Program Some towns provide property tax exemp- wind, and fuel cells this constitutes a 7.2% tions for renewables – visit www.bit.ly/ PROGRAM state-level credit for systems and for geo- Category 1: NHtownRenewablesTaxBreaks USDA Rural Development offers oppor- thermal electric, microturbines, and com- ≤100 kW AC incentive levels for PV systems: • These are offered on a town-by-town tunities to producers to develop biofuels bined heat and power systems, this • $0.70/watt (lower of AC and DC) for new basis. through the Biorefinery Assistance Program. constitutes a 2.4% state-level tax credit. solar electric facilities (Step 1 application • The state also has passed PACE (prop- The program provides loan guarantees for received prior to September 1, 2016); the development, construction, and retrofit- Tier III programs erty-assessed clean energy) enabling • 0.65/watt (lower of AC and DC) for new legislation which will allow towns to use ting of commercial-scale biorefineries. • Additional incentive offers may be avail- solar electric facilities (Step 1 application the PACE mechanism to finance clean able through your local utility provider, con- The Biorefinery Assistance Program was received on or after September 1, 2016); energy projects through property taxes. established to assist in the development tact your utility for more information. • Expansions to existing solar systems are Visit http://www.nh.gov/oep/programs/ of new and emerging technologies for the EFFICIENCY VERMONT not eligible. development of advanced biofuels and energy/pace/index.htm aims to accomplish the following: Lighting (must be ENERGY STAR®) ≤100 kW AC equivalent incentive levels for more information. • Increase the energy independence of • ENERGY STAR LEDs supported by for solar thermal systems: the United States Efficiency Vermont incentives available at • $0.12/rated or modeled kBtu/year for Renewable Energy Incentives • Promote resource conservation, public Vermont retailers for as low as $.95. new solar thermal facilities fifteen collectors in size or fewer; Offered Through the NH health, and the environment Home Efficiency Improvements • Diversify markets for agricultural and • $0.07/rated or modeled kBtu/year for Electric Co-Op forestry products and agricultural waste • improvements: air sealing, insulation new solar thermal facilities greater than fif- PLEASE Check for UPDATEs with NHEC. materials and heating system upgrades - up to teen collectors in size; and $2,500 in incentives - using participating* • Expansions to existing solar systems are Incentive programs discontinued for 2017: • Create jobs and enhance economic contractors development in rural America not eligible. • Commercial Solar Thermal (Hot Water) For more information go to Appliances (must be ENERGY STAR) Category 2: • Residential Solar Thermal (Hot Water) www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Biorefinery • Dehumidifiers - mail-in rebate > 100 kW AC and ≤500 kW AC incentive level • Commercial Solar PV for PV systems • Clothes Washers - $40 rebate for CEE Tier • Residential Solar PV. • $0.55/Watt AC for new electric facilities. 1 qualifying models, $75 rebate for CEE Tier REGIONAL 2, 3 or ENERGY STAR Most Efficient • Expansions to existing solar systems are Residential and Commercial Heat not eligible. Pump Water Heaters NEW ENGLAND GRASSROOTS • Refrigerators - $40 rebate for CEE Tier 1, Contact [email protected] or $75 for CEE Tier 2, 3 & ENERGY STAR Most at (603) 271-2431. • $500 for 50 gallon units and $600 for 80 ENVIRONMENTAL FUND Efficient gallon units MODEST GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR Note: The C&I Category 2 solar rebate pro- • Clothes Dryers - $50 to $400 rebate on • up to $500 per ton on Energy Star© COMMUNITY-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL gram currently has a waitlist. select ENERGY STAR electric models certified units WORK IN CT,MA,RI,NH,VT,ME For C&I solar program details, go to: http:// • Must be volunteer driven or have up to 2 Heating/Cooling www.puc.nh.gov/Sustainable%20Energy/ Planned for the 2017 Program Year: full time paid staff or equiv. RenewableEnergyRebates-CI.html • LP/Oil boilers & furnaces - $500 rebate* EV Incentives for Electric Vehicles • have an annual budget up to $100,000 PACE • Smart Thermostats - $150 mail-in rebate • “Seed” grants of $250-$1,000 and “Grow” The state also has passed PACE (property- PAREI grants of $1,000-$3,500 • solar hot water - $950 rebate post assessed clean energy) enabling legisla- • Go to www.grassrootsfund.org/grants/ installation tion which will allow towns to use the PACE To explore the possibility of a solar installa- or call 802-223-4622 for more info. • heat pump water heater - $600-$800 mechanism to finance clean energy proj- tion. Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Ini- point of purchase discount ects through property taxes. tiative. www.plymouthenergy.org While we at Green Energy Times try to keep things up to date, incentives are always changing. Be sure to check with the appropriate sources for the latest information. INCENTIVES UP TO DATE INCENTIVE INFO: WWW.DSIREUSA.ORG WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 17 • WWW.NHSAVES.COM Business Programs Visit www.masssave.com/residential/heat- • WWW. NHEC.COM ing-and-cooling/offers/heat-loan-program Includes programs for: small and large busi- Please call 866-527-7283 to schedule a free NEW YORK ness, new equipment and construction, home energy assessment. NH HOME PERFORMANCE seminars, lighting incentives and catalog, RENEWABLE ENERGY INCENTIVES WITH ENERGY STAR and low and no interest financing programs. MASSACHUSETTS SOLAR OFFERED THROUGH Sponsored by all NH electric and natural Visit www.nhsaves.com/ for informa- gas utilities in partnership by the U.S. Dept. LOAN PROGRAM Welcome to the 2016 New York solar incentive tion about NH business incentives for and rebate information: 121 programs and of Energy. Fuel-blind eligibility using the electricity efficiency. Mass Solar Loan focuses on connecting Home Heating Index (BTUs of heating fuel homeowners who install solar PV systems with incentives at: / conditioned square feet / heating degree NH Weatherization Assistance low-interest loans to help finance the projects. http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/ days). Must provide at least 12 months of Income-Eligible Programs The $30 million program, a partnership between program?state=NY heating fuel history. Once qualified, eligi- the Massachusetts Department of Energy Programs and Services from NYSERDA: ble homes get a $450 value compre Home Energy Assistance and NH commu- Resources (DOER) and MassCEC, will work https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs nity action Weatherization Assistance Pro- with local banks and credit unions to provide hensive energy audit for $100 (rebated if gram. Financial assistance paying fuel bills, financing to homeowners interested in solar improvements installed), and 50% instant New York State Energy Research and free weatherization improvements electricity. DOER’s program works with banks rebate for eligible weatherization improve- for qualified applicants. Funding from U.S. and credit unions to expand borrowing options and Development Authority. ments up to a $4,000. Dept. of Energy, NH utilities. through lower interest rate loans and encourage • Business & Industry Visit www.nh.gov/oep/programs weath- loans for homeowners with lower income or • Communities & Governments Visit www.nhsaves.com/residential/ret- erization/index.htm for application criteria, lower credit scores. rofit.html for more information and an • Partners & Investors FAQs and local program contacts Since 2008, the solar electric industry in online Home Heating Index calculator • Cleantech & Innovation Massachusetts has grown into a robust • Residents& Homeowners economic sector with over 1,400 businesses and NH ENERGY STAR HOMES 12,000 workers, with enough solar electricity DISCOVER YOUR HOME’S installed in the Commonwealth to power more Incentives for builders of new homes who MASSACHUSETTS than 100,000 homes. ENERGY WASTE meet ENERGY STAR guidelines. Incentives Mass Solar Loan will continue to grow this sector, Getting a home energy assessment include HERS rating fee paid by the utility, Commonwealth Solar Hot while allowing more homeowners the ability can help you take control of your energy rebates for ENERGY STAR lighting, appli- Water (SHW) Programs to achieve the cost savings and environmental costs. It can identify where your house ances and heating systems, and $800 - benefits of this clean, renewable energy is using the most energy and which $4,000 additional incentive depending on • Applicants must be served by National source. www.masssolarloan.com. The most improvements would have the biggest the HERS score. Grid, Unitil (Fitchburg Gas and Electric), updated loan principal buy down rate based impact on your bottom line. Heating and Visit www.nhsaves.com/residential/ Eversource or a participating Municipal on household income can be found at www. cooling costs frequently account for 50% homes.html for more details. Light Plant community masssolarloan.com/loan-support-incentives. of residential energy bills. Identifying your • Homeowners are eligible for a base energy waste can lead to big savings. rebate amount of the lesser of $4,500 or DEPT OF ENERGY RESOURCES NH ENERGY STAR Visit: https://nyserda.energysavvy.com/ 40% of the installed cost. The system may Solar renewable-energy credits (SRECs) asso- to get an energy assessment. APPLIANCES & LIGHTING also be eligible to receive additional ciated with system generation belong to funding (“adders”) which increase the the system owner and may be sold via the RENEWABLE ENERGY INCENTIVES Mail-in rebates for ENERGY STAR-rated amount of the rebate. Adders are detailed Department of Energy Resources (DOER) clothes washers ($30), room air condition- in the program manual at http://files. SREC 2 program. Systems sized under 10kW OFFERED THROUGH NY-SUN ers ($20), room air purifiers ($15) and refrig- masscec.com/get-clean-energy/residen- single phase or 25kW three phase have an http://ny-sun.ny.gov/ erators ($20). tial/commonwealth-solar-hot-water/ extension until the new incentive program NY-Sun is structured around custom- Visit www.nhsaves.com/ for more infor- SHW_Program_Manual_Small_Scale.pdf starts in 2017. Note: appropriate, approved ized Megawatt (MW) Blocks targeted mation and rebate forms. • Visit http://www.masscec.com/pro- Data Acquisition System monitoring must to specific regions of the state. To learn Instant rebate coupons ranging from $1 grams/commonwealth-solar-hot-water be utilized for PV systems >10kW in order to more, see the Megawatt Block Incentive to $7 for ENERGY STAR-rated CFL and LED MASSSAVE HEAT LOAN SHW qualify to sell SRECs. Structure. light bulbs purchased through qualifying Next solar incentive information can be Residential and Small Business NH retailers. Through this loan program, customers may found at http://www.mass.gov/eea/energy- http://ny-sun.ny.gov/Get-Solar/Resi- borrow at 0% interest the costs of a Solar utilities-clean-tech/renewable-energy/rps- dents-And-Small-Business Visit www.nhsaves.com/residential/ Domestic Hot Water and/or Thermal Heating aps/development-of-the-next-solar-incen- es_lighting.html for more information. system. Apply through receiving the MassSave tive.html Commercial and Industrial Energy Audit. You can borrow up to $25,000 at MA State Income tax credit for residential • http://ny-sun.ny.gov/Get-Solar/Com- NHSAVES Lighting and 0% interest for a 7 year term. solar hot water or PV systems are eligible for mercial-and-Industrial Energy Efficiency a one-time 15% off system cost, capped at Community Solar Efficiency Catalog After conducting a free residential Energy $1000 max tax credit. • http://ny-sun.ny.gov/Get-Solar/Com- Extensive catalog of efficient lighting prod- Audit, residential customers are eligible for up No sales tax on residential solar hot water munity-Solar ucts, from stylish lamps to hard to find to $25,000, commercial loan up to $100k at 0% or PV system. specialty bulbs. Catalog includes other effi- Find a Commercial/Industrial interest heat loan with terms up to 7 years to There is no increase in property tax assess- Solar Installer ciency items such as smart strips, power cover the following energy efficiency improve- monitors, and water-conserving devices ment for residential solar hot water or PV sys- • http://ny-sun.ny.gov/For-Local-Govern- ments: attic wall-basement insulation, high tems for 20 yrs. Offered at discounted pricing for NH elec- efficiency heating systems, high efficiency ment/Local-Government tric utility customers, and fulfilled by EFI. domestic hot water systems, solar hot water MA SREC II POLICY Find a Residential/Small Commer- systems, 7-day digital programmable thermo- Massachusetts’ Solar Renewable Energy cial Solar Installer Visit catalog.nhsaves.com/ for an online stats, Energy Star replacement windows version of the catalog. Credits Program, SREC II prioritizes sites, by • http://ny-sun.ny.gov/Get-Solar/Find-A- Available only to utility customers of W. Mass using an SREC factor based on the type of Solar-Electric-Installer 2014 ENERGY STAR® Electric, National Grid, Berkshire Gas, Nstar, installation. The credits provided for energy Financing Options Unitil and Cape Light Compact produced by a system are calculated by • http://ny-sun.ny.gov/Get-Solar/NY- multiplying the factor times a full credit Residential Heating, Cooling, www.masssave.com/residential/heating-and- Sun-Financing cooling/offers/heat-loan-program Please call value. Full credit is given for residential, & Water Heating Equipment 866-527-7283 to schedule a free home energy parking canopy, emergency power, or com- Clean Power Estimator Rebate assessment. munity- based systems, or any other system • http://ny-sun.ny.gov/Get-Solar/Clean- Power-Estimator Rebates of up to $1,500 on high efficiency of less than 25 kW. Larger systems get a fac- Furnaces and Boilers, $200-$500 rebates on ENERGY EFFICIENCY tor of 0.9, if they are building-mounted or NY-Sun is structured around custom- at least 67% of the power produced is used Mini Split Heat Pumps, up to $800 rebates After conducting a free residential Energy ized Megawatt (MW) Blocks targeted on water heaters, rebates on programma- at the site. If a larger system meets neither to specific regions of the state. To learn Audit, residential customers are eligible for up of these criteria, but is built on a landfill or ble and Wi-Fi thermostats to $25,000, commercial loan up to $100k at 0% more, see the Megawatt Block Incentive brown- field site, or if it is less than 650 kW, Structure. Program details and application at www. interest heat loan with terms up to 7 years to then it gets a factor of 0.8. Systems that NHSaves.com/heatingcooling cover the following energy efficiency improve- qualify for none of the foregoing get a fac- The Megawatt (MW) Block Dash- ments: atticwall-basement insulation, high tor of 0.7. On Jan 8, 2017, these factors will board provides real time information on Other NH Electric Utility Programs efficiency heating systems, high efficiency be reduced by 20% until the new incentive the status of block and current incentive See also individual utilities for additional domestic hot water systems, solar hot water program starts. Expect a new incentive pro- levels by sector and region. Block status is programs and variations. NH electric util- systems, 7-day digital programmable thermo- gram in late 2017. updated as applications are submitted, so ities may offer low or no interest on-bill stats, Energy Star replacement windows click the refresh button to see the current financing for energy efficiency projects. Available only to utility customers of W. http://bit.ly/Mass_SREC_II. status. Visit www.nhsaves.com/resource/ for Mass Electric, National Grid, Berkshire Gas, MA State Incentives can be found at: https://www.powerclerk.com/nysunini- individual utility contact information. Nstar, Unitil and Cape Light Compact www.masscec.com/get-clean-energy tiative/dashboard.aspx 18 February 2017 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 BUSINESS & FINANCIAL Financing Clean Energy in Vermont By George Harvey We might point out that this study is A Vermont clean energy financing program could leverage not suggesting that we give up other Small steps can efforts, some of which would almost more than $123 million certainly have much greater effects. For lead to important example, the Vermont Standard Offer Program, which was started in 2005, has already put 126,000 MW of renewable results. capacity online. In fact, a single new In December, The Union of Concerned project just announced for Hinsdale, New Scientists (UCS) published a study, “Fi- Hampshire, is considerably larger than the nancing Clean Energy: A Powerful Tool for entire program the UCS is recommending. Driving Investment in Vermont’s Econo- That, however, misses the point. my.” (http://bit.ly/ucs-financing-clean-ver- The investment for the UCS program mont) It made a suggestion about how to would be very modest but could produce provide for clean energy investment, on meaningful results. The electricity from the local level, by a single investment of 50 MW of solar power would depend on $7 million by the state. The initial invest- setting up a revolving fund of $7 million, ment is leveraged through creation of a using public money, but it would suf- revolving fund, with the public funding fice for the annual needs of about 8,200 leveraging private funding. households. So $850 provides enough The revolving fund would make loans electricity to supply one household for as to provide incentives for renewably long as the sun shines on the panels. sourced energy and efficiency. The loans At the same time, the energy saved are repaid to the fund, with interest, over Graphs from the Union of Concerned Scientists. through efficiency and produced by a period of a few years. the renewable power As the fund gets repaid, would equal 176 its value grows, and it is gigawatt hours per able to provide incen- year, or about 3.2% of tives for more projects. the state’s needs. The The revolving fund amount of money this could provide a total of would save for residents $23.5 million as incen- of the state would tives over a fifteen year come to $14.6 million period, value arrived at per year, on an ongo- both by calculation and ing basis, roughly twice through experiences the single initial public of programs in other investment. states, notably New York There are certainly and Connecticut. more impressive The incentives draw programs in terms of private funding at a rate the amount of power of about five to one. This produced, the number means that the $23.5 of people served, or million of loans would the carbon dioxide produce private invest- emissions avoided. The ments of about $122.5 program recommended million during fifteen by the UCS would years. The sum of these After 15 years, investments from a clean energy financing program would A Vermont clean energy finance program could support nearly 50 MW of solar produce an amount of two, $146 million, rep- generate or save 176 GWh of electricity per year. and wind power by 2031. renewable energy sig- resents the total impact nificantly smaller than a of the program, in terms single solar installation of funding for renew- costs, or savings in lower fuel bills. off the road. Another would be installa- recently announced for Hinsdale. Dwell- able energy and efficiency. Not included One effect of the program would tion of approximately 50 megawatts (MW) ing on these facts, however, detracts from in this amount of money is the reduction include elimination of 115,000 tons of of renewable generating capacity, which the major point here. A very small initial of costs to the ratepayers of the state, be- carbon dioxide emissions, over fifteen could include solar, wind, and small hydro public investment can produce meaning- cause solar power produces lower electric years, the equivalent of taking 21,300 cars power. fully large, long-term results.

Tesla and Panasonic Making Solar Cells In Buffalo, New York With its acquisition of SolarCity, By Green Energy Times Staff Tesla now makes solar cells and undertake to sell. Tesla and Panasonic modules in addition to electric cars have been developing a close working and batteries. It has entered into a relationship, including building the partnership with Panasonic to begin Gigafactory in Nevada, which has just manufacturing photovoltaic products started mass production of lithium-ion in a facility in Buffalo, New York. A new batteries. product expected from the Buffalo The partnership of Tesla and Pana- plant, not offered by others as yet, is sonic also develops new photovoltaic the solar roof shingles Elon Musk an- technology in a plant in Fremont, Cali- nounced last year. fornia. Products from the Buffalo plant The original plan to set up manufac- are designed to work seamlessly with turing in Buffalo had been put forth other products of Tesla and Panasonic, by SolarCity. The new plan commits including with the Powerwall and Tesla to the same goals SolarCity had. Powerpack battery systems. The company intends to employ 1,400 Production of finished photovol- people in the Buffalo area, including taic products in Buffalo will begin in 500 in manufacturing jobs. the summer of 2017. The plan is to Panasonic is putting up the capital expand production until it reaches one for the Buffalo operations and will pro- gigawatt of solar capacity per year in vide technological and manufacturing 2019. The initial products will be high- expertise. For its part, Tesla is commit- efficiency solar cells and modules. ting to long-term purchases of solar Once these are being produced, solar products from the plant, which it will Rendering of the Tesla-Panasonic solar factory in Buffalo. Image by SolarCity. shingles will be produced, as well. BUSINESS & FINANCIAL WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG February 2017 19 Corporate Sustainability

Look Who Is Leading the Way By Hope O’Shaughnessey As global sentiment continues to build is the true leader for corporate sustainabil- for a more sustainable planet, corporations ity. (http://bit.ly/apple-leads) are increasingly adopting more sustainable Google will be a strong rival to Apple with business practices. The Paris Climate Agree- its goal to use 100% renewable energy by ment provided a renewed spark and metric 2017, according to a December 2016 New for the transition. As global businesses con- York Times article. The same article quoted tinue to improve their bottom lines, tying Google’s Joe Kava, senior vice president of At around 5MW, Apple’s new solar roof could make it among the biggest in the US. Photo: 9to5Mac.com. sustainability goals to that movement has technical infrastructure, as saying, “We are helped the momentum. the largest corporate purchaser of renew- Two significant leaders in this transition able energy in the world,” and “It’s good for Walmart, Costco, Kohl’s, IKEA, Macy’s, Mc- (http://bit.ly/ikea-apex) include Apple and Google. At the start of the economy, good for business and good Graw Hill, Johnson & Johnson, Staples, Inc., Finally, a January Forbes article pointed 2017, Greenpeace heralded Apple as the top for our shareholders.” (http://bit.ly/renew- Campbell’s Soup, and Walgreens. (http://bit. out that renewable energy will continue to company committed to 100% renewable able-google) ly/biz-leaders) draw businesses and their interests. In the energy with Google and Facebook following The Christian Science Monitor reported Large scale retailer Walmart is also joining Forbes piece, guest editor Micah Remley, closely behind. Apple has held this green that many major retailers are also develop- the race to meet carbon goals. The Solar Senior Vice President and General Manager leadership spot for three years in a row. ing solar capacity in order to stay profit- Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) fifth of Software, EnerNOC, pointed out that, “… It makes sense that Apple tops off able and improve the health of the planet. annual Solar Means Business report indi- investors are continuing to push for more Greenpeace’s list of top renewable leaders. A recent article said, “42 companies have cates that Target and Walmart and Costco sustainability data from businesses, and this A December 2016 article in The Guardian in- installed upwards of 320 megawatts (MW) are among top retailers installing solar. The is for one simple reason – research contin- dicated that Apple achieved 93% renewable of photovoltaic (PV) capacity at more than report says Target installed 147.5 MW and ues to create a strong link between energy energy in 2015. Apple did not slow down, 750 locations across the U.S., according to Walmart installed 145 MW. (http://bit.ly/ and sustainability performance and overall however, and the Solar En- solar-2016) financial value.” (http://bit.ly/remley-ren) continued to ergy Industries IKEA, a socially aware company for grow its green Association awhile, is now furthering its role as energy goals and OilPrice. a green leader with new wind farms beyond that. com. Walmart, installations. IKEA Canada, accord- Apple has also Costco and ing to Wind Power Engineering and begun insisting Ikea are among Development (WPED), announced that its suppli- the companies in February a multi-year contract ers use green who support with Apex Clean Energy to manage technology and renewable the 88 MW Wintering Hills wind farm move toward energy and de- in Alberta, Canada. This will add to zero waste, as pend on solar IKEA’s wind resources since, accord- well. It would the most.” The ing to WPED, IKEA U.S. also bought appear that their Google’s logo is spelled out in the heliostats (mirrors that reflect top ten retail two wind farms from Apex in 2014 goals go way sunlight) at the Ivanpah solar electric generating system in the giants in terms (the 165 MW Cameron Wind facility Many major retailers are making renewable energy efforts, not beyond 100% Mojave Desert near the California-Nevada border. Photo source: of installed solar located in Cameron County, Texas only for the good for the environment, but because they make renewable. Apple gadgetsnow.com. capacity are and the 98 MW Hoopeston Wind good business sense. Photo courtesy of WalmartStores.com. facility located in Hoopeston, Illinois).

Off-grid with Integrity Energy Cont’d from p.11 ADVERTISING INSERTION ORDER Thomas Hirchak Company Integrity Energy gen- One of the more Foreclosure: 2BR Off-Grid Log Cabin on 75± Acres erally uses Rolls batter- FROM: Terra Keene noteworthy of Integrity [email protected] ies for backup storage. Energy’s installations Friday, February 24 @ 11AM The battery systems was actually rather far they have installed 935 Jigger Hill Road, South Royalton, Vermont out of our area, in Sa- TO: Nancy were mostly in a range vannah, Georgia. It was from twenty to thirty an 87.5 kilowatt system COMPANY: Green Energy Times kilowatt hours, though with 307 SolarWorld they have installed 285-watt modules, So- much larger ones. laredge P300 Optimiz- TODAY’S DATE: 1/20/17 When we asked Post ers, and eight Solaredge NAME OF FILE: Corwin_GET specifically how he felt nine-kilowatt inverters. about using fossil fuel In this case, the building, DATE(S) TO RUN: 2/15/17 sources for backup, a multi-unit housing SIZE OF AD: 4.875x4.125 BW for instance a propane facility, was converting generator, he said, “The to LED lighting and air- preference would be sourced heat pumps. EMAILED TO: [email protected] to harvest energy from Post takes pride in the Make your country escape to this 2BR, 2BA renewable sources first An off-grid solar system at Lake Champlain ability to perform solar log home with open kitchen/living spaces. and then use fossil fuels includes an Outback VFX3524 inverter, Out- installations of high Covered front and back porches, radiant heat as a backup. With the back FM80 charge controller, DPW top of pole quality at reasonable with remote wood burning furnace, spring fed evolution of PVs, bat- rack and eight Rolls S460AGM batteries. The prices and in his compa- - tery technology, build- installer was Integrity Energy of East Bethel, VT. ny’s polite and efficient ing efficiency measures ways of working. well,Live off on-site the grid septic on with75± privateleach field. acres 2-car yet havede and smart consumers, Their website is www.ienergyvt.com. I’m hopeful that we will be able to drasti- tachedquick access garage to features I-89 in minutes!finished spaceGreat above.views! cally reduce the amount of outside sources of fuel that we need to use in the future.” Many thanks Thomas Hirchak Company · THCAuction.com · 800-634-7653 to our sponsor: GreenHomesForSale.com The premium venue for buying and selling green, energy-eﬃcient, sustainable and ecological homes, developments and land since 2004. 20 February 2017 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG Feature: NESEA BE BOSTON 2017 Faced with Federal Climate-Change Denial, 2,500 Industry Leaders Commit to Green Building As the federal government slips into features several sessions to ensure that Stephanie Horowitz of Zero Energy climate change denial, sustainable energy efficient projects perform as Design, Declan Keefe of Placetailor, Katrin energy practitioners in the northeast intended, and that the occupants know Klingenberg of PHIUS, Andrea Love of are increasingly committed to building how to optimize the building for efficiency Payette, Bill Maclay of Maclay Architects, more healthful, more durable, and more and comfort. Ty Newell of University of Illinois, Christo- energy efficient buildings and communi- • Community-scale solutions: Several pher Nielson of Bruner/Cott, Karl Rabago ties. Organizers of the BuildingEnergy sessions focus on scaling energy efficiency of Pace Law Center, Marc Rosenbaum of Boston Conference + Trade Show expect and resiliency for communities and South Mountain Co., Cooper Schilling of 2,500 professionals from every field in neighborhoods. In one session, “Boston Kieran Timberlake, John Straube of RDH the building trades to attend, sharing Women Leading Change” will dive deep Building Science Laboratories, Paul Torcel- best practices for building and for climate into ideas and solutions they generated lini of NREL, Kohta Ueno of Building Sci- change mitigation. The conference will from a trip to Copenhagen. These include ence Corp., solar pioneer Steven Strong be held on March 7-9 at the Seaport storm water management, wind energy, of Solar Design Associates, who installed World Trade Center in Boston, Massachu- transportation planning, district heating, photovoltaics on the White House in the setts. and social resiliency. 1970s and again in 2014, and many more. “NESEA has been holding conferences The BuildingEnergy Boston Conference for architects, engineers, and builders • New technologies: The trade show floor + Trade Show is the region’s leading event for more than 30 years,” said conference will feature the latest in sustainable for professionals and practitioners work- co-chair Heather Nolen, of Steven Winter energy technologies. These include ing to build a more sustainable world. It Associates. “We’ve built a reputation as a energy storage solutions, charging is hosted by the Northeast Sustainable one-stop venue for all things related to technologies for electric vehicles, and Energy Association (NESEA). NESEA was sustainable energy in our buildings. Con- more. Two “lightning round” conference formed in 1974 with a mission to advance ference topics provide attendees with The opening plenary session, examining whole-systems sessions will feature practical information the adoption of sustainable energy prac- techniques ready for immediate use on focus, will be given by Dr. Craig Jones, of Circular Ecology. on products and services. tices in the built environment by connect- current projects and provide inspiration Courtesy photo. Additional sessions will be given by ing professionals to each other and to for future endeavors.” Patrick Deegan of DAC Technologies, information. NESEA serves 10 northeast- Jennifer Marrapese, Executive Direc- Thomas RC Hartman of C&H Architects, ern states. (www.NESEA.org) tor of the Northeast Sustainable Energy building occupants know how to operate Association (NESEA), which hosts the their buildings to minimize their environ- conference, remarked, “What separates mental footprint.” The opening plenary session, examin- this year’s conference from those in the Many past is that we’ve reached far beyond our ing whole-systems focus, will be given single-family, residential roots to address by Dr. Craig Jones, of Circular Ecology. thanks much larger buildings and communities. Dr. Jones is an embodied energy, carbon to our As the urgency of mitigating climate footprint, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) change increases, we’ll be there to an- expert. He was listed as number 14 on Sponsors: swer the call.” Building Design’s list of the most influen- This year’s program has unprecedented tial people in UK sustainability in 2012. diversity. It features over 60 sessions and He provided data to carbon footprint the workshops and presents 100 exhibitors. construction of the London 2012 Olym- Sessions focus on buildings of all types pics. He tailored an embodied energy

and carbon database for the $22 billion s and sizes. There are several case studies l Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, which aspires e of high performance building projects on d R.W. Kern Center to be the first zero-carbon, zero-waste, o

college campuses, including techniques m used to engage occupants in their opera- and car-free city. Dr. Jones’ session will e Hampshire College | LBC provide a visual overview of how our own r tion. | Bruner/Cott Architects s

Conference Co-Chair Stephan Wollen- local consumption can have unexpected n o

impacts – even on the other side of the ti burg, an independent energy consultant i

world. d in Worcester, MA, explained, “The most d effective way that we, as professionals, Other conference themes include the a | can mitigate climate change is to ensure following: s n Bement School | High Performance that our largest buildings are as efficient • Water, water everywhere: How to heat o ti as possible. But it’s not just about the water efficiently, how to conserve it, how a Dorm Residences v buildings anymore. Our sessions go to build for resilience where flooding is a o n Jones Whitsett Architects beyond energy. They address the whole growing threat. In one session, world-class e r system – from how much energy it takes expert Gary Klein will offer a hands-on | s to produce and transport our build- opportunity to learn how best to configure e a DHW system for energy efficiency. m ing materials, to how our buildings are o h designed to operate in the context of • Occupant behavior: A building is only as w a smarter and cleaner grid, to whether efficient as its occupants. The conference e Village Hill High Performance n

| LEED | Condominium Homes t n

e Kuhn Riddle Architects m e g a n a m

n The Hitchcock Center o ti

c for the Environment u r t

s LBC | designLAB Architects n o c | l a i c

r Sustainable Construction in Western e

m Massachusetts since 1974. m o c

| (413) 586-8287 e.104 s

n wright-builders.com o ti u t ti s n I Innovation. Expertise. Results. Feature: Transitioning Towns & Cities in the Northeast WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG February 2017 21 Montpelier Makes Progress Upper Valley Towns Moving … Towards Net-Zero 2030 Goal By Kate Stephenson, Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee Chair Toward 100% Renewable Energy

Over 125 people participated in this aerial art photo in Hanover, NH to show their support for 100% renewable energy. Photo: Rob Strong.

By the Sierra Club Upper Valley Group

City of Montpelier greenhouse gas emissions from municipal facilities and operations 2011-2016 A future powered by 100% clean, renewable energy is technologically and The Sierra Club Upper Valley Group has economically feasible. As the prices of in- many community partners on this project, In 2014, Montpelier’s City Council stalling solar and wind equipment contin- including other organizations, energy adopted a bold and audacious goal—that 56% reduction in municipal ues to fall and the renewable energy job committees, and staff members from vari- the city would be completely “net-zero” by greenhouse gas emissions market continues to grow, people -- and ous towns. Last summer, two employees the year 2030—and be the first state capi- cities, too -- are increasingly choosing to from the Town of Hanover and one of the tal to produce or offset 100% of its energy One exciting achievement is that Mont- Co-Chairs of Sustainable Hanover traveled pelier has achieved a 56% reduction in an- invest in renewable energy technologies. use with renewables. In the three years In coordination with other groups, the to California to join the “North Ameri- since establishing this goal, Montpelier nual GHG emissions from municipal facili- can Dialogue,” a unique opportunity for ties and operations. There are two sectors Sierra Club, our nation’s largest grassroots has made good progress, but there is still environmental organization, launched the municipalities to share information about much to do. Led by the Montpelier Energy that helped the city achieve this impor- their budding transitions to 100% renew- tant decrease in GHG, while concurrently “Ready for 100” campaign in January 2016 Advisory Committee (MEAC), an all- to influence cities, regions, and states to able energy. Twenty cities from the U.S. volunteer group of local residents, the city delivering significant financial savings. and Canada participated. After returning, The first was switching from dispersed commit to having 100% of their electricity has been working to both reduce overall come from renewable sources by 2030, the Hanover representatives not only energy use through energy efficiency old boilers burning heating oil, to a wood continued their renewable energy work in chip-fueled district heat system (a district and for transportation and heat as well by measures as well as increase renewable 2050. Twenty cities in the United States town but also began sharing this infor- energy generation. heat system heats more than one facility). mation with community leaders across The district heat plant burns wood chips have committed to becoming powered by 100% renewable energy, the most the Upper Valley. In January, they gave a Cutting municipal energy use that are both a renewable fuel and are presentation about their experience to net-zero carbon under both international recent being St. Petersburg, Florida. Other Montpelier has made remarkable gains cities include Park City, Utah; San Diego, leaders from Hanover, Lebanon, Plainfield and national scientific standards. The and Grantham, all in New Hampshire. in energy efficiency while maintaining second was harvesting and flaring fugi- California; and East Hampton, New York. excellent services and saving money. Mu- No commitment looks the same. Some On December 14, Hanover reached tive methane at the wastewater facility. In a major milestone -- the Sustainable nicipal operations and facilities consumed the past, the methane at the Montpelier cities are committing only to renewable just over 46 billion BTUs in FY2011. By electricity, while others are committing Hanover Town Committee voted to Water Resource Recovery Facility was left endorse a goal of 100% renewable energy FY2016, this had been reduced to 39.7 to escape into the atmosphere. But start- to renewable transportation and heat as billion BTUs; a 14% reduction. There have well. In some cases, a mayor or the city by 2050. (You can find the resolution on ing in 2012, the WRRF started harvesting the Town of Hanover’s webpage.) They been important efficiency gains across all the methane in the spring, winter and fall, council has decided first to commission a three sectors of electricity, thermal and study of how the city can reach an 100% then brought their resolution to the and combusting it to heat the primary Hanover Select Board on January 23rd vehicles. In particular, Montpelier schools digesters and the filter press building, goal. The Los Angeles City Council, for ex- and the wastewater treatment facility are ample, unanimously approved a measure where members posed many thoughtful thereby replacing fossil fuels. In 2015, questions, expressed support, and recom- achieving phenomenal gains in energy ef- they began flaring the surplus methane in instructing the Los Angeles Department ficiency. In addition, the extraordinary of Water and Power to study an equitable mended that the resolution be brought to the summertime, rendering the powerful a vote at the May town meeting. increase in efficiency at the wastewater GHG into bio-generated carbon dioxide. transition from fossil fuels. facility has been achieved over the same A major priority of the Ready for Many towns throughout the Upper Val- Overall, the process has multiple benefits, ley have joined this effort. The Sierra Club period in which the volume of wastewater scoring significant GHG reduction, energy 100 campaign is that any transition to processed has more than tripled. Even the renewable energy be equitable and just. Upper Valley Group has been coordinat- efficiency, and economic returns for the ing with members of a few local energy city’s consumption of diesel and gasoline city. Both nationally and locally, the Sierra has been reduced in the past five years by Club wants vulnerable communities and committees to support their work. Mem- We recommend that you read more 16% and 31% respectively. individuals to have equal access to clean- bers of both the Plainfield (NH) and Cor- about the Net-Zero Montpelier Plans on energy related economic opportunities, nish Energy Committees are organizing 1MW of municipal solar installed p.31 in this edition of Green Energy Times. including employment, resources, and a series of events to increase community The City of Montpelier is now infrastructure. awareness of climate change, the financial getting the majority of its elec- When the Sierra Club Upper Valley benefits of renewable energy, and the tricity from renewable energy Group learned about this campaign, they technological and economic feasibility of sources with the completion of a were immediately interested in bring- a 100% renewable energy system. 500 kW solar photovoltaic array in ing this effort to our region. The Upper There are many ways to get involved Montpelier and a second 500 kW Valley is now one of many regions across with this campaign. There are several array in Sharon, VT. This innova- the country working with the national teams that meet regularly. The Sierra Club tive Power Purchase Agreement Sierra Club and each other to achieve this group also hosts a study group twice a through local solar developer ambitious goal. The Sierra Club Upper Val- month to learn more about how to make Novus allows the City to invest ley Group launched their campaign this this transition to 100%. Everyone is wel- in renewable energy with no past August with an aerial art photo on come to attend team meetings and the upfront cost and savings on its the Dartmouth College green. Over 125 study group. electric bill from Day 1. The city people from 23 different towns demon- If you’d like to learn more about the and school district expect to save strated their support for 100% renewable campaign in the Upper Valley, please email $40,000 to $50,000 a year for the [email protected]. 500kW photovoltaic array in Sharon, VT. Courtesy photo. energy by participating in this photo. Sup- first ten years of the contract. port continues to grow. 22 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION

All Progress is Local: Dayton said: “We shouldn’t need a federal edict to understand how vital it is that we Climate Action is Up to Cities and States Now keep doing everything in our collective powers to reduce harmful greenhouse By Ben Jervey, Institute for Energy and the Environment, Vermont Law School gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, and advance Minnesota’s clean energy If President Donald Trump sticks to reducing emissions, because they have reductions goals equal to or stronger than economy.” pledges he made on the campaign trail— concluded — just as China has — that do- current U.S. national commitments in And what if Trump opts to pull out and so far he is proving to do just that— ing so is in their own self-interest.” both the medium and long terms— each of the Paris Agreement or the UNFCCC the federal government won’t be taking Data gathered by ICLEI: Local Govern- plans on 28% to 30% reductions by 2030, process entirely? Cities and states are any action to reduce national greenhouse ments for Sustainability backs up Bloom- and 80% reductions by 2050. considering ways to formally represent gas emissions. More likely, federal agen- berg’s confidence. ICLEI examined the At the state level, the potential is just the interests of the majority of Americans cies and Congress will be implementing greenhouse gas emissions inventories as large. Last year, for instance, California that believe the U.S. should honor its policies that strongly encourage the for 116 local governments in the U.S. that lawmakers voted for 40% greenhouse gas climate commitments to the international combustion of fossil fuels. With a federal collectively represent roughly 14% of the cuts below 1990 levels by 2030 and are community. government that will be playing defense U.S. population, including seven of the also supporting a raft of vehicle emis- California senate leader Kevin De Leon against ‘decarbonization’ and clean en- ten largest American cities. Achieving sion standards tougher than the rest said at COP22 that lawyers were examin- ergy development, a number of American the goals set by these cities would result of the country. More broadly speaking, ing ways that the state—which would cities and states are setting out to prove in emissions reductions by mid-century California’s Secretary for Environmental be the world’s sixth largest economy if it that local and regional government is equivalent to shutting down 86 coal-fired Protection, Matt Rodriguez, told reporters were a country—could formally join the where climate progress really happens. In power plants. While these 116 pledges at the recent COP22 meetings in Morocco UNFCCC and ratify the Paris Agreement. fact, some influential leaders are certain alone wouldn’t get the U.S. to the national that ten to twelve U.S. states representing Speaking of cities taking a similar tact, that cities and states can lead the way to goals pledged to the Paris Agreement, 30% of the country’s economy—including Bloomberg said, “If the Trump administra- significant nationwide emissions reduc- ICLEI is actively working with more than California, Washington, New York, Oregon, tion does withdraw from the Paris accord, tions, even under a Trump administration. 825 cities, counties, and regional asso- Massachusetts, and Vermont—are set to I will recommend that the 128 U.S. mayors Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of ciations that represent more than 141 actively oppose Trump’s plans to rescind who are part of the Global Covenant of New York City and currently U.N. Secretary million Americans—or nearly half of the climate and clean energy policies. Mean- Mayors seek to join in its place.” General Ban Ki-moon’s special envoy for national population—and the organiza- while, a total of 36 states have already “Washington will not have the last word cities and climate change, told the China tion is confident that they represent vast developed climate plans and renewable on the fate of the Paris Agreement in General Chamber of Commerce that even untapped potential to take action and for- energy targets. the U.S.,” Bloomberg continued, “Mayors the U.S. pledges to the Paris Agreement malize emissions reduction commitments. Additionally, when the Clean Power will, together with business leaders and are safe. “I am confident that no matter The hundreds of cities that are actively Plan, the centerpiece of President citizens.” what happens in Washington, no matter engaged in climate mitigation strategies Obama’s climate policy, was put on hold what regulations the next administration but have yet to formalize commitments by the Supreme Court in February, at least Ben Jervey is the Climate and Energy adopts or rescinds, no matter what laws have some great examples to pull from 19 states stated their intent to continue Media Fellow at the Institute for Energy and the next Congress may pass, we will meet around the country. Cities as diverse as decarbonization and CPP compliance the Environment at Vermont Law School. the pledges that the U.S. made in Paris,” Atlanta, Georgia, Cincinnati, Ohio, Minne- planning, despite the uncertainty of a *Links available in posted article on the Bloomberg said. “The reason is simple: Cit- apolis, Minnesota, and Portland, Oregon federal mandate. Green Energy Times website: greenenergy- ies, businesses and citizens will continue have already committed to emissions At the time, Minnesota Governor Mark times.org.

Plymouth, NH Regional High School Envelopes Energy Efficiency Upgrades

School Administrative Unit (SAU) 48 in Plym- end of the building near the service center’s • Installation of six energy-efficient Power- Additional incentive funding was obtained outh, New Hampshire has just completed a $2 garages. This location had the advantage of smith transformers. through the New Hampshire Electrical Co-op’s million energy retrofit project at Plymouth Re- having open space outdoors, adjacent to the • New walk-in cooler controls for existing New Equipment and Construction Program. gional High School. The project was designed boiler room where a large dry chip silo could coolers and freezers. The remaining costs were then covered by a by Energy Efficient Investments of Merrimack be installed. The silo is 19 feet in diameter and fifteen- year bond taken out by SAU 48. • Weatherization includes air-sealing and to have maximum energy savings as part of an over 24 feet high. With all the money spent, it may be surpris- insulating by Energy Efficient Investments. energy performance contract with SAU 48. The peaking and back up boilers are a pair ing to report that local school taxes will not One of the largest components of the of Viessmann high efficiency condensing • HVAC control updates. rise as a result of this project. This is because project was upgrading the heating system to propane boilers that replaced the less efficient, It is too early to know the exact savings for the annual debt payments for the project are eliminate the aging oil-fueled heating system. aging boilers that had served the school for a heating the school. However, in a short time, less than the estimated annual energy savings. Froling Energy completed this part of the few decades. the lighting retrofit has resulted in a kWh sav- Therefore, the entire project is tax-neutral—or project by installing a propane boiler in one Other aspects of the school’s efficiency ings of 45%! Jon Francis, Facilities Director at better. boiler room and a biomass boiler in the other. project include: PRHS stated, “The school’s electric savings for SAU 48 plans to implement similar energy The existing boiler rooms are far apart and • Retrofitting all existing fluorescent light the first two months post construction are on efficient measures at other district schools in are joined with well-insulated piping incon- fixtures to Philips LED. pace to be more than $60,000 per year. This is the next few years. spicuously placed above hall and classroom far in excess of what was projected.” The oper- Eric Sandberg from EEI, Jim Van Valkenburgh • New AAON energy recovery ventilators for ating cost savings will be substantial. ceilings. This allows either boiler to be used to the science wing. from Froling, and Michelle Harrison of Green heat the school. The project benefited from a $325,000 Energy Times contributed to this article. The main heating source is a new Viessmann • Installation of two Daiken mini-splits A/C for grant from the NHPUC which supported the biomass boiler that was installed at the south the principal’s office. installation of the biomass boiler system.

EARN YOUR MASTER’S DEGREE IN ENERGY LAW AND POLICY Left: The Froling Energy crew stands by the new 42 ton wood chip silo which is 19 feet in diameter and 30 feet high. Rt:The new Scholarships available | go.vermontlaw.edu/energy Viessmann Vitoflex 300 wood chip boiler with a maximum heat output of 2.4 million BTUs/hr. Photos courtesy Froling Energy. CLIMATE CHANGE WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 23

keep historical Global Warming Hiatus Disproved Again records of ocean By Robert Sanders, Media relations, Berkeley News | January 4, 2017 temperatures – some going back Climate change to the 1850s – skeptics attacked widely used by the NOAA research- climate model- ers and a House of ers. The agency’s Representatives paper was an committee subpoe- attempt to ac- naed the scientists’ curately combine emails. NOAA agreed the old ship to provide data and measurements respond to any sci- and the newer entific questions but buoy data. refused to comply Hausfather with the subpoena, a and colleague decision supported Kevin Cowtan of by scientists who the University of feared the “chilling York in the UK CHART 1: A new UC Berkeley analysis of ocean buoy (green) and satellite data (orange) effect” of political extended that show that ocean temperatures have increased steadily since 1999, as NOAA concluded in inquisitions. study to include 2015 (red) after adjusting for a cold bias in buoy temperature measurements. NOAA’s earlier A NEMO float, part of the global Argo array of ocean sensing stations, deployed in the The new study, the newer assessment (blue) underestimated sea surface temperature changes, falsely suggesting a Arctic from the German icebreaker Polarstern Bremerhaven. (Photo courtesy of Argo) which uses inde- satellite and hiatus in global warming. The lines show the general upward trend in ocean temperatures. pendent data from Argo float data satellites and robotic in addition to the A controversial paper published two years floats as well as buoys, concludes that the buoy data. ago that concluded there was no detectable NOAA results were correct. The paper was “Only a small slowdown in ocean warming over the previ- published Jan. 4, 2017 in the online, open- fraction of the ous 15 years — widely known as the “global access journal Science Advances. ocean measure- warming hiatus” — has now been confirmed “Our results mean that essentially NOAA ment data is using independent data in research led by got it right, that they were not cooking the being used by researchers from UC Berkeley and Berkeley books,” said lead author Zeke Hausfather, a climate monitor- Earth, a non-profit research institute focused graduate student in UC Berkeley’s Energy ing groups, and on climate change. and Resources Group. they are trying to The 2015 analysis showed that the modern Long-term climate records smush together buoys now used to measure ocean tempera- data from differ- tures tend to report slightly cooler tempera- Hausfather said that many years ago, ent instruments, tures than older ship-based systems, even mariners measured the ocean temperature which leads to a when measuring the same part of the ocean by scooping up a bucket of water from the lot of judgment at the same time. As buoy measurements ocean and sticking a thermometer in it. In calls about how have replaced ship measurements, this had the 1950s, however, ships began to auto- you weight one hidden some of the real-world warming. matically measure water piped through the versus the other, After correcting for this “cold bias,” re- engine room, which typically is warm. Nowa- and how you searchers with the National Oceanic and At- days, buoys cover much of the ocean and adjust for the mospheric Administration concluded in the that data is beginning to supplant ship data. transition from journal Science that the oceans have actually But the buoys report slightly cooler tempera- one to another,” CHART 2: Berkeley’s analysis of ocean buoy (green) and satellite data (orange) and warmed 0.12 degrees Celsius (0.22 degrees tures because they measure water directly Hausfather said. NOAA’s 2015 adjustment (red) are compared to the Hadley data (purple), which have not Fahrenheit) per decade since 2000, nearly from the ocean instead of after a trip through “So we said, been adjusted to account for some sources of cold bias. The Hadley data still underesti- twice as fast as earlier estimates of 0.07 a warm engine room. [See Chart 1] ‘What if we create mates sea surface temperature changes. (Charts : Zeke Hausfather graphics) degrees Celsius per decade. This brought the A new UC Berkeley analysis of ocean buoy a temperature rate of ocean temperature rise in line with (green) and satellite data (orange) show that record just from the buoys, or just from the the upward trend seen in the last half of the estimates for the previous 30 years, between ocean temperatures have increased steadily satellites, or just from the Argo floats, so 20th century continued through the first 15 1970 and 1999. since 1999, as NOAA concluded in 2015 (red) there is no mixing and matching of instru- years of the 21st: there was no hiatus. This eliminated much of the global warm- after adjusting for a cold bias in buoy tem- ments?’” “In the grand scheme of things, the main ing hiatus, an apparent slowdown in rising perature measurements. NOAA’s earlier as- In each case, using data from only one implication of our study is on the hiatus, surface temperatures between 1998 and sessment (blue) underestimated sea surface instrument type – such as satellites, buoys which many people have focused on, claim- 2012. Many scientists, including the Interna- temperature changes, falsely suggesting a or Argo floats – the results matched those of ing that global warming has slowed greatly tional Panel on Climate Change, acknowl- hiatus in global warming. The lines show the the NOAA group, supporting the case that or even stopped,” Hausfather said. “Based on edged the puzzling hiatus, while those general upward trend in ocean temperatures. the oceans warmed 0.12 degrees Celsius per our analysis, a good portion of that apparent dubious about global warming pointed to it (Zeke Hausfather graphic) decade over the past two decades, nearly slowdown in warming was due to biases in as evidence that climate change is a hoax. NOAA is one of three organizations that twice the previous estimate. In other words, the ship records.” Cont’d on p.38

Image: fabiusmaximus.com HIDDEN TAXES This is another example of a hidden Cont’d from p.1 over $17 billion in an medical costs average year. associated with tax we all pay to support the fossil fuels increased by a factor of 3.6 since then. Add The outlandish fossil fuel use in industry, apart from what we all pay to use increased population, and the figure might increase in costs ten states, most of its products. ALAC calculated the cost at have gone up by a factor of five, reaching associated with which are in the $1.30 per gallon of gasoline, a tax not paid about $420 million. What it did, however, floods came about Northeast. As it at the pump, but nevertheless imposed by was to increase steadily, reaching nearly mostly because of happens, the per- use of fossil fuels, with no social benefit. (I $3.45 billion. Instead of a factor of five, it events we can name. capita cost turned am prepared to argue that we do not need went up by a factor of 42. Among them are out to be high- fossil fuels for any purpose, not even fueling It is not just in the insurance programs Katrina, Ike, Irene, est in Vermont, jet aircraft economically.) that we see our society taxed. Only a small Sandy, and Matthew. a place people These are just two examples. We have fraction of properties damaged by floods Massive storms are think of as having had extensive agricultural losses due to have flood insurance. In the Louisiana flood increasing in number fresh and pure air. drought, such as has happened in Califor- of 2016, nearly 80% of property owners and strength, and These costs come nia. Wildfires and invasive pests are destroy- were uninsured, a portion typical of the this is because the to $330 million ing forests. Cities have to spend money country. In St. Helena Parish, only one per- weather is changing per year for the defending themselves from rising seas, as cent of properties had insurance. The costs with rising global state, ALAC says, we can see Miami’s campaign to raise its of uninsured losses are covered by property temperatures. We are or about $480 per streets at a cost of over $400 million. owners, by banks, if the mortgages are not already paying, heav- Vermonter per The good news is that renewable energy paid off, and by the economy in general. The ily, because of climate change. year, or $2,400 for a family of five. The costs is now getting cheaper than fossil fuels average payout of $3.45 billion is only a frac- In another example, we can get much here are hidden in high medical insurance and has already achieved that goal in many tion of the actual cost to the economy, and clearer data on the costs of pollution from rates and high taxes. The other states had cases. So, we can eliminate the hidden taxes if it is proportionate to the rates of insured fossil fuels. The American Lung Associa- lower costs because people in them drive we have to pay while we reduce our energy properties, the economic costs have gone to tion in California (ALAC) did a study of the less, but they were not lower by much. bills —permanently. 2424 February JUNE 15, 2017 2014 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 802.439.6675 CLIMATE NEWS New Precipitation Models for New York State Extreme precipitation projections to help the state with planning

Authority (NYSERDA) to ‘downscale’ Communities can use these projections January 17, 2017 global climate model outputs and create to aid in planning for more resilient com- – Hurricanes Irene, extreme precipitation projections that will munities by understanding the increased Sandy, and Lee are ultimately be incorporated into climate- likelihood of major precipitation events. examples of extreme change adaptation planning for New Flood levels may be reassessed, floodplain precipitation events York State. Christopher M. Castellano and maps and codes may be adjusted, and that have caused de- Arthur T. DeGaetano completed this proj- culverts and bridge crossings may be struction and deaths ect through the Department of Earth and altered to account for the likelihood of in New York State. In Atmospheric Science at Cornell University. extreme weather. The website allows us- 2009 alone, 175 total ers to examine specific flooding events in data throughout New New York State led to York. Users can choose $32.82 million in prop- different locations, erty damage. The state return periods (e.g., is also still recovering a “100-year” storm from the $42 billion event), and green- dollar toll of Super- house gas emission storm Sandy, among scenarios. Information others. Climate change is presented in several is resulting in an in- Beacon train station, Beacon, New York. Photo: C. Klocker types of maps and crease in the frequency charts to visualize how of heavy rainfall events. severe a storm event To help New York State communities In New York State, average summer and may be expected in plan for effects of climate change, new winter temperatures have been increas- different parts of the graphics are now available showing the ing since 1970 (2° F in summer and 4° F in state. increased likelihood of heavy precipita- winter). We are also expected to experi- Interested parties tion events. These graphs, called Intensity ence more extremely hot days and fewer should take a look Duration Frequency (IDF) curves, show cold winter days per year. These changes at the website to anticipated increases of storm events are affecting the water cycle, resulting in familiarize themselves from two- to 100-year intervals, and are climatic effects such as an increase in the with these models projected into the future as far as 2099. frequency and intensity of extreme pre- and better understand They can be found at http://ny-idf- projec- cipitation events in the northeastern U.S. expected changes in tions.nrcc.cornell.edu/. These products are These changes could negatively impact our climate. http:// designed for use by municipal officials, society and lead to further distress for the ny-idf-projections. researchers, planners, highway depart- State of New York. nrcc.cornell.edu/. A ments, and other decision-makers who In preparation for these impacts, the short video also helps need to take storm events into account. Department of Earth and Atmospheric explain the mod- These IDF curves display how precipita- Science at Cornell University has formed els: https://vimeo. tion events are being affected by New Map of weather station locations used for modeling. http://ny-idf-projections. com/187831975 a partnership with the New York State nrcc.cornell.edy/. York State’s rapidly changing climate. Energy Research and Development

WARNING! By George Harvey Climate Research News from UMass Amherst Climate change is not zones than they were in 1990. (http://bit. not bode well for the ski industry. Nor uniform. This is a fact that ly/arbor-day-zone-changes) do higher temperatures look good for a needs to be repeated The deer ticks that have moved farther number of other traditional agricultural often, because so few north, bringing Lyme disease to products of the area, people understand. Differ- parts of the Northeast where it such as maple syrup. ent parts of the world will had been unheard of only thirty The scientists say warm more than others. years ago, are driven by climate that the COP21 Paris Different seasons and change. Other pests, such as “The Northeast climate agreements are different parts of the day woolly adelgids, have also may see a rate not sufficient to stop warm more than others. moved in, undeterred by winter climate change at 2°C. Here, in the Northeast, cold. of change 50% In order to do that, we the average temperature A new research paper from the higher than the will have to do much has increased about 2° F, Northeast Climate Science Cen- better than achieving but the greatest increase ter at the University of Massa- world averages, the goals we have set. has been for the tempera- chusetts Amherst (UMass) shows One report from the ture of the night of the that our area of the world will much sooner United Nations said we coldest part of the winter. probably see greater- than-av- than expected are set to see increases This is the coldest tem- erage increases in temperature. of 2.9°C to 3.4°C, unless perature of the year, and it While scientists across the world — perhaps as we can do better. is of particular importance have called to limit increases soon as the next Meanwhile, how- because it is what kills off to 2°C (3.6° F) and have much ever, we have a political both perennial plants we preferred to limit the increase 10-20 years.” process that is domi- might wish to have and to 1.5°C, the UMass researchers nated by a party whose pests we want to avoid. foresee increases in the United elected members in The U.S. Department States to be greater than in most of the Washington, D.C. deny the importance of of Agriculture’s Hardiness rest of the world. climate change. Zone Map divides the U.S. For the Northeast, they see a rate of We could dwell on the curious fact into zones based on the change about 50% higher than world that their election was arguably funded coldest night’s tem- averages. In other words, if the world can by the one group of businesses that is perature, by steps of 10° limit increases to 2°C, we will go up 3°C inextricably linked to climate change. We F. The one issued in 2005 Lake Pleasant Drive, Staatsburg, NY. Photo courtesy of C. Klocker. (5.4° F). The effect of this on that coldest can do better than that, however. The showed that about half night of the winter will almost certainly be states, local governments, and people of the country was in warmer much greater. And, of course, that means the United States can have a deep effect zones than in 1990. The map was with- ing. The greatest change is in the north- more worries than just Lyme disease. on the entire issue of climate change and drawn shortly after it issued. eastern quarter of the contiguous states. The researchers said wetter winters will government simply by refusing to buy The latest maps from the Arbor Day The states of Vermont and Kentucky are accompany the higher temperatures. With their products. We can be more comfort- Foundation show the warming continu- almost entirely in different hardiness higher temperatures, however, this does able and save money in the process. CLIMATE NEWS WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 25 Hunting and The Growing Gulf Between Science and Politics Wildlife in the It is time to pathetically jostling for attention. Indeed offices were under water. Towns that were Northeast Cont’d from p.1 look back on the swamp has been filled with alligators, cut off got to work the next morning to 2016 and ahead and the new administration seems to be rebuild roads and help those in need. We at 2017. Last a chaotic mess. When false information is can do it again, overnight if we have to. As year was again being rebranded as “alternative facts,” all the government in Washington becomes the warmest that is clear is that our government is now dysfunctional, New England must unite on record, well on sinking sands. and act. ahead of 2015, In my local store after the election, In December, I was in San Francisco which itself set someone said, “You must be shattered to with 23,000 earth scientists from around a new global- see everything the globe for By Dr. Alan K. Betts temperature you have the annual record. The sea- worked for meeting of ice cover, which is shrinking as the planet destroyed.” I the American warms, is near record lows at both poles grinned, be- Geophysical A deer at night. Photo: Iwctoys, Wikimedia Commons for the first time. New research continues cause the cli- Union. What to point to accelerating climate change mate system a delight to and increasing extreme weather. Last year, is unaware of be in a global experience with the subject, and others U.S. communities were faced with costs narcissistic community passed on information that appeared in of $53 billion from extreme weather and tweets, even of men and other publications. climate disasters. though these women The first response came from Nate New England has had more snow than are a tragic searching to Harvey of Marlboro, Vermont (the author’s last year, but the winter has been rela- threat to understand brother). He typically spends two or three tively warm so far. We ate our last kale in American val- the real world days each week tracking animals, mostly mid-January, but a new crop of spinach is ues and world and eager to in the Northeast. “The beds where moose growing under glass, so we will soon be peace. network and sleep in the snow are often a bloody making salads. Report- share all they mess,” he said, “with ticks the size of your A Yale Climate Communication national edly, the US have learned. finger tip covering the ground.” survey in November after the election military has The younger The problem the moose have is shows that 70% of Americans think global developed January 21, 2017 Women’s March in Washington, D.C. in behalf of cli- generation that they never had to deal with large warming is happening, 61% are worried contingency mate change. Photo: John Bos. knows the numbers of ticks in their evolutionary about it, 65% see it as a threat to develop- plans to deal challenges that past, so they have no instinct to groom ing countries and 71% as a threat to future with ‘illegal orders’ from above. The New lie ahead, but their deep shared integrity themselves. White tailed deer have this generations. Yet the new administration England states should do likewise to will carry them. Those from overseas paid instinct, which is why they do not share is pretending climate change is a hoax, counter illegal and immoral federal poli- little attention to U.S. politics. The U.S. has the problem that moose have. Ticks have because it is a threat to the fossil fuel in- cies. Recall that the real Tea Party started surrendered global leadership to China come into the countryside where moose dustry and the libertarian economics that here centuries ago. Two issues need to and Europe, but all the work that needs live, because climate change has made it the president does not even understand. be faced. The states must prevent the to be done to build a resilient world still possible for them to survive the coldest So let us contrast these two worlds; the takeover of their National Guard by a remains. winter temperatures. scientific world with its roots in reality, and would-be fascist federal government; and We cannot expect guidance or funding To understand how a small change in the new political world, which is built on when they are blackmailed with “obey from Washington. It is time to expand our the average temperature could cause power fantasies that change daily, glued or lose your federal funds” extraordinary efforts to build resilient communities here, such trouble, we need to know that cli- together by egoism, fear and a determina- measures will be needed to cut funds to so we can face the future together with mate change does not happen uniformly. tion to continue the exploitation of the the central tax system. moral clarity. In the Northeast, the average temperature Earth and the poor. For us all “relocalization” is an important Dr. Alan Betts of Atmospheric Research has increased only about 2° F. While that In Washington, making America “great,” strategy. Here in Vermont, we remember may not seem like much, the temperature in Pittsford, Vermont is a leading climate “draining the swamp,” and destroying the strength of our communities after scientist. Browse alanbetts.com. increase has been greatest on the coldest America’s standing in the world are all tropical storm Irene when some state nights of the winter, which are now about 10° F higher than they were only thirty years ago. That difference is enough to allow winter ticks, deer ticks, woolly adelgids, and a host of other pests to survive Vermont Research Climate Change News much farther north than they did in the past. So moose are killed by ticks, humans Uncertain Politics, Legislation, Renewable Energy, Rail, Moose Study… in Vermont and New Hampshire get Lyme by Kirsti Blow disease, and stands of hemlocks are dying was passed in April of 2016, and granted causing a spike in winter tick populations. in Massachusetts. municipalities the jurisdiction to determine Moose will often rub against trees in an One reader, an avid hunter, suggested the preferred sites of energy projects. Most effort to rid themselves of the parasites, we look at a broader geographic area. He notably, the bill requires the Public Service exacerbating the blood loss and stripping said he had hunted many times in the Board to create new wind turbine noise them of their insulating fur. In this manner, area of the George River, in Northeastern level standards, because of complaints from many moose die of hypothermia. The state’s Quebec. He recounted the sight of seeing residents. moose population has now dwindled from a herd of six or seven thousand caribou These energy developments are crucial, 5,000 fifteen years ago to roughly 2,200 swimming across the George River. That as Vermonters have continued to prove their today. must have been quite a sight. desire to maintain the state’s natural areas. Vermont has pledged to join the study, There were over 800,000 caribou living In fact, four trail networks alone account for and thirty cows and thirty calves will be cap- in the area of the George River twenty $29.6 million of the state’s economic activity, tured in the Northeast Kingdom this month years ago, but the number has fallen to according to a report by the Vermont Trails to be fitted with a GPS monitoring system. below 9,000 this year. There are many & Greenways Council. The figure includes Seventy-five percent of the $578,000 study reasons for the decline, and while illegal trail tickets and rentals, as well as other likely Lake Champlain. Credit: Wikimedia will be federally funded by the Pittman- hunting is clearly one of them, climate purchases, such as craft beer at a brewery or Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. Up to 60 change is another part of the problem. lunch at a local restaurant. The report also moose are planned to be tracked through In light of the uncertain political atmo- Loss of habitat is a big part of the indicates that 325 jobs directly stem from 2019, and researchers will analyze their sphere that poses a threat to Vermont’s problem. The hunter talked about com- trail networks. causes of mortality, as well as reproductive climate, a report by the Union of Concerned mercial forests, describing the destruction In terms of wildlife, moose have been rates, in order to begin organizing conserva- Scientists reveals how clean energy could brought about by an operation in New the target of persistent research seeking tion efforts.t. Brunswick. In that case, a large area was work financially for the state. With the basis to understand their susceptibility to winter clear cut. This was followed by covering of existing wind and solar power, the report ticks. Spearheaded by New Hampshire and Vermont Research Climate Change News is the land with an herbicide to prevent de- argues that market demand will drive the Maine wildlife conservation organizations a summary of recent research related to energy ciduous trees from growing back, so the expansion of renewable energy—a $7 mil- in 2014, results have marked something of and climate change. forest would be uniformly filled with the lion initial public investment could swell to an epidemic; one moose was found carrying Kirsti Blow is a sophomore Public Com- fir trees the foresters wanted. With only $148 million over 15 years with the help of 63,000 ticks, with the “lethal” limit said to be munication major at University of Vermont. a single type of tree, the forest had no the private sector. about 50,000 ticks per animal. Kirsti writes the briefs for UVM’s Vermont diversity of resources for wildlife, so there To their part, the state government The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department research newsletter published by the Center are nearly none. has passed further legislation concerning issued a press release detailing the study, for Research on Vermont. Learn more at http:// If we cannot do better, then we are in Vermont’s energy throughout the past year. asserting that the warmer falls and earlier www.uvm.edu/~crvt/. Kirsti is also a local much worse trouble than we thought. The major renewable energy sitting bill springs associated with climate change are musician in the Burlington area. 26 February 2017 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 BUILDING & ENERGY EFFICIENCY

According to Efficiency Vermont, these Solsaa Building and Energy, Van de Ven projects cost, on average, $7,800 and Construction, and Vermont Foam Insula- Weatherize Upper Valley result in average energy savings of 26%. tion), over 50 volunteers, and Efficiency However, many attendees at last month’s Vermont. The program is made possible by Sees Strong Kick-Off Launch events were surprised to learn that the real funding support from Jane’s Trust Founda- By Sarah Brock benefit of weatherization is comfort. tion, Canaday Family Foundation, Harris “Before we did this weatherization work, and Francis Block Foundation, Efficiency Left : Julia Lloyd Wright and this was a pretty drafty 1860s farmhouse,” Vermont, Catamount Solar, Dead River Danny Bonta - hanging the explained Norwich resident Alan Berol- Fuels, and JAM Fuels. banner for the Weathersfield zheimer at a January 18 event in Norwich. Sarah Brock is the Energy Program area kick-off. Below is the “The transformation has been very notice- manager for Vital Communities, a nonprofit Randolph team kicking-off able—we don’t feel cold drafts along the that brings people together to find solutions the launch for their area. floor, the central part of the house holds to regional challenges in the Upper Valley. its heat longer, and it’s all around a lot more comfortable.” Over a dozen home energy Many thanks champions—homeowners to our who have already weather- Sponsor: ized their homes—turned out at the events to share More than 130 Upper Valley residents The their stories with friends and turned out last month for a series of Weather- neighbors. Weatherize Upper Valley Kick-Off events ize Upper Weatherization projects in in Norwich, Randolph, Royalton, and Valley Vermont are more affordable SNOWDOG Weathersfield. cam- than ever this spring. Efficien- The events marked the beginning of paign cy Vermont offers rebates up CONSTRUCTION, Weatherize Upper Valley, a five-month aims to to $2,500 to help participants campaign to help residents in 14 Ver- double cover the cost of these improvements. At LTD. mont towns (Bethel, Braintree, Brookfield, the number of homes in the region par- the same time, more and more residents Cavendish, Hartland, Hartford, Norwich, ticipating in Efficiency Vermont’s Home are choosing to finance their home energy Randolph, Reading, Royalton, Sharon, Performance with ENERGY STAR® program projects through special, unsecured, low- Thetford, Weathersfield, and Windsor) save each year. This would mean 150 homes interest energy loans like the Heat Saver energy and stay warm by air- sealing and committed to weatherization projects by Loan and the NeighborWorks Energy Loan, Repairs insulating their homes. the end of May. with rates between 0 % and 4.99 %. Weatherize Upper Valley adds addi- Remodeling tional financial incentives for residents in participating towns. The program’s Renovations partner contractors are offering free home consultations and quotes to encourage residents to participate. Residents who sign a contract with a partner contractor by May 31 are also entered to win up to $2,500 toward the cost of their project, in addition to available rebates. To date, more than 200 residents have signed up to participate in Weatherize Upper Valley, with more than 35 already in the process of completing a free home assessment with the program’s contractors. Readers can learn more at VitalCommu- 05055 nities.org/Weatherize. Weatherize Upper Valley is a program 802 649605 of Vital Communities, a nonprofit serving 69 towns in the Upper Valley region of . Vermont and New Hampshire. Program partners include seven local contractors (5 Snodog Construction donates Star Energy Tech, Building Energy, Mont- of gross sales to Cover Home Repair pelier Construction, Peachtree Builders,

MAYBE IT’S JUST ME, BUT ISN’T THE VIEW BEAUTIFUL EVEN WHEN YOU CAN’T SEE IT?

We create windows and doors that flawlessly unite wood, glass and metal — captivating the eye, elevating the spirit and bringing your world one step closer to perfection.

Contact your Loewen Window Center to learn more about our durable high performing windows and doors featuring R5 plus thermal ratings and high solar heat gain glazing packages. LOEWEN WINDOW CENTER OF VERMONT & NEW HAMPSHIRE 52 Bridge Street, White River Jct., VT 05001 • 800.505.1892 802.295.6555 [email protected] • www.loewenvtnh.com BUILDING & ENERGY EFFICIENCY WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 27

and lighting is entirely LED. The water Home of the Future Built in Woodstock, NY heater and dryer operate with heat By Marie Caruso pumps, which draw heat from the sur- which optimizes Authority, to demonstrate the resilience rounding air. Cooking is done by induc- solar gain. PH of AAC to storms as well as energy ef- tion and baking by convection. building not only ficiency. In addition to being certified by Passive saves energy, it Levy’s Woodstock house sits on a House Institute US (PHIUS), the house has the added concrete slab underlain with 10 inches meets the US Department of Energy Zero benefits of being of Foamglas insulation and a thick Stego Energy Ready Home, NY State Energy more durable and vapor barrier. The ceiling is insulated with Star, Indoor Air Plus, and Water Sense comfortable than 24 inches of cellulose. The windows are programs. conventional tilt and turn, triple-glazed, imported from Levy is passionate about this method construction. Europe. of construction and is planning smaller, Most houses in The siting of the house and overhangs more moderately priced homes built to the U.S. are built are designed to maximize sun exposure in the same Passive House, chemical-free with wood, even the winter and minimize it in the sum- standards as this one. If you’d like to learn those meeting PH mer. It is all electric, with a 7.56 kilowatt more about the features of this house and standards, and system of photovoltaic solar panels on his building techniques, you can reach chemical foam a steel roof. It is on the electric grid, yet Levy through his website: Greenspring- insulation prod- on an annual basis these panels should BuildingSystems.com. ucts are popular. generate as much power as is needed for A shorter version of this article was Woodstock, NY Passive House in the fall. Photo courtesy of Daniel Levy, Ph.D This one is built both this house and a studio apartment originally published in the summer 2016 with autoclaved above the attached garage. The garage is issue of “Fresh Air,” the newsletter of the A house recently built in Woodstock, aerated concrete wired for electric vehicle charging. There Atlantic Chapter Mid-Hudson Group Sierra NY, could be the vanguard of the future in (AAC) reinforced with steel rebar, insulat- is no chimney, as there is no combustion Club. Marie Caruso has been an active zero-energy housing. ed with mineral wool on the outside, and whatsoever. member of that group since 1979, having Daniel Levy, Ph.D., a former industrial clad with fiber cement siding, which looks As the house is airtight, stale air is re- previously served as Group Chair, Executive education professor and certified Pas- similar to wood. The exterior walls are 17 moved and fresh air provided through an Committee Member, and currently, as sive House consultant and builder, has inches thick. energy recovery ventilation system. Heat- Volunteer Coordinator. As a leader in the constructed a two-story, 2350 square foot AAC is a lightweight pre-cast concrete ing and cooling are achieved with a duct- fights to preserve Lake Minnewaska in the home, built with non-toxic materials while product which is fire-, water-, pest-, and less heat pump. The temperature remains Shawangunk Mountains and Williams Lake meeting the criteria for “Passive House.” sound-resistant, and very strong and even and comfortable in all seasons. in Rosendale, NY, she has written extensively Passive House is generally considered durable. It can be worked with typical All the appliances meet Energy Star, about those issues. the world’s most stringent building and carpentry tools and holds temperature energy standard. extremely well. Developed in Sweden in Passive House (PH) buildings, which 1923 and commonly used in many other are as likely to be commercial structures countries, it is just starting to gain a foot- as homes, save eighty percent or more hold in the U.S. energy compared to structures built to According to Levy, there are now two current codes in the U.S. The name is a homes built with AAC in the United States less than ideal translation from the Ger- which are certified by the Passive House man passivhaus, and is often confused Institute US (phius.org), and four addition- with passive solar designs. al homes are underway in Staten Island, The principles of PH construction are NY. The Woodstock house is the only one superinsulation, thermal-bridge-free (no which doesn’t use plastic foam insulation components that conduct significant heat products. The AAC Passive Houses under through the building’s thermal envelope), construction on Staten Island are being airtight to minimize energy loss through built to replace buildings destroyed by infiltration, high performance windows Hurricane Sandy. These are being con- and doors, filtered fresh air with energy structed with support from the New York or heat recovery ventilation, and design State Energy Research and Development

Climate Change 2017. What Must Be Done? Cont’d from p.1 350 ppm by 2100, if we began reducing emissions in 2013 at the (optimistic) rate of 6% per year. One hundred GtC is almost as large as the net historical emissions from deforestation, so it is about as much as we could hope to extract via improved agricultural and forestry practices. However, emissions did not begin to decline in 2013. Emission growth slowed down from about 3% per year in the preceding two decades to an average 0.6% per year in 2012-2015. Because of the time it takes to move politics and to change energy infrastructure, in our new- est paper (now under review) we assume that global emissions will change little in the next four years. If we further assume the same 6% per year emission reduction rate beginning in Dr. James Hansen is considered by many to be the 2021 relative to father of climate change awareness. Photo: Flickr Ja2020, the extraction from the air required to get to 350 ppm by 2100 is approximately 150 GtC. dust in conjunction with reforestation and So, the bottom line is that the eight- agricultural processes where it has other year period (2013-2020) of continued benefits? We will discuss that in a later high emissions changes the required CO2 message. Here I only want to note that the extraction from 100 GtC to 150 GtC – an- eight-year delay has made the task much other easy number to remember. more difficult, increasing the magnitude Is it possible to store 150 GtC in the of carbon extraction from 100 GtC to 150 biosphere and soil? Say, even if we make GtC. all plausible efforts to employ biochar Let me also comment on the realism where it has other benefits and apply rock or lack of realism of the Cont’d on p.36 2828 28 AugustFebruary JUNE 15, 2017 2014 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 802.439.6675 Building & EnergyBUILDING Efficiency EFFICIENCY – Passive House

spot” where no furnace or boiler is needed. Highly efficient heat pumps heat and cool Why Build to the Passive House Standard? these buildings. All the money saved on By Barbara and Gregory Whitchurch through a ventilation system, producing equipment and repairs goes toward pro- fresh air which is pollen- and dust-free, and ducing even more energy savings for the ing materials are controlling moisture, CO2 and VOCs (from occupants. easily available; and cooking, painting, etc.). This freshness is Four years ago we set about building lending institutions noticeable when you enter a PH; the oc- a PH attached to our own (http://bit.ly/ are offering interest cupants often report decreased allergies, PH-Cottage) “hippie home” -- as an alterna- breaks for both new fewer colds, and better sleep. The tempera- tive to assisted living for Greg’s parents. construction and ture is also uniform from room to room Everyone involved in the project was new renovations. -- no cold spots, drafts, or steamy upstairs to PH, but even so, for about $173/ft2 we The main advan- bedrooms. (And no more ladybugs, ear- created a basement and two stories of tages: wigs, ants or mice.) timber-framed, extremely comfortable, PH saves energy, PH is easier to maintain. Over the past ADA-compliant living space. The air is fresh; up to 90% of the few decades builders have moved from an induction cooktop makes cooking safer energy demands 2X4 to 2X10 construction. Now modern and more efficient; the entire house runs of a conventional building science has moved on to super- on electricity produced by building. insulated enclosures which find the “sweet the solar array on our home. The Residential Cont’d on p.29 Building Energy Code (RBES) is the baseline here in Vermont. Energy Star 3.0 from the De- partment of Energy Whitchurch Passive House cottage. Courtesy photo. is 30% more efficient than RBES; the Building America Over the years, Green Energy Times code of Department of Energy is 45% more has run quite a few articles about Passive efficient than RBES. House, so it’s likely you’ve seen the term. The PH standard is 90% more efficient (Don’t confuse it with “passive solar,” which than RBES. These homes can reduce an is just one aspect of Passive House). So annual $3,000 energy bill (LP, oil, electric, what exactly is it, and why would anyone wood) to about $300! Since the entire go to the trouble of building one? It’s ex- home can run on electricity, a small solar pensive, complicated, hard to finance, and array can offset one’s total energy use. hard to find a qualified builder, right? PH is more healthful and more com- Wrong on all counts. Building a Passive fortable. Because a PH is super-insulated, House (PH) is no more expensive these meticulously sealed to prevent heat loss, days than building a conventional home. and uses high-performance windows Many builders and architects in Vermont and doors, there is very little air leakage. are certified in PH; the specialized build- Instead, air exchange is done mechanically Habitat PH under construction. Page 29: Habitat PH in E. Montpelier, VT. Courtesy images: Chris Miksic

ENERGY EFFICIENCY SPECIALISTS “Building Savings for a Lifetime” • Multiple Award-Winning Green Builder • 30+ years serving all of NH

We build energy-efficient homes from the design up! Utilizing the business model of consultation, construction management and general contracting, we are your agent! GREEN BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES (energystar) ■ Custom Modular ■ Passive Solar Design ■ Log ■ Advanced 2x6 Framing ■ Timberframe ■ Structural Panels (SIPs) ■ Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) RENEWABLE ENERGY OPTIONS ■ Active Solar Systems ■ Geothermal Systems ■ Wind Power

NEW CONSTRUCTION Let us perform an energy audit on your home, or a home you’re considering purchasing, to determine where the house is losing energy, and then develop a plan to reduce heating bills by 25–50%, as well as increasing the comfort of your current or soon-to-be home! THE BENEFITS OF A HOME ENERGY AUDIT INCLUDE: ■ Prevent repainting the exterior of your house year after year ■ Claim your basement and attic as additional living space ■ Solutions for problems such as mold, frost, cold, drafty rooms or ice dams ■ Possible rebates for existing homes, and piece-of-mind for HOME IMPROVEMENT homebuyers before you sign!

BuildingAlternatives.com [email protected] BOB TORTORICE Phone (603) 823-5100 Toll Free (877) 823-5101 Green Builder Building & Energy Efficiency – Passive House WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 29

Cont’d from p.28 ventilator. A small 7kW PV array will offset Triple-pane Intus windows contribute to the energy needs of the family. the coziness and quiet. In pursuit of our It’s certainly not unusual to run across proof-of-concept demonstration, we also builders and remodelers who are still living placed relative humidity, moisture and in the last century. A lot of them will say temperature sensors throughout the walls things like, “A house has got to breathe!” -- and roof; engineers, architects and builders an excuse for sloppily allowing air leaks, the are watching these readings as they dem- number one cause of lost heat, drafts and onstrate the superior safety and resiliency high heating bills. Or, “All that extra insula- of this building. tion will never pay off!” -- an excuse for not Central VT Habitat for Humanity Chapter keeping up with the evolving science of (http://bit.ly/VT-HfH) is finishing a PH high-performance building. Widely avail- in East Montpelier for a young couple able energy modeling software, such as the and their young daughter. Its cathedral- PH Planning Package (PHPP) and WUFI Pas- ceilinged living room opens between huge sive, now exposes these excuses for what windows to a protected deck. Window aw- they are. A PH is not only the house of the nings allow winter solar gain while shield- future -- it’s the house of the present. ing the summer sun for cooling. Although More information: www.PHAUSVT.org. small of footprint, the layout exudes spaciousness and openness. Continuously filtered, fresh air is provided by heat pump

Renderings by Tolya Stonorov, of Stonorov Workshop

Just like your house. Only more affordable. Fossil Fuel Free • More comfortable than Passive Solar High Performance Homes • Uses 60-90% less energy than code homes Zero Energy Modulars or Site Built • More sustainable than LEED • Greener than Energy Star • For new buildings and remodels Deep Energy Retrofits • Easy to Net Zero High Performance Upgrades • Supported by Efficiency VT for existing homes • US and Internationally certified BOB IRVING Owner/Builder www.phausvt.org [email protected] (603) 648-2635 802-223-2416 [email protected] www.rhirvinghomebuilders.com Salisbury, NH *A non-profit organization Serving New Hampshire and Eastern Vermont Come to a meeting. Speak with architects and builders. Get references and information.

for essential knowledge and components foursevenfive.com • 800-995-6329

CI System Glass Element FEenergysave Active energy management for passive houses

Customized Intelligence Serving the customer is our focus 30 February 2017 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Building Efficiency - Energy Efficiency

Myths and Magic Surrounding ning prevents poor performance.” When all design decisions are addressed and understood before the The ‘PRE-FAB’ Boom project hits the assembly line, the final product will arrive at the site By John Connell on schedule – usually to the day and the hour! Now that’s magic. QUALITY Most factories produce wall and floor assemblies superior to those built on site. Using dry materials, the latest fasteners, jigs and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) cutters – these building parts are square, straight and solid. But that’s just the beginning. Because modular units are considered a “product” and sold across state lines, they must be rigorously in- spected before being allowed out of the factory. Law requires that designs of components and assemblies pass third-party engineering review to assure compliance with all codes, including structure, electrical, plumbing, energy, ADA A pre-fab home under construction as a boom-truck lowers a section into position. Courtesy photos. (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards, fire and safety. Increasingly, we find factories specializing in high-performance Though currently the darling of resi- SCHEDULE ADVANTAGES “energy prefabs.” These houses are dential design and construction media, extremely tight and well-built. The “prefab” is much more than a passing Incredibly, a typical three-bedroom house spends only a few weeks on the first house in Vermont to receive fashion. Much more likely to pass is the no- the LEED residential rating was a tion that prefab necessarily implies cheap assembly line. But to really optimize that efficiency all the design decisions must be prefabricated home. construction of an inefficient building that While prefabricated delivery is will not last. clearly made in advance. Architects and professional designers are worth their fee still evolving, we are lucky to be Prefab is here to stay. Doubt it? Just in a time when these products consider today’s door or window products. in this context but most manufactures are also practiced at collecting the design de- have never been better. Builders Not so long ago these items were hand- and homeowners still need to be built on site. And similar transformations cisions needed to insure smooth fabrica- Top: The first LEED home in Vermont; center: a Connecticut cot- tion on the assembly line. selective about who they work tage; bottom: a Vermont modern pre-fab home. have taken place with kitchen cabinets, with, just like picking a general fireplaces, flooring, tile, shower bases, A common prefab axiom holds that anything that can be accomplished on an contractor or any other trade. But stairs (circular and conventional), roof if you know who and what to ask, hatches, chimneys…these site fabricated assembly line should be done in the factory. This is only true up to a point. There this is a building approach at the height of building parts are now mostly made in its game. In the last few years, I have used factories. Today we even have custom are some finishes that can be efficiently installed in the factory only to be dam- this approach to build energy-efficient pre-cast foundations delivered to the site homes, architect-designed residences, (Superior Wall Inc.). aged by the site workmen connecting the mechanicals and closing up the “marriage” simple camps and multi-unit mixed-use That said, it is important to understand residential homes. While I still use conven- that factory delivery of prefabricated walls on site. It is possible to have too much done in the factory. Deciding how tional stick-built methods when necessary, components and structures is constantly I always start with prefab. evolving and not all prefab products are much to have prefabricated requires a equal. While few measure up to all the knowledge of the factory as well as your John Connell teaches prefab design and media hype, most have many significant supporting site trades. construction at the Yestermorrow Design/ advantages. A key, as with many things, Generally, prefab delivery is a sterling Build School in Warren, VT. You can reach is knowing what to look for and where to example of the builders’ motto: “prior plan- him at 2morrow Studio at 802.496.5546 or find them. 508.477.5400. More at: prefab2morrow.com. COST SAVINGS Undoubtedly there are savings to be had in building prefabrication, as distinct from “stick-built” construction done on the building site. Manufacturers’ deeper buying power allows them to source materials at Home Depot prices or lower. How much of those savings are passed along to the customer depends on the manufacturer, the project and, to an extent, on the customer’s knowledge of the factory delivery process. Additional labor savings are found in the reliable work schedule of a factory. Build- ing indoors means no ‘down’ days due to weather. Additionally, some factories even use round-the-clock shifts. Waste is much lower in a factory – typically 5% compared to 15% or higher on a traditional construction site. Finally, there are significant savings that accrue from knowing the exact date of delivery. This means the builder can have all supporting trades lined up for efficient completion of the project. Again, these savings are dependent on finding trades that are experienced with factory delivery. The builder needs to clearly choreograph the supporting trades and request a price reduction for the reduced time and scope. Building Efficiency - Energy Efficiency WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 31 NET-ZERO MONTPELIER 2030 DESIGN COMPETITION And the Winner of the $10k Prize is ‘Team Bridges’!

Net Zero Vermont with nearly seven Inc. announced the hundred ballots winning design and extended team for the comments submit- Montpelier 2030 ted. The $10,000 Design Competi- winner’s prize in tion $10K prize is the Sustainable “Team Bridges,” a Montpelier 2030 collaboration of 12 Design Competi- professionals from tion is sponsored 10 companies and by NetZero organizations. The Vermont with seed announcement Dan Jones (left) and Deb Sachs present Team Bridges funding from five was made at a with a $10k check as the winners of the Net-Zero MP sponsors: AllEarth Statehouse news 2030 competition. Courtesy images. Renewables, Ben conference by Net & Jerry’s, Vermont Zero Vermont Co- Creamery, National CEOs Deb Sachs and Dan Jones. Life Group, and VSECU. Also speaking at the news conference The details about the competition were Governor Phil Scott, Montpelier process, the winning design materials and Mayor John Hollar, Beth Rusnock for com- video of the team presentation are avail- petition sponsor National Life Group, and able at http://bit.ly/nz-design. members of Team Bridges. Team Bridges is a purposeful blend of After noting his fondness for competi- twelve professionals from ten companies tions, Governor Scott added, “The Sustain- and organizations. Learn more about able Montpelier 2030 Design Competi- them at: http://bit.ly/about-Team. tion creates a vision of the type of small “While this competition started last city I believe will help attract and retain summer, the whole initiative really began working-age people to Vermont, offer two years ago when the Montpelier housing, art and open spaces for people Energy Advisory Committee helped guide of all ages, and grow our local tax base. the City Council to declare that our na- This project demonstrates that working tion’s smallest capital city would become together — nonprofits, government and net-zero in its use of carbon fuels by 2030. business — can inspire a community to While this was a wonderfully ambitious develop a positive vision for its future.” goal, we, as a city, had no idea how to ac- Team Bridges’ spokesperson Michael complish that. To create a net-zero future, Rushman of Land Strategies said “From we needed to re-imagine our city in a the outset, our team’s motto has been way to overcome the challenges. In July, ‘More people, fewer cars, better lifestyle.’ we launched the Sustainable Montpe- We are pleased that so many residents lier 2030 Design Competition inviting of the Capital Corridor agree, and we’re designers and architects to help imagine looking forward to working with them, a desirable future. This is the result of that the State of Vermont, and other key stake- effort,” noted Dan Jones, a co-Executive holders to realize our shared vision.” Director and Project Manager of Sustain- The winning design team is the result able Montpelier 2030. of a selection process that started in Octo- For more information about Net-Zero ber with votes by more than 650 Mont- Vermont and to view the design team pelier residents, workers, and visitors at entries, visit www.netzerovt.org. a pop-up Main Street gallery and online, along with a review by a technical com- Green Energy Times has followed the mittee to select five finalists. In January, progress since inception. These articles can presentations by the five finalists were be seen at http://bit.ly/GET4-2014 (Issue followed by a second round of voting #25) and http://bit.ly/GET4-2015 (Issue #31). Detail of Team Bridges winning competition design for downtown Montpelier

Serving Southern Vermont and surrounding areas since 1984! Putting the Power in Your HandsTM Become less dependent on fossil fuel and market volatility, install air source heat pumps today! Air source heat pumps require electricity; however minimizing fossil fuel costs and lowering annual system maintenance provides an economic benefit to the homeowner.

Key Benefits: • Reduce your annual fuel expenses • Lower your home’s carbon emissions • Heat and cool your home more efficiently • Easy to install, contact your HVAC contractor • Qualify for incentives through NHEC

Call NHEC Energy Solutions today to learn more of the benefits of heat pump technology. 31 Station Rd. • Mount Holly, VT 05758 • P: 802-259-2094 • F. 802-259-2689 Get started today! |Quality Residential | Commercial | Historical Preservation| Covered Bridges | 1.800.698.2007 www.wrightconstruction.com 32 February 2017 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 HEATING EFFICIENCY

By Lauren Pezzullo Eco-Conscious Ways to Heat Your Homewater heat distribution This or elsWinter that convert sunlight into electricity. With our planet’s tempera- warm-air ducted systems. And while this requires a considerable ture hitting record-breaking Among the three types upfront investment, there are plenty of highs each year, there’s no of radiant floor heat, available governmental incentives and tax question that global warm- hydronic—which chan- credits to make the cost more affordable. ing is alive and kicking. And nels the warmth via hot The best part is that once your panels are we know that designing our water through underfloor paid for, you’re looking at a lifetime of homes to be environmentally tubing—is the most clean, renewable energy—for free! responsible is a way to com- environmentally respon- PELLET STOVE bat these effects. Maybe you sible, since it regulates Hailed by the Department of Energy as have even made a pact to temperature so well and the “cleanest solid fuel, residential heating go net-zero in home energy can be used in conjunc- appliance,” these stove types run on com- use someday, or rely solely tion with solar for on or pact pellets made from organic recycled on wind power at some off-grid homes. Best of waste like sawdust, corn or nutshells, or point in the future. But with all, it can be covered by wood shavings that would have otherwise a skeptic of climate change just about any flooring ended up in a landfill. The compression as our country’s leader, we material you’d like. Say regulates their moisture content for more can’t afford to put off these hello to 20 to 30% more efficient combustion, so they burn cleaner well-meaning goals any heat gain and goodbye and more efficiently than a traditional longer. It is now more critical to frigid bathroom tile on fireplace, producing less smoke creosote to adopt alternative methods your feet! and other air pollution. of energy consumption than ever before. RADIANT HEATING GEOTHERMAL HEATING FIREPLACE INSERT As we head into the cold winter, we’re Although our current construction is What could be more eco-conscious than Ah, the crackle of a roaring fire. Nothing faced with some of the heaviest months different, the concept of radiant floor- a method of heating whose name literally gives a room more of a cozy, inviting ambi- of fossil fuel usage—when we all turn ing—heating objects rather than air—is means “heat from the earth”? Enter geo- ance like a traditional fireplace. Unfortu- to our fuel-guzzling furnaces to keep the same as what the ancient Romans thermal heating, which draws from the nately, most traditional wood-burning warm. But there are plenty of eco-friendly used for the hypocausts that warmed their constant temperature of the earth’s crust. fireplaces aren’t exactly efficient. For all alternative methods that will keep you hot baths and marble floors. And it makes Heat is transported from underground the heat they radiate, they lose even more, just as cozy. Here are some ways to reduce sense. Since heat rises, this method of un- pipes—known as the ground loop—to a pulling in 300 cubic feet of warm air per your carbon footprint for a greener winter derfloor warmth distributes the heat more heat pump, which then circulates through minute out of the room, where it escapes season before you can even say “climate efficiently. Plus, it eliminates the wasteful your home as warm air. Geothermal heat- through your chimney. But they’re the crusader.” energy leaks rampant in traditional hot- ing systems don’t rely on fossil fuels—they heart of the home during the winter—so have even been used to help recycle rather than giving yours up, simply make wastewater! In fact, according to the EPA, it more efficient. Fireplace inserts fit inside they’re among the most environmentally of your existing metal or masonry fireplace friendly and energy efficient heating to create an effective seal, which prevents Home Heating and Solar systems around. or reduces significantly Advice, Sales and Installation SOLAR HEATING the loss of heat, for greater Cont’d on p.33 The sun warms our seas and at- We Are mosphere, so why not our homes, Your LocAL too? Even on cloudy days, you can harness the power of this abundant, sustainable energy for heat- DeALer ing your home in a variety of ways. First, there’s a solar air heater, which works like a greenhouse— heat from the sun is trapped in a collector and then distributed as warmth through an air hose—or “A Trusted Partner for ALL Your Renewable Energy Options.” through hot water tubing in a hy- 79 Emerald Street, Keene, NH 03431 dronic collector—into your home. 603.358.3444 • www.geosolarstore.com Another option is a photovoltaic system—roof-mounted solar pan-

A blizzard of savings in Vermont HEATING EFFICIENCY WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 33 ECO-HEAT Cont’d from p.32 Big News for NYS NORTHEAST BIOMASS HEATING Geothermal Heating CONFERENCE AND EXPO On February 7, 2017, New York Governor Many challenges face the biomass thermal This will be followed by a free “sneak peek” Andrew Cuomo announced a proposal to energy industry today, including warm win- of the expo hall, where you can apply your provide incentives for geothermal heat ters and an uncertain legislative future. From new understanding of modern wood heating pumps. This is a $15 million program, with April 25-27, 2017, the ninth annual Northeast options. the maximum incentive to be a $6000 Biomass Heating Conference & Expo (NEBHX) Other pre-conference opportunities rebate. This news just came out as Green in Burlington, VT, will confront these issues include: Energy Times was preparing to go to press. heating efficiency and less air pollution. head-on, with conference tracks on policy, • An all-day biomass boiler bus tour to view More will be coming in our next issue. And make sure your wood is sustainably technical and project development, and a variety of biomass heating systems in Meanwhile you can learn more at http://bit. sourced by using waste wood, or support- business development. action. ly/NYSERDA-policy-framework. ing companies whose firewood bears the NEBHX will draw hundreds of visitors • “Piping and Controls for Retrofitting Pellet FSC certified logo—this indicates that it from across North America to attend what Boilers to Existing Heating Systems.” This 2017 NY-GEO Conference was harvested from responsibly managed has become the can’t-miss biomass thermal in-depth technical course presented by Helping NY Meet its Greenhouse Gas Goals forests. energy conference in the United States. What hydronics expert John Siegenthaler of New York needs to cut PASSIVE DESIGN started out as “Heating the Northeast with Appropriate Designs is geared to engineers, Renewable Biomass” in 2009 has now grown architects, system designers, and installers. all greenhouse gas emis- The easiest ways to go green with your into NEBHX, with over 1,500 attendees and sions to meet its reduc- heating is to work with what you already Continuing education credits for maintaining 400 businesses, agencies, and organizations professional certifications will be available. tion targets. Attendees at have. Passive design is a heating technique represented since that year. the third annual NY-GEO that involves no dangerous emissions or This year’s NEBHX is a chance for indus- • “How to Win the Job, Without Leaving your 2017 Conference can mechanical interference. You can increase try insiders and newcomers alike to learn Profit on the Table.” New this year, this sales learn how geothermal heating and cooling your heat gain by caulking and weather more about modern wood heat and related and marketing workshop presented by Mike can help meet that need. stripping draft-prone areas, such as biomass thermal energy applications. NEBHX Gorman of Techknowledge Systems will help The conference will be held at the Wolf doorways and windows, and by adding ef- 2017 is geared to engineers, architects, business owners and project managers learn Road Radisson in Albany, NY on April 19 -20. fective insulation—wool, cork, cotton, and specifiers, project managers, policy influenc- effective strategies for growth. Continuing The Conference features two main work- recycled plastic are all green alternatives. ers, and industry experts, with topics that education credits are available in some states. shop tracks on the latest technology and Even small changes like adjusting include: During the conference, consumers and the policy advances: the thermostat or using heavy rugs and • Perspectives on Thermal Storage public will be able to view state-of-the-art • Sustainability track, for engineers, thermal curtains will work too, if it means technology in modern wood heating units • Air Quality and Emissions architects, consultants, and policy-makers is that you’re reducing your reliance on fossil on the expo floor free of charge. Manufactur- eligible for credits. fuels. Because when it comes to our envi- • Boiler Plant Metrics ers will have time to network with potential • Best Practices track provides information ronment’s future, every bit counts. • Tools and Perspectives on Feasibility customers and introduce them to new ways to heat their homes, businesses, and schools. for installation contractors, drillers, building Lauren Pezzullo is a writer, editor, and Studies owners, and managers. musicophile who’s passionate about Forest Management, Certification, and the Individual registrants, exhibitors, co-hosts, and sponsors are encouraged to take part in Mingle in the exhibitor area with leading vegetarianism and sustainable eating. As Biomass Thermal Energy Industry product providers, and enjoy a dinner on an editor for Modernize, she writes about In addition, a pre-conference Biomass101 this year’s NEBHX. For more information, be sure to visit the first night that will feature an industry energy-efficient living in the home. She’s workshop will be offered free of charge to expert keynote speaker. currently writing her debut novel. those new to the biomass heating industry. http://nebiomassheat.com/. Register at http://bit.ly/NY-GEO-reg.

STEADY, WARM COMFORT IN TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS Keep any room cozy in the winter, cool in the summer… and energy-efficient all - 1 3 ° F ! year long.

Uses 25-50% less energy to heat your home. Employs allergen filtration to reduce germs, bacteria and viruses. Provides year-round comfort that keeps you cool in the summer too. Requires no ductwork, so installation is quick and easy. nebiomassheat.com Northeast Biomass Heating Conference & Expo AMERICA’S #1 SELLING BRAND OF DUCTLESS April 25 - 27 | Burlington, VT mitsubishicomfort.com © 2013 Mitsubishi Electric © 2015 Mitsubishi Electric FREE EXPO FLOOR Home Comfort Warehouse A Mitsubishi explore your renewable energy options 54 Bridge Street "Diamond" meet one-on-one with exhibitors White River Junction, VT 05001 Boilers • stoves • Pellets • WoodchiPs • and more! www.homecomfortwarehouse.com Dealer commercial • residential • suPPliers • installers 34 February 2017 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 BUSINESS GUIDE TO ADVERTISERS RESOURCES LISTINGS 475 High Performance Building Sply 29 350-Vermont: General group that coordinates a variety of statewide actions. HERITAGE NATURAL FINISHES Aquion Energy 10,11,19 To join this group go to: http://350vermont.org Building Alternatives, Inc. 28 Phone: 1-888-526-3275. American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy: Consumer guide to home energy savings - Bushey Generator 38 www.heritagenaturalfinishes.com. aceee.org/consumer We make all natural, non toxic, high Catamount Solar 12 American Solar Energy Society (ASES): www.ases.org quality penetrating oil finishes for all County Tire Center 5 Backwoods Solar: Specialty: solar, off-grid - www.backwoodssolar.com types of woodwork and earthen floors. Delta Breez 20 Buildings Energy Data Book: buildingsdatabook.eren.doe.gov Autumn Peterson -owner EcoFasten Solar 10 Carbon Tax: carbontax.org P.O. Box 307 - 25 S. 200 E. Energy Emporium 9 Escalante, UT 84726. Clean Power Estimator: www.consumerenergycenter.org/renewables/estimator Frase Electric 13 Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, Heating, Appliances, Refrigerator Guide, Building Froling Energy 3 Garland Mill Timberframes 29 Envelope, Driving: http://aceee.org/consumer CLASSIFIEDS Geo-Connections, Inc. 33 Dept. Public Svc. (CEDF): publicservice.VT.gov/energy/ee_cleanenergyfund.html ADVERTISE IN GREEN ENERGY TIMES Call us with your ad info or e-mail ad Geobarns 26 Dsireusa.com: www.dsireusa.com Renewables & Efficiency. Find state, local, utility, & federal incen- copy to: INFOGREENENERGYTIMES.ORG. Gerrish Honda 5 tives for renewable energy & energy efficiency. Deadline for Dec. Issue is Nov. 30th. Up to 50 words: $25. Each additn’l word 65¢. Grappone Auto Group 4 Efficiency VT: This is a must-go-to site for immeasurable amounts of info. www.efficiencyVT.com Great Brook Solar 15 ADVERTISINIG SALES POSITIONS Energy Efficiency & R/E Clearinghouse (EREC): eetd.lbl.gov/newsletter/CBS_NL/nl6/Sources.html Green Earth Health Food Market 36 Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC): eetd.lbl.gov Advertising Sales Positions open for Green Energy Times. Experience preferred. Must be reliable, have Green Energy Options 32 Energy Guide: Unbiased advice about today’s energy choices. Find ways to save, lower your bills & help computer, phone and internet skills. Work from home. GreenHomesForSale.com 19 the earth’s environment - www.energyguide.com Must have good communication skills asnd very Halfmoon Construction 20, 27 Energy Star Federal Tax Credits: www.energystar.gov/tax credits. self-disciplined. Full or part-time. Commission based Heritage Natural Finishes 35 income. Help our mission to create a sustainable Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): www.ferc.gov future for the planet. Serious inquires only. Reply to Home Comfort Warehouse 33 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission(FERC): www.ferc.gov [email protected]. Integrity Energy 12 Find Solar: www.findsolar.com “GREEN” BILINGUAL BUSINESS SERVICES Iron Edison 11 LEDdynamics 26 Fossil Fuel Freedom: Group working to make Vermont’s energy plan 100% free of fossil fuels: Consult with us on green and sustainable activities! To join this group go to: groups.google.com/group/fossil-fuel-freedom- Develop your language skills and “ecological power” in Loewen Window Center 26 Greywater Info: www.oasisdesign.net/greywater Spanish & English this spring and summer. We cover Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op 36 your bilingual needs: reports, written or oral presenta- Home Energy Saver: Interactive site to help you identify & calculate energy savings opportunities in Milhouse Enterprises 13 tions, calendars, translations, games, lessons, talks, Montpelier Construction 28 your home. A lot of great information! - hes.lbl.gov etc. Vamos a vivir la experiencia! Email us at: Mother Sheep Organics 39 Home Power Magazine: www.homepower.com [email protected] or call 413-253-7849. Natural Mattress Company 39 IREC/ Interstate Renewable Energy Council: RE educational info. www.irecusa.org PERMACULTURE NESEA 20 NABCEP/ North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners: This organization that tests & 2017 Permaculture Design Certification NH Electric Co-op (NHEC) 31 certifies PV system installers. Individuals are Certified, companies are not. www.nabcep.org Course with Sowing Solutions~ A Total of 3 Week- ends in Western MA: Study and practice ecological Northeast Biomass Heating Expo 33 NESEA/ Northeast Sustainable Energy Assoc.: www.nesea.org design for abundant home landscapes and resilient Norwich Technologies 9 National Association of Energy Service Co. (NAESCO): www.naesco.org communities. Gather skills iin garden planning, edible NY Solar Energy Society 15 National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): www.nrel.gov landscaping, water harvesting, energy efficiency, O’meara solar 10 natural building, etc May 20-23, July 15-17, August National Solar Institute: www.nationalsolarinstitute.com 18-21. Attend this inspirational event! (College credits Peck Solar Electric 8 NeighborWorks® Alliance of Vermont: Low-cost energy loans - www.vthomeownership.org are available/optional) www.PermacultureSeries.org. Power Guru #1 11 New Hampshire Sustainable Energy Assoc. NHSEA Focused on N.E. US, for consumers & industry- RE SAVE OUR FARM R.H. Irving Homebuilders 29 & clean building info, events. www.nhsea.org RAE Batteries 10 Historic Saratoga County NY. 84 acre ECOTOPIA Farm New York Solar Energy Industries Association/NYSEIA www.nyseia.org threatened by developers and sprawl. Obtain up to Revision Energy 11 NFRC independent rating & labeling system for the windows, doors, skylights www.nfrc.org/ $750K rebate by purchasing our farm and building Revolution Solar 15 NH Office of Energy and Planning: www.nh.gov/oep/programs/energy/RenewableEnergyIn- your own organic farm, horse farm, brewery or RST Thermal 27 distillery with NY Open Space grants. Financing avail- Saxton River Solar 11 centives.htm able for this horse country property. Income tax credits Renewable Energy World: www.renewableenergyworld.com available. 518-338-2408. [email protected] Snowdog Construction 26 Renewable Energy Vermont: www.revermont.org SECONDHAND SOLAR Snowdragon Solar 40 Solar Source 13 SEIA/ Solar Energy Industries Association: The SEIA Tax Manual to answer your solar related tax ques- Pre-owned solar equipment for sale: (10) Enphase Solar Store of Greenfield 14 tions. www.seia.org m210 - $100; (1) Enphase m190 - $100; (2) Enphase m215 - $100; (2) Solectria PVI 5000S - $1,200; (2) Solartech 7 SmartPower: www.smartpower.org SunnyBoy 6000 - $1,200; (1) Xantrex/Schneider Soundslides 36 Solar Components: www.solar-components.com XW-MPPT - $250; (4) Soladeck 0786 - $50. Also many South Mountain Company 1 Solar Living Source Book: realgoods.com/solar-living-sourcebook Enphase trunk cables w/connections. Sunnyside Solar Store, 499 W.Brattleboro, VT. (802) 280-7319. joe@ Southshire Community Solar 8 Solar Power Rocks: Impressive data and info ,including per state. www.solarpowerrocks.com/ sunnysidesolar.com • www.sunnysidesolar.com Steven Winter Associates, Inc. 1 Solar Store of Greenfield, MA Stock & install a wide variety of solar & environmentally friendly tech- Stiebel Eltron 14 nologies. SolarStoreofGreenfield.com SUBSCRIPTION FORM TARM USA 40 Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP): www.energytaxincentives.org R1 YR…$30 R2 YRS…$50 R3 YRS…$65 The Farmyard Store 32 The Energy Grid: www.pvwatts.org The Flying Goose Restaurant 38 name______The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE): develops & deploys efficient & clean Thomas Hirchak Company 19 energy technologies that meet our nation’s energy needs - www.eere.energy.gov address______Upper Valley Co-op 36 Track the Stimulus Money: www.recovery.gov/Pages/home.aspx city.state.zip______VEPP Inc. 7 Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN): works to start and support town energy phone______Vermod 30 Vermont Foam Insulation 26 committees as a powerful, people-powered response to realizing a clean energy future. www.vecan.net. email______Vermont Tar Sands Action: Group working to stop the XL Pipeline and any other developments stemming Vermont Insulated Concrete Forms 30 website______from the Alberta Tar Sands. To join this group go to: groups.google.com/group/vt-tar-sands-action Vermont Law 22 Offer good in U.S. only. Canada: $US 34.00. Foreign: $US 40.00 Vermont Passive House 29 VPIRG: understand the clean energy resources available to VT - www.vpirg.org/cleanenergyguide Gift subscriptions available! One year = 6 Issues! Vermont Soap Organics 39 VT Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC): nonprofit organization that issues home energy ratings for please send check to 1749 Wright’s Mountain Road Bradford, Vermont 05033 Vermont Transportation 5 new & existing homes. 800-639-6069 - www.veic.org 802.439.6675 [email protected] Waterbury Leap Fair 9 Weatherization, Energy Star & Refrigerator Guide: www.waptac.org www.greenenergytimes.org Wright Builders 20 www.susdesign.com Online info for solar benefit with house design: overhangs, sun angle & path… Energy Awareness, Understanding & Independence! Wright Construction Co., Inc. 31 CLIMATEGREEN NEWSLIFE HOME & HEALTH WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORGWWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 FebruaryJUNE 15, 20142017 35 Teen girls see big drop in chemical exposure with switch in cosmetics By Sarah Yang | Berkeley News By Larry Plesent ORGANIC DEODORANTS GO MAINSTREAM! I am not claiming that Cameron Diaz companies to check out include Organic is singlehandedly responsible for the 101, Truly Organic and Naturalnews.com. explosion of interest in organic deodor- All of these companies make the grade ants. But the superstar’s announcement for using 100% organic ingredients and that she “has not used antiperspirants for their effectiveness. Remember, organic in 20 years….they are bad for you…” means audited and found to be natural has sparked the interest from fans and from farm to bottle. In today’s global- others who have always suspected all ized market, it is nice to have a product was not well in underarm protection you can actually trust as actually being land. And she is not alone. Julia Roberts, nontoxic and natural. If you are especially Joan Rivers, Bradley Cooper and Mathew aroma-challenged, try using Vermont McConoughey have all come out saying Soap’s Blue Bar to wash with before using that they avoid conventional underarm your deodorant. Its double strength tea protection products. tree and peppermint blend really seems Responding to this need are a slew of to help in that department. new additions to a marketplace tradition- ‘No-no’ ingredients in conventional The shampoos, lotions and other personal care products you use can affect the amount of ally dominated by only a handful of iconic underarm products include triclosan (now endocrine-disrupting chemicals in one’s body, a new study shows. (iStockphoto) brands. banned in Europe) and propylene glycol EO and Weleda make two (used in typical anti- of my favorite alternative freeze) which can cause A new study led by researchers at toothpaste, and benzophenone-3 (BP-3), underarm sprays. Both are rashes in sensitive UC Berkeley and Clinica de Salud del found in some sunscreens under the very natural, but EO features individuals. Why risk Valle de Salinas demonstrates how name oxybenzone, fell 36 percent. certified organic ingredients this? For a few dollars even a short break from certain kinds of Surprisingly, there was a small increase which is why they get my more you can be using makeup, shampoos and lotions can lead in concentrations in two less common vote for first place in that a nontoxic and effec- to a significant drop in levels of hormone- parabens. Those levels were small and category. Humans are all tive product that is safe disrupting chemicals in the body. could have been caused by accidental very different, and this type for sensitive skin. The shampoos, lotions and other per- contamination or a substitution not listed of natural underarm spray Switching to organic sonal care products you use can affect the on the labels, the study authors said. does not always work for deodorants is easy (just amount of endocrine-disrupting chemi- Kimberly Parra, study co-director, said everyone. My wife loves do it) but here is a tip. cals in one’s body, a new study showed. it was important to involve local youth the sprays and never seems When using organic (iStockphoto) in the design and implementation of the to smell stinky. But many deodorants for the The results, published today in the study. active people do much bet- first time. some people journal Environmental Health Perspec- “The results of the study are particularly ter using organic push-up sweat more than usual tives, came from a study of 100 Latina interesting on a scientific level, but the deodorants; which is why Image from depositphotos.com. for the first few days. I teenagers participating in the Health and fact that high school students led the we chose to manufacture solid have no idea why but Environmental Research on Makeup of study set a new path to engaging youth underarm products at Vermont certain essential oils Salinas Adolescents (HERMOSA) study. to learn about science and how it can Soap in Middlebury. can trigger this temporary unintended HERMOSA is a community-university be used to improve the health of their Vermont Soap makes an excellent consequence. You can either bear through collaboration among UC Berkeley, Clinica communities,” she said. “After learning of range of push-up type products that are it or switch scents until you find the one de Salud del Valle de Salinas, and a team the results, the youth took it upon them- very effective. Sage Lime is quite nice, but that works best for your metabolism. of youth researchers from the CHAMACOS selves to educate friends and community I prefer Spicewoods Extra Strength for This is The Soapman wishing you and Youth Council, a project to involve young members, and presented their cause to that longer lasting protection. Other good yours an aroma-rific winter!n. people in public health and the environ- legislatures in Sacramento.” ment. The CHAMACOS Youth Council in- Researchers provided teen study cluded 12 local high school students who participants with personal care prod- helped design and carry out the study. ucts labeled free of chemicals such as One teen researcher, Salinas native and “Personally, since the study, I’ve tried to cost, you can at least try to limit the use of phthalates, parabens, triclosan and study co-author Maritza Cárdenas, is now use more organic products,” she said. “It’s the products you do buy.” oxybenzone. Such chemicals are widely a UC Berkeley undergraduate majoring in hard, especially as a college student who The California Breast Cancer Research used in personal care products, including molecular and cell biology. doesn’t have a lot of money. You tend to Program of the University of California cosmetics, fragrance, hair products, soaps “One of the goals of our study was to just get what’s on sale. But I’ve decided helped support this research. Chemical and sunscreens, and have been shown in create awareness among the participants to splurge more on products with fewer analyses were performed through Bio- animal studies to interfere with the body’s of the chemicals found in everyday prod- chemicals because of the effect in the monitoring California, a California Depart- endocrine system. ucts, to help make people more conscious future. And if you can’t make the best ment of Public Health program that tracks “Because women are the primary con- about what they’re using,” said Cárdenas. choice when you’re buying because of levels of chemicals in California residents. sumers of many personal care products, “Seeing the drop in chemical levels after they may be disproportionately exposed just three days shows that simple actions to these chemicals,” said study lead author can be taken, such as choosing products Kim Harley, associate director of the with fewer chemicals, and make a differ- UC Berkeley Center for Environmental ence.” Research and Children’s Health. “Teen The researchers noted that cosmetics girls may be at particular risk since it’s a and personal care products are not well- TM time of rapid reproductive development, regulated in this country, and that getting n and research has suggested that they use data about health effects from exposure, more personal care products per day than particularly long-term ones, is difficult. the average adult woman.” But they say there is growing evidence eritage Analysis of urine samples before linking endocrine-disrupting chemicals to atural and after a three-day trial in which the neurobehavioral problems, obesity and N inishes participants used the lower- chemical cancer cell growth. F products found significant drops in levels “We know enough to be concerned H of these chemicals in the body. Metabo- about teen girls’ exposure to these All natural, non-toxic penetrating oil finishes for lites of diethyl phthalate, commonly used chemicals. Sometimes it’s worth taking in fragrances, decreased 27 percent by a precautionary approach, especially if all types of woodwork and earthen floors! the end of the trial period. Methyl and there are easy changes people can make propyl parabens, used as preservatives in the products they buy,” said Harley. Call us for a free sample! in cosmetics, dropped 44 and 45 percent Cárdenas said the research findings respectively. Both triclosan, found in have already influenced the products she ❂ antibacterial soaps and some brands of buys for herself. www.heritagenaturalfinishes.com 1-888-526-3275 36 February 2017 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 IT’S A GREEN LIFE : PERMACULTURE

Elmore Roots’ Permaculture Know-How to the north. They also do not mind a bit their thanks to you, the squirrels and but- of shade from the trees that you will plant terflies will visit you more often and the above them. now rich soil life will twist and turn in their UNDERSTORIES Now plant an apple tree. The local rich and fluffy earth world. You are now by David Fried pollinators will find another wild apple the creator and director of this simple but great vertical wall or flowering crab to pollinate your apple intertwined new creation called “under- of sunlight pene- tree. Or, plant two different cultivars of stories.” The trees and shrubs will now do trating to the leaves pear trees. Be sure to plant either of these the work while you enjoy the view and of each of your trees to the north of the hazelberts and the harvests. plants and trees. elderberries. Space these trees about The leaves are like David Fried is the propagator, grower and eight feet apart. writer at Elmore Roots Nursery in Elmore, VT. little efficient solar That could be the top of your canopy of collectors, so they fruit and nuts, or you can take a few steps maximize the sun’s to the north and plant a Korean Nut Pine. energy that they It is slow growing but over time will grow get and turn it into into a great specimen, visited by birds fruits and nuts. and squirrels. This tree will also produce Shop Co-ops Let’s start with your own pine nuts one day, here in the the shortest northeast. Co-operatives are businesses that are member- choices for trees Growing tips: keep the ground mulched owned collectively managed by paid staff and or bushes. The with bark mulch or grass clippings and a member-elected board of directors. Values American Lowbush include democracy, self-help and a concern for add compost each spring. families and the community. Cranberry, Swedish Before long you will have a fruit and Lingonberry and nut grove in a small area. As you sit on a Lowbush Blueberry bench nearby, all the songbirds will sing can all share the mulch layer and only rise up about six to eight inches from the earth. Set them one to two What if you could grow nine types feet apart and they will fill in the spaces of fruits and nuts in the space that you under the shrub layer above them. Plant would need to turn around with your two Half High Blueberry bushes above arms outstretched? If you have one spot them – different varieties for pollination – in your yard where you can do this and about four feet apart. (Remember to plant it gets at least one half to three quarters the taller plants to the north so that their of a day of sunlight, you will be amazed understories all get some light from the at what you can harvest. Let me tell you south). how. Above the blueberries, but to the north, All plants that make fruit and nuts you can plant hazelberts and elderberries, need sunlight. If you can arrange them so two of each, about five feet apart. They Open 7 Days 8am-7pm Open 7 Days 8am-7pm the tallest ones are to the north and the will hover above the blueberries but not 9 Washington St 388-7276 middlebury.coop shortest ones are to the south, you get a 9 Washington St 388-7276 middlebury.coop

shade them out, because they are planted 8pmto daily 8am open open 8am to 8pmto daily 8am open

open 8am to 8pmto daily 8am open open 8am to 8pmto daily 8am open Climate Change 2017. What Must Be Done. Cont’d from p.27 ally over time, the linear case might be a better approximation. The important point is that the reduction rate to achieve 80% reduction by 2050 is conceivable. However, it will not uppervalleyfood.coop

happen unless the world comes to its uppervalleyfood.coop uppervalleyfood.coop uppervalleyfood.coop

senses in the next few years and agrees Paintings by Vermont artist Gabriel Tempesta that it is necessary to have an across-the- 193193193 North NorthNorth Main, WRJWRJ ~ ~~ 802.295.5804802.295.5804 802.295.5804 board (oil, gas, coal) rising carbon fee 193 North Main, WRJ ~ 802.295.5804 collected at domestic mines and ports of entry, thus making the price of fossil fuels more honest by including their costs to Louisiana flood of 2016. USDA photo.jpg society. This would make economies more efficient and spur economic growth.2 6% per year rate of reduction for CO2 Jim Hansen is the Director of the Climate emissions. Some people say that is im- Science, Awareness and Solutions Program plausible, and then, out of the other side at the Columbia University Earth Institute. of their mouths, they say that we need a plan to reduce emissions by 80% by 1 1 GtC = 1 gigaton carbon = 1 billion tons carbon = 2050. I have got news for them. An 80% 1015 grams carbon = 1 petagram C = 1 PgC; so a GtC reduction by 2050 implies approximately is exactly the same as a PgC. Much of the community seems to be switching to PgC, but here I still use a 5% per year reduction, for the common GtC. Also note that we give the mass of carbon, not assumption of exponential reduction, the mass of CO2, because the atomic mass of C = 12 i.e., the percent applies to the fossil fuel and O = 16, the CO2 mass exceeds C mass by a factor emissions still remaining, a reasonable 44/12 (~3.67). Fossil fuel emissions today are ~10 GtC, assumption, because you take the low- easy to remember. hanging fruit first. 2 It takes two to dance. I have always said that it An alternative scheme to get 80% requires an agreement between either U.S. + China, reduction would be linear reduction of Europe + U.S. or Europe + China to be made near- emissions, so 80/30, i.e. approximately global via border duties on products from non-par- 2.7%/year, if reductions start in 2020. In ticipating countries and rebates to manufacturers this linear case, the percent reduction is for products shipped to non-participating countries. relative to 2020 emissions, not relative I had thought that either pair involving Europe was to the prior year’s emissions. The truth unlikely, because, as the Science Adviser to the Euro- may be between these (exponential and pean Commissioner said, pointing to a building of EU bureaucrats, “you need to persuade them.” However, linear) cases. There is some truth to the recently there are some murmurs in the EU about the low-hanging fruit concept and the fact carbon fee concept, albeit not yet by the major par- that some emissions may be recalcitrant, ties, so, given other political developments, maybe it which favors the exponential approxima- is possible for Europe to play a leading role, despite its tion. However, if a carbon fee rises gradu- current struggles. IT’S A GREEN LIFE : PERMACULTURE WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG February 2017 37

specific site conditions, so during winter it is important to note how rewards of the growing WinterBy Kay Aihla McGrenaghan in Cafasso the Permaculture Home Kitchen season are felt in the kitchen and in our bodies. • Is there enough dried tea or garlic stored for our Permaculture design also applies to the A good permaculture design also opens up family? What medicines can we grow at home, layout of space and place in our home. While many possible healthy adjustments to our infusing our care into our own backyard we may be missing the activities of the grow- lifestyle that stem from our own abundant ‘farmacy’? ing season, we can set up these areas during landscape. When making decisions about • Would a root cellar be feasible as a new winter: how to facilitate a landscape, there is a kind of structure or can we insulate an area in the cellar? • Dry herbs in a shaded and well ventilated magic we can strike. This magic happens when • What fresh greens can we grow on our area; dry fruits with a dehydrator; set up we balance the two influences of site possibili- windowsill or counter top? fermentation crocks to make sauerkraut, beet ties and our lifestyle, since they continually and reciprocally inform one another. • Where is the best location for a cold frame to kraut, kimchi, or brew healthy drinks like beet access fresh, cold hardy greens in the snow? kvas, etc.; Kay Aihla McGrenaghan Cafasso is the • Start a worm bin for vermi-compost in or near Director of Sowing Solutions, a permaculture • What foods shall we grow for fermentation in design and educational center based in Western our garden? the kitchen (don’t worry, it won’t smell bad as long as you balance the moisture level correctly, Massachusetts. Learn more at www.Permacul- • Do we need to plant more native pollinator and the worms won’t climb out since they prefer tureSeries.org and www.SowingSolutions.org. habitat or more at risk plants? darkness under the soil); • Are we doing our part to sequester carbon in • Set up buckets of sand in a cold our home landscape? room or cellar and store root crops The answers to these questions will influ- (once harvested from the field ence our design for next year. We are looking they can be placed carefully in at the successes and failures of the previous damp sand, don’t allow any season, considering the whole system of time vegetable to touch a neighboring management, volume and quality of our har- vegetable, nor the wall of the Elderberry syrup made with honey and dried elder- vest, resource and nutrient cycling, placement berries. bucket, to prevent them from of elements for the most efficient relative rotting). If space allows, set up a location, etc. Of course, we are also looking larger root cellar, or join a local at areas that we have not yet considered as winter CSA; Permaculture design and gardening con- potential for food production until now, and • Sprout seeds and beans for tinues all year, even when the growing season surveying soil, light, slope, access, and water fresh nutrition grown locally at is at rest. It is essential to continually ask: How conditions. Now is the perfect time to dream home; we can we be more efficient with our time and up our ‘yarden’, a yard turned into a garden! We energy, live with greater health consciousness, want to spring right in with spring weather, so • Save money by making your meanwhile working with our locally available meeting with permaculture designers for an own elderberry syrup and fire resources. onsite consultation, perusing seed catalogs cider to keep your immune system Looking ahead towards the 2017 gardens, it with friends, or attending a permaculture strong. Winter growing ideas - sauerkraut and sprouts. Courtesy photos: Kay is helpful to consider during mid- winter: training course yourself are great ways to start A good permaculture design Aihla McGrenaghan Cafasso • What foods do we wish we had grown more of? while the land is covered in snow. integrates your lifestyle with the

INDOOR SALAD GARDENING very low cost. They are much better for the planet, because vegetables, even if Liberating Science How to grow nutrient dense soil sprouted greens in less than 10 days organically grown, are usually grown and Cont’d from p.1 transported using fossil fuels. By Peter Burke. quickly found that they could be used Among the things I like about this 196 pages. Chelsea Green Publishing. © 2015, $29.95 to show that climate change was well book are the small investments required under way, simply by comparing them Book review by N.R. Mallery to get going, the approach to recycling such as growing fresh with the 1990 maps. The White House and reusing containers and planters, the Part of sustainability is taking respon- lettuce and salad ingre- ordered the USDA to withdraw the attention to organic growing, the small sibility and being accountable for our dients. This is followed 2005 maps and replace them with the space requirements, and nearly no ongo- needs. While Green Energy Times focuses by growing vegetables old ones. ing cost. A tiny bit of planning makes it much attention on renewable energy, to cook and sprout This cover-up did not work, however. possible to have one harvest come right building efficiency, and energy efficiency, gardening. The book The National Arbor Day Foundation after another, through the year. another very important part of sustain- is for the advanced (NADF) was one of several organiza- There is a section of frequently asked able living is being responsible in our gardener, as well, tions that quickly produced accurate questions choices about the food that we eat. This with explorations of maps to replace the ones used by the and trouble is important for on-going health and such subjects as tips and recipes for government to cover up data. Now, the shooting. well-being, both for ourselves, and for the growing mediums and how to compost NADF issues up-to-date maps more The methods planet. the roots of plants that were harvested to regularly than the USDA did. (http://bit. used, howev- How do you do this if you live in an produce new soil. ly/arbor-day-zone-changes) er, are simple apartment? What if it is winter and money Author Peter Burke has had years of The people, organizations, and states enough that is tight? How about a case where you experience growing fresh salad greens of this country can take on the job of many people are off-grid where grow lights are not an throughout the entire year, including the keeping science alive in a day when will have little option due to their heavy energy load? winter months. He has done this with no “alternate truths” are issued from the need to con- Readers of Indoor Salad Gardening may lights, no pumps, and no greenhouse, central government. Even the hard jobs sult them. find answers in little more than of organizing satellites to do research I recom- to these a cupboard and a and getting detailed information to mend this questions are windowsill. He has those who need it are within our grasp. book highly easier than shared his methods If the amateurs running the show for everyone. expected. It in this marvelous in Washington insist on ignoring the The benefits is a low-tech book. It gives great facts, offering alternatives to truth, and of absolutely approach that directions, amply silencing scientists, then they will not fresh, high can result in supported with pho- last long. Reality has a habit of being quality, an abundant tographs, to bring very present in the real world, and it is organic vegetables are well known. The harvest all farming know-how not dependent on the wishes of those amount of time, space, and money in- year round, inside. who find it disagreeable. Reality cannot vested in having them are not obstacles. even without There are a num- be trumped. Not only does Peter Burke put great food grow lights, ber of advantages to As more and more businesses and within reach of just about everyone, he even in the growing vegetables increasing numbers of people see makes it an easy and enjoyable way to get dead of win- in the home. They that climate change is causing scores great nutrition. ter, with 14 are far more nutri- of billions of dollars in damages each A farm on a window sill. Photos: Chelsea Green Publishing. I am certain about this one. I highly rec- inches of snow tious than produce year, the political influence of climate- ommend the book. I look forward to start- on the ground. that has been trucked change denial will fall on fewer and ing an indoor salad garden of my own. Indoor Salad Gardening is for everyone. from across the country or flown in from fewer attentive ears. Our job is to limit It starts a new gardener off with things overseas. They are fresher and taste N.R. Mallery is the publisher of Green the damage until that time. It is coming nearly anyone can do year-round indoors, better. They can be organically grown at Energy Times and an avid gardener. very, very soon. 38 February 2017 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 IT’S A GREEN LIFE AFTER ALL … LEARNING TO LIVE edge that we don’t have access to anymore.” Part of the reason it’s been lost, she says, is that we, as a society, don’t regard what Without Plastic was traditionally considered “women’s work” — everything from childcare to nutrition to by Anne Brice, Berkeley News | Jan. 9, 2017. identity and memory — as significant and Throughout the day, Ma tried her best to meaningful. Professor Minoo avoid plastic. She used her refillable water “That kind of knowledge isn’t considered Moallem chal- bottle, passed up her morning to-go cup a form of knowledge,” she says. “I think lenged her stu- of coffee and wrote with pencils instead of dents to avoid we need to do tons of research and bring pens. But there were some things she could back this kind of forgotten knowledge into using plastic for not avoid. She needed her phone to com- 24 hours in her Undergraduate Tiffany Ma tried her best to avoid people’s everyday lives.” municate and her laptop for research. And using plastic for 24 hours, but quickly realized it was class “Objects and she needed her makeup that day — it had Learn more about Berkeley’s sustainability Commodities.” (UC going to be harder than she thought. (UC Berkeley initiatives at the Office of Sustainability and been a stressful week and her skin was not at photo by Anne Brice) Berkeley photo by its clearest. Energy’s website. Anne Brice) Minoo Moallem, a professor of gender and Reprinted with permission from author. women’s studies who teaches the class, says the Cal Climate Action Partnership, part of Source: http://bit.ly/no-plastic. Tiffany Ma could not brush her teeth. She that while she knew finding alternatives to the Office of Sustainability and Energy, made could not pour her cereal. Or even check her plastic would be incredibly difficult, if not up of a coalition of students, faculty and email. Well, she could. But she promised she impossible, the exercise raised awareness of staff. The group has led hundreds of projects would not. how reliant we are on plastic. on energy efficiency, transportation, waste, She was taking a UC Berkeley course called “Plastic is so much a part of who we are,” water and travel, all working to lighten the “Objects and Commodities,” and she and her she says. “Students came to realize that campus’s carbon footprint. classmates were embarking on a lofty chal- they can make tiny changes to damage the By encouraging faculty to incorporate lenge: Don’t use anything made of plastic for environment less. When our relationship with sustainability content into their curriculum, 24 hours. So far, so good. plastic changes, then our relationship with the campus hopes to inspire students to Then she popped in her contacts. That’s the environment will change.” apply these concepts in their fields of study. when she realized how hard avoiding plastic Moallem isn’t the only professor on cam- Moallem says that while sustainability might was going to be. She braced herself for a pus integrating concepts of sustainability not seem to relate to gender and women’s long day. into her courses. More than a dozen profes- studies, it’s actually quite relevant. “Plastic is so integral in our daily lives,” said sors across a range of departments, from “Older generations had sustainable ways Moallem says older generations of women were Ma, a fourth-year student in molecular and architecture to African American studies to of living,” she says. “Many of them were experts in recycling, reusing and preserving — know- cell biology. “We really take it for granted.” nuclear engineering, are working to incor- developed by women. They were experts in ledge she says we need to bring back into our every- porate content related to recycling, reusing, preserving, maintaining. day lives. (Photo by DurhamDundee via Flickr) carbon neutrality, climate But that is now lost. It’s a wealth of knowl- change and sustainability into their undergraduate course material. It’s all part of UC’s Car- bon Neutrality Initiative. Weather Patterns have Changed Announced in 2013 by and storms are more severe President Janet Napoli- PLAN AHEAD AND CALL TODAY FOR A tano, the initiative commits UC’s 10 campuses to become carbon-neutral by 2025. That means FREE reducing emissions from in home estimate Already have a generator? Ask us about our its buildings and vehicle on the purchase of a Generator maintenance plans to ensure the best possible performance. fleet by about 80%, or For a limited time, all generators and maintenance plans are sale priced. 115,000 metric tons. Spearheading the Call Wayne Bushey “We Keep Your Power On” Certified Kohler Technician Jacobs Hall on Berkeley’s campus has platinum certification from the U.S. Berkeley campus’s push for carbon neutrality is with 18 years Experience Green Building Council’s LEED program. (Photo by Ryan Jang) 802-661-8114 Or Call Benjamin Bushey Bushey’s at 802-591-1903 www.busheysgenerator.com Generator Sales & Service [email protected]

“In the last seven years or so, you have Global Warming Hiatus buoys warming faster than ships are, inde- Cont’d from p.23 pendently of the ship offset, which produces a significant cool bias in the Hadley record,” NH’s 1st Solar Correcting other biases in ship records Hausfather said. The new study, he said, ar- Powered Brewery In the same publication last year, NOAA gues that the Hadley center should introduce scientists also accounted for changing ship- another correction to its data. ping routes and measurement techniques. “People don’t get much credit for doing Their correction – giving greater weight to studies that replicate or independently buoy measurements than to ship measure- validate other people’s work. But, particularly ments in warming calculations – is also valid, when things become so political, we feel it Hausfather said, and a good way to correct is really important to show that, if you look for this second bias, short of throwing out at all these other records, it seems these the ship data altogether and relying only on researchers did a good job with their correc- buoys. tions,” Hausfather said. Berkeley’s analysis of ocean buoy (green) Co-author Mark Richardson of NASA‘s Jet Family Friendly and satellite data (orange) and NOAA’s 2015 Propulsion Laboratory and the California adjustment (red) are compared to the Hadley Institute of Technology in Pasadena added, Sustainable Restaurant data (purple), which have not been adjusted “Satellites and automated floats are com- to account for some sources of cold bias. The pletely independent witnesses of recent Hadley data still underestimate sea surface ocean warming, and their testimony matches 20 Handcrafted Brews on Tap temperature changes. (Zeke Hausfather the NOAA results. It looks like the NOAA graphic) researchers were right all along.” Another repository of ocean temperature Other co-authors of the paper are David data, the Hadley Climatic Research Unit in C. Clarke, an independent researcher from the United Kingdom, corrected their data Montreal, Canada, Peter Jacobs of George Serving Lunch/Dinner Daily for the switch from ships to buoys, but not Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and for this second factor, which means that the Robert Rohde of Berkeley Earth. The research www.flyinggoose.com Hadley data produce a slightly lower rate of was funded by Berkeley Earth. 603-526-6899 warming than do the NOAA data or the new Re-printed with permission from the au- 40 Andover Rd, New London, NH UC Berkeley study. thor. Source: http://bit.ly/no-hiatus. 1 mile east off exit 11, I-89 IT’S A GREEN LIFE AFTER ALL … WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 February 2017 39

Woodstock Arena Solar began earlier this year, even before the their facility, has Cont’d from p.12 project was publicly launched, and the also written an arena has already raised about one-third interesting piece dramatically with each subsequent tier of of their $1.4 million. about the town work. Across the country, rinks large and of Kapuskasing, The chart below shows how annual small are always looking for innovative Ontario, where energy costs will be reduced by the four- ways to save energy -- and therefore the town council tier plan. money and carbon. The National Hockey has decided to How does the Board’s four-tiered plan League’s Greener Rinks initiative is sharing go “almost off look in terms of dollars saved through best practices with the small community the grid” with its energy cost reductions? Here’s the break- rinks. Here are some examples: recreation center. down: At the University of Colorado, excess She writes, “Go- heat from the skating rink’s refrigeration ing off the grid • TIER 1: Refrigeration plant overhaul: Union Arena Community Center, Woodstock, VT. Courtesy photo. savings of $20,000 system is used to heat the water in the is an idea that • TIER 2: HVAC Upgrade: savings of swimming pool. municipalities $20,000 Paul Moore, the chairman of the Board and arena owners of Governors for Falmouth Youth Hockey sometimes dream about...but not many • TIER 3: Solar farm: avings of $50,000 net zero goal can be reached in about two in Massachusetts and the coach of the have the courage to take that big step years, and that it will be an example for • TIER 4: Complete system integration: Falmouth High School hockey team, has forward. Not so with the Town of Kapus- other rinks. savings of $50,000 reduced his community’s facility’s electric kasing. This northern Canadian lumber It is an excellent example indeed. bill by installing 4,400 solar panels on the • TOTAL SAVINGS: $140,000 town decided to take their 40-year-old The Woodstock Union Arena is located roof and in a nearby parking lot that pro- recreation center nearly off the grid in an This project will be expensive — a size- at 80 Amsden Way, Woodstock, VT (802) duces just short of one megawatt of elec- effort to reduce its yearly energy spend- able $1.4 million dollars. The fundraising 457-2500. Learn more at union arena.org. tricity, enough for about 164 homes.The ing. By installing modern equipment and Falmouth Arena was creating electricity by using cheap natural Barbara Whitchurch is a Board Member featured on the cover gas, their savings would cover the financ- of Vermont Passive House, a non-profit of the Dec. 15, 2016 ing costs of the project, with a 25-year dedicated to educating the public about issue of Green Energy savings estimate of $4.775 million.” the concept of Passive House and promot- Times, and we believe The Kapuskasing Regional Conference ing the Passive House Standard among that it is actually the Complex (a.k.a. the “Sports Palace”) is a architects, builders and state government first net-zero skating true community complex with a kitchen, (phausvt.org). She is the co-owner of a certi- rink in the U.S. http:// meeting rooms and a stage, as well as fied passive house in Middlesex, Vermont. bit.ly/GET-12-16. a twin pad for skating and five curling She is a freelance editor, writer and jewelry And then, there’s sheets. One of the twin pads is used for artisan ,and the pet parent of the world’s Canada. off-ice activities from May to August; the greatest Great Pyrenees, Bailey. Blogger Colleen other is used year-round. In 2017, the O’Shea, a self-iden- Town will be adding an indoor swimming tified “hockey mom,” pool to the complex. The proposed new Sleep Worry Free on Handmade who has written energy system was budgeted at $2 mil- in the online jour- lion. 100% Cer�ﬁed Organic Pillows! nal “Re-surfacing” In the fall of 2015, when the Kapuskas- (12/22/16) about the ing town council approved the overhaul, Woodstock Arena’s the annual energy costs for “Sports Palace” The Falmouth, MA ice arena has 3,300 solar panels on its roof. Courtesy photo. plans to net-zero was $260K. The projected energy usage after the installation would see that number halved– down to $130K. It would give the facility a new, energy-efficient mechanical/electrical/controls system, including superior ice-making equipment for harder, better quality ice; replacing the existing ammonia plant with a system using bio-degradable, food-grade glycol; and monitoring software and automatic controls to simplify maintaining the ice. So, although the Woodstock Arena is not the only facility to explore innovative methods of energy conservation and Use coupon code “GREEN25” financial solvency, it is certainly at the for 25% oﬀ your purchase! head of its class. Mayhew hopes that the 40 February 2017 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675

SNOW DRAGON mountain BUILDERS SNOW DRAGON SOLAR

ALBERT DUCHARME *PV Installation Professional # PV-041616-013792

Grid Tied ~ Off Grid ~ Hybrid ~ Battery Back Up ~ Design ~ Installation

~Solar Electricity ~ Whole House Heating ~ Green Building ~ Ecological Design ~ From floor plans to building materials, we design & build a complete package with sustainable , renewable systems & materials. We rely on natural, environmental energy flows. Our designs are sustained by perpetual solar income. Simple solar install or complete building package.

Green Building Construction ~ Net Zero / Carbon Free, Solar Living

WWW.SNOWDRAGONSOLAR.COM 603-630-3003 MEREDITH, NH

1 800 STAY WARM TARM BIOMASS® Improving the way you live Innovative Leaders in Alternative Heating Solutions with Renewable Heating Wood Chips Wood • •

The Fröling FHG/S3 Wood Boiler od Heati o psta ng W ee k Must-Have Features For w es S Enter Feel-Good Heating! Online • low emission design-EPA Approved Pellets Wood w to m Win • o o • advanced ash management-easy to clean o d .c b oiler s • smoke extraction passage-no smoke roll out • light it and walk-away technology-easy to start Wood Wood Tarm Biomass | 19 Archertown Road, Orford, NH 03777 | 800.782.9927 | [email protected] | www.woodboilers.com