ISSUE 57 • September - November 2019 – HARVEST, HEATING SEASON, CLIMATE STRIKE – FREE! SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR VT, NH, MA, NY, ME and Beyond R S! EA Y 10

Energy Independence, Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Living and MORE! www.greenenergytimes.org | 802.439.6675 A Step in the Right Direction SUSTAINABLY CRAFTED SPIRITS Meet the Companies That Are Upcycling Ocean Plastic Appalachian Gap Distillery Gets It Right to Turn the Tides on Shoe Manufacturing Chris Gillespie Adidas When it comes to In 2015, iconic carbon emissions, sportswear brand the textile indus- Adidas partnered try is the world’s with Parley for second biggest the Oceans with polluter behind the goal of using the oil and gas ocean plastic to industry. A signifi- make high-quality cant portion of the athletic wear that textile industry’s would be indis- footprint comes tinguishable from from footwear. With Adidas Parley mid-sole is 3D printed from recycled ocean goods made with their multi-material waste. Image:www.arch2o.com. virgin plastic. designs, paper- Nearly five years intensive packag- later, Adidas and Parley have sold over a ing and short-sighted style and durability, billion dollars’ worth of shoes crafted from an overwhelming amount of the 25 billion upcycled ocean plastic and have helped pairs of shoes manufactured each year are keep over 2810 tons of plastic waste out of not made with sustainability in mind. the ocean. In addition to this, Adidas has Fortunately, apparel and footwear begun incorporating recycled plastic into companies around the world are realizing their clothing, completely eliminated plastic that they can lessen their own carbon Tasting room entry. Recycled timbers and a used culvert form the entry roof. Inset: Sign and solar panels. Note the bags from their stores and aims to use 100% tiny solar panel used for signage lights. All images courtesy Lars Hubbard. footprint while simultaneously working to recycled polyester in their products wher- help solve another environmental crisis: ever possible by 2024. Jessie Haas the amount of plastic in our oceans. After Learn more at adidas.com/us/parley. What’s in the name, which doesn’t recovering, or in some cases, intercepting, In 2010, two Vermont home-brewing automatically imply Vermont to many? The discarded plastic from coastal habitats, Sperry enthusiasts, Lars Hubbard and Chuck Burkins, AppGap website reminds us that the Green As a brand that specializes in boat shoes manufacturers are able to upcycle the took a weekend distilling course in New Mountains are part of the Appalachian and other nautical-inspired footwear, plastic into materials which can be used to York State, which turned into a new, sustain- range. According to local usage, a ‘gap’ is an Sperry feels a special obligation to keep the make most, if not all, of a brand new shoe. able business. Appalachian Gap Distillery in opening between mountains that runs east oceans that their products evoke clean and With this in mind, if you or your family Middlebury, Vermont produces hand-distilled to west; the gap in question is on VT. Route healthy. Earlier this year, Sperry released are in the market for new shoes this fall, rum, gin, whiskey, and other spirits using 17, the highest point on the road between their new Sperry BIONIC ® Collection, which whether for back-to-school or for early 100% solar power and are available for sale on Bristol and Waitsfield. creates shoes using BIONIC’s signature yarn holiday shopping, consider supporting line and in Vermont liquor stores, as well as at Appalachian Gap produces hand-crafted which is spun from plastic one of these innovative, ocean-friendly locations in Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, spirits made with mostly local recovered from marine and shoe brands. Cont’d on p.37 and Illinois. Cont’d on p.39 IN THIS ISSUE: FARMS, HARVEST AND CLIMATE CHANGE e-Buses pp.4-5 Jessie Haas growing, and in many places, e-Bike to Work p. 7 “A dry year you worry, a wet fruits and berries ripened two year you starve,” goes the cheery weeks to a month later than Lithium vs Lead-acid Batteries p. 9 old Vermont saying, and it’s normal. Best Roofs for Solar p.12 worse lately. These are stressful Soupy springs often lead times for farmers, with the anni- into hot dry summers. Knee- Pond-Loop Geothermal p.16 versary of Tropical Storm Irene a high corn and other more Green Home Market Value p.18 reminder that the placid stream mature plants are in a position beside your field could someday to benefit from hot sun, but Sustainable Lebanon pp. 20-21 leap its banks and sweep that young, tender plants do better Masonry Heaters p.22 field away. with cooler weather. Farmers The Northeast has seen a 71% can plant shorter-season crops Net-Zero Buildings pp.28, 29, 31 increase in heavy precipitation to compensate, but these may Urine for Fertilizer p.37 events over recent decades, be less productive. A switch alternating with droughts. In from annual crops, like corn, to Recycling Furniture p. 38 2019, excess spring rains, fol- Climate-related disasters such as flooding possibilities require adaptation to face perennials, like hay, can be a lowing on a wet fall and snowy our future. Image: agriculturewire.com. strategy but increased humid- winter, lead to delayed planting. ity can make drying hay more Corn should be knee high by the fourth have more frost-free days than we used difficult and affects the harvest of other Please recycle or of July, but this year, in many places, it to, the growing season for many farmers crops as well. was more like ankle high, if it had gotten is actually shorter. But farmers are taking action. Re- share this publication planted at all. With soup-like spring soils And weirder. This spring was cool as searcher Alyssa White, UVM’s liason with when finished becoming the new normal, although we well as wet, plants were slow to start the USDA Northeast Cont’d on p.35

A SolAr This edition of Green Energy Times is brought to you, in part, from the generosity of these sponsors: G.E.T. IT! Powered ComPAny Bringing G.E.T. to NY State EEN ENERGY T MES www.nyses.org GR... be energy independent! ™ GREEN ENERGY TIMES (G.E.T.) 1749 Wright’s Mountain Road • Bradford, VT 05033 Explore the power of the past! TABLE OF CONTENTS t/f: 802.439.6675 • [email protected] NEWS AND HAPPENINGS ...... 3 G.E.T.’s COMMUNICATIONS TEAM: Take a guided tour of an historic US CITIES CLEAN ENERGY EFFORTS ...... 3 Publisher/Editor/Production ...... Nancy Rae Mallery water- and steam-powered sawmill, General Factotum ...... George Harvey gristmill and woodworking shop TRANSPORTATION ...... 4-7 Coordinating Director...... Michelle Harrison AFFORDABLE USED EVS ...... 4 Copy Editor ...... Ray Brewster in the Catskills. Recreational Editor ...... Roger Lohr E-BUSES ARE HERE ...... 4 A huge special thank you to all of our contributing writers! 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Hero, VT 802.373.3309 In response to an article we ran in the [email protected] October 2018 edition of Green Energy Times INCENTIVES ...... 14-15 Distribution: Sally Bellew, Larry Chase, Johnny Hinrichs, (www.greenenergytimes.org/leaf-blowers), RENEWABLE ENERGY...... 16-17 Hippo Distribution, Manchester, NH, Daniel Hoviss, George Law- we recently received this comment from John ton, Rosalyn Moore, our New York Team: Joanne Coons, Steve Ellsworth, Wyldon Fishman, Bob Freeston, Peter Hudiburg, in Westchester county, NY: POND-LOOP GEOTHERMAL ...... 16 David Kupras, Joan Rech; Russ Lanoie, Alan Phenix, Marty Phil- I live in Westchester County, NY. The county IMPACTS OF NATURAL GAS ...... 16 brick, Larry Plesant, George Plumb, Alisha Scudder, Don Small- and my town both have “no idling” law for au- wood, Sustainable Hanover, Wenda Luff, Don Smallwood, Eric tos. Can you create this statistic: “A WORKER WINNER OF 76WEST COMPETITION...... 17 Stevens, David Van Houten, Barb & Greg Whitchurch. OPERATING A 4-STROKE GAS-POWERED LEAF Hopefully we have not forgotten to mention anyone. It is your BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ...... 18-19 help that paves the way to a sustainable future. BLOWER FOR 30 MINUTES IS EXPOSED TO THE SAME POLLUTION OF a 2016 TOYOTA CAMRY MARKET VALUE FOR GREEN HOMES ...... 18 Please support our advertisers. They make G.E.T. happen! IDLING FOR 30 MINUTES”? HOME AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS...... 18 ABOUT G.E.T. An eye-opening statistic like that would Upwards of 170 American cities in 31 states have leaf put pressure on landscape company owners blower restrictions in place. Image: Dean Hochman, IPCC GLOBAL GUIDE FOR LAND USE...... 19 Green Energy Times is produced by 100% solar power, off-grid FlickrCC. with a 3.8 kW PV system. We live and know that Energy Inde- to not expose their workers to pollution. FEATURE: SUST. LEBANON, NH ...... 20-21 pendence is indeed possible – with clean, sustainable renew- Homeowners might act, too. And I see county able energy along with reducing your needs. We walk the talk! and town officials being forced to act on leaf Idling is a cause of many health issues, let alone RESILIENCE IN LEBANON, NH...... 20 Our mission is to create Energy Awareness, Understanding and Independence – Socially Responsible Living. blowers, given that they have a “no idling” law the emissions from idling that add to the CO2 NEW COMMUNITY POWER LEGISLATION ..... 20 on the books. Thank you. Please help. levels in the environment. Don’t be afraid to Solar Power works! … anywhere under the sun! HEATING & COOLING ...... 22-23 G.E.T. is published bi-monthly, Jan., Mar., May, Jul., Sept. & Nov., John, thank you for your concerned words. speak out. Let businesses where you see idling by NRM Advertising Company. It is free and available through- This is indeed a topic and issue that is worth as a problem know about your concerns and YELLOW HEAT...... 22 out 90% of VT & 80% of NH: the Upper Valley-St J. down to Brat- request that they put up ‘No Idling’ signs. Every tleboro, Windsor-Ludlow, Barre-Montpelier-Burlington, Stowe, taking note of. The “no idling’ law in the state of MASONRY HEATERS ...... 22 Mooretown-Waitsfield, Morrisville, Hardwick, Danville, NEK, VT and your county in NY is definitely an issue effort is worth it. Grand Isle, Woodstock-Rutland-Bennington; NH: Woodsville- we wish would be addressed more seriously. – Nancy Rae, publisher of G.E.T. BUILDING & ENERGY EFFICIENCY.... 24-32 Hanover-W. Leb.-Plainfield, Enfield-Claremont, Keene-Concord- Plymouth-Laconia, Littleton, & towns in between; NY in the BUILDINGS TO COOL THE CLIMATE ...... 24 Hudson Valley from NYC to L. George, the I-88 corridor ... 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Peace! more quickly. initiatives, which tend to Cont’d on p.33 News & Happenings WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Sept. 2019 3 U.S. CITIES BOOST CLEAN ENERGY EFFORTS Scorecard of 75 large U.S. cities reveals the top 10 U.S. cities are ramping up their clean en- ing their ranks since the land on ACEEE’s top 10 ergy efforts, notably with stricter energy- last scorecard. Hartford list. This expanded Score- saving rules for buildings, but only a few created an energy card adds city efforts to cities appear on track to meet their com- improvement district, encourage renewable munity-wide climate goals, according to began converting its energy, the impact of the 2019 City Clean Energy Scorecard, streetlights to LEDs, their policies, and their in- released today by the nonprofit American and has taken steps vestment in and engage- Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. to improve location ment with low-income For the first time, the ACEEE Score- efficiency through communities and com- card tracks policy efforts to advance re- improvements to the munities of color. Because newable energy in addition to energy zoning code. of these extensive changes, efficiency, because both are needed to • Cities expanded we caution against simple build a clean energy future and address efforts to save energy comparisons to past scores climate change. It is the most compre- in new and exist- and ranks. hensive national report that tracks city ing build- The Scorecard, using progress toward climate goals. ings. Since 2017, nine cit- information collected as of The scorecard shows that cities took ies—Las Vegas, Mesa, April 1, 2019, ranks cities in more than 265 initiatives to advance ef- New York, Philadelphia, five policy areas: ficiency and renewable energy between Phoenix, Reno, San • Local government January 2017 and April 2019, ranging Antonio, St. Louis, and operations. Austin, Boston, from modest but practical efforts such Tucson—adopted and Orlando tie for first as Philadelphia’s teleworking for public more-stringent building place in this area. They have employees, to cutting-edge policies such energy codes and five policies to increase as Washington, DC’s new high-perfor- advocated for their efficiency in city govern- mance standards for existing buildings. states to do so. In ment, procurement, and Yet the scorecard also reveals that most addition, eight cities asset management. cities with climate goals are either not on —Chicago, Denver, • Community-wide track to achieve them or are not yet Minneapolis, New York, initiatives. Washington, DC tracking progress. One-third (26) of the Reno, Salt Lake City, San takes top honors, followed 75 cities surveyed have yet to even set José, and Washington, by Seattle. They have GHG greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets. DC — adopted effi- reduction goals, strategies Of the 49 with targets, 22 are not yet ful- ciency requirements for to mitigate urban heat ly tracking their progress. The remain- existing buildings. islands, and policies or ing 27 have data, and of those, eight are • Cities increased their programs to plan for distrib- not projected to be close to achieving push to reduce GHGs uted energy systems such their targets and eight are projected to from the transportation as on-site renewables. make substantial progress but still fall sector but not as much • Buildings policies. short. Only 11 are on track to meet their as they did with build- Boston ranks first, followed GHG reductions goals. ings. To slash emissions, by New York, San José, Seat- Cities vary widely in their policies they need to accelerate their action. Since ingenuity, and resolve, they can build pros- tle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These and performance. The scorecard, which 2017, nine cities developed targets to perous and equitable low-carbon communi- cities have adopted or advocated for ranks cities on more than 50 metrics, has increase public transit, biking, and walking in ties.” stringent building energy codes, devoted these key findings: lieu of driving. Boston’s Mayor Marty Walsh said: “Nearly resources to building code compliance, and • Boston retains its first-place ranking, Some cities are engaging with and invest- three quarters of Boston greenhouse gas used incentives or requirements to address earning 77.5 out of a possible ing in low-income communities and com- emissions comes from our buildings. We’re energy consumption in existing buildings. 100 points. It’s followed by San Fran- munities of color. Still, they have significant working hard to improve the performance • Energy and water utilities. San Diego cisco, Seattle, Minneapolis, Washing- room for improvement. They can tap plan- of those buildings and looking at how new stars in this category, followed by Los Ange- ton, DC, New York City, Los ning models—like those used in Minneapo- ones can be built smarter. If we’re to achieve les, Boston, Chula Vista, Minneapolis, and Angeles, Denver, Austin, and Portland. This lis, Providence, and Seattle—to jumpstart carbon neutrality by 2050, we have to ac- San Francisco. Their energy utilities have year, Minneapolis adopted policies requir- their activities. celerate our actions and lead by example. efficiency programs delivering significant ing homes and apartment buildings to “Cities are making impressive clean That’s why we’ve already surpassed our mu- savings, and the cities and utilities are disclose their energy use to buyers or energy gains—taking big steps to waste nicipal climate goals and reduced emissions working together to increase their use of renters. New York City recently established less energy and encourage more renew- by 37 percent. I’m proud of Boston for lead- renewable energy. programs calling for large buildings that able power. But they have more to do,” ing the rankings once again and am inspired • Transportation policies. San Fran- benchmark energy use to post their energy said ACEEE senior research manager David by other cities for their bold action.” cisco takes the top spot, followed by Wash- performance ratings. Ribeiro, the lead report author. “Cities must The 2019 report, our fourth ranking of ington, DC, Boston, Portland, and • Cincinnati, Hartford,​​ and Provi- continue their push for innovative build- cities, scores 75 large U.S. cities, 24 more Seattle. These cities promote public transit, dence are Cities to Watch. They did not ings policies, take greater steps to tackle than our previous edition in 2017. It in- efficient vehicles and vehicle infrastructure, make the top 10 but stand out for adopt- transportation emissions, and better track cludes all 25 cities participating in and freight system efficiency. ing several major clean energy policies and progress to know which investments have Bloomberg Philanthropies’ American “Year after year it is tremendous to see programs since early 2017, improv- the greatest impact. With their innovation, Cities Climate Challenge, eight of which cities from every corner of the country Cont’d on p.19

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surprises. Electric car batteries are one of Affordable Used Electric Cars the most expensive components to replace. Fortunately, the batteries are engineered for David Roberts vehicles advertised eight to 10-plus year lifespans, and the Plug-in electric cars within 250 miles of majority continue to work well. Smart- are often praised for their White River Junc- phone apps and devices are available for a low cost of ownership. tion, Vermont. The few models that can connect with the Electricity costs less than table excludes a on-board diagnostic systems to provide a gasoline to run on, vehicle few lower availabil- detailed report of battery health. reliability is good, and ity models, so the • Many electric cars have increased range competitive prices offer a actual number is over time. For example, a 2013 Nissan LEAF compelling value. A bonus somewhat higher. In has 75 miles of range, while a 2019 LEAF will is these cars have a much addition, some buy- have 150 or 226, depending on the model. smaller environmental ers have looked fur- FuelEconomy.gov is an excellent resource to footprint over their lives ther afield and had check estimated vehicle range when the compared to gasoline cars shipped from vehicle was new and compare to current powered options. As elec- larger markets in estimates provided by a fully charged used tric car adoption contin- the south and west, EV to better understand the battery health. ues to grow we are seeing so broadening your • As the above pricing table indicates, more used cars enter the search area could be there is significant variation in prices market. These are often worthwhile. depending on the model, range, condition, available at a fraction of Used Electric Car dealer and other factors. Shopping around the cost of a new vehicle Pricing and Avail- and negotiating can help get the best deal. and can further reduce ability • Some EV models destined for the transportation costs. Cars.com within northeast are shipped from the manufac- We first explored avail- 250 miles of White turers with “cold weather packages” that ability of used electric River Junction, VT as increase performance in colder tempera- cars two years ago and of August 2019 tures with battery heating systems or more the market has contin- Monetary incen- efficient cabin heating. It is worth checking ued to expand since. The tives for new electric on the availability of these options as used increased supply of used car purchases, like EVs coming from other parts of the country electric cars is primarily the federal tax may not have these options. driven by people leas- credit, generally do • DC fast charging is often optional. We ing electric cars to take not apply to used highly recommend this for those consider- advantage of federal tax vehicles. There may ing AEVs, so check the vehicle specifications credits, reduce the risk of be exceptions to for this. depreciation, and allow them to keep up by plugging into a standard 120V home this, so check online for information on Want more information? There are many with new and updated models at rela- outlet overnight to get about five miles incentives available in your area. Non- excellent online resources and forums tively low cost. of range per hour of charging. Access to monetary incentives, such as access to with information on electric cars and used Leasing remains popular for both types 240V power speeds things up to 10 to carpool lanes, may be available regardless vehicle pricing. Visit www.DriveElectricVT. of electric cars, including plug-in hybrid 20 miles of range per hour of charging of whether you purchase a new or used com or just search for used electric cars in vehicles (PHEVs) powered by batteries depending on the vehicle and charging electric car. your area to get started.. for 10-50 miles before seamlessly switch- power. Some AEVs also include DC fast- Additional considerations for those ing to running on gasoline for extended charging capability which provides an looking into used EVs in the northeast David Roberts is the Drive Electric range as well as all-electric vehicles (AEVs) 80% charge in less than an hour. include: Vermont coordinator. He has driven an powered solely by batteries with ranges of The table below summarizes used • Electric cars have proven to be all-electric car for the 80 to 300-plus miles before recharging is electric car pricing and availability based extremely reliable, but getting a car past six years and says needed. on a search of cars.com in late August checked out by a qualified mechanic if you must drive, drive Both varieties of EVs can be charged 2019. There were about 990 used plug-in before buying can help avoid any costly electric.

Indianapolis Has a Electric Buses are Here! Fleet of e-Buses Early in September, a new bus route Upper Valley and Burlington opened in Indianapolis. The Red Line is running thirteen BYD K11 buses. George Harvey nationally at 29%. In Vermont, Indygo, the municipal transportation Many readers might recall the percentage is much higher organization, has already ordered an article that appeared in the at about 45%. eighteen more BYD buses to be deliv- June, 2017 issue of Green En- The issue of electric buses ered by the end of the year. The BYD ergy Times, “Electric Bus Trials in is not just environmental, K11 series bus is a very large “e-bus” Vermont and New Hampshire” however. It is also one of good (electric bus). It is articulated, and it (http://bit.ly/VT-NH-ebus-trial). economy. Electric buses cost carries up to 120 passengers. That article reported tests at about 60% more than their The buses ordered by Indygo are be- Advance Transit, which oper- diesel-powered counterparts, ing made in an American factory. BYD ates in the Upper Valley of Ver- but their operating costs are so is a Chinese company, but its largest mont and New Hampshire, and much lower that the payback shareholder is an American company, Green Mountain Transit, which time is very short. In fact, the Berkshire Hathaway. It is the largest operates in Burlington. The BYD e-bus in Copenhagen. Leif Jørgensen, Wikimedia Commons. World Economic Forum (WEF) manufacture of electric vehicles in the two companies were among projects that by 2025 about world, with products ranging from several that tested the BYD half of all buses in use by mu- bicycles to large trucks and mining bus, but they were especially ing car rides for bus rides and fewer carbon nicipal transit systems will be equipment. Like Tesla, it also produces emissions in our atmosphere and will make interested in conditions in New England, electric (http://bit.ly/WEF-ebus). The WEF batteries for vehicles and grid power including cold weather and hilly terrain. our rural communities more resilient. At a also points out that 386,000 electric buses storage. Last year, Vermont’s Senators Bernie time when global climate change is already were manufactured last year worldwide, Indianapolis plans to replace all of Sanders and Patrick Leahy and Represen- causing devastation here at home and and 99% of them were manufactured in tative Peter Welch wrote to Transporta- around the world, from more frequent and China. That is a huge market, estimated at its diesel transit buses with electric tion Secretary Elaine Chao in support of stronger hurricanes, to wildfires, drought, over $50 billion, in which the United States buses. The life expectancy of a transit a grant application to acquire buses for and flooding, this is exactly the kind of is barely participating. bus is about twelve years, and it plans these areas. That effort has borne fruit, as investment we should be making. It’s also The bus tested on routes in Vermont to run its diesels until the ends of their a grant for $3 million has been awarded. crucial to make sure that investments in and New Hampshire was made by BYD, a useful lifetimes, so it should have its In a press releases, Leahy, Sanders and clean energy are not limited to urban areas. Chinese company that has factories in the fleet entirely replaced by 2032. Welch are quoted as saying, “Investments This project’s focus brings those benefits United States and Canada. The buses pur- According to the U.S. Department like these create a cascade of benefits for directly to Vermont’s rural communities.” chased for the routes here will not neces- of Transportation, a diesel bus emits our community. Updating our state’s pub- This is important, especially because sarily be from BYD, as there are a couple of about ten tons of nitrogen oxide lic transit options to reflect the changing transportation accounts for a large relatively small companies in this country (NOx), 350 pounds of particulates, and climate will mean more Vermonters trad- percentage of greenhouse gas emissions making electric buses here. 1,690 tons of CO₂ over its lifetime. Transportation Solutions WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Sept. 2019 5 Greener School Buses SMART COMMUTING IN NH & VT EarthTalk® From the Editors of E - The Environmental Magazine Transportation emissions are among the worst offenders that add to the rising CO2 Now that school is levels in our atmosphere. In recent months we have learned that our efforts have begun back in session, those to reduce the detrimental air quality counts (NHDES), but as you may have learned from big yellow diesel-fueled numerous other reports such as the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), http:// school buses are all climatechange2013.org/, global warming is still advancing faster than expected. over the roads again. How do we get our emissions down now? By making new commuting choices! While they’re relatively Lots of choices. Smart Commuting is all about knowing your options and planning safe—and definitely old ahead. There are many choices to get around in New Hampshire and Vermont, The first school—they’re also place to start in Vermont is “Go Vermont” for statewide choices to travel more efficiently. big polluters, chugging Whether getting around town, commuting to work or school, or planning a day trip, along at four to six miles share the driving or ride with someone else to help save our planet and to save approx. to the gallon while creat- $2,000 annually. The statewide VT site also lists services for commuters, tourist, and shop- ing a cloud of harmful pers. airborne pollutants. According to the non- In New Hampshire you’ll find a similar site at “NH Rideshare” where you can find car- profit Clean Air Trust pools, transit routes and schedules, bike and walk trails and links to statewide transporta- (CAT), some 25 million tion information. American kids travelling When carpooling, remember to use the local Park n Ride lots to meet your connec- on half a million school tions. Start your trip planning at connectingcommuters.orgrive lectric or nh.gov/dot/programs/ buses every day are ex- rideshare/ for statewide choices.D E posed to five to 15 times Research shows that replacing or retrofitting dirty old diesel school buses can more air toxins than the reduce the pollution inhaled by students significantly and can even lead to bet- IN NEW HAMPSHIRENew Hampshire rest of us. “Those buses ter health and higher standardized test scores. Credit: madame.furie, FlickrCC. UPPER VALLEY RIDESHARE (UVRS) - Carpool matching, benefits and support for com- travel more than four muters in/out of Upper Valley. 802-295-1824 x208. uppervalleyrideshare.com. billion miles each year, school kids can apply for rebates of up to ADVANCE TRANSIT (AT) – Free weekday bus for Lebanon, Hanover, Enfield, Canaan, NH, and these kids spend three billion hours $20,000 per bus to help cover the retrofits and Norwich and Hartford, VT. Dartmouth and DHMC Shuttles. ADA & Travel Training on [them],” reports the group. “About 90 on up to 10 buses. Services. 802-295-1824. advancetransit.com percent of these buses run on diesel fuel, Retrofitting is a great start, but even annually emitting 3,000 tons of cancer- better would be replacing old buses with CARROLL COUNTY TRANSIT - Services and connections to Belknap County. causing soot and 95,000 tons of smog- 888-997-2020 tccap.org/nct.htm new, more efficient all-electric models. causing compounds.” But few school districts can justify the CITY EXPRESS - Serves Keene. 603-352-8494 hcsservices.org/services/transportation/cityExpress.php If you don’t think all that pollution is $300,000 price tag to replace perfectly SCS TRANSPORTATION - Services for Sullivan County.. 603-542-9609. SCSHELPS.ORG having a negative effect, think again. functional older diesel buses. That didn’t A March 2019 study from researchers CONCORD AREA TRANSIT (CAT) - Serves Concord 603-225-1989 concordareatransit.org stop the school district in White Plains, at Georgia State University found that New York, though, which purchased five CONTOOCOOK VALLEY TRANSPORTATION (CVTC) - Monadnock Rideshare for the students did significantly better on southwest region 877-428-2882 cvtc-nh.org electric buses last year with financial help standardized English tests and margin- from the local utility, Consolidated Edison, COOPERATIVE ALLIANCE FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION (CART) - Serving ally better in math when they spent their and a grant from the state. the Chester, Derry, Hampstead, Londonderry, Salem and Windham, limited service to commutes riding in school buses retrofit- These outside contributions helped Plaistow. 603-434-3569 cart-rides.org ted to reduce emissions by 95 percent as bring the final cost to the school district DARTMOUTH COACH - Services to Boston, Logan Airport and NYC 800-637-0123 dart- compared to students riding in non-up- down to something along the lines of mouthcoach.com graded buses. The researchers conclude buying new diesel buses. While ConEd MANCHESTER TRANSIT AUTHORITY (MTA) - Manchester, with links to Nashua and that “engine retrofits can have meaningful gets the benefit of good public relations Concord. 603-623-8801 mtabus.org/services/local-buses and cost-effective impacts on health and and good karma, it also gets to use the MID-STATE REGIONAL RIDE RESOURCE DIRECTORY - Services elknap-Merrimack cognitive functioning.” buses during the summer as excess elec- Counties, excluding Hooksett and the towns of Deering, Hillsborough and Windsor of Luckily the retrofits are easy to come tricity storage that can be moved around Hillsborough County. 603.225.3295 x1201. midstatercc.org by and relatively inexpensive, especially to where it’s needed most (when the air when you factor in the costs of health NASHUA TRANSIT SYSTEM (NTS) - Buses and trolleys with bike racks. 603-888-0100 conditioners are blazing). White Plains is RideBigBlue.com care to treat sick kids, not to mention hoping other school districts across the the price tag for raising kids’ test scores NH RIDESHARE – Your Source for Transportation Alternatives. nh.gov/dot/programs/ride- country will follow a similar model to in other ways. Retrofitting 10 percent clean up their acts. share/ of the average school district’s bus fleet IN VERMONT in Georgia, for instance, would cost less Contacts: Clean Air Trust, cleanairtrust. than $100,000, a drop in the bucket of the org; “School bus emissions, student UPPER VALLEY TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (Vital Communi- state’s $10.6 billion K-12 public schools health and academic performance,” ties) - Works with UV employers and communities to promote and improve commuting budget. sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/ options. 802-291-9100 vitalcommunities.org/transport/index.htm And beginning in October 2018, the S0272775719301530#!. VERMONT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC TRANSIT - Lists transit, ferries and more U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer at aot.state.vt.us/PublicTransit/providers.htm (EPA) set aside $9 million to help pay for & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit upgrading older diesel school buses na- EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine. AMTRAK - Long distance train service. Discounts for AAA members and student advan- tionwide. School districts and other public com. Send questions to: question@ tage card. (800) 872-7245 amtrak.com agencies charged with transporting earthtalk.org. CHITTENDEN COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY - Burlington bus service with links to Montpelier, Middlebury and commuter route to Milton. cctaride.org CONNECTICUT RIVER TRANSIT - Services in Bellows Falls and Springfield. crtransit.org VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE ELECTRIC RETROFIT GO VERMONT - Offers carpool matching and commuter connections in VT 800-685- 7433 connectingcommuters.org GREEN MOUNTAIN RAILROAD - Day trips from White River, Champlain Valley, Bellows Falls and Rutland. rails-vt.com GREEN MOUNTAIN TRANSIT AGENCY - Local service in Barre, Montpelier, Grand Isle, Stowe and Lamoille. 802-223-7287 gmtaride.org GREY HOUND/VERMONT TRANSIT - Long distance bus services. 1-800-231-2222 grey- hound.com/ LAKE CHAMPLAIN FERRIES - Transport between New York and Vermont via Lake Cham- plain. 802-864-9804 ferries.com MARBLE VALLEY REGIONAL TRANSIT- For Rutland, Killington, rural Manchester, Poult- ney and Rutland to Bellows Falls. City routes Free on Saturday. 802-773-3244 thebus.com/ RURAL COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION (RCT) - Buses, vans, and volunteer drivers. Routes via The Jay-Lyn, The Highlander (Newport - Derby Line); The US RT2 Commuter If you have a classic Volkswagen (VW) Beetle sitting in your garage, it may have a new (St. J. to Montpelier) and Free routes to rural areas. 802-748-8170 riderct.org life ahead. VW announced it will make electric conversion units for those old bugs. The eBeetle (eKäfer, in German) will have a range of just over 120 miles and a top speed of STAGE COACH - Commuter buses from Randolph and Fairlee to Dartmouth, Local village over 90 MPH. VW is also looking at converting the VW Bus and the Porsche 356. Perhaps buses. 800-427-3553 stagecoach-rides.org other car makers should take note. 6 Sept 2019 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Transportation Solutions Can EV Charge-Site Operators Make Money? Randy Bryan

EV Charing Station. Image: Wikimedia Commons

We keep hearing that there aren’t The result of all these high costs is enough electric vehicle (EV) charging that even a large, well run, EV charging stations out there. Yet, the auto market is network operator will need to charge its moving to electric drive, and the EV share customers nearly double to triple what of the market is growing at over a 30% they pay at home for public charging. rate. Why haven’t more entrepreneurs Ouch. Small operators (entrepreneurs) jumped into this car-charging space? have it even worse. The short answer is that it is difficult to Compare that to the early days of gaso- make money providing charging services; line cars. Gasoline started as a useless and occupancy is low and capital and operat- dangerous byproduct of making kero- ing costs are high. This is important. sene, and oil companies were only too Occupancy: EVs are now about 3% of happy to get some revenue for this stuff. new vehicle sales, and sales have climbed Making money as a reseller of gasoline rapidly. But EVs make up less than 1% was easy in the early decades. That easy of vehicles registered. That means not profitability has disappeared now that enough EVs are on the road to make oil companies have priced in the value of sufficient demand. Even more impor- gasoline. tantly, 80% of EVs are charged at home. There are successful charge system op- Convenient for the owner but tough on erators: Tesla is doing well. However, their charging station operators. Revenue is charger network is subsidized by car sales, low so far. not profit expectation. It just has to keep Capital Costs: Charging equipment is the customers and salespeople happy. expensive. The charging stations are es- Some utilities have developed new sentially a custom build in small batches. rates without demand charges for just That means all the product design and EV charging, and some states will allow manufacturing setup costs are heaped re-selling electricity for EV charging. But on small build batches. Installation costs these policy fixes are too piecemeal to are high, too, associated with bringing count on for EVSOs. sufficient power to the charge station EVgo recently announced that they location. have a stable and working business plan Another problem for charging network as an EVSO. Others have been successful, operators is multiple standards. Tesla has too. Chargepoint makes money off sell- a proprietary standard. Japan developed ing chargers and back office support for one (Chademo), and the U.S. did, too EVSOs. Greenlots has partnered with VW (SAE). That’s ok, but the car fueling market Electrify America to provide back office has one standard world-wide, and that functionality. Some oil companies are uniformity is an expectation for EV drivers. moving in, too. And many individual sites So, charging operators must accommo- are running their own charge stations. The date the multiple standards. businesses are run lean. Some operators Operating Costs: Electricity is also have not made it. tough to make money on. Recall that Fortunately, Volkswagen stumbled people charge most EVs at home and are into providing several billion dollars in familiar with these costs. In NH, it’s about fines (Dieselgate) that are targeted (EPA 16-17¢/kWh. Charge service operators and Electrify America) to help fund the may get some discounts for buying in build out of charge station networks. This volume but add to that the other major funding has helped solve (temporarily) hit of “demand charges.” Demand charges the capital costs of charge networks and are higher rates according to the highest additional charge station locations are power demand for commercial accounts coming online. But this doesn’t address in any month. They are intended to the costs of electricity. capture the extra cost associated with Is there a silver bullet for charge-service building out the grid network for maxi- operator success? Not yet. As Kermit the mum power demand. Demand charges Frog once said, “It ain’t easy being green.” are low if your demand is steady, but New Hampshire allows resale of electric- charging cars is a spikey business. High ity by EVSOs, but its utilities are dragging power requirements for short times and their heels on demand charges. This area low occupancy can nearly double the cost is so important to the success of EVs. of electricity. Make sure your representatives under- Yet another issue is that most states stand the importance of this problem and have forbidden reselling electricity by that New Hampshire should help.. anyone other than (regulated monopoly) Randy Bryan is one of the co-founders of Drive utilities. This means that EV (charge) ser- Electric NH. Bryan has been an advocate for vice operators (EVSOs) must invent some electric cars for eight-plus years. His company, other metric to charge by such as charge ConVerdant Vehicles, has converted vehicles to time, space time, session initiation, and plug-in hybrids, including his own Prius in 2008, other means must be used. But slower and developed and sold inverters that turn a Prius charging cars will incur much higher into an emergency generator. charge cost. Transportation Solutions WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 July 2019 7 E-biking To and From Work in Rural VT Makes Sense 1,250 Miles and Counting … N.R. Mallery Bren Alvarez’s story is a great example of motor vehicles. While of how one can benefit by using an bike paths are great, what electric bike for transportation to and about where there is not a from work, as well as for errands and bike path or on the roads recreation. Bren is an architect and works to and from one? Should in Burlington, VT. cities dedicate space in When Bren Alvarez lived in Burlington’s high traffic areas for bike Old North End, she used an ordinary lanes when it could lead bicycle to get around. But buying a home to more congestion on five miles away, at the far end of North our roadways? Is this a Avenue sent her off her bike and into a solution or a problem? car, which she thought that she had to Are there other solutions? rely on to get to her job downtown, and Bren thinks sharing side- everywhere else. But this all changed after walks may be a viable op- meeting and falling in love with Angela tion. She noted, “With re- M. Angela M, is the name she gave to her spect to safety, additional new electric bike. or wider shared sidewalks Here is what Bren had to say about her for bike and pedestrians new life experiences with an electric bike. would be essential for ev- “Just this morning I saw the little odom- eryone, drivers, bikers and eter on my bike registering 1,250 miles! walkers alike would need Those are 99.9 % commuter miles, to to be aware and respect- work, to local meetings, to grocery shop- ful of one another and of ping and even to the doctor and den- the rules of the road, walk tist. It feels so very good to start and end and/or path.” This and the workday on Burlington’s world-class other possible solutions bike path and nice to know that there are need to be discussed. 1,250 miles of exhaust fumes that didn’t Let’s keep the conversa- mingle with our sweet lakeside air. tion going and figure out “Full disclosure: I’m a seasonal rider and what will work best for our my long commute is made possible with rural state and communi- a sturdy reliable German-issued Kalhoff ties. Many communities electric bike. I call my e-bike Angela M across our country and and without which I could not: many other countries rely heavily on using bicycles 33 navigate the east-bound Main Street Bren and her dog, Rojas, heading to the office. Courtesy photo. The mural traffic without wobbling out of bounds, for transportation to and from work. Let’s make it behind them is by Ethan Azarian. 33 enjoy the headwinds and the west- work for us, too. erly gusts on the bike path, Here are some helpful links to make your experiences on an e- 33 be unconcerned about riding in the bike safer and lots of fun, too: dark and the rain and the otherwise, 33 feel worry-free about the luxury E-BIKE SAFETY: commute time which also counts as men- • https://www.bicycling. tal health and physical fitness time, com/e-bike-safely/ 33 enjoy door-to-door home to office • http://www.ebikeschool.com/safety- without dealing with parking, parking tips/ We Dare You to look meters, and parking tickets, BIKE MAPS AND ROUTES: 33 do some grocery shopping on the • VT: https://www.localmotion.org/ way home. The paneers can hold two maps_routes under the Hood! large bags of groceries and their weight doesn’t matter.” • NH: https://www.nh.gov/bikeped/maps. htm $ And in case you’re wondering, accord- • NY: https://albanybicyclecoalition.com/ 1,000 electric vehicle rebate ing to the EPA, 1,250 miles of driving an maps/, https://bikehudsonvalley.com/ average car produces 1058.22 pounds of bike-maps, http://alloveralbany.com/ $ carbon dioxide. bike-paths 300 residential charger rebate Rural states, such as Vermont, clearly need to reduce their environmental and • Bike rides, tours, trails throughout New + off peak charging rates economical footprint in order to attain England: https://bikenewengland.com/ a sustainable future beyond our current riding-nh/ $ commercial charger rebate reliance on fossil fuels. Our fossil fuel- • A go-to guide for designing bike 2,500 based transportation systems are a huge infrastructure: https://nacto.org/guide/. part of the problem. We need to look at all • Local Motion is a VT advocacy organiza- solutions and moving to electric vehicles tion: localmotion.org. of all kinds, including bicycles, is just one small part of the answer. This article was first published on the Bren’s experience has led her aware- Sustainable Transportation Vermont blog ness to bicycle safety and concerns for that is dedicated toward a greener, healthier a healthy bike culture. “The Burlington transportation system. Read the original Bike path offers a perfect alternative for article by Julie Campoli at https://www.stvt. the seasonal commuter that I am and will org/Alvarez. probably always be,” she added. Hav- ing been extremely dubious about the proposed improvements to North Avenue Share a RiDE. road safety in the area, she enjoys the DRIVE ELECTRIC! three-lane solution but would have pre- WaLK. BiKe. ferred a Share the Sidewalk option over a Share the Road bike lane approach for her Rebates and incentives are available for NHEC members only. neighborhood link to downtown. TaKe a BuS. Safety while riding is important for the rider, the pedestrian and the driver Reduce Emissions www.nhec.com/drive-electric 8 Sept. 2019 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Solar Photovoltaics - Vermont - New Hampshire Norwich, Vermont’s Union Village Solar A First of Its Kind Mixed-use Community Residential and Commercial Project George Harvey and the Town of Fairlee Fronius inverters. The array is rated at The Norwich Union through net-metering. 150 kilowatts (AC). Village Solar Project Because the solar credits The solar photovoltaic system is (NUVSP) in Vermont are being sold under a located on a little hillside. It is set back went online in August. long-term contract to about 1,000 feet from Union Village It is a mixed-use com- municipal entities, the Road and is mostly out of view because munity residential and investment is consid- of trees that grow along the road and commercial project, ered to be low risk and hillside. McBride described the system half owned by a total qualify for low bank in- as having “great solar exposure without of sixteen households terest rates. Bozuwa said being highly visible.” At the request of within the community that one of the things the owners of the land, the electric lines and half by an investor. that attracted him to the carrying power from the array to the It was designed, permit- project was that the off- electric grid connection were buried, ted, built, and will be takers, owners, builders, putting them not only out of sight, but operated by Norwich and others involved were out of harm’s way. Brite-Lite Electric and Solar Technologies local to the Norwich area. Green Mountain Power worked together (NST). Mascoma Bank to complete the 1000-foot underground NUVSP is one of only provided financing for interconnection. a few mixed residential the commercial half of Linda Gray mentioned that there was and commercial com- the project and several no ribbon cutting for the mixed-use munity solar projects households. Mascoma system. Instead, McBride gave a tour to in Vermont. One earlier is a B-Corp, set up for the owners soon after the array began Owners on tour of their photovoltaic system and guests. Photos: Norwich Solar Technologies. project was the subject public benefit. It has delivering electricity to the grid. And of a Green Energy Times significant experience now, the sun has taken up its role of pro- article, “Thetford Strafford Community adopted solar. She had praise for NST say- with financing both residential and com- viding clean electricity to all involved. Solar,” in its October, 2018 issue (http:// ing, “I want to give credit to Troy McBride mercial solar systems, bit.ly/Thetford-Strafford). and Norwich Solar Technologies for their a fact that can benefit The residential community members willingness to give this project so much customers a great deal. who signed on to the project were par- time and for their patience.” She said that Troy McBride, the ticipants in a Solarize Norwich campaign developing a mixed-use community solar Chief Technology Of- that was promoted by the Norwich project is more difficult than simpler solar ficer and co-founder of Energy Committee (NEC). Linda Gray, systems because of all the different coor- Norwich Solar Tech- a NEC member, told us that Norwich dination that has to be done. nologies, told us a bit has done a Solarize Norwich campaign As one of NST’s Community Impact In- about the array itself. every year since 2012, typically seeing vestors, Paul Bozuwa worked with NST to NUVSP has 648 solar 25 to 30 households get solar systems set up a limited liability corporation as the panels made by Risen as a result. The Town of Norwich has investor for the commercial half of NUVSP. Energy. Each panel is one of the highest percentages (25%) of It is supplying electricity credits from rated to produce 330 households (325 out of 1300) that have the project to the Norwich Fire District watts. It has twelve

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446787 ComPAny *minimum size applies. Solar Photovoltaics - Vermont - New Hampshire WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Sept. 2019 9 LITHIUM VS. LEAD-ACID BATTERIES: TOTAL COST OVER LIFE COMPARISON COMPARING TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP Craig Quentin, Applications Engineer, RELiON Battery Compared to lead-acid batteries, • Battery replacement costs. Includes a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) bat- new replacement battery plus the cost of teries offer users practical advantages removal and installation by a qualified such as lighter weight and hands-off technician. operation. These batteries also have • Cost of charging. The nominal cost of longer lifetimes which makes for far electricity for charging the battery. It less frequent battery replacements and includes the need for overcharging service calls. lead-acid batteries to avoid stratification But many first-time buyers of LiFePO4 (the accumulation of lead sulfate on the batteries wonder if their higher pur- battery’s plates). In our calculations, we chase price compared to lead-acid bat- assumed a DOD (depth-of-discharge) of teries makes sense in terms of total cost 80% on all batteries before recharging was of ownership. necessary. Do LiFePO4 batteries cost more, or Along with the initial cost of the bat- lower up-front cost, they require frequent less, than lead-acid batteries over their tery, perhaps the most critical factor in es- replacement. operation lifetime? In this article, we timating the total cost of ownership is the The total cost of ownership, including Lead-Acid Technologies present the results of a simple calcula- specified lifetime of the battery in terms charging costs, of the LiFePO4 was $1,925. tion that compares the total cost of of the number of cycles until end of life. That’s 51% less than the Gel battery, the in Comparison to LiFePO4 ownership of a LiFePO4 battery com- For our calculations, we took end of life most economical of the three lead-acid Technology pared to three lead-acid technologies. to be when each battery fails to deliver batteries. ELEMENTS OF TOTAL COST OF 50% of its initial capacity for lead-acid bat- SUMMARY • Lead-Acid teries and 70% for LiFePO4 batteries. OWNERSHIP LiFePO4 batteries reduce the inconve- • AGM The Estimated Cycle Life table shows • Gel To estimate of the total cost of owner- the retail price and expected number of nience and expense of replacement and service calls, and they lend peace of mind ship of several battery technologies, we cycles until end of life, taken from retail Calculation Parameters: to many users when it comes to demand- performed a simple cost calculation of websites and the manufacturer’s pub- • Electricity cost for charging of 12¢/kWh a LiFePO4 and three equivalent size (BCI lished data sheets, of the four batteries ing applications. As this article shows, Group 31) off-the-shelf lead-acid battery used in this analysis. LiFePO4 batteries are also beneficial to • Battery maintenance costs of $10/hr. technologies: flood- the bottom line. • Installation and replacement costs of ed lead-acid (FLA), ESTIMATED CYCLE LIFE “We love to boondock and enjoy nature and $25/hour our LiFePO4 lithium battery upgrade has been Absorbent Glass Mat LiFePO4 Results Over Lifetime (AGM), and Gel. We a game changer. Lithium technology provides took into account us complete freedom to live off-grid in our • Total Cost of Ownership = $1,925 the most important RV. No more battery anxiety, and, without a • 51% less than competing lead-acid factors such as: doubt, the best money we’ve ever spent on RV technologies • Initial cost of the upgrades. I can honestly say we will never own • Average cost per charge was $.027 battery. The up-front a RV without using lithium batteries.” retail cost of the – Aaron Jones, JonesN2Travel battery, the largest cost of initial installation. THE RESULTS • Labor cost of installation. A nominal The total cost of ownership of each bat- cost of installing a battery, often per- tery was calculated over a single lifecycle formed by a skilled technician who, in of the lithium battery since it has the lon- some cases, must be scheduled and gest life of all four batteries. Each of the dispatched to the customer’s site. This three lead-acid batteries requires multiple cost is approximately the same for each replacements over the life of the lithium battery type, however, the process must battery. Assumptions for this calculation be repeated multiple times with lead- include: electricity cost for charging of Maximum Power. Maximum Life. acid batteries over the life of a single $0.12/kWh, battery maintenance costs of LiFePO4 battery. $10/hour, and installation and replace- Renewable Energy Lithium Batteries • Labor cost of maintenance. In the ment costs of $25/hour. case of flooded lead-acid batteries, for The table below shows each factor in example, this includes checking and the overall total cost of ownership for topping off water levels and cleaning each battery as well as the total cost of acid residue off the battery and often the each battery per cycle. Based on the spec- surrounding area, as well as cleaning ified lifetime of each battery and their and/or replacing nuts and bolts and retail prices, the total cost of the LiFePO4 cables that have become badly corroded. is far less in terms of each cycle and in Lithium batteries require no mainte- terms of the overall cost of ownership. nance during their lifetime. While the lead acid batteries have a far

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1010 Sept. JUNE 2019 15, 2014 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 802.439.6675 Solar Photovoltaics (PV) - Vermont Solar Business in a Box David Blittersdorf We often get At AllEarth Renewables, we have asked, “when is pioneered an approach we call “Solar the best time Business in a Box.” The approach is actu- to go solar?” ally quite simple, and it greatly expands Our answer the opportunities for savings for any is always a Vermonter who pays taxes. resounding The process begins with the establish- “now!” ment of a Limited Liability Company For the (LLC), a straightforward and inexpensive planet, there has never been a bad time process. The LLC is specific to the solar to go solar — with the carbon crisis project and functions as a basket, hold- we’re facing, our planet needs more ing all of the project’s assets, liabilities, renewables, and fast. and costs. Additionally, the LLC estab- "I believe Southern For the individual though, there is lishes a liability barrier between your Vermont Solar is the currently a powerful incentive to move personal assets and the solar project, to solar before the end of the year. And helping to mitigate risk in the event of best in our area.” the opportunities might be even bigger any litigation or other issues. - Local Resident Local Experts - Great Pricing - Integrity than you think. This LLC, or “Solar Business in a Box,” Today, new solar owners are eligible creates the vehicle to not only realize tax Westminster, VT www.svtsolar.com - 802-387-0088 for a federal tax credit of 30% of a credit savings but also create long-term project’s cost. That means a new solar revenue. Here’s how it works: Vermont’s owner can deduct 30% of the total current solar permitting structure allows project expense off of their tax bill im- for inexpensive and streamlined permit- mediately. Depending on the project’s ting for projects up to the 15kW AC net- size and a person’s tax liability, a smart metering cap. For AllEarth Renewables, solar owner can get their tax bill down this has traditionally meant a three-solar- to almost nothing. In fact, if your tax tracker array. However, any type of array liability is too small to use the whole up to the 15kW cap qualifies. Grid-Tie 30% credit by the end of the project’s Power from this array is monetized Off-Grid first year, the remaining federal credit through a Power Purchase Agreement can be transferred forward for up to 20 (PPA). The project will be interconnected Hybrid Systems years. to Vermont’s distribution grid through Design ~ Service ~ Installation This solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) the state’s net-metering program. Power Serving Vermont homes, businesses, program has been extremely effec- generated by the project can be sent to camps & farms since 2009 tive at encouraging the deployment any other customer, or “off taker,” in the of renewables in Vermont and across utility’s service area. The PPA establishes the country. However, the program’s a business relationship between the proj- incentives are about to decrease dra- ect LLC and the off takers, who pay you matically. The first reduction of the ITC for their power usage, providing you with begins on January 1, 2020. The current monthly revenue. Typically, the PPA sells solar tax credit of 30% will drop to 26% solar power to the off taker at a 5-10% at the end of this year, then to 22% for discount from their previous electric bill. projects beginning in 2021, and finally The investment return is significant. A down to 0% come 2022. project developed in this manner can These solar tax incentives completely realize the owner a 15-40% ROI over a disappear in two years, so a smart 20-year period! homeowner or investor needs to act As an additional incentive to act now, now to fully realize the potential of a in Vermont, there is an additional 7.2% solar investment. tax credit for businesses, such as LLCs. While these savings apply to a simple A business can expense 85% of the cost home solar array, there is currently an of a solar system over five years. If the opportunity for almost any Vermonter system is installed in 2019, you can take to take advantage of these savings at a 100% Bonus Depreciation and apply all much larger scale. the expense to this year’s Cont’d on p.17

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802-658-33781 [email protected] I www.PeckSolar.com I S. Burlington, VT Solar Photovoltaics (PV) - New Hampshire WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Sept. 2019 11 Boys & Girls Club of Manchester, NH Gets 2 Solar Arrays Green Energy Times Staff more children. The The Boys & Girls Club solar arrays, however, of Manchester has three have been covered by new solar arrays at two the power purchase New Hampshire sites. agreement and that ReVision Energy, which part of the renovation has offices in Maine, New has been covered. Hampshire, and Massa- The web site for the chusetts, installed a total Boys & Girls Club of of 408 solar panels on Manchester is www. three rooftops. An 81.3 mbgcnh.org. kilowatt (kW) system The web site for was installed at the ReVision Energy is Union Street Clubhouse www.revisionenergy. in Manchester, and two com. systems, with a com- bined capacity of 49.3 kW, were installed on the Pool House and Stebbins Family Hall buildings at Camp Foster in Bedford. Together, the three solar systems are ex- pected to produce about Members and staff of the Boys & Girls Club of Man- 150,000 kilowatt-hours chester gather at the new Stebbins Family Hall at of electricity each year. Camp Foster in Bedford. Photos: ReVision Energy. According to ReVision Energy, this will reduce the carbon footprint of the Boys are expected to save & Girls Club by about 152,000 pounds the club about $845,000 of carbon dioxide annually which is the over the lifetimes of the equivalent of planting 81 acres of forest. systems, if the buyout is The array was financed by a five-year exercised. Solar array on the Union Street Clubhouse. power purchase agreement with local The Boys & Girls Club of impact partners. Under the agreement, Manchester is one of the the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester has 53 founding organizations of Boys & Girls no upfront costs, and its electricity rate Clubs of America. It began working in 1907 is guaranteed for the term of the con- and is currently trying to raise $5.85 million tract, as it reduces its carbon impacts. for a series of renovations at the sites of The agreement has a buyout clause that the solar arrays. Though it has an annual can be exercised at the end of the five membership of 2,600 boys and girls, the years. Overall, the three solar systems fundraising drive is to be able to serve 12 Sept. 2019 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Solar Photovoltaics (PV) Do you have questions if rooftop Best Roofs for Solar solar will work for you? Taylor Kimbrell Solar photovoltaic them into energy. (See the article in the roof, at least the area of the roof that (PV) power is a great January 2019 issue of G.E.T. “Non-tradi- they cover, from the elements that option when looking tional Solar Orientation” for other solar can cause damage to it and this can to reduce your en- array orientation solutions http://www. extend the life of the roofing. ergy bills and carbon greenenergytimes.org/2019/01/15/non- Solar systems are a great invest- footprint. As with any traditional-solar-orientation/). ment to make for your home and for project for your home, Pitch – The ideal angle (slope) for your the environment. When selecting a there are several fac- roof is between 30 and 45 degrees from solar installer, bring up these factors tors that need to be horizontal. This allows the panels to be at that determine your roof compat- considered, including the optimal angle to absorb the energy ibility for a solar system. They should if your roof is compat- from the sun when it is most seasonally be able to discuss them with you ible. A roof-mounted advantageous for maximum production and help you determine how a solar solar system is a great of your electricity. system would be best positioned on option, as it is the Vents, Chimneys, and Dormers – If your roof. most cost effective, possible, you’ll want to avoid installing When making the switch to solar, and it helps to extend solar panels near any vents, chimneys, understanding the compatibility the lifespan of your or dormers. These elements can cause of your roof with a solar system is roof. However, not all shading on the panels which can slightly a great first step in producing your roofs are ideal for a reduce energy production. own clean energy. solar system. There are Roof Material – The best roof materi- Taylor Kimbrell is the Vice President several factors that als for a solar system are asphalt shingles of Sales and Marketing for Apex go into determining or metal. This is due to their durability Solar Power and Roofing in Queensbury, if your roof is a good and long lifespan. Slate tiles and cedar NY. Learn more at www.apexsolar- fit for a solar system. shingles are more fragile, and so it is power.com / 518.309.2786. These factors include not recommended to install panels and roof orientation, pitch, their supports on them. Therefore, most roof components, solar installers will only install on asphalt material, load bear- shingle, standing seam and corrugated ing, shading, and metal roofs. age. While your roof Load Bearing – On average, solar pan- does not need to be a els add an additional three pounds per perfect fit in all these square foot. The average roof should be categories, as very few able to withstand the additional weight are, it is a good idea of the panels. It is important to note that to be aware of how if a roof installation alters the load signifi- all these factors can cantly, or unevenly, an engineer should affect the placement be consulted. and size of the solar Shading – While we love beautiful system for your home. trees in our yards, it is preferable for Roof Orientation – them to be in a spot that won’t cast any The roof plane that is shadows on the solar panels. Therefore, best for a solar system the best roofs have minimal shading is one that is facing from trees in the yard. south. This allows Age – If your roof needs to be re- the panels to get the placed in the next eight to ten years, it’s optimal amount of a good idea to have it replaced before sun. The closer the you have your solar system installed. direction the roof is Once installed, solar panels protect your to 180 degrees south the more efficient the solar system will be at capturing the sun’s Rooftop solar arrays on shingled roofs, which are generally ideal roofs for rays and converting solar, but other roofs are also good. Installed by Apex Solar. Courtesy photos. Make the Switch to Solar! Utility rates are increasing every year. Take control of your energy bills by making the switch to solar. We make it Albert Ducharme, NABCEP Certified ALBERT DUCHARME easy with financing options available! PV Installation Professional Go Solar Today! #PV-041616-013792 Snow Dragon Solar OFF-GRID BATTERY BACK-UP HYBRID • GRID-TIED DESIGN & INSTALLATION

Snow Dragon Solar, LLC (603) 630-3003 | snowdragonsolar.com • SERVING THE UPPER VALLEY AND NORTH & CENTRAL NH • Solar Photovoltaics (PV) WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Sept. 2019 13 SOLAR POWER AND FARMING WORK TOGETHER BEAUTIFULLY George Harvey We have seen a number of studies from the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany that look into combining solar power and agriculture on the same land. They show that some crops, such as hay, can be grown as well under solar panels as in the open. In fact, in one instance, potatoes were more productive under solar panels than they were in the open. Now we see a study from the University of Arizona that goes further. The crops under the solar panels benefit from the shade in a sunny environment, but they also require less water, which is important in much of the country. The practice of growing crops under solar panels is called “agrivoltaics.” An article, “Agricoltaics: Solar Panels On Farms Could Be A Win-Win,” which appeared at the web site Civil Eats, describes its pursuit in Massachusetts (http://bit.ly/2kqgcii). CleanTechnica had articles on Fraunhofer’s work (http://bit.ly/2m0kCwL) and the study Test of solar over crops. Image courtesy of the Fraunhofer Institute. at the University of Arizona http://bit.ly/2kvtOZO.

Get the Best of Vermont Solar for the Lowest Price! AllEarth Solar introduces the AllEarth Ground-Mount! Made right here in Vermont and installed by us with an industry leading 10 year limited warranty! Contact us to learn how to get solar at no up-front cost! For more information visit allearthrenewables.com/groundmountinstalls 14 Sept. 2019 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 UP-TO-DATE INCENTIVE INFO: WWW.DSIREUSA.ORG INCENTIVES grants of $1,000-$3,500 LEDs at Vermont retailers. Incentive levels for PV systems are as follows: • Go to www.grassrootsfund.org/grants/ • LEDs for indoor growing: $100 back for • $0.40/watt (lower of AC and DC) for new FEDERAL or call 802-223-4622 for more info. qualifying fixtures solar electric facilities (Step 1 application Weatherization received on or after March 19, 2018); and FEDERAL INVESTMENT • Comprehensive air sealing and • Expansions to existing solar systems are not VERMONT insulation projects - up to $2,000 back eligible. TAX CREDIT • Incentive levels for solar thermal systems The federal investment tax credit (ITC) for with an Efficiency Excellence Network CLEAN ENERGY contractor are as follows: most technologies, including solar, wind, • $0.12/rated or modeled kBtu/year for new heat pumps, and fuel cells, is 30% of DEVELOPMENT FUND • Air sealing and insulating your attic The Small Scale RE Incentive Program, and/or basement with a contractor of solar thermal facilities fifteen collectors in size expenditures. For commercial geothermal or fewer; generating systems, microturbines, and administered by Renewable Energy your choice: up to $500 Resource Center (RERC), provides funds to • $0.07/rated or modeled kBtu/year for new combined heat and power the ITC is 10% Appliances (must be ENERGY STAR) solar thermal facilities greater than fifteen of expenditures. help defray the costs of new solar thermal • Dehumidifiers $25 - $40 rebate and advanced wood pellet heating systems. collectors in size; • Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit: • Clothes Dryers - $200-$400 rebates • Expansions to existing solar systems not Advanced http://bit.ly/energy-gov-R-E-tax-credit Advanced Wood Heating Heating/Cooling/Water Heating eligible. wood pellet heating systems -- $6,000 per • Electric Vehicles - Tax credit for qualified Contact [email protected] or at pellet boiler/furnace (in partnership with • Central wood pellet boilers and plug-in electric drive vehicles including (603) 271-2431. Efficiency Vermont). Details at www.rerc-vt. furnaces: $6,000 rebate (in partnership passenger vehicles and light trucks. For For C&I solar program details, go to: http:// org or call (877) 888-7372. with CEDF) vehicles acquired after December 31, 2009, www.puc.nh.gov/Sustainable%20Energy/ • Retails sales of “Advanced Wood Boilers” • Heat Pumps: the credit starts at $2,500 and goes up to RenewableEnergyRebates-CI.html are exempt from Vermont’s 6% sales tax. • -Air-to-Water System: $1,000/ton rebate $7,500 based on the battery specs. http://tax.vt.gov/exemptions,, • -Centrally-Ducted System: $800/ton PACE USDA RURAL • Details at https://fpr.vermont.gov/ rebate The state also has passed PACE (prop- woodenergy/rebates • -Ductless Heating & Cooling System: erty-assessed clean energy) enabling leg- DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM $400-$500 discount at participating islation which will allow towns to use the USDA Rural Development Program - Rural • Windham County • For residential low- and moderate- distributors PACE mechanism to finance clean energy Energy for America (REAP) income residents there is a pellet stove • Heat pump water heaters: discounts up projects through property taxes. • Finance the purchase of renewable program. Contact the Windham and to $600 at participating distributors Please refer to the Residential PV pro- energy systems, and make energy Windsor Housing Trust for more informa- • Window air conditioners: $200 for gram: improvements; energy audits. Funding is tion: Tara Brown at 802-246-2119 select ENERGY STAR Emerging Technol- Residential Solar/Wind Rebate Program ogy models awarded on a competitive basis; grant • For wood heating (pellet or chip boilers/ -Effective January 2, 2018, this program funding cannot exceed 25% of eligible • Smart thermostats: up to $100 back for furnaces) in municipal buildings, schools, select ENERGY STAR models. offers rebates to qualifying NH residents project costs and combined loan guaran- and non-profits contact the Windham who install photovoltaic (PV) or wind tur- tees and grants cannot exceed 75% of Regional Commission: Marion Major at Wood Stove Change-Out bine electrical generation systems. Rebate eligible project costs. 802-257-4547 ext. 109 or windhamre- CEDF Change-Out levels are $.20 per watt of panel rated • Applicants include Feasibility studies/ gional.org/energy/wwh (customer must have an existing/installed power up to $1,000, or 30% of the total regular REAPs: agricultural producers and In Rutland County (and towns in neigh- non-EPA certified stove to change-out): facility cost, whichever is less. Check for rural small businesses. Energy audits and boring counties that boarder Rutland Co.) • Pellet stoves: $1,000 incentive updates at http://www.puc.state.nh.us/Sus- renewable energy development assis- contact Melanie Paskevich mpaskevich@ • Cord wood stoves: $800 incentive tainable%20Energy/RenewableEnergyRe- tance: local governments, tribes, land grant nwwvt.org at NeighborWorks of Western • A $100 incentive is also available to bates-SREG.html colleges, rural electric coops, public power Vermont, (802) 797-8610. replace the catalyst in an existing entities. Grant must be used for Construc- EPA-certified woodstove. Residential Solar Water Heating Pellet Sap Evaporators: tion or improvements, purchase and Efficiency VT offers a $650 rebate for a Rebate Program installation of equipment, energy audits, Incentives are available for new, high-effi- new pellet or cord wood stove w/o the • $1500 - $1900 per system based on permit fees, professional service fees, ciency wood pellet- or chip-fired evapora- need to do a change-out. If the customer annual system output business plans, and/or feasibility studies. tors utilized as primary evaporators does have a EPA certified stove S/he wants Commercial Bulk Fuel-Fed Wood Find more at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ completely replacing oil or cord wood- to get rid of they can get another $100 for NH-VTHome.html or call 802-828-6080 in fired units. $200/sq-ft of evaporator pan. that. Cannot be combined with above offer. C&I Pellet Central Heating Systems VT or 603-223-6035 in NH Info at RERC-vt.org • 40% of the heating appliance(s) and Residential New Construction installation cost, up to a maximum of Other Utilities Heating Offers • Enroll to receive a home energy rating, $65,000. An additional 30% up to a maxi- BIOREFINERY ASSISTANCE • Members of Washington Electric Co-op expert technical assistance, and incen- mum $5,000 is available for thermal storage. PROGRAM (WEC) can get a $1,000 rebate on approved tives – Efficiency Vermont Certified™ USDA Rural Development offers oppor- pellet boilers/furnaces and $500 for pellet projects receive up to $3,000 cash back Systems must be 2.5 million BTU or less tunities to producers to develop biofuels furnaces; $250 for qualifying pellet stove or • Washington Electric Coop and Vermont Residential Wood Pellet Boiler/Furnace through the Biorefinery Assistance Program. wood stove installed by a qualified installer. Gas Systems customers may also receive • 40% of installed system up to $10k The program provides loan guarantees for This can be added to the CEDF and EVT additional incentives • Must meet thermal efficiency and the development, construction, and retrofit- incentives for a total of $7,000. Call WEC for Commercial and Institutional particulate emissions standards ting of commercial-scale biorefineries. details: 802-223-5245. www.puc.nh.gov – Sustainable Energy or • Members of the Vermont Electric Co-op • Buildings over 5000 square feet can get The Biorefinery Assistance Program was tel. 603-271-2431 for more information can get a $150 credit on the purchase of an a rebate of $1.25/sf up to $50,000 from established to assist in the development and current program status approved pellet stove: www.vec/energy- Efficiency Vermont, plus an additional of new and emerging technologies for the programs. $3000 from the CEDF. LOCAL INCENTIVES development of advanced biofuels and Other Opportunities To Save Some towns provide property tax exemp- aims to accomplish the following: VT TAX CREDITS • Advanced Power Strips – special pricing tions for renewables – visit www.bit.ly/ • Increase the energy independence of • Vermont offers an investment tax credit starting at $6.95 NHtownRenewablesTaxBreaks the United States for installations of renewable energy equip- • Pool Pumps – up to $500 back on select • These are offered on a town-by-town basis. • Promote resource conservation, public ment on business properties. The credit is ENERGY STAR models • The state also has passed PACE (property- health, and the environment equal to 24% of the “Vermont property por- • Heat Saver Loan – low-interest loans of assessed clean energy) enabling legislation • Diversify markets for agricultural, forestry tion” of the federal business energy tax up to $35,000 for home weatherization which will allow towns to use the PACE products and agricultural waste materials credit from 2011 to 2016. For solar, small and heating improvements mechanism to finance clean energy projects wind, and fuel cells this constitutes a 7.2% • Create jobs and enhance economic through property taxes state-level credit for systems and for geo- development in rural America • Visit https://www.nh.gov/osi/energy thermal electric, microturbines, and com- for more information. • For more information go to NEW HAMPSHIRE bined heat and power systems, this NH Electric Cooperative Incentives www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Biorefinery constitutes a 2.4% state-level tax credit. Renewable Energy Incentives for Electric Vehicles and Electric Tier III programs Offered Through the NH Public Car Charging Stations REGIONAL • Additional incentive offers may be avail- Utilities Commission able through your local utility provider, con- NH PUC: Get up-to-date information at • NHEC offers a $1,000 incentive on a NEW ENGLAND GRASSROOTS tact your utility for more information. https://www.puc.nh.gov/Sustainable%20 Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV), $600 on a Energy/RenewableEnergyRebates.htmls Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV), ENVIRONMENTAL FUND EFFICIENCY VERMONT and $300 on Electric Motorcycles. MODEST GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR All incentives subject to availability, limits, Commercial Solar Rebate Program COMMUNITY-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL and may change at any time. For complete NHEC offers incentives for Level 2 Incentives are limited to 25% of the total Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. WORK IN CT,MA,RI,NH,VT,ME details, and participating retailers/ project cost or $50,000 if less than the AC • Must be volunteer driven or have up to 2 contractors, call 888-921-5990 or visit • For Commercial and Municipal Members incentive payment otherwise calculated, – Incentives are up to $2,500 per charging full time paid staff or equiv. efficiencyvermont.com/rebates. whichever is less. The Program is available to • have an annual budget up to $100,000 non-residential structures with a commercial unit. A maximum of two charging units Lighting may be installed • “Seed” grants of $250-$1,000 and “Grow” • Special pricing on select ENERGY STAR® electric meter located in New Hampshire. 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 Sept. 2019 15 off-peak hours at a rate that is lower than • Visit www.NHSaves.com/resource/ for The most updated loan principal buy down $1,100 for ASHP or $1,500 for GSHP the basic residential rate. individual utility contact information. rate based on household income can be found (installations per project). Installation of For Residential Members – Incentives are the high efficiency measures must be NH Home Performance with Business Programs up to $300 per charging unit. By participat- completed between 4/1/2018-12/31/2018. Includes programs for: small and large busi- ENERGY STAR ing in the residential program, at http:// *Mini-split heat pump units that only ness, new equipment and construction, Sponsored by all NH electric and natural www.masssolarloan.com/. provide cooling are not eligible: http://bit.ly/ seminars, lighting incentives, and catalog, gas utilities in partnership by the U.S. Dept. • Renewable Thermal Infrastructure Grant Heat-pumps. and low and no interest financing programs. of Energy. Fuel-blind eligibility using the Program: https://www.mass.gov/funding Home Heating Index (BTUs of heating fuel • Visit www.NHSaves.com/ for informa- Home Energy Waste tion about NH business incentives for DEPT OF ENERGY RESOURCES Getting a home energy assessment can / conditioned square feet / heating degree help you take control of your energy costs, electricity efficiency. • MA State Income tax credit for residential days). Must provide at least 12 months of identify where your house is using the most solar hot water or PV systems are eligible for a heating fuel history. Once qualified, eli- NH Weatherization Assistance energy and which improvements would one-time 15% off system cost, capped at gible homes get a $450 value compre- have the biggest impact on your bottom hensive energy audit for $100 (rebated if Income-Eligible Programs $1000 max tax credit. Home Energy Assistance and NH commu- line. Heating and cooling costs frequently improvements installed), and 50% instant • No sales tax on residential solar hot water account for 50% of residential energy bills. rebate for eligible weatherization improve- nity action Weatherization Assistance Pro- or PV system. gram. Financial assistance paying fuel bills, Identifying your energy waste can lead to ments up to a $4,000. • There is no increase in property tax and free weatherization improvements big savings. Visit: http://bit.ly/ny-nrg-waste. • Visit www.NHSaves.com/HPWES for assessment for residential solar hot wa er or for qualified applicants. Funding from U.S. more information and an online Home PV systems for 20 yrs. RENEWABLE ENERGY/NY-SUN Heating Index calculator Dept. of Energy, NH utilities. http://ny-sun.ny.gov/ Visit https://www.nh.gov/weatherization. MA SMART INCENTIVE NY-Sun is structured around custom- NH ENERGY STAR Homes htm for application criteria, FAQs and local Currently SMART incentives are only available ized Megawatt (MW) Blocks targeted • Incentives for new homes which meet program contacts for PV systems sized under 25kW. All Ever- to specific regions of the state. To learn ENERGY STAR guidelines. Incentives include source West and Most of National Grid Blocks • HERS rating fees paid by the utility, rebates more, see the Megawatt Block Incentive are full for 25kW and larger. There will be a Structure. for ENERGY STAR lighting, appliances –up to MASSACHUSETTS 400MW review process this spring and sum- $4,000 based on the HERS score. The Megawatt (MW) Block Dashboard mer. Details at http://masmartsolar.com and provides real time infor on the status of • Visit www.NHSaves.com/newhome for Commonwealth Solar Hot Water https://www. mass.gov/solar-massachusetts- more details. (SHW) Programs block and current incentive levels by sec- renewabletarget-smart. tor and region. Block status is updated as • Applicants must be served by National NHSaves Residential ENERGY STAR ® MA STATE INCENTIVE applications are submitted, so check for certified Products Program Grid, Unitil (Fitchburg Gas and Electric), current status. http://bit.ly/MW-block Eversource or a participating Municipal Light MA State Incentives can be found at: www. • Mail-in/online rebates are available Plant community masscec.com/get-clean-energy Residential and Small Business toward the purchase of the following • Incentive updates for air-sourced heat • http://bit.ly/ny-sun-Solar-Res-sm-bus ENERGY STAR® certified products: Clothes • Homeowners are eligible for a base rebate amount of the lesser of $4,500 or 40% of the pumps: https://www.masscec.com/air- Commercial and Industrial Washers, Clothes Dryers, Room Air Condition- source-heat-pumps • http://ny-sun.ny.gov/Get-Solar/Com- ers, Room Air Purifiers, Refrigerators, installed cost. The system may also be eligible to receive additional funding (“adders”) which • Wood stove Change-out program: https:// mercial-and-Industrial Dehumidifiers, and Pool Pumps. For current www.masscec.com/commonwealth-wood- rebate information and forms go to www. increase the amount of the rebate. Adders are Commercial Energy Storage stove-change-out NYSERDA is providing $350/kWh of NHSaves.com/appliances. detailed in the program manual at http://files. masscec.com/SHW_Manual.pdf energy storage capacity in addition to the • Refrigerator/freezer recycling is available HEATING PROGRAMS • Visit http://www.masscec.com/shw current NY-Sun solar incentive. https:// – unit must be in working condition (10 – 30 • The Commonwealth Woodstove Change- on.ny.gov/2FvS6L1 cubic feet in size), program includes free MassSave Heat Loan SHW Out program, a partnership between pickup and $30 rebate. For program Community Solar Through this loan program, customers may MassCEC, the Massachusetts Department of • http://bit.ly/NY-sun-Community requirements and scheduling information go borrow at 0% interest the costs of a Solar Environmental Protection and the Depart- to www.NHSaves.com/recycle. Domestic Hot Water and/or Thermal Heating ment of Energy Resources, offers rebates to Commercial/Industrial PV Installer • Instant rebates available on certain system. Apply through receiving the Mass- assist Massachusetts residents in replacing • http://ny-sun.ny.gov/For-Local-Govern- ENERGY STAR® certified LED light bulbs Save Energy Audit. You can borrow up to non-EPA-certified wood stoves with cleaner, ment/Local-Government purchased through participating NH retailers, $25,000 at 0% interest for a 7-yr term. more efficient EPA-certified wood or pellet Residential/Small Commercial and instant or mail-in rebates available on stoves. Woodstove Program Info: http://bit.ly/ Solar PV Installer ENERGY STAR® certified light fixtures (varies Energy Efficiency mass-cec-woodstoves • http://ny-sun.ny.gov/Get-Solar/Find-A- • After a free residential Energy Audit, by retailer, see store associate or rebate form • Heat Loan info: http://bit.ly/mass-save-heat- Solar-Electric-Installer for details). Infor: NHSaves.com/lighting. residential customers are eligible for up to loan Financing Options • Rebates are available to residential electric $25,000, commercial loan up to $100k at 0% interest heat loan with terms up to 7 years for: • Insulation Incentives: http://bit.ly/mass- • http://bit.ly/NY-Sun-Financing customers of the four NHSaves utilities. saves-home-insulation NHSAVES Online Store atticwall-basement insulation, high efficiency Clean Power Estimator heating systems, high efficiency domestic hot ELECTRIC VEHICLES • http://bit.ly/NYSUN-power-estim • Our extensive online store offers water systems, solar hot water systems, 7-day • After January 1, the maximum rebate for EVs Geothermal discounted pricing for residential electric digital programmable thermostats, Energy in Massachusetts will be reduced to $1,500 • rebate of $1500 per ton of installed ca- customers of the four NHSaves utilities on a Star replacement windows. Available only to and only fully battery electric or hydrogen fuel pacity for residential/small-scale systems, large variety of LED light bulbs and fixtures, utility customers of W. Mass Electric, National cell cars will be eligible. Hybrids will not be $1,200 per ton for commercial/large-scale as well as offering additional products to Grid, Berkshire Gas, Nstar, Unitil and Cape given rebates. In addition, the sticker price of systems up to $5000 make your home more efficient, such as Light Compact. Visit www.masssave.com/ the car must be under $50,000 to qualify for lighting controls, advanced power strips, residential-program.. Please call 866-527- Electric car the program. Visit: https://mor-ev.org/ thermostats, water saving devices, and 7283 to schedule a free home energy • buyers in New York State can now get various weatherization products. Orders assessment. a rebate of up to $2,000 on qualifying EV and product fulfillment are handled by our models from participating dealers. See vendor, EFI. Mass. Solar loan Program https://on.ny.gov/2Rd14zL • Visit www.NHSaves.com/lighting-catalog. Mass Solar Loan focuses on connecting NEW YORK • Charge Ready NY: $4,000/installed Plymouth Area Renewable Energy homeowners who install solar PV systems with Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging low-interest loans to help finance the projects. RENEWABLE ENERGY INCENTIVES stations for public, workplace, and multi- Initiative (PAREI): plymouthenergy.org • The $30 million partnership program OFFERED THROUGH NYSERDA unit dwelling stations. http://bit.ly/Char- • NH Solar Shares: nhsolarshares.org between Massachusetts Department of Energy Welcome to the 2017 New York solar geReadyNY. Resources (DOER) and MassCEC, will work with NHSaves: nhsaves.com incentive and rebate information: 169 Utility sponsored incentives & tips: local banks and credit unions to provide programs and incentives at: http://dsireusa. http://bit.ly/utility_sponsored_incentives financing to homeowners interested in solar Energy Star® Residential Heating, org (enter your zipcode) Programs and Clean Energy on Farms Cooling, & Water Heating electricity. DOER’s program expands borrowing Services from NYSERDA: For the latest options through lower interest rate loans and NYSERDA solar, ground source and air • $19 Million Available to Accelerate Equipment Rebate encourage loans for homeowners with lower source heat pumps, EV residential and the Use of Clean Energy Technologies On • Rebates of up to $500/ton on Air Source income or lower credit scores. commercial incentives and more visit: Farms. Learn more at: http://bit.ly/NYSER- and Geothermal Heat Pumps. Rebates of • Since 2008, the solar electric industry in nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs. DA-Farm-Clean-Energy. $500 - $750 on Heat Pump Water Heaters. Massachusetts has grown into a robust National Grid Rebates of $100 on WiFi Thermostats economic sector with over 1,400 businesses EV Incentive from National Grid National Grid, in partnership with BMW, is • National Grid savings for customers, • Program details and application at www. and 12,000 workers, with enough solar http://bit.ly/Thanks-For-Saving-Energy electricity installed in the Commonwealth to bringing eligible customers an incentive on NHSaves.com/heating cooling a BMW i3 or BMW i3s EV. Form is at https:// • For more utility rebates google the utility power more than 100,000 homes. name and search for rebates. Other NH Electric Utility Programs • Mass Solar Loan will continue to grow this www.NG-BMWi3. sector, while allowing more homeowners the • Energy Rebates: https://NG-energy- See also individual utilities for additional rebates UP-TO-DATE INCENTIVE INFO programs and variations. NH electric util- ability to achieve the cost savings and CAN BE FOUND AT: ities may offer low or no interest on-bill environmental benefits of this clean, renew- National Grid: Heat Pumps financing for energy efficiency projects. able energy source. www.masssolarloan.com. Total incentive amount not to exceed WWW.DSIREUSA.ORG 16 Sept. 2019 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Renewable Energy Solutions Pond Geothermal Heating: How Does It Work? George Harvey Many people ter. These sources are seem to be confused not just warmer than by heat pumps. The the air on a bitter fact is that nearly cold night; they are all of us have them also much better at in our homes and moving heat. cars. A refrigerator There are a number has a heat pump, of ways to set up geo- extracting what thermal heat pumps. heat it can from the The heat exchangers inside of the unit on the outside of and delivering it a building can be bur- into the kitchen. Air ied below the ground conditioners do the surface, which means same thing, taking a large area has to heat from a warm be excavated. Or place and releas- they can be in drilled ing it into another wells. Both of these that is warmer. But solutions are rather it seems odd to be costly, but for those taking heat out of a fortunate enough to freezer. have it, there is an In a common alternative. refrigerator, the ac- In the north, a pond has to be deep enough for the heat exchanger to be at least In areas of the south, where the major load is cooling, a shallower pond that does An alternative tion of a heat pump two feet below the ice all winter. This is usually six to eight feet. not freeze solid can be sufficient. Photos courtesy of AWEB Supply. solution to costly starts with com- drilling is to put the pressing a gas, which makes it hotter ates at nearly 100% efficiency, in terms of backwards. It has the flaw that the outside outside heat exchanger into a body of and denser. Then the heat is removed, converting electricity to heat. But a heat temperature can drop below the heat water. Of course, a pond or river used so the gas is closer to room tempera- pump can heat just as much using a third pump’s limits, which it will do at tempera- for this purpose has to be large enough, ture but still dense. Then the pressure of the amount of electricity or less, mak- tures between -10°F and 20°F, depending and the question of whether it is or not is released, which cools the gas far ing it much less expensive than nearly all on the unit. (Inexpensive heat pumps that should best be answered by someone below room temperature. Then it is put other ways to heat a home. It may boggle mount in windows are not good for low who can do the calculations involved. through a heat exchanger for the refrig- the mind, but it is true. And it can also run temperatures.) Another failing of air-source Most solutions to water-based erator, which warms it up but makes the the other way to cool a building in the heat pumps is that there are very much geothermal heating pumps involve refrigerator cold. summer. more efficient ways of extracting heat than long stretches of flexible pipes that are A home heating and cooling system There are a number of different ways taking it from outside air, which is not all looped over and over, lying on the bot- can work on the same principle. The to run a heat pump. One is to extract heat that good at transferring heat under any tom of a pond. To be flexible, these pipes really nice thing about this is that it from the outside air, which is how air- circumstances. need to be made of some sort of plastic, uses far less energy to pump heat than source heat pumps work. That is a good Geothermal heat pumps address the which is not very good at transferring it does to create it. A resistance heater, solution, compared to most other heating major issues of air-source heat pumps. heat, and this is why they need to be so such as an ordinary space heater, oper- systems. It is like running an air conditioner They extract heat from the ground or wa- long. Cont’d on p.17 The Impacts of Natural Gas on Our Planet George Harvey equipment in a car. A careful This is a dubious benefit, because other Methane can be found check on this test found even countries have been doing the same all over the world. It is more. thing, increasing the supply. Meanwhile, the primary ingredient Methane is dangerous demand for natural gas has gone flat in natural gas, the fossil not only for the climate, but worldwide. fuel drawn from the Earth, because it can explode. Gas The petrochemical industry has been and in renewable natural explosions and fires cause looking for new markets for natural gas, which is produced at by leaking methane happen gas. Some gas producers have decided landfills and biodigest- regularly in the United States. that it would be a good idea to switch ers. It has many uses for The fires can be serious enough from oil to gas for chemical feedstocks heating, for generating that entire neighborhoods for the plastics industry. Of course, this electricity, and as a chemi- might burn. Last year there was has come about at just the point when cal feed stock. But it is a a series of over 70 explosions countries are beginning to understand powerful greenhouse gas, and fires in houses in one part the dangers of plastics in the environ- causing climate change, of Massachusetts. An explo- ment. They are in ocean gyres; they are and many scientists sion in 2010 burned down 35 in polar snow. They are found in our houses in San Bruno, California. food and in the air. And they are caus- believe that replacing National Grid natural gas storage tank. Fletcher6, Wikimedia Commons. coal with natural gas as These are just notable exam- ing environmental destruction. a fuel is not a significant ples of events that come about Even as we stop using fossil fuels for improvement. ages of continuous fires lit on the surface every few months. heat and electricity, and as we give up To understand the problem with of running water cannot be easily ex- The Trump administration has been on plastics, I believe there will continue natural gas as a fuel, we should think plained as a natural effect of, for example, pushing natural gas, because it offers jobs to be reasons to use methane. With about how it is extracted, transported, anaerobic action. and keeps gas prices down. One result reduction in fuel and feedstock uses, and used. Much of our natural gas There are other ways that methane can of this is that it is a low-cost fuel, and a however, it will not be necessary to use comes from fracking, fracturing rock be leaked at extraction sites. Scientists lot of people are employed. A problem so much. It will also not be necessary formations so gas bound inside them have been able to demonstrate that the is that the companies doing the fracking that it be extracted from the Earth. will be released. amount of methane in the atmosphere is have financial difficulties because the It can be produced by landfills and While the gas companies claim that significantly greater at the wells than it is price of their product is low. In fact, their biodigesters. The U.S. Department of fracking is safe, there are a number elsewhere. Somehow, though the indus- problems are so great that a former chief Agriculture projected a need for over of reasons for concern. Fracking is try does not want to admit it, the gas is executive of one of the largest fracking 10,000 biodigesters for farms alone. achieved by pumping chemicals un- getting out. companies told an audience at a petro- The number of biodigesters that might derground, and some of these chemi- Once the gas is extracted, it has to be chemicals conference that fracking has be put to use for waste treatment is cals are toxic. Since fracking involves transported, usually through pipes at high been an “unmitigated disaster” for inves- probably much larger. And the meth- breaking up rock, it is conceivable that pressure. These pipes can be hundreds tors in shale companies (CleanTechnica ane that they capture, which otherwise it would release methane and frack- of miles long, and pressures can be quite - http://bit.ly/fracking-losers). would have gone into the environment, ing chemicals through cracks that are high, so leaks occur. Even at low pressure, Because a glut of natural gas in the U.S. should be put to use. opened to the surface. Disturbing im- there are leaks. One survey of Boston has put jobs into peril, the administra- It looks like fracking might be short- found over 2,000 of them detectable by tion has been trying to increase exports. lived. We can hope. Renewable Energy in the News WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Sept. 2019 17 Pond Geothermal Winner of 76West Grand Prize Heating Cont’d from p.16 Unveils Innovative New Solar Solution Another approach to water-based geothermal heating was developed by Skyven Intelligent Mirror Array™ installed at Copses Farm in Valley Falls, NY Alan Watts of AWEB Supply, which has George Harvey by the 76West competition. been installing its systems since 1995. The New York State This was first reported in Green Energy Because the award required Energy Research and a business presence in the Times in the issue of April, 2018 (http:// Development Author- bit.ly/GET-AWEB). Southern Tier. He looked at ity (NYSERDA) runs the the local businesses to see AWEB Supply sells SlimJim® heat 76West competition to exchangers, made of stainless steel, which he thought was best, encourage growth of and partnered with Cameron and Geo Lake Plate®, made of titanium. clean energy. Accord- These materials transfer heat far more Manufacturing and Design in ing to its website, it is the end. efficiently than plastics. This means that “designed to further de- the amount of piping needed for the Another New York business velop the regional com- with experience with Skyven’s heat exchanger can be greatly reduced, munity of clean energy allowing for a rather compact system. new type of solar system is technology innovators, The Radiant Store. Terrence AWEB Supply’s heat exchangers can industry experts, educa- be used for any geothermal-style system Moag, CEO of Radiant Store tors, and investors, as Inc., said, “Skyven’s Intelligent near a sufficient body of water. For a well as help startups small house, that might mean as little as Mirror Array™ is a giant step get early users for their forward in the solar thermal one-third of an acre, providing the pond technologies.” The com- is deep enough – perhaps six to eight market by providing con- petition is limited as to centrated solar technology feet. The systems are connected to heat the types of businesses pumps at the buildings they heat and to industrial and commercial involved and how they businesses on a global scale cool by buried pipes, through which wa- can have impact in the ter flows. The systems are not exposed at a fraction of the cost. The eleven counties the market for this technology is to freezing temperatures, so no other rules designate as the chemicals are needed. truly massive. I am really im- Southern Tier (http:// pressed with the performance AWEB systems can also be used on bit.ly/NY-76West). much larger systems. For example, one of the system and thrilled our In 2017, the 76West technical team at Radiant had of the larger systems AWEB installed is Grand Prize went to for Disney Barracks, one of the largest the opportunity to install the Skyven for a technology system which will help New buildings at Fort Knox. The fort built a the NYSERDA called pond for this just to provide the water. York reach its clean energy one of the first renew- goals.” Anyone who lives on a pond or river able solar solutions might do well to think about having a The 76West competition for industrial steam is held every year. Each year, water-based geothermal system from in the world. Now the Ken Desbois from the Radiant Store in Troy, NY installed this renewable industrial steam solar AWEB. While AWEB does not sell directly its Grand Prize awards $1 first installation of that system at Copses Farm in Valley Falls, NY. Photo courtesy of Terrence Moag. million. A second- place win- to consumers, the company is happy to technology, manufac- refer customers to contractors in their ar- ner gets $500,000, and four tured in New York, has been completed. water requires a lot of energy, but with other awards are made, each coming to eas who can undertake installation. Chris Skyven calls the array the Intelligent McCaskill, one of the owners of AWEB, the Skyven mirror system, this energy can $250,000, so the amount awarded is $2.5 Mirror Array™. It was installed at Copses be renewable and free of emissions. The million annually. The competition is now told us, “It’s worth giving us a call.” He Farms in Valley Falls, New York. This is the can be reached at [email protected], system at the Copses Farm is not large, as four years old. second installation of the technology in it has only nine solar panels. The panels The Skyven system is sold for indus- or by calling (225) 928-2630. AWEB’s the country. website is awebgeo.com. appear to be about the size of a large trial use only, at present. We do not have Skyven’s technology concentrates solar photovoltaic panel. The system was information on when, or whether, it sunlight on a thermal collector, and the designed and installed in a collaborative might become available for residential heat is transferred to water. Skyven, which effort between Skyven and the Radiant use. The company, however, is rather is based in Texas, worked with Cam- Store. Ken Desbois from the Radiant Store young, as all 76West contestants must eron Manufacturing and Design, which installed the system. be, and will doubtless continue to de- is based in the Southern Tier town of As the Grand Prize winner, Skyven was velop this new technology. Horseheads, NY to build systems locally. awarded $1 million in 2017. Arun Gupta, Learn more from Terrence Moag at the Copses Farm is a 2,600-acre dairy founder and CEO of Skyven, said he was Radiant Store: tmoag@theradiantstore. operation with 720 cows. Each time its attracted to doing business in New York com or 518.376.1884. equipment is used, it must be cleaned thoroughly. To do this, it needs 50,000 A pond being built with geothermal for heat. of very hot water annually. Heating this

518-899-2791 theradiantstoreinc.com Solar in a Box Cont’d from p.10 good return, and socially responsible taxes. Next year, though, the Bonus investments. However, owning a solar Depreciation drops to 67%, and in 2021 project as a financial investment offers it goes down to 33%. the ability to diversify your financial port- When the federal and state tax folio to include tangible, real, high-value credits and savings are combined, your assets, lower your tax burden, and reduce first year out-of-packet cash is usually carbon emissions by supporting greater Solar reduced to about 50% of the total solar renewable energy penetration. LED system cost. We encourage you to think big. The Solar Home Radiant Heat Financing a project this size may planet demands it. “Solar Business in a EnergyEnergy LightingPerformance &HVAC HVAC seem elusive to many Vermonters, but Box” might just be the ideal approach for Solar LED the truth is it has never been easier for you. Please do reach out to us at AllEarth. a Vermonter to finance a solar instal- We’d love to talk further about helping Energy Lighting lation. VSECU is currently offering no- you making your dreams of owning your HVAC money-down full solar loans for proj- own solar business a reality! ects up to 15kW. Through PPAs you can David Blittersdorf is an entrepreneur and begin immediately generating monthly engineer from Vermont with nearly four income above the costs of loan pay- decades of experience as an innovative ments. Over time, the high return on leader in the wind and solar energy indus- investment is a rate that any large-scale try. David founded NRG Systems in 1982, investor would be envious of. and AllEarth Renewables in 2004. Their Opportunities are rare for low-risk, website is: AllEarthRenewables.com.

Ecological Sustainability as the New Gold For Ecological1/16 page horizontal Transformation – COLOR 4.875 x 1.5

18 Sept. 2019 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL Realizing Market Value for High-Performance Homes Jeffrey Gephart, Real Estate Trade Ally Outreach, Efficiency Vermont tifies the lender that they have a special performance home, the Symposium their tool box, such as the cost or income property type that requires additional will cover what is needed to realize the The benefits of a high-performance research and likely expense in hiring true contributory value of high-perfor- home include affordability, comfort, capitalization methods of appraisal. So, if you’re looking to sell or buy a a competent appraiser. The Appraisal mance home features. and durability. These homes have Institute has a cover letter template to ac- lower energy bills resulting from high high-performance home, what can you Links: do to ensure you’re getting the value? company the Green Addendum explain- 1 Efficiency Vermont – efficiencyvermont.com insulation values, low air infiltration, ing its purpose for lenders who may not high efficiency mechanical systems, If you’re a seller, you can verify your 2 NHSaves - https://nhsaves.com home’s energy efficiency features using a be familiar with it. 3 Residential Green and Energy Efficient and in some cases renewable energy. The Vermont Association of Realtors® They’re also healthier due to ventilation qualified, independent, 3rd party verifier Addendum – appraisalinstitute.org/green-bldg- will be conducting their third, Vermont resources systems that reduce pollutants, control such as a Home Energy Rater or a Building Performance Institute certified audi- Green Real Estate Symposium on October 4 Vital Communities- vitalcommunities.org/ humidity, and provide fresh air for oc- 23, 2019 at Killington Mountain Resort, greenrealestate cupants. Unfortunately, these benefits tor. Reach out to Efficiency Vermont in Killington, VT. The Symposium offers 5 Appraised Value and Energy Efficiency: Getting don’t always result in a higher market Vermont or NHSaves in New Hampshire to identify a verifier that will work for you. a day’s worth of continuing education It Right – appraisalinstitute.org/AI-BCAP_Flyer.pdf value for the home. credits for real estate professionals. For Appraisers look to the recent past Information from these energy efficiency 6 Vermont Green Real Estate Symposium - those seeking to buy, sell, or build a high- vermontrealtors.com/green19 for comparable home sales, looking professionals should be transferred to the for homes in a similar location, square Appraisal Institute’s Residential Green and footage, and number of bedrooms. Energy Efficient Addendum to provide For years, new homes were built with to a potential buyer or to your real estate Attn: REALTORS! little change in energy efficiency so agent who can include features in your appraisers have grown accustomed to MLS listing. Green Real Estate simply performing the sales compari- If you’re a buyer, look for energy- Crash Course son method of appraisal. This works fine efficient and renewable features that will when, to quote the song Little Boxes, save you money while increasing health, 3 dual VT/NH CE credits “they’re all made out of ticky-tacky and comfort, and durability. If there are oppor- they all look just the same.” tunities for energy upgrades, rebates exist Free Online Resources Nov. 19 in Lebanon, NH High-performance homes are built through state programs like Efficiency vitalcommunities.org/greenrealestate Register Online and perform much better for their Vermont and NHSaves to help cover the occupants. While they are typically costs of improvements and in some cases more expensive to build up front (or to provide financing. You can also look for retrofit after they’re built), the savings “green” loan products through area lend- in energy costs often offsets the higher ers. Eagle Home Inspection Solutions LLC mortgage cost and can provide their Vital Communities based in the Upper Detailed home inspections in the Upper Valley owners a lower total cost of ownership. Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont of Vermont and New Hampshire In Vermont and New Hampshire, few has helpful tips for buyers and sellers appraisers have had training in apprais- through Green Real Estate content on · Radon testing · Infrared Thermography ing high-performance homes. Training their website. can help appraisers know where to If you’re seeking financing, providing · Water sampling · Buy-back guarantee look for comparable, high-performance the Green Addendum with information homes or how to use other tools in on green features early in the process no- (802) 526-2642 www.EagleHomeInspectionSolutions.com Energy Audit Recommendations for Your Home This is the second in our home-inspection tips series ENERGY COST ESTIMATES BASED ON TYPICAL USAGE IN BRADFORD, VT Michael Canavan ing to LED lights; tightening doors and Now that you have received your windows; adding insulation in attic and Home Energy Audit report, how do basements; and sealing and insulating you understand the report and what ductwork. This group can be done by does it mean to you, the homeowner? the homeowner with a small amount of The report generates recommenda- training via YouTube videos and read- Cont’d from p.9 tions that provide the highest energy ing directions on packaging. This group performance with payback periods of is intended to help you use less energy less than ten years. The recommenda- by reducing energy losses with small tions are listed for how quickly the efficiency upgrades and adding to your savings can be generated based on the home’s comfort level with easy changes. cost of material and installation along The return on the investment in these with the local cost of energy being upgrades is usually less than two years. used in the home. Each homeowner The second group is for planning should decide which upgrades he or purposes as equipment, building systems she may want to do over time and not and appliances need upgrading or be concerned about having to do them replacement. This group includes air con- all at once. Do some of the simple ones ditioning, heating systems, water heaters, (light bulbs) and see the change in sav- roofs, appliance upgrades and window ings, then move on to another recom- replacements. For this group, you, the Graph and Chart designed with Energy Tool from NACHI mendation. How fast you do them is homeowner, will need to research dependent on your own comfort level. information on the systems, efficient use used those companies or the suppliers Doing the energy improvements The report has two levels of recom- of energy, cost, and changes within the that those companies use, and how you recommended in the Home Energy mendations. home’s space. The research should also feel they interact with you. You will need Audit will increase the comfort of your The first group will help you save include reviews for companies that are to be comfortable with their knowledge home and increase its value by being energy now, items such as chang- recommended by homeowners that have of the equipment that they will install in more energy efficient. Homes that have advance of upgrade or replacement of energy-efficiency upgrades show that your systems. the home has been maintained, which SUMMARY OF ESTIMATED YEARLY COSTS One of the reasons for doing the Home generally will receive a higher resale Energy Audit is to save money on your value. home’s energy cost. Simply put, your G.E.T. has current listings of incentives savings is the cost of energy used before by federal, regional, and state for avail- improvements minus the energy cost able programs for payment assistance after the improvements. The return on at WWW.DSIREUSA.org. the improvements equals the cost of the Michael Canavan is the owner of improvement divided by the difference in Eagle Home Inspection Solutions of energy saved, which pays for the im- Norwich, Vermont. Learn more at www. provements for over a period of months. EagleHomeInspectionSolutions.com, or The return on the investment in these (802)526-2642. upgrades is usually two to ten years. 2019 Vermont Clean Energy Report Identifies a Maturing Clean Energy Cluster

BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Sept. 2019 19 IPCC ISSUES GLOBAL GUIDE to the USAGE of LAND “Governments challenged the IPCC to take the first ever comprehensive look at the whole land-climate system.” – Hoesung Lee, IPCC Chair A great mass of detail is presented J. D. Kaplan therein, exploring a wide variety of Every state- situations a government may con- In the July 2019 issue of G.E.T. ment in this front. It addresses all levels of material (“Movement On Decarbonization,” report carries a wealth and considers the full spectrum http://www.greenenergytimes.org/ weight rat- of developed states. More than half of back-issues-download/), I said that it ing, of a sort, a the contributors are from developing is certain that we had better start un- stated level of countries, so it reflects a serious mix of winding carbon if we expect to survive. certainty among progress around the world. It may also There is uncertainty, though, in a IPCC contribu- reflect its challenges, but it is at least as few carbon quantities otherwise well tors. Competing dedicated to looking forward and meet- fleshed out. That means that a wildcard viewpoints aren’t ing challenges as the best of the actors may give us plenty of time, or it may lost, in this way. in the land trust movement in America. halt, spilling oceans onto land masses. It also isolates ar- 1 The report can be found at www. The persistence of sunken carbon eas of uncertain IPCC.ch.If you’re unfamiliar with the dioxide in certain places around the outcomes—wild group that produced the report, there globe—perhaps a feedback loop has cards, up in the is an objective writeup from an outside an expiration date—leaves the possibil- air literally but party at UCSUSA.org. ity of total survival on an unknown time with boundaries scale. to the havoc we J. D. Kaplan is a certified remote pilot The most salient Joker’s Parcel, if you fear from them. and a former member of the I.T. crowd. He will, might be the Russian permafrost. The read- is a reader in the areas of bioelectromag- This is mentioned in the new report ing is dry and netics and cryptocurrency. He lives and from the IPCC1, which issues guidance The way we divide up and use the land matters very much to climate change, says the the structure is works at or above sea level near Boston. on the usage of land. Here, I’d recom- IPCC. Image: Thomas Ehrhardt, Pixabay. technical, but mend the dry language of a report the report does meant for bureaucrats and policy ever ask for. There are numbers and keen a stellar job of explaining why being sus- wonks over major media any day. The observations regarding the farming or tainable ecologically might have an eco- argument is made that uncertainty development of land, projects to convert nomic benefit. The IPCC also makes clear NEW HAMPSHIRE within climate change science should it between those or, say, back to wetlands why local action about the forests and the motivate expenditure to manage land from a respectable career as the footprint land may affect regional climate no matter SMALL BUSINESS? more carefully, rather than to pull back of a shopping mall, and policy that affects what the CO2 level is around the globe. and ready the life boats. Who wants to land & people anywhere. The Special Some benefits of advancing carbon- endure paranoia? Report is around 1500 pages and offers all related action right away are presented. Want to control energy costs In a set of guidelines that include the science and reason that officials, land Policies reaching for CO2 reduction can be with renewables? ecologic results, quantities of CO2, owners, and investors might use to best designed to benefit the poor rather than and exploration of socioeconomic manage their land, all reasonable end- taxing them, to empower women and mi- outcomes, the choices people make in games considered. nority groups in a population rather than their usage of land is hashed out. Special attention is given to food secu- sidelining them, and even to knit a fabric WE CAN HELP! The IPCC has produced a volume rity, as the potential for conflict sprouts up of collaborators in a society that might in as much detail on this subject as just where humans begin to hold the land otherwise be headed for conflict by way anyone with money to invest could higher in value. of eco-limitations and stress.

US CITIES SCORECARD efforts through initiatives like the American Clean Energy Scorecard offers a clear guide Cont’d from p.3 Cities Climate Challenge.” for local leaders to learn from one another FREE technical assistance ramp up their efforts to reduce climate Lois DeBacker, managing director of how to transition to clean energy in an for qualified businesses pollution and improve lives for urban The Kresge Foundation’s Environment equitable manner.” communities,” said Antha Williams, Program, also a major Scorecard funder, The American Council for an Energy-Effi- Environment Programs Lead at Bloom- said: “It is vital that cities move quickly to cient Economy acts as a catalyst to advance berg Philanthropies, a major funder of reduce their carbon emissions and that they energy efficiency policies, programs, tech- www.lrcc.edu/nhrr the ACEEE report. “The Scorecard docu- do so in ways that engage and benefit all nologies, investments, and behaviors. to get started ments the incredible growth of the field residents, including low-income communi- The scorecard report is at: https://aceee.org/ and Bloomberg is proud to support these ties and communities of color. ACEEE’s City research-report/u1904. 20 Sept. 2019 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG Feature: Lebanon, New Hampshire Resilience in Lebanon, New Hampshire It Takes a Community of Exemplary People and Projects. George Harvey Works. City Manager Mulholland has Shaun Mulholland, the City Manager also given Below permission to at- of Lebanon, New Hampshire, has a lot tend any city staff meeting relating to to do, even without worrying about energy issues, and he has put hundreds energy and climate change. He is very of hours into helping with the city’s much aware of the need for planning energy-related projects. for the future, planning that is all the Lebanon is actively working with more difficult because the environmen- Dartmouth College on Lebanon Com- tal needs are a moving target, and the munity Power – the city’s municipal technologies available to meet them aggregation program. (See “New are constantly changing. His job is all ‘Community Power’ Legislation” on about economics. And it is also all about page 20.) Below recently joined Steffi ensuring that Lebanon is a nice place to Muhanji and Associate Professor Amro live. But it is also all about resilience and M. Farid, both of the Thayer School of emergency management. Engineering, Dartmouth College, along Speaking on the issue of sustainabil- with Energy and Facilities Manager ity, Mulholland emphasized to Green Tad Montgomery in authoring a peer- Energy Times the complexity and extent Double rainbow at sunset on the ramp at Lebanon Airport (LEB). Photo submitted by Charles Freeman. All images reviewed paper for the International of the job, “One person cannot do all downloaded from the LebNH Photo Gallery: https://lebanonnh.gov/710/LebNH-Photo-Gallery Symposium on Technology and Society. the work.” Far too much for a city man- The paper examines the potential for ager, the subject may even be too big James Donison, Director of the Depart- tion this session alone. Perhaps the most shared integrated grids to build resil- for a single dedicated Energy and Facili- ment of Public Works (DPW), has been important of these involves municipal ience and increase the deployment of ties Manager. Fortunately for Lebanon, very active on the landfill gas project, aggregation (see separate article on this renewable energy. The focus of the pa- there are many people already deeply overseeing each of the various stages of page). Aggregation is important because per is Lebanon Community Power, the engaged. Lebanon is a hotbed of activ- activity. To give an idea of the size of these it makes it possible for residents of the city’s municipal aggregation project, ity for solving the problems of en- projects, the city has allocated $2.8 mil- city to reduce energy costs and move in light of the community aggregation ergy, efficiency, pollution, and climate lion, but more may be coming. Donison quickly to renewable electricity at the bill (SB286) that recently passed in New change. There are many stories begging told us about the city’s vision also to have same time. Hampshire. It specifically looks at the to be told of many active people and a biodigester that would convert organic Below’s longtime active interest in use of blockchain technology to enable many organizations engaged in many waste from the region into compost and energy has been valuable as he currently the local trading of locally-produced en- active projects. bio-methane, reducing the electricity sits on the Grafton County Delegation ergy. It foresees a market structure that Lebanon started working on sustain- needed to operate the water treatment Executive Committee, the Planning Board “continues to evolve and embrace new ability and climate change years ago. plant, supplying heat in addition to of the City of Lebanon, and the Steering technologies – under a nimble, flexible Its emissions began to come down in a electricity from the landfill gas project. Committee of the National Council on mode of governance.” meaningful way a few years ago, when Organic waste will produce methane as Electricity Policy. He is also engaged in In addition to the projects already it started to flare the methane com- it decomposes in nature and using it to transportation issues and sits on Leba- mentioned, Lebanon has been working ing from the landfill, one of its biggest produce electricity or heat converts it to non’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory on energy retrofits on the city’s build- greenhouse gas problems. Lebanon’s carbon dioxide, which is a far less power- Committee. ings. It is taking ownership of the street- City Council moved the issue along ful greenhouse gas. In addition to his role as Assistant lights in order to install a more efficient more, when it committed the city to Clifton Below is the Assistant Mayor of Mayor, Below chairs the Lebanon En- LED lighting system in which lights can abide by the goals of the Paris Climate Lebanon, chair of the Lebanon Energy ergy Advisory Committee. He is actively be adjusted both for time of day and to Accord. Then last summer, the city un- Advisory Committee (LEAC), a former involved in each of its subcommittees, make up dimming as the lights age. It is dertook a comprehensive greenhouse state senator and member of the NH which include solar, electric vehicles and installing roughly 800kW of solar arrays gas inventory with help from the UNH Public Utilities Commission. He has been municipal aggregation with a streetlight on city buildings in its first solar project. Sustainability Institute. heavily involved in energy issues locally, subcommittee recently put down as the It is looking into hosting public electric A landfill gas project is nearing the state-wide, and across the region, having project moves into the implementation vehicle charging stations. It is working point where it will be turning that gas helped to write five pieces of NH legisla- phase under the Department of Public on improving city heating systems so from a problem to an asset, in which they can run on biofuel instead of oil the gas is no longer flared but used or propane. Each of these efforts has its for energy. The landfill is divided into own heroes. sections of ten to twenty acres each. Clearly, the expectation in Lebanon is One is capped to prevent methane from that the one thing that we can count on escaping. The trash in another has to be in the future is change. There are many dug up, so it can be lined and capped. other people in the city who are actively About ten acres are in use as a landfill, engaged in furthering that change. The and part of this is capped. About six City Council, the Planning Office, the acres are to be permitted for future use. Lebanon Energy Advisory Committee, Gas extracted from the landfill is largely the citizens group Sustainable Lebanon, methane, which is a powerful green- and others are deeply involved. All of house gas that should not be released, them are actively working to bring ben- but which can be used for a lot of efits to residents’ lives while reducing things, including generating electricity Lebanon’s carbon footprint and keeping and heating buildings. So, a gas that is costs down. Many more people are wor- dangerous to the environment is at the thy of mention than we can name here. same time a fuel that could reduce costs View of Lebanon from Storrs Hill. Photo from Delaina Carlson. The web site for the City of Lebanon for the town. is lebanonnh.gov.

When the water level gets low enough in the winter you can walk out onto Springtime culture and greenery coming into bloom at Colburn Park, Lebanon. Get there by bus (Advance Transit), by bike from the rail trail, walk the sandbar by the rail trail for a new perspective on Mascoma Lake. Photo from town or maybe a carpool to visit the incredible farmer’s market for local food and activities throughout the town. Photo: Rebecca Owens. from Jerry Halstead. Feature: Lebanon, New Hampshire WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG Sept. 2019 21

New “Community Power” Legislation The first step for a local government to implement a Community Power A Game Changer for Energy in New Hampshire? program is for the local governing body, whether it be a select board, town coun- Henry Herndon For example, Lebanon Com- cil, city council, or county commission, “Community Power” legislation munity Power plans to develop to form an electric aggregation com- recently signed into law has the renewable energy projects mittee to develop a Community Power potential to transform the way lo- within the city to supply plan. Multiple towns, cities, or counties cal governments in New Hamp- electricity to the community may group together to form committees shire interact with their energy as a whole. The City of Leba- to develop these plans. Once finalized, systems. non has appropriated $2.85 Community Power plans must be ap- Under a Community Power million for the development of proved by the local legislative body (e.g., program, local governments can a one-megawatt (MW) landfill town meeting, city council). procure and provide electricity to gas-to-energy power plant. The Related Legislation their residents and businesses on City is also considering options At least two other energy bills may im- a competitive basis. By bypass- for large solar projects which pact the implementation of Community ing outdated regulations and could similarly provide electric- Power programs in New Hampshire. legacy technologies, the Commu- ity directly to city businesses SB 284, also recently signed into law, nity Power programs can harness and residents. enables for the creation of a statewide, private-sector innovation to lower Another area where the law multi-use online energy data platform. costs for their customers and pro- The City of Lebanon, NH incorporates Community Power plans to develop expands local control relates to Implementation of some of the more so- vide other energy services. Electric renewable energy projects within the city to supply electricity to the commu- smart meters and electric grid phisticated aspects of Community Power distribution utilities (e.g., Ever- nity as a whole in an effort to provide clean, affordable power to the commu- modernization. Grid modern- relating to smart meters and dynamic source, Liberty Utilities, NH Electric nity. Image: Wikipedia. ization, a concept currently pricing will rely on modern data collec- Cooperative, and Unitil) continue under study by New Hampshire tion and processing. to deliver the electricity over their poles local governments are considering estab- energy regulators, seeks to accelerate and Another bill, HB 365, which would and wires. lishing Community Power entities to take harness customer adoption of distributed increase the allowed size for net- After approval of Community Power advantage of the new legislation. Commu- solar, energy storage (batteries), electric metered renewable energy projects programs at town meetings (or the nity Power programs can be implemented vehicle charging infrastructure, and other from one megawatt to five megawatts, equivalent for cities and counties), all at the municipal or county level. technologies. was vetoed by Governor Sununu. Cities customers not already on competitive A growing number of New Hampshire Grid modernization requires smart and towns hoping to use Community supply are automatically enrolled but communities are setting renewable ener- meters that can track energy production Power programs to develop their own can choose to switch back to their regu- gy targets, with at least a half a dozen aim- and consumption throughout the day. The renewable energy systems will likely be lated utility or to another supplier. ing to achieve 100% renewable electricity vast majority of energy meters owned by looking at projects in the range of one to At least eight states currently enable supply by 2030. The Community Power electric utilities only log energy data once five megawatts. similar types of programs, sometimes law will likely play an important role in a month. Under the new legislation, Com- During the legislative session, both referred to as “municipal aggregation” or enabling cities and towns to achieve their munity Power programs may deploy their the House and the Senate voted for “community choice aggregation.” renewable energy goals. own smart meters and use them to unlock HB365 with strong enough margins to Lebanon Community Power, managed Beyond Bulk Energy Purchasing a suite of new pricing options both for override a veto. It remains to be seen on behalf of the city by the Lebanon Beyond simple energy procurements, energy consumption, and as payment for on veto override day this September Energy Advisory Committee (LEAC), is on the Community Power law (SB 286-FN- power from solar, household batteries, etc. whether those votes will hold. track to be New Hampshire’s first Com- LOCAL) equips users with various other Process for Implementing “Community Henry Herndon is Director of Local munity Power program. Numerous other capabilities. Power” Energy Solutions for Clean Energy NH. COMMUNITY GARDENS RECYCLING AND WASTE

The Lebanon Recycling Center.The flowering tree was planted in memory of Barbara Whitman, a Lebanon resident who was a longtime vol- unteer on the Household Hazardous Waste Committee. Photo from Pat McGovern. RECREATION FOR ALL SEASONS

Top: Canillas Community Garden: 35 raised beds, a spiral perennial garden, herb gardens, bean tepee, pollinator garden, and more. Below: Kilton Library Garden - Fall. Photos from Patricia McGovern.

Right: first photo: A rainbow after a baseball rain break at Logan Field. Second photo: A view of the 2019 Full Moon Fiesta event held by Leba- non Recreation and Parks each year at Storrs Hill Ski Area. Photo from Stephanie Vallee. 22 Sept. 2019 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 SUSTAINABLE HEATING & COOLING Sustainable

YELLOW HEAT TM Space Heating Convert oil heating sytems Keeps fossil fuels in the ground to used vegetable oil. George Harvey Tom Leue, a businessman living in effective. Cleaner • Safer • Cheaper Ashfield, Massachusetts, has invented What Leue invented is a variation on the YellowHeat.com what he calls “yellow heat.” It can allow Babington principle. Instead of oil being 800-285-4533 conversion of oil-burning boilers to run run though a nozzle, it is allowed to drip on recycled vegetable oil, which Leue onto a ball with a slightly pitted surface and calls “yellow grease.” Since the vegetable blown into a mist by a jet of air. This means overworked fryer at the end of the day. erally less than 30¢ per gallon. Instead of oil is from plants raised as crops, burning that there is virtually no restriction on the Preparing vegetable oil for use as fuel has the meager amount of money, the owner it can come very close to being carbon- type of oil used, as long as it has the correct historically been done in two ways. It could of the restaurant can use the scrap oil to neutral, with the only fossil fuels involved chemical characteristics. Fuel oil could be be filtered to remove all unwanted materi- replace expensive fuel oil. being those used to grow and transport used and would work fine, if the user is will- als, from pieces of breading to tiny particu- Leue has a program under which oil is the crop and to provide electric power to ing to put up with the environmental and lates, and then fed into a specially adapted collected from restaurants, filtered, and the boiler. Since the oil has already been economic costs involved. But, so would the burner or engine. On the other hand, it sold to customers. He has guaranteed used for its intended purpose, his system dark, overworked oil in the bottom of an could be converted into a substance more that the price will be at least $1 per gal- is rated as being nearly like diesel or home heating oil through a lon below that of home heating oil. The carbon-neutral by the chemical process using other feedstocks program operates for customers in the EPA. in addition to vegetable oil and producing Ashfield, MA area only and has limited Leue’s invention, chemical wastes, for use in a conventional availability, however. however, goes a bit be- engine. There are other advantages in using yond being potentially Yellow heat allows use of rather dirty fuel, vegetable oil as fuel. One of these is its carbon-neutral in some filtered to eliminate French fries and bits of relative lack of danger in the case of a important ways. First, tempura. It need not be otherwise altered, spill. Used vegetable oil is a biological it is almost exquisitely because the system with the ball and air jet product, and in some parts of the world simple to convert most is very hard, or even impossible, to clog. can be sold for human consumption. conventional oil burn- Yellow heat is pretty much ideal for cer- Leue said, “It might attract mice, but ers to use it. Second, tain kinds of restaurants, where vegetable that is not an environmental danger.” By it is almost exquisitely oil us widely used for frying. At the end of contrast, if home heating oil is spilled, it simple to convert used the day, such a restaurant is very likely to needs to be cleaned up, and that can cost vegetable oil to be have a fair amount of used oil to get rid of. a lot of money. used as fuel. Finally, it A dealer in waste oil might pick up such Tom Leue can be reached at (413) 628- uses oil so inexpensive Yellow Heat’s oil burner does not use fossil fuels to heat your home or busi- ness. Image courtesy of Thomas Leue. waste oil and actually pay for it, but not 4533 or [email protected]. The Yellow that it can be very cost- much. Leue said the price of such oil is gen- Heat website is yellowheat.com.

Keeping Warm with Our Masonry Heater Dan Crosby, Local Energy Solutions we use four cords of wood per year, which is sociation of North America (mha-net.org). We have no oil furnace. Instead, we equivalent to about 700 gallons of heating Dan Crosby, lives in Bethlehem, NH. He heat our 1900 sq. ft. home in Bethlehem, oil. Since I work up our wood myself, our is a member of the Ammonoosuc Regional NH by burning 3.5 to 4 cords of wood wood is “free” (Hmm...). If we had purchased Energy Team (ARET), an all-volunteer each year in our masonry heater. A wood at $200 per cord, our annual costs non-profit organization that supports masonry heater is an option that I would would have been $800. economically and environmentally sensible encourage everyone to consider for a If we had installed a new oil furnace, our energy practices. Contact them at www. newly constructed home, and it may also initial investment would have been much ammenergy.org. be an option for retrofitting an existing lower, but our annual fuel costs would have home. We rely on our masonry heater to been much higher. A new oil furnace instal- Many thanks to our sponsor: keep our house warm, but many people lation would only have cost around $4000, who have masonry heaters do have less than a third of the cost of our masonry another heating system. If they are away heater. However, we would have used about GREENSTONE for multiple days in the winter, their other 700 gallons of fuel oil each year. Using the HEAT system can keep their house warm. Once average cost of heating fuel from 2001 to back home, however, using the masonry 2018 (about $3.00/gallon according to the heater causes the other system to run NH Dept. of Energy), we can do a rough much less, or not at all. comparison of my actual costs for heating So, what is a masonry heater? Its my home using the masonry heater with core, which can withstand very high- what it would have cost if I had installed an temperature fires, is surrounded by some oil furnace. A masonry heater uses wood efficiently and can be type of facing material, such as brick. The So, my actual cost for heating my home exhaust does not go directly from firebox the primary heat source for your home. Dogs like them, too. Image: Dan Crosby. with the masonry heater was just the initial to chimney, but takes a much longer path cost of the heater: $13,500. If I had actu- through heat-exchange channels in the ally bought four cords of wood each year core, thereby heating the large thermal touch. In fact, it is very pleasant to lean right at $200/cord, then my cost for fuel over 17 mass of the heater. This heat is then against the heater during a cold winter years would have been $13,600 (17 years released evenly between the, at most, evening. Since a glass door for the fire box *4 cords per year * $200 per cord). The twice-a-day burns. Depending on the is common, and a typical burn may last 1.5 total cost would have been about $27,000. outside temperature, sometimes we burn to 2 hours before we close our chimney-top If we had instead installed an oil furnace just once a day. Twice a day is typical for damper, we have ample opportunity to en- for $4,000, we would have paid another us in midwinter. joy the fire. Masonry heaters are attractive, $2,100 annually for fuel oil. Over the course A masonry heater offers several advan- too. They can look quite different depend- of 17 years, we would have spent roughly tages. The rapid, hot burn of the wood ing upon what material is used for the outer $36,000 for 12,000 gallon of fuel oil, and our allows a more complete burn, reducing layer. Brick, soapstone, adobe, fieldstone, total cost would have amounted to nearly the amount of wood needed to produce river stone are just some examples. If you $40,000. So, a masonry heater can definitely the same amount of heat as compared to want to, your design can also include make economic as well as environmental a metal wood stove. The hot, clean burn heated benches. sense. It can even make sense as a retrofit. means less frequent chimney cleanings. How about the cost? The initial cost of a How much and which type of fuel you use In 17 years, I have never had to clean masonry heater is more than, say, an oil fur- and to what degree you use your masonry our chimney. Also, with the exception of nace, but then costs less for fuel. Our brick- heater instead of your current system will the metal and glass of the fire box door faced, relatively simple, masonry heater cost influence your payback time. during and right after a burn, the surface about $13,500, including its foundation, the For more information about masonry temperature of the heater never gets heater core, facing material, and a two-flue heaters, including a gallery of photos, check so hot as to cause burns from a quick chimney I asked them to build. Let’s assume out the website of the Masonry Heater As- SUSTAINABLE HEATING & COOLING WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORGWWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 JUNE Sept. 15, 20192014 23 Community Outreach Strategies Drive Renewable Heating Val Stori, Clean Energy States Alliance towns are trying to of community have used data “scraping” software that Space and water heating represent a adapt for renewable volunteers. uses demographic information and other large portion of the energy used in homes heating technologies By employing indicators to identify those homeowners in the Northeast. Most of this energy a very successful and these strategies, most likely to benefit from RH&C. comes from fossil fuels, and combined, widely replicated group- Solarize commu- Early HeatSmart programs have already space and water heating account for 60 to purchasing community nities in Connecti- provided important insights on program 70 percent of a building’s greenhouse gas campaign program for cut achieved 24 design and success. HeatSmart programs (GHG) emissions. Switching to renewable residential solar photo- to 65 times the are driving RH&C market adoption, sources of heat to displace fossil fuel heat- voltaic (PV) called “So- rate of new solar though not at the cost reductions or rates ing is essential for the reduction of GHG larize.” Since 2008, the installations than achieved by Solarize. emissions. Accelerating the adoption of Solarize model has been over the previous Cont’d on p.36 renewable heating and cooling (RH&C) widely replicated across seven years and at technologies is part of the solution for the country. It began in 20 to 30% of the tackling emission reductions and for help- Portland, Oregon and Heating with a ground source heat pump is an effec- cost. In Massachu- ing states and cities meet their long-term tripled the number of tive way to reduce emissions. setts, the number energy and climate goals. PV systems installed of solar installa- States have been incentivizing the there in six months at costs 20% lower than tions more than doubled in participating adoption of RH&C technologies such as the average system price. Subsequent Solar- communities as a result of the Solarize air source heat pumps, ground source ize campaigns in other parts of the country campaigns. heat pumps, solar hot water, and modern have likewise demonstrated the effective- Several municipalities across the U.S. Automatic Biomass wood pellet boilers for several years. But ness of creating demand through local have deployed Solarize strategies for the Boilers for Schools even with the availability of incentives outreach with community bulk-purchasing thermal sector. These community cam- and rebates, the RH&C market has been discounts. Solarize is an attractive proposi- paigns go by several names, most com- slow to grow making it harder to meet ag- tion for a sector trying to get to scale. monly “HeatSmart,” and colloquially as gressive climate goals. For example, Mas- The Solarize model owes its success to a “thermalize.” Recently, state energy offices sachusetts’ Comprehensive Energy Plan, few simple strategies that have driven down in Massachusetts and New York have rolled which describes the need to invest in and costs and ensured high-quality installations: out RH&C community campaign programs install RH&C technologies, estimates that • Bulk and discount pricing with their support. 20-30 percent of homes (half a million • Program sponsorship and support by a HeatSmart campaigns offer a variety of to three quarter million homes) in the trusted organization, such as a community RH&C technologies: air source heat pumps, state need to install heat pumps by 2030 group or state energy office ground source heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, solar hot water systems, and to meet the state’s climate goals. How • An easy sign-up process Green Street School, Brattleboro can Massachusetts and other states help • Consistent messaging and coordinated modern wood pellet boilers. Like Solar- ize campaigns, HeatSmart campaigns are transition the thermal sector to renew- outreach activities Our PDCs Save Money! • A limited sign-up period with deadlines for organized and managed by municipalities, able technologies? Screened Semi-Dry Wood Chips Part of the answer lies in understanding customer enrollment counties, and community groups. Cam- the challenges and market barriers that • A dedicated campaign leader and a team paign programs may offer a suite of RH&C RH&C technologies technologies as part of face. First, the public their program, or they has little awareness of may only offer one. Each these technologies. community campaign Second, economics program deploys an — fossil fuel prices outreach strategy, which are currently low and varies both in target RH&C equipment audience and in ap- costs are high. Lastly, proach. Some campaigns RH&C installers have have targeted Solarize limited capacity both participants and other to work outside their early renewable technol- local area and to meet ogy adopters; others have relied on active PDCs HEAT increased demand Green Street School leading up to and community groups such during the heating as Mothers Out Front to season. spread the word. More CALL US TODAY! 6039241001 States, cities, and Volunteers are an integral part of HeatSmart community campaigns. Images: HeatSmart Tompkins sophisticated programs FrolingEnergy.com

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High-efficiency Air Conditioners ACEEE Program administrators can stay ahead of the curve with high-efficiency air conditioners 24 24 Sept. JUNE 2019 15, 2014WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 802.439.6675 Building & Energy Efficiency BUILDINGS TO COOL THE CLIMATE Kai Starn The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), viewed Buildings as the most credible source of climate change research, issued + Beyond an alarming report1 on October 2018 removing all doubt on this critical topic. Absent aggressive action, the atmosphere will warm up by as much as 2.7° F above preindustrial levels by 2040, inundating coastlines and inten- sifying droughts and poverty. The significance of this report is that major effects of climate change s! de will occur in our lifetimes. iso The building construction sec- Ep tor has a critical role in reducing ew carbon emissions immediately. N As nations all over the globe tackle operational emissions from buildings, we must now ad- dress our total emissions impact. Available now on iTunes, Google Play, Life-cycle emissions resulting Sitcher, or your favorite podcast platform. Illustration: Embodied carbon emissions arise from the life-cycle material flows of buildings. Images courtesy of Bionova Ltd.3 from buildings consist of two www.swinter.com/podcast components: operational and embodied. A great deal of effort has been resolutions take years to implement. State analyze environmental impacts through- put into reducing the former, as it has been laws such as “Buy-Clean California Act” will out the entire span of a project. The tool compare a user-defined baseline to the assumed to be higher than the latter. Stud- start to require Environmental Impact Decla- combines an estimate of the quantity and proposed design. The latter is the most cost- ies have revealed the growing significance rations, or EPDs, reports on use of concrete, types of materials and verified ecological effective way to make better low-carbon of embodied emissions in buildings, but steel, glass, and timber in the next couple effects not limited to emitted carbon, ozone decisions and can be used iteratively during its importance is often underestimated in years. Other states look to pass similar acts, depletion, and smog creation, gathered from design. The self-reporting method is not energy-efficiency decisions. and the trend, in this author’s opinion, will assessments known as EPDs, which are the as robust and may not necessarily lead to According to the Embodied Carbon gain momentum. building blocks of a WBLCA. the best options overall. However, the EPD Review 20182 by Bionova Inc., embodied car- Reusing existing buildings and materials is Steven Winter Associates, Inc. (SWA) uses reporting option may become a formality in bon is the total impact of all the greenhouse the lowest carbon investment, and struc- the One Click LCA by Bionova software to some projects. gases emitted by the construction and mate- tures can specify smart carbon alternatives, assess the environmental impacts associ- The LBC Material Petal Certification offers rials of our built environment. Furthermore, but for new construction, green ratings such ated with structural materials as early as a simple, yet rigorous, solution. Projects during their life cycle, the same products as the Living Building Challenge (LBC) and schematic design. Besides allowing teams to must directly reduce as much embodied car- also cause carbon impacts when maintained, Leadership in Energy and Environmental make more informed design choices, WBLCA bon as possible and purchase carbon offsets repaired, or disposed of. As opposed to Design (LEED) v4 offer immediate strategies is also now part of sustainability rating for the remainder. Placing a financial burden carbon from energy use which accrues over to assess and create carbon smart design systems, including the LEED v4. on carbon is an effective policy; however, time, consider the carbon “front-loaded” alternatives. LEED v4 has two options available, either in our experience, the approach requires a onto the overall carbon account on day one Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment self-report purchases of low-carbon materi- great deal of ownership will. of operation. To illustrate the timescale of (WBLCA) is employed in LEED and LBC to als or conduct a life-cycle assessment to Absent aggressive action, many effects embodied energy and operational energy, once expected only several decades in the according to Bionova, “… embodied carbon future will occur by 2040. The IPCC report and the operating carbon of new buildings Estimated Cumulative Carbon Emissions From New Buildings 2020 to 2070 “is telling us we need to reverse emissions have the same overall impact until 2050...” trends and turn the world economy on a assuming a steady rate of new construction dime,” said Myles Allen, an Oxford University from 2020 to 2070. Furthermore, increases to climate scientist and an author of the report. grid and operational efficiency only magnify Architecture, engineering, and construction the proportion of carbon emissions associ- teams poised to implement and market, ated with materials. smart carbon design will define themselves Nations worldwide are recognizing the as innovative, creative, thoughtful leaders importance of addressing total emissions in the industry. What story will your project and the immediate benefit of low-carbon tell? materials. There are two approaches com- prising immediately practical and more ad- 1,2,3 Footnotes available on the Green vanced concepts that require development Energy Times website with the posting of this and implementation in the coming years. article. Low-carbon standards are essential to re- Kai Starn is a Senior Sustainability Consul- duce embodied carbon, but here in the U.S., tant at Steven Winter Associates.

Just like your house. Only more affordable. • More comfortable than Passive Solar • Uses 60-90% less energy than code homes • More sustainable than LEED • Greener than Energy Star • For new buildings and remodels • Easy to Net Zero • Supported by Efficiency VT • US and Internationally certified

www.phausvt.org 802-223-2416 [email protected] *A non-profit organization Come to a meeting. Speak with architects and builders. Get references and information. Building & Energy Efficiency WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Sept. 2019 25

AEROBARRIER™ – Case Study #2 PARTIAL RENOVATION OF A 1700’S BRICK COLONIAL HOME Nate Gusakov brick structure. The owner did not have This is the third article in our series a specific leakage target in mind but highlighting our experiences installing wanted to make use of AeroBarrier’s abil- Top: AeroBarrier installation is AeroBarrier around New England– here’s a ity to significantly improve the building underway for the 1700’s brick quick refresher on the technology: envelope performance in a single appli- home. Counter clockwise: day- AeroBarrier® is a patented, cutting-edge cation without lengthy light showing between framing envelope sealing system that simulta- diagnosis or manual members; air leak between the neously measures and seals building air-sealing work. old original building and the envelope air leaks. Here at Zone 6 Energy, Our pre-test showed new addition; fully renovated we like to call AeroBarrier ‘Fix-A-Flat for the building to be portion of the house. Images a house’. In essence, the system involves quite leaky, measur- courtesy of Nate Gusakov. pressurizing the house (to +100 pascals) ing 11.9 air changes ⬅ with a blower door, setting up a series per hour at 50 pascals of tripods with spray nozzles on them (11.9 ACH50). By way (just like mini snowmaking guns), and of comparison, many the introduction of a fine mist of special- northern states have ized acrylic caulk. From there, much like a adopted a building balloon with pin holes in it, the pressure code that requires drives the sealant to all the small cracks all new construction ⬅ in the building and seals them up. During to measure three installation, we monitor the air leakage on ACH50 or less, and, our computer and watch the needle drop to qualify as a Passive House, a building In two as the various holes and cracks through- must measure 0.6 ACH50! After discuss- of these out the house fill with sealant. When we ing the desire to dramatically reduce air pictures, reach our target for leakage, we turn off leakage while still leaving enough natural you can the machine, clear the air with a few fans, infiltration to avoid the need for installing see how open windows and clean up. The space ducted mechanical ventilation, we estab- even can be worked in again within about lished a goal of under five ACH50. properly- thirty minutes, and once cured, the seal- Next we prepared the house for Aero- installed spray foam can fail to address reduction in air-leakage, and renovation ant is a non-toxic, low-VOC substance that Barrier, protecting any finished horizontal many air-leakage pathways. In the bottom work commenced the following day! is GREENGUARD Gold® certified for use in surfaces and ensuring that no gaps larger picture, a strip of sill-seal struggles to fill Nate Gusakov is a Lead Installer for Zone schools and hospitals. than ½” remained in the envelope. Aero- the void between new addition framing 6 Energy. Zone 6 Energy is a home-grown Here, we share our experiences air- Barrier is essentially self-guided (with the and old stone. On the leftt, daylight shows Vermont company specializing in air leak- sealant only being driven to the places in sealing a brick Colonial near Saratoga the building envelope that are leaking), between framing members under a win- age diagnostics and consulting. They offer Springs, NY that was built in 1738! so the confusing prospect of trying to dow. AeroBarrier addressed both of these commercial and residential blower-door The project involved partial renova- diagnose leakage pathways through new leaks automatically. In under 2 ½ hours testing, home energy audits, and AeroBar- tion of the interior of the house as well and old interstitial spaces was unneces- of install time, we were able to bring the rier installation throughout New England as two new additions married to the old sary. house to 4.9 ACH50. This represents a 59% and upstate New York.

TIMELESS CRAFTSMANSHIP. Ground Zero: An Adventure THE LATEST IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY. in Net-zero Energy Building Jenna Batchelder PASSIVE HOUSE DESIGN/BUILD. CUSTOM CABINETRY & TILE.

The finished house featuring the photovoltaic array solar panels on the roof of the garage. Photo: NESEA.

To the untrained eye, the Eisinger zero-net energy, meaning that the total net-zero energy (NZE) house in Keene, amount of energy used to maintain said New York, would seem like any other building per year is the same as the total single-family Adirondack homestead. amount of energy created on site in that The roof-mounted solar panels aside, the same year. There are endless advan- 1974-square-foot home is conventional tages to this type of building, with a few MONTPELIER CONSTRUCTION looking, maybe even quaint, encompassed being improved energy efficiency and by trees with a beautiful view of the sur- subsequent reduced costs for owners, BUILDERS AND FINE WOODWORKERS rounding mountains and sky. Unless you improved energy reliability, complete lived there, you would never guess the sustainability, and reduced greenhouse amount of work that went into making emissions. While these methods are MONTPELIERCONSTRUCTION.COM this seemingly normal home into a self- relatively new and initially more expen- maintained machine. sive than traditional energy solutions, 802-229-6575 Net-zero, also known as zero-energy many countries are looking at net-zero as building or zero-net-energy building is a long-term solution for a building or structure that consumes sustainable living. Cont’d on p.31 CERTIFIED B THE WAY 26 Sept. 2019 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 CLIMATE NEWS plagued Scott Pruitt BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE, RESPONSIB ACCEPTANCE VS. BELIEF resigned in July 2018. Trump did not “manage” a John Bos large workforce at Trump In her last ever act upon. “In the whole area we call religion Enterprises; it was, and book “No Time to or the realm of the spirit, we can act only on continues to be, a family Spare,” Ursula Le belief.” There, she says, belief may be called affair even from within Guin writes that if knowledge by the believer. And she thinks the White House. Key someone asked her that’s “fair,” so long as it’s fair to also main- executives in federal en- if she believed in tain and insist upon the difference between vironmental and energy evolution, she would acceptance and belief outside of religion. agencies who do have answer “no.” She states that “In the realm of science, the real business experience As a long-time fan value of belief is nil or negative; only knowl- and do “believe” in deny- of Le Guin’s writing, I edge is valuable.” Moreover, she concludes ing climate change have knew that she had something up her literary by observing that “Perhaps acceptance is been recruited from major fossil fuel and tor Scott Pruitt who “believes” evolution as sleeve. She then wrote “I don’t believe in the secular equivalent of belief.” pharmaceutical industries. an unproven theory. His skepticism about a Darwin’s theory of evolution. I accept it. It So what is it with the Trump administra- For starters, we have Vice President Mike major foundation of modern science such isn’t a matter of faith, but of evidence.” tion chock full of officials who don’t “believe” Pence who apparently doesn’t “believe” as evolution is in direct conflict with his Le Guin goes on to say that the whole the science that finds our environment be- NAS, (National Academies of Science) and agency’s mandate to make science-based undertaking of science is to deal, as well ing severely degraded by unrelenting CO2 other major American scientific organiza- decisions. His “legacy” is being safeguarded as it can, “with reality. The reality of actual emissions and the way we live our lives on tions are reporting about how humankind by former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler. things and events in time is subject to planet Earth? The fact that they don’t accept (MANkind?) is causing our climate catastro- Space does not permit me to chronicle doubt, to hypothesis, to proof and disproof, climate science evidence either rests upon phe. In 2009 for instance, he told MSNBC, the anti-earth exploits of U.S. Department of to acceptance and rejection — not to belief a “belief” that rises from ignorance or, more “I think the science is very mixed on the Energy Chief Rick Perry who has long avoid- or disbelief.” likely, upon defensive denial in favor the subject of global warming.” As governor of ed getting pinned down on humankind’s “Belief,” Le Guin posits, “has its proper and fossil fuel industry whose dollars help them Indiana, Pence sued the EPA to block the contribution to our climate catastrophe. He powerful existence in the domains of magic, keep their jobs. Do they “believe” that they Clean Power Plan, the Obama-era land- has said that any action on climate change religions, fear, and hope.” She sees no con- will be rewarded in their next campaign? Or mark plan to reduce climate pollution from should be weighed against economic costs, flict between accepting the theory of evolu- in their legacy? power plants. And in February 2017 he said, not the public health. Nor Interior Secretary tion and believing in God. “The intellectual The repeated mantra that we need an “Just last month, after years of senseless Ryan Zinke who reviewed western national acceptance of a scientific theory and the be- experienced businessperson to run the delays, President Trump authorized the monuments and then ordered the elimina- lief in a transcendent deity have little or no business of America could not be further construction of the Keystone pipeline and tion of “burdensome regulations” on the oil overlap: neither can support nor contradict from the truth. First of all, Donald Trump’s the Dakota pipelines for our energy future and gas industry to drill on federally owned the other.” Le Guin thinks that belief has no business experience from the perspective a and to create American jobs. That’s what it (taxpayer) land. value in and of itself. “Its value,” she writes, legitimate corporation is non-existent. No means to rebuild our infrastructure and put According to a June 19 New York Times “increases as it is useful, diminishes as it is chief executive of a major corporation that I America back to work.” analysis of Trump’s elimination of burden- replaced by knowledge, and goes negative know of shares his trait of not liking to read Moving down the environmentally- some regulations, there are two types of when it’s noxious. In ordinary life,” she says, “bothersome” reports – like national security challenged hierarchy, we come to the fired policy changes: rules already “officially” “the need for it diminishes as the quantity briefing papers. Or even reports from his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who walked reversed and rollbacks still in progress. and quality of knowledge increase.” own EPA headed by Andrew Wheeler, a for- away from his job as CEO of Exxon-Mobil The Trump administration has released an Le Guin states that there are areas where mer coal lobbyist who has been serving as with a $180 million retirement package. aggressive schedule to try to finalize many “we need belief” because it’s all we have to the acting administrator since the scandal- He has left it to others to fight the lawsuits of these rollbacks this year; 49 rollbacks accusing the com- already completed with 34 rollbacks still in pany of knowing for process for a total of 83 rollbacks. nearly five decades The priority of the non-acceptors of cli- that greenhouse gas mate criminality evidence is to trash all the pollution from their pro environmental regulations put in place fossil fuel products had during the Obama administration. a significant impact on It’s the economy, stupid vs. the environ- the Earth’s climate and ment. Breathe deeply. sea levels. John Bos lives in Shelburne Falls and Sinking deeper into write frequently about our climate catas- the swamp, there is no trophe. He invites questions and comments point in remembering at [email protected]. Smog. Image: Creative Commons former EPA Administra-

Saving the Earth from Climate Change George Harvey of the United States is not only doing The climate situation nothing; it is in denial and trying to undo is rather like a fire in the environmental protections. Instead of be- kitchen. If you act on it right ing proactive, it is in retreat. away, it might be possible to Still there is hope. One article that is put it out with a fire extin- very specific about why there is hope was guisher, but if you wait five “Can We Reach 100% Renewable Energy minutes, you probably need in Time to Avert Climate Catastrophe?” to call in the fire depart- published at Truthout. It looks into the ment. The fire extinguisher work of Dr. Mark Jacobson of Stanford approach is no longer ten- University. Ten years ago, he was coauthor able. of a seminal paper in Scientific American Now, having put off acting outlining a roadmap to 100% renewable so long, we need to get very energy. In it, he showed that we could rely proactive about climate 100% on a combination of solar, wind, change. Unfortunately, the and hydro power by 2030. Since that pace of climate change is far time, Jacobson has remained engaged on faster than most scientists the issue. envisioned. Five years ago, Dr. Jacobson recently said he is feeling they described different sce- more optimistic, rather than less. He is narios for what would hap- very aware of the bad news, but he also pen under climate change, knows that renewable energy from wind, including such things as solar, and battery backup, has become so how fast the ice caps on inexpensive that natural gas plants, the Greenland would melt. To- least expensive fossil fuels around, are be- day, those ice caps are at the ing closed because they cannot compete. point they expected for the There is no need for fossil fuels, and with- year 2070. The government Sunny-day flooding in Miami happens because of rising seas. Photo: B137, Wikimedia Commons, http://bit.ly/2kol07Q. out a need, they can be eliminated. CLIMATE NEWS WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG Sept. 2019 27

Siberia. These fires spread soot that Floods, Ice, Fires and Drought darkens the Arctic ice and speeds melt- Dr. Alan K. Betts ing. The very warm air from Europe also Water is everything to blew north over Greenland, and set our planet. As I write, new records for Greenland ice-cap melt Greta Thunberg has in early August. As the Arctic ice melts, reached New York af- climate changes, and as Greenland melts, ter crossing the Atlan- sea-level rises. tic in fifteen days on a With Brazil once again encouraging racing yacht, arriving development, more than forty thousand just ahead of tropical storm Erin. She will fires were set burning across the Ama- be in the United States for the global zon to clear land during the tropical dry strike for the climate system on Friday, season. In India, millions are running September 20 to 27, and she will speak to out of fresh water. The city of Chennai the United Nations on September 23. This with 10 million people has a water crisis, is an existential protest by youth who are with desiccated reservoirs and shrinking unwilling to be sacrificed for corporate ground water supplies. Water is critical greed. Indeed, the continued unchecked for agriculture and crops everywhere, but exploitation of the Earth and the poor three quarters of the earth’s soils are now by the fossil fuel industries and society is degraded as well. An era of environmen- both a crime against humanity and the tal collapse is coming, as complex natural Earth itself. Capitalism has given rights systems become destabilized. The rich to corporations, but the Earth still has no countries that have the largest carbon rights. Legal battles are underway across footprint carry the largest responsibility. the globe to establish the crime of eco- Sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg reached New York after crossing the Atlantic Ocean on an emissions-free sail- We need this reminder, even though cide, the destruction of the Earth’s living boat. Thunberg does not travel by air due to the associated carbon emissions. Image: pressenza.com none of this is good news. Here at home ecosystem, but this may come too late. remember local agriculture is critical. The fossil fuel industry is spending of sunlight, so the Earth is warming. More Oklahoma and Arkansas. It was the second Harvest and share your crops and thank some $200 million a year on dishonest than ninety percent of this heat is stored in wettest on record for Iowa and Texas. The your local farmers. Plant a rye-grass propaganda and bribes to politicians to the oceans. But the Arctic is warming twice flooding on the Mississippi River this spring cover crop to improve the soil in your protect its $100 billion in annual profits. as fast as the equator, and this has changed was the longest on record. The eastern and vegetable garden. What can you plant We need escalating fossil carbon taxes to the mid-latitude jet stream towards large southeastern U.S. was warm, but fourteen to winter over under glass? In early April, reframe the economics and to help pay amplitude north-south waves that move eastern states also had record precipitation we delight in eating spinach and lettuce for both present and future costs. But slowly. In July for the first time, a convective for the year. The realization is spreading that that was planted in October. Teach your the highly profitable global consumer storm in Kansas moving to the southeast, billions are needed after floods to rebuild children and grandchildren to grow food economy, driven by fossil fuel, has pur- circled back over the Gulf as a tropical levees and build new floodwalls to hold and support and educate them when chased the silence of millions. storm, forming the weak hurricane Barry back rising waters in towns. This should be they protest against the corruption in our Let us briefly review the global weather that struck Louisiana, causing $10 billion in funded by a tax on fossil fuel. society. Roots in the Earth can support us and climate perspective. The increas- flooding damage. But elsewhere in the northern hemi- through the difficult times ahead. ing greenhouse gases have slowed the For the year ending with June 2019, sphere, there were record high tempera- Dr. Alan Betts of Atmospheric Research cooling of the Earth to space, and melting the central United States was cool with tures in Europe as well as Alaska, and fires in Pittsford, VT is a climate scientist. Browse ice and snow has reduced the reflection record precipitation in Nebraska, Kansas, across the warming Arctic, especially in alanbetts.com.

THE COUNTERATTACK AGAINST CLEAN ENERGY IS COLLAPSING Carl Pope appears to be seeking more credit for its The Energy Department has conceded that making life wonderful for coal again. For two years, significant investment in electrification, coal’s share of U.S. electricity generation When the miners arrived in Washington the cabal of fossil and Fiat Chrysler, having turned itself into will continue to plummet – from more than D.C., McConnell gave them the brush-off fools surrounding a niche brand that proudly produced the 50% a few years ago, to 30% in 2017 and a in a perfunctory meeting after which they Donald Trump have world’s best 20th-century cars — Jeep SUVs forecast of only 24% this year. The largest said he had treated them rudely. leveraged an im- and Ram Trucks — simply whined. (Chrysler coal power plant to fall thus far — Ameri- None of this has stopped the coal pulsive president’s still doesn’t know how it will comply with can Electric Power’s behemoth Rockport, industry’s barons from cozying up to loathing of his pre- the much laxer 2020-21 rules.) Toyota may Indiana, facility — has announced it will Trump. Bob Murray, for whom a pledged decessor, tapped be watching to see what GM does. shut down. An all-Republican body of util- bail-out was one of Trump’s undelivered their reactionary The agreement made clear that the ity regulators in Georgia required Georgia promises, still came through with a major right-wing networks, mobilized coal and Trump administration’s refusal to negoti- Power not only to shut down much of its campaign fundraiser in Wheeling, West oil lobbies and political donations, and ate with California was rooted in its own coal facilities, but also to embrace re- Virginia. But as the 2020 election season thrown themselves vigorously into two stubbornness, not California’s unwillingness newables, rather than natural gas, as the heats up, it appears that while coal mine missions: to make a reasonable offer. It further made replacement. One analyst called this “the owners might still love the president, his Bring back the coal industry and stop clear that the auto industry feels deeply worst month for coal power in decades.” efforts to rescue coal-fired power and oil- the “Stalinist” threat of wind and solar threatened both by the prospect of a U.S. Coal’s bleak future didn’t just hit utility fired transportation from history’s verdict power. auto market split into two segments — one operators. Yet another set of coal mining had collapsed — making clear once again Freeze the transition from oil-powered following strong California innovation rules, operators headed for bankruptcy courts, that it’s time to move beyond carbon. cars and trucks to electricity by reversing the other locked into yesterday’s auto tech- with Blackhawk Mining unable to sustain Links available online at greenenergy- Obama-era plans to encourage cleaner, nology. It also highlighted the degree to its Appalachian operations. This followed times.org. more efficient vehicle fleets. which clear mandates in other markets — four other bankruptcies in the previous four Carl Pope is the former executive In the last several weeks of this August particularly Europe and China — are main- months: Blackjewel on July 1, Cambrian director and chairman of the Sierra Club. the futility of both these efforts to taining the pace of progress toward clean, Holding on June 16, Cloud Peak Energy on He’s now the principal advisor at Inside strangle the future have become clear. electric vehicles, and a recognition that U.S. May 10 and Trinity Coal on March 4. Straight Strategies, looking for the under- The latest blow to the Trump clean automakers must keep up regardless of Many of the bankruptcies came because lying economics that link sustainability energy rollback was an announcement by whether federal standards require that. mining companies wanted to shed their and economic development and serves California and four major automakers — As Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., often commitments to provide pensions and as a Senior Climate Advisor to former NYC including Volkswagen, the world’s largest seen as the D.C. voice of the American auto health care for retirees, as well as to clean Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He has served — that even if the president can per- industry, pointed out, “This industry is more up the environmental disaster left behind on the Boards of the California League suade the courts to allow him to roll back fragile than many realize. If the United by many of their operations. And since of Conservation Voters, Public Voice, the Obama administration’s improved States is to be competitive, we have to stay Republicans in Congress had allowed the National Clean Air Coalition, California regulations on pollution and efficiency at the forefront of innovation and technolo- tax that provides funding for health care Common Cause, Public Interest Econom- standards for cars and light trucks, these gy, which will help us transition to the next for coal miners suffering from black lung ics Inc, and Zero Population Growth. companies would guarantee that their generation of more fuel-efficient vehicles.” disease to expire, just as poorly regulated Mr. Pope is also the author of the books: U.S. fleets meet a set of slightly modified And what of the other flank of the Trump working conditions have triggered a major Sahib, An American Misadventure in standards devised by California for the assault on climate progress: His promise to black lung epidemic, miners were forced India and Hazardous Waste in America. model years 2022-25. bring back “beautiful” coal? The last month to mobilize to try to make their alleged pal Carl Pope is the co-author with Michael While Ford was the only U.S. automaker has seen a slew of announcements making in the Oval Office, not to mention Senate Bloomberg of Climate of Hope: How Cities, to sign, it’s still a huge step. (And Ford utterly clear that the coal industry is on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, make Businesses, and Citizens Can Save the is hardly a big player.) General Motors the way out as a source of electric energy. good on at least some of their boasts about Planet. 28 Sept. 2019 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Building & Energy Efficiency First Net-Zero Multi-Family Building in Region to Open How Twin Pines Set the New Gold Standard for Sustainable Living in West Lebanon, New Hampshire Chris Gillespie “When it comes to energy efficiency, air- ment needed for the This article Affordable sealing is critically important,” said Winter. project. is No. 2 of a housing devel- “Working with SIGA was great. They had As development G.E.T. series oper Twin Pines their representatives meet with our con- on Tracy Community Housing Trust will struction team to make sure that everyone Housing wraps up, on net-zero make history this knew exactly how to apply the product and Twin Pines plans to housing in fall by opening how to tell if we reached the best seal.” celebrate their historic the Northeast. the first net- All of these measures will help Twin Pines achievement by shar- zero, multi-family reach their goal of getting Tracy Commu- ing their experience building in the nity Housing certified by the Passive House with their peers at the Better Building by Granite State. Institute US. According to Winter, Twin Pines Design conference in South Burlington, Located across has been collaborating with Karen Bushey VT next February and by implementing the street from of Efficiency Vermont and Chris West of Eco their hard-earned knowledge into up- the Kilton Public Houses of Vermont to better understand coming projects, such as a new develop- Library in West and meet the Passive House certification re- ment site in Hanover, NH. Lebanon, New quirements. So far, Winter says, the blower “We’re already applying the techniques Hampshire, Tracy Community Housing door tests have been very promising. we’ve learned on Tracy Street, in terms of will also be the first net-zero multi-family Even Tracy Community Housing’s loca- air sealing and construction simplifica- building of any significant size in all of tion promotes sustainable living. By being tion, into other projects,” said Winter. “It’s northern New England, measuring at within walking distance to West Lebanon’s been challenging, but we have learned a 29,000 square feet. Main Street, as well as in close proxim- lot from it.” Similar to Wentworth Community ity to Advance Transit’s Red, Green and For more information on Tracy Commu- Housing, which Twin Pines opened earlier Above: When it opens this fall, Tracy Community Hous- Orange bus lines, residents can easily forgo nity Housing and Twin Pines Housing, visit this summer in nearby White River Junc- ing will be a sleek, stylish and sustainable addition to W. frequent use of their individual vehicles. twinpineshousing.org. tion, Vermont, Tracy Community Hous- Lebanon’s residential area. Twin Pines was able to max- In fact, Twin Pines was able to use both of To read G.E.T.’s previous coverage of imize the number of solar panels by challenging multi- ing’s twenty-nine units are restricted to these factors to make a case to the City Wentworth Community Housing, visit households earning up to 60% of the area family building design conventions. Photos: Courtesy of Twin Pines Housing and Norwich Solar Technologies. of Lebanon to waive their parking lot size greenenergytimes.org. median income. In Grafton County, where requirements for new multi-family build- Chris Gillespie is a contributing writer for Tracy Community Housing is located, this ings. As a result, Twin Pines was able to Green Energy Times. He can be reached at 185kW. In order to ensure maximum cover- equates to a single individual making reduce the amount of impermeable pave- [email protected]. roughly $37,000 a year or a family of four age, Norwich Solar installed solar panels making no more than about $53,000 on the roof of Tracy Community Housing annually. as well as on top of the building’s south Twin Pines Executive Director Andrew side façade. To complete the array, Norwich Winter said that, in addition to provid- Solar built a freestanding solar arbor, which, ing an affordable housing option, Tracy Winter says, will provide residents with a Community Housing will help “reinforce shaded area to park bicycles or relax at a the residential nature of Tracy Street and picnic table. improve the overall quality of the hous- The yield of this solar array will cover ing stock in the neighborhood.” the base electrical needs of the building, Although Tracy Community Housing including heating and cooling, thanks to a is not the first multi-family building on series of Mitsubishi air source heat pumps. Tracy Street, its infrastructure and design Similar to Wentworth Community Housing, are certainly one-of-a-kind. Designed by Tracy Community Housing also utilizes an energy-efficient design leader Bill Maclay energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system, of Maclay Architects and project man- which will use the heat of the air exiting the aged by Tim Estes of Estes & Gallup, Tracy HVAC system to precondition the air enter- True Triple Sealed Units with LowE surface coatings for maximum performance. Community Housing reaches net-zero ing the HVAC system. Our standard 1/8” (3mm) double strength glass off ers greater strength through a combination of impeccable In terms of insulation, Tracy Community and clarity over thinner glass, making our products more insulative, more soundproof, insulation and extensive solar paneling. Housing uses triple-glazed windows and more resistant to impact and stresses caused by fl uctuations in temperature. Designed and installed by Norwich air-sealing to remain energy tight. Twin Solar Technologies, Tracy Community Pines worked with the experts at SIGA to LOEWEN WINDOW CENTER Housing’s solar array consists of 384 ensure that Tracy Community Housing has OF VERMONT & NEW HAMPSHIRE solar panels and will be able to generate as strong of a building envelope as possible. loewenvtnh.com • 52 Bridge Street, White River Jct., VT 05001 800.505.1892 802.295.6555 • [email protected]

Project image: Nelson Cabin - courtesy Stefan Hampden of CAST architecture IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY WITH SL SERIES ERVs RenewAire ERVs provide enhanced indoor air quality through increased/balanced ventilation for all applications including Passive House.

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EASE CONTROL True Triple Sealed Units with LowE surface coatings Easy installation Continuous operation for maximum performance. Easy maintenance with boost mode Our standard 1/8” (3mm) double strength glass off ers greater strength Fits in drop ceilings On-board controls Our standard 1/8” (3mm) double strength glass off ers greater strength and clarity over thinner glass, making our products more insulative, more soundproof, & bulkheads and clarity over thinner glass, making our products more insulative, more soundproof, more resistant to impact and stresses caused by fl uctuations in temperature.

LOEWEN WINDOW CENTER * “Why Indoor Air Quality is Important to Schools,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, epa.gov/iaq-schools/why-indoor-air-quality-important-schools. LOEWEN WINDOW CENTER OF VERMONT & NEW HAMPSHIRE OF VERMONT & NEW HAMPSHIRE RSTThermal.com 781.320.9910 loewenvtnh.com • 52 Bridge Street, White River Jct., VT 05001 loewenvtnh.com • 52 Bridge Street, White River Jct., VT 05001 800.505.1892 802.295.6555 • [email protected]

Project image: Nelson Cabin - courtesy Stefan Hampden of CAST architecture Project image: Nelson Cabin - courtesy Stefan Hampden of CAST architecture ADS_RST_CMY_0719_01.indd 1 8/23/19 10:27 AM EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. Visit www.earthtalk.org or [email protected].

Building & Energy Efficiency WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Sept. 2019 29 #2 in our new DIY Series, Do-It-Yourself Energy Upgrades: DOORS kindly brought to you through David Keefe Efficiency ermont It sure is annoying when your exterior variety of materials and shapes. The inex- shoe wraps around the V doors leak a bunch of air – cold air in, or pensive aluminum and solid vinyl ones bottom of the door and your warm air out, or both - but there may not be the best choice. Vinyl flaps or has fins or bristles to are things you can do to tighten them bulbs aren’t soft enough to seal well and contact the threshold up. they deteriorate in the sun. A better choice when the door is closed. First, consider a storm door if you is vinyl-coated foam, EPDM rubber, or A sweep mounts on the don’t have one. Storm doors protect silicone. inside or outside of the your primary door by keeping the Weather strips are either compression door. In general, a brush- weather off it, and they provide another seals or wipe seals. Compression seals, type seal is preferable to a layer between you and the winter chill. where the moving part pushes directly flap, because it conforms Many people love to open the primary down on the seal without sliding across it, to irregular surfaces bet- and let the sun in through the storm should be soft and squishy and are best ter and doesn’t drag on door on pleasant days. Choose one with made of rubber or silicone. Wipe seals, the floor as much. Some- “Low-E” glass. That means it has an invis- where the parts slide against each other, times in older homes the ible coating that reflects more of the need to have low friction and are best floor is uneven and there’s Steel, aluminum and plastic brush sweeps, door shoes on lower right. heat back into the house. made of polyethylene, nylon brushes or no room under the door Before weather-stripping a door, silicone. You might have old ones made of when it opens. In that case, you can get a be in good shape. And don’t overlook make sure it operates smoothly and brass. sweep that has a mechanism to lift the seal the obvious – things such as old mail latches properly. This may involve If you have older doors, they might when the door opens and lower it when slots. tightening or replacing hinge screws. have steel interlocking weather strip on the door is closed. You can find these materials online, Reposition the strike plate (the metal the door and the frame (which works OK Don’t forget about the frame and trim. but first check with your local retailer. device on the frame that the door latch if it’s not too beat up), or they might have Caulk any cracks in the frame, where the Show them this article. Maybe they will slides into) if needed. Some strike plates layers of foam strips, or they might have trim meets the frame and wall, and where stock these things if they know you want are made of two pieces and are adjust- nothing. The vinyl-coated foam mentioned the threshold meets the floor. them, and it’s good to support your local able. Sometimes additional hardware above (the most popular brand is called Don’t forget the door leaf itself. Espe- businesses. items can help tighten an old door, but “Q-Lon”) is also available mounted in a cially with older wooden doors, cracks can Next time we’ll talk about windows. be sure that the door is still safe. wood or metal strip that can be nailed develop in the wood panels or joinery. Dave Keefe is a fifth-generation If you have a newer home or replace- onto the stop (the piece that the door hits These can usually be fixed by caulking Vermonter who has worked for over 35 ment doors, they are probably so-called when you close it) or can replace the stop neatly and appropriately, and repainting years as a contractor, consultant and “pre-hung,”, which means they come altogether. or finishing. teacher to improve the performance of from the factory already installed in You can also use a soft seal on the exist- Consider other features. A door may existing homes. their jambs and often with trim. These ing stop, and a polyethylene V-shaped seal have built-in glass lites, and these should frames commonly have a weather strip- (such as Schlegel Polyflex or 3M V-seal) ping, commonly of vinyl, on the sides mounted on the frame to contact the door and top. It is inserted into a slot and when it is closed. These can respond well can be removed and replaced easily if it to drafts: the ‘v’ is forced to open wider, has become worn or has been torn up blocking drafts. by the cat. If you have a steel door, you For the bottom of the door, you can might have magnetic weather strips choose a door shoe or a door sweep. A like that on your refrigerator. It can be replaced in the same way. Pre-hung doors commonly have adjustable thresholds. Open the door and look down. See those three Phillips screws? They move the threshold up and down. Door weather From left: polypropylene V-seal, EPDM rubber, vinyl-coated foam, silicone, mag- strips come in a netic. Courtesy images. 30 AugustSept. 2019 15, 2014 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 802.439.6675 Building & Energy Efficiency Changing the Roofing Equation On an 85º day, we inspected both Bob Tortorice Basics for an Efficient Roof spaces. First, we opened the door to the Roof covering materials, whether full attic and the four of us on the tour they are basic shingles, solar shingles, were literally pushed back by the heat. architectural shingles or metal cover- The bedroom below was comfortable, ings, have very little effect on the energy so the attic floor insulation was doing Waterproof Membrane efficiency of one’s home. Real energy Waterproof Membrane a decent job, but being in the attic for efficiency, along with a more comfort- more than a minute or two was unbear- Plywood able living space and lower heating and Plywood able. cooling costs, is found in the structure When the stairs to the smaller attic were dropped down, we immediately of the roof and whether it’s vented or Roof Rafters Vapor Barrier insulated, not in the covering material. noticed no temperature difference be- Traditionally, building professionals tween the attic space and the tempera- have used the time-honored practice of ture on the second floor. The home’s venting northern attics to prevent tem- owners were delighted with their new temperature-controlled storage space. peratures of up to 140º from entering a Vapor Barrier home’s living space (usually the bed- From these examples it’s easy to see that when insulating your attic a “hot” rooms), and prevent moisture from con- Insulation densing in the attic. This construction Insulation roof is far more energy efficient than a “cold” roof when you want to add usable process is known as a “cold” roof. With Plasterboard a “cold” roof, the air barrier (typically space to your home, no matter what sheetrock) and fiberglass insulation are Wooden Boards for Vaulted Ceiling Roof Rafters roof covering you choose. Along with in contact with each other and located excellent energy efficiency, you will gain at the ceiling / attic floor. Its purpose extra living space that’s comfortable to In a “cold” roof system, the air barrier and insulation are in contact with each other and located at the ceiling/attic be in. is to prevent heat from entering and floor. This design prevents heat from leaving or entering the living space while moisture is vented. “Warm” roofs are leaving the living space while allowing not vented and have the insulation installed directly on the roof sheathing. Image: https://www.spacetwo.co.uk. Bob Tortorice has over 31 years of green moisture to leave the living space and be building experience. He is the owner of vented to the exterior through ridge or Building Alternatives, Inc. and Alternative gable end vents. either case, with the 2015 energy code attic is much smaller, no higher than three Energy Audits in Franconia NH. Bob is a A “hot” roof, on the other hand, is not slated to take effect September 15, 2019, feet, and has typical drop down stairs. In member of the Efficiency VT program. Call ventilated but keeps the heat out of the the R value for attic floor insulation is R49 this space, we chose to insulate the rafter / 603- 823-5100 or visit www.buildingalter- attic because the insulation is installed whereas the hot roof or vaulted ceiling is roof of the attic, thus creating a “hot” roof. natives.com. directly onto the roof sheathing, or attic R38. These R values are for both climate rafters. A “hot” roof keeps the heat out zone 5 and 6. The examples from a home of the attic space, thus allowing this we insulated in the Conway, NH area, with normally unused space to be part of the two separate attics, may help you decide. High Performance home’s living space. One is a full-height walk-up attic, where Fossil Fuel Free With that in mind, should a home- the floor of the attic is insulated, and Fossil Fuel Free owner opt for a “hot” or “cold” roof when typical soffit and ridge vents are installed, High Performance Homes they build or retrofit their home? In which created a “cold” roof. The second Net-ZeroZero ReadyEnergy Homes Modulars or Site Built • Complete • Shell Only •Deep Deep Energy Energy Retrofit Retrofits High Performance Upgrades

BOB IRVING Owner/Builder • Servingfor Central existing New Hampshire homes DO YOU HAVE... www.rhirvinghomebuilders.com • 603.648.2635 1st Place Winner of the 2017 [email protected] •Owner/Builder Salisbury, New Hampshire ‘Drive To Net-Zero’ Frosty Windows? BOB IRVING Competition Ice Dams? [email protected] (603) 648-2635 Moldy Siding? www.rhirvinghomebuilders.com Salisbury, NH Cold, Drafty Rooms? Serving all of NH & VT Serving New Hampshire and Eastern Vermont Let us perform an energy audit to determine where your house is losing energy, and then develop a plan to reduce your heating bills by 25–50%, as well as increasing the comfort of your home in the SUMMER and WINTER.

ENERGY PROGRAM VERIFIERS Consultants for Single Family, Multi-Family & Commercial Projects Bob has been in the • HERS Rater - Home Energy Rating System ‘green’ business for • ENERGY STAR® - EPA Certified Homes 30+ years—let him put his experience • BPI - Building Analyst to work for you! • Passive House - Certified PHIUS+ Verifier • NGBS - Home Innovations National Green Building Standards & Green Verifier

BuildingAlternatives.com E-mail [email protected] Phone (603) 823-5100 603.359.1912 // geobarns.com New Record Levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Building & Energy Efficiency WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Sept. 2019 31 Ground Zero: Net-zero Building NHSaves Net-Zero Competition Winners Cont’d from p. 25 George Harvey When Brian Crowl started Crowl Con- NHSaves is a partnership of the New struction, he didn’t intend on building Hampshire utilities, Eversource, Liberty net-zero homes. However, after attend- Utilities, New Hampshire Electric Co-Op, ing several seminars and conventions and Unitil. Last year, it established the such as those put on by the Northeast annual Drive to Net Zero competition to Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), showcase especially high-performance he decided that he would begin weaving homes, designed to achieve net-zero elements of what he had learned about energy use, that have been built in New sustainable and zero-energy building Hampshire. into all of his projects in order to make NHSaves has announced the winners the absolute best version of each home. of its second annual Drive to Net Zero Crowl Construction, partnered with competition. The first prize went to Unity TruexCullins Architecture + Interior De- Homes, with Eversource as the utility sign, broke ground on the Eisinger NZE partner, for a 3,570 square foot home home on November 18th, 2015. The goal in Newbury, New Hampshire, belong- was to build a completely self-sustaining, ing to Janet Taft. During the awards, single-family home that could survive Ted Benson, founder of Unity Homes The second place winning home of the NHSaves Net-Zero Competition. Photos: Elizabeth and Mark Peterson. the harsh winters of the Adirondacks and Bensonwood commented, “There is without relying on any outside energy. no reason that buildings today are not To do so, the team focused a lot on care- super-energy-efficient.” It is worth noting local builder who had done many modu- hot water. Third we designed the home to lar homes and SIP (structurally insulated fully insulating each aspect of the home, that those words apply to all buildings, maximize passive solar with large double- using four-inch-thick insulating foam regardless of size or price. panel) homes. We used Nudura ICF blocks glazed tilt-and-turn windows that allow from Atlantic Builders Supply Northeast on the exterior of the concrete, installed A home belonging to Mark and Eliza- plenty of light for heating and cooling in with both weatherproof flash tape and beth Peterson of Sutton placed second. It Inc. Joe Harnois was instrumental with our home. All this combined with the ICF education about ICF building and design. spray foam for long lasting durability. was built by Matthew O’Clair of Newbury, material has made our home very comfort- Once the basic insulation was set in with Eversource as the utility partner. We worked with Loewen Window Center able and highly energy efficient. for our Kohltech place, building picked up pace, much A home in Etna, “The energy efficiency of our home is like a normal house. Says Crowl, “At each NH belonging to double glazed tilt more than we expected achieving a HERs and turn windows step along the way we had to stop and Bruce and Wendy index rating of -22.” rethink our methods...some of this is re- Williamson, won and Therma Tru out- side doors. Insula- We at Green Energy Times give our sincere ally typical construction technique, it’s all third place. It was congratulations to all. basic stuff, and then we have other ele- built by Domus tion was blown in cellulose in the ceil- Links: Unity Homes, unityhomes.com; ments that we’re figuring out on the fly.” Custom Build- Since this was the first attempt made ers, also located ing and in the walls Matt O’Clair, http://bit.ly/Matt-Oclair; in our wood-framed Domus Custom Builders, domusbuilt.com; by Crowl Construction to create a in Etna, NH and completely net-zero building, communi- owned by Bruce seasonal room from NHSaves competition, http://bit.ly/NHSaves- Quality Insulation. competition. cation with the architects was key. One Williamson. Lib- big point of concern was the reliance on erty Utilities was We have a 39-solar- panel, 11kW [pho- adhesives to hold all of the flashing and the utility partner. outer insulation together. So, after much The Petersons, tovoltaic] system on our metal roof from back and forth, it was decided that they who won second would also invest in house wrap that place, sent us a ReVision Energy. The house has an would go under the siding to hold it all very nice de- together. However, there was also the scription of the air exchange sys- tem. We have LED issue of moisture collection and venting process they under the siding, so after much thought went through to lighting inside and outside and Energy they used Core-A-Vent strips applied get their award- to firing strips attached to the side of winning home Star appliances. “We decided the house that created drainage for any built. It illustrates trapped moisture. Crowl stressed the Ted Benson’s com- to heat and cool our home in three importance of the back and forth with ment well. Here the architects that led to this innovative is some of what ways, first with one MX23 Mitsubishi combination of sustainable building ele- they said. ments showcased in the Keene house. “We decided to heat pump duckless splits with two head Once these aspects had been ham- build an insulated mered out, the rest of the house went up concrete form units that keep the house at an even temperature of 68 to 70 fairly smoothly. The most important de- (ICF) home due to the energy efficiency, tail of most net-zero houses is that they durability, and low maintenance. Our degrees F. Second, we put in hot water ra- diant floor heat, for when the temperature are sealed tightly to preserve energy. home site is southeastern orientation to To test this, Crowl performed a series of maximize solar energy. The lot is sandy drops below zero, using a propane-fired Weil-McClain energy-efficient boiler which blower-door tests, a simple measure- with good drainage. We plan on land- ment of how much air filters out of your scaping the lot with permaculture design supplies two HTP SuperStor insulated hot Left are interior images of the home. Above: the water tanks, one 120-gallon [tank] for radi- mechanics. Photos from Elizabeth Peterson. house. The common rule is that your for sustainability and self-sufficiency. home should have a blower “Mark contracted with Matt O’Clair, a ant heating and 60 gallons for domestic Cont’d on p.33

& Proudly working to provide energy efficiency incentives to New Hampshire Businesses (603) 226-1009 www.ResilientBuildingsGroup.com 32 Sept. 2019 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Building & Energy Efficiency LED It Shine, LED It Shine George Harvey Green Energy Times has had a number recently sent us a summary of updates of physically making the switch which Peter Salvitti of Efficient LED Lighting of articles on light emitting diodes he thought we should pass on to our can be significant when tall ladders or Systems, with which Sol-Air partners, (LEDs). LEDs can be used for lighting in readers. They include some observations lifts have to be called into service. also had suggestions Pahl passed on to homes and businesses, for street lights, that we believe are Pahl also points us. He has been quoting linear fixtures for flashlights, for vehicle headlights, definitely worth taking out something that is that go into warehouse spaces lasting and more; and in every instance we into account. actually pretty obvious, up to 160,000 hours. He also pointed have seen, they have important ad- Pahl started by once you think about out that the technology is constantly vantages. In August of 2018, G.E.T. ran saying something we it, but could slip by a improving, with prices being reduced an article, “Cool Ways LEDs are Helping knew already: The person easily. Calcula- and new products coming online. the Planet” on their generally superior energy consumption tions of the sizes of At one warehouse project, after in- lighting for specialized circumstances of LEDs, relative to the solar arrays to provide centives, the LEDs were so much more ranging from architectural highlighting amount of power they power to specific sites efficient than the previous lighting to museum displays. An article in April consume, is very low, always should take system that a customer cost of $6,400 of the same year, was “Product Preview: and that means people demand into account. produced annual savings of $3,990. LEDdynamics™ Gro-Lights,” which ex- can save a lot of money By installing LEDs, that This means the estimated payback amined their use for indoor gardening. by installing them. But demand can be de- period was 1.6 years, for a return on We live in a time when things change he went on. It is not creased considerably, investment of over 62%. very quickly. For example, costs for so well known, but and this would reduce In some cases, LED lights are not only photovoltaic (PV) modules have been important to consider, the size and cost of the more efficient, in terms of energy used, declining so fast that any information that LEDs outlast just solar array. It is impor- but they are also brighter. Pahl told us, on their prices that is as old as a year about any other kind tant, for that reason, “Another project at Henniker Farm and should be regarded as very possibly of light people would that the first step in Country Store shined so bright, some of obsolete. It happens that the technolo- use. An incandescent designing many solar their crew said they didn’t even have to gies of LEDs and PVs are very similar, so light might have to be arrays should be to up- keep all the lights on!” an improvement for manufacture for replaced 25 times in grade lighting systems Salvitti observed, “The real question one of them could be reflected in an the lifetime of an LED, first. In some cases, the is why aren’t more businesses mak- improvement for the other. and that means big size of the solar array ing the switch? The key factor here is Ian Pahl, the renewable energy cost savings. And it is could be reduced by as because we all get comfortable with specialist at Sol-Air since 2006, serving not just the cost of the LED bulb with Edison base. much as 40%, and that our day-to-day lives, and lighting is the regions surrounding Lake Suna- lights that is important, Image: Artoria2e5, Wikimedia Commons. reduction is reflected typically always an afterthought.” pee and Kearsarge, New Hampshire, it can also be the cost by a reduction in cost.

FOR SALE: 60-WATT EQUIVALENT HALOGEN-INCANDESCENT LIGHTBULBS - $82 Mark Koprowski, Local Energy Solutions will burn through $75 more electricity sible by replacing incandescent bulbs over a nine-year period than if you had with LEDs or CFLs (compact fluorescent decided to switch to an LED. As a halogen- lights). CFLs are much more efficient incandescent bulb only lasts around 2 ½ than incandescent bulbs, but not quite years, you will also be buying many more as efficient as the more recently avail- bulbs over the life of the single LED bulb. able LEDs. The study indicated that only If the added cost of these bulbs is added 11% of households had all incandes- to their higher operating costs, the total cent lights, 18% had no incandescent added cost is around $82. Penny wise but lights, and 71% had at least some LEDs dollar foolish is an aptly applied saying! or CFLs. These figures indicate to me Multiply savings of up to $9 per year by that everyone was doing as I was doing. the number of light bulbs in your house! When incandescent bulbs burned out One Ammonoosuc Regional Energy Team some years ago, we replaced them with (ARET) member added up the light bulbs CFLs. Now, years later, when the CFLs in his house and came up with 100. He burn out, we are replacing them with estimated that the average light was on LED bulbs. for close to an hour per day, so that an- Then, one day I wondered what it nual savings of $200 would be achieved was costing me to keep those CFLs A CFL contains a An LED contains following a complete conversion from around. Perhaps it would make sense An incandescent light mixture of argon and electrons that recombine incandescent bulbs to LEDs. to replace them all right away. So, I did bulb produces light by mercury gases that with electron holes, A 2015 Residential Energy Consump- the math. CFLs are similar in cost and heating a filament wire produces invisible releasing energy in the tion Survey conducted by the U.S. Energy expected life to LEDs; 72% of their en- to a high temperature ultraviolet light (UV) form of photons and il- Information Administration indicates that ergy consumption goes towards light, until it glows. when the gas is luminating the bulb. most people understand the savings pos- and they will last around excited by electricity. Cont’d on p.34 Image: parquessustentaveis.blogspot.com While shopping at a local retail store, a 60-watt equivalent LED only uses nine I noticed that incandescent light bulbs watts, and it will use less energy and were still for sale, and I watched custom- last much longer than even a yet-more- ers picking them up to compare their vastly-improved incandescent bulb that purchase cost to that of LED bulbs. I meets the 2020 regulatory standard. Thus, wondered if they understood that the despite the recently increased efficiency LED bulbs might cost a few cents more of incandescent bulbs, it is still well worth to purchase, but their lifetime time costs it, financially, to purchase the LEDs. Al- would be much lower. though the purchase prices are close, the As of January 2014, a law took effect operational costs are vastly different. A that requires general use light bulbs LED will provide 80% of its energy use as to be at least 30% more efficient than light and 20% as heat. A halogen-incan- the incandescent light bulbs in use at descent bulb provides the opposite, 20% that time. In 2020, this law will require light and 80% heat. Additionally, LED’s will bulbs to be 60 to 70% more efficient. In last 10,000-20,000 hours versus only 3,600 response, incandescent manufacturers for the halogen-incandescents. met the law’s requirements by creating Over time, the differences in efficiency a 43-watt halogen-incandescent bulb lead to shocking differences in cost. In that produces only slightly less light fact, if your 43-watt halogen-incandescent than its 60-watt predecessor. However, light bulb is on for four hours per day, you Sustainable Education & Agriculture WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Sept. 2019 33 Dover, NH School Achieves Solar Milestone Array to Save Taxpayers Over $4 Million ReVision Energy has service compa- entice them to utilize the educational completed the installation nies providing a possibilities they have at Dover High of the largest rooftop solar comprehensive School and the Career Technical Center.” array in the company’s suite of energy Koehler added, “This has the potential history. The project at the and asset perfor- to stimulate a passion for engineering Dover High School and mance manage- and development of this technology in Career Technical Center ment services. their future endeavors, be it in further- includes 2,581 solar panels, The Renewable ing education or career opportunities. increasing the state’s solar Energy Credits When this happens, our students can be capacity by 1.5% and sav- (RECs) gener- the ones who bring our community, our ing Dover taxpayers more ated by the array state, and our country closer to the clean than $4 million long-term will be sold by energy future that we so desperately at no upfront cost. The Kenyon Energy need.” project was unanimously into environ- The City of Dover also partnered with approved by the Dover mental compli- ReVision Energy on the installation of City Council last year. The ance markets for rooftop solar arrays at the Children’s ribbon-cutting to celebrate the term of the Museum of New Hampshire and adja- the completion of the proj- PPA. RECs are cent Dover Indoor Pool. ReVision Energy ect was on September 19th. Starting the school year off right! Dover High School’s new 2,851-panel, 912kW rooftop solar array will market-based donated 103 solar panels for the instal- The solar array has a keep 1,111,262 pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year. Photo ReVision Energy. mechanisms lation, part of a 318-panel solar array useful lifespan of 40 years that represent at the museum and pool which share a and will generate over 1,000 megawatt- solar energy for decades to come. the environmental benefits of solar power common electricity meter. The rooftop hours of electricity each year, offsetting Investor partner Kenyon Energy owns generation. A REC is produced when an ar- projects installed on the museum and roughly 40% of the school’s electric load. the school array and will sell the electric- ray generates one megawatt-hour of solar indoor pool are owned by ReVision Solar The solar power generated by the array ity to the city at a negotiated rate. PPAs electricity. Impact Partners (RSIPs). is equivalent to offsetting 558 tons of enable nonprofits, municipalities, and ReVision Energy’s agreement with the Under the terms of the RSIP program, carbon pollution each year or the annual schools that are precluded from accessing City of Dover includes an educational impact investors provide capital to build electricity use of 88 homes or the carbon available solar incentives to transition to initiative aimed at teaching students how solar projects. Investors earn a modest sequestered by 600 acres of forests. clean energy at no upfront cost. The PPA solar energy works and exposing students rate of return through payments made The 912-kilowatt array was financed gives the city the ability to leverage the to the various functions involved in the for solar generation, tax incentives, through a Power Purchase Agreement economic benefits of solar power while engineering, electrical, and marketing and other project benefits while solar (PPA) which enables the city to purchase affording the investor partner the oppor- aspects of the project. installers benefit from a steady pipeline electricity at below-market rates and in- tunity to make community investments According to Dover Energy Commission of work. The entity entering into the cludes a purchase option that becomes that align with its core values of creating member Zachary Koehler, “This project has agreement receives a reduced electric available in year 10 of the agreement. positive change in the world. the potential to ignite the imaginations of bill. ReVision Energy continues to seek Exercising the purchase option would Ongoing maintenance and operations current and future students. I am hope- out impact partners for future projects. enable the city to acquire the array at a of the project will be managed by Bay4 ful that this array will intrigue students Learn more at revisionenergy.com/solar- significant discount and produce free Energy, one of the country’s leading solar to learn more about this technology and impact.

Ground Zero: Net-zero Building Cont’d from p. 31 Global Immunity through Community Resilience Cont’d from p. 2 door number less than the square footage of said home. In this case, it focus on carbon our energy supplies was significantly lower, with the final emission reductions and food systems. test reading just .26 ACH (air changes/ to maintain equi- We can conserve hour), meaning the air filtering out was librium, resilience resources, financial almost none. Satisfied with this result, intentionally expands and otherwise, to they then installed an HRV filter, which the conversation into save money and provides fresh air and exhausts pollut- broader strategies reduce waste. And, ants from the home. They also installed that promote both as we develop inno- a three-ton air source heat pump that a thriving populace vative, responsible, provides all the heating and cooling for and regenerative and future-minded the entire house, and finally a 13-kW ecosystems. Just as a policies we increase solar panel system on the roof of the sensible and effective the overall health house and garage. The solar panels approach to health and happiness of themselves provide 100% of the on- should be integrative our communities site energy demand and are designed in order to address all and help lessen the specifically to accommodate the house’s systems in our bodies, impact of shocks to solar gain and shading. a “both/and” approach to global wellbe- those systems and increase our ability to It may not look like anything other ing should combine multiple perspectives respond. than a beautiful family home nestled for maximum benefit. Health-enhancing strategies imple- in the woods, but the Eisinger house is We cannot ignore that our choices and mented at an organizational and regional a modern marvel, a testament to the lifestyles, as individuals and as communi- scale lead to personal wellbeing, social future of sustainable building and living. ties, factor heavily into the disease that justice, economic stability, and ecologi- Jenna Batchelder is a 21-year-old we are experiencing on a personal and cal balance. As we become more aware climate change activist and passionate a global scale. We can continue to treat of the integration between our mind and clean-energy supporter. She is excited to the disasters and emergencies that arise body, and ourselves and the planet, we be writing for Green Energy Times and but, unless we dig down and focus on can mindfully leverage those connec- encourages all young adults to become finding the cause and a cure, we are go- tions for our own wellbeing, as well as more involved in activism. ing to keep having the same expensive the greater good. In addition to giving and heart-wrenching problems again us more energy to enjoy our lives, the de- Many thanks to our sponsors: and again. Prevention is almost always velopment of individual and community cheaper than emergent treatment, and resilience, might actually be able to save it takes longer to recover from a major it someday. illness (or disaster) than it does from a Jennifer White is the director of minor one. sustainability and innovation at Colby- No two communities are alike, so the Sawyer College where she collaborates path to resilience will be different for with stakeholders to implement policies, each. We can nurture social cohesion, initiatives, and curricula that promote support greater equity, and engage sustainability and resilience on campus and our neighbors in the solutions. We can within the greater community. design redundancies and diversity into 34 Sept. 2019 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 IT’S A GREEN LIFE - AFTER ALL … SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Elmore Roots’ Permaculture Know-How Fall is the greatest time of year for planting! Elmore Roots Nursery Rock Stars [email protected] show us an example of plant optimism. David Fried They don’t give up. They don’t talk poli- What gives plants the strength to tics. They keep doing what they are sup- grow through so many obstacles? posed to do. They are answering their in- What gives people the ner call. To be green. To be strength to go on day the best they can. To be after day doing their fruitful and multiply. This work in the world? is why I grow plants. And I have been noticing this is why I like to hang and kindness, to her last day. the strength of plants around with people who Plants do this also. When the sun lately. By the ocean, I see beauty and wonder in touches them in the morning, they are saw some rosa rugosa the world around us. ready. Putting forth flowers and fruit (beach rose) looking People think I am a and shade and interesting shapes on healthy as it was great grower of plants our street and in our fields. They take in flowering and grow- and trees. They see a lot of CO2 and give us oxygen while they are ing right up through a fruit and nuts on our trees at it. When they die, they give every- pile of rocks. There is and think I have mastered thing back to the earth from where a grape vine that year the secrets of growing. they sprouted. As the famous perennial after year comes in The reason I can grow tree crop enthusiast John W. Hershey and harvest so much fruit once said, “Plant ‘til you are planted!” through the window A rose grows in the rocks. Image: Navah Fried. of my office and grows and nuts is because these When we plant flowers and shrubs across my desk. As I plants want to grow! and trees, we are standing up for every- write this, a Virginia It is effortless. You plant need right there. Our biggest job is not to thing that is good in the world. We have creeper has somehow a fruit tree or a nut tree hurt them. hope for the place. Each plant is our entered my house and water it a bit at first. Plants are amazing. People are amazing. partner in believing in our world and in through a wall and is Keep the lawnmower We survive. each other. holding its “head” up away but give it the edge My mother got up every day in her high David Fried started Elmore Roots Fruit on our porch, near our A Virginia creeper growing through the over the surrounding eighties and painted and wrote poetry. Tree Nursery forty years ago. He also summer dining table. wall into the author’s sunporch. Image: grass. The trees’ roots go She donated to every organization that plays guitar and writes songs, including These plants breathe David Fried. down into the earth and wrote to her. She was helping the world an elderberry rap song. life into our world and find the resources they to be better, brighter, with more music

tough for me as I LIKE a bright white LIGHTBULBS - $82 light so I can see what the heck I am do- Cont’d from p. 32 ing! However, I did unscrew four out of 10,000 hours. However, the CFL uses six LED bright white bulbs in my office fifteen watts versus nine watts for and got a special screen for my work the LED. A CFL light that is on for five computer. I keep the blue blocker on hours a day will use more than 27 my phone turned permanently “on” and kWh of electricity (5 hours per day x Larry Plesent Making Light of It turned down the 365 days per year x 15 watts = 27.4 This issue’s brightness on the kWh) and cost $4.65 annually, as- “Ingredient of the LED screen of the suming electricity costs 18 cents per Month” focuses on entertainment kilowatt-hour. A nine-watt LED would light and specifi- center. Lastly, cost only $2.79 and the savings of cally the blue- I changed out $1.86 per year would be more than white light that is my (very) cheap the cost of an LED bulb. Thus, it is not wavelength 483 sunglasses for $35 only worthwhile to replace incan- nanometers; just amber colored descent bulbs with LEDs, it is also before the UV (ul- blue-wave block- worthwhile to replace CFLs. tra violet) range. ing sunglasses and Suppose a household replaces Several disturb- kind of like the five 60-watt incandescent bulbs that ing reports have new look. are on for one hour per day, ten CFL come out in the Light, like water, bulbs that are on for three hours per past year about is completely day, and ten CFLs that are on five old 483, includ- natural. And, like hours per day. It will cost approxi- ing one from water, too much of mately $38 to purchase the 25 bulbs, the University of it may be harm- but they will save nearly $50 per Toledo illustrating ful to your health. year or $600 over the life of those the mechanism Trust me, staying bulbs. This modest investment would of retinal eye damage from bright deposits) around the outer segments of healthy should NOT be painful. provide a return far greater than best blue-white LEDs. Here scientists clearly the photoreceptors…”2 This is the Soapman reminding you that annual returns from the stock market. proved that blue-white light in the Blue-white light is a natural part of sun- whenever you are not paying attention to On a larger scale, if NH’s more presence of retinal (a natural chemi- light, and we evolved to live with it. The you is probably going downhill. Or like soap, than 500,000 homes made simi- cal produced by and present in the exciting thing here is that we now know down the drain. Scientists call that entropy, lar upgrades to LEDs, they would eye) caused physical and permanent which exact wavelength that is responsi- but we will save that one for another together save about $24 million changes to the structure of specific sen- ble for the truth every child on the planet month. Have a blessed day. per year, which would lead to an sors in the back of eye.1 knows, “Don’t stare at the sun or you will annual increase in economic activity 1 Ratnayake, K et al (2018) Blue light excited reti- Even more disturbing is this 2018 (risk) going blind.” nal intercepts cellular signaling. Scientific Reports of $40 million as these saved dollars study on pigmented mice. Here is an Counter strong blue-white light 8:10207 DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-28254-8 20. turned over from one NH business to excerpt: “Exposure to (continuous) blue exposure by wearing blue wavelength another. 2 Nakamura M, Yako T, Kuse Y, Inoue Y, Nishinaka LED light for three days induced retinal blocking sunglasses (yellow lenses are Mark Koprowski lives in Bethlehem, damage… induced white spots on the one way). Read the tag on the glasses, the A, Nakamura S, Shimazawa M, Hara H. Exp Eye Res. 2018 Dec;177:1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2018.07.022. NH. He is a member of the board of the retina, and... this led to a secondary brochure or the online brand website to Epub 2018 Jul 21. all-volunteer, non-profit Ammonoosuc degeneration of the photoreceptors. find out for sure. This becomes more im- Regional Energy Team (ARET), which Larry Plesent is a writer, philosopher and Exposure of pigmented mice to three portant with increased exposure. You can encourages and supports economically founder of the Vermont Soap Company; consecutive days of blue LED light will also filter your screens with plastic light and environmentally sensible energy dedicated to replacing yucky stuff with cause retinal pigment epithelium and filtering schemes or by keeping your blue practices in the Ammonoosuc Region yummy stuff for all the girls and boys photoreceptor damage. The damage light filter on all the time on your hand of Northern New Hampshire. For who care. Thanks for reading. Learn more led to an accumulation of macrophages held. Change out bright white LEDs for more information about ARET and at www.vermontsoap.com and www. (scavenger bacteria often found near “softer, cooler” yellower spectrum lighting. local energy solutions, go to www. reactivebody.org. infections) and drusen (yellow or white This last suggestion was especially ammenergy.org. IT’S A GREEN LIFE - AFTER ALL … SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG Sept. 2019 35 RECLAIMING URINE AS FERTILIZER Julia Cavicchi The Rich Earth Institute is reclaiming for each of us to re-embed to the community project, urine as a precious resource. From their ourselves within our local the Institute is conducting base in Brattleboro, Vermont, they have ecologies. Through urine research in partnership with developed a novel approach to pee, diversion, we find our own the University of Michigan diverting it out of the waste stream and bodily functions intimately to develop innovative returning it to the environment as fertil- connected to both water methods for urine diversion izer. Through the power of pee, they are quality and farm produc- and scalability strategies. developing solutions for both farms and tion. Urine-diverting toilets Other communities can water systems. not only save urine as replicate what the Rich Urine diversion provides a sustain- fertilizer but also reduce Earth Institute has made able source of fertilizer for local farms the amount of water that is possible in the Connecti- while also saving water and preventing wasted in flushing it away. cut River watershed. The downstream pollution. It captures the “Pee-cycling” can be Institute is eager to gain vital nutrients held in urine before they done at home, following A divided bowl toilet for use with momentum for other are lost down the drain. Rather than pol- World Health Organiza- urine diversion and the collection community-scale urine luting waters elsewhere, nitrogen and tion guidelines. Pee can be program; inset: Application at a diversion programs. For phosphorous can be saved for use as a collected in stand-alone local farm. Images courtesy of those communities inter- fertilizer. jugs or through a retro-fit Rich Earth Institute. ested in learning more, the Synthetic fertilizers are part of a to your toilet, with plastic Institute has developed a broken nutrient system where large inserts to divert the pee. urine-diversion guide which amounts of greenhouse gases are It’s best to dilute your urine is available online at richearthinstitute. required to produce nitrogen, and phos- with water before apply- org/urine-diversion-guide/. phorous is a limited planetary resource. ing it to plants. See the In the midst of the inter-connected The potential for urine to replace syn- WHO guidelines for exact planetary crises of climate change, nu- thetic fertilizers thus has wide-reaching details to ensure safety trient cycles, and water contamination, implications beyond the local water and best practice: https://www.who.int/ urine diversion shows how alternative systems involved. water_sanitation_health/wastewater/ together in unexpected ways. From the futures are possible. “Pee-cycling” helps Simply nourishing crops with urine urineguidelines.pdf individual donors, to the farmers who us to understand the entanglements was once a common practice; urine Urine diversion is one accessible solu- apply the fertilizer, to the engineers and between bodies of water and our own was framed as a waste product only in tion to a planetary problem, scaling from designers, it takes a village to make this watery bodies, and re-embeds us within relatively recent history. Confiscated by individual households to whole commu- process flow smoothly. Since the project’s the nutrient cycle. This holistic ap- public infrastructures, it seemingly dis- nities and beyond. The Rich Earth Institute inception in 2012, the community has proach to revaluing waste will be key to appears without a trace. The Rich Earth has developed the nation’s first commu- collectively saved over 30,000 gallons of building resilience into communities in Institute is working to address the myth nity-scale urine diversion program. In urine from entering the waste stream. uncertain times to come. that waste vanishes around the U-bend. Vermont’s Connecticut River watershed, This project is made possible through Julia Cavicchi is an ECO-AmeriCorps Rather than flushing waste away, they the Urine Nutrient Reclamation Program funding from both the National Science member serving with the Rich Earth are developing a novel approach to addresses both local sanitation challenges Foundation and the National Fish and Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont. www. reclaiming the value of urine. Diverting and regional ecological concerns. Wildlife Federation, and other private richearthinstitute.org. urine from the waste stream offers a way The project brings the community foundations and small donors. In addition

FARMS, HARVEST AND CLIMATE CHANGE Cont’d from p. 1 Climate Hub, rotation, installing rain barrels and ponds, and put- agricultural chemicals, and farmer time recently led a green ting in irrigation systems. None of these lead to a better life and the possibility of team which manures, are new techniques, but it’s new to need profit. And that’s all good news for the produced the and no-till them in the Northeast. planet. New England farming. Livestock farmers have also adapted Links: Adaptation The study by pasturing only animals that can walk Natural Resources Conservation Service: Study for Veg- notes, away from high water in the flood plain. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/natl-home etable and “Growers Poultry and young animals are grazed on USDA Climate Hub https://www. Fruit Grow- reported higher ground. climatehubs.usda.gov/ ers, which changing All this is happening whether or not an UVM Adaptation Survey https://www. examines crops and individual farmer accepts climate science uvm.edu/ag-adapt/ how North- diver- and in the absence of legal mandates. It’s UVM Extension’s Center for Sustainable east farmers sifying an objective fact that there’s too much Agriculture: https://www.uvm.edu/ are adapting crops, and rain lately, that farmers can get on sod ext-sust-ag to extreme expressed faster than they can bare ground, that a Jessie Haas has written 40 books, weather. interest crop you don’t have to plant every year is mainly for children, and has lived in an Seventy- Flooding from extreme weather conditions related to climate change can in spe- less exposed to the vagaries of weather, off-grid cabin in Westminster West, VT two percent cause devastion on crops like this corn field. Image: news.stanford.edu. cies and and that fewer inputs of tractor fuel, since 1984, jessiehaas.com. of vegetable cultivars and fruit farmers surveyed have made that are more tolerant of extreme weather adaptations in response to heavy pre- conditions and excess moisture. Crops cipitation; 66% have made adaptations that are native, moisture tolerant, and in response to drought. And many of even “suitable for heavy rains” are increas- This space could be yours! their adaptations actually address the ingly considered by growers because root of the problem. these plants could thrive through chal- Be sure that the reader’s A good share of the excess carbon lenging climate conditions. Some farmers currently in the atmosphere came noted that they have reduced crops that of Green Energy Times from soil in the first place. Practices like ”expose bare ground for too long, such as keeping soil covered, keeping living potatoes,” and added crops that consume Know about YOUR business. roots in the ground, and reducing tillage a lot of water.” build carbon back underground where Other growers are shifting to hoop Contact us now for more details it belongs.That in turn helps farmers. houses to grow some of their crops, or Carbon-storing techniques create well- using plastic mulch, which reduces the to advertise in our upcoming editions structured soil that can absorb more amount of water infiltrating into the soil. water, hold it longer, and release it when Plastic comes with its own set of prob- GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG conditions dry. Seventy-four percent of lems; however, it may be a necessary New England farmers surveyed were transitional tool. Nancy: 802.439.6675 [email protected] building soil health and using cover Farmers are also paying close attention crops as a response to heavy rains. Oth- to the movement of water on their land, Michelle: 603.437.0167 [email protected] er popular responses include using crop controlling, catching, and containing it, Don: 802.373.3309 [email protected] 36 Sept. 2019 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Community Outreach Strategies RESOURCES to Drive Renewable Heating GUIDE TO ADVERTISERS Cont’d from p. 23 AllEarth Renewables 13 350-Vermont: General group that coordinates a variety of statewide actions. However, Massachusetts’ campaigns Apex Solar Power and Roofing 12 To join this group go to: http://350vermont.org have seen a 58% increase in adoption in Appalachian Gap Distillery 39 American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy: Consumer guide to home energy savings - comparison to the years without HeatSmart AWEB Supply 40 aceee.org/consumer campaigns. There are several important take-aways Ayer Electric 11 American Solar Energy Society (ASES): www.ases.org that communities should keep in mind Backwoods Solar: Specialty: solar, off-grid - www.backwoodssolar.com when planning HeatSmart campaigns: Building Alternatives 30 Buildings Energy Data Book: buildingsdatabook.eren.doe.gov 1. Since homes differ widely, it is difficult to Catamount Solar 8 Carbon Tax: carbontax.org reduce costs dramatically for heating Catskills Comfrey 39 technologies. Many heating projects must Clean Power Estimator: www.consumerenergycenter.org/renewables/estimator be individually designed for each home. Clean Energy NH 3 CO2.Earth: See emissions harms, scientific advice, and pathways to follow. www.co2.earth 2. Installers tend to stay local and are not Colby Sawyer College 33 well equipped to scale-up in response to Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, Heating, Appliances, Refrigerator Guide, Building Eagle Home Inspection Solutions LLC 18 increased demand. Envelope, Driving: http://aceee.org/consumer 3. Education and outreach are key. Eastman Electric, LLC 8 Dept. Public Svc. (CEDF): publicservice.VT.gov/energy/ee_cleanenergyfund.html 4. Customers rely on vetted installers for Elmore Roots 34 Dsireusa.com: www.dsireusa.com Renewables & Efficiency. Find state, local, utility, & federal incen- high-quality installations. Exclusively VT Wood Products 29 tives for renewable energy & energy efficiency. 5. Transparent pricing is an important aspect of the program. Farmway 38 Efficiency VT: This is a must-go-to site for immeasurable amounts of info. www.efficiencyVT.com For a more in-depth analysis on Heat- The Farmyard Store 22 Energy Efficiency & R/E Clearinghouse (EREC): eetd.lbl.gov/newsletter/CBS_NL/nl6/Sources.html Smart campaigns, download the Clean Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC): eetd.lbl.gov Energy States Alliance’s recent report, Com- Froling Energy 23 munity Campaigns for Renewable Heat- Geobarns 30 Energy Guide: Unbiased advice about today’s energy choices. Find ways to save, lower your bills & help ing and Cooling Technologies, Four Case the earth’s environment - www.energyguide.com Studies: https://www.cesa.org/assets/2019- Granite State Solar 11 Energy Star Federal Tax Credits: www.energystar.gov/tax credits. Files/Community-Campaigns-Renewable- Grappone Auto Group 6 Heating-Cooling.pdf. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): www.ferc.gov Green Energy Options 12 Look for our next two stories in this Federal Energy Regulatory Commission(FERC): www.ferc.gov series in G.E.T.’s November issue, which will Green-E-Mowers 39 Find Solar: www.findsolar.com feature case studies from recent HeatSmart Hanford Mills 2 Fossil Fuel Freedom: Group working to make Vermont’s energy plan 100% free of fossil fuels: campaigns. High Peaks Solar 12 To join this group go to: groups.google.com/group/fossil-fuel-freedom- Val Stori is Project Director for Clean Energy Integrity Energy 10 Greywater Info: www.oasisdesign.net/greywater States Alliance. La Cite Ecologique of NH 19 Home Energy Saver: Interactive site to help you identify & calculate energy savings opportunities in your home. A lot of great information! - hes.lbl.gov CLASSIFIEDS LEDdynamics 32 Home Power Magazine: www.homepower.com ADVERTISE IN GREEN ENERGY TIMES Loewen Window Center 28 IREC/ Interstate Renewable Energy Council: RE educational info. www.irecusa.org Call us with your ad info or e-mail ad copy Maclay Architects 28 NABCEP/ North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners: This organization that tests & to: [email protected]. Up Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op 37 certifies PV system installers. Individuals are Certified, companies are not. www.nabcep.org to 50 words: $25. Each additn’l word 65¢ Monadnock Food Co-op 37 Deadline for the next issue is Nov. 1, 2019. NESEA/ Northeast Sustainable Energy Assoc.: www.nesea.org Montpelier Construction 25 National Association of Energy Service Co. (NAESCO): www.naesco.org ADVERTISING SALES POSITIONS NH Electric Co-op (NHEC) 7,23 National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): www.nrel.gov Advertising Sales Positions open for Green Energy Times. NH Rural Renewables 19 National Solar Institute: www.nationalsolarinstitute.com Experience preferred. Must be reliable, have computer, Norwich Solar Technologies 13 NeighborWorks® Alliance of Vermont: Low-cost energy loans - www.vthomeownership.org phone and internet skills. Work from home. Must have NY Solar Energy Society 1 New Hampshire Sustainable Energy Assoc. NHSEA Focused on N.E. US, for consumers & industry- RE good communication skills asnd very self-disciplined. Full or part-time. Serious inquires only. Reply to info@ O’meara Solar 8 & clean building info, events. www.nhsea.org greenenergytimes.org. New York Solar Energy Industries Association/NYSEIA www.nyseia.org Oakes Bros. Building Supply 29 New York Solar Energy Society (NYSES): www. nyses.org Peck Solar 10 NFRC independent rating & labeling system for the windows, doors, skylights www.nfrc.org/ JOIN OUR G.E.T. TEAM Pellergy 23 NH Office of Energy and Planning: www.nh.gov/oep/programs/energy/RenewableEnergyIn- We have numerous positions open for: Purpose Energy 39 • Distribution • Ad Sales • Writing centives.htm R.H. Irving Homebuilders 30 Experienced ad sales people needed immediately. Renewable Energy World: www.renewableenergyworld.com RELiON Batteries 9 Renewable Energy Vermont: www.revermont.org Distribution and writing is perfect for a retired person looking for something to do, part-time or RenewAire 28 SEIA/ Solar Energy Industries Association: The SEIA Tax Manual to answer your solar related tax ques- as much time as you can give. Resilient Buildings Group, Inc. 31 tions. www.seia.org If you have some free time and a desire to help REV Conference 3 SmartPower: www.smartpower.org to make a difference, please let us know. Serious ReVision Energy 11 Solar Components: www.solar-components.com inquires only. Reply to [email protected] Solar Jobs: Listed by city, state, and district, SolarStates.org or call 802.439.6675. Rock Art Brewery 39 Solar Living Source Book: realgoods.com/solar-living-sourcebook Saxtons River Solar 10 Solar Power Rocks: Impressive data and info ,including per state. www.solarpowerrocks.com/ Snow Dragon Solar 12 Solar Store of Greenfield, MA Stock & install a wide variety of solar & environmentally friendly tech- SUBSCRIPTION FORM Sol-Air 11 nologies. SolarStoreofGreenfield.com R1 YR…$30 R2 YRS…$50 R3 YRS…$65 Solartech 10

Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP): www.energytaxincentives.org name______Southern Vermont Solar 10 The Energy Grid: www.pvwatts.org Steven Winter Associates 24 address______The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE): develops & deploys efficient & clean TARM Biomass 40 energy technologies that meet our nation’s energy needs - www.eere.energy.gov city.state.zip______The Radiant Store 17 Track the Stimulus Money: www.recovery.gov/Pages/home.aspx phone______Upper Valley Co-op 37 Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN): works to start and support town energy committees as a powerful, people-powered response to realizing a clean energy future. www.vecan.net. email______USA Solar Store 9 Vermont Passive House 24 Vermont Tar Sands Action: Group working to stop the XL Pipeline and any other developments stemming website______from the Alberta Tar Sands. To join this group go to: groups.google.com/group/vt-tar-sands-action Vermont Soap Organics 38 Offer good in U.S. only. Canada: $US 34.00. Foreign: $US 40.00 VPIRG: understand the clean energy resources available to VT - www.vpirg.org/cleanenergyguide Gift subscriptions available! One year = 6 Issues! Vital Communities 18 please send check to 1749 Wright’s Mountain Road VT Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC): nonprofit organization that issues home energy ratings for Bradford, Vermont 05033 Wright Construction Co., Inc. 29 new & existing homes. 800-639-6069 - www.veic.org 802.439.6675 Yellow Heat 22 Weatherization, Energy Star & Refrigerator Guide: www.waptac.org [email protected] Zone 6 Energy 24 www.greenenergytimes.org www.susdesign.com Online info for solar benefit with house design: overhangs, sun angle & path… Zoombikes 7 IT’S A GREEN LIFE - AFTER ALL … WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG Sept. 2019 37

shows that with strong laws and careful Marine Ecosystems’ Population Decline stewardship, we can also restore them, EarthTalk®, From the Editors of E - The Environmental Magazine causing wildlife numbers to surge.” Environmental advocates deep sea waters with de- Another way to stop or slow the over- do spend a lot of time structive trawlers and other exploitation of marine resources would harping about threats to gear which not only collect be to end the approximately $20 billion our oceans, but sadly for all more fish than is sustain- in yearly subsidies for harmful fisheries of us the facts bear out the able but also inadvertently that encourage destructive practices. concern. According to the kill many other marine The World Trade Organization has World Wildlife Fund (WWF), wildlife in the process. pledged to set new targets by mid-2019 population numbers for the There is some hope. Early that would require member nations majority of marine wildlife results of efforts to essen- to reroute any such subsidies toward species have declined by tially rope off certain parts investments in sustainable fisheries, half since 1970, with many of the ocean as “marine aquaculture and coastal community species down as much as protected areas” (MPAs) to development to reduce pressure on fish 75 percent. Furthermore, let marine wildlife recover stocks. But even if such a drastic restruc- a third of all fish stocks are are showing promise. A turing of the fisheries economy takes overfished and one in four Center for Biological Diver- place, environmental leaders worry it species of cartilaginous fish sity analysis of 31 marine may be too little too late. (sharks, rays and skates) wildlife populations found Contacts: “A century of fish biomass are living on the brink of that habitat and other decline in the ocean,” www.int-res.com/ extinction. “Driving all these protections afforded them fish-decline; “Marine mammals and sea trends are human actions: under the Endangered turtles listed under the U.S. Endangered from overfishing and re- The oceans certainly aren’t as crowded as they used to be. We have depleted stocks of large Species Act helped them Species Act are recovering,” journals.plos. source depletion, to coastal marine predators through overfishing. Pollution and climate change have been destructive, rebound significantly, with org/sea-mamal-turtles; FAO, www.fao. development and pollu- as well. Photo by Tom Fisk, Pexels. three-quarters of endan- org/fisheries/en/. tion, to the greenhouse gas gered marine mammal and EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer emissions causing ocean acidification cent of it occurring in the last 40 years. sea turtle species increasing population & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit and warming,” said WWF’s Senior VP for No doubt these changes are happening sizes accordingly. EarthTalk. Send questions to: question@ Oceans Brad Ack. partly as a result of overfishing. According “The Endangered Species Act not only earthtalk.org. Another recent study by University to the United Nation’s Food & Agriculture saved whales, sea turtles, sea otters and of British Columbia researchers cor- Organization (FAO), nearly 90 percent of manatees from extinction, it dramatically roborates WWF’s findings, concluding the world’s marine fish stocks are either increased their population numbers, that the biomass of predatory fish in the fully exploited, overexploited, or depleted. putting them solidly on the road to full world’s oceans has declined by some Efforts to rein in the industry in the U.S. recovery,” said the Center for Biological two-thirds over the last 100 years, and and elsewhere have led to more sustain- Diversity’s Shaye Wolf. “Humans often the decline is accelerating, with 54 per- able practices, but bad actors still ply destroy marine ecosystems, but our study

materials. By partnering with Bloom Foam, A Step in the Right Direction Cont’d from p. 1 SAOLA has been removing harmful algae from lakes and rivers and using it as a main coastal environments. Together, BIONIC SAOLA ingredient in their shoes’ soles. SAOLA then and Sperry’s other mission partner, Water- uses cork, a highly renewable material, to keeper Alliance, have, to date, recovered finish their soles with extra comfort and the equivalent of 4.2 million plastic bottles odor-resistance. On top of this, 1% of all from marine environments, using an SAOLA shoes sold will support volunteer 193 North Main St average of five upcycled plastic bottles for efforts to supply sustainable water systems White River Jct, VT each pair of Sperry BIONIC ® shoes. to wildlife communities in Africa. (802) 295 5804 Learn more at sperry.com/en/bionic. Learn more at saolashoes.com. uppervalley food.coop Rothy’s INDOSOLE OPEN 8 AM TO 8 PM EVERYDAY Certified B Corporation Indosole is work- ing to reduce the build-up of another imper- vious man-made substance in our natural SAOLA shoe collections are manufactured from recy- environment: tires. Similar to plastic, tires cled plastic bottles and environmentally-friendly materials. Image: www.saolashoes.com. are practically indestructible when it comes to decomposition, so discarded tires have Shop Co-ops been collecting and damaging waterways Named after one of the rarest and most and other habitats around the world for a Co-operatives are businesses that are member- endangered species in the world, SAOLA century. The team at Indosole intercepts old owned collectively managed by paid staff and is as passionate about finding new ways to tires before they are thrown away and cuts a member-elected board of directors. Values implement eco-construction techniques in include democracy, self-help and a concern for them by hand into soles of various shapes families and the community. their shoe development as they are wildlife and sizes. These soles are then attached to conservation. SAOLA’s collections of men’s the upper halves of the shoes, which are wo- Rothy’s collection of stylish flats are environmen- and women’s everyday shoes are built from ven from various natural materials like grass, tally-friendly and durable. Image: plugin-maga- recycled plastic bottles as well as several banana leaves and organic canvas. zine.com. other innovative, environmentally-friendly Indosole is best known for their ESSNTLS line of flip flops and slide-on sandals, how- Rothy’s is a women’s shoe company ever, they also sell a variety of other flats as built on sustainability. By using upcycled well. For more information, visit indosole. plastic bottles to create the knitting for com. Open 7 Days 8am-7pm their shoes, as well as vegan, recyclable, Open 7 Days 8am-7pm Chris Gillespie is a contributing writer for 9 Washington St 388-7276 middlebury.coop carbon-free rubber for the soles, Rothy’s 9 Washington St 388-7276 middlebury.coop Green Energy Times. He can be reached at collection of stylish flats are ecological [email protected]. and durable. In fact, Rothy’s products are so durable, they can even be machine washed, allowing their owners to maxi- mize their lifespan and continue enjoying clean, sheik shoes for miles and miles. In addition to this, Rothy’s shoes are shipped in 100% recyclable biodegradable shoe boxes that are made from 85% post-con- sumer recycled material and are durable enough to be shipped by themselves, as six years strong to prevent box-in-a-box shipping. Sperry’s BIONIC ® Collection creates shoes using yarn Learn more at rothys.com/sustainabil- Indosole uses discarded tires to produce its footwear spun from plastic recycled from marine and coastal ity. collection. Image: indosole.com. environments. Image: www. sperry.com/en/bionic. good.local.food. 38 Sept. 2019 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 IT’S A GREEN LIFE - AFTER ALL Climate Strike Recycling Furniture: Why and How September 20, 2019 Abby Overton upcycling it. Search These are extraordinary times. A Home furnishings make “upcycled furniture sixteen-year-old Swedish girl is a world up about 6% of what goes ideas” and you will leader. And millions of people, old and into landfills in the U.S. find nearly twenty young, have joined to follow her. Green Americans threw away 48% million hits. You can Energy Times will have more to say about more furniture and furnish- (re)build something this in our next issue and our website. ings in 2015 than in 2000. wonderful that saves We send 9.7 million tons of you the money of furniture to landfills each buying another piece. year! Let’s stop doing that! If there just isn’t As a rule of thumb, your any appealing way to best bet for used furniture reuse your furniture, is to repair if possible, check with your donate if available, give it community to see if it away or sell for further use, provides bulk waste and trash as bulk waste as a collection. Most cities last resort. ¹ offer bulk waste pick- Check with your local up for large items like Habitat for Humanity ReStores, which are often looking for furniture donations. furniture, appliances or electronics, but are reuse stores operated by local Contact them and see if you have some- you’ll likely need to schedule a collection. ¹ Habitat for Humanity organizations. thing they could use. In some cases, you No matter what it is, there are probably They accept donations and sell home might have to haul your old furniture to ways to reuse it instead of sending it to a improvement items to the public at a drop-off location just to donate it. But landfill. The Sustainable Furnishings Coun- a fraction of the retail price. Many that’s not always true. Sometimes, you cil is here to help! Visit https://sustainable- ReStores will come to you and pick up can arrange to have it picked up. Many furnishings.org/. your gently used furnishings – it’s easy donations can be deducted from your Links: and convenient! taxes. ² ¹ Earth911.com; ² recyclecoach.com Find more places to donate used fur- You can also give or sell used furniture Abby Overton is the Communications niture at sites like the Furniture Bank As- to someone who will continue to use it. Manager for Sustainable Furnishings Council. sociation of North America (FBANA) and There are many classified websites out She is grateful to the Mattress Recycling Council. Through there (such as Craigslist) with people be part of the team FBANA, you can locate your nearest looking to buy. Tap into your network of and, in her small furniture bank. Furniture banks provide social media contacts. Trade networks way, contributing furniture to those in need at little or (like Freecycle) are worth investigating, to the greening-up no cost. Many will pick up gently used too. Instead of selling an item, trade it of the furnishings Top: Greta Thunberg, odds-on favorite to win the furniture straight from your house. You for something you need. This is a fun and industry. She is Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. Photo: Anders Hell- can also look for Goodwill or Salvation easy way to participate in the circular excited to help berg, Wikimedia Commons, http://bit.ly/2kZshex. Army locations. If these options don’t economy!² educate consumers Bottom: A Richmond Middle School student at appeal to you, homeless shelters, bat- If the piece is in no condition to be the strike held in Hanover, NH to Norwich, VT. about their eco- Photo by N. R. Mallery, Green Energy Times. tered women’s shelters and thrift stores used by anyone, consider repurposing or friendly options. OOho Pods Cont’d from p. 1

IT’S A GREEN LIFE - AFTER ALL WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675 Sept. 2019 39 Appalachian Gap Distillery Gets It Right Cont’d from p. 1 als for the biodigester to be constructed in the same industrial park as AppGap; the digester will use waste from local companies like Appalachian Gap, including Otter Creek Brewing and Agri-Mark/Cabot, to dispose of waste in compliance with Vermont law while creating energy. According to Hubbard, Appalachian Gap uses only non-polluting cleans- ers and detergents. Waste water is captured, pH tested, BoD(biochemical oxygen Tasting room interior. Note the white oak barrel-vaulted ceiling and demand) tested, and moni- white oak bar with cast-in-place concrete counter. tored for release to the town SAVE 10% Enter GETCLEAN&GREEN at Checkout sewer system. The distillery ingredients. Co-founder Lars Hubbard said, pays quarterly for the BoD content of its “We buy as much of our grains — corn, rye, waste stream and has reduced the overall and wheat — as locally as is possible, with BoD released to the town by over 75% as a the intent that a full 100% be grown and result of changing its waste handling to the harvested within 25 miles of the distill- PurposeEnergy solution. (PurposeEnergy is a ery. (We are close to 90% local on these company based in Salem, NH, that custom- grains). Barley does not grow well in the configures biodigester systems for food and Champlain Valley, though we are seeking beverage producers.) Vermont-grown sources for that grain. When asked about the solar and sustain- Apples used in our apple brandy are from ability, founder Lars Hubbard said, “We’re just New England; maple syrup used in our trying to do the right thing.” The right thing for Papilio spirit is from a local producer; agave the environmentally-concerned appreciator of for our Papilio spirit is from Jalisco, Mexico fine spirits would be to get down to the tast- but is 100% organic. Our 100% organic ing room between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and do kombucha spirit is also produced locally.” some sampling and then take a bottle or two Appalachian Gap operates out of the home to toast the spirit of ecological concern former Breadloaf Construction Company embodied by Appalachian Gap. building at 88 Mainelli Road in Middlebury, Learn more at appalachiangap.com. VT, which they gutted upon purchase Links: Purpose Energy at purposeenergy. seven years ago. Local architect Richard com, and vanguardrenewables.com. Robson did the official floor plans for the first build out, and Vermont Integrated Ar- Jessie Haas has written 40 books, mainly for chitecture for the second. “They essentially children, and has lived in an off-grid cabin in documented what I had planned out,” says Westminster West, VT since 1984, jessiehaas.com. Hubbard, who is a software designer and architectural consultant. He acted as the general contractor for both builds. “We insulated, in both cases, with spray foam in the walls, around R-32, and dense-pack cellulose in the ceilings (averaging 18 inches thick, so around R-64 overall).” New windows are Marvin thermopane with a low-e coating and existing windows in the building were also double-glazed. Hubbard said, “The six-collector tracking solar array was installed by AllEarth Solar in 2013. Each collector is an Allsun Series 24, each with twenty-four solar panels capable of generating 54,000 kWh per year. In the past 12 months (9/1/18 through 8/31/19), we generated 52937 kWh. We slightly over- ran that, using a total of 55440 kWh. We recently upgraded some of our equipment in the distillery, and I expect that number to drop. Our usage in the month of August 2019 was almost 15% less than August of 2018.” When there is excess, the credits have been given to employees. Appalachian Gap uses separated-com- bustion Hot Dawg space heaters where necessary; only outside air is pulled in for the heaters. This is more healthful and safer for workers. For air conditioning in office areas, Hubbard required units with minimum SEER of 18. Appalachian Gap uses minimum 80% ef- ficiency gas units for steam production for its stills and plans to use only renewable natural gas (methane produced by organic material in farms and landfills) from Ver- mont Gas once all installation is complete. Hubbard said, “Liquid waste and waste grains are currently hauled to South Burl- ington to the PurposeEnergy biodigester. We used to have local farms pick them up but have opted to go this route in anticipa- tion of the new (biogas) facility which will be built in Middlebury.” PurposeEnergy is currently gathering permits and approv- 40 Sept. 2019 WWW.GREENENERGYTIMES.ORG 802.439.6675