Transition Honesdale Newsletter Sept/Oct 2011

8/3/2019 Transition Honesdale Newsletter Sept/Oct 2011

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Why, its a Yurt, of Course!Doni Hoffman

A... what? When I told my friends I wanted to live in a yurt, the response wasalways the same: A what? Its difcult to describe exactly what a yurt is. I

often used, a circular structure with canvas wallskind of like a gloried tent.

They thought I was crazy for wanting to live in a tent. Oh well. A yurt technically

is a tent, but these ingenious structures are stronger and more durable than youraverage backcountry gear and they are weather tight. Inspired by the shelters

used by Central Asian nomads, modern day western yurts are adapted to provide

structural integrity, longevity, low impact and low maintenance living. A yurt is a

perfect option for someone looking for a low-cost living arrangement.

Whyayurt?

Why not an apartment or a trailer? First of all, once youve been inside a yurt, neitherof those have quite the same appeal. Youve got to actually enter one to really get it, butthere is something enchanting about a yurt. They are beautiful spaces. The round walls,

the simplicity or maybe the symmetry of the rafters overhead, they are just plain inviting.Aesthetics aside, a yurt is a relatively inexpensive home. Depending on the size of yurt

and the amenities you choose to include, they start out at about $5,000. Sound high?

[ ...continued page 2 ]

Sept/Oct 2011 A Bimonthly Report on Our Regions Progress Toward Resilience & Sustainabili

Sign up forour electronicnewsletter at:

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On Track

Hamlins EverGreen School:A Showcase for Environmental BuildingJane Bollinger

Nearly every day for the past four years, Andy Falonk has worked on the biggestproject of his life the planning and construction of the new EverGreen ElementarySchool in Hamlin. So, you can imagine the thrill he felt on August 31 when approximately650 students arrived for the rst day of

classes in what is likely the greenestelementary school in all of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Falonk is the school superintendent

at Western Wayne School District, and ina manner of speaking, this school is hisbaby. Like any proud father, he can talk

about it all day long.

Ten years ago, the school board andadministration began to discuss what to do about two aging elementary schools Lake and

Hamlin. We needed to know if they were structurally and environmentally sound or if theywere just money pits, Mr. Falonk explained in a recent conversation.

After nishing a feasibility study, the school board decided to replace the two old schoolswith one new one, and almost from the beginning, the idea of building a green school came

under consideration. We were especially interested in seeing how we could reduce our

footprint on the grid, Mr. Falonk said.[ ...continued on page 2 ]

Relocalization: TheNew Buzz Word?Skip Mendler and Jane Bollinger

For better or worse, we hear the wordsgreen and sustainable all the timethese days, so much so theyve lost muchof their original integrity. Now, the word

relocalization is gaining traction in ourvocabulary and thankfully its a word andidea thats going to be a little harder to

co-opt.

In reality, the word conceptualizes a growing,grassroots movement to reorient our way

of life: to bring, as much as possible, theproduction of food, energy, and goods backhome. Relocalization is therefore the opposite

process of globalization. Taken further, theconcept calls for a conscious strategy to build

a new way of operating in the world based onstrong, local communities. The components

of relocalization include strengthening localeconomies, increasing community energy

and food security, safeguarding the localenvironment, and most importantly, gettingto know your neighbors in both good times

and bad. The idea of relocalization appeals tomany conservatives and liberals alike.

regainingcontrol

Increasingly, more and more people are

feeling less and less happy with the impact ofdecisions made in far-away government and

corporate ofces, decisions that affect ourlives but are basically beyond our control.

For these people, relocalization is a way toregain control of our lives, our livelihoods,our sense of security and well-being.

[ ...continued on page 4 ]


2/122| On Track Sept/Oct 2011 Transition Honesdale

[ ...continued from page 1 bottom ] Initially, perhaps,

but the yurt should last between 7 and 10 years (20+ withmaintenance), its portable and its yours. You cant nd anapartment that cheap around here, and it is way less expensive

than a trailer. Finally, a yurt allows you to experiment with lowimpact living: less material, less waste and just enough space.

thesetup

Yurts are very simplestructures and theyrepretty easy to build. If

youve got the experience,time and tools, you can

make all the necessarypieces. Essential tools are

drill press, table saw androuter. A yurt consistsof a wooden lattice wall,

radial rafters, a centralcompression ring, a tension

band, a framed door anda durable fabric cover.

You can build a yurt tofunction like a regularhome, insulated, plumbed,

wired and partitioned,or you can build it as

a one-room structurewithout any amenities. Or

anywhere in betweenits really up to you. Youcan build a yurt on the

ground, or more commonly seen, elevate it on a wooden platform.

The platform allows you to insulate your oor and protects youfrom water. Once you have your foundation and all necessarycomponents assembled you can put up your yurt in 1-2 days. If

you are intimidated by the idea of building a yurt from scratchthere are many companies that sell yurt kits, which include all the

components ready to assemble.

yurt info & resources:

www.coloradoyurt.com www.laurelnestyurts.com

www.livingintheround.org http://turtlebacknomadics.wordpress.com

Wonder what its like to live in a yurt?Read about Donis adventures in yurt living and view an

annotated slide show of the construction process on the

web at www.transitionhonesdale.org

[ ...continued from page 1 top]This is an idea near and dear to the superintendents heart. In his ownhouse, he burns wood for heat and a heat exchanger on the wood stove

produces some of the homes hot water. Were pretty self-sufcientat home, he observed. As a goal, I always wanted a zero footprint inmy house. And so, its no big surprise that Mr. Falonk calls the small

environmental footprint of the Hamlin EverGreen School phenomenal,just phenomenal.

A Carbondale native, a graduate of St. Rose High School and theUniversity of Scranton, he acknowledges that hes always had aninterest in the environment. Now, in his 34th year in the Western Wayne

School District where he started as a guidance counselor and rose tobe superintendent, Andy Falonk has presided over the construction

of an environmental showcase that he hopes will be a model for otherPennsylvania schools. I love to see raw earth turned into somethingfunctional, something usable, but without too much impact on the

ecology, he remarked. What makes the school so green? For one thing,hardly any fossil fuels will be consumed.

Where the Lake and Hamlin schools are heated by oil,the EverGreen

School uses a geothermal system which takes advantage of the earthsrelatively constant temperature, Mr. Falonk explained.

usingthe earthto heatand cool

Under the schools softball eld, there are 72 wells, 400 feet deep. Pipes

suspended within each well circulate water in a closed-loop system.Under ground, the water takes on the ambient temperature of the earth around 54 degrees. Above ground, heat pumps that run on electricity

raise the water temperature to 68 degrees and a circulating systemdelivers heat throughout the 102,000-square-foot building.

From a separate heat source, conservation plays a role, too. Hot, staleair in the building generated by its occupants and their activities isrun through a high-efciency air ltration system that steals heat from

the air for use as needed.

Mr. Falonks passion for his subject shows, but the practical side ofchoosing an alternative to fossil fuels became obvious as he talked.Signicantly, the districts decision to go geothermal was not based

on environmental considerations alone. There was also the nancialcomponent. We all saw how geothermal could reduce our heating and

cooling costs dramatically in the long run, he concluded.

What makes the school so green? For one thing,hardly any fossil fuels will be consumed.


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On Track Sept/Oct 2011 Transition Honesdale |3

Which brings us to one of sweetest parts of the EverGreen Schools

geothermal system, namely a $1 million grant from the statesDepartment of Environmental Protection for its construction, which isequivalent to ve percent of the approximately $20 million the school

district borrowed to build the EverGreen School.

Other options for alternative energy production may lie ahead in the

unspecied future. Presently the school has only a small bit of solarcapacity, but later on, additional solar features could be added easily

because the required hardware was put in place during construction.If grant money became available in the future, we would probably

consider pursuing solar photovoltaic, Mr. Falonk revealed. And wevehad some talk about the possibilities of wind power, too, some day.

Wetlandsfor seWage treatment

One of the schools most fascinating green features is a sewage

treatment system called a living machine. You might be tempted tosee it as science ction, except in this case, the future already is here!

The living machine features a constructed wetland growing in agreenhouse on the schools roof. The wetland, which relies on six bio-

retention basins, lters and treats the buildings sewage.

Its designed to accommodate 7,000 gallons of water a day, of which

3,000 gallons is treated and sent back into the system to ush thetoilets, Mr. Falonk reported. The treated water thats left is held in acontainment pond and will be used to irrigate the playing elds.

Additionally, all of the schools plumbing uses low-ow xtures. Thisand other water-saving features combined with the self-contained

system of the living machine will help conserve water. Well be usingabout one half the amount of water that a conventional building of this

size would use, the superintendent pointed out proudly.

For its energy savings and water efciency, as well as its reduction

of CO2 emissions, improved indoor environmental quality, and otherfactors, the Hamlin EverGreen School has received internationally-

recognized LEED silver certication; LEED stands for Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Design.

sunlightfor lighting

Much of the schools lighting is supplied by a system of louvers on the

windows that shades classrooms from the radiant heat of the sun while,it also captures the light itself deecting it far into the room andonto a reective ceiling. This technology reduces the need for so much

conventional overhead lighting, cutting electricity use.

Light bulbs throughout the building are low-watt LED bulbs (short forLight-Emitting Diodes) that use semi-conductor technology. Plus, everyroom including every closet has motion sensors that turn on and

turn off the lights when a person enters or exits. Motion sensors alsoinstruct the ventilation system to increase or to reduce the ow of fresh

air, heating and cooling depending on whether people are in the room.

green construction

Green construction materials such as Insulating Concrete Forms(IFCs), made from a layer of concrete sandwiched between two layers

of insulating foam, are the schools basic building blocks, essentially

wrapping the entire building in insulation and reducing both heat loss

or cool air loss depending on the season.

The schools roof is covered with a reective membrane to keep out the

suns heat, and also has a system for retaining stormwater.During construction, no chemical glues were used; two-sided tape was

employed to install some of the oors, while the corridors themselvesare low-maintenance, polished concrete.

Low-VOC paint was used throughout the school. VOCs or VolatileOrganic Compounds are chemicals that when released into the air

sometimes for years after painting contribute to air pollution andsometimes to health issues.

a placeforthe Wider community

The wider community will benet from the school, too. Our messageto the wider community is that the building is open for people to use.

We have resources for example, the school has WiFi throughout, andwe will offer information and any guidance necessary for people to use

some of the new technologies.

I believe the community will be extremely proud of what they have in

this school, he concluded.

one Big teaching tool

Mr. Falonk sees the school itself as one big environmental teaching toolfor students from its many energy- and water-saving features to the

wetland ecology of nearby Moss Hollow Creek, from the entire rooftop-as-classroom with its living machine to a still-dreamed-of rooftopvegetable garden.

For Mr. Falonk, students here are future citizens who will learn atthe EverGreen School about stepping lightly on the earth and its

environment and see the need for conservation. He cited just oneexample, pointing to the growing need for people to cut back onelectricity use. I believe if electricity were like water, by which I

mean if you could hear it when its running, he said, if you couldhear electricity dripping like you hear water dripping, youd turn it off.

Everyone would turn it off.

At EverGreen School,

students will see howto turn off things when

theyre not using them.Theyll learn that wehave to do this because

the world has limitedresources.

We all saw how geothermal could reduce ourheating and cooling costs dramatically in thelong run...

I believe if electricity were like water, by which I meanif you could hear it when its running, he said, ifyou could hear electricity dripping like you hear water

dripping, youd turn it off. Everyone would turn it off.



[ ...continued from page 1 left] How did we lose control?

Where government is concerned, we just surrendered it. Only 29percent of Americans voted in last Novembers mid-term election.

Where the economy is concerned, its a more complicated

story. For many decades, the world has been on a path towardsa globalized economic system. Corporations have pushed to

standardize manufacturing, outsource jobs, cut waste and excessto benet stockholders and investors. The global economy lets us

buy cheap goods from countries where labor and materials costless, and the theory goes if the economy keeps growing and

providing jobs, there is supposed to have a trickle-down effect thatbrings wealth to the middle class and increases their purchasingpower. However, the purchasing power of the middle class is not

what it was. Over the last 40 years while productivity of Americanworkers has continued to rise, wages for most workers have

stagnated or declined making larger numbers of American familiesless economically secure.

Now comes the big question: Can the good life that the middleclass has enjoyed for so long continue indenitely? In other words,

can our present way of life be sustainable? More and more peoplethink not and heres why.

finiteresources

The earth is a nite planet and has a nite supply of natural

resources, including especially petroleum. Everything we useto support our present way of life is based on cheap oil and

cheap energy. We use it to heat our homes, and we use it fortransportation not only in our cars, but in the delivery trucks thatbring to market everything we buy. We use oil to grow the food

we eat where crops grown on large-scale industrial farms relyon petroleum-based chemical fertilizers and pesticides. We use

it in pharmaceuticals. We use it in everything made of plastic.Every business from computer manufacturers to the makers of

construction materials uses petroleum.

Our whole way of life depends on petroleum and other cheap fossilfuels, which are nite resources. And there is increasing evidencethat the decline of fossil fuel resources will hit us hard in this

century, perhaps sooner rather than later. Even our own Marcellus

Shale natural gas boom has a limited lifespan of several decades.As one blogger put it, the only replacement for cheap energy isexpensive energy.

The consequences of expensive energy will touch nearly everyone of us in the decades ahead, leaving both individuals and

communities less secure. Today we count on our global system oftrade to bring us computers and textiles from China, automobiles

and communications products from Japan, steel from Brazil,clothing from India and Southeast Asia, and even medicinal

preparations from the European Union. Our food comes from asfar away as France and Spain, South Africa and New Zealand,

Thailand, Chile and Argentina. Even foods from California and

Florida will cost more as fuel to bring it to market costs more.

needed: alocaleconomy &alocal

foodsystem

Building a local economy and a local food system is a good

defense against outside shocks from the world at large. When acommunity takes charge of its own food security and helps feed

itself, when a community has a strong local economy, it is moreresilient. Peoples hard-earned money circulates among ourneighbors and is not siphoned away to far-off places by non-local

banks and chain stores.

When the people who produce the goods and services we consumeare our neighbors, we feel more condent in the product they are

selling and that they will not rip us off or take advantage; after all,its not easy to hide bad behavior in a small, local community. Therst steps towards relocalization may seem like small things, but

together they will start any community on a positive journey.

herearesomeideas:

Turn off the television & spend less time at the computer Go out and meet your neighbors Find a place to gather and socialize

Talk about important local issues

Buy from local merchants Hire young people Share your skills

Become a volunteer Use your local library Read about the relocalization movement

In the end if we are to succeed at relocalizing, we must articulatea vision for our local community, make a plan and take steps toachieve our goals.

Join the discussion with Transition Honesdale!

Relocalization is therefore the opposite process of

globalization. Taken further, the concept calls for a

conscious strategy to build a new way of operating

in the world based on strong, local communities.


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On Saturday October 1st, SEEDS hosteda bus tour of green buildings in

the region ones that have used renewableenergy, high efciency, and other conservation

measures to save money and resources. About20 people spent all day visiting six differentsites that included three homes, two schools,

a business.

Highlights included the new EverGreenElementary School in Hamlin, which includesa sewage treatment system that utilizes the

cleaning power of wetlands (see feature article).Inside the school, classrooms have non-toxic

carpeting in 2'x2' blocks that can be replacedin pieces and polished cement oors in halls.

The lights turn on when you walk in the room

and they adjust based on how much light isavailable from the outside.

The Marywood School of Architecture is in a

renovated gym on campus that incorporatedthe structure of the old pool, the maple playing

court and the old bleachers in the design. Ituses an innovative technology for cooling geothermal by using the cold water from

abandoned coal mines below the school, whichare constantly 50-53 degrees Fahrenheit, and

circulating the cool water through copper-tubing-lined cooling units that hang above

and passively allow the cool air to fall on thebuildings occupants. The building is LEED

Gold-certied and designed to teach studentsabout principles of sustainable design.

The Northeast Veterinary Referral Hospitalis a high performance building built on

a browneld siteformerly a spoil areafor construction debris. Among its many

innovations are smart storm water management,insulated concrete form wall system, tubularskylights in interior spaces to bring in natural

light, and many recycled materials. Thehospital faces south and uses passive solar to

help heat the building.

Paul Ludick's renovation of a modular homeincluded opening up a portion of the oor between the basementand second level to allow the heat from the woodstove to circulate

throughout the house. Paul also added passive solar features andradiant heat ooring.

Several residences implemented various efciency and renewable

energy strategies such as passive and active solar, super-insulation

and air-sealed envelopes, salvaged materials, geothermal heating

and cooling, smart water management, and measures to improveindoor air quality.

We all had a great time and learned a lot about a wide variety of

green building practices. Thanks to all the people who openedtheir homes and businesses and to Kathy Dodge of SEEDS forplanning the successful event.

Amazing Green Building TourJulie Hudson

A view of the Sanders geodesic dome greenhouse from their screened-in porch.

Jim & Pat Sanders renovated their home to include both passive solar,

photovoltaic solar, solar thermal hot water, and geothermal heat.



Passive Houses: AncientConcepts Embedded inCutting-Edge SystemBuck Moorhead

Imagine living in a house or working in an ofce that uses 80to 90 percent less energy to heat, and 60 to 70 percent less

overall energy in the buildings operation. It is possible

Using protocols and energy metrics established by the Passive

House Institute in Germany, there are now over 15,000 newbuildings and retrotted existing buildings in Europe that do

just that.

The design and construction of Passive House Institute-Certied

structures is rapidly expanding in the United States. Whilepresently there may be about 30 certied buildings in the United

States, there are a couple hundred in the certication process,

and many more in the planning process.

The Passive House Institute, established in 1996, specializes inresearch and development in the eld of highly efcient energy

use. The Passive House Planning Program (PHPP) is based on thefollowing core principles:

Continuous insulation, creating steady indoor temperatures thatwont drop below 50 degrees without heating source

Thermal bridge-free construction minimizing condensation and

building deterioration

Compact building shape with excellent surface-to-volume ratio(less than 1)

Air tightness, minimizing moisture diffusion into wall assembly(less than 0.6 air changes per hour)

Balanced ventilation with heat recovery, minimizing the space

conditioning system and yielding exceptional efciency andexcellent indoor air quality

Optimal solar orientation and shading, maximizing solar gainsfor winter and minimizing gains in the summer

Energy efcient appliances and lighting, yielding highly

efcient use of household electricity

These principles, and compliance with energy metrics leading

to Passive House Institute Certication, are achieved through acollaborative relationship between the Passive House architect,

the contractor, and the owner. It begins with rigorous design andplanning during which the building design is tested using the

Passive House Planning Program. Careful construction detailing isdeveloped that is consistent with the requirements for continuous

insulation and thermal bridge-free construction. Highly efcient

windows, materials, and equipment are specied. Quality controlis managed throughout the construction process. The air barrieris tested during the construction with a blower door. Requisite

repairs, if any, to the air barrier are made then. The blower doortest is conducted again at the project completion.

Passive House projects are not passive solar homes. While

relying on passive solar heat gain, they also calculate and rely on

capturing the internal heat gains from equipment, lighting, andpeople, while minimizing heat transmission through the thermal

envelope and the ventilation system.

Passive Houses are achievable in our region. My rm is workingwith a team developing a Habitat for Humanity Passive House in

Sullivan County, New York.

Nothing about passive housing is fancy or complex. It is thedisciplined use of concepts regarding energy conservation we

have been using in this country for forty years. While not cutting-edge technology, this is absolutely a cutting-edge movement nowgaining traction in the United States.

For more information visit: www.passivehouse.us

Buck Moorhead is an Architect and Passive House Consultant inCallicoon, New York and New York, NY. He can be reached at

[email protected]

Passive House projects are notpassive solar homes.

recommended reading:

Homes for a Changing Climate: Passive Houses in the U.S.

by Katrin Klingenberg, Mike Kernagis, Mary James


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T ransition Honesdale is beginning an exciting and inspiringnew project this fall Honesdale SkillShare. Envisionedas a network of people passionate about doing, learning and

teaching, the SkillShare is a creative attempt to unearth thecollective genius of the greater community.

Every person is both a student and a teacher and has somethingshare, whether its knowledge, a skill or simply energy. This

project will help us relearn forgotten knowledge, comprehend newknowledge and teach skills that are applicable to our lives today

and in the future. As co-organizer of this project, Im hoping theHonesdale SkillShare will be the go-to place for people who arelooking to do more for themselves, this community and hey, Ill say

it, the planet.

The Honesdale SkillShare is inspired by similar projects acrossthe country (Brooklyn SkillShare, Trade School, SkillShare

Network of Boulder) and the Transition concept of The GreatReskilling. These movements strive to reclaim education andfacilitate learning that is practical, fun and often revolutionary

for people. Rob Hopkins, Transition guru and founder, writes:The Great Reskilling should give people a sense of the power

of solving problems, or practically doing things rather than justtalking about them, and of the sense of belonging that comes from

working alongside other people. Above all it should be fun.

With that in mind, Honesdale SkillShare is all about having

fun and celebrating this beautiful place we call home. We knowthere is a wealth of knowledge out there: people who remember

how things were done decades ago when fossil fuels were not asprevalent, people who have mastered current technology, and

people who have learned how to combine the best of the past andpresent. Were looking forward with this project and working tobuild an arsenal of local cooperation and regional sufciency.

There are no limitations on what kinds of classes can be taught

through the SkillShare network, but special emphasis will be givento those that challenge us to re-evaluate and re-imagine the way

we live. Right now, we have one SkillShare event lined up eachmonth, but will are aiming to increase that as we go.

In addition, were planning to join forces with Monique Millesonof Anthill Farm to cosponsor monthly SkillShare craftlucks'--

informal gatherings of people who have this-could-be-usefulpiles and "want-to-do" lists that need some shrinking. Some

craftlucks will feature a particular project and others will just befor open, social, creative work time.

When we share time, creativity, ingenuity and

learning, we build our community by increasing

its cohesion and resilience.We have a lot to learn

from our neighbors so lets get started!

Want to get involved?

Visit the Transition Honesdale website,

www.transitionhonesdale.org for the

latest SkillShare schedule.

Let us know what youd like to learn or what you

love to teach by taking our SkillShare Survey at

www.transitionhonesdale.org! Dont be shy!

Shrink that 'I-Wish-I-Knew-How-To...' List withHonesdale SkillShareDoni Hoffman

Reskilling should give people a sense of the power

of solving problems, or practically doing thingsrather than just talking about them, and of the senseof belonging that comes from working alongsideother people. Above all it should be fun.



Sustainable LivingMichael Chojnicki

Alternative energy, "green" consumer products, andsustainable design are common and alluring catch phrasesthese days. State-of-the-art concepts such as solar photovoltaics,geothermal heating, advanced framing techniques and cellulose

insulation have long been promoted as sexy approaches to energysolutions and now to global warming. However, it was Einsteinwho pointed out that you cannot solve problems with the same

thinking that created them--in this case, more "green" technology.We must not forget to rst use less.

I believe that the real promise of reducing energy use lies in

more down-to-earth methods, which are also more accessible toeveryone. Even if every new structure built from today on was a

net-zero energy-use building, we would hardly make a dent inreducing our societys voracious energy appetite. Weatherizing andretrotting existing homes, government, and commercial structures

is of utmost importance in reducing the atmospheres CO2 level.

Along with substantially decreasing our overall energyconsumption, a radical re-education of our society with an

emphasis on conservation is needed. On the economic side,by embracing and investing in renewable energy, sustainabledesign and weatherization principles we apply a sustainable

market-driven force to facilitate job creation and help stimulatethe economy. Consumers can control or at least help dene the

nancial market and the methods by which corporations produceproducts. Therefore sustainability is not only an intelligent

approach environmentally, but also makes good nancial sense forboth individuals and the economy now and in the future.

an opportunityin disguise

Many feel we are at a turning point in our civilization and our

planet--a thought both frightening and exciting. Frighteningbecause if we dont modify our behavior now, there are certain

to be devastating consequences, and exciting because it is anopportunity to bring about a new awareness of ourselves, ournation and the entire global village. This awareness of how we

live and how our actions impact the earth will lend a deeper

understanding of our needs versus our wants. Each of us must gainthis mindfulness.

In my opinion, lasting sustainability must be birthed from threeprimary components: Attitude, Awareness and Action:

Attitude a desire to know how you use energy and awillingness to commit and plan to be more energy-conscious

Awareness understanding your carbon footprint (how your

built environment consumes energy) and learning the principlesbehind renewable energy systems through ongoing education:

reading seminars, forums and classes Action -- becoming involved in local organizations and town

planning boards to inuence and advocate for sustainable

energy practices. Above all, it is important to implement thesesystems and practices into your own life, home and business.

reduce first

Renewable energy, weatherization, green architecture, and energyefciency measures are not in themselves the answer. They aretools in reducing ones carbon footprint some more effective than

others. The most tting degree of each measure must be assessedand appropriately applied to the needs of each specic situation.

Another assessment to be made is the embodied energy costsof a product or system. These are often hidden costs resulting

from impact to the environment during processing of rawmaterials, fabrication, marketing, packaging and shipping. Even

hybrids and electric cars need roads, tires, oil, plastic, and othernonrenewable costs such as lithium batteries, production of the

electricity to recharge the batteries, etc. Even recycling has many

embodied energy costs and other negative environmental impactsassociated with it.

Recycling, reusing and reducing are all great sustainable

practices. Nevertheless, the only 100% efcient answer toaddressing our energy problems is by reassessing our needs

and reducing our use. In this way, we are truly making a totallyeffective step to being more sustainable. Economically, reducinghas a 100% payback of the investment since it costs nothing in the

rst place. [ ...continued page 10 ]

An article on the promises of sun power is from the

magazine Science and Mechanics c1935.

The real promise of reducingenergy use lies in more down-to-earth methods, which are alsomore accessible to everyone.

Lasting sustainability must bebirthed from three primary

components: Attitude,Awareness and Action.


9/12


Is "Green Building"an Oxymoron?A Local Architecture Firm OffersNew Insight into Old ConstructionMichelle Dempsey

As a rm, DxDempsey practices thoughtful, sustainablearchitecture. We want to reduce the carbon footprint ofbuildings and design them to be energy efcient and green. This isoften a conicting goal. Having practiced architecture for 14 years,

I am aware that building itself produces a big carbon footprint.Sometimes new building is necessary, and being environmentally

responsible with new construction is doing the environment animportant service. Sometimes, however, people build new simplybecause they don't see the potential in an existing home or building.

This is what led us to start xform, a branch of DxDempsey dedicatedto utilizing existing spaces. We guide buyers from real estate

selection through renovation to help them nd a property and

adapt it to their needs, considering

renovations, curb appeal, interior t-outor an addition. We show buyers how an

existing home can be adapted to theirlifestyle, so they will be less likely toseek out a new McMansion. If we can

show a buyer how an existing building

can suit their business, they will notchoose the industrial park. Our goalis to make good design accessible to more people and as a result,

reduce sprawl.

As a Buyer's Agent and licensed realtor, I work with Wayne

Evans Realty, the rst realtor in Lackawanna County to receiveNAR's Green Designation and to share the same core values of

sustainability that DxDempsey has always practiced and that xformhas inherited.

Throughout the real estate search and selection process, I apply myknowledge of design, building systems, and construction to point

out what it may cost to make a space function better and be moreefcient. Once the property is selected and purchased, then our

team of architects at xform helps the owner to transform the propertyinto something they will love, and its worth more the day they move

in than the day they bought it. For example, we may use 80% of thebuyers budget to purchase the property and the nal 20% to make

it efcient and adapted to their way of living and working.

Ultimately, we imagine making all of our existing building stock

efcient and functional for how we live today. In a nutshell,

we combine our traditional expertise with the concepts of

sustainability and reuse to help buyers nd and create simple, andenvironmentally-friendly living and work spaces.

As xform gains traction, DxDempsey remains committed tothe reuse of existing space and recently completed the design

of Freedloves second location in downtown Scranton next toNorthern Lights Caf. Freedlove is also located on Main Street in

Honesdale. Keeping budget in mind, we re-used the built-in units

and left most of the existing space intact. In order to add energy

and excitement to this long, narrow space, we created a playfulstaggered wood ceiling that draws customers deeper into the store.

The wood panels that accent the wall also have a puck system thatallows maximum exibility for merchandising the wide variety of

product. DxDempsey worked with Aril and Nadine Bryant, theowners of Freedlove, to design custom modular wood xtures thatwere appropriate to the space, but also allow great exibility in the

number of ways to create displays so the store can stay fresh over

time. The greenest part of this project was doing so little to thespace and, in addition, we also used locally sourced products andefcient lighting.

Whats the best part of designing such a fun,

fashionable store? Being able to justify all

the shopping we do there!

Michele B. Dempsey, AIA, LEED AP, is president of DxDempsey,an architecture and design planning rm headquartered inScranton, Pa. She is a member of The American Institute of

Architects and a LEED (Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign) Accredited Professional, committed to the practice of

thoughtful, sustainable architecture.

570.961.3647/www.dxdempsey.com

Our goal is to make good design accessible tomore people and as a result, reduce sprawl.

Read about adaptive and green architecture, home

LEED Certication and more in the Northeast

Pennsylvania Business Journal at:

www.dxdempsey.com/awesomesauce/landing-21.aspx



S EEDS (Sustainable Energy Education & DevelopmentSupport) announces an exciting new program to helpfamilies save electricity. It is the next generation of last years350 Saved Project that saw 36 families save 113,492 kilowatthours and almost $16,000.00 on their electric bills.

SEEDS thought this success called for a continuation of theprogram, says Katharine Dodge, who, along with a committee ofactive SEEDS members, has designed this new generation of the

savings program. They have added a catchy new name: Kick theWatt, a SEEDS 350 Project. There will be monthly prizes basedupon the percentage of savings comparing a month this year to the

same month the previous year, with year-end grand prizes for thebiggest savers.

The goal here is to save electricity, and, as a result, have cleaner

air for us all to breathe. There is the added benet of saving cash,and who can argue about the benets of that?

There is no cost to sign up, but, participants must be PPLcustomers living in Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, or Lackawanna

County to be eligible.

Anyone wishing to join can go to Seedsgroup.net and click onKick the Watt and scroll down to sign-up. If you do not haveaccess to a computer, you may call Kathy at (570) 698-6173. The

sooner you sign up during this year-long program, the sooner youwill be eligible for the monthly prizes.

From now through September of 2012, participants will receivea monthly e-mail with tips on how to save electricity and money.

After receiving their monthly electric bill, participants simplyreport the amount they used that month. There is a very easyreporting tool on the SEEDS website to do this.

PPL makes it easy to see ones data either on their cutting-edgewebsite where customers can sign up to see a detailed prole oftheir energy use and billing history, or on their paper bill which

shows thirteen months of usage. Go to http://www.pplelectric.com/e-power and click on my ppl. SEEDS 350 intern JasonBehonek created a great tutorial on the SEEDS website to help

walk you through the PPL site.

SEEDS has a presentation about Kick the Watt thatthe committee will be happy to present to school andcommunity groups.

To request a free presentation, send an e-mail [email protected] or call her at (570) 698-6173.

Kick the Watt, a SEEDS 350 Project is Launched

[ ...continued from page 8 ] Most of us are coming tounderstand how massive a carbon footprint we have on our

planet, in terms of how much fossil fuel we've consumed,knowingly or not, as a result of our lifestyles. Be clear: thereis no judgment here. I am a guilty party also. But when our

grandchildren ask us about our generations unbridled use of theearths resources and its effect on such disruptive global change

what will you tell them? The real question to be answered is not,How could you have been so blind to your lifestyles effect on the

planet? but rather, What did you do when it became painfullyobvious as to how dire the consequences were becoming? Howwill you answer?

One way to get started is to get involved in the sustainablemovement. There are many local people, groups and

organizations that are actively assisting to help usher in this newawareness as well numerous green events, seminars, forums and

workshops right here in our area.

The following is a list of local groups that are great starting points:

Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Design (SASD):

www.sasdonline.org

845-482-4764

Sustainable Energy and Education Development

Support (SEEDS):

www.seedsgroup.net

570-224-0052

Apple Pond Farm:

www.applepondfarm.com

845-482-4764

Since 1987 Michael Chojnicki has provided Architecture,

Planning and Design Studio servicing the Catskill Region of

New York and NE Pennsylvania. He received a Bachelors of

Architecture from the University of Cincinnati in 1980.

The main focus and direction of his Architectural Studio is on

sustainable design, alternative energy, adaptive reuse of existing

structures (such as barn conversions) and education.


11/12


F arm Day at Fox Hill Farm was a great success,packed with SkillShare workshops, farm tours, apotluck and screening of Dirt! The Movietruly offering

something for everyone. Many thanks to George andKatharine Brown for

hosting the event at their farm! We are also grateful to allthose who were able to come out, enjoy the fun, and learnsomething new.

We had a fantastic line up of both fun and educational

SkillShare workshops. These included: backyard compostingpresented by Micky Gulino, bee keeping basics presented

by Tom Morissette, Woodworking unplugged with hand- andpedal-operated tools demonstrated by Katie Baxter, a wildedibles nature walk led by Nathaniel Whitmore, and stone

wall repair demonstrated byPaul Luddick. To see photos of the day visit: www.ickr.com/

photos/transitionhonesdale.

TEAAM -- The Energy Awareness Action Movement, aproject of Sustainable Energy Education & DevelopmentSupport (SEEDS) -- comprised of Sarah Schaeffer, Liz

Dannon, and Abby Carmody -- presented an overview oftheir adventures in conducting home energy assessments

this summer. For the kids (and some brave adults) there wasbracelet making, and face painting/arm tattooing. Thanks to

Doni Hoffman and Heather Spencer for your creativity andkeeping the kids entertained! George Brown also joined inby giving a tour of the pastures and fences for their grass-fed

beef herd, and Katharine gave a tour of her gorgeous ower

garden. Thanks so much to all the wonderful presenters!Everyone learned so much from your inspiring presentations.

During the second half of the day, there was delicious foodthat folks brought for the potluck, and a round of socializing

before heading up the hill to see a screening of DIRT!The Movie. Did you know that there are billions of micro-organisms in a tablespoon of soil? Dirt! is a fascinating

documentary that explains the depth of our reliance on thisunder-appreciated natural element and why it is essential

that we manage it in a way that preserves its fertility andhealth into the future. If you missed the screening you can

nd it online or go to www.dirtthemovie.com for more info.

Check out what theyre up to at Fox Hill Farm at:

http://foxhillfarmexperience.com

A Day of Workshops, Great Food and Dirt!


12/12

| O T k S t/O t 2011 T iti H d l

Calendar of EventsSaturday, October 15thTransition Annual Potluck, Grace EpiscopalParish House, 6:00p.m.: Come have fun, meetnew friends, and share your vision for ourregions future. All are welcome!

Sunday, October 16Inaugural Skillshare Workshop: Backyard

Chicken Butchering & Farm Tour, AugustaAcres Farm, starting at 10:00a.m. Experiencehomegrown chicken processing and butcheringfrom start to nish at Augusta Acres Farm.Check them out at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/AugustaAcresFarm.

Thursday, October 20SkillShare Craftluck! Salve Making: FeaturingCalendula and Comfrey, Beech Grove Grange6:00-7:30p.m.. Bring a snack or drink to share!

Saturday, October 22Movie Screening: YERT, Your EnvironmentalRoad Trip, Beach Lake United MethodistChurch, 7:00p.m., at Rte 652 & MilanvilleRoad, behind the Beach Lake Post Ofce

Sunday, October 30Pickling & Sauerkraut Workshop: Preservingwith Salt. Sponsored by Weston A. PriceFoundation & Transition Honesdale. At UnityGrange, 554 Galilee Road, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Suggested donation, $10. RSVP [email protected] or 570-224-4653

Visit www.transitionhonesdale.orgfor directions/maps to events.

Want to suggest or host a SkillShareevent? Send us an email with

the date and details!

upcoming skillshare

Workshopsand craftlucks

octoBer 16: Backyard Chickens Processing

octoBer 20: CraftLuck! Homemade Body Care-Healing Salves, Lip Balm and more.

novemBer 12: Handmade Holiday!

novemBer 17: CraftLuck! Mending andcreative alterations

decemBer 15: Holiday Hour: Cookie Exchange,open work session and celebration!

Visit the website for details and times!

readmoreonline:

Adventures in Yurt Living

Compost What!?...Guide to Composting Toilet Systems

Preserving Your Harvest

Building Options for Cold Climates: Strawbale and Cordwood www.transitionhonesdale.org

Transition Honesdale Newsletter Sept/Oct 2011

Documents

Transcript of Transition Honesdale Newsletter Sept/Oct 2011