For James H. Kunstler Fans

For those of you who follow Kunstler, here is a great article in The Sun Magazine. You can also check out his podcasts from his cast site: The Kunstlercast: The Tragic Comedy of Suburban Sprawl.

Presentation materials in support of Library Conference Presentation

I will be giving a presentation about the Be Green program series at the Pennsylvania Library Association Annual Conference on October 19. In the spirit of distributing electronically and saving paper, I will be posting all relevant materials on the blog. I created a booklist for the Be Green series, which includes new and relevant books, web sites, dvds, and databases along with the program schedule. I update this booklist 6-10 times per year. Additionally, am posting the slide presentation of the program and it appears under the booklist.

Be Green Booklist and program list

How Green in Your Programming PowerPoint Presentation

Alert about SIGG bottles

For those of us who have been working to eliminate BPA from our water bottles and bought SIGG bottles it is dismaying to read that SIGG produced and sold bottles with trace amount of BPA in the liners. In today's Huffington Post there is an apology by the SIGG CEO. He gives details on how to return your bottle. Also on the SIGG site there is a link to returning the bottles.

Come to our program: How to create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat

How to create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat (part of our Be Green series)

September 19, 1-3pm
October 3, 1-3pm
November 7, 1-3pm

Join us for a workshop on creating your Backyard Wildlife Habitat. The Gardeners of Gardenalia are dedicated to building sustainable systems in our natural environment and community. They are trained gardeners and designers specializing in developing, restoring and renovating gardens and landscapes. September 19 is the first of three in our series on creating a wildlife habitat in your backyard. Topics included in the workshop are: soils and prepping the site; how to use plants that work in harmony with wildlife and the conditions of the space; how to create an ecosystem in the backyard that will be self-sustainable; sustainable practices and organic pest management.

The Wonderful World of Water Day Camp

The 2009 Wonderful World of Water Camp
offers young residents, ages 7-11, of Pittsburgh’s South Hills area, two fun-filled days of environmental learning.

Day campers attending this free camp will:
o Explore watershed basics
o Learn how human activity on the land affects the quality of water in rivers and streams
o Learn what we can do to help protect and preserve our watersheds
o Hike the park’s nature trails
o Conduct water experiments
o Make related crafts

The South Hills Wonderful World of Water Camp will take place at The Regional Environmental Education Center (REEC) August 11-12. REEC is located on Mayview Rd. in Upper St. Clair.

The program will begin each day at 9:00 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m.
For more information and registration materials please contact Nancy at 412-431-4449, ext. 247 or nancym@ccicenter.org

Pennsylvania Sunshine Grant Program

Michael Merck, President of West Penn Energy Solutions came to the library to share information regarding the State and Federal incentives for energy savings applications to our homes. The start date for the programs was May 18 for Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal (heating and water) has not yet been released. However, you can do the paperwork while you wait for the release.

SOLAR:
State Incentives:
Residential: 1kW minimum and limited to 10kW. The cost is around $700-800 per panel, with 5-6 panels (panels have a 20 year warranty) which require at least 100-150 sq. ft. The maximum incentive allowable is less than $22,500 or 35% of the installed cost. The equipment must be new, be listed as eligible under the California Solar Initiative (CSI), include a utility grade meter, have a SRCC OG-100 certification required for solar thermal collectors.

The work must be performed by a program-approved installer, PV systems must generally be grid-connected, shade and system performance analysis must indicate system output at least 80% of optimum, newly constructed homes must be Energy Star certified.

Contact information for the state:
Public Information - PA Sunshine
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Energy and Technology Deployment
PO Box 8772
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8772
(717) 783-8411
pasunshine@state.pa.us
http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/energy

Federal Incentives:
The tax credit is available until 2011. Up to 30% tax credit (off the balance after using the state incentive) of the installed cost of a PV or Thermal system. At least half of the energy generated by the "qualifying property" must come from the sun. Homeowners may only claim spending on the solar water heating system property, not the entire water heating system of the household.

Renewable Energy Credits (REC)
When 1,000Kwh have been generated, the owner has the right to sell their credit. The going market rate in PA is $350 per REC. Learn more from the Penn State Extension Service.

KEYSTONE HELP
The Keystone HELP Energy Efficiency Loan & Rebate Program is designed to help homeowners improve energy efficiency with special financing and rebates for high-efficiency heating, AC, insulation, windows, door, geothermal and "whole house" improvements. Look at their web site for more application information and how to qualify.

REBATES
Energy Star Rebates are for the installation of qualifying Energy Star improvements or other improvements that meet program standards. The rebate is equal to 10% of the cost of purchase and installation, with a maximum rebate of $250.

ADVANCED PERFORMANCE ENERGY STAR REBATES
These rebates are for the installation of qualifying improvements that exceed Energy Star standards. The rebate is equal to 10% of the cost of purchase and installation, with a maximum rebate of $500.

Web sites for more information
www.dsire.org
www.energystar.gov

Furoshiki in the News!

Both the Post Gazette and the Almanac published articles on Furoshiki.