The non-profit NorthWoods Stewardship Center, as part of its mission, has been spearheading "green" up here in the Northeast Kingdom with programs on assessing home energy use, bio-intensive gardening, waste reduction, wind power, and even zero-carbon challenge teen camps on sustainability and conservation.

Our big surprise was when we cautiously offered a photovoltaic design and installation workshop in May. We needed at least 10 participants; could we entice that many to this northern corner of Vermont?

We were overwhelmed! Participants came from eight states (including Michigan & New Mexico) and Quebec. We had to cap the class at 25 and we had enough folks on the waiting list to offer another session this fall! It turns out that this sort of workshop is not often offered east of the Mississippi. This interest is very encouraging news about the community's readiness to go "green."

Please go to http://www.northwoodscenter.org/ for photos, etc. on the solar installation workshop. And please contact us for info on the solar success, plus new plans to demonstrate a micro-hydro energy approach.

Nancy Engels
Board Member
NorthWoods Stewardship Center
(posted by VPR)

I, along with many, many others are relentlessly petitioning our boss (essentially the governor) to allow telecommuting. Unfortunatley, he seems adamantly opposed. One would think a.) the largest employer in the State, and more specificaly b.) the Agency of Natural Resources would want to lead other's by setting a good example. The CO2 reduction by part time telecommuting would be quite substantial.

Other than that - composting, recycling, using reusable bags, avoiding big box stores, buying local.....

Drive 55!

I do a lot of highway driving. As an experiment I drove 55 instead of 65. My 45 minute commute took 50 minutes, my gas mileage went up over five miles per gallon. So, over a year period that is almost a $1000 savings. Give it a try and do the math, then imagine how much we could decrease our dependence on the black gold if everybody drove 55. Jimmy Carter tried this years ago without any luck...maybe we are in a new era of consciousness.

Very interesting article about changing how we calculate fuel efficiency for cars:

U.S. drivers should think in gallons per mile: report
From Reuters

Click here for the link.

"If soaring gasoline prices have prompted you to look for a more fuel-efficient ride, using miles per gallon as a guide could lead you astray, U.S. researchers said on Thursday."

When I have to shop at the supermarket instead of a farmer's market, I buy loose vegetables instead of those wrapped in styrofoam and plastic!

We are also developing our awareness of local foods, and reducing what we eat that comes from far away.

Hi,
My name is Medora Jensen and I live in West Charleston, VT.
We use compostable/biodegradable utensils, plates and cups at BBQ's http://www.greenlinepaper.com/. We also use 100% recycled, napkins, toilet paper, paper towels and printer paper. We are slowly switching over to enviromentaly friendly cleaning supplies and we are CSA (community Supported Agriculture) members. We hope that our next vehicle will be a Toyota Prius.

I'm living in a 300 square foot cabin with no indoor plumbing, wood heat, a wood-heated hot tub, and an outdoor composting toilet. I'm growing vegetables in my composted humanure. I also live on a subsistence income, working 1/4 to 1/2 time, and volunteering hundreds of hours to serve my community, nation and world. I have not contributed to the financing of the American Empire for nearly 30 years. And I teach sustainable design and building to those seeking a more holistic way to be in the web of life.

I'm glad that people are finally recognizing green building techniques, most of which have been around for 25 years!

When I designed my home 16 years ago, I knew that orienting a large percentage of my windows to the south to capture both winter daylight and solar heat would save me at least 25% of my heating costs, as well as reduce the need for air conditioning in the summer. I also spent more on additional insulation and air sealing, as well as better windows than the builder normally used. Many of my light fixtures were hardwired for compact fluorescent lamps- and in 16 years, I still haven't had to relamp most of these fixtures.
Last year, I finally had enough money put aside to install solar hot water and photovoltaic panels. This was much easier to do, as the roof and a plumbing chase were planned to allow for them. My hot water costs have been pretty much eliminated in the summer, and I also generate about 6-7 kwh of electricity per reasonably sunny day with a 1.4 kw system. This is about 75% of my usage- which includes a full time home office with several computers.
Working from home not only has increased my productivity- I am an architect specializing in lighting design- but has reduced the miles traveled by car by 50%. Thank goodness for the internet!
Developers, builders, and realtors need to take solar orientation much more seriously, and people who want to buy homes need to demand more attractive, energy efficient homes with good solar access.