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

On Track
Hamlins EverGreen School:
Jane Bollinger early every day for the past four years, Andy Falonk has worked on the biggest project of his life the planning and construction of the new EverGreen Elementary School in Hamlin. So, you can imagine the thrill he felt on August 31 when approximately 650 students arrived for the first day of classes in what is likely the greenest elementary school in all of Pennsylvania. Mr. Falonk is the school superintendent at Western Wayne School District, and in a manner of speaking, this school is his baby. Like any proud father, he can talk about it all day long. Ten years ago, the school board and administration 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 they were just money pits, Mr. Falonk explained in a recent conversation. After finishing a feasibility study, the school board decided to replace the two old schools with 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: The New Buzz Word?

Skip Mendler and Jane Bollinger

A Showcase for Environmental Building

or better or worse, we hear the words green and sustainable all the time these days, so much so theyve lost much of their original integrity. Now, the word relocalization is gaining traction in our vocabulary and thankfully its a word and idea 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, the production of food, energy, and goods back home. 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. The components of relocalization include strengthening local economies, increasing community energy and food security, safeguarding the local environment, and most importantly, getting to know your neighbors in both good times and bad. The idea of relocalization appeals to many conservatives and liberals alike.

regaining control
Increasingly, more and more people are feeling less and less happy with the impact of decisions made in far-away government and corporate offices, decisions that affect our lives but are basically beyond our control. For these people, relocalization is a way to regain control of our lives, our livelihoods, our sense of security and well-being. [ ...continued on page 4 ]

Why, its a Yurt, of Course!

Doni Hoffman what? When I told my friends I wanted to live in a yurt, the response was always the same: A what? Its difficult to describe exactly what a yurt is. I often used, a circular structure with canvas wallskind of like a glorified 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 your average 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.

A ...

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Why a yurt?
Why not an apartment or a trailer? First of all, once youve been inside a yurt, neither of those have quite the same appeal. Youve got to actually enter one to really get it, but there 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 ]

[ ...continued from page 1 bottom ] Initially, perhaps, but the yurt should last between 7 and 10 years (20+ with maintenance), its portable and its yours. You cant find an apartment that cheap around here, and it is way less expensive than a trailer. Finally, a yurt allows you to experiment with low impact living: less material, less waste and just enough space.

the set up
Yurts are very simple structures and theyre pretty easy to build. If youve got the experience, time and tools, you can make all the necessary pieces. Essential tools are drill press, table saw and router. A yurt consists of a wooden lattice wall, radial rafters, a central compression ring, a tension band, a framed door and a durable fabric cover. You can build a yurt to function like a regular home, insulated, plumbed, wired and partitioned, or you can build it as a one-room structure without any amenities. Or anywhere in between its really up to you. You can build a yurt on the

ground, or more commonly seen, elevate it on a wooden platform. The platform allows you to insulate your floor and protects you from water. Once you have your foundation and all necessary components assembled you can put up your yurt in 1-2 days. If you are intimidated by the idea of building a yurt from scratch there 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 own house, he burns wood for heat and a heat exchanger on the wood stove produces some of the homes hot water. Were pretty self-sufficient at home, he observed. As a goal, I always wanted a zero footprint in my house. And so, its no big surprise that Mr. Falonk calls the small environmental footprint of the Hamlin EverGreen School phenomenal, just phenomenal.

Where the Lake and Hamlin schools are heated by oil, the EverGreen School uses a geothermal system which takes advantage of the earths relatively constant temperature, Mr. Falonk explained.

using the earth to heat and cool

Under the schools softball field, 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 system delivers heat throughout the 102,000-square-foot building. From a separate heat source, conservation plays a role, too. Hot, stale air in the building generated by its occupants and their activities is run through a high-efficiency air filtration system that steals heat from the air for use as needed. Mr. Falonks passion for his subject shows, but the practical side of choosing an alternative to fossil fuels became obvious as he talked. Significantly, the districts decision to go geothermal was not based on environmental considerations alone. There was also the financial component. 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.
A Carbondale native, a graduate of St. Rose High School and the University of Scranton, he acknowledges that hes always had an interest in the environment. Now, in his 34th year in the Western Wayne School District where he started as a guidance counselor and rose to be superintendent, Andy Falonk has presided over the construction of an environmental showcase that he hopes will be a model for other Pennsylvania schools. I love to see raw earth turned into something functional, 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.

2 | On Track

Sept/Oct 2011 Transition Honesdale

Which brings us to one of sweetest parts of the EverGreen Schools geothermal system, namely a $1 million grant from the states Department of Environmental Protection for its construction, which is equivalent to five percent of the approximately $20 million the school district borrowed to build the EverGreen School.

We all saw how geothermal could reduce our heating and cooling costs dramatically in the long run...
Other options for alternative energy production may lie ahead in the unspecified future. Presently the school has only a small bit of solar capacity, 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 weve had some talk about the possibilities of wind power, too, some day.

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 reflective 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 floors, while the corridors themselves are low-maintenance, polished concrete. Low-VOC paint was used throughout the school. VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds are chemicals that when released into the air sometimes for years after painting contribute to air pollution and sometimes to health issues.

Wetlands for seWage treatment

One of the schools most fascinating green features is a sewage treatment system called a living machine. You might be tempted to see it as science fiction, except in this case, the future already is here! The living machine features a constructed wetland growing in a greenhouse on the schools roof. The wetland, which relies on six bioretention basins, filters 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 flush the toilets, Mr. Falonk reported. The treated water thats left is held in a containment pond and will be used to irrigate the playing fields. Additionally, all of the schools plumbing uses low-flow fixtures. This and other water-saving features combined with the self-contained system of the living machine will help conserve water. Well be using about 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 efficiency, as well as its reduction of CO2 emissions, improved indoor environmental quality, and other factors, the Hamlin EverGreen School has received internationallyrecognized LEED silver certification; LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

a place for the Wider community

The wider community will benefit from the school, too. Our message to the wider community is that the building is open for people to use. We have resources for example, the school has WiFi throughout, and we 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 tool for students from its many energy- and water-saving features to the wetland ecology of nearby Moss Hollow Creek, from the entire rooftopas-classroom with its living machine to a still-dreamed-of rooftop vegetable garden.

I believe if electricity were like water, by which I mean if you could hear it when its running, he said, if you could hear electricity dripping like you hear water dripping, youd turn it off. Everyone would turn it off.
For Mr. Falonk, students here are future citizens who will learn at the EverGreen School about stepping lightly on the earth and its environment and see the need for conservation. He cited just one example, pointing to the growing need for people to cut back on electricity use. I believe if electricity were like water, by which I mean if you could hear it when its running, he said, if you could hear electricity dripping like you hear water dripping, youd turn it off. Everyone would turn it off. At EverGreen School, students will see how to turn off things when theyre not using them. Theyll learn that we have to do this because the world has limited resources.

sunlight for 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 deflecting it far into the room and onto a reflective 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 for Light-Emitting Diodes) that use semi-conductor technology. Plus, every room including every closet has motion sensors that turn on and turn off the lights when a person enters or exits. Motion sensors also instruct the ventilation system to increase or to reduce the flow 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

On Track Sept/Oct 2011 Transition Honesdale |

[ ...continued from page 1 left] How did we lose control? Where government is concerned, we just surrendered it. Only 29 percent of Americans voted in last Novembers mid-term election.

Thailand, Chile and Argentina. Even foods from California and Florida will cost more as fuel to bring it to market costs more.

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.
Where the economy is concerned, its a more complicated story. For many decades, the world has been on a path towards a globalized economic system. Corporations have pushed to standardize manufacturing, outsource jobs, cut waste and excess to benefit stockholders and investors. The global economy lets us buy cheap goods from countries where labor and materials cost less, and the theory goes if the economy keeps growing and providing jobs, there is supposed to have a trickle-down effect that brings wealth to the middle class and increases their purchasing power. However, the purchasing power of the middle class is not what it was. Over the last 40 years while productivity of American workers has continued to rise, wages for most workers have stagnated or declined making larger numbers of American families less economically secure. Now comes the big question: Can the good life that the middle class has enjoyed for so long continue indefinitely? In other words, can our present way of life be sustainable? More and more people think not and heres why.

needed: a local economy & a local

food system
Building a local economy and a local food system is a good defense against outside shocks from the world at large. When a community takes charge of its own food security and helps feed itself, when a community has a strong local economy, it is more resilient. Peoples hard-earned money circulates among our neighbors 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 consume are our neighbors, we feel more confident 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. The first steps towards relocalization may seem like small things, but together they will start any community on a positive journey.

finite resources
The earth is a finite planet and has a finite supply of natural resources, including especially petroleum. Everything we use to 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 for transportation not only in our cars, but in the delivery trucks that bring to market everything we buy. We use oil to grow the food we eat where crops grown on large-scale industrial farms rely on 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 fossil fuels, which are finite resources. And there is increasing evidence that 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 is expensive energy. The consequences of expensive energy will touch nearly every one of us in the decades ahead, leaving both individuals and communities less secure. Today we count on our global system of trade 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 as far away as France and Spain, South Africa and New Zealand,

here are some ideas:

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 articulate a vision for our local community, make a plan and take steps to achieve our goals. Join the discussion with Transition Honesdale!

4 | On Track

Sept/Oct 2011 Transition Honesdale

Amazing Green Building Tour

Julie Hudson n Saturday October 1st, SEEDS hosted a bus tour of green buildings in the region ones that have used renewable energy, high efficiency, and other conservation measures to save money and resources. About 20 people spent all day visiting six different sites that included three homes, two schools, a business. Highlights included the new EverGreen Elementary School in Hamlin, which includes a 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 replaced in pieces and polished cement floors in halls. The lights turn on when you walk in the room and they adjust based on how much light is available from the outside. The Marywood School of Architecture is in a renovated gym on campus that incorporated the structure of the old pool, the maple playing court and the old bleachers in the design. It uses an innovative technology for cooling geothermal by using the cold water from abandoned coal mines below the school, which are constantly 50-53 degrees Fahrenheit, and circulating the cool water through coppertubing-lined cooling units that hang above and passively allow the cool air to fall on the buildings occupants. The building is LEED Gold-certified and designed to teach students about principles of sustainable design. The Northeast Veterinary Referral Hospital is a high performance building built on a brownfield siteformerly a spoil area for construction debris. Among its many innovations are smart storm water management, insulated concrete form wall system, tubular skylights in interior spaces to bring in natural light, and many recycled materials. The hospital faces south and uses passive solar to help heat the building. 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. and air-sealed envelopes, salvaged materials, geothermal heating and cooling, smart water management, and measures to improve indoor 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 opened their homes and businesses and to Kathy Dodge of SEEDS for planning the successful event.
On Track Sept/Oct 2011 Transition Honesdale |

Paul Ludick's renovation of a modular home included opening up a portion of the floor between the basement and second level to allow the heat from the woodstove to circulate throughout the house. Paul also added passive solar features and radiant heat flooring. Several residences implemented various efficiency and renewable energy strategies such as passive and active solar, super-insulation

Passive Houses: Ancient Concepts Embedded in Cutting-Edge System

Buck Moorhead

insulation and thermal bridge-free construction. Highly efficient windows, materials, and equipment are specified. Quality control is managed throughout the construction process. The air barrier is tested during the construction with a blower door. Requisite repairs, if any, to the air barrier are made then. The blower door test 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, and people, while minimizing heat transmission through the thermal envelope and the ventilation system.

magine living in a house or working in an office that uses 80 to 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 new buildings and retrofitted existing buildings in Europe that do just that. The design and construction of Passive House Institute-Certified structures is rapidly expanding in the United States. While presently there may be about 30 certified buildings in the United States, there are a couple hundred in the certification process, and many more in the planning process. The Passive House Institute, established in 1996, specializes in research and development in the field of highly efficient energy use. The Passive House Planning Program (PHPP) is based on the following core principles: Continuous insulation, creating steady indoor temperatures that wont 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 efficiency and excellent indoor air quality Optimal solar orientation and shading, maximizing solar gains for winter and minimizing gains in the summer Energy efficient appliances and lighting, yielding highly efficient use of household electricity These principles, and compliance with energy metrics leading to Passive House Institute Certification, are achieved through a collaborative relationship between the Passive House architect, the contractor, and the owner. It begins with rigorous design and planning during which the building design is tested using the Passive House Planning Program. Careful construction detailing is developed that is consistent with the requirements for continuous

Passive House projects are not passive solar homes.

Passive Houses are achievable in our region. My firm is working with a team developing a Habitat for Humanity Passive House in Sullivan County, New York. Nothing about passive housing is fancy or complex. It is the disciplined use of concepts regarding energy conservation we have been using in this country for forty years. While not cuttingedge technology, this is absolutely a cutting-edge movement now gaining traction in the United States. For more information visit: www.passivehouse.us

Buck Moorhead is an Architect and Passive House Consultant in Callicoon, New York and New York, NY. He can be reached at buck@buckmoorheadarchitect.com

recommended reading:

Homes for a Changing Climate: Passive Houses in the U.S. by Katrin Klingenberg, Mike Kernagis, Mary James

6 | On Track

Sept/Oct 2011 Transition Honesdale

Shrink that 'I-Wish-I-Knew-How-To...' List with Honesdale SkillShare

Doni Hoffman

ransition Honesdale is beginning an exciting and inspiring new project this fall Honesdale SkillShare. Envisioned as a network of people passionate about doing, learning and teaching, the SkillShare is a creative attempt to unearth the collective genius of the greater community. Every person is both a student and a teacher and has something share, whether its knowledge, a skill or simply energy. This project will help us relearn forgotten knowledge, comprehend new knowledge and teach skills that are applicable to our lives today and in the future. As co-organizer of this project, Im hoping the Honesdale SkillShare will be the go-to place for people who are looking to do more for themselves, this community and hey, Ill say it, the planet.

Reskilling should give people a sense of the power of solving problems, or practically doing things rather than just talking about them, and of the sense of belonging that comes from working alongside other people. Above all it should be fun.
The Honesdale SkillShare is inspired by similar projects across the country (Brooklyn SkillShare, Trade School, SkillShare Network of Boulder) and the Transition concept of The Great Reskilling. These movements strive to reclaim education and facilitate 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 just talking 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 know there is a wealth of knowledge out there: people who remember how things were done decades ago when fossil fuels were not as prevalent, people who have mastered current technology, and people who have learned how to combine the best of the past and present. Were looking forward with this project and working to build an arsenal of local cooperation and regional sufficiency. There are no limitations on what kinds of classes can be taught through the SkillShare network, but special emphasis will be given to those that challenge us to re-evaluate and re-imagine the way we live. Right now, we have one SkillShare event lined up each month, but will are aiming to increase that as we go. In addition, were planning to join forces with Monique Milleson of Anthill Farm to cosponsor monthly SkillShare craftlucks'-informal gatherings of people who have this-could-be-useful piles and "want-to-do" lists that need some shrinking. Some craftlucks will feature a particular project and others will just be for 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!

On Track Sept/Oct 2011 Transition Honesdale |

Sustainable Living
Michael Chojnicki

an opportunity in disguise
Many feel we are at a turning point in our civilization and our planet--a thought both frightening and exciting. Frightening because if we dont modify our behavior now, there are certain to be devastating consequences, and exciting because it is an opportunity to bring about a new awareness of ourselves, our nation 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 gain this mindfulness. In my opinion, lasting sustainability must be birthed from three primary components: Attitude, Awareness and Action: Attitude a desire to know how you use energy and a willingness to commit and plan to be more energy-conscious Awareness understanding your carbon footprint (how your built environment consumes energy) and learning the principles behind renewable energy systems through ongoing education: reading seminars, forums and classes Action -- becoming involved in local organizations and town planning boards to influence and advocate for sustainable energy practices. Above all, it is important to implement these systems and practices into your own life, home and business.

lternative energy, "green" consumer products, and sustainable design are common and alluring catch phrases these 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 energy solutions and now to global warming. However, it was Einstein who 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 first use less.

The real promise of reducing energy use lies in more down-toearth methods, which are also more accessible to everyone.

Lasting sustainability must be birthed from three primary components: Attitude, Awareness and Action.
reduce first
An article on the promises of sun power is from the magazine Science and Mechanics c1935. I believe that the real promise of reducing energy use lies in more down-to-earth methods, which are also more accessible to everyone. Even if every new structure built from today on was a net-zero energy-use building, we would hardly make a dent in reducing our societys voracious energy appetite. Weatherizing and retrofitting existing homes, government, and commercial structures is of utmost importance in reducing the atmospheres CO2 level. Along with substantially decreasing our overall energy consumption, 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, sustainable design and weatherization principles we apply a sustainable market-driven force to facilitate job creation and help stimulate the economy. Consumers can control or at least help define the financial market and the methods by which corporations produce products. Therefore sustainability is not only an intelligent approach environmentally, but also makes good financial sense for both individuals and the economy now and in the future. Renewable energy, weatherization, green architecture, and energy efficiency measures are not in themselves the answer. They are tools in reducing ones carbon footprint some more effective than others. The most fitting degree of each measure must be assessed and appropriately applied to the needs of each specific situation. Another assessment to be made is the embodied energy costs of a product or system. These are often hidden costs resulting from impact to the environment during processing of raw materials, fabrication, marketing, packaging and shipping. Even hybrids and electric cars need roads, tires, oil, plastic, and other nonrenewable 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 impacts associated with it. Recycling, reusing and reducing are all great sustainable practices. Nevertheless, the only 100% efficient answer to addressing our energy problems is by reassessing our needs and reducing our use. In this way, we are truly making a totally effective step to being more sustainable. Economically, reducing has a 100% payback of the investment since it costs nothing in the first place. [ ...continued page 10 ]

8 | On Track

Sept/Oct 2011 Transition Honesdale

Is "Green Building" an Oxymoron?

Michelle Dempsey

we combine our traditional expertise with the concepts of sustainability and reuse to help buyers find and create simple, and environmentally-friendly living and work spaces. As xform gains traction, DxDempsey remains committed to the reuse of existing space and recently completed the design of Freedloves second location in downtown Scranton next to Northern 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

A Local Architecture Firm Offers New Insight into Old Construction

s a firm, DxDempsey practices thoughtful, sustainable architecture. We want to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings and design them to be energy efficient and green. This is often a conflicting 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 an important service. Sometimes, however, people build new simply because they don't see the potential in an existing home or building. This is what led us to start xform, a branch of DxDempsey dedicated to utilizing existing spaces. We guide buyers from real estate selection through renovation to help them find a property and

Our goal is to make good design accessible to more people and as a result, reduce sprawl.
adapt it to their needs, considering renovations, curb appeal, interior fit-out or an addition. We show buyers how an existing home can be adapted to their lifestyle, so they will be less likely to seek out a new McMansion. If we can show a buyer how an existing building can suit their business, they will not choose the industrial park. Our goal is 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 first realtor in Lackawanna County to receive NAR's Green Designation and to share the same core values of sustainability that DxDempsey has always practiced and that xform has inherited. Throughout the real estate search and selection process, I apply my knowledge of design, building systems, and construction to point out what it may cost to make a space function better and be more efficient. Once the property is selected and purchased, then our team of architects at xform helps the owner to transform the property into 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 the buyers budget to purchase the property and the final 20% to make it efficient and adapted to their way of living and working. Ultimately, we imagine making all of our existing building stock efficient and functional for how we live today. In a nutshell, and excitement to this long, narrow space, we created a playful staggered wood ceiling that draws customers deeper into the store. The wood panels that accent the wall also have a puck system that allows maximum flexibility for merchandising the wide variety of product. DxDempsey worked with Aril and Nadine Bryant, the owners of Freedlove, to design custom modular wood fixtures that were appropriate to the space, but also allow great flexibility 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 the space and, in addition, we also used locally sourced products and efficient lighting. Whats the best part of designing such a fun, fashionable store? Being able to justify all the shopping we do there! Read about adaptive and green architecture, home LEED Certification and more in the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal at: www.dxdempsey.com/awesomesauce/landing-21.aspx Michele B. Dempsey, AIA, LEED AP, is president of DxDempsey, an architecture and design planning firm headquartered in Scranton, Pa. She is a member of The American Institute of Architects and a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional, committed to the practice of thoughtful, sustainable architecture. 570.961.3647/www.dxdempsey.com

On Track Sept/Oct 2011 Transition Honesdale |

Kick the Watt, a SEEDS 350 Project is Launched

EEDS (Sustainable Energy Education & Development Support) announces an exciting new program to help families save electricity. It is the next generation of last years 350 Saved Project that saw 36 families save 113,492 kilowatt hours and almost $16,000.00 on their electric bills. SEEDS thought this success called for a continuation of the program, says Katharine Dodge, who, along with a committee of active SEEDS members, has designed this new generation of the savings program. They have added a catchy new name: Kick the Watt, a SEEDS 350 Project. There will be monthly prizes based upon the percentage of savings comparing a month this year to the same month the previous year, with year-end grand prizes for the biggest savers. The goal here is to save electricity, and, as a result, have cleaner air for us all to breathe. There is the added benefit of saving cash, and who can argue about the benefits of that? There is no cost to sign up, but, participants must be PPL customers living in Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, or Lackawanna County to be eligible. Anyone wishing to join can go to Seedsgroup.net and click on Kick the Watt and scroll down to sign-up. If you do not have access to a computer, you may call Kathy at (570) 698-6173. The sooner you sign up during this year-long program, the sooner you will be eligible for the monthly prizes.

From now through September of 2012, participants will receive a monthly e-mail with tips on how to save electricity and money. After receiving their monthly electric bill, participants simply report the amount they used that month. There is a very easy reporting tool on the SEEDS website to do this. PPL makes it easy to see ones data either on their cutting-edge website where customers can sign up to see a detailed profile of their 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 Jason Behonek created a great tutorial on the SEEDS website to help walk you through the PPL site.

SEEDS has a presentation about Kick the Watt that the committee will be happy to present to school and community groups. To request a free presentation, send an e-mail to Kathy@seedsgroup.net or call her at (570) 698-6173.

[ ...continued from page 8 ] Most of us are coming to understand 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: there is no judgment here. I am a guilty party also. But when our grandchildren ask us about our generations unbridled use of the earths 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 painfully obvious as to how dire the consequences were becoming? How will you answer?

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.

One way to get started is to get involved in the sustainable movement. There are many local people, groups and organizations that are actively assisting to help usher in this new awareness as well numerous green events, seminars, forums and workshops right here in our area.

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Sept/Oct 2011 Transition Honesdale

A Day of Workshops, Great Food and Dirt!

arm Day at Fox Hill Farm was a great success, packed with SkillShare workshops, farm tours, a potluck and screening of Dirt! The Movietruly offering something for everyone. Many thanks to George and Katharine Brown for hosting the event at their farm! We are also grateful to all those who were able to come out, enjoy the fun, and learn something new. We had a fantastic line up of both fun and educational SkillShare workshops. These included: backyard composting presented by Micky Gulino, bee keeping basics presented by Tom Morissette, Woodworking unplugged with hand- and pedal-operated tools demonstrated by Katie Baxter, a wild edibles nature walk led by Nathaniel Whitmore, and stone wall repair demonstrated by Paul Luddick. To see photos of the day visit: www.flickr.com/ photos/transitionhonesdale. TEAAM -- The Energy Awareness Action Movement, a project of Sustainable Energy Education & Development Support (SEEDS) -- comprised of Sarah Schaeffer, Liz Dannon, and Abby Carmody -- presented an overview of their adventures in conducting home energy assessments this summer. For the kids (and some brave adults) there was bracelet making, and face painting/arm tattooing. Thanks to Doni Hoffman and Heather Spencer for your creativity and keeping the kids entertained! George Brown also joined in by giving a tour of the pastures and fences for their grass-fed beef herd, and Katharine gave a tour of her gorgeous flower 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 food that 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 microorganisms in a tablespoon of soil? Dirt! is a fascinating documentary that explains the depth of our reliance on this under-appreciated natural element and why it is essential that we manage it in a way that preserves its fertility and health into the future. If you missed the screening you can find 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

On Track Sept/Oct 2011 Transition Honesdale |

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read more online:

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

Calendar of Events
Saturday, October 15th Transition Annual Potluck, Grace Episcopal Parish House, 6:00p.m.: Come have fun, meet new friends, and share your vision for our regions future. All are welcome! Sunday, October 16 Inaugural Skillshare Workshop: Backyard Chicken Butchering & Farm Tour, Augusta Acres Farm, starting at 10:00a.m. Experience homegrown chicken processing and butchering from start to finish at Augusta Acres Farm. Check them out at: http://www.facebook. com/#!/AugustaAcresFarm. Thursday, October 20 SkillShare Craftluck! Salve Making: Featuring Calendula and Comfrey, Beech Grove Grange 6:00-7:30p.m.. Bring a snack or drink to share! Saturday, October 22 Movie Screening: YERT, Your Environmental Road Trip, Beach Lake United Methodist Church, 7:00p.m., at Rte 652 & Milanville Road, behind the Beach Lake Post Office Sunday, October 30 Pickling & Sauerkraut Workshop: Preserving with Salt. Sponsored by Weston A. Price Foundation & Transition Honesdale. At Unity Grange, 554 Galilee Road, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Suggested donation, $10. RSVP to lucia@lrw.net or 570-224-4653 Visit www.transitionhonesdale.org for directions/maps to events. Want to suggest or host a SkillShare event? Send us an email with the date and details!
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Sept/Oct 2011 Transition Honesdale

upcoming skillshare Workshops and 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 and

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

Visit the website for details and times!