CT Green Scene

Aruba: The Next Urban Farm?

by Eileen Weber

Last week, I vacationed in a place I have never been: Aruba. Why a tiny Caribbean island only 20 miles long and six miles wide? Because every time I’ve had it up to here, it’s the furthest place I can think of when I get cranky. Naturally, I felt the need to spend a week there.

Touring the island, it quickly becomes clear that it’s a cliché: Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. Thanks to a desalination plant on the east side of the island only a few minutes drive from Oranjestad, the island’s capital, there is drinking water from the tap. But that doesn’t seem to affect their agriculture.

Cleaner Air? Plant A Tree

by Eileen Weber

A few weeks ago, we had a large maple tree taken down in our backyard. It was diseased and leaned a bit too precariously toward my neighbor’s roof line. Without it, our lawn, which is about the size of a snow shoe, does look a little bigger. And certainly, we have more sun. But I must admit, I miss it. I also have a twinge of guilt about removing a tree.

It’s a well-known fact that trees help keep our air clean. They absorb carbon dioxide and contaminants in the air. They emit clean oxygen for us to breathe. They shade us and keep us cool.

These strong points are not lost on many environmental groups who wish to plant more trees worldwide. The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) launched their Billion Tree Campaign in which they hope to plant seven billion trees by the end of this year. They are well on their way so far with over four billion already planted.

According to a press release from the UNEP, groups around the world have committed themselves to planting more trees. The Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture planted 687 million trees last year. In Turkey, government and non-governmental organizations as well as a number of civilians planted over 300 million trees in 2008.

Just this month, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reported that Pakistan set a world record by planting 541,176 young mangroves tree. They beat out neighboring India in a friendly competition to reforesting some sadly neglected areas.

Even in work-torn Iraq, there is a government group committed to planting new trees and fresh landscaping to guard against wind storms and desertification. According to a report from the Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network on July 22nd, the Water Resources Ministry has confirmed the plantings in approximately 500 acres of land in the regions of Babel, Najaf, Kut, Amarah, Anbar and Al-Azim. The plantings are meant to provide “efficient methods to reduce the impact of natural factors and raise of temperature” as well as preserving moisture in the soil.

For Worst Perfomance by a Recycling Committee

by Elizabeth G. Howard

So I live in Stratford, a smallish town of 50,000, here in our fair state, New England. Since I am not from this part of the country, I have discovered a curious quirk of the New English people -- they take political landscaping to an entirely different level than anywhere else I have ever lived.

In Connecticut there is no real county government, and the State government is mostly ignored. Instead, there are 169 “municipalities” that all have their own way of doing things. Actually, that is putting it lightly. Town governments in Connecticut are more like rivals on "Survivor", where the shared dialect across townline is usually "F--- you! We're the REAL Daughters of the Revolution and we're preserving our individual, municipal rights, even if we have to use canning jars and vinegar!"

For example, in the case of road maintenance, for example, the municipalities, in total, have 17,115 road miles that they are required to maintain… 4.5 times the number that the State maintains. As a result, the sheer cost of road maintenance (hmmm, every town has their own rules, storage sheds, equipment, crews, etc.) is enormous.

As far as I can see, the only thing consistent across the municipalities is enforced by the State law requiring that a very bored looking police officer be on every roadwork site, either sitting in his squad car reading a Harlequin Romance, or chatting with one or more of the otherwise-idle workers about the imminent threat of terrorism in Haddam Neck.

So, fast forward to this week, when I started to research the RECYCLING PROGRAM in Stratford...

New Haven Groundbreaking for $5,000 Per Month Apartments; Condon Argues for Doubling Size of Downtown

By Mark Abraham via Design New Haven.

Great coverage in today's New Haven Independent on the city's official groundbreaking ceremony for the 360 State development. Shovels have been in the ground for over a month, so the ceremony was largely ceremonial, but the importance of the event was not understated:

The symbolic shovelers heralded a future vision for downtown. It’s a downtown populated by medical and university-connected renters who rely on their feet and mass transit rather than cars, buy organic groceries downstairs from their $1,000-to-$5,000-a-month apartments, and help save the planet by living in a green building. “People are paying that in today’s market,” Becker said. “There’s no vacancy at all for the better buildings here downtown,” such as the Eli on Church Street.

The Hartford Courant recently published an opinion piece about the development by the Senior Editor of New Urban News, criticizing its impact on the neighborhood, its massing and pedestrian-friendliness. The importance of walkable, bikeable, and transit friendly streets has been growing nationally, as travel mode undergoes a dramatic shift away from private automobiles. New media sites such as streetsblog.net, a large national blog network created to dovetail with the work of the Transportation for America Campaign, give a sense of this phenomenon.

Although DNH believes that the urbanistic impact of decisions such as where the building's use/program, massing, windows, stair towers and entrances were placed may take years to fully assess (and are combined with the positive stimulus of 1,000 new residents in a pedestrian-rich city core), downtown designers are generally hopeful that the apparent pedestrian safety problems can be alleviated well in advance of the project. For example, the impact of the three major curb cuts at State Street can be reduced through attractive paving, improved sightlines and intensive traffic calming, including bollards if necessary.

Also, the 360 State development promises ample indoor bicycle parking for every apartment - a huge step in the right direction. Yet there are no bicycle lanes or bike boulevards in the area, despite the fact that the streets on all four sides of the new tower are heavily-used crosstown bicycle routes, and even identified by the City of New Haven as such on its official bicycle map. How will the doctors streaming out of 360 State on their bicycles get to the medical district? A greater attention to this form of transportation is needed if the community wishes to provide realistic low-cost transportation alternatives to its citizens, which should be a no-brainer in a town where the vast majority of daily trips are a couple miles or less and where almost half of residents already walk, carpool, bike or take mass transit to work.

Finally, the goal of eliminating pedestrian injuries in the area can only be achieved if speeds are reduced, particularly along State Street. There are currently no signs of plans for significant traffic calming in the area, such as a tabled intersection or speed humps at State and Chapel Streets. Although there are rumors about a complete redevelopment and narrowing of State Street, which could ultimately address those concerns, such plans may be quite distant.

Click here for the developer's new website, 360statestreet.com, where they are already beginning a leasing list. Here's the developer's description:

Where’d the Dump Go?

by Eileen Weber

If you live in or around Hartford, you’re probably aware that your garbage dump will be closed at the end of next month. So where is all that junk going to go? Franklin. A lovely scenic town nestled right by the Shetucket River and about half way between Hartford and Norwich.

According to the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority (CRRA), an ash landfill is earmarked for a site just off Route 32 which runs through the center of town. Many of the residents are having a not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) reaction to it.

But there is a flip side: The potential $1.5 million revenue for the town would be a welcome sight in this economy. It would also provide a tax cut for the town residents.

In an interview with Connecticut’s National Public Radio in April, Jennifer Davis-Muller, a resident of Franklin, said she had a valid reason for her NIMBY point of view. “This is literally 2,000 feet from my back property,” she said. “I have two small children and I’m concerned about the safety for myself, my family, and the residents of Franklin.”

What Is Smart Growth and Why Should You Care?

By now, you probably get the idea that our planet's resources are finite, but many people are beginning to catch on to the fact that our need to design, plan and build communities that are "smart" and conserve our limited natural resources, while creating a strong sense of community is imperative.  On the financial side of the coin, developers, architects, builders and real estate agents are seeing great investment potential in smart growth, even in a slowed up economy.

So what is Smart Growth?

Smart growth as defined by experts at CT Smart Growth:

Mixed land use: "Our post World War II land use decisions have separated and compartmentalized the various aspects our lives.  We live in one place, work in another, and venture to still another place for shopping and entertainment.  This separation has created a car-centric society and taken away from the vitality of the traditional town center or Main Street. Smart growth supports the integration of mixed land uses into communities as a critical component of achieving better places to live. By putting uses in close proximity to one another, alternatives to driving, such as walking or biking, once again become viable."

Compact Building Design: "Compact building design suggests that communities be designed in a way which permits more open space to preserved, and that buildings can be constructed which make more efficient use of land and resources. By encouraging buildings to grow vertically rather than horizontally, and by incorporating structured rather than surface parking, for example, communities can reduce the footprint of new construction, and preserve more greenspace."

Housing Opportunities: "Providing quality housing for people of all income levels is an integral component in any smart growth strategy. Housing is a critical part of the way communities grow, as it is constitutes a significant share of new construction and development. More importantly, however, is also a key factor in determining households' access to transportation, commuting patterns, access to services and education, and consumption of energy and other natural resources."

Walkable Communities: "As the personal and societal benefits of pedestrian friendly communities are realized - benefits which include lower transportation costs, greater social interaction, improved personal and environmental health, and expanded consumer choice -- many are calling upon the public and private sector to facilitate the development of walkable places."

Other elements include: Strong Sense of Place, Preserve Open Spaces, Infill Development, Wide array of Transportation Choices, Fair and Predictable Development Decisions, and Community Collaboration. To find out more about the other 6 elements of smart growth, as well as valuable resources, visit CT Smart Growth. Also, check out this incredible Smart Growth project slated for Georgetown.

 

 

Green Summit II Energy Fair: November 8th

via New Britain Herald

Mark your calendar for the second annual Green Summit Energy Fair in Wethersfield, Connecticut! The summit will take place at the Wethersfield High School, from 11 am to 2 pm.

Town Councilor, Matthew Forrest, set up the Green Summit last year in order to respond to the ever growing energy and gas prices in Wethersfield and to have his residents come up with ideas on living a greener life. The second annual event will include vendor and community booths giving more information concerning renewable energy and showcase experiments created by Wethersfield students. Key note speakers will talk about sustainability issues, fossil-fuel dependence, and energy conservation funding.

Attendees can also take part in workshops that will go over recycling, rain barrels, composting and describing various renewable energy sources. Attendees will also have the opportunity to give feedback back to the town on whether the town is headed in the right direction towards a greener future.

83 Trees Cut Down to Make Better View for Billboard

Via The Green Vibration

Action is needed to protect trees in our very own state! We need to stop companies like LAMAR not only littering our landscapes but destroying our trees to achieve their goals. Send letters of support to Blumenthal and please visit www.scenic.org to send a letter to Jodi Rell stating your support of her bill to ban new billboard contracts in CT, including digital billboards.

Article Written By
BY ROBYN ADAMS REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

WATERBURY-- Nancy Voghel grew up on a "little piece of heaven," but she said Friday that the land near her childhood home has been destroyed.

Last year, Lamar Advertising of Hartford got a permit from the state Department of Transportation to trim and remove undesirable growth on state land off Sidney Street to increase the visibility of one of its billboards.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal filed a lawsuit against the billboard company and Long Hill Tree and Lawn Care Services of East Hartford for cutting down 83 trees that included birch, maple, oak and white pine that were between 85 and 200 years old. Long Hill Tree was hired by Lamar to do the work.

Hal Kilshaw, vice president of governmental relations for Lamar, headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., said the attorney general got it wrong.

"We got permission from the landowner and a permit from the state. We hired Long Hill and met with the state's landscape person, who was on site and agreed to everything that was cut," Kilshaw said in a telephone interview.

Many of the trees that were planted on the land in question were planted by Margaret Casey's grandfather.

"In less than one day, less than an hour, Lamar Advertising came in and changed our lifestyle," said Casey, of 56 Sidney St. "The noise -- we cannot open the windows anymore. We cannot hear the television because of the noise. It is unbearable."

The trees provided a buffer to highway traffic and noise, and soaked up water that spilled down the hilly terrain.

"Last year, I had five feet of water in my basement," said Jerod Voghel, 30, who is Karen Voghel's son. He bought the house that his mother grew up in four years ago; she now lives in Wolcott.

With the open swath of land in the background, Blumenthal and Rep. Selim Noujaim, R-75th District, talked to residents about the lawsuit.

Blumenthal said Lamar "clearly and disgracefully broke the law" by cutting 83 trees that provided a buffer to I-84. The state is suing for unspecified monetary damages to replace the trees.

Cycling Activity vs. National Gas Prices

Thanks to Design New Haven  and Mark Abraham for this post!

Looks like the number of posts per day on the ElmCityCycling listserv, a forum for making New Haven more accommodating to bicyclists and pedestrians, is highly correlated with the national price of unleaded gasoline (click on chart to enlarge). Who would have thought?

With gasoline predicted to hit $6-10 per gallon as soon as a few months from now, the number of nonmotorized trips to work in New Haven is only likely to continue to increase. As a relatively flat and compact city, Downtown New Haven is already perfect for bicycling and walking, as evidenced by the fact that the city has one of the highest percentages of bicycle commuters in the United States (1.8%, versus 1.2% in Boston, 0.9% in Providence, 0.6% in New York City, 0.4% in Hartford, 0.1% in Bridgeport and 0.0% in Waterbury, according to the Census Bureau's 2006 ACS). During rush hour, there are already occasional bicycle "traffic jams" on the popular Orange Street bicycle lane. New Haven was also recently named one of the 20 most walkable cities in the United States.

However, improvements to the city's bicycle-friendliness are needed before the average area resident will choose to ride to work, or even use his or her bicycle for short trips (e.g., a 4-block run to the corner store). Considering that bicycles are already widely-owned (and very inexpensive), the most frequently given reasons why Connecticut residents don't bicycle more often - infrastructure and safety - are fairly easy to solve. According to numerous studies, infrastructure such as bicycle parking, bike-friendly street design, multi-use greenways like the Farmington Canal Trail and accessibility at train stations raise land values by an amount much greater than the investment put into them (in part because they tend to calm traffic). Reckless and high-speed driving and driver education can be addressed through community-wide efforts and traffic enforcement, and through measures such as anti-dooring ordinances like those found in Chicago.

WAHOO! New Train Line Coming to Fairfield County!

But will it work? Will people give up their cars? What do you think?

Via Danbury NewsTimes

THUMBS UP to the progress being made in establishing a commuter bus route between New Fairfield and the Southeast, N.Y., train station. The Connecticut Department of Transportation and the New York Department of Transportation have agreed to share the $300,000 annual subsidy needed to operate the service. It will be operated by Housatonic Area Regional Transit. The goal is to get the buses on the road in October, but first a parking lot for commuters must be developed in New Fairfield. The commuters who buy tickets to use this service will save parking and fuel costs. By funding it, both states will ease traffic congestion on their roads.

Lighting the Path with Solar and LED Technology

EARTH TALK
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: I notice occasional solar panels on roadsides, powering individual streetlamps or signs. Is any research being done to expand on this idea and implant solar collectors in roads, parking lots or sidewalks to generate power in a similar but bigger way? -- Emily Eidenier, via e-mail

The concept of using road surfaces to generate clean solar power is actually already moving beyond the idea stage. Roads absorb heat from the sun every day and are usually free of sightline obstructions that could otherwise block the transmission of light rays. And if the roads built for cars and driving are partly to blame for global warming, why not make them part of the solution too?

Idaho-based company Solar Roadways is one of the trailblazers. Electrical engineer Scott Brusaw was inspired to start the company when he heard Caltech solar energy expert Nate Lewis suggest that covering just 1.7 percent of continental U.S. land surface with photovoltaic solar collectors could produce enough power to meet the nation’s total energy demand.

Brusaw put two and two together when he realized that the interstate highway system already covers about that much of the nation’s land surface, so he got to work designing a system that combines a durable and translucent glass road surface with photovoltaic solar collectors that could be wired directly into the electricity grid. Brusaw’s innovative design would also heat the roads in winter, thus providing a important safety benefit.

A Case Study in Open Communication

What happens when 50 people who rarely or never speak come together for an entire day? Miracles.

This fall, the Ridgefield Clergy Association and RACE will co-sponsor a day-long retreat for members of the Ridgefield Board of Selectmen, Planning and Zoning Commission, the superintendent of schools, principals, teachers and students, the League of Women Voters, members of the Chamber of Commerce, Clergymen, builders and developers, business leaders, Rotary, civics groups, environmental groups, banks, and affordable housing to meet with one goal in mind: to identify the things in their community that they love and want to preserve for generations to come.

By facilitating cross communication and giving people an opportunity to discuss the challenges they face in preserving the town that they love, there's no telling what wondrous results may emerge.

Who Says Connecticut Isn't Building Green?

A few years ago, many considered Connecticut one of the least green states in the nation. But thanks to individuals, organizations, and businesses realizing the multitude of benefits to building green, that's no longer the case.

According to a post on Auctor Verno's blog, here's just a taste of commercial green building projects underway in Connecticut.

"Donald Trump got into the green game and announced the Trump Parc Stamford will be built to LEED standards and Naugutuck will get a $700 million green make-over courtesy of a public/private partnership between The Conroy Development Company of Fairfield, Connecticut and the Borough of Naugatuck and the Naugatuck Economic Development Corporation.

Some other green projects recently announced are either just getting started or close to being finished include:

Metro Green, Stamford
Harbor Point, Stamford
Georgetown Land Development, Redding
Fairfield Metro Center
Campus at Greenhill, Wallingford
iPark, Norwalk
Wall Street Project, Norwalk
Mansfield Town Center
L.L. Bean Store, South Windsor
The Henry Lee Institute of Forensic Science, West Haven"

Do you know of a commercial or residential green building project you'd like to share? Contact Us.

Green School in New Haven

It's no small potatoes for a Connecticut school to be the site of the largest solar installation at an educational institution in Connecticut; one of the largest solar installations at an educational institution in New England; the first Leadership in Energy and Design (LEED) Silver certified building in the New Haven school district; and the first school in New Haven to incorporate solar PV into its design. But the icing on the cake is the fact that thousands of students will enjoy learning within the healthy indoor environment associated with a "green" school.

Want to start a green schools initiative in your town? Visit the CTGBC and inquire about their Healthy Schools Initiative, contact Connecticut Clean Energy Fund to learn more about available funding, or start your own!

Entries for Zero-Energy Building Award

Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) is now accepting entries for the Northeast Zero-Energy Building Award. Zero-energy buildings – buildings that produce as much energy as they consume – represent the cutting edge of environmentally responsible construction. These buildings, which require state-of-the-art energy-efficient construction and renewable energy systems such as solar and wind, are challenging to design and build but can offer comfort and amenities while reducing the building’s impact on the environment.

NESEA will offer a $10,000 cash prize for the best building in the Northeast that can document net-zero energy use while offering a high level of comfort, affordability and reliability. For more information about the requirements and submission guidelines, visit the Zero-Energy Building Award website.

Storms Bring Sprawl Pollution to Rivers

By Eric Hammerling

The pejorative term “sprawl" conjures up an image of cookie-cutter subdivisions marching inexorably over gentle hills that were once farms or forests. Many of us bemoan the changes that sprawl has wrought on our neighborhoods and towns — more paved areas, more traffic, more look-alike strip malls. We rarely speak of what may be the most harmful aspect of sprawl, and that is how it affects our water supply.

What is happening isn’t hard to explain. Sprawling development is accompanied by an explosion of paved areas, which scientists call “impervious surfaces.” When rain falls or snow melts, the water runs off these impervious surfaces into storm drains and is conveyed directly into the nearest river, stream, or lake. Stormwater, as this runoff is known, carries along whatever is in its path. That too often includes pet wastes; road sand and salt; oil, gas, heavy metals and other car-related pollutants; pesticides; and fertilizers and sediment from poorly controlled construction sites. These pollutants, especially when combined with low water and warm temperatures, can spell serious trouble for the river or lake and the fish and the wildlife who depend upon it.

Building Green: Desirable and Cost-Effective

By Anneli Olila

Building green is becoming increasingly attractive to Connecticut developers, architects, and construction professionals. Why? Because evidence is mounting that, in addition to being environmentally sound, green buildings may be more cost-effective than previously thought.

Historically, the assumption has been that building green is cost-prohibitive. Building for sustainability involves considering the entire life-cycle of a building, and selecting and using resources for each phase of that life-cycle in an efficient, environmentally sound, and sustainable manner. This means that choosing a site, construction materials and methods, building operations and maintenance, as well as, the ultimate demolition of the building all need to be considered from a sustainability perspective during building design. Such an involved design phase can be daunting and require greater up-front costs for the developer.

Even with these increased up-front costs, however, building green can be not only feasible, but even profitable. Green buildings are high performance buildings and typically less expensive to operate and maintain. A recent study of 40 high-performance buildings found that, although owners incurred a 1% - 2% higher construction cost, they quickly recouped this - and more - with savings of $50 - $70 per square foot due to lower energy and water use and reduced wastewater treatment costs.

In addition to being operationally cost-effective, green buildings are proving beneficial to owners and occupants in other ways. Not only are those pursuing green building enjoying enhanced corporate reputations, but those using the buildings seem to be functioning better as well. The cleaner air, natural light, and overall healthier environment have been found to increase employee productivity by up to 15%, improve student learning in some cases by 20%, and even increase sales.

Given figures like these, it’s not hard to understand why more people in the development and construction industries are thinking seriously about going green. This trend promises to continue as technology for sustainable design and construction advances, and as green building products increase in availability and decrease in price. Broadly recognized rating systems such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) are adding to the momentum through providing public recognition for incorporation of green elements into building design.

Building green is proving to be beneficial on numerous fronts – environmentally, financially, and in terms of health and productivity. For investors, owners, and occupants, green buildings are no longer desirable for their environmental benefits alone. They are cost-effective and profitable, too.

Please visit the following link to learn more about green building in Connecticut:

Connecticut Fund for the Environment

© 2007 Anneli Olila

Another Connecticut Town Goes Organic

PLAINVILLE - Plainville is getting "greener" all the time, thanks to the efforts of the Plainville Conservation Commission. The 11-member commission has worked hard to ensure that about 167 acres of town properties will remain free of pesticides and free of synthetic fertilizers. The Town Council voted unanimously last month to accept the commission's request to keep the town-owned properties free of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Plainville is the second town in the state to pass a voluntary resolution to not use pesticides on its properties, according to Jason Rupaka, vice chairman of the Plainville Conservation Commission. Rupaka said Milford was the first in the state to adopt the resolution.

Plainville also is home to the pesticide-free Paderewski Park, one of only nine in the nation that does not use any pesticides, Rupaka said. "We've come a long way," Rupaka said. "Connecticut was the first state in the country to ban pesticides on its elementary school properties and our Board of Education has already asked the Town Council to look into other types of lawn care on the rest of its school properties. I am very happy with what we've been able to do," Rupaka said. "Our state is the most progressive and Plainville is one of the most progressive towns in the state to have a voluntary nonuse of pesticides." Town manager Robert Lee said the town's voluntary program is designed to reduce the amount of pollution that goes into the Pequabuck and Quinnipiac rivers in town. Lee said the commission has asked the town to stop using pesticides on six town properties. Rupaka told the council that 49 homeowners have committed more than 16 acres as pesticide free so far as part of the commission's Clean Rivers Project. Source: By Jennette Brodeur, Herald Correspondent 01/11/2007.

Choosing the Best Place for Your New Green Home

By Heather Burns-DeMelo

Most of us have been conditioned to choose a building lot for new construction based on factors that go against the tenants of green building. We want long driveways, large yards that border woodlands, our house perched on a hilltop for a glorious view. While the point here is not to deprive ourselves of enjoying the fruits of our labor, a lot can be gained--personally, locally and globally--from pausing for thoughtful consideration and introspection when choosing the land on which we build.

Begin by reviewing the general topography noting large flat areas that would be best kept for agriculture, parking or septic drainage fields.

Hoppin' a Bus

When I first read about Hartford's new hydrogen-powered bus that emitted only water vapor, my mind began to race with possibility. No more scrambling to roll up the windows and hit the recycle air button on my dashboard while stuck behind a dump truck, tractor trailer or diesel pick up. But with a price tag of $2.9 million for the development of one bus, it could be a while before my sweet dreams come true.

An article in the July 2, 2007 issue of Fairfield County Business Journal smartly points out lots of practical reasons to frequent CT buses as a less time-consuming alternative to sitting in grid lock but would I, who many would claim to be a borderline tree hugger, ever give up my car and take the bus? Hmmmm. As much sense as it makes, the idea of trading in my car and the independence it allows for a bus pass isn't one I'm prepared to entertain--yet. Let's hope the planet can withstand baby steps.

To Do or Not to Do, That Is NOT the Question

I came across this video clip while reading the latest post on Colin Beaven's No Impact Man blog. It's an interesting argument and I'd love to hear what all of you out there think.