To Kill A Kilowatt And Produce A Cleaner One, Part II

Strike up a two kid band, announcing the lowest personal household power bill yet!  This month our home of two adults and two children reached a new kilowatt low of 363KWH for the month.

Historically speaking of the kilowatt, following a 60 year-period of surplus electricity, Seattle City Light went into a period of promoting conservation of electricity with the slogan line of "Kill-A-Watt" in 1973.  So this month marks another month in a trend of killing a watt or two in our home.  Almost becoming a game to us - up the conservation ante by adding a LED light here, an Energy Star appliance there, seeing how many more loads of laundry we can hang dry in a month and then - waiting.  Waiting to see what a difference it makes in the bill.  In our most recent round of the conservation game, this translated to a bill total of $40.67.

Have you been killing a watt in a similar conservation game?  What methods have you tried?

Good news for the environment too.  In today's climate changed reality, less use of electricity DOES mean using less CO2 promoting fuel mix.  Which is significant for those living in PSE Utility country!

Currently our household's utility has 50% of its electricity "fuel-mix" from renewables like Hydropower.  This source does not contribute to climate change, wahoo for that!  Although, the flip side is the other 50% of the fuel mix comes from Non-Renewable Fossil Fuels.  "Nationally, carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion represented the largest source (78%) of total GWP-weighted emissions from all emission sources in 2010."  Yikes!  So how to close this gap up so it is even more from renewables?

In our local areas case - roof-top photovoltaics!

It is a critical time to be looking at these alternative energies and a FASCINATING time!  The technology is changing so rapidly.  Solar panel efficiencies have increased enough now that the power received from them is much more than the power used in manufacturing them!  Also, the Return on Investment (ROI) is down to 5 to 10 years for home owners!  Soak up that PNW sunshine with that bottom line!

According to Keith Hughes, owner for West Seattle Natural Energy who came and did a solar energy evaluation for our rooftop in May, the numbers we are looking at are like these:

For an average household energy use we are looking at a 12-panel system.

Upfront cost.................$11,600
Federal tax credit............$3,480
New installation price.....$8,120

Savings (less money going to PSE each year.) $395
Rebate (15cents for 7 years) or                         $570
Annual savings til 2020 ...................................$965 *

*ideal for West and South facing roofs with minimal shading.

These numbers turn a ROI to 7 years.  7 years!

Financially, to make that number even better, one could have WA manufactured Solar Panels installed and that would bring that number down to 5.5 years.  5.5 years and the installation and price of the panels is paid off!

Will we make this next step?  Would you?

Part I of blog

New Sustainable Yogurt Shop in Redmond

Goosebumps.  You know.  The feeling you get when you learn of something in theory, take a liking to it, and then see it being played out again, and then again!  Just thrilling, exciting, moving into the more sustainable future, goosebumps.  The theory here being, that composting option can be effectively added to restaurant dining areas.

While many restaurants on the Eastside with the help of the City Recycling Teams have effectively added kitchen scrap composting to their back-end operations, it has not really hit the dining areas yet.

Over the summer, the discovery of my neighborhood Pagliacci's was the first aha a, this is how they do it moment.  They make sure everything you would use, plates, cups are compostable and just have one bin to collect it all in.  Easy.  As a patron cleaning up after a meal, I can handle this easy clean-up.

Today, this new "aha a" place was recently opened ZOËYOGURT!

Originally opening the first Zoeyogurt in Green Lake, husband and wife duo - Donna and Tom Hudson -  have expanded to the Bella Botega Redmond Location.   As empty nesters, they needed a new project and after a visit to CA, they realized that there were not any of these self serve yogurt places around here.  At the time Green Lake Zoeyogurt was one of the first self-serve's in WA.

Why 100% compostable?

To fit the seattle area clientele's importance on the environment.

How does self-serve work?

Yogurt is sold by the weight and the customer tailors the yogurt dish to one's ounce by ounce desire.

How did they come up with the name?  Zoë the family dog.  Who was happy enough to come from his bed in the back for a quick snapshot, with the owner's daughter.

All Zoe products are compostable!

Upon departing Zoeyogurt, a view of the neighboring businesses left me with a warm felling of gratitude.  All my favorite places now in a row.  Thai - Irish Pub - French Bakery and now to top it off and trailblazing in the sustainable sphere - self-serve yogurt!  Goosebumps and warm cozy feelings all in one!

What Stinks?

A parody about loving and hating the recent WM strike.

For most of us Eastsiders, the strike was a complete inconvenience with reminders of missed pick-ups lining the streets in colors of blue and grey bins.  By the end of the strike the bins lids were wedged up high with a surplus of recycling and cardboard boxes were spilling out the sides.  While the value of this strike was shown for the workers, do we have any indirect value that came out of this strike beyond a newfound appreciation for someone regularly taking our trash away.  These hypothetical characters will draw it out and you can decide.

Resident 1:  I recycle and food scrap so much my trash didn't even need to be taken out.  What strike?  I didn't notice a thing.

R 2:  Yaah, well you are not the one who had to walk by the yard waste/ compost bin all the time!  Did you see what was growing in there and oh man, the stink.  Sheesh I mean, I heard district composting is the next thing on the horizon, but does that process have to take place right here in the neighborhood bin!

R3:  Rats about that!

R4:  Let's just dump the compost bins in the trash so we don't have to deal with that "fact of nature."

R5:  We could if we had any room in the trash, those workers are on strike this week too!

R1:  Recycling is the same, it just keeps piling up.  Glad I don't have the household job of having to stuff the next lot in there.  Although, I'm amazed how much could fit!

R4:  Wow, we could actually save money if we only needed things picked up every other week.  Maybe this strike is not such a bad thing.  If we sort all the stinky "compostable" trash into bins that are picked up every week - for free - the rest can be picked up every other week.

R5: The other recycling would still need to be picked up every week because everyone knows that as "Northwesteners", we are awesome recyclers.

R1:  I have heard that too, but last week I was sure glad to reclaim a whole bunch of cardboard that was just sitting there for weeks.  It ended up being used as liners for the rows in between the pea patches.  The crew that normally picked up garbage had some extra time on their hands and filled in the mulch on top.  Less weeds between rows and a very nice look all with "reclaimed" resources.

R2:  It may look pretty, but I still can not get those images out of my head of what the food scrap bin looks like right now.  The looks of that would even scare the rats away!

R3:  I can imagine it now, the rats go on strike, compost bin not emptied in a month.

What do you think?  Any indirect value from the strike?

A:  Just a realization of how much our household/community accumulates in a couple week period.
B:  Ready to downsize my garbage or have less frequent pick-ups,  It wasn't so bad.
C:  My one-way ticket has been purchased for next time the "s" word might come up.
D:  I'm in the wrong profession.

SolarFest 2012

"You are just a bunch of hippies - Why would you want to ban me - I am an easy going guy - I just like to float around in the ocean." These were some of the quotes that Bag Man was telling an amused audience at SolarFest 2012, Shoreline's Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Fair.  He and Bag Lady were stealing the looks as they dramatically talked about their potential peril.  

Bag Man, containing no less than 500 bags, the average amount a typical household goes through in one year.

Bag Man and Bag Lady

When the attention was not on them, the crowd was checking out the booths in this 9th annual event.  In addition to the numerous solar panels that lined the rows, there were a large showing of electric and hybrid cars, electric-assist bikes, zero-waste info stations, cedar grove composting info, sustainable architecture designs and much, much more including a few of my favorites described below.

"Close the loop" with Cedar Grove Composting

Recycling Options at the Event

Looking for a project for your kids to do this summer?  Ready for them to take care of their own lunch one day?  All you need is a cardboard box, black paint, plexiglass or sheet of clear plastic, pot and a few cans of vegetables and soup.  Line the flaps of the box with aluminum foil, paint the inside of the box black and place a piece of plexi-glass on top and voila, its a solar oven.  

DIY Solar Cooker

Another DIY project, but perhaps a little more complicated was the pedal cars.  There are directions on the internet somewhere because Father and Son duo, Barry and Geiger, figured it out using recycled bicycle parts and PVC pipes.  Take a ride in one of those pedal cars and you won't want to return it anytime soon.  

DIY Pedal Car using recycled parts

Out for a ride with Geiger at the wheel.

A home built from a reclaimed shipping container.  It may be small, but contains all the comforts of home.  The Cargo Cottage only costs $35,000.  This would work great as an office, studio, guest space or Mother In-Law suite. 

A home - built from reclaimed shipping containers

Inside shipping container home is a sink/toilet.

This is one of those gem events that enough people know about it to make it happen, but the crowds are not too big for all the attractions worth seeing.  We had a table seat to eat our lunch while the Not-Its were playing on stage, the kids were able to check out all the kids attractions (solar match-box car give away, car tracks, bird seed feeder craft, bike rodeo showing safe riding and solar water fountains) and parking was a cinch.  The SolarFest is produced by Shoreline Solar Project.

And of course, the SolarFEST 2012 would not have been complete without the addition of Bag Man and Bag Lady.  To them: You were a wonderful addition!  Hope to see you at many more events protesting the possibility of another city (state!) banning you.

Feeling the love from Bag Man

Senator Chase's ride

DIY bird feeder using a toilet paper tube, peanut butter and bird seed.

Ask Kelly about Kirkland's Green Programs

On a sunny morning at Caffe Rococo this week,  I met with Kirkland's own "Ask Kelly" about Kirkland's Green Programs.   Kelly Ferron, is the Recycling Programs Coordinator for the City of Kirkland Public Works Department.

She is also featured as our Green Champion of the week, so check on the EcoEastside Facebook page for a profile on her own sustainable lifestyle.  The main programs she would like to let more people know about are:

• Kirkland Green Buisness
• Kirkland Recycling Options
• Upcoming Sustainable Education Series

The Kirkland Green Business Program recognizes Kirkland businesses for their green practices.
Currently, Kirkland has 93 businesses in this program and are in a vamping stage to include even more.  The Main Logo has a green outer circle that reads "Kirkland Green Business."  Within is a circle with a stylized picture of the marina.  There are 7 other categories that the business can earn including: Green Building, Waste Reduction and Recycling, Water Conservation, Energy Efficiency, Transportation, Pollution Prevention and Eastside Green Business Challenge participant.

Participating businesses, like Cafe Veloce for instance, are mentioned on the website and in The Fall Business Newsletter.  As you walk around town this summer, look for these businesses.  They have window clings showing they are a Kirkland Green Business and more circles for areas they are green.

Other businesses who wish to join this program do not need to worry if they are not all the way green yet.  Ferron said, "City of Kirkland will help you become green."  This includes site visits, providing convenient recycling bins and signage.

Recycling Options can be found on the Kirkland Recycling and Solid Waste website here, including where to Recycle Household Batteries (7 locations) and CFL bulbs.  Coming this Fall is option to recycle used cooking oil at the North Kirkland Community Center.  The used oil is then transported to Seattle to become biodiesel for local fleets.

Also coming this Fall is the 4-part Sustainable Education Series.   Ferron said, "The series will focus on homelife and creating a sustainable life style."  The 4 topics will be waste reduction, energy efficiency, water conservation including rain barrel construction and local food/ cedar grove compost.

Check back with them as this education series program unfolds.  This can be done on the Kirkland Enviro Facebook page and Kirkland Enviro on Twitter.  Other great sustainable living tips are shared on these sites too.   Also, look for the quarterly newsletter with the next one coming out this Fall and/ or contact the Recycling Hotline: recycling@kirkland.wa.gov or 425-587-3812.

Fabio-ulous Community Events This Month

Together we create community!  This comes in different forms and here are a few places to connect with your fellow Eastside citizens this month.

You may have already heard, Fabio will be in town.  As one of my Facebook friends broadcasted on her status line today: "somebody please go see Fabio for me at the Redmond Whole Foods- June 21st- sadly, i will be out of town."  Yes, he will be there and surely many of us Eastsiders.  Yes?  It happens at the Redmond Whole Foods at 11 a.m.

Later on that day is the Monthly Eastside Green Drinks.  This no-host event overlooking a gorgeous view takes place at 7 p.m. at the NewCastle Golf Course.  More info here.

On Saturday, June 23rd, at Luke McRedmond Landing in Redmond, there will be a Summer Solstice Celebration Potluck hosted by Sustainable Redmond and Redmond Wild.  It will take place from 10:30 to 2 p.m.

Find out when your summer neighborhood network meeting will be (most of them in June) - Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond.

And speaking of network meetings, announcing to residents in Redmond's Grass Lawn Park Neighborhoods of Sheffield Green, Strattonwood and Sixty-01: there will be a meeting on June 28th at 7 p.m. at Sixty-01's clubhouse.  Please forward this email if you have friends in these neighborhoods to help us get the word out.

Finally, join us online at EcoEastside's Facebook Page.  Along with community updates, we are announcing an Eastside Green Champion each week.

Microsoft's Lean, Green and Accountable Track to Going Carbon Neutral

One of Eastside's Largest Businesses, Microsoft, is taking a big step in Sustainable Business Practices this July by going Carbon Neutral!

I spoke with their Chief Environmental Strategist, Rob Bernard, online today.  He said, "The cost of carbon is to drive behavioral change."

Microsoft is putting an internal price on carbon and this is making carbon neutrality everyone's responsibility at Microsoft.  This includes data centers, software development labs, air travel and office buildings.  Not only will this "infuse" awareness, but it will also establish a discipline at scale across the business.  To support this program, they have the three pillars - Be lean, Be green and Be accountable.

How is it going so far?

"The real test will be 6 to 9 months from now, once it is all rolled out.  Then we will see how its being adopted", said Bernard.   He continued, "So far there are good signs - a keen interest from around the company."

Sustainability champions within the company play an important role in how this program is adopted.  Specifically they are helping to drive the reduction of energy use in buildings by 3-10%.  Bernard said, "The Champions are self-selected.  We were pleased with the number who have volunteered."  Communication with the Champions is done through newsletters, emails and meetings.

Each quarter Microsoft hands out an "Environmental Action Award."  The most recent recipient of this award will be spotlighted soon on EcoEastside's Facebook page.

Reporting carbon footprint and other sustainable practices, like waste diversion, is nothing new for Microsoft.  Bernard said, "It is important to get done, so we do it."  In the process they just happen to be pushing the envelope.  He described it as, "How technology can be leveraged to make better use of all resources."

Other sustainable active programs include:

• Reduction Goals for waste - including a 63 to 80% diversion rate and 95% diversion rate in their dining facilities.  95%!  It is not surprise that Microsoft was one of the Washington State recipients of the 2012 WSRA Recycler of the Year.  Bellevue College and Bellevue School District also received this award for 2012.
• The smarter buildings pilot is predicted to save 1.5 million in 18 months. This takes part in the operations of the building.  "It is being done using technology", said Bernard.
• White Paper - The IT Efficiency Imperative.  
• Carbon Systems - Enterprise Systems Platform (ESP).  Microsoft has been carbon reporting through this carbon disclosure project platform for the last 7 years.  
• They have an internal open forum called MS Green.  This is a self selected email group of about 1000 employees and contractors that discuss mass transit, energy conservation, organic farming and more. 
• and more, check out the Microsoft Environment site here.

Will the three pillars be enough to drive a large corporation like Microsoft to Carbon Neutrality?
Be lean - is taking something of what we are all familiar with efficiency and adding a technology element to the mix -  where better to start then Microsoft?
Be green - Purchasing more renewable energy is going to get easier as more options are opening and the technology is advancing rapidly in this field too.
Be accountable - With an internal price on carbon being set, a quantifiable measure has been added to the picture.  It is a new variable not be taken lightly in daily operations.

It is a track worth following in the coming months.  As they mention in their Carbon Neutral document, "This is a learning process, and we will evolve our approach over time based on results." Keep informed of this journey through the Microsoft Environment blog here.