EcoWatch Journal June/July : Page 1

UNITING THE VOICE OF THE GRASSROOTS ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT june -july 2011 05 Is Waste-to-Energy a Good Idea? 06 Help Shut Down Dirty Coal Plants 08 Citizens for Oakwood 09 What is a Sustainable City? 12 Preserving Food Crop Diversity www.ecowatch.org ENERGY-EFFICIENT SMARTHOME PROVIDES SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE Can a house in Ohio stay warm and comfortable during winter without a conventional furnace? Sur-prisingly, yes. The latest in green building technol-ogy can make it possible. This summer, visitors to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History are invited to tour a home that represents the future of energy-efficient living. PNC SmartHome Cleveland is being constructed on museum grounds and is presented in conjunction with the exhibition “Climate Change.” While the exhibit addresses the effect of human actions on the Earth, PNC SmartHome Cleveland demonstrates how humans can act to affect an ener-gy-efficient future. The home was designed using the passive house methodology, the world’s most advanced standard of residential energy perfor-mance. The house is being built using a wall system based on structural insulated panels. Designed to function without a conventional furnace, PNC SmartHome Cleveland will use 90 percent less heating energy than a typical home. An air-source heat pump will keep the house at a comfortable temperature using the same energy as two hair dryers. The home is being constructed us-ing sustainable materials and furnishings, advanced stormwater techniques, healthful housing techniques and biophilic design to connect occupants to nature. Three key elements distinguish passive house structures from typical houses—high levels of insu-lation with walls about 12 inches thick, a carefully sealed building envelope with minimal air leakage combined with efficient heat-recovery ventilation for superior indoor air quality and ultra high-performance windows. The result is a home with no drafts, no cold spots and extremely low heating bills. continued on page 4 BURNING RIVER FEST—CELEBRATE THE GREAT LAKES JULY 23 AND 24 Since 2001, folks from all over the Great Lakes region have come together to remember the 1969 burning of the Cuyahoga River and celebrate the renewed sense of eco-consciousness the infamous fire sparked. Intended to raise awareness of environmental issues affect-ing the Great Lakes region and Cuyahoga River ecosystem, the annual Burning River Fest features educational exhibits from area environmen-tal groups, fresh food from local farms, and eateries, live music and a special appearance by Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Christmas Ale. Proceeds benefit the Burning River Foundation, a local non-profit organization that provides resources for the sustainable future of our waterways. Join us at Burning River Fest on July 23 and July 24 at the historic Coast Guard Station on Whiskey Island. Come hear more than 30 musicians on three stages ranging from funk to blues to eclectic, and the most spectacular nighttime views of Cleveland from a wonderful greenspace right in the heart of Cleveland at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. The strength of the Burning River Fest is the platform on which it is based—celebrating the improvements in Cleveland’s water quality since the burning of the Cuyahoga River, being a venue for local non-profit organizations, restaurants and artisans to showcase the excel-lent work they are doing around the Cleveland area in environmental education and advocacy, and becoming the pre-eminent environmental festival in the nation. continued on page 4

Energy-Efficient Smarthome Provides Solutions To Climate Change

Can a house in Ohio stay warm and comfortable during winter without a conventional furnace? Surprisingly, yes. The latest in green building technology can make it possible. This summer, visitors to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History are invited to tour a home that represents the future of energy-efficient living. PNC SmartHome Cleveland is being constructed on museum grounds and is presented in conjunction with the exhibition “Climate Change.” While the exhibit addresses the effect of human actions on the Earth, PNC SmartHome Cleveland demonstrates how humans can act to affect an energy- efficient future. The home was designed using the passive house methodology, the world’s most advanced standard of residential energy performance.The house is being built using a wall system based on structural insulated panels. Designed to function without a conventional furnace, PNC SmartHome Cleveland will use 90 percent less heating energy than a typical home.An air-source heat pump will keep the house at a comfortable temperature using the same energy as two hair dryers. The home is being constructed using sustainable materials and furnishings, advanced stormwater techniques, healthful housing techniques and biophilic design to connect occupants to nature. Three key elements distinguish passive house structures from typical houses—high levels of insulation with walls about 12 inches thick, a carefully sealed building envelope with minimal air leakage combined with efficient heat-recovery ventilation for superior indoor air quality and ultra highperformance windows. The result is a home with no drafts, no cold spots and extremely low heating bills. “PNC SmartHome Cleveland will give thousands of people hands-on experience with the most advanced, practical and attractive techniques of green building and energy conservation,” said David Beach, director of GreenCityBlueLake Institute, the center for sustainability at the museum.“It will also raise design standards in Northeast Ohio by increasing awareness of passive house principles, and can help make Cleveland a center for advanced design.” The two-story house will have a net living space of approximately 2,500 square feet, including three bedrooms and 2½ bathrooms, plus a full basement. PNC SmartHome Cleveland will be on display from June 6 through September 2011.At the close of the exhibit, the house will be moved to a nearby lot on Wade Park Avenue in the University Circle area and become available for purchase as a residential home for a Cleveland family. “The enthusiasm and support for this project is incredible,” said Evalyn Gates, the museum’s executive director and CEO.“It’s truly a community effort. We have so many wonderful partners providing financial support, in-kind contributions and countless hours of labor and expertise.Architects, artists, contractors and landscapers, foundations, corporations and individuals—an impressive group of Northeast Ohio’s leaders in innovative green technologies—all coming together to create the house of the future.” Visitors will see the following when they tour PNC SmartHome Cleveland: Ideas for saving energy and money in their own homes; a state-of-the-art house that can weather a Cleveland winter without a conventional furnace; super-insulated walls with an insulation value of about R-50; techniques for achieving an extremely wellsealed building envelope; industry leading, energy efficient, triple-pane windows from Germany; energy recovery ventilation to provide fresh air without losing heat; landscaping design that manages stormwater and utilizes native plants; oak flooring Recycled from a house in Cleveland Heights; energy efficient and attractive lighting; ecofriendly appliances from leading manufacturers; water-saving kitchen and bath fixtures; paints that do not release harmful chemicals; furnishings made of recycled materials, and artwork by local artists featuring environmental themes. The home was designed by Chuck Miller of Doty & Miller Architects in Cleveland. Certified Passive House Consultant Mark Hoberecht of HarvestBuild Associates is overseeing PNC SmartHome Cleveland’s adherence to the standards of the Passive House Institute U.S. Images and a video about PNC SmartHome Cleveland are available at www.Cmnh.org/site/SmartHomeCleveland.aspx. Entrance to PNC SmartHome Cleveland is $5 with Museum admission. CLIMATE CHANGE EXHIBITION Visitors can uncover the scientific evidence for global warming during the museum’s Climate Change exhibition from July 23 through Dec. 31 in the museum’s Kahn Hall.This timely exhibition presents the history and science behind one of the most critical issues facing our planet. It explores the threats of global warming to humanity and the world around us, and describes our efforts at adaptation. Through interactive stations and videos as well as dioramas conveying the latest scientific concepts and research, the exhibit presents evidence that human activity over the last 300 years—including, especially, the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and other changes in land use—has dramatically altered the natural world. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide have increased rapidly in the atmosphere, changing the Earth’s climate. The exhibit explains how the resulting global warming could severely stress human societies and damage ecosystems by causing sea levels to rise, increasing the incidence of drought and intense storms, drastically raising temperatures over areas of land and ocean surface and bringing additional changes to the world around us. Computer interactives illustrate how climate works and demonstrate how global warming affects Land, ocean, ice and atmosphere. The Climate Change exhibit focuses on solutions and illustrates what is needed to move away from dependence on fossil fuels toward a more energy-efficient economy. The exhibit shows how innovative solutions will help secure our future by providing clean energy and creating sustainable living environments. Children and adults alike can discover simple ways to reduce energy consumption in their daily lives, pledge to take a specific action, and then visualize its “multiplier effect”—the collective impact of their individual efforts. The exhibit conveys the message that although challenging, the solution to global climate change is within our grasp on an individual, national and global scale. The exhibition is free with museum admission. LITTLE BUILDERS EXHIBITIO This summer, the museum’s Little Builders exhibition entertains young minds through creative and constructive play.Donning little hard hats and construction vests, children ages 2 through 7 can create, play and learn as they explore the concepts of construction, motion and simple machines. The Little Builders exhibit challenges the minds of children, helping to develop intellectual, physical, emotional and social skills. It uses scientific processes, mathematical concepts, sensory development and communication to promote self confidence, coordination, control, strength and self expression. This exhibition is free with museum admission and open through Sept. 11. Museum admission fees are: $10 adults; $8 ages 7-18, college students and seniors over age 60; $7 children ages 3-6; free for children 2 and under. For more information, visit www.cmnh.org.

Burning River Fest-Celebrate The Great Lakes

Since 2001, folks from all over the Great Lakes region have come together to remember the 1969 burning of the Cuyahoga River and celebrate the renewed sense of eco-consciousness the infamous fire sparked. Intended to raise awareness of environmental issues affecting the Great Lakes region and Cuyahoga River ecosystem, the annual Burning River Fest features educational exhibits from area environmental groups, fresh food from local farms, and eateries, live music and a special appearance by Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Christmas Ale. Proceeds benefit the Burning River Foundation, a local non-profit organization that provides resources for the sustainable future of our waterways. Join us at Burning River Fest on July 23 and July 24 at the historic Coast Guard Station on Whiskey Island. Come hear more Than 30 musicians on three stages ranging from funk to blues to eclectic, and the most spectacular nighttime views of Cleveland from a wonderful greenspace right in the heart of Cleveland at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. The strength of the Burning River Fest is the platform on which it is based—celebrating the improvements in Cleveland’s water quality since the burning of the Cuyahoga River, being a venue for local nonprofit organizations, restaurants and artisans to showcase the excellent work they are doing around the Cleveland area in environmental education and advocacy, and becoming the pre-eminent environmental festival in the nation. The Burning River Foundation is a non-profit organization whose purpose through grants, donations and community involvement is to provide extensive education and resources for ecological conservation, environmental protection, scientific exploration, historic preservation and sustainable future of our waterways. To date, the Burning River Foundation has awarded more than $246,000 to local non-profit organizations such as the GreenCityBlueLake Institute, Doan Brook Watershed Partnership, The Trust for Public Land, EcoWatch, West Creek Preservation Committee and the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission for their work on water projects. Through the Burning River Fest, the foundation has also increased public awareness about the deteriorating, yet historic, Coast Guard Station, which has resulted in a collaborative cleanup and restoration effort by non-profit, corporate and government entities. For more information, visit www.burningriverfest.org or to purchase your presale tickets at $8/person/day or $15 for a weekend pass (kids 12 and under are free) or to register as a volunteer.

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