COSC's EVERGREEN Fundraising Party

We're getting excited for our EVERGREEN fundraiser featuring William Elliott Whitmore, with a performance by The River Monks and emceed by Iowa's own Michele Beschen of b. organic.

Ciji Mitrisin of Recycle Me Iowa is on our EVERGREEN committee, and this is what she has to say:

http://www.recyclemeiowa.com/2011/10/yeah-willy

Call for Nominations - 2011 Preservation at Its Best Awards

Alert - Postmark deadline is August, 31, 2011!

Each year, Preservation Iowa honors individuals, organizations, projects, and programs whose work demonstrates a commitment to excellence in historic preservation. Their goal is to inspire others to take action to preserve, protect, and promote Iowa’s places that matter.

Visit their website today to learn more about this year's Preservation at Its Best Awards Call for Nominations guidelines and application process.

Promising Emerging Data on Heritage Window Performance

This just in from COSC guest instructor and Iowa native Bob Yapp...

The National Window Preservation Standards Collaborative (NWPSC) convened its 1st Window Preservation & Performance Summit at the National Historic Landmark, Pine Mountain Settlement School site in Pine Mountain, Kentucky the week of July 22-29, 2011. Attendees from the four corners of the United States and Canada gathered with the Collaborative Founding Members David Gibney, Duffy Hoffman, John Leeke, Jim Turner and Bob Yapp, and restoration architects Jill H Gotthelf and Walter Sedovic, who engineered the performance testing protocol.

Restoration and weatherization of historic wood and steel windows showcased a variety of techniques and approaches by each of the Founding Members, with ample time for field review and participation by advisors and participants.

Performance testing began with a baseline evaluation and measurement of the pre-restoration condition of each window. Throughout the course of the week, additional testing of the restored windows was performed following defined scientific protocol. Initial results were collated and evaluated, allowing for refinement of restoration techniques, and further testing.

Preliminary findings focusing on air infiltration revealed very promising results for the energy efficiency of restored historic windows, and underscored the enormous benefit provided by simple installation of a storm window system; a variety of commonly available or readily constructed storm windows were included in the Summit sampling.

This Summit represents an historic milestone in proving what window preservation advocates have long espoused: that historic windows are exemplary energy performers and that restoring windows is an undeniably sustainable approach, which now can be supported by building science. Coupled with the proceedings of the Summit will be future data on other beneficial attributes of heritage windows including thermal performance, day lighting, longevity and restorability.

The complete report will be included in a new publication slated to be available in early 2012 titled, "Window Preservation and Weatherization Standards". This book will be the first of its kind to provide a menu of window repair, preservation, restoration and weatherization techniques that will create a standard for specifiers, architects, property owners as well as federal, state and local government agencies.

A full detailed report is scheduled to be released this coming December. For more information contact Bob Yapp at his Belvedere School for Hands-on Preservation in Hannibal, Missouri: 217-474-6052 or Yapperman@msn.com.

Native Gardening

Landscaping can be overwhelming and difficult to start but with the following resources, you can't go wrong with your next home project!

Rainscaping Iowa is the perfect place to start for your landscaping needs. Their website includes links for all sorts of helpful information. Native landscaping has many benefits including the architecture of the native roots which enables the soil to infiltrate water and withstand erosive conditions. Native plants are easy to maintain once established and also reduce the amount of local pests and disease.

One of the best ways to maintain water more sustainably is to strategically install landscaping that includes a tall grass prairie region. The Urban Conservation Program has more information on native landscaping as well as other projects with the goal of improving urban areas. With a long history of experience with working famers they are eager to help other communities. They assist installing systems and modify existing framework to accomplish keeping water off the roads and soil out of our waterways!

For more on Native Gardening check out Rainscaping Iowa's Facebook page and continue to get updates on their recent activity.

COSC Summer Internship Leads to Cystainability

Iowa State University student Ashlee Clark

Every college student has been there, it is April and the excitement of summer hasn't hit yet because you don't have a summer job or even landed an interview. There is no light yet at the end of the tunnel. 

Then May rolls around and I am still vigorously searching for a job. After weeks of researching numerous public relations firms in Des Moines and looking for assistance in my job hunt, I came into contact with Siobhan Spain, the communications director here at COSC. I was not quite sure what COSC was, or what they stood for, but I was eager to get my foot in the door with any experience.

Siobhan gave me the opportunity to jump right in, helping to write press releases, blogs and updating COSC's social networks from time to time. I have really enjoyed the hands on work experience that I received. After about a month I realized how many people I was meeting and the doors that this internship was opening for me. 

One door in particular is my yearning to learn more about sustainability.  I look forward to conveying the knowledge I acquired this summer when back on campus. So, what better way to do so than to research, write and publish it for the students at ISU?

COSC has taught me the bulk of what I know about sustainability and there is so much more to learn. As I am running out of time in my internship, I plan to continue my quest for gaining knowledge about the green initiative. To do so, I proposed to the Daily, ISU's campus newspaper, a regular green feature section focused on campus and local sustainability. Staff was eager to embrace this new initiative.

I'm excited to announce the launch of the Daily's new special section and website called "Cystainability" coming this fall. I look forward to steering this pilot project into a reliable source and interactive forum for students and faculty. My goal for the section is to promote awareness of diverse sustainable practices that influence the way we live, learn, work and play.

With the section being a very positive outcome of my internship, I was also able to learn a lot about the Public Relations/Communications field. It is not at all what I thought it was going to be - it was better. It is fast pace and always presents something new. I learned quickly that if there are five items on the to-do list for a certain day, those five items would be taking place at the same time and would all get done. This internship was a great learning experience for me that I plan to incorporate it into my education as well as whatever job comes next.  

COSC has influenced communities across Iowa to take on a sustainable lifestyle and I look forward to bringing these principals to Iowa State.

Look for the link to Cystainability's website by the end of August!

- Ashlee Clark

Iowa State University | Journalism and Mass Communications
Iowa State Daily
Government of Student Body | Director of Public Relations

Greensburg GreenTown Home

Greensburg, Kansas, is continuing their hard work of rebuilding after the 2007 tornado, destroying almost ninety-five percent of the town. The most recent efforts is focused on the Meadowlark House, designed by Steven Learner Studio.

Led by the nonprofit Greensburg GreenTown, the eco-friendly house is made of wood blocks and filled gravel, 100 percent toxin-free. It is very durable, tested by the German team from HIB, it should withstand winds over 180 mph and 8.0 earthquake. The wood block walls started going up on June 24, 2011 and they are continuing with great progress.

Follow the progress on Greensburg GreenTown Blog. After the home is completed later this year it will serve as a second home in the town to be a 'living laboratory' to show off sustainable technologies.

Clean Coalition Announces Local CLEAN Program Guide

The nonprofit Clean Coalition has released a Local CLEAN Program Guide to encourage more effective policies for the timely and practical development of clean local energy.

The first of seven modules of Clean Local Energy Accessible Now (CLEAN) Guide gives an overview of the programs and key considerations in assessing what a CLEAN program can do for communities and local utilities across the United States. Starting in Gainesville, Florida CLEAN programs have been implemented at the local, state and national level around the world to stimulate renewable energy deployments.  

To download the first module and more information on the Local CLEAN Program, please visit the Clean Coalition website.

Portland Green Homes Outperform Non-Certified Homes For Fourth Straight Year

June 22, 2011 - Press Release
Green Building Elements
Matter Network

The desire for homes that conform to the green building standards of organizations such as Earth Advantage, ENERGY STAR, or LEEDS is growing throughout the world, and nowhere is that more evident than Portland, Oregon. For the fourth straight year in a row, green certified homes have outperformed non-certified homes in the Portland metro region, according to a study by the Earth Advantage Institute.

The annual study found that existing homes with a sustainable certification sold for 30 percent more than homes without one, according to sales data provided by the Portland Regional Multiple Listing Service. This finding is based on the sales of existing homes between May 1, 2010 and April 30, 2011 in Multnomah, Clackamas, Columbia, and Washington Counties in Oregon and Clark County in Washington.

Talk of Iowa with Bill McAnally: Home Deck Improvement Tips

Summer is just around the corner, inviting us to spend numerous hours on our decks. Our green instructor and long-time advisor Bill McAnally is a monthly guest on Talk of Iowa Radio for Home Improvement Day and this month focuses on home deck improvement tips. With over 40 years of experience in the construction industry, Bill shares his expertise on step-by-step instructions on how to build a deck, who to hire when looking to have someone else build a deck for your home and how to repair an old deck. Bill also give clear direction to listener's questions, so tune in for an informative "How-To" session with Bill McAnally: Home+Improvement

2011 Environmental Impact Awards Ceremony May 18th

2011 Environmental Impact Awards
Luncheon Ceremony
Wednesday, May 18 | 11:30am - 1:00pm
Des Moines Botanical Center

Join us in celebrating 2011 Environmental Impact Award Winners!

• Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance
• BNIM Architects 
• Brad Gerndt of West Des Moines 
• Iowa Home Crafters, Inc 
• The Principal Financial Group 
• RDG Planning & Design 

Tickets are on sale now at icosc.com. For $25, enjoy lunch at the Des Moines Botanical Center while celebrating the efforts of your peers, networking with others with sustainable priorities, gaining a greater understanding of the opportunities for sustainable practices, and learning how to apply for the 2012 Awards.

Center on Sustainable Communities (COSC), Greater Des Moines Partnership and Metro Waste Authority partnered in creating the Environmental Impact Awards to recognize organizations and leaders demonstrating exemplary sustainable practices.

Please join us for the momentous event Wednesday, May 18th from 11:30am to 1:00pm at the Des Moines Botanical Center located at 909 Robert D Ray Dr, Des Moines, IA 50316. 

The Awards Ceremony is sponsored by Des Moines Water Works. 

Polk County Lawn Mower Exchange

In an effort to reduce the amount of ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter, the Polk County Air Quality department, in collaboration with Metro Waste Authority and Midwest Recovery,  is offering fantastic discounts on electric mowers.

Now through June 15th, 2011, you will have the opportunity to exchange your highly polluting gasoline powered lawn mower for an environmentally friendly, zero-emission producing, light weight, easy to operate, extremely quiet Neuton® cordless ELECTRIC mower. This mower retails for $400, but you can get yours for only $149 (CE5) or $209 (CE6). Supplies are limited.

Go to: http://www.neutonpower.com/polk
Download the program brochure

Talk of Iowa with Bill McAnally: Preparing for Spring Moisture

Our green instructor and long-time advisor Bill McAnally is a monthly guest on Talk of Iowa's Home Improvement Day. This month, he spoke with host Charity Nebbe about how to protect your home from the many ways water can threaten it. Bill's experience provides clear guidance on rain garden location tips, drainage spout reminders and installing sump pumps, along with insightful answers to listener questions on basement wall bracing, gutter system nuances and more. Laugh while you learn with Bill: Listen | Download.

Member Book Review - "Harmony" by Prince Charles

Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World
A book review by COSC Member JoAn van Balen

The Prince Charles of Wales, with Tony Juniper and Ian Skelly, has written Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World. It is a timely read. In November 2010, NBC aired the book’s accompanying documentary by the same title. The program was a huge surprise to me – who knew that Prince Charles loved the land? I certainly didn’t. His love of polo had made the news, but his thirty-year study of Nature hadn’t crossed my radar.

The program pulled me in because here is a person who believes like I do. His story immediately inspired me to go buy the book to give to my grandson for his twenty-third birthday. Because it is an expensive book, I borrowed a copy from the West Des Moines Public Library and began to read.

It’s a big book, covering the long history humans have had with Nature. He leaves no stone unturned as he leads us on the journey of how early civilizations live harmoniously with Nature, honoring her as their touchstone when making decisions about architecture, farming, measuring time, village planning and their many other creative endeavors. It’s impressive Prince Charles has used his talents, resources and privilege, to bring us the message he considers of ultimate importance.

Iowa American Water's Environmental Grant Program

Iowa American Water announced today that the application process is now open for its 2011 Environmental Grant Program to support innovative, community- based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect watersheds and community drinking water supplies. Applications must be postmarked by March 25, 2011.

The company will award grants of up to $5,000. The program is designed to support diverse types of activities, such as watershed cleanups, reforestation efforts, biodiversity projects, streamside buffer restoration projects, wellhead protection initiatives and hazardous waste collection efforts.

Greenovation Podcasts

The Environment Report's Greenovation series features stories of the Grocoff's efforts toward making their Ann Arbor home the oldest net-zero house in America. Hear how they tackled fixing old windows, saved energy with auto switches, installed whole house fans and more.

Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives: Changes in Store for 2011

President Obama signed into law a tax package that contains modifications and extensions to energy efficiency tax incentives for homeowners, home builders, and appliance manufacturers. Information on all of these energy efficiency tax incentives are accessible on the Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP) website so that consumers and businesses can take full advantage of changed federal tax credits for energy-saving technologies and practices. More at aceee.org.