A Window Dressers insert being installed. Photo courtesy Window Dressers.

This fall Sustainable Woodstock will make free insulating window inserts for community members, and you are invited to join us! From Thursday October 26^th to Wednesday November 1st, we will host a community build at the North Universalist Chapel Society Church (North Chapel), which is generously donating their space for this project. We will construct the window inserts at this build, first gluing and screwing together the wooden frames for the windows, and then wrapping them in this insulating plastic and foaming the outside. No experience is needed to volunteer, and you will be thanked with snacks and lots of community good-will, much like an old-fashioned barn raising. If you are interested in volunteering at our Window Dressers build, please sign up at: https://signup.com/go/ggjUKii

This community build is run in partnership with Window Dressers (WD). WD brings volunteers together to build insulating window inserts for a participating town’s residents. The inserts function like custom interior storm windows, insulating a home to improve the warmth and comfort of interior spaces, lower heating costs, and reduce carbon dioxide pollution. More info is at: https://windowdressers.org/.

All recipients of our Window Dressers build are income-qualifying and are receiving up to 10 inserts for free. We were able to identify recipients through our low-income food security and energy work, as well as by advertising on local listservs. We also found interested families by advertising at the Woodstock Area Food Shelf. The inserts are free of charge to all due to generous funding from the Canaday Family Charitable Trust.

We will construct ~230 inserts for 28 families during our week-long build, which will have multiple shifts during the weekday and on the weekend for people to volunteer—no experience necessary. While you do not need to have any building experience to be successful at a community build, you can still contribute if building isn’t in your comfort zone. We will also need folks to bring snacks and other food and drink for every day of the build, including bigger dishes around lunchtime. This program is a great experience for anyone wanting to help those in our community reduce energy load, save money, and create a warmer living space during the cold months of the year. Last year we were joined by over 80 volunteers–we hope to see you again this year.

Window Dressers is also an important way of addressing energy burden for low-income Vermonters. Energy burden is the share of a household’s income spent on heat, electricity and transportation. According to Energy Action Vermont, some Vermonters spend over a quarter of their income on energy costs. Even worse, most of those expenses are for fossil fuels, which have volatile prices like those that we saw last winter for heating oil and propane. A tighter, well-insulated home is one step towards reducing a home’s energy burden, and to making it a more comfortable space. Window Dressers estimates that on average, 10 inserts will save 105 gallons of heating fuel which, at around $5.50/gallon, amounts to more than $550 in savings per year. This means that our 2023 build saved ~2,467 gallons of fuel, or $13,571 for homeowners.

Each insulating window insert is made of a custom-made pine frame wrapped in two layers of tightly sealed clear polyolefin film and finished with a compressible foam gasket. The foam allows enough give for the inserts to be easily slid into place in the fall and removed in the spring, while holding firmly enough to provide a tight, friction-based seal that stops drafts and adds two more insulating air spaces. This is very helpful in Vermont’s homes, many of which were built in the 1900’s and have old, leaky windows. We heard great things from recipients of last year’s build, including: “The inserts were a breeze to put in and definitely make a difference. Thanks so much for the game-changer!” and “I must tell you that those inserts made a profound quality of life impact! It was so toasty warm inside, that we routinely went outside unprepared for the real cold. And our lpg consumption is way down.”

We invite you to join us anytime October 26^th through November 1st to volunteer at Woodstock’s Window Dressers Build and build community at the same time!

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

If you are interested in volunteering at our Window Dressers build, please sign up at: https://signup.com/go/ggjUKii

Contact Sustainable Woodstock with questions at programs@sustainablewoodstock.org or 802-457-2911

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Electric lawncare equipment looks and functions much like gas-powered counterparts. Photo courtesy of Rooted Gardens.

With summer comes the near constant drone of lawn mowers, weed whackers, leaf blowers, and other lawn equipment. This summer Sustainable Woodstock partnered with Rooted Gardens, the Upper Valley’s first electric-powered landscaping service, to demonstrate alternatives to gas-powered lawn equipment. Our partnership brought an all-electric lawn care contractor to Woodstock for the first time, mowing the Ottauquechee Health Center, Faulkner Park and four private residences every Wednesday. It has been a very successful season, and next year we are looking to expand this partnership to more businesses and residences in Woodstock.

How does Rooted Gardens mow without using gas or diesel? They use a combination of push mowers, riding mowers and smaller equipment such as weed whackers, just like any other landscaper. The only difference is that this equipment runs on electricity in the form of batteries. Rather than fill up the gas tank, Matt, the owner, and his crew replace and recharge batteries to mow all day. The Electric Lawn is one of a list of contractors across the state who are using all electric equipment, and is the first in the Upper Valley. Visit https://www.mowelectric.org/find-a-contractor to see other electric contractors in Vermont.

Electric lawn equipment has advanced quickly– companies are now making commercial grade riding lawn mowers that for 8 hours of run time. Little to no maintenance is required, as there are far fewer moving parts in electric machines compared to gas-powered machines. The low maintenance costs combined with a very low cost to run electric machines (it costs less than $2 to charge a commercial mower that will run for 8 hours) means that the machines cost much less to run.

There are many other benefits to electric equipment. Electric lawn equipment is quieter than gas-powered machinery, which produces constant noise, and which the CDC reports can create long-term health effects including hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and even cardiovascular issues. Noise is considered hazardous when it is 85 dBA or above– If you must raise your voice when talking to someone about 3 feet away, the noise level is probably at least 85 dBA. Consider how often you must raise your voice above the noise of gas-powered lawn equipment, either when you use it yourself or when you’re nearby. Electric lawnmowers are about 30 dB quieter than gas-powered models.

Electric equipment emits no harmful pollutants or smog-forming air pollution. Most gas-powered lawn equipment uses 2-stroke engine fuel, which is a gas-oil mixture that is especially toxic compared to automobile emissions. These emissions include hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides (components of smog), carbon dioxide, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). These pollutants and fine particulates linked to cancer, asthma, heart and lung disease, and create smog-forming air pollution. This was the primary motivator for the Ottauquechee Health Center to use Rooted Gardens to mow this summer; in Executive Director Hali Robinson’s words, “we decided to go the electric lawnmowing route so we could encompass the full spectrum of health – which includes environmental health!”

Are you interested in getting involved in the electric revolution? Rooted Gardens has openings for 2024 with neighbor discounts! Contact matt@myrootedgardens.com for more information. Be the leader in your neighborhood.

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Our world is increasingly full of single-use plastics (SUPs) that are intended to be used once for a short period of time and then thrown away. These SUPs can then become microplastics. Microplastic is defined as a small piece of plastic, less than 5 mm (0.2 inch) in length, that occurs in the environment as a consequence of plastic pollution. These plastics come from a variety of sources, including fragments that erode from car tires, plastics that shed from clothing, microbeads in personal care products, or any aging plastic object that is exposed to the sun’s UV radiation or ocean waves.

In our modern era microplastics are found throughout the natural world. They are in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat—children and adults might ingest or breathe in anywhere from dozens to more than 100,000 microplastic specks each day. How these particles effect human health is not yet thoroughly understood, but plastics are known to contain dangerous chemical substances—in the lab microplastics have been shown to cause damage to human cells. Studies have found microplastics in our blood and deep in our lungs, as well as in human placentas.

Microplastics also effect wildlife—they are found in the stomachs of animals, particularly marine life, from plankton to whales. In 2012, the Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal declared that all seven sea turtle species, 45 percent of marine mammal species, and 21 percent of seabird species were affected by eating or becoming entangled in plastic. When ingested, plastics can block the gastrointestinal tract or cause cuts and irritation. Plastic provides no nutrition, so animals that consume it may have a false sense of fullness. There are many nuances to how microplastic affects different species, including what type of plastic they are exposed to, the size of the particles, and the concentration of microplastic.

Tea bags are really just the start when it comes to the ways we are exposed to micro plastics, but they’re also a good starting point if you’re looking to reduce your exposure to these plastics. Steeping a single plastic teabag at brewing temperature (95 °C) releases approximately 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics into a single cup of the beverage. This data is for a plastic teabag, not the kind made of mixed materials that I have been using– I could not find good data on those. Cutting out teabags made with any type of plastic, and using loose leaf tea instead will limit your exposure. Other tips to avoid microplastic include microwaving food in ceramic or glass containers; BPA and phthalates in plastic leach more easily into food when heated. Avoiding store-bought plastic water bottles and takeaway cups will also help you avoid microplastics. 

Of course, the best way to avoid microplastics is to reduce or eliminate your use of plastics altogether. Use reusable take out containers, thermoses, tote bags, straws, you name it! You can also use refillable bottles for personal care products and bulk foods. If you buy any plastic, pay attention to what number it is. Look at the recycling triangle, often found on the bottom, to check. Plastics that have a #1 or #2 must be recycled in Vermont, and are generally the most commonly recycled plastics. Avoid other numbers when possible, and always avoid black plastic, which cannot be recycled in Vermont. 

According to the IUCN, at least 14 million tons of plastic are introduced into marine ecosystems each year. Over time, larger pieces of plastic are fragmented into countless, nearly microscopic bits of microplastic, which are now endemic to oceans, and the bodies of marine organisms, throughout the world.   Photo by Naja Bertolt Jensen on Unsplash

What Can You Do?

• Visit https://dec.vermont.gov/content/how-can-i-waste-less for ideas on how to use less plastic
• Pick up litter and participate in Green Up Day (May 6, 2023) to reduce plastic pollution: greenupvermont.org
• Learn what materials can and cannot be recycled by visiting the Greater Upper Valley Solid Waste Management District’s website, where there is an A-Z guide of what to do with different materials: www.guvswmd.org
• Register to watch the free film screening of A Plastic Ocean April 24th-28th, hosted by Sustainable Woodstock and Pentangles Arts as part of our Climate Change & Sustainability Film Series: plasticocean.eventbrite.com

The post Microplastics Pose a Big Problem appeared first on Sustainable Woodstock.

In addition to the IRA, there are tax incentives and money back deals to get you started on all types of green projects, from home weatherization to electric vehicles. Every New Year brings changes to state and federal incentives to cut carbon emissions– read on for some of the opportunities available to Vermonters in the New Year:

SOLAR

The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is the most well-known financial incentive for homeowners to go solar. Thanks to the IRA, the ITC will go up to 30%, meaning that 30% of the cost of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system, home batteries, or a geothermal system can be claimed on federal income taxes. This is a dollar-for-dollar reduction on your income tax! As of now, the 30% credit will stay in place through 2034. 

In Vermont, if your solar array produces more electricity than you use at any given time, that power is sent to the grid and your utility company is required to credit your electricity bill by a certain amount. In addition, there is no sales tax assessed on solar installations, and the additional value the system adds to your home is exempt from state property taxes.

ADVANCED WOOD HEATING

In 2023 the Wood and Pellet Heater Investment Tax Credit will cover 30% of the purchase and installation costs of home heating and hot water systems that utilize wood pellets, chips and cordwood. There is an annual cap of $2,000. The State of Vermont also offers incentives for woodstove changeouts and repairs. Incentives of up to $6,000 for stove and $4,000 for repairs are available for new cordwood or pellet stoves that meet certain EPA standards and/or a repair of a chimney or hearth necessary for the new stove to meet fire and Building Safety Code. To be eligible you must remove an existing wood stove that is not EPA certified or more than 20 years old. Depending on income level, 80% or 60% of the cost is covered up to $6,000. Visit rerc-vt.org/woodstove-change-out-and-repairs for more information on this program.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

The IRA contains many incentives for electric vehicles (EVs). For the first time there is a federal tax credit for used EVs of 30% up to $4,000, with an income cap for the buyer. Starting in 2024, this credit can be transferred directly to dealerships for discounts at point of sale. There is also a tax credit of 30% up to $7,500 for new EVs, but there are various requirements to receive the full credit. You will need to check that the car is eligible, that you meet income limits, and that final assembly of the vehicle took place in the US.

The State of Vermont also offers additional EV incentives. As of July 1, 2022 there was $12.3 million available for the program. Interested Vermonters are encouraged to take advantage of this offering while funds are available. The amount of your specific incentive depends on income level and whether the vehicle is hybrid plug-in electric, or all electric. It is best to act now, as funding has run out before, resulting in a break before more could be appropriated. 

If you are looking for a used car, Vermont also offers an incentive for used hybrids and EVs, called MileageSmart. The MileageSmart Incentive is worth 25% of the initial price of the vehicle (excluding taxes and registration fees), up to $5,000. The program currently has over $250,000 of remaining incentives.

WEATHERIZATION

Weatherization is on many people’s minds as temperatures dip down to the single digits. Vermont’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) provides free home weatherization if you meet household income limits. On average, this program Makes about $8,500 worth of improvements per home and reduces drafts by about 40%. Visit https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/weatherization for more information and to see income guidelines. 

The Home Performance with Energy Star (HPwES) program connects homeowners and certified contractors to assess home energy use and perform energy improvements. Currently homeowners can receive 75% of project cost back, up to $2,000. Income-eligible Vermonters can receive 75% of project cost back, up to $5,000. Available while funds last. Details at www.efficiencyvermont.com/rebates/list/home-performance-with-energy-star. 

There are a myriad of incentives, rebates, and tax credits available for upgrading your energy use in 2023. The opportunities outlined here are just a selection. Visit efficiencyvermont.com to learn about more incentives for technology such as heat pumps, lighting, air conditioners, thermostats, furnaces, boilers and more. On average, each Vermonter is responsible for over 15 tons (30,000 pounds) of greenhouse gas emissions of air pollution per year. Make 2023 the year you reduce your carbon footprint. 

Economic incentives make 2023 a great year for you to harness the immense power of the sun to meet your energy needs. Photo: NASA/SDO

The post 2023 Incentives to Go Green appeared first on Sustainable Woodstock.

The IREC position is run through TRORC and serves seven towns. In 2022 those towns were Barnard, Sharon, Strafford, Thetford, Woodstock, Norwich and Bradford. Each town has a member on the steering committee, which guides the IREC’s focus. The work of the IREC is to lessen overall energy use, lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and move to renewable generation of electricity, all while seeking long term cost savings. Woodstock joined the IREC program in 2020, the program’s first year, and thanks to the ongoing support of Woodstock residents and the Selectboard, continued its participation in 2021 and 2022. We hope that the town will continue this support in 2023. 

In 2020 Woodstock passed a Climate Emergency and Action Resolution, with a goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. This declaration meant that we as a town were taking this issue seriously and willing to put time, money and energy into solving it; that is the heart of much of the IREC work. As IREC, Geoff completed a municipal GHG emission inventory to understand where the town’s emissions were coming from and track progress towards the town’s net-zero by 2030 goal. Geoff and TRORC also began work to lower GHG emissions in our municipal buildings, developing a proposal to reduce emissions by 12.5% annually by installing new technologies such as heat pumps in municipal buildings and weatherizing. The voters approved the financing for these projects at Town Meeting this past March, and the Select Board will be reviewing the final work scope and pricing proposal at the December 20 meeting. If the proposal is successful, the majority of town buildings would no longer use fossil fuel as a primary heat source.  

Geoff also collaborated with Fire Chief David Green, Efficiency Vermont, and Sustainable Woodstock on the renovations occurring at the Public Safety Facility. The recent work done there is minimizing fossil fuel use at the building through the use of innovative heat pump and thermal storage technology. Efficiency Vermont and Green Mountain Power provided an incentive of over $50,000 to help cover the costs of the energy-efficient, fossil fuel-free equipment. As a result, the town is avoiding over 80% of the emissions that the propane system in the original renovation design would have produced. 

In addition to lowering buildings emissions, The IREC position has also taken action to reduce transportation emissions, which is a high priority in Vermont and the biggest generator of carbon emissions. Geoff facilitated a successful $1.6 million application to the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program with Butler Bus Service and the Windsor Central Supervisory Union. As a result, two all-electric school buses, paid for entirely by the grant, will soon be transporting Woodstock High School students to and from school. The grant will also cover almost all of the cost for new charging infrastructure at the high school to support both the new buses as well as to provide charging for the public.

Lastly, the IREC position has advocated for solar. In collaboration with Sustainable Woodstock, the IREC position worked with Norwich Technologies to secure additional solar net-metering credits to supply the Town of Woodstock, which has an annual savings of around $4,800. This agreement lowers the town’s utility costs, which could support future investments to lower emissions, and supports solar generation in Vermont. Before leaving his role, Geoff and Sustainable Woodstock also began working on siting new community solar arrays in town. This work will continue with the new IREC, provided Woodstock approves funding for the position in 2023.

Woodstock voters have shown again and again that climate action is a priority to our town. The 2020 Woodstock Climate Emergency and Action Resolution is proof of this, as is the recent vote this past March to reduce GHG emissions in our municipal buildings by 12.5% annually through weatherizing and installing new technologies such as heat pumps. With your support, we hope to continue this important climate work with the invaluable help of the IREC position.

Bluebird Vision 2020 Electric Bus. This untouched photo is used under the Creative Commons License 4.0. UniversityRailroad, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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On average, livestock must consume 25 calories of plants in order to produce a single calorie of beef. The ratio for pork is 15-to-1, and for chickens it is 9-to-1. With nearly 8 billion people on Earth today, if the world adapted a plant-based diet, we could reduce the amount of land needed to feed everyone by 75%—from some 10 billion acres to 2.5 billion acres. If the farmland currently used to grow grain to feed beef cattle were instead used for poultry feed, the caloric and protein needs of an additional 120 to 140 million people could be met, based on the average U.S. diet. 

No one was focused on climate change in 1971 when Diet for a Small Planet was first published, at a point in time that just happened to coincide with when the rise in global temperature began to accelerate at an exponential rate. We eventually realized that, as the percentage of our diet that is derived directly from plants increases, our carbon “foodprint” drops proportionately. A person can reduce their carbon foodprint by 73% just by adopting a plant-based diet.

Of course, due to individual diet-related health needs, cultural and spiritual traditions and our strong rural desire to support local farmers, a completely plant-based diet it not always realistic. However, increasing the proportion of your diet that is plant-based will greatly reduce your carbon foodprint. For example, reducing the amount of red meat that you eat can quickly decrease your carbon foodprint by 25%.

A global shift to a more plant-based diet would also decrease the pressure to keep clearing more forest land for grazing animals and growing grain to feed livestock. This would in turn preserve forestlands, like those in the Amazon, that store and sequester vast quantities of carbon, thus acting as buffers against climate change. It would also enable the restoration of immense areas of habitat, slowing the disastrous loss of species that we are now experiencing in the midst of a human-caused Sixth Extinction.

Eating produce from your own garden is one of the most effective (and delicious!) ways to lower your carbon foodprint. Sustainable Woodstock’s Community Garden Coordinator, Amy Wheeler, with help from volunteers, grew these vegetables at our Billings Farm Community Garden for donation to the Woodstock Community Food Shelf. Photo credit: Amy Wheeler.

Perhaps the biggest concern with the global effort to reduce carbon emissions generated by industry, households, transportation and agriculture isn’t whether we can eventually accomplish our carbon-reduction goals (the successful campaign to repair the hole in the ozone layer shows what we can accomplish on a global scale), it is whether we can do so in time to preserve some semblance of the world we know and love from the impacts of global warming. Installing solar arrays, erecting wind turbines, engineering more efficient and affordable electric vehicles and batteries, etc.—all take time, money and resources.

In the midst of this temporal dilemma in our critical fight against global warming, dietary change offers a realistic opportunity for individuals to significantly reduce their carbon emissions NOW, simply by increasing the proportion of the diet that is based on consuming plants. This doesn’t mean that everyone will, or has to become vegan or vegetarian, but there are steps that everyone can take to lower their carbon foodprint:

• Reduce consumption of meat and dairy.
• Purchase meat and dairy from local and regional farms, rather than from sources that produce energy-intensive animal products that are raised on feedlots and transported hundreds or thousands of miles to reach the grocery store.
• When consuming animal-based foods, choose those with the lowest carbon foodprint. For example: The production and transportation of locally-sourced, grass-fed meat and dairy generates a lower carbon foodprint than factory farming operations. Locally-sourced food travels shorter distances from farm to table, and buying locally supports regional farms and farm workers while investing in the local economy. Meat and eggs from locally-grown, free-range poultry have some of the lowest carbon foodprints of all animal products. The carbon foodprint of milk protein is smallest of all, at just 1/5^th the CO₂ emissions of free-range chicken eggs.

Individuals, organizations, businesses and governments throughout the world are working hard to design and build new infrastructure and energy systems that will reduce carbon emissions for the long-term. But every one of us has the ability to make basic dietary choices today that can accelerate our response to climate change by drastically reducing our carbon foodprints. 

What You Can Do

• Read Frances Moore Lappé’s Diet for a Small Planet (50^th Anniversary Edition), and Anna Lappé’s Diet for a Warm Planet. (Please support your local bookstore!)
• Pick up some of the excellent cookbooks that are full of recipes that offer no end of delicious plant-based meals, such as Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen, Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne, The Vegetarian Epicure by Anna Thomas and The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison.

The post Lowering Our Carbon Foodprint appeared first on Sustainable Woodstock.

Winnie the Pooh had it just about right: Find the honey tree in your own backyard and eat to your belly’s content. Of course, what with bee stings and rabbit-sized jars of honey, getting his fill wasn’t easy. But as time went by, Pooh ate so much honey that he grew to be shaped like a big, round honey pot. As it turns out, honey is one of the best sources of energy, is full of vitamins and minerals, helps to keep a wound from getting infected and even promotes healing.

We ought to listen to bears more often. In the past 70 years nutritionists have come to understand that we become what we eat—that we can help our bodies to stay healthy by eating good, nutritious food that is grown fresh locally. Science has proven that the choices we make for our diet also have a huge impact on the health of the planet, including climate change, because of the vast global food market.

Let’s start with the choice of where our food comes from. On average, the food that makes it onto our tables at mealtime has traveled 1,600 miles to get there. How far is that? By traveling that distance you could go from the Upper Valley to the southern tip of Greenland, to Arizona or to Nunavut and the Northwest Territories (Canada).

Apples, cabbage, corn, tomatoes and eggs, for example, may come from local farms, but other foods are shipped from around the world. Grapes may arrive at your local market from Chile, nuts from Brazil, olive oil from Turkey, kiwifruit from New Zealand, bottled water from France, gingerbread cookies from Germany and rice crackers from China. 

According to Worldwatch Institute, the amount of food shipped from overseas that appears on our tables has quadrupled since 1961. Some 30% of the fresh vegetables and over 50% of fresh fruit now purchased by US consumers are grown in other countries. The USDA projects that the US will be importing almost half of our vegetables and 75% of our fruit by 2027. 

What difference does it make that our food travels a long distance before we eat it? The more energy it takes to transport food to our tables, the more greenhouse gas emissions are generated, which increases global warming. For example, fuel is burned when food is moved by trucks, trains, and planes; plus, energy is needed to store many foods in refrigerated cars so that it doesn’t spoil. Food from far away also requires more packaging to keep it from spoiling. It takes energy and resources to make that packaging. Trees must be cut to make paper packaging. Plastic and Styrofoam are made from petroleum oil. And don’t forget: factories that make any kind of packaging run on electricity and other kinds of carbon-producing power. 

According to research findings reported in Nature Food magazine, shipping food generates 20% of the total carbon footprint generated by our current food system. Roughly half of these greenhouse gas emissions are created by the wealthiest countries, even though they make up just 12% of the world’s population. A United Nations study found that one-third of ALL greenhouse gas emissions results from growing, processing and packaging food. 

Of course, it’s not always simple to figure out what’s best to buy for food, especially given the short growing season in the North Country where fresh local produce can be challenging to source during the winter. Still, in addition to eating locally grown foods as much as possible, it’s good to eat foods that are in season and those that are easy to store. You know, like honey.

The carbon “foodprint” of protein derived from eggs laid by locally-raised free-range chickens is 3,250 times smaller than that of beef produced on distant, energy-intensive livestock operations. Photo: Michael J. Caduto

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

• Being a localvore means eating foods that are grown within 100 miles of your home in any direction. So your home sits at the center of a localvore circle that is 200 miles across. Using a state map (or two), draw a circle with a 100-mile radius around your house. Identify farms and market sources of local-grown and raised foods that fall within this 100-mile radius. Purchase as much of your food as possible from these providers. 
• Start a Localvore Journal. As you begin to learn about food supplies in the area, keep a running list of places you can go to get locally-grown food, the kinds of local foods available at each place and the specific foods available during each season of the year.
• Look for recipes that use the foods raised within your localvore territory. See if you can match the specific seasonal lists of ingredients in your Localvore Journal, with the ingredients needed in the recipes you’ve found. Turn your newfound knowledge into a list of recipes that can be made in specific seasons using locally-grown ingredients. Pick up some of the fine cookbooks that offer recipes for delicious meals made with locally-sourced foods, such as Eating Local: The Cookbook Inspired by America’s Local Farmers by Janet Fletcher, and Sustainable Kitchen by local authors Heather Wolfe and Jaynie McCloskey. (Please support your local bookstore!)
• Ask for local. Encourage your local food stores to sell local produce, dairy, meat and other local food products.
• Order local. Encourage the owners of local restaurants to serve meals made from locally sourced ingredients. Remind them how this will support local farmers, feed the local economy, fight climate change and attract customers who value living sustainably. 
• Read Frances Moore Lappé’s Diet for a Small Planet, and Anna Lappé’s Diet for a Warm Planet. 

* This is part 1 of a 2-part article.

The post Eating Green appeared first on Sustainable Woodstock.

The most popular example of greenwashing is a practice that I had personally never realized was greenwashing to begin with: the “save your towel” sign that is in many hotels. The sign is meant to encourage guests to save and re-use their towels as a way of conserving water. In reality, this practice helps the hotel cut down on staff expenses and makes very little impact on water use. It is a way for hotels to seem like they are doing good for the environment, which appeals to guests, without having to make a meaningful change in their business practices.

What can you do to avoid falling prey to greenwashing? There are some key signs you can pay attention to that will help you determine if a brand is seriously committed to the environment. First, pay attention to the words and images a brand uses. “Eco-friendly,” “green,” “earth-friendly,” and “all natural” are meaningless without a true environmental commitment backing them. Many brands also use the color green or natural imagery to convey a vague sense of being environmental. Instead, look for eco-friendly logos that signify certain environmental standards are being met, and use third-party certifiers. Examples include: LEED, USDA organic, Fair Trade Certified, B-Corp, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Watersense, Seafood Watch, Ecocert, and many more. These aren’t perfect, but are better than meaningless labels. 

Companies also inflate the environmental benefits of their products, or fail to disclose qualifiers to environmental claims, to make them seem more sustainable. For example, labeling a plastic package containing a shower curtain as “recyclable” makes it unclear as to whether the package, curtain, or both are recyclable, which is deceptive to a consumer who may then buy the product thinking the shower curtain is recyclable. Other examples include irrelevant labels, such as paper made with “all natural materials” (most paper is already made with the natural material we commonly call wood), or labeling laundry detergent as “phosphate free,” since phosphates were phased out of laundry products years ago. These advertising techniques lead consumers to believe that a purchase is better for the planet when it clearly isn’t, and are difficult to spot if you’re not looking for them. 

The last trick to avoiding greenwashing might be the most elementary of environmental principles: reduce, reuse, recycle. One of the most important questions we can ask ourselves as consumers every day is where will the product I am buying end up? When possible, always choose the product that is part of the circular economy. This means that it will not end up in a landfill after one use, like a chip bag, but can be reused (like a refillable water bottle) or recycled. First reduce the amount you consume, then reuse what you can, and finally recycle if you have no alternative. Many products, even those with truly good intentions, must be immediately disposed of after one use– think “compostable” plastic cutlery that cannot go in at-home compost systems, and that larger compost companies in Vermont do not accept. This is not a truly sustainable product, regardless of whether the intentions behind it are pure.

Of course, not all green marketing is greenwashing; many companies are truly dedicated to sustainability and are walking the walk when it comes to their practices. Patagonia has long been known as a sustainable brand. The company offers a repair and reuse program, which repairs and sells used Patagonia clothing, and has published a free repair guide. Recently the founder Yvon Chouinard transferred his ownership of the company, valued at 3 billion, to a trust and nonprofit organization. Rather than sell the company, he and his family made this choice so that company profits will be used to combat climate change and protect land. They received no tax incentives in return. 

Many folks struggle to base their purchases on environmental concerns alone– convenience, accessibility, and cost are huge factors that cannot be ignored. However, if you are someone with the means to prioritize the environment in your shopping, watch for greenwashing. Choose companies you know and trust, and choose to buy local when you can. In the Upper Valley we have the amazing opportunity to walk into many of our grocery stores (or farmers markets) and buy local products and produce, no green label needed.

A little forethought goes a long way toward choosing everyday items that can be reused again and again, rather than being discarded or recycled. Reusable straws come in several long-lasting materials, including glass (left) and metal (right). Bamboo straws (not shown) are reusable and are made from that renewable, fast-growing member of the grass family. This striped paper straw (middle) can be recycled or composted, but can only be used once. Plastic straws are manufactured from polypropylene (for which petroleum is the raw material), cannot be recycled and often end up in a landfill, on the side of the road or in the ocean where they sicken and kill marine wildlife when they are ingested.

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A 2019 U.S. Department of Transportation report estimated that Vermonters consume over 5 MILLION gallons of gasoline on lawn care every year, which is associated with the release of over 100 MILLION pounds of CO2. And this doesn’t even include all the diesel-powered “commercial” lawn mowers operated within the public and private sectors.

A typical “commercial” gas-powered riding mower can consume 1 gal of gas per hour. And since burning 1 gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel releases roughly 20 pounds of CO2, each of these commercial riding mowers operated for 600-1,000 hours over Vermont’s roughly five month growing season consumes between 600-1,000 gallons of fuel, which generates between 12,000-20,000 pounds (6-10 tons!) of CO2.  For comparison, a car that’s driven for 12,000 miles per year and averages 30 mpg, consumes 400 gallons of gas, generating around 4 tons of CO2.

In contrast, a typical commercial battery-electric riding mower consumes roughly 3 kilowatt hours (kWh) per hour of operation, and in Vermont, the generation and distribution of 1 kWh electricity is associated with the release of roughly 0.26 pounds of CO2. So, when a commercial E-mower is operated for the same 600-1,000 hours, it consumes between 1,800-3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, which is associated with the release of only 468-780 pounds of CO2, which is about 25 times LESS CO2 emissions than a gas-powered riding mower operated for the same amount of time.

Residential gas-powered walk-behind mowers have smaller engines, but they’re inefficient and therefore burn .5 to .75 gallons of fuel per hour, which in-turn releases 10-15 pounds of CO2 per hour. This means that for every 1,000 residential gas-powered walk-behind mowers operating in Vermont, they’re collectively releasing 10,000-15,000 pounds (5-8 tons) of CO2 per hour, in addition to lots of smog-forming exhaust emissions.  Gas-powered yard tools are another major source of GHG emissions, noise, and air pollution.  

The good news is that switching to battery-electric lawn care equipment for homeowners and renters is now easier than ever because this equipment is relatively similar in price to gas-powered equipment, there’s a large variety of brands and models to choose from, and all of Vermont’s electric utilities offer valuable rebates.  

Although there’s currently only four manufacturers of commercial E-riding mowers, the market is clearly moving in the direction of electric.  And while commercial E-riding mowers are significantly more expensive than gas or diesel-powered riding mowers due to the large battery capacities required to provide “all-day” run times, the rebates offered by Vermont’s utility companies for commercial riding mowers are also significantly higher than the rebates for residential E-walk behind mowers.  

Another reason for its growing popularity is that the cost of ownership, or the “life-cycle” costs for both residential and commercial E-mowers is a lot less than gas-powered equipment. This is due to the lower cost of electricity compared to fossil fuel, and much lower maintenance and repair costs.  For example, the cost savings for commercial E-riding mowers is typically $4 to $7/hour, which results in savings of between $2,500 to $7,000 per year per mower, depending on the number of operating hours.   

E-lawn equipment is also a lot more convenient because there’s no need to transport and store gas, it doesn’t require oil changes and tune-ups, is a lot quieter, and has zero tailpipe emissions.

For all these reasons, thousands of Vermont homeowners and renters have begun making this switch, as well as larger entities such as Shelburne Farms; the city of Burlington Parks and Recreation Department; the Town of Enosburg Falls, the Burlington Airport, and the University of Vermont. 

The Ten Stones Homeowners Association in Charlotte is now in its third season using an E-riding mower to maintain about 6 acres of private lawns, green space, a community garden, and walking trails. In addition to appreciating the reduced noise and lack of tailpipe emissions, the Association is also saving approximately $1,000 per year compared to the cost of operating a diesel-powered mower. 

While there are also now about a dozen lawn care contractors in Vermont offering e-lawn care services, there are still hundreds of other contractors still using gas-powered equipment, as are the majority of homeowners and renters, municipalities, public schools, colleges and university campuses, museums, state parks and historic sites, resorts, golf courses, etc.

To help encourage the transition to E-lawn equipment within the public and private sectors, since 2016 the Mow Electric! Campaign has been collaborating with the state’s electric utility companies, the Vermont Clean Cities Coalition, town energy committees, citizen advocates, equipment vendors, elected representatives, and others. 

The Mow Electric! website supports this work by providing links to utility incentives or rebates, lists of E-lawn equipment mowers, interactive “life-cycle costs and CO2 emissions comparison” spreadsheets, a list of E-mowing contractors, and lots of other resources. All Vermonters are invited to help encourage this necessary and important transition.

Steven Wisbaum, founder of the Mow Electric! campaign, mowing with the Ten Stones Village Association’s battery electric zero-turn “commercial” lawn mower. Photo by Satchel Blood.

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This is the second year that Sustainable Woodstock will be hosting the travelling Upper Valley E-Bike library. The library, hosted by Vital Communities, is a chance for borrowers to check out an e-bike from the Norman Williams Public Library for time slots of 1 hour to find out how these bikes can replace car trips and transform their daily transportation needs. There will be four types of e-bikes to try with a variety of bikes at different price points. Bikes available include a cargo bike with a rear rack and several standard bikes, all with an electric assist that helps riders get around with less effort and scale hills that previously seemed impossible.

While you may picture an electric scooter or motorbike when you think of an e-bike, in reality they don’t look all that dissimilar from a regular bike. The difference is that e-bikes have components such as a battery, motor, and controls integrated into their design. You can ride an e-bike in the same way you would a regular bike, simply by pedaling—no electricity required. The resistance is typically the same as any other bike, and you will be able to shift gears depending on terrain and speed. You can also use electric-assist. Electric-assist allows you to combine human and electric power, which means that the motor will turn on to assist you as you pedal. This mode makes hills feel almost effortless.

The main difference between a regular bike and an e-bike is that e-bikes can provide an assist for hills and difficult riding conditions, where a regular bike depends completely on the rider. This difference makes e-bikes very attractive for commuters who do not want to arrive to work exhausted and sweaty and people who bike carrying the weight of a child or groceries. They are also an easier alternative for those who face challenges with their joints or with physical stamina. 

E-bikes use rechargeable batteries and can be plugged directly into an outlet at your home. Much like an electric car, they use energy from the grid. A 2016 European Cyclist Federation life cycle study found that e-bike CO2 emissions were almost identical to regular bikes, at 22 and 21 grams per passenger per kilometer respectively (This is in comparison to a bus at 101 grams and a passenger car at 271 grams for average short trips). 

Typically e-bikes can travel up to 20 mph, and can travel 22-50 miles on a single charge, depending on a number of factors. Some bikes have high ranges of 80+ miles per charge. To fully charge a depleted battery, it will typically take 3.5-6 hours, whereas batteries with a partial charge will take less time. Depending on the bike, it will usually take 500-800 watt hours (0.5 – 0.8 kilowatt hours) to charge the battery. Assuming 17 cents per kwh, you will be paying 6-13 cents for a charge that will last anywhere from 22-80 miles. Compared to a car, that’s a pretty great deal.

When considering which e-bike is right for you, you will want to factor in what the bike’s primary use will be. Cargo bikes allow the rider to carry a larger load of cargo, such as groceries, and many can be outfitted with a child’s seat for school pick-up. There are also commuter bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, and many more customizable features. You can also purchase e-bike conversion kits, which convert a regular bike to an e-bike for less cost than purchasing a new e-bike. Green Mountain Power offers a $200 rebate when you purchase an e-bike or conversion kit, and the state of Vermont now offers $250-$400 rebate for income-qualifying purchasers.

Heather Wolfe and daughter, Esther, enjoying their e-Bike trial during Sustainable Woodstock’s first e-Bike event in October 2021. Photo: Jenevra Wetmore.

Are you interested in using an e-bike but don’t know where to start? Come try one out for free! Local Motion’s Upper Valley E-Bike Lending Library will be in Woodstock on Friday October 1st, Saturday the 2^nd, and Sunday the 3^rd. There will be four bikes for participants to try:

• The RadWagon 3 has a long frame and low center of gravity, and is a cargo bike meant to pick up the kids from school or load up on groceries. We also have a child’s seat that be strapped onto the bike to take your kid for a test ride too!
• The Turbo Como 3.0 has a stylish design with a battery that seamlessly fits into the frame. The bike intuitively picks up the strength of the rider’s pedaling and responds with more power to assist.
• RadMini Step-Thru 2 Electric Folding Fat Bike is the only bike in the library that folds to save space. The fat tires can tackle rough terrain, all with assistance from the battery.
• DIY Conversion Kit based on a Bianchi Cortina allows riders to try a regular bike that was converted to an e-bike using a conversion kit. This is an excellent option for riders who already have a bike they love and would like to convert, while saving money.

To reserve an e-bike head to: https://webreserv.com/vitalcommunities Contact Sustainable Woodstock with any questions at programs@sustainablewoodstock.org.

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