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How to Make
Everyday Earth Day
Free WebinarTuesday Nov. 9th
12-1pm
Presenters: Kristin Schulz, Ed Stierli, Cheval Opp, and Jason Schwartz
Overview Energy Efficiency with Ed
Repower @ Home
Composting with Cheval
Garden Tours
Sustainability Tips for Life from Jason
B.Kind Vending
Remaining Questions & Discussion
The Green Neighborhood Challenge
Part I
Energy Efficiency with Ed
Repower @ Home
Why save energy?
It’s a smart investment It sends a powerful message It’s an extremely effective way to
reduce pollution
CO2 Emissions in the U.S.
21% of emissions from residential
buildings
Step one: Be a trendsetter
Join the challenge by taking action to save energy
in your own home
Action #1: Eliminate vampire power
• When “off,” electronics use energy to power things like remote control sensors.
• Look for the signs of energy vampires.
Slay vampires
• Three ways to stop vampire power:– Unplug– Switch off a power strip– Use a smart power strip
• Target the most potent vampires
873 POUNDSOF COAL
Action #2: Program your thermostat
• Heating and cooling = biggest part of your energy bill
• You wouldn’t leave your car running in your garage, why heat or cool an empty home?
• Beware heating and cooling myths!
• When are you not at home? – Turn your thermostat back or off during those
times.
• For every 10 degrees you lower your thermostat, you’ll save 10% on your heating and cooling bill.
Save automatically
2,000 POUNDSOF COAL
Action #3: Replace your HVAC filter
• Filters need to be changed every three months
• Old filters let dust, mold, and other allergens into your home
• Your heating and cooling system is less efficient with old filter
1. Remove your filter
2. Measure it
3. Buy a replacement
4. Slide in the new one– Make sure the arrow on the filter matches
the direction of air flow
Breathe easy 1,490 POUNDSOF COAL
Action #4: Have an energy audit & retrofit
• Find out where to begin in your home
• Maximize your savings
• Make your home more comfortable
• Make your home more valuable
• Dramatically reduce your energy waste
Get a retrofit 6,000 POUNDSOF COAL
Step two:Organize your community
• Taking action at home is the first step
• But, we need to get everyone involved!
63 Community Energy Meetings
702 Energized Participants
3377 Energy Action Commitments
What if we had teams across the nation?
Part II
Composting with Cheval
Washington Gardener Magazine
All the DIRT
on Compost
Cheval Force Opp
Garden Tours LLC
Washington Gardener Writer
04/22/23 23
Define Compost
com·post (kmpst) n. 1. A mixture of decaying organic matter, as from leaves
and manure, used to improve soil structure and provide nutrients.
2. A composition; a mixture.tr.v. com·post·ed, com·post·ing, com·posts 1. To
fertilize with a mixture of decaying organic matter.2. To convert (vegetable matter) to compost.
[Middle English compote, from Old French, mixture, compost, from Latin compositum, mixture, from neuter past participle of compnere, to put together; see component.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
04/22/23 24
Why Compost? For your Plants
• Contains nutrients for optimum growth: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
• Nutrients are released as needed
04/22/23 25
• Organic matter binds with soil particles (sand, silt, and clay) to form crumbs.
• Increases water-holding capacity of soil
• Acts as an inoculant to your soil• Acts as a pH buffer
Grass Clippings Trivia
• Provides 25 % lawn's total fertilizer needs• A 100 lbs grass clippings
– 3-5lbsnitrogen, – ½-1lb phosphorus – 2-3lbs potassium
• Grass clippings do not contribute to thatch 75-85 percent water and decompose readily.
04/22/23 26
Why Compost? For your community
• Nationwide 20-25% of all garbage yearly (EPA)
• Reduces fertilizer, soil amendment purchases
• Lower water, garbage bills • Reduce the need for lawn
and leaf trash bags• Reduces the need for
frequent watering• Grass clippings high moisture
reduce incineration efficiency.
04/22/23 27
1. Compost size
2. Air
3. Moisture
4. Green matter
5. Brown matter
6. Fragment size
7. Heat
04/22/23 28
FEED
04/22/23 29
ME
Think of composting as the act of growing microorganisms.
How fast do you want it? Look and Smell in 2-5 days
• Initial Ratio Brown/ Green
• Particle Size• Maintenance• Moisture
• Low ratio shorter time• More surface for
microorganisms to attack
• Keep air in it• Reproduction insured
04/22/23 30
04/22/23 31
Why not a simple pile?
A Simple Pile2 months to 2 years
• Dry, shady spot near a water source
• Add brown & green materials, shredded
• Keep moist• Size
– 3 feet X 3 feet X 3 feet,– 5 feet X 5 feet X 5 feet
• Tarp to keep moisture constant
• Food wastes – Rodent proof containers– Bury at least 1 ft in pile– Use worm-boxes
04/22/23 32
Keeping it together
04/22/23 33
Build It
04/22/23 34
Buy It
What Do You Want?
Cold Composting Strengths of cold
compost – Low maintenance – Can be built over time
Weaknesses of cold compost – Takes a long time to finish – Doesn't kill pathogens or
weeds – May require filtering when
complete
Hot Composting Strengths of hot compost
– Makes compost quickly – Kills pathogens and weeds – Disposes of lots of material
Weaknesses of hot compost – Requires frequent turning – Requires attention to
brown/green ratio – Very fertile but not as
fertile as cold compost 04/22/23 36
Where to put it?
Where you will use it
• Water • Level• Drainage
Considerations• Under trees
• Against wooden structures
• Under eves
• Against house
• Highly visible
04/22/23 37
MIX Green=High Carbon + Water + Brown =High
Nitrogen
• Vegetables & Fruit
• Grass Clippings
• Fresh Manure• Young Hedge
Trimmings• Seaweed• Feathers• Plant cuttings• Hair
• Leaves• Hay & Straw• Paper &
Cardboard• Woody
Prunings• Eggshells• Coffee Grounds• Tea Bags• Corn Cobs• Sawdust
04/22/23 38
What NOT to Compost• Meat & Bones • Poultry & Fish • Fatty Food Waste • Whole Eggs • Dairy Products • Human & Pet Feces • Pernicious Weeds • Pressure Treated
Wood
• Inorganic garbage • Plastic • Metal • Glass • Ceramics • Used Cat Litter • Particle Board • Plywood • Citrus peels
04/22/23 39
When good Compost goes BAD
Nothing Happening?
• Pile too Dry
• Pile too Small
• Incorrect Mixture of Materials
• Too Little Air
Smells Foul?
• Too Wet
• Too Much Nitrogen
• Not enough Air Circulation
04/22/23 40
Make Your Compost Happy
Go Forth and
Feed Microbes04/22/23 41
Part III
Sustainable Living with Jason Schwartz
B.Kind Vending – Organic & Natural Foods
Living Sustainably
The GNEC ProgramHelp green your community
• Green Neighborhood Challenge Oct. 2010 – April 22nd 2011
• Schools• Communities• Faith Groups• Other Organizations
• $10 per wind power sign-up towards a community environmental project
• $250 per solar system installation
• Learn how to successfully contribute towards building a greener community
What to Remember• Enrollment is EASY – can do so through our website,
takes 2 minutes (will need utility acct. #)• NO sign-up or switching fees• Continue to receive only ONE bill (from your utility)
– only change will be the electric rate you pay• No installation of equipment and no change to
dependability of power to your home• You can stay on any program currently on with your
utility (Peak Rewards, Budget Bill, etc.)• Clean Currents rates are SECURE (fixed) for 1-2
years – rather than live with variable rates that other suppliers offer
• We’ll move with you (if you move residence during contract, there are NO penalties)
• Clean Currents is an active part of your community – we live here and are working towards a greener future
Working with Clean Currents
Awards & Recognition
Winner of Washington, DC's 2009
Mayor's Environmental Excellence Award
Winner of State of Maryland Incubator
Best Green Company Award 2010
Winner of the Washington Business
Journal’s 2010 Visionary Award
Bethesda Green’s Runner-Up for
Innovative Green Business Award
Green America certified
Becoming a B Corp.
