EcoBytes - Volume 5, Issue 1

Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 1 of EcoBytes, the Center for Ecological Technology's (CET) email newsletter. EcoBytes updates you on CET's activities in waste, energy, environmental education and sustainable development. Visit us online at www.cetonline.org to learn more about our programs. You can reach us by email at cet@cetonline.org, or call us in Pittsfield at (413) 445-4556, in Northampton at (413) 586-7350, or at the ReStore Home Improvement Center at (413) 788-6900. For mailing list additions and deletions, please send a message to ruthd@cetonline.org.

In This Issue:

• Follow the Energy Code! Follow the Energy Code!
• Where Have All the Songbirds Gone?
• Landscapers Learn Alternatives to “Spray and Pray”
• We’ve Got Board
• Sowing Seeds of Efficiency on Local Farms
• Gathering Mercury
• Upcoming Events:
• 3rd Statewide Organics Summit
• ReStore at Home Show

Follow The Energy Code! Follow The Energy Code!

Can energy code compliance be increased through additional training for building inspectors? Do homes built according to the energy code perform as expected? From July through December 2002, CET Energy Analyst Bill Lafley provided technical assistance to the Northampton Building Department. Working closely with Tony Patillo, Northampton’s lead building official, Bill reviewed plans, assisted with insulation inspections and analyzed the energy performance and savings using Home Energy Rating (HERS) software. Bill served as a resource to local building officials and answered energy related questions. He accompanied City Building Inspectors on 26 insulation inspections for new homes and additions. Bill also helped plan a seminar to train 35 local builders and code officials in energy efficiency for new home construction. Bill’s work was part of an innovative Energy Code Pilot program coordinated by the Joint Management Committee of participating Massachusetts gas and electric utility companies. This project assisted Northampton, a City for Climate Protection, in pursuing its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. For more information about the Northampton Energy Code Pilot Program, contact Alan Silverstein in our Pittsfield office.

Where Have All The Songbirds Gone?

This fall, CET designed a survey to learn more about attitudes and habits related to the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers on household lawns and gardens in the Berkshires. CET reached diverse audiences by distributing surveys at public libraries, children’s soccer leagues, large employers, local churches, daycare centers, and public events. Although not a scientifically randomized survey, the analysis revealed statistically significant findings. Of the 458 people who completed the survey, 33% use some kind of chemical product on their lawn or garden at least once a year. Safety was identified as the most important factor that influenced individuals’ purchase of lawn and garden products. Chemical users are significantly more likely to agree with the statement "an attractive lawn is a weed free lawn", and are more likely to believe that using more of a product will increase effectiveness. Chemical users are less likely to believe that chemical use contaminates drinking water. Of the respondents who use landscaping services, 89% agreed with the statement, "I would like my landscaper/lawn care company to use less toxic products". The chemical users indicated that they would be very likely to reduce their use of chemicals if these products were entering their drinking water supply, or if wildlife such as songbirds are poisoned by these chemicals. These results will be used to guide CET’s education about alternatives to pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer use in care of lawns and gardens. For more information, contact Laura Dubester in our Pittsfield office.

Landscapers Learn Alternatives To "Spray And Pray"

Although spring seems far off, CET conducted two free workshops on how to practice Integrated Pest Management featuring Ron Kujawski, a long time expert in this field. Seventy-five landscapers, garden center staff, facility managers and school and town groundskeepers learned how to reduce the need for pesticide use. Ron explained how to promote plant health and catch insect problems before they get out of hand. He enlightened the group about proper fertilization of trees and shrubs and introduced the latest in bio-rational pest controls. Ron also helped landscapers see how to market this less-toxic approach to customers. The workshops were held in Great Barrington and Amherst and were made possible through funding from the US Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service and the Toxics Use Reduction Institute of University of Massachusetts, Lowell. CET and Master Gardeners can provide free presentations on less toxic lawn and garden care to interested groups in the four western MA counties. For more information, contact Joy Kirschenbaum in our Pittsfield office.

We’Ve Got Board!

CET is pleased to welcome six new members to its Board of Directors: Ruth Blodgett, Senior Vice President for System Planning and Program Development at Berkshire Medical Center; Rita Kasky, Director of Development at Gould Farm; William Moomaw, Professor of International Environmental Policy at the Fletcher School, Tufts University; Bamby Neale, Principal of the Conte Community School in Pittsfield; Vicki Singer, Executive Director of Berkshire Enterprises and Greg Ward, President of Ward's Nursery in Great Barrington. These new members join longstanding Board members Paul Gavrity, Associate Executive Director of Berkshire ARC and current CET Board President; Larry Shea, owner of Shea's Floor Coverings, serves as CET's Treasurer and Alan Silverstein, CET Co-Director who serves as the Clerk. Laura Dubester, CET Co-Director, is also a Board member. Expertise, experience and guidance from the Board will help CET to better fulfill its mission and serve the community and will help sustain CET for many years to come. For more information, contact Laura Dubester in our Pittsfield office.

Sowing Seeds Of Efficiency On Local Farms

In November, more than eighteen dairy farmers toured High Lawn Farm in Lee to see energy efficient technologies at work on a dairy. The tour was part of a project to help dairies and orchards reduce costs through energy efficiency and to determine if area farms are appropriate sites for renewable energy, such as wind, sun, biomass and low-impact hydro. Farmers heard about potential funding for improvements in the 2002 Farm Bill from Dick Burke of U.S. Department of Agriculture and learned about available incentives for efficiency improvements from Western Massachusetts Electric Company and Massachusetts Electric Company. To help reduce farm energy costs, CET has conducted 9 energy assessments and is working with electric utilities to install energy and cost saving technologies. CET invited Dr. David Ludington, professor emeritus from Cornell University, to explain methane digestion to interested farmers. Farmers learned about the economics, the additional benefits and the challenges of turning cow manure into methane gas that can provide heat or electricity. This project is funded by the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. To learn more or to borrow a videotape of the High Lawn tour, contact Ruth Dinerman or Paul Schmidt in our Pittsfield office.

Gathering Mercury

CET helped conduct a mercury fever thermometer exchange for employees of Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. CET’s poster, display and handouts educated employees about mercury, as did an article published in the hospital newsletter. Digital and solar powered thermometers for the exchange were provided by the MA Department of Environmental Protection. 106 mercury fever thermometers were collected during this three day event, and hundreds of hospital employees received information on mercury, the dangers it can pose, and how to educate others. For more information about mercury, contact Joy Kirschenbaum in our Pittsfield office.

Upcoming Events:

The Third Massachusetts Organic Recycling Summit, “Mapping the Progress” will be on March 18th at the Boxborough Holiday Inn. The summit will offer new resources, tools, networking opportunities, and examples of successful food waste programs. For more information, visit: www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/compost.htm or call Julie Bender at 617-556-1054.

Visit the ReStore Tag Sale Tent at the Original Western Massachusetts Home Show at the Big E in West Springfield, from March 26th-30th. Stop by and say hello at our biggest outreach event of the year. It’s likely tens of thousands of people will visit the ReStore Tent.