Appalachia--Science in the Public Interest

Appalachian Alternatives- A-SPI's Newsletter

Summer 2004 Number 80

2004 ASPI EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
October 2, 2004 - National Tour of Solar Buildings (Solar Day)
October 16-17, 2004 - Bluegrass EnergyFest (see article)

"Welcome to Mt. Vernon" Sign Illuminated with Solar Energy

By Josh Bills

The Mt. Vernon Tourism Commission contracted with ASPI to design a solar lighting system, which illuminates a bi-directional "Welcome to Mt. Vernon" sign at the heavily traveled intersection of Kentucky Highway 461 and US 25 (the Richmond Street entrance to Mt. Vernon, ASPI's hometown). The sign, which was completed this spring, consists of two 4-ft. high by 12-ft. long panels. The two- solar-panel system operates six compact fluorescent floodlights, two for each panel, and two for the landscaping surrounding the signs.

During the day, two 80-Watt solar panels charge two maintenance-free gel-type batteries. The floodlights, powered by the rechargeable batteries, will automatically turn on at nightfall and off at daybreak or when battery power runs out. These floodlights were originally designed with super-efficient LED lighting (light-emitting diodes), but the tourism commission was not satisfied with the amount of light they produced, so we replaced them with the brighter, but less efficient compact fluorescents (CFLs).

The advantages of this system to the City of Mt. Vernon are noteworthy:

ü No costs associated with bringing electrical service to the site.

ü No electric bills or administrative costs for paying such bills.

ü Fewer bulbs to change - CFLs last 8-10 times longer than standard flood lights

ü No dangerous high voltage wires at the busy intersection

In addition to these advantages, this system will demonstrate to residents and visitors alike, Mt. Vernon's openness to progressive ideas and technologies. This may have unforeseen consequences, such as possibly being a factor for a company with good wages and strong environmental values to relocate here.

To view the sign: If you are entering Mt. Vernon from 1-75 at exit 62 (Renfro Valley exit), watch for the signs on the left just before where US 25 turns left off State Route 461. Of course, you will have to drive by after nightfall to see the lights in operation. We welcome inquiries from other municipalities that are interested in using solar energy for lighting their entrance signs or for other applications.

Last Call for Bluegrass Energy Expo Help and Participation

By Ben Perry

This will be the last newsletter before the Bluegrass Energy Expo, so we are extending one last appeal to our supporters to help make the Expo the best it can be. For those who have not heard about the Expo yet, it will be held on October 16-17 at the Lexington (KY) Convention Center. The purpose of the event is to bring together the business, education, government and non-profit sectors to educate Kentuckians about proven energy solutions and connect consumers with marketers of energy-saving products and services. The Expo will feature a trade show, workshops, exhibits and demos, kid's activities and free home energy consultations. For more information, see www.bluegrassenergyexpo.org.

Help us spread the good news! - An abundance of clean, renewable energy is essential to our future prosperity and efforts to ensure that prosperity must begin now, but the transformation to clean, renewable energy is only feasible by greatly improving our energy efficiency. Investing in energy efficiency will save you money and increase your home's comfort and value, while improving our economy, environment and national security.

The Good News

v We have the knowledge and technology to accomplish this NOW!

v Many of these ideas and technologies pay for them selves quickly and outperform some of the best financial investments available, with virtually no risk.

v The transformation to clean, renewable energy will boost our economy, help clean up the environment, and reduce our dependence on foreign energy.

Following are ways you can help or participate:

If you own a business -

1) Sign on as an exhibitor, sponsor, educator or energy consultant;
2) Donate or underwrite a door prize or freebies;
3) Donate or underwrite goodie bags, T-shirts, or other imprinted items;
4) Buy an ad in our program;
5) Provide volunteers for the Expo;
6) Contact friends and associates that you think may be interested in participating in the Expo;
7) Serve on the Expo steering committee. Our next meeting is at the Kentucky Division of Energy in Frankfort on August 20th at 10:00 am.

If you are an interested individual or energy professional

1) Volunteer to help;
2) Present a workshop;
3) Serve as an energy consultant;
4) Create an educational exhibit or demonstration;
5) Contact friends and associates that may be interested in participating;
6) Serve on the steering committee;
7) Attend the Expo, have fun and learn, then go home and start saving energy!

The Sun Shines Bright on Rockcastle River Day

By Ben Perry

We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather for ASPI's Rockcastle River Day. The event was held on Saturday, June 5th at ASPl's demonstration center on the Rockcastle River. Heavy fog shrouded the valley in the morning, but by the 12 noon starting time, the sun was shining brightly. Overall attendance was not what we had hoped for, but we were pleasantly surprised at the number of first time visitors from the area. Many new friends were made and many laughs and stories were traded.

Normally, the day would begin at 9:00 with a paddle on the Rockcastle River, but we discouraged paddlers this year due to the high water from recent heavy rains. A few brave souls paddled later in the day, however. The main event began at noon with a delicious meal that was a combination potluck, cookout and dishes provided by local eateries, as part of our first "Taste of the Rockcastle" event. Seven local restaurants provided dishes and two local groceries donated other supplies.

Pictures of each restaurant and their staff were displayed behind each donated dish, along with a brief story about them. Everyone agreed that the "Taste of the Rockcastle" was a big success, so we plan to make it one of our new River Day traditions.

The meal was followed by tours of ASPl's solar home, cordwood buildings, and nature center, with it's newly built bird blind. The final event of the day was the 2nd Annual Rockcastle River Day "Rocktathalon", our light-hearted version of the decathlon. Due to the high water (again!), we had to cut out the canoe race, river swim and rock skipping contest and limited the event to horseshoes, volleyball, watermelon seed spitting and river cane tossing. This year's event was won in dramatic fashion by Tom Dupree of Lexington, who edged out last year's winner, Berea's Damien Mallen, by a single second. They were tied at 46 seconds after the last event, but Tom had been awarded 5 bonus seconds on the watermelon seed spitting, resulting in a time of minus 1 second for the event, thus giving him the victory. Tom was rewarded with a beautiful "1 st Place" sandstone disc hung by a red, white and blue ribbon around his neck. Tom will also be serving on ASPl's board of directors, beginning in July. Josh Bills, ASPl's solar guru, finished third in the event.

2004 also marked the second year for our River Day Silent Auction. Through the generosity of almost 40 local merchants, we raised over $700 for our Nature Center and Appalachian Ecology Program, which offers free instruction, curriculum materials and nature center visits to schools under- performing on Kentucky standardized science tests.

Our "Zero-Waste" efforts were even more successful this year than last. Last year's event produced a soft- ball-sized ball of trash, and this year's clean-up produced but a single torn plastic bag which wadded up to about the size of a ping-pong ball. While we may never achieve our actual "zero-waste" goal, we feel that it is the intention behind it and the awareness that accompanies it that is important. It's also a fun challenge to take on. ASPI is happy to loan our dishes and silverware to any area group that wishes to have a zero-waste event of their own and donations of knives, spoons, plates and cups are always appreciated to replace lost and broken ones.

ASPI Scouts Midwest Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair for Ideas for the Bluegrass Energy Expo

Andy McDonald, Assistant Coordinator for ASPI's First Annual Bluegrass Energy Expo, attended the Midwest Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair June 17-19, 2004, and filed the following report.

Stand beside a thirty-foot long wind turbine blade and look into its gearbox. Learn how to run your car on vegetable oil. See solar electric and water heating systems in operation, powering vendor's booths, water fountains, a gift shop, and a cafe. Attend workshops and speak personally with dozens of experts in the fields of renewable energy and sustainable living. Enjoy great food, live music, and listen to lectures about the role of technology in society, the nature of democracy, and the need to free ourselves from our dangerous dependence upon oil.

These were just a few of the opportunities offered at the Midwest Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair, held this past June for the fifteenth consecutive year in central Wisconsin. Fair organizers claim this to be the longest running and largest renewable energy fair in the USA, and it's easy to believe. Last year over 15,000 people attended the Fair and it looked like they all came back this year. Over 130 exhibitors were on hand, offering information about solar, wind, geothermal, bio-fuels, healthy homes and natural building, plus numerous vendors selling books and products related to sustainable living.

With nearly 150 workshops to choose from, the Fair offered a broad educational experience. There were beginner's classes about photovoltaics and advanced workshops about batteries and hydrogen. There were sessions about solar cooking, edible wild plants, local economics, and alternative building materials, to name just a few. Extended workshops were also offered in the days before the Fair, offering more in-depth training on numerous topics.

The Fair provided inspiration, a wealth of information, and many valuable personal connections. Fair organizers hope to see more Energy Fairs happening around the country, and ASPI will apply lessons learned in Wisconsin at our First Annual Bluegrass Energy Expo, to be held in Lexington October 16-17, 2004. To learn more about the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and its annual Fair, visit their website at www.the-mrea.org or call 715-592-6595.

News and Notes:

2005 Simple Lifestyle Calendar Coming to a (Small?) Town Near You

Our 2005 Simple Lifestyle Calendar is at the printer and should be ready to ship by the end of July. This year's theme is "Small Towns of Appalachia", and we have plumbed the depths of Warren Brunner's photographic archives to capture the small town spirit that many of us love about Appalachia. Mark Spencer has also plumbed the depths of his fertile imagination to produce yet another collection of wit and wisdom sure to brighten each day of the year. I think you will agree that the 2005 Calendar is the finest we've ever produced!

We ask you to keep in mind that we are asking more of the calendar than in past years. Our goal for 2005, is that our calendar sales will support all of ASPl's "publications", including our technical papers, newsletters, video series, website and other publications called for during the year, as well as the labor to produce them. Please help us by giving calendars to as many friends, family and associates as you can think of. Calendar sales not only help us financially, but also serve as an important ambassador for ASPI and its message of simplicity and environmental stewardship.

Attn: Photographers - Wanna contribute to the Simple Lifestyle Calendar?

Warren Brunner's photography has been an invaluable asset to ASPI and the Simple Lifestyle Calendar for more than 20 years but his schedule no longer allows for as many of the lengthy photographic excursions he once made to take photographs for the calendar. With Warren's blessing, we are officially opening the calendar up to other photographers. Please contact us if you are interested in donating photographs. The theme for 2006 will be "Footpaths of Appalachia", so search through your photos or hit the road with your camera and send us some good ones for the 2006 Simple Lifestyle Calendar.

Al Fritsch Update

Father Al has recently moved from Frankfort, KY, to Ravenna, KY, to become Sacramental Minister for Powell and Estill Counties. He stops by the ASPI office about once a week to pick up his mail and catch up on the news. He invites his many friends and supporters to check out his daily reflections at http://www.earthhealing.info/ His new contact information is:

Albert Fritsch, S.J.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church 316 Fifth Street
Ravenna, KY 40472-1312
606-723-4705

As usual, Al is busy working on "several book projects", but for now, he is keeping his new projects under wraps. In addition to his new writing projects, he is spending a lot of time traveling and speaking to promote his recently released "Ecotourism in Appalachia" book. Before that, he completed a book on the history of the Jesuits in Kentucky. Feel free to contact him if you are interested in obtaining a copy of either book.

Grant Allows ASPI to Purchase New Copier

By Dan Bond

The St. Walburg Monastery Social Needs Fund recently awarded ASPI a generous grant for a much-needed new copier. The Konica 7022 printer/copier/scanner seems like the Swiss army knife of office machines. The "machine (it's hard to call it just a printer or copier or scanner when it does all of those things and much more) is connected to our network, so all of the office computers can print to it or scan a document and save it to their own desktop file, among many other functions. The new machine allows us to print most of our smaller publications in-house and has cut our regular copying costs by about 40%. The grant also includes funds to purchase a paper folder, designed to save us time and Martha's arms and sanity. We are currently "test-driving" a wonderful old refurbished 1958 A. B. Dick folder. We will use the grant funds to purchase it if it performs well for this current newsletter.

As the resident Techno Geek at ASPI, I am always ready for a new piece of equipment, be it a computer, a networking card, more memory, or whatever, but this machine has been our greatest need for some time (this was our 6th grant proposal for funding for the copier and folder!). The previous set-up had us printing through shared access to one main computer, and scanning was accomplished by moving a flatbed USB scanner from computer to computer. Our copying was done on our old analog copier at about 25 copies at a time, after which the copies became too dark and you had to give it a rest. Our new Energy Star-rated digital copier uses only a fraction the energy of - the old analog copier, which cuts our electricity costs and allows us to produce a greater percentage of our power from our solar system.

THANKS Contributions as of 7-13-04 - Syl Yunker, Upper Cumberland Watershed Watch, Community Trust Bank of Mt. Vernon, Citizens Bank of Brodhead, Ott Bond & Mt. Vernon Mini-Mall, Ms. S. Cecil Perry, Leonard Levine, Martin & Heidi Kaufman, Peter Sionek, Radio Shack, Ford Brothers Real Estate/Auctioneers, Signs Now, Hilary Lambert, Marie Koch, Faith Eastwood, Frank Hare, Patricia Watlington, Sr. Mary Brennan, Ray Graves, Mr. & Mrs. Rodrigo Botero, William L. Galbraith, Ian Rudick, Anna Mae Riggle, Philip Williams, Casey Sterr, Lois Shank, Colin Raitiere, Albert Ruschman, Pam Spencer, Barbara Hellenga, Sally Wells, Ben Perry, Jane Bleuel, AI Fritsch, Pat Gailey, Kitrina Kearfott, Sr. Joyce Gros of St. Catharine of Siena, John & Karen Schultz, Bradley & Mary Bryan, Denis Case, Mary M. Morgan, Kathryn Campbell, Carol Ann Morrow, Matthew Soderholm & Angela Anderson, Francesca Bartos, O.P., Donna Ford, Chris O'Connor, Sandy McFarland, Fr. Henry Atkins/ St. Thomas Church, :1 Hazel Robinson, Sally Firestone, Robert & Mary Beth Blinn.

Wish List

ü Library materials (books, reports, periodicals, reference books) + recent Home Power magazines,

ü fire-box or fire-proof safe

ü 2 -32” screen doors,

ü Canoes or Kayaks plus paddles and vests,

ü 2001+ model computers and monitors,

ü a flat-bed utility trailer ( 12’ ideal),

ü a good local source for large, brown corrugated boxes,

ü mulch and manure.

The ASPI Flea Market

Notecards - We still have ASPI Appalachian Wildflower & Appalachian Winter notecards.

The Wildflower notecards are all full-color pictures of daisies, roses, dogwood blossoms, rhododendron, phlox, and black-eyed susans growing near rustic structures such as split-rail fences and log cabins or in other Appalachian Settings.

The Appalachian Winter notecards are all black-and-white snow scenes of Appalachian mountains, forests, fencerows, barns and outbuildings, and are equally stunning.

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs) - (See New 3-way and Dimmable CFLs Below)

We stock 20 & 25 watt CFLs (75 & 100 watt equivalents), and 11 and 15 watt mini-CFLs (40 & 60 watt equivalents). The mini-CFLs fit anywhere a standard light bulb fits. Unlike older, cheaper CFLs, these bulbs light up instantly, give off a warm light, and don't flicker. Operating six hours a day, each 25 watt CFL will last almost five years, saving you an average of $57, 13 bulb changes and 750+ Ibs of coal versus a standard 100 watt bulb. Savings on the 3-ways and Dimmables will vary with usage.

ASPI Flea Market Order Form

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HELP SUPPORT ASPI Through DISCOUNT COMMUNICATION SERVICES

New Discounted Internet Service

Receive up to 150 hours a month of internet usage for $14.95 and designate $2.25 per month to ASPI (at no cost to you). To sign up, visit aspi. visp-net.com or if you don't currently have internet access, call 800-803- 5726. Be sure to mention ASPI so we get credit for the order.

Discounted Long Distance Service for Home or Business * Mention this ad and designate 3% of your bill
(at no cost to you) to ASPI

New Flat Rate - 4.9c for interstate and intrastate calls. Still no monthly service fees, no minimum billing required, low-cost calling cards, & six-second billing.

This rate is good except where Quest is the local phone company. TouchTone has recently implemented a lower 4.25c rate for Ohio (interstate & intrastate).

New Service Provider - Atcall, EqualNet, CCC/GlobalCom are no longer honoring our agreement. If one of these is your carrier, please call Ian Rudick at 1-888-622-0957 to switch to TouchTone, so your usage will continue to benefit ASPI. Sorry for the inconvenience.

For more information or to order new service, contact Ian Rudick

with Come From the Heart at 1-888-622-0957

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Appalachia - Science in the Public Interest

50 Lair Street, Mt. Vernon, Ky 40456-9806

Phone: (606) 256-0077 Fax: (606) 256-2779

Web Site: www.a-spi.org E-mail: aspi@a-spi.org