APPALACHIAN ALTERNATIVES: A-SPI's free Newsletter
Summer 2005 Number 84
Spring and Summer Bring a Bounty of Visitors to ASPI
By Laura Wick and Deb Bledsoe
ASPI has been blessed this spring and summer to have had visits from several
groups from near and far. On May 7th, the Berea Teen Mentoring group
from Berea College came out to work at the Demonstration Center, assisting
with trail maintenance, gardening and picking up trash along our road. The
day was quite warm and humid, and the bugs were plentiful, but the group
of high schoolers and their Berea College student mentors put in a full
day with smiles intact. .
About 30 students from the Miami School in Dayton, OH stopped by ASPI on
June 1st as part of their Appalachian Immersion experience, which was hosted
by Berea College. They had a tour of the office, including the solar
system, gardens, and solar water heater. After taking a break for
lunch at Renfro Valley, they headed down to the Demonstration Center where
they got to see our simple lifestyle facilities, including the spring-fed
cistern, greywater gardens, and compost from Jack Kieffer's waterless toilet
at his cordwood sided mobile home. They also did a take-home project
… homemade suet cakes to treat the birds in their own neighborhoods.
On June 14th, a group of high school students from HighSight in Chicago
came to work with ASPI and experience the culture and arts of the area.
The group worked on the trails at the Demo Center, clearing down timber
and weeds from the whole length of the Michael Francis Zalla trail with
much sweat and hard work. That night they stayed at the Mt Vernon
office, learned about the solar technologies that we have installed, and
enjoyed hot showers courtesy of our Solar Water Heating system. The
electric car and solar panels generated a lot of questions from the kids.
On June 15th, the group worked at Ward Cemetery, in the Daniel Boone
National Forest near Wildcat Mountain battlefield. They took crayon
rubbings of the historic headstones which will be entered into the Rockcastle
County historic cemeteries database. Some other highlights of the
two days were an introduction to contra dance, led by Howard Carlburg and
Teresa Cole, both from Contraire Dance Association in Berea, and a visit
to Brian Boggs' Chairmaking studio, also in Berea. Many thanks to
the students and trip leaders who came and worked at ASPI!
June 30th, our summer intern Anita Goodrich and Deb Bledsoe hosted a group
of 22 Foster Grandparents from the Save the Children tutoring program. They
hail from Whitley and Jackson Counties, and came to learn about organic
gardening methods. Anita and Deb demonstrated composting and lasagna-style
soil building techniques. There were lively exchanges of information
throughout the day as many of these elders shared knowledge from their upbringings
about local plants and gardening methods with us. We hope they return
often as a group or individually with their families.
If you, or someone you know, is a member of a group that is looking for
service opportunities and/or educational demonstrations of alternative technologies,
please contact us at the ASPI office!
Volunteers make headstone rubbings in Ward Cemetery
River Day '05 Simply Enjoyable
By Ben Perry
Every River Day has its own personality depending on the mix of attendees,
the weather, and who has done most of the organizing, and River Day 2005
was no exception. This year's event attracted a mix of the usual ASPI
staff and associates, along with families with younger children, and several
of our close neighbors and other visitors in their 40s and 50s. Many
of our staff were happy to note that there was a greater ratio of new faces
to old faces than anyone could remember. The weather was beautiful
throughout the day.
The formula for River Day 2005 was simple. Pitch a tent, spread the
word, invite folks to bring good food and musical instruments, and let the
festivities begin. The result was a very relaxing afternoon, allowing
plenty of time for people to visit and get to know one another. Deb
Bledsoe, ASPI's Operations Manager, took over the primary organizing role
this year and pulled the event together admirably, despite having little
time to do it.
The tours of our demonstration facilities were well-attended and spurred
lively discussion about ASPI projects and sustainability in general. There
was more music this year than in several years, and most of it was provided
by ASPI staff and associates. ASPI's Ginseng Project coordinator and
computer specialist Dan Bond carried the musical load while Mark Spencer,
Deb Bledsoe, Ben Perry and others joined in. Partly due to the relaxing
nature of the event and the lack of attendees in their teens through 30s,
we didn't hold the Rocktathalon this year.
The silent auction featured several items donated by local businesses and
ASPI supporters and generated $205. All in all, the event brought
in a little over $800, which went toward the upkeep of the Mary E. Fritsch
Nature Center and other demonstration facilities. Cash donors included
Citizen's Bank, Community Trust Bank, Ford Brother's Real Estate & Auction,
Kentucky Waterways Alliance, and Upper Cumberland Watershed Watch. Auction
item donors included Appliance Service Center, Bradley's Barber Shop, Cox
Florist, Al Fritsch, Cox Hardware, D&S Computers, Terrie Curd, Extreme Body
& Health, Green Door Plants, Jack's Hardware, McKinney's Tire & Service,
Mt. Vernon Automotive, Parson's & Associates Dentistry, Peacecraft, Sean
Perry, Thompson's Guitar Shop, Town & Country Chevron, Young's Pharmacy,
and Syl Yunker. Food donors included Carter's Market, Lil's Restaurant
and Sav-a-Lot.
Thanks again for the efforts and generosity of the staff, volunteers, donors
and attendees who made our 2005 River Day a great day on the wild and scenic
Rockcastle River.
River Day 2005 staff and guests
Energy News
ASPI Developing "Renewable Energy Roadshow"
This summer ASPI and the Sustainability and Environmental Studies
(SENS) Program at Berea College are partnering to develop a renewable energy
exhibit that ASPI will use as part of our planned "Renewable Energy Roadshow."
We are fortunate to have the services of Berea College student Dan
Pray, who is interning with ASPI for the summer, with the financial support
of the SENS Program. Dan is a 4th year undergraduate student majoring
in Computer and Information Science. Funding for the construction
of the unit has been provided by the college and the St. Walburg Monastery
Social Needs Fund.
Notes from Dan Pray This summer I have been interning with the Kentucky
Solar Partnership, a project of Appalachia - Science in the Public Interest
(ASPI). My main job is to design and build a mobile renewable energy
exhibit, which will be taken to schools, county fairs, and other public
events to educate the public about renewable energy technologies, along
with energy conservation and efficiency. The exhibit will include
demonstrations of a solar electric system (large enough to power a small-to
medium-size sound system for several hours), a solar water heating system,
and solar ovens. It will also include smaller displays and materials
illustrating hydro, tidal, wind, geothermal, biomass, and hydrogen fuel
cell technologies.
My first month with KSP has been very exciting. Thus far my work has
included researching renewable energy (RE) systems and technologies, visiting
and examining local RE systems, doing hands-on learning with Joshua Bills
(a local solar electric and solar water heater installer), attending RE
workshops in North Carolina and Wisconsin, and sketching potential exhibit
designs. I am also assisting with the preparations for the Solar Water
Heater Installers Training, taking place July 22, 23 in the Berea College
Eco-Village. I am keeping an online journal, which you are welcome
to visit at
http://students.berea.edu/prayj
.
Kentucky Solar Partnership (KSP) Update
Note: KSP Has a New Toll-Free Number - 888-576-6527
Solar Water Heater Project Underway
The Kentucky Solar Partnership's activities this Spring have been focused
on the development of our Solar Water Heater Loan Program and preparations
for a solar water heater installer training, held July 22-23, 2005 in Berea,
Kentucky. The Loan Program is offering loans at a fixed rate of 3%
with a term of six years, to cover the installation costs for solar water
heating systems. Residents of Kentucky's 51 Appalachian counties are
eligible to apply for a loan. Complete information about the loan
program, including the Loan Application and the Site Assessment Form, are
now available on KSP's new website, www.kysolar.org. You can also
learn more by calling KSP toll-free at 888-576-6527.
A key step in our Solar Water Heater
(SWH) Project is training contractors in the design and installation of
these systems. On July 22 and 23, 2005, we hosted our first installer
training at Berea College. Participants learned about the basics of
solar energy, the various types of SWH systems and their components, and
installation techniques. They also learned the details of our loan
program, including the application process and how to conduct solar site
assessments. The training is being provided by John Rees, PE, of the
North Carolina Solar Center and Bill Guiney of Solargenix Energy in Raleigh,
NC. To find out about future workshops and training, please contact
KSP at 888-576-6527.
KSP Website Up and Running -
www.kysolar.org
The Kentucky Solar Partnership's new website was unveiled in June. Our
redesigned website offers complete information about the Solar Water Heater
Loan program, including the Loan Application and associated documents; case
studies of solar energy systems installed in Kentucky; a listing of solar
electric and hot water systems installed in Kentucky since 1999 (if your
solar system is not on the list, please let us know!); and the full text
of The Kentucky Solar Energy Guide, which can be purchased online from ASPI
at www.a-spi.org or downloaded for free.
Other resources available at www.kysolar.org include a listing of energy
conservation programs offered by Kentucky's electric utilities (see below)
and links to a wide range of organizations and websites addressing sustainable
energy issues. Thanks to Dan Pray, Connie Lemley and Dan Bond for
all the work they have put into developing this website.
Report on Energy Conservation Programs Offered by Utilities in KY
Many utilities offer services to their customers to assist them with saving
energy at their home or business. Many of these services are free,
or even provide cash incentives to support energy conservation. These
can include home energy audits, rebates on more energy efficient electric
water heaters, or cash incentives to support home weatherization, to mention
but a few.
ASPI has conducted a review of the energy conservation programs offered
by each of Kentucky's electric utilities, and has summarized those programs
in a report available at www.kysolar.org. To learn what programs are
available from your utility, or to see what other utilities around the state
are doing to support energy conservation, visit www.kysolar.org, and click
on "Resources and Links - Utility Conservation Programs." Your utility
may have programs available that can assist you in lowering your energy
bills and we encourage you to take advantage of them.
KSP Partners with the University of Louisville on Major Solar Energy
Project
KSP has entered into a partnership with the Institute for the Environment
and Sustainable Development (IESD) at the University of Louisville to advance
the use of solar energy in Kentucky. The IESD has received funding
from the US Department of Energy to implement projects that demonstrate
the economic, social, and environmental benefits of solar technologies,
and has invited KSP to participate in the project to provide technical expertise
and organizational support.
The specific projects that will be implemented through this initiative had
not yet been finalized as this newsletter was going to press, but will include
a range of projects demonstrating solar electric, water heating, and daylighting
systems. Demonstration projects will be located in schools and other
public facilities, as well as residential settings throughout the state.
KSP is excited to be involved in this initiative, which is bringing
significant resources into Kentucky to develop the use of solar energy.
Special Events
2005 Bluegrass Energy Expo Just Around the Corner
The 2nd Annual Bluegrass Energy Expo will be held on September 24-25 and
the excitement is building week by week. We are getting about a commitment
a day from exhibitors and educators and it looks as if this year's Expo
will include most of the participants from last year and a large number
of new ones as well.
Once again the Expo is going to attract several renewable energy (RE) exhibitors
from surrounding states such as Advanced Energy Solutions from Illinois,
Third Sun from Ohio, Advanced Thermal Solutions from North Carolina, and
Greasel Conversions from Missouri. Most of the renewable energy dealers
and contractors from Kentucky have committed as well. We have aggressively
pursued RE businesses this year to address the great demand for them as
indicated by the exit survey in 2004. The survey indicated that 56%
of attendees wanted more RE businesses in 2005, vs 42% for the second place
item (educational exhibits).
Most of our educational exhibits will be back for 2005 along with some notable
additions. The largest new exhibit will be the 20 by 40 foot frame
of a Habitat for Humanity (HfH) home that will be constructed jointly by
the Fayette and Madison County HfH chapters. The frame will be built
so that each successive section shows another step in constructing an energy
efficient home, and each section will feature interpretive signage explaining
that step in the construction process. The aim is to educate home
buyers who will then increase the demand for energy efficient housing, as
well as any builders who want to increase the energy efficiency of their
homes and get an edge in the marketplace.
We will also have a full slate of workshops again this year dealing with
topics as diverse as Socially Responsible Investing, RE Systems Under $2,000,
and Addressing Mold in the Home. New for 2005 will be a small wind
workshop and several other new workshops are in the works, to be announced
soon. We are also planning a keynote address and panel discussion
entitled Energy Policy and Climate Change - Seeking Solutions, although
a significant amount of work needs to be done before we can officially announce
it.
If you live in the area, please try to make it to the Expo to show your
support for ASPI, energy conservation, renewable energy and a better future
for all of us. If you don't live close, it would be a good opportunity
to visit the area, attend the Expo, and take side trips to both the horse
farms and the nearby mountains.
National Tour of Solar Buildings
ASPI will once again be hosting a portion of the National Tour of
Solar Buildings. This year's tour will take place on October 1st,
2005, beginning at the ASPI Office in Mt. Vernon, KY. Largely due
to the passage of the 2004 Net-Metering Bill, there are several new solar
installations to chose from this year, so even if you've been on a recent
Tour, you should get to see some new ones this year.
The itinerary has not yet been finalized, but it typically involves about
a 4-5 hour tour of solar buildings in the area, along with expert commentary
and discussion with experienced solar engineer and installer Joshua Bills
and other ASPI staff. Please contact the office to sign up or ask
any questions you may have.
Watershed News
River Sweep, Water Sampling & Lake Linville Work Group
ASPI sponsored a River Sweep in conjunction with Eastern Kentucky PRIDE
and the KY River Authority. It was a great day, with volunteers working
a several mile stretch of the Rockcastle River between Livingston and the
I-75 bridge. We removed 78 tires from automobile-size up through heavy
equipment/tractor size, as well as a washing machine and several smaller
appliances and several bags of small trash. According to co-coordinator
Deb Bledsoe, there are still somewhere between 100 and 150 tires left in
that part of the river, so we have plenty of work for future river sweeps.
The good news was that most of the tires appeared old and weathered,
which indicates that little new illegal tire dumping is taking place in
the river.
Deb also conducted another Upper Cumberland Watershed Watch water sampling
training last week, and we fielded 11 samplers at 17 sites in the Rockcastle
County area. We tested for dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, turbidity,
and other parameters, as well as collecting grab samples for fecal coliform
and e. coli, which went to the lab. Results will be available in about
a month. Meanwhile, May sampling results were generally good, but
we did get some hits for estradiol and atrazines on our Roundstone and Rockcastle
River sites, and found 2,4,D in McHarge Branch which sinks and resurges
after flowing through the Pine Hill Cave system into Roundstone Creek. We
will continue to monitor those sites, with the final round of 2005 sampling
coming in mid-September.
The Lake Linville Sourcewater Protection Work Group is continuing its work,
with educational activities planned for watershed residents. This
project is proving to be every bit the challenge that everyone imagined
going into it. We are finding a fundamental lack of basic knowledge
about watersheds - What they are; How they work; What affects them; and
How to make and keep them healthy. Despite the challenges, we hope
to follow the project through to a successful completion.
2nd River Sweep load of the day -
40 tires from the Rockcastle River
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers Needed for 2005 Bluegrass Energy Expo
The 2005 Bluegrass Energy Expo will be held September 24-25 at
the Lexington Convention Center. This is an opportunity to be a part
of a truly unique event for this part of the country. Volunteers are needed
for the following areas: 1) Helping exhibitors with load-in/load-out; 2)
Working with kids at the Children's Expo; 3) Staffing educational exhibits;
4) General floor help and errand runners; and other needs to be determined.
It takes about 40-50 volunteers working 2 to 6 hour shifts to make
the event successful. Snacks will be provided and we are working on
T-shirts as well (some have been donated and we are looking for more).
Skilled Volunteers Needed for Maintenance Projects
Are you a plumber, electrician, organic gardener or other skilled worker?
The ASPI facilities in Mt. Vernon and on the Rockcastle River are
in need of a little tender loving care. We have a number of small
projects that could use your help. If you are in the area and would
like to volunteer, please contact Deb Bledsoe in our office in Mt. Vernon
and let us know your interests and abilities, and we will match you up with
a job.
Other
Intern Helping with Survey of Local Stakeholders and Workshop Research
One of the main ideas that came out of ASPI’s staff and board retreat was
to survey environmental stakeholders within the Rockcastle River watershed
about their attitudes about ASPI’s work past, present and future, and to
find out what they see as the primary needs of the area and how we might
work with them to address any needs that fall under ASPI’s mission. We
also decided to begin background research this summer for a workshop series
we are planning to begin in 2007.
Anita Goodrich, a second year student at Berea College, is working with
Deb Bledsoe on the survey and using her knowledge of ASPI programming to
devise a curriculum for workshops, lectures and other educational endeavors
to be integrated into current ASPI programs. Anita is a double major
in Sustainability and Environmental Studies, and Sociology. Her internship
runs through August.
Announcing: Kentucky Heartwood Coordinator Job Opening
Kentucky Heartwood is seeking a motivated, self-directed lover of wild forests
to work full-time running the organization's public forest defense campaigns,
coordinating activities with organizations around the country, and administering
to the day-to-day needs of the organization. Work begins January 2006,
with training to begin during Fall of 2005. $1,000/month plus work
expenses. Assistance with housing available. Location flexible.
Application deadline is 7/31/05, or call or contact Perrin ASAP on
receiving this newsletter at (859)253-2697 or
kyheartwood@alltel.net
.
THANKS 4/13/2005 - 7/07/2005 Nancy Jackson, John & Patricia Ball,
Ian Rudick, Steve & Patty Boyce, Sr. Joyce Gros, OP, Leonard Levine, Terrie
Curd, Cindy Kaplan, Mary Cameron Goodwyn, Elizabeth Churchill, Mary Clark,
Sr. Gayle Brabec, Ruth Straus, Ben Perry, Janice Di Mario, Deepak Desai,
Margaret Gorey, David Grandgeorge, Phil Henry, Judson Cramer, James Weber,
Erick Rohr, David & Babette Kern, Hesperia Bevan, Roger L. Frisch, Yvonne
Shilling, Sr.Agnita M. Hill, Roy Bledsoe, Arnold & Kathleen Simonse, Mary
Kelly, Brenda Evans, Kathleen Mourant, Paul & Monique Winther, Judith Sheahan
BVM, Cindy Kaplan, Connie Schmitt, Robert Beaudoin, Colin Raitiere, Casey
Sterr, Bob & Eddie Fields, John & Dorothy Tohill, Leanne Herda, Eric Matchette,
Catherine Cowley, Mimi Porter, Raymond & Mary Barry, James & Hildegard Wachob,
Tom & Carol French-Corbett, Fr. Jim Miller/St.Patrick Parish, Tom DeLaura,
Jim & Heather Bartos, Eric Watson, William Shallenberger, Suzanne Comtois,
Michael Pollett, Patricia Lapp, Greg Reineke, Edward Schumacher, Jeffrey
Waters, Joan Reynolds, Patricia Watlington, Doug Geelhaar, Robert & Debra
Ross, Christine Caldwell, Judith McCandless & Grady Clay, Ralph Dowdy, Donna
Bersken, Katrina Cometa, David & Martha Lester, Community Trust Bank, Citizens
Bank, Ford Bros., Upper Cumberland Watershed Watch, Donald Geiger, Thomas
Campbell, Jack Vetter, Lilian Lawrence, Lee Burton & Roberta Shaw Reeves,
Alan Gamble, Jane Bleuel, Mary Pat Hill, John Jeavons, Mary Davis, Celia
Roberts, Betty Stone, Ruth Fort, Beth Gehred, Mark Morgan, Donna Ford, Rev.
David Twedt, Kris Peterson, Jay Hensley, Guy Maluda, Virginia Greene, Mary
Murray Maloney, Andy & Janet Ingraham Dwyer, Alan Meinert, Leif Hagglund,
Ann Magner, Sr. Francesca Bartos, Kathryn Campbell, S. Cecil Perry, V.L.
Cummings, Frances Main, Sammy Lee, Mr.& Mrs Rodrigo Botero, Rebecca Czarnik,
Tony & Susan Verbalis, Richard & Barbara Blewett, Claire Carpenter, Trish
Pielnik, Shari Coleman, Teresa Petrovic, Jenny Holmes, Pauline Reeser, Bill
Numann, Frank & Barbara Creegan, Brett Kelver, Kevin Millham & Kristin Johannson,
Ron Leeseberg, Timi Reedy & Tammy Clemmons, Anna Mae Riggle, Kentucky Waterways
Alliance, Tobi Underwood.
Wish List:
