Event Calendar

September 2010
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Ohio wants to dump manure problem on ECI

Muncie Star Press
PORTLAND — Manure applied to farm fields surrounding Grand Lake St. Marys in western Ohio has helped poison the 13,000-acre lake.
And one of the state of Ohio’s solutions — transporting future manure to farm fields outside the watershed, including fields in Indiana — has alarmed some Hoosiers in East Central Indiana…

Barbara Sha Cox of Indiana CAFO Watch called the Ohio EPA’s recommendation “frightening.” “We must expect IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management) to be very proactive because we have so many CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) in Indiana that we do not need to take Ohio’s manure to clean up their watershed,” Cox said. “I don’t think we have the proper regulations, and we already have so much manure brought over from Ohio.”
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NW Ind. group wins grant to improve air quality

The Republic
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — A northwestern Indiana nonprofit has won a $630,000 federal grant to improve southern Lake Michigan’s air quality by retrofitting ships’ engines.
South Shore Clean Cities Inc. will use the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant to update older, diesel-powered ships with more efficient and environmentally friendly technology.
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Scottsburg Energy Project Creating Jobs, Saving Money

InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report
The city of Scottsburg says retrofitting its streetlights is creating up to 50 green jobs. The city is upgrading more than 600 structures with Light Emitting Plasma technology. The city says installation is expected to cut energy use in half and save $70,000 per year.

Stray Light Optical Technology’s CEO, Gerald Rea, also commented, “When we looked for the best light source for this project, LEP was the standout. Beyond the usual benefits we expect, LUXIM’s product also offers integrated motion control and power line networking, which further reduces energy consumption. We’re keenly aware that this project represents a substantial investment by the city of Scottsburg. By partnering with LUXIM, we exceeded the rigorous specs and provided a compelling solution.”
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City Builds on History of Energy Savings with New Green Building Contract

For Immediate Release
August 5, 2010
For more information, please contact:
Jacqui Bauer, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Bloomington, 349.3837, bauerj@bloomington.in.gov
Jared Schlemmer, Assistant Deputy Mayor, City of Bloomington, 349.3406, schlemmj@bloomington.in.gov

Bloomington, IN – The City of Bloomington recently signed a contract with Gengee, LLC, furthering its efforts to green City Hall. The contract continues the City’s series of recent efforts to make City operations more efficient and to take additional steps toward implementation of its Green Building Ordinance, passed in 2009.

“This contract to audit City Hall will be yet another step in increasing efficiency and reducing the cost of City operations,” said Mayor Mark Kruzan. “But it’s not the first step we’ve taken in greening City Hall.”

Low-cost improvements in City Hall’s operating systems made in the last few years by Facilities Manager Barry Collins have reduced electric bills from a range of $11,000-$14,000 per month to just $8,000 per month.

“I just started asking simple questions like, ‘Why are we doing things this way?’” said Collins.

One simple but impactful step Collins took was to install timers on the bank of boilers that heat the City Hall building. The timers avoid peak electric usage, which reduces both the rates the City pays for electricity and overall electricity consumption.

Another easily identified improvement was the recent installation of a moisture sensor on the irrigation system, formerly run by a timer. The new moisture sensor will only trip the system when the soil is dry. At $2,500, the sensor is expected to pay for itself in just three years.

Other measures include installing occupancy sensors in several conference rooms that turn off the lights when the room is unoccupied, and upgrading all incandescent lighting and older-style fluorescent lighting to more efficient fluorescents, which save about 30% of electrical usage. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which use just 10% of the energy used by a fluorescent but are more expensive to purchase, have been installed when the price permits. Facilities staff has also switched to green cleaning products.

Historical preservation is also an important aspect of LEED standards, and one that has not been overlooked when updating the City Hall Building. The building was constructed in 1884 and originally housed Showers Brothers Furniture until the late 1950s. The City of Bloomington moved its facilities to the Showers Building in 1995 and has since made it a priority to keep historical preservation an important aspect of its renovations and updates.

Collins says there is room to save even more, which is where the contract with Gengee comes in.

Gengee, LLC will assess the operations of the City Hall building and identify steps necessary to achieve the green building certification specified by the City ordinance. The Green Building Ordinance requires not only that all new City buildings meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for new construction, but also that existing City buildings achieve a LEED Silver rating.

“We’re excited to work with staff that is so proactive,” said Gengee owner and founder Ted Mendoza. “We’re miles ahead already, but it will be great to see what more we can do.”

Mendoza and his team will work with Collins and his staff to audit the building’s systems—including energy, cleaning, landscaping, waste management, water systems and others.

Based on the audit findings, the team will then initiate an application to LEED’s Existing Building (LEED-EB) program of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).  Once the project is registered with the USGBC, the team will initiate a series of upgrades to achieve a Silver rating – the third-highest tier in the USGBC’s four-tier rating system – for the building.

The City’s auditing efforts will eventually extend to other City-owned buildings as well, but like City Hall, many improvements are already in progress. For example, the Street Department and Fire Department have improved insulation, Animal Control has upgraded its heating/cooling system, and the Sanitation Garage installed a new ventilation system. Further, the newly acquired Twin Lakes Recreation Center is slated to install a new HVAC system and new lighting.

Sustainability Coordinator Jacqui Bauer is happy about the measures underway and what they mean to the City as well as the community. “These efforts save money and resources, but we also hope they set an example for the broader community that simple efforts can make a large impact.”

For more information about the City’s green efforts, contact Jacqui Bauer at 349-3837 or bauerj@bloomington.in.gov.

Indiana Energy Conservation Challenge Launched

Program makes $400,000 Available to Nonprofits for Energy Efficiency Upgrade Projects

For Immediate Release
Media Contact:  Eric Burch, 317-232-8944, eburch@oed.IN.gov

(Indianapolis)—Lt. Governor Becky Skillman has announced the Community Conservation Challenge.  This program will make grants from $50,000 to $100,000 to nonprofit groups for community scale energy efficiency projects.  The competitive grant program opens August 4, 2010 and applications must be submitted by October 1, 2010.

“When people in a community come together, good things are going to happen, “said Lt. Governor Becky Skillman.  “The Community Conservation Challenge will help bring Hoosiers together to create lasting energy efficiency in their own neighborhoods.”

Winning projects are expected to result in significant energy conservation, have broad community support, leverage funds, and be highly visible.  While applicants must be nonprofit organizations, collaborations with both public and private entities are encouraged.  Projects may include retrofits of private and nonprofit buildings, institutions, and healthcare facilities.

The grants require a 50% cost match on the part of the applicant, but that cost share may include in-kind contributions.  Eligible technologies may include, but are not limited to HVAC, lighting, windows, doors, green roofs, insulation, and other commercially-available energy conservation technologies.

Initial funding for the program is from federal funds being administered through the Indiana Office of Energy Development (OED).

“It’s important for these projects to have broad community support,” said Brandon Seitz, OED Director. “Without the community support that will sustain the initiative over time, even the best concept won’t be successful.”

The Community Conservation Challenge will have $400,000 available at launch.  It’s anticipated this program will fund anywhere from 5-8 large energy efficiency retrofit projects.  Nonprofit agencies that are interested in the Challenge must apply online.  Program guidelines including eligibility requirements are also available online at http://www.energy.in.gov.

GOING LOCAL WEEK 2010 Encourages Hoosiers to discover, celebrate and savor the abundance of Indiana’s local foods

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jeannie Keating (m) 317-696-9695 or jkeating@isda.in.gov
August 9, 2010

GOING LOCAL Week 2010 will be celebrated in the Hoosier state from Sunday, September 5 through Saturday, September 11, 2010. It is a one week “challenge” to Indiana citizens to eat at least one Indiana locally grown or produced food at each meal during the seven day event.

The objectives of GOING LOCAL Week are to:

  • Create an appreciation for the abundance and diversity of the Indiana food shed.
  • Make Indiana citizens more aware of the availability of local foods in their own communities.
  • Provide support and recognition for Indiana local food producers.
  • Increase Indiana residents’ consumption of locally grown/produced foods in a long-term effort to encourage them to regularly purchase more locally produced items for their weekly meals so that the consumption of Indiana locally grown and produced foods will become the norm, not a novelty at Hoosier dinner tables across the state.

“I encourage everyone to take part in GOING LOCAL WEEK,” said Lt. Governor Becky Skillman. “If you don’t already, visit a local farmers’ market this week and buy local grown produce and meats – or try Indiana Artisan special creations such as hot sauces, delicious baked goods or Indiana wines. I have traveled and enjoyed these different local foods all across our state. I am so proud of our Hoosier producers and the high-quality, delicious foods they offer each community.”

GOING LOCAL Week was created in 2008 by Indiana local food blogger, Victoria Wesseler, who authors the GOING LOCAL site (www.goinglocal-info.com).  She notes, “If half the families in Indiana shifted $6.25 of their current weekly food budget to the purchase of Indiana grown or produced local food this effort would provide an annual contribution of $300 million into the local Indiana economy. Is this impressive? Yes, but that’s not the final number. Studies consistently show that a dollar spent locally will multiply itself by 3 to 5 times making the actual economic impact of that one dollar in the local community where it was spent far greater than a buck. Initially it may be impossible to believe but, with a subtle shift in our food spending habits, we can make a $900 million to $1.5 billion economic impact on Indiana in one year.”

According to the GOING LOCAL Week event supporters, when you buy local food, you are making a conscious choice to better your families’ eating habits, protect the environment, and improve the local rural economy.

Where should you go for more information? One option is the Indiana Farmers’ Market, U-Pick and Agritourism Directory (www.in.gov/isda).  This was developed by Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), in partnership with the Indiana Office of Tourism Development (Tourism), to help consumers and tourists find a agricultural destinations to enjoy a day with the family and make a difference.

What can someone do for GOING LOCAL Week?

  • Do some of your weekly shopping at local farmers’ markets, farm stands, and farm markets.
  • Bring in fresh Indiana fruit for the staff instead of pastries during the week.
  • Have an in-office potluck lunch where everyone brings in something they’ve made with a local ingredient.
  • Go out to an after-work “happy hour” at a local winery.
  • Dine out at a restaurant featuring locally produced food items.
  • Visit an orchard or U-Pick and harvest your own produce.
  • Ask your local market if they sell locally grown food. Find restaurants that do the same. Support these establishments.
  • Participate in a CSA.
  • Take a farm tour in your area.
  • Research special foods that may be local to your area and seek them out.
  • Take a cooking or food preservation class which features local foods.
  • Encourage others to join you in this effort during GOING LOCAL Week. Host a pitch-in picnic or covered dish party and ask everyone to bring something made with local ingredients. Spend the evening talking about the food’s origins and learning about what’s available in your area.
  • For more ideas about how to celebrate GOING LOCAL WEEK or information about Indiana local food and producers, visit the GOING LOCAL site at www.goinglocal-info.com.

This year the GOING LOCAL Week Planning Committee added members from Purdue University, Indiana Living Green Magazine and the Indiana Wine Grape Council. Members of the Committee are:

Roy Ballard, Purdue University, Indiana SARE Coordinator, Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural    Resources, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, http://www.extension.purdue.edu/hancock/
Brian Blackford, Communications and Outreach Director, Indiana Department of Tourism, www.VisitIndiana.com
Conner Burt, Undergraduate Student, Butler University
Thom England, Culinary Arts Instructor, IVY Tech Culinary Program and Slow Food Indy, www.ivytech.edu , www.slowfoodindy.com
Christina Ferroli, Purdue University,  PhD, RD, Consumer and Family Sciences, Foods & Nutrition  Department, Extension Educator, www.extension.purdue.edu/marion
Eric Freeman, Project Manager, Indiana Artisan Program, www.in.gov/indianaartisan
Todd Jameson, Balanced Harvest Farm and Slow Food Indy, www.balancedharvest.com , www.slowfoodindy.com
Lynn Jenkins, Publisher, Indiana Living Green Magazine, www.indianalivinggreen.com
Jeanette Merritt, Marketing Director, Indiana Wine Grape Council, www.indianawines.org
Kris Parker, Economic & Community, Purdue Extension, Porter County, www.extension.purdue.edu
Jeanette Renshaw, Undergraduate Student, DePauw University
Ann Schmelzer, Program Manager for Regional Development, Indiana Department of Agriculture, www.in.gov/isda
Kristen Fuhs Wells, Indiana Humanities Council, www.indianahumanities.org
Victoria Wesseler, site creator and author, GOING LOCAL, www.goinglocal-info.com
Sarah Yeager, Education and Training Director, Building Better Communities at Ball State University, http://cms.bsu.edu/About/AdministrativeOffices/BBC

Information about Indiana food and producers, listings of local food events and farm tours, as well as recipes featuring Indiana’s fresh, local, and in-season foods can be found on the GOING LOCAL site (www.goinglocal-info.com).

Logansport mayor, local labor leader, Indiana businesses urge Senate to get the job done on climate and energy legislation that will grow jobs in the Hoosier state

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Aug. 10, 2010
CONTACT:  Tina Noel, 317.709.3103

(Logansport, Ind.) — Local government, labor and business leaders from Indiana gathered in Logansport today to urge the U.S. Senate to move forward with comprehensive climate and energy policy.
These leaders were spurred to speak out about the need for national climate and energy policy, after the Senate failed to act on such legislation prior to departing for their August recess.
“One thing is clear: the Senate’s job is not done,” said Logansport Mayor Mike Fincher.  “The Senate and the Obama Administration must use every opportunity available to address clean energy and climate reform by working to limit carbon pollution and invest in new clean energy sources that are made in America.”

“Building a clean energy economy — where the parts for technologies like wind and solar are built here in Indiana, where our homes are weatherized and our commercial buildings are retrofitted to be more efficient, and where we are educating the next generation of clean energy workers — will revitalize our economy, particularly in manufacturing and construction,” said Becky Hanawalt, president of Steelworkers Local 4863 in Logansport.  “However, without a clear, long-term plan in place, we are missing out on a lot of these opportunities.  This plan is what our Senators should be addressing.”

Recent economic analysis by leading U.S. academic institutions finds that comprehensive, forward-looking federal climate and energy policy could create up to 45,000 jobs in Indiana, increase household incomes by $1,200 and grow the state economy by $2.5 billion.
“We need strong energy and climate legislation that will create thousands of new jobs in Indiana by providing market certainty and enabling a transition to a new energy economy,” said Brandon Pitcher, creative systems officer for 5 Kingdoms Development in Kokomo and a member of Indiana Businesses for a Clean Energy Economy (IBCEE).  “By sending the right market signal, Congress can unlock investments in new energy innovations and drive growth allowing business leaders to expand operations and create new jobs right here in Indiana that are currently blossoming abroad.”

“American businesses have a history of leadership and innovation but are falling behind in global competition for clean energy technologies,” said Lee Scheidler, owner of Logansport’s Springcreek Landscaping & Nursery, Inc.
“Thousands of business owners and workers recognize that unless we move quickly, we risk losing the race toward a new energy economy. With a highly skilled and educated workforce, we Hoosiers are ready to restore our technological edge in a new energy economy,” added Lee Scheidler, also owner of Springcreek Landscaping & Nursery.
A bi‐partisan poll conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and American Viewpoint found that 61 percent of small business owners agree that moving the country to clean energy is a way to restart the economy and help small businesses create jobs.

“For six administrations, Congress has only addressed energy policy reform through campaign speeches,” said Larry Crane, an IBCEE member who owns Crane Builders, which is involved in green building projects all over the state.  “The U.S. Senate is shackled by the influence of energy corporations.  We must break free of this and act to pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation.  We need this legislation to retain U.S. economic freedom while providing a stage for leadership and jobs in a non-combustion world.
“Future generations will benefit by having clean air, along with energy funds they control,” added Crane.

City of Greencastle is a finalist for National League of Cities’ 2010 Awards for Municipal Excellence

City’s innovative sustainability initiative is among top municipal programs in the nation

Beck Communications Group
Monday, August 16, 2010
(Greencastle, Ind). – The City of Greencastle announced today that it is one of 45 finalists for the National League of Cities’ (NLC) 2010 Awards for Municipal Excellence.  The awards recognize cities and towns for outstanding programs that improve the quality of life in America’s communities. Greencastle was selected for its work to develop and implement the initiatives of the Greencastle Sustainability Commission.

“We are so honored to be selected as a finalist for 2010 Awards for Municipal Excellence,” said Mayor Sue Murray.  “This recognition is a reflection of not just our community’s strong commitment to sustainability, but how we have been able to foster creative partnerships in tough economic times, ultimately moving our community forward.”

NLC received nominations from cities and towns in 40 states.  Finalist programs exhibited exceptional public-private partnerships, productive citizen and community collaborations, management of municipal resources, implementation of government policies, project implementation with tangible results and/or the ability to replicate the project in other cities.

The Greencastle Sustainability Committee was formed in late 2008 when more than 100 broadly represented citizens met together to develop environmental solutions to strengthen the community’s economy, culture and quality of life.  The City Council then passed an ordinance in May of 2009 establishing a Commission on Sustainability as a part of local government.  While Greencastle has had a solid record on environmental progress, these grassroots efforts have led to the following accomplishments at minimal cost to the taxpayer:

·         Greencastle became the first city in Indiana to put decorative LED street lights in its downtown.
·         Local hunters, farmers and meat processors donated more than 3,000 pounds of ground venison to support the community’s Local Food for Neighbors in Need initiative.

  • The City is currently building a new pathway and connector trails that will allow a walking school bus to debut in the coming months.
  • DePauw University’s “move out” days at the end of the academic year recycles gently used furniture and goods to the community, rather than adding to the landfill.
  • The City partnered with Duke Energy to offer an energy conservation challenge to community schools.  The winning school – Deer Meadow – decreased its energy use by 17.7 percent in the coldest winter months of 2010.
  • The local Chamber of Commerce has initiated an aggressive “Buy Local” campaign to support local business and save energy.
  • The Farmer’s Market has expanded, and some vendors have experienced a 300 percent increase in revenues.

“We are pleased that Greencastle is a finalist for our Awards for Municipal Excellence,” said Donald J. Borut, NLC’s Executive Director.  “This shows that even at a time when so many cities are struggling financially, cities and towns continue to develop the most creative and innovative solutions.”

The City of Greencastle and the other finalists will move into the last round of consideration for the awards to determine the winners.  The winners of the 2010 Awards for Municipal Excellence will be announced during NLC’s Congress of Cities and Exposition in Denver, Colo., November 30 – December 4, 2010.  To learn more, please visit www.nlc.org/ame.aspx.
The City of Greencastle is a vibrant community of 10,000 in Central Indiana.  Located within an hour of Indianapolis, Lafayette, Bloomington and Terre Haute, the city is home to a diverse mix of businesses, educational opportunities, parks and pathways.

The National League of Cities is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.

Contact: Lara Beck
Beck Communications Group
5448 University Ave.
Indianapolis, Indiana  46219
(317) 351-0286 (office)
(317) 727-0016 (mobile)

IDEM fielding grant applications for clean diesel projects

NWTimes.com
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is soliciting clean diesel projects around the state to receive federal grant dollars.
The total estimated funding for competitive grants through IDEM’s DieselWise program is more than $750,000. Individual grants will range from $25,000 to $250,000, subject to availability of funds and quality of proposals received.
For your information

More information on how to send a grant application to IDEM can be found at http://www.in.gov/idem/files/air_dieselwise_grant_solicitation.pdf.
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New Lab Helps Students Learn About Alternative Energy

Indianasnewscenter by Scott Sarvay
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana’s NewsCenter) - Indiana Tech and Steel Dynamics Incorporated officials joined together to celebrate the dedication of the Steel Dynamics Energy Engineering Laboratory.

A gift of $300,000 from the Steel Dynamics Foundation, provided funds to equip the state-of-the-art energy engineering lab at Indiana Tech’s Fort Wayne campus.
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