HOW?

Talk to your family members, decide on any eight or more of the 17 green actions listed below, and commit to carrying them out in your home. When we receive your commitment card, we’ll give you an attractive YORK GREEN HOME ribbon for your mailbox or lightpost. You’ll be able to recognize other families who share your commitment to “greening” our little part of planet Earth.

Brochures listing these 17 steps are available at Berger’s Bike Shop, Beyond the Sea gift shop, and Fiona’s Porch. The brochures also include the commitment card. After you complete the steps listed and turn in the card at any of these three businesses, they will give you a green ribbon.

Read the related article in the York Weekly, Simple steps to going green in York, written by Ron McAllister.

Steps to making your home GREEN:

1. Recycle. York has curbside pickup. Bins are available at Town Hall for $7.50. Questions? http://www.yorkmaine.org/Departments/PublicWorks/tabid/44/Default.aspx

2. Use energy efficient light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) cut CO2 and your electric light bill by 75%. They also last 5 – 7 years. Place them in the lights you use most often. Available through Efficiencymaine.org or at local hardware stores for a few dollars each.

3. Stop buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water more expensive than gasoline, it is no healthier than tap water — and ends up producing hundreds of millions of plastic bottles every year that are not recycled. Filter pitchers are a fine alternative and much cheaper.

4. Bring tote bags for groceries. Many communities in the US are banning plastic grocery bags because of the damage they create to the environment. Get ahead of the curve and save money by bringing your cloth bags with you to the grocery.

5. Reduce kitchen paper products. Most homes could save several trees and $300-$500 a year by cutting the paper napkin, paper towel, paper plate and cup habit. Cloth napkins, knit dishcloths, real plates and cups can be reused indefinitely – and are more elegant too.

6. Cook healthy meals and eat them together at least twice a week. Too much fast food, junk food, and frozen meals are costing families a fortune and creating major health problems in Maine. Teach your children the art of cooking simple healthy meals that taste better and improve both health and budget. Find ways to strengthen family ties by sharing meals at the table as often as possible. Eating together brings a family closer!

7. Shop locally for food and other necessities. Most food in supermarkets has been transported about 2,000 miles from farm to table, wasting fuel, increasing climate change, and causing produce to be less fresh and tasty. Many locally grown meats, poultry, eggs, vegetables, fruits, and flowers are available through much of the year. Support local farmers and merchants so they can continue to support you. Visit our Farmer’s Markets, join a CSA and buy locally whenever you can.

8. Grow some of your own food. There’s no greater thrill for kids of any age than participating in the mystery of seeds, soil, water, and sun transforming into delicious healthy food. If you don’t have a backyard or container garden yet, your family is missing a lot. Start small and expand gradually. Soon you’ll be freezing and canning your own treasures for delicious meals in the cold of winter. Visit http://www.extension.umaine.edu/gardening.htm for great information.

9. Compost food and plant waste. Uncooked food and yard waste (fruit peels, veggie peels and stalks, salads, coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells, grass clippings, dead leaves) contain rich nutrients that can be reused as fertilizer for next year’s garden instead of wasting them in expensive landfill space or discharging them via garbage disposals into the water supply. Visit http://www.extension.umaine.edu for information.

10. Use natural cleaning products. You’ll be amazed how well simple natural products such as vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice can clean many surfaces in your home – without any of the dangerous toxins in expensive commercial household cleaning products. Google natural home cleaning products.

11. Limit lawn fertilizers and weed killers. Chemical lawn fertilizers and herbicides create havoc when rain washes them into the streams that feed our water supply. Join the trend toward ecologically friendly yard care by finding alternatives to deadly toxins. Visit http://www.extension.umaine.edu for more information.

12. Plant native plants and trees. Plants and trees that started out in our region long ago will usually do better than landscaping materials imported from other regions. Native plants and trees respond better to our climate, need less water and fertilizer, and are usually hardier too. Visit http://www.extension.umaine.edu/gardennews.

13. Put rain barrels under your drainpipes to conserve water and reduce storm water damage. Water and sewer bills are climbing higher. Heavy rains wash soil and toxins into our water supply. Rainwater preserved in barrels is a free way of supplementing watering for flowers and vegetables in your yard. Watch for York’s annual Rain Barrel Sale on YorkGoesGreen.org.

14. Unplug electric appliances when not in use. Experts say that 10% of your electric bill is wasted by appliances like TVs, computers, microwaves, coffee pots when they are not even on. An easy way to save electric energy is to plug these appliances into electric power strips and turn that power strip off when you’re not using them.

15. Reduce heat and air conditioning. Simply reducing winter heat or raising summer air temperature in your home by 2 degrees can save 5 to 10% on your energy bill and help reduce the global climate change caused by wasting the energy generated by fossil fuels. A programmable thermostat can be a great investment too.

16. Give your car a day off. Creative families are cutting pollution and saving money by choosing a day each week when they don’t drive their cars. This practice can carve out precious family time for fun, chores, conversations, physically healthy activities, and more.

17. You name it! Choose another green practice your family will do in your home and tell us about it. Maybe we’ll be able to pass your idea on to others too!

Washington, DC - 06/10/2009 - The number of jobs in America’s emerging clean energy economy grew nearly two and a half times faster than overall jobs between 1998 and 2007, according to a report (PDF) released today by The Pew Charitable Trusts.  Pew developed a clear, data-driven definition of the clean energy economy and conducted the first-ever hard count across all 50 states of the actual jobs, companies and venture capital investments that supply the growing market demand for environmentally friendly products and services.

Pew found that jobs in the clean energy economy grew at a national rate of 9.1 percent, while traditional jobs grew by only 3.7 percent between 1998 and 2007.  There was a similar pattern at the state level, where job growth in the clean energy economy outperformed overall job growth in 38 states and the District of Columbia during the same period.  The report also found that this promising sector is poised to expand significantly, driven by increasing consumer demand, venture capital infusions, and federal and state policy reforms.

Maine only

The report finds that the emerging clean energy economy is creating well-paying jobs in every state for people of all skill levels and educational backgrounds.  Included in Pew’s definition are jobs as diverse as engineers, plumbers, administrative assistants, construction workers, machine setters, marketing consultants, teachers and many others, with annual incomes ranging from $21,000 to $111,000.

In Maine, the growth of clean energy economy jobs was even more dramatic. From 1998 to 2007, green jobs grew by 22.7% compared to a 3.3% increase in jobs overall. See the Maine fact sheet (PDF).

Budget Article #50: $100,000 for alternative energy solutions passed 1,861 to 899

Zoning Article #4: Small windmills passed 2,411 to 357

This is a big deal folks, it means the people of York have spoken, and spoken loudly in favor of these proposals.

Now on to bigger and better things!

Our advertising sign for May vote

However, the flip side of that “good” news is that food and energy prices are now rising again, despite the lagging economy. 

Much of the increase in producer prices in April was the result of a 1.5 percent jump in food prices. Egg prices rose sharply while prices for beef, coffee, vegetables and fresh fruit also increased.

Gasoline prices rose 2.6 percent, reflecting how a plunge in crude oil prices has largely ended after rounds of production cuts by the OPEC cartel and a plateau in demand for oil and gasoline. Crude prices have risen from their recent lows of $33 a barrel to almost $60, and gasoline prices have ticked up to nearly $2.30 a gallon, according to AAA, the automobile club.

Of course, that just means that we all would be wise to continue conserving electricity, gas, heating oil, and other petroleum products as we grow more of our own food and patronize our local farmers. Once again, what is good for our pocketbooks can also be good for the environment.

Here’s the language on the wind ordinance for FRIDAY May 29th

FOUR: The Town hereby ordains amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to allow the installation of Small Windmills, specifically amending; Article Two, Definitions, Article Eighteen, Administration, and creating Article Nine-A, Small Wind.

Statement of Fact: The goal of the amendment is to allow the installation of small windmills for renewable energy generation. Recognizing the importance of allowing citizens to invest in harnessing this abundant and renewable energy source, this amendment establishes a new accessory use of Small Windmills, and establishes the requirements for their installation and operation. This proposal is consistent with current State of Maine energy policy, such as the currently offered tax rebate program for Small Wind projects, and the development of a model wind ordinance for Maine communities. Article Two, Definitions, will be amended to include 4 new definitions. The performance standards of Article 9-A aim to allow this alternative energy source while protecting the surrounding environment in terms of noise, light, visual impact, and safety. Though the Comprehensive Plan does not specifically address alternative energy sources at this time, in its emphasis on conservation of natural resources and efficient delivery of services, this amendment is generally consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. It is not expected to have a significant impact on Town administration.

Planning Board recommends approval (5-0)

Board of Selectmen recommends approval (5-0).

Here is the language from the budget refendum on FRIDAY May 29th:

FIFTY: Shall the Town (1) approve a plan to develop alternative energy solutions for the Town and to create energy conservation projects to help achieve our energy efficiency and conservation goals; (2) appropriate the sum of $100,000 to fund the costs of these projects; and (3) to fund this appropriation, authorize the Treasurer and the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen to issue, at one time or from time to time, general obligation securities of the Town of York, Maine, including temporary notes in anticipation of the sale thereof, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $100,000 with the discretion to fix the date(s), maturity(ies), denomination(s), interest rate(s), place(s) of payment, call(s) for redemption, form(s), and other details of said securities, including execution and delivery of said securities against payment therefore, and to provide for the sale thereof, to be delegated to the Treasurer and the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen?

Statement of Fact: An energy steering committee has been formed to look into various ways to conserve energy within the Town as well as to determine the feasibility of alternative energy solutions and projects to accomplish these goals. Approval of this article would provide funds for the cost of these efforts.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Total Town Indebtedness:

A. Bonds outstanding and unpaid          $ 16,894,000

B. Bonds authorized and unissued          $                 0

C. Bonds to be issued if the Article is approved         $     100,000

Total            $ 16,989,000

Costs:

At an estimated interest rate of 3.50% for a five (5) year maturity, the estimated cost of the bond issue will be

Principal    $     100,000

Interest    $       10,500

Total Debt Service   $     110,500

Total estimated project costs including debt service:            $ 110,500

Validity:  The validity of the bonds and of the voters’ ratification of the bonds may not be affected by any errors in the above estimates.  If the actual amount of the total debt service for the bond issue varies from the estimate, the ratification by the electors is nevertheless conclusive and the validity of the bond issue is not affected by reason of the variance.

s/______________________

Margaret McIntosh

Town Treasurer

Budget Committee recommends approval (7-0)

Board of Selectmen recommends approval (5-0)

Hope to see you there!

Eric