Jan/Feb 2009 - Indiana Living Green

TABLE OF CONTENTS :

I N D I A N A L I V I N G G R E E Nis published bimonthly and is printed on

recycled paper with soy-based inks.

© 2009 by Indiana Living Green, Inc.Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

P U B L I S H E RLynn Jenkins

[email protected](317) 769-3456

E D I TO RJo Ellen Meyers Sharp

[email protected]

C O N T R I B U TO R SMary Ellen Gadski

tom mcCainWenona Napolitano

Marianne PetersBetsy Sheldon

Jennifer StreisandMaria Smietana

C O P Y E D I TO RJoseph L. Bennett

S A L E [email protected]

(317) 769-3456

G R A P H I C D E S I G NPaul Wilson Design(317) 624-9900

W E B D E S I G NMargaret Hsu Stout

[email protected]

P R I N T I N GThe Papers

Milford, Indiana

S U B S C R I P T I O N S$18, six issues

Indiana Living Green1730 S. 950 E.

Zionsville, IN 46077

C I R C U L AT I O N25,000

Indiana Living Green January/February 2009 1

D R A W N C O N C L U S I O N S

ENERGY

• Wind power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8• Utilities‘ green energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24FAMILY/HOME/EDUCATION

• Art - ReUse/ReOrder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12• Green wedding options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16TRAVEL/TRANSPORTATION

• No idling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6FEATURES

• Book Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28• Green Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• Green Finds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30• Green, Greener, Greenest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• Leader of the Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4• Green Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5• News Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31• Publisher’s Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3• Rants & Raves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3• The Last Row . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Take a few minutes to tell us about yourself. Please fill out our readershipsurvey on page 15 or on the ILG Web site.

GREENEST1. Park and go inside, rather than use fastfood and other drive-through lanes.

2. Register and attend Conservation Dayat the Statehouse Jan. 27. Contactyour legislators about greening upIndiana.

3. Consider the options for sustainable,high-efficiency heating – geo-thermalor solar – when you next upgrade yoursystem.

GREEN1. Don’t let the car warm up on coldmornings. Newer engines don’t needthe long warm-ups that older cars did.

2. Learn the reasons behind green actionsand adopt more sustainable habits.

3. Use a programmable thermostat tokeep the home more energy-efficient.Wear wool sweaters and socks; useelectric blankets or drink a cup of hottea or chocolate to combat a chillrather than turning up the heat.

GREENER1. Encourage others to eliminate idling toconserve fuel and keep the air clean.Check with your child’s school to see ifit has a no-idle policy.

2. Support businesses that are proud toshow their green side.

3. Have a home energy audit. And followthrough with the recommendations totighten up your home.

T H E GREEN C A L E N D A RVISIT www.IndianaLivingGreen.com FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE CALENDAR!

2 www.IndianaLivingGreen.com

ON THE COVER: Wind energy picks up legislativeand public interest in Indiana. See page 8.

© iStock

JANUARY 200910 Eagle Watch 2009, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Patoka Lake Visitor Center, Birdseye. Indoor and outdoor

programs. Pre-registration required. Fee: $5. • Info: (812) 685-2447.

12-14 The Power of Conservation: Building a Sustainable Future, Hyatt Regency Indianapolis, IndianaAssociation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Annual Conference. • Info: www.iaswcd.org

17 Indiana Organic Gardener’s Association Quarterly Meeting, 11 a.m., Zionsville Library, 250 N.5th St. Member presentation of visits to European organic farms. Pitch-in lunch; bring own tableservice and drink. Public welcome. • Info: (317) 758-4789 or www.gardeningnaturally.org

MLK Fest, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Christian Theological Seminary, 1000 W. 42nd St.,Indianapolis. Peace Learning Center's 11th annual event features music, theater,art and poetry workshops, plus African drumming and more than 25 communitybooths. • Info: (317) 327-7144 or [email protected]

24 (Through March 28) Bloomington Winter Farmers' Market, 9 a.m. to noon, Harmony SchoolGym, 2nd Street and Woodlawn Avenue. Indoor market features live music, chef demonstrationsand breakfast. • Info: www.localgrowers.org

25 Slow Food Indy Annual Meeting, Normandy Barn, Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St.Delegates to Terra Madre in Torino, Italy, will speak about how their experiences will impact centralIndiana. • Info: (317) 921-4619 or www.slowfoodindy.com or [email protected]

26 Prairie Wildflowers at Clegg Gardens, 7 p.m., Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society’s WestCentral meeting, Lilly Nature Center in Celery Bog Nature Area, West Lafayette. A presentationby Jim Peterson, manager of Clegg Gardens. Open to the public. • Info: (765) 583-2275 [email protected]

27 Conservation Day at the Statehouse, Indianapolis. Sponsored by theIndiana Conservation Alliance, a statewide network of more than 30nonprofits presents a unified voice for the protection and wise use ofnatural resources. Free, but please register: www.nature.org/indiana orcall (317) 951-8818.

29-31 Protecting Indiana's Aquatic Resources, Sheraton Indianapolis CityCenter Hotel, Indianapolis. Joint meeting of the Indiana Chapterof the American Fisheries Society and Indiana Lake ManagementSociety. • Info: [email protected] or www.indianalakes.org

FEBRUARY 20096-8 Eagle Watch Weekend, Lake Monroe, Chapman Restaurant,

Bloomington. • Info: www.eaglesatlakemonroe.com

Eagle in Flight Weekend, Turkey Run State Park and Inn,Marshall. Birds of prey. • Info: (877) 500-6151.

10 Green Drinks Indy, 5:30 p.m., Deano's Vino, 1112 Shelby St., Indianapolis.Public invited. Indiana Recycling Coalition presentation. Everyone welcome.• Info: www.greendrinks.org or [email protected]

Please submit calendar items by visiting our Web site:www.IndianaLivingGreen.com or e-mail [email protected]

Indiana Living Greenoffers ways for YOU tomake a difference.

©iStock

© iStock

Help the economy: Buy localHow telling that it took a severe economic crisis

to stop business as usual. All the calls for change

fell mostly on deaf ears until the checkbooks of big

businesses were touched. At ILG we feel the hit,

just as many businesses have, but only the AIGs

and GMCs get public and congressional attention.

Like many, we are looking for ways to stretch our budgets and trim

expenses, hoping to hold our own till things turn.

When your own personal budgettightens, please spend wisely, supportingthose businesses you want to survivethese rough times. Shop our advertisersand local businesses. Let themknow you appreciate their effortsto make our state green. Buying localis a central principle of sustainabilityand economic security. Cost and conven-ience are not the definitive considera-tions, since often, it may be less handy tomake extra stops to purchase from localproducers and retailers. But when dollarsare short, keep them close at hand ratherthan sending them across the country, orworse, across the world. Support greenbusinesses that care about the triplebottom line — people, planet, and profit— which locally includes you AND theenvironment.

Encourage a greener, cleaner Indianaby attending Conservation Day at theStatehouse on Jan. 27. Stand withhundreds of other Hoosiers to tell ourlegislators that we do not considerclean water, clean air and our naturalresources as “chopping block” material.Coordinated by the Indiana Conser-vation Alliance, a coalition of about 30non-profit organizations, Conservation

Please send your Rants&Raves to:[email protected]: (317) 251.8545Indiana Living Green1730 S. 950 E.Zionsville, IN. 46077


Dear ILG:Undoubtedly Mr. (Mark) Finch did his

research well (Food vs. Fuel, November/December 2008), but he needs to get hisnose out of the propaganda long enoughto take a ride in my part of the country.He would discover that the farmers in EastCentral Indiana are doing the same thingthey've always done, namely rotating cornand soybeans from year to year becausethat's what replenishes the soil and is ahedge against one or the other crop tank-ing on price.

It's also hard to imagine that anyonewho drives a Mercedes is credible when itcomes to writing about farming. Now ifhe owned a bug-eyed Sprite, that wouldbe a different story!

Stephen J. Cooper, Upland

Mark responds: While the farmers inMr. Cooper's neck of the woods may berotating their crops as usual, the prices ofother grains have, in fact, been pushedup nationwide as growers decide to plantmore corn. Not to cause Mr. Cooper oranyone else alarm, but recent news storieshave even raised the specter of a possibleincrease in beer prices as a result ofsmaller harvests of barley and wheat. Andas a matter of fact, I do own a bug-eyedSprite — so there!

Oops!In “Guilt-Free Diapers” (September/October2008), an incorrect Web site was givenfor Green Mountain Diapers. The correctURL is: www.greenmountaindiapers.com

RANTS ANDRAVESLETTERS FROM OUR READERS

Day has made a powerful statement sinceits inception just a few years ago. Innumbers, our concerns are better heard.For more information, visit the ILG Website. See you at the Statehouse!

LYNN JENKINS

Stand with hundredsof other Hoosiers to tellour legislators that we donot consider clean water,clean air and our naturalresources as “choppingblock” material.

GREENGreetings! Lynn Jenkins,Publisher

“ This saves us money, improves airquality, helps toward energy independ-ence—and positions city employees toset an example,” says Brainard.

decreased fuel consumption by 24,000gallons per roundabout per year.

Thanks to Brainard’s efforts, Carmelreceived a first place Climate ProtectionAward from the United StatesConference of Mayors in 2008. Themayor serves as co-chair of the organiza-tion’s Task Force on Climate Protection.The city was national runner-up of TheHome Depot Awards of Excellence inCommunity Trees.

The Republican mayor has initiatedother programs, such as testing windpower and fueling the wastewater treat-ment plant with recaptured methane gas.And Carmel has turned an expense —$300,000 a year to dump sewage sludgeinto a landfill — into a potential asset:The facility converts the sludge into richtopsoil and plans to package and sell theproduct.

Plants that grew in the topsoil in themayor’s garden are “definitely muchlarger and healthier than the others.”

“We all know we’re not going to fixglobal warming with one thing. But amulti-faceted approach brings bigchange, little by little,” Brainard says. �

Betsy Sheldon has done her best to makea career out of vacationing. The bookauthor, magazine editor and contributor totravel and lifestyle publications has beenwriting about travel since living in Israelas a young adult. Now, as an old(er) adult,she's rediscovering familiar destinationsthrough green lenses.

It’s no accidentthat Carmel Mayor

Jim Brainard’s commitment tosustainability begins where the rubbermeets the road.

“The typical suburban Americanmakes 11 trips a day at an average of 9miles a trip,” says the city’s four-termmayor. “By designing cities the way wedid years ago, we help make the averagecar trip shorter and less frequent.”

In Carmel, retro urban design hasresulted in development of a walk-to citycenter and a hike/bike path that connectsmany neighborhoods to shopping andentertainment. Executive orders havemandated use of hybrid or flex-fuel vehi-cles for municipal operations, whenavailable, and banned idling by the city’s400-plus vehicles. “This saves us money,improves air quality, helps toward energyindependence—and positions city employ-ees to set an example,” says Brainard.(Please see No Idling on page 6.)

The mayor’s roundabout initiative,which resulted in more than 50 circularintersections throughout Carmel, hasearned the city national recognition, hasreduced accidents by 80 percent and

More than idle talk

Leader of the Green provides snapshots of Hoosiers who embrace, promote andfoster a sustainable lifestyle. If you have someone to recommend, please e-mail:[email protected]

SUBMISSIONS

LEADER OF THE GREEN BY B E T S Y SHE LDON


The Japanese Gardenat Carmel City Hall.


B U I L D I N GArchitects propose greening

up the White House

Washington, D.C. — The American Instituteof Architects has offered to help President-elect Barack Obama advance his goals ofpromoting green buildings and focusing onthe needs of urban areas.

The AIA has recommended that a high-level adviser on green buildings be a partof the White House team to coordinateexecutive branch activities and to promotethese issues to the public.

The 150-year-old professional organiza-tion has offered to assist in the developmentof a White House Office of Urban Policy thatwould be focused on infrastructure. And, theAIA would like to work with the administra-tion to develop plans to make the WhiteHouse an international model of energyefficiency. For more information:

www.aia.org/walkthewalk

E N E R G YIndiana hits ‘Dirty Dozen’ list

Washington, D.C. — Indiana landed on theDirty Dozen list of states with the highestmercury emissions, most of which come fromcoal-fired power plants. The report from theEnvironmental Integrity Project, a non-parti-san, not-for-profit think tank, rates thepower plants in terms of both sheer mercurypollution and mercury pollution adjusted perkilowatt-hour.

The 12 states with the most plants in thetop 50 in terms of mercury pollution areTexas, with seven, including half of the 10worst; Pennsylvania, five; Alabama, four,including the worst plant and also two of the10 worst; Georgia, four, including one of the10 worst; Ohio, Indiana and North Dakota,

three each; Missouri, two, with one of the fiveworst; Kansas, North Carolina, Wisconsin andArkansas, two each. Minnesota was uniquebecause it has one of the 10 worst plants, butno second plant among the 50 worst.

The three Indiana power plants cited in thestudy: IPL in Pike County, NiSource in JasperCounty and Indiana Kentucky Electric Corp. inJefferson County. For the full report:

www.environmentalintegrity.org/pub566.cfm

Indy ranks 46th in oil preparedness

San Francisco — Indianapolis ranked 46th ina new study of the largest 50 U.S. cities andtheir readiness to face an oil crisis in terms ofthe alternatives they provide to oil dependence.

At the bottom of the ranking areurban areas that largely lack public transit,telecommuting and walking or bikingcommute options. The top three ranked citieswere San Francisco, New York and Washington.

The study, conducted by Common Currentconsulting firm in Anselmo, Calif., comes inthe wake of the housing foreclosure crisis,which originated in the completely auto-dependent outer edges of many of the nation’smetro areas. Record summer gasoline pricesand widespread shortages that hit cities inthe Southeast made for a potent combinationthe nation can ill-afford again to faceunprepared. To read the full report:

www.commoncurrent.com/publications

E N V I R O N M E N TBrita launches filter recycling program

Oakland, Calif. — In January 2009, Brita willlaunch a recycling program for its pitcherfilters. In a partnership with Preserve, a brandof 100 percent recycled household consumerproducts, made by Recycline, the filters will beturned into toothbrushes, cups, cutting boardsand other goods.

The No. 5 polypropylene plastic from thefilter casing will be used by Preserve in its lineof products. The filter ingredients — activatedcarbon and ion-exchange resin — will be regen-erated for alternative use or converted intoenergy. Preserve goods made in part from Brita

filters will be available at leading retailers,allowing consumers to purchase new sustain-able products they helped create.

Under the Preserve Gimme 5 program,select Whole Foods Market stores will begincollecting No. 5 plastics and used Britapitcher filters. Consumers can drop off theirused, dry Brita pitcher filters at participatingstores or mail them directly to Preserve.Full details and instructions on both options,including a complete list of Gimme 5 stores,are available at www.brita.com

Nature center opens at Marian College

Indianapolis — Marian College has openedthe Nina Mason Pulliam Nature Center,a companion space to the popular EcoLab,a wetland area at Riverdale, the school’shistoric landscape.

The center occupies the former indoorswimming pool area in the basement ofAllison Mansion, which is adjacent to EcoLab.The center allows for the accommodationof many more students, scientists and otherresearchers, said David Benson, a biologyprofessor and director of EcoLab.

It will serve as a gathering place forEcoLab programs and as a place for lunchor breaks. In bad weather, students canparticipate in videoconference programs,interact with mobile exhibits and conducthands-on experiments.

The major renovations are completed.Work will continue on the steps, brickworkand other areas throughout the school year.The new nature center is funded by a$550,000 gift from the Nina Mason PulliamCharitable Trust. For more information:

http://wetland.marian.edu

For the latest news about green living, visit: www.IndianaLivingGreen.comSubmit your news items with high-resolution images to: [email protected]

GREEN N E W S B R I E F S

©LynneArrow

smith/MarianCollege

©iStock

Cool Your JetsB Y M A R I A N N E P E T E R S

Do you sit at the drive-through with your engine running, even thoughthe line isn’t moving? Does your car idle in the school pick-up lane?Do you warm up your car for fifteen minutes on chilly mornings becauseyou just can’t stand to sit on a cold car seat? A warm car is comfortable,but consider these facts:


Idle no longerEngines used to benefit from idling.

But with today’s technology, driving avehicle is the best way to warm it up,even in winter. Prolonged idling caneventually damage cylinders, spark plugsand exhaust system components becausean idling engine is not working at peaktemperature. The fuel doesn’t burnefficiently, causing build-up.

Turning the engine on and offdoesn’t wear out the starter or burnmore fuel. Those are myths: Idling morethan 10 seconds uses more fuel thanrestarting the engine. Idling wastes fueland money, and it also causesfine-particle pollution, which is emittedfrom car and truck exhaust, industrialsites, dirt, dust, smoke, road salt and

other sources. Fine particles embed deepin the lungs, causing not only asthma,but also other breathing difficulties,particularly for the very young and theelderly.

Schools take leadSchool grounds are some of the most

polluted areas in the country as vehiclesline up to transport kids. Research linkshigh pollution levels at schools withincreased absenteeism and lower aca-demic performance. However, schooldistricts throughout Indiana are takingsteps to improve their air quality.

Plymouth School Corporation inMarshall County, located in northcentral Indiana, instituted a bus idlingpolicy in 2008. Rick Scott, director of

transportation, says fuel costs were afactor, as well as health concerns. Thebus drivers were open to the idea.“There was some concern about keepingthe buses warm on cold days,” he said.“But with today’s diesel engines, three tofive minutes is sufficient for a warm-up.”

Douglas MacArthur Elementary inIndianapolis’ Perry Township has notonly made its grounds a no-idle zone,but it also monitors overall air quality.Science students in teacher CherieRamos’ fourth-grade class check theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency-sponsored Web site www.airnow.govevery day for the local air quality rating.They record what they find and reportit to the school nurse who may havechildren with asthma to treat. Finally,the students display a flag that indicatesthat day’s rating. The flags, providedby Improving Kids’ Environment, anIndianapolis-based non-profit, matchthe colors used on the EPA Web site.

“This is the easiest program I haveever initiated,” Principal Stephen Craigsays. “I spent $200 on a nice flagpole —that’s it!” He’s convinced that it’s havingan impact on the kids through aware-

• An idling engine gets zero miles to the gallon. For every two minutesa vehicle idles, it burns the amount of fuel it takes to drive one mile.

• The average person idles his or her engine five to 10 minutes a day.In this era of fluctuating pump prices and low air quality, who canafford to burn that much gas and not get anywhere?

©iStock


ness and, more immediately, their health.Boys and girls with asthma tell Craigthey are no longer afraid to go outsidefor recess; on green days, there’s lesspollution to trigger an attack.

Other organizations, communitiesand corporations also have taken actionagainst unnecessary idling. For instance,in Bloomington, Indiana University hasordered drivers to turn off shuttle busengines if idling three minutes or more.Last summer, Carmel instituted a no-idlepolicy for city vehicles. The City ofIndianapolis also is investigating ano-idle policy for municipal vehicles.

What you can doWant to get out of the

idling habit? Here’s how:

• Avoid drive-throughs.It’s usually just as quickto go inside and takecare of your business.

• If you have to wait inline, turn off your engineif it looks like it mighttake a while.

• Turn off your engine onschool grounds. Insteadof staying in your car, hop out andmeet your child at the door.

• Don’t warm up your car. We oftenunder-dress for the weather, relyingon our car heaters to keep us toasty.Dress in warm layers appropriatefor the temperature and weatherconditions.

• The best solution for the planet?Find alternative transportation.Instead of a car, walk or ride abicycle to your destination if youcan, use public transportationor carpool. �

Dirty business — An idling bus emits a lot of grit,grime and other pollutants.

RESOURCES:

• Air Now www.airnow.gov gives detailed information on air quality nationwide, and you canmonitor the air quality right where you live.

• Improving Kids’ Environment www.ikecoalition.org, a non-profit organization dedicatedto reducing environmental threats to children’s health, runs the Smart School Don’t Idleprogram.

• Indiana Department of Environmental Management www.idem.IN.gov/greensteps, aprogram that promotes healthy school environments.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/antiidling, a nationalidle-reduction program for schools and general information about the impact of idling.

Marianne Peters is a freelance writer and editor living in Plymouth. She has a Web site:www.wordsmithwritingservice.com and Weblog: hoosierwordsmith.typepad.com

©Photoby

MariannePeters

©iStock;P

hotomanipulationPaulW

ilson

WINDPOWERGATHERS

STRENGTH©iStock


The public is more engaged in energyissues than ever, said state Rep. RyanDvorak, D-South Bend, who is opti-mistic that the Indiana GeneralAssembly will pass one or more billsthis session to speed the development ofwind energy.

It has taken what seems a long timeto get to this point because a paradigmshift is always a challenge, said JesseKharbanda, executive director of theHoosier Environmental Council.

“It requires a certain comfort withthe technology of integrated wind andnon-coal resources going into the elec-tricity system,” he said. “The otherbarrier has been overcoming myths thathave prevented passing incentives topromote the technology.”

The primary obstacles have includederroneous beliefs that there is notenough potential for wind and biomassin the state and that the technology istoo expensive. Biomass is anythingderived from plants, trees or animalcontent that is used to produce energy.Kharbanda said the argument has shift-ed to “ ‘well, okay, maybe it’s not thatexpensive, but you know wind doesn’tblow that often, so it can’t be veryeffective.’ ”

Even as two commercial wind farmsin Benton County — the BentonCounty Wind Farm and the FowlerRidge Wind Farm — receive statewideand national publicity, some Indianahomeowners have thrown their energyneeds to the wind, too.

One of those making the financialand environmental investment in windenergy is Bill Polk, who lives about

seven miles north of Evansville inHaubstadt.

“Depending on how much electricitywe use, we are anticipating that oursystem will produce 40 percent to 50percent of the power for our home.That is the goal,” he said. Polk con-tracted with Evansville-based MortonEnergy to construct the turbine.

—Continued on page 10

R

BY JENNIFER STREISAND

Photo

courtesy

BPWindEnergy

Fowler Ridge Wind Farm was set to come on line late 2008.

In Bargersville, about 20 miles southof Indianapolis, Phil Mirise is finishingthe installation of his wind turbine tocomplement the solar equipmentalready in place at his residence. Thesolar array provides about 90 percentof the power for his home. He expectsthe wind turbine to produce the rest.

Environmental and financial con-cerns motivated Mirise to commit toalternative energy. The first thing he didwas install a geothermal heating andcooling unit. “Our house was typical inconstruction to many other homes, notbuilt with energy efficiency in mind, andit cost a great deal to heat and cool it,”he said.

Mirise is working with ECI Windand Solar LLC, in Fairmount to installthe turbine. The company also installedthe solar array.

The cost of installing a wind turbinevaries depending on the site and appli-cation. Polk and Mirise did theirresearch, and then chose a contractorthey thought was accessible and reliable.

The two state policy issues thatcould convince more Hoosiers to usealternative energy for their homes andbusinesses are a concrete renewableelectricity standard and an expansivenet-metering law, Kharbanda said.

A renewable electricity standardwould require utility companies to buya certain percentage of electricity fromrenewable resources. Such a require-ment likely would stimulate productionof wind energy in the state, such as theproduction at the Benton County WindFarm. Duke Energy and Vectren havelong-term agreements to buy the powerthat is produced by the farm, said EricBurch, communications director of theIndiana Office of Energy & DefenseDevelopment.

Fowler Ridge Wind Farm, a partner-ship between BP Wind Energy andDominion, was set to come on line inlate 2008 and produce 400 megawatts.When built to capacity, Fowler Ridgewill produce 750 megawatts, making it


one of the largest in the Midwest.Besides increasing the amount of

power produced by wind, a renewableelectricity standard would generate4,000 to 6,000 jobs and $4 billion to$6 billion in new investment in thestate, Kharbanda said.

In October 2008, President Bushsigned the Emergency EconomicStabilization Act of 2008, a financialrescue plan. The bill included an exten-sion of the Production Tax Credit,which is intended to facilitate commer-cial-scale wind farms, said Mark Hayes,Indiana press secretary for U.S. Sen.Richard Lugar, R-Ind. The bill alsoextends and expands some investmenttax credits to encourage more small-scale wind production. Lugar has beena staunch advocate of renewable energy,

initiating research and authoring legisla-tion to help reduce U.S. dependency onforeign oil.

The Hoosier Environmental Councilalso is advocating state legislation thatwould expand net-metering require-ments. This would directly affect home-owners and businesses that install windturbines. Currently, state law allowsonly homeowners and K-12 schoolswith a system less than 10 kilowatts touse net metering. Net metering meansthat the customer puts a certain amountof electricity into the grid, and the utili-ty company gives the customer creditfor any power that is not used. Theconcept is supposed to — over the long-term — pay for the customer’s invest-ment in an alternative energy systemand reduce utility bills.

WIND POWER GATHERS STRENGTHContinued from page 9

“ The biggest problem with wind power atthis point is that it’s intermittent.” Thereare battery systems to store electricity, butright now they are very expensive.”

Photo

courtesy

BPWindEnergy

At capacity, Fowler Ridge will be one of the largest wind farms in the Midwest.

Indiana Living Greenis pleased to offer the

following events designedto help Hoosiers lead a“greener” lifestyle!

SAVE THE DATE:

SATURDAYMARCH 14, 9-NOONGreening YourOutdoor Space

S P O N S O R E D B Y

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful

SATURDAYAPRIL 4, 9-NOON

Updating Your HomeTo Green

S P O N S O R E D B Y

Holliday Park andIntegrative Solutions

SATURDAYMARCH 28, 9-NOON

Greening Your Lifestyle(Place to be determined)

Free info, resources and ideaswill make the Green Scene a great

preface to Earth Day

Check the website for updatesand registration informationIndianaLivingGreen.com

State Rep. Dvorak has authored net-metering legislation almost every yearsince he was elected in 2002. So far,however, an expansive net-metering billhas only been passed by the IndianaHouse, with no complementary bill inthe Senate.

Such legislation would open the fieldof wind energy to Indiana businessesthat want to make the investment, saidDvorak. “We would like to increase thecapacity of net-metering because it’slarger systems that are a lot more com-mon these days because there is signifi-cant interest for using these systemsfrom businesses that want to be morecompetitive with their energy prices.”

Currently, if a business wants to gen-erate power from wind turbines, it hasto negotiate its own agreement to gethooked up to a utility, and the utility isnot required to do so, Dvorak said.

Net-metering legislation would makeit easier for businesses and utility com-panies to work together to installrenewable systems.

“Right now there is really no incen-tive for a lot of customers to look atgetting renewable energy like wind sys-tems because it’s just too complicated toget a hook-up agreement with their util-ity, and the benefits of being able to feedpower back into the grid for credit arenot obvious,” Dvorak said.

Hoosier Energy REC, Inc., which isan energy cooperative, has set up wind

turbines in Jasper and outside ofSullivan as pilot projects to provideinformation about how effective windenergy currently is in the state, saidCaleb Steiner, renewable energy special-ist. Members of an energy cooperativeinclude the consumers of the electricitybecause they technically have votingrights.

So far, the results of the pilot projectare not as encouraging as expected.

“The costs of the installs are gettingup to a point where you are not gettinga return on your investment if you aregoing to put one of these up,” saidSteiner. One of the reasons is Indiana’svery low electricity rates. Anotherobstacle is finding a cost-efficient wayto store the electricity that wind pro-duces. “The biggest problem with windpower at this point is that it’s intermit-tent.” There are battery systems to storeelectricity, but right now they are veryexpensive, he said.

But for Bill Polk, the positives ofhaving a wind system are outweighingthe negatives, including improving theenvironment in his neighborhood.

“For the most part, the neighborsare pretty excited, and a few have evenasked, ‘Can we put one up?’ We triedto talk several of them before we putthe turbine up to make sure that no onewould have any issues. For the mostpart, everyone is pretty accepting.” �

FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Indiana Office of Energy & Defense Development, www.energy.in.gov• Hoosier Environmental Council, www.hecweb.org• Hoosier Energy, REC, Inc., www.hepn.com• Indiana Renewable Energy Association, www.indianarenew.org• Morton Energy, www.mortonenergy.com• ECI Wind and Solar LLC, www.eciwindandsolar.com

Jennifer Streisand, a freelance writer based in West Lafayette, has written more than 100business articles and taught undergraduate courses in communications at Purdue University.A former broadcast journalist, she holds an Indiana teaching license in English and journalism.


GREENSCENE

T H E


EVERYDAY OBJECTS

REORDEREDASArt

BY JO ELLEN MEYERS SHARP

“The overall exhibit topic is not overtlygreen, but rather speaks to the methodsby which items have been given a newlife, new perspective through art,” saidMary Lee Pappas, communicationsmanager for the center.

Most of the work on exhibit is byMidwest artists, including Doug Calishfrom Crawfordsville. Besides the groupshow, which runs Jan. 30 through April29, the center will have two solo com-ponents: Artifacts from self-making:Artworks by Rene Zettle Sterling, inthe Sarah M. Hurt Gallery, and Rockcovers paper, paper covers rock:Installation by Patrick Miceli in theAllen W. Clowes Gallery.

“We have the space to createexhibits of this nature where wholebodies of work in a similar theme by somany different artists can be shown intandem. And this work will be for

An exhibit at the Indianapolis Art Center celebrateshow everyday objects, found items and other reusedor recycled materials can be repurposed into art.

ReUse/ReOrder invites people to look at items in a new way,based on how they are reworked as art.

sale,” Pappas said.As part of the exhibit and to help us

find the potential objet d'art in ourlives, the center will present Rubbish:Reuse Your Refuse, noon to 3 p.m.Feb. 7. Local author Kate Shoup, whodescribes herself as “taken with proj-ects that involve materials otherwisedestined for the scrap heap,” will con-duct the workshop

Author of three books, includingRubbish: Reuse Your Refuse, Shoupwill show how to upcycle, breathingnew life into stuff otherwise destinedfor your junk drawer or a landfill.In this workshop, you’ll construct anartful photo frame made entirely ofrecycled items, as well as explore otherprojects featured in her book, whicheach participant will receive.

Pappas reminds us that artists havebeen recycling for centuries, and that

INFORMATIONReUse/ReOrderJan. 30 through April 29, 2009

Indianapolis Art Center

Marilyn K. Glick School of Art

820 E. 67th St.

(317) 255-2464

www.IndplsArtCenter.org

the Art Center been recycling since1934, when it got its start as a govern-ment WPA project. For example, saw-dust from its woodworking studios isused in ceramics for raku firings.

The Indianapolis Art Center seesitself as part of the global communityand is concerned about lessening ourenvironmental footprint. Besides theusual recycling and energy-savingssteps, the Art Center has restored theWhite River’s bank in ARTSPARK.It also has removed invasive plantsand replanted native species. �

Toxic, a mixed media painting of BritneySpears, by Matthew Friday, whose workfrequently focuses on how history can looseobjectiveness and how history happens.

Pho

tocourtesy

IndianapolisArtCenter

Make sure you don’t miss an issue.Receive Indiana Living Green at home!

SUBSCRIPTION FORM • 1 year (6 issues) $18Please fill out and mail to: ILG, 1730 S. 950 E. Zionsville, IN 46077

Or, subscribe at: www.IndianaLivingGreen.com

Name

� For me or � Gift from

Street address

City State Zip

� Check enclosed � Visa � MasterCard Expiration Date: 3 Digit Code:

Card Number:

� Please send e-mail newsletters • E-mail address:

INDIANA LIVING GREEN: A HOOSIER’S GUIDE TO A SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE


Please go to the ILG Web site, www.IndianaLivingGreen.com to complete this survey, or fill out this formand mail to: Indiana Living Green, 1730 S. 950 E., Zionsville, IN 46077 • Or Fax to: (317) 769-5756

R E A D E R S H I P S U R V E Y

1) I am:� Male� Female

2) My age is:� Under 18� 18 – 34� 35 – 49� 50 and above

3) My education is:� High School� Some college� College graduate� Postgraduate

4) I have been to the ILG Web site:� Never� A few times previously� Occasionally (about once amonth or more)

� Regularly (about once a weekor more)

� I visit almost daily

5) I live:� Urban� Suburban� Rural

6). Residence:� I rent� I own

7) Household income is:� Under $30,000� $30,000 – $60,000� $60,000 – $100,000� More than $100,000

8) I have:� No children at home� Children under 12 at home� Children 12 to 17 years old at home� Pets

9) I buy and use organic or natural(please check all that apply):

� Foods for myself and family� Personal products for myselfand family

� Clothing for myself and family� Cleaning products for homeand laundry

� Home furnishings and accessories,including paints, flooring

� Foods, toys and care productsfor my pets

� Garden and landscape products

10) I make purchasing decisionsbased on:� Just price� Just quality� Price, quality and green(effect on environment)

11) I regularly read or peruse(please check all that apply):

� Most of the articles� Book Reviews� Green Finds� Green, Greener, Greenest� The Last Row� Calendar

� Other (please specify)

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

12) My favorite areas of interest are(please number 1 to 10, with 1 beingof most interest):

__ Education__Energy__ Family__ Fashion__Green building/remodeling__ Local food/beverages__Natural gardening/nature__ Transportation__ Travel__Other ______________________

13. Where do you pick up IndianaLiving Green?� I am a subscriber� Marsh Stores� Whole Foods� Bloomingfoods� I read the magazine at the

ILG Web site� Other (Location/Town)

___________________________

___________________________

14. If ILG was available online only,would you read it?� Yes � No

15. I live in (city/county)

______________ /______________

16. Other ideas for stories and/orfeatures to cover; other comments.

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________


‘ do’

BY WENONA NAPOLITANO

GreenWeddingsto‘Ido’Say

ith all the love at weddings, some eco-friendly

couples remember their Mother (Earth) and opt

for shades of green for their invitations, venue, wedding clothes,

food, flowers and transportation. Wedding couples should not

feel like they need to do everything green. Rather they can pick

and chose what works best for their special event and their

guests. Indiana Living Green looked at weddings and offers

this sampling:

It’s All About the DressThe dress is often the first thing a bride thinks about when it

comes to getting married. There’s the vision from years of dreamingabout the big event and how she’ll look walking down the aisle.There are several eco-friendly options when it comes to getting agreen gown. The bride can wear a family heirloom, find a stylishpre-owned gown, opt for a vintage beauty, have one made fromsustainable fibers or purchase an earth-friendly ready-to-wear.

Search for pre-owned or vintage gowns at second handstores, consignment shops, thrift stores, antique stores and theInternet. Conventional bridal shops are starting to carryDeborah Lindquist and other eco-friendly wedding designers.There are several eco-designers online, too, where brides canpurchase gorgeous green gowns either off the rack or cus-tom made. The gowns and other attire are made fromhemp, silk, bamboo and organic cotton blends.

TuxedoesUsually at the insistence of the bride, the groom even-

tually thinks about what he, the best man and grooms-men will wear. Fortunately, they can rent their tuxesor they can check out vintage shops, second-handstores and online resources for their attire, includingsome made with eco-friendly fabrics.

BLU Boy cake displays fresh flowers.


WPhoto courtesey BLU

Boy Chocolate Cafe and Cakery

However, she suggested asking “for what you want at the venues tosee what can be negotiated.”

Winchester Place, which marketsitself as “The NaturalPlace for SpecialOccasions,” is a three-acreproperty that includes a 1/2-acre lake, a gazebo and a 1940s garden house. Foroutdoor events, a 40- by 60-foot tent goes up to over-look the water. WinchesterGardens can hold about 150people. The house canaccommodate up to 100,depending on the seating.

Katina Kaisher, owner of EclecticEvents & Design operates Factory 12 Event Loft in the historic RoviarBuilding in downtown Columbus. Theupper loft has 10,000 square feet andfeatures exposed brick walls, woodposts and beams, hardwood floors,large windows and skylights. The lowerloft has 8,000 square feet with similarfeatures.

In Bloomington, for an indoor oroutdoor wedding, check out historicDeer Park Manor, a 40-acre nature preserve with clubrooms furnished with fireplaces, antiques and artwork.The grounds are rich with waterfalls, fountains and beautiful gardens.

Other eco-venue options can includechurches, temples, mosques, museums,historical sites, college campuses,organic farms, orchards or vineyards.Several state, federal and city parks

also make fine wedding venues,

such as Brown County State Park, theIndiana Dunes National Lakeshore andthe Sunken Garden at Garfield Park inIndianapolis.

InvitationsOne of the easiest ways to go green

with invitations is to go digital. Set up a Web site or blog to take RSVPs, provide maps and registry information.Evite.com offers a wide selection of digital announcements, save the datecards and invitations that can betracked at the site.

Send invitations made from recycledor tree-free paper. Twisted Limb Paper-works in Bloomington has been creating colorful, handmade invitations or pro-grams from 100 percent recycled paperfor 10 years.

“Our handmade paper is 100 percent recycled using a combination ofcolored office paper, so we don’t addadditional dye, junk mail, grocery bags,cardboard boxes and grass cuttingsfrom our field,” said Sheryl Wood-house-Keese, owner of the company.“All of the envelopes and reply cardswe pair with our handmade papers arealso 100 percent post-consumer waste,recycled and proces-sed chlorine free.Even the see-through vellum is 30 percent post-consumer waste, recycledand processed without chlorine.”


Location, Location, LocationIndoors or outdoors? Elegant or

rustic? When you think of a green wed-ding location, what comes to mind?Nature? Definitely, though you can stillhave a great green wedding indoorswhen you choose an eco-friendly sitethat has implemented sustainable practices into their business or one thatgives part of their proceeds to charity.

Traders Point Creamery in Zionsvilleoffers three distinct choices for wed-dings: the Loft, which will seat 100; therustic Red Barn, which accommodates

300 for a sit down dinner; andthe outdoor deck andgarden area for 100guests. Traders Point is an organic dairy farm and

creamery with beautiful gardens, unique charm and

warmth, that is both cozy andstylish. It offers onsite catering orthe wedding couple can providetheir own food, as long as it’s organic.

Winchester Place in Green-wood also offers indoor andoutdoor options for wed-dings and receptions. The 1912 American Four-Square has a warm,homelike atmosphereto accommodatereceptions and otherevents. OwnerGarnet Vaughansaid green events in Indiana are in

less demandthan theymight beon eithercoast.

19© iStock

Greenwood’s Winchester Place.

© iStock

CateringSome caterers specialize in organic

menus, but just about any of themshould be willing to use organic ingredi-ents upon request. Local, seasonal selec-tions are also good choices when itcomes to the food. It’s hard to get locallygrown tomatoes in winter, for instance,but squash is available. The more localthe caterer and the food, the smaller thecarbon footprint for delivery.

The CakeOther than the attention focused on

the bride and groom, the cake is oftenthe centerpiece of the reception. Aftergoing organic, local and seasonal on therest of your menu don’t skimp with thecake.

Blu Boy Chocolate Café and Cakeryin Bloomington offers chocolate culinarycreations sure to make mouths water asthe ooh and ahh. Blu Boy’s cakes aremade with local eggs, butter and organicvanilla. Sounds delicious. It also offersother organic and vegan options.

FlowersPeople probably think all flowers

are eco friendly. Sadly, this is not thecase. Most cut flowers come from SouthAmerica, the Netherlands or California.Many of them have been sprayed withpesticides or treated with chemicals sothey will retain their color and stayfresh longer.

Depending on the season, there are green options available. Just likefood, flowers are seasonal. In Indiana,peonies bloom in spring, roses in summer, asters in fall and for winterweddings? Well, there are holly berries,dried flowers and more.

Local growers, such as HarvestMoon Flower Farm in Spencer,Fragrant Farms in New Harmony, or JP Parker Flowers in Indianapolis andFranklin, provide large selections of seasonal blooms.

“We provide complete wedding floral services using organically grownflowers harvested on our farm, 12months of the year,” said LindaChapman, owner of Harvest Moon.

“Trends are more natural than in thepast, but it all depends on the bride.Now, we get brides who want natural.Sunflowers are really popular,” saidPam Parker, owner of JP ParkerFlowers. She grows many flowers onher Johnson County farm, includingpeonies, delphinium, phlox, sunflowersand zinnias. She also has lilacs, forsythiaand other shrub flowers in season.

“More often, our customers askabout chemicals,” Parker said. “Flowers


SAY ‘I DO’ TO GREEN WEDDINGSContinued from page 19

BLU Boy cakes are made with local ingredients. In Spring, peonies, such as these from JPParker’s farm, are a popular choice for brides.

have a less restrictive list of chemicalsfor commercial growing than food. In third world countries who knows?I am able to get chemical-free flowersin the winter from some food whole-salers, but varieties are limited.”

Years ago, local greenhouses grewfor the cut-flower trade year-round,but now, there are very few becausefuel prices make it nearly impossibleto heat the houses. “Field crops areless expensive, but I do miss the localgreenhouse goods such as snaps,freesia and lilies,” she said. Shippingcrops from California can be pricey.

If no one has what the bridewants, check out OrganicBouquet.com. The company ships organicallygrown flowers straight to you or yourflorist.

PhotographyPhotography is one area the wed-

ding couple should never skimp on.The bride and groom can never goback and recreate the memories thata good photographer will capture. To go green in the photo area, searchfor a photographer that offers digitalphotography, proofs and albums. The only photos that get printed arethe ones people really want. Take thata step farther and have the photosprinted on eco-friendly photo paper.

For those candid shots everyonelikes to have, ditch the disposablesand ask guests to bring their digitalcameras. After the wedding ask every-one to upload the photos to a sharesite like Shutterfly, Snapfish or Flickror a newcomer, The Wedding Lens.These Web sites allow everyone toput images into albums, store themonline, put them on disks, createthank you cards or other photo gifts.There’s never a need to print un-wanted photos.


Photo courtesey BLU

Boy Chocolate Cafe and Cakery

SAY ‘I DO’ TO GREEN WEDDINGSContinued from page 21

TransportationGet creatively green with the wed-

ding transportation: think horse drawncarriage, bicycles built for two, bicyclecarriages, hybrid limousines, biodieselshuttle buses, electric cars or carpooling.Keep transportation to a minimum byhaving the ceremony and reception inone location and close to home.

If there will be guests coming fromout of town, provide an eco-friendlyshuttle bus, such as one powered bybiodiesel or natural gas, to transportthem from the hotels to the wedding venue. Any shuttle would be better than each person driving individually. At the least, encourage all guests to carpool.

Offset all the traveling done byguests and the resources and energyused for the wedding by purchasing carbon credits instead of favors.

Green EssentialsIn every area of the wedding, there

are eco-choices. As much as possibleadopt the mantra reduce, reuse, recycleinto every decision.

Reduce the amount of resources and waste created by using less. Ditchdisposables of all kinds. This includesplates, napkins and tableware. Rent everything or, for a smaller wedding, use family dishes or purchase items that can be reused at home after the wed-ding, sold or donated to charity.

Living favors or center pieces, such as gerber daisies in painted clay pots, can be taken home and transplanted.

Wenona Napolitano is a freelance writer,poet and the author of The EverythingGreen Wedding Book. A certified floraldesigner and trained bridal consultant, sheloves to help brides plan green and budgetweddings. Visit her blog: www.everything-greenweddings.blogspot.com.

Planning a Green Wedding?We can help. Visit the ILG Web site for links

to great information and resources!

www.IndianaLivingGreen.com

Reuse as much as possible. Thiscan include décor, such as flowers ordecorations, which can later be usedin the home or those of family andfriends. Make stuff do double duty:place bouquets in stands and usethem as tabletop arrangements.Potted plants also make great center-pieces, which can be given to guestsafter the wedding for planting memories in their gardens.

Recycle everything possible afterthe wedding. Donate leftover foodto a local shelter or send home withfriends and family. Compost all thescraps.

With a little bit of research, some creative ideas and the rightresources everyone’s wedding canbe the one of dreams and green.Please visit the ILG Web site forlinks to these and other resources to help you with your green event.

© iS

tock


The question is: Are these programseffective at encouraging the markets inalternative power? Or are they merely a voluntary tax on environmentallyaware do-gooders? Would a contribu-tion to an environmental group work-ing towards policy changes and legisla-tive mandates be more effective?

Buying green power signals thatpeople are willing to pay a premium or renewable-resource-generated elec-tricity, said Jesse Kharbanda, directorof the Hoosier Environmental Council.“This should be of some comfort topoliticians in that people are preparedto make real personal investments for a greener world.”

In 2007, I enthusiastically signed upfor Indianapolis Power and Light’s

Green Power Choices:ToPayOrNot toPay?

Green Power Option, and was pleasedwith its modest price. I encouragedmany friends to enroll. In July 2008 the premium more than tripled in cost,causing me to ask some questions. I decided to learn more about howthese programs work, specifically thoseof our local utilities in central Indiana,IPL and Duke Energy.

Both programs are based on thepurchase of renewable energy certifi-cates, or RECs (pronounced ‘wrecks’).Consumers are not buying green powerthat is being delivered straight from thesource to their home. Rather, they areenabling the purchase of certificates foralternative energy that is going into theelectric grid, reducing the need for energy from fossil fuel sources like coal,

The public’s growing awareness of the consequences of climate change has spurred electric utilities aroundthe country to offer their customers an easy way to encourage renewable forms of energy, which do not add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Consumersmay choose to support power from wind, solar, biomass or hydroelectric sources for a supplementalpremium on their utility bill.

B Y M A RY E L L E N G A D S K I

oil and natural gas. RECs are registeredcommodities and are equal to onemegawatt-hour of electricity generatedfrom a renewable facility. They are purchased separately from the actualenergy, which has its own value.

Comparison of ProgramsIPL’s main sources of RECs are from

“national wind” — power primarilygenerated in Texas — and methanefrom Indiana landfills. In 2007 Duke’sgreen power was generated at theHancock County wind facility in Iowa.

Its promotional literaturestates that it “will obtainenergy from environmen-tally friendly generatingsources located within ourservice area as they becomeavailable.”

IPL and Duke’s pro-grams differ markedly inhow the premium is calcu-lated. IPL’s Green Optioncharges a fee multiplierbased on the consumer’susage. As of fall 2008, this


was .0065 per kilowatt-hour.Consumers can choose the percentageof their usage that they wish to havecharged: 10, 25, 50 or 100 percent.Duke’s GoGreen program is based onthe purchase of 100-kilowatt “blocks,”with a minimum of two blocksrequired at $2.50 each. There is currently a considerable price disparitybetween the two programs: IPL customers pay $1.30 for 200 kilowatts;Duke customers pay $5.00 for 200kilowatts.

Participation in both programs is very modest. Of IPL’s 440,000 residential customers, approximately3,100 people were enrolled at the end of 2008. Of Duke’s 673,000 customers,only 1,156 were subscribers at the end of 2007. This equates to less thanone percent of electric users locally.Nationwide, even the most aggressively


Illustration © iS

tock

Next Reading Date - 12/05/08 $2.6950% Green Power Adjustment


marketed programs typically have participation levels of between five and15 percent. IPL’s goal for 2009 is toenroll 1.5 percent of its customers in itsprogram.

The Indiana Utilities RegulatoryCommission approves the plans of green power programs and requiresannual reports. Neither Duke nor IPLcan profit from their programs. Thefunds that participants pay go directlytoward the purchase of RECs, programadministration, and marketing.

Publicity and administrative costsrun about $40,000 annually for bothutilities. In 2007, Duke spent consider-ably more for its marketing than it didfor RECs. Obviously promotional costsin the start-up phase are higher in thebeginning, so this lopsided ratio shouldchange. However, participants need to

know that they are paying for the adsin which utilities promote their greenimage.

The IURC requires the utilities toreport a calculation of carbon dioxideoffsets achieved by the program. For2007 Duke calculated that its GoGreenprogram saved the equivalent of8,454,885 miles driven, or 3,382 tonsof carbon. In a July 2008 letter toGreen Power participants, includingbusinesses, IPL reported a year-to-datefigure of 45,000 tons of avoided car-bon dioxide emissions, or the equiva-lent annual electric usage of more than6,000 average households.

Effectiveness of RECs andRenewable Electricity Standards

Are renewable energy certificateseffective in encouraging the markets inalternative power? “There’s no doubt

that they are nationally,” says GlennLivers, coordinator of IPL’s program.She believes that the value of RECs isfactored into making wind farms prof-itable.

The Hoosier EnvironmentalCouncil’s Kharbanda agrees that in the-ory RECs are a good idea; however,because their supply is outstrippingdemand, they have a negligible effect.“RECs are part of the revenue stream,but they are not significant,” he said.The development of a RenewableElectricity Standard, or RES, forIndiana, which would mandate a per-centage of electricity from renewablesources, will be the most crucial factortowards encouraging the markets inalterative energy, he said.

According to Tom Friedman, authorof Hot, Flat and Crowded, “we mustput into place a coordinated set of poli-

TO PAY OR NOT TO PAYContinued from page 25


Bloomingfoods Ad1/2 Wide

cies, tax incentives and disincentives,and regulations to stimulate the freemarket in renewable energy.” Currently26 states have adopted such an RES,including Illinois and Ohio. As a candi-date, President-elect Barack Obamaproposed a federal RES of 10 percentof all energy by 2012. Many environ-mentalists assume that there will be afederal standard requiring 15 percentby 2020.

Last year, Indiana’s efforts to passRES legislation, which envisioned 10percent renewable energy by 2018,failed for a multiplicity of reasons.According to Angeline Protogere,Duke’s manager of communications,the legislation bogged down because of “problems such as unreasonable percentage requirements in light ofIndiana’s geography and current renew-able resources, unreasonable deadlines

and lack of flexibility in meeting thestandards (including penalties for out-of-state but nearby renewablesources).”

Kharbanda projects that a broader-based bill that includes coal gasification(similar to Pennsylvania’s RES) mightpass in 2009.

In the end, individuals have todecide whether voluntary premiums ontheir electric bills are the best way touse their personal funds in trying to dothe right thing for the environment.Until policy and legislative efforts catchup with my values, I will continue topay the extra amount in hopes that myindividual action will help demonstratepublic demand for green power. �

A FEW FACTS:

• More than 800 utilities across the U.S. offer green power programs.

• In 2007 approximately 600,000 customers nationwide participated in green power programs.

• Wind energy development projects are under way in at least 15 Indianacounties, including three wind farms in Benton County.

• Other electric utilities also providegreen power, including Wabash ValleyPower

Mary Ellen Gadski has been active in local environmental issues for more than 25 years and currently serves on the Indianapolis-Marion County Tree Board.


GREEN B O O K R E V I E W S

Hot, Flat and Crowdedby Thomas L. Friedman, 2008, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $27.95, hardcover.

Hot, Flat and Crowded refers to the con-vergence of climate change, a burgeoningmiddle class that is “flattening” dispari-ties in wealth and a quickly acceleratingglobal population. Despite the apoc-ryphal tone of the title, this book is moreabout its subtitle: Why We Need AGreen Revolution — and How It CanRenew America.

The introductory chapters were moreenlightening about our changing worldand the need for clean energy than anything else I have read. The figures onworld population are staggering: Didyou know that there are 47 cities in

China with populations over one mil-lion? That Mumbai (formerly Bombay)has swelled to 19 million? In 2007 Chinasurpassed the U.S. as the world’s largestemitter of carbon dioxide as more residents seek to model the Americanlifestyle.

As a Pulitzer Prize-winning foreignaffairs columnist for the New YorkTimes, Friedman has traveled morewidely than most people in the StateDepartment, and he has stories fromacquaintances all over the world to personalize the points he is making. He is a master at presenting complexissues with clarity and common sense,whether it is the geopolitical conse-quences of dependence on oil or the sadhistory of fuel efficiency in U.S. cars.

In the chapter“Energy Internet,”Friedman presents a day in the life of a “Jetson” in the not-too-distantfuture. It is bothentertaining andpromising in its illus-tration of appliances

with undreamed-of energy efficiency, connected to the household “smart box,” in turn connected to the “smart grid,” all saving the need to build more powerplants.

The challenges we face are daunting— there really are not 10 easy ways to save the planet. But Friedman is opti-mistic that America can lead the way in innovative, imaginative technologicalsolutions and in doing so, recast itself as a stronger nation.

BY MARY ELLEN GADSKI


Green Cleaning forDummies by Elizabeth B. Goldsmithwith Betsy Sheldon, 2008,Wiley Publishing, $16.99,paperback.

Betsy Sheldon, an ILGcontributing writer,

dispenses great wisdom and know-howin this indispensable book for folksinterested in cleaning their homes oroffices with non-toxic, sustainable prod-ucts and practices. She and co-author,Elizabeth B. Goldsmith, a familyresource management professor atFlorida State University, lay out therationale behind green cleaning, thentake us room-by-room, step-by-stepthrough the process of spiffing up theplace. There even are instructions onhow to clean the fireplace and dryinglaundry outdoors. They also share someof the sustainable, money-saving prac-

tices our parents and grandparents reliedon that continue to work today.

Sheldon, an Indianapolis residentwho readily promotes the three Rs —reuse, reduce, recycle — does so here,too. The final chapter gives dozens ofways to incorporate sustainable livinginto lives, from buying local foods tosmart driving techniques. The book alsohas an index and a resource guide.


Ten-aciously Green by Tajuana L. Common,2008, Essence of GreenPublishing Co., $13.95,paperback.

Indianapolis residentTajuana L. Common

became passionate about sustainable liv-ing after seeing An Inconvenient Truth,the Emmy-winning documentary about

global warming. “I began to view the world and myactions through different lenses. I sawhow much food my family was wasting,and I began to count the number of bagswe took to the curb each week. I recog-nized how many paper towels I used onany given day. I have to admit, I wasashamed. My actions and thoughtsslowly started to change,” she writes in the preface.

Though the book may be fueled bypassion, it logically links global warmingto our lack of sustainable practices ineasy to understand language and exam-ples. Common quickly dispels 10 mythsabout global warming and embarks onchapters broken down by lifestyle, placesand activities, such as home, the work-place, travel, homebuilding, babies, chil-dren, senior citizens and gift-giving. Thebook contains a resource guide, indexand glossary of green terms.


GREENFINDS

30

www.IndianaLivingGreen.com

Shower Manager III

No more wasteful showers.The Shower Manager is atwo-phase device thatpermits a full flow ofwater for five, eight or 11minutes, then slows theflow by half when the limityou set expires. There’s a beepbefore the flow slows to justenough to finish rinsing. Madein the United Stateswith materials andpackaging that can berecycled, the ShowerManager operateswith a 9-volt battery,which is safe in wetenvironments.

Cost: $114.99. Discounts for two or more at www.showermanager.com

Proper Methods For Pruning Grapevines

Proper Methods For PruningGrapevines is a two-DVD companion set to Lon J.Rombough’s award-winningbook, The Grape Grower: AGuide to Organic Viticulture(Chelsea Green). The first DVDteaches basic grape pruningmethods and the principles behind them.The second DVD includes material on atwo-step pruning method to give addition-al frost protection and how to use layeringto get new vines into production in theshortest time possible. Presented inRombough’s hands-on style, you'll learntricks and tips to ensure regular crops ofthe best quality fruit from your vines.

Cost: $28.50, postage paid in U.S., atwww.bunchgrapes.com

Eco-Friendly Fire LogTerraCycle, Inc., best known for its wormpoop fertilizers, has introduced environ-mentally responsible fire logs and starters.The Eco–Friendly Fire Log is made from dis-carded wax cardboard from old milk andjuice cartons, as well as shipping boxes ofall kinds. Even the wrap and the box the

logs come in are made withrecycled paper. The log can belit with one match, it burns for about three hours, produc-ing very little ash and smoke.More than one can be used at a time, and the logs can be usedwith real wood. It burns hotterthan wood, making it an excel-lent choice for fireplaces. And because it does not havepetroleum-based chemicals,

you can cook over the TerraCycle Eco-Friendly Fire Log.

Cost: $15.99 for a box of four logs. To find a store: www.terracycle.net

Please send information about your green products to: [email protected],or mail to Indiana Living Green, 1730 S. 950 E., Zionsville, IN 46077.SUBMISSIONS


M A R K E T P L A C E

I haven’t made a New Year’s resolu-tion since last century. Like most folks, I not only didn’t keep them, I usuallyforgot what they were before theChristmas ornaments were back in thebox. So this year, I’m settling for whatI’ll call Small Actionable Goals forSustainability, with distinct emphasis onthe first “S”. Hey, if the federal govern-ment can give us TARP for 2009, I cangive us SAGS. Feel free to borrow asmany as you like. We’ll touch base nextDecember to see how well we did.

My first goal is to re-fill the critterfeeders on my deck every morning. Thisis a task at which I failed woefully inprevious years, but back then I had torush to an off-farm job every day. Nowthat I’m a full-time farmer, I can’t getaway with that excuse. My lack of attention to the diurnal feeding scheduleof my resident wildlife led to rioting raccoons and possums that pushed theempty saucers off the deck, breaking several in the process. Served me right, I suppose, for thinking they wouldrespect the good china.

The songbirds thankfully were toosmall to wreck the dishes, but I sure gotsome strong language from the chick-adees about my lack of attention to theirdining needs. The rock doves didn’t saymuch, though I knew from the way theylooked at me that I had fallen short oftheir expectations of good wildlife stew-ardship as well. As evidence of myimproved intentions, I’ve already got abag of black-oil sunflower seed by theback door, and a fresh supply of suetcakes in the fridge.

Next, I’m going to resist the tempta-tion to buy up the entire contents of

cleaning products to just those needed to de-germ the fixtures, cleanse the people,clothes and dishes (the cat, to her credit, is still self cleaning) and polish the floorsand mirrors. I will give up my addictionto anything that sudses, bubbles andscrubs, and admit that a single productfor banishing dirt and stains is as goodas six or seven different ones. I will givemyself extra SAGS points if that productis earth-friendly, non-animal-tested,biodegradable, pet-and-kid-safe, non-caustic, free of dyes or perfumes and hasfewer ingredients than a grilled-cheesesandwich.

Lastly, I will learn how to make agood, hot fireplace blaze to get methrough the rest of the winter. If I’mgoing to contribute to global warning by burning hydrocarbons, the least I can do is wring the last BTU out ofevery log and twig. �

T H E L A S T R O W B Y M A R I A S M I E T A N A

those flashy seed catalogs that make upthe bulk of my January mail. Instead, Iwill limit myself to the number of vegetable varieties that I can actuallyhope to get planted in a single season.There is, after all, no glory in still tryingto get tomato seedlings in the groundafter summer solstice has come andgone. This year, I will refuse to buy thetomato varieties that looked so good onpaper but were total failures once theyhit the soil.

I will also plant more of the veggiesmy farmer’s market customers like tobuy, even if they don’t meet my personaldefinition of an edible plant. I will resignmyself to the fact that many people simply do not care if they are eating anEarly Girl or Better Boy tomato. Whatthey really wish is that I had broughttwice as many green beans to market.

I will strive to complete my multi-year quest to reduce my household


I Hereby Resolve…

Maria Smietana, is a refugee from the corporate world who now writes and grows organicproduce on her mini-farm in Boone County.

Documents

Jan/Feb 2009 - Indiana Living Green