GREEN TREDYFFRIN
In 2009, the Board of Supervisors adopted a Green Tredyffrin Resolution as an effort for the Township to take strides towards becoming more environmentally aware and responsible. Check out some of the ways that the Township is making efforts to become more GREEN.
PECO SMART HOME REBATES
PECO has launched their residential rebate programs. Click the link above to get details of the rebate program.
EPA Offers Resources to Improve Energy Efficiency and Save Money at Home
Did you know that a typical U.S. household spends about $2,200 a year on energy bills? EPA¹s ENERGY STAR program offers a variety of tools and resources that can help utilities, state energy offices, local and tribal governments, and efficiency program sponsors educate consumers about how to reduce their energy bills through increased energy efficiency at home.
ENERGY STAR tools and resources educate consumers about energy efficiency options‹whether they are ³do-it-yourselfers² or choose to hire a qualified professional.
The Home Energy Yardstick tool allows homeowners to compare their energy use to others¹ across the country to help them decide whether to improve the efficiency of their home. Users can learn how their home stacks up at http://www.energystar.gov/yardstick. Utilities, state energy offices, efficiency program sponsors, and others can embed the Yardstick into their own website by following the instructions here.
The Guide to Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling gives homeowners in-depth recommendations that can help them save on their utility bills. Users can access the guide at http://www.energystar.gov/hvacguide to start saving.
The Home Advisor tool helps homeowners get specific recommendations on home improvement projects to increase energy efficiency. Users can go to http://www.energystar.gov/homeadvisor for more information.
In typical houses, about 20 percent of the air that moves through ducts is lost due to leaks, holes, and poor connections. ENERGY STAR¹s Duct Sealing Brochure helps homeowners improve duct performance in simple steps. The brochure is available at http://www.energystar.gov/homeimprovement.
The Heating and Cooling Quiz asks homeowners five basic questions about their HVAC system to see if it is being properly maintained. The quiz is available at http://www.energystar.gov/homeimprovement and can be hosted on your own website by following the instructions at http://www.energystar.gov/ia/home_improvement/downloads/Heating_Cooling_Quiz_Instructions.pdf.
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR offers a new strategy to home improvement contracting that encourages whole-house energy improvements in existing homes that typically save homeowners 20 percent or more on their energy bills. The site is available at http://www.energystar.gov/hpwessponsors.
The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Sealing and Insulating with ENERGY STAR offers homeowners step-by-step instructions for sealing common air leaks and adding insulation to the attic to improve energy efficiency and comfort. This guide is available at http://www.energystar.gov/homeimprovement.
Hard copies of the brochures and guides listed above may be ordered at http://www.energystar.gov/publications.
Solar Panels at Wilson Farm Park
Tredyffrin Township became the first township in Pennsylvania to be awarded a solar energy system for qualifying to become a Pennsylvania Clean Energy Community. The TRF Sustainable Development Fund awarded the Township with the system valued at $10,000. As part of the requirements to become a Clean Energy Community, the Township committed to purchase 20% of its electricity from clean energy sources by the year 2010 and a mininum of 7% of the Township’s households, businesses and other electricity customers commited to buy clean energy. Currently, over 8% of the homes in Tredyffrin Township have signed up to purchase clean energy options.
The solar energy system, is a public awareness and educational tool that will generate approximately 1,500 kilowatt-hours a year of clean, renewable energy.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Wilson Farm Park on March 17, 2009 to commemorate the 1.26-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system awarded to the Township by the Pennsylvania Clean Energy Communities Campaign. Speakers and attendees included, representatives from the Pennsylvania Clean Energy Communities Campaign coalition, the Tredyffrin Township government, and the solar installation company Solardelphia.
ABOUT SOLAR PANELS:
The advantages of solar power are far-reaching. Although solar power is a relatively new energy source, it may easily become the most important energy source of the future. This is because of the many advantages of solar power:
- Solar power is a renewable resource. This means that we are not in danger of depleting its reserves. Though it may disappear behind clouds momentarily and is unavailable at night, it generally returns in full force.
- Solar power is non-polluting. Unlike oil, solar power usage does not emit any greenhouse gases, nor does the acquisition of it harm ecosystems through spills or dredging. This is probably one of the primary advantages of solar power.
- The energy and heat from the sun is free. Once solar panels or solar thermal collectors are set up, there are no electrical expenses necessary to power them.
- Solar cells require very little maintenance, greatly because there are no moving parts that must be maintained.
- Solar cells can last a lifetime.
- Solar power is incredibly versatile. A variety of inventions may be powered by it, including cars, water heaters, fountains, buildings, and satellites.
- In remote locations, solar power may be a more realistic energy option than running large lengths of electrical wires to connect to a grid.
Overall, it seems that solar power is simply a more harmonious energy resource. To obtain other energy sources, there is a requirement of harvesting fossil fuels, animal matter, or plant matter. Meanwhile, sunlight continually hits the earth in large amounts regardless of whether it is being utilized as an energy resource or not. Focusing solely on the application of solar power, instead of its application in addition to seeking out and obtaining the raw resource, omits an unnecessary step.
Along with the advantages of solar power, it is worth remarking upon the disadvantages. These include sunlight not being a readily available resource in some areas of the world. Also, solar cells are still not particularly cheap. Of course, technology for this is improving, and it will continue to improve as the cost of other forms of power increase.
Information on Solar Panels from http://www.solarhome.org/infoadvantagesofsolarpower.html
Rain Barrels
Tredyffrin Township has installed a rain barrel at Wilson Farm Park at the Concession Pavilion (where the solar panels are also installed).
A rain barrel is placed at a downspout and collects and stores stormwater runoff from rooftops. The collected rainwater can be reused for irrigation of planting areas (or potted plants) around your property. This type of BMP is called “Caption and Reuse.” It is important that the water is emptied (i.e., used) in between storms so that there is room in the barrel for the next storm.
A typical residential rain barrel design includes an opening in the sealed lid to accept downspout flow, an overflow pipe for when the barrel is full, and a spigot at or near the bottom to attach a hose or faucet. A screen at the opening controls mosquitoes and other insects.
Only roof water should be collected for reuse as it is relatively clean; do not reuse water from parking or pedestrian areas, surface water runoff, or bodies of standing water.
Benefits:
- Rain barrels help lower potable water costs (reuse of “free” stormwater to irrigate your landscaping)
- Rain barrels help reduce stormwater runoff (stormwater captured is no longer a lost resource that runs off the land surface into the nearest stream)
Rain Barrels are relatively inexpensive, ranging from $80 to $200 through online vendors. In general, the reuse of water for irrigation or other uses saves money on water costs over time.
Rain barrels can be purchased online or built by a homeowner. The following points are important for homeowners to understand when choosing to use a rain barrel on their property:
- Locate rain barrels on a flat surface next to or near roof downspouts
- Several rain barrels can be connected to store more rainwater
- In areas with soils that drain well, you can direct overflow from the rain barrels onto the yard or landscape areas
- The rain barrel should be emptied and disconnected during winter
- Covers (lids) should have a tight fit to keep out surface water, animals, dust and light
- An overflow should be provided a few inches from the top of the cistern.
Rain barrels come in a variety of forms, some of which are aesthetically pleasing. Rain barrels are difficult to disguise and therefore should be purchased or constructed according to the homeowner’s preference.
Rain Barrel Construction, Installation, and Guides:
- Reasons to Have a Rain Barrel at Home (PDF)
- Noah's Rain Barrel
- How to Build and Install a Rain Barrel
- Safety of Rooftop/Rain Barrel Collected Water
- Online Rainwater Harvesting Community:
Rain Barrel Checklist (PDF)
Composting Workshops
The Tredyffrin Township Environmental Advisory Council hosts a series of composting workshops each year to educate residents about the benefits and ease of composting in their own back yards.
Composting is the decomposition of plant remains and other once-living materials to make an earthy, dark, crumbly substance that is excellent for adding to houseplants or enriching garden soil. It is the way to recycle your yard and kitchen wastes, and is a critical step in reducing the volume of garbage needlessly sent to landfills for disposal. It's easy to learn how to compost.
Composting is not a new idea. In the natural world, composting is what happens as leaves pile up on the forest floor and begin to decay. Eventually, the rotting leaves are returned to the soil, where living roots can finish the recycling process by reclaiming the nutrients from the decomposed leaves. Composting may be at the root of agriculture as well.
Today, the use of composting to turn organic wastes into a valuable resource is expanding rapidly in the United States and in other countries, as landfill space becomes scarce and expensive, and as people become more aware of the impacts they have on the environment. In ten years, composting will probably be as commonplace as recycling aluminum cans is today, both in the backyard and on an industrial scale.
You can contribute to the 'composting revolution' by composting your own yard and kitchen wastes at home.
Check the Township's website and newsletter for upcoming composting workshops.
