KC Matters

 Kansas City Business Journal features a GOING GREEN section in the February 22-28, 2008 issue.  KC and Kansas as a whole can be proud of the efforts being made to be more GREEN. There is an impressive list of impressive businesses in the Kansas City area who are working green projects and sustainability into their business management and site plans.

The story that has moved me the most is about Greensburg, Kansas, which was nearly destroyed in May, 2007 by a huge tornado.  The buildings may have been wiped out, but the HEART of the community survived and is thriving. 

Greensburg is going forth with plans to incorporate GREEN in the recovery and rebuilding plan.  The community has a PLAN for recovery with a goal of becoming a “living science museum” and promoting the possibilities of eco-tourism as a totally different tack on a rural economy.  Historically, Greensburg already had a claim to fame as being the location of the world’s largest hand-dug well.

Greensburg GreenTown group, with Executive Director Daniel Wallach, has various projects in the works.  One that will have interest to everyone connected to the real estate business involves building 12 demonstration homes.  According to the article by Rob Roberts in the KC Business Journal,  each of these homes will feature a different style of construction, from traditional stick-built to straw bale, with each being super energy efficient and green.    Having acknowledgement of the various building styles and types in a planned area will help future views of using these styles in other housing.  At present, there are too few examples of ‘unique’ styles, such as straw bale construction to provide good comparables for real estate business, including insurance and mortgage providers.  The ‘unique’ homes frequently  are built by someone who plans to live in them and who does live in them.  Therefore, these homes are not commonly on the market because of the mission behind their construction and the low volume of a single type of construction.

Other plans for going green in Greensburg include Growing Native with a view of having greenery around the community that doesn’t make excessive demands upon water to keep species of plants and trees which are not compatible with the variables of climate on the Plains.

The plans for going green were begun early in the recovery planning for Greensburg.  The time was right to develop the resource management plans that will benefit the environment and the community for many years to come.  As the plans are beginning to take shape, the community sees more elements of benefit for the future in terms of environmental management and economic development.  Drawing visitors to Greensburg to view the various projects and exhibits of green living and construction can give those visitors a picture of how green living can be practical, attractive and effective for the every day person.  The exhibits will permit an opportunity to view GREEN living in action as Greensburg moves ahead toward a goal of becoming the Greenest Town in America.

In addition to Robert’s fine article in the print edition of the Kansas City Business Journal, there were early reports on the GreenTown Plan for Greensburg at Plenty Magazine.

Green in Greensburg is a unique, admirable demonstration of the RED blooded heart of a community. Of the way a small town can overcome all of the internal factions and little things to create a viable and valuable plan for a prosperous and contented future.  Small towns across the country can learn a great deal from Greensburg about being Green and being Great.  That heart is there, it needs an opportunity to come forth.  Greensburg did it after tragedy, but any community can stir up the natural vibrancy that exists in its heart at any time.

   I read a very articulate news item this morning about the power demands for our standby ‘tools’ and equipment.   For along time, I have been carrying on about the green issue of leaving a computer turned on all the time.  In terms of our pocketbooks, to leave a computer turned on has been estimated to be about the equivalent of leaving two light bulbs burning all night — not the new low usage bulbs, but the old ones.   This doesn’t ruin the economy at our house.  What does get my attention the consideration about having 2 million homes and/or offices leaving their computer on all night.  The cost to each individual is so small as to be difficult to calculate.  But the electricity demand on the power plants is affected by that demand.

The article I saw this morning, written by  does some of the figuring of costs in terms of dollars and cents as well as the cost in terms of unnecessary energy use.   Noah Buhayar, Fellow, Rocky Mountain Institute wrote Getting savvy about standby power

I am a fan of alternative energy use such as solar and wind. But, because there is no billing from the local co-op for wind or solar use each month, we need to remember there is a cost.  The delivery equipment such as solar panels or windmills is expensive.  

How much does a household need?  If we want a power supply that will be equivalent of our present ‘no brainer’ grid use, the cost for the equipment is high enough to make one blink.   Of course, we can make decisions about power use and change that need.  With today’s thinking about what we need for services and creature comfort, those decisions must be carefully considered before jumping off the grid or the experience can be comparable to jumping off of a high cliff.

Who maintains the equipment?  Yep, you and me!   When a tree got into our power line and messed with a small part, we could call the power company and trained people were there In minutes to fix the issue.  They safely removed a broken branch from the power area and gave a mulberry tree a haircut in the dark.  Electrocution from a solar generator or a wind generator is still electrocution.     Electrocution doesn’t have any consideration for the ignorant who may be swept into the romantic mission of producing their own power.

Please don’t misunderstand.  I am very supportive of alternatives.  I admit a preference passive alternatives such as window placement for solar gain.   Solar tubes and homemade modifications can change the lighting in a dark area so dramatically and eliminate the demand for lights. 

We have a TINY eastern basement window.  Now that the grasses have gone down that were growing behind the water reservoir, I am amazed at the light in the basement.  The first time I saw it, I thought Richard had gone to work leaving the garage door open to invite mice, copperheads and turtles to come in.  All of this light gain is through a VERY dusty window.  When I finish this missive, I’m going down there and clean that window, then bring the plants indoors before we get a nasty freeze tonight.   The light they will enjoy is far from optimal for their growth, but it is good ‘resting’ light for them to have a chance of surviving to spend another summer in the yard or on the deck.

Please go over to read the article about our On Demand Equipment Power Use (Vampire equipment).   http://green.yahoo.com/blog/amorylovins/14/getting-savvy-about-standby-power.html

The writer says it so very well.  Read and think about things that can be shut down. I like the idea of going around my office and shutting off the surge protector power strips.  I do this when I leave the house, but have gotten presumptive about it when I am here.

The writer says it so very well.Read and think about things that can be shut down. I like the idea of going around my office and shutting off the surge protector power strips.I do this when I leave the house, but have gotten presumptive about it when I am here. 

I’ve written about Deanna Rose Farm before, but that was when I only knew about it on the Internet. We had an opportunity to visit in June and it is absolutely and immeasurably better than the publicity indicated. There are many pens of farm animals who are prepared to enjoy petting.Goats have a great time. There are babies and adults. There are two set-ups with chickens, more than one duck pond. One pond has ducks, geese, AND swans.We had the little one there and she had ample opportunities to touch animals

Hannah has big ideas about the Canoe that she got for her Dad’s birthday.The canoe has dreams of floating on Clinton Lake near Lawrence, Kansas. Clinton Dam was built in 1971 to reduce seasonal flooding in the Wakarusa Valley. In this area, the Kaw River and Wakarusa River come together to make a rich valley. Wakarusa is a word taken from the Potawatomie language meaning “knee deep in mud.” There was a severe, damaging flood in 1951. Read more about the Floods of 1951 .  Clinton Lake  provides safety from flood damage and far more with the recreational opportunties and wildlife habitat that enjoys an undeveloped area.