Sustainable Ballard may have been the first neighborhood group to start steering their neighborhood in a more sustainable direction, but it's not the last! Within the last year or so, Sustainable West Seattle, Sustainable Capital Hill and (yes, I'm going to repeat that word) Sustainable South Seattle, have all hit the ground running. This is largely due to the motivated citizens that live in these neighborhoods, but they've also had a helping hand from SCALLOPS or Sustainable Communities All Over Puget Sound.

While the intent of these groups might be obvious - "to educate and advocate for urban sustainability in our local community" - you might still be asking how they are doing this. Besides getting involved in everything from development projects to the protection of wildlife habitats, these groups are having some serious, local fun!

Would you like to learn about eating a 100 Mile Diet? Get together with friends to learn about cooking 100 Mile meals? How about a Health Walk, which includes demos in yoga, acupuncture and more from local businesses along the way? Have you ever noticed all the fruit that's wasted when neighborhood fruit trees ripen up and there's no one there to pick it? How about a Fruit Tree Harvest Project? And, it doesn't stop there.

If your interest is peaked check out your local sustainable group. If you also happen to live in Capital Hill, next week is Sustainable Capital Hill's Imagine Capital Hill street festival.

Imagine Capitol Hill will be a one-day outdoor street festival designed to inspire participants to imagine what Capitol Hill could be like as a more sustainable community. It's on Sunday, July 20, 2008, from 11am – 4 pm, at E Thomas Steet & 10th Avenue E,
next to the Broadway Farmer's Market. It's free & open to the public.

So go on and get involved in making your neighborhood more sustainable and having a blast while doing it!

Seattle is on the brink of becoming the first city in the United States to institute a 20-cent "green fee" on disposable plastic and paper bags in grocery stores. Similar fees have been very successful throughout Europe - but it's not a done deal, and there is organized opposition from industry lobbyists against the green fee.

A proposal which bans styrofoam food service containers is also on the agenda. Read both proposals here. A strong display of public support at the July 8th City Council meeting could influence the remaining undecided council members, so PLEASE come and have your voice heard on the issue by attending this pivotal meeting on Tuesday, July 8th at 6:30pm @ City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, 2nd Floor.

See you there!

Question
I am remodeling my bathroom and I want water-saving fixtures. I installed efficient Energy Star labeled products when I did the kitchen. Is there anything similar to Energy Star for plumbing items?

Answer
There now is a labeling system similar to Energy Star for plumbing fixtures. It can be found at WaterSense. It includes useful information for conserving water and lists products that meet its requirements.

Water-saving Toilets

Toilets made before 1994 were real water guzzlers, using from 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush. In 1994, federal law mandated that new toilets had to conform to a new standard of 1.6 gpf. In order to receive the EPA's WaterSense label, a toilet must use 20 percent less water than this 1.6 standard.

Low-flush toilets haven't always had great reviews! The quest for improvement has led to other innovations, including dual-flush technology, which uses as little as 0.8 gallons to dispose of liquid waste and 1.6 gallons for solid waste. Costs range from $200 to $500 for most dual-flush models. Two widely available and popular models are TOTO and Caroma, ranging in price from $400 to $530. Check them out online at Seattle's Ecohaus.

Low-flush technology has now been greatly improved. Among Home Depot's Top Selling Toilets are the Glacier Bay 1.28 GPF listed at $119 and the Pegasus 1.28 GPF listed at $149.

High-efficiency Showerheads

When many people hear the term, "low-flow showerheads", they often think being "good to the environment" means sacrificing decent water flow. Not true anymore! A number of companies manufacturer high-efficiency showerheads that do the trick very well, and we'll be seeing the EPA's WaterSense label on them shortly.

A good showerhead will have a two- to three-gallon per minute flow rate, compared to five to eight gallons per minute for a conventional model. A very stylish model I ran across recently is the Grohe WaterCare RELEXA, which boasts a 30% water savings, while still providing an all-embracing wide spray for a truly satisfying showering for around $28.

Grohe WaterCare RELEXA Showerhead

Waterpik's new EcoFlow 1.5 showerhead saves as much as a gallon of water a minute and has five spray settings plus what might be the best water saver of all, a fingertip pause control that lets the user stop the stream while shaving, lathering or shampooing. At about $25 for the fixed mount and $40 for the handheld, it can pay for itself in as little as six months.

Also check out KOMO's Best Picks for low-flow showerheads.

Faucets & Accessories

Here you have two choices - replace your faucet or accessorize your old one with an aerator, flow device or spray device. The EPA's WaterSense label appeared on a number of bathroom faucets on display at last month's Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Chicago. Dozens of lower-flow bathroom faucets are now being marketed by companies like Delta, Gerber, Moen, and Price Pfister, and they have a maximum flow rate that's about 30 percent lower than standard models.

Interestingly, as part of the WaterSense program, an independent laboratory assesses compliance with existing faucet-construction and -performance standards as well as the additional WaterSense requirements. Here's the complete list of WaterSense faucets.

Home Depot's new Eco Options label means they are now a WaterSense partner, which should make it easier to find many of these great water saving products.

Green Building? Well of course! Affordable Housing? Most certainly! Biking from Seattle to San Francisco? Say what!! That's right, Seattle based RIDE GREEN BUILD GREEN is raising awareness and money in support of green affordable housing, and they're doing it with a month long bicycle tour.

According to Global Green USA, low income families spend more income on utilities than on education and healthcare. RGBG's vision is to strengthen the bridge between environmental sustainability and affordability-- making it possible for all to own simple, decent, low-cost homes built using environmentally considerate methods.

This year's funds, an estimated $40,000 to be raised by the riders themselves prior to the tour, will be donated to Habitat for Humanity of East King County to cover the cost difference for a LEED certified affordable home.

Pedaling down the NW Pacific Coast from July 25 - August 25 2008, riders will volunteer at affordable housing projects with green initiatives and host awareness events in various communities they pass through.

Does this sound fun yet? There are many ways to get involved if you support the cause but just don't have the legs for an 800+ mile ride. RGBG is also looking for donations, more riders, and rider support! Check out their website for more information.

If you don't already have the very colorful and informative Green Home Remodel Guides, published by the City of Seattle, then you must go here right now! If you do, you'll be excited as I am about two new additions. The recently released Green Home Buyer's Guide and Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Guide are fabulous, and a must have for all green home enthusiasts.

Why are these guides important? They put the knowledge where it matters most! In the homeowners' hands. With the Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Guide, you can now take a step beyond replacing all your light bulbs with CFLs or installing Energy Star appliances, and evaluate the energy efficiency of your whole house.

Excerpt-
For customers of Seattle City Light or Seattle Public Utilities, log on to www.seattle.gov/conserve/homeprofile to get a one-year history of your home's electricity and water use. You can also answer the online survey to receive a customized profile of your home's resource use and suggestions for improvements.

If remodeling isn't up your alley, maybe buying a green home is. The Green Home Buyers Guide demystifies green certification programs, highlights important questions to ask about green homes and gives you the info you need to make a smart green home purchase.

Excerpt-
Green homes are now searchable in the NWMLS database with its new Environmental Certifications feature. Green building certifications are used to ensure that a building was designed and built with the environment, health and community in mind. Green homes in Washington can be certified via three primary programs: BUILT GREEN™, ENERGY STAR® and LEED®.

Seattle residents can order free printed copies of the Green Home Remodel Guides by emailing sandra.mallory@seattle.gov or calling (206) 615-0731.

The Top Ten Misconceptions about Solar Hot Water Systems in Western Washington and the Truths that Pave the Road to Energy Independence
- written by Mati Bishop

1. Misconception - It's cloudy, so solar hot water systems won't work
Truth - Seattle receives a "Good" rating from FindSolar.com meaning that enough solar energy is available on a typical day to provide for solar hot water needs. Seattle has about 30% more sun per year than Germany- the current world leader in solar installations.

2. Misconception - Solar hot water systems are not cost effective in Western Washington Truth - Solar hot water systems pay for themselves in as little as eight years according to Larry Owens of the non-profit Shoreline Solar Project. Properly maintained hot water systems can have an operational life of 20-40 years and can help save an additional 15% on your electric bill when combined with a tankless hot water heater.

3. Misconception - I will have less hot water if I switch to solar power
Truth - Solar hot water systems can be designed to support any quantity of hot water needs. Even in situations where the solar hot water system needs to be combined with a conventional system to provide for all of your hot water, it can save money by helping the conventional system operate more efficiently.

4. Misconception - Solar Hot water doesn't work at night
Truth - Solar hot water systems work throughout the day to offset your energy usage and costs by heating and maintaining the temperature of your hot water. Even if you use your hot water at night, the energy collected during the day is stored to be used when you need it.

5. Misconception - It's too cold in the winter for solar hot water
Truth - Even in sub zero temperatures, solar hot water collectors can reach temperatures greater than the cold water introduced to your domestic water system, meaning there is less energy needed to heat it to the desired level and you are saving money.

6. Misconception - Solar hot water systems are expensive to install
Truth - There is no sales tax charged on solar hot water equipment in Washington State until 2011. There is also a federal tax credit of 30% of the cost of your system or $2,000, whichever is less, available to home owners who switch to solar hot water. An average system for a home or business can be installed for an average of about $7,000 in Western Washington, making it far more affordable than most kitchen and some bathroom upgrades.

7. Misconception - Solar hot water systems do not make a big impact on the environment
Truth - Hot water heating is the second largest component of a homes energy use, accounting for between 15 and 25 percent of the energy consumed. Switching to solar how water can eliminate carbon emissions created when fossil fuels are used to create energy.

8. Misconception - Solar hot water systems are ugly.
Truth - Modern solar hot water systems are usually mounted flush with the roof and resemble a skylight. Solar hot waters systems have also become a status symbol as concerns about our country's energy needs and environment have become front page news.

9. Misconception - Solar hot water takes up a lot of space
Truth - Most solar hot water systems can be implemented without using much more space than is currently being handled by your current hot water system. Working with a knowledgeable design team can help you create the system that is right for your space.

10. Misconception - It takes a long time to install a solar hot water system
Truth - Most solar hot water systems can be installed in three to four work days depending on the system and the installation team.

Check out A&R Solar's Northwest Solar Blog for more great solar information!

Cascadia's new series of educational sessions for deep green professionals launches June 4!

These aptly named Living Building Leader web-based sessions – 36 in all – are arranged in "petals", mirroring the structure of Cascadia's Living Building Challenge. The eLearning format allows for global participation in the program, while fostering an environment of collaboration and communication between industry professionals with chat functionality and application sharing. Top green building experts will lead the sessions, providing access to the latest information and knowledge on how to achieve sustainability in the built environment with a Living Building™.

"The intent of the Living Building Leader program is to impart skills and knowledge where they're most needed to effect transformative change in the way we design, build and operate our buildings," says Thor Peterson, Research Director at Cascadia. The Living Building Leader program is not for the green building neophyte; it is geared toward architects, contractors, developers, engineers, and other design professionals with technical knowledge and experience in designing and constructing high-performance green buildings.

Living Buildings are designed to function like a living organism, generating their own energy, capturing and treating their water, and having zero impact on the earth and its resources. According to a recent report by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, green building is the fastest and cheapest way to lower North America's contribution to global climate change. There are currently more than 50 Living Building projects in the design or construction phase throughout North America.

The Living Building Leader program launches on June 4th with a session led by Jason F. McLennan, CEO of Cascadia, about the importance of spirit and meaning in the design of buildings. All sessions are three hours long and occur on Wednesdays throughout the year from 9:00am to noon (PST). A combination of successful completion of sessions, exams and professional experience allows an individual to earn designation as a Living Building Leader. Cascadia will also be offering continuing education credits from a variety of professional organizations to participants.

For more information and to register, please visit Living Building Leader.

With so much rain and so many ecosavy homeowners, Seattle is well on its way to becoming a rain barrel mecca in the Northwest. When you also consider that a half-inch of rain collected from just a 300 square foot section of roof will fill a 55 gallon rain barrel, it's easy to understand why every household should have 10+ rain barrels, or find a new way to use the water. So how about flushing a toilet with it?

It just so happens that there exists a practical how-to guide on this exact subject (and it's written by a Seattleite of course). This is a DIY project, but this guide takes it step by step, explains the very low costs and makes flushing with rainwater seem like a very natural thing to want to do. Here are a few highlights from this Rain Barrel to Toilet Installation Guide:

A few years ago, I bought a 90 gallon rain barrel and hooked it up to my rain gutter on the far side of my house. I used it once in a while, but found it time consuming to fill watering cans and so it went mostly unused. Living near Seattle, I get about 37 inches of rain a year. I often see installed rain barrels around here used for gardens and flowers that are full and overflowing, not living up to their potential. I thought there must be a simpler way to use more harvested rainwater year 'round.

My solution was to relocate my rain barrel on my back porch and then hook it up to my downstairs toilet. This configuration sets the rain barrel about 8 feet above the toilet. When flushed, gravity refills the toilet with rain water from the barrel.

Rainwater to Toilet Diagram

I did a lot of hunting around on the internet and was unable to find much practical information about doing this on a residential basis. It is my hope that this web page may inspire and help others to hook up a rain barrel to their home black-water (toilet) system.

Ever used the john at the Phinney Neighborhood Center? If you have, you're flushing with rainwater. The same can be said of a number of Seattle establishments, including the Seattle City Hall, Carkeek Environmental Learning Center and the King Street Center, which has a rain collection virtual tour for your viewing pleasure. This practice is also encouraged by both the Built Green and LEED for Homes green home rating programs.

If you were worried about the legalities of collecting rainwater, rest easy, SPU received from the Washington State Department of Ecology a water right permit to capture and use rainwater that falls on rooftops and structures in the combined and partially combined sewer system. The water right permit clears the way for property owners by removing legal uncertainty. SPU plans to develop initiatives that will encourage and hasten adoption of rainwater harvesting to reduce peak stormwater flows that enter Seattle's sewer system, and to conserve potable water currently used for non-potable purposes.

The City of Seattle promotes rainwater harvesting for beneficial use and has partnered with Seattle King County Public Health to develop rainwater harvesting policy and procedures titled, Rainwater Harvesting and Connection to Plumbing Fixtures. The policy provides design guidelines and addresses specific regulatory requirements and procedures for commercial and residential rainwater harvesting systems, including system components.

I'd love to hear from homeowners in Seattle who have taken the leap to flushing with rainwater, or who have other unique uses for this great resource.

For those ready to jump into the toss-and-turn housing market and buy a newly built home, it now pays to go green.

Countrywide Home Loans, a division of Countrywide Bank, FSB, has announced the retail launch of its Green Incentive Program, which will initially be available to qualified home buyers in thirteen states, including: Alaska, Colo., Iowa, Idaho, Minn., Mont., Neb., N.D., Ore., S.D., Utah, Wash., and Wyo. The program provides an interest rate reduction of .125% on a Countrywide loan used to purchase a new home that is built meeting recognized green and energy efficient standards.

"This program gives qualified home buyers more incentive to purchase energy-efficient and green-built homes," said Dave Porter, senior vice president and division builder manager for Countrywide. "Concern for the environment and saving precious natural resources doesn't have to conflict with buying a newly constructed home. Reduced interest rates, combined with the fact that most owners of green-built, energy-efficient homes pay lower monthly utility and water bills, make this program very attractive."

The Countrywide Green Incentive Program's interest rate reduction applies to newly constructed homes that meet third-party, certified standards of recognized green building programs, including Energy Star, Earth Advantage, LEED for Homes and Built Green programs of local home builder associations, as well as the National Association of Home Builder's Green Building program. Additional information is available through many local Countrywide home loan consultants in areas where the program is available.

So how do you find homes that qualify for this program here in Seattle? Homes that are certified Built Green, Energy Star or LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) are now listed as such on the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Just ask your real estate agent to include these certifications in your search criteria.

As an agent myself, I'll be interested to see this program in motion. Exactly what does Countrywide mean by "qualified buyers"? How will they be verifying a home is certified by one of these rating programs? Will this program include all levels of Built Green (some of which aren't as energy-efficient or green as others)?

This program will definitely offer an up-front value, and puts a specific value on going green. Way to go Countrywide for pioneering this! I'm sure many others will follow.

Green building does not happen at just the design level – those who facilitate the use and sale of green buildings must also be able to speak the language of "green." To address this need, the Cascadia Region Green Building Council and the Commercial Brokers Association (CBA) are venturing together on an initiative called Certified Green Broker® commencing with a conference on May 22 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.

Geared towards the commercial real estate and finance communities, Green Broker® will introduce brokers and other commercial real estate service providers to practices of marketing, financing, leasing and selling of green buildings.

"It is often the brokers and finance professionals, not the architects and builders, who directly interface with the end user: the owner, landlord, and/or tenant. Therefore they have great influence on how owners and users may perceive the affordability and overall value of green buildings," said Jason McLennan, CEO of Cascadia.

With session topics that range from market trends to the art of crafting green leases, presenters from all disciplines of green building expertise will provide attendees with a comprehensive foundation in green issues related to the commercial brokerage industry –a knowledge base that is becoming increasingly vital to the financing, sale and leasing of commercial real estate.

"Sustainability has become a fundamental issue for the bottom line of commercial real estate, which will impact property values, leasing rates and practices and employee/tenant satisfaction," said Tricia Deering, president and CEO of CBA. "A commercial broker who is familiar with green issues will provide the best service to their clients."

Green real estate leaders and advocates Bill Browning, co-founder of Terrapin Bright Green LLC, and Martin Melaver, president and founder of Melaver Inc., are the conference's keynote speakers. For more information about this event and how to register visit Green Broker Conference. Also available - Green Broker flyer.