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Another "green" success story!
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Unitarian Universalists utilize green technology in Galloway church
Unitarian Universalists utilize green technology in Galloway
By EMILY PREVITI Staff Writer, 609-272-7221


(Published: Tuesday, February 10, 2009)

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP - An underground steeple?

The geothermal HVAC system at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Jersey Shore might as well be, according to member Paul Utts.

Utts said Monday he likens the system to a subterranean steeple because the congregation chose it despite its higher-than-anticipated cost of more than $20,000.

"You can't see it, but it's a statement about who we are," Utts said.

Unitarian Universalists do not subscribe to a formal creed or doctrine, but follow seven principles. One emphasizes respect for "the interdependent web of all existence." So it's fitting that members tend to dedicate time and energy to environmentalism, along with other social justice initiatives such as promoting peace.

Utts was on site Monday as member Victor Maene installed solar panels he hopes will cover 40 percent of electricity needs in the building. When that's finished, the building will be complete just in time for the dedication ceremony Sunday.

Congregation leaders are seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification for the building, which was far enough along in September to start hosting services.

Applicants for LEED cetification must document, among other things, their construction refuse. In this case, waste - much of which was recycled - generated during nine months nearly matched the weight of what normally leaves a work site every day, according to builder Chris Holaday.

Some of those typical constrtuction projects likely provided the recycled wood and plastic bags that were used for the outtside deck. Another exterior indicator of the building's green bent: photovolactic cells on the roof. The landscaping features native plants, which do not require as much maintenance, such as as fertilizing and irrigation, because they can survive in local climate. A rainwater collection and filtration system will supply water, should any the grounds require any irrigation.

Inside, strategically placed windows emit enough sunlight to make the compact fluorescent bulbs obsolete for much of the day. At night, they are activated by censors and will be partially powered by solar energy, Utts said.

And building a basement rather than another second, above-ground level will allow the lower level to use the earth as a natural insulator, according to project manager Kevin Olandt.

The decorating choices also reflect an intent to embody environmentalism.

Floors are made of bamboo, recycled tile, or nontoxic, organic marmoleum. The countertops are 50 percent recycled glass and members donated furniture and fixtures, Holaday said.

Ash collected from scrubbers at coal-fired power plants make up the drywall, Utts said.

And when selecting paint, the congregation chose pale colors because they contain fewer volatile organic compounds, which can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, cancer, organ and central nervous system damage, and other harmful health effects, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

E-mail Emily Previti:

epreviti@pressofac.com

Vb>Green options

Photovoltaic system: Sunlight is transformed into electricity by semiconductor cells, which make up solar panels. The panels vary in size depending on location, sunlight availability and consumer needs. The system also can include mounts (often to roofs), connectors and storage batteries. Saves as much as $2,000 annually.

Low-emittance (Low-E) glass: Double panes and an invisible metallic coating boost insulation and cut energy costs between 32 and 39 percent.

Geothermal HVAC: System harnesses heat from the ground to heat and cool indoor air and water. The open-loop type uses well water as a heat source and returns it to another well;
closed-loop circulates water and antifreeze in a pipe to extract heat from the earth. The $4,000-plus investment saves between 20
and 70 percent on heating and cooling costs.

Life Breath Heat Recovery Ventilator: Moves stale, contaminated air from inside to the outdoors and helps control humidity.

Tankless, on-demand hot
water heater: Warms water only when a user asks for it, rather than constantly applying heat to a tank of it. When a hot water tap turns, a gas or electric source heats cold water as it travels through a pipe to the faucet. It is between 8 and 34 percent more efficient than a traditional setup.

Sources: Consultant Stephen Fiedler; UUC South Jersey Board of Trustees President Paul Utts; U.S. EPA; U.S. Department of
Energy; Efficient Windows Collaborative; Nutech Brands Inc.;
ToolBase Services



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http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Business/story?id=6846349&page=1

Click on the above link to see a success story from Spain.

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LATEST NEWS: West Cape May delays vote on rules for windmills, solar energy

By RICHARD DEGENER Staff Writer, 609-463-6711
(Published: Thursday, February 12, 2009)

What's Next: Vote on windmill-solar system ordinance Feb. 25, 1 p.m. at Borough Hall, 732 Broadway

WEST CAPE MAY - Borough Commission postponed a scheduled vote Wednesday night on regulations for alternative-energy systems to allow time for more research.

The decision followed a spirited discussion at the commission's work session on the maximum height of wind mills, minimum acreage required and permit fees.

Another issue is allowing more liberal use of such systems on farms, but the commission decided it would adopt a law that could be amended or that would allow those with bigger plans to seek a variance.

Fees were a major stumbling block as the commission grappled with making such systems, whether solar or wind, as affordable as possible while also covering municipal costs to review applications. The commissioners support the use of such systems but want to make sure installations do not compromise public safety.

"Give an incentive to people to do alternative energy and don't try to gouge them," said Broadway resident Gene Cathrall.

The ordinance calls for a $500 zoning permit. There is another $500 application fee for a solar or wind system for an existing house and $250 for a new house.

The commission talked about reducing the fee, perhaps to as little as $35, for rooftop solar-panel installations. They would involve less review than ground-based panels or wind systems.

Mayor Pam Kaithern said the commission would look at the fees neighboring towns are charging before the final vote, which is scheduled for Feb. 25. Amendments that are less restrictive can be done at that meeting without starting from scratch and reintroducing an ordinance.

Much of the discussion was about height and lot size for windmills. The ordinance allows one windmill per property on a lot that is a minimum of a half-acre. The height limit would be 50 feet on half-acre lots, but it can increase to 150 feet as the lot size increases. Windmills would be limited to 100 kilowatts or less, which fixes an earlier typo in the ordinance setting them at 10 kilowatts.

Cathrall argued half-acre lots were too small due to noise, and if a windmill toppled, it could end up in a neighbor's yard.

Peter Lomax, who has a Cape May Court House consulting firm that deals with wind energy, argued windmills would have to be at least 80 feet to get above trees and structures to be exposed to enough wind.

Kaithern said the half-acre minimum would keep the windmills from the most congested core section of town. Besides the acreage, there are also setbacks from property lines and limits due to a house being on the property, since windmills are only allowed as an accessory use and can't be on a vacant lot.

"Half an acre is the outer circle of the town. Let's put it in place and see how it works," Kaithern said.

Borough Engineer Ray Roberts supported half-acre lots.

"We're trying to encourage wind energy, and that's the minimum size. If we increase to an acre, we take people out of the option of doing it," Roberts said.

The delay will give the commission time to think about lot size requirements. If lot sizes become more restrictive, then the process would start from scratch with a new ordinance being introduced.

Farms are another issue. Farmers have the land but would be limited to one windmill. They could get a variance for more, but some opposed this. Cathrall, who opposed windmills on small lots, supported liberal regulations on farms.

"Why make them get a variance? It's just one more government bureaucracy," Cathrall said.

E-mail Richard Degener:

RDegener@pressofac.com



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