Thoughts from A Special Place

"Be good to the environment and you'll be able to smile like the alligator." - John Taylor

Thoughts from A Special Place

"Bayou Bienvenue has been good to us, it's time for us to be good to it." - John Taylor

Dreams Of An Orchard Project: Before & After

With hard work, funding from Blue Moon, help from Historic Green, help from LA Green Corps, help from LSU Landscape Architecture Students, and countless volunteers, the CSED is close to completing its Dreams Of An Orchard Project at 4817/19 Dauphine Street.  Task remaining; installation of landscape fabric, completion of fence, completion of permanent rain catchment, completion of brick pathways, additional plantings and DIY Handbook.

BEFORE

AFTER

Lower 9th Ward "Views"

CSED Hosts Green Corps Students for Training in Radiant Barrier Installation

The CSED hosted Green Corps students last week for training in radiant barrier installation at Mr. Sidney Butler's house. Mr. Butler became the 142nd Lower 9th Ward property owner to save energy & increase his comfort by having radiant barrier installed in his attic by the CSED. http://www.sustainthenine.org/programs/built-environment/radiant-barriers-weatherization    LA Green Corps is a youth & adult training program working to preserve both our environment & architectural integrity in the Greater New Orleans area.  Over 400 students have graduated from their programs.  http://www.lagreencorps.org/

Become a Part of the "Radiant Nine"

If you are a property owner in the Lower 9th Ward, you too can become part of the "Radiant Nine." 

A radiant barrier can be installed at any time, before or after your house is renovated and occupied.  All you need is a roof in good condition.

You can sign up online http://www.sustainthenine.org/programs/built-environment/radiant-barriers-weatherization  or

Call Kathy Muse at 939-9028 or 324-9955 for more information.  You can also come by the CSED office at 5130 Chartres Street, New Orleans LA 70117, Tuesday through Saturday 10am - 4pm.

Sustain the Nine!  River to Bayou

RB Program Good for Residents & Environment

CSED Radiant Barrier and Weatherization Fact Sheet

The CSED’s Radiant Barrier (RB) and Weatherization programs coordinated by the CSED, for Lower 9^th Ward property owners, has dramatically increased residents’ quality of life and in some cases resulted in utility savings of up to 40%.

Home Energy Assessments (HEA) are part of this program.  HEA’s inform homeowners of any health and safety issues in the home and provide written information on how to further increase energy efficiency. 

Priority for the RB program is given to seniors. 

CSED’s RB program includes community outreach efforts that inform residents of other CSED programs and projects, events happening in their neighborhood, and available community resources.

The CSED RB Program was initially established in 2007 in partnership with Sierra Club and Alliance for Affordable Energy.   LA Green Corps, Historic Green, AmeriCorps, and hundreds of volunteers have been contributing partners, as well as Lower 9^th Ward property owners, who make a donation toward cost of RB materials. The RB Program continues to be a major CSED service to the community with two certified Home Energy Raters on staff to perform home energy assessments and radiant barrier installations thus increasing our quality control.  

CSED’s Basic Weatherization Program was started in partnership with Alliance for Affordable Energy, and Sierra Club.  Contributing partners have included LA Green Corps, Historic Green, AmeriCorps, Global Green and Nurtured World.

CSED Radiant Barrier /Weatherization Program Numbers as of October 31, 2012:

• Educational, qualitative, Home Energy Assessments (HEA) have been performed on 214 homes.
• Radiant Barrier has been installed in 138 homes in the Lower 9^th Ward.  (Radiant Barrier saves approximately 10% annually on homeowners utility bills, increases comfort, and reduces CO2 emissions).
• Ducts have been sealed on 19 homes.  (Houses that receive duct sealing reduce energy consumption by 16% and save more than $80 a year).
• Weatherizations have been performed on 72 homes. 
• Currently, 7 homes have been assessed and are pending installation of Radiant Barrier.  41 applicants are pending home energy assessments.
• CSED Radiant Barrier/Weatherization Program has potential to serve over 2,000 homes in the Lower 9. (2010 Census verified 2,101 households in the Lower 9^th Ward )

Calculated savings for homes with R19 attic insulation and receive RB and Duct Sealing from the CSED.

*Radiant Barrier and Duct Sealing calculated annual savings for a 1,540-ft2 house with uninsulated ducts in the attic

Original Attic Modification	R19 Attic Insulation				Code-Level Attic     Insulation
Attic System Modification	Add RB, Improve Ducts, Add Insulation	Add RB, Improve Ducts	Add RB, and Insulation	Add RB	Add RB, Improve Ducts	Add RB
Miami	$460	$430	$180	$140	$410	$120
New Orleans	$730	$670	$240	$150	$610	$120
Atlanta	$670	$600	$200	$80	$540	$70
Baltimore	$1,210	$1,070	$320	$80	$950	$60
Chicago	$1,150	$1,020	$280	$60	$910	$40

*Based on Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL).  ORNL is a multiprogram science and technology laboratory managed for the U.S. Department of Energy.

LSU AgCenter Master Gardener Program Certificate

Congratulations to Kathy Muse, CSED Program Coordinator, who recently received a certificate from LSU AgCenter for successfully completing the required hours of classroom and field instruction in their Master Gardener Program! Topics in this course of instruction included palms & cyads, botany & plant propagation, basic entomology & plant pathology, weed science, soils, pesticides & the environment, vegetable, herb & organic gardening, home fruit & nut production, lawn care, ornamental horticulture, diagnostic keys to urban plant problems, and pest detection. The Master Gardener Handbook which is a research-based resource for this class is available at the CSED office for use by the community.

To learn more about the LSU AgCenter Master Gardener Program visit www.lsuagcenter.com

CSED Staff Visits the Growing Power Conference 2012 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

http://www.growingpower.org/

Warrenetta, Vincent & I have just returned from the 2012 Growing Power Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin thanks to two scholarships provided by Will Allen, founder of Growing Power, and to Nat Turner, founder of Our School at Blair Grocery, who extended them to the CSED.  Thank you so much for your generosity and the opportunity to attend such an informative, inspirational and motivating gathering.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXZwh_Fuuxc                                                                   

http://schoolatblairgrocery.blogspot.com/p/about-osbg.html

Don't Guess: Soil Test!

Are you sodding a new lawn, planting trees, flowers, shrubs, or a vegetable garden? Soil has everything to do with the vitality of your lawn and garden. If you like Azaleas for example, a high pH (basic soil) will never permit that stunning spring foliage. A soil with insufficient nutrients will not support a robust garden.  The time to test and amend your soil is before problems arise so your plants will flourish.  Be sure and test for heavy metals if you are planning to eat what you grow.

Soil testing is offered by LSU Ag Center for an affordable fee.  Find out more online at www.lsuagcenter.com/stpal or contact the local ag center office at (504) 658-2900.