Support CSED on GiveNOLA Day, May 5, 2015

Support CSED for GiveNOLA Day, this Tuesday, May 5. Last year, we raised $6,009 for the Lower 9th Ward CSED. We've set our goal this year at $10,000 and 300 donors.

 

Your support will help us to continue our rebuilding work with Lower 9th Ward residents, in the Bayou Bienvenue Triangle, with food security through community gardens, and the renovation of our new office and energy efficiency/environmental education center. 

 

Donate to CSED for GiveNOLA Day.    We are most grateful for your support!

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.

Food Security for All! Hundreds Come Shop at Grocery Store For-A-Day.

A little snapshot of the good times we had on Saturday. Thanks to all who came out, and we hope to continue to have your support as we move forward. The vision of the Lower Ninth Ward Food Access Coalition is availability of fresh, quality food that is convenient and affordable to everyone in the Lower Ninth Ward.

- -Number of people who attended = approximately 300

- Number of community organizations participating = 20

- Number of volunteers = 50+

- Amount of food distributed = A LOT

- Funds raised = over $2700

- Pulling off the first grocery store in the Lower 9th Ward in DECADES (and the first pop-up grocery store EVER), inspiring hope and motivation in our community, and getting the media and our elected officials on board = PRICELESS

Submitted by Jenga Mwendo, CSED Food Security Coordinator

http://www.abc26.com/news/newswithatwist/wgno-pop-up-grocery-store-provides-temporary-relief-to-residents-of-the-lower-9th-ward-20121017,0,3438773.story

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/10/lower_9th_ward_residents_annou.html#cmpid=nwsltrhead

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/blogofneworleans/archives/2012/10/12/lower-ninth-ward-to-get-grocery-store-for-a-day

http://wwno.org/post/grocery-store-day

http://www.nola.com/nolavie/index.ssf/2012/10/makin_groceries_in_the_lower_n.html#incart_flyout_living

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

Lower 9th Ward "Views" - Oliver Bush Playground

http://www.nola.com/katrina/index.ssf/2012/02/oliver_bush_playground_renovat.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.

LSU AgCenter's Master Gardener Program

I am delighted to report that I have been

accepted into LSU AgCenter's Louisiana

Master Gardener Program. "This program is a

volunteer training program designed for

individuals who have an interest in gardening,

want to learn more about it, and then give

back to their community."  For more

information about this & other LSU AgCenter

programs or for research-based, up-to-date

regional gardening advice, visit

www.lsuagcenter.com

 

I look forward to sharing this experience with the Lower 9th Ward Community!

 

On A Clear Lot, You Can See Limitless Possibilities

A recent initiative of the City of New Orleans to address blight in the Lower 9^th Ward and create jobs is showing great promise in combating one of the more aggravating problems we face in our neighborhood – severely overgrown vacant lots and the debris that they attract.  The Lot Maintenance Pilot Program has cut over 700 lots in the Lower 9 since it began in October – more than 10% of all property in the neighborhood.  In one week in December, 100 lots were cut in the Lower 9.  Compare this to the 15 lots that were cut in the city as a whole through the INAP program in the first two weeks of December!

In addition, of the twelve people hired to implement the program, half are exoffenders and more than half are residents of the lower 9.  Representatives of the city met with representatives of Lower 9 neighborhood organizations to identify priority areas for attention.  Some of the areas targeted to address safety and health concerns are major corridors, areas where children and seniors congregate and catch the bus, and areas that obstruct the vision of drivers. 

If you drive through areas in the neighborhood where these lots are, the difference is quite striking.  At the last BlightSTAT meeting, it was reported that the city’s remaining funds for the project would enable it to cut another 200-300 lots.  Liens are not attached to the property for this service.  So if you live next to a severely overgrown lot or are aware of a particular lot that creates a problem for the neighborhood, call the CSED, 324-9955. We will try to get it added to the priority list for cutting. This is one program that we should encourage the City to continue!

Download Lotclearingmap Here is a map of some of the lots that have been cut.  You can click on the link to go directly to the city’s website where this and other useful data on sheriff sales and code lien enforcement is located.