Communicator

Bi-monthly Publication of the Newsletter Committee
volume 62, number 2
March/April 2006

Sustainable Design & Practice Ad Hoc Committee Launched and Underway


Just a few short months ago, the GHI Board of Directors established the Sustainable Design and Practices (SDP) ad hoc committee. The committee was established with the following goals:
  1. conserve and enhance our natural resources,
  2. reduce utility and other costs, and
  3. provide a better quality of life for all.

Our specific goals for 2006 include:
  1. conduct research and form recommendations to guide GHI Board and Staff in the selection of more sustainable HVAC systems for member homes;
  2. create a bulk purchase program for sustainable products, and
  3. increase community awareness and support for adoption of sustainable principles through speaker sessions, tours, a catalogue of locally-implemented sustainable practices and designs, and informational resources.

With those goals in mind, SDP has formed several subcommittees of its own. GHI members interested in the work of these subcommittees are invited to contact the appropriate subcommittee chair for further information. Additional SDP subcommittees will be formed as the need arises.

* Please note that SDP wants to involve any GHI member who is interested. If you need disability related accommodations in order to participate fully, please contact the chair of the subcommittee and indicate your needs. SDP has worked with our GHI staff partners to put in place a smooth process to support the involvement of all GHI members.

  • Energy Efficient Homes Subcommittee:


    • chaired by Chris Logan (loganc@joimail.com) or 301/474-1979

    The SDP Energy Efficient Homes Subcommittee establishes short and long term energy efficiency recommendations for GHI homes and the GHI administration building. The short term recommendations are to:
    1. reduce building heating costs,
    2. reduce energy needs for hot water,
    3. offer information on energy efficient lighting and home appliances, and
    4. offer information on air conditioning choices.

    The long term energy efficiency goals are to evaluate and recommend:
    1. heating and air conditioning systems for GHI and the administration building,
    2. energy distribution systems,
    3. temperature control systems,
    4. fuel choices and
    5. GHI energy procurement options.

    These long term goals will be derived from sustainability and systems engineering principles.

    You can help. The Energy Efficient Homes Subcommittee is asking members to send a copy of their annual energy usage (part of your PEPCO bill as shown below) to the GHI office, attention SDP: Chris Logan. This information will be used to model energy consumption for the various types of GHI homes and will serve as a baseline to measure the effectiveness of energy conservation measures. Include the type of house (brick, block or frame), location (middle or end unit) and if an addition has been added. click on PEPCO bill to enlarge

  • Water and Land Use Subcommittee:

    • chaired by Matt Berres (matt_berres@yahoo.com) or 301/474-4161, extension 132

    The Water and Land Use subcommittee promotes practices that conserve water resources, enhance natural landscapes, and protect watershed integrity. We will focus on sustainability issues related to out-of-doors activities. For 2006, our group is focused on:
    1. promoting use of rain barrels for rain water capture by members,
    2. encouraging rain gardens to help reduce stormwater runoff, and
    3. supporting indoor water conservation practices such as low-flow showerheads and faucets.

    Demonstration projects and member education will also be a key component of our work this year.

  • Transportation Subcommittee:


    • chaired by Melissa Ehrenreich (mehrenreich@comcast.net) or 301 666-1069

    The Transportation subcommittee suggests ways to increase air quality, transit, and large-scale transit initiatives. Our group will complement the goals of the Energy Efficient Homes subcommittee to reduce CO2 emissions throughout our community, the majority of which come from automobile pollution. We will find new alternatives that “green” GHI’s service fleet, expand access to shared transportation (e.g. car sharing, private shuttles, mass transit), explore “green” sound barriers to filter out noise pollution from high traffic areas around GHI, and increase support for biking and walking throughout GHI.

  • Community Education and Planning subcommittee:


    • chaired by Jim Cohen (jcohen@ursp.umd.edu) or 301/405-6795.

    The Community Education and Planning subcommittee will develop a range of strategies for educating the GHI Board, SDP committee members and GHI residents about what "sustainability" could mean for Greenbelt. The goal is to help GHI come up with an overall vision for retrofitting Greenbelt to be a sustainable community, through the creation of educational activities and resources that help GHI members understand:
    1. sustainability options;
    2. the benefits and costs of each option, and relationships among options;
    3. which options deserve highest priority and why;
    4. and the actions that residents can take - - individually and collectively -- to help make Greenbelt a more sustainable community.