Chesapeake Home

If the last few days of this East Coast heatwave hasn’t made you think about solar or wind power options for energy, then nothing will. Imagine if we could harness the sun for the past few days and convert that energy into savings in our bank account. It’s possible and it may be here sooner than you think. Check out a recent article in the Baltimore Sun about how local governments in Anne Arundel County might pass legislation that will allow small windmills in residential areas. http://bit.ly/a0ul9u

Today Maryland announced a plan to add $1 million of infrastructure to support electric vehicle use throughout the State. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the investment will build approximately 65 electric vehicle charging stations around the State to attract and support the coming electric vehicle industry. In addition, plans are in place for Maryland workers to retrofit the state’s existing truck stop electric infrastructure, an improvement which is expected to displace approximately 400,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually by allowing trucks to use electric power instead of idling at truck stops.

“Electric vehicles offer the potential to displace significant amounts of gasoline, nearly 20 percent of which is currently imported from the Persian Gulf,” noted Governor O’Malley. “Investing in electric vehicle technologies will create jobs for our workers, green opportunities for our businesses, and a Smart, Green and Growing Maryland.”

This funding complements the recently enacted Electric Vehicle Tax Credit bill and Electric Vehicle HOV bill, which recently passed into law. As major vehicle manufactures begin to release electric vehicles for sale to general consumers throughout the course of this year, adding this infrastructure will better equip Maryland to meet the demand for publicly accessible charging stations.

The locations of these new charging stations include:

• Truck Stop Electrification (TSE) units at Baltimore, Elkton, and Jessup, totaling 249 TSE installations
• 9 to 16 electric vehicle re-charging stations in various parking garages throughout Baltimore City
• 55 electric vehicle re-charging stations around the state and the I95 corridor, including Harford, Cecil, Baltimore City, Baltimore, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Charles, Frederick and Prince George’s counties.

Our April/May print issue just published, and the new ‘current issue’ has been updated on CH.com.  Following is the letter to readers I offered as an intro to the current issue:

Ten years ago, if I met you at a party and you told me you worked in the green industry, I would have assumed that you were a landscape designer, studied horticulture, or owned a garden center. Today, for most Americans, the green industry has come to mean something quite different. We think of funny looking light bulbs, insulation made of recycled denim, electric cars, energy-efficient appliances, and solar panels.

But long before our blue planet started going green, millions of professionals in the green industry were busy making commercial and residential landscapes more beautiful and inviting. This issue looks at green in both senses.

While current pop culture and media buzz seems to focus on new energy efficient and sustainably manufactured products, not much credit is given to the notion that the greenest product is the one that doesn’t get made. The same can be said of houses: buying an existing home has a much smaller environmental impact than building a new green home. Many of the house projects we cover are renovations—outdated, inefficient older homes that get updated for contemporary life. But the renovation project we feature in this issue is exceptional. On page 40, you’ll find the story of a house that has evolved since the early 1700s and, over the past five years, has experienced dramatic renovations that not only preserve its historic nature but also make it one of the most high-tech houses I’ve ever visited. This combined with extensive new gardens, give the home green credentials no matter how you define them.

Still, existing houses are not for everyone, and our story on buying or selling a green home offers advice about what to consider if you are in the market to purchase an eco-house, or what features to consider for resale value if you are building or buying a new green home.

A more garden-variety definition of green turns our focus outside and into the landscape for a glimpse of what spring has to offer after the snowiest mid-Atlantic winter on record. Our cover story features a serenely beautiful little garden in the Eastport neighborhood of Annapolis. Other stories—on what plants to select for container gardens in the shade, great recipes for vegetarian cooking, and how the beauty of the garden is enhancing interior décor—explore green from horticultural, culinary, and decorative perspectives.

We hope you’re not sick of going green, but because we know you might be, we thought that some unique alternatives might be the perfect way to welcome spring.

Although we’re only two days into the month, I can’t help but immediately associate April with Earth Day, which is still three weeks away. Blame it on my environmentally-minded mother, who covered an old lunchbox of mine in “Save the Rainforest” bumper stickers; took me to sort green, brown, and clear bottles for recycling in the early ’90s; and insisted we go plant a tree on April 22nd of the first year I was big enough to tote a shovel.

With that said, I hope you can excuse me for not waiting ‘till the 22nd to share my favorite new green find: the Bobble. Designed by the ever-prolific Karim Rashid, the Bobble is made of a reusable plastic, and has a small, built-in carbon-based filter. The best part? It’s under $10.

One of the more frustrating things about greening-up our lives is that oftentimes, the energy savers and newest technologies (i.e. solar panels and hybrid cars) seem fairly out of reach and are large investments. But as the pros I spoke to for a recent Q & A on how to be a more eco-conscious homeowner stressed: there are little things we can do in our daily routines that can make a big impact.

Whenever I go to the gym (translation: back in the days when I did run religiously…) I tried (I really did!) to make the switch to the hard, reusable lexan bottles all my outdoorsier friends were taking on hiking trips. It ended up being a minor disaster: I proved too clumsy to drink out of the wide mouth, tilt my head back, and continue in stride without dumping half of the container down the front of me. (Not that I looked like a beauty queen during a good workout, but still…) So, (and please don’t hold this against me) I switched back to the squeezable, disposable plastic water bottles, and tried my best to use just one a week.

The Bobble is the answer to my former gym-rat alter ego’s prayers. It is reusable, affordable, has a contoured shape that’s easy to grip, is BPA-free, and it’s CLEAN: the water tastes just like bottled water—thanks to the handy little filter inside—which is good for about 300 uses (replacement filters are just $7).

And it’s out just in time for swimsuit season. I guess I’ve run out of excuses to not get back on that treadmill, hunh?

Bobble is available at the A+R Store or at waterbobble.com

Based in Baltimore and also servicing Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties, Thyme for You, LLC personal chef Beth Andresini offers these quick and easy tips for reducing energy consumption when cooking at home:

1. Do Your Prep Work First.
Instead of chopping, cutting, and dicing while a pre-heated oven remains idle, do your prep work first, then turn on the oven or stovetop.

2. Use the Microwave when Possible.
Granted the microwave is not the right appliance to use with most cooking, but it can quickly heat up water or other quick tasks without using much energy.

3. Use the Right Pots and Pans.
Cheap pots and pans don’t distribute heat as evenly as higher-quality ones. Also, if you’re using a gas stovetop and you see the blue flame surrounding the pot, it’s too small and you’re wasting energy.

4. Resist the Urge to Constantly Open the Oven Door.
You see that small window on your oven door? Well, looking through it to check a roast’s progress is a better idea that opening the door every 15 minutes, allowing heat to escape.

5. Put a Lid on It.
When possible, cover a pot on the stove – it will heat up quicker, allowing you to turn down the heat.

6. Revisit the ’70s.
Remember that crock pot Grandma used to make soups and casseroles? Well, crock pots are very efficient … not to mention a time saver.

7. Cut back on water.
Many times we fill a pot with way too much water, which not only wastes water but will also take longer for the water to boil, wasting energy.

Check out some of Beth’s yummy recipes at thymeforyou.com, or better yet, give Beth a call and leave the cooking to her.

Giramundo Chair, Environment Furniture

The brand name says it all: Environment. It’s a furniture company all about creating an environment with a focus on conservation of the environment–and we just got a sneak peak at their fabulous new collection.

Jean-Marie Massaud, new Creative Director for Environment Furniture, will be debuting his new collection at this year’s Salone Del Mobile Milan, April 14-19, 2010, but we’re excited to offer you an advanced preview gallery of some of our favorite pieces from the collection.

True to the Environment philosophy and the current collection, Massaud’s creations maintain the brand’s commitment to environmental responsibility and are crafted from sustainable materials. Whether using reclaimed materials (a common Environment brand characteristic) or designing pieces that use less material but still maintain quality (to reduce overall carbon footprint from sourcing to distribution), Massaud’s collection reflects the mind-set of a design- and environmentally-conscious consumer.

Says Davide Berruto, CEO of Environment Inc., “This collection is poised to completely reinvent the way we think about sustainable design.  We hope to leave a lasting impression of quality, functionality, and real purpose—I can think of no better way for Environment to premiere in Milan.”

Environment Furniture is available locally at Theodore’s in DC. CLICK HERE to visit the gallery.  To learn more about Environment Furniture, visit environmentfurniture.com.

Bulbrite, a leading supplier of innovative, energy-efficient light source solutions, just introduced Purify02 Compact Fluorscent Bulbs, that not only provide energy efficient lighting but break down household odors as well.  Musty smelling basement? Stinky room where the dog sleeps or you keep the litter box?  This new Purify02 bulb was developed to help you combat that problem.

This product is new, so I haven’t been able to test it out yet, but still wanted to let you know.  Company representative explain that a TiO2 coating on the bulb that helps purify the air and eliminate odors. Turn on the light and air purification begins in just 10 minutes!

For more info and to find retailers in your area check out Bulbrite.com, call 800-528-5555, or email info@BULBRITE.com

EcoDomos unique recycled leather is made from leather scraps taken from tanneries that produce leather for (among other things) BMW® car seats. The recycled leather is then shredded and bound with latex and tree bark. EcoDomos leather tiles have been installed in numerous residences and commercial installations, including staircases and hotel floors, and has unique abrasion and wear resistance properties.

This leather is now applied to composite stones mixed with left over material from stone quarries.

The M+E Collection offers:
• Twelve liner and decorative borders in a variety of colors
• Suitable for all areas including kitchens backsplashes and bathrooms (no showers!)
• A complete line of accessories to complement the installation
• Easily customized in sheet format or with any EcoDomo recycled leather
• Stocked and available in the United States

Green Features:
• Made from a minimum of 60% pre-consumer recycled materials;
• Recycled Leather is low-VOC & made of rapidly renewable materials;
• Composite stone backing is made from pre-consumer waste;
• Installed with low-VOC unsanded grout and mortar;
• EcoDomo buys carbon credits to offset the fossil fuels used in shipping;
• Packaged using recycled materials.

Available across the USA through Sunderland Brothers distributors and retailers, the M+E Collection™ will create a unique, luxurious and warm environment in your home or commercial space.

Text provided by EcoDomo.

Sometimes it’s the simplest forms stand out most.

Naturally inspired but contemporarily designed, Bruehl’s MOSSPINK sofa has been awarded the Focus Green Silver 2008 design prize and a 2008 GOOD DESIGN® Award by the Chicago Athenaeum.

Designer Kati Meyer-Brühl created the lines of the sofa to be reminiscent of objects found in nature, yet take on a modern shape. The arm and backrests, for example, are meant to emulate pebbles.

Don’t let the name fool you; the MOSSPINK line is very green. Low VOC foam is used for the cushions and FSC certified wood makes up the wood frame. Upholstery is available in an array of eco-friendly fabrics, so you can customize as you please.

For information on locations and pricing information, contact info@batinau.com, go to batinau.com, or call 888-521-9663.

Although it has officially been serving guests for several months now, the Baltimore Inner Harbor Fairfield Inn & Suites recently celebrated with a grand opening that I had the opportunity to attend.  The event was great, but what makes it noteworthy is the hotel itself. I have been following the progress of this hotel through construction because I knew that when it was complete, it would be a very special place.  A hotel of firsts and onlies, the Inner Harbor Fairfield is the first and only LEED Certified ‘green’ hotel in Baltimore, it is the first Fairfield Inn anywhere to have a full service restaurant (Tavern 101), and the first and only to use and feature a salvaged grain storage silo to capture and store rain water runoff to serve all the landscaping irrigation needs.

An adaptive reuse of the 1787 Baltimore Brewing Company where in one of the rooms Mary Pickersgill is said to have sown the star spangled banner, the completely renovated building is desinged to be 24% more efficient than what is required by code. According to General Manager, Patrick Leary, the hotel is also carbon neutral, thanks to the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates, which represent proof that electricity was generated from an eligible renewable energy resource.

A United States Green Building Council Maryland Chapter (USGBC MD) Platinum Sponsor, the hotel features such green elements as appliances & fixtures that reduce energy, waste & water usage; a green roof, which insulates the building while reducing the radiant heat and reduces the volume of storm water flowing into streams and drainage channels; fragrance free, all natural, biodegradable cleaning products and laundering, among others.

On hand at the grand opening were guests of the hotel, green building professionals, builders, developers, suppliers, architects, engineers, members of USGBC MD, representatives from hotel partners like the National Aquarium, and more. For additional information visit greenfairfieldinn.com.