Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Sustainability’ Category

Atlanta and Decatur Partner to Launch Home Energy Makeover Contest Worth Up To $10,000!

Posted in Sustainability on July 12, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

The City of Decatur is proud to announce that the Atlanta Decatur Home Makeover Contest launched this week! Through a partnership between the DecaturWISE and Atlanta SHINE programs, two lucky homeowners will receive free energy efficiency improvements – worth up to $10,000 – that will increase the overall comfort of their home and reduce their energy bills. Makeovers will be awarded to homeowners in each city.

DecaturWISE (Worthwhile Investments Save Energy) and Atlanta SHINE are energy efficiency programs that offer residents the ability to receive rebates for home performance improvements to their home. The programs are designed to help residents make their homes, old or new, more energy efficient and comfortable through a comprehensive home performance energy analysis and the implementation of energy efficient upgrades. You can find out more about these programs online at decaturga.com and shineatlanta.com.

Lena Stevens, Resource Conservation Coordinator for the City of Decatur stated, “It’s a great time to be thinking about the benefits of saving energy in your home. DecaturWISE and Atlanta SHINE have teamed up to bring this contest to our residents, and I can’t wait to see who wins!”  “A properly weatherized home can save homeowners an average of $437 on their annual utility bills,” said Aaron Bastian, Program Manager for Atlanta SHINE.

.

Contest Details

  • The Home Energy Makeover Contest will run through August 19, 2011. Interested homeowners in both cities should visit www.homeenergymakeovers.net to sign up.
  • Contest entrants must be at least 21 years of age and own a single family home in City of Atlanta or City of Decatur.
  • A panel of qualified judges will evaluate entries and select finalists.  Finalists will each receive a free energy use analysis conducted by a certified contractor.  After review, contest judges will choose a minimum of 2 winners.  The winners’ homes must each be a structurally sound residence and meet specific technical requirements.  All determinations by the judges will be final.
  • Individuals employed by the City of Atlanta, City of Decatur, Sponsors, promotional companies or advertising agencies involved with this Contest (or their affiliates or subsidiaries) are not eligible to apply.

Decatur Residents can call (678) 553-6577 for more information. Atlanta residents can call (404) 954-8500.

Sign Up Today!!

Read Full Post »

'Enthusiasm for Your Curb' Video Project

Posted in Community, Sustainability on July 11, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

The editors of Waste360.com and Waste Age magazine are hosting an ‘Enthusiasm for Your Curb’ video project. Watch editor, and Decatur resident, Steven Averett talk about his curb, Decatur’s residential waste programs, and how you can submit your own ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm for Your Curb’ video.

For more information, click here.

Read Full Post »

DecaturWISE Rebate Program Has It's First Trailblazer!

Posted in Events, Sustainability on June 21, 2011 | 1 Comment »

DecaturWISE Logo

The DecaturWISE rebate program has it’s first Trailblazer, and we just had to shout it from the rooftops!  DecaturWISE is a brand new program designed to help residents improve the efficiency of their homes and save money by receiving up to $3,200 in rebates.   The first 50 participants are being given special recognition on the website.  We’re also giving shout-outs to folks who completed energy efficiency upgrades prior to the availability of DecaturWISE rebates.  Take a look.  You might know someone on the list!

 

If you are interested in learning more about our program and home energy efficiency, please visit our website, or better yet… come to the Free Energy Efficiency Workshop being hosted this Thursday, June 23rd at the Solarium in Oakhurst.   Join us to learn about steps you can take to save money by reducing your utility bills. Decatur resident and Southface expert Frank Burdette, will help attendees understand how most homes leak energy and explain what projects can make your home more comfortable and easier to heat and cool. DecaturWISE approved contractors will be at the event to answer detailed questions and get you started if you are interested.

WHEN: Thursday, June 23rd, 7pm-8pm

WHERE: The Solarium, 321 West Hill Street, Decatur, GA 30030      Directions

.

Refreshments will be provided!

Read Full Post »

Checking in with Decatur's Newest Community Gardens: Sugar Creek and Tanyard Community Garden

Posted in Community, Sustainability, tagged , , , , on June 18, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Community gardens can be a stimulus for recreation, community building, and environmental improvement in our city.  In the past year we have added 2 new gardens on city-owned property, and we felt that it might be a good time to check in with them and share some updates.

Sugar Creek Garden

Location: Floodplain behind Oakhurst Presbyterian Church at East Lake Drive and Second Avenue (map
Website: http://oakhurstgarden.org/3/sugar-creek-garden/
Primary Contact: Lindsey Mann, info@sustenancedesign.net

What’s New at Sugar Creek?

Sugar Creek Garden broke ground just over 1 year ago in April 2010.  Mayor Floyd (pictured to the left), attended the event along with several City Commissioners and City staff to plant some seedlings.  The garden is located on floodplain property owned by City of Decatur and is operated under the non-profit umbrella of the Oakhurst Community Garden.  The project coordinator, Lindsey Mann worked with City of Decatur staff over a period of multiple years to realize her vision of creating an organic garden, tended by the community and aimed at production.

In June 2010, the garden met one of it’s goals by creating access to a sustainable water source.  With the installation of a 1,700 gallon cistern installed by the Rain Harvest Company, the garden is now harvesting water from nearby residents’ sump pumps.  “Sump pumps on third avenue residences work just about year-round to pipe groundwater from a high water table in peoples’ basements into nearby Sugar Creek.”  The cistern acts as a catchment, placed between the sump pipe and the creek, and another small cistern adjacent to the large tank is pressurized at the action of  hand pump, creating water pressure for the garden’s use. Read more about it HERE.

Sugar Creek garden extends their thanks to the City of Decatur’s Gerry Knotts, David Junger and the annual Beer Festival Grant Committee for making this possible.  Thanks also to Paul Morgan of the Rain Harvest Company for the technical experience and  professional execution.

x.

.

Tanyard Community Garden

Location: Floodplain behind Northern Avenue and Oakland Street
Primary Contact: Walter Kellar, waltk2@msn.com

.

…

What’s New at Tanyard Community Garden?

What isn’t new would be a better question to ask in this case.  This tenacious garden group led by Walter Kellar and Leonard Thibadeau have organized themselves in a manner which can only be described as impressive.  Upon visiting the location this week, I learned that since their receiving their approval in late March 2011, the group has created 23 well-tended plots, organized several stream clean ups, and even planted some communal plants like blueberries.

The Tanyard Community Garden was the first garden approved under the City of Decatur’s Community Garden Guidelines.  These guidelines were developed based on the lessons learned during the Sugar Creek Garden planning process, with the goal of streamlining the process for future proposals.  Because the land is located in a floodplain, special care had to be dedicated to mitigating any potential negative effects of disturbing the soil in that area.  Among other requirements, the group must use erosion control fabric on all beds and also allow the area 25 feet from the edge of the stream to grow to a more natural state.  The natural buffer will help to filter pollutants before they reach the water, and has already protected the garden plots during large rain events.

The accomplishments of just a few months work can be seen in the photographs below.  We can’t wait to see what this group has in store for the coming years.

Tanyard Community Garden (Before)

Tanyard Community Garden today. Note the natural stream buffer in the left of the picture.

Tanyard Community Garden plot.

Read Full Post »

Free Home Energy Efficiency Workshop

Posted in Events, Sustainability on June 6, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

The City of Decatur will be hosting a free Home Energy Efficiency Workshop on Thursday, June 23rd, from 7pm-8pm.  Join us to learn about steps you can take to save money by reducing your utility bills. Decatur resident and Southface expert Frank Burdette, will help attendees understand how most homes leak energy and explain what projects can make your home more comfortable and easier to heat and cool. Call it weatherization, energy efficiency, or greening your home… we’ll call it just plain smart.

WHEN: Thursday, June 23rd, 7pm-8pm

WHERE: The Solarium, 321 West Hill Street, Decatur, GA 30030      Directions

.

Refreshments will be provided!

.

DecaturWISE Logo

Attendees will also learn about a limited time opportunity to get up to $3,200 in rebates from City of Decatur and Georgia Power. Funding from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act has allowed the City of Decatur to offer residents who undertake energy saving retrofits on their homes an additional $1,000 on top of existing rebates from Georgia Power.  It’s a great deal and many of your neighbors have already participated since the program’s launch in April. Learn more by visiting our website.

Several DecaturWISE approved contractors will be at the event to answer detailed questions and get you started if you are intersted. 

 

     

 

We would love to see you there.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Lena Stevens
Resource Conservation Coordinator
City of Decatur
lena.stevens@decaturga.com
678-553-6577

Read Full Post »

All Your Neighbors Are Doing It! Become a Trailblazer with the DecaturWISE Rebate.

Posted in Sustainability on May 23, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

DecaturWISE LogoResidents throughout the City of Decatur are making their homes more comfortable and lowering their utility bills by participating in DecaturWISE. Earn up to $3,200 for improving the energy efficiency of your home today.

The first fifty residents to complete the DecaturWISE Program will be recognized as trailblazers, paving the path for energy efficiency in the City of Decatur. You get bragging rights! Tell the community how much energy you saved, your favorite affiliation, which neighborhood you live in, your contractor, etc. We want to see which Decatur community dominates the list. Be a trailblazer, contact an approved contractor and sign up today!

Residents in Oakhurst, College Heights, Winnona Park, Decatur Heights and Westchester have already started on the path to becoming trailblazers.

> Click here to see a list of Decatur residents who have already participated.

We’re also honoring those who have completed energy efficiency upgrades prior to the availability of DecaturWISE rebates with vanguard status. If you were on the forefront of Decatur’s energy efficiency movement, please email us at decaturwise@clearesult.com. We want to know who you are!

With DecaturWISE you can earn up to $3,200 for improving the energy efficiency of your home.

  1. Georgia Power offers residents up to $2,200 in rebates based on the energy savings they achieve.
  2. DecaturWISE will award up to an additional $1,000 for homes achieving a 15 percent or greater improvement in energy savings. Total DecaturWISE and Georgia Power rebates cannot exceed 50 percent of the total improvement costs.

It’s easy to participate!

  1. Find an approved contractor – visit Decaturga.com
  2. Learn more about Georgia Power’s Home Energy Improvement program by exploring their website georgiapower.com/homeimprovements/ 
  3. Contractor completes the comprehensive home energy audit
  4. Contractor will install energy saving upgrades
  5. Contractor completes post-installation testing
  6. Contractor applies for rebates
  7. You receive money back!

 

For more information on DecaturWISE, call (678) 729-SAVE (7283) or email us at decaturwise@clearesult.com. 

Read Full Post »

Decatur Green Fest This Saturday!

Posted in Events, Sustainability on May 4, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

The third annual Decatur Green Fest—hosted by the Dogwood Alliance—will kick off the Decatur Business Association’s Concerts on the Square series this Saturday, May 7 with a FREE, day-long festival.

Green Fest will run from 3pm – 9:30pm and feature:

  • Live Music

  • Children’s activity area

  • Terrapin Beer on tap and Haras de Pirque organic wine from Chile

  • Tastings of local organic food

  • Showcase of green organizations and vendors

  • Art featuring recycled materials

.

.

.

Here’s some of the highlights you can look forward to this year!

Music

Please PleaseRock Me—A Beatles spin-off of the Yacht Rock Revue musical act –  7:00pm

Nathan Beaver– An alternative country musician on Decatur’s Red Eye Gravy Records – 6:15pm

.

.

.

.

Rain Barrel Sale from the Rain Barrel Depot

The Rain Barrel Depot is offering a 30% off sale on rain barrels for Decatur Green Fest.

The EarthMinded RainStation

is a simple-to-use and an attractive

solution for home rainwater collection

and storage. This large capacity,

60-gallon rain barrel connects to

your downspout easily and automatically

collects runoff water from your

home’s roof. This water is

ideal for watering plants and

gardens, and for doing

outdoor chores.

This pricing is exclusively for the Decatur Green Fest only.  All Green  Fest attendees are welcome to place a pre-order online and pick up their barrel at the event on May 7th, but pre-orders with delivery are limited to residents of Decatur, Georgia.

> Learn more at the Rain Barrel Depot website

…

.

Free CFL LIght Bulb Exchange with Atlanta Lightbulbs

Atlanta Light Bulbs, Inc. and the City of Decatur are partnering to host the 2nd annual light bulb exchange to Greenfest 2011.  Attendees will receive 1 compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb in exchange for signing an agreement to discard 1 regular, incandescent bulb when they get home. However, if attendees bring an incandescent bulb to the event, they can receive 2 CFL bulbs!

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, CFL bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times as long. The average CFL will save about $30 over its life, and pay for itself within 6 months.Supplies are limited, so come early to get your free CFLs. The light bulb exchange will last while supplies do. The City of Decatur would like to thank Atlanta Light Bulbs, Inc. for sponsoring this exchange. Learn more about their company at www.atlantalightbulbs.com.

.

And much much more…

  • Free tree seedlings from the Nalley Tree Project.
  • Learn about over $3,200 in rebates available from the DecaturWISE program  for home energy efficiency upgrades.
  • Kids  Zone featuring face painting, caricaturist, and paper airplane contest.
.
We look forward to seeing you there!  Check out the Decatur Green Fest website for more details.

Read Full Post »

DecaturWISE begins today! Earn up to $3,200 for improving the energy efficiency of your home.

Posted in Sustainability on April 25, 2011 | 1 Comment »

DecaturWISE Logo

Better Comfort.


Lower Bills. 

.

.

DecaturWISE launches Monday, April 25th! Improve the comfort of your home and save money by participating in City of Decatur’s energy efficiency rebate program, DecaturWISE (Worthwhile Investments Save Energy). This program adds to the benefits of Georgia Power’s Home Energy Improvement Program, and is designed to help residents make their homes, old or new, more energy efficient and comfortable through a comprehensive home performance energy analysis and the implementation of energy efficient upgrades.

Example of insufficient attic insulation

Home energy analysis is a great way to get professional advice on how your particular home, with all its unique characteristics, can be retrofitted to reduce your utility bills.  Walking through your home  with an auditor gives you a completely different perspective, and you might be surprised what you learn. Surprisingly, the most impactful improvements to reduce energy use in Decatur homes usually includes things we don’t often think about like insulation, duct sealing and air sealing.  Lena Stevens, the City’s Resource Conservation Coordinator discussed many of these issues related to her own Decatur home in a blog post entitled The Art of Home Energy Efficiency back in November 2010.

With DecaturWISE you can earn up to $3,200 for improving the energy efficiency of your home.

  1. Georgia Power offers residents up to $2,200 in rebates based on the energy savings they achieve.
  2. DecaturWISE will award up to an additional $1,000 for homes achieving a 15 percent or greater improvement in energy savings. Total DecaturWISE and Georgia Power rebates cannot exceed 50 percent of the total improvement costs.

It’s easy to participate!

  1. Find a participating contractor – visit Decaturga.com [add link to program page here] and choose one of the approved contractors, all of which can offer Georgia Power and DecaturWISE rebates.
  2. Learn more about Georgia Power’s Home Energy Improvement program on their website.
  3. Complete the home energy analysis.
  4. Contractor will install energy saving upgrades.
  5. Complete post-installation inspection.
  6. Contractor applies for rebates.
  7. You receive money back!

For information visit the City of Decatur’s website or speak with members of the DecaturWISE team at the Decatur Green Fest, Saturday, May 7th at the Decatur Courthouse Square

For more information on DecaturWISE, call (678)729-SAVE (7283). or email us at decaturwise@clearesult.com. 

Read Full Post »

2nd Annual Free CFL Light Bulb Exchange at Greenfest

Posted in Events, Sustainability on April 13, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

.

Atlanta Light Bulbs, Inc. and the City of Decatur are partnering to host the 2nd annual light bulb exchange to Greenfest 2011.  Greenfest is being held May 7th on the Downtown Square.  The event kicks off at 3pm with live music and ends at 9:30pm.

Attendees will receive 1 compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb in exchange for signing an agreement to discard 1 regular, incandescent bulb when they get home.  However, if attendees bring an incandescent bulb to the event, they can receive 2 CFL bulbs!

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, CFL bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times as long.  The average CFL will save about $30 over its life, and pay for itself within 6 months.

Supplies are limited, so come early to get your free CFLs.  The light bulb exchange will last while supplies do.  The City of Decatur would like to thank Atlanta Light Bulbs, Inc. for sponsoring this exchange.  Learn more about their company at www.atlantalightbulbs.com

Please contact Lena Stevens, Resource Conservation Coordinator for the City of Decatur with any questions at lena.stevens@decaturga.com or 404-370-4102.

Read Full Post »

Community Shred Event, April 16th

Posted in Events, Sustainability on April 11, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

The Community School and Eagle Secure Shredding are sponsoring a Community Shred Day on April 16th from 10am-1pm in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church of Decatur. Have your old tax records, bills, bank statements and other confidential documents shredded on-site and recycled by Atlanta’s premiere shredding company. Donations of $5 per bankers box (maximum of ten boxes per patron please) are welcome and all proceeds will support The Community School, a school for junior and high school students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The First Baptist Church of Decatur is located at 308 Clairemont Ave, Decatur 30030.

Visit www.thecommunityschool.net for more information about the school and the event. Rain or shine — we hope to see you there!

.

What: Community Shred Day
When: April 16th from 10am-1pm
Where: The First Baptist Church of Decatur,  308 Clairemont Ave, Decatur 30030

.

.
Thanks!
Christy Page
Development Officer
The Community School
christy@thecommunityschool.net
404-308-8548 (main)
404-936-6620 (cell)

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »