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HARRISBURG, PA — A well-established financial management firm with a successful track record of investing in green technologies and sustainable forms of energy has been chosen to manage Pennsylvania’s new Green Energy Revolving Loan Fund, according to Governor Edward G. Rendell.

The Reinvestment Fund—known as TRF—will manage the loan program and provide much needed financial capital to support cost-effective, energy conservation and renewable energy projects in existing, non-residential buildings.

The new revolving loan fund is made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

In announcing TRF’s selection, the Governor said the firm’s track record and its pledge to providing double the federally required match for the new program is evidence of its commitment to building a green economy in Pennsylvania.

“President Obama and Congress had the foresight to make renewable energy and energy conservation a key part of the federal Recovery Act because these are areas that are critically important to the nation’s future,” said Governor Rendell. “This new revolving loan fund is the latest opportunity to be born of that wise decision and, under TRF’s management, the program will put hundreds of people to work incorporating green technologies into buildings that ultimately, will save consumers millions of dollars each year.”

The federal Recovery Act will provide $12 million to the state for the Green Energy Revolving Loan Fund, but it required any firm applying to manage to provide a minimum match of $18 million in private funds. TRF committed to investing $36 million, which will allow for a $48 million pool of funds in the loan program.

That level of investment is expected to help support 500 jobs on projects that will reduce energy consumption by nearly 800 billion British Thermal Units of energy, or enough to power more than 23,000 average homes in Pennsylvania for one year.

The new revolving loan fund will supply necessary capital for developing cost effective, energy-saving and renewable energy projects in existing, non-residential buildings throughout Pennsylvania. The projects create and retain jobs, and must cut an entire facility’s energy consumption by at least 25 percent or develop and install technologies on-site that produce electricity from renewable resources.

The Department of Environmental Protection and TRF are finalizing the loan fund’s guidelines. More information, as well as a form for non-residential building owners who may be interested in learning more, is available at www.PaGreenEnergyLoanFund.com.

Single-family dwellings are not eligible for financing under the new Green Energy Loan Fund. Homeowners interested in obtaining low-interest loans to help finance home-energy efficiency projects should seek assistance through the Keystone HELP program by visiting www.keystonehelp.com.

TRF has extensive experience in with the green energy industry and in integrating high-performance energy measures into its community development portfolio. Its Collaborative Lending Initiative, a regional loan consortium comprised of 13 banks, has provided energy efficiency and renewable energy construction financing for numerous affordable housing and charter school projects.

The firm has also provided advice since 1993 to its customers on energy efficiency and the sustainability of their capital improvements and equipment purchases. In the last five years, TRF has focused its expertise on developing clean energy projects and technologies in a way that brings affordable and financially viable options such as solar, wind and quality energy efficiency projects to market.

TRF is also responsible for administering the Sustainable Development Fund, a $32 million energy fund created by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in its final order in the PECO Energy electric utility restructuring proceeding.

All told, TRF has financed more than 2,526 projects, delivering $939 million in capital to projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

For more information on how the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is creating jobs and making green energy projects a reality, visit www.recovery.pa.gov.

Ambler’s Trax Café has been awarded a 2009 Community Greening Award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in recognition of its garden and efforts to develop a green landscape.

“When we got here, the entire place was under vines. It was pretty bad. We pretty much started from scratch. It’s been a work in progress,” said owner and chef Steve Waxman.

Trax is located in the Ambler train station.

Ambler, PA — Ambler Borough received two grants to restore and expand the natural forested area along the banks of Rose Valley Creek where it flows through Borough Park. Out of six parks in Ambler, Borough Park is the only natural park. TreeVitalize and Merck & Co. Inc. funds are supplying trees, contractors and engineering, while the community is supplying the majority of the ideas and volunteer labor.

“The first phase of the project is almost completed – removing the invasive species,” said Susan Curry, volunteer coordinator for the project. “Now, we want to gather ideas from people who live near or visit the park about how the park should look, what features it should have, and how it can be used and maintained,” she continued. A meeting for collecting community input is scheduled for Saturday, February 20 at Borough Hall from 9:00 AM to noon. Anyone who cannot make the meeting may phone their input into 215-591-1551.

“They were unstoppable,” said Ms. Curry of the nearly fifty volunteers late last October who removed a third of the invasive plants that were choking parts of a 4-acre area of the park. The most common invasive plant species removed were Japanese knotweed, multi flora rose, Empress tree, Tree of heaven, privet and Norway Maple. Invasive species tend to crowd out native species and do not provide the same amount of food and shelter or habitat for native insects, birds, fish and other animals that native plants provide.

The community effort was organized by the Ambler Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), and involved volunteers from Wissahickon High School Key Club, Ambler Tree Tenders, the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association, VolunteerMatch, Briar Bush Nature Center, and neighbors of the park. “Eventually we see a rain garden, new wildflower meadows, benches, and meandering paths on both sides of the creek. This will really expand the area that residents can enjoy,” said Ms. Minich.

Phase three starts April 9, 10 and 11, when over 100 community volunteers will be needed to dig holes, then plant 300 trees and shrubs, apply mulch and water, and erect deer fencing. “Trees are especially important to help hold the soil and slow down storm waters that are flooding the park more frequently,” said Nancy Minich, landscape architect of NAM Design and Planning who is overseeing all phases of the work to be done in Borough Park. Trees will be planted in a pattern that will widen the riparian buffer along the stream. A riparian buffer is a vegetated area between the banks of a stream and the land area back from the banks.

In Borough Park, the existing buffer is often less than 10’ from the banks. This project will expand the buffer to a width of 50’ or more wherever feasible. According to Ms Minich, “Wider riparian buffers help to improve water quality by filtering pollution before it reaches the creek, and also improve flood management by slowing down runoff. Those are the primary benefits in the eyes of our funders. We imagine that the park will be more aesthetic while providing more natural services when the project is finished.”

A parallel initiative of Ambler Environmental Advisory Council is currently encouraging Ambler Borough to adopt four new ordinances that will be more protective of steep slopes, wetlands, floodplains, wood lands and riparian buffers.

Rose Valley Creek begins in Upper Dublin, and flows through Borough Park before it eventually joins the Wissahickon Creek. The recently increased frequency of high volume storms has increased erosion in the park. “We hope to prevent further erosion which causes sediment problems further down stream with our new plantings,” offered Ms. Curry.

A group called the “Friends of Borough Park” is forming to continue the care and stewardship of the park in the future. On-going efforts will be needed to keep the park clear of invasive plants and to continue to improve amenities. If interested in joining “Friends of Borough Park”, contact Susan Curry, 215-591-1551, or suscurry@comcast.net.

The Ambler Green Committee is part of the Ambler Main Street Business Association. The Green Committee works toward helping local businesses pursue green initiatives and earth-friendly practices.

You do not need to be a resident of Ambler to participate. The Committee is in need of volunteers. Please contact us for further information.

Meetings are open to the public. The next meeting will be:
February 4, 1:00 PM
The Ambler Theater
108 East Butler Avenue, Ambler, PA

Energy Star and LEED EBOM: A Toolkit for Existing Buildings, Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 8:30 AM — 10:30 AM

Building Owners and Managers are currently faced with the challenge of making their existing buildings more energy efficient, while keeping a close eye on capital expenditures in an unstable economy. There are tools available to help you get started, but which ones should you be using? Energy Star? LEED? This session will demonstrate how both of these tools are an important part of your toolkit and how you can use them to achieve favorable results. Andrew Kreider from the EPA will give you an overview of Energy Star Portfolio Manager, and Bill Craig from Re:Vision Architecture will review how LEED EBOM (Existing Building, Operations & Maintenance) tackles energy efficiency, and beyond. Marla Thalheimer, Sustainability Manager from Liberty Property Trust will provide an example of how Liberty is using these tools to measure, set goals and track the results throughout their portfolio. Together well look at the advantages, the differences, and how they work together to ultimately create a high performance building.

Where: Temple University Center City (TUCC), 1515 Market Street, Room 222

Recycling Tools for Schools K-12 Workshop: Collect It, Haul It, Recycle It!, Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 8:00 AM — 12:30 PM

The Green Schools Circle of DVGBC presents this informative workshop for teachers, students, school administrators, community members, and everyone else to come share ideas, recycling program success stories, and bring it back to YOUR SCHOOL!

Where: Chester County Intermediate Unit Conference Center, 455 Boot Road, Downingtown, PA

NORRISTOWN – County employees looking to recycle the soda can they just emptied or the cardboard box that a delivery just came in will no longer have to go looking for a way to do it starting next week.

Employees who work in the Court House, One Montgomery Plaza and the Human Services center will begin using a single desk-side container for all recycling beginning December 1, 2009.

Through a contract with Waste Management, Montgomery County buildings will now be offered a ‘Single Stream’ recycling collection method.

This method will allow the employee to throw aluminum and tin cans, plastic narrow necked bottles #1-7, glass food and beverage containers, newsprint, paperboard, office paper, junk mail and cardboard all in the same bin.

Single Stream recycling will help the County workforce recycle more which in turn will have a positive effect on the environment and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

“We want to have 100 percent participation,” Montgomery County Commissioners Chairman Jim Matthews said.

“In these economic times, we’re struggling to keep our costs flat and recycling is one of the easiest things employees can do,” Matthews said. “Recycling means less waste, lower tipping fees and, hopefully, a small return on the materials.”

Society as a whole benefits as well, said Chris Kaasmann, Montgomery County’s Recycling Coordinator.

“The energy it takes for 1 aluminum soda can to be recycled is approximately 95% less than what it would take to make a can from virgin materials,” Kaasmann said.

Employees are being asked to sign a pledge to reuse and recycle as much as they can at all times in the work place.

“By signing the pledge each employee becomes accountable for the waste they produce. Hopefully, this will make them think twice about where that water bottle or piece of paper goes after it leaves their hand,” Kaasmann said.

A new educational recycling campaign is underway. It includes new stickers on all bins, educational posters and a team of County employees dubbed ‘Recycling Liaisons.’

These liaisons will work with all County employees and encourage them to do the right thing by recycling correctly.

Those visiting County buildings such as the Courthouse will also be able to take advantage of the ‘Single Stream’ recycling method. Bins located in break rooms, common areas and kitchens will contain recycling bins for the public. Bins in these areas were provided by a grant through the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania (PROP) and ALCOA Aluminum. For more information on this program and other recycling inquiries, please contact the Montgomery County Recycling Hotline at (610) 278-3618.

Perkasie, Pennsylvania (based on an AP news release) — Although it is environmentally responsible to dry clothing by hanging it out on a line, many local municipalities and homeowner’s associations are attempting to ban the practice.

There are no laws in Perkasie against drying laundry outside; however, a town official called Carin Froehlich and ask her to stop drying clothes in the sun. She received two anonymous notes from neighbors saying they did not want to see her underwear flapping about.

“They said it made the place look like trailer trash. They said they didn’t want to look at my ‘unmentionables.’”

“If my husband has a right to have guns in the house, I have a right to hang laundry,” said Froehlich, who is writing a book on the subject.

Unique solution opens new horizons in personal mobility

NEW YORK – General Motors Corp. and Segway today demonstrated a new type of vehicle that could change the way we move around in cities.

PUMA Concept Car (Credit GM)

Dubbed Project P.U.M.A. (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility), GM and Segway are developing an electrically powered, two-seat prototype vehicle that has only two wheels. It could allow people to travel around cities more quickly, safely, quietly and cleanly – and at a lower total cost. The vehicle also enables design creativity, fashion, fun and social networking.

GM and Segway announced their collaboration, while demonstrating the Project P.U.M.A. prototype in New York City this morning.

“Project P.U.M.A. represents a unique solution to moving about and interacting in cities, where more than half of the world’s people live,” said Larry Burns, GM vice president of research and development, and strategic planning. “Imagine small, nimble electric vehicles that know where other moving objects are and avoid running into them. Now, connect those vehicles in an Internet-like web and you can greatly enhance the ability of people to move through cities, find places to park and connect to their social and business networks.”

Trends indicate that urbanization is growing, and with that comes increased congestion and more competition for parking. Cities around the world are actively looking for solutions to alleviate congestion and pollution. Project P.U.M.A. addresses those concerns. It combines several technologies demonstrated by GM and Segway, including electric drive and batteries; dynamic stabilization (two-wheel balancing); all-electronic acceleration, steering and braking; vehicle-to-vehicle communications; and autonomous driving and parking. Those technologies integrate in Project P.U.M.A. to increase mobility freedom, while also enabling energy efficiency, zero emissions, enhanced safety, seamless connectivity and reduced congestion in cities.

“We are excited to be working together to demonstrate a dramatically different approach to urban mobility,” said Jim Norrod, CEO of Segway Inc. “There’s an emotional connection you get when using Segway products. The Project P.U.M.A. prototype vehicle embodies this through the combination of advanced technologies that Segway and GM bring to the table to complete the connection between the rider, environment, and others.”

Project P.U.M.A. vehicles will also allow designers to create new fashion trends for cars, and to focus on the passion and emotion that people express through their vehicles while creating solutions that anticipate the future needs of urban customers.

The Project P.U.M.A. prototype vehicle integrates a lithium-ion battery, digital smart energy management, two-wheel balancing, dual electric wheel motors, and a dockable user interface that allows off-board connectivity. The result is an advanced and functional concept that demonstrates the capabilities of technology that exists today.

Built to carry two or more passengers, it can travel at speeds up to 35 miles per hour (56 kph), with a range up to 35 miles (56 km) between recharges.

Since the introduction of the Segway Personal Transporter (PT), Segway has established itself as the leader in the small electric vehicle space. Its approach to congestion and environmental challenges is balanced with a strong understanding of the functional needs of its customers, enabling them to do more with less. Segway has delivered more than 60,000 lithium-ion batteries to the market.

GM has been a leader in “connected vehicle” technologies since it introduced OnStar in 1996. Today, this on-board communications package connects six million subscribers in North America to OnStar safety and security services. GM has also pioneered vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications systems and transponder technology. These and additional connected vehicle technologies could ultimately enable vehicles that don’t crash and drive themselves.

“Imagine moving about cities in a vehicle fashioned to your taste, that’s fun to drive and ride in, that safely takes you where you want to go, and “connects” you to friends and family, while using clean, renewable energy, producing zero vehicle tailpipe emissions, and without the stress of traffic jams,” said Burns. “And imagine doing this for one-fourth to one-third the cost of what you pay to own and operate today’s automobile. This is what Project P.U.M.A. is capable of delivering.”

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), one of the world’s largest automakers, was founded in 1908, and today manufactures cars and trucks in 34 countries. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 243,000 people in every major region of the world, and sells and services vehicles in some 140 countries. In 2008, GM sold 8.35 million cars and trucks globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

More About Segway And P.U.M.A.
About the Inventor of the Segway, Dean Kamen