The Great Earth Engine – Geothermal Energy for the USA
Reprint of article I wrote for Natural Awakenings Magazine
“When people think of renewable energy, their first thought is typically solar power or wind energy. As snowbirds return to their cooler climates, one natural and reliable renewable energy system is a geothermal or a ground-source heating and cooling system. These systems come with a variety of configurations, and a single system can heat or cool a home without natural gas, coal, oil or biomass. However, some electric power is required to run the system. This relatively obscure technology is robust, proven and available now to those willing to understand the simple beauty of these systems.
A geothermal system moves and stores energy rather than producing energy through combustion or resistance. Geothermal systems work by exchanging hot or cold air from the home with the stable stored energy in the ground, rather than by converting chemical energy to heat. This is a renewable energy system that is very efficient and has enough flexibility to fit a variety of applications. Some added benefits in addition to efficiency are that geothermal energy creates no pollution to our air or water and, other than electricity, they eliminate the need to purchase highly processed petrochemical fuel from less than environmentally conscious producers.
While the air temperature in northern climates can vary from season to season, the Earth’s temperature a few feet under the surface is essentially the same in winter and summer. In the winter, the system can heat a home using the Earth’s relatively warm core energy. In the summer, the same system can cool the home with the Earth’s relatively cool mass. Year-round, geothermal systems can produce hot water.
Geothermal heat pumps have an efficiency of over 300 to 500 percent (meaning they get a payback of three to five times the energy used to run the system). This efficiency provides the heating/cooling needs at a cost that is 30 to 70 percent less expensive than conventional energy systems, without combustion, carbon dioxide, methane, water pollution or the waste generated by other energy systems.
Geothermal ground-source heating and cooling systems work during the night, when the sun is blocked by clouds and when the wind is not blowing. While electricity costs may vary, geothermal costs don’t fluctuate like natural firewood, gas, coal and heating oil. The ground-source system comes in a variety of configurations to easily fit new home construction or homes with a more conventional, existing duct-based heating and cooling system.
The geothermal system has three main components: connection to the Earth, delivery and distribution system and a geothermal heat pump. The Earth connection allows the system to pull or store heat in the Earth. In heating mode, the system uses the Earth connection to pull a small quantity of heat from the Earth to heat a person’s space. In cooling mode, the system does the reverse and transfers heat from the air back to the Earth. The distribution system can be a series of vertical connections or loops buried in the ground that transfer and help to distribute the energy.
The geothermal heat pump is very efficient energy transfer system that moves the energy from the building to the transfer fluid. The system does require an electrical source to run the heat pumps and circulation system, and it is critical that an existing home have a formal energy audit done prior to installing a system.
New construction should use green building and energy efficient insulating systems so the system can be properly sized.
Users can benefit from lower energy costs, elimination of water and air pollution and a significant reduction of the expensive and environmentally destructive infrastructure of fossil fuels by adapting geothermal systems as soon as possible. ”
Recent presented a training course on “Ground Source and Geothermal Energy in Archbald, PA” – Valley View Great Class !
onstage We do not have an energy crisis – We have an Careers in Energy – The Great Earth Engine– We have an Energy Waste Crisis
Note:
Training Courses in the Energy Sector
Energy Auditor Training and Certification
PADEP pipeline task force gives 184 recommendations
joylessly Note Our Work – Email blast from PIOGA
A state task force on natural gas pipelines is making 184 recommendations touching on everything from location of pipelines to emergency response plans, all designed to promote “responsible” pipeline development in Pennsylvania. The 335-page document, crafted by the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force, has been posted online for public review.
“It is important to remember that the report is not meant to be the final word,” said DEP Secretary John Quigley, who chaired the task force. “When we present our report to the governor in February 2016, I anticipate that the next step will be to determine the feasibility and implementation strategies for each recommendation.”
The 48-member task force was created in May by Governor Tom Wolf to develop policies, guidelines and tools to assist in pipeline development, operation and maintenance.
Recommendations in the draft were assembled by delegates from sectors affected by pipeline development, Quigley noted, including agriculture, communities, environmentalists, cultural resource advocates, industry officials, government agencies and emergency responders.
That lengthy list of recommendations starts with “educate landowners on pipeline development issues.” Other recommendations:
- Implement full-time environmental inspections during pipeline construction.
- Monitor water quality during construction.
- Establish planning coordination between county agencies and pipeline developers.
- Require pipeline abandonment plans.
- Standardize emergency response plans and provide 911 addresses for pipeline-related facilities.
- Do not locate pipelines parallel to waterways within their 100-year floodways.
- Conduct early outreach with affected communities.
- Minimize impact on local roads.
- Create various statewide bodies and processes, including an all-region DEP pipeline review committee, a statewide pipeline information center for the public, and a DEP design manual for pipeline construction.
A 30-day public comment period on the draft report will run through December 14. [Read more]
Please note – there is no assumed responsibility associated with Pipeline Construction for Private Well Impacts – therefore it is important to document baseline conditions for your existing water sources and water wells. Primary items of concern are aesthetic water quality issues, future methane and other gas releases, spills, local disturbances, discolored water, and related contaminants. The Know Your H20? App for Baseline Testing in PA should help.
New Tools and Courses
Know Your H20 Phone App and Database Search
Citizen Scientists – The Online Water Quality Index Calculator is Available.
Training Courses on Natural Gas Development and Environmental Concerns
Stream Restoration, Wetlands, and Water Resources Management
Actions:
- If you have any testing done as part of this action, please consider releasing this data to the Citizen Groundwater and Surface Water Database. Fill out the attached form and mail the data to the following address:
Mr. Brian Oram, PG
Keystone Clean Water Team
15 Hillcrest Drive
Dallas, PA 18612
Please note- if you have baseline testing done already you may have some information on the level of surfactants in the water if you had a MBAS test done. - Informational Screening Testing – Get your water screened for water contamination including isopropanol – Informational Screening Water Kit (Not Certified) Covers about 200 parameters, plus a review of any predrilling data – Only $ 275.00. Email
- Drinking Water Guide for Pennsylvania.
Susquehanna River Basin Commission Study Finds No Impacts on Streams from Marcellus Shale Drilling
SRBC Study Finds No Impacts on Streams from Marcellus Shale Drilling
From 2010 to 2013 the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) monitored 58 sampling stations in small headwater streams in the Susquehanna River Basin to investigate potential impacts from gas exploration in the Marcellus Shale. The study recorded pH, temperature, conductivity, inorganic chemistry, TOC, gross alpha and beta radiation, and macroinvertebrates. The SRBC report, released earlier this year, concluded no discernible relationship between water quality and well pad density. Please click HERE to download an electronic copy of the report.
New Tools and Courses
Know Your H20Keystone Clean Water Team
Citizen Scientists – The Online Water Quality Index Calculator is Available.
Training Courses on Natural Gas Development and Environmental Concerns
Stream Restoration, Wetlands, and Water Resources Management
Actions:
- If you have any testing done as part of this action, please consider releasing this data to the Citizen Groundwater and Surface Water Database. Fill out the attached form and mail the data to the following address:
Mr. Brian Oram, PG
Keystone Clean Water Team
15 Hillcrest Drive
Dallas, PA 18612
Please note- if you have baseline testing done already you may have some information on the level of surfactants in the water if you had a MBAS test done. - Informational Screening Testing – Get your water screened for water contamination including isopropanol – Informational Screening Water Kit (Not Certified) Covers about 200 parameters, plus a review of any predrilling data – Only $ 275.00. Email
- Drinking Water Guide for Pennsylvania.
Planting the SEEDS in Wayne County, Pennsylvania
SEEDS would like to invite you to attend our annual membership meeting on Tues night Sept 15 at The Cooperage, and to continue to support us by being there as we welcome all from the community to learn more about SEEDS and the work we do.
Doors open at 6 pm, and the Cooperage Café will be open to purchase dinner. Come and enjoy a casual dinner gathering with friends old and new. BYOB. (The Cooperage is located at 1030 Main Street in downtown Honesdale.)
Our annual meeting will start at 7 pm and will feature highlights from the past year, and special guests Cheryl and Stu Badner, of Corporate Waste Consultants. They will speak about their sustainability initiative at Honesdale’s Roots and Rhythm festival. Learn how much progress has been made! Their success makes it easier to imagine successfully changing behavior and attitudes that will save our environment.
This meeting is open to all SEEDS members as well as anyone from the community who is interested in learning more about SEEDS. It is expected to last approximately one hour. We encourage our members to bring along a friend who may be interested in joining!
A $20 donation will get you one of our new beautiful green SEEDS T-shirts! First come, first serve!
If you have any questions, please email jocelyn@seedsgroup.net.
You may review our annual minutes from last year’s meeting here: http://seedsgroup.net/about/seeds-most-recent-annual-general-membership-meeting-minutes/
Kindly RSVP. Indicate if you are coming early to purchase dinner so I can give the Cafe a headcount for food preparation.
Thank you! Hope to see you there!
-Jocelyn
Jocelyn Cramer
Executive Director of SEEDS
Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support
www.seedsgroup.net
Interesting Training Options
Energy Audit Training
Fracking and Oil and Gas Development (15 hours)
Fracking Consequences (2 hr)
Building a Sustainable Future (1 hr)
Visualizing Earth Systems – Earth Science Week in October
Alexandria, VA – Science teachers and students can go online today to use a new educational resource of the Earth Science Week website, the “Visualizing Earth Systems” page, which features instructive visualizations of Earth science phenomena.
Educators know the power of compelling visualizations, those that graphically depict data in ways that help students grasp challenging concepts. Now Earth science teachers have a collection of such visualizations, right at their fingertips at http://www.earthsciweek.org/visualizations.
Supporting the Earth Science Week 2015 theme of “Visualizing Earth Systems,” this new page on the program website links educators and students to dozens of recommended visualizations dealing with energy, climate, minerals, water, hazards, and other topics. In addition, the page offers links to overviews of these topics provided by AGI’s Critical Issues Program at http://www.americangeosciences.org/critical-issues.
Users are invited to help improve the page by sharing their favorite Earth science visualizations. Please submit the URLs for favorite online geosciences visualizations to info@earthsciweek.org. Help strengthen Earth science education by sharing effective resources with fellow educators!
Reaching over 50 million people annually, AGI leads Earth Science Week in cooperation with the geoscience community as a service to the public. Each year, community groups, educators, and interested citizens organize celebratory events. Earth Science Week offers the public opportunities to discover the Earth sciences and engage in responsible stewardship of the Earth.
To view the visualizations page, please visit: http://www.earthsciweek.org/citizenscience/index.html.
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Earth Science Week 2015 will be celebrated October 11-17. To learn more, please visit www.earthsciweek.org. To order your Toolkits, please visit http://www.earthsciweek.org/materials. You may also call AGI Publications to place your order at 703-379-2480.
Suggestions
Get Your Drinking Water Tested
Learn About the Hazards in Your Community
Take an Online Course
Go Green Efficient Lighting Conservation Save Energy
Easiest Way to Go Green and Save Some Green – Efficient Lighting and Other Ways to Save Energy
Guest Blogger – Links Compiled by http://www.architectdesignlighting.com/
Saving energy has become increasingly important, as recent research has made it clear that the world’s energy consumption is negatively impacting the environment and natural resources. Each day, we use energy to keep our homes comfortable, but there are some small changes that we can all make in order to reduce the amount of energy that we use. By following a few tips, you can reduce your energy consumption and environmental footprint.
Choose Energy-Efficient Lighting Options
When searching for energy-efficient lighting design options, there is a large selection available. Compact fluorescent bulbs are a great option, as they use up to 75% less energy than other choices, and they can also be used with dimmers and wall sconces. Compact fluorescent bulbs have a long life span, reducing your waste and saving money over the life of the bulb.
While choosing the right type of light is important for energy efficiency, you should also work on energy-saving activities at home. Keep notes near the light switches in each room to remind residents of all ages to turn off the lights when they leave a room. These simple reminders can also help your family to make positive, energy-saving decisions when they are outside of your home.
- Lighting Net Zero Buildings – A comparison of energy-efficient and traditional incandescent light bulbs.
- Energy Saving for Kids – Informative tips to help kids use and save energy.
- Energy Efficiency and Dimmer Switches – A review of the benefits of using dimmer switches to save energy at home.
- Energy-Efficient Lighting Options – An examination of the benefits to choosing LED or CFL light bulbs.
- The Best Light Bulbs for Saving Energy – Consumer Reports provides a guide to choosing LEDs and CLFs.
Use Solar Lighting
If you are looking for an energy-efficient way to power your home, investigate with an architect whether solar lighting may be able to work for you. Solar panels are made of solar cells that are arranged in grid-like patterns, and during the day, they collect sunlight and use it to create electricity. You’ll be producing your own power, so your energy bills will be dramatically lowered. However, not all buildings will be good candidates for using solar panels, so some architecture research will be needed before you can pursue this option.
Your solar energy system can also inspire others to begin producing energy, which can increase the total amount of renewable energy that is available. This makes solar energy a great way to make a difference, to improve the environment, and to become self-sufficient.
- Solar Panel Lifespan – Information from Energy Informative about the lifespan of solar panels.
- Solar Energy Savings – A review of how much you can save with solar energy.
- Solar Energy Resource Center – Information from the U.S. Department of Energy about solar power.
- Solar Tips for Homeowners – ABC News provides tips for homeowners who are considering solar energy.
- Tips for Going Solar – Forbes Magazine explains tips for adopting solar energy at home.
Improve Your HVAC Systems
When it comes to home climate control systems, many homeowners struggle to find a balance between comfort and energy efficiency. During the summer, you may be tempted to turn on the air conditioner immediately, but a few tips can actually help before you resort to this method. If it isn’t too warm, open the windows and let some fresh air into your home. However, if it is hot, keep the shades drawn and use fans to circulate air throughout your home.
During cooler winter months, wear additional layers to keep warm, and set your thermostat a few degrees cooler. Reduce the heat while you are out of the house or asleep, and turn it back up when you get home from work. However, it is important to consider the health needs of your family, as some people with chronic medical conditions may need their climate more rigorously controlled than others.
- Air Conditioner Tips – Cooling and energy saving tips for air conditioner use from the U.S. Department of Energy.
- Air Conditioner Efficiency – Tips for improving the efficiency of your air conditioner.
- Winter-Proofing and Weatherizing – Save energy by preparing your home for colder temperatures.
- Saving Energy during the Winter – Tips from the California Energy Commission Consumer Energy Center.
- Heat Pumps – Suggestions for improving the energy efficiency of your home heating system.
Conserve Water
Using water in your home will also use energy. However, there are several ways that you can reduce your water use in order to lessen energy consumption. Consider simple solutions, like turning off the water in your bathroom sink until you are ready to rinse when brushing your teeth. Choose a shower over a bath in order to conserve water, and wait until your dishwasher is full before you run a load; this tip on its own could reduce your water use by nearly 1,000 gallons each month.
Also consider using cold water as often as possible. It takes a lot of energy to heat up the water used for showering, to do laundry, or to wash your dishes, so by keeping the water cold, you’ll save energy. These tips can be followed by family members both young and old, and they can make a big difference on your monthly energy bills.
- Water Conservation Tips for Saving Energy – Information from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio on how to save energy by conserving water.
- 49 Ways to Save Water – Simple tips for saving and conserving water used indoors.
- Saving Water at Work – How to save water in commercial and industrial workplaces.
- Conserving Water at Home and in the Yard – Tips for reducing your water use indoors and outdoors.
- Saving Water in the Bathroom – Changes that you can make to reduce your water usage in the bathroom.
Turn Off Electronics and Lights
Turning off lights and electronics when you leave a room is an essential activity for saving money and energy. Switch off your computer, radio, and TV when the items are not in use, as they will burn up energy. If you have appliances or other items that you don’t use regularly, consider unplugging them to prevent wasted energy.
At the end of the day, turn off your computer in order to cut down the amount of energy that it is using. Many homeowners don’t go through the hassle of shutting down their laptop or desktop each night, but even a computer on standby will use energy. If you are going to be away from home for a few days, unplug extension cords and surge protectors in order to further reduce your home energy use. By taking the time to complete these extra steps, you’ll be rewarded with lower energy bills.
- Energy and Computer Use – How to conserve energy when using a computer.
- Tips for Finding Energy-Efficient Appliances – The Natural Resources Defense Council provides tips for choosing energy-efficient appliances that will save you money.
- Energy-Efficient Home Improvements – This article from US News explains ten easy home improvement tips to improve energy efficiency.
- Turning off the Lights – The U.S. Department of Energy explains when you should turn off your lights.
- Five Reasons to be Energy-Efficient – The Alliance to Save Energy explains the top five reasons that you should be energy-efficient.
Guest Blogger – Links Compiled by http://www.architectdesignlighting.com/
Suggestions
1. Energy Audits – learn more.
2. Green Up Your Home or Office
Carbon County Pennsylvania Groundwater Help to Hometown
The Keystone Clean Water Team has its roots in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. The organization is attempting to educate and inform private well owners about issues related to water quality. We were just recently contacted by someone in the Hometown Area that was having a problem. He called and discussed the issues which appeared series. we asked the person to email us with the details = but we have not received the information.
So – We decided to post this message !
1. If you called the Keystone Clean Water Team looking for help and spoke with Brian – please email us a cleanwater@carbonwaters.org. Please provide a full description of the problem and type of information you have available and your street mailing address.
2. If you are having a problem with your well water in Carbon County, PA- please provide us a description of the problem and your mailing address.
3. We do not have the funds to fix any problems, but we do have the opportunity to compile the problems and attempt to compare the problems to known historic environmental hazards in the area.
4. If you are outside of Carbon County, PA and are having a problem – we would be happy to review any data, but we would also suggest running a Neighborhood Environmental Hazard Report.
Everything we do began with an idea.
Keystone Clean Water Team is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Unsolicited donations are appreciated (Helps us complete our mission), but we also do local educational workshops and local cellphone/small electronic recycling programs. If you would like to set up a program to help recycle cellphones at an event, business, or other organization. Through our program we can recycle cell phones, iPods, game systems, and small digital cameras. If your interested, please contact us. Our new PSAs.
Help the Organization and Get Your Water Tested or Order the Private Well Owner Guide (proceeds benefit This Organization). Water Science Basics!
For more information, please go to KCWT’s About Page or contact us. Follow us on Twitter
Make Your Home Green
The word “Green” has taken on a new life. This word has been used to suggest a better approach for the planet and environment. That is great – but really “Going Green” can save you money by reducing waste and efficiency. So rather than “Going Green” – How about we suggest some ways to keep the green in your pocket. This post is about making your bank account turn “Green” and investing in yourself. To live the lifestyle – We Recommend the book “Living a Less Toxic Life”.
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Tip 1 – Cut and Reduce the Waste (Energy and Water)
The first action is get an energy audit done on your home. A professional can evaluate where you are wasting energy on heating and/or cooling your home, the appliances you are using, and how you are heating your water. These inefficiency may be associated with other environmental problems, such as mold, termites, and water damage. One book we like is the Homeowner Guide to Energy Efficiency. A really nice kit to reduce your water usage – Save Water Kit. If you are a DIY – this is a great home course on conducting an energy audit. Some general tips:
a. Install a programmable thermostat. Set in winter to 68 degrees (Yes this means socks, slips, and maybe a robe) . Remember the King and Queen of the Castle wore a Robe – nothing wrong! In the summer, set at 78 degrees (Honestly this does not work for me either- so add a ceiling fan).
b. Inspect your windows – caulk and seal air leaks around windows, tape the heating ducts, replace or install weather stripping, and maybe upgrade the windows. If you can not update the windows at least add a window insulator.
c. Recycle household materials.
d. Get Rid of the Energy Vampires ! With any luck you have gotten rid of the emotional vampires – now it is time for the energy vampires. This means putting TVs, DVRs, Cable boxes, and other similar appliances on power strips and turning off the power strips when you are not using the devices. For the cell phone and small electronic devices – this means taking the charge out of the wall socket when the device is charged. In PA – Host a Cell Phone Recycling Program at Work or an Event.
e. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs or other more efficient lighting.
Tip 2 – More on Water
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1. Fix leaks in faucets – If you are going to consider water treatment – Consider a non-sodium based water softener.
2. Do not run the water will you are brushing your teeth or shaving.
3. If you like cold water – maybe put a pitcher of water in the refrigerator to cool (No more than 2 days old please) and use a glass vessel.
4. Run full loads and maybe switch to a front load washer. 5. On the water side – do not flush medications, do not flush wipes, and the toilet is not for kitchen waste.
5. Install low-flow shower head and maybe a low-flow toilet or a toilet bladder.
6. Rain Barrels and Water Gardens – Save the Rain and Re-Use (Rain Water Harvesting)- Also – do we really need English Lawns?
7. Companies – Dallas, PA – Recommend Huntsville Nursery and Landscaping and Rain Water Harvesting Eastern Regional Water Quality Association.
Tip 3 – Cleaners – Maybe not so Harsh
1. Take a look at your chemical cleaners and switch to phosphate free and “detergent free” cleaners.
2. If you have red or black stains, try cleaning with a citric acid based cleaner rather and chlorine. This is a great guide to non-toxic cleaners.
Change starts with taking just one step. That is how we learned to walk. If you are concerned about unknown hazards in your community. Consider reviewing the Keystone Clean Water Team healthy community program. We are working with a national environmental database search company to offer a report to help you understand your home’s or your future homes environmental health status within a community. The program, Neighborhood Environmental Report™, offers a search of over 1,400 databases and millions of records of potential land and groundwater contamination within 1 mile radius of the entered address. To learn more.
Everything we do began with an idea.
We have offered “Free” Assistance to this effort, but if you are a private well owner that needs assistance we are happy to help.
We realize your time is precious and the world is hectic. CCGG’s volunteers do only what they’re comfortable with. It can be a little or a lot. Get YOUR WATER Tested – Discounted Screening Tests !
For more information, please go to CCGG’s About Page or contact us. Follow us on Twitter
Keystone Clean Water Team is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Unsolicited donations are appreciated (Helps us complete our mission), but we also do local educational workshops and local cellphone/small electronic recycling programs. If you would like to set up a program to help recycle cellphones at an event, business, or other organization. Through our program we can recycle cell phones, iPods, game systems, and small digital cameras. If your interested, please contact us. Our new PSAs.
Help the Organization and Get Your Water Tested or Order the Private Well Owner Guide (proceeds benefit This Organization). Water Science Basics!
Timely Article – Residential Solar and Uniform Commercial Code: A Primer on Solar-Financiers’ Rights in a Foreclosure
Source: Travis Lowder, NREL April 24, 2015
“U.S. residential solar PV has been growing at a breakneck pace. Annual installations have increased nearly five-fold in the past five years and, in 2014, surpassed annual commercial capacity additions for the first time in the history of PV market tracking. Additionally, nearly a third of the entire solar industry’s workforce — comprising over 174,000 employees — works in residential solar.
This article will address these questions, but will first provide some background on the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), a critical piece of the puzzle. If you are already familiar with the workings of the UCC, then it may be best to skip to the section on “Why It Matters.
Security Interests and the UCC- Many solar financiers today offer at least the following three products: leases, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and loans.
Why It Matters: Fixtures vs. Personal Property- PMSIs will hold up if the collateral is regarded as personal property under the UCC. This may not be the case if they are regarded as “fixtures.”
What Can Be Done?”
This is a must read article if you are considering a solar or home-based renewable energy system. Words do matter !
Read the full article.
New Program – Healthy Neighborhood Program
Everything we do began with an idea.
We have offered “Free” Assistance to this effort, but if you are a private well owner that needs assistance we are happy to help.
We realize your time is precious and the world is hectic. CCGG’s volunteers do only what they’re comfortable with. It can be a little or a lot. Get YOUR WATER Tested – Discounted Screening Tests !
For more information, please go to CCGG’s About Page or contact us. Follow us on Twitter
Keystone Clean Water Team is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Unsolicited donations are appreciated (Helps us complete our mission), but we also do local educational workshops and local cellphone/small electronic recycling programs. If you would like to set up a program to help recycle cellphones at an event, business, or other organization. Through our program we can recycle cell phones, iPods, game systems, and small digital cameras. If your interested, please contact us. Our new PSAs.
Help the Organization and Get Your Water Tested or Order the Private Well Owner Guide (proceeds benefit This Organization). Water Science Basics!
Nationwide Program – Neighborhood Environmental Report Your Home Health Status
Nationwide Program – The Keystone Clean Water Team is in pre-launch for a new USA program to help homeowners. The program helps you to identify the existing and historic environmental hazards in your community. We are working with a national environmental database search company to offer a report to help you understand your home’s or your future homes environmental health status within a community. We are doing this by taking a snapshot of the current and historic environmental concerns and hazards in the community and a review of select criminal activity. This program has been lauched – order a Neighboorhood Hazard Reports.
The program, Neighborhood Environmental Report™, offers a search of over 1,400 databases and millions of records of potential land and groundwater contamination within 1 mile radius of the entered address. The report includes a search for concerns that might be dangerous to a homeowner’s family or investment such as nearby leaking underground oil tanks, leaky underground fuel tanks (LUSTs), leaky above ground tanks (LASTs), CDC Health Assessment Database, landfills, hazardous waste sites, DOD facilities, gas and radiological sources, National Wetland Mapping, Flooding mapping data, drug houses, and clandestine drug labs.
Healthy Communities = Healthy Kids and Families
Some of the most toxic and/or costly hazards exists outside of your home. These contaminants can enter your home through direct human or animal contract or vapor intrusion into your home through the air, soil, or groundwater. These hazards pose a threat to you and your family’s health and the value of your property. Every report includes detailed information about what has been searched and identified as well as contact information for all governmental and private organizations cited in the databases.
The benefits of this report:
1. Help existing homeowners understand the hazards in their communities.
2. Aid future homeowners quickly learn about the historic hazards and concerns to conduct prior water quality, soils, or environmental testing and get the proper inspections.
3. Aid real estate professionals, investors, and appraisers evaluate the value of a home or residential property.
4. If you are selling your home, what a great way to introduce your home and surrounding community to any potential buyers, and as a home buyer, the Neighborhood Environmental Report helps provide peace of mind for you and your family.
5. For environmental groups, this is a great way to educate and inform your community about existing environmental hazards, develop local targeted sub-watershed monitoring programs, and educate children about their communities. In some cases a larger search area is needed.
6. Home inspectors, environmental laboratories, and other may find the reports useful, but in many cases some additional review or interpretation will be needed to select the appropriate testing parameters, inspections, and monitoring.
(Example Report Dallas Pennsylvania)
We ran this report for a small business owner that was looking to purchase a residential property in Shavertown, PA. The property was going to be purchased for cash. We completed the search and search identified a specific potential problem with a past but active leak at a gasoline station. This lead the buyer to ask for more information. When the right questions were asked, it was determined that there may be some environmental hazards that could impact the value of the property. In addition, the preliminary search suggested that the property could be located in a floodplain. The quote from the buyer – “The preliminary information and educational materials allowed me to better understand my risk and allow me to find a new property in a timely manner and save over $ 200,000.00” (GW, Shavertown, PA, 2015).
During the period from 2010 to 2011 – the following are the states with the most “Meth Lab” busts: Missouri, Tennessee , Indiana , Kentucky, Oklahoma, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
We are in pre-launch on this service. During pre-launch we are offering to complete compile this report for a fee of only $ 55.00. After pre-launch and website design, we think the final cost will be $ 75 and up. Neighboorhood Hazard Reports
2. Contact Mr. Brian Oram at the Keystone Clean Water Team (KCWT) at cleanwater@carbonwaters.org and provide the mailing address for the property, your contact information, email address, and phone number. We can provide this service for the USA. For some areas, we may need more information.
Terms and Conditions
1. Reports do not meet the terms and conditions of an environmental audit for real estate translations.
2. Reports can not be resold and the copyright will be maintained by the Keystone Clean Water Team.
3. Any analyses, estimates, ratings or risk codes provided in this Report are provided for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to provide, nor should they be interpreted as providing any facts regarding, or prediction or forecast of, any environmental risk for any property. Only a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment performed by an environmental professional can provide information regarding the environmental risk for any property. This Report is not a replacement for a home inspection. This Report does not provide information pertaining to the interior of the target property such as, but not limited to: mold, asbestos, lead, radon or other issues. Additionally, the information provided in this Report is not to be construed as legal advice.
4. This report contains certain information described herein pertaining solely to the exterior of the target property, which information was obtained from a variety of public and other sources reasonably available to the database search company. The company. does not produce, maintain or verify the information contained in these sources; and assumes, without independent investigation, that the information in such sources is accurate and complete.
Everything we do began with an idea.
We have offered “Free” Assistance to this effort, but if you are a private well owner that needs assistance we are happy to help.
We realize your time is precious and the world is hectic. KCWT’s volunteers do only what they’re comfortable. It can be a little or a lot. Get YOUR WATER Tested – Discounted Screening Tests, posting articles on social media, or assisting with a local event !
For more information, please go to KCWT’s About Page or contact us. Follow us on Twitter
Keystone Clean Water Team is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Unsolicited donations are appreciated (Helps us complete our mission), but we also do local educational workshops and local cellphone/small electronic recycling programs. If you would like to set up a program to help recycle cellphones at an event, business, or other organization. Through our program we can recycle cell phones, iPods, game systems, and small digital cameras. If your interested, please contact us. Our new PSAs.
Help the Organization and Get Your Water Tested or Order the Private Well Owner Guide (proceeds benefit This Organization). Water Science Basics!