At the 26^th annual “Keep Montgomery County Beautiful” community beautification awards ceremony, organizers handed out fifty-six awards, including an “Award of Excellence” in the cityscape category for the Wheaton Triangle Conservation Garden.

The Dec. 4 ceremony recognized municipal street plantings, community plantings, community landscape projects, outdoor projects at commercial and retail locations, outdoor projects at schools/government buildings/hospitals/churches, under-19 age groups, sustained maintenance, photographs of Montgomery County landmarks, adopt-a-road participants and forestry stewardship.

The fifty-six award winners represent a number of areas in Montgomery County.

Silver Spring/Colesville/ Wheaton/Takoma Park-area winners

CITYSCAPE for municipal street plantings in median strips, near traffic ramps and next to sidewalks:

Award of Excellence:  Wheaton Triangle Conservation Garden, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, Wheaton

 

COMMUNITY NON-PROFESSIONAL for community plantings maintained by residents through homeowner associations, garden clubs or civic associations:

Award of Distinction: Kemp Mill Estates Entranceway, Kemp Mill Civic Association, Silver Spring

Award of Merit: American Elm Park, Friends of Sligo Creek, Silver Spring

Award of Excellence: Hancock Avenue Rain Garden, Hancock Avenue Rain Garden Committee, Takoma Park

 

COMMUNITY PROFESSIONAL for community landscaping projects designed and maintained by professional landscape architects or contractors:

Award of Excellence: The Blairs, The Brickman Group, Silver Spring

Award of Excellence: Bonifant Homeowners Association, Custom Cuts Lawn Landscape, Silver Spring

Award of Excellence: Kensington Park Retirement Community, The Brickman Group, Kensington

Award of Excellence: Leisure World Cascade, McFall Berry Landscape, Silver Spring

Award of Excellence: Leisure World Globe, McFall Berry Landscape, Silver Spring

 

COMMERCIAL/RETAIL for outdoor projects at facilities such as shopping malls, restaurants, retail businesses, gas stations, etc.:

Award of Excellence: United Therapeutics, Ruppert Landscaping, Silver Spring, New

 

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL for outdoor projects at schools, government buildings, hospitals, churches or libraries:

Award of Excellence: Aspen Hill Library Gardens, Aspen Hill Garden Club, Aspen Hill

Award of Excellence: Eastern Middle School Rain Garden, Students Friends of Sligo Creek, Silver Spring

Award of Excellence: Pinecrest Elementary School Rain Garden, Woodmoor Green Team, Girl Scout Troop 1549, Silver Spring, Environmental

 

SUSTAINED MAINTENANCE for previous triple award winners of the Award of Excellence: 

First Year/ Commercial/Retail: Silver Spring Metro Plaza, Ruppert Landscaping, Silver Spring

PHOTOGRAPHY MONTGOMERY COUNTY, BY NIGHT – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County that depicts something fun, beautiful or exciting during nighttime.

Third: “Carnival Lightning” Elizabeth Koller, Silver Spring

 

PHOTOGRAPHY MONTGOMERY COUNTY HER PEOPLE – Any photo taken of one or more people involved in County activities, close-up or distant, showing leisure activity, productivity or community service.

Third: “Hooray for the USA” Fred Shapiro, Silver Spring

 

PHOTOGRAPHY MONTGOMERY COUNTY AT WORK – Any photo taken of one or more people at work, contributing to the livability and splendor of the County.

Second: “The Stylist for Tree” De Hou Yang, Wheaton

 

ADOPT-A-ROAD CLEAN SWEEP AWARDS – for fiscal year 2012 (July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012) that recognizes volunteer efforts to remove litter from County roadways. 

 

Award of Excellence for Most Cleanings Reported – Colesville Lions Club, represented by Emory Patton. This group cleaned their road, the extension of Norbeck Road from Norwood Road to New Hampshire Avenue, nearly every day except when prohibited by weather. The group has been with the program for nine years.

 

Award of Excellence for Most Trash Collected: Izaak Walton League of America Wildlife Achievement Chapter, represented by Meo Curtis.  This group has adopted Mullinix Mill Road, between Route 108 and the Howard County Line.  In FY12 they collected 132 bags of trash – about 350 gallons of trash — plus many recyclable items, hub caps and tires, household remodeling materials, sofas, propane gas containers, partially filled cans of paint and a wedding dress.   They have been with the program for over 15 years.

 

 

 

 

 

Chevy Chase/Kensington/Bethesda/Potomac-area winners –

COMMUNITY NON-PROFESSIONAL for community plantings maintained by residents through homeowner associations, garden clubs or civic associations:

Award of Excellence: Huntington Terrace Citizens Association Triangle Garden, Bethesda, Environmental

 

COMMUNITY PROFESSIONAL for community landscaping projects designed and maintained by

 

Award of Excellence: Potomac Falls Entranceways, Fine Earth Landscape, Inc., Potomac

Award of Distinction: Bethesda Overlook Townhouse Condominium, Potts Consulting and Greenlink, Inc., Bethesda, New

Award of Excellence: Bethesda Row, Ruppert Landscaping, Bethesda

 

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL for outdoor projects at schools, government buildings, hospitals, churches or libraries:

 

Award of Distinction: Davis Library, Bethesda Community Garden Club, Bethesda

 

 

SUSTAINED MAINTENANCE for previous triple award winners of the Award of Excellence: 

 

Second Year/ Community Professional: Capital Gateway, Ruppert Landscape, Bethesda

Second Year/ Community Professional: Maplewood Park Place, Valleycrest Landscape, Bethesda

Second Year/ Community Professional: Potomac Crest Homeowners Association, The Brickman Group, Potomac

Third Year/ Commercial/Retail: Human Genome Sciences, Ruppert Landscape, Bethesda

Third Year/ Community Non-Professional: Kenwood Pocket Park, Kenwood Garden Club, Chevy Chase

Third Year/ Public-Institutional: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Labyrinth, Bethesda

THE GOLDEN TROWEL AWARD – Final Year/Fifth Year/ Community Professional: The Carleton Condominium, Valleycrest Landscape, Bethesda

Photography MONTGOMERY COUNTY HER PEOPLE – Any photo taken of one or more people involved in County activities, close-up or distant, showing leisure activity, productivity or community service.

 

Second: “Great Falls, Maryland” Donald Bandler, Bethesda

 

 

 

Montgomery Village/Rockville/Gaithersburg/Germantown/North Potomac-area winners –

CITYSCAPE for municipal street plantings in median strips, near traffic ramps and next to sidewalks:

Award of Excellence:  Mattie Stepanek Park Peace Garden, City of Rockville

Award of Excellence:  Viers Mill Road Landscape Enhancements, City of Rockville, New

Award of Distinction:  East Rockville Greenway, City of Rockville

Award of Excellence:  Park Road and S. Stonestreet Land Enhancements, City of Rockville

Award of Excellence:  Pump House at Croyden Park, City of Rockville, Environmental

Award of Excellence:  The Ponds at Fallsgrove, City of Rockville

 

COMMUNITY PROFESSIONAL for community landscaping projects designed and maintained by

Award of Excellence: Grosvenor Park Grosvenor Park Maintenance Trust Association Monument, Lancaster Landscapes, Rockville

Award of Excellence: Clarksburg Village Roundabout, Hughes Landscaping, Clarksburg, Environmental/New

Award of Excellence: The Vistas Homeowners Association Stormwater Management Area, The Brickman Group, Boyds

 

COMMERCIAL/RETAIL for outdoor projects at facilities such as shopping malls, restaurants, retail businesses, gas stations, etc.:

Award of Distinction: Gaithersburg Washingtonian Marriott, The Brickman Group, Gaithersburg

Award of Excellence: National Auto Body, Rockville

Award of Excellence: Tower Oaks, The Brickman Group, Rockville

Award of Merit: Twinbrook Sunoco, Rockville

Award of Distinction: Maryland Soccerplex, Fine Earth Landscape, Inc. Boyds

Award of Excellence: Lobsang Executive Shell, Rockville, Environmental

 

 

 

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL for outdoor projects at schools, government buildings, hospitals, churches or libraries:

 

Award of Excellence: The Jewish Community Center, Ruppert Landscaping, Rockville

Award of Excellence: Master Gardeners Demonstration Gardens, Derwood Agricultural Farm Park, Derwood

Award of Excellence: Master Gardeners Farmers Triangle Demonstration Garden, Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Gaithersburg

Award of Excellence: Master Gardeners Heritage Garden, Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Gaithersburg

Award of Excellence: Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, Rosetta Landscape Management, Olney

Award of Excellence: Viers Mill Baptist Church, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, Rockville, Environmental/New

Award of Excellence: St. James Episcopal Church Vestry Gardens, American Plant Landscape Division, Rockville, Environmental

Award of Excellence: Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, American Plant Landscape, Rockville

Award of Excellence: Montgomery General Hospital Thrift Shop Butterfly Garden, Seedling Garden Club, Olney

 

 

YOUTH for outdoor projects by an individual or group who are younger than 19 years old.  Adult supervision is permitted, but the majority of a project must be completed by youth:

Award of Distinction: Rockville High School (RHS) Conservation Landscape, RHS Horticulture and Science Class Students, Rockville

 

 

SUSTAINED MAINTENANCE for previous triple award winners of the Award of Excellence: 

 

First Year/ Commercial/Retail: Hughes Network, The Brickman Group, Germantown

First Year/ Cityscape: Rockville Town Square, Ruppert Landscaping, Rockville

Second Year/ Community Non-Professional: Cambridge Walk II Homeowners Association, Rockville

Second Year/ Community Non-Professional: Rockshire Entranceway, Rockshire Garden Club, Rockville

Second Year/ Commercial/Retail: Washingtonian Center, The Brickman Group, Gaithersburg

 

 

Photography MONTGOMERY COUNTY YOUTH – For those who are younger than 19 years of age and wish to compete against others their age. 

 

First: “Helpless Hungry But Still Together” Tatiana Harris, Gaithersburg

Second: “The First Sign of Summer” Bethany Pereira, Rockville

Third: “Montgomery County Salutes Amercia” Anna Meleney, Rockville

 

Photography MONTGOMERY COUNTY, BY DAY – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County that depicts something fun, beautiful or exciting during daytime hours.

 

First: “Fields of Gold” Lori Ducharme, Gaithersburg

Second: “Black Hill Fishing Dock” Cynthia Hunter, Montgomery Village, Gaithersburg

Third: “Sunflower-After Life” Patricia Benjamin, Gaithersburg

 

Photography MONTGOMERY COUNTY LANDMARKS – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County of a natural or manmade commonly recognized landmark or scene.

 

First: “Overlook Panorama” Keegan Barber, Rockville

Second: “Forgotten Memories” Mamqalika Pereira, Rockville

Third: “Seneca Schoolhouse” Linda Joy, Gaithersburg

 

Photography MONTGOMERY COUNTY, BY NIGHT – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County that depicts something fun, beautiful or exciting during nighttime.

 

First: “Out For a Spin” Larry Dean, Damascus

Second: “Big 17” Howard Clark, Montgomery Village, Gaithersburg

 

Photography MONTGOMERY COUNTY HER PEOPLE – Any photo taken of one or more people involved in County activities, close-up or distant, showing leisure activity, productivity or community service.

 

First: “Father/Son Early Spring Hike” Gloria Machlis Heyman, Montgomery Village, Gaithersburg

 

Photography MONTGOMERY COUNTY AT WORK – Any photo taken of one or more people at work, contributing to the livability and splendor of the County.

 

First: “Yellow + Blue = Green” Judith MacArthur, Rockville

 

THE GREYDON TOLSON FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP AWARDS.  The Greydon Tolson award honors his lifetime of service to forestry in Montgomery County and to the Montgomery County Forestry Board.  The award recognizes individuals or organizations that have demonstrated a significant commitment to advancing the science, education, technology, or practice of Forestry.  This year’s winners are Carole Bergmann, resident of Clarksburg and employed by Montgomery Parks, Maryland-National Capital Park Planning Commission, and Linda Pepe, resident of Barnesville. 

When architects designed Toronto’s Bridgepoint Hospital – under construction on the eastern edge of the city’s Don River Valley – they had two reasons for making the 472 vertical windows an important visual feature: That’s the exact number of beds the new facility will hold; the vertical orientation symbolically represents patients getting back on their feet and into their communities.

“This hospital leads new thinking about the role of hospitals, how they’re designed and the features that will aid the rehabilitative and restorative processes that inspire health and wellness,” says Marian Walsh, president and chief executive officer of Bridgepoint Health.

To passersby, the sleek, 680,000-square-foot structure is the most visible indication that the four-hectare site is undergoing a massive redevelopment. Besides the construction of the new hospital, which is scheduled to open next April, the project includes the conversion of the 148-year-old Don Jail to Bridgepoint administration offices, demolition of the existing Bridgepoint Hospital and Toronto Jail, new landscaping and roadways. The $1.2-billion project is to be completed in spring 2014.

The new hospital will focus on complex chronic disease and disability care. Patients using the facility are coping with multiple ailments such as diabetes, cancer and musculoskeletal conditions. “We’re really focused on the more complex patient who carries a fairly high burden of illness and disability and who spends a lot of time in hospitals and doctors’ offices,” Ms. Walsh explains.

Fifty-seven per cent of Ontarians older than age 65 live with three or more chronic diseases, according to Bridgepoint Health. And complex continuing-care patients typically stay in hospital for up to three months, according to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Barrier-free patient rooms, wide corridors, handrails and infection control rooms have been designed with patient safety and comfort in mind. The hospital will have only single and double rooms where private three-piece bathrooms will mean better infection prevention.

All aspects of the new building – from communal dining rooms where patients will take their meals, to an Internet café, spiritual room, rooftop garden, visitor lounges, outside terraces and hairdressing services – have been designed to get patients out of their rooms, and motivated to manage their illnesses and return to their communities.

“The role of family members and other visitors, and the whole social environment for patients is hugely important,” explains Greg Colucci, principal at Diamond Schmitt Architects, Toronto, which is the joint architect of record along with HDR Inc. of Omaha, Neb. “They need spaces that are conducive to a return to wellness.”

Bright floor-to-ceiling windows in every patient room will offer spectacular views of the city skyline to the west and the Riverdale neighbourhood to the east. Views of Lake Ontario to the south and Riverdale Park to the north allow patients to stay connected to nature.

That integration with the outdoors is critical, says Jane Merkley, vice-president of programs, services and professional affairs, and chief nurse executive for Bridgepoint Health. “Many of our patients have eight or nine chronic health issues. For months they’ve been in acute-care hospitals and therefore have an illness focus. We want to take away the sense that the hospital is an end destination for them.”

The community will be drawn into the building by visitor-friendly features, Mr. Colucci adds. For example, a grand entrance that leads to the main floor lobby is unlike many post-war hospitals that leave visitors guessing as to the location of the front door, he says. The main floor will feature glass walls, food concessions, retail outlets, learning centres, office space, an auditorium and an outdoor terrace with steps to parkland.

The landscaping deliberately blurs the boundaries between public and private property, Mr. Colucci says. Visitors can wander through Bridgepoint’s gardens and walkways where interpretive displays will communicate the history and significance of the site. A 20-metre-diameter public labyrinth – based on the medieval Chartres labyrinth near Paris – will be sized for wheelchairs and will promote mobilization, meditation and mental health.

For the first time, pedestrians and bicyclists using public trails won’t have to detour around the site. Without compromising patient and staff security, “we’ve made the site and its buildings permeable and have enabled a variety of means to access it, pass through it and walk around it,” Mr. Colucci says.

For staff, there will be decentralized nurses’ stations on every floor, windowed staff lounges, wellness programs, a fitness centre and, because it’s a University of Toronto-affiliated community teaching hospital, clinical training labs and educational resources.

The Bridgepoint Collaboratory for Research and Innovation, with input from Diamond Schmitt and the University of Toronto School of Architecture, will, over a period of about 18 months, study whether the building is performing as expected in terms of improved outcomes for patients, Ms. Walsh says.

Long a place of refuge

Health and wellness services have been offered on the Bridgepoint site ever since the House of Refuge was established there in 1860.

– It became one of the first public hospitals in Toronto. In 1869 it helped to contain a smallpox epidemic.

– Two teams of architects are responsible for the two-tiered project design and delivery under Infrastructure Ontario’s Alternate Financing and Procurement program: Stantec Architecture / KPMB Architects, planning, design and compliance architects; HDR Architecture / Diamond Schmitt Architects, design, build, finance and maintain architects.

– Plenary Health was awarded the 33-year contract to design, build, finance and maintain the new Bridgepoint hospital. The team includes Plenary Group, PCL Constructors Canada Inc., Innisfree, HDR Architecture, Diamond Schmitt Architects, Johnson Controls Inc., and RBC Capital Markets.

Editor’s note: Two teams of architects are involved in the Bridgepoint project. Incomplete information appeared in the original version of this article. This online version has been corrected.

 

Neighbours object to underground swimming pool plans in Woodford Green

11:06am Wednesday 12th December 2012 in News

By Melanie Attlesey

A HOMEOWNER has applied to build an underground swimming and gym leading to concerns from neighbouring residents.

Isabella Honeyman of The Dell in Woodford Green has already started building the extension which will eventually contain the pool and gym if permission is granted, but this has prompted neighbours to object to the plans.

Rochelle Posner who lives on the High Road and whose house backs onto the property said in an objection letter to the council: “We have grave concerns regarding both contamination issues, substantially natural differences in garden levels but especially the important trees under preservation orders directly adjacent to the site.”

The two trees in question are both Turkey Oaks and are subject to a tree preservation order by the council, leading to an objection from the trees and landscaping department.

Mrs Posner added: “We are not against anyone improving and extending their homes in the traditional manner such as rear extensions which are disproportionate to the existing building, but this brand of home extension on an already heavily extended house in the shape of vast excavation work needs addressing urgently.

“Given the gardens are so close to each other we feel this would set a precedent for serious and inappropriate overdevelopment in relatively small but very mature gardens.”

Her neighbours Roger and Madeleine Davis have also objected to the building work.

They said: “Waste from the filtration of the pool must be properly  controlled by direct access to the house main drainage and if this cannot be guaranteed there is a grave risk of seepage beyond their boundary causing contamination to neighbouring properties.

“There is an unknown effect that such large underground structure might cause to local drainage of underground rainwater, by either retaining or diverting it, causing possible flooding or subsidence problems in other properties in the area.”

No date has yet been set for a decision to be made on the underground development.

The subject of underground developments in London is controversial as homeowners extend their homes beneath the surface because they can no longer build outwards.

A billionaire recently binned his plans to build a 50foot complex under his Chelsea home, which included a pool, cinema and staff quarters, because a provision for affordable housing had not been included in the design.

Comments(1)

mtp1db

says…

12:18pm Wed 12 Dec 12

I see this becoming more of an issue as time goes on as people have extended their house as far as they can and normally look awful. I personally I think these type of extensions are great but only if surrounding neighbors are okay with it and that the work is done to the highest standard.
mtp1db

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Colourful plants in colourful pots at Khadra
Courtesy of Khadra’s Facebook page

Egypt is not a green country, most of the land is stark desert and only on a small strip around the Nile and in the Delta can lush greenery be found. To counteract this, more and more people are livening up their homes and balconies with plants and those who live outside the cities create little havens of greenery and flowers in their gardens. Family run Khadra is one of the places where you can find a large variety of home grown plants, shrubs and trees.

Khadra’s owner, Heba Yassin, started gardening later in life. “I moved out of the city to Mansoureia and because I had a large garden I started to learn how to plant and found out I loved it,” she said. “Over the years I learned more and sometimes helped out my friends with their gardens. I never planned for this to become a business but as I got better at it my daughters convinced me to start doing it professionally. It really is a combination of retirement and hobby that became a job.”

The set up of Khadra is different in that they do not have a shop where they sell their plants. “I have a big garden and green house where we grow our plants, herbs, trees and shrubs,” Yassin said. “We organise events here every two to three months where people can come and see what we have on offer. Other than that I take pictures of our plants and post them on Facebook and people contact us to order. We deliver directly to their homes so there is no need for a shop.”

Besides Yassin, five gardeners work in Khadra. “I love growing things but I am not interested in the business side of things which is why my daughter joined me, she handles that,” Yassin said. “I do the Facebook page and I take the pictures I post myself. They are not professional, sometimes you see my dogs in the background, but I think people are a bit fed up with things being too perfect. The fact the images are not perfect makes it obvious that these really are the plants we have.”

Khadra does more than just sell plants for gardens, homes and balconies. “We do landscaping for gardens and have been commissioned by several restaurants to design the plants for their interiors. Sometimes an architect will give us a colour scheme or we make a design of what we feel fits the place,” Yassin said.

The pots Khadra offers are varied; they range from ceramic to wooden barrels and metal buckets, and come in a large spectrum of colours. “I like combining the colours of flowers with the colours of the pots, yet I could not always find the exact shade I wanted. We have a machine that is used to paint cars and create the exact colours we want,” Yassin explained.

All plants come with a card that explains if they need sun or shade and how often they have to be watered, “to make sure people will be able to enjoy their plants for a long time,” said Yassin.

One of Khadra’s bestsellers is a large pot that combines six different fresh herbs that can easily grow on a balcony. “More and more people like to grow their own food, and we offer a variety of plants, from fresh herbs to citrus trees that work on balconies as well as in gardens,” Yassin said.

Editor’s Note: EarthTechling is proud to repost this article courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy. Author credit goes to Rebecca Matulka.

If the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon – a two-year competition among university teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are affordable, energy-efficient and attractive — wasn’t challenging enough, one team decided to up the ante by turning its demonstration house into a permanent, two-family home in Washington, D.C. Today the team, along with project partners and community members, celebrated the completion of this three-year-long project and welcomed the future homeowners to their new homes.

Right from the very beginning of the competition, the Empowerhouse team – composed of students from Parsons The New School for Design, the Milano School for International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy at The New School, and Stevens Institute of Technology — decided on a community-based approach to creating affordable ultra-efficient solar housing. To make this a reality, the team partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C., and the D.C. government to build Washington’s first passive house. The highest energy standard, a passive house consumes 90 percent less energy than a typical home.

One of the new homeowners, Layika Culley, and her family cut the ribbon to her new ultra-efficient home in the historic Deanwood neighborhood. (image via U.S. Department of Energy)

In addition to following competition guidelines, the Empowerhouse team also had to take into account neighborhood and city codes when building its 900-square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bathroom demonstration house. The students’ hard work paid off, and the team tied for first place in the Affordability Contest.

After the competition, students worked with DC Habitat to ensure their vision was realized. The demonstration home was moved to the historic Deanwood neighborhood in the District’s Ward 7, and a second story was built, expanding it to a 1,300-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath home. Alongside it, DC Habitat and its volunteers built a matching house, making it a two-family home. The construction process was so affordable that in June, DC Habitat announced it was breaking ground on six new energy-efficient townhomes in the Ivy City community that use the Empowerhouse team’s passive house design standards.

Throughout the entire process — from the start of the Solar Decathlon competition to the finishing touches on the homes in Deanwood — students have worked to make sure their Solar Decathlon entry wasn’t just a case study, said Orlando Velez, who worked on the project as a graduate student and then was hired full time by The New School after graduation as operations director of the Empowerhouse Project. They held community workshops on sustainable development and green living, worked with the future homeowners on eco-friendly landscaping and rain gardens, and developed a homeowner’s manual to ensure the new families make the most out of their new energy-efficient homes. “The beauty of this project is we are creating a home, not just an exhibit space,” said Velez.

Editor’s Note: EarthTechling is proud to repost this article courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy. Author credit goes to Rebecca Matulka.

If the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon – a two-year competition among university teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are affordable, energy-efficient and attractive — wasn’t challenging enough, one team decided to up the ante by turning its demonstration house into a permanent, two-family home in Washington, D.C. Today the team, along with project partners and community members, celebrated the completion of this three-year-long project and welcomed the future homeowners to their new homes.

Right from the very beginning of the competition, the Empowerhouse team – composed of students from Parsons The New School for Design, the Milano School for International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy at The New School, and Stevens Institute of Technology — decided on a community-based approach to creating affordable ultra-efficient solar housing. To make this a reality, the team partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C., and the D.C. government to build Washington’s first passive house. The highest energy standard, a passive house consumes 90 percent less energy than a typical home.

One of the new homeowners, Layika Culley, and her family cut the ribbon to her new ultra-efficient home in the historic Deanwood neighborhood. (image via U.S. Department of Energy)

In addition to following competition guidelines, the Empowerhouse team also had to take into account neighborhood and city codes when building its 900-square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bathroom demonstration house. The students’ hard work paid off, and the team tied for first place in the Affordability Contest.

After the competition, students worked with DC Habitat to ensure their vision was realized. The demonstration home was moved to the historic Deanwood neighborhood in the District’s Ward 7, and a second story was built, expanding it to a 1,300-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath home. Alongside it, DC Habitat and its volunteers built a matching house, making it a two-family home. The construction process was so affordable that in June, DC Habitat announced it was breaking ground on six new energy-efficient townhomes in the Ivy City community that use the Empowerhouse team’s passive house design standards.

Throughout the entire process — from the start of the Solar Decathlon competition to the finishing touches on the homes in Deanwood — students have worked to make sure their Solar Decathlon entry wasn’t just a case study, said Orlando Velez, who worked on the project as a graduate student and then was hired full time by The New School after graduation as operations director of the Empowerhouse Project. They held community workshops on sustainable development and green living, worked with the future homeowners on eco-friendly landscaping and rain gardens, and developed a homeowner’s manual to ensure the new families make the most out of their new energy-efficient homes. “The beauty of this project is we are creating a home, not just an exhibit space,” said Velez.

Editor’s Note: EarthTechling is proud to repost this article courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy. Author credit goes to Rebecca Matulka.

If the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon – a two-year competition among university teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are affordable, energy-efficient and attractive — wasn’t challenging enough, one team decided to up the ante by turning its demonstration house into a permanent, two-family home in Washington, D.C. Today the team, along with project partners and community members, celebrated the completion of this three-year-long project and welcomed the future homeowners to their new homes.

Right from the very beginning of the competition, the Empowerhouse team – composed of students from Parsons The New School for Design, the Milano School for International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy at The New School, and Stevens Institute of Technology — decided on a community-based approach to creating affordable ultra-efficient solar housing. To make this a reality, the team partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C., and the D.C. government to build Washington’s first passive house. The highest energy standard, a passive house consumes 90 percent less energy than a typical home.

One of the new homeowners, Layika Culley, and her family cut the ribbon to her new ultra-efficient home in the historic Deanwood neighborhood. (image via U.S. Department of Energy)

In addition to following competition guidelines, the Empowerhouse team also had to take into account neighborhood and city codes when building its 900-square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bathroom demonstration house. The students’ hard work paid off, and the team tied for first place in the Affordability Contest.

After the competition, students worked with DC Habitat to ensure their vision was realized. The demonstration home was moved to the historic Deanwood neighborhood in the District’s Ward 7, and a second story was built, expanding it to a 1,300-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath home. Alongside it, DC Habitat and its volunteers built a matching house, making it a two-family home. The construction process was so affordable that in June, DC Habitat announced it was breaking ground on six new energy-efficient townhomes in the Ivy City community that use the Empowerhouse team’s passive house design standards.

Throughout the entire process — from the start of the Solar Decathlon competition to the finishing touches on the homes in Deanwood — students have worked to make sure their Solar Decathlon entry wasn’t just a case study, said Orlando Velez, who worked on the project as a graduate student and then was hired full time by The New School after graduation as operations director of the Empowerhouse Project. They held community workshops on sustainable development and green living, worked with the future homeowners on eco-friendly landscaping and rain gardens, and developed a homeowner’s manual to ensure the new families make the most out of their new energy-efficient homes. “The beauty of this project is we are creating a home, not just an exhibit space,” said Velez.

AP Photo/Dean Fosdick

Gardening-Salty Soils

This May 24, 2012 photo shows a Rosa rugosa (beach rose) flourishing in sandy, salt spray-laden soil on Whidbey Island near Coupeville, Washington.

Posted: Monday, December 10, 2012 12:15 am
|


Updated: 11:58 pm, Sun Dec 9, 2012.

Salt can leave a bad taste in lawns and gardens

Associated Press |

0 comments

Salt in the soil can be deadly for lawns, trees and gardens, robbing plants of their ability to absorb water. Salt-tolerant varieties are available, however, and ground laden with soluble toxins can be flushed clean to depths below the root zone.

Regular soil testing is the best way to determine salt levels, said Richard Koenig, associate dean and director of Washington State University Extension.

“The problem is common in the Desert Southwest (with irrigation buildups), along roads cleared with de-icers and near oceans, where you get wind-blown sea spray,” he said.

Salinization frequently appears as white-crusted soil on the ground’s surface or stunted vegetation, particularly in low-lying areas.

“Another characteristic symptom is brown and brittle plants,” Koenig said. “People often refer to (soil) salinity as ‘chemical drought’.”

Anyone who has tried to sprinkle salt from a wet shaker knows how readily salt stores water, said Leonard Perry, an extension professor with the University of Vermont.

“Rock salt exhibits the same property in the soil, and absorbs much of the water that normally would be available to roots,” Perry said. “That’s especially a problem in the spring, when plants are coming out of dormancy and their roots are the most active. Salt competes with plants for that water.”

Saline soils cannot be reclaimed with chemical amendments, conditioners or fertilizers, according to horticulturists with Colorado State University Extension.

But there are methods for reducing or eliminating salinization in the root zone. These include:

— Detoxifying the soil by flushing. “If you have a way to wash the soil using excess water that is not high in salt, then you can leach them down deeper into the soil,” Koenig said.

— Improving drainage. Mulching to prevent evaporation and retain water in the soil also helps. Hose salt spray and pollutants off plants and lawns after heavy storms.

— Using raised beds filled with fresh soil that provides some control over salinity, pH and compaction. “That elevates your soil and lets you leach it out of the beds,” Koenig said.

— Adding windbreaks — snow fences, hedges and trees — deflects sea spray.

— Removing and replacing soil covered with road salts. “But unless you can replace the cause of the problem, like moving plant sites farther from roadways, the problem will persist,” Koenig said.

— Growing plants that tolerate soil salinity. “Some plants simply grow better than others in salt,” Perry said. “If salt concentrations are heavy, going from perennials to annuals might help.”

Plants that are particularly salt-sensitive include carrots, onions, strawberries, beans, cabbage and most tree fruits. Salt-tolerant plants include asparagus, Rosa rugosa (beach roses), sumac, prickly pear cactus, columbines and daylilies. Beets, squash, zucchini, chrysanthemums and many evergreens are moderately tolerant, meaning they can survive brief storm surges but should be screened from persistent salt spray.

“Lawns usually aren’t as much of an issue, but you will see some browning and damage near roads,” Perry said. “That’s where barriers help.”

Look to native plants as salt-tolerant indicators when doing any seaside or roadside landscaping.

___

Online:

For more about managing saline soils, see this Colorado State University Extension fact sheet:

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/crops/00503.html

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

More about Soil

• ARTICLE: Give roots elbow room by pruning
• ARTICLE: Even when it rains, don’t forget to water. Maybe.
• IMAGE: GARDENING WITH CHARLIE: The correct way to plant a tree

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Posted in
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Monday, December 10, 2012 12:15 am.

Updated: 11:58 pm.

| Tags:


Soil,

Soil Science,

Richard Koenig,

Leonard Perry,

Soil Salinity,

Environmental Soil Science,

Land Use,

Agricultural Soil Science,

Salts,

Lawn,

Irrigation,

Agriculture,

Chemical Drought

Most Read

• Obituaries for Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012
• Obituaries for Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
• Obituaries for Friday, Dec. 7, 2012
• Obituaries for Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012
• Police blotter for Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012

AP Photo/Dean Fosdick

Gardening-Salty Soils

This May 24, 2012 photo shows a Rosa rugosa (beach rose) flourishing in sandy, salt spray-laden soil on Whidbey Island near Coupeville, Washington.

Posted: Monday, December 10, 2012 12:15 am
|


Updated: 11:58 pm, Sun Dec 9, 2012.

Salt can leave a bad taste in lawns and gardens

Associated Press |

0 comments

Salt in the soil can be deadly for lawns, trees and gardens, robbing plants of their ability to absorb water. Salt-tolerant varieties are available, however, and ground laden with soluble toxins can be flushed clean to depths below the root zone.

Regular soil testing is the best way to determine salt levels, said Richard Koenig, associate dean and director of Washington State University Extension.

“The problem is common in the Desert Southwest (with irrigation buildups), along roads cleared with de-icers and near oceans, where you get wind-blown sea spray,” he said.

Salinization frequently appears as white-crusted soil on the ground’s surface or stunted vegetation, particularly in low-lying areas.

“Another characteristic symptom is brown and brittle plants,” Koenig said. “People often refer to (soil) salinity as ‘chemical drought’.”

Anyone who has tried to sprinkle salt from a wet shaker knows how readily salt stores water, said Leonard Perry, an extension professor with the University of Vermont.

“Rock salt exhibits the same property in the soil, and absorbs much of the water that normally would be available to roots,” Perry said. “That’s especially a problem in the spring, when plants are coming out of dormancy and their roots are the most active. Salt competes with plants for that water.”

Saline soils cannot be reclaimed with chemical amendments, conditioners or fertilizers, according to horticulturists with Colorado State University Extension.

But there are methods for reducing or eliminating salinization in the root zone. These include:

— Detoxifying the soil by flushing. “If you have a way to wash the soil using excess water that is not high in salt, then you can leach them down deeper into the soil,” Koenig said.

— Improving drainage. Mulching to prevent evaporation and retain water in the soil also helps. Hose salt spray and pollutants off plants and lawns after heavy storms.

— Using raised beds filled with fresh soil that provides some control over salinity, pH and compaction. “That elevates your soil and lets you leach it out of the beds,” Koenig said.

— Adding windbreaks — snow fences, hedges and trees — deflects sea spray.

— Removing and replacing soil covered with road salts. “But unless you can replace the cause of the problem, like moving plant sites farther from roadways, the problem will persist,” Koenig said.

— Growing plants that tolerate soil salinity. “Some plants simply grow better than others in salt,” Perry said. “If salt concentrations are heavy, going from perennials to annuals might help.”

Plants that are particularly salt-sensitive include carrots, onions, strawberries, beans, cabbage and most tree fruits. Salt-tolerant plants include asparagus, Rosa rugosa (beach roses), sumac, prickly pear cactus, columbines and daylilies. Beets, squash, zucchini, chrysanthemums and many evergreens are moderately tolerant, meaning they can survive brief storm surges but should be screened from persistent salt spray.

“Lawns usually aren’t as much of an issue, but you will see some browning and damage near roads,” Perry said. “That’s where barriers help.”

Look to native plants as salt-tolerant indicators when doing any seaside or roadside landscaping.

___

Online:

For more about managing saline soils, see this Colorado State University Extension fact sheet:

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/crops/00503.html

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

More about Soil

• ARTICLE: Give roots elbow room by pruning
• ARTICLE: Even when it rains, don’t forget to water. Maybe.
• IMAGE: GARDENING WITH CHARLIE: The correct way to plant a tree

• 
  Discuss
  
• Print
  
  
  

Posted in
Weather,
Lifestyles

on

Monday, December 10, 2012 12:15 am.

Updated: 11:58 pm.

| Tags:


Soil,

Soil Science,

Richard Koenig,

Leonard Perry,

Soil Salinity,

Environmental Soil Science,

Land Use,

Agricultural Soil Science,

Salts,

Lawn,

Irrigation,

Agriculture,

Chemical Drought

Most Read

• Obituaries for Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012
• Obituaries for Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
• Obituaries for Friday, Dec. 7, 2012
• Obituaries for Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012
• Police blotter for Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012

AP Photo/Dean Fosdick

Gardening-Salty Soils

This May 24, 2012 photo shows a Rosa rugosa (beach rose) flourishing in sandy, salt spray-laden soil on Whidbey Island near Coupeville, Washington.

Posted: Monday, December 10, 2012 12:15 am
|


Updated: 11:58 pm, Sun Dec 9, 2012.

Salt can leave a bad taste in lawns and gardens

Associated Press |

0 comments

Salt in the soil can be deadly for lawns, trees and gardens, robbing plants of their ability to absorb water. Salt-tolerant varieties are available, however, and ground laden with soluble toxins can be flushed clean to depths below the root zone.

Regular soil testing is the best way to determine salt levels, said Richard Koenig, associate dean and director of Washington State University Extension.

“The problem is common in the Desert Southwest (with irrigation buildups), along roads cleared with de-icers and near oceans, where you get wind-blown sea spray,” he said.

Salinization frequently appears as white-crusted soil on the ground’s surface or stunted vegetation, particularly in low-lying areas.

“Another characteristic symptom is brown and brittle plants,” Koenig said. “People often refer to (soil) salinity as ‘chemical drought’.”

Anyone who has tried to sprinkle salt from a wet shaker knows how readily salt stores water, said Leonard Perry, an extension professor with the University of Vermont.

“Rock salt exhibits the same property in the soil, and absorbs much of the water that normally would be available to roots,” Perry said. “That’s especially a problem in the spring, when plants are coming out of dormancy and their roots are the most active. Salt competes with plants for that water.”

Saline soils cannot be reclaimed with chemical amendments, conditioners or fertilizers, according to horticulturists with Colorado State University Extension.

But there are methods for reducing or eliminating salinization in the root zone. These include:

— Detoxifying the soil by flushing. “If you have a way to wash the soil using excess water that is not high in salt, then you can leach them down deeper into the soil,” Koenig said.

— Improving drainage. Mulching to prevent evaporation and retain water in the soil also helps. Hose salt spray and pollutants off plants and lawns after heavy storms.

— Using raised beds filled with fresh soil that provides some control over salinity, pH and compaction. “That elevates your soil and lets you leach it out of the beds,” Koenig said.

— Adding windbreaks — snow fences, hedges and trees — deflects sea spray.

— Removing and replacing soil covered with road salts. “But unless you can replace the cause of the problem, like moving plant sites farther from roadways, the problem will persist,” Koenig said.

— Growing plants that tolerate soil salinity. “Some plants simply grow better than others in salt,” Perry said. “If salt concentrations are heavy, going from perennials to annuals might help.”

Plants that are particularly salt-sensitive include carrots, onions, strawberries, beans, cabbage and most tree fruits. Salt-tolerant plants include asparagus, Rosa rugosa (beach roses), sumac, prickly pear cactus, columbines and daylilies. Beets, squash, zucchini, chrysanthemums and many evergreens are moderately tolerant, meaning they can survive brief storm surges but should be screened from persistent salt spray.

“Lawns usually aren’t as much of an issue, but you will see some browning and damage near roads,” Perry said. “That’s where barriers help.”

Look to native plants as salt-tolerant indicators when doing any seaside or roadside landscaping.

___

Online:

For more about managing saline soils, see this Colorado State University Extension fact sheet:

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/crops/00503.html

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

More about Soil

• ARTICLE: Give roots elbow room by pruning
• ARTICLE: Even when it rains, don’t forget to water. Maybe.
• IMAGE: GARDENING WITH CHARLIE: The correct way to plant a tree

• 
  Discuss
  
• Print
  
  
  

Posted in
Weather,
Lifestyles

on

Monday, December 10, 2012 12:15 am.

Updated: 11:58 pm.

| Tags:


Soil,

Soil Science,

Richard Koenig,

Leonard Perry,

Soil Salinity,

Environmental Soil Science,

Land Use,

Agricultural Soil Science,

Salts,

Lawn,

Irrigation,

Agriculture,

Chemical Drought

Most Read

• Obituaries for Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012
• Obituaries for Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
• Obituaries for Friday, Dec. 7, 2012
• Obituaries for Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012
• Police blotter for Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012