Grid Magazine

#004 May 2009/Circular Economy/Guides/Recycling

Light ‘Em If You’ve Got ‘Em

How to recycle light bulbsby Samantha WittchenWith energy costs rising, switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) can save us money. It’ll soon be the law, too; beginning in 2012, incandescent bulbs will be banned by Congress. Whether you’re replacing your incandescent light bulbs with CFLs individually as they burn out or in one fell

May 1, 2009

1 min read

#004 May 2009/Circular Economy/Compost/gardening/Guides

How-To: Compost

Turn waste into black goldby Will DeanIf you’re reading this magazine, you probably have at least have a vague idea of what composting is. The natural way to make nutritious (for plants, that is) fertilizer, composting was once a standard practice for every farmer, gardener and consumer.

May 1, 2009

3 mins read

#004 May 2009/Green Building/Politics

Ask Mark

Philadelphia's Director of Sustainability, Mark Alan Hughes, answers our readersQ: The tax abatement costs the city millions in revenue, and discourages the renewal of existing buildings, thus causing the waste of huge amounts of energy and new construction material, while not requiring any more labor (that is, it doesn’t create jobs compared to restoring existing

May 1, 2009

2 mins read

#004 May 2009/Food/GridPhilly

John and Kira’s New Boutique Bees

Individually hand-painted, these little “chocolate bees” are filled to the brim with salted caramel and locally-made basswood honey from Draper’s Super Bee Apiaries in Millerton, PA.

May 1, 2009

1 min read

#004 May 2009/Energy/Environment

The Sun Also Rises

Three Decades later, Jon Costanza returns to his place in the sunby Samantha DrakeThese days, when Jon Costanza talks to groups about the benefits of solar power, he starts off with his ponytail tucked up out of sight. His audiences, consisting of many people dressed in business suits, often look far more conservative than those

May 1, 2009

2 mins read

#004 May 2009/Farming/Food/GridPhilly

Lancaster Farm Fresh

Comprised of over 50 local certified-organic farmers, Lancaster Farm Fresh is a cooperative that supports the farm community within Lancaster County and serves the greater Philadelphia region (and they’re featured on pg. 32). They supplied not only the rhubarb for this month’s recipe, but an assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables and grass-fed animal product like

May 1, 2009

1 min read

#004 May 2009/Farming/Food/GridPhilly

Shellbark Hollow Farm’s Goat Cheese

A family operation that started with only two young goats, West Chester-based Shellbark Hollow Farm makes great local goat cheese.

May 1, 2009

1 min read

#004 May 2009/Cooking/Food

Recipe: Goat Cheese Cheesecake

with Rhubarb Compoteby Ashley JeromeWith spring here, it’s time to start opening your fridge—and your palate—to all the wonderful foods that make a triumphant return to our local farmer’s markets and CSAs. Try out this rich, sweet dessert on a warm spring night and reawaken your kitchen prowess.

May 1, 2009

1 min read

#004 May 2009/Energy/Green Building

Sun Grab

State rebates create opportunities for solar installations--finally!by Natasha ChartThinking about installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on your home or commercial building this year? “There will never be a better time to do it,” says Andrew Kleeman, the managing partner at Eos Energy Solutions.

May 1, 2009

2 mins read

#004 May 2009/Environment/Politics

Mo’ Paper Mo’ Problems

Can paperless government work in Philly?by Brian James KirkLong lines and mountains of paperwork await citizens seeking licenses and grants, trying to establish businesses or hoping to renovate their homes. City workers tap away at keyboards full-time, entering the requests into computers. The paperwork is then shipped to storage facilities to gather dust.

May 1, 2009

2 mins read