Happenings: GRID's Daily Round-up of Local Events

Van Jones, courtesy treehugger.com

Monday, March 14, 6 - 8:30 p.m.

Energy Audits - Your Building’s Return on Investments: Everybody's talking about reducing their energy costs, but where does a condo or co-op building start the process? This Academy of Natural Sciences, Town Square event will tell you how. Register here.

Tuesday, March 15, 5:30 p.m.

Green - The New Black: On Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 900AM-WURD, Philadelphia’s only African-American talk radio station, will present: “Green — The New Black.” This event will feature a landmark conversation between John Francis, Ph.D. and Van Jones — two of the most renowned thought leaders on social activism and environmental justice. Register here.

Tuesday, March 15, 5 - 7:15 p.m.

The Future of Sustainable Healthcare - From Global to Local: The evening will include an opportunity to network over appetizers and beverages and to meet hospital leaders engaged in moving hospitals toward more sustainable practices. Register here.

Wednesday, March 16, 6 - 8 p.m.

Sustainable Fashions Entrepreneurs Circle: The goal of the event is to bring together entrepreneurs that are interested in creating social change and/or being more sustainable in their fashion businesses. This month's topic is: Behind the Seams with Kristin Haskins Simms, Best Strangefruit. Register here.

True Tales: An EnergyWorks Examination, Pt. 4

As this month's GRID Issue Release Party is nigh, it's time to reveal the winner of the contest (outlined in Part 3 of this series) to guess how leaky my house is.  Drum roll, please!  The winner is Jim Rude, who said that my house registered on the "swiss cheese meter" at 2689 CFM.  I know it's hard to believe that my house is that leaky, but here's the truth—even Jim, with his seemingly outlandish guess, was off by about 3700 CFM.  That's right.  The air leakage rate for my house registers at a whopping 6400 CFM!  Let me take this opportunity to remind you that normal air leakage rates for a house of my volume are 471 to 674 CFM.  My house leaks air at around ten times the amount of a normal house.

I doubt this is terribly uncommon for most old Philadelphia rowhouses.  So here's the question:  What can I do about it?  Since we're on the topic of the results of my energy audit, it seems like the perfect time to discuss the rest of what I learned from the audit and what my next steps are.  And Jim, you can claim that tasty beverage at this Thursday's Issue Release Party at Hawthornes Cafe (738 S. 11th Street, 5 to 7 pm).

Let's dive into the results, shall we?

I doubt this is terribly uncommon for most old Philadelphia rowhouses.  So here's the question:  What can I do about it?  Since we're on the topic of the results of my energy audit, it seems like the perfect time to discuss the rest of what I learned from the audit and what my next steps are.  And Jim, you can claim that tasty beverage at this Thursday's Issue Release Party at Hawthornes Cafe (738 S. 11th Street, 5 to 7 pm).

Let's dive into the results, shall we?

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Happenings: GRID's Daily Round-Up of Local Events

It's easy to get caught-up in the daily grind of work, school, errands, family, friends, etc. and forget that there is a plethora of sustainable events happening right outside your door. That's what Grid's here for. Each day, we'll let you know of upcoming events happening in your area that are sure to help you on your way to leading a more conscious, earth-friendly life.

We're also interested in learning what you would label Grid's daily round-up. While "Happenings" fits for the time being, we're looking for something snappier. Comment with your ideas!

Events after the jump.

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Fridge Folly: Close the Door, Save Some Cash

Don't we all wish our fridges looked like this?I am ashamed to admit this, but it seems to happen every night. I go to the refrigerator in search for something to satisfy my midnight hunger pains, but the problem is I never know what I want, and end up staring mindlessly -- fridge wide open. My chronic indecisiveness, however, is wasting a whole lot of energy.

According to Home Energy Magazine, opening and closing our refrigerator accounts for 7 percent of the appliance’s energy use. It’s something that many do subconsciously, and before you know it, minutes have gone by. Along with the cold air that is working to keep food fresh, warm air begins to enter and your fridge’s compressor must run to even out the temperature.

If that percentage doesn’t seem substantial, consider this: The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida says that poor refrigerator habits (i.e. leaving the door open) waste 50 to 120kWh a year. Save 50kWh, and you could run your dishwasher 20 times. Save 100kWh, and you could run your washing machine 50 times! That's a lot of potential to lower monthly energy bills.

Every little decision counts. For me, last month’s bill was an amount to make anyone cringe, and an effort to make a decision before opening the fridge door is definitely worth my time, and money.

Walk for Life: 2nd Annual Philadelphia Walk for Water

Keiyo Soy Ministries' (KSM) 2^nd Annual Philadelphia Walk for Water is definitely an event to mark on your calendar. According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, 884 million people worldwide lack access to clean water. On top of that, 1.4 million children are dying annually as a consequence of disease caused by contaminated water and poor sanitation problems.

Join Ambassador of Kenya to the U.S., H.E. Elkanah Odembo and Deputy UN Ambassador to Kenya Mission, Dr. Josephine Ojiambo to raise funds to extend pipelines of clean drinking water to schools in Kenya's Rift Valley.

The event will kick off at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, where handmade East African crafts will also be auctioned off following the walk to further raise funds for clean drinking water.

According to KSM, Philadelphia is the first city in America to regard the delivery of clean drinking water as a municipal responsibility, so grab your walking shoes and reusable water bottle and join the cause!

Information on the Event: [register here]

• Date: March 19, 2011, Saturday (World Water Day Weekend)
• Time: Registration at 7:30am, Walk/run at 9am
• Location: Martin Luther King Drive (West River Drive), Philadelphia, PA 19103
• Tickets:
  • Adults (25-60): $30
  • Student (13-24): $20
  • Senior (61+): $10
  • 12 and under: FREE