SEEDS

December 2024 Newsletter

December 5, 2024

December 2024 Newsletter

Empowering Sustainable Communities

Dear Members and Friends,

SEEDS (Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support) has been part of your community for sixteen years! We have worked tirelessly to provide education and support to our community members, individuals and businesses alike, promoting practices that make meaningful and impactful improvements to our environment.

We have record-breaking news to report: This year’s FREE Book Share broke all records! Over 43,000 books were donated, sorted and displayed at the annual event in October. 24,000 were rehomed and all leftover books were donated to a global literacy program. The remainder were all recycled, resulting in a zero-waste event. We wish to thank the 100+ volunteers who donated their time, which was invaluable for this, our most anticipated event of the year!

One of the foundations of our organization is education — after all, Education is literally our middle name! We have presented numerous free educational programs on the following:

Energy efficiency
Renewable energy

Water conservation

Homesteading

with more to come in 2025!

You may know us for:

Do-It-Yourself solar workshops

Free home energy efficiency assessments

The creation of the Clean Energy Co-Op

And these monthly newsletters that provide insightful, helpful ways you can craft a sustainable and healthy life for you and your family.

With the hard work of our numerous volunteers and board, we have positively impacted our corner of Pennsylvania, as committed advocates for a cleaner energy future and sustainable living. As we look to 2025, we have ambitious goals to rejuvenate our organization, and we are asking for your support.

Are you interested in helping SEEDS? There are a number of ways you can be involved!

Volunteer Your Time and Expertise

It is an important principle at SEEDS that the donation of time is paramount to the organization. Our value is not calculated through dollars alone but rather the strength of diverse and dedicated volunteers. We are always seeking volunteers to support our mission of educating our community about sustainable energy and living. You don’t need to be an expert: being a SEEDS volunteer is about learning what is happening in our community and how to help make it more sustainable.

Let us know if you would like to contribute your time to the growing sustainability of our community, meet friendly people, and make connections through SEEDS. We need you now! Email us at info@seedsgroup.net to find out more or to tell us about your availability and interest areas.

Share Your Ideas 

We would also like to hear your ideas and suggestions on how we can do better. What are we doing right?  What smart initiatives can we implement? How can we be part of a sustainability solution in our community?

Donate Now and Your $ Is Doubled!

Any amount of money is tremendously helpful to our organization. If you donate now, our board of directors has offered to match your donations (up to $4,000). As a non-profit we rely on grants and donations for funding our organization. Your donation would contribute directly to fund our operating costs, programming, and organizational outreach.

* You can also click here which will take you to our website to make a donation.

* Or mail a check to SEEDS, PO Box 765, Honesdale, PA 18431.

SEEDS is a 501(c)3 organization and all funds donated to SEEDS are tax deductible.  Please reach out to us at info@seedsgroup.net for more information or to share ideas.

Sincerely yours,
The Staff and Board of Directors at SEEDS

Solar Buyer Bill of Rights

If you are a homeowner or small business owner interested in solar, you have rights when you work with solar companies, including those listed on the SEEDS website. Using the simplest possible terms, this guide outlines key principles that solar companies should follow when doing business with you.

Right to Accurate Information

We can help you go solar in several ways: SEEDS offers a free Solar Assessment to help you evaluate solar potential at your home or business. Reach out for more information.

You can reach out to SEEDS and ask questions from a community of experts in three ways:

1. Post on our public forum: https://groups.io/g/NEPA-solar-and-energy-efficiency
2. Email info@seedsgroup.net
3. Connect on Facebook and Instagram

Right to Fair and Honest Business Practices

You have the right to receive accurate information about solar energy products and services. This includes information about pricing, quality, performance, and warranties. Solar companies should not mislead you about any of these factors. This guide is just one of many available resources to help you understand proposals from contractors.

You have the right to be treated fairly and honestly by solar companies. This means that solar companies should not engage in unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts. They should also be truthful in their advertising and marketing materials. Things to watch out for include:

1. Reasonable price escalators are used. Your solar proposal should include accurate and reasonable estimates of your current electricity rates and increases over time. Proposals that include “escalators” in excess of 3% may be overstating the benefits of solar based on historical trends. According to the US EIA, the average annual increase in residential electricity prices in the USA over the 10 years from 2013 to 2023 “has generally mirrored the rate of inflation.” Prices increased about 2.6% per year over the past 25 years.(1)

2. Understand your ownership of renewable energy attributes. In most solar installations, you retain ownership of the green energy attribute, an instrument called a REC (renewable energy credit). If your solar company does not pass these RECs on to you, you may not sell them or otherwise claim that your home/business is “powered by renewable electricity.” If it is important for you to make this claim, ensure your contract states that you retain ownership of the RECs.

3. Use only licensed contractors. Solar installers operating in Pennsylvania are considered home improvement contractors and must maintain a certificate of registration issued by the Bureau of Consumer Protection.(2) For added protection, look for installers who are NABCEP-certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. “NABCEP is a nationally-respected credentialing organization for solar professionals. Organizations and individuals who obtain NABCEP-certification are demonstrating a commitment to the solar industry and to quality standards.”(3)

4. Ask to see the engineering analysis before you buy. Not every home is suitable for solar. For example: If you have any sources of shading, roofs pitched in a suboptimal direction, an aging roof that is in poor condition, or home electrical system components in poor condition, your home may not be suitable until these factors are addressed. The engineering analysis and production estimates calculated by the solar installer at your home or business should address all of the “material factors” for your location.

5. When comparing prices, first compare the all-in “cost per Watt” on a cash basis, before looking at the effects of different financing options you may be offered. Just like buying a car, you need to first understand the total installed cost of the system, before various financing and leasing options are presented to you. Otherwise, it will be impossible to make an apples-to-apples comparison between vendors or to fully understand how much money you will actually save in the long run.

To learn more about financing, see the Pricing section below and consult these U.S. Government Guides:

> Before you purchase and finance solar panels (overview of solar panel financing)
> Before you sign a solar panel lease agreement
> Before you sign a solar panel power purchase agreement (PPA)
> Before you sign a community solar subscription contract
Note: Community solar is available in NY but not in PA as of 2024.

Right to a Competitive Market

You have the right to choose from a variety of solar companies and products. Solar companies should not try to prevent you from shopping around or comparing prices. Proposals that are “only good for the next few days” may be an indication of high pressure tactics attempting to bypass good competition. Always get more than one bid.

Right to a Safe and Healthy Installation

You have the right to have your solar panels installed in a safe and healthy manner. Solar companies should follow all applicable safety regulations and codes. Ask if installers use licensed, insured, full-time employees vs. third party temp workers or contractors.

Right to a Warranty
You have the right to a warranty on your solar panels and other solar equipment. Manufacturer warranties should cover defects in materials and workmanship.

Right to Dispute Resolution
You have the right to dispute any problems you have with a solar company. Solar companies should have a fair and efficient process for resolving disputes.

Right to Cancel Your Contract
You may have the right to cancel your solar contract within 3 days. This period of time varies by state. In PA, “contracts for goods or services in excess of $25 that are entered into as a result of a contact at your home, either in person or by telephone, can be canceled within three business days following the date of the contract. In all cases, you must be given a copy of the contract, along with a Notice of Cancellation. This notice must include the date of the contract and the seller’s name and address. Your cancellation must be in writing. Mail it to the address provided on the Notice of Cancellation, making sure the envelope is postmarked before midnight on the last business day after the initial transaction date.”(4)

Right to Be Free from Discrimination

You have the right to be free from discrimination when buying solar panels. Solar companies should not discriminate against you based on your race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.

Right to Privacy

You have the right to have your personal information protected by solar companies. Solar companies should not share your personal information with third parties without your consent.

Right to Be Heard
You have the right to be heard by solar companies. Solar companies should listen to your concerns and address your questions in a timely manner.

Right to a Fair Price

You have the right to pay a fair price for solar panels and other solar equipment. Solar companies should not charge you more than the market rate for their products and services. How do you know if you are getting a fair price?

● The price to compare is known as “cost per watt.” It is equal to the total price of the solar energy system, before any tax credits or incentives, divided by the total generating capacity of the system in Watts DC (WDC).
● You can understand market rates by comparing bids between multiple vendors, including at least one locally-based vendor and one nationally-based company.
● Check the latest government studies, such as benchmark reports from NREL.
● According to the PA Solar Center in 2024, “a typical solar system for a home will cost about $2.50-$3.50 per watt; it could be slightly less or slightly more depending on how difficult the installation, the steepness of the roof, and other factors. Therefore, an average system size of 6,000 watts (6 kW) would cost $15,000- $21,000 BEFORE the tax credits.”(5)
● If you get a quote that is radically higher or lower, it is good to be skeptical.
● Over time, pricing benchmarks will change. Last update: October, 2024.

Right to Legal Action

You have the right to take legal action against a solar company if they violate your rights.

Artist Martin Springhetti shows off his roof-mounted solar installation.

Resources & References

Credit to SEIA, PA Solar Center, PA DEP, and the U.S. FTC Green Guides for the resources and best practices that are referenced in this guide.

● Resources for PA Residents and Homeowners Assessing Potential Solar Energy Use
● PA Solar Center
● Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Guide to Home Solar
● U.S. DOE Homeowners Guide to Going Solar

Disclaimer

This Solar Buyer Bill of Rights is a guide that has been adapted from resources including local nonprofits, industry associations, and State government. This guide is a publication by SEEDS and it has not been endorsed by any other organization. It is intended to be a general guide. It is not a substitute for qualified, individualized legal or financial advice. Please consult with an attorney if you have any questions about your rights as a solar buyer. You may need to ask your tax preparer (CPA) to help you understand tax credits associated with home solar.

1 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61903 ,
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php
2 https://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/solar/Pages/Residents.aspx
3 https://pasolarcenter.org/qualified-solar-developer-directory/
4 https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/protect-yourself/consumer-advisories/your-right-to-rescind
5 https://pasolarcenter.org/get-solar/residential/

Soft Plastic Recycling
Submitted by Leadership Northern Poconos 2019

We all know soft plastic sources have become a major environmental hazard. They contribute to clogging up our waterways and landfills, leaching chemicals (phthalates) and breaking down into microplastics which enter those waterways. There they are ingested by animals and contaminate the food chains that we depend on.

Some states, such as New York and California, have banned one-time use bags at stores to fight this issue. Until these bags are banned everywhere we will see the modern urban equivalent of Western tumbleweeds blowing along our roadways and into our waterways. But what can we do?

Soft plastic, like plastic bags, wraps, and films, is technically recyclable, but requires special handling and is not typically accepted in curbside recycling bins. But national programs, implemented through the assistance of local partners, are finding ways to reuse soft plastic.

Locals can deposit bagged soft plastic behind the Weis Markets store in Honesdale or can drop off at the Wayne County Recycling Center in Berlin Township. Through Weis, tons of bundled soft plastic are delivered to the Nextrex recycling challenge program run by Trex. There, soft plastic is turned into plastic outdoor decking and furniture.

But better yet, with enough soft plastic donations each year, Trex gives free benches to that community. The program started by the Leadership Northern Poconos Group of 2019 has generated ten benches for Honesdale Borough. They sit in Gibbons Memorial Park on Irving Cliff, Veterans Park, and Apple Grove Park. So when you drop off your soft plastic (soon I hope), take a picture and email that to honesdaletrex@gmail.com so that your contribution can count toward the next new bench!

*A list of some common soft plastic sources: soft plastic pallet wrap, stretch film, grocery bags, bread bags, case overwrap, dry cleaning bags, Ziploc® and other resealable food storage bags, produce bags, bubble wrap, and plastic films labeled with #2 or #4 recycling symbol (polyethylene films).

Sustainable Holiday Shopping: Tips for an Eco-Friendly Season

By Mark Moore, Assistant Chair of SEEDS

As we enter the holiday season, many of us are on the hunt for the perfect gifts for our loved ones. However, in our quest for meaningful presents, we often overlook the environmental impact of the materials used, the packaging, and the shipping processes. We’ve all received gifts that end up in the trash, contributing to waste and excessive carbon emissions. The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to make your holiday season less wasteful. Read on to learn how you can reduce your footprint while still feeling festive.

Online Shopping

Online shopping tends to generate more returns compared to in-store purchases, leading to millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Surprisingly, many returned items, especially clothing, end up in landfills because processing, inspecting, repacking, and reshipping them can be more costly than discarding them.

Packaging, Decorations, and Wrapping

Online shopping also produces more packaging waste than in-store purchases. Holiday gifts are often wrapped in paper, gift bags, boxes, and bows, which add to environmental impacts. Over a billion Thanksgiving and Christmas cards are sold in the US, and the manufacturing process for foil and plastic-embossed paper is more resource-intensive than plain paper. Unfortunately, most commercial wrapping paper and gift bags are not recyclable due to plastic or glitter coatings.

Recommendations and Alternatives

Give experiences instead of physical gifts: Take family or friends to a local, state, or national park, or offer to pay the entrance fee.
Reuse gift wrap: Save intact pieces from previous years or use durable materials like cloth bags that can be reused.
Eco-friendly gifts: Consider gifts like rain barrels or composting bins for gardening enthusiasts.
Gift cards for sustainable purchases: Give gift cards for purchasing trees or shrubs, ideally native species.
Shop locally: Avoid online shopping and support local businesses to reduce carbon impact and boost the local economy.
Homemade gifts: Make gifts yourself and upcycle existing materials when possible.

Wrap-up (pun intended)

There are many ways to lower our carbon footprint and become better environmental stewards. A carbon footprint includes the energy required to source raw materials, manufacture products, transport them, and eventually dispose of them. This holiday season, let’s choose products that are environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and minimize harm to the environment. The SEEDS team is here to answer any questions and help you lower your carbon footprint!

Happy Holidays from the SEEDS team!

My Book Share Experience

By Brenna Solop

Growing up on Long Island, I watched my father collect books. The loves in his life were me, my sister, our mom, and then his books. He had libraries. No, not a single library, but multiple libraries. He turned his office into a library. The den. The basement. The garage. The loft. He would build bookshelves out of scrap wood he found. The Book of the Month Club should’ve dedicated a wing to him.

Due to his obsession he couldn’t bring himself to get rid of any, but when he passed away in February 2020, I had to make some decisions. I kept many of the books, but had to donate thousands. Unfortunately, because he passed just before the onset of COVID, it was extremely difficult to donate any personal items at the time. I finally found an organization to take them and thought I was off the hook.

A year later I moved full time to my parents’ vacation home in Pennsylvania. And guess what.

He had multiple libraries here, too.

Over the next two years, it again proved difficult to find anyone to take books in bulk, until a miracle came along in the fall of 2023. I met Heather Shaeffer and Keenan Gruver, proprietors of Known Grove Books & More at 627-4 Main St. in Honesdale, PA. They accepted donations and I took them up on the offer, but they knew my plight. I had so many more. They recommended that I donate to the upcoming Wayne County Book Share. I drove over to the fairgrounds with a few crates, and then the next day attended the actual event. I was immediately hooked. So hooked, in fact, that I volunteered for the next day.

It was exhilarating. Watching people get so excited to browse through free books, fill their bags and carts with glee, and walk out with a treasure trove of reading material. Entire families attended. Friends set up carpools to get there. People came in from other states. It was a BIG deal.

I decided right then and there I was going to volunteer for all five days of the 2024 Book Share. I’d have to take off work. No problem. For an entire year I looked forward to this event the way other people look forward to vacations.

As I predicted, this past October’s experience was everything I thought it’d be, and more. Seeing the joy and the relief on people’s faces as they dropped off donations. Watching the crowds once again adopt thousands upon thousands of books.

The final day was the true test. I volunteered to recycle books that due to age or condition could not be rehomed. At first it was physically and emotionally difficult to separate the bindings from the pages, but eventually I got the hang of it. I kept telling myself that because they are so responsibly recycled, they would be reborn into something wonderful.

Simply put, Book Share healed my soul. It helped me emotionally achieve closure with my father’s obsession, it strengthened my connection to my community, and it benefitted the planet. What could be more fulfilling?

I have the organization that runs it, SEEDS, to thank. I am now a proud and official member. Also, thank you to Heather and Keenan of Known Grove, too, for putting this remarkable event on my radar. Please visit their beautiful shop.

I will certainly be there in 2025 to take part in this beloved Northeast Pennsylvania tradition. So come one, come all to next year’s Book Share. And don’t be afraid to start libraries of your own. Remember, you can always bring the books back a year, or a lifetime, later.

Message Board Info:

Subscribe to SEEDS new online message board to ask questions, share expertise, and get alerts on upcoming learning opportunities!

Have a specific question about solar, energy efficiency, or clean tech?
Want to promote an upcoming event or resource?
SEEDS is building an online forum to serve as a center of knowledge on all things clean energy!

Visit https://groups.io/g/NEPA-solar-and-energy-efficiency or send an email to NEPA-solar-and-energy-efficiency+subscribe@groups.io to subscribe!

#SEEDSGoodNews

Do you have any #SEEDSGoodNews stories to share with the SEEDS community? Send them to us at newsletter@seedsgroup.net or tag us on social media! They can be local stories from your community, or stories from around the world–anything to celebrate and spread the word about the progress of energy efficiency, renewable energy or sustainable living wherever you hear about it!

Calling for Contributors!!

We know our members have many different interests. If there is a topic on sustainability that you would like to write an article about (food, energy or education), please send it to Newsletter@seedsgroup.net

The SEEDS review board will consider your submission for publication in a future newsletter depending on the topic and date submitted.

We’d love to hear from our members!

If you are not a member of SEEDS, please consider joining us today!
You can use this link to share our membership page with others:
https://seedsgroup.net/become-a-member/

You will continue to receive our newsletters, invitations to our educational forums and other events. Members are eligible for free solar evaluations, have voting rights at our annual meeting, and help shape our programs and initiatives. For more information visit our website at www.seedsgroup.net.