Dartmouth Leads & Hanover Supports
Anyone driving through Hanover this summer has surely noticed the construction along East Wheelock, especially the once very deep and huge holes in front of the New Hampshire and Topliff dorms. “It looks like the College is building a subway system,” my husband commented.
Prominently displayed signs suggest otherwise. “Turning the corner from steam to hot water,” says one. “In the trenches to reach our goal,” says another. This construction is the initial stage of a $500m effort by Dartmouth to decarbonize.
Decarbonizing Concrete
Most people don’t realize that concrete accounts for 7 percent of all greenhouse emissions. It does so in two ways. First, the chemical transformation of limestone into cement, the main ingredient in most concrete, emits carbon dioxide. Second, this chemical process requires a very hot kiln, almost always using fuel that emits carbon dioxide. This is bad news given how widely concrete is used in our buildings and infrastructure. The good news is there are a growing number of ways to significantly reduce its carbon emissions and even use new mixtures of concrete to store carbon removed from the atmosphere.
Center for Ecotechnology
At the April 4, 2024 meeting of the Sustainable Hanover Committee Abbey Massaro, Senior Waste Reduction Consultant representing the Center for Ecotechnology (CET), gave a presentation about a program developing sustainable practices for rural businesses and schools. CET, a non profit was founded in 1976 in Massachusetts with a focus on energy conservation. It has expanded its expertise and services to include waste related to food and deconstruction due to building projects and its geographical outreach to New England states.
Composting in Hanover
Hanover households have several options to avoid sending food waste to produce polluting gases in landfill. For residents with the space, backyard composting is an excellent way to recycle food scraps into a valuable soil resource. Interested in learning how to do this successfully?
Styrofoam Recycling
In collaboration with the The Norwich Solid Waste Committee, Sustainable Hanover’s Waste Reduction/Recycling Team held its second annual Styrofoam Collection on January 27, 2024 at the Richmond Middle School. It was, by many measures, a great success.
Better Bin Recycling App
Thanks to its Waste Reduction/Recycling team Sustainable Hanover has launched a new app to help residents stay informed and recycle more effectively. . The Hanover Betterbin app is specially designed for Town residents to provide up-to-date information on both of the local recycling options available to them: having Casella pick up their recyclables curbside on the prescribed weekday for their neighborhood, or dropping off their recycling at the Lebanon Solid Waste and Recycling Facility. When unsure whether a particular item can be recycled or is considered trash, app users can scan a photo of the UPC code on the item and get handling information.
School Street Sustainability Park
Sustainable Hanover’s Landscape Committee is pleased to announce that Hanover’s School Street Sustainability Park has grown into the inviting, open, natural green space that we had envisioned over six years ago! You will find it between #6 School Street and the parking lot behind Molly’s Restaurant and Town Hall.
EV Expo Coming to the Upper Valley
Thinking about getting an EV? Or switching to a different one? The Upper Valley EV Expo is coming to Lebanon, Saturday, September 30, 10 am - 3:00 pm. It will be held in the parking lot behind City Hall. This is a chance to see a wide variety of EV’s, talk with the owners and perhaps go for a test ride. There will also be presentations by panels of experts, ebikes, food, raffle prizes, and maybe Advance Transit’s new electric bus.
Styrofoam Collection at Kendal at Hanover
We at Kendal began participating last year in the Styrofoam collection events conducted by Sustainable Lebanon and Lebanon Rotary, and by Sustainable Hanover.
That worked out well for those first three foam collection events, but we soon discovered that the word was out, and deposits kept coming.
We had become a victim of our own success!
Textile Recycling Bins Are Here!
Apparel Impact and Hanover have recently placed some of their bins around town so that you can clear out your textile waste and feel good about it. Look for the white bins located at the Hanover Co-op on Lebanon Street, the plaza at 45 Lyme Road and the Department of Public Works. For more information see https://sustainablehanovernh.org/whoknew.
EV Chargers – What’s Up?
If you have an electronic vehicle (EV) or are planning on purchasing one, you will have more than a passing interest in where you are going to find EV chargers, particularly when traveling. As EVs become more and more popular, the demand for chargers of all types is going to dramatically increase.
Upper Valley E-Bike Lending Library
E-bike lending library coming to Hanover, June 14-28.
• We will be offering overnight rentals which are very popular and get booked up quickly.
• We will also offer "Demo Days" on Saturdays (Jun 17 and 24) that provide one-hour opportunities for people to try one or more e-bike models.
• All library services are free.
• Reservations required. www.vitalcommunities.org/uvell
First Hanover Styrofoam Recycling A Great Success!
Over twenty volunteers, including six from Hanover’s Rotary Club, helped collect a whole lot of styrofoam at Hanover’s first styrofoam recycling event.
Two Dedicated and Long Term Volunteer Leaders Stepping Down
Two of Sustainable Hanover’s most dedicated, effective, and long term volunteers are stepping down from their leadership roles. Susan Edwards is ending her sojourn as Chair of the Waste Reduction and Recycling initiative and Marjorie Rogalski, as Co-Chair of Sustainable Hanover.
2022 Community Yard Sale
1000’s of goods are about to change hands in our major recycling/reuse event of 2022
EV Future — Enough Chargers?
The number of Electric Vehicles (EV’s) on the road is increasing quickly, spurred on by government subsidies, concern for the climate, and Hanover’s own goal of 100% renewable transportation by 2050. But these cars need to be charged. Most people with EV’s do most of their charging at home, but for people who live in apartments, and for trips longer than the range of the car, there need to be public chargers. That has become the focus of the efforts to move towards electric transportation.
E-bikes Coming to Hanover
The Upper Valley E-Bike Lending Library will be in Hanover from June 8 to 28.
Volunteers from Sustainable Hanover and Hanover Bike Walk will offer a mix of two-day rentals and one-hour test rides for community members to experience why electric-assist bicycles (e-bikes) are an increasingly popular choice for local travel.
See the schedule and make a reservation (required) online. As in prior years, the event is free.
Help Wanted! Recycling
Hanover’s Recycling Committee is looking for additional members. Our mission is to encourage residents to “reduce, reuse, recycle”. If you are interested or would like to have more information, please contact a committee member or leave a message - sustainablehanovernh@gmail.com.
I Hate to Waste Food
Rummaging through my refrigerator, I came upon a pear. It was a beautiful yellow-green when I stored in the fridge to eat later. Unfortunately, later never came—or rather, when it did, the pear was a mass of brown pulp. Yuck. I hate to waste food.