
![Hiking1](/images/6a00e54f072fc3883401bb07a61aae970d-800wi.jpg 'Hiking1')

_Hike No. 1: Great Rock Bight, off North Road, Chilmark_

**T**his time of year is a spectacular time for hiking on Martha’s Vineyard. With dozens of trails that wind through the woods, along ocean fronts, and over bluffs, hiking on-Island is not your average hiking. And with foliage peeking later on the season than on the mainland, now is the perfect time to enjoy the trails.

  
**1\. Great Rock Bight, Chilmark**: A popular trail off of North Road in Chilmark, this hike takes you a few moderately easy miles through the woods and to an incredible bluff overlooking Vineyard Sound. Its beach is only accessible by the foot path, so even during the summer, it’s never crowded. Trails are dog-friendly, so bring your pooch along!

![Hiking2](/images/6a00e54f072fc3883401bb07a61afa970d-800wi.jpg 'Hiking2')

\_Longpoint Wildlife Refuge: Beach and woodland formed by the last ice age.

\_

**2\. Long Point Wildlife Refuge, West Tisbury:** One of the most magical places on Martha’s Vineyard, Long Point Wildlife Refuge has miles of hiking trails with some of the most pristine vistas and vegetation.

At more than 600 acres, Long Point encompasses beach, dune, and woodland, which bracket a broad sandplain heath. The property is an off-season treasure, especially for birders and other nature-watchers.

Long Point Wildlife Refuge is all that remains of a broad prairie with scattered woods that was formed over many years after the last ice age.  You can stay by the water to swim and relax, or follow a two-mile trail that leads through oak forest and savanna bordered by Middle Point, Long Cove, and **Tisbury Great Ponds**. Sorry, dogs not allowed.

![Hiking3](/images/6a00e54f072fc3883401b8d08ae8cf970c-800wi.jpg 'Hiking3')

_Caroline Tuthill Preserve: Dogs are welcome._

**3\. Caroline Tuthill Preserve, Edgartown:** This fun trail is a favorite among Islanders. It’s easy to get to, just off of Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, and the winding trails take you over small hills, through the woods, and to beautiful water views of **Sengekontacket Pond** — just a few easy miles will get you there!

And if you bring your dog, she’ll likely enjoy a playdate while there since this trail is a favorite among dog owners. Be sure to also check out the many other trails across the Island that are part of the **[Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation](http://www.sheriffsmeadow.org/).**

**4\. Menemsha Hills, Menemsha:** This 211-acre preserve allows hikers to climb to the top of the second-highest point on Martha’s Vineyard, and offers spectacular ocean views. Three miles of trails cover wetlands, woodland groves, open coastal plain, and a rocky ocean edge.

Approaching the shore, dune grass and pitch pine predominate. Hikers will also see goldenrod and beach plum helping anchor the dune cliffs above the beach, where rocks of every size dot the sand and line tide pools.

And just beyond the northeast edge stands the remnants of a brick chimney, all that remains of a 19th-century brickworks. Please leave dogs home. Visit [**The Trustees of Reservations**](http://www.thetrustees.org/) for more info about all their hiking trails.



![Hiking4](/images/6a00e54f072fc3883401b7c700e604970b-800wi.jpg 'Hiking4')



_John Presbury Norton Farm, the start of 4 miles of trails over 118 acres._

**5\. John Presbury Norton Farm to Womesket Preserve**: A memorable place to hike in any season — and a fabulous place of more than 118 acres to snowshoe or cross-country ski during the winter.  John Presbury Norton Farm’s trails bring hikers to the lovely Wompesket Preserve. Start at the intersection of the State and Old County Roads and follow a continuous public trail of some four miles in length from Duarte’s Pond on the Lambert’s Cove Road to the Old County Arboretum opposite the town school.

This combo is home to easy hiking trails that meander through the woods, across open fields, and eventually to Blackwater Pond (where, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can pick up more trails and continue on). And dogs are always welcome! Be sure to check out Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank for all of their trails.

_Source:_ [Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce](http://www.mvy.com/)



According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a net-zero home is one that uses 60 to 70 percent less energy than a conventional home, with the balance of energy needs supplied by renewable technologies.

Thus, if you use solar panels, your hope is to generate enough electicty to be able to sell off some and when placed against what you have spent on electricity you will be able to net out to zero.

Double-pane windows, wall and roof insulation and other green efficienies all help to reduce the amount you have to spend on powering your home.

Read this article that talks about net-zero living and the builders who are constructing net-zero homes.

**[Builders bank on 'net-zero' homes](http://bit.ly/Ntr03J)**



![KIRE2](/images/6a00e54f072fc38834014e8b853f8d970d-800wi.jpg 'KIRE2')

The [Kiawah Island](http://golfcoursehome.net/doc/communities/Community-Kiawah.htm) Real Estate team recently joined developer Dyal Compass and builder Royal Indigo Construction, the team behind Kiawah’s newest neighborhood Indigo Park, for an kayaking excursion along Kiawah’s extensive waterways.

Indigo Park is the Island’s only aspiring LEED Platinum neighborhood. Found within Vanderhorst Plantation beyond the second security gate, it will feature 16 homes nestled peacefully along a verdant marsh sharing space with grand live oaks.

In celebration of the green-centric community, the group took to the water from the new Cassique community dock and meandered through the creeks and marsh, enjoying Kiawah’s natural beauty. Beyond the extensive landscape of the Island and its never-ending vistas, the kayakers also saw a bald eagle and a number of bottlenose dolphins.

![KIRE1](/images/6a00e54f072fc38834014e8b853fe2970d-800wi.jpg 'KIRE1')After their entertaining kayaking adventure, the group concluded the evening with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, again in the outdoors, on the patio and in the garden at the Cassique clubhouse. [Request more information about Kiawah Island living.  
](http://www.golfcoursehome.net/doc/communities/CONTACT-Kiawah.htm)



Earlier today we received these photos of Squibnocket Beach getting pounded by Irene-fueled surf. Winds topped 55 mph on the island's south side.

![Squib1](/images/6a00e54f072fc38834015434e8bc10970c-800wi.jpg 'Squib1')

![Squib2](/images/6a00e54f072fc388340153911540a6970b-800wi.jpg 'Squib2')



Earth Advantage Institute ([www.earthadvantage.org](http://www.earthadvantage.org/)), a leading nonprofit green building resource and research organization that has certified more than 11,000 sustainable homes, today announced its annual selection of Top Ten Green Building Trends to watch for over the next 12 months.

The trends, which range from "affordable green" to lifecycle analysis of materials, were identified by Earth Advantage Institute based on discussions with a range of audiences over the latter part of 2010. These sectors included policymakers, builders, developers, architects, real estate brokers, appraisers, lenders, and homeowners.

"Despite market conditions, we have seen the market share for high performance homes increase from 18.5 to 23 percent in the Portland Metro area alone," said Sean Penrith, executive director, Earth Advantage Institute. "This is a sure sign that the rate of appeal for these homes is increasing."

**1\. Affordable green.** Many consumers typically associate green and energy-efficient homes and features with higher costs. However, the development of new business models, technologies, and the mainstreaming of high performance materials is bringing high-performance, healthy homes within reach of all homeowners.

Leading the charge are affordable housing groups, including Habitat for Humanity and local land trusts, now building and selling LEED® for Homes- and ENERGY STAR®-certified homes across the country at price points as low as $100,000\*.

In the existing homes market, energy upgrades are now available through new programs that include low-cost audits and utility bill-based financing. Through such programs as Clean Energy Works Oregon, and Solar City's solar lease-to-own business model, no up-front payment is required to take advantage of energy upgrades.

**2\. Sharing and comparing home energy use.** As social and purchasing sites like Facebook and Groupon add millions more members, the sharing of home energy consumption data - for rewards - is not far behind.

The website Earth Aid ([www.earthaid.net](http://www.earthaid.net/)) lets you track home energy usage and earn rewards for energy savings from local vendors. You can also elect to share the information with others on Earth Aid to see who can conserve the most energy.

When coupled with other developments including home energy displays, a voluntary home energy scoring system announced by the Department of Energy, and programs including Oregon and Washington's Energy Performance Score, a lot more people will be sharing -- and comparing -- their home energy consumption.  
  
**3\. Outcome-based energy codes**. Existing buildings are responsible for most energy use and associated carbon emissions, but the prescriptive energy codes used in commercial remodels don't encourage effective retrofitting.

Compliance with energy codes is determined at permit time, using prescriptive or predictive models, and actual post-construction may never even be reviewed. Heating and cooling equipment could be faulty or improperly controlled, with significant energy and financial implications.

Under outcome-based energy codes, owners could pursue the retrofit strategy that they decide is most effective for their building and its tenants, but they would be required to achieve a pre-negotiated performance target through mandatory annual reporting. The City of Seattle and the New Building Institute have teamed up with the National Trusts' Preservation Green Lab to pioneer a framework for just such a code, for both new and existing buildings.  
  
**4\. Community purchasing power**. Neighborhoods interested in renewable energy will increasingly band together to obtain better pricing on materials such as solar panels and on installation costs.

The Solarize Portland program was initiated by local neighborhood leaders who wanted to increase the amount of renewable energy generated in Northeast Portland by working together as a community. The program is structured so that the price of solar panel installation decreases for everybody as more neighbors join the effort.

Group purchasing creates a 15-25 percent savings below current prices. This group discount, in addition to current available tax credits and cash incentives, gives participants a significant cost savings. In Philadelphia, the Retrofit Philly program leverages contests between residential blocks to get neighborhoods involved in energy upgrades.  
  
**5\. "Grid-aware" appliances** fuel convergence of smart grid and smart homes. While many residential smart meters have been installed, the customer interface that will allow homeowners to track energy use more accurately are not yet in place.

In the meantime, manufacturers are increasingly introducing appliances that are "grid-aware." These appliances are endowed with more sophisticated energy management capabilities and timers, offering homeowners machines that monitor and report their own electricity usage and that increase or decrease that usage by remote command.

Many machines have timers and can already be manually programmed to run during off-peak hours. These developments will begin forging the convergence of a smart grid infrastructure and the control applications needed to manage energy savings in our buildings and homes.  
  
**6\. Accessory dwelling units.** Last year we discussed home "right-sizing" as a trend. However, with fewer people moving or building due to financial concerns, many have chosen to stay put in their favorite area and build accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

These small independent units, which can be used for offices, studios, or in-law space, are the ideal size for energy savings and sustainable construction. As detached or attached rental units, they help cities increase urban density and restrict sprawl, while allowing homeowners to add value to their property. The cities of Portland, Oregon, and Santa Cruz, California, have waived administrative fees to encourage more ADU construction.  
  
**7\. Rethinking of residential heating and cooling.** Advances in applied building science in the US and abroad have resulted in homes that are so tightly sealed and insulated that furnace-less, ductless homes are now a reality.

The increasingly popular "Passive House" standard, for example, calls for insulation in walls and ceiling that is so thick that the home is actually heated by everyday activity of the occupants, from cooking to computer use.

Even in ENERGY STAR-certified homes builders are now encouraged to bring all  ductwork inside the insulated envelope of the house to eliminate excess heat or cooling loss, and to use only small but efficient furnaces and air conditioners to avoid wasting power.

Geothermal heating and cooling, where piping loops are run through the ground to absorb warmth in the winter and cool air in the summer, are another option gaining broader acceptance.

**8\. Residential grey water use.** With water shortages looming in many areas including the Southwest and Southern California, recycling of grey water--any household wastewater with the exception of toilet water--is gaining traction.

Benefits include reduced water use, reduced strain on septic and stormwater systems, and groundwater replenishment. Although many cities have been slow to legislate on grey water use, some communities have increased the amount of allowable grey water use for irrigation. Systems can be as simple as a pipe system draining directly into a mulch field or they can incorporate collection tanks and pumps.  
  
**9\. Small commercial certification**. 95 percent of commercial building starts in the U.S. are under 50,000 square feet, but the bulk of current certified commercial buildings tend to be much larger.

This is in part because of numerous "soft" costs including commissioning, energy modeling, project registration, and administrative time, all of which can be prohibitively expensive for small building owners and developers.

To encourage more small commercial projects to go green, alternative certification programs have sprung up, including Earthcraft Light Commercial and Earth Advantage Commercial, which have found significant appeal through fully subscribed pilot programs.  
  
**10\. Lifecycle Analysis (LCA).** We know quite a bit about the performance of certain materials used in high performance home and commercial building construction, but the industry has just begun to study the effects of these materials over the course of their entire lives, from raw material extraction through disposal and decomposition.

Lifecycle analysis examines the impact of materials over their lifetime through the lens of environmental indicators including embodied energy, solid waste, air and water pollution, and global warming potential. LCA for building materials will allow architects to determine what products are more sustainable and what combination of products can produce the most environmentally friendly results.

**About Earth Advantage Institute**  
  
Earth Advantage Institute works with the building and design industry to help implement sustainable building practices. Its nonprofit mission is to create an immediate, practical and cost-effective path to sustainability and carbon reduction in the built environment. The organization achieves its objectives through a range of innovative certification, education and technical services programs.


Category Archives: environmental news

5 Great Hiking Trails on Martha's Vineyard for Fall & Winter

Net Zero Living Aims to Bring the Net Cost of Powering Your Home to Zero

Kiawah Island RE Highlights Its Waterways & New Neighborhood with Kayak Trip

Tropical Storm Irene Pounds Squibnocket Beach on Martha's Vineyard

Top 10 Green Building Trends for 2011 Announced by Earth Advantage Institute