Hello everyone, Laurel Eastman here, and I’m thrilled to share with you an update about Double Silo and our ongoing journey towards sustainability right here in the Tetons.
Farmhouse Reimagined: Conserving Resources Through Restoration
You may have heard about the loving restoration work we completed on our historic farmhouse. Built by the hands of Burton and Leatha Kunz in the late 1940s, this old house has a legacy to honor. And what better way to honor a legacy than to breathe new life into it? Restoring the farmhouse saved the embodied energy trapped in the old boards and beams, conserving resources in a way that respects the past and paves the way for the future.
Small Spaces, Big Impact: How an ADU Contributes to Sustainability
The restoration journey got our creative juices flowing—why not convert the grain silos into a tiny house, also known as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU)? The benefits are twofold: ADUs are small: they use fewer materials and are more energy-efficient to operate. But there’s more to it. By having multiple homes on a single property, we’re also preserving land for agriculture and local wildlife. For the Double Silo ADU we chose WarmForm as a lining for the foundation perimeter, filled with insulation, to minimize concrete use, which is a significant emitter of CO2. Stay tuned for a dedicated post about Phase 1: The Foundation, where we’ll delve into all the nitty-gritty details of our building and it’s built in sustainability features.
A Lifestyle of Conservation: How We Make Every Watt Count
It’s not just about the big stuff. We’re keen on reducing our base load energy to an extreme minimum. Think dishwashing and laundry during off-peak hours and insulating ourselves with puffy jackets instead of cranking up the thermostat. Rain or shine, collecting water from our sinks to nourish the plants just outside the farmhouse. And the dryer? It’s pretty much a museum piece; we line dry as a rule. We’re lucky here in Teton Valley because our power company: Fall River Electric Cooperative’s power mix is driven by hydroelectric power at 84%, nuclear at 10%, and wind at 1%, which results in Fall River Electric’s power being 95% carbon-free. Even so, we like to conserve.
Septic Solutions: Safeguarding Paradise Creek
Last summer, we took a significant step toward environmental stewardship by upgrading our septic system. With the expertise of our friend Reed Dayton, who also managed the excavation for our Double Silo project, we successfully completed this vital update. The decision to revamp our septic system wasn’t just about modernizing an outdated infrastructure; it was also about ensuring the health and longevity of Paradise Creek, which is part of our larger ecosystem.
Being cautious caretakers of this new system isn’t just good practice; it’s a commitment to the well-being of our local waters. Now, each time we use water in our home, we do so with the peace of mind that we’re contributing positively to the environment.
Our new septic system is more than just a functional necessity; it’s an example of how each choice we make can create ripple effects for the betterment of our surroundings: an ongoing contribution to the health of Paradise Creek and the Teton River Watershed.
Recycling: Not the Silver Bullet
Recycling has long been championed as the go-to solution for being environmentally responsible, but obviously it’s not the perfect answer. The concept has been, to some extent, marketed by fossil fuel companies as a distraction from the larger issue of greenhouse gas pollution.
Choosing Better Materials
We focus on reducing waste: we opt for cardboard over plastic whenever possible, and even glass over plastic. Even if glass has more embodied carbon and a larger footprint, we know how destructive plastic pollution is to our ecosystems.
On Trench Composting and Community Recycling
We faithfully recycle metals and other high-value items like cardboard. For low-value paper waste, we’ve turned to trench composting, enriching the soil right here in our backyard. We do recycle plastic as well, although it’s far from ideal due to concerns like toxic exposure to workers.
A Treasure Trove: The Local Transfer Station
That being said, a huge shoutout to our local NGO: Teton Valley Community Recycling and Teton County Idaho for their exceptional waste management setup at the transfer station. It’s a treasure trove of reusable materials, offering opportunities for repurposing that go beyond simple recycling.
Furnishing with a Purpose
In fact, we furnished our lovingly restored farmhouse with a blend of hand-me-downs from family and friends, thrift store finds, and gems salvaged from the transfer station. We even incorporated 1960s built-in furniture salvaged from a friend’s home in California.
The Environmental Cost of Consumption
Another critical but often overlooked action to lower greenhouse gas emissions is to simply avoid buying things. By being intentional about what we bring into our home, we’re taking a proactive stand against needless emissions.
Beyond Recycling: Rethinking Our Choices
So, when it comes to purchasing & waste management, we don’t just buy, we don’t just recycle; we rethink. We aim to disrupt the “out of sight, out of mind” mentality by making conscious choices that go beyond buying at the big box store and using the recycling bin.
The Path to More Sustainable Mobility and Lifestyle Choices
Transportation is, by far, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions for our family. On the ground we’re committed to switching to an electric vehicle (EV) once our truck wears out, we know that will be a while. In preparation for that day, we’re installing EV charging stations in both the Silo and the Farmhouse—taking steps today for a more sustainable tomorrow.
One Car & Work at Home
We’re lucky to be able to be a one-car family thanks to working from home…Next summer, we plan to get e-bikes into our routine for town trips. A fun, healthy, efficient and eco-friendly way to get around.
The Nuanced Balance: From Snowkiting to Sustainable Solutions
None of us are perfect advocates for sustainability; we all have our passions that might not always align with an ideal low-carbon lifestyle. We love our skiing and snowkiting adventures, and our work in the Dominican Republic plus our annual trips to Baja and Maine – all of these consume significant energy in the form of aviation fuel. Instead of dwelling on guilt, we strive for balance.
Embracing Our Imperfections
The point is, being sustainable isn’t about achieving perfection; it’s about making conscious choices where we can. Whether that means buying used, composting, installing future-ready EV charging or every effort counts. Sustainability is a journey, not a destination, and we’re committed to improving and evolving our lifestyle choices along the way.
The Most Important Action: Driving Systemic Change Why Individual Actions Aren’t Enough
While our personal sustainability journey is important, the larger truth is that individual actions can only accomplish so much. The real power for impactful change lies in influencing systemic policies. This is where you come in.
The Real Deal: Systemic Change Through CCL
We are proud supporters of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), a non-profit organization that specializes in advocating for a sustainable future through policy change. By joining forces with CCL, you’re not just making a statement; you’re contributing to a concerted effort that can drive substantial, lasting change. So, what’s the most important action you can take? It’s joining us in creating the political will for systemic change.
Your Voice Matters: Join Us in Advocacy
If you’re inspired by our journey and eager to make a difference, we invite you to take meaningful action. Click here to use Citizens’ Climate Lobby’s email tool to reach out to your members of Congress and express your support for policies to lower greenhouse gas pollution. Your voice will help tip the scales in favor of impactful legislation.
https://citizensclimatelobby.org/get-loud-take-action/
For Business Owners and Community Leaders
If you own a business or hold a prominent position within your community, your endorsement can carry significant weight. Join me in publicly endorsing cash-back carbon pricing—a proven approach to reducing emissions while boosting the economy. You can also participate in a lobby meeting to advocate for this crucial policy directly to your elected officials. https://citizensclimatelobby.org/our-climate-solutions/policy-endorsements/
Together, we can turn individual actions into collective impact. Let’s get started.
***Images created using Ideogram. Text: collaboration between Laurel & GPT4***
