Going Green
During the past 6 years, we have been renovating the William Penn House to make the house more comfortable, friendly and "green". Renovations have included:
- Green Cleaning
- Installing a Rain Scape
- Replacing the circa 1940 boiler with an energy efficient state of the art boiler
Now we are working with the DC Department of the Environment to repair the stucturally weak carriage house and install a demonstration "green" roof.
As one new element of the “Greening” of William Penn House, we are seeking funds to work on the Carriage House. The Carriage House is an 1870’s structure that houses our archives and Workcamp supplies. Although the 2 story building is in good shape, the back wall is bowed and must be stabilized. Once the wall has been repaired, we will proceed with replacing the roof with a “vegetated roof”. A vegetated roof reduces urban heat, and further reduces the runoff that pollutes the Anacostia River. We have had an engineer do a structural inspection of the Carriage House and are ready to proceed.
Each of these steps: the front yard peace garden with native plants; the back yard rain garden; the high efficient heating system; the high efficient heat pump/air conditioners; the no fume carpet; the low water use toilets, the thermal windows; the zero toxic cleaners; the fact that only 2 of our staff own automobiles and those two take public transportation to work; reflect our commitment to walk quietly on this earth and to reduce our own imprint.
We have also become members of the Sustainable Business Network of Washington, a network of businesses that subscribe to the triple bottom-line of People, Planet and Profits.
