Visitors take home bright ideas
By ZACH SUBAR, The Leader-HeraldArticle Photos
GLOVERSVILLE - People interested in building their own energy-efficient homes had access to a wealth of information on the topic Saturday at a Green Buildings Open House across the Northeast.
Homeowners opened their doors to visitors interested in learning more about so-called "green structures," which are often more energy-efficient and rely on solar energy for power.
Gloversville residents Jim Strickland and Laurie Freeman, whose home features solar panels that help power the structure, welcomed visitors throughout the day-some who were interested in building their own "green" homes.
"That makes so much sense!" exclaimed Harald Moore as Freeman showed him a refrigerator in the home built right into the wall. Freeman then took Moore and his wife, Liz Pohlmann, to a walk-in cooler downstairs, into which cold air travels through a vent.
"Wow," Moore said, his eyes full of wonder.
Moore and Pohlmann, who live in Johnsonville, Rensselaer County, said they are interested in looking to build a home that is more energy-efficient, and were on the tour to get some tips on doing so.
Moore said his preliminary sketches of the home he'd like to build match some elements of the Strickland-Freeman house-such as the refrigerator.
"A lot of these ideas are very doable," Pohlmann said. "They're not only interesting, but possible."
Saratoga residents Andy and Jodi Frank said they may also look to build such a structure. The couple, who took the tour along with daughter Sage, said living in a suburban area offers convenience, but that often comes at a cost. They said they have been interested in reducing their carbon footprint-the amount of energy they use-and they said suburban living is not necessarily conducive to doing so.
"You have all the convenience, but is that really how you want to live?" Jodi Frank said.
The couple owns land in Argyle, Washington County, and may build a green home there.
Andy Frank said he was interested in possibly using straw for a future home's walls, something the Strickland-Freeman house features.
"It's the idea of experimenting with what we really want to do for ourselves, which is to build a house just to have more sustainability and sort of live off the land a little bit," Jodi Frank said.
Zach Subar can be reached at ruralnews@leaderherald.com.
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lizzie
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10-05-09 11:08 AM
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Bubbasdad, we've lived here 23 years. Obviously, not a lot of savings in the summer months because you aren't using your heat anyway. In the winter months, you need a sunny day to realize anything. Each room has its own thermostat, and the living room heat hardly ever went on if the sun was fully out. It was so long ago, I can't guess what the savings might have been. I think we save more now having individually controlled rooms, truthfully. Plus, we burn wood as well.
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bubbasdad
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10-05-09 4:40 AM
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Lizzie. How much do you think the solar pannels saved you? I am kind of interested
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lizzie
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10-05-09 12:21 AM
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Actually Steve, we had full paneled solar windows in our house when we first moved in. Picked them up in NH. Now, we still do, but they're half panels rather than full. Personally, I think solar energy is wonderful if you live in a state where the sun shines daily more than 4 months out of the year. It worked well for us through the summer, but you definitely noticed the difference once it was November.
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lizzie
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10-04-09 10:25 PM
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Steve, I know Guy through the driving classes he teaches at GMS through Adult Ed. From what I understand, a third person has possession of the computer and utilizes wifi wherever said person happens to be. It's obvious to me this person needs help, posting a repetitive message nearly 1200 times is clearly an indication of some sort of mental illness. Someone should do something even if the end result is that person getting some sort of help.
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lizzie
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10-04-09 9:12 PM
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It would have been interesting if this article included some clue as to the overall cost of such a home.
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lizzie
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10-04-09 9:10 PM
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And, I'd find it difficult to believe that no crime was committed a year ago when this first started. Perhaps you weren't privy to some of those posts, but I was. P*********Y is how I would describe the bulk of it.
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lizzie
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10-04-09 9:08 PM
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Actually coachsteve, it does know, and I believe the police to as well. Sometimes relatives and political connections count for more than what you did wrong. And, he should pursue a civil case if it can't be handled as a criminal matter.
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Discobulous
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10-04-09 9:04 PM
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If I was I'd have my hands full elsewhere.
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lizzie
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10-04-09 7:51 PM
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Oh, maybe I do - Disco, are you Brad Pitt?
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lizzie
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10-04-09 7:50 PM
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Disco, should I know what you're talking about? Because I don't!
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Discobulous
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10-04-09 7:38 PM
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Why get on my case? He spelled my address wrong too, or didn't you notice?
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lizzie
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10-04-09 7:26 PM
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No, the real Guy asked me that. Basically, if you have an email addy, you could sign on as Brad Pitt if you wanted. What this guy has done should be a crime. To me, it's no different than identity theft. No financial issues, but issues nonethe less.
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mikegville
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10-04-09 6:45 PM
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Yup, but is there any way to secure the board?? With open regging I don't see how they can contain BS like that.. Oops lizzie I missed your comma in your post, I thought you meant I was included in the spammer stuff.. Sorry..
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lizzie
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10-04-09 6:27 PM
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And Mike, this is the same spammer who just about a year ago, began his rein of vulgarity. Back then, it wasn't always about Mr. Poulin. Many of his posts bordered on ***********, it's clear he needs help and has too much time on his hands.
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lizzie
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10-04-09 6:18 PM
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Mike, I know you aren't the spammer. The spammer travels for a living - on the road all the time, therefore, it would be difficult for anyone to trace his IP address to one locale. The real Mr. Poulin knows who he is.
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mikegville
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10-04-09 5:58 PM
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wow looks like someone was deleted maybe lizzie was right about one of us.. Not me tho..
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mikegville
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10-04-09 5:52 PM
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baba forgot about that, but where is there an open wifi around here?? I suppose you could hop on an unsecured one from a neighbor.. lizzie are you high?? I was on the board weeks before the spammer struck... I think lizzie is the spammer ... LOL
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lizzie
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10-04-09 5:51 PM
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Can't, since you're hiding behind the Wifi - if you don't like the accusation, why don't you call the police?
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lizzie
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10-04-09 5:30 PM
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Mike, baba and the spammer are one and the same.
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lizzie
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10-04-09 4:35 PM
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His mom must be really proud.
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mikegville
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10-04-09 4:27 PM
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Simply get the IP from the server and publish this idiots address... You can't spoof your real IP if you know how to find it..
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lizzie
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10-04-09 4:06 PM
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You mean you don't you - why can't they get rid of you? You think you're fooling some people, but you aren't fooling me for a second. You're just PO'd because no one is paying any attention to you.
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Discobulous
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10-04-09 10:43 AM
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The last time I went green, I ate something that must have been spoiled.
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Scarecrow57
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10-04-09 9:41 AM
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I wonder how that Solar energy will work as we plunge into the next glacial period. They cycle about every 130,000 years and we are due for one.
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