Below are descriptions of current research projects developed and led by Tara DePorte. For more information about projects, consulting availability, or volunteering to assist a project, please email TaraDePorte@gmail.com or call +1(646)932-4283 with the specifics of your request.
Water and Sanitation Around the World
Water and sanitation are key to the health and sustainability of any community. Without proper access to clean water and well-managed sanitation, communities and environments suffer greatly. This project aims to survey local alternatives to large scale infrastructure development, particularly focusing on low-cost, community-scale options for drinking water and sanitation processing. Ideally, case studies will reflect upon local resource availability and be developed in direct relation to local customs. After completing the case study survey, it is the goal of the project to create a design challenge for students to think of further water filtration and sanitation processing options for selected partner communities.
Greening a Low-Income Coop in Brooklyn, NYC
New York City has the capacity for leading the world in sustainable urban living. One of the key components of this process is to show New Yorkers how low-cost retrofits of existing buildings can save money, while promoting efficiency and conservation of natural resources. This project is working with a HDFC low-income coop in the Williambsurg neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY, to create a demonstration building for the potentials of retrofitting. In addition to this, the project is working with City and State incentive programs to better understand the application processes, as well as, the on-the-ground experiences of the program. Following is a partial list of retrofits and projects for the building, as well as their current status:
Building Water Audit: Completed 2010
All seven units, including ground-floor pizzeria had Honeywell professional check for leaks and flow regulation.
Water Conservation Kits: Completed 2009
All seven units have received and installed DEC Water Conservation Kits, including low-flow showerheads, and aerators.
Green Cleaning Products: Completed 2008
All cleaning products for communal areas of the building are now environmentally friendly products. The coop is continuing to work with each unit to green cleaners in individual apartments.
Native Plant and Food Garden: Completed 2008
The back yard was converted from existing astroturf and garbage to a large, seasonal food and native plant garden.
Urban Composting System: Completed 2007
A backyard composting system has been installed and in-use since 2007. The system uses Garden Gourmet, as well as Metal Can Composters for the processing of food waste from the Coop. Additionally, certain units have indoor wormbins from the Lower East Side Ecology Center for indoor composting needs. All resulting compost is used for indoor plants and the native plant and food garden.
Rainwater Harvesting System: In process
Local pickle barrels have been rescued from the waste stream and are currently being repurposed to capture rainwater from the roof of the Coop. One of the Coop residents has attended a training with the Water Resources Group on developing rainwater harvesting systems and design/construction of the system is slated for Summer of 2010.
Greenroof: In process
A new EPDM roof with increased insulation was installed for the Coop in 2009. This roofing was chosen to save money for the Coop when creating the greenroof. The building was in need of a new roof, due to leaks, and EPDM serves as the first layer of the infrastructure needed for greenroof development. The Coop is currently seeking funding and design applications for greenroof development.
Low Income Gas Efficiency Program with National Grid: Application in process
The application is in proces for this National Grid program, which will provide the building with a full energy audit and potential financing options for an energy efficient boiler and appliances, increased insulation, energy efficient windows and culking, lighting retrofits, and other energy/HVAC-related improvements. The Coop is applying through the free AEA program to best suit the needs of the building and its' tenants.
Comverge/Con Edison Lighting Efficiency Program: Application in process
The Coop is working with Comverge, a consultant to Con Edison, to provide the building with lighting upgrades and retrofits.
Greywater System: Pending
Certain units of the Coop are interested in installing small greywater systems in
the bathrooms to re-use sink and shower water for toilet use.
Conservation and Sustainable Income Strategies for the Ngobe of Bahia Honda, Panama
Working with La Loma Jungle Lodge and the community of Ngobe at Bahia Honda, this project aims to raise funds and facilitate the development of sustainable income strategies for locals. The current project includes the continutation of a living structures for chicken rearing, marine conservation initiatives that incorporate beach cleanups and recycling efforts into local artisanal products, the development of local, all-natural cleaning supplies, and the development of an environmental education center and computer learning lab. The project is also developing an internship program with the community that will bring in-kind contributions of time and on-the-ground work from students studying environmental sciences, education and community development in NYC. These students will help facilitate programs and dialogues between the Bahia Honda community, local resorts and hotels, potential funders, and others. These resources will enable locals to further develop skills necesarry to compete with, and influence, the rapidly developing islands of Bocas del Toro, Panama.
Sustainable Development, Partnerships, and Emergency Relief in Fondwa, Haiti
Working with the Association Paysan Fondwa (APF) of Haiti, the project aims to find U.S. partners to assist in the redevelopment of sustainable development projects in the rural region of Fondwa, Haiti. Due to the devastating 2010 earthquake, APF programs of 20 years were destroyed, including local schools, agriculture projects, an orphanage, and local microfinancing projects. Currents needs of the project are in-kind donations of building supplies, school supplies, labor and transportation equipment, as well as financial backing for the redevelopment and re-employment of many locals from Fondwa. Learn more about Fondwa and APF's work in their recent video.
Women’s Earth Alliance
As one of the Founding member's of the Women's Earth Alliance, Tara continues to work with the more than 30 women world environmental leaders that make up the Women's Earth Alliance. Projects included the development and coordination of capacity building trainings for international women participating in United Nations-sanctioned environmental conferences, development of the organization guidelines, and representation of organizational needs/goals at United Nations conferences and meetings.
