Our Sustainable & Green Stuff
Geothermal
The houses in Liberty Village all feature ground-assist heat pumps, commonly known as geothermal. Each unit has its own well, and a heat exchange fluid is circulated (closed loop) to tap the earth's own heat, which is approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat exchange fluid cools the summer air and also provides heat in the winter. Electric heat is only needed as a supplement to reach the desired temperature. The extra heat generated from running the unit is used to help the hot water heater. The heating and cooling is very inexpensive compared to conventional systems, though the capital cost is considerable. It also is very quiet - there is no heat exchanger outside the house as with conventional heat pump systems. Coupled with well-insulated construction, Liberty Village houses are extremely efficient to heat and cool.
Recycling and Composting
Recycling and composting are encouraged at Liberty Village. Recycling (cans, bottles, boxes, newspaper, etc.) is now single stream, and the county picks up on alternate Wednesdays. It is centrally collected at two locations in several mixed product containers. Composting is done informally near the community vegetable garden and occasionally elsewhere. Most neighbors are willing to help others recycle and compost as needed. The large compost area located near the garden for is available for all to use.
Chesapeake Baywise Certification
Liberty Village is the first entire community in Frederick County to be Bay-Wise Certified by the Master Gardeners of the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension. The Master Gardeners spent a day in the community, educating all the homeowners in practices to save the bay by decreasing fertilizer use, controlling storm water runoff, mulching appropriately and controlling pests. The community also made a commitment to continue good Bay-Wise practices as the next 20 duplex homes are built.
Liberty Village has three rain gardens, a butterfly garden and a natural meadow, all of which decrease toxins that go to the bay, control runoff and contribute to the beauty of our neighborhood.
Our Rain Gardens, Warm Season Grass Meadow and Riparian Buffer were planted in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Monocacy & Catoctin Watershed Alliance and the Maryland Department of the Environment.
Rain Gardens
A rain garden, also called a bio-retention area, acts as a sponge. It collects and absorbs water leaving roofs, lawns and parking lots. These areas are called impervious surfaces and increase as development occurs, reducing the amount of land surface that permits water to seep into the ground.
Rain gardens help to slow runoff and allow water to soak into the soil, filtering the water and recharging groundwater supplies in the process. The rain garden is composed of a mix of native trees, shrubs and plants that will absorb pollution and provide food and habitat for wildlife, especially birds and insects.
Warm Season Grass Meadows
A warm season grass meadow is a meadow of perennial grasses, legumes and wildflower species like the grasslands of pre-colonial times. Warm season grass meadows provide wildlife habitat benefits including nesting cover and winter food, typically located near winter cover. Winter cover provides protection for wildlife during the cold months of the year and is almost always associated with woody growth such as trees, shrubs, brambles and vines.
Nesting cover is probably the most important habitat component for upland wildlife, especially quail, pheasant and rabbits. These species nest on the ground, usually in herbaceous vegetation. Winter food is also important to upland wildlife species.
To be useful, winter food must meet three requirements - it should hold seed through mid-March, it should hold its seed above the snow and it must be close to winter cover.
Riparian Buffer
A riparian buffer is the area along a stream or river that is compromised of native grasses, trees and shrubs similar to the area planted nearby. These areas are critical to water quality because of their ability to slow and filter storm water before it enters the creek. The roots of the plants help to stabilize the soil. The plants provide important food and wildlife habitat as well. Our 2.8 acre reforestation area was hand planted during April 2008 with a diversity of native tree & shrub species.
And we have Chickens too!
The Chicken Palace is located adjacent to the vegetable garden area. Chicken Club is a group consisting of John, Igor, Ann and Anna. They are responsible for the chickens care and maintenance. Members are encouraged to feed food scraps to the chickens. However, no eggshells or meat products should be fed to the chickens. Extra eggs are available in the community room refrigerator for a fee that goes back into the chicken maintenance.