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November’s Brown Bag will be held on November 19th, 11:45am to 1pm at the BP Energy Center. Join us for a discussion about indoor air quality issues in Anchorage. A study conducted in 1995 found that levels of benzene in Anchorage homes were higher than expected. The Municipal Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Washington are receiving a grant from USEPA to collaborate on a study of indoor air in homes with attached garages. They will sample fifty homes in Anchorage this winter to better understand the movement of air from attached garages to the living area of homes. Anne Schlapia, with the Municipality, will summarize the findings of the 1995 indoor study that stimulated USEPA’s interest in funding this work. Please RSVP to 278-7827 or info@greenstarinc.org

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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE BUILDING – A GREEN STORY

Green Star’s tour of the National Park Service building in October attracted more than 40 architects, energy specialists, and other interested Anchorage business people and residents. Representatives from RIM Architects and RIM Design offered a summary of the standards to which the building was designed and led a tour of the building’s key “green” features.

The building was designed and constructed following LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. LEED is a program of the U.S. Green Building Council. It was created to:
- define "green building" by establishing a common standard of measurement;
- promote integrated, whole-building design practices;
- recognize environmental leadership in the building industry;
- stimulate green competition;
- raise consumer awareness of green building benefits; and
- transform the building market.

LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources.

The project checklist includes categories with several required actions and numerous additional actions to earn points toward LEED certification. Points are summed to result in levels of certification -- a standard certified project must earn 26-32 points; Silver requires 33-38 points; Gold requires 39-51 points; and Platinum requires 52-69 points out of a possible 69 points.

The NPS building was designed to the Silver standards but has not been certified due to the additional costs associated with the process. Below are a few examples of the building features that helped it meet the LEED standards.

In the category of Site Selection and Development, the NPS building was located on a major bus route to encourage alternative means of transportation by employees. It has bike racks installed in several areas and the building features shower rooms and locker facilities so bike commuters can shower before work. The lot maintains 50% open space, its roofing is white and paving is light-colored to reflect rather than absorb heat, thus reducing the building's contribution to urban heat islands. Exterior lighting is focused down to reduce light pollution (with exception of the flagpole). The site was a previously occupied lot, which also counts toward Urban Redevelopment points.

Under the Water Efficiency category, drought-resistant, indigenous plants are used to reduce the need to water landscaping. Although this standard is more important in other parts of the country, it is helpful in any climate. Also, no permanent irrigation systems were installed, which reduced water consumption. All restroom facilities are low water consumption styles, reducing the amount of potable water that is used.

In the category of Energy and Atmosphere, an air pocket was built into the outer wall to insulate the building. Occupancy sensors and a programmable lighting system were installed to reduce lighting "on time."

In the category of Materials and Resources, several recycled-content and sustainable materials were used in construction. The ceiling tile contains a range of 30 to 65% recycled material. They also are reusable and can be returned to the manufacturer if a remodel is done.

Other sustainable products used in the building include bamboo flooring (www.teregren.com), cork flooring (www.expanko.com) [both cork and bamboo are rapidly renewable resources], and Dakota Burl, a pressed recycled-newsprint and sunflower-seed board (www.phenixbiocomposites.com).

Restroom partitions are made with recycled plastic. Recycled rubber flooring is used in the athletic room and Antron fiber carpet is used throughout the building. Antron fiber, used by numerous carpet manufacturers, contains 10% recycled material and is made in an environmentally preferable manner.

In the Indoor Environmental Quality category, all paints, stains and sealants used in the building are low-VOC (volatile organic compound) emitting. All copy and printer rooms are separately ventilated to reduce chemical toxins in the populated work areas. In addition, the building went through a period of increased ventilation before it was occupied so that any off-gassing from new materials happened before the space was occupied. The floor plan of the building also increases worker comfort. Workstations are placed around the perimeter of each floor so that more employees are exposed to natural light. Offices are in the core of each floor with a relite (a glass "window" beside a door that doesn't look directly to the outside) to allow natural sunlight to enter the room.

For more information about the building’s design, please contact RIM Architects at 258.7777 or RIM Design at 279.6563. For more information about LEED, visit www.usgbc.org.

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NEIGHBORHOOD ENGINE BLOCK HEATER AND TIMER PROGRAM

The timers and block heaters are back! The Municipal Department of Health and Human Services is coordinating a neighborhood engine block heater installation and timer giveaway program, funded through Anchorage Metropolitan Transportation Solutions (AMATS). The goal of the program is to reduce unhealthy carbon monoxide (CO) levels in the Anchorage area during the winter months by reducing vehicle engine cold starts.

A block heater, plugged in for just 2-3 hours before starting the engine, reduces CO levels by an average of 60%. Plugging in for any longer than 2-3 hours does not increase the benefit; it only wastes electricity. This is where the timer comes into play. Using the block heater and timer together gives residents the biggest and most efficient pollution reduction potential while also reducing wear and tear on their vehicle engines.

Beginning November 1, any municipal resident living within the Anchorage bowl (between the Glenn Highway’s Muldoon on-ramp to the north and the Seward Highway south to the Potter Marsh weigh station) meeting the qualifications listed below is eligible for a block heater installation, timer and cord for just $25. Vehicle owners who already have a block heater are eligible for a free programmable timer for use with their block heater. The program is on a first-come, first-served basis, and will continue through the end of February 2004 while supplies last. Eagle River and Girdwood residents are NOT eligible.

In October, the program was available only to those residents who received a postcard invitation in the mail. The invitations were sent to residents in neighborhoods where carbon monoxide emissions are highest. The program opened to all other residents in the Anchorage bowl on November 1.

To qualify, your vehicle must have a current I/M sticker and be routinely parked outside overnight. New vehicles purchased within the past two years will not have a sticker – the installers will verify I/M status. Diesel vehicles are not eligible for block heaters. Military personnel are eligible if the vehicle has a current I/M sticker and has a base sticker in the window as proof of military status. Vehicles that are part of a government or company fleet are not eligible.

For an appointment to install a block heater, call:
- Jerry’s Auto Service ~ 344-0238 or 344-2735 ~ 7327 Spruce Street. From Lake Otis, turn east on 72nd, proceed about a half-mile to Spruce Street and turn right.
- Agen’s Automotive ~ 563-2436 ~ 737 E. International Airport Road. On the north side of the road, just west of Old Seward Highway.

If you already have a block heater but would like a timer to automatically supply electricity to your block heater a few hours before you start up, bring your vehicle registration to the Municipal Department of Health and Human Services at 825 L Street. Timers will be available at the Environmental Services customer service desk on the 5th floor from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.

For more information about the program, visit www.careaboutair.com, call the hotline at 343-4003, or call 343-4023 between 8:30am and 4:30pm to ask questions.

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TRADIN’ CATALOGS FOR CASH

Buy Alaska, the Dimond Center, and Green Star are joining forces to put on a Catalog Round-Up. The event will help promote local purchasing while reducing the amount of waste generated in Anchorage. On Saturday, November 8th, we’re Tradin’ Catalogs for Cash. Between 11am and 3pm, bring five mail-order catalogs to the Dimond Center and get a $5 Dimond Center gift certificate. Limit $5 per person, so bring the whole family to trade catalogs for cash and shop locally.

Alaskans currently spend $7 billion dollars with businesses outside of Alaska each year. Every dollar spent outside Alaska is one dollar that does not go into the local economy. Buy Alaska and the Dimond Center are working to bring shoppers back to Alaska and away from mail-order and out-of-state purchasing. This is the season to shop locally, since retailers in Alaska count on making about 50% of their annual revenue during the holidays.

Green Star is supplying recycling bins to the event to help recycle the catalogs collected. Green Star also is providing information about ways to reduce the quantity of mail-order catalogs that come into our homes and locations in Anchorage to recycle the catalogs you already have.

U.S. residents discard about eight million tons of magazines and catalogs each year. I’m sure each of us receives what seems like that quantity in our mailboxes in just one week! For more information about the program, contact Buy Alaska at 274-7232 or visit them at www.buyalaska.com.

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AMERICA RECYCLES DAY

America Recycles Day is November 15th. It’s a day to think about, and act upon, buying recycled products, and recycling at our local recycling drop-off facilities. For more information about American Recycles Day or to enter to win prizes for recycling, visit www.americarecyclesday.org.

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LED HOLIDAY LIGHTS

It’s time to pull out those strings of holiday lights to decorate your home or office. In the process, many of us will find that last year’s strings just don’t work anymore. The strings become disposable as we toss last year’s inventory of tangled strings and shop for new ones. In addition, depending on how seriously we participate in the City of Lights, our efforts can cause a noticeable jump in our electricity bills.

To help alleviate all of these problems, consider switching to LED holiday lights. These little lights are very similar in appearance to regular strings of lights but use much less energy and last much longer, providing many seasons of light instead of just one or two.

One string of 100 conventional mini-lights consumes about 50 watts of power, while the same length of LED lights uses only a few watts, saving about 80-90% in electricity. Each LED string can save several dollars per month, depending on how long the lights are left on, which can be significant here in Alaska with our long stretches of darkness.

If five strings of lights are used eight hours a day, LED lights will save more than $5 every month.* And this is just the electricity savings. Add replacement costs and the savings are even better. Assuming that the typical conventional string of lights is replaced every two years, and LED light strings will last at least 5 years (LED light strings are rated for up to 100,000 to 200,000 hours of use, or between 10 and 20 years), five lights strings will save $150 over five seasons.*

Other benefits of LED holiday lights include:
- Made with unbreakable, flameproof epoxy plastic,
- Contains no filament that can burn out or break,
- Much cooler than conventional bulbs, making them safer to use indoors and out,
- Can be used anywhere conventional light strings are used, and
- Available in many colors including red, yellow, green, white, and blue.

As technology improves, the quality of LED lights gets better every year. This year’s holiday lights are brighter by far than the ones made over the last few years, and they will continue to get brighter.

The only downside right now to using LED holiday lights in Alaska is trying to find them. The local supply is limited. LED holiday lights currently are only available locally at True Value Hardware at the corner of Jewel Lake and Dimond and they only stock red lights. The cost is about $9.99 for a 60-foot string. Another brand is supposed to also be distributed through True Value as well as ACE Hardware stores, so as more holiday stock arrives, check back with these two stores. To find more LED lights on-line and learn more about they work, visit www.foreverbright.com.

* based on the national average electricity rate of 8¢/kwh.

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MEMBER MOMENT: ABR, Inc. Environmental Research & Services

ABR, Inc. recently purchased two hybrid fuel vehicles for company use. ABR also supports carpooling and alternative transportation by offering a $3/day bonus to employees for every day they do not drive their car to work. ABR has conducted an energy audit of its main buildings in Alaska and, by installing temperature controlled thermostats, reduced heating costs by about $500/year. These and other actions earned ABR the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s Pollution Prevention Award in 2002 and Alaska Public Health Association’s Community Service Award in 2000.

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THIS MONTH’S HOT LINK: Green Building: A Primer for Builders, Consumers, and Realtors ~ http://www.nrg-builder.com/greenbld.htm

This article was developed originally for the U.S. Green Building Council, as a result of work done for ASTM, USEPA Energy Star Homes, EEBA, and The Alliance to Save Energy. The author is a member of the USGBC technical advisory groups that developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

Green buildings are resource efficient buildings. They are energy efficient; use recycled, renewable, and reused resources to the maximum extent practical; and are designed, constructed and commissioned to ensure they are healthy for their occupants. For this reason, green buildings are typically more comfortable and easier to live with due to lower operating and owning costs.

This information should help you learn more about what to look for in a home that is more environmentally sensitive. If you are a builder unfamiliar with the simple approach to green building, this material should give you a starting point for further exploration of the topic, and a better ability to ask the right questions.

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THANK YOU 2003 SPONSORS

Green Star could not exist without the generous financial support of many individuals and leading local businesses. To become a Green Star individual member or corporate sponsor, please call (278-7827) or visit our web site at www.greenstarinc.org. A huge thank you to our 2003 sponsors!

Platinum: BP, ConocoPhillips Alaska, Municipality of Anchorage Solid Waste Services
Gold: Alaska Conservation Foundation, Rasmuson Foundation, Wells Fargo
Silver: Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Anchorage Refuse (A Waste Management Company), Princess Tours, The Home Depot,
Bronze: Anchorage Daily News, AT&T Wireless, Carrs-Safeway, Horizon Lines, Merrill Lynch, Northern Printing, Odom Corporation, One Northwest, Pallet Services of Alaska, Pepsi-Cola Bottling of Anchorage, Philip Services Corporation, Sam's Club, Smurfit-Stone Recycling Company, Totem Ocean Trailer Express,
Wal-Mart ‘A’ St. Store, Warning Lites of Alaska, Weaver Brothers
Green: ACS, AirLand Transport, Alaska Center for the Environment, Alaska Computer Society, Alaska Serigraphics, Alaska Support Industry Alliance, Alaska Textiles, Alaska Wildland Adventures, ALPAR, American Red Cross, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Anchorage Fur Rendezvous, Anchorage School District, Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility, Arctic Office Products, Bredeson Company, Carlile Transportation Systems, Chugach Electric Association, Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce, Continental Allied, Corporate Express Alaska, Costco, Denali Commission, Federal Express, Hartig Rhodes Hoge & Lekisch, Hotel Captain Cook, Kaladi Brothers, Mettler Toledo, Nabors Alaska Drilling, National Wildlife Federation, Northern Printing, Pallet Services of Alaska, Public Relations Student Society of America – Seawolf Chaper, R&M Consultants, Recycle Alaska, Spenard Builders Supply, Tikigaq Corporation, United Way of Anchorage, USEPA Region 10, Yukon Equipment, Zach Voris – Eagle Scout

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Past issues of E-News are available on our web site, sorted by topic or date. Please send comments, questions, or suggestions for future E-News topics to us at enews@greenstarinc.org. Forward this newsletter freely. Send us any email addresses you wish to add to our mailing list. Thank you!

The staff of Green Star, Anchorage:
Sean Skaling, Executive Director
Beth Verrelli, Membership & Communications Coordinator
Jeanne Carlson, Program Coordinator