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Green Star E-News
Green Star E-News Vol. 6, No. 6 June 13, 2005
Recognizing Alaska businesses committed to environmental responsibility.
In this issue:
* Shining Stars
* Green Star Award Application Deadline
* Green Star Education Series – Mercury, On Your Ride to Work
* Alaska Renewable Energy Fair Seeks Vendors
* Phone Book Recycling
* Tyvek Envelope Recycling
* This Month’s Hot Link: Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange
* Thank you 2005 Sponsors
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SHINING STARS
Welcome to our newest enrollee, Cartridge World.
Congratulations to Bear Valley Elementary School for earning its Green Star award! Visit www.greenstarinc.org/latestawardees.php for details about what Bear Valley has been doing.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the Sustainable Building and Design Fair a success. Watch for additional information about sustainable building and design at www.greenstarinc.org/sustainfair.php.
June is a big month for events and Green Star would like to recognize several events that have been Green Events for numerous years. Be sure to look for recycling bins if you attend any of these:
Three Barons Renaissance Fair (June 4,5 and 11,12)
Botanical Garden Fair (June 25, 26)
Alaska Scottish Highland Games (June 25)
Iditarod Trail Volunteer Picnic (June 25)
If you would like to make your next event a Green Event, contact Jeanne at 278-7839 or Jeanne@greenstarinc.org, or visit www.greenstarinc.org/green_events.php for more information.
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GREEN STAR AWARD APPLICATION DEADLINE
If you are getting close to finishing your Green Star Award application, this quarter’s deadline is June 30th. Our Standards Committee will review applications shortly after that date. The next deadline is September 30th. For a sample application format, look under step 4 at www.greenstarinc.org/earningsteps/earning.php.
Green Star staff is available to answer your questions or assist with the application proves. Applications will be accepted in both the old and new formats (see article below – July Education Program announcement).
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GREEN STAR EDUCATION SERIES – MERCURY, ON YOUR RIDE TO WORK
Don’t miss June’s education series presentation, “Mercury, On Your Ride to Work” on Wednesday the 22nd. Anyone who works with cars, from fleet managers to mechanics to the daily commuter, is encouraged to join Green Star during the lunch hour at the BP Energy Center.
What: “Mercury, On Your Ride to Work”
When: Wednesday, June 22nd 12 to 1pm
Where: BP Energy Center
Because of its fluid properties, mercury tilt switches are used in many vehicles to turn on the lighting assemblies as trunk and hood doors are opened. Each tilt switch contains at least one gram of mercury, enough to contaminate 20 acres of Alaskan waters. Health effects from mercury exposure include brain and kidney damage, as well as birth defects.
Currently, car manufacturers are not responsible for safely disposing of mercury in vehicles. In addition, scrap yards in many states are not required to remove mercury switches before crushing and recycling the car, which can release mercury into our atmosphere.
Find out how to prevent this pollution and properly handle this hazardous waste. For as little as 50 cents a switch, mercury switches can be easily and affordably replaced with non-mercury alternatives that have no detrimental effect on vehicle performance. A short demonstration video on the removal of mercury switches will be shown especially for the automotive specialist. How to safely dispose of mercury and the other places mercury hides in your home and workplace also will be discussed. Snacks will be provided. For more information, contact Jean Marie at 278-7869 or jeanmarie@greenstarinc.org.
July Education Program
July’s program will focus on Green Star’s revised Green Star Award Standards. We have revised and updated the Standards to make them more user friendly. We have streamlined the application process and reduced the number of Standards, while still maintaining a high level of environmental integrity. We will roll out the new Standards at the beginning of July.
We invite Green Star enrollees to attend to get a head start on submitting their achievements for the Award. We know some enrollees have been struggling to earn their Green Star Award for some time. Come get a new start with our new Standards. It will also be a great opportunity to speak with other organizations that also are working on their Green Star Award.
What: An Introduction to Green Star’s Revised Award Standards
When: Wednesday, July 20th 11:45am – 1:30pm
Where: BP Energy Center
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ALASKA RENEWABLE ENERGY FAIR SEEKS VENDORS
Renewable Energy Alaska Project is hosting the Alaska Renewable Energy Fair on Saturday, August 13th, from noon until 10pm on the Anchorage Park Strip. Alaska possesses vast wind, geothermal, biomass, hydro, tidal and solar energy resources. Despite looming natural gas shortages and rising energy prices, virtually none of these resources have yet been tapped. Come learn about the numerous opportunities that Alaska has to utilize its clean, affordable, and inexhaustible energy resources.
The Alaska Renewable Energy Fair will feature local leaders, expert speakers, workshops, films, information booths, solar and wind energy demonstrations, food and craft booths, live music and more. The Fair is seeking potential vendors and exhibitors to participate.
For more information, contact Chris Rose at 907-745-6000 and crose@alaska.net or Hannah Manser at 317-2050 and Hannah_manser@hotmail.com.
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PHONE BOOK RECYCLING
Now that you’ve received your 2005-2006 ACS phone books both at home and at work, it’s time to recycle the old sets of phone books. ACS phone book recycling is available through June 20. Look for recycling bins at Alaska Communications Systems at 600 Telephone Ave.; all Anchorage and Eagle River Carrs Quality Centers; and the Anchorage Recycling Center. If your organization has 30 or more sets of phone books, call 566-4718 to have them picked up for free.
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TYVEK ENVELOPE RECYCLING
They aren’t paper, but don’t seem quite like plastic and FedEx just keeps bringing them to your home or office. What can you do with those white Tyvek envelopes that are so useful for shipping but just don’t fit into a recycling category? A local resident and Green Star volunteer has investigated this and received a recycling kit for Tyvek envelopes. The returnable recycling pouch holds many more envelopes than she can generate personally and she has offered to accept additional Tyvek envelopes to fill up the pouch. If you have Tyvek envelopes you would like to recycle, contact Green Star at 278-7839 or drop them off at our office and we will pass them along.
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THIS MONTH’S HOT LINK: Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange
The Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange was created in 1997 to provide easy access to high-quality pollution prevention information that promotes waste reduction throughout the U.S.
The P2Rx is a consortium of eight regional pollution prevention information centers, funded in part through grants from U.S. EPA. These centers all provide pollution prevention information, networking opportunities and other services to states, local governments and technical assistance providers in their region.
The centers represent a broad constituency, including state and local pollution prevention programs, manufacturing extension partnerships, cooperative extension and nonprofit organizations. The diversity of audience contributes to an overall breadth of P2 information and opportunities.
The site offers business-sector specific information, such as hospitality, medical, construction, manufacturing, and agriculture pollution prevention topics.
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THANK YOU 2005 SPONSORS, GRANTORS & CONTRACTORS
Green Star could not exist without the generous financial and in-kind support of many individuals and leading local businesses and organizations. To become a Green Star individual member or corporate sponsor, please call (278-7827) or visit our web site http://www.greenstarinc.org. A huge thank you to our 2005 sponsors!
Platinum ($10,000+): Anchorage Department of Health & Human Services, Anchorage Solid Waste Services, BP, ConocoPhillips Alaska, FedEx Express, Rasmuson Foundation, Total Reclaim, Inc., Totem Ocean Trailer Express, University of Alaska Anchorage, Weaver Brothers
Gold ($5,000-$9,999): Alaska Conservation Foundation, Anchorage Media Group, Carlile Transportation Systems, GCI, Harriett Fenerty, Horizon Lines of Alaska, Ivan Moore Research, Lynden Transport, Weaver Brothers
Silver ($2,500-$4,999): Airport Equipment Materials Handling Division, Anchorage Daily News, Denali Commission, Graphics Solutions, KTUU - Channel 2, Lynden Transport, Princess Tours
Bronze ($1,000-$2,499): Alaska Laser Wash, Alaska Public Interest Research Group, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Arctic Ice Productions, Cellular One, Chugach Electric Association, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Municipal Light and Power, Teamsters Local 959, United Freight, Wal-Mart “A” Street, Wal-Mart Wasilla
Green ($500-$999): Action Sign & Graphics/Warning Lites of Alaska, Air Van Lines, Alaska Power Association, Alaska Support Industry Alliance, Alaska Waste Transfer, Corporate Express Alaska, Delta Airlines, Dick Wilson, From the Fair Corners Photography, Independent Lift Truck of Alaska, Kotzebue Electric Association, Mettler Toledo Scales, Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria, Northern Air Cargo, Sierra Club, Thompson & Associates,
Supporter ($250-$499): 21 North Designs, Anchorage Maintenance & Operations, Arctic Circle Air, Northern Air Cargo, Smurfit-Stone Recycling Company, Spenard Builders Supply, Yukon Equipment
Contributor (up to $250): Alaska Center for the Environment, ALPAR, AWWU, Coca-Cola Bottling of Alaska (Odom Corporation), Costco Debarr, Great Harvest Bread Company, Green’s Enterprises, Habitat for Humanity, Hot Licks Ice Cream, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Group, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, VendAlaska
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Past issues of E-News are available on our web site, sorted by topic or date: http://www.greenstarinc.org/enews/enewsindex.php. 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 us to add to our mailing list. If you wish to unsubscribe, please email a request to unsubscribe to enews@greenstarinc.org. Thank you!
The staff of Green Star, Anchorage:
Sean Skaling, Executive Director
Jeanne Carlson, Program Director
Beth Verrelli, Program Director
Jean Marie Doherty, Member Relations Coordinator
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Additional Links:
Green Star Award
Green Events
Green Star Schools
Site Assessments
Electronics Recycling
AK Materials Exchange
AME Listings
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