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Green Star E-News
Green Star E-News Vol. 8, No. 4 April 6, 2007
Recognizing Alaska organizations committed to environmental responsibility.
In this issue:
* Shining Stars
* Electronics Recycling Event for Households This Saturday
* New Green Star Awardee Benefits
* Energy Efficiency Training for Building Owners and Managers
* Get Involved: “Bike to Work & School Day” – May 16
* Congratulations iPod Air Quality Winners!
* ALPAR Updates – Tree And Nursery Pot Recycling
* Earth Day Happenings
* Alaska Materials Exchange Update
* This Month’s Hot Link: Earth Day Network
* Thank you 2007 Sponsors
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SHINING STARS
New Enrollees
Spring is definitely a time for new growth as Green Star adds six new enrollees.
Green Star Award enrollees are Peak Oilfield Services – Nikiski, From the Far Corners Photography, Alaska Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) Energy Services – North Slope, and Driven Auto Body.
Enrollees in both Green Star and Air Quality are CO2 Technologies of Alaska, and State of Alaska Fish & Game, Sport Fish Division, Fort Richardson Hatchery.
New Awardees
The National Park Service in Anchorage will receive a renewed Green Star Award on April 16 to encompass its new building.
Green Events
Green Events in April include the Alaska Center for the Environment’s Spring Auction and the Mat-Su Home Show and Outdoor Show.
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ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT FOR HOUSEHOLDS THIS SATURDAY
Anchorage has outgrown Green Star’s annual electronics event but there is no need to panic. Green Star and Total Reclaim are partnering to provide plenty of convenient electronics-recycling opportunities for everyone throughout the year.
Households can bring their personal used electronics equipment to one of the monthly community-based events planned for this year throughout Anchorage for special discounted pricing. All events are held on a Saturday from 10am – 6pm in the school’s parking lot.
April 14: Romig Middle School
May 5: Eagle River High School
June 9: Service High School
July 14: East High School
August 11: South High School
September 8: Mears Middle School
October 13: location still tentative
Fees for these events range from $5 per item, up to $25 for a complete computer system, including a monitor, CPU, mouse, keyboard and cables. Cell phone recycling is free. Visit Green Star’s web site for an itemized list of prices.
Businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies should not bring electronics to these events. All of these organizations can bring electronics to Total Reclaim’s facility during regular business hours (M-F 7:30am – 5pm). Households also can bring electronics to Total Reclaim’s facility. Facility fees are 35¢/lb for businesses and 45¢/lb for households. Green Star Awardees receive a special 5¢/lb discount.
For more information about Electronics Recycling in Anchorage, contact Green Star at info@greenstarinc.org or 278-7827 or Total Reclaim at larryz@totalreclaim.com or 561-0544.
More info: www.greenstarinc.org/electronicsrecycling2007.php
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NEW GREEN STAR AWARDEE BENEFITS
Earning the Green Star Award takes time and commitment from our members, and now Green Star wants to offer additional benefits to those organizations that have gone all the way! Total Reclaim, Shaklee, and From the Far Corners Photography are offering special discounts to Green Star Award Winners. If your organization has not yet earned the Green Star Award, here are three more reasons to keep that ball rolling:
Total Reclaim, Inc.
Total Reclaim, the electronics recycler with whom Green Star partnered for the past three electronics-recycling events, has opened a year-around electronics recycling operation in Anchorage. Total Reclaim is offering a 5¢ per pound discount for electronics recycling and a free pick-up service to Green Star Award winners. (The free pick-up service is limited to the Anchorage Bowl). Green Star is especially proud to work with Total Reclaim, which has signed the Basel Action Network's Electronic Recycler's Pledge of True Stewardship, the most rigorous criteria for sustainable and socially just electronics recycling. To schedule a pick-up or drop-off of electronics, please contact Total Reclaim:
Total Reclaim Inc.
12101 Industry Way, Unit C4
Anchorage, Alaska 99515
(907) 561-0544
www.totalreclaim.com
Shaklee
Shaklee is an international organization that offers environmentally safe cleaning products. Shaklee is the United States’ very first Climate Neutral certified company. Alaska is fortunate to have an enthusiastic sales representative, Joan Herrmann, here in Anchorage who will assist you and your organization in identifying the most effective and most environmentally friendly cleaning products for your business uses. She is offering a 15% discount to Green Star Award winning organizations. To find out more about Shaklee and its products, please contact Joan.
Joan Herrmann
Shaklee Independent Distributor
Anchorage, Alaska 99504
(p) 907-770-5753
(c) 907-223-3086
joanh@gci.net
www.moretolife.biz
From the Far Corners Photography
Green Star has worked with From the Far Corners Photography to document trainings, increase our available stock photography for our website and displays, and to capture the environmental efforts of our members for case studies and press releases. Owner and photographer, Brian Guzzetti, is offering a 25% discount to Green Star Award winners for assignment photography, prints, and stock images. Please visit http://www.fromthefarcorners.com to view available images and contact Brian Guzzetti for additional information.
Brian Guzzetti
From the Far Corners Photography
Anchorage, AK 99503
(p) 907-522-2192
brian@fromthefarcorners.com
www.fromthefarcorners.com
Would your organization like to offer a discount to Green Star Award winners? Please contact Jean Marie, jeanmarie@greenstarinc.org, or 278-7869.
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ENERGY-EFFICIENCY TRAINING FOR BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS
The Anchorage Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), and Green Star are working together to provide an energy-efficiency training that focuses on building-wide energy improvements. The training will be on Wednesday, May 16th, from 9am – 12pm at UAA’s Arts Building, Room 117.
BOMA has initiated an international effort to reduce the environmental impact of commercial buildings, referred to as The Green Resource Energy and Environment Network (The G.R.E.E.N.) A training video produced by BOMA entitled, “Introduction to Energy Performance” will be shown at 9am. The video is an hour and a half and covers the following topics:
* Overview of the BOMA Energy Efficiency Program
* Energy bill basics
* How generation and transmission systems operate
* How to create energy management policies and plans
* How to benchmark energy improvements
* Descriptions of the financial and environmental impacts resulting from improved energy performance.
After a short break with refreshments provided, the second half of the seminar will be a one-hour discussion with representatives from local utilities and energy management companies. Some of the representatives who will be onsite to answer questions include Ken Bauer, the president of the Anchorage chapter of BOMA and owner of Alaska Energy Savers; Lynn Barrett, a member of the steering committee of the Sustainable Building Initiative Task Force; and representatives from ML&P and Green Star. Additional materials about the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR ratings for buildings will be available.
If you would like to participate in this training on Wednesday, May 16th from 9am-12pm at UAA, please contact Jean Marie (jeanmarie@greenstarinc.org, 278-7869). The training is free of charge, but an RSVP is requested for planning purposes. Call for directions.
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GET INVOLVED: “BIKE TO WORK & SCHOOL DAY” - MAY 16
Spring is finally here, and once again Green Star is collaborating with the Municipality of Anchorage to encourage participation in the upcoming Bike to Work and School Day on Wednesday, May 16th. We are challenging all Green Star member employees and colleagues to get out of their cars and onto their bicycles during the week of May 14th to celebrate this event. In addition, Green Star is reaching out to local schools for greater participation from school age children.
As a fun incentive, teams will receive a welcome packet, with lots of fun safety items and goodies. In addition, those businesses that donated last year are happily supplying prizes to help reward everyone for taking the time to bicycle to work or school. Current donors include: Alaska Mountaineering & Hiking (AMH), Alaska Rock Gym, Anchorage Guest House, H2Oasis, Kaladi Brothers Coffee, The Bike Shop, Girdwood Ski & Cyclery, Great Harvest Bread Co., Paramount Cycles, REI, Skinny Raven Sports, Sacks Café & Restaurant, Snow City Café, Studio One Pilates, Sunshine Sports, and other generous supporters.
By promoting Bike to Work & School Day, Green Star hopes to motivate everyone to leave their cars at home (for at least one day!), help reduce local traffic congestion, and improve air quality. In addition, the increased physical activity means improved productivity, decreased rates of illness, reduced absenteeism, and lower health care costs. These benefit everyone!
If you are interested in getting individuals or teams involved from your organization or school, please call Beth at 278-7819, email beth@greenstarinc.org or visit www.greenstarinc.org. Bike to Work posters are currently available if you would like to post some at your office or school. Further event details will be provided in our May edition of E-News.
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CONGRATULATIONS iPOD AIR QUALITY WINNERS!
This winter was, as any Anchorage residents can attest, cold -- bitterly cold. November and March were two of the coldest months Anchorage residents have weathered in decades.
As part of ongoing efforts to reduce winter air pollution, Green Star compiled a 16-page educational flyer entitled “Cold Climate Survival Guide” that was inserted into the Anchorage Press, distributed to 23 schools, and displayed at various businesses such as BP, REI and Snow City Cafe.
As a way to involve and motivate residents to learn about our local air quality, several fun word scrambles were included to test readers’ knowledge. Readers who submitted answers to Green Star by the first day of spring – March 20th – had a chance to win a Plug@20 hoodies or an iPod Shuffle.
Congratulations to Nancy Farrer and Dawn Nunley for correctly completing the word scrambles included in the Cold Climate Survival Guide and winning the iPod Shuffles. Nancy Farrer is a dedicated teacher and Green Star coordinator for Inlet View Elementary. She mentioned that her winning prize would be turned over to her students as a reward for their hard work. A round of applause also goes to Valerie Tompkins, Wendy Weber, George Doxtator and Kelly Sperbeck for winning hoodies. Thanks to everyone who read the Cold Climate Survival Guide and responded to the contest.
Finally, since we did have one of the coldest winters on record, Green Star has to thank everyone who plugged in whenever it was 20ºF or colder. This season, Green Star gave out more than 1600 outdoor timers to residents so they could save electricity while reducing their car’s carbon monoxide by 60% on each startup! Yeah to cleaner air!
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ALPAR UPDATES – TREE AND NURSERY POT RECYCLING
Christmas Tree Recycling Results
ALPAR collected 10,022 trees this year (up from 9,288 trees in 2005-06). The tree chips were distributed and donated to the Alaska Sled Dog Racing Association, Anchorage Parks and Recreation and the Boy Scout Camps in Chugiak and Birchwood for trail cover. The contractor went the extra mile to keep the trees chipped in a timely manner and kept the CARRS parking lots in tip-top shape despite very, very cold temperatures, lots of snow and a metal pipe that was stuck in a tree that wrecked havoc with the chipper. ALPAR will be honoring Last Frontier Tree Care’s owner Rob Carter for his great work on the Christmas Tree Program for the past three years at its annual awards banquet.
Nursery Pot Recycling “Save the Date”
After recycling everything possible in their homes, many Anchorage residents are left with no choice but to dispose of the dozens of nursery pots accumulated each spring as they plant flowerbeds and gardens. A Nursery Pot Recycling One-Stop Drop-off is slated for Saturday, July 7, from 10am to 5pm at the Alaska Botanical Garden. (From Tudor turn south on Campbell Air Strip Road and look for the sign. What a great day to also stop in to see the gardens! Other drop-off locations may be added, so stay tuned. Accepted will be #2 pots (usually black) and #5 and #7, which can be mixed together. Save your pots, check the bottom for the number, give them a rinse to remove the major dirt and stack. No #6 pots please – these lighter weight, smaller containers cannot be recycled at this event. Nursery Pot Recycling is brought to you by ALPAR and the Smurfit-Stone Recycling Center.
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EARTH DAY HAPPENINGS
Alaska Center for the Environment’s Spring Auction
Friday, April 13 from 6pm-10pm
Anchorage Museum of Art
ACE’s annual auction is always a hit with live music, food by Marx Brothers, Moose’s Tooth beer, wine, and lots of silent and live auction opportunities. Items range from art, jewelry, and books, to outdoor gear and trips. Tickets are $40 for ACE members and $55 for non-members. Visit www.akcenter.org for more details.
UAA “Save Money/Save the World” Fair
Monday, April 16 from 10am-2pm
UAA Student Union Center
This fair is a combination Earth Day Fair and Job Fair. Green Star and People Mover, among others, will be on site with tips on alternative transportation, recycling, energy efficiency, and more. Other businesses and organizations that are participating in the job fair were requested to emphasize their environmental policies and activities.
City Hall Earth Day Event
Thursday, April 19 from 11am – 1pm
Behind City Hall building on 6th Ave.
This event will feature three topic areas. Alternative Transportation – A People Mover bus will be on hand and a driver will demonstrate loading a bike onto the bike rack. Recycling – City Hall's new recycling bins will be unveiled and a Green Star Team Leader will demonstrate proper recycling. Sustainable Building Design — Sample green building products will be displayed and discussed. The event is open to the public and "Happy Earth Day" cake will be served!
NOAA’s Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, May 5 from Noon-4pm
Kincaid Park (end of Raspberry Rd.)
The celebration will include environmental and science education-related events such as children’s games that teach about recycling efforts, outdoor safety, ecosystems, waterways, and watershed models. Activity booths will be set up outdoors. An expo for careers in science also will be included in this celebration. These may be as diverse as government services like the National Weather Service to private firms specializing in “green” architecture. The career fair will be held indoors at the Kincaid Chalet.
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ALASKA MATERIALS EXCHANGE UPDATE
Don’t forget about the Alaska Materials Exchange when you are looking for wanted and available materials. These three items were posted on the Alaska Materials Exchange in March and are still looking for a home. Visit www.greenstarinc.org/ame to read more about these items. Sign up at the bottom of the page if you would like weekly updates of new AME listings.
Available - Kodak X-ray fixer and developer
3 new boxes of Kodak RP X-OMAT LO fixer and replenisher. 6 new boxes of Kodak RP X-OMAT Developer Replenisher, Part A.
Available - 17-inch color computer monitor - not flat screen
Iiyama monitor, excellent condition. Will deliver.
Available - Legal and letter hanging folders, letter file folders (used)
Legal and letter hanging files with plastic name tabs. Used letter file folders. Free for the taking. Given as a bundle.
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THIS MONTH’S HOT LINK: Earth Day Network
Since it’s that time of year, we thought we’d highlight Earth Day’s official web site. Earth Day is on April 22nd. Founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day Network (EDN) promotes environmental citizenship and year round progressive action worldwide. Climate change is currently the hottest (no pun intended) topic for the Earth Day Network. See what’s happening around the country to celebrate Earth Day and learn how to organize your own event with “Earth Day in a Box.”
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THANK YOU 2007 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 2007 sponsors!
Platinum ($10,000+): Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage Media Group, BP, ConocoPhillips Alaska, FedEx Express, Municipality of Anchorage Department of Health & Human Services, Municipality of Anchorage Office of Economic & Community Development, Rasmuson Foundation, Totem Ocean Trailer Express
Gold ($5,000-$9,999): Carlile Transportation Systems, GCI, Horizon Lines of Alaska, KTUU – Channel 2, Municipal Light & Power, Total Reclaim, Inc., Weaver Brothers
Silver ($2,500-$4,999): Lynden Transport
Bronze ($1,000-$2,499): Adobe, Arcticom, Cellular One, Frames Etc., Graphic Solutions, Independent Lift Truck of Alaska, Petroleum News, REI, Teamsters Local 959, Thompson & Associates
Green ($500-$999): ACS, Alaska Printing, Alaska Waste, Alyeska Pipeline Services, American Credit Card Systems, Anchorage School District, Costco-Debarr Rd., Delta Cargo/Arctic Circle Air, Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, Polar Supply Inc., Warning Lites of Alaska
Supporter ($250-$499): Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility, ARAMARK, Clear Channel Radio, Coca-Cola Bottling of Alaska, Corporate Express Alaska, Dick Wilson, Great Harvest Bread Company, Humphrey Computer Graphics, KSKA, Mettler-Toledo Northwest, Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Group, RurAL CAP, Salvation Army, Smurfit-Stone Recycling Company, Syntax, TATI Broadcast, Terra Bella Organic Coffee, University of Alaska Anchorage
Contributor (up to $250): Alaska Bagel Restaurant, Alaska Center for the Environment, Alaska Energy Savers, Alaska Mill Feed & Garden Center, Alaska Mountain Bike Source, Alaska Mountaineering & Hiking, American Fast Freight, Anchorage Guest House, Anchorage Publishing, APIA, Bear Tooth Theater Pub & Grill, Blockbuster Video, Bus11 Design, Carrs-Safeway, Chugach Electric, Chugach Optional School, Chugiak Dog Mushers Association, Chugach Electric, Dark Horse Coffee, From the Far Corners Photography, Girdwood Ski & Cyclery, Glacier Brewhouse/ORSO Ristorante, Great Harvest Bread Company, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, Hardog Rhodes Hoge & Lekisch, Hot Licks Homemade Ice Cream, Iditarod Trail Committee, Kathy Sarns/Free Spirit, Middleway Café, Mini-Brute, Municipality of Anchorage Maintenance & Operations Department, NorthWest Handling Systems, Partusch Plumbing & Heating, Princess Tours, Sack’s Café, Skinny Raven Sports, Snow City Café, Spenard Builders Supply, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Tesoro Iron Dog, Title Wave Books
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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 Guzzetti, Member Relations Coordinator
Tara Callear, Office Manager/Program Assistant
Jessica Strolle, Intern
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Additional Links:
Green Star Award
Green Events
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Site Assessments
Electronics Recycling
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AME Listings
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