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Vol. 10, No. 8  August 5, 2009
GREEN STAR E-News
Recognizing Alaska organizations committed to environmental responsibility.
In This Issue
Shining Stars
Events & Reminders
Nonprofit Electronics Recycling Program a Success
U.S. EPA's SmartWay Program Reduces Air Emissions
Member Moment: Carlile Transportation Systems and K&L Distributors
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How can you arrive at work without a mud stripe up your back and dirt up your nose? Check out these websites for DIY bicycle fenders and mud flaps.

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Kim Kovol
Executive Director

Jeanne Carlson
Program Director

Lilly Capell
Air Quality Program Assistant
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Shining Stars

Congratulations to our most recent Green Star Award certified organizations!
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Pike's Waterfront Lodge was awarded its Green Star certification on July 15.  A presentation of the certification will take place at Pike's Waterfront Lodge on September 8.  Pike's has addressed every aspect of Green Star's standards in some way.  With solar panels generating power for the lodge, it is the first large commercial solar installation in Alaska.  To compliment this energy project, energy-efficient lighting and appliances have been installed as well as low-flow showerheads.  Cooking oil is used as fuel by a local cooperative and the lodge is converting a greenhouse into a hydroponics-based produce project with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Future Farmers of America.

Carlile Transportation Systems received its Green Star Award certification at an Anchorage Chamber of Commerce luncheon on July 13. John McCoy driver and safety trainer accepted the award on behalf of Carlile.   He highlighted Carlile's purchase of new fuel-efficient engines; installation of alternative power units (APUs) that reduce truck idling, fuel use and air pollution; initiatives to train drivers and monitor their performance on the road and using L3 simulators, and participation in the voluntary EPA SmartWay program.  All these efforts help reduce fuel consumption and Carlile's carbon footprint.

Welcome to our new members.
    Architects Alaska
    Alaska Court System
    Klebs Mechanical, Inc.

Thank you to our latest donors.
    Bear Tooth Theater Pub and Grill - Silver Sponsor level
    Jeanne S. Williams Fund - Bronze Sponsor level

New Member Discounts

Pike's Waterfront Lodge in Fairbanks is offering all Green Star members 10% off applicable rack rate or rates advertised on pikeslodge.com. To receive this discount, the rooms must be booked directly with Pike's by calling 907-456-4500 or 907-374-7110 or email frontdesk@pikeslodge.com. This discount may not be combined with other offers or special promotions and has no cash value.  Any person claiming a discount must show evidence of employment by a Green Star member company.  This discount expires 12/31/09.

REI is offering a 15% discount on bicycle service/maintenance (labor only) for all to Green Star Member bike commuters during the month of August.  Please email Lilly Capell for member verification and coupon.  Act now to take advantage of this service!
Events & Reminders

State Fair Recycling Volunteers - Sign up your business team to help recycle at the fair.  Recycling is in its seventh year at the fair!  Contact Linda at recycling@alaskastatefair.org for available shifts and dates.  Volunteers receive free entry to the fair on the day they volunteer as well as a parking pass for their recycling team.

BTW in rainGarden Pot Recycling - Saturday, August 8, 10am-5pm at Benny Benson Parking lot next to the Alaska Botanical Garden. Acceptable garden pots include all plastic pots, cell packs and trays, which must be sorted into two categories --#2 HDPE POTS and #5,#6,& #7 pots, trays and cell packs. New this year are the #6 trays, pots and cell packs. These containers are rigid plastic that will crack or tear when bent. This addition should significantly increase the number of garden containers that can be recycled. Please remove metal hangers and excess dirt before bringing pots. Stack like pots to save space. And PLEASE, no pre- or post-event drop off. It's a one-day event only!  Brought to you by Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling (ALPAR) and the Alaska Botanical Garden with help from Smurfit-Stone Recycling and Alaska Waste.

Questions?  Contact ALPAR at alpar@gci.net or 274-3266.  

EXTRA!!!  Backyard compost bins also will be available for sale at the Garden Pot Recycling event.  Bins are $50 each; cash or check only.

BTW in rainBackyard Compost Bins Available - Anchorage Soil & Water Conservation District is selling backyard compost bins at it wood lot at 100th Ave. and C Street (between Dimond and O'Malley on C St.).  Stop by during wood lot hours, every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday between 9am and 7pm.  The bins are $50 each, and you can purchase as many as you want.  These bins typically retail for $100 to $150.  Reduce your waste by composting your yard trimmings in your own backyard.  Create a useful product to put back on your plants.  Questions? Contact ASWCD at aswcd@aswcd.org or 677-SOIL.

Alaska Solar Tour - The Alaska Solar Tour is a free, self-directed tour from 10am to 4pm on August 15 at dozens of sites around the state. The Alaska Solar Tour will feature home and business sites in our community that showcase installations of solar, thermal, photovoltaic, and green building features.  Find out how your neighbors are trimming their energy bills, generating their own electricity, and improving the future of our planet by living sustainably today.  No registration is required. View the map of host sites at www.AlaskaSolarTour.org and get a carload of friends to visit a few of your neighbor's open house sites.  Communities involved include: Anchorage, Mat-Su, Kenai/Soldotna/Kasilof, Fairbanks/Delta Junction, Nome and Kalgin Island.  The tour is sponsored by the Alaska Center for Appropriate Technology in conjunction with the American Solar Energy Society, and with support from Homer Electric Association.

Drop Off Electronics, Pick Up A Compost Bin - On Saturday, August 22, 8am to 3pm, Total Reclaim and Green Star will host an end-of-summer residential electronics-recycling event at its warehouse in the Huffman Business Park. Recycling rates have been reduced to $20 per carload. There is a limit of two computer monitors (laptop, LCD, or CRT) or two TVs or one of each per car (standard rates apply to any additional TV or computer monitors). The event is for residential customers only. No business drop-offs please!  Location: 12101 Industry Way, Unit C4, Anchorage. Call 561-0544 for details.

Earth Machine backyard composting bins will also be available for purchase at $50 per composter.   So after you unload your electronics for recycling, load up a compost bin and start reducing your organic waste at home!

Bike Fridays - Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage will host Bike Fridays on the last Friday of August and September.  BCA will hand out free coffee and treats during the morning commute on August 28 and September 25 to bicyclists around Anchorage.  Locations include:
  • Tudor/Elmore at ANTHC campus (6:30am - 9am)
  • Chester Creek Trail at Lake Otis baseball fields (7am - 9am)
  • Westchester Park at Westchester Lagoon (7am-9am)
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Nonprofit Electronics Recycling Program a Success

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Over the past three years, Green Star has worked closely with the Rasmuson Foundation to provide reimbursements to Alaskan nonprofits for their electronics recycling activities. 

The program just ended on June 30 and the final numbers show that nonprofits did indeed take advantage of this program, successfully diverting electronics waste that may have otherwise ended up in Alaskan landfills or worse.  
 
The three-year plan provided flexibility in where and when nonprofits could recycle. Nonprofits were able to bring electronics to a local recycler, paying full price up front (typically 30¢ to 55¢ per pound). The nonprofit then received a receipt from the recycler, which could be submitted to Green Star for reimbursement of part of the cost. During the first year of the program, nonprofits received back 30¢ per pound. In year two, the discount was 25¢ per pound and in year three, 20¢ per pound.

Now that the program has come to an end, Total Reclaim, a local electronics recycler, is reaching out to nonprofits through an offer to continue to provide a discount.  Nonprofits recycling electronics waste through Total Reclaim will pay only 25¢/lb rather than the standard 35¢/lb. 

More information about quantities recycled
U.S. EPA's SmartWay Program Reduces Air Emissions

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Green Star is proud to announce that two of our most recent Award-certified business members - Lynden Transport and Carlile Transportation Systems - have joined the U.S. EPA's SmartWay program.  The SmartWay program identifies products and services that reduce transportation-related emissions and establishes partnerships among government, business and consumers to protect our environment, reduce fuel consumption, and improve air quality.  

To qualify for the SmartWay program, Lynden and Carlile are required to measure the environmental performance of their fleets, submit an annual progress report, identify a three-year goal, and develop an action plan to achieve this goal.  All SmartWay transportation programs result in significant, measurable air quality and/or greenhouse gas improvements while maintaining or improving current levels of other emissions and/or pollutants.

In 2008, Lynden became the first Alaska-based trucking company to qualify for SmartWay partnership status and received a rating of 1.25 or "Outstanding," the U.S. EPA's highest score, for the installation of Alternative Power Units and testing of idle-air units in Prudhoe Bay.  

Carlile, the newest Alaska SmartWay partner, has shown exceptional fuel savings by installing 32 Alternative Power Units on its tractors to reduce the amount of fuel used, saving approximately 50 gallons of fuel per week over eight months in Alaska.

What about Personal Vehicles?

How to Drive the SmartWay
Member Moment: Carlile Transportation Systems and K&L Distributors

Learn about two recent Green Star Award certified businesses in the August 2009 issue of Alaska Business Monthly magazine.  Carlile Transportation Systems and K&L Distributors are both featured in "Newest Money Maker: Energy Conservation."  The article highlights the "green practices made by both companies that save money, make money and take care of the environment."AK Biz

Excerpt from the article:

"Winning the Green Star Award was something we wanted to do to show our customers we're doing something to reduce our carbon footprint, " Grasse said [General Manager of K&L Distributors]. 

From signs that remind people to turn lights off to repacking broken cases of product, and changing out all 120 lighting fixtures in its offices and warehouse, he said the company has been working in this direction for years.  And more green changes are planned, he said.

"As a company it really did help us become more efficient," Grasse said.
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