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Vol. 10, No. 10  October 1, 2009
GREEN STAR E-News
Recognizing Alaska organizations committed to environmental responsibility.
In This Issue
Shining Stars
Events & Reminders
Membership Corner
Air Quality Reminder for Fall
CFL Recycling
Quick Links
Thank You to our Sponsors

Visit Our Sponsor List
This Month's
Hot Link

GE's Linear Fluorescent Retrofit Calculator

Did you know that lighting can consume 37% of a typical commercial building's electric load?  Customize a solution within seconds, all with just a few clicks.

Green Star Staff

Kim Kovol
Executive Director

Lilly Capell
Technical Assistance
Coordinator

Jeanne Carlson
Outreach
Coordinator

Megan Pool
Membership
Coordinator




Join Our Mailing List
SHINING STARS

Pike's Waterfront Lodge receives its Green Star Award Certification.  Read more about Pike's efforts on UAF's blogspot.

Welcome to our new members.

    Alaska Chadux Corporation

Thank you to our latest donors.
Jeanette Duenow and Lawana Johnson of NMS Lodging at Springhill Suites in the U-Med District presented Kim Kovol of Green Star with a sponsorship check for $2500 at a recent event.  Thank you to our newest Silver Level sponsor!
 NMS check

New Member Discounts
Driven Auto Body is offering a 10% discount to any Green Star member on auto body paint and framework, and auto detailing. The discount is valid through October 31, 2009.  View all of our member discounts.

EVENTS & REMINDERS

Green Drinks - First Friday 
Indigo is hosting a First Friday benefit for Green Star on Friday, October 2nd, from 5:30 to 8:30pm, in the Indigo Warehouse space at 221 East 5th Avenue.
 
The event is part of a push by new Executive Director Kim Kovol and the Green Star Board of Directors to increase awareness of Green Star's programs; provide a forum for Green Star members and the public to meet, mingle and share ideas; and raise funds for the organization through art sales and donations.

Several artists who utilize found and recycled materials as the centerpiece of their creations will have artwork on display and for sale. Artists scheduled to participate include Amanda Bent, Tonia Burrown, Hal Gage, Erice Henry, Dane Ketner, Shelbi Lynee Laughlin, Emilee Monson, Kayla Spaan, Michael Allen and Chad Taylor.

Green Star staff and members of the board will be on hand and some of the artists will attend to discuss their work. Attendees can expect to enjoy complimentary appetizers and a customized Green Drinks no-host bar to benefit Green Star. There also will be giveaways and door prizes.

For more information about the event, contact Stirling Amacker, [email protected].

ENERGY STAR Solid State Outdoor Lighting Webinar - October 8, 9-10:30am Alaska Time.  LED luminaires can now compete with high intensity discharge sources but not all LEDs are created equal. To differentiate products that will save energy over current technologies, the Department of Energy has developed ENERGY STAR criteria covering SSL (solid state lighting)-based outdoor area and roadway lighting, outdoor wall packs, parking garage, and canopy luminaires. This webcast will provide an update on the new criteria, including a description of the Fitted Target Efficacy metric and how ENERGY STAR will use it to evaluate outdoor area and roadway luminaires. Finally, the webcase will look at how currently available LED products compare to conventional lighting technologies for outdoor area lighting applications.  Register now.

Bioneers in Alaska will be held October 16-18, 2009, at UAA. Since 2002, Bioneers has partnered with universities to host regional events featuring a satellite downlink of the national Bioneers plenary sessions. Each community organizes an event to complement the plenaries, with workshops tailored to the needs of specific bioregions. Bioneers offer practical solutions for restoring the Earth and people.
 
2009 Western U.S. Pollution Prevention Conference -
October 28-29, Bahia Hotel, 998 West Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, California. The Western Sustainability & Pollution Prevention Network (WSPPN) and the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Center (PPRC) invite you to the 2009 Western U.S. Pollution Prevention Conference, an event that includes programs from both Region 9 and 10.  Come join your colleagues from the states of AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, and WA (including Tribal Lands and the Trust Territories) to discuss and learn about the most recent pollution prevention opportunities, sustainable practices, and climate change solutions and other environmental initiatives developing in the western United States. 

Space for Lease

Green Star's space at 880 H Street is ready to be subleased.  Our current lease runs through July 2010 and we need to fill the space.   The space offers close proximity to downtown and the Park Strip, first floor access, an open floor plan with one closed office for flexibility, a kitchen space, and recycling services in the building.  If interested, please contact Kim Kovol at 278-7809 or [email protected].

Green Star is on Twitter and Facebook!

Twitter:  Follow us for updates, news and green business tips.
Facebook:  Join our group "Green Star AK."

MEMBERSHIP CORNER

Dear Green Star Members,

buildingsHi All! I am excited to join the Green Star team as Membership Coordinator.  My primary duty will be to serve you as the liaison between our organization and yours. My goal is to revitalize our relationships, communications and membership activities. You may recognize me from my prior position as the Events Coordinator for The Bird Treatment and Learning Center. I am a life-long Alaskan and committed to creating and maintaining a sustainable community. I look forward to working with each of you. After October 12th, you can find me regularly at the Green Star office. If you have questions, comments, or concerns or just want to say "Hi," call me at 278-7839 or email me [email protected].
 
Sincerely,
Megan Pool

AIR QUALITY REMINDER FOR FALL
Remember to Plug@20 to reduce CO emissions by 59%
 
buildings
As it starts to get colder remember to plug in your vehicle when the temperature hits 20˚F or below.  Plugging in reduces cold-start emissions and the release of many harmful pollutants, such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons, and air toxics.   In fact, plugging your car in can reduce warm-up idle emissions of CO by an average of 59%. 

Warming up
Since the average engine only takes a few hours to pre-heat, it makes sense to use a timer and set it to supply electricity to your block heater shortly before your morning commute at temperatures below 20˚F. The cost of electricity for two to three hours is 15 to 30 cents per day.  Plugging in helps reduce the cold-start period and thus reduces engine wear.  Warm motor oil circulates more quickly and easily, providing protection for the engine, and your car heats up faster too.
 
Green Star and the Municipality of Anchorage will be giving away timers throughout the winter.  Stay tuned for dates and times, if you would like to schedule a give-away at your workplace, contact Lilly at 278-7859 or [email protected].  Green Star currently has a limited number of timers available.  Call 278-7827 or stop by to pick one up. 
 
CFL RECYCLING
CFL
More and more Anchorage residents and businesses have been contacting Green Star recently, asking how to safely recycle or dispose of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).  This is good news that CFLs are being used so prolifically as they reduce energy use substantially.  CFLs use about 75 percent less energy to produce the same amount of light as standard incandescent lightbulbs. In 2007, Home Depot stores in this country sold 75 million CFLs; Wal-Mart sold 137 million.
 
CFLs do contain a small amount of mercury that should be managed properly to avoid adverse health or environmental effects.  Here's how to responsibly manage your CFLs when they do burn out.
 
Residents can take small quantities of CFLs to The Home Depot.  To recycle CFLs at The Home Depot, bring spent, unbroken bulbs to the store's returns desk. There's no fee and the stores will accept any CFLs, even those you didn't buy from a Home Depot. The CFLs will be shipped to a recycling company, which will break down and recycle the bulbs and properly deal with the mercury, according to The Home Depot.
 
Total Reclaim accepts CFLs, linear fluorescent lamps, ballasts and other types of lighting for recycling.  Bring your CFLs to Total Reclaim's facility in the Huffman Business Park at 12101  Industry Way, Unit C4.  Call 561-0544 for information about fees for recycling.
 
If you cannot recycle your lamps, the Municipality's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility at the Central Transfer Station and the Hazardous Waste Collection Center at the Anchorage Regional Landfill will both accept CFLs.  Keep in mind that the CFLs you bring to either of these facilities will be responsibly disposed of as hazardous waste but will not be recycled.  Visit the link for details about facility hours, quantity limits and other materials accepted.
 

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