Congratulations! Green Star welcomes the latest Green Star Award certified organizations.

• Anchorage RAC, LLC (Anchorage Rental Car Center)
   

Thank you to ConocoPhillips for its Gold level sponsorship supporting 2010 Bike to Work Day activities.

Thank you to Alaska Railroad for donating to Green Star at the Silver level.

ALASKA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION OFFERS ENERGY-EFFICIENCY LOANS

The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) is now accepting applications for loans through the Alaska Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund (AEERLF) authorized by the Alaska Legislature in 2010.

 

The AEERLF is available to finance permanent energy-efficient improvements to buildings owned by regional educational attendance areas, by the University of Alaska, by the State, or by municipalities in the State.

 

These loans are structured so that energy savings are equal to, or greater than, the loan payments for making the energy-efficiency improvements.

 

The Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) is assisting AHFC in contacting municipalities and school districts interested in participating.

 

To start the application process for the loan, eligible applicants can use the Retrofit Energy Assessment for Loan (REAL) to evaluate potential projects. For more information, see the REAL Manual, guidelines and application.

 

This is an excellent opportunity for building owners to reduce their energy expenditures and improve their buildings' performance.

 

More program details are available on the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation's web page at http://www.ahfc.state.ak.us/loans/akeerlf_loan.cfm.

 

Contacts:

 

For Energy Technical Assistance/ REAL:

 

Scott Waterman/AHFC

State Energy Programs Manager

907-330-8195

800-478- 2432

swaterman@ahfc.state.ak.us

 

For more information on the loan fund, please contact:

 

Eric A. Havelock/AHFC

Multi-Family Underwriting Supervisor

907-330-8245

800-478-2432

907-338-9716 (fax)

ehaveloc@ahfc.state.ak.us

 

REAP's Energy Efficiency Coordinator, Michelle Wilber is available to answer questions for municipalities and school districts on the details of the program and the application process:

 

Michelle Wilber/REAP

Energy Efficiency Coordinator

907-929-7770

907-350-1663 (cell)

m.wilber@realaska.org

MEMBER MOMENT: Automated Laundry Systems & Supply Earns Green Star Award

Dick Wells and Kim Foust, of Automated Laundry Systems and Supply, accept the Green Star Award certificate from Green Star executive director, Kim Kovol.

Automated Laundry Systems and Supply earned its Green Star Award certification in November 2010.  The company completed the ten Green Star standards, proving its dedication to reducing waste and preventing pollution in the workplace. Automated Laundry was established in 1979 as a privately held corporation.  It is a full-line commercial and industrial laundry and dry-cleaning distributor, providing equipment, service, parts, supplies, facility design and consultation.

Some of the measures Automated Laundry has taken toward earning its Green Star Award certification include establishing a CORE green team to be responsible for carrying out Green Star policy.  In addition, Automated Laundry offers to pay 50% of curbside recycling for its employees, and offers 50% off monthly bus passes as well as 50% toward the cost of purchasing an engine block heater for personal vehicles!  The company also sponsored its own 'bike to work' day in September 2010.  

But the biggest initiative is really Automated Laundry's business model.  In 2008, Automated Laundry introduced ozone technology to the commercial laundry industry. To date, the company has installed more than 40 systems.  See the article in Green Star E-News: April 2010 for details on the energy-efficient ozone technology for the commercial laundry industry.

DOING BUSINESS MORE EFFICIENTLY WITH HIGH-TECH TOOLS

High-tech gadgets, tools and software can be life-savers or nightmares, depending on a lot of variables.  Some are time sucks, while others can help free up our day so we work more efficiently.  Here are a few that we've seen lately that could have some very "green" applications if used right.  They have the potential to save time and money and reduce paper and packaging.

Credit Card Scanners
Green Star has begun using a smart phone app to run its credit cards.  That means no wasted paper and lower transaction fees than with traditional credit card companies. 

What a great tool for nonprofits and small businesses!  The app allows you to accept payments on the go at events, conferences or any site with WiFi. 

Green Star is finding new ways to make it easier and more convenient for you to support us.  Check it out for your business at https://squareup.com.

QR Codes
Another interesting trend that may soon be helping to provide tons of information without tons of paper waste is the QR code.

A QR code is a fairly new type of barcode box, like the one seen here, that when scanned using an app on a smart phone with a camera, provides information and creates action ranging from opening a website to providing a phone number or sending a text message. 

In the future, the QR code could be a major player in reducing packaging size and thus reducing waste and cutting costs simply by packing all the info into a code that was once provided in tiny, unreadable print on unnecessary packaging.

Here are just a few potential beneficial uses of QR codes:

1. Using less material for packaging
2. Saving on design and printing costs
    
3. Allowing people with disabilities to read the information that might otherwise have been too small
    
4. Providing more information about each product than could have been listed on the packaging, including environmental and lifecycle cost information
5. Providing specific information about recycling options for the packaging or product
    
6. Sharing recipes, instructions, gift ideas, coupons and even ads
7. Making it easier to share the product online with social networks
8. Making it possible to share a review about a product

Check out http://www.beqrious.com/ for more information and creative uses for QR codes.