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Green Star AK Keep up with Green Star's busy schedule; come join us, friend us, like us!
Anchorage Recycles
Stay current on what's happening in recycling around Anchorage. Several recycling organizations post regularly.
Plug at 20 Anchorage
Keep up with local events and cold-weather driving tips.
Bike to Work Anchorage
The bicycling community just keeps pedaling into winter with events and trainings.
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| Thank You to our Sponsors | Thank you to all of our sponsors and donors throughout the past year.
AIH
(thanks for the at-cost recycling bins!)
Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership (AMEP)
ConocoPhillips
Princess Community Foundation
Total Reclaim, Inc.
Visit Our Sponsor List
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| Green Star Staff |
Kim Kovol Executive Director Josh Sherwood |
What's New
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Green Star's address,
as of May 1, 2011, is: 333 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 310, Anchorage, AK 99501. PLEASE MAKE A NOTE! Several web listings that are beyond our control list out-of-date contact information for Green Star in Anchorage. |
Member Benefits
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Green Star offers benefits to its members beyond just energy savings and waste reduction. Many local businesses offer product and service discounts to Green Star members. Visit our Member Benefits page to learn more. |
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 SHINING STARS
Welcome to our latest enrollee!
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EVENTS & REMINDERS
Find events on Green Star's web calendar.  Green Star Member Mixer -- Tuesday, March 27
Join Green Star at Midnight Sun Brewing Company (8111 Dimond Hook Drive) from 5-7pm. We'll be presenting a few Green Star Award certificates, along with enjoying food and drink and good company. Green Star Award Quarterly Application Deadline -- Friday, March 30 Submit your achievement report to Green Star to be considered for a Green Star Award this quarter. View the steps and download a copy of the report application. Free Energy Efficiency Workshops -- Ongiong Offered by the Alaska Craftsman Home Program (ACHP Alaska) and Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC), these free hands-on workshops are available to homeowners, contractors, and other professionals who want to make energy efficiency improvements. Most workshops are held Mondays through Thursdays from 7 to 9pm at 3400 Spenard Rd., Ste 9. Topics include: Building Science Basics, Finding & Fixing Air Leaks, Energy Savings with Lighting & Appliances, Healthy Indoor Air through Ventilation, Heating & Hot Water Choices, Insulating for Savings & Comfort, How to Choose a Contractor, Evaluating Doors & Windows, and Ice Dams. A few workshops are half-day or all day and include topics like Advanced Cold Climate and Best Practices for Ventilated Crawlspaces. Registration is required and class size is limited. For more information, visit www.achpalaska.com or call 907-258-2247 Can Challenge -- April 1 through April 30  Save your aluminum cans and recycle them during the month of April to be included in the count for the annual Can Challenge. Individuals, businesses, and schools can all participate. Just recycle in your curbside cart, through your workplace recycling program, at the Anchorage Recycling Center, at the Anchorage Regional Landfill's recycling area, or any of the dozen or more aluminum can collection bins located at Carrs stores and elementary schools. See the latest Anchorage to Zero Waste Guide for all aluminum can recycling locations.
The Cans for Cash™ City Recycling Challenge is a national contest that rewards U.S. cities for recycling aluminum beverage cans. It is sponsored by The United States Conference of Mayors and Novelis, a leader in aluminum can recycling. Nearly $100,000 will be awarded to municipalities competing in two categories. See the WINTER BIKING IS ALIVE AND WELL IN ANCHORAGE article below for several more upcoming biking/air quality related events. Alaska Materials Exchange. Don't forget to list your used items on the exchange or look there for items before going shopping. At any given time, you can find office furniture and supplies, chemicals, pallets, constructions materials and more. Visit AME for more information. |
GREEN STAR REINVIGORATES DOWNTOWN RECYCLING
Green Star has teamed with Anchorage Downtown Partnership, MOA Solid Waste Services, and the Anchorage Recycling Center to help breathe new life into public recycling in the downtown area. Last summer, Green Star, through its Green Events program, set up temporary recycling bins along 4th Avenue every Friday afternoon from July 1 through September 30, collecting almost 350 pounds of bottles and cans for recycling.
This year, Green Star wants to be sure the permanent recycling bins downtown are well used too. Green Star staff recently shoveled out around all the bins, and cleaned and relabeled them. The bins will be emptied on a regular basis and Green Star will transport the bottles and cans to the recycling center.
The 15 permanent bins are located in Town Square Park and along the E Street corridor between 5th and 7th Ave.
"Based on response so far, a lot of people never knew there were permanent recycling bins in the downtown area," says Josh Sherwood of Green Star. "Most people are thrilled to hear about the program so we hope more people will use the bins and do it correctly now that we've made it a little easier to find them."
If you're downtown for Fur Rondy, Iditarod, or just to enjoy what downtown has to offer, look for the recycling bins and "recycle it right!"
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SOUTHSIDE RECYCLING OFFERS ANOTHER CHOICE FOR BUSINESSES  Southside Recycling is a small curbside recycling business based in Anchorage. Sarah Robinson started Southside Recycling in April 2008 with the goal of providing flexible and affordable residential curbside recycling services. Since then, curbside recycling has taken off and the bigger private and municipal curbside services have virtually pushed her out of the market.
But Sarah hasn't given up. She is currently shifting her focus to businesses. Small and medium-sized businesses often don't have much of a choice if they want recyclables picked up at the workplace and recycling sometimes falls through the cracks if it relies on employees taking the materials to the recycling center themselves.
"We can offer a flexible system, depending on the individual needs of the business, with very competitive rate s," says Sarah Robinson.
For more information, contact Southside Recycling at 242-9587 or email pnuts33@hotmail.com. |
APPLY FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDING ENERGY AUDITS
The Alaska Energy Authority is pleased to announce 2012 funding for the Alaska Commercial Energy Audit Program. This program provides high-quality energy audits for privately owned commercial buildings, up to 160,000 square feet, across Alaska. This year, the program is expected to fund 100 to 150 building audits. The open application period is February 13 to March 28, 2012. The applications will be scored based on commitment to implementing identified energy-efficiency measures, annual cost of energy, and other factors. Applications scoring 10 points or higher will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis. Other applications will be ranked and awarded (as funding is available) following two application deadlines: March 5, 2012 (early decision), and March 28, 2012 (regular deadline). |
WINTER BIKING IS ALIVE AND WELL IN ANCHORAGE
Despite the snow and cold, Anchorage is still out bicycling! Here are a few upcoming events to keep on your calendar, along with a wrap-up of the Fur Rondy parade!
Bikes in the Fur Rondy Grand Parade
 Green Star recently organized the first-ever bicycle contingent in the Fur Rondy Grand Parade last weekend to highlight Bike to Work Day. Winter bikes were out in force for the parade, showing off the latest in bike and gear technology. A dozen bicyclists were riding everything from a tandem recumbent winterized bike (aka Polar Bear) to fat tire bikes and mountain bikes with studded tires.
Green Star thanks The Bicycle Shop for loaning several Salsa Mukluk 3 rentals FREE of charge and water bottles for parade participants. We hope to continue to have an even bigger bike presence in future parades. Thanks again for everyone riding with us! Check out Green Star's Facebook page for more photos, comments, and even a video posted by Todd Logan of the bikes on parade.
Treat Stations Start Up Again
Green Star, the Municipality, and American Lung Association in Alaska are teaming up to host a treat station for morning bicycle commuters at C St. and Tudor on the following Fridays: March 30, April 13, and April 27.
Join us for juice, coffee, and treats between 6:30am and 9am. We'll be promoting proper visibility with lights and reflective gear to be sure everyone is riding safely during the dark morning hours.
We'll also be promoting the Clean Air Challenge with the American Lung Association in Alaska. Green Star staff Christina Grande and Josh Sherwood will be riding and they need your support! And if you visit the treat station, we'll give you a $10 off coupon for registration for the Clean Air Challenge. See the section below for more details.
You'll have a chance to register for Bike to Work Day and can sign your workplace or club up for a "smart cycling" class, hosted by local instructors trained using League of American Bicyclist curriculum.
 Clean Air Challenge Informational Brown Bag -- Wednesday, March 21
Join the American Lung Association of America and Green Star at REI, Wednesday, March 21, from noon to 1pm, for an informational brown bag seminar on the Clean Air Challenge. Learn why the event is important to your health and the environment. And learn fundraising techniques so you can do your part for clean air!
The Clean Air Challenge is a fundraising ride in which you can choose a 60-mile bike ride from Houston to Talkeetna, or a 120-mile ride from Houston to Talkeetna and back again, with an overnight stay at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. The Challenge is May 12 & 13, 2012.
At the brown bag, you'll have a one-time-only opportunity to register for the Challenge for FREE! Otherwise, the registration fee for a 60-mile rider is $50 and a 120-mile rider is $60. So this is a great deal! Learn more about the Clean Air Challenge bike ride.
Arctic Bicycle Club Annual Bike Swap -- Saturday, March 31
Bring your used bicycles, parts, equipment, and gear to the AT&T Sports Complex (11051 O'Malley Centre Drive) on Saturday, March 31, between noon and 3pm. Admission is free and open to all. There are no commissions or fees.
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Access past issues of E-News, sorted by topic or date. Please send comments, questions, or suggestions for future E-News topics to us at jeanne@greenstarinc.org. Forward this newsletter freely. Send us any email addresses you wish us to add to our mailing list. Thank you!
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