Green Star E-News: Green Star Goes to Old Harbor and Kodiak

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.

SHINING STARS

Welcome to our latest members!

In the Mat-Su

Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS)

In Old Harbor

City Hall
Cultural Center
Gwendolooks Store
Health Clinic

Kodiak Sportsman Lodge
Native Village Administration Building
Preschool
Senior Center

U.S. Post Office
Volunteer Firefighter building/garage
VPSO Office

In Kodiak

Kodiak Island Brewing Company

Thank you to everyone who voted for Green Star last week in Toyota's 100 Cars for Good program. We didn't win but that won't stop us from continuing to provide recycling support for Alaska businesses and public spaces throughout Anchorage. Anyone interested in donating or sponsoring a truck for Green Star's recycling efforts can contact Green Star at 278-7827 or info@greenstarinc.org.

EVENTS & REMINDERS

Find events on Green Star's web calendar.

Spenard Farmers Market "Sustainable Spenard Day" - July 7

9am - 2pm at W. 26th and Spenard Road, in the Chilkoot Charlie's parking lot. Green Star will host a table at the Spenard Farmers Market from 9am to 2pm. It's Sustainable Spenard Day at the market! Anyone is welcome to stop by and say "hello" and grab some important information. REAP, Alaska Waste, Chugach Electric, ALPAR, and ACE also will be there. Recycle, reuse and GET GREEN. Ask the experts your recycling questions or learn how to start a compost pile. Bring your old CFLs for free and SAFE recycling.

AK EnergySmart K-12 Energy Efficiency Curriculum Workshop -- July 10

1pm - 2:30pm at the BP Energy Center. The Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) and Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) are hosting an introductory workshop to the new AK EnergySmart curriculum for Alaskan K-12 students and educators. Funded by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC), this new curriculum has been developed by ACEP and REAP as a free tool available for Alaska educators and anyone working in the energy outreach field.

The workshop on Tuesday, July 10th, is specifically for non-traditional educators involved in the energy field. During the workshop we will orient you to the curriculum and show you how it can be accessed online. We will also provide other promotional materials for you to take home. The workshop will allow you to integrate this resource into your existing outreach and programs.

The July 10th workshop is an orientation session for professionals who (1) may not be teaching the curriculum directly, but work with people who will, or (2) can integrate the curriculum into existing programs, or (3) would like to know more about the curriculum in order to spread the word about this free resource.

RSVP to Courtney Munson at c.munson@realaska.org, or email if you have any questions.

Bike Commuter Treat Stations - Last Friday of the month through summer (July 27, August 31)

Visit Green Star's treat station at the east side of Westchester Lagoon (junction of West High Trail and Chester Creek by the tunnel) between 6:30 and 9am for juice and treats. Visit BCA's web page for all the locations and details.

BCA-AIA Alaska Summer Bike Commute Challenge -- May 21 - August 17

You can still join! Register your business to compete in this fun and friendly challenge to see which businesses or organizations have the greatest percentage of bike commuters. The competition is organized by the Alaska Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage (BCA). Get all the rules and other details at BCA's web page.

Lead Awareness Workshop - August 10

9am to Noon at the Anchorage Fire Training Center, 1140 Airport Heights Road. Because lead-based paint in homes and child-occupied facilities built before

1978 is the primary cause of childhood lead poisoning, the lead-safe RRP rule places new requirements on property-management companies, landlords, contractors, renovators, and painters for lead-safe work practices to reduce lead exposure. This workshop, hosted by Region 10 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will discuss the dangers and history of lead-based paint, 1018 notification requirements, and the RRP Rule, including certification requirements, work practice standards, and updates on regulations. X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) will be demonstrated and participants are encouraged to bring items of concern to be tested for lead (dishware, jewelry, toys etc.). For more information, contact Laurie Fay at 206-553-1541 or fay.laurie@epa.gov, or Mary Sturman at 206-553-2456 or sturman.mary@epa.gov.

Anchorage to Zero Waste Guide -- Download the guide. Produced twice a year by the Municipality of Anchorage's Solid Waste Services, the guide is your definitive source for recycling information in Anchorage. This issue includes information about organics management, water quality tips and resources, and updated recycling, energy efficiency, and waste prevention information.

Free Energy Efficiency Workshops -- Ongoing

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

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.

OLD HARBOR ENDEAVORS TO BE FIRST GREEN STAR CERTIFIED COMMUNITY IN ALASKA

old harbor church Green Star's reach is expanding throughout Alaska, as can be seen by this month's list of new enrollees. As part of an initiative to certify entire communities, Green Star is teaming with the Alutiiq Village of Old Harbor to help it become Alaska's first Green Star certified community.

The Green Star team recently visited Old Harbor and Kodiak, conducting site assessments at almost a dozen facilities. The team provided technical assistance in Old Harbor with support from the city, corporation and native village to help identify ways to reduce energy costs and implement green initiatives in a community faced with high energy prices.

Green Star feels it is important to reach out to rural Alaskan communities and provide the same resources it provides to businesses across the state. "Sharing resources and providing practical solutions to conserve energy and save money is a priority to ensure a healthy community and economy," said Kim Kovol, executive director of Green Star.

The Old Harbor Post Office's new Toyo stove

During its June visit, Green Star assessed the Alutiiq Village of Old Harbor's Administration building, Senior Center, and the Cultural Center, just to name a few. Green Star also assessed privately owned businesses including the Gwendolooks Store and Kodiak Sportsman Lodge. The U.S. Post Office in Old Harbor opened its doors to show recent energy-efficient upgrades to its facility.

Although some buildings in Old Harbor have already implemented initiatives to help reduce the high cost of energy, Green Star identified several additional opportunities by addressing "low hanging fruit" cost measures. For example, if a restaurant-grade coffee maker is plugged in and not turned on, it is still drawing power called "phantom load" and will cost upwards of $657 a year even when not in use.

"Add on multiple electrical appliances pulling phantom loads, and there's a couple thousand dollars that Old Harbor saves annually. It is amazing to see what a number of small changes can add up to," said

Bobbi Anne Barnowsky, Alutiiq Village of Old Harbor environmental director.

In addition to assessing public buildings and businesses, Green Star also toured the landfill and the new water treatment plant to get a complete picture of the community.

Old Harbor's new water treatment plant.

Green Star also traveled to Kodiak to conduct a site assessment at Kodiak Island Brewing Company (KIBC) through the E3 Program (Economy, Energy, and Environment), which is an initiative designed to help manufacturers thrive in a new business era focused on sustainability. Kodiak Island Brewing Company is the second Alaskan brewing company to participate in the E3 Program.

KIBC's new space under construction.

KIBC is moving to a new retail/brewing location that features numerous green initiatives. KIBC's new location is 9,000 square feet, which is almost four times larger than its previous location. Ben Millstein, owner of KIBC, says the bigger space provides a more efficient overall operation, allowing for bigger tanks that can brew larger batches of beer, which is more energy and time-efficient. Millstein hopes to start brewing in the new location in about a month.

In the process of getting the new location ready for opening, the Kodiak Island Brewing Company crew is working hard to make the operations and decor green. Everything is carefully thought out, from implementing a heat recapturing system, to using recycled products for the interior. The facility has already gone through an extensive energy audit with Superior Mechanical.

Much of the interior at KIBC incorporates reused materials, including metal from other stores, a triple sink from a nearby cannery, and paneling from local spruce, as seen in the photo above.

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!