Green Star E-News: Energy Efficiency Awareness Month, recyclART bin auction, Bioneers in Alaska

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 newest members, who are working toward Green Star Award certification!

Alaska Frontier Constructors, Inc.
Alaska Valve & Fitting Co.

Thanks to everyone who helped make last month's Panty Peeler Strip Mob a success!

Michelle Wilber with Alaska Craftsman Home Program assists Senator Mark Begich in demonstrating proper caulking technique as part of the weatherstripping-themed event at Midnight Sun Brewing Company.

EVENTS & REMINDERS

Find events on Green Star's web calendar.

Retro-Commissioning Workshop -- October 9

Tuesday, October 9, 11:30am - 1pm, FREE
Crowne Plaza Anchorage - Midtown Hotel, 109 W. International Airport Rd., Anchorage.

Green Star and Coffman Engineers are offering businesses and building managers an opportunity to learn about cost savings through optimizing a

building's existing controls, settings, and maintenance methods. Through RETRO-COMMISSIONING, engineers investigate and recommend

improvements for your building, including low- and no-cost options. Complimentary lunch will be served and space is limited so be sure to RSVP at 278-7827 or christina@greenstarinc.org.

REAP Clean Energy Lecture Series -- October 10

Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) hosts FREE forums from 6 to 8pm on the 2nd Wednesday of every month from September to May at the Anchorage Museum auditorium, 625 C Street. Those who can't attend can listen via live podcast or download a podcast posted after the event.

The October lecture is "Saving Energy and Money in Commercial Buildings," on Wednesday, October 10th. Since October is Energy Awareness Month, REAP will focus this event on ways to upgrade and conserve energy in commercial buildings. Amber McDonough of Siemens Industry, Inc., will talk about the benefits of getting a commercial energy audit and implementing the efficiency measures it identifies. John Weddleton of BOSCO'S Comics will talk about the efficiency upgrades he has made to his own commercial warehouse as well as the challenges he has faced to save energy in his rented space.

Those outside of Anchorage can listen in and ask questions through our live Webinar. To register for the Webinar go to https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/255401193.

See a list of future lectures.

Bioneers in Alaska -- October 26 - 28

The 9th Annual Bioneers in Alaska conference will be held at UAA in the Wendy Williamson Auditorium. Bioneers in Alaska is a local, self organized Bioneers event featuring local speakers and live video keynotes from the annual Bioneers Conference in San Rafael, California, featuring practical environmental solutions and innovative social strategies to restore Earth's imperiled ecosystems and heal our human community.

This year's theme is "Our Own Backyard," with a special emphasis on our own neighborhood of change, right here in Alaska. John D. Liu, Kate Lipkis, and Margaret Golden, EdD, are just a few Plenaries whose talks will be telecast from Bioneers' main stage this year. In addition, special Keynote speaker, Apela Colorado, PhD, joins us here in Anchorage with her talk on "The Indigenous Within." Local sustainability workshops feature talks about Alaska's food, farming, energy, housing, spirituality, and youth, plus telecasts of plenary speakers such as Bill McKibben, Paul Hawken, Maria Silva, and others. More details at www.bioneersinalaska.org. Registration is available through Green Star at www.greenstarinc.org.

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

There are plenty of classes in October so sign up now! 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.

recyclART FOR AMERICA RECYCLES DAY

Green Star is hosting a recycling bin art contest called recyclART as part of this year's celebration of America Recycles Day (November 15).

We are looking for artists (professional, amateur, students, groups, anyone!) to express themselves using recycling and trash bins as their canvas.

The goal is to create bins that are more visible and their purpose more obvious to the public. Each bin will be displayed and auctioned off at an event held at Kendall Lexus of Alaska (6930 Old Seward Hwy, Anchorage) from 5-7pm on Thursday, November 15, with the hope that the bins will be used by businesses in the Anchorage workplace as both functional recycling bins and works of art to raise awareness about recycling.

The event is sponsored by Green Star, ALPAR, Kendall Lexus of Alaska, AIH, Green Alaska Solutions, and Midnight Sun Brewing Co. Come enjoy food, drinks, Midnight Sun beer, and interesting, functional art.

If you are interested in participating as an artist, contact Green Star at 278-7827 or info@greenstarinc.org. A total of ten bins will be decorated. The bins will be provided to the artists.

This combination trash/recycling bin was decorated using "petals" and "leaves" cut from plastic jugs.

OCTOBER IS ENERGY EFFICIENCY AWARENESS MONTH

Lt. Governor Treadwell and the Alaska Energy Efficiency Partnership kicked off October as Energy Efficiency Awareness Month with a proclamation from the Governor.

Energy leaders from several Alaskan organizations recently met with Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell for the presentation of a proclamation declaring October as Energy Efficiency Awareness Month in Alaska.

Visit the Alaska Energy Efficiency Partnership to learn more about energy efficiency for commercial and residential buildings, or to download educational and professional tools. View the proclamation.

Energy Efficiency and Economic Development
Anchorage Economic Development Corporation's 3rd quarter magazine, "AEDC Connections," features energy efficiency. The publication highlights numerous projects, including Fire Island wind power, Anchorage Regional Landfill gas recovery, and tidal power in Cook Inlet. Green Star is featured in a story about the village of Old Harbor and its goal to become the first Green Star Award certified community. Read all the articles at AEDC Connections.

Great Alaska Energy Challenge
REAP and Alaska Energy Authority are challenging Alaskans to lower their energy use during the second annual Great Alaska Energy Challenge. The contest runs from October 1st through the end of March (when energy bills are at their highest) and is open to businesses and other commercial buildings.

Last year, participants saved a combined $40,000 on their utility bills and reduced CO2 emissions by more than 500,000 lbs. Register your building right away and compete with other offices, businesses, and other commercial buildings in the state. All you need to register is a team name and an application form with recent utility bills for both electricity and all heating fuels.

For contest rules and registration, contact Shaina Kilcoyne, REAP's Energy Efficiency Director. Read more at Great Alaska Energy Challenge.

Energy Star's Battle of the Buildings
On a larger scale, nine Alaska buildings, two of which are in Anchorage, are entered in the Energy Star Battle of the Buildings. Nearly 3,300 buildings are competing to find out who can be the biggest energy loser in the country. Teams represent more than 30 different types of commercial buildings and hail from all 50 states, two U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. Visit EPA's National Building Competition to see videos and track progress.

ALASKA ALTERNATIVE ENERGY CONSERVATION LOAN FUND

The State of Alaska's Division of Economic Development is offering loans to purchase, construct, and install alternative energy systems or energy conservation improvements in commercial buildings.

Alternative energy systems include sources of thermal, mechanical, or electrical energy that are not dependent on oil, gas, or nuclear fuel for the supply of energy for space heating and cooling, refrigeration and cold storage, electrical power, mechanical power, or heating of water.

Energy conservation improvements include structural insulation, thermal windows and doors, weatherizing, heat exchangers, high efficiency furnace and boiler additions, etc.

Visit www.commerce.alaska.gov/ded/fin/ae.cfml

for more information about the loan program and its requirements and restrictions.

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!