Blog : July 2009
Guest Blog: GA Business Partner International WoodFuels to open new facility in Burnham, ME
by Laura Sawall, International WoodFuels
The renewable energy specialists at International WoodFuels, (www.iWoodFuels.com) in partnership with the business development team at non-profit Maine & Company, (www.MaineCo.org) announced plans to build a state-of- the-art biomass manufacturing facility in Burnham, Maine -- in the process providing up to 35 new green jobs! The facility will have the capacity to produce 100,000 tons of locally sourced wood pellets annually.
“Our Burnham facility will create up to 35 new jobs for Maine, and support the region’s existing foresters, loggers, and other biomass professionals,” said Steven J. Mueller, WoodFuels’ President. “These new, green jobs will allow the facility to produce approximately 100,000 tons of clean burning wood pellets made from sustainably harvested whole logs, annually displacing nearly 12 million gallons of heating oil and effectively eliminating 133,000 tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) emissions.”
Guest Blog: UNH Upward Bound's Dan Gordon
The GA gave a talk on the emerging green economy to 65 students and 14 staff of the UNH Upward Bound program, last Wednesday ,in Murkland Auditorium, at the University of New Hampshire. Upward Bound is a federally funded educational opportunity program designed to help high school students from low income and first generation college backgrounds, prepare for college in a multitude of ways. It includes a six week internship on the UNH campus that combines college preparatory academics with cultural experiences and a summer long training in teamwork and group dynamics, along with twice monthly meetings with participants in their schools during the academic year and a host of other support activities. (For more information on Upward Bound go to www.upwardbound.unh.edu and/or to its Facebook fan page. From within Facebook search for UNH Upward Bound and it will lead you right there.)
Green Alliance 'Recession Special'
In order to help us better provide our unique and dynamic services, and after some much valued feedback from many of our Business Partners, the GA has decided to institute a monthly payment plan for all of its BPs going forward. Hopefully, this will make GA membership more accessible to small businesses in our community, particularly during these tough economic times.
The payment plans will be structured as follows:
- 1-3 employees: $1,200 or $110/month
- 3-7 employees: $1,500 or $135/month
- 8-20 employees: $1,800 or $160/month
- 21-99 employees: $2,000 or $180/month
- 100-499 employees: $2,400 or $210/month
- 500+ emplyess: $3,200 or $275/month
Please note: the prices above are for businesses who want to join the GA.
Individuals can sign up and, for a mere $35 a year, receive a Green Card, which gives you discounts at all 53 of our partnering businesses. For more information about individual membership, please click here.
State of New Hampshire offers rebates for renewable energy systems
Until recently, the struggling economy has forced people eager to retrofit their homes to put off for another day their dreams of clean energy. But recent rebate programs at both the State and Federal levels are making alternative energy systems more affordable than ever. Here in New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (NHPUC) is now offering a rebate of up to $6000 for electric-based renewable energy systems -- including wind and PV solar.
In order to qualify, installations need to be completed by September 30, 2009, and applications must be submitted before December 1st, 2009. While the state rebate applies only to residential systems, there is also a 30% federal tax credit available to both residential and commercial systems.
Acorn Organic Salon Expands, Offers Toxin-free Nail Services in Green Expansion
Acorn Organic Salon announces its one year anniversary, and celebrates with a grand re-opening and weekend-long party and sale. Allison Degan and Laura MacKay opened the salon last summer and demand for their non toxic brand of salon services has skyrocketed. Starting July 31st, Acorn will now offer non-toxic nail services to clients with the doubling of their salon space in Downtown Dover, NH.
Acorn is full of new and innovative methods to reduce the environmental impact of traditional hair and nail services. Laura and Allison have combined years of beauty experience with a passion for sustainable business products and practices to create a truly green hair salon. Some of the green practices that make Acorn unique have been easy, such as not subscribing to magazines to reduce paper use and recycling the salon’s cut hair to make mats to clean-up oil spills. Other choices, are the result of extensive research using the “Environmental Working Groups' Cosmetic Safety Database” and requesting MSDS data sheets from manufacturers so as to offer only the safest and healthiest products on the market.
Green Card holder wins two free tix to River Music show
Bill Rogers, a Green Alliance Green Card holder, just became first GA member to win free tickets to a 92.5 WXRV River Music Performance! Rogers scored two VIP tickets to see Scotish sensation Paolo Nutini at the Foundation Room in Boston, just hours before his public show at the House of Blues!
All Green Card holders get a chance to score tickets to these special live performances. Join the Green Alliance and you too could be heading off to Boston for a VIP space to hear your favorite artist! Click here to learn more about more savings and prize you could be enjoying with the Green Card!
Dover ReStore: Guiness World Record Holder?
Coming up on their one year anniversary, the Habitat For Humanity ReStore in Dover will be hosting an amazing sale on Saturday, August 1st, from 10am to 6pm at their Fourth Street location. The deal: an additional 20% off everything in the store. The catch: you have to wear a Hawaiin shirt! Stop by and Help ReStore hit 200K in sales in less than a year, and stick around for a very special photo-shoot, as ReStore attempts to break the Guiness Wolrd Record for most Hawaiian shirts assembled in one location. Volunteers are welcome.
For more information contact Tom Boisvert at tab@nhrestore.org
Fruits of Labor
How do you know where you're going if you don't have a roadmap? These uncertain economic times demand care and attention to every aspect of your financial future.
Due to their phenomenal growth, Seacoast Asset Management will be opening their second office at 680 Lafayette Road in Hampton in order to increase their availability to clients on the seacoast, in addition to their offices at One New Hampshire Avenue at Pease International Tradeport. As a special limited offer, Professor Frances A. Quinn, CFP, ChFC, and Director of Financial Planning at Seacoast Asset Management, is offering financial plans for a reduced price of only $250 thru Labor Day. These plans are typically priced as much as 10 times this amount, so be sure to contact Seacoast Asset Management immediately to learn more about this incredible offer!
For more information go to www.seacoastassetmgt.com or call (603) 766-1955
From pitch to paint: Ridgeview Construction builds green
In less than a decade, builder Shane Carter and his team at Ridgeview Construction have made their home-construction business one of the greenest and most sustainable anywhere in New England. So it wasn’t a surprise when Ridgeview was recently awarded the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of New Hampshire’s Cornerstone “Gold” medal for new and custom homes in the $450 to $600K price range.
The annual prize, while certainly not expected, did not come as a total shock: Ridgeview is booked solid with contracts through at least October, and possibly through the spring of 2010. For Carter, such success amidst tough economic times provides vindication for Ridgeview’s unique and progressive business model.
Congratulations to Acorn Salon: one year old, and now twice as big!
Downtown Dover is about to get another organic makeover.
On the weekend of July 31st, Acorn Organic Hair Salon will be hosting a double-duty party, celebrating their one year anniversary and, perhaps even more exciting, the grand opening of its manicure and pedicure shop. After acquiring the space next door, the girls decided to expand their ever-growing and wildly succesful business to include manicure and pedicure services which will use all acrylic-free products! Combined with their already well-known organic hair service -- itself one of only a handful in the entire country -- the new organic nailcare service will only heighten Acorn's reputation as one of the most stridently green businesses anywhere on the Seacoast.
The three-day extravaganza will feature door prizes including gift certificates to Acorn and other local businesses as well as food and drinks -- including wine! To learn more, check out our events calendar by clicking on the Events tab above.
Kittery model home showcases solar from ReVision
By Jim Cavan
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KITTERY – Kittery residents got a firsthand glimpse at the prospects and paybacks of going green with a Solar Open House at the new energy efficient development, Devon Woods. The event was hosted by ReVision Energy, a Portland-based solar company that has recently expanded its reach into the Seacoast area. The Open House, attended by over 30 residents, builders, and local green activists, was touted as a forum for people to pitch questions to real “alternative engineers” about the costs, performance, and long-term
payback of different solar systems.
Crescent Snow & Ice Management receives SIMA "Excellence in Business Award"
On Thursday June 25, 2009 while attending the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) awards banquet in Louisville, Kentucky, Crescent Snow & Ice Management Services was presented the “Excellence in Business” award. The SIMA “Excellence in Business” award is granted to a company on the basis of demonstrated success in the following competencies; business practices, customer satisfaction, community relations, and accountability.
Ridgeview Construction wins Cornerstone Gold Award for home-building!
NH Magazine has just unvelied its 2009 Cornerstone Awards, presented by the Home Builders and Remodelers Assocation of New Hampshire, and the GA's own Ridgeview Construction came out on top, winning a Gold Award for homes in the $450-$600K price range.
The Cornerstone gives awards in categories ranging from interior design to new construction, remodeling, green building, community service and more, describing Ridgeview's residence as "an elegant creation of post-and-beam accents, stone pillars and wainscoting, this dream home stands proud above the lake. The structural cupola and hip roof design create soaring interior ceilings. Geothermal-powered radiant heat echoes the warmth of the natural wood interior and glowing room colors. An heirloom for many generations to enjoy has been born."
Congratulations to owner Shane Carter and the entire Ridgeview crew!
To read the entire story and to learn more about the Cornerstone awards, check out NH Magazine by clicking here!
Printing Green with RAM
RAM Printing, an environmentally conscious company out of Hampstead, NH, has been following sustainable printing practices since 1989; well in advance of the current green trend. As “early adopters”, RAM has set the standard in New England and perhaps even nationally, for the greening of the print industry. Before sustainable business practices were main-stream, RAM was on the cutting edge of creating a product and service that was different than anything else on the market. They felt it was important to raise the company standard and have been doing so ever since to provide the consumer with a better product, while minimizing their footprint and succeeding financially...
To read the entire RAM toolkit, including the rest of the Green Story, the Evaluation and Reporr Card, click here!
Robert's Maine Grill a Beacon of Local Sourcing, Conservation
Robert’s Maine Grill in Kittery opened in 2004 when the owner of Bob’s Clam Hut bought the Quarterdeck Restaurant on Route 1, its famed lighthouse shape a beacon to customers for over 30 years. Robert’s recreated the lighthouse but changed everything else, bringing an old standard restaurant into a new and progressive era of fresh, local and more sustainable eats.
Robert’s mission is to prepare the best local ingredients with a traditional Maine flair and serve them with attention and care. Owner Michael Landgarten makes it a priority to purchase local whenever possible, balancing that with a demand for the highest quality ingredients; “local is often synonymous with quality, so they almost always go hand in hand,” says Landgarten...
To view Robert's Toolkit, including the rest of the Green Story, the Report Card and Evaluation, click here!
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