Blog : September 2010
Young's Restaurant offering more farm-to-table options
By Jim Cavan
To many businesses, “going green” is a decision that can often mean changing one’s entire look, feel and approach. Whether it’s something as seemingly under-the-radar as stocking more locally-made products or an intentionally eye-catching wind turbine on the roof, such changes are often as noticeable as they are expensive.
But Kenny Young believes you can have your green cake and eat it too. That is, it’s possible to reduce a business’s environmental impact without compromising its cherished history.
“We’re not in a position to be reinventing the wheel here,” says Young, owner of downtown Durham’s Young Restaurant, a town staple for nearly 90 years. “If we didn’t have the steady influx of dedicated customers that we do, who are in tune with us becoming more sustainable, we’d be in trouble.”
It’s easy to appreciate Kenny Young’s unique situation: owner of a small, family-owned businesses in a relatively sparse downtown area that also happens to be surrounded by a large State University with no less than three massive dining halls. Having to compete for the 12,000 students and faculty – most of whom are by some measure “broke” and a good number of whom rely on meal plans for their daily sustenance – doesn’t exactly make it an equal playing field.
“A lot of these kids haven’t had summer jobs in three years because of the economy,” Young notes. “They don’t have a disposable income to speak of, so it’s becoming harder and harder for them to justify coming here. So we have to find ways to separate ourselves from the rest of the pack.”
More and more, that’s meant an increased emphasis on locally produced, grown and harvested food. Whether it’s basil and tomatoes from nearby Stout Oak Farm, Pineland Farms cheese and Grandiose Granola from Augusta, Maine, nitrate-free turkey and ham from Claremont, or Fair Trade-certified New Hampshire Coffee from just down the road – Young has in many ways thrived on bucking the economic trend, knowing his customers will care more about quality than saving a few cents on an omelet.
Building New Hampshire Trade Show & Conference: Energy Efficient, Sustainable Building
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Interested in learning about green building? At the Building New Hampshire Trade Show and Conference you can learn about building from the design stage all the way through to completion with sustainability in mind. Whether you are just building your own home or building is your profession, there will be something there for you!
Green Alliance will be in attendance with a booth both days and is helping to promote the conference. Executive director Sarah Brown is also conducting two seminars, the Green Building Roundtable, Thursday from 12-1 and the Marketing Green Seminar.
Business NH Magazine's Top 100 Private Companies Awards Reception
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On Ocotober 4th, at 5pm at the Capital Center for the Arts in Concord Business New Hampshire Magazine is hosting an awards ceremony for the top 100 Private Companies, Five Fastest Growing Companies within the 100, and 10 Companies to Watch. The latest issue of the magazine honored companies around the state that were able to be environmentally friendly while still being financially successful with the Lean & Green award. The Award ceremony will be celebrating their achievements and also sharing with other companies how they were able to accomplish this impressive environmental and economic success.
Newmarket Dental Helps Sponsor Project E-Cycle
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Dr. Nate Swanson of Newmarket Dental is sick of seeing old computers and TVs sitting on the side of the road labeled "free". That's because he knows the potential problems that these electronics can cause to the environment when no one picks them up. He also knows that at the rate technology is updated these days, computers and other electronics are bound to become obsolete more and more quickly. So how do we find an environmentally responsible way of disposing of these electronics that everyone is bound to have? Well, with the help of the Newmarket Business Association, of which he is president, Swanson came up with a solution.
On October 16th, from 9am to 3pm in the Proulx Oil parking lot, the Newmarket Business Association (NBA) is providing an opportunity to responsibly recycle electronics. Appliances will be taken off cite by CRTR.org, a company that works with non-profits and organizations to help properly dispose of electronics. The event offers a perfect chance to get rid of the old TVs, computers, CD players, ect. that have been sitting in the basement, and not have to worry about them harming the environment. Each device will have a nominal fee, most items just $5 for handling. A portion of these fees will go towards the NBA's general fund, allowing them to contribute to the many worthy causes in Newmarket that request donations. Another portion will benefit Roots and Shoots, the student environmental group at Newmarket Jr/Sr High school.
Just Us Chickens Shows Support for Local Artists
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Just Us Chickens, the non-profit co-op made of up twenty member artists from the Seacoast area run by members in exchange for the display and sale of their arts and crafts, is always looking to provide support for members of the local community. In an effort to promote local artisans, Just Us Chickens turns the bottom floor of their shop into an art gallery, featuring a local artist’s work each month and will hold their monthly opening reception this Friday as October arrives.
On October 1st from 4-7pm at Just Us Chickens there will be a celebration of October Artist of the Month, Bill Childs, a watercolorist. The exhibit will primarily be composed of small paintings, both exploratory and fairly literal pieces.
Additionally, Just Us Chickens will also be participating in Artfest on October 2nd and 3rd from 10-5pm along with twenty-three other locations throughout the Seacoast area where local artists will be displaying their work.
Find more information on Artfest or Just Us Chickens here!
Jewett Farms bring old-fashioned quality to bear
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By Jim Cavan
In the middle of a recession, the last company you’d expect to see in the black would be a high-end cabinetry studio.
Luckily for them – and for their ever-increasing customer base – Newburyport’s Jewett Farms & Co. isn’t just any company.
Jewett represents a quintessential Yankee philosophy: making the most out of what you have, while creating something as beautiful as it is enduring. For the folks at the Newburyport-based studio (they also boast a second show room up the coast in York, Maine), everything is about maximizing resources – particularly local resources – while leaving nothing behind.
For Jewett’s Elena Ruocco-Bachrach, the company’s commitment to quality goes hand in hand with their equally strong commitment to green and sustainable business practices. “We’re driven with quality and longevity in mind, things we consider very green in and of themselves,” says Bachrach. “And beyond that, the materials we use are the best and greenest available.”
Jewett’s wood sources are, almost without exception, local and sustainably harvested. Their process routinely makes use of reclaimed, antique, as well as with old-growth woods. Additionally, the finishing arm of their operation incorporates only water-based finishes, paints, stains and glazes, and their sheet stock material is formaldehyde-free.
The studio’s office utilizes now-routine methods to decrease waste – email invoicing, electronic faxing and an aggressive recycling program in the office, studio, and workshop. Wood cut-offs from various projects are used to design and build cutting boards, spice rack pullouts, cutlery dividers and other cabinetry accessories, while the sawdust generated from machining is provided free of charge to local horse farms for animal bedding.
NNECAPA Conference to be held in Portsmouth and features new, edgy climate change film
On October 7th and 8th, the city of Portsmouth will play host to the Northern New England Chapter of the American Planning Association's (NNECAPA) conference. With a host of planning professionals from throughout New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont, the event is expected to draw hundreds of attendees eager to find out how cities and municipalities throughout the region are meeting the unique challenges of the 21st century.
While the conference promises a lively, thought-provoking program of speakers and presentations, there's also quite a buzz being generated around the showing of a new documentery film. Directed by Peter Byck, Carbon Nation is a witty, informative film about climate change and the practical solutions already at our disposal to combat its ill effects.
But unlike many films of its kind (read: An Inconvenient Truth), Carbon Nation is one as focused on solutions to the problem as it is on its roots. Indeed, even if you don't believe that global warming is happening or that humans are somehow responsible for it, the film remains relevant for its ability to show how solutions to climate change also address other social, economic and national security issues.
The film will be shown on October 8th at 2pm at the Portsmouth Harbor Events Center, and is open to the public (the cost is $5 for non-conference goers).
Experts and personalities interviewed for the film include Richard Branson (CEO, Virgin Group), Thomas L. Friedman (New York Times), Former CIA Director James Woolsey, Van Jones (Founder, Green For All), Col. Dan Nolan, U.S. Army (Ret), Amory Lovins (Chairman, RMI), Art Rosenfeld (Commissioner, California Energy Commission), Denis Hayes (Founder of Earth Day), Ralph Cavanagh (NRDC), Lester Brown (Earth Policy Institute), John Rowe (CEO, Exelon), Jim Rogers (CEO Duke Energy), and more.
After the showing, Byck will be on hand to conduct a discussion on the film and take questions from the audience.
After 230 years, Clay Hill Farm combines history, scenery, and green outreach
By Jim Cavan
The Seacoast is known for a lot of things: history, tourism, natural beauty and renowned cuisine being chief among them. But while many places might fit one or even a few of these descriptions, there aren’t many that encompass nearly all of what makes the region unique.
York’s Clay Hill Farm can claim just that.
Originally built in 1780 as a working farm, today Clay Hill stands as a 220-seat restaurant and special events venue nestled amidst acres of rolling lawns, protected coastal woodlands, and gorgeous gardens. From atop their garden-view decks can be seen charming waterfalls, gleaming pond, throngs of equally vibrant flowers and birds, and a majestic gazebo any bride would be thrilled to stand beneath.
Inside, a modern, locally-derived cuisine is prepared in a classic, distinctly New England setting – just a few of the qualities that led them to be voted #1 for weddings in romantic dining by the Seacoast Media Group.
But beneath the classically gleaming façade, borne out of equal parts history and Yankee luster, lies a decidedly modern – and green – attitude. One of the first businesses in Southern Maine to be certified as an Environmental Leader by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Clay Hill is as dedicated to promoting and advancing environmental awareness and stewardship as they are to plating a perfectly rare rib eye. In 1991, they became the first restaurant in the country to be certified as a wildlife habitat and bird sanctuary, making good on nearly two centuries of nurturing their often stunning surroundings.
Sign up today for the GA Funky Fall Foliage Cruise!
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As we wind down another fantastic Seacoast summer, we want to thank our members and the entire Seacoast community for helping make our first two years such a huge success. Without the joint support of community members and local green business owners, our organization simply wouldn't exist. So come out and meet some of your fellow Seacoast greenies, along with some of our awesome Business Partners as we ring in what promises to be another gorgeous fall on the Seacoast as we host the GA Funky Fall Foliage Cruise on Sunday October 3rd from 3:30 to 7:00pm.
Green Alliance Members: Enjoy an afternoon of drinks, music, and great green company aboard the Thomas Laighton! The event is FREE with Green Alliance membership card (RSVP to scott@greenalliance.biz).
Come join the Green Alliance and new GA business partner WXGR 101.5 FM for an all ages cruise featuring lounge music, local wine and cheese tastings, green drink specials, and fantastic views of fall foliage as you cruise your way through Portsmouth Harbor! Kids ride free with adult card holders. But remember: 1 cruise ticket per adult card holder. To bring a friend, have them join the GA with us, or with Isles of Shoals!
Want to bring a friend? Encourage others to get their Green Card AND join the party cruise for just $25 at www.islesofshoals.com. Their $25 GA Membership through Isles of Shoals gets them on the cruise and discounts to over 85 green businesses!
(remember to RSVP with your card number and name to scott@greenalliance.biz)
Pixels & Pulp partners with Unitil to brand new sustainability initiative
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By Jim Cavan
Rollinsford-based and Green Alliance Business Partner Pixels & Pulp Design Studio recently partnered with Unitil on a new program that allows their NH electric residential and small business customers to contribute to the growth of renewable energy and add it to their monthly bill.
For the studio's green-minded ownership, Elise Weeks and Megan Keogh, working with Unitil was far and away their most high profile, local client to date.
“We were really excited when we found out we were chosen to work with Unitil,” said Weeks. “As far as local clients go they were definitely our biggest to date, and the fact that the program is oriented towards green fit into our overall focus really well.”
Under the program, eligible residents can choose to place 25, 50, or 100% of their montly energy usage toward participation. For an average household that uses 500 kilowatt hours of electricity a month, the 50% option would amount to just over a $5 monthly contribution. The donation is tacked on to the customer’s existing energy bill.
Using the funds from the Green Neighbor program, Unitil will then purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). 1 REC purchased is equivalent to 1 megawatt of electricity generated by a renewable source, including solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, or tidal power. The hope is that contributions from Green Neighbor participants will help make renewable energy more affordable and accessible for Granite Staters going forward.
When the project began, Unitil’s Stephanye Schuyler had a clear idea of what they were looking for to help with this project: a firm that was as green-minded as they were design-savvy.
“We’d heard of Pixels & Pulp and knew they fit with our interest to work with a group that had a green perspective,” says Schuyler. “We also wanted to work with a group that had strong design and web capabilities, which they also had.”
Cava to launch new "living wall" Thursday
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The next time you take a jaunt down Portsmouth’s quaint Commercial alleyway, you might notice a striking addition to the once exclusively brick outer wall of the Cava restaurant. No, it’s not a crop of ivy that spontaneously erupted.
What it is, however, is a certified gardening revolution.
On Tuesday Cava began the installation of six “vertical gardens” to scale much of the tapas restaurant’s two-story brick façade.
What is a vertical garden? Pretty much exactly what it sounds like: blocks of irrigated soil turned sideways and mounted on exterior or even interior walls. The technique allows homes, restaurants and other businesses in urban environments to grow greenery – be it herbs or floral assortments – on the premises, and without having to shell out a fortune for traditional grounded plots.
Cava’s six-paneled outdoor display won’t feature any herbs for their wildly popular European bistro cuisine, as the alley-dwelling restaurant simply doesn’t receive enough light to grow basil or oregano. But it does include an impressive and attractive array of hearty greenery tailor made for the Seacoast’s eclectic climate, including tussock grass, burgundy coral bells, and wintergreen.
Lynn Felici-Gallant, editor of recently-launched Seacoast quarterly and GA Business Partner Coastal Home magazine, originally had the idea of running a profile piece on the vertical gardening movement. But she soon realized that, if her magazine’s audience would be interested in merely reading about the phenomenon, why not build one they could see and enjoy? Soliciting the help of South Berwick-based landscape designer Charles Hugo, the team came up with a design concept ideal for the unique, often-dark alley restaurant.
Desigining a “living wall” is one thing; but maintaining it is an entirely different challenge. To help, Felici-Gallant sought out the expertise of Melissa Daniels and Anthony Caggiano of Plant Connection. The New York-based duo had started a company, Gro2, which specialized in patented and customizable vertical gardens. They’ve designed living walls for businesses and private citizens alike all over the country.
Numerous local business owners and volunteers helped put up Cava’s living wall, which was the first of its kind anywhere in New England.
The vertical garden will be launched with a private luncheon on Thursday.
To read more about the veritcal garden revolution, read the two articles by Felici-Gallant in the latest issue of Coastal Home. Just click here!
GA Businesses partake in unique Pecha Kucha forum
This Thursday, two Green Alliance Business Partners will partake in unique networking gathering at the Gas Light Co. in downtown Portsmouth.
The "Pecha Kucha" (PK) Night, featuring “POWERpoints,” will be held on this Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Gas Light's third floor nightclub. The Seacoast’s seventh PK event will feature local leaders and innovators in the energy and sustainability fields as they share insights and perspectives on the next decade of energy, including Clay Mitchell of SDES / Revolution Energy and Elise Weeks and Megan Keogh of Pixels & Pulp.
Each will offer unique insight and thought-provoking commentary on topics ranging from “transforming natural curiosity into ocean stewardship” to “photography and climate change in New England” in Pecha Kucha’s signature presentation style: 20 PowerPoint slides, with 20 seconds of explanation per slide, for a presentation totaling six minutes and 40 seconds.
The full speaker line up for PK7 includes Wendy Lull, Seacoast Science Center; Bill Soupcoff and Rob Carty, TMS Architects; Jerry Monkman, EcoPhotography.com; Ryan Kanteres, JSA Architects; Clay Mitchell, New Hampshire Sustainable Energy Association; Jack Ristau, Wheelabrator Technologies; and Megan Keogh and Elise Weeks, Pixels & Pulp.
GreenPoma.com offers free lighting audits for residence and small businesses
By Jim Cavan
With winter looming and energy prices destined to rise, many people are looking for ways to save on their energy bill.
But while performing a full-on energy audit can certainly go a long way in helping consumers target long-term energy savings, such measures can also be prohibitively expensive. Indeed, it might take years to truly realize the savings that a comprehensive energy audit promises.
Enter Peter Ellinwood to save the day – and some money. Ellinwood, owner of Concord-based GreenPoma.com, an online retail site specializing in high-efficiency home lighting products and equipment, is one of few energy experts providing free audit services for prospective customers.
“Lighting audits weren’t something we intended to do, to be honest,” says Ellinwood, who launched GreenPoma.com in early 2009. “It came about after friends and neighbors asked us for advice about energy efficient lighting, and just kind of grew from there.”
Ellinwood helps clients find the “low hanging fruit” of savings in their own home, identifying which sockets and fixtures would be best suited for low energy light bulbs, dimmer switches, and the like. He’ll even draw out a comprehensive payback timeline for every sector of the home. In fact, Ellinwood is so honest, that he often recommends customers keep their existing incandescent bulbs in places like bathrooms, closets and basements if he can’t prove that a switch to an energy saving bulb would save them money while maintaining light quality and performance.
“We ask the homeowner a lot of questions, to understand how, and how often, they use the lighting in their house so we know what to recommend,” explains Ellinwood. “Our goal is to help people make confident and sensible buying decisions, not push products on them.”
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