Project Evolution's E-Cycle v2.0

It's about that time of year when college students are moving out of apartments, dorms, fraternities, sororities and houses. What do those college students do with their old TV sets, printers, and computers? Many of them simply leave them on the curb to be sent to a lousy landfill. Why not put those unwanted technologies to good use for a good cause?

E-Cycle is an event designed by Project Evolution to reduce electronic waste, while raising money for a local charity. This year, on May 7th, people will have the opportunity to rid of their electronic wastes while contributing to their local community, rather than their local landfill!  Drop-off your e-waste at the side parking lot of Carpenter's English Florist and Garden Center at 220 South Main Street in Newmarket. Project Evolution will collect TVs for only $10, and you can find a suggested donation list for all other items at projectevolutionnh.org. The event also includes raffle items and an opportunity to learn more about how to recycle your technology responsibly! For more information, call (603) 292-5496 or email toryjennison@projectevolutionnh.org.

All of the profits will go to the Roots and Shoots program at Newmarket High School, whose purpose is to provide opportunities for students to realize their full potential in an environment that is accepting and comfortable. The administration, staff, parents and students commit to working together in order to create a community of "life-long learners." For more information about the Roots and Shoots Program, click here! 

Project Evolution is a non-profit organization that hopes to promote technology while bringing communities together by exchanging ideas mainly focused on arts, education, community building and historic preservation. To learn more about Project Evolution NH, visit projectevolutionnh.org. 

Habitat for Humanity, Ridgeview Construction team up on affordable green homes

Habitat for Humanity has long been known for its work on behalf of affordable housing. Now, two of the Southeastern New Hampshire chapter’s projects are adding their own, green twist.

Southeastern New Hampshire Habitat is currently completing construction of a two-family duplex on Silver Street in Rochester. Along the way, they were aided by Shane Carter and Ridgeview Construction, a company known for its environmentally-friendly methods and approaches to home building.

The Deerfield-based Ridgeview helped with much of the site work, excavation and foundation, and is poised to help with the frame. The end result? The two most recent Habitat homes will end up with EnergyStar certification.

Both Ridgeview and Habitat’s ReStore – a repurposing outlet boasting everything from paint to plywood to furniture, located in Dover – are longstanding members of Green Alliance, through which Southeastern Habitat President Tom Boisvert and Shane Carter met.

“Shane and I had talked a few times about working together on a Habitat house,” said Tom Boisvert. “He always wanted to help with a project, and when that opportunity finally came, he jumped at it.”

Long before any official partnership was formed, Carter would often donate materials and supplies leftover from renovation jobs to the ReStore, all of whose profits go directly to Habitat for Humanity.

Newmarket’s green dentist offers digital x-rays

In just five years, Dr. Nathan Swanson has established Newmarket Dental as the Seacoast region’s premiere sustainable dental practice, offering everything from corn-based rinse cups to biodegradable toothbrushes made from recycled plastic. Now, Swanson has invested $30,000 in digital x-ray technology, a move he says is already paying dividends for the environment and public health.

“Patients who get digital x-rays are exposed to 1/3 the radiation of conventional x-rays,” Swanson is proud to report.

Going digital has helped Newmarket Dental to minimize hazardous waste. Gone now are the sheets of lead once used to absorb excess radiation found in traditional x-ray film. Swanson and his staff no longer have to spend time developing x-rays, a process that involved chemical fixers and developers. “At least one of those chemicals was definitely hazardous waste,” he notes.

Digital imaging technology also makes it easier for Swanson’s patients to see cavities up close while they are still less than a millimeter in size. “X-rays used to be a postage stamp size image on film,” he explains. “Now the image comes right up on the computer and can be blown up to the size of the screen.” As a result, patients are better able to understand what procedures are needed immediately, and what realistically can wait awhile. It’s a change that fits in well with Swanson’s emphasis on providing patients with all the details they need to make more informed decisions about their dental health.

Watching a receptionist thumb through the pages of voluminous scheduling book used to be the norm for patients waiting to schedule their next appointment at the local dentist’s office. “The whole thing had the organization of a paper sack,” Swanson says of the old file-keeping model. At Newmarket Dental, scheduling and insurance processing are now done electronically, saving time, paper, and ultimately money. 

Insurance Agents of Change, and Savings

Home, auto, and boat insurance are the types of products and services we buy, but hope to never use. As such, many people know little about how the insurance business works.

Eco Sound Builders combines old school methods, 21st century green approach

Father-son business might seem like quaint relics of centuries past. But one New Hampshire building company is proving that keeping it in the family – combined with a decidedly 21st century focus: green – is as good a recipe for success as ever.

Launched in 2007 by Roger and Ethan Korpi, Eco Sound specializes in a more conscious method of building homes – one that takes as its chief goal the long term durability and sustainability of the finished project.

Indeed, Eco Sound makes no bones about it: they want your home to stand for hundreds of years, in the process making you admit that there are companies out there who can still “build ‘em like they used to”.

Whether it’s sourcing wood from FSC and SFI certified forests, incorporating super-efficient insulation, or subcontracting with local outfits who themselves specialize in using non-toxic paints and locally sourced materials, Eco Sound has in three short years built a solid reputation based on principles of quality and efficiency as timeless as the idea of the “family business” itself.

“We feel like there’s been a much stronger desire in terms of people incorporating more green products and high efficiency approaches into the construction of their homes,” says Ethan. “Obviously doing so can come at a cost, but we try and help people find that balance between efficiency and how they always dreamed their home to look like.”

No Impact Woman

Fans of the book and documentary film No Impact Man will want to pay close attention to the Green Alliance blog next week. From May 1 to May 8, Rebecca O’Brien of Portsmouth will be posting regular updates about her experience as a participant in NH No Impact Week, a truncated version of Beavan’s effort to live in New York City with no environmental impact.

“The No Impact Experiment is a one-week carbon cleanse that allows you to experience the difference lowering your impact can have your quality of life, community, and planet!” according to the initiative’s website, where anyone can sign up to join the hundreds of Granite Staters who will be participating. 

Going green is no experiment for O’Brien, a Green Alliance member who spends her days helping nonprofits achieve their missions, and ensure their programs are sustainable. Lately, O’Brien has been doing her part to support the local economy by frequenting local GA member businesses in Portsmouth. “I have been flashing my Green card downtown!” she is happy to report.

A Perfect Move and Gentiques raise $1600 for children's literacy

The folks from A Perfect Move and Gentiques would like to thank everyone who attended last week's Chairs for Charity Auction. It was a huge success, with $1600 being raised to help benefit the Children's Literacy Program. Click here to see video footage taken from the event!

The money raised will help purchase books to give away to local children ranging in age from 3-6 years. The following are the dates and locations of the upcoming Summer Story Hours. If you know of a family who’s children could benefit from an activity like this, please extend a personal invitation to one of the hours. There is no cost – that has been covered by your support of the Chairs for Charity Auction!

Story Hours are complimentary, open to the public, and appropriate for children ages 3-6 years old with a caregiver. RSVP to kmaloney@gentiques.org or 207-438-0421 for any of the locations and dates:

• Camp Kittery Estates June 23, 2011 11 am; Camp Stories and activities in Celebration of National Camping Month 220 State Road Kittery, ME
• July 20, 2011 11 am; The Mark Wentworth Home 346 Pleasant Street Portsmouth, NH -- Theme to be announced!
• August 25, 2011 11 am; Langdon Place of Dover 60 Middle Road Dover, NH -- Theme to be announced!
• September 22, 2011 11 am; Sentry Hill of York Harbor 2 Victoria Court York Harbor, ME -- Theme to be announced!