Dear GAzette Readers: Thank you for being a part of the Green Alliance community. 2012 is a year of changes at the Green Alliance. In addition to hitting 100 green Partnering Businesses (which we will be doing very soon) we also intend to go from 2500 Green Alliance Green Card Holders to 4,000. Be part of this movement as we sweep across the region leaving our mark in every town, our influence at every place of business. If you are not already a card-carrying GA member-- make this part or your plan for 2012. To our existing members we challenge you to commit to 3 changes, large or small, that will lessen your impact on your community -- look below in the January newsletter for inspiration. A reminder, you'll need to have a valid expiration sticker on the back of your Green Card in order to receive the benefits of Green Alliance membership. That includes generous discounts at our Partnering Businesses, admission to our terrific events, and free offers and deals! If you haven't renewed, please renew today. You'll soon be receiving a postcard with an expiration sticker from us; please affix this sticker to the back of your Green Card ASAP so you don't miss out! If you're a valid Green Cardholder who doesn't have a sticker now, and doesn't receive a postcard from the Green Alliance this month, please contact dave@greenalliance.biz and we will take care of you!   Sincerely, Sarah Brown GA Director Become a fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

  

Despite tough economy, GA businesses creating jobs

What is a green job? It’s a question economists have been struggling to answer for years, but one thing is certain: we have a ton of them here in New England.

A 2011 study by the Brookings Institute estimated the number of green jobs in New Hampshire to be 12,866, in Maine 12,212, and in Massachusetts 43,207.

Those numbers still seemed low to Sarah Brown, who as Director of the Portsmouth-based Green Alliance works closely with 98 local green businesses to promote the benefits of using sustainable products and services to the greater Seacoast community. After some quick finger work on her calculator, Brown determined the nearly 100 businesses who form the Green Alliance community currently employ around 1,851 people.

“I was really inspired to see how many jobs Green Alliance businesses are creating locally,” she said. “Of course, these numbers barely scratch the surface of the total number of jobs created by the New England wide green economy.”

Many of these jobs are found in sectors not traditionally considered green, which means they likely go uncounted by green jobs studies. Take, for example, jobs at Portsmouth’s Smuttynose Brewing Company. A longtime Green Alliance corporate partner, Smuttynose is in the midst of designing a new green brewery, with the goal of building a high quality LEED certified facility. ... read more in our blog here!

Use your Green Alliance Green Card to receive great discounts at nearly 100 local green businesses, including Portsmouth Brewery, Earthtec, Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance, Simply Green Biofuels, Visions Kitchens, and many more! Click here to renew or join today!
 

A drive down the Swasey Parkway in Exeter, NH reveals sprawling farmland that gives way to Revolutionary War era buildings and a downtown bandstand decked out in tri-colored flags. It’s clear at a glimpse that Exeter is a city that takes pride in its history and natural beauty, so it’s not surprising that Exeter is also one New Hampshire city helping to lead the way to an independent, sustainable future.

According to a study by the Brookings Institution released this past June, New Hampshire has the fastest growing green economy in New England with an average 5.3% increase in green jobs from 2003 through 2010. In fact, green job growth outpaces overall job growth in New Hampshire, which is already second in the nation at 1.4%. The southern counties of Merrimack, Hillsborough and Exeter’s own Rockingham, are the epicenter of this trend and provide most of the state’s green jobs.

Alternative energy companies represent the largest sector of the green economy anywhere, but especially in New Hampshire. ReVision Energy, which has locations in Portland and Liberty, ME as well as Dover, NH, has been installing solar energy systems since 2003. This past July, they opened a new location in Exeter.

“Alternative energy is becoming a viable option for more people, and New Hampshire residents have always been independence-minded,” says Fred Greenhalgh of ReVision Energy. “We do business across the breadth of the state. Exeter is not only centrally located, but seems to embody that independent attitude. We knew we’d be welcome here.”.... read more here!

Green Alliance members can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars at Exeter businesses including ReVision Energy, Acorn Organic Salon, eZee Bikes, and Zev Yoga! Click here to learn more!

Making smarter consumer choices is just one aspect of being a Green Alliance consumer member. As the Lukens-Rumscheidts recently discovered, other benefits of a Green Alliance membership include the opportunity to meet green business owners face to face, the chance to socialize with other green consumers, various ways to celebrate and support local business, great parties and substantial discounts at nearly 100 local green businesses!

On August 26th, 2011 Nancy Lukens and her husband Martin Rumscheidt attended the Summer Green Alliance BBQ Bash at Seacoast Volkswagen, where in addition to live music and great green company, the local green car dealership sponsored the 2012 Passat Rollout Party. It was “a very nice affair,” Nancy explained; everything one would hope for in a Green Alliance gathering.

“The majority of people weren't there just to look at cars, but also to meet Green Alliance Business Partners, and to help celebrate local green businesses in general. In addition to meeting some innovative green business leaders and socializing with like-minded folk, we also eyed the 2012 Volkswagen Turbo Diesel Passat. We went back two days later to test-drive it; in December we were able to purchase that demo vehicle at a discount,“ explains Nancy.

Seacoast Volkswagen, a Green Alliance business partner, is known as one of the greenest car dealerships in the region. The business has utilized the services of Waterline Alternative Energies, another partner of the Green Alliance, in establishing some of their sustainability initiatives. So far they have installed a Helix wind turbine and are in the process of installing a 19.2 Kilowatt solar PV array capable of generating 30 percent of the dealership's electricity.... read more here!

 

Cultural Chemistry helps companies find common goals

Here in the U.S., a business’ growth is almost always couched in terms of improved efficiency and productivity, and the never-ending challenge of bolstering the bottom line.

But for Mirjam IJtsma, careful accounting, creative marketing, and effective business-to-business strategies aren’t the only things a company needs in order to take its product or service to the next level – as crucial as all of these elements no doubt are.

Just as important, she claims, is an effective “cultural chemistry,” or the fostering of a positive, dynamic, and forward-thinking workplace environment. Instead of simply giving people individualized “jobs” or “tasks,” she argues, employers and managers should instead be looking to empower workers towards a collective, organizational purpose.

The result is not only a more positive environment; but tangible growth as well (30% average savings and a 40% increase in productivity are not uncommon for businesses which heed IJtsma's program).

But to understand the deeper meaning, origins, and implications of cultural chemistry – and its role as a potential business strategy – it’s important to know a little about IJtsma herself.

A native of the Netherlands, IJtsma came of age in a country whose business customs – while similar on their face to those of any other Western country – yield upon deeper reflection a somewhat different perspective....read more here!

Green Card holders and Business Partners can receive a FREE initial consultation with Cultural Chemistry! Click here to learn more!


Shawnee Peak cabin combines rustic charm, comfort

It’s like a lot of other cabins you may have rented across the hilly expanses of northern New England: it’s got a gas-powered fireplace for heat, a kitchenette with a propane gas stove for cooking, two bunk beds, a sofa, and a natural outhouse and fire pit just steps away.

But there’s one thing that makes this cabin somewhat unique: it’s located at the top of Pleasant Mountain, otherwise known as the Shawnee Peak Mountain Resort. And it’s new this winter for outdoor sports enthusiasts, as well as folks just looking to take a break from the stresses of modern life, without the enduring frigid overnight temperatures that plague winter camping.

“When we came up with this idea, we envisioned a rustic cabin that still has the basic necessities to attract families,” said Rachael Wilkinson, Shawnee Peak’s Marketing Director. “The Pleasant Mountain Cabin is a great way to connect with nature and the alpine spirit while still maintaining comforts like heat and beds for a good night’s sleep.”

And the resort makes connecting with the mountain easy for all families. “Skiers and riders can look forward to making fresh tracks on our slopes, and having lunch back at the cabin, but the cabin is great for non-skiers, as well,” noted Wilkinson. “Guests can enjoy miles of beautiful trails near the summit. Or just relax, read, and reflect in quiet comfort.”.... check out the full story in our blog by clicking here!

Your Green Card saves you 20% on a lift ticket, 25% on an appetizer, and 50% on a rental package at Shawnee Peak! Learn more here!


Green home shows synergy between solar, geothermal

When Ray and Joann Whitley installed a geothermal heating system in their Salisbury, MA home two years ago, they were thrilled to eliminate the cost of heating oil from their budget.

“While our electric bill did go up because the geothermal back up is an electric fan, it only went up about a third of what we had been paying for oil for the year,” according to Joann.“We decided to go ahead and install some solar panels on our garage to offset the electrical cost of running the system,” Ray chimed in.

The Whitley’s contracted ReVision Energy, a renewable energy company with branches in Maine and New Hampshire, to install their new solar photovoltaic system.

"ReVision Energy frequently installs photovoltaic systems to complement geothermal projects, combining the best of both worlds: free heating and cooling from the Earth retrieved using electricity generated by the sun,” explained Fred Greenhalgh, Online Marketing Manager & Sales Associates for Revisions Energy.

Because the Whitley’s are members of the Green Alliance -- a community of local green businesses working together to provide information and discounts on sustainable products and services -- the move shaved $375 off of the project cost. ReVision Energy and Ultra Geothermal, the company that installed the Whitley’s geothermal system, are among the Green Alliance’s growing family of close to 100 certified green businesses and over 2,800 consumer members living in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire... check out the full story in our blog by clicking here!

Join the GA and receive a FREE $200 electrostatic filter -- complete with 10-year warranty -- from Ultra Geothermal!  Also save $375 on a solar hot water system, or $350 on a solar PV system from ReVision Energy! Click here!

Established as a family owned farm more than 200 years ago, Prescott Farm today provides year round environmental education and outdoor recreation opportunities to individuals and families of all ages.

“We are a hidden gem in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire,” said Kimberly Drouin, Office and Communication Manager for the Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (PFEEC), located at 128 White Oaks Road in Laconia, NH.

Staying true to the farm’s agricultural roots, the PFEEC offers some unique and fun ways to get involved in the local food movement.

“Maple Madness is one our most popular programs,” according to Drouin. “For the entire month of March, we host school groups during the week and adults and families on weekends to spend an hour to an hour and a half learning how to tap maple trees and make maple syrup. WMUR has come and covered it.”

One particularly earthy exhibit demonstrates how to use worms to transform everything from leftover food to unbleached paper towels into nutrient rich compost, a process known as vermiculture, or worm composting. Popular workshops themes include soap making and green house cleaning using natural, nontoxic products ... Read more in our blog by clicking here!

Local arborist Micum Davis of Portsmouth has become the newest member of the New Hampshire Coastal Protection Partnership’s Board of Directors.

Founded in 2008 by a group of local experts and citizens concerned about declining water quality in the Great Bay Estuary, NH Coast is a Portsmouth-based nonprofit organization dedicated to combining sound science with education, collaboration and advocacy to protect the natural resources of the coastal watershed and effect long-term visible change.

“I was honored to be asked to join the organization,” said Davis, who has been active in the group as a donor and program sponsor for several years now.

NH Coast’s grassroots efforts to encourage Seacoast property owners to adopt estuary friendly lawn care techniques proved to be particularly appealing for Davis. Now the owner of Cornerstone Treecare, he got his start as an entrepreneur in the lawn care industry.

“I purchased a small lawn care business in 1997,” Davis recalled. “One of the things I noticed early on was there were a lot of chemicals being applied to lawns around the area. The way lawns were reacting, along with my own research, showed me that this was not benefiting lawns. In addition to upsetting soil ecosystems, these fast release fertilizers were not fully absorbing and that reality was effecting more than homeowners realized.”... Read more here!

The Holiday Season offers many an opportunity to reflect on the past year – its lessons learned and disappointments, fond memories and accomplishments.

For businesses, the exercise is much the same. And if your business is really lucky – like A Perfect Move – you can count in your favor far more of the last two than the first.

Last Tuesday, the Kittery-based moving company hosted a year-end wrap-up event at their headquarters just south of Route 1.

Joined by a group of senior health care providers – with whom they’ve helped host similar events in the past – A Perfect Move gave all in attendance the opportunity for a 60-second “year in review,” either as a speech or by way of PowerPoint presentation.

There was just one, small catch: Each company had to pay for its 60-second spotlight with canned and boxed goods , which were given to the Footprints Food Pantry. For Genevieve Benton – who along with daughter Erin and son James own and operate APM – the event marked the end of a busy year for the three-year-old company.

“Our goal was to illustrate what a group of people with good hearts and a desire to do good, could put their hands together and do something great,” said Benton. “We felt like we ended the year on a strong, positive note.”... Read more in our blog by clicking here!

Green Card holders save 5% on all moving services with A Perfect Move, and 15% off everything in Gentiques! Click here to learn more!