Dear GAzette Readers: Summer's finally here! Beyond the beaches, picnics and family trips, this is also an important time of year for our local green businesses. If we want to continue fostering a robust economy, we all have to be part of the solution. Many of the sustainable entrepreneurs in the Green Alliance have been doing the right thing for a long time now; like the Portsmouth Brewery, who this week will be celebrating 20 years of great food, delicious brew, and environmentally responsible business practices. Or EcoSound Builders, who have been building quality, durable, green homes across the Granite State for 2 generations. The green businesses in the Green Alliance also understand the importance of giving back to the communities that keep them afloat. Like Bob’s Clam Hut reviving the Kittery Block Party on 18th, or Clay Hill Farm Restaurant hosting their first ever Summer Solstice event on June 19th! But remember: they can't do it without you, and neither can we. Please consider joining us in our crusade to raise the bar on how business is done across the region. We can poke and prod all we want, but it is ultimately you, the consumers on the ground, that are going to kick the ball the furthest.   Sincerely, Sarah Brown GA Project Director

  

For Portsmouth Brewery, turning 20 a chance to shake things up

Typically, people turning 20 still have to wait a whole year before they can celebrate with real libations – legally, anyway.

But when it comes to one of Portsmouth’s most iconic institutions, turning 20 promises to be a party as public as it is well-deserved.

All this week starting today (June 1st), the Portsmouth Brewery, located at 56 Market Street, will raise its glasses to two decades of delectable brews and ceaseless fanfare with a number of special anniversary events.

“People are really looking for that connection with a restaurant, and hopefully what we’ve proven is that, if you keep doing the right things and keep providing that positive experience, the next thing you’ll know you’re in business another 20 years,” exclaimed Brennan Rumble, General Manager of the Brewery and a veteran of the establishment since two months after it opened its doors in 1991. “We’ve never taken anything for granted, so having the chance to celebrate with our customers is a real honor.”

What’s more, for the entire month Green Alliance Green Card holders will receive a double discount at the famed downtown brewpub – normally 10% off all food and drinks (including beer!), GA Members will get 20% off their bill through June 30th.

Anyone who purchase a GA Membership at the Brewery will receive both the 20% discount, as well as a free ticket to board the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company’s Thomas Laighton.....read more in our blog here!

GA Members save 20% on all food and drinks at the Portsmouth Brewery during the month of June! Click here to learn more!
 

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.

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 looking like.”

Green Card holders receive a FULL rebate for a comprehensive energy audit when you commit to doing a retrofit (up to $500) with EcoSound Builders! Also receive 2 FREE hours of green consultation for your upcoming project! Click here!

It’s no secret that solar energy systems have become much more price competitive in recent years. Like any other technology, increased demand and competition have helped turn what once was an eco-friendly luxury into an ever more affordable and realistic alternative to fossil fuel-based systems.

Sometimes, however, a technology takes a qualitative leap forward, forever altering the landscape. Jack Bingham thinks that technology has arrived for solar hot water systems. Bingham, who owns the SEA Solar Store in Dover, recently became an exclusive local dealer for Germany-based Wagner & Co.’s new SECUSOL Smart Drainback Technology System.

Touting the tag line “Less Components – Reduced Cost – One Day Installation”, the SECUSOL solar thermal system has for years been a go-to technology in Europe, where government subsidies and mandates have helped make alternative energy a growing staple.

As Bingham explains, bringing a proven – and affordable – technology such as SECUSOL to American shores could very well prove a coup for his industry.

“With oil prices where they are and look to be headed, people who lock into a SECUSOL now are probably looking at a 4-6 year payback, and maybe less,” says Bingham. “It really is a no-brainer.”.... read more here!

Get $250 off a solar hot water or solar PV system at SEA Solar Store in Dover when you join the GA! Plus, save 10% on all in-store items under $500!  Click here!

Driving South down Route 1 in Portsmouth, just a mile or two before the North Hampton border, a five-years abandoned Toyota dealership is getting a new lease on life.

Now called Regeneration Park, the near 25,000 square foot space is quickly being transformed into a green-oriented business campus and “green realty trust” that will eventually house as many as seven companies. Simply Green Biofuels, the environmentally friendly heating oil provider and sustainability trailblazer, will be its chief tenant.

Since Simply Green acquired the building, the once-forgotten car dealership has transformed into a showcase for green building practices, and will house the Seacoast heating provider's central office and delivery operations.

Formerly at 547 Central Avenue in Dover, the administrative and delivery operations at the Simply Green Biofuels Station and Congreenience Store have already begun to be relocated to Regeneration Park.

While fuel will no longer be available at the pump, Simply Green will continue to offer BioHeat and biodiesel delivery operations

Save 10 cents on every gallon of BioHeat with Simply Green Biofuels when you join the Green Alliance! Click here!

If you feel like life’s daily stresses are more acute these days, you are not alone.
While somewhat less severe in the Seacoast region, the economic recession and its attendant high unemployment rates have created a double whammy: job seekers suffer significant stress while unemployed, and those with jobs often feel overwhelmed by the workload they must pick up under austere company budgets and a reduced workforce.

Financial and work-related stresses are examples of emotional stress that often lead to declining health, including neck pain, immunity suppression, and sleeping problems. While not as widely discussed as other types of stress, such as the physical stress of an overt injury or working in front of a computer all day, or the chemical stresses of poor eating choices and excessive alcohol intake, emotional stress is now one of the great health problems confronted by health practitioners around the country.

 

Newmarket Dental'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.”....read more here!

 Get 5% off all services and 1/2 off whitening for established patients at Newmarket Dental when you join the GA! New patients holding a Green Card receive free exam and bitewing x-rays with a cleaning! Click here to learn more!


Pixels & Pulp finds success by going small, green

Those who count themselves fans of AMC’s hit show Mad Men will no doubt remember how the third season ends: Disgruntled and disillusioned with their new corporate reality, the principle protagonists fire themselves, only to resurface in the next frame unloading their bare essentials in a cramped hotel room that is to become the temporary headquarters of a new, dynamic advertising firm.

While not nearly as dramatic or contentious, Megan Keogh and Elise Weeks were still marching into their own unknown when they left their agency jobs in 2006. After dabbling in their own individual pursuits as freelancers, the two reconnected to launch the graphic design studio Pixels & Pulp.

When they first started, neither Keogh nor Weeks – both Rhode Island natives who studied graphic design in college – knew exactly what to expect. Now, nearly three years later, both can safely say theirs was the right move at the right time.

“It was more a fear of the unknown than anything,” recalls Weeks. “But at the time neither of us had children, and I didn’t have a mortgage. From my perspective I had the feeling that, if I didn’t bite the bullet and take the chance now, I might not ever take it.”

Bite the bullet they did. In 2008, Pixels & Pulp was officially launched. Specializing in branding, web design and print materials, Pixels & Pulp works with individuals and organizations who place environmental and social responsibility at the top of their priority list.... check out the full story in our blog by clicking here!

  Green Card holders save 15% on all design services with Pixels & Pulp. Click here to learn more!

 

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Summer is a magical time for solar power enthusiasts. Gone are the 4:00 PM winter sunsets, replaced by longer, warmer days and more sunshine. On June 17, Revision Energy will celebrate Summer Solstice by throwing a Grand Opening Bash at their new solar showroom located at 7 Commercial Drive in Exeter, NH.

“We’ll have local food, drink, music, and fun from 4-9 PM,” promises Dan Clapp, New Hampshire Branch Manager for the renewable energy company. A blow up bounce house will provide entertainment for the kids while adults enjoy Redhook beer and local wine. Blue Moon Evolution of Exeter will cater the party, serving up fresh, local and organic fare. ReVision’s own Josh Rollson will delight the crowd with his musical stylings. In his spare time, Rollson works with Guitar Doors, a nonprofit that provides music programming to incarcerated individuals.

Clapp has been busy working to get the new location up and running. “A solar hot water crew has been operating out of Exeter since March,” he is proud to report. “We’re in the process of installing solar thermal, photovoltaic, and a pellet boiler to make the shop carbon neutral.”... Read more by clicking here!

Looking for something different to do with Dad this Father’s Day? Summer Solstice at Clay Hill Farm is a free community event celebrating the great outdoors and honoring fathers, families and Mother Earth. The Sunday, June 19th event will feature local food, music, games, and family fun for all ages from 11 AM-2 PM.

Originally built in 1870 as a working farm, Clay Hill Farm has transformed into a 220-seat restaurant and special occasion venue nestled amidst 11+ acres of rolling lawns, protected woodlands, and colorful gardens. “This summer, we’re going to be showcasing local food by launching a new Made in Maine menu for the summer,” says owner Jennifer McShera. “100% of ingredients and products will be made right here in the Pine Tree State.”

“A lot of people are curious about eating a Maine only food diet these days,” she explains. “We want to bring together themes that are important to individuals and families.

As part of that mission, Clay Hill Farm will showcase Community Supported Agriculture on Father’s Day. Visitors will have the opportunity to support local farms by pre-purchasing shares of local agriculture from Moon Dance Gardens of South Berwick, Spiller Farm of Wells and Touching Earth Farm of Kittery... read more here!

Organizers of the Kittery Block Party will not hand out many brochures or tack up tons of fliers to promote Saturday, June 18th's celebration of local art, culture and food. In a conscious effort to conserve paper and save trees, promotion for the event is being done mostly via social media.

“Social media advertising is inexpensive and it doesn’t pollute,” boasts event sponsor Michael Landgarten, who has owned Bob’s Clam Hut, a Kittery landmark, since 1986.

Paper fliers and brochures are generally limited to text, photos and graphics. Social media provides event organizers with the opportunity to offer far more engaging content to the public.

Visitors to the Kittery Block Party Facebook page can watch video of magician Peter Boie, scheduled to perform at 10 AM. The page also includes links to some of the events other unique vendors and acts, including Rick Adam, a one man band and solo vaudeville artist who has juggled in Moscow’s Red Square and China.

It’s all part of organizers’ focus on making the Kittery Block Party a Zero Waste event. “We decided not to print maps or guidebooks,” notes Janice Grady, head of the Kittery Recreation Department. Instead, event maps will be conveniently posted throughout the downtown area. Ecomovement Hauling and Consulting will be on hand to provide recycling and composting.... read more here!

Learn more about this and other great local events by going to our GA Events Page! Click here!


Revolution Energy installs new solar system at Kingston school
 

To say the past week was a busy one for Revolution Energy would be an understatement.

Last Tuesday, Revolution’s Mike Behrmann was one of roughly ten small business owners to attend Representative Frank Guinta’s (R-NH) forum at the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce – a meeting that wasn’t without its fair share of heated exchanges and debate.

Then on Wednesday, the Dover-based alternative energy company met with U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Govoner Lynch and UNH President Mark Huddleston in Hudson, New Hampshire to discuss the future of federal funding for green tech in New Hampshire.

All the while, they’re completing a 60 kilowatt solar system at the East Kingston Elementary School. Slated to be finished by June, the system is expected to save the town of East Kingston upwards of $12,000 a year... read more here!

Green Alliance Members receive a FREE initial consultation for any alternative energy project from Revolution Energy! Click here to learn more!