Dealer makes room for green nonprofit

special-order windows that weren't used-from their storage Yards'

He said, "Everyone is excited about being able to shop for used materials, not having to sPend money on new resources if they don't have to' Many want the option of using reclaimed materials if they are available."

Cain noted that landlords also like the option of spending less on repairs by using reclaimed materials such as toilets, sinks or windows. "Everyone likes to save money and keep materials out of landfills," he said.

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.F f'ui.fu^, Ca.. has partnered with a local nonprofit to take green building to the next level: selling surplus and reclaimed lumber and building materials alongside new products.

"It's the first hybrid profit and nonprofit, mixing new with reused," said Carrie Bachelder, founder of The Away Station. "Fairfax Lumber gave us a foothold, a Place to start."

The partnership is the newest addition to the store's Fairfax Green program, which offers a full inventory of FSC-certified lumber, plus an array of other green building Products and information. The program's goal is simple: conserve natural resources' enhance energy efficiency, improve indoor air quality, and release fewer toxins into the environment.

Here's how it works: Bachelder solicits donations, which are delivered to Fairfax's three-acre property. and handles the tax-deduction receipts. With the help of AwaY Station employee Beth Forsman, the donated items are sorted, tagged with a special SKU, and displaYed in the ProPer department. Sales are rung up at special registers by Fairfax employees, and profits are split 60140 at the end of each month.

Besides profits, Fairfax also wins by gaining access to customers who want to receive green credits for using reclaimed products.

"We realized that re-use is a piece of green building that we had neglected," said president Augie Venezia. "A large percentage of landfill is construction debris, so the goal is to reduce and reuse."

About 80% of the donated materials are from deconstruction projects, according to manager Charlie Cain, but other items are donated bY contractors who want to clear unused materials-extra nails and screws,

The biggest challenge of the Partnership. Cain said. was creating an inventory system for the donations. The key was to keeP it simPle, Yet keep track of what's selling and what's not, so the Product mix can be improved.

"This partnershiP Puts Fairfax ahead of the curve," said Venezia. "People think green building is too expensive, but it's not."