R EC YCLI NG & CO M POS TI NG G U I DE • SU S TAI NAB LE FOOD • EN ERGY & SU S TAI NAB LE B U I LD I NG
GREEN GUIDE TO HIGH COUNTRY LIVING
Simple Solutions for
SUSTAINABLE
Living!
SOLAR GARDENS TO VEGETABLE GARDENS Grow your own energy and food
MAKE GREEN PAY How locals are succeeding
highcountryconservation.org
Is Your Home Solar-ready?
Providing Energy Conservation Services
.
Energy Auditing Home Energy Ratings Air & Duckwork twork Leakage Testing
.
Carbon Monoxide Testing Combustion Testing Wed - Sat 10am - 5pm
SUMMIT HABITAT RESTORE
970.423.7445
15 Huron Road, Breckenridge, Corner of Hwy 9 and CR 450 Donations@SummitCountyHabitat.org
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2012 GREEN GUIDE
. Weatherization . Insulation Systems Air Sealing . Ventilation Systems
Indoor Air Quality Total Building Solutions
970.468.2446 www.comfortbykodiak.com
DAVID R. KOONS
WELCOME
TABLE OF CONTENTS 6
For specific program information, please contact the following staff members at the High Country Conservation Center: JENNIFER SCHENK » Executive Director
jenschenk@highcountryconservation.org JENNIFER SANTRY » Community Programs Director Recycling & Composting Programs, Sustainable Food Programs
jen@highcountryconservation.org
MATT WRIGHT » Energy Operations Manager Energy Audits, Home Energy Ratings, Energy Star and Sustainable Building Programs
matt@highcountryconservation.org
LYNNE GREENE » Energy Programs Manager Community Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programs, Business Programs
lynne@highcountryconservation.org
WASTE REDUCTION
16
SUSTAINABLE AND LOCAL FOOD
18
ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
24
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PROGRAMS
27
GREEN LIVING
Welcome to the 6th Annual Eartha Steward’s Green Guide to High Country Living. We created this guide to showcase local green services and businesses, as well as to provide tips on how to live more sustainably. We often get asked if all of the attention on being green is just hype or if Americans are making meaningful changes to protect the environment. We know that in Summit County, residents and visitors have made changes that are having a positive local impact. All Summit County schools are now composting, creating a nutrient-rich soil amendment from lunch food scraps. And these students are going home and asking their parents to start composting, expanding local composting far beyond the classroom. Local governments, businesses and individuals also banded together in the past year to support the development of a Summit County community solar garden in 2012, which will create clean energy locally. Community gardening and sustainable food production has also become front and center in the past year, with passionate locals proving that food is easily grown at over 9000 feet! None of these accomplishments occurred overnight. The seeds were planted years ago, with small steps taken along the way. Through the hard work of many individuals, we’ve reached major sustainability milestones in our community. In the same way, you – as a consumer and community member – can influence positive change. Your buying decisions, and the way you live every day, combined with your neighbors’ efforts will foster a greener community. We hope that this Green Guide inspires you to patronize local green businesses and incorporate one or two sustainable actions into your daily life. For more tips on sustainability in Summit County, please visit highcountryconservation.org. HIGHCOUNTRYCONSERVATION.ORG
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EARTHA STEWARD’S GREEN GUIDE 2012 AUTHORS:
TRASH & RECYCLING REMOVAL • WEEKLY RESIDENTIAL SERVICE - RECYCLING INCLUDED • ON-CALL SERVICES • ONE-TIME PICKUPS • ROLL-OFFS • COMPETITIVE RATES Locally owned and operated since 1999 We Care Because We Live Here
(970) 389-0101 Summit Independent Business Alliance
www.talkingtrashinc.com P.O. Box 43, Dillon, CO 80435
The staff of the High Country Conservation Center: Jennifer Schenk, Jennifer Santry, Lynne Greene and Matt Wright
Published in partnership with
On Paper. Online. On Summit County.
PUBLISHER MATT SANDBERG msandberg@summitdaily.com MARKETING & SPECIAL PROJECTS MAGGIE BUTLER mbutler@summitdaily.com DESIGNER MALISA SAMSEL SUMMIT DAILY NEWS 40 W. MAIN ST. FRISCO, CO 80443 970-668-3998 WWW.SUMMITDAILY.COM
HAVE HEALTHY TREES AND A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT!
BEETLE BLOCK® is an FDA approved, eco-friendly alternative to spraying. Simply install the packets yourself 1-2 weeks before the pine beetles fly.
Learn more and order online at
ALPINETREESERVICES.COM
CALL US ABOUT OUR LOW IMPACT ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TREE REMOVAL SERVICES!
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2012 GREEN GUIDE
HIGH COUNTRY CONSERVATION CENTER
WHAT IS
THE HIGH COUNTRY CONSERVATION CENTER? FOUNDED IN 1976 AS SUMMIT RECYCLING PROJECT, the High Country Conservation Center is a community-based, nonprofit organization working to provide practical solutions to waste reduction and resource conservation in our mountain community for over three decades. The Conservation Center connects residents, visitors and businesses to create a more sustainable community. Some of our programs and services include the following. For more info, visit highcountryconservation.org or call us at 970.668-5703. Waste Reduction • Recycling and Compost Facility Tours • Waste Audits & Recycling Consultations for Businesses • Zero Waste Event Services • Zero Waste Party Packs for Small and Mid Sized Events • Composting in the Schools Program
Education and Community Outreach • • • • •
Green Living Workshops Master Mountain Composter Program Gardening Classes Sustainable Business Workshops “Ask Eartha Steward” Column in the Summit Daily News • Annual Earth Day Action Fair
Sustainable and Local Food • The Living Classroom Greenhouse and Community Gardens • Summit County Food Policy Council • Annual Harvest Dinners • Sustainable Food Resources
CONSERVING RESOURCES TAKES RESOURCES! We rely on the volunteers and financial support of our community to make these programs happen. Please consider volunteering your time or making a tax-deductible donation to the High Country Conservation Center. For information on any of our programs or services or to find out how you can help, please stop by our office at 518 Main Street in Frisco, call us at (970) 668-5703, email us at info@highcountryconservation.org, or visit us online at www.highcountryconservation.org.
Sustainable Building and Energy • • • • • •
Home Energy Audits Local Solar Gardens Sustainable Business Programs Energy Star Certifications for New Homes Home Energy Ratings (HERS) Summit Sustainable Building Code
HIGHCOUNTRYCONSERVATION.ORG
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WASTE REDUCTION
Summit County Colorado
To Heeney and Green Mountain Reservoir PTARMIGAN WILDERNESS
To Denver
9
Road Recreational Pathway
Silverthorne
Water Taxi
Blue River Trail
SUMMIT COUNTY RECYCLING DROP-OFF CENTERS
Dillon
Elevation 9,035'
Elevation 9,111'
Mountain Peak
Tenderfoot Mountain 11,441
Wildernest
SCRAP
ir
70
Snake River Recpath
Dil lon R
Buffalo Mountain 12,777
es er v o
Colorado County Vicinity Map
To Montezuma
Swa n Mtn Rd
Elevation 9,173'
lch e Gu
9
Roa d
Keystone n to ys Ke
Frisco
zum a
Montezuma Spur Recpath
Snake River Recpath
Swan Mtn Recpath
Elevation 9,075'
EAGLES NEST WILDERNESS
Mont e
6
Dillon Dam Recpath Rec Path
Wichita Mountain 10,855
To Loveland Pass
Swan Mountain 10,796
Frisco-Farmers Korner Recpath Royal Mountain 10,502
wa
S
Uneva Peak 12,522
Ophir Mountain 10,199
n River
Peak 1 12,800
Ten Mile Canyon Recpath
To Vail Pass
Tenmile Peak 12,933 Peak 3 12,640
Blue River Recpath
Breckenridge
Peak 4 12,866
Elevation 9,600'
Peak 5 12,855
70
9 91
Vail Pass Rec Path Peak 6 12,560
Copper Mountain Elevation 9,712'
Brewery Hill 11,370
Gibson Hill 10,400 Prospect Hill 10,704
Bor eas Pas
s Road
Mineral Hill 10,890
Humbug Hill 11,031
To Blue River, Fairplay, Hoosier Pass
To Leadville, Freemont Pass
The Summit County Recycling Program collects over 20 types of materials at the drop-off centers located in Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon and Summit Cove. By recycling locally, you can help keep dollars in local recycling and waste reduction programs – like composting, special event recycling, household hazardous waste collection, electronics recycling, and more. Find out where your recyclables go—and choose local recyclers!
Breckenridge Recycling Center County Road 450, at the corner of 7-Eleven on the north side of town, ¼ mile on left; OPEN 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Frisco Recycling Center – Across the street from the County Commons building, next to the Colorado State Patrol, off Highway 9 just south of Frisco; OPEN 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Dillon Mobile Recycling Trailer Dillon Town Hall parking lot, from U.S. Highway 6 turn on to Lake Dillon Drive, ¼ mile on left, cattycorner to the Dillon Post Office OPEN 24 hours a day, 7 days a week * = not accepted in Dillon
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2012 GREEN GUIDE
Summit Cove Mobile Recycling Trailer - North parking lot at Summit Cove Elementary School, 727 Cove Boulevard; available only the first full week (Monday through Sunday) of every month * = not accepted in Summit Cove
Waste Management Recycling Center - Brian Ave. at Third St. in Silverthorne; open 8:00am to 4:30pm, 7 days a week For more directions, please contact the High Country Conservation Center at 970-668-5703 or visit www.highcountryconservation.org and look under “Waste Reduction” and then “Recycling Services”.
Material
Yes
No
MIXED PAPER
Newspapers & Inserts; White & Light Colored Office Paper; Envelopes; Notebook Paper; Magazines; Phone Books, Staples, Paper Clips, Tape OK
Neon Colored Paper; Tissues; Napkins; Paper Plates or Cups; Brown Paper Bags; Cardboard; Paperboard (Cereal Boxes); Plastic Bags
PETE - CLEAR PLASTIC BOTTLES ONLY!
Soda bottles & water bottles labeled with a #1 only!
Plastic bags; Tubs; Styrofoam; Numbers #3 #7 plastics of any kind!
MILK JUGS & SOLID COLORED BOTTLES ONLY!
Milk jugs, detergent bottles, and shampoo bottles labeled with a #2 only!
Plastic bags; Tubs; Styrofoam; Numbers #3 #7 plastics of any kind!
MIXED METAL CONTAINERS
Aluminum Cans; Aluminum Foil & Pie Plates; Tin Cans
Scrap Metal
CARDBOARD & PAPERBOARD
Cardboard; Paperboard (cereal boxes & six-pack containers); Brown Paper Bags. Staples & Tape OK; PLEASE FLATTEN
Milk or Soy Milk Cartons; Wax-Coated Cardboard; Other Paper
MIXED GLASS
Bottles & Jars; Clear,Yellow, Green, Blue Colors
CERAMIC DISHES, Window Glass; Drinking Glasses; Pyrex
BROWN GLASS
Bottles & Jars – BE A GOOD SORT – PLEASE SEPARATE YOUR BROWN GLASS!
CERAMIC DISHES, Window Glass; Drinking Glasses; Pyrex, other colors of glass
BATTERIES*
Please sort into marked bins: Alkaline; Rechargeable (please tape terminals); Lithium Ion; Lead Acid Batteries (Auto, Marine, Computer Back-up Units)
Other Household Hazardous Waste
USED MOTOR OIL* OIL FILTERS* ANTIFREEZE*
Antifreeze and oil accepted in original containers with lids
Oil/water mix, antifreeze or other fluids.
SCRAP METAL*
Available at the FRISCO & BRECKENRIDGE DROP-OFF CENTER ONLY
Appliances, propane tanks, fuel tanks, barbed wire, 55 gallon drums, batteries, computers or TVs
* = NOT ACCEPTED IN DILLON OR SUMMIT COVE Please see pages 10-11 for a list of where to take hard-to-recycle items. HIGHCOUNTRYCONSERVATION.ORG
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SUMMIT RECYCLING RESOURCES Household & Commercial Recycling Collection Services
Talking Trash Summit County 970-389-0101 Waste Management Summit County 970-468-2475 The Summit Recycler Summit County 970-485-5450 Timberline Disposal Summit County 800-787-5137 Faction & Company (Compost) Summit County 970-389-1611
970-468-6940 970-724-0604
Deconstruction & Construction Recycling Services
Got Trucking Recycling Summit County 970-401-2272
SUMMIT FREECYCLE GROUP Just finish a remodel project and have useful items to get rid of? Can’t find a home for your old couch but hate to send it off to live for all eternity in the landfill? Join the Summit County, Colorado’s FreecycleTM group. Summit Freecycle is a grassroots movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free. Whether it’s a chair, fax machine, piano, or an old door, it can be posted for free on Summit Freecycle. To learn more about Summit Freecycle visit groups.yahoo.com/ group/SummitFreecycle/. To learn about Summit County recycling opportunities, visit www.highcountryconservation.org 8
2012 GREEN GUIDE
Paper Shredding/Document Destruction The Balance Sheet Frisco
970-668-3515
Miscellaneous Recycling Services
Appliance Recycling & Freon Removal Greer’s Appliances Silverthorne Jimbo’s Appliances Summit County
Summit Roll-Offs Summit County 970-406-1289 Timberline Disposal Summit County 800-787-5137 Waste Management Summit County 970-468-2475
Mailboxes & More (Packing Materials) Frisco 970-368-4949 Summit Greasecycling (Veggie Oil) Breckenridge 970-485-4900 UPS Store (Packing Materials) Breckenridge 970-453-8080 UPS Store (Packing Materials) Silverthorne 970-468-2800
Consignment & Thrift Stores
For Pet’s Sake Breckenridge 970-453-4339 Funky Trunk Frisco 970-668-9266 Horse Cents Thrift Store Silverthorne 970-468-0924 Matchless Treasures Leadville 719-486-9512 Mother Lode Alma 719-836-0401 Rags to Riches Frisco 970-668-3775 Rainbow’s End Dillon 970-262-2376 Summit Thrift & Treasure Dillon 970-262-2461
Furniture Consignment & Thrift Stores
A Furniture Find Dillon 970-409-9310 Alpine Accents Frisco 970-668-3113 Encore Home Appliance Leadville 719-486-3006 Fairplay Furniture Consignment Fairplay 719-836-2534 Habitat for Humanity ReStore Breckenridge 970-423-7445
Sporting Goods Consignment
Recycle Ski & Sport Frisco 970-668-5150 Wilderness Sports Second Tracks Silverthorne 970-262-3875
Outdoor Activities & Events
BYOB Eco Golf Westminster 214-416-2595 Colorado Tents and Events Silverthorne 970-262-6858 HC3’s Zero Waste Services Frisco 970-668-5703
Used Building Materials
Habitat for Humanity ReStore Breckenridge 970-423-7445 Habitat for Humanity ReStore Denver 303-722-5863
Reuse! Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without Before springing for a new couch, pair of boots, or lighting fixture, remember Eartha Steward’s handy guidelines for living a low impact eco-life: reduce, REUSE then recycle. Reuse, in the broadest sense means any activity that lengthens the life of an item. Reusing an item not only keeps materials out of the waste stream but saves the energy associated with manufacturing a new one. There are many ways to find gently used items in Summit County for free or at a reasonable discount. From thrift and consignment to reused furniture and home goods, check out the recycling resources on PAGE 8 for suggestions.
Slow Money, Slow Food, Slow Trash Habitat for Humanity ReStore Eagle 970-328-1119 Habitat for Humanity ReStore Buena Vista 719-966-6004 Home Resource Steamboat 970-879-6985 ReSource Boulder 303-419-5418 ReSource Fort Collins 970-498-9663
Virtual Trade & Online Options
Craig’s List http://rockies.craigslist.org Summit Freecycle http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ SummitFreecycle/
Repair Shops
Aspen Upholstery in The Summit Silverthorne 970-468-2323 Bluebird Window Restoration Nederland 303-258-0808 Crystal Clear Auto Glass Summit County 970-262-0134 Rocky Mountain Resole Salida 719-539-1455 Teri’s Upholstery Summit County 970-453-0724
Speed up, faster please, hurry now, go, go, go… Although Americans are famous for life in the fast lane, there is a relatively new movement urging people to step on the brakes and slow it down. Slow trash builds on the principles of slow money, slow food, and slow living. Slow trash challenges you to slow down consumption and connect with the purchase. Consider how long it will be until that oh-sonew item is on its way to the landfill. What’s the average useful life of your item of purchase — 5 years, 5 weeks, 5 days, 5 minutes? Slow trash is all about taking a snapshot of the lifecycle of a particular item. Where was this made? What is it made out of? Do I really need this item? Can I make it myself? Can I do without? If we took the time to ask these questions before we simply pull out the credit card, we could easily shift our investments to reusable, recyclable, and sustainable.
HIGHCOUNTRYCONSERVATION.ORG
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WASTE REDUCTION
Hard-to-Recycle Items and Other Unusual Materials for Recycling SCRAP {Summit County Resource Allocation Park} Home of the Summit County Recycling Center, High Country Compost Facility, Household Hazardous Waste Program, Electronics Recycling Program, and the Landfill. Located on Landfill Road – Off Highway 6 near Keystone. Hours: Monday through Friday (7 a.m. – 4 p.m.) CLOSED SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS. Contact: 970-468-9263 x0 or visit www.co.summit.co.us
Antifreeze, Oil & Oil Filters
Batteries
Accepted at SCRAP and the Frisco and Breckenridge Recycling Centers.
Alkaline, carbon, zinc, lead, nickel, cadmium, rechargeable, marine and car batteries accepted at the Frisco & Breckenridge Drop-off Recycling Centers. • Waste Management customers can recycle dry cell batteries through WM’s Think Green from Home kits - 9 volt and smaller used alkaline, carbon-zinc, NiCad and NIMH batteries only.
Appliances (Dishwashers, Hot Water Heaters, Washers/Dryers) Accepted at SCRAP*
Refrigerators & Other FreonContaining Appliances FREON MUST BE REMOVED BEFORE RECYCLING or DISPOSAL! Once you have a certificate for Freon removal with your refrigerator, you can recycle it at SCRAP* or contact a local appliance retailer to have it recycled.
Cell Phones, iPods, and Ink Cartridges • All Summit County Town Halls and Police Departments collect cell phones for Advocates for Victims of Assault (668-3906) • Summit County Builders Association recycles cell phones and the money goes to the State’s charity fund to build homes for people in need (668-6013). • Old iPods and iPhones are accepted at Apple stores or you can request a free pre-paid envelope to mail your iThing back to Apple for recycling • You can send ink cartridges back to manufacturers or take them to OfficeMax accepts all brands (468-9155).
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs) and Tubes All fluorescent light bulbs including CFLs & tubes contain a small amount of mercury & must be handled and recycled carefully. CFLs: BigHorn Materials 1241 Blue River Pkwy in Silverthorne (513-1575) – free! 10
2012 GREEN GUIDE
• Fluorescent Tubes: SCRAP ($1 per tube) • Fluorescent Tubes & Bulbs: Waste Management (WM) customers can recycle bulbs and tubes through WM’s Lamptracker kit (468-2475).
Computers & TVs TVs, computers, and computer monitors host toxic substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and zinc. These toxins can contaminate groundwater when landfilled. Please DO NOT throw them in your trash or recycling bins! • Accepted at SCRAP* • Waste Management customers can recycle electronics for free at the Silverthorne facility (468-2475)
Construction and Demolition Waste Clean wood waste from construction sites. Raw dimensional lumber only – no painted, stained, or treated wood. • Accepted at SCRAP* (surcharges will apply for contaminated loads)
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Paints, pesticides, mercury thermometers, cleaners, adhesives, and chemicals should NOT be thrown in the trash or down the drain. • Accepted at SCRAP* • Please plan ahead – the Summit HHW Program operates May 1 through October 31. During winter months please call for an appointment (468-9263 x0)
Manure
Prescription Drugs
#6 Polystyrene or Styrofoam
Accepted at SCRAP for composting*
Never flush pharmaceuticals down the drain. Flushing or trash disposal of medications can cause pollution of our waterways. Safely dispose of medications in secure collection bins at: City Market in Breckenridge (400 N. Park Avenue) and City Market in Dillon (300 Dillon Ridge Road). Allowed substances for collection boxes include: • Prescription Medications (except for narcotics or controlled substances) • Over-the-counter Medications • Pet Medications • Vitamins • Liquid Medication in Glass or Leakproof Containers • Medicated Ointments and Lotions • Inhalers
Summit County recycling centers DO NOT accept any kind of polystyrene packaging including coolers, peanuts, take out containers, cups, cartons, and packing blocks regardless of number or recycling label. Please do not leave #6 polystyrene or Styrofoam at the recycling centers. Sadly, it is TRASH!
Slash and Wood Debris
Summit Greasecycling (485-4900) is a local company dedicated to collecting and recycling used vegetable oil into various forms of alternative energies.
Packaging Peanuts Clean, dry packaging materials are accepted at these local stores for reuse. • UPS Store, 211 Summit Place, Silverthorne (468-2800) • UPS Store, 400 N Park Ave, Breckenridge (453-8080) • Mailboxes & More, 842 N Summit Blvd #24, Frisco (368-4949)
Plastic Bags Clean and dry plastic bags can be taken back to Wal-Mart, Safeway, Target, and City Market. Please contact each store for specifics. • Walmart (668-3959) • Safeway (668-5144) • City Market, Dillon (468-2363) • City Market, Breck (453-0818) • Target, Silverthorne (468-2268)
Plastic Bottles and Containers #1 through #7 • Accepted at the Waste Management Silverthorne Recycling Center
• Clean slash from lot clearing or fire mitigations efforts. • Accepted at SCRAP* (surcharges will apply for contaminated loads)
Tires Not accepted at any of the recycling drop-off centers, plus you can’t throw them in the trash (it’s state law)! Please bring them to one of the following locations for recycling. Fees may apply. • Summit County Landfill* (468-9263) • Meadow Creek, Frisco (668-5686) • Big O Tires, Frisco (668-1446)
Used Vegetable Oil
* Fees apply.Visit highcountryconservation.org or call 970-468-9263 x0 for info.
DID YOU KNOW? ¤ Electronics contain a host of toxic substances including lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. If placed in a landfill, these materials can contaminate our groundwater. When you recycle e-waste at the Summit County Resource Allocation Park, you can rest assured that your obsolete electronics will be demanufactured, disassembled, and properly recycled in the USA. HIGHCOUNTRYCONSERVATION.ORG
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WASTE REDUCTION
Easy Steps to Stop Junk Mail More than 109,000,000,000 (that’s a Billion!) pieces of junk mail are delivered in the U.S. each year. Want to get a whole lot less of it? Then start here: 1. Sign up for a service for $20 a year that will stop your junk mail. Our favorite is www. catalogchoice.org. You can probably ignore the other tips if you are willing to spring for the twenty bucks annually. 2. Use the magic words “Please do not rent, sell, or trade my name or address.” Memorize, say and write this as often as possible! 3. Get on “in house” credit card lists. Call your credit card company and ask them to keep you on their in-house list, which is not traded or sold to other companies. 4. Don’t sign up for contests and free offers. 5. Prevent charity solicitations. Ask them to send you email donation requests. 6. Say No Thanks. When you get an unsolicited offer or catalog, spend 30 seconds to call their 1-800 number and tell them to take you off their list to stop the spreading of your contact info.
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2012 GREEN GUIDE
Bags, Bottles, and Boxes: How Disposables can be a Real Downer! Ditch Disposable Bags: Can’t live with them, can’t live without them. Or can you? Relying on disposable bags is a downright dingy habit. While singleuse bags might provide short term convenience, they’re a major source of pollution in production, use, and disposal. Together, paper and plastic single-use bags represent a major draw on resources, both physical and financial. All of which could be avoided if more of us opted for reusable alternatives. Please remember to BYOB – Bring Your Own Bag every time you shop. Bye-Bye Bottled Water: The useful life of a plastic water bottle is very similar to that of the plastic bag. They both provide about 15 minutes of convenience, and then we no longer need them or want them. Bottled water
is as convenient as bringing your own reusable stainless steel bottle with one big difference - one purchase of a reusable bottle can save you hundreds of dollars in bottled water bills and keep hundreds of plastic bottles out of our landfills and oceans. Phase Out Foam: Styrofoam is bad news for the environment. It’s made from petroleum, litters our favorite places, and takes up landfill space. With a useful life of about as long as it takes to get your leftovers from the restaurant to the refrigerator, foam take-out containers are pesky polluters! In addition, Styrofoam has been known to leach toxic chemicals into our food and drinks especially when heated. Next time you order food to-go, demand a better alternative like aluminum foil or bring your own container.
DID YOU KNOW? ¤ Bottled water is a waste of oil and resources. It is estimated that over 17 million barrels of oil are wasted annually to produce around 900,000 tons of plastic to meet the demand for bottled water in the United States. Even more alarming is the massive amount of waste - 86% of plastic water bottles aren’t recycled. While the demand for bottled water is up in the U.S., the EPA has found that 90 percent of domestic tap water is safe to drink. Furthermore, studies show that at least 40 percent of bottled water is just tap water anyway! ¤ North Pacific Garbage Patch - Twice the size of Texas, the floating continent of plastic trash wreaks havoc between California and Hawaii. Like something out of a Sci-Fi movie, experts have found that in this plastic “soup” zone, there are 46 times more man-made plastic than nature-made plankton. The only solution is to stop adding to the pile and cut back our singleuse plastic habits.
HIGHCOUNTRYCONSERVATION.ORG
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WASTE REDUCTION
ZERO WASTED! Eartha’s Tips on Ways to Party More and Waste Less
The goal at every zero waste event is to plan ahead and use only materials that are reusable, recyclable or compostable (not materials that will end up in our landfill). Here are a few things to keep in mind while planning your waste-free event:
What is composting anyway? Composting is a natural process of transforming food waste, paper products, and organics (things that were once alive) into a dark, rich healthy soil that can be applied to community gardens, trees, and landscaping and reclamation projects.
Why do we compost? Contrary to most belief, the landfill is not a gigantic composting system. In fact, all of your leftovers, yard clippings, and organic waste that go into the garbage produce a hazardous gas called methane in a landfill environment. Methane is a greenhouse gas 14
2012 GREEN GUIDE
72 times more potent than carbon dioxide. By keeping organics out of our landfill, you help combat climate change.
What happens to the compostable products? Summit County is very fortunate to have a large scale composting facility (High Country Compost) located at our landfill near Keystone. Compostable and recyclable materials are collected from zero waste events and travel a short distance to the Summit County Resource Allocation Park (SCRAP). Compostables are ground up and mixed with wood chips and turned into compost in a matter of weeks. This unique, closed-loop system includes compost collection from zero waste events, school lunch waste, and participating restaurants. A nutrient-rich soil is then contributed back to the community through local community garden projects.
SUMMIT COUNTY
ZERO WASTE GUIDELINES Containers and Foodservice Products that are OK for COMPOSTING and RECYCLING • Uncoated paper plates, boats, and bowls that are not coated with plastic, and paper napkins (compostable) • #1 and #2 plastic bottles & jugs (recyclable) and #7 compostable PLA cups (compostable) • Cornstarch cutlery, including spoons, forks and knives (compostable) • Waxed paper products (compostable) and aluminum foil (recyclable) • Paper (compostable) and reusable bags
Where can I find compostable products? Many grocery stores sell compostable products (uncoated paper plates, napkins, bowls…). You can also find these products online or at the High Country Conservation Center in Frisco. All compostable products must be BPI Certified (Biodegradable Plastics Institute) to be accepted at the community compost facility. If you are in doubt, please visit www.bpiworld.org for a database of certified compostable products.
How do I host my own zero waste party? From educational materials to compost supplies and collection containers, the High Country Conservation Center has everything you need to make your next big bash waste-free. HC3’s services allow you, the green-thumbed host, to sleep easy knowing that your event is creating a pile of nutrient rich compost and recyclable materials instead of a mountain of trash. Contact us at 970-668-5703 to learn more.
DID YOU KNOW? ¤ Colorado Mountain College now offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sustainability Studies. This novel program balances the theory and practice of Sustainability and prepares students for the professional world awaiting them beyond graduation. Gain scholarly experience, leadership, and engage in your mountain community with Sustainability Studies at Colorado Mountain College. Visit www.coloradomtn.edu to learn more.
Containers and Foodservice Products that are DESTINED FOR THE LANDFILL • Styrofoam (polystyrene) – not recyclable, regardless of the recycling symbol on the product • Any #1-#7 plastic tubs, cups, and deli cups, #3-#7 plastic bottles, jugs, or clamshells • Plastic cutlery • Saran wrap • Plastic bags
ECO - PRODUCTS , A PROUD SPONSOR OF
HC 3’S ZERO WASTE PARTY PACK PROGRAM
HIGHCOUNTRYCONSERVATION.ORG
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SUSTAINABLE AND LOCAL FOOD
Farm to Table
Our community’s journey to local
Who knew that something our grandparents used to do would come back as the new hip trend? People across the nation are turning their televisions off and turning soil instead. These backyard homesteaders, urban farmers, and garden junkies have found empty windowsills, community gardens, decks, and street lots to grow edibles. Why local? The journey of food to our plate often consists of hauling most fruits and vegetables in refrigerated trucks from all parts of the world. Most of our food travels between 1,500 and 2,000 miles before it reaches the market, let alone our plate. There is so much potential for our community to learn the story of food. The
DID YOU KNOW? ¤ You can grow your own food even at 9,000 feet! Food and garden workshops and classes are offered throughout the year from Silvana’s Community Garden, Nancy’s Community Garden, Alpine Earth Center, and The Living Classroom at the High Country Conservation Center. Various topics include composting, soil amending, season extenders, harvesting, canning and preserving, and more. Please check www.highcountryconservation.org for information on upcoming workshops or contact your local community garden. 16
2012 GREEN GUIDE
first step is acknowledging where your food comes from and the energy involved in growing, harvesting, transporting, refrigerating, storing, and landfilling. It’s also about education, hands-in-thedirt experiences, and pulling carrots out of the ground in early fall after planting tiny seeds in the spring. Whether it’s growing your own food, eating locally, or making sustainable food choices, we’re here to help you find the resources. Sometimes, there is nothing more local than a sunny window or your backyard. If you really want freshness and vegetables with zero travel impact, grow your own!
Food Policy Councils - How Local Policy Can Grow Local Food The concept of food policy is just about as sexy as a filing cabinet. What if I told you that food policy can include advocating for community gardens, backyard chickens, healthy school lunches, farmer’s markets, and sustainable farming practices? Food policy is the backbone of the local food movement at the national, state, and local levels. In fact, the 2012 Farm Bill is extremely important federal legislation affecting our country’s food system. It is accountable for the USDA’s
annual $90 billion spending budget for food, feed, fiber and fuel. If you care about the food you eat, the Farm Bill affects you. Here in Summit County, we’re demanding a Fair Farm Bill in 2012! We want a stronger, more local food system that supports environmental stewardship and sustainable farming practices. In our community, we have a voice as the Summit County Food Policy Council. To get involved or to find out more, please visit highcountryconservation.org.
Mountain Farming: We Want Chickens, We Want Bees… Urban farmers thrive on city chickens, rooftop bees, and potted tomatoes. On the urban farm, lemon trees flourish in sidewalk slits while garden beds are resurrected on small patches of green and asphalt. Whether you’re in downtown Denver or rural Summit County, urban and mountain farmers have one thing in common – finding ways through good ol’ self-sufficiency to feed themselves and their families. As a leg of the Summit County Food Policy Council, the Urban Farming Task Force was created via community input and public forums to oversee potential new regulations to facilitate community gardens, backyard chickens, bees, and goats in Summit County. If you envision a future of urban farming in Summit County, please sign our online petition and consider joining the task force. Visit highcountryconservation. org for more info or email info@highcountryconservation.org.
Summit County’s Community Gardens On most summer afternoons, you can find friends, co-workers, neighbors, and even strangers gathering at local gardens to tend to their plots, talk about seeds and vegetables, or listen to a workshop on composting or gardening. You can spend several hours watching gardeners take care of their plants as if they were their own children. Watering, feeding, weeding, observing, smelling, cutting, and sowing are just a few of the blissful activities taking place at our local gardens.
SUSTAINABLE AND LOCAL FOOD The Living Classroom Community Garden and Greenhouse At the High Country Conservation Center 518 Main Street in Frisco highcountryconservation.org info@highcountryconservation.org Thanks to the following sponsors for making TLC such a success: Matthew Stais Architects, Colorado Garden Show, Inc., LiveWell Colorado, Town of Frisco, Summit County Government, Breckenridge Grand Vacations, The Hydro Shack, First Bank, and Summit Landscaping. Silvana’s Community Garden South of the Silverthorne Recreation Center 247 Rainbow Drive in Silverthorne silvanascommunitygardens.org info@silvanascommunitygardens.org Nancy’s Community Garden At the Frisco Community and Senior Center 0083 Nancy’s Place in Frisco livewellsummitcounty@gmail.com Dillon Valley Elementary Garden At Dillon Valley Elementary 108 Deer Path Road in Dillon livewellsummitcounty@gmail.com
Local Farmers Markets and CASs If you’re not ready to try your hand at high country gardening, be sure to check out Summit County’s Farmer’s Markets. The 2012 Dillon Farmer’s Market runs
June 8 to August 31 on Fridays from 9am to 2pm and is located on Buffalo Street (by Town Park) in downtown Dillon. The Breckenridge Sunday Market runs Sundays from June 17 to September 9 at the Main Street Station Plaza. Another good source for local and regional food is through communitysupported agriculture (CSA). CSAs allow consumers to purchase shares in a local farm’s annual production. CSs encourage people to become active participants in the production of the food they eat while developing a more personal relationship with the farmers who grow their food. A few CSAs that are currently operating in Summit County are Grant Family Farms and Door to Door Organics. You can also check out The Rocky Mountain Growers Directory for an online list of CSAs in Colorado - www.localsustainability.net.
Food Not Lawns! Okay folks, it’s time to lose the lawn! Across the country, homeowners are wasting precious energy on lush green grass - gas up the mower, buy the herbicide and insecticide, spray the weeds, add the synthetic fertilizer… a weekly (but detrimental) ritual. Why the dis on lawns? First of all, lawn chemicals are highly toxic to people, the environment, wildlife, and our pets. Lawns are also water-intensive. It is estimated that a typical 1,000 sq. ft. lawn requires over 10,000 gallons of water every year. Let’s think about the pollinators
(and the hungry); try investing in vegetable and herb gardens, drought-tolerant plants, and Neighborhood Supported Agriculture. This summer, turn your lawn into an edible garden oasis.
Close the Loop: Purchase Locally Produced Compost Healthy soil is necessary for healthy gardens! If you don’t have the time to make your own, you can purchase finished compost at the Summit County Resource Allocation Park. Your purchase of High Country Compost supports a program that recycles food scraps into a nutrient rich soil additive. The High Country Composting Facility produces two types of compost; both products are equally great for soil amendments. High Country Compost (HCC) is made with biosolids - and the second - No Biosolid HCC is made from food waste. Both products are mixed with chips from mountain pine beetle kill - one solution to deal with a substantial amount of the tree kill. Call SCRAP at 970-468-9263 x0 for pricing and more information.
Sustainable Food - Stores, Restaurants, & Farmers Markets
Amazing Grace Breckenridge 970-453-1445 Alpine Natural Foods Frisco 970-668-5535 Dillon Farmers Market Dillon 970-468-2403 Grant Family Farms (CSAs) Delivers to Summit 970-568-7654 High C Silverthorne 970-262-6831 Natural Grocers at the Vitamin Cottage Dillon 970-262-1100 Vinny’s Restaurant Frisco 970-668-0340
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ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
Green Building Consulting Summit County
Community Solar Garden Clean, locally produced power, sent straight to your energy bill. You can subscribe now at highcountryconservation.org/ SummitSolarGardens.htm. The combination of two proposed solar gardens, available to all Summit County citizens, will produce enough clean energy to fully power over 900 homes and businesses and reduce green house gas emissions by more than 2,800 tons annually. A huge thank you to the Town of Breckenridge for providing land for the project and for being the anchor tenant that ensures the rest of us have a community solar garden to subscribe to. Thank you to subscribers, including Summit County Government, Town of Silverthorne and Town of Dillon. You can subscribe too. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that only 27% of rooftop area is suitable for hosting onsite solar production. For the rest of us, the community solar garden is a great option. Check out our project champion the Clean Energy Collective at easycleanenergy.com. They recently installed an 800 kilowatt solar garden in Garfield County. Cool remote metering software allows you to read your share of solar output from your phone.
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2012 GREEN GUIDE
The term ‘green’ is tossed around a lot these days, and “greenwashing” by those who overpromise and under deliver is definitely a concern. Another concern is a lack of understanding by some building professionals with good intentions. What works elsewhere in the country will not necessarily work in the High Country. If building or remodeling green is truly important to you, be sure to use a professional that is certified by a nationally recognized organization. The High Country Conservation Center is proud to offer consulting and verification services for the following programs. Contact us to help you make the right decision. LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) for Homes LEED is a rating system that measures how green a building is. All around the world, LEED is the standard for green
buildings: offices, hospitals, schools, stores - and homes. LEED for Homes certification incorporates criteria that evaluate innovation and design, site sustainability, water efficiency, energy, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality. ICC 700 National Green Building Standard The NGBS is the first and only residential green building rating system to undergo the full consensus process and receive approval from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Builders must meet requirements in the areas of site development, water, resource efficiency and indoor environmental quality. ENERGY STAR for New Homes To earn the government’s ENERGY STAR rating, a home must meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA. ENERGY STAR qualified homes are quieter and more comfortable, have lower utility bills and maintenance costs, and help protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
What is an Energy Audit? HOME ENERGY RATINGS:
MILES PER GALLON (MPG) FOR OUR HOMES You wouldn’t buy a car without knowing its MPG rating, so why would you buy a home without knowing its energy use? A Home Energy Rating includes the same inspection items as an Energy Audit and also considers building and window dimensions, as well as the solar orientation of the home. The Home Energy Rater enters the customized information from the inspection into an energy modeling computer program to “rate” the homes performance using the HERS Index (see graphic below). What can I do with an energy rating? • When buying a home, a rating allows you to compare homes according to their energy efficiency • A rating allows you to know the energy performance of your home and identifies cost effective improvements that you can make to increase your comfort and home’s performance. • A rating is required to qualify the home for an energy efficient mortgage. • A rating is required for a home to be labeled as ENERGY STAR. For more information contact the High Country Conservation Center at highcountryconservation.org.
An Energy Audit is a comprehensive whole-house perspective on your home’s energy efficiency, health and safety. An audit includes: • Insulation inspection, with special attention to attics and crawl spaces. • Evaluation of electrical consumption. • A Blower Door test to measure air leakage. • Infrared Camera scanning to identify air leakage and insulation performance problems. • Combustion Appliance Safety Testing to check for efficiency and potential carbon monoxide emissions from furnaces, boilers and water heaters. • An in-depth report detailing issues and prioritized solutions specific to your home. The High Country Conservation Center is pleased to provide affordable Energy Audits for our mountain community. Rebates are available for Xcel Energy customers. For more information or a quote, please call 668-5703.
SUMMIT COUNTY ENERGY PLAN Summit County-wide energy and sustainability goals: • Reduce greenhouse gases 20% by 2020 • Reduce energy use in buildings and operations 20% by 2020 • Increase county-wide renewable energy production • Decrease vehicle miles traveled and fuel used • Increase waste diversion rate to 50% by 2020 The plan is supported by every town and Summit County government. We have made great progress this year. Check it out online at highcountryconservation.org. HIGHCOUNTRYCONSERVATION.ORG
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ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDING RESOURCES Energy Auditors About Saving Heat Denver/ Summit 303-549-6900 Active Energies (Both) Eagle County 970-376-3720 Alpine Solar Design Summit County 970-468-0890 Colorado Mountain Home Inspections Park County 719-459-3969 Comfort by Kodiak Summit County 970-468-2446 Deeper Green Consulting Denver/ Summit 303-550-7380 Energy Smart Summit County 970-485-3327 Green Competitor Consulting, LLC Lake County 720-940-6900 Headwaters Energy Buena Vista 719-395-9255 High Country Conservation Ctr. Summit County 970-485-3509
Home Energy Raters Active Energies Eagle County 970-376-3720 High Country Conservation Ctr. Summit County 970-485-3509
Renewable Energy Services Affordable Solar Power Denver 303-567-4850 All American Heating Carbondale 970-963-3985 Alpine Solar Design Summit County 970-468-0890 Dominator Plumbing and Heating Summit County 970-406-0803 Heatmeister Summit County 970-513-0697 Innovative Energy Summit County 970-453-5384 Kennedy Plumbing & Heating Summit County 970-262-6241 Low-Energy Systems Summit County 800-873-3507 Mechtech Summit County 970-390-8254 Paragon Solar Summit County 970-389-6677 20
2012 GREEN GUIDE
Rader Engineering Inc. Avon 970-845-7910 Re-Align Technologies Summit County 970-333-4375 Sunshine Solar and Mechanical Summit County 970-418-0569 Vowel Plumbing Summit County 970-468-5529
Alternative Transportation Colorado Mountain Express (airport shuttle) Summit County 970-468-6700 Green Limousine (luxury biodiesel limos) Summit County 970-331-5032 Jake’s Mountain Shuttle (summit county shuttle) Summit County 970-401-0988 Peak One Express (airport shuttle) Summit County 855-467-3251 Summit Express (airport shuttle) Summit County 855-686-8267 Ski Carpool www.skicarpool.org The Summit Stage (our free public bus!) Summit County 970-668-0999
Green Builders & Energy Star Builders Alternative Building Solutions Summit County 970-333-1138 Apex Mountain Homes Summit County 970-668-3402 Arapahoe Construction Summit County 970-389-9060 Campbell Construction Summit County 970-389-7246 Carlson Builders Summit County 970-453-4332 Colvin Construction Summit County 970-453-9373 Compass Homes Development Summit County 970-547-5047 Decker Custom Homes, Inc. Summit County 970-418-3166 Elevation Building Group Summit County 970-547-1981 Hedges Mountain Homes Summit County 970-485-4106 Green Living Renovations Summit County 970-215-8827
J&E Development Summit County 970-453-5440 Kodiak Enterprises Summit County 970-468-2446 Level One Building Co. Inc. Summit County 970-453-6790 Mathison Custom Builders, Inc. Summit County 970-485-5912 McCrerey Fine Homes Summit County 970-668-0686 Mount Royal Builders Summit County 970-389-9268 Mountain Log Homes of Colorado Summit County 970-468-8683 Pinnacle Mountain Homes, Inc. Summit County 970-453-0727 Powder River Log Cabins Summit County 970-389-1250 Raptor Construction Summit County 970-262-7576 RJB Development Summit County 970-513-0777 Spirit Builders Summit County 970-390-1561 Traditional Neighborhood Builders Summit County 970-668-5075 Wheelock Construction Summit County 303-567-2195 Verdigris Group 800-805-2830
Energy Retrofits About Saving Heat Denver/ Summit 303-549-6900 Comfort by Kodiak Summit County 970-468-2446 Fish Builders Lake County 719-593-7099 Mill Creek Carpentry and Retrofit Lake County 719-293-1912 Saunders Company Lake County 719-486-3800
Green Remodelers & Retrofit Altitude Garage Door, Inc. Summit County 719-836-0921 Arapahoe Construction Summit County 970-389-9060 Jeff Schelker Summit County 970-470-0140
Green Building Supplies Bighorn Materials Silverthorne 970-513-1575 Bighorn Paint Stores Frisco & Breckenridge 970-513-1575 Breckenridge Building Supply Breckenridge 970-453-2372 Centennial Woods 866-778-8762 Vintage Wood Supply Summit County 970-390-7405
door Gardening ‘Your Source for In h Country’ Supplies in the Hig how you can earn Stop by and ask us he Hydro Shack! $$$ shopping at T in the Store 20% off Ever ything2 2012 4/20 thru 4/2
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Local Beetle-Kill Lumber Greenway, LLC Lakewood 303-981-0996 Hester’s Log & Lumber Mill Kremmling 970-724-3868
Green Interior Design & Creations Associates 3 Denver 303-534-4444 Blue Feather Metals Silverthorne 970-468-4855 Breckenridge Blinds Breckenridge 970-453-7653 Harmony Interiors Frisco 970-668-0291 Todd Buckendahl Custom Welding Design Dillon 970-513-0968 Wild Sage Interiors Summit County 970-262-6684
Green Architects Arapahoe Architects Breckenridge 970-453-8474 La Montagne Architects Silverthorne 970-389-0989 Matthew Stais Architects Breckenridge 970-453-0444 TerraSun Design Breckenridge 970-453-6607
EcoBrokers (Real Estate Agents) Betty Stielow Summit County Deborah Darby Lake County
970-368-7000 719-486-1409 HIGHCOUNTRYCONSERVATION.ORG
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ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
Energy Q&A You ask us so many questions about energy! Here are a few that you keep asking: What systems don’t work well in the mountains (but somebody from Denver may tell you they do)? High efficiency windows that contain argon gas do not work at elevation. High altitude sites require ‘breathing tubes’ between the glass and all argon gas escapes. Electric heat pump water heaters and tankless water heaters are two other items that often don’t work well here in our cold climate. Should new windows be on the top of my list when improving the energy efficiency of my home? Everybody wants windows, but usually the answer is no. Windows take 20-30 years to pay for themselves from energy savings, and are quite an investment. Noticeable drafts at your windows typically happen where the window meets the framing behind the trim. This usually can be remedied easily with a little caulk. What are the most cost-effective energy upgrades? In most homes sealing up air leaks and adding insulation, as well as upgrading your lighting to CFLs or LEDs, will be the most cost effective. If you really want to see significant savings, use a Home Energy Auditor certified by the Building Performance Institute to perform a whole house analysis. See the short article “What is an Energy Audit?” on page 19 for more details.
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2012 GREEN GUIDE
Is it better to leave fluorescent lights on if I am leaving the room for just a few minutes? Will it wear out the ballasts? The short answer is no. The ballasts will not wear out. The energy a T8 fluorescent lamp uses does jump slightly while turning on, but not enough to make a difference if the light is on for more than a few minutes. Is the mercury in a CFL (compact fluorescent light) a hazard to me? For the CFL, some mercury is emitted when the CFL is broken or disposed. This is the mercury released in your home if you break the bulb. EPA continues to tell us the levels are not harmful. A few years ago, a CFL contained an average of 4 mg, now it’s less than 1 mg. For comparison, thermometers contain about 500 mg of mercury and older thermostats contain 3,000 mg of mercury. Yes, it is toxic, and should be disposed of properly. You don’t need a hazmat suit, just get rid of the broken pieces (don’t use a vacuum if possible). Our local Big Horn Ace will take broken or unbroken CFLs to recycle for free, and so will the Summit County Resource Allocation Park (for a small fee).
Why the focus on solar in Summit County? What about other renewable energy sources? The sun is very powerful here in Summit County. High elevation combined with cold temperatures, aid in efficiency of power production. The opposite is true of wind power production at high elevation. Solar currently appears to have the best return on investment in our region and the tie in to the grid makes it feasible to ‘store’ power. Nearly all of
Summit County is classified as ‘poor’ for wind power production. Most people tell us their backyards are windy, but generally speaking consistency is lacking. Don’t believe us? Get an anemometer and check it out for yourself. The exceptions are mountain tops and high elevation ridges. And what about biomass and geothermal? Biomass has shown some real promise and feasibility is currently being explored for larger scale applications. Geothermal too has potential on a smaller scale in Summit County, but larger scale applications are limited to geothermal hot spot regions (not us). To see state-wide R&D on this topic, check out the Governor’s Energy Office Renewable Energy Development Infrastructure (REDI) report, available on their website: rechargecolorado.com. Is the proposed Community Solar Garden funded by tax dollars? Partly. Solar gardens take advantage of the 30% renewable energy tax credit. This helps to lower the cost of the system and is paid for by the Federal government. The solar garden investors also receive money from Xcel Energy for every kWh produced. This money comes from Xcel Energy’s renewable energy fund, which is paid into by every Xcel Energy user. The next time you look at your bill, check out the line that says renewable energy adjustment, and that’s the amount going into the fund, generally 2%. Why? The state says Xcel has to produce 30% of its power from renewable sources by 2020 and they are on track to do so. Why? Because we want clean locally produced energy! Why can’t I just pay monthly as I pay my energy bill and get clean energy instead of dirty? You can pay monthly for roof-top solar in the mountains. While lease options have existed in California (where energy prices are higher) and Denver (where operations and maintenance costs are low) for years, it’s new in our mountain regions. You can now lease a system with a variety of payment options, including no money down and low monthly payments rather than a large up front expense.
Code GG2012
We are committed to being an environmentally friendly and green carpet cleaning company. We practice water conservation, use biodegradable chemical free cleaning agents, have energy efficient machines, and recycle both in the field and in our office. For an average house, our green carpet cleaners use only 5% of the water a typical steam cleaner uses. That means for every hundred homes cleaned, Oxi Fresh will use 200 gallons of water or less, while other systems will use up to 4,000 gallons. When it comes to getting a natural carpet cleaning that is safe for both you, your children, pets, and the environment, you’ll want to go with Oxi Fresh.
HIGHCOUNTRYCONSERVATION.ORG
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SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PROGR AMS
The Frisco
Clean Tracks GREEN CHAMPION AWARD
business program
2011
The 2011 Green Champion Award goes to Shannon Murray and Wallace Plowden at the Shoe Inn Boutique, 610 Main Street in Frisco. They cut their energy bill in half and reduced their waste by 75%. Half the cost of upgraded lighting materials was covered by the Frisco Clean Track program. Shoe Inn Boutique began composting tissue paper from shoe boxes and other packaging materials and found that their waste stream was reduced by 75%. Compost is sent to the Summit County commercial compost facility and turned into soil for local sale and use. DIVERSION RATE WITH COMPOSTING: 75% ENERGY SAVINGS: 6181 kWh and $620 annually
The Frisco Clean Tracks Business Program recognizes and supports businesses that are actively incorporating sustainability into business decision. It is funded by the Town of Frisco. In 2011, collectively ten Frisco Clean Tracks Businesses saved over 25,000 kWh annually, increased internal diversion rates from 10-75%, and diverted many tons of trash from the landfill. Changes in the way these businesses operate amount to over 50,000 lbs of carbon reduced from our atmosphere annually while saving them thousands of dollars.
CHECK OUT THEIR GREEN ACCOMPLISHMENTS: www.highcountryconservation.org/FriscoCleanTracks.htm
2011-2012 Frisco Clean Tracks Businesses Alpine Market and Deli Butterhorn Bakery Gatherhouse Glassblowing Maximum Comfort Pool and Spa Medical Marijuana of the Rockies Rocky Mountain Coffee Roasters Shoe Inn Boutique Buyer’s Resource Woods Inn Rivers Clothing Company
NEW 2012 Frisco Clean Tracks Businesses Alpine Bank Backcountry Herbal Apothecary The Barnyard Envy Salon Holiday Inn Stork and Bear Co McCrery Fine Homes The Moosejaw Mountain Log Homes Peppino’s Pizza and Subs
Steps For A Sustainable Future.
ECO - PRODUCTS , A PROUD SPONSOR OF
HC3’S ZERO WASTE PARTY PACK PROGRAM
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2012 GREEN GUIDE
The Resource for
Sustainable Business The Resource for Sustainable Business in Summit County is a series of forums by business and for business. The Resource is the only professional gathering of its kind in Summit County. It exists to provide information about the valuable trades and services available in our community that follow sustainable principles. Be prepared to hear and share great ideas with peers in a relaxed environment. JUNE 13, 5:30-6:30PM AT THE HOLIDAY INN IN FRISCO
Make Green Pay: How to Make Investments Work for You Host: Holiday Inn Co-Presenter: Larry Stone, CPA SEPTEMBER 27, 5:30-6:30PM AT ALPINE EARTH CENTER IN SILVERTHORNE
Winter Survival for Businesses Host: Alpine Earth Center and Alpine Gardens
SILVERTHORNE ENERGY
SMART BUSINESS PROGRAM, NEW FOR 2012
A voluntary program for businesses that want to decrease energy use, reduce waste and save money in the process. Businesses that join the program are provided with the following services funded by the Town of Silverthorne. • Technical assistance, energy and waste assessments • Money for energy and waste improvements • Marketing and public recognition Did you know that Red Buffalo Tea and Coffee is going zero-waste in 2012! They will be composting all cups, plates and utensils. Check out how much energy, waste and money these businesses have saved at our website: www.highcountryconservation.org/ SilverthorneEnergySmart.html 2012 SILVERTHORNE ENERGY
BRECKENRIDGE SUSTAINABLE
BUSINESS PROGRAM, NEW FOR 2012 This program will recognize and support Breckenridge businesses for their efforts at sustainability. The Town of Breckenridge is working with a local task force of businesses and the High Country Conservation Center to develop this program, which will be released this Spring. Interest has been strong and space is limited. Call or email us to find out more: lynne@highcountryconservation.org.
SMART BUSINESSES Alpine Earth Center, Alpine Gardens Brooks Furniture Colorado Angler Days Inn Local’s Liquor Deli on the Blue, Peak Provisions La Quinta Inn Quality Inn Red Buffalo Coffee and Tea Twin Season Vacations
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and receive 50% off Join A-Basin’s Snow Huggers club s additional savings a lift ticket, rental and lesson plu ges—all while on retail items, food and bevera r mountain making a positive impact on you Sign up at the A-Basin and the environment. Season Pass Office ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ARAPAHOE BASIN’S Basin Ski Area is committed tional mountain environment, Arapahoe Arapahoe As stewards of an excep experiences. Our staff and guest s realize to providing qualit y outdoor recreation strive to continually improve our environmental Basin is a priceless natural treasure. Weent of Arapahoe Basin for future generations performance in order to provide enjoym of snow and mountain enthusiasts.
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2012 GREEN GUIDE
Good Old American Values Sustainable business programs fight for energy independence. Want freedom from the grid? Become more energy efficient and use clean alternative energy sources. We need powerful local economies to make our country strong! Sustainability can help us get there. When businesses reduce your energy, waste and materials they reduce costs, increase profits and cash flow. Going green can reduce risk to your business and investors while boosting brand integrity. That’s so American!
COMPOST AT YOUR BUSINESS…. because burying organics stinks!
Cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, conserve resources, and reduce waste. It’s now made easy by composting at your business. Is it gross? Nah. Is it awesome and easy to implement? Yes! To set-up an initial waste consultation or to learn more about commercial composting call the High Country Conservation Center at 668-5703.
GREEN LIVING
Eco-Style It!
My Green Wedding Secrets… Whether your wedding is hosted in a historic barn or a newly built hotel, there are affordable and sustainable options to make the event the best day of your life. Unfortunately, most decorations, leftover cake, and cut flowers are destined for the landfill. Reused, recycled, and repurposed is one way to liven up the party and lighten your impact on the planet. SHABBY CHIC Appreciate the appearance of age, wear and tear. Try reusing antique rusted watering cans, tea pots, and glass milk jugs for centerpieces. Add a personal touch to the decorations such as heart-shaped rocks, old photos, love notes, and poems. DO-IT-YOURSELF Instead of cut flowers, plant live succulents in reused pots or arrange dried wheat, barley, and lavender sheaves on the tables. Small bouquets of native flowers intertwined with sunflowers from your garden are both simple and beautiful. UPCYCLED AND FABULOUS Repurpose recyclables into invitations, decorations, and party favors. You can also upcycle vintage wedding attire into glamorous accessories.
DID YOU KNOW? ¤ Only 20% of all chemicals in cosmetics are ever tested for safety by the FDA. Ingredients in personal care products, from lotion and mascara to nail polish, are sold to consumers with no restrictions and no requirement for safety testing. Beautify your body and your mind by using the Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide to Safe Cosmetics: www.cosmeticsdatabase.com.
MAKE SOIL, NOT WASTE Food, plant, and paper waste can be avoided by composting. Wow your guests with compostable cups and cutlery made out of renewable resources like sugarcane. Better yet, bypass the waste by renting dinner ware or mix and match plates from the thrift store.
Green Salons, Spas & Beauty Supplies
Ambika Healing Massage Breckenridge 970-368-3270 Blue Sage Spa Breckenridge 970-453-7676 Bodyworks Spa Frisco 970-668-5859 Envy Salon Frisco 970-668-3689 Serenity Spa Keystone 970-513-9002 Samadhi Healing Art Studio Breckenridge 970-445-8450
Naturopaths & Natural Healing Ctrs. A Balanced Crane Breckenridge 970-547-9415 Backcountry Herbal Apothecary Frisco 970-668-1700 Mountain River Naturopathic Frisco 970-668-1300 Mountain Rose Acupuncture Frisco 970-333-9027 Prescription Alternatives Frisco 970-668-8482 Qi Gong Institute Silverthorne 585-281-2002
Growing, Gardening & Landscaping
Alpine Earth Center Silverthorne 970-468-8189 Alpine Tree Services Summit County 970-389-4964 Beetle Blockers Summit County 877-748-7337 Elk Mountain Trading Company Frisco 970-668-0495 Mountain Roots Gardening Summit County 970-485-0339 Neils Lunceford Silverthorne 970-468-0430 Petal and Bean Flowers Breckenridge 970-547-0018 The Hydro Shack Frisco 970-668-0359 Summit Landscaping Garden Ctr. Breckenridge 970-453-1039
Green Banking & Investing
Alpine Bank Summit County 970-468-4701 Right Path Investments Summit County 970-668-5525
Green Cleaners
A Greaner Cleaner Summit County 970-485-0291 Colorado Mountain Cleaners Summit County 970-262-1182 Green Clean! LLC Summit County 970-389-7356 Green-Sol Summit County 970-547-2728 Karen Cleans Green Summit County 970-485-3131 Mountain Pride Summit County 970-453-1012 Organic Housekeepers Summit County 970-949-9010 Summit Green Clean Summit County 970-668-3940
Misc. Businesses
Arapahoe Basin Keystone 970-468-0718 Town of Silverthorne/Rec Center Silverthorne 970-262-7370 Colorado Mountain College www.coloradomtn.edu Breckenridge 970-453-6757 Dillon 970-468-598 AGB10 Westminster 303-469-9221 HIGHCOUNTRYCONSERVATION.ORG
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Sustainable Health & Wellness At one of Eartha’s GREEN TRACKS Businesses. Tea, Herbal Medicine, Body Care (970)668-1700 Cybil Kendrick, LAC, C.SMA, LMT Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine & Massage Therapy • (970)485-3839 Lizzie Johnsen, LMT & Laura Eilers, LMT (970)688-8155 Justin Pollack, ND Kim Nearpass, ND (970)688-1300
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2012 GREEN GUIDE
DID YOU KNOW? ¤ All eight of Summit County’s
elementary, middle, and high schools are composting their food and paper waste in the cafeteria! The Composting in the Schools program is designed to educate students, teachers and parents about the importance of composting and waste-free lunches. The program has benefited the entire community—and our environment—by reducing the waste generated in local schools, reducing greenhouse gas emissions (through methane reductions from landfill gas), and through the production of a local soil amendment for backyard and community gardens.
Clean it Up Eartha’s Top Toxic Cleaning Offenders
WHO IS EARTHA STEWARD? Ms. Eartha Steward resides in a cabin high in the mountains near Summit County, Colorado. She likes her anonymity, but spends lots of time tending vegetables in her garden during the summers and exploring the backcountry in the winter. Eartha also writes a column each Thursday for the Summit Daily News. You can send Eartha your questions about anything “green� at eartha@highcountryconservation.org.
Cleaning products can often harbor a number of toxins that impact our health and the environment. Unfortunately, unregulated labels and false claims have made it difficult for the consumer to understand what is actually in the product. Label hints like POISON, WARNING, and DANGER are indicators that a product is toxic. Beyond simple warnings, how do you know what is safe and what to avoid?
USING ALL ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE, EARTH FRIENDLY PRODUCTS
HERE ARE THE TOP “TOXIC CLEANING OFFENDERS� TO LOOK OUT FOR:
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1. Greenwashers – Greenwashing is the process of using fancy graphics or earth-friendly terms to deceptively promote a product as organic, natural, or ecofriendly. Since labels aren’t regulated and terms like non-toxic and biodegradable are freely used, greenwashed cleaning products can be just as harmful as their chemical counterparts. 2. Phthalates – Phthalates are endocrine disrupters that are common to fragranced products like air fresheners and dish soaps. A healthier alternative is to make your own deodorizers with essential oils like lavender, vanilla, and lemon.
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3. Triclosan – Many hand soaps and liquid detergents labeled “antibacterial� have triclosan. Triclosan is an endocrine disrupter, known carcinogen, and can promote drug-resistant bacteria. 4. Ammonia – From glass cleaners to bathroom polishing agents, ammonia is a strong smelling chemical that has been known to contribute to asthma, chronic bronchitis, and lung issues. A healthier alternative is vodka or white vinegar to get that special shine in your windows and mirrors. 5. Chlorine – Often found in toilet bowl cleaners, laundry whiteners, and scouring powders, chlorine produces strong fumes and skin irritations. Our favorite alternatives are baking soda, white vinegar, and borax.
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McCrerey Fine Homes, LLC. NAHB CertiďŹ ed Green Professional Builders of quality homes in Summit County, Boulder and the Front Range for over 30 years. We are here to offer you the best in Quality, Craftsmanship and Service.
Boulder / Frisco, CO Contact Mark McCrerey 970-418-1455 OfďŹ ce 970-668-0686 | mccrereyďŹ nehomes.com 30
2012 GREEN GUIDE
BRINGING GREEN LIVING HOME by offering an eco-friendly alternative for carpet, tile, and upholstery cleaning Mountain Pride Cleaning and Restoration offer a variety of eco-friendly products and services to help you maintain a clean and healthy home. Our Green Seal™ Certified Products are: • Eco-friendly, Plant Derived Cleaning Solutions • VOC Free (Volatile Organic Compounds) • Biodegradable • Non-toxic and Phosphate Free • Provides Environmental Protection and Sustainability
ALLOW US TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CLEANING NEEDS Mark Rusciolelli, Owner
970-453-1012
We are Breckenridge’s only eco-friendly “GREEN” Carpet Cleaning Company
Visit us online www.mountainpridecleaning.com CARPET • UPHOLSTERY • AREA RUGS • BLINDS • TILE & GROUT
Riding the Summit Stage saves fuel and lessens our dependence on foreign oil A recent study conducted by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), found that public transportation use saves our country 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually and can reduce household expenses by as much as more than $10,000 annually* – that is more than the average household spends on food each year. Households that use public transit drive and average of 4,400 fewer miles than households who continue to use personal automobiles. This equates to an individual household reduction of 223 gallons of gasoline annually.
Riding the Summit Stage provides critical relief for traffic congestion As more vehicles crowd our nation’s roadways, traffic congestion has an increasingly debilitating effect on our quality of life. Across America, people, business and industry, the economy and the environment pay a higher and higher price for mounting congestion through delays, lost opportunities, higher costs, pollution, frustration and much more. The data are clear: Providing fast, affordable, safe and reliable public transportation is essential in blunting the crippling effects congestion and providing relief that: Protects personal freedom, choice, and mobility Enhances access to opportunity Enables economic prosperity Protects our communities and the environment
Riding the Summit Stage helps reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions Compared with private vehicles, public transportation produces 95% less carbon monoxide (CO), 92% fewer volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), 45% less carbon dioxide (CO2), and 48% less oxides of nitrogen (NOx). And all of our new buses produce 90% less NOx emissions and 97% less particulate emissions than our older buses.
Riding the Summit Stage reduces accidents and injuries All modes of public transportation are far safer than personal vehicles. Public transportation trips result in 190,000 fewer accidents, deaths, and injuries per passenger mile traveled annually than trips by car. Riding the bus is 170 times safer than automobile travel according to the National Safety Council.
Riding the Summit Stage reduces Road Stress The average American driver may spend over 450 hours – equal to nearly 11 workweeks – behind the wheel annually. The stress of driving in congested conditions is directly linked to a long list of health problems. Riding public transportation provides commuters with opportunities to read, relax, or even catch up on work that are not available to drivers stranded in traffic. As a further commitment to the environment of the High Country, the Summit Stage also uses clean ultra-low sulfur biodiesel fuel in all of our buses. The Stage also remains committed to new programs to further protect our mountain environment using alternative fuels and promoting efficiency within our operating facilities. #BTFE PO UIF DVSSFOU OBUJPOBM BWFSBHF GVFM QSJDF BOE UIF DVSSFOU NPOUIMZ OBUJPOBM BWFSBHF GPS VOSFTFSWFE QBSLJOH
Take a ride on the Summit Stage! Your Green Transportation to your destination.