New Sustainable Yogurt Shop in Redmond

Goosebumps.  You know.  The feeling you get when you learn of something in theory, take a liking to it, and then see it being played out again, and then again!  Just thrilling, exciting, moving into the more sustainable future, goosebumps.  The theory here being, that composting option can be effectively added to restaurant dining areas.

While many restaurants on the Eastside with the help of the City Recycling Teams have effectively added kitchen scrap composting to their back-end operations, it has not really hit the dining areas yet.

Over the summer, the discovery of my neighborhood Pagliacci's was the first aha a, this is how they do it moment.  They make sure everything you would use, plates, cups are compostable and just have one bin to collect it all in.  Easy.  As a patron cleaning up after a meal, I can handle this easy clean-up.

Today, this new "aha a" place was recently opened ZOËYOGURT!

Originally opening the first Zoeyogurt in Green Lake, husband and wife duo - Donna and Tom Hudson -  have expanded to the Bella Botega Redmond Location.   As empty nesters, they needed a new project and after a visit to CA, they realized that there were not any of these self serve yogurt places around here.  At the time Green Lake Zoeyogurt was one of the first self-serve's in WA.

Why 100% compostable?

To fit the seattle area clientele's importance on the environment.

How does self-serve work?

Yogurt is sold by the weight and the customer tailors the yogurt dish to one's ounce by ounce desire.

How did they come up with the name?  Zoë the family dog.  Who was happy enough to come from his bed in the back for a quick snapshot, with the owner's daughter.

All Zoe products are compostable!

Upon departing Zoeyogurt, a view of the neighboring businesses left me with a warm felling of gratitude.  All my favorite places now in a row.  Thai - Irish Pub - French Bakery and now to top it off and trailblazing in the sustainable sphere - self-serve yogurt!  Goosebumps and warm cozy feelings all in one!

What Stinks?

A parody about loving and hating the recent WM strike.

For most of us Eastsiders, the strike was a complete inconvenience with reminders of missed pick-ups lining the streets in colors of blue and grey bins.  By the end of the strike the bins lids were wedged up high with a surplus of recycling and cardboard boxes were spilling out the sides.  While the value of this strike was shown for the workers, do we have any indirect value that came out of this strike beyond a newfound appreciation for someone regularly taking our trash away.  These hypothetical characters will draw it out and you can decide.

Resident 1:  I recycle and food scrap so much my trash didn't even need to be taken out.  What strike?  I didn't notice a thing.

R 2:  Yaah, well you are not the one who had to walk by the yard waste/ compost bin all the time!  Did you see what was growing in there and oh man, the stink.  Sheesh I mean, I heard district composting is the next thing on the horizon, but does that process have to take place right here in the neighborhood bin!

R3:  Rats about that!

R4:  Let's just dump the compost bins in the trash so we don't have to deal with that "fact of nature."

R5:  We could if we had any room in the trash, those workers are on strike this week too!

R1:  Recycling is the same, it just keeps piling up.  Glad I don't have the household job of having to stuff the next lot in there.  Although, I'm amazed how much could fit!

R4:  Wow, we could actually save money if we only needed things picked up every other week.  Maybe this strike is not such a bad thing.  If we sort all the stinky "compostable" trash into bins that are picked up every week - for free - the rest can be picked up every other week.

R5: The other recycling would still need to be picked up every week because everyone knows that as "Northwesteners", we are awesome recyclers.

R1:  I have heard that too, but last week I was sure glad to reclaim a whole bunch of cardboard that was just sitting there for weeks.  It ended up being used as liners for the rows in between the pea patches.  The crew that normally picked up garbage had some extra time on their hands and filled in the mulch on top.  Less weeds between rows and a very nice look all with "reclaimed" resources.

R2:  It may look pretty, but I still can not get those images out of my head of what the food scrap bin looks like right now.  The looks of that would even scare the rats away!

R3:  I can imagine it now, the rats go on strike, compost bin not emptied in a month.

What do you think?  Any indirect value from the strike?

A:  Just a realization of how much our household/community accumulates in a couple week period.
B:  Ready to downsize my garbage or have less frequent pick-ups,  It wasn't so bad.
C:  My one-way ticket has been purchased for next time the "s" word might come up.
D:  I'm in the wrong profession.

SolarFest 2012

"You are just a bunch of hippies - Why would you want to ban me - I am an easy going guy - I just like to float around in the ocean." These were some of the quotes that Bag Man was telling an amused audience at SolarFest 2012, Shoreline's Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Fair.  He and Bag Lady were stealing the looks as they dramatically talked about their potential peril.  

Bag Man, containing no less than 500 bags, the average amount a typical household goes through in one year.

Bag Man and Bag Lady

When the attention was not on them, the crowd was checking out the booths in this 9th annual event.  In addition to the numerous solar panels that lined the rows, there were a large showing of electric and hybrid cars, electric-assist bikes, zero-waste info stations, cedar grove composting info, sustainable architecture designs and much, much more including a few of my favorites described below.

"Close the loop" with Cedar Grove Composting

Recycling Options at the Event

Looking for a project for your kids to do this summer?  Ready for them to take care of their own lunch one day?  All you need is a cardboard box, black paint, plexiglass or sheet of clear plastic, pot and a few cans of vegetables and soup.  Line the flaps of the box with aluminum foil, paint the inside of the box black and place a piece of plexi-glass on top and voila, its a solar oven.  

DIY Solar Cooker

Another DIY project, but perhaps a little more complicated was the pedal cars.  There are directions on the internet somewhere because Father and Son duo, Barry and Geiger, figured it out using recycled bicycle parts and PVC pipes.  Take a ride in one of those pedal cars and you won't want to return it anytime soon.  

DIY Pedal Car using recycled parts

Out for a ride with Geiger at the wheel.

A home built from a reclaimed shipping container.  It may be small, but contains all the comforts of home.  The Cargo Cottage only costs $35,000.  This would work great as an office, studio, guest space or Mother In-Law suite. 

A home - built from reclaimed shipping containers

Inside shipping container home is a sink/toilet.

This is one of those gem events that enough people know about it to make it happen, but the crowds are not too big for all the attractions worth seeing.  We had a table seat to eat our lunch while the Not-Its were playing on stage, the kids were able to check out all the kids attractions (solar match-box car give away, car tracks, bird seed feeder craft, bike rodeo showing safe riding and solar water fountains) and parking was a cinch.  The SolarFest is produced by Shoreline Solar Project.

And of course, the SolarFEST 2012 would not have been complete without the addition of Bag Man and Bag Lady.  To them: You were a wonderful addition!  Hope to see you at many more events protesting the possibility of another city (state!) banning you.

Feeling the love from Bag Man

Senator Chase's ride

DIY bird feeder using a toilet paper tube, peanut butter and bird seed.

Ask Kelly about Kirkland's Green Programs

On a sunny morning at Caffe Rococo this week,  I met with Kirkland's own "Ask Kelly" about Kirkland's Green Programs.   Kelly Ferron, is the Recycling Programs Coordinator for the City of Kirkland Public Works Department.

She is also featured as our Green Champion of the week, so check on the EcoEastside Facebook page for a profile on her own sustainable lifestyle.  The main programs she would like to let more people know about are:

• Kirkland Green Buisness
• Kirkland Recycling Options
• Upcoming Sustainable Education Series

The Kirkland Green Business Program recognizes Kirkland businesses for their green practices.
Currently, Kirkland has 93 businesses in this program and are in a vamping stage to include even more.  The Main Logo has a green outer circle that reads "Kirkland Green Business."  Within is a circle with a stylized picture of the marina.  There are 7 other categories that the business can earn including: Green Building, Waste Reduction and Recycling, Water Conservation, Energy Efficiency, Transportation, Pollution Prevention and Eastside Green Business Challenge participant.

Participating businesses, like Cafe Veloce for instance, are mentioned on the website and in The Fall Business Newsletter.  As you walk around town this summer, look for these businesses.  They have window clings showing they are a Kirkland Green Business and more circles for areas they are green.

Other businesses who wish to join this program do not need to worry if they are not all the way green yet.  Ferron said, "City of Kirkland will help you become green."  This includes site visits, providing convenient recycling bins and signage.

Recycling Options can be found on the Kirkland Recycling and Solid Waste website here, including where to Recycle Household Batteries (7 locations) and CFL bulbs.  Coming this Fall is option to recycle used cooking oil at the North Kirkland Community Center.  The used oil is then transported to Seattle to become biodiesel for local fleets.

Also coming this Fall is the 4-part Sustainable Education Series.   Ferron said, "The series will focus on homelife and creating a sustainable life style."  The 4 topics will be waste reduction, energy efficiency, water conservation including rain barrel construction and local food/ cedar grove compost.

Check back with them as this education series program unfolds.  This can be done on the Kirkland Enviro Facebook page and Kirkland Enviro on Twitter.  Other great sustainable living tips are shared on these sites too.   Also, look for the quarterly newsletter with the next one coming out this Fall and/ or contact the Recycling Hotline: recycling@kirkland.wa.gov or 425-587-3812.

Fabio-ulous Community Events This Month

Together we create community!  This comes in different forms and here are a few places to connect with your fellow Eastside citizens this month.

You may have already heard, Fabio will be in town.  As one of my Facebook friends broadcasted on her status line today: "somebody please go see Fabio for me at the Redmond Whole Foods- June 21st- sadly, i will be out of town."  Yes, he will be there and surely many of us Eastsiders.  Yes?  It happens at the Redmond Whole Foods at 11 a.m.

Later on that day is the Monthly Eastside Green Drinks.  This no-host event overlooking a gorgeous view takes place at 7 p.m. at the NewCastle Golf Course.  More info here.

On Saturday, June 23rd, at Luke McRedmond Landing in Redmond, there will be a Summer Solstice Celebration Potluck hosted by Sustainable Redmond and Redmond Wild.  It will take place from 10:30 to 2 p.m.

Find out when your summer neighborhood network meeting will be (most of them in June) - Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond.

And speaking of network meetings, announcing to residents in Redmond's Grass Lawn Park Neighborhoods of Sheffield Green, Strattonwood and Sixty-01: there will be a meeting on June 28th at 7 p.m. at Sixty-01's clubhouse.  Please forward this email if you have friends in these neighborhoods to help us get the word out.

Finally, join us online at EcoEastside's Facebook Page.  Along with community updates, we are announcing an Eastside Green Champion each week.

Microsoft's Lean, Green and Accountable Track to Going Carbon Neutral

One of Eastside's Largest Businesses, Microsoft, is taking a big step in Sustainable Business Practices this July by going Carbon Neutral!

I spoke with their Chief Environmental Strategist, Rob Bernard, online today.  He said, "The cost of carbon is to drive behavioral change."

Microsoft is putting an internal price on carbon and this is making carbon neutrality everyone's responsibility at Microsoft.  This includes data centers, software development labs, air travel and office buildings.  Not only will this "infuse" awareness, but it will also establish a discipline at scale across the business.  To support this program, they have the three pillars - Be lean, Be green and Be accountable.

How is it going so far?

"The real test will be 6 to 9 months from now, once it is all rolled out.  Then we will see how its being adopted", said Bernard.   He continued, "So far there are good signs - a keen interest from around the company."

Sustainability champions within the company play an important role in how this program is adopted.  Specifically they are helping to drive the reduction of energy use in buildings by 3-10%.  Bernard said, "The Champions are self-selected.  We were pleased with the number who have volunteered."  Communication with the Champions is done through newsletters, emails and meetings.

Each quarter Microsoft hands out an "Environmental Action Award."  The most recent recipient of this award will be spotlighted soon on EcoEastside's Facebook page.

Reporting carbon footprint and other sustainable practices, like waste diversion, is nothing new for Microsoft.  Bernard said, "It is important to get done, so we do it."  In the process they just happen to be pushing the envelope.  He described it as, "How technology can be leveraged to make better use of all resources."

Other sustainable active programs include:

• Reduction Goals for waste - including a 63 to 80% diversion rate and 95% diversion rate in their dining facilities.  95%!  It is not surprise that Microsoft was one of the Washington State recipients of the 2012 WSRA Recycler of the Year.  Bellevue College and Bellevue School District also received this award for 2012.
• The smarter buildings pilot is predicted to save 1.5 million in 18 months. This takes part in the operations of the building.  "It is being done using technology", said Bernard.
• White Paper - The IT Efficiency Imperative.  
• Carbon Systems - Enterprise Systems Platform (ESP).  Microsoft has been carbon reporting through this carbon disclosure project platform for the last 7 years.  
• They have an internal open forum called MS Green.  This is a self selected email group of about 1000 employees and contractors that discuss mass transit, energy conservation, organic farming and more. 
• and more, check out the Microsoft Environment site here.

Will the three pillars be enough to drive a large corporation like Microsoft to Carbon Neutrality?
Be lean - is taking something of what we are all familiar with efficiency and adding a technology element to the mix -  where better to start then Microsoft?
Be green - Purchasing more renewable energy is going to get easier as more options are opening and the technology is advancing rapidly in this field too.
Be accountable - With an internal price on carbon being set, a quantifiable measure has been added to the picture.  It is a new variable not be taken lightly in daily operations.

It is a track worth following in the coming months.  As they mention in their Carbon Neutral document, "This is a learning process, and we will evolve our approach over time based on results." Keep informed of this journey through the Microsoft Environment blog here.

Meeting to make Redmond a more Walkable and Bike Friendly Community

"How do we get more people walking and riding bikes?"

The Redmond Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee has thought through, advised staff and implemented programs based on this question and as of last night, formally weighed in with Redmond City Council to get their opinions and ideas.  This joint meeting occurred in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Most recently they have launched the 4th edition of Redmond Bicycling Guide.  The Committee's City Staff Person, Joel Pfundt said, "So far the new map has been well received."

Mayor Marchione, Arnie Tomac, Heidi Angel, Glen Buhlmann, Joel Pfundt and Council Members

A volunteer on the committee and local bike commuter, Glen Buhlmann, presented key things Redmond needs to attain Gold status as a League of American Bicyclists Bike Friendly Community.   Already we have attained Silver status, from commuters like him, the "Fearless Freds", whom are willing to bike in all types of weather and in Redmond's existing bicycle lanes, many of which are on streets with lots of traffic.  Buhlmann has been a regular commuter for 3 years from his Kirkland residence to the Microsoft campus.  Preferring to bike his errands in Redmond as well, "Redmond is a more supportive environment to ride in" he said.

To obtain the Gold Status, some of the points Buhlmann brought up were:

• Coordination and participation with cops.   Since two police officers were in the audience, support has already started on this point.
• More events, like the recent Bike Bash, where streets can be closed off for people biking downtown.  This will enable the "Cautious Calebs" to feel more comfortable on the roads.
• Seniors doing more trips on bicycles.  This brought up the point - we are surrounded by many hills.  While it may be flat in the downtown areas, moving away from this mile or two radius will lead to a hill.  The Advisory Committee will be demo-ing electric assist bikes at the Derby Days.
• Making sure the links are complete.

A second volunteer on the committee, Heidi Angel, presented on the challenges and benefits to being a bike commuter.  For a profile on Heidi, check EcoEastside's Facebook page.  The challenges of living without a car include nighttime riding and traveling to friends homes in more remote areas.  The challenge of nighttime commuting is becoming less she said, "Because of the B line."   

The benefits of biking and walking are:

1. A more active and healthy lifestyle
2. The more bikers and walkers out there the more safer it becomes
3. Reduced traffic
4. Community building

On the 4th benefit, Angel said, "When you are not behind the windows of the car, but instead chugging up some hill and someone is walking by, you are looking them in the eyes instead of being in your own world."

The council members then weighed in on their own thoughts.  The idea of having an app for the bike map was brought up.  To this the Mayor asked Councilman David Carson how much this would cost to make on 3 platforms.  Don't wait for this anytime soon!  Carson said it would cost about "six figures."  For now, the maps can be found online and in many businesses and the library.

Councilman John Stilin brought up concepts behind "Share the Road" and having amiable exchanges between bikers and drivers.  Stilin said, "This is a 2-way education."  Two ideas came from this discussion - the education class choice given for traffic violations and start bike riding education early!  This led to the Bike Rodeo idea, where about 3rd grade aged kids can be educated at school about bike safety.  "...instilling at a young age and having parents there too.  The parents can help instill the confidence in these young riders to go on to be lifelong bike riders" Stilin said.

Does it take fancy bikes or gear?  Councilman Hank Meyers asked Angel, who also happens to be an employee for Redmond REI, what advice she has for potential bikers.  She said, "Ask those who have experienced biking and one doesn't need really expensive gear to make it work."

Have you heard of bike sharing?  Councilman Hank Morgeson said it may be early for Redmond, but it could be done as easily as a swipe of a credit card and the bike would be ready to ride.  There is already a program going on called Blue Bike at Marymoor Park.  The advice to the committee was to be ready for it when the time comes.  "It is on the horizon" said Morgeson.  Pfundt mentioned that Redmond is part of a group setting up a bike share in King County called Puget Sound Bike Share.

The meeting concluded with a feeling of consensus and an invigorating energy in the air.  The Advisory Committee met right afterword with steps on how to keep this momentum going and will be meeting next month.  The committee meets on the second Monday of each month (June 11th at 6:30 p.m.) in the Trestle Room on the first floor of City Hall.  The committee members then parted and headed for their bikes.

What advice would you give to Redmond to get more people on bikes?  What are some of the hurdles you face yourself when thinking about biking to work, school and errands?  For those who have found ways to make it work, what advice would you give to fellow residents and what are your favorite trips?

For more updates and to view the Eastside Green Champions profiles like Angel's, join us on our new Facebook page: EcoEastside.

Go Green with City of Redmond

Recently, Stacey Auer, the Recycling Program Administrator at City of Redmond shared some of the resources the city provides to residents, organizations and businesses.  These include items picked up in curbside carts, to other recycling options for computers, electronics, monitors, televisions, styrofoam packing peanuts, printer cartridges and more.  They are also working with residents and businesses to engage in sustainability beyond recycling.

The latest program now available to residents - in part from a Washington State Dept of Ecology grant is the distribution of EcoKits.  The City's Recycling Program has collaborated with the already existing Impact Redmond Pledge Program.  Residents can fill out the online pledge and receive an EcoKit in the mail for free!

Impact Redmond on-line pledge

The Ecokit contains a reusuable stainless steel water bottle, reusable shopping bag, water conservation faucet aerator, R-trip recycled post-it notepad, Think Redmond brochure, discount card and yes/no recycling brochure, and much more.

We asked a few Redmond residents from different Redmond organizations (Sixty-01 Condo Association, Redmond Wild and Redmond Co-op Preschool) to take the pledge and give us their feedback.  One user said she likes that Redmond is going greener, although there seems to be some grey areas in the pledge and some [areas of being green] that seemed missed.  As a busy mother, her "me time" is her longer showers, but only when she can get them.  And while she does hang her laundry in the warmer months, this would not be practical year-round as the wetter months would not dry the clothes in time.  The missed areas were: use of cloth diapers, less frequent garbage pick-ups, eating vegetarian more than one night a week and driving a hybrid car.

Others agreed it is great that City of Redmond is taking on these iniatives.  "I found the pledging process to be easy and quick.  Sometimes the simple act of participating online, as part of a community, can be a galvanizing force to encourage people to follow through on their intentions.  This program serves as a good reminder that all of our small changes really do add up. Some of the items on the list are easy to do, but the impact can be profound when measured across our community and region."

Is the pledge enough to motivate residents on the Eastside?  We would love to know!  Perhaps for those less time consuming habit changes or even just adding a level of awareness without having to give up the flights to Hawaii altogether!  Either way it is a fun and easy-to-use tool, a way to be part of the Redmond community and in the end something will be coming in the mail for you.

For general curb-side, food scrap and other recycling information, the city has a great information source through their website here.  Auer said, "All residents can place food scraps in their yard debris carts to be composted!  All food, including cheese and bones can go in the cart."  In fact, nearly 30% of household garbage is food and compostable paper which can easily recycled into compost.   This material is sent to Cedar Grove Composting which is then turned back into dirt/compost at a stellar rate.  The process is interesting enough and can be viewed here.

Food Scrap Recycling Tips:

• To keep your yard waste cart clean, line the bottom with newspaper and layer the food scraps with yard waste.  
• In the kitchen, a tight-fitted collection container works great.  To keep it clean, line the bottom with a layer of shredded paper or paper towel, add a small amount of baking soda if needed and finish with an approved compostable bag liner.  Auer said, "Redmond residents can get a free food scraps kitchen bin by calling Waste Management at 1-800-592-9995."
• Visit gogreenscene.com for a list of approved compostable products.  For example the cups from some of the leading coffee shops around town are not compostable because they have a lining of plastic on the inside.  However, if you do find the compostable cups, they work as great collection containers in the kitchen and can be thrown in the yard waste bin too!  One resident uses this cup method to collect the scraps that can not be composted in the garden, i.e. bones and meat, but can go in the yard waste bin.

For businesses and organizations who are ready to expand their recycling programs, City of Redmond distributes a brochure from Waste Management that has these tips:

1. Form a Green Team
2. Determine materials you will recycle
3. Contact your business or property manager
4. Contact the City of Redmond Recycling Program for Free recycling assistance.
5. Coordinate collections with janitorial crew and/or staff
6. Educate and motivate staff
7. Maintain and expand your recycling efforts

The flip side of recycling is using the post-consumer material from these markets.  Look for products that have post-consumer on their label and the higher to percent the better.  A list of local office suppliers includes but is not limited to: Costco, Ducky's (Office), Keeney's Office Plus, Office Depot, PC Recycle, Rebinder, Staples and Target.  Cedar Grove Compost can be found bagged at PCC Natural Markets.

After taking the pledge at: www.impactredmond.com we would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section about Going Green in Redmond!  What tip would you give to other Residents to making the green way the easy way? -  i.e. placing the reusable bags on the door handle to remember to take them back to the car on the next trip.  Thanks Suzanne for that one, she says they can't be missed that way!

Technical Note: If after submitting your pledge registration and not finding the email confirmation in your inbox, check your junk mail folder.

Earth Day, This Week and Beyond

Myself and Girl Scout Leader Pam Hay at the Composting Demo Table

This weekend Green Redmond Partnership and Girl Scout groups met at Westside Park in recognition of Earth Day and to restore and maintain the forested area of the park.  They invited me to come and talk about composting following each of the two work sessions.  In between my talks, I spoke to one of the Girl Scout Leaders.  She said she has been doing this event for a number of years now at this park.  "It has really made a difference, there are less and less vines and blackberry bushes now."

Green Redmond Partnership Guide Nora


All the tools and gloves were provided by the Partnership.  Upon arrival, the volunteers were met by Guide Norah.  She lead the volunteers into the forested wooded area.   Following the work session, they hiked back up the hill for refreshments and to check out a worm bin/composting booth we had set up.  Here we talked about what options we have for composting on the Eastside, including the City's Food Scrap Program and individual worm bin composting options.

While only slightly amused by my "How to tell which end of a worm is which" type jokes, the kids were interested in seeing how a worm bin was assembled and checking out the wiggly red anglers themselves.

A couple girls shared what Forever Green themed monthly challenges they have been doing this last year in their troop groups.  Nia shared her favorite one, "Nature Vision came out to our school, took us outside to the trail and taught us how to recognize some of the different bird sounds."  Others talked of having made reusable gift bags and green cleaners.  This month's challenge is grow green gardens.  Two girls (and their agreeing dads) were happy to take the worm bins home and start their own worm bin composting.

In continuation of this composting green theme, my talk THIS WEDNESDAY will include information on Eastside composting.  Also presented will be a humorous way at looking at some of the Sustainability challenges we have today, how some of the options can be confusing and how some of the options are just a matter of being more efficient.  Going green doesn't have to mean sacrificing something or having to buy the more expensive product.  In fact, like in composting our food scraps, OUR community actually SAVES money.

Kitchen "Food Scrap Collection" Kit from City of Redmond

Check it out this WEDNESDAY the 25th, 7 p.m., at Soul Food Books in Redmond!  Come by for an enjoyable evening with a cup of tea and some good laughs to go around.  Hope to see you there!

The jokes are all new since I used up all my worm jokes.  Just tickle the worm in the middle and which ever end laughs will tell you which end of the worm is which.  If you can't make it in person, they do live streaming from the Soul Food Tribe website.

Next month, the Girl Scout Forever Green Challenge is similar to other challenges around the area: Transportation!  Cascade Bicycle Club calls it "May is Bike Month."  On their website has information on how to "Join the Challenge today."

Strong Communites are the Seedbed for Successful Sustainable Initiatives!

In preparation for giving a short talk tonight, this concept came through...

If Green Champions are important for spearheading new green initiatives, then strong communities are the seedbed for which these initiatives can grow and flourish.  

In other words, when a green inspiration strikes someone it can be fleeting and be gone in the next moment.  But, put that inspiration next to someone else who was thinking the same thing, then that shared awareness becomes the beginning of what could become a grassroots effort.  For it to move onto the next stage is where the strong community comes in to the equation.  

The two go hand in hand - Strong Communities & Sustainable Actions

In return, these Sustainable Actions give a more holistic feel to the community.

Press Release, Part II, from Cascade Power Group: Recovered heat helps to meet Washington's growing demand

BELLEVUE, WA – Washington can meet its growth in energy demand with thermal energy by 2035, according to a new report by Cascade Power Group.  The 2012 Washington State Clean Energy Roadmap finds that reusing wasted heat can help Washington meet over two-thirds of state climate goals.

“This report offers a new perspective on Washington’s energy resources. Until now, when people talk about meeting our energy needs they think of building more power plants or wind turbines,” said Juliana Williams, co-author of the report.

Heat is produced whenever fossil fuels are burned, and over half it is lost as waste. Waste-heat can be recycled through technologies such as heat exchangers, and in district energy systems and waste-heat to power (WH2P) projects. Reusing waste-heat prevents the need for burning more fossil fuels, thereby lowering overall emissions in the state.

The 2012 Washington State Clean Energy Roadmap presents three scenarios for Washington’s energy landscape in 2035, along with the policy changes necessary to achieve those changes.  The scenarios focus on installing combined heat and power (CHP) on all natural gas combustion; eliminating fuel-oil heating from the industrial, commercial and residential sectors; and achieving full electrification of motor vehicles. Based on the scenarios, Washington would need to develop between 5.6 and 6.4 gigawatts of recycled heat projects such as small-scale CHP and district energy systems.

“Each of these scenarios is ambitious but achievable using existing technologies,” said Chuck Collins, CEO of Cascade Power Group. “We need policy support from lawmakers in Olympia to help remove the project barriers for clean energy technologies.”

The report recommends policy changes such as expanding output-based emissions standards, creating Energy Conservation Credits (similar to Renewable Energy Credits), allowing utilities to rate-base investments in district energy, and adjusting utility ‘standby-power’ rates and is available online atwww.cascadepowergroup.com.

Press Release from Cascade Power Group: Gov. signs bill to include heat in renewable energy options

OLYMPIA, WA – Today Governor Christine Gregoire signed a bill that allows renewable thermal energy to qualify for renewable energy credits. 

ESHB 2664 signing - March 27, 2012
Stan Gent on left, CEO and President of Seattle Steam
Governor in front
Chuck Collins in back, CEO of Cascade Power Group
Megan Lynch-Folkstead on right, she works for lobby firm Martin Flynn Public Affairs

The bill allows utility companies to add thermal energy to the list of alternative energy resources they provide for customers to purchase.  These sources include: biomass heating through boilers; geothermal or ground-source heating; solar heating; heat recovery and reuse at wastewater treatment facilities, and others. 

According to the Department of Commerce, over half of the energy consumed in Washington each year is wasted as heat.  The bill provides additional financial incentive for utilities and private companies to produce useful thermal energy from additional sources beyond natural gas and fossil fuels. 

Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Morris (D-Anacortes), the bill (ESHB 2664) passed the House 97-0 and the Senate 47-1, and was supported by environmental groups, utility companies, municipal organizations and private developers.

“This bill changes the way people think about energy.  Until now, when people said renewable energy they just meant electricity.  Now, we’re changing the conversation to include thermal resources,” said Chuck Collins, CEO of Cascade Power Group, a Bellevue-based energy conservation and renewable energy company supporting the bill.

“We commend the leadership in Washington State for their overwhelming support for this common sense legislation that recognizes the economic and environmental value of thermal energy.  This bill will help to unleash investment in highly efficient and environmentally responsible solutions, strengthen local economies and sets a standard for other states to follow.” said Robert Thornton, CEO of International District Energy Association.

“Sometimes small steps lead to progress faster that giant leaps; today is the first small step in understanding that thermal energy has a much greater role to play in a sustainable energy future than has been  considered in the past.  Understanding how district energy, where renewable heat or waste heat from industry can be used to heat properties, opens the door to new ways to use today’s technology for future cost effective sustainable solution,” said Stan Gent, CEO and President of Seattle Steam Company.

The thermal renewable energy credits will be offered to customers through voluntary utility green power programs, and will not count towards the state renewable portfolio standard.  In 2010, over 50,000 customers purchased over 50 megawatt-hours of renewable energy credits through voluntary utility programs. 

Sustainabe Business Practices Adopted Early On at Keeney's Office Supply

Local Redmond company, Keeney's Office Supply, has the slogan "Put us to work for your office."  They are more than a supplier of products, but a partner to Puget Sound Businesses, to help put the most efficient work environments in place.  Read on to find out how efficiency and sustainability go hand in hand in this family-owned business.

Sterne and Keeney-McCarthy pictured.  They have been working together for the past 24 years.

Let's first introduce the cast.  Meet the president and daughter of the founder, Lisa Keeney-McCarthy.  The business has been in her family for 65 years.  Next, meet the General Manager, Steven Sterne.  He has been working with Lisa for the last 24 years.  They literally can finish each other's business sentences.  Then add 30 employees, including Lisa's husband Brian McCarthy.  The setting is warehouse, adjoining office and about 6 active trucks on the road each week-day.  Finally sprinkle in some good ol' NorthWest influence.  For many years, Brian has been a supporter of one of the largest grassroots environmental club in the U.S., the Sierra Club.  He was not present at the interview, but his name was brought up a couple of times, including why there was a bike mounted to the warehouse wall?

And what is the output of this family-owned, heavily NW influenced, company equate to?

Early adopters of Sustainability - both in customer outreach and operations!

Keeney-McCarthy said" This early adoption of Sustainability comes from both a basic belief in conservation and a focus on sustainable business practices that also saves money."  A couple examples are: "Reusing boxes and remanufacturing toner cartridges so they work as well as new, but don't end up in the landfill." said Sterne.

Happy and photogenic employee Heather.

Another sustainable element that makes Keeney's unique is they are strong in the ergonomic category.  They can recommend products to the individual, almost to the point of doing what Sterne calls, an "Ergonomic Evaulation."  This also gives real value to the business as healthy employers are more productive.  And speaking of customers, that brings us to....

Customer Outreach - Keeney's approach for involving their customers in sustainability is casual and when the customer is asking for it.  Keeney-McCarthy quickly points out, "We are not the green-nazi's."  They work with customers where they are.  For some companies, these practices have not yet been mandated, but employees will be interested. "We help in baby steps, for example, here are some samples to look at", she said.  And sometimes they can find creative ways to offset the costs of using post-consumer products.  Sterne said, "To off-set the costs of using 30% post-consumer paper, they can set their printing to double-sided."

Keeney-McCarthy outside by window displaying clings by "Think Redmond, We're Local, Green Power, GreenWorks, Eastside Green Business Challenge and Best Workplace for Recycling and Waste Reduction."

What other sustainable solutions do they offer their customers?

• Best Sustainable solution - This is making sure it is sustainable in the context of the customer's need. Sterne said, "Not just what has the green label on it.  For many customers that may mean rechargeable batteries are best, but for this other customer, that might mean bulk packed alkaline batteries."
• Integrated Green Style - "Green products are just another standard product", said Keeney-McCarthy.  They are integrated into the main focus of business rather than a boutique item.  This keeps the cost down on them.
• Transportation has Flexible Routings - Trucks don't waste gas
• Customer Education - Help customer's stock and order more efficiently which allows fewer invoice processing and truck stops.  This saves money for the customer and it is green.

"This lends to less empty trucks on a regular basis", said Keeney-McCarthy.  And at the same time "When emergencies do come up we are happy to accommodate them" she included.

Office Operations - As many Eastside businesses, they do the usual recycling and food scrap recycling.  They do this to the point, they are essentially a zero-waste facility.  Waste Management recently came out and assessed for them that everything that was going into the garbage, was indeed non-recyclable.  Here is a run down of other green practices in their operations:

Coffee machine pods are recycled as well.

• Styrofoam Peanuts - They collect from customers and on-site and then give them to another Eastside business that uses them in shipping.
• CFL lightbulbs Take-Backs.  Still the office mainstay in lightbulbs (Sterne gives the market about 2 years until LED's will become major contenders) and with their mercury component an important item to be disposed of correctly.  
• Waste Reduction - Since 2011, Keeney's has reduced garbage output by 75%
• Buy Green Energy from PSE - This program was set-up by local company Cascade Power Group.
• Keurig k-cups (pods) - They ship them back to Keurig, where what material can be composted, is composted and the rest is turned into biomass energy.
• Stopped use of 'single-use bottles' - Employees now have reusable water bottles.  Reusable dishes are kept in the break rooms.
• Eastside Green Business Challenge Participant 

Break room information board.

 What does it mean to be early adopters of Sustainability?  According to the Eastside Green Business Challenge, it is to be already "finding success in the fields of cost savings, resource conservation and brand recognition."   For a business to be still in business for 65 years that is sustainability in itself.   Keeney's knows what it takes to keep up with the times.  They get it!  As for the bike, that is a mystery I leave up to the viewers!  And for the second mystery question, Why do they have a duck hanging out their front door!  Any guesses?

HDR in Bellevue rolling with the Green Wave

The sustainable efforts of the Bellevue office of HDR is supported by both it's global corporate company, HDR, inc. and its building property managing group,  Wright Runstad and Company.   HDR is a service company in many areas including, architecture, engineering, consulting, etc. with the modo "One Company Many Solutions."  The local office occupies the entire 12th floor and parts of the 11th and 4th floor of the City Center Building in downtown Bellevue.

They have been a progressive green office for many years with an official green team starting in 2008.  Since then, they have piloted green programs for Wright Runstad and the City of Bellevue.  At the heart of these efforts is HDR Green Champion, Cil Pierce.  When not wearing the hat for this role, she's in the team of her company that provides financial services and rate setting for public utilities.

Cil Pierce describing the kitchen recycling area.

Building Manager Support
The view of being green has changed over the years for HDR.  The efforts started small and from volunteer effort.  Soon they were asking Wright Runstad for more recycling options, which were then provided.  Pierce said "We are so lucky to have them as building managers.  Initially, they had recycling centers for us in one central area, now they have them at each office's desk and each conference room." Next, they asked Wright Runstad, What about Food Scrap Recycling?

Just before 2010, and in preparation for Wright Runstad to become LEED certified, HDR became the "guinea pigs" to try out the Food Scrap Recycling Program.  It went well, and soon the program was being offered to all tenants in the building.  Also about this time, light sensors, were going in all the offices, conference rooms and restrooms.  In addition to the this being a LEED certification requirement,  Pierce said "This was a cost-saving measure."

During the interview, the property administrator Nicole Twohig, came down to show us where the output of the recycling goes.  Along with regular recycling and food scrap recycling, through the 1 green planet company they recycle just about everything that is recyclable.  Twohig also talked about their Green Fair coming up the Friday before Earthday.  This is an annual fair for the tenants and public (non-advertised), where the vendors like Landscaping and Facility come and share what green practices and products they use.  She said this is related to the LEED certification program.  Wright Runstad has joined HDR and so far 70 other Eastside businesses in the 2012 Eastside Green Business Challenge.  Twohig and Pierce commented that their teams are both currently filling out the initial survey to create their baseline and starting tier level.

Before looking at what top-down support HDR, inc is providing for HDR Bellevue office, here are some of the Sustainable measures currently in operations.

Each recycling container has a poster above showing what can be recycled.

• Green Team - Meets monthly
• Paper - Since the 2008/2009 corporate policy changes, they have been using 30% post-consumer based paper as their standard.  The default setting on printers are double-sided printing.
• Remodeling - From a recent remodel, sustainable building was kept in mind, for example the partitions in the walls are from recycled content.
• Computers - Screens are set to turn off after 5 minutes of being in stand-by.
• Zero-Waste Stream - to what this term equates to, Pierce said, "Reduced waste stream to the point that everything that can be recycled is recycled and anything that can not be is just trash, things that can not be repurposed."

A letter already filled out for employees who wish to stop junk mail.

And most recently, HDR participated in the October 2011 City of Bellevue Waste Reduction Challenge.  Pierce said this involved weighing trash and recyclables a week in advance to establish a baseline, and then periodically weighing them during the month of the challenge and again at the end.  They had a speaker come out for employee education and engagement prior to the challenge week.  Even with some variables (somewhat to their disadvantage, i.e. more employees out of the office during baseline week than challenge week), HDR employees were able to reduce waste output.  Pierce laughs at how she would come to the office early, to cart down the bags before other employees had shown up to work for the day and could see her.  

Top-Down Support

Where before the green team's projects were based on interests of each office and voluntary, it has recently become a recognized role by HDR, inc.  Clients are now requesting green house gas reports for their requirements.  And thus, Pierce said "More resources are being focused into these green projects."

Pierce also said" The CEO of HDR, inc., currently is reinvigorating focus on sustainability in both offices and projects."  For office operations: "They decided each office with 50 employees or more would have a green team.  All offices would have a green champion."  Some of the local smaller companies green champion's call into her green team meetings.  For more information on the sustainable element in projects, visit HDR, inc.'s website here.

This is great for the environment, it is also great for HDR's bottom line, or any companies bottom line for that matter.  From the recent launch of the Eastside Green Business Challenge, Pierce brought up part of guest speaker's Hunter Lovins talk.  Paraphrasing Lovins from memory, Pierce said "If a business reduces water and energy use and saves money, it only makes sense to save money.  And at the same time that also is saving resources.  The environment is a side-benefit."

Downstairs deli has new recycling area with "Recycle", Compost" and "Trash" labeled.

Green Champion Profile

Pierce said this idea of sustainability came early for her.  The philosophy "Waste Not, Want Not" was engrained in her as a youth.  Somewhere between the ages of 7 and 9, her mom would have her sibling and friends go around with a wagon, as the "clean-up club."  She spent a ton of time in nature as a kid too.  There was a ravine close to her home, where the neighborhood kids would hang out and watch the frogs and salamanders. Now her office photo board is filled with kayaking and other outdoor pictures from her families NW outings.  She has been at sustainable initiatives for awhile now, on her office shelf is displayed, a recycled glass plaque showing from 1989-1993, Pierce as a Commissioner for the King County Commission for Marketing Recyclable Materials.  

Also displayed in Pierces office is the 2010 Best Workplace for Recycling and Waste Reduction.  She said "This marks the 5th year for HDR to awarded this title. We are now on the honor roll!"

For HDR Bellevue, the efforts started small with a only a monthly green team meeting in the beginning.  Now that sustainability is becoming a big name in business, they already have the momentum (including corporate and building manager support) and awareness going to invite some of the most current trends into their office operations and projects.  It may just be good environmental practices, it may just be good business sense, or it may just be what we heard growing up, "Waste not, want not."  If we don't waste what we have, we will still have it in the future and thus will not lack it (to want it).  It's a win-win-win situation.

Modeling sustainability at Horace Mann Elementary

One of the Eastside schools, trailblazing new sustainable measures is Horace Mann (HM) Elementary on Education Hill in Redmond.   Leading these efforts, with support from her Lake Washington School District, is 5th Grade teacher, Marie Hartford and her 4th, 5th and 6th grade Green Teams.

By interest, Hartford is more the artist and ballet type.  Her first environmental classroom project was raising salmons from eggs.  Caring for and nurturing them brought out what she calls "the naturalist in me."

Marie Hartford showing the props used in a recent energy saving skit recording. 

Keeping the conditions right for raising the salmon was tricky at times, especially keeping the pH just right.  At one point, it involved kids hauling 5 gallon buckets of pond water (located at corner of school property) and mixing it with a certain ratio of tap water to obtain the proper pH.

Hartford's current classroom of students is raising frogs.  She said "This type of frog, red legged frog, is native to this area."  Currently she is working with the district and city to seek permission to introduce the frogs to the school's pond.  If this is approved, it would be timed perfectly with certifying the school as a wildlife friendly site.

Hartford showing Redmond Wild's co-Leader Nithi, the frog eggs.

Who would create the right habitat for the frogs and wildlife around the school?

The design and implementation of habitat will be a collaborative effort 

between the Elementary students and Redmond High students.  

This is not the first Sustainable Project that Harford has spearheaded at Horace Mann.  Her green teams have successfully implemented and are working on the following projects:

• Reusuable Cafeteria Trays - One of the first Green Team's projects.  It started when Hartford asked the cooks to save the trash for one week, then had it laid out on a tarp for the kids to see.  She asked them, "What do you notice."  They noticed there was a lot of styrofoam in there.  She then gave them some facts about styrofoam.  All of a sudden, the kids were taking ownership in the problem and offering to clean the trays themselves if they could go to reusable trays.  She said it is good for kids to be involved in this type of work, what she calls "authentic work."  The switch to reusable trays has spread out through the entire LWSD now.

• No Idling zone - Kids tabulated how many car's were idling and for how long.  The school now has a "no idling zone" in effect for student drop-off.  Recently HM students went in front of City of Redmond's transportation department with the result, "The City of Redmond would consider a no idling ordinance for the city" said Hartford.  The cities transportation department has also offered free transportation for students to present their "no idling zone" story to other schools.

• Walking School Bus - Parents take the role of Captain or co-Captain and lead a group of students, walking, to school.  See Jeanne Gustafson's earlier article for more info.  The 4th grade green team students just met this last week to plan HM's next Walking School Bus day.  

• Energy Conservation - The kids made signs signaling where energy could be saved.  They switched some of the classroom lights to energy efficient lighting.  The hallway lights now have every other light on now.  

• Wildlife Friendly Habitat - As mentioned above, the school is currently certifying to be a Wildlife friendly schoolyard.  By providing Food, Water, Cover, Places to Raise Young and Sustainable Practices schools, businesses and homes can certify as a Wildlife Habitat.   See Redmond Wild's recent article for more info.  

• Parnership and sharing ideas with other Schools - Initiated by HM students, a partnership with Redmond High school has grown and will soon include the pond restoration.  HM students have recently initiated with Redmond Junior high for collaboration in future projects.   There has also become a sharing of ideas between schools including: Einstein Elementary in Redmond and Mark Twain, Juanita Elementary in Kirkland to name some of them.

• Other programs - Such as reuse, recycling and having a worm bin on site. 

Seeing these great programs in effect left me wondering how can these types of sustainable measures, measures that are strong in community effort, be transferred to other schools, so I asked the following question.  For teacher's, parents and students who wish to start these or similar programs at their school's, what is your "secret sauce" to make it happen?

Hartford's response can be summed up in 4 steps.

1. Get to know your community and what their interest/needs are.  For HM, it came from an observation by the kids that the outdoor were smelly on rainy days due to more parents dropping kids off and the extra exhaust smoke.  Since they had many cases of Asthma, this became an important project health-wise as well.
2. Get Parent and PTSA support.
3. Be patient and positive with the school principle.
4. Work with the departments.  For her that has been LWSD facilities.  The Resource Conservation Manager Program Lead, Chuck Collins, was able to find HM a planting grant if they were able to cut the energy by 5% during a few month time period.  

Life Science lesson of what will make Solal grow best, and then students will later plant on school property.

This was a problem erosion area needing occasional mowing and weed control chemical treatments.    In about a 1/2 hours time the students were able to plant some native plants and turn this into a low-maintenance area.  

Also check to see if your school already has a Green Team in action.  Usually they are happy to have volunteers oversee planning and project sessions as well as bringing in new ideas.

Stay tuned for these future sustainable article topics:  spotlighting a Bellevue business, Redmond Wild's Certification Program as they close-in to their goal of certifying the entire City of Redmond (they only need a few more homes to certify to make it happen!) as a Community Wildlife Habitat and a district-wide look at schools on the Eastside!

Until then, as Hartford would say "Thank you for your hard work. We are moving forward with higher energy efficiency, lower emissions and a greener school yard [Eastside Community!] all because of you."