Just saw this on GreersOC (one of my favorite blogs):
Orange County just incorporated a new city Sunday--a child's dream town. Children can unleash their imaginations at Pretend City in Irvine by building a fort at the Construction Site, painting a masterpiece in the Art Studio, cooking in the kitchen at the Pretend Café, or building sandcastles at the Beach.
Pretend City is an incredibly cool, interactive children's museum created to build better brains through whole body learning experiences, educational programs and creative exhibits. READ MORE>>
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Attention Orange County - Amazing Home Items at your Local Habitat for Humanity Store!
Just delivered 2 sub-zeros, a US range, Dutch doors, doors, fireplace mantle and marble surround, double vanity w/ marble top, to the Habitat Home Stores in Garden Grove and Santa Ana. Hurry up and get there or they'll be gone!
Thanks OC homeowners for choosing deconstruction & reuse in the community.
Thanks OC homeowners for choosing deconstruction & reuse in the community.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Help Us Get A Grant By Voting
Instructions for How to Rate:
Register:
1) Click here.
2) Take 2 seconds to enter your email, name and create a password.
3) Click 'Register Now'.
Vote:
1) Click here.
2) Select the number of stars (5, of course!) and then click.
3) Your vote has now been recorded!
Lorenz Schilling
Lorenz assembled a team of building, recycling, sustainability, marketing, sales professionals & interns to help make deconstruction the 1st consideration in the building process, not the last. He founded Deconstruction & ReUse Network as an environmental & humanitarian nonprofit to promote sustainability through salvaging construction materials and growing a reuse network for quality building materials through partnerships with complementary organizations. He provides cost effective & environmentally friendly deconstructive solutions for homeowners, building pros & government to achieve maximum reuse & waste reduction. DRN completes the cycle of reuse by donating reusable building materials to non-profits who build affordable housing.
Why Lorenz Schilling
In order for the Lorenz to realize his vision, directing funds toward public awareness is critical. He is committed to educating property owners and building industry professionals to make deconstruction and building material reuse a priority over traditional demolition and landfill reliance. Key to realizing such a commitment from both parties is to establish Lorenz as an industry leader, DRN as a trusted source of information and a valuable resource in the green building process.By combining homeowner education and property planning, DRN can divert as much as 85% of reusable and recyclable materials away from landfills and into the creation of sustainable homes for low-income families through complementary non-profits including Habitat for Humanity & Corazon. With the financial award granted through this opportunity, Lorenz plans to dedicate funds towards the establishment and maintenance of a multitude of informational sources, including his blog, DRN website, speaking engagements, community educational submissions & contributions to social media outlets. Through public education and creation of a network of reuse professionals, Lorenz seeks to realize his vision of the positive promotion of sustainable building while reducing the negative environmental impact of landfill waste and helping families in need.
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Collective | Stories About Movement | Nau.com
I've been nominated to receive a grant from Nau.com's first annual $10,000 Grant for Change highlighting projects and people from across the globe. Please support our hard work by rating us - and we could possibly receive some much needed funding. Thanks!
The Collective | Stories About Movement | Nau.com
Posted using ShareThis
The Collective | Stories About Movement | Nau.com
Posted using ShareThis
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Jude Ndambuki Dumpster Dives for Computers, Fixes Them, and Sends them to Kenya
Posted by Jacqueline Moy, DRN Intern:
Today I came across this really fantastic article about a teacher I had in high school. His work refurbishing computers and printers bound for landfills is truly inspiring.
The CNN article states, “In lieu of compensation for the considerable time, expertise and expenses he devotes to his Help Kenya Project, Ndambuki asks that recipients plant 100 trees for every computer they receive. By connecting computer recycling, educational development and environmental conservation, he hopes to encourage a greener, more prosperous future for his country.”
Mr. Ndambuki was inspired to start this project when he discovered a discarded computer on a walk home from his night class. He brought the computer home and found that it worked perfectly. From then on he saw the potential for good in what people just throw away. In eight years, the Help Kenya Project has sent 2,000 refurbished computers to schools and planted 150,000 trees. I am floored that he was able to accomplish all of this in his spare time. Check out the CNN article and video for more.
Today I came across this really fantastic article about a teacher I had in high school. His work refurbishing computers and printers bound for landfills is truly inspiring.
The CNN article states, “In lieu of compensation for the considerable time, expertise and expenses he devotes to his Help Kenya Project, Ndambuki asks that recipients plant 100 trees for every computer they receive. By connecting computer recycling, educational development and environmental conservation, he hopes to encourage a greener, more prosperous future for his country.”
Mr. Ndambuki was inspired to start this project when he discovered a discarded computer on a walk home from his night class. He brought the computer home and found that it worked perfectly. From then on he saw the potential for good in what people just throw away. In eight years, the Help Kenya Project has sent 2,000 refurbished computers to schools and planted 150,000 trees. I am floored that he was able to accomplish all of this in his spare time. Check out the CNN article and video for more.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Something to Think about when you are Working on a New Project or Remodel
This was written by Anne Cole, Global Sourcing & Product Development Manager at Emser Tile
Low cost ways to being green friendly.
What most don't think about when building or remodeling green is their flooring. Carpet, for instance, typically is replaced every 8 to 10 years and hardwood flooring can be green depending on the type of wood chosen (slow growth wood such as rainforest woods, are not good). What is best is porcelain or ceramic tiles. The best tiles, manufactured in a green friendly way, are Italian. The Italian government mandates recycling of water, dust collection, natural gas kilns, etc. Now, they have developed a way to get LEED points by recycling 40% of dusts back into the clay. Ceramic and porcelain is considered more permanent than any other flooring. It does not need harsh chemicals to be maintained and typically is not replaced but every 20 years unlike other flooring.
The only disagreement I have with the USGBC is mandating how many miles from the factory that raw materials can be bought, etc. Think that containers coming over on a huge vessel use a lot less fuel than individual trucks.
The Italians (and most European countries) place the importance on the method of manufacturing which reduces pollutions on many different levels. They also are the best tile manufacturer's in the world.
It is a pity that China has taken a huge chunk of the European business. China, so far, does not manufacture green friendly at all and the pollutants are huge. For a little more expense, you can achieve LEED points, have quality tiles that have been manufactured green.
Low cost ways to being green friendly.
What most don't think about when building or remodeling green is their flooring. Carpet, for instance, typically is replaced every 8 to 10 years and hardwood flooring can be green depending on the type of wood chosen (slow growth wood such as rainforest woods, are not good). What is best is porcelain or ceramic tiles. The best tiles, manufactured in a green friendly way, are Italian. The Italian government mandates recycling of water, dust collection, natural gas kilns, etc. Now, they have developed a way to get LEED points by recycling 40% of dusts back into the clay. Ceramic and porcelain is considered more permanent than any other flooring. It does not need harsh chemicals to be maintained and typically is not replaced but every 20 years unlike other flooring.
The only disagreement I have with the USGBC is mandating how many miles from the factory that raw materials can be bought, etc. Think that containers coming over on a huge vessel use a lot less fuel than individual trucks.
The Italians (and most European countries) place the importance on the method of manufacturing which reduces pollutions on many different levels. They also are the best tile manufacturer's in the world.
It is a pity that China has taken a huge chunk of the European business. China, so far, does not manufacture green friendly at all and the pollutants are huge. For a little more expense, you can achieve LEED points, have quality tiles that have been manufactured green.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Green Is The New Black--Green Textile Recycling, That Is.
Last week, we attended the California Resource Recovery Association conference. We attended a seminar about ReUse and Repair with four very interesting, keynote speakers, each with something valuable to share. Today, I want to talk about what Christopher Mkpado is doing, as he puts his best fashion foot forward.
Did you know that thrift stores in America are closing down? In this economy, I expected them to be striving. Well, they’re not. As I learned from Christopher's presentation, thrift stores only sell 25% of the clothes receive. The rest of those perfectly good clothes end up in our landfills! It is extremely costly for thrift stores to dispose of those clothes, and money is just one factor. Sales are also down because consumers can now buy cheap, new clothes at Walmart and similar stores, leaving the thrift stores out of business.
Did you know… “textile waste makes up approximately 8% of the total waste in California? While the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 97% of post-consumer textile waste is recyclable, unlike paper, plastic, and aluminum waste recycling, most communities do not have systems in place to address the fabric component of the waste stream.” I had never given textiles much thought. Thank goodness Christopher did.
Christopher saw the need to reduce the needless waste, and thus, he spearheaded the company Textile Waste Solutions in 1995. He partnered with the City of Santa Maria to take the garments headed to the landfill and give them new life. Here’s how the magic happens. The usable garments clothe people in third world countries. Unusable garments become industrial rags and what’s left become fibers that can be used in upholstery or acoustical soundproofing. Christopher has recycled 1.2 million pounds of textiles per year in Santa Maria and hopes to increase that number to 2 million this year. He has also formed a partnership with Santa Barbara and hopes to recycle another 2 million pounds through that program. One man with a vision, employing many people, diverting waste, extending the life of landfills and making a big impact on his community.
I love what he is doing. Christopher ended his presentation with a simple sentence: “This can be done anywhere.” So, why isn’t it? Perhaps you want to do this in your community? Contact Christopher. He’s willing to teach you how. Here's hoping that this new recycling trend will take the worldwide fashion industries and communities by storm.
For more information about Textile Waste Solution, visit their website at www.twaste.com.
Did you know that thrift stores in America are closing down? In this economy, I expected them to be striving. Well, they’re not. As I learned from Christopher's presentation, thrift stores only sell 25% of the clothes receive. The rest of those perfectly good clothes end up in our landfills! It is extremely costly for thrift stores to dispose of those clothes, and money is just one factor. Sales are also down because consumers can now buy cheap, new clothes at Walmart and similar stores, leaving the thrift stores out of business.
Did you know… “textile waste makes up approximately 8% of the total waste in California? While the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 97% of post-consumer textile waste is recyclable, unlike paper, plastic, and aluminum waste recycling, most communities do not have systems in place to address the fabric component of the waste stream.” I had never given textiles much thought. Thank goodness Christopher did.
Christopher saw the need to reduce the needless waste, and thus, he spearheaded the company Textile Waste Solutions in 1995. He partnered with the City of Santa Maria to take the garments headed to the landfill and give them new life. Here’s how the magic happens. The usable garments clothe people in third world countries. Unusable garments become industrial rags and what’s left become fibers that can be used in upholstery or acoustical soundproofing. Christopher has recycled 1.2 million pounds of textiles per year in Santa Maria and hopes to increase that number to 2 million this year. He has also formed a partnership with Santa Barbara and hopes to recycle another 2 million pounds through that program. One man with a vision, employing many people, diverting waste, extending the life of landfills and making a big impact on his community.
I love what he is doing. Christopher ended his presentation with a simple sentence: “This can be done anywhere.” So, why isn’t it? Perhaps you want to do this in your community? Contact Christopher. He’s willing to teach you how. Here's hoping that this new recycling trend will take the worldwide fashion industries and communities by storm.
For more information about Textile Waste Solution, visit their website at www.twaste.com.
Friday, August 7, 2009
When Demo Goes Wrong (it's always wrong if you ask me)
Posted by Kandist Mallet (DRN Intern)
This video from the Huffington Post is a good reminder why deconstruction is not only better for our environment than demolition, it is safer.
This video from the Huffington Post is a good reminder why deconstruction is not only better for our environment than demolition, it is safer.
Visit msnbc.com
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