Think Outside the Roll-Off

From Salvaged Car Scraps To A Beautiful House

2012-01-24T16:03:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit: gizmag.com

One of the things we love seeing at DRN is the beauty that can come from salvaged materials that have been ReUsed for something else. Today we came across this article that shows us how a house in Northern California has been built and designed using car scraps that would otherwise be considered junk. The architects who thought of this fabulous idea are a husband and wife team, Karl Wanaselja and Cate Leger, of Leger Wanaselja Architecture. The entire house is made up of over 100 salvaged car roofs, poplar bark, and junked Dodge caravan side windows, among others. Even the wood furnishings throughout the entire house (inside and out) were made from locally salvaged wood.

You can view the full article from gizmag and the image gallery here.

Related Posts:
Before You Recycle Anything Consider if it Can be ReUsed FIRST
Reuse Meets Design
7 Ways to ReUse Your Wine Bottles

Favorite Memories from 2011

2011-12-30T11:31:00.000-08:00

We asked the DRN team to share some of their favorite moments from the past year and here are a couple.

"My favorite moment was seeing firsthand the fabulous structures built with the used lumber we gifted to Corazon; room additions to a clinic." Paula Wise.

"One of my highlights was a potluck at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Gardena that I happened into a couple of weeks back. While dropping off a furnace from one of our Brentwood projects (I suppose that was my contribution to the potluck!) I was invited to sit down and enjoy some great homemade dishes with the folks at Habitat. It was great to look out over the many items from our projects dispersed across the ReStore’s floor and know that our efforts help support this important organization and its many fine people." Myles McGray

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and RePurposeful New Year!

Riding Green Helps Los Angeles Bar Goers Reduce Their Carbon Footprint

2011-12-07T12:15:00.001-08:00

Photo Credit: Riding Green

Heading out to a the bar in Los Angeles? Why not reduce your carbon footprint while you’re at it? Riding Green is a newer grassroots environmental movement in Los Angeles that has come up with a way for bar goers to not only reduce their carbon footprint, but their bar tab, as well! The organization has teamed up with various establishments throughout the city that will feature different promotions for bar goers participating in the Riding Green movement. The goal of Riding Green is to encourage people to take public transportation which reduces our carbon footprint. As the organization grows, they hope to expand partnerships and bring awareness to the environment. You can visit Riding Green’s website to learn more and find out how you can get involved.

Related Posts:
Green Holiday Gift Guide 2011
The Car: A Necessary or Avoidable Evil?
The Truth about Some Green Myths

Green Gift Guide 2011

2011-11-30T13:50:00.001-08:00

Green Holiday Gift Guide 2011

Can you believe the Holidays are here already? As the fun and celebrations begin, it is important to remember that this time of year is often the most wasteful and from Thanksgiving to New Years Day, household waste increases by more than 25% (RecycleWorks)! One thing that can make a small difference is to select gifts that have been created by ReUsed or UpCycled materials. Below is a list of some neat gifts that are not only friendly on our environment, but also easy on your wallet.

Record Label Holiday Ornaments

These are perfect for any music lover in your life. They are laser cut from vintage 45 rpm records and each side of them features the original record label. What’s even cooler is the fact that these are made with zero waste! You can order them online at eco-artware.com.

Photo Credit: eco-artware

Silver Flatware Bracelets

These bracelets are not only charming, they also help keep old silver flatware out of our landfills! Each bracelet is made from reclaimed silver plate flatware pieces that are between 50 and 100 years old and it is a great gift for any person who loves jewelry. You can order them online from Tempest in a Teapot.

Photo Credit: Tempest in a Teapot

Recycled Bike Tube Night Out Card Case

Who wouldn’t enjoy a card case that is handmade in Seattle from used inner tubes collected from local bike shops? This card case features 86% recycled content and would be an excellent idea for that hard to buy for person on your gift list. It is perfect for someone who prefers a smaller wallet or for someone who would rather use a card case for nights out. You can purchase the card case at uncommongoods.

Photo Credit: uncommongoods

STARBUCKS Upcycled Gift Card Notebook Notepad

When it comes to the Holiday season, gift cards are always a gift of choice for many people. The problem with gift cards, however, is the fact that many end up getting tossed once they’ve been used. CampfireDesigns has an Etsy store that upcycles old STARBUCKS gift cards and turns them into cute little notepads. These would be awesome gifts for just about anyone! They would also make great stocking stuffers! You can buy them on CampfireDesigns Etsy store.

Photo Credit: CampfireDesigns

Upcycled Wetsuit iPad Sleeve

For the iPad owner on your list, what could be better than a sleeve to protect their iPad that was created from excess wetsuit material? Not only does this sleeve help eliminate wetsuit material from being discarded, it also does an excellent job keeping an iPad free from scratches and the lumps and bumps that sometimes occur. If your gift recipient doesn’t have an iPad, you can purchase an upcycled laptop case instead! The wetsuit sleeves can be purchased from uncommongoods.

Photo Credit: uncommongoods

Related Posts:

Last Minute Green Gift Ideas (2010)

5 Ways to ReUse Bubble Wrap

ReUse with ReWine

Rebound Books ReUses Old Books and Recreates New Stationary

2011-10-12T14:50:00.000-07:00

Unwanted and unloved books are given a second chance with Rebound Books. Rebound Books is an Australian company that has taken the initiative to keep old books out of the landfill and ReUse them to create "unique stationary in an environmentally way". The company also ReUses old record covers and transforms them into new calendars. Each piece of stationary that Rebound recreates also includes 100% recycled Australian paper. They try to use every part of the original book, but whatever they can't use, gets donated to local artists in their community.

Rebound Books has a great online bookshop where they sell their journals, sketchbooks, photo albums, A-Z books, and other stationary items that have all been recreated through ReUse! Each of their creations is also made by hand and truly unique!

Photo Credit: ReboundBooks.net

Donating Your Whole House: Is it Too Good to be True?

2011-10-05T13:54:00.000-07:00

Posted by Nicole Tai, N. California Development Director for DRN:

Lately, we'vebeen encountering property owners who are not doing all their homework when itcomes to their selection of appraisers and deconstruction contractors. Manythink our organization adds an extra layer into the mix, but in fact we areproviding you a GUARANTEED donation. Only a few other organizations can saythat in California. I love making deconstruction happen, but our industry needsto maintain certain standards to remain effective and true to the goals ofreuse. In this blog post, I outline the differences between non-profit andfor-profit contractors and appraisers. As you read on, keep in mind the oldsaying, "If it is too good to be true, it usually is" because it isperfectly applicable to this industry.

The 2004 Non-profit Integrity Act requires for-profits to register as fundraisers fornon-profits, and this means that if a company is offering a tax deductionfor deconstruction, it needs to have a written agreement with a non-profit.Unfortunately, most of the outfits in the San Francisco Bay Area are not incompliance with this act and are not registered. They are operating independentof the non-profits they are soliciting donations for, many of which aren't evenaware of these "deconstruction contractors" and appraisers. Thesecompanies may not see it as a fraudulent act, but in reality they are nodifferent from used car dealers who "solicit" car donations fromunsuspecting donors.

AtDeconstruction & ReUse Network (DRN), we may seem "picky" becausewe are maximizing reuse potential through local and legitimate markets. We workwith both for-profit and non-profit reuse groups to ensure that materials areeither reused in projects, or resold to the general public -both of which keepvaluable items out of the landfill. We make sure that materials are removedwell to insure that they actually will and can be reused.

We aren't goingto tell you we can reuse that 1960's furnace when in reality it will berecycled for the copper and metals. It is important to note that recycling doesnot constitute a donation. Why not? Without getting into boring details,recycled materials only yield a fraction of the value when compared to reusableitems. In the deconstruction industry, contractors will generallycalculate the value of recyclable metals to help offset their cost to theclient and this number is NOT factored into the donation.

If you areplanning a home demolition and are approached by a for-profit DeconstructionContractor or Appraiser for a house donation, we encourage you to do your duediligence by asking the following questions:

Does the non-profit your materials willbe donated to actually exist?
Is the non-profit’s mission relevant toreusing building materials?
Ask to see a copy of the agreement withthe non-profit, or their filing with the state attorney general as afundraiser.
Will someone from the non-profit be onsite (required) to conduct the inventory, as well as provide you with both acopy of that inventory and documentation of the process?

Failure toacknowledge these important issues may result in you forfeiting the fair marketvalue of your donation to resale value. The worst-case scenario is an IRS auditFOR YOU.

Alternatively,you can choose to go with tried and true, reputable organizations like us -Deconstruction and Reuse Network. If you have more questions on this topic,feel free to comment below or email me, and I would be more than happy to answer them.

Ross Homeowners Choose Deconstruction

Recycling Homes Should be a Matter of Conscience Not Stimulus Money

ReUse with Re-Wine!

2011-10-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

ReUse is so important to us at DRN and when we come across neat products that incorporate ReUse, we definitely like to bring attention to them. There is a clever new product that just came out called Re-Wine, which is designed to keep waste out of our landfills and ReUses wine bottles in innovative ways. According to Re-Wine's website, the wine cases are made of "100% Recycled Materials" that consist of rice farming by-products and post-consumer thermoplastics that are combined together to form a new material called Polliber.

Re-Wine's wine bottle cases have many uses, including a non-breakable wine carrier, an energy efficient lamp, and customizable furniture. The energy efficient lamp is so cool because you can use it on top of a desk or you can turn it into a stand alone chandelier. The wine carrier option would make a great gift, while the customizable furniture gives limitless possibilities and is like a building block set for adults!

Photo Credits: MINIWIZ Sustainable Energy Development LTD

When it Comes to Home Demolition & Remodeling, Why Not Choose To ReUse?

2011-09-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

At DRN, we often come across articles that discuss where materials end up once a house or building is demolished. More often than not, those materials end up in our landfills and never get any chance at a second life. Last week, Forbes came out with an article that discusses how many materials could be recycled from demolition sites and suggests that recycling may be the best option for bettering our environment. There is no doubt that recycling is extremely important and should be utilized when necessary, but I ask, “What about ReUse?” ReUsing materials from demolition sites can have astounding results that not only keep our landfills less jammed, but also creates more jobs than recycling.

Here is an example of the jobs created:

If you take 10,000 tons of materials and:

Incinerate it = 1 job
Landfill it = 6 jobs
Recycle it = 36 jobs
Reuse it= 28-296 jobs

Sources: US EPA, and Institute of Local Self Reliance

When I brought up this topic with our team we discussed how more knowledge of ReUse is greatly needed. DRN team member, Paula Wise, posted this comment on the article:

“Recycling is great, but I hope this Forbes series will discuss reuse. As a nation, we have done a really good job getting people to recycle. Now it's time to take it to the next level and increase reuse awareness. There is a reason the phrase is ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’. So many items can be reused in their original state. It's a shame to see these items ground up and recycled and not be reused.”

I feel more people need to know why ReUse is an excellent option for building materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill. It is estimated that 34,000,000,000 tons of construction waste end up in our landfills and that is scary! If more people looked into deconstruction, where materials would be ReUsed, that number would be so much less. For instance, deconstructing one 2,500 sq. ft. ranch style home can divert 25 tons of construction waste. Could you imagine if more people got on board with choosing deconstruction over demolition and ReUse over recycling?

Related Post:

Could One Man's Trash be Another Mans House?

From Skateboards to Sunglasses: Innovative ReUse

Why Deconstruction Will Not Only Improve the Enviroment but Also Lives

Talking ReUse with ReStore Partner Dave McKechnie

2011-08-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

Guest Blogger: Dave McKechnie of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles ReStores

Working for Habitat for Humanity has its advantages.

When you first tell someone that you work for Habitat for Humanity, they smile. It’s one of the only jobs I’ve ever had where people say “what a great job that must be” or “that must be an incredible place to work.”

Normally they have a general idea of what we do here at Habitat in regards to the homebuilding and volunteer side of our business, but when we tell them the particulars about our ReStores we always get the same two responses.

1. What a great idea, I didn’t know Habitat for Humanity had stores!
2. Where are they and where do you get donations?

Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles operates two ReStores here in the Los Angeles area. They are “Home Improvement Thrift Stores” that sell new and gently used home improvement items; items such as Furniture, Windows, Doors, Appliances, Light Fixtures, Sinks, Vanities, Tile, Flooring, Carpet, House wares and Home Décor items and much, much more.

Inevitably the 3rd question is “So where do you get all of the items that you sell? The short answer is “it’s donated.” The whole answer is a little more complex than what you might think. We get donations from all kinds of donors. Individuals remodeling their homes; businesses that are moving, downsizing, or just cleaning out old space; and we get a great deal of material from deconstruction. Here at Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles we have partnered with Deconstruction & Reuse Network (DRN) to assist us in the world of deconstruction.

Even in this tougher economy there are still building projects going on. In many instances in order to build something new, something old has to be removed. The conventional thought used to be, just tear it down and throw it away…but what a waste of perfectly good stuff!!! So somewhere along the line someone got the brilliant idea of taking those buildings apart and reusing the materials again. The deconstruction process is just exactly what it sounds like. Any structure can be deconstructed and so many of the materials can be reused.

DRN is Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles’ number one partner-supplier of deconstructed material. DRN has contributed more than a million pounds of donated material to us, which in turn has been sold to our consumers, which helps to fund all of our programs here at Habitat for Humanity.

Related Posts:
Several Eras of Treasures to get New Life through ReUse
Recycled Rolling Hills Home will help Build Nearly 6 Affordable Homes
Before you Recycle Anything, Consider if it can be ReUsed First

Reuse Meets Design

2011-07-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, July 13 I had the opportunity to participate in a local reuse paneldiscussion, part of the Architect and Designer Luncheon series at LA gallery The Loft at Liz’s. The panel included ourhostess Liz Gordon, designer Lori Dennis, featuredartists June Diamond and Aaron Kramer, and myself.

Lori highlighted examples of incorporating ReUse into herinterior design work (e.g. furniture and architectural pieces), while Aaron andJune discussed and showed their respective works made from reused materials(wood scraps, milk jugs and corks in Aaron's case, cut pieces of wine bottleand other glass in June’s). The art was impressive, and part of the“Diverted Destruction” exhibition that runs through September 6^th atThe Loft. The audience, composed primarily of interior designers,architects, and landscape architects, was notably interested in and receptiveto the topic. The conversation quickly took on a lively tone as webrainstormed approaches to further reuse and overcome obstacles that may standin the way. Liz provided a fine spread that included veggies from her home garden.

Beneath us was Liz’s AntiqueHardware, where an extraordinary collection of vintage hardware and fixturescan be found. Arranged according to eras/styles (e.g. art deco,mid-century, Victorian, etc.) were seemingly endless handles, locks, lightfixtures, sinks, towel bars, and more. Wecome across some pretty unique fixtures in our deconstruction projects that Ican see fitting in perfectly here. Lizand her crew have an obvious reverence for the historical significance of thismaterial and are doing their part to keep some great stuff “in the loop.”

Thanks again to Liz for helping the communityto recognize the importance of reuse in design through this inspiring event.

From Skateboards to Sunglasses: Innovative ReUse

2011-07-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

Inrecent years, we have come across some really unique ways people have ReUsed skateboards and turned them into other things. Just when we thought we have seen it all, we came acrossthis blogthat shows us how two brothers have taken old skateboards and turned them intostylish sunglasses!

If you visitBaptiste and Gianni Vuerich’s Facebook page, you canlike them and view their awesome ReUse creations!

Related Posts:
Creative Reuse: Water Bottle Tops
7 Ways to ReUse Wine Bottles
5 Ways to ReUse Bubble Wrap

Palos Verdes Estates Home Deconstruction

2011-07-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

We shot a video this morning from a home in Palos Verdes Estates, CA where Myles McGray has been managing a deconstruction and reuse project. Myles explains the project and donated materials in this short video.

Related Posts:
Manhattan Beach Raises C&D Diversion Rates to to 65%
Charitable ReUse in Action in Baja
Manhattan Beach Remodel Means Gorgeous Items for ReUse

Good TED talk from Dan Phillips: "Creative houses from reclaimed stuff"

2011-06-19T20:25:00.000-07:00

Designer/Builder Dan Phillips appeals to our Dionysian side in this enlightening and entertaining TED talk on the houses he's built using reclaimed building materials of all kinds.

The link

You can find more info on Dan and his company, the Phoenix Commotion, here.

Creative ReUse Idea: Water Bottle Tops to Seal Bags

2011-05-26T12:04:00.001-07:00

Posted by Lyndsy Czapla:

Tired of using twisty-ties and rubber-bands to keep your bags closed and not keeping them air-tight? What about keeping them waterproof? As much as we try to stay away from plastic water bottles, they are still everywhere and we are seeing some very creative ReUse ideas that can give them a much longer life. Recently we came across the idea to use the tops of water bottles to seal bags that actually works wonderfully and super easy. Since it seems that grocery prices are skyrocketing, who wouldn’t want to keep their food fresh and longer lasting?

Here is how to do it:

Cut up a disposable water bottle and keep the neck and top, as in the photo.
Insert the plastic bag through the neck and screw the top to seal.
The bag is made to be air-tight, such that water will not leak, the secret lies with the top and screw cap!

ReUsing Ceramic Dishes

7 Ways to ReUse Wine Bottles

Charitable ReUse Solutions for Surplus Property, Tell a Friend!

2011-05-17T11:13:00.000-07:00

June is the time of year when government budgets reset. Many projects are executed during the summer months. These projects might have surplus property that could be sent to landfill if not given a chance for a second life.

We are asking for your help in addressing this now, so we can help provide charitable reuse solutions for those who need it. Most people want to do the right thing and we are here to help.

Do you know someone works in local government?
Do you know someone who provides a service or sells a product to someone in local government who can refer us?
Do you know any contractors that work on schools, municipalities, universities, etc? Now is the time to reach out to them.

We have representatives throughout California who are available to articulate our charitable reuse solutions and the humanitarian benefits associated with it. Please let us know how we can help you help your community.

We hope you'll tell a friend about DRN's Charitable ReUse solutions. Thank you.

Could One Man’s Trash be Another Man’s House?

2011-05-16T17:01:00.000-07:00

Posted by Lyndsy Czapla:

Of course it could! At Deconstruction & ReUse Network, we truly enjoy seeing how reclaimed building materials and items some people may refer to as “junk” can be transformed and ReUsed. National Geographic has an excellent documentary that illustrates the ScrapHouse project in San Francisco. ScrapHouse was created as a challenge to construct a house using only scrap and salvaged materials. The entire project involved really thinking outside the norm when it comes to salvaged building materials and “junk” that would otherwise end up in our landfills. According to the documentary, 24 million new homes are built each year and 200,000 buildings are torn down. That is pretty alarming, especially knowing that a majority of the materials left from demolition don’t get ReUsed or any second chance. It is our hope at DRN that one day the method of careful dismantling and reclaiming of a structure's reusable, finished materials and rough lumber will not be out of the norm, rather second nature in the building and construction world.

Here's the documentary:

What Could you do with a 330 sq ft Apartment?

2011-05-12T13:10:00.000-07:00

Posted by Lyndsy Czapla:

The thought of living in an apartment that is only 330 sq ft probably doesn’t appeal to most people, especially when the motto “bigger is better” is coined more often than not. For architect Gary Chang, however, an apartment that small has the possibility to become not one, but twenty-four different rooms and be an enjoyable place to live. Chang’s vision is not only inspiring, but also an excellent example of how innovative design can be ultra-functional and eco-friendly… all within 330 sq ft! Check out the full article here.

ReUsing Ceramic Dishes

2011-05-05T16:15:00.000-07:00

Posted by Lyndsy Czapla:

Did you know that ceramic dishes have some great ways they could be ReUsed and can be kept out of the landfill, even if they are broken? Below are some fun ReUse ideas….

ReUse for broken dishes:

1. Place them at the bottom of flowerpots to create better water drainage.
2. Turn broken pieces into a mosaic that is sure to be unique and fabulous.
3. Glue pieces to picture frames or other flowerpots to spruce them up.
4. If they are not sharp, write on them and turn them into plant markers or dinner place cards.

ReUse for non-broken dishes:
1. Use cups or bowls as flowerpots.
2. Organize toiletries such as cotton swabs, band-aids, and cotton balls in the bathroom
3. Keep jewelry sorted and kept together.
4. Hang plates on a wall to add some flair to your decor. (Many websites show you how to do this!)
5. If you have no other uses, donate them! Someone else may find other ReUse ideas for them!

Do you have more uses for old dishes? Please share them here in the comments.

Related Posts:
Clever Reuse: Placemats
7 Ways to Reuse Wine Bottles
Garbage City

Manhattan Beach raises C&D diversion rates to 65%

2011-04-13T11:40:00.000-07:00

Effective January 1, 2011, all residential demolition projects (and new builds valued at over $100k) in Manhattan Beach must divert a minimum of 65% of "waste" from landfill through reuse and/or recycling. By making mandatory what 2010 California Green Building Standards Code ("Calgreen") considers a Tier 1 voluntary measure, Manhattan Beach reinforces its reputation as a leader in municipal environmental policy.

DRN certainly appreciates this progressive action taken by Manhattan Beach, which will translate into literally thousands of tons of material saved from unnecessary landfill disposal. We also took notice of their effort to differentiate between direct reuse and recycling on the updated Waste Management Plan, an important step if the environmental, economic, and social benefits of the former are to be fully recognized.

A deconstruction solution can help your project achieve (and likely surpass) the mandatory 65% diversion rate and our detailed documentation will satisfy Waste Management Plan requirements. For more info, check out our website or just give us a call at: 888-545-8333.

Clever ReUse: ReMakes Placemats

2011-04-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

Posted by Lyndsy Czapla:

Do you ever wonder what happens to billboards once they are taken down? I was quite curious to see if any companies were doing anything with them after seeing different billboards along the freeway constantly being torn down and replaced with new ones. It is frustrating knowing that many are probably just discarded into our landfills and not being used ever again. However, I did a little searching on the Internet and I came across the company, ReMakes, that is ReUsing billboards and turning them into cool placemats. According to their website, ReMakes™ eco-friendly placemats are made from reclaimed billboards and movie posters. Each one-of-a-kind set of four placemats is randomly cut and selected from the same poster. Who wouldn’t love to have some clever and unique placemats to spice up their table? Since placemats are the easiest way to change your table up and don’t cost much at all, I say check these out! They also have a neat video about their story:

Related Posts:
From Old Circuit Boards to Incredible Sculptures
Reuse Plastic Bread Bags
5 Ways to Reuse Bubble Wrap

From Old Circuit Boards to Incredible Sculptures

2011-03-24T16:52:00.001-07:00

Posted by Lyndsy Czapla:

Who would of thought that an old circuit board could be ReUsed and made into a sculpture of shoes? I surely didn’t! I came across this blog that showcases the work of Steven Rodrig, an artist who is making an extraordinary effort to keep old circuit boards out of landfills where they could remain for a few thousand years and dangerously impact our environment. It is really neat seeing the creativity people have and their ability to ReUse items that generally get discarded!

Related Posts:

7 Ways to Reuse Wine Bottles

How to Reuse Plastic Bread Bags

How To Recycle Random Things in your Home

7 Ways to ReUse Your Wine Bottles

2011-03-17T12:23:00.000-07:00

Posted by Lyndsy Czapla, DRN Orange County:

One of my favorite things to do is to keep an eye out for different ways to ReUse items I have around the house. A few weeks ago, I found some awesome ideas about bread bags and it made me think about other things I typically recycle. Wine bottles are a perfect example.

Although there is nothing wrong with recycling them, I thought it would be neat if I could find some easy and unique ideas to ReUse them. One of my go-to websites, Mother Nature Network (MNN), just posted a great blog giving some neat DIY ideas for ReUsing wine bottles. Check them out here.

Related posts:

5 Ways to Reuse Bubble Wrap

Before you Recycle, Consider Reuse

Recycle Random Household Items

Generation Green: Reduce, Reuse & Rejoice

2011-03-01T15:02:00.000-08:00

Our team has grown so much since we started this organization back in 2007 in my living room. We now have amazing reps all over California whose passion for our mission has helped us expand tremendously. We owe all our success to the hard work of our team.

Brooklyn and Mason

In the past few months, however, we’ve had 3 new additions to the DRN family and while they have not yet generated any leads for us, they have certainly stolen our hearts.

Harrison James

Welcome Brooklyn and Mason Long and Harrison James Tai…our newest DRN team members in the Bay Area!

DRN, helping change the future one child at a time.

Read more posts:
Deconstruction Should be a Matter of Conscience not Stimulus Money
What is Roll-off?
Why Deconstruction will not only Benefit the Environment...

Have plastic bread bags? Don’t Toss ‘em… Reuse ‘em!

2011-02-22T14:53:00.000-08:00

Posted by Lyndsy Czapla, Deconstruction Consultant, Orange County:

At DRN, we are always on the lookout for great ways to ReUse everyday household items. I recently came across this blog that has some fantastic ways to ReUse bread bags! Did you know that they could be ReUsed to decorate a cake or protect shoes while travelling? Check out other great ReUse ideas here.

Kathy Faller Joins the DRN Team in San Diego

2011-01-27T15:21:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to welcome Kathy Faller to our team, serving San Diego County!

Kathy first found out about us while building with Corazon in Baja, where she was putting our salvaged lumber to work for the families down there. Now she's on our team and we couldn't be happier!

Read the press release here>>

Related Posts:
Lorenz Schilling Joins Board of Directors for Reuse Alliance
Charitable Reuse Down in Baja
DRN Welcomes New Advocates in San Diego and Palm Springs

5 Ways to ReUse Bubble Wrap

2011-01-20T17:18:00.000-08:00

Posted by Lyndsy Czapla

As much as I don't use bubble wrap anymore, I am always stuck with some after the holidays. Being almost 2,000 miles away from my Grandparents, it is almost inevitable that the annual box of gifts they send for Christmas is full of the pesky plastic stuff! Don't get me wrong, I get so excited to open the boxes they send, but I really don't like the bubble wrap contained in them. For the past few years, I have tried to ReUse the bubble wrap any which way I can. Here are some ideas you could try if you end up with extra bubble wrap:

Fridge Drawer Liner
Just line bubble wrap inside your drawers in your refrigerator to prevent fruits and vegetables from bruising.

Window Insulation
Tape pieces of bubble wrap to the inside of windows and it really helps keep the cold air out. When I had really old windows in my house, I did this and it actually helped. Some people even do this inside their greenhouses, too.

Bath Pillow
If the bubble wrap is not popped yet, you can roll it up and use it in the bath tub to support the back of your head.

Picnic Basket Insulation
Place the bubble wrap around cold items to keep them cold so you won't have to lug around a cooler, too. This also works great with the beverages you bring along on the picnic.

Bubble Wrap Painting
If you are painting and looking for a neat finish, you can place paint on the bubble wrap and press it up against your project. It really creates a cool look!

Check out related posts:
Last Minute Green Gift Guide
Before You Recycle Anything Consider if it Can be ReUsed FIRST
Deconstruction Creates Fabulous Furniture

Why Deconstruction will not only Improve the Environment but also Lives

2011-01-18T12:32:00.000-08:00

I came across a great article today about deconstruction that really highlights how this shift in building will not only improve the environment and help others, it will create jobs. I hope traditional contractors are recognizing what the future holds in this industry and that more will jump on board deconstruction sooner rather than later. (Source: The Tyee in British Columbia)

To read the article go here. I am sharing the time lapsed video featured below.

If you're a California contractor interested in learning more about our organization, please contact me.

Check out more videos about Deconstruction:
Manhattan Beach Remodel
Interview with DRN Founder at West Coast Green
Using Legos to Learn about Deconstruction

Futhering my Commitment as a Board Member for Reuse Alliance

2011-01-12T14:15:00.000-08:00

Today, Reuse Alliance announced three new board members and I am thrilled to be one of them. You can read our announcement here but I just wanted to take a moment to say how thrilled I am to be a part of this organization and to be able to give back a portion of the support I've received from others for DRN. I realize I don't have a lot of free time, but the advancement of reuse and educating more about the critical need for it, is definitely worth a little overtime.

Thanks to all our board members, partners and agents too, your support is invaluable and we truly appreciate your support. Here's to a healthy and successful new year for all!

Last Minute Green Gift Guide

2010-12-17T14:39:00.000-08:00

Posted by Lyndsy Czapla

Usually every year I am way ahead of schedule with my Holiday gifts. This year, however, I have been pretty far behind and still have to head out this weekend into the trenches a.k.a the stores to get some more shopping done! One thing that I look for every year is gifts that are eco-conscious and are friendlier to our planet. Below is a list of some last minute green gifts that I think are pretty neat and are still available to get before Dec. 25th! All are under $20!

Vapur Anti-Bottle (Reusable Water Bottle) …. Sold at Macy’s, Target, and Online Retailers
Nahui Ollin Candy Wrapper Itsy Bitsy Pouch (Made from Candy Wrappers!) …. Sold at QVC.com and Online Retailers
Any Reusable Bag! What I like to do is put gifts into reusable shopping bags rather than paper gift bags! It is so easy and most reusable bags cost the same as paper gift bags! Plus, you can find reusable bags just about anywhere!
Luigi Bormioli Recycled Green Glass 3-Section Serving Tray… Sold at WalMart.com
Recycled lp coasters…Sold at RedEnvelope.com
Tree-Free Jewelry Box with Piping…Sold at Cost Plus World Market in-store and online

Yes, Orlando, There is a Santa Claus and his Elves just Built you a Home in 1 Day

2010-12-14T11:29:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday, Lorenz and I decided to join Corazon for their final volunteer build event of the year. While DRN supports Corazon with our lumber donations, we hadn’t joined them for a build in quite a while. I’m so glad we did.

We set our alarms for 4:00 am to allow us plenty of time to get dressed, have some much-needed coffee, and feed our bleary-eyed dogs. You see, the group needs to meet in Chula Vista at 6:00, which is an hour and a half drive for us. Once there, we go over the plan for the day, attach ribbons on our antennas so we know who is part of the group, get our radios and head for the border. The group will caravan into Mexico together, only stopping for those who get flagged into Mexico’s secondary. This happens quite a bit and is not a big deal when you know what to expect.

We arrive in Chula Vista a little after 6:00 am, after picking up Carl Hanson, the gentleman who helps us transport our lumber to Corazon, who will be joining us today. Today is Carl’s first build and he’s one of the sponsors, supplying some the lumber for today. Our group is a small one, only 14 people, but of the 14, 10 of them have hundreds of builds under their belts and would prove to be an amazing team.

We’re building in Pedro Gal and arrive by 7:00 am. We’re met by half a dozen of the locals, who are earning their hours toward their homes. Nothing is given away for free at Corazon. People must put in the time and effort to earn a home. These ladies and gentleman would make up my painting team. The other teams would build the walls and roof rafters. With so many experienced team members, there wasn’t a lot of chit-chat. Heads were down and butts were up in the air as everyone got busy building. By 9:30 am, the walls were up and we were getting ready to put the roof on the house. We were making amazing time. To put things into prospective, the roof normally doesn’t go on until 12:00 pm when we break for lunch. At this rate, we would be one of the “those” builds, the ones we’ve heard about, the ones that are done by 2:00 pm, but we thought those were urban legends because we had never been on one of “those” builds.

When we broke for lunch, the tar paper was complete and almost all of the roofing tiles installed. I’ve never seen a house go up so fast. Wahoo! We would be done by 2:00 pm, two hours ahead of schedule. The last hour and a half was a blur. By 2:00 pm, we were dedicating the house with a blessing and the homeowner, Orlando, was getting his keys to his new home.

I should pause here to tell you a little bit about Orlando. Orlando is a lovely man. He has been working with Corazon for a year and a half earning his hours toward his new home. The committee, a group of local residents, decides who gets the next home based on need. While he was next on the list, no one thought we would be able to provide him a home this year, but miracles can happen. The sponsors magically appeared with supplies for his home and the build was given the green light. You see, Orlando has owned the property for quite some time, but he’s been living in a rental. He recently lost his job and had no idea where he was going to live now that he couldn’t afford his rent. Enter a Christmas miracle. At 2:00 pm on Saturday, December 11, 2010, Orlando, with dimples the size of the Grand Canyon, was thanking us for his new home and the new life that was about to start for him. He said now that he had a home, he could marry his girlfriend and start the family he always wanted. What an amazing day. We were blessed with beautiful weather, skilled volunteers, generous sponsors and in 7 hours, we took a cement slab and built a house. Thank you Corazon for allowing me to be part of this amazing day. It was a wonderful way to start my holiday season.

If you’re not familiar with Corazon, the organization has been building homes and sustainable communities in Mexico for 20 years. They are known for their Build a House in a Day program. I encourage you to visit their website and learn more.

Check out photos from our build here & visit our Photo Galleries to see some Corazon builds

If Huge Tax Breaks for your Home's Salvaged Materials Sounds Too Good to be True - That's Because it is!

2010-11-03T14:13:00.000-07:00

Now that California State Assemblyman Ira Ruskin has given Paul Gardner and Whole House Building Supplies the Small Business of the Year Award for State Assembly District 21, I suppose more and more environmentally-minded (or tax deduction-minded) folks will want to bring down their house through Mr. Gardner’s operation, right? Not so fast! Mr. Gardner should have gotten the tax-break racket of the year award, instead. Apparently no one else put their glasses on and took a close look at the texture of Mr. Gardner’s too-good-to-be-true operation.

In the fall of 2006 the IRS instituted their 3 year recapture program which was designed to address the donations of non-cash goods to recipient charitable organizations where deductions taken by tax payers and the net benefit to charities didn’t remotely match. Mr. Gardner’s little operation gives us an excellent example of the big-dollar issue the IRS is hoping to solve with its 2006 invention, IRS Form 8282.

These discrepancies occur when a person or entity assumes the role of third party fundraiser, like Whole House Building Materials does when it solicits deconstruction business in conjunction with a tax donation. The fundraiser directly receives and sells the non-cash donation and subsequently gives the charity some part of the sales proceeds.

If the fundraiser actually gives the real charity anything, the charity receives what it receives without ever touching the material donation. In most of these cases, a significant portion of the material sales revenues stay with the fundraiser to pay for its costs of doing business, like rent, and salaries, and all the other things a for-profit company pays for. Mr. Gardner claims he gives 100% of the material sales proceeds to something called the EPACT Educational Fund. But upon closer examination, things just don’t add up.

But this is how the deal goes down. Let’s say, instead of traditional demolition, you’re considering doing “deconstruction” with Whole House Building Supplies. You call up Mr. Gardner and he tells you that by doing deconstruction with him, you can take a tax deduction for your donation – just as he told a friend of mine who called him with a possible project. Mr. Gardner said she should expect a $50.00 per square foot tax deduction (even though he’d never seen the house or its condition, and not to mention Mr. Gardner isn’t an appraiser, and never mind his conflict of interest in so far has he also stands to win the deconstruction project dollars, if not all the materials in the house too!) and that the deconstruction would run about $10.00 per square foot. What this adds up to is that homeowners get their demo for free and put a healthy chunk of money in the bank after that, because for every fifty dollars that a typical home builder deducts, they pay twenty dollars less in taxes. So in effect, you pay $10.00 to get $20.00 in return, but you also don’t have to pay the $5.00 to $10.00 per square foot that traditional demolition would have cost you, so your savings is even greater.

If this was all on the up and up, every traditional demo contractor in the state would be out of business, because every homeowner in the state would have a Paul Gardner deconstructing their home to near windfall savings. But Mr. Gardner and his donors have simply been lucky to fly under the radar of the IRS. His days of doing business like he presently is, are numbered (Just ask the hundreds of folks whose tax deductions were disallowed in the Watts 13 donations scam, that spread across Los Angeles and Orange Counties in the 1990’s.). In all likelihood, the reason he’s able to give deconstruction prices at little more than machine wrecking prices (despite the labor intensive nature of taking a house apart piece by piece, with many people, over several weeks, instead of smashing it in several hours with one guy and a machine) is that he really never plans to make any money on the deconstruction itself; rather, Mr. Gardner makes all his money on the sales of the materials, instead.

Oh yes, but Mr. Gardner claims he gives 100% of the material sales proceeds to this EPACT Educational Fund run by some guy by the name of William Byron Webster in condominium # 307 at 480 East O’Keefe, in East Palo Alto – EPACT Fund headquarters. Let’s suppose for a moment that what Mr. Gardner says is true about 100% of the proceeds going to EPACT; if this really happens, Mr. Educational Fund is supposed to sign every donor’s IRS Form 8283 as having received their donation, which according to Mr. Gardner an appraiser will assign a $100,000 value to, if all you have is a dinky little 2,000 square foot house! Doing the math, obviously there ain’t no way in high heaven, Mr. Gardner is either going to sell the materials for, or right a check to, Mr. EPACT for $100,000 dollars for the material sales out of that little 2000 sq. ft. house!

In an extremely optimistic scenario, Mr. Gardner might sell those materials from the donated home for $10,000. Then let’s say he really does give 100% percent to EPACT; EPACT only gets a net benefit of 10K from the donation, which is 90K less that Mr. 2000-sqft-homeowner-donor deducted.

Now the new deal from the smart people at the IRS is that Mr. EPACT (William Byron Webster) must fill out IRS Form 8282 as soon as the non-cash donation is disseminated for cash (which in EPACT’s case should be immediately, because EPACT never actually receives any of the donated materials) and stating the net dollar amount EPACT received from the donation, which in this scenario is 10K. What happens next is that the really smart people at the IRS then reconcile the difference between the 8283 they got from Mr. 2000sf-100K-deduction-homeowner-donor-guy, and the 8282 they get from Mr. EPACT. Then the IRS sends Mr. 2000sf-100K-deduction-homeowner-donor guy a letter saying he owes taxes on the 90K of income which he didn’t pay taxes on.

Oops! I hope Mr. 2000sf-100K-deduction-homeowner-donor guy has a savings account, because that’s the optimistic scenario. But let me digress for one paragraph in order to clarify a small point.

When donors of non-cash goods donate directly to a bona-fide non-profit, the rules are the same, unless the non-profit uses the donated material in the course of its mission. The IRS gives us an example of a company donating donating medical supplies to a releif organization: The relief organization doesn’t need to fill out the 8282 if it uses the medical supplies in the field, in support of its mission. As long as this is the case, the donor need not worry about the IRS taking issue with its 8283 deduction, as long as the donation’s fair market value can be substantiated. Another example would be, if you donated twenty thousand sheets of drywall to Habitat for Humanity and deducted their fair market value; you’re golden as long as Habitat builds houses with that drywall (that Habitat's mission). If, on the other hand, they broker off the drywall or sell it all in their stores for fifty cents on the dollar, that’s another matter. In the second scenario they’ve used the material in a fundraising capacity and must submit the 8282, stating the net cash benefit they received.

But getting back to the folks who donate through the Whole House plan, it may get much worse, because according to Mr. Gardner he only charges a measly $10 a square foot for labor–intensive deconstruction. But he also states he doesn’t make any money selling the materials! I’m betting he can’t match his material sales receipts with the checks he writes to EPACT (if there really are any checks) and that if anyone really took a close look they’d find Mr. Gardner uses a significant portion of the material sales to pay his rent, and salaries, and utilities, and all the other costs retail sales usually go to pay for. What’s more, according to the website “The Charities Guide” EPACT has no assets and receives no income and hasn’t filed a return since 2003. They have a highly suspicious website running off the Stanford server, which doesn’t talk specifically about a single project they’ve been involved with since the year 2000. Check it out for yourself.

(from: The Charities Guide)

EPACT EDUCATION FUND

PO BOX 50142

PALO ALTO, CA, 94303-0142

Contact: WILLIAM B WEBSTER

Employee Identification Number: 770249384

Ruling Date: April 1992

Deductions: Contributions are deductible

Foundation Type: Organization that normally receives no more than one-third of its support from gross investment income and unrelated business income and at the same time more than one-third of its support from contributions, fees, and gross receipts related to exempt purposes.

Activity: Described in section 509(a)(2) of the Code

Activity: Other instruction and training

Organization Type: Corporation

Latest Return Filed: December 2003

Filing Requirement: 990 - Not required to file Form 990 (income less than $25,000). No 990PF return.

Asset Amount: $0

Income Amount: $0

Form 990 Revenue Amount: $0

Organization Type: Education N.E.C.

Corporation

EPACT EDUCATION FUND

Number: C1655424 Date Filed: 12/29/1989 Status: active

Jurisdiction: California

Agent for Service of Process

WILLIAM BYRON WEBSTER

480 EAST O'KEEFE ST #307

EAST PALO ALTO, CA 94303

So, attempting to wrap this up, if Mr. Gardner deconstructs dozens of homes every year, and using the numbers he gave my friend (remember the $50.00 per square foot) that means donors are literally taking millions of dollars in tax deductions through Whole House and Mr. Webster; yet this EPACT Fund has nothing to show for it! Even if Mr. Gardner sold the materials for 10% of what donors are writing off, and then gave 100% of those revenues to EPACT, EPACT should show revenue and checks from Mr. Gardner for several hundred thousand dollars a year.

Now after giving Whole House Building Supplies the Small Business of the Year Award, maybe Assemblyman Ruskin gets some things I don’t get. But it sure seems to me, somebody is giving somebody the business!

Assemblyman Ruskin may want to put a large disclaimer on his endorsement of Mr. Gardner who will otherwise soon be riding even higher on the tax deductions of homeowners who were led their by Mr. Ruskin himself. One day the IRS is going to catch up with Mr. Gardner and Mr. Webster and all the donors who bought their bill of goods, and Mr. Ruskin might have a little egg on his face.

Of course, contributions to this topic by Mr. Paul Gardner and Mr. William Byron Webster are more than welcome.

Read other posts like this :

Your House Your Rules!

Audit Your Home's Energy Use!

What is Roll-Off?

Interview on KVYN Radio, Napa Valley

2010-10-25T11:26:00.000-07:00

If you missed my interview with KVYN radio in Napa Valley last week, you can listen now - parts I and II are below.

Part I:

Part II:

Check out more posts on Deconstruction Network and Charitable ReUse:

Charitable ReUse in Action Down in Baja

Meet the Planet Radio Show

Let's Talk about Deconstruction and Charitable ReUse tomorrow Live on KVYN Radio

2010-10-21T15:35:00.000-07:00

Join me tomorrow on KVYN in Napa to discuss the benefits of deconstruction and charitable reuse when you remodel or rebuild. You can stream it live on the KVYN website and if you miss it, we'll post it to our website within a few days.

Thanks for Thinking Outside the Roll-Off!

Listen to the KVYN radio piece here:
Interview on KVYN, Napa Valley

Charitable ReUse in Action Down in Baja

2010-10-07T14:22:00.000-07:00

Jorge and Taurino, and the Corazon staff in Tijuana, have begun sending us lots of great photos of their build projects, where they’ve been able to incorporate significant amounts of salvaged lumber.

Here are a few photos of your charitable reuse in action, we'll be adding more to our galleries soon.

Read more about materials being put to good ReUse:

Building a High School with Reusable Materials in Mexico

Pitching in at Corazon Build in Baja

What Is Roll-Off?

2010-09-29T16:16:00.000-07:00

One of the first things visitors to our website see is our slogan, "Think Outside The Roll-Off!" Sometimes those in construction, deconstruction and equipment rental businesses are guilty of assuming that everyone knows what a roll-off is - us included. But, if has come to our attention that this is simply not the case. Many do not know what a roll-off is or simply call it by another name - like debris box. So, we hope to explain what a roll-off is because with knowledge comes the power to avoid it!

A roll-off is basically a dumpster with wheels. When something is being newly constructed, renovated, or demolished, a roll-off truck will deliver a roll-off to the jobsite making it easy to dispose of construction debris. Once the roll-off is full, the truck will return to take the material away to be recycled, or more often than not, to be disposed of at a local landfill.

While a roll-off is a relatively easy thing to understand, the consequences of not reducing construction waste are rather complex. An average 2,500 sq. foot home can result in over 127 tons of debris and 34 billion tons of construction waste ends up in landfills every year.

Thinking outside the roll-off requires a little planning, but it also means that reusable items like rough lumber, roof tiles, lighting and carpet, do not end up in the landfill. And, in the case of Deconstruction and ReUse Network, it also means that those items are donated to benefit deserving people in your community! And for property owners, the tax benefits for donating the materials for reuse may significantly off set construction costs in the long run.

Think Outside The Roll-Off!

Before You Recycle Anything Consider if it Can be ReUsed FIRST

2010-09-08T16:10:00.000-07:00

Just when you’ve finally learned that you can recycle plastic bags, but not pizza boxes, we’re going to come along and tell you that before you recycle anything you should stop and consider if the item can, or cannot be reused FIRST. You might be confused at this point and ask, “Isn’t recycling and reuse the same thing?” The answer is no! In fact, one is actually way more beneficial to not only the environment, but also the economy and the community.

To help differentiate between the two, there is no better place to start than with some definitions. Recycling is the reprocessing of an item into a raw material that is then turned into a new item, whereas reuse lengthens the life cycle of an item. Simply put, an item is used again, in its original form, by someone else.

Since recycling involves manufacturing a new item, the process also involves more energy. Energy is needed to transport and process recyclables, as well as to create new items from salvaged materials. In addition, many recyclables ultimately end up in landfills as alternative daily cover (ADC). Landfills are required to cover their waste everyday in order to prevent odors and health risks. Traditionally soil is used, but more recently “green waste” and plastic tarps have been introduced as alternatives. Plus, many argue that recycling perpetuates our society’s “throwaway” attitude. For example, instead of buying a thermos we still buy bottled waters and think we are being green by recycling the bottles.

Now this is no reason to go calling up your city and requesting that they take back your recycling bins. That is not the point of this post. Recycling is still good and necessary in certain situations. The point of this post is simply to get you to think reuse before you think recycle. Reuse keeps materials out of our landfills, preserves energy, conserves resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It also generates more employment opportunities than disposal, or recycling. When you think about managing 10,000 tons of materials, incinerating creates 1 job; landfilling creates 6 jobs; recycling creates 36 jobs; and reuse has the potential to create 28-296 jobs (source: US EPA, Institute for local Self Reliance). A big plus in a state, like California, with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.

A few examples of reuse-based, green collar jobs include the management and non-management positions at businesses and non-profits such as Deconstruction & Reuse Network, Habitat for Humanity ReStores and IRN. Also positions at remanufacturing companies, building materials reuse centers, consignment stores, computer refurbishers, creative reuse centers, deconstruction firms, food rescue agencies, furniture reupholsters, industrial materials exchanges, online resellers, reclaimed-material artists, thrift shops, and toner-cartridge remanufacturing.

Not only is reuse a friend to the environment and the economy, it is also great for the community. It creates an affordable supply of goods and brings needed materials to groups and individuals that would otherwise not be able to afford them. That’s what happens at Deconstruction & Reuse Network when we dismantle a home and donate finished materials and appliances to Habitat for Humanity ReStores, or lumber to Corazon in Baja. The Institutional Recycling Network (IRN), offers an outlet for corporate, healthcare, restaurant, and educational surplus, which they send for reuse by charities in disaster relief and economic development. When you consider how many California businesses are downsizing and shutting down, that’s a lot of office furniture that could end up in landfills.

So, if you are thinking about remodeling your home, or office, make reuse your first option. It may reward you with cost savings or tax benefits plus the peace of mind in knowing that your actions support environmental and social sustainability.

Read more post on ReUse:
Recycling Homes Should be a Matter of Conscience, Not Stimulus Money

Ross Homeowners Choose Deconstruction & Turn Home Remodel into Valuable Benefit for Community

Manhattan Beach 6,000 Sq Ft Remodel Means Gorgeous Materials will be Reused in Community

2010-08-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

My blog and video debut. Hope it helps demonstrate how amazing this deconstruction is and how fantastic the homeowners have been.

Check out more posts like this one:

Great Examples of Home Recycling

Two Homes Being Recycled in the Bay Area

Recycling Homes Should be a Matter of Conscience, Not Stimulus Money

2010-06-28T13:42:00.000-07:00

USA Today recently reported that recycling homes is becoming a booming enterprise, citing a trend toward deconstruction rather than demolition. One of our competitors and my former colleague, Ted Reiff, goes on to mention that the heightened interest may be due to stimulus funding.

Though at its core, Reiff’s perspective may seem highly cynical; I’m hoping he didn’t intend it as such. Taken without the benefit of the doubt, Reiff seems to suggest that interest in deconstruction has not increased because people and local governments think it’s simply better to reuse and recycle, and that communities are sincerely interested in better methods and building practices, rather, the suggestion is that he (and everyone else) is really just following and spending the public’s money, and that interest in deconstruction will wane after the money is spent.

Hopefully the real reason behind the heightened interest in deconstruction (and the subsequent Federal Stimulus monies being spent on Mr. Bennick’s and Mr. Reiff’s training programs) comes from the more honest desire of peoples and communities around the country to find out ways in which to waste less.

I’ll give Reiff and his motives for offering training the benefit of the doubt, but I’d also be curious what his and other training programs really entail, and who is defining “deconstruction?”

To Deconstruction & ReUse Network and TRP (Reiff’s org), deconstruction is removing all of the usable building materials, when possible, down to and including the rough lumber. To others, it’s removing some building materials for reuse. To us, the latter is called “selective salvage,” something that has been going on in the construction and demolition industry for decades and decades. Selective salvage will always have its appropriate place, but only real deconstruction takes time and investment and should be more strictly defined as a comprehensive dismantling endeavor.

Dave Bennick and Ted Reiff both train people to facilitate some form of deconstruction through local government programs and elsewhere, but it’s safe to say, they’re not necessarily teaching the same strategies and methodologies. The time has come for those involved with the various forms of deconstruction to begin to establish a consensus - a “best standards and practices” benchmark.

Like this post? Check out more like it below:

Oh Mr. President, Please don't Demolish those Buildings!

Before You Recycle Anything Consider if it Can be ReUsed First

Deconstruction & ReUse Network In Remodeling Magazine

2010-06-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Leah Thayer from Remodeling magazine for thinking of us in her article "Thinking Outside the Dumpster". It is full of helpful deconstruction information like what materials are in high demand, who can do it, where materials end up and when you should start planning. Click here to read the full article and here for more information on deconstruction.

Sustainability Standards intended for Mainstream and Small Businesses

2010-06-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

Builders have LEED certification to identify and categorize their efforts in Sustainability, but what about businesses outside of our industry? Joel Makower covers a new type of third party sustainability standard that may be the future for mainstream businesses, in his blog at UL environment.

One Giant Step for California's Environment!

2010-06-07T11:58:00.000-07:00

California may soon be the first state to entirely ban single-use plastic groceries. The bill was passed by the California State Assembly 41 to 27 to ban the bags. The bill would require shoppers to bring reusable bags to the store, or pay around 5 cents for recycled paper bags at the checkout.

The LA Times this past weekend took a look at this very hot debate, and why it is so important to our environment to ban them. Read the rest of the article on their website!

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Competitive Recycling; How Does Your School Measure Up?

Interesting Ideas from TED 2009

California Leads Nation in Recycling at 58% Waste Diversion

Are you Eligible for a Tax Rebate for going Green at Home?

2010-06-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

Here is some great information on the possibility of being eligible for a Federal Tax Credit for going green at your home! Once again, thank you to the Good Human for sharing great information!

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Home Improvement. Life Improvement.

Yes, Orlando, There is a Santa Claus and his Elves just Built you a Home in 1 Day

Knowing how to identify Green-Washing

2010-06-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

We appreciate the efforts made by so many people and companies to better their practices and ways of life. At the same time, it's worrying many of us who have worked hard to implement legitimate efforts to be environmentally sound, that large companies are using "green" terms without valid third party certifications in an effort to boost sales. Check out this great blog, The Seven Sins of Green-Washing to understand more about how to identify legitimate claims and efforts by companies to go green!

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Audit Your Home's Energy Use!

I Will Use Less... Chevron Oil

Audit Your Home's Energy Use!

2010-05-26T13:27:00.000-07:00

We love to share information we find from other sources about recycling materials and saving energy! We found a great how to on assessing how much energy your household is actually using. It's the first Important step towards making changes in your house to be more green, as well as save money!

DIY Energy Audit

Interested in learning more? Check out the post below:

Check out GoGreenTube.com to View all Green Videos & Make a Difference

Composting 101

Simple Ways to Save Money on Electricity from The Good Human

2010-05-24T15:36:00.000-07:00

We are big fans of following others who promote earth-friendly living. While not everybody is looking to deconstruct their home, people are looking for ideas on how to "green" their home. Here is a great story about how one persons simple ideas helped several others save money as well as reduce the amount of their electricity usage from The Good Human....

A few weeks ago I saved a new friend of mine at least $600 a year. (And no, not from telling her to switch to that annoying insurance company!) I was talking to the people who work here in the leasing office of where I live, and we somehow got on the discussion of monthly utility bills. When it came time for me to tell them how much my electric bill was each month, I almost didn’t want to do it because it was a fraction of what theirs was. For the last few months, my average electric bill has been only about $25, which came as a shock them. The woman in the office has a monthly bill of between $120-$150! Then, of course, they were all interested in how I kept my bills so low each month, which is when I let loose with my “$600 in annual savings” sentence:

Everything that is powered by electricity in my house & uses vampire standby power is on power strips, and they all get turned off when not in use.

Well, not everything – the DVR is left plugged in and juiced so it can record TV shows. But other than that, my TV, DVD player, computer, computer monitor, microwave, and coffee maker are all either switched off via a power strip or unplugged entirely when they aren’t being used. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that all my light bulbs are CFL’s, or that I don’t use any electricity-powered clocks, but you get the general idea – and so did she. Amazed at how low my bill is, she said she was going to try an experiment for a few weeks and report back. I stopped in the other day to say hi and heard the results.

She had saved about $50 on her bill over the past 25 days or so compared to all previous months.

She was ecstatic! That’s $600 a year in savings for doing something so easy and uncomplicated that everyone should be doing it, and she didn’t even change every single thing in her house yet. She is going to report back to me once she does and finishes her next complete month with the changes in place.

See, little things do make a difference… and in this case it was only a single sentence.

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Thirsty, Anyone? A guide to getting through the drought

Before You Recycle Anything Consider if it Can be ReUsed First

Ever wondered how you can recycle random things around your home?

2010-05-07T15:31:00.000-07:00

While the main goal of DRN is to encourage people to think outside of the roll-off and deconstruct/recycle when starting a home renovation project , there are still so many daily efforts that can be made to incorporate daily recycling into your home. We recently stumbled upon the website "How Can I Recycle This?" that gives ideas on recycling or reusing virtually everything found in your home (greenhouse glass to eyeglasses)! Check it out, we thought the idea for reusing old ladders as bookshelves or taking it apart for garden fencing was clever, as well as the topic of using old drain pipes to make rows in a garden for seedlings!

Read more posts about conservation:

Greening Your Blues

Solutions & Sustainability- Great Video

Ross Homeowners Choose Deconstruction & Turn Home Remodel Into Valuable Benefit For Community

2010-04-28T13:54:00.000-07:00

We recently completed the deconstruction of a single-family home in the City of Ross (Marin County, CA) and all salvaged materials have been donated for reuse. The 3,000 square foot home in the City of Ross, which is going to be completely remodeled, has been carefully deconstructed to salvage as much of the existing interior as possible for reuse with us rather than being demolished down to the studs. Most of the home’s beautiful interior, which includes French doors, brand named fixtures and dual pane windows have been donated for resale at the Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma ReStore in Santa Rosa.

Read the full press release here .

Check out some more posts:

Manhattan Beach 6,000 Sq Ft Remodel Means Gorgeous Materials will be Reused in Community

ScrapHouse

Welcome New Partners - Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County

2010-04-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce, today on Earth Day, our new partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County! As we work with area residents and property owners to deconstruct their homes, salvaged items, such as doors, windows, hardware, and more will be donated to HFH SC to be resold in their ReStore.

Habitat for Humanity is an ideal partner for us as they understand the value of reusing items in their current state and they support the community by providing affordable alternatives to big home store chains, while diverting perfectly good items from local landfills.

Read the Press Release>>

Read more posts like this one:
Deconstruction & ReUse Network Welcomes Two New Advocates for Palm Springs and San Diego Areas

Miramar Resort's Historic Blue Roofing Tiles Get Second Life!

Jobs Created by Recycling

2010-04-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

Here is a great blog that analyzes the growth of green jobs in California, and why it's happening!

The State Economic Development Department recently completed a study on clean tech jobs in California, and the preliminary results show that shows AB 32 and recycling are driving green jobs growth. Currently, there are 500,000 jobs in the green jobs sector, which 3.8% of California's total employment. A quarter of these green jobs (approximately 125,000) can be attributed to recycling (including employees at recycling centers and manufacturers who produce products from secondary materials).

Read the Rest at the Californian's Against Waste Blog

Check out some additional postings below:

Want to See Sustainable Practices in Action?

California Leads Nation in Recycling at 58% Waste Diversion

DECONSTRUCTION & REUSE NETWORK WELCOMES TWO NEW ADVOCATES FOR PALM SPRINGS AND SAN DIEGO AREAS

2010-04-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

Palm Springs, CA – April 15, 2010: Deconstruction and ReUse Network (DRN), has announced two new representatives to advocate and assist in advancement of deconstruction and reuse of building materials. Jorge Michios and Meaghan Hundley will work to expand services for the organization in the Palm Springs and San Diego regions respectively. DRN is an environmental and humanitarian non-profit dedicated to educating and empowering Californians about the benefits of reusing building materials.

Jorge Michios will be serving the Palm Springs region for Deconstruction & ReUse Network, more specifically he will be advocating in the cities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Banning and Beaumont. Michios joins DRN after working on several design projects that have focused on Sustainable design. He has been acknowledged for his design know-how by Plinth and Chintz in 2007, and his passion for design and architecture will be instrumental in the success of DRN’s mission in Palm Springs. Jorge can be contacted at Jorge@reusenetwork.org or 888-545-8333 ext. 106

Meaghan Hundley will be implementing her experience with sustainable business practices as well as her marketing and business development savvy in the San Diego region. Her well-rounded education from Syracuse University, as well as her strong commitment to sharing her knowledge of living and adopting a green lifestyle have made her successful while working on several green projects since moving to San Diego. Meaghan can be contacted at Meaghan@reusenetwork.org or 888-545-8333 ext. 614.

"We are thrilled to have Jorge and Meghean join our team," says Lorenz Schilling, President/Founder of DRN. "They each have great passion and experience which will be a huge asset to our mission and for the people we serve in the San Diego and Palm Springs areas."

Deconstruction and ReUse network anticipates great success as these two broaden the outreach efforts as well as support the deconstruction involvement and consultant support in their regions.

About Deconstruction & ReUse Network:
Deconstruction & ReUse Network is an environmental public benefit corporation 501(c)(3), whose mission is to promote and empower deconstruction practices and to grow a greater reuse network for quality building materials through partnerships with complimentary operations and organizations. Deconstruction & ReUse Network currently serves Northern and Southern California with partnerships that benefit Habitat for Humanity and Corazon. www.Decon-Network.org

# # #

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Lorenz Schilling, DRN, 888-545-8333 ext 103, Lorenz@reusenetwork.org

Angela Moore, Starfish P.R., 310-429-8868, angela@starfish-pr.com

Join us at Portola Valley's 2nd Annual Earth Day Fair

2010-04-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

Join our own Leslie Roth on Saturday, April 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for Portola Valley’s second annual Earth Day Fair!

Stop by or email Leslie to find out more about DRN's services in the Bay Area.

Read Related Posts:
Two Homes being Recycled in the Bay Area

Bay Area Prefab Saves Water & Energy

Please Support the Full Life-Cycle of Materials

2010-04-13T18:00:00.000-07:00

This is a great opportunity for your voice to make a difference and get the climate impacts of products and packaging added to the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory.

It's important to get the full life-cycle of materials (from research & extraction through retail) included here so that we have strong data to support our claim that reuse is a higher and better use than recycling and raw goods.

Please visit the EPA site and leave a comment in support of DECONSTRUCTION & REUSE!

Check out these related posts:

Treasures from Several Eras Will Get New Life from 1930s Beverly Hills Home Deconstruction

Think Kids Don't Care about Global Warming? Think Again.

Finding Cleaner Energy via Trash

2010-04-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

The New York Times had an article yesterday about the commitment other nations are making to utilizing their trash to fulfill energy needs. European nations are using incinerators to burn household trash into usable electricity and heat. New technology has made filters able to catch many of the harmful pollutants that would otherwise create toxins in the air surrounding plants. To read the article in its entirety visit the New York Times website.

Here are some other similar posts:
Maybe if it Comes from Robert Redford People will Listen

Earth, Wind & POWER

The Story of Bottled Water by Annie Leonard

2010-04-12T12:37:00.000-07:00

Please share!

Here are some other posts you may be interested in:
Bay Area Prefab Saves Water & Energy

Thirsty, Anyone? A guide to getting through the drought

2010 Alt Build Expo is Coming

2010-03-26T17:14:00.000-07:00

The Seventh Annual City of Santa Monica AltBuild Expo is the largest green building
expo in Southern California. It is a two-day event featuring alternative building materials
and design, returning to the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Friday and Saturday, May 7-
8, 2010 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day. The Expo is free and open to the public and will
include over 150 carefully selected exhibitors, all chosen for their work, representing the
best in Green Building & Design Materials; Energy – Efficiencies and Alternatives; Best
Green Practices in Water Conversation; Environmental Plumbing; Sustainable
Landscaping and more.

Read Related Post:

Deconstruction & ReUse Network Launches this week at Alt Build Expo in Santa Monica, Calif.

Visit their website for more.

Event: 2/21 Sustainable Sundays at LA Nat. History Museum "Waste Not, Want Not"

2010-02-20T14:06:00.000-08:00

Sustainable Sundays return to the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum for a second season to help Southern Californians learn about the latest conservation research and explore specific, scientifically-sound ways they can become better stewards of the planet. This week's topic is particularly near and dear to us. Here are the details:

Sunday, February 21, 2010; 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Today’s themes are reducing, reusing, and recycling. Meet the organizations that are making Los Angeles a cleaner, greener city and find out how you can get involved and make a difference. Events at the Museum include hands-on activities with Breathe LA that teach how the air we consume is linked to the trash we throw out. But that’s not all: Sustainable Sunday guests can also take in a composting demonstration, make art out of recycled materials with artist Bette Simons, and watch an innovative performance with HumAnimals.

Click here for more info

Read more posts below:
A Museum with Imagination in the OC

City Museum Re-Did it Right!

Preserving Cleveland’s History through Deconstruction

2010-02-10T14:09:00.000-08:00

Posted by Lyndsy Czapla

Deconstruction is the name of the game for us here at DRN. One thing that is really neat about the deconstruction process is seeing what may result from deconstruction efforts. I came across this really cool company, APOC, in Cleveland, OH that uses deconstructed materials and turns them into furniture.

APOC (A Piece of Cleveland) is not only trying to create a better environment, they are also looking to preserve history while telling a story. The company creates everything from tables and chairs to picture frames and candlesticks out of reclaimed materials from the Cleveland area. Each product they create is accompanied by a “Re-Birth Certificate” that describes the piece and credits its creators while relating the history of the materials that went into the piece. What’s really cool is the fact that not only is APOC making an impact on our landfills, they are also making reuse a top priority and showing that reclaimed materials have the possibility to be turned into something wonderful! For more info on APOC, click here.

Check out some more posts below:
Reclaimed Mahogany Bench- Great ReUse!

Manhattan Beach Home 80% Recycled

Please Support the Full Life-Cycle of Materials

Deconstruction on Extreme Home Makeover!

2010-02-09T12:34:00.000-08:00

Deconstruction has gone mainstream! Extreme Home Makeover's Episode on the Powell Family in Buffalo, NY incorporated deconstruction in their inspirational project. Congratulations Buffalo Reuse for a job well done! Check out the episode at:

http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition/episode-guide/powell-family/370469

Plus, check out some other related posts:
Why Wouldn't You Choose Deconstruction?

Finding Cleaner Energy via Trash

New Ballot Initiative Threatens California’s Pioneering Environmental Policy

2010-02-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

A proposed 2010 ballot measure, the “California Jobs Initiative” would dismantle the environmental progress California has made over the last decade in one fell swoop.

The initiative proposes to suspend the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) until the state’s unemployment level falls below 5.5%. Since the unemployment rate for the entire nation now surpasses 9% and California’s remains above 12%, this provision would effectively kill AB 32. Assemblyman Dan Logue, the author of the initiative, claims that AB 32 is stymieing employment in California, and that its removal would reinstate jobs. The logic behind this assumption is deeply flawed, as none of the factors that lead to the national recession were caused by environmental policies.

Logue and his supporters, namely the California Business Properties Association and a small Libertarian-leaning organization called the People’s Advocate, introduced an identical bill to the State Assembly, AB 118, which was rejected by the Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee on January 11th.

The suspension of AB 32 would amount to a great loss for California and the nation, since the bill is one of the first state-level policies aimed at curbing climate change, and provides the basis and rationale for many pioneering local government policies. AB 32 has been laying the groundwork for many programs and innovations in energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean tech in California: industries that not only create more jobs but help reduce harmful greenhouse gasses, recently recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency as a threat to public health.

In fact, climate change-fighting industries have been applauded at the national level as a solution to economic downturn. President Obama recently identified “Jobs Through Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Investments”as a key strategy to accelerate job growth and jumpstart the economy. Sonoma County recently tested this theory with their new Energy Independence Program, a finance program that allows business owners to pay for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs through property taxes. As the construction industry continues to struggle nationwide, Sonoma County saw an 8.4% increase in construction-related jobs, with a booming $14 million in new contracts as a result of the finance district. In short, investing in energy conservation creates jobs.

We urge you to follow the lead of the State’s environmental experts by opposing the 2010 “California Jobs Initiative” and giving your support to policies that will truly spur job growth while protecting public health and the environment. Logue plans to release the California Jobs Initiative signature campaign on January 26th; please help get the word out about the damaging potential of this measure and prevent its appearance on the November 2010 ballot.

Some Related Posts:

Jobs Created by Recycling

One Giant Step for California's Environment!

Thirsty, Anyone? A guide to getting through the drought

Garbage City

2010-01-28T15:16:00.000-08:00

This is an amazing story about a civilization that has been conducting their own reuse for years and years, yet as their city begins to move toward modernization, many peoples' livelihoods will be threatened.

Read some related posts:
Please Support the Full Life-Cycle of Materials

California Leads Nation in Recycling at 58% Waste Diversion

Great Examples of Home Recycling

2010-01-19T15:11:00.000-08:00

I just added more photos on our website from 2 home deconstruction projects here in the Los Angeles area. So much to be proud of from our amazing deconstruction contractors and the generous homeowners to our partners at Habitat for Humanity and Corazon for putting all these materials to great use in the community. And, as usual, Buji the Decon Dog was there to supervise for quality assurance.

PASADENA HOME DECONSTRUCTION

BEL AIR HOME DECONSTRUCTION

Read more posts on homes that went the way of deconstruction:
Recycled Rolling Hills Home will Help Nearly Six Affordable Homes

Two Homes Being Recycled in the Bay Area

Building a High School with Reusable Materials in Mexico

2010-01-15T10:56:00.000-08:00

We had an amazing time building with Corazon last week - this new high school is built with materials donated by Deconstruction & Reuse Network clients and check out the blue roof tiles - look familiar?

Read some other posts:
Yes, Orlando, There is a Santa Claus and his Elves just Built you a Home in 1 Day

Before You Recycle Anything Consider if it Can be ReUsed First

Pitching in at the Corazon Build in Baja

Go Green Expo Los Angeles

2010-01-14T15:56:00.000-08:00

Go Green Expo is coming to L.A. this month. For details on exhibiting and attending, check out their website.

Everyone interested in learning about environmentally friendly goods & services for use in modern everyday living should attend this event. Learn how green alternatives can positively change the way you impact the environment. Each of our small changes make a big impact.

Here's the pricing:

Business to Business Buyers Only for Friday (B2B Day) - Free
Adults - Weekend pass for Saturday & Sunday - $10
Children under the age of 12 - Free
Senior citizens (65+) - $5
Students: Please bring Valid Student ID for $5 admission
Military families: $5 per person (Valid military ID required)

California's Universities LEEDing the Way in Green Building: Event Hosted by UC Santa Barbara Marks 8th Annual UC/CSU/CCC Sustainability Conference

Think Kids Don't Care about Global Warming? Think Again.

2009-12-16T14:45:00.000-08:00

Alec Loorz is 15 years old, a Freshman at El Camino High School, a drummer for the band, State of Emergency. But there's another reason why he rocks...

He founded Kids vs Global Warming when he was 12 years old after watching Al Gore’s movie, “an inconvenient truth.” Alec felt compelled to tell other kids about the problems we are facing. He created a presentation made specifically for youth, full of videos, animation, easy-to-understand science, and compelling motivation for kids K-college ages. He gave over 30 global warming presentations before being invited by Al Gore to be formally trained with the Climate Project in October of 2008. He is now the youngest trained presenter with The Climate Project. You can read more about him here.

Check out his blog and see how this young guy is taking action...well done, Alec!

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Scrap School is Giving Scrap Metal a Second Chance Life

California's Universities LEEDing the way in Green Building: Event hosted by UC Santa Barbara Marks 8th Annual UC/CSU/CCC Sustainability Conference

Pitching in at the Corazon Build in Baja

2009-12-15T11:02:00.000-08:00

Building with Corazon in Baja the weekend of December 12, 2009! A great experience, although wet and muddy, one we'll never forget. See if the roof tiles look familiar to you.

Related Posts:
Yes, Orlando, There is a Santa Claus and his Elves just Built you a Home in 1 Day

Charitable ReUue in Action Down in Baja

Building a High School With Reusable Materials in Mexico

Oh Mr. President, Please don’t Demolish those Buildings!

2009-12-09T13:39:00.000-08:00

I’m blogging because I’m upset by a NY Times article discussing the President’s job creation plan. The article to which I refer is "Tear Down That House". I am most concerned about the following:

Well, here’s a proposition: Cities and towns across the country are the default owners of hundreds of thousands of abandoned and derelict single-family houses, apartment buildings and factories. These places are a blight on our communities.

The federal government should reimburse cities and towns who hire people from the unemployment rolls to tear down these structures, clean up the properties and, if there is no immediate buyer for them, to turn them into green spaces.

I realize some of these structures need to come down. Before the government gives the green light to demolition them please STOP! This is not environmentally friendly. There is an alternative. DECONSTRUCTION not demolition.

Deconstruction will also employ more people. Deconstruction is done by hand. Crews of people facilitate the process. Demolition employs an equipment operator and project manager and a few other people. Additionally, those materials can be diverted from the landfill and can be reused.

34 billion tons of construction waste ends up in the landfill. Deconstructing a 2,500 sq ft home can divert as much as 25 tons from the landfill in addition to the normal recycling done at the jobsite. This is what we do every day. Please visit our website: www.reusenetwork.org and see what is possible. Use those stimulus dollars to support the green industry, to create more jobs and in some cases, support non-profit organizations.

Please Mr. President, rethink this.

Read Related posts:
Why Wouldn't You Choose to Deconstruct?

Recycling Homes Should be a Matter of Conscious, Not Stimulus Money

Maybe if it Comes From Robert Redford, People will Listen

2009-12-07T14:44:00.000-08:00

In a blog post by Robert Redford, he talks about how important it is for the US to lead the way in the green economy, I just hope we all listen and take action:

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham recently said at a news conference that “the green economy is coming.” I couldn’t agree with him more. The signs are all around us, from studies that show green jobs are growing 2.5 times faster than conventional jobs to the fact that California’s clean energy industry attracted $6.5 billion in venture capital in the past three years.

These are just the signs from our own shores. From China to Germany, there is no doubt that nations are beginning to see the financial wisdom in preventing the exorbitant costs of global warming by putting clean energy solutions in place now.

The only question that remains is: Will America be a leader in the green economy?

Read the entire post here.

Composting 101

2009-12-03T14:00:00.000-08:00

I came across this video about composting, some good info and tips. I am a big fan of ReUse of all kinds, as you've probably guessed by now. Enjoy!

Composting 101

Thanks to Sierra Club Green Home for posting.

Test Your Knoweldge About Electronics Recycling

2009-12-02T10:09:00.000-08:00

Just came across this quiz at Mother Nature Network that tests your knowledge on electronics recycling. Go ahead, try it out.

Join us for Corazon's "Build A House in a Day" Event on December 12

2009-12-01T12:06:00.000-08:00

Corazon (one of our fantastic reuse partners) will be constructing a home in Tijuana on Saturday, December 12th as part of its "Build a House in a Day" program. Together with volunteers, they will construct a 16 X 20 foot home. Volunteers are needed & tools you should bring include gloves, tool belt, hammer, paintbrushes and rollers.

To learn more about volunteering with Corazon, visit their website. I'll be there along with a few members of our DRN team...hope to build with you!

Interviewed at West Coast Green 09

2009-11-05T13:47:00.001-08:00

I want to say thank you to Jennifer Davidson of Furnicology for supporting our organization.

Most of us Already Learned Deconstruction & Reuse as Kids

2009-10-31T17:46:00.000-07:00

Meet The Planet Radio Show (Nov. 1)

2009-10-30T11:22:00.001-07:00

I was recently interviewed by Meet The Planet radio show and it aired last weekend. You can hear it now on-demand.

Thanks to Meet The Planet for their support!

San Francisco's Bold New Recycing Law is in Effect

2009-10-26T17:05:00.000-07:00

Last June, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, signed a new law that would require residents and businesses to start composting food waste, plant trimmings and other items. This is the first City to mandate this to residents and businesses (Seattle was the first to have a compost law, but it doesn't include businesses and apartment buildings.)

This is going to be very interesting to watch, I personally hope it is a huge success and that it becomes the norm all over the U.S. It may even inspire folks to start composting on their own and feed it back into their own soil. For this, I recommend using reclaimed materials, like those our clients donate to Habitat for Humanity stores and those found on DiggersList.

How do you feel about composting? Do you currently compost? Please share your comments.

We All Need to be Thinking Like This - it's Greenius!

2009-10-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

Simple. Smart.

'Green Box' Product Promo (Pizza Box) from Green Box on Vimeo.

Extreme Green Makeover in So Cal

2009-10-19T15:53:00.000-07:00

Competitive Recycling; How Does Your School Measure Up?

2009-10-16T12:26:00.001-07:00

Posted by Lyndsy Czapla:

Did you know that colleges and universities all across the United States are taking recycling to a whole new level? It is all part of an annual competition presented by RecycleMania. The idea of RecycleMania revolves around promoting waste reduction on campus communities and bringing great awareness to the importance of recycling for now and in the future. The competition began in 2001 with only two schools involved and has grown larger each year. In 2009, the competition included colleges and universities from each of the 50 states including the District of Columbia. The competition lasts for 10 weeks. According to RecycleMania’s website, schools report recycling and trash data which are then ranked according to who collects the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or have the highest recycling rate. With the reports and rankings that are submitted each week, the schools have the ability to watch how their results compare with other schools. It also allows the schools to unite their campus communities and fellow peers to reduce and recycle more, before the competition is complete. So far, there are 30 schools signed up for the upcoming 2010 competition. To read more on this fantastic competition and participating schools, click here.

Regional Energy Alliance puts V.C. ahead of curve : Opinion : Ventura County Star

2009-10-14T11:22:00.001-07:00

In response to the governor’s Climate Change Summit, local readers will be interested in knowing that a collaborative effort has been under way for nearly a decade in Ventura County, working behind the scenes to advance the region in energy efficiency, renewable energy and positioning for the green economy.

Read more>>Regional Energy Alliance puts V.C. ahead of curve : Opinion : Ventura County Star

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Miramar Resort's Historic Blue Roofing Tiles Get Second Life!

2009-10-08T17:06:00.000-07:00

Almost 11 years ago, my sister Shelley heard the Miramar was about to close its doors and suggested we go there and be one of the last people there. We made it a small family vacation.

If you’ ve never been to the Miramar Resort, it reminded me of the Resorts you see in pictures in New York. Think “Dirty Dancing,” but with white cottages and buildings, their signature bright blue roofs and instead of mountains, ocean. It was charming. Not like the “resorts” of today, but one of the past.

We stayed in one of the main buildings nearest the ocean. Beautiful views, perfect weather, hours of Boggle and family, what a great combo. The grounds of the Miramar were spread out and were dotted with little cottages and green belts. From the outside, the Miramar was ideal. The reality was, the carpets were dirty, (you had to keep shoes or socks on) the bedding had seen better days, and the resort needed major work. We understood then why we were the last ones there.

Fast forward to today. I volunteer for a non-profit organization, Deconstruction & ReUse Network. Lorenz, the founder, asked me if I had heard of the Miramar Resort. I said yes, if it’s the Miramar with the bright blue roofs. Lorenz laughed and said, “yes, exactly”. Well, it turns out the Miramar Resort, still had not been torn down. Its been caught in the typical litigation that comes when a historical place is involved. Nothing new there. What was of interest was the thousands of the famous Miramar blue roofing tiles, still new and in their packaging, were sitting on the property. To make a long story short, Lorenz made contact with Caruso BSC Miramar, LLC, the developers who now own the Miramar and suggested they donate the roofing tiles to DRN and Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara. They generously agreed to do so. Now, three organizations, DRN, Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara and Corazon will benefit from their donation. The next time you’re in Tijuana or Tecate, keep an eye out for those bright blue roofing tiles. You’ll see Caruso’s donation at work.

If you had told me 11 years ago, I would be touched by those bright blue Miramar roofing tiles I would have told you your crazy. All I can say now, is never say never and thank you everyone at Caruso BSC Miramar, LLC, for your donation.

Stop by and See us at West Coast Green (Booth 313)

2009-10-03T12:29:00.001-07:00

If you're walking the exhibit floor at West Coast Green 09, we invite you to stop by Booth #313 and discover how we're helping Californians "Think Outside the Roll-off."

The Truth About Some Green Myths

2009-10-01T15:37:00.000-07:00

Just found this great blog post at Kiplinger.com that debunks some "Green" myths you may or may not know about.

Worth reading and sharing.

Let’s Celebrate the 1st Annual World Green Building Day

2009-09-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

Posted By Lyndsy Czapla (DRN Intern)

September 23, 2009 will mark the first World Green Building Day presented by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC). According to the WorldGBC, this annual event was established to unite the efforts of Green Building Councils from around the world as they strive for market transformation of the global property market and building industry. The day is marked with a summit and reception that will take place in Toronto, Canada where speakers such as Karan Grover (world-renowned architect) and Frank Biden (an advisor to President Obama) will advocate green building practices.

Along with the activities scheduled in Toronto, there will be events in several other countries including: the United States, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany, Taiwan, India, and Australia. As for the United States specifically, 75 advocates from across the country will attend the U.S. Green Building Council's "Congressional Advocacy Day" at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC. The advocates will discuss everything from green building policy topics to creating ideas on how to incorporate green building practices into long-term climate change mitigation legislation.

To read more on this exciting day click here.

Are You Simply Mad to Recycle?

2009-09-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

Are we all about to lose it trying to recycle everything?

I would like to suggest that sometimes the practice of recycling is just crazy and inefficient. Why spend extra money (and energy) to reconstitute a door into a pizza carton when someone can use it as a door again, as is?

The energy in your home's framing lumber has held the house up for 50 to 80 years or more (not to mention the several hundred years worth of energy it took to grow the tree) and you're going to pay extra to have those 2x4's and 2x8's turned into mulch because you can't wait 2 short weeks to salvage them? Consider letting someone use your 2x6's again.

Your home's materials carry tax deductible value and energy. ReUse them before you rush to recycle. The Deconstruction & ReUse Network and great home building organizations like Habitat for Humanity, and Corazon will help you achieve a smarter solution.

Deconstruction Creates Fabulous Furniture

2009-09-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

Posted by Lyndsy Czapla (DRN Intern)

Turning House Furniture is bringing new life to old wood by way of deconstruction. The company launched its green furniture line earlier this year and has been creating beautiful pieces of furniture from reclaimed wood that would otherwise end up in landfills. Thus far, the furniture’s sister company, Turning House Millworks (who performs the deconstruction), has managed to recycle 98 percent of each building they have deconstructed. Many of the buildings they have deconstructed were built in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, during the Industrial Revolution. Structures built during those times were primarily made from wood rather than steel. According to the company’s website, these structures yield a large amount of old growth wood from beams, posts and flooring—beautiful hardwoods that are centuries old and virtually unavailable today outside of reclaimed sources.

Turning House’s latest project involves the deconstruction of an abandoned tobacco warehouse in Winston Salem, NC. This project will bring new life to more than 230,000 feet of vintage wood. The deconstruction of this warehouse alone will allow the company to create tens of thousands of new furniture pieces from reclaimed woods that cannot be found anywhere else. The woods being deconstructed include long leaf pine, oak, and sugar maple. What’s really neat about Turning House Furniture is the fact that their furniture is not only green and environmentally friendly, but their deconstruction practices allow them to preserve history.

Las Vegas Hits the Jackpot with CityCenter

2009-09-01T15:40:00.000-07:00

Posted by Lyndsy Czapla (DRN Intern)

Sustainable building practices are making a huge impact in Las Vegas this year with the almost completed CityCenter. The CityCenter is a sprawling 67 acre mixed unit development that will comprise everything from hotels, casinos, retail stores, and several entertainment venues, to its very own fire station and on-site power plant. It is located right on the Vegas strip where the Boardwalk Hotel once stood. From the start, the goal of CityCenter developers has been aimed towards being one of the world’s largest green building projects. According to CityCenter’s website, We aspire to achieve LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, taking an innovative approach to site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental air quality.

Thus far, the CityCenter’s green efforts have included: recycling 95 percent of all construction waste… keeping it out of the landfills; incorporating reuse of materials from the Boardwalk Hotel for construction of the development; using reclaimed water from the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino for dust control in place of drinking water; installing an 8.5 megawatt natural gas co-generation plant that will provide efficient electricity on site (10 percent of overall CityCenter use), reduce emissions, and utilize the waste heat from the power generation to provide all the domestic hot water necessary at CityCenter, including within its numerous pools; as well as clean-burning natural gas stretch limos for guests, among several others.
If CityCenter developers stay true to their goals, this could be a turning point for other large-scale projects in the future and could help LEED the way to a better world.

A Museum with Imagination in the OC

2009-08-31T12:06:00.000-07:00

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>>

Attention Orange County - Amazing Home Items at your Local Habitat for Humanity Store!

2009-08-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

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.

Help Us Get A Grant By Voting

2009-08-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

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.

The Collective | Stories About Movement | Nau.com

2009-08-21T12:25:00.001-07:00

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

Jude Ndambuki Dumpster Dives for Computers, Fixes Them, and Sends them to Kenya

2009-08-18T17:14:00.000-07:00

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.

Something to Think about when you are Working on a New Project or Remodel

2009-08-13T15:45:00.000-07:00

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.

Green Is The New Black--Green Textile Recycling, That Is.

2009-08-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

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.

When Demo Goes Wrong (it's always wrong if you ask me)

2009-08-07T09:34:00.000-07:00

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.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Reincarnation by means of Deconstruction and Downsizing

2009-07-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

We came across this article on Mother Nature Network, which describes the Reincarnated McMansion Project while drawing a parallel between this Australian undertaking and DRN’s own recent Beverly Hills deconstruction project. The McMansion Project is utilizing the process of deconstruction and is salvaging those reusable home materials; the goal: to dismantle a plus-size single home in order to create two new, energy efficient, green-dwellings boasting zero-emissions.

To read more, click here.

Wayne County, Michigan Opts for Deconstruction of Abandoned Homes

2009-07-28T13:49:00.000-07:00

Posted by Lyndsy Czapla (DRN Intern)

Abandoned homes are often an eye sore in communities and many times end up on the path to demolition. It is apparent, however, that times are changing and better alternatives are being put to use. Wayne County, Michigan is setting a prime example of how opting for deconstruction instead of demolition of abandoned homes positively impacts the entire community.

Wayne County, along with Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit and the Architectural Salvage Warehouse, has started a pilot program where abandoned homes are being deconstructed, "starting with the roof and ending at the foundation." The program is geared towards creating a greener economy in the state of Michigan while realizing the revitalization of local neighborhoods. One of the abandoned homes that has been recently deconstructed employed 14 people from Goodwill's Flip the Script program; a program that helps minority men from the Detroit area obtain jobs and work towards bettering their lives. The deconstruction project not only helped the actual people who participated, but also benefited the local residents as well.

For the full article, click here.

California's Universities LEEDing the Way in Green Building: Event Hosted by UC Santa Barbara Marks 8th Annual UC/CSU/CCC Sustainability Conference

2009-07-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

Posted by Shannon Avison (DRN Intern)

A little less than a month ago, from June 21st-24th, UC Santa Barbara hosted the 8th annual UC/CSU/CCC Sustainability Conference. This event served as a meeting ground for collaboration and discussion of trends, hurdles and cutting edge technologies promoting sustainability under the heading "Working our way to Zero: potable water for landscapes, volatile organic compounds, GHG emissions, virgin paper, waste. The event included tours, workshops, and keynote addresses as well as smaller presentations identified as "tracks" on energy, food systems, green building new construction, green building operations, maintenance, and renovations, health, sustainability and climate action planning, business, social equity, student affairs, waste reduction and recycling, and water.

This event demonstrates the continuing commitment of California universities towards sustainability and eco-minded applications. Highlights from the green building tracks included talks within Green Building New Construction where a UC Davis professor describes his experience with the Brewery, Winery, and Foot Pilot Building and how it relates to the role of an academic client. A Stanford presenter examines the new Yang and Yamazaki Environment + Energy Building (Y2E2), a lab, classroom, and office building through a cost-benefit analysis.

And lastly, project managers of the UC San Francisco Green Building Team discuss steps taken within Capital Programs striving for both LEED certification and LEED Silver status or higher on all projects thereby promoting a "business as usual" green building ethic. In another presentation, with the management of a $5.7 Billlion construction bond program, the San Diego Community College District promotes LEED districtwide with its Green Building Policy and Major Renovation Standards and likewise the California State University Program for Environmental Responsibility has developed an integrated building design approach to be implemented statewide.

Further presentations identifying sustainable practices in green building were present in the Green Building Operation, Maintenance, and Renovation Track. Talk highlights included discussions around sustainable operations for LEEDTM for Existing Buildings, Operations & Maintenance (LEED EBOM). Case studies were presented, exemplifying how UC Santa Barbara has approached the greening of its building portfolio, with both new, LEED Platinum rated Bren Hall, and existing buildings, LEED Certified Girvetz Hall. UC San Diego has also promoted sustainable practices through encouraging students to be activists through establishing their Green Campus Program where they provide opportunities for students on LEED project teams. The UC Policy on Sustainable Practices was also identified which mandates all UC renovation projects exceeding a $5 million budget to maintain at least the equivalent of a LEEDTM for Commercial Interiors Certified rating. Specific case studies of the green building progress made by UC Davis and UC San Francisco, using the LEEDTM CI system were identified as well. The last presentation identified The Building Sustainability @ Cal Program which works to reduce the environmental footprint of campus buildings through using students to raise awareness of building inhabitants and identifying structural and operational changes that can be implemented in buildings and campus-wide. At UC Santa Barbara, a program called PACES analyzes present office methods and makes recommendations to allow for evolution towards current achievable sustainable office standards from student groups.

This annual Sustainability Conference continues to perpetuate the green building movement within both California universities and the green building sector as a whole through education, research, and implementation of current LEED and green building practices. It is through this commitment to education and green building which not only promotes creative thinking about green building, but also allows a broader application of green building techniques throughout academic institutions and communities statewide.

Why Wouldn't You Choose Deconstruction?

2009-07-22T16:02:00.000-07:00

Posted by Timna Zemel (DRN Intern)

Sometimes it can be challenging getting homeowners on board with deconstruction. I can’t understand why anybody would choose to demolish instead of deconstruct. Deconstruction can save homeowners money in the long run, with a tax write-off for donated reusable materials; deconstruction is safer than demolition; it’s good for the environment and the donated materials help other families live in decent, affordable homes.

Some possible explanations for a homeowner’s apprehension may be:

Inconvenience: A huge wrecking ball can get the job done much quicker. But this method of demolition is dangerous and wasteful. That huge pile of rubble that was formerly your home goes straight to your landfill.
Lack of Information: Do you realize that demolition increases the amount of construction and demolition materials in local landfills? Some are quick to assume you don’t care, but perhaps you just don’t know that 34 billion tons of construction wastes ends up in the landfill each year. Deconstructing a 2,500 sq ft home can divert 25 tons of building materials.
Education: Many homeowners probably do not realize that deconstruction is an option. Deconstruction is a fairly new trend that only started getting popular a few years ago. The deconstruction word needs to spread, but probably because of its infrequent use (most people do not renovate their house often), the word is taking a while to get around.

Many cities are adopting strict new green building guidelines so this is all worth learning about because you may not have a choice at all in the future, you may have to deconstruct & reuse if you remodel or build. But why wait until "everyone’s doing it" - choose to be a leader. Instead of being that neighbor with the awful roll-off out front, you can be the really generous family that's recycling their house to help others in the community.

Want to learn more, visit our website to learn about the facts and misconceptions about Deconstruction.

Think Outside the Roll-Off

From Salvaged Car Scraps To A Beautiful House

Favorite Memories from 2011

Riding Green Helps Los Angeles Bar Goers Reduce Their Carbon Footprint

Green Gift Guide 2011

Rebound Books ReUses Old Books and Recreates New Stationary

Donating Your Whole House: Is it Too Good to be True?

ReUse with Re-Wine!

When it Comes to Home Demolition & Remodeling, Why Not Choose To ReUse?

Talking ReUse with ReStore Partner Dave McKechnie

Reuse Meets Design

From Skateboards to Sunglasses: Innovative ReUse

Palos Verdes Estates Home Deconstruction

Good TED talk from Dan Phillips: "Creative houses from reclaimed stuff"

Creative ReUse Idea: Water Bottle Tops to Seal Bags

Charitable ReUse Solutions for Surplus Property, Tell a Friend!

Could One Man’s Trash be Another Man’s House?

What Could you do with a 330 sq ft Apartment?

ReUsing Ceramic Dishes

Manhattan Beach raises C&D diversion rates to 65%

Clever ReUse: ReMakes Placemats

From Old Circuit Boards to Incredible Sculptures

7 Ways to ReUse Your Wine Bottles

Generation Green: Reduce, Reuse & Rejoice

Have plastic bread bags? Don’t Toss ‘em… Reuse ‘em!

Kathy Faller Joins the DRN Team in San Diego

5 Ways to ReUse Bubble Wrap

Why Deconstruction will not only Improve the Environment but also Lives

Futhering my Commitment as a Board Member for Reuse Alliance

Last Minute Green Gift Guide

Yes, Orlando, There is a Santa Claus and his Elves just Built you a Home in 1 Day

If Huge Tax Breaks for your Home's Salvaged Materials Sounds Too Good to be True - That's Because it is!

Interview on KVYN Radio, Napa Valley

Let's Talk about Deconstruction and Charitable ReUse tomorrow Live on KVYN Radio

Charitable ReUse in Action Down in Baja

What Is Roll-Off?

Before You Recycle Anything Consider if it Can be ReUsed FIRST

Manhattan Beach 6,000 Sq Ft Remodel Means Gorgeous Materials will be Reused in Community

Recycling Homes Should be a Matter of Conscience, Not Stimulus Money

Deconstruction & ReUse Network In Remodeling Magazine

Sustainability Standards intended for Mainstream and Small Businesses

One Giant Step for California's Environment!

Are you Eligible for a Tax Rebate for going Green at Home?

Knowing how to identify Green-Washing

Audit Your Home's Energy Use!

Simple Ways to Save Money on Electricity from The Good Human

Ever wondered how you can recycle random things around your home?

Ross Homeowners Choose Deconstruction & Turn Home Remodel Into Valuable Benefit For Community

Welcome New Partners - Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County

Jobs Created by Recycling

DECONSTRUCTION & REUSE NETWORK WELCOMES TWO NEW ADVOCATES FOR PALM SPRINGS AND SAN DIEGO AREAS

Join us at Portola Valley's 2nd Annual Earth Day Fair

Please Support the Full Life-Cycle of Materials

Finding Cleaner Energy via Trash

The Story of Bottled Water by Annie Leonard

2010 Alt Build Expo is Coming

Deconstruction & ReUse Network Launches this week at Alt Build Expo in Santa Monica, Calif.

Event: 2/21 Sustainable Sundays at LA Nat. History Museum "Waste Not, Want Not"

Preserving Cleveland’s History through Deconstruction

Deconstruction on Extreme Home Makeover!

New Ballot Initiative Threatens California’s Pioneering Environmental Policy

Jobs Created by Recycling

One Giant Step for California's Environment!

Thirsty, Anyone? A guide to getting through the drought

Garbage City

Great Examples of Home Recycling

Building a High School with Reusable Materials in Mexico

Go Green Expo Los Angeles

Stop By Our Booth at Go Green Expo L.A. This Weekend

California's Universities LEEDing the Way in Green Building: Event Hosted by UC Santa Barbara Marks 8th Annual UC/CSU/CCC Sustainability Conference

Think Kids Don't Care about Global Warming? Think Again.

Pitching in at the Corazon Build in Baja

Oh Mr. President, Please don’t Demolish those Buildings!

Maybe if it Comes From Robert Redford, People will Listen

Composting 101

Test Your Knoweldge About Electronics Recycling

Join us for Corazon's "Build A House in a Day" Event on December 12

Interviewed at West Coast Green 09

Most of us Already Learned Deconstruction & Reuse as Kids

Meet The Planet Radio Show (Nov. 1)