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SBC Newsletter Spring 2007 |
In this Issue:
1. Local Living Economies Lecture and Workshop
2. November's Sustainability Lecture
3. January's Sustainability Lecture
4. March's Sustainability Lecture
5. 3rd Annual Sustainability Awards
6. SBC Strategic Planning
7. Other SBC Activities
8. Member Profile: Construction Site Services
9. Member News Briefs
10. New Business Members
11. SBC Calendar of Events
12. Member to Member Discounts
13. Web Site of Interest
14. About the SBC
1. Local Living Economies Lecture and Workshop in September
For our September 2006 Sustainability Lecture, Michelle Long of Sustainable Connections in Bellingham, Washington discussed organizations that foster a local living economy. At a four-hour workshop the next morning, Michelle described how an organization similar to the SBC could help build a Local Living Economy.
Michelle provided an overview of the history and activities of Sustainable Connections in Bellingham, Washington. Sustainable Connections is a group of local independently owned businesses that is committed to strong community, a healthy environment, meaningful employment, and buying local first. Their key strengths include their ability to connect change makers with a holistic vision, their technical assistance and networking programs, and their creation of new
norms focusing on practical sustainability.
To build new norms, connections, and programs, Sustainable Connections uses community based social marketing techniques, fun activities, and positive messages.
Their programs include:
A very successful buy local campaign;
A working farms apprenticeship program;
A green building tour, conference and workshops for professionals;
Sustainable business practice classes and handbook;
And a green power community challenge.
Michelle had several suggestions for organizations that wanted to create a local living economy in their community. First, focus on local independent businesses, as their owners are able to make the decisions necessary to pursue sustainability. Second, recognize that everyone is on the path to sustainability, although some are further along than others. Commitment of members to continuous improvement, no matter their sophistication, is what’s important. Third, the organization should lead by example or as Gandhi said “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Forth, the organization and its members must be entrepreneurial. And finally, “make it a better party” by focusing on positive changes, involving good people, and fun innovative programs. The SBC Board incorporated these ideas in the new strategic plan (see below).
Special thanks to the event sponsors and contributors: Home Resource; Jeannette Williams, realtor; The Bridge; Bernice’s Bakery; Big Sky Brewing; Kettlehouse Brewing; MCAT; Rocking M Design
2. Novembers’s Sustainability Lecture – The Local Sustainable Agriculture Scene
At November’s Sustainability lecture, Helen Atthowe, County Extension Agent and sustainable grower, provided an overview of the differences between sustainable agriculture and organic agriculture and of local efforts to encourage sustainable agriculture. Helen provided examples
from her own farm and others involved in the Montana Sustainable Growers Union.
Sustainable agriculture practices go beyond organic practices to include aspects of sustainability such as reduced energy use, topsoil protection, and habitat areas around fields. Helen is working with low and no till farming techniques on her farm and has had good yields with both. She has also built a solar green house that uses a heat chimney to distribute the heat rather than fans, reducing the need for electricity.
The Sustainable Growers Union was formed to support sustainable farming practices. The Union allows members to network and share best practices.
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3. January’s Sustainability Lecture – The Potential for Wind Power in Missoula
Brian Kerns, an alternative energy researcher from the University of Montana, gave the January Sustainability Lecture. His talk focused on the potential for using wind power in the Missoula area and the next steps in developing wind power.
Although Missoula does not have areas suitable for big wind farms like the one in Judith Gap, it does have several ridgelines, draws, and canyons with significant amounts of wind. In these areas, geological features, funnel the wind through small areas that might support a few large commercial grade wind turbines at each site. Turbines at various sites could provide a portion of Missoula’s electricity needs.
One indication of the viability of wind is the small wind turbine installed by the University in Hellgate Canyon, which is currently producing wind power for the MONTEC business incubator facility. This older turbine that was donated to the University is much smaller than modern commercial grade turbines, which could produce significantly more power.
Brian has had anemometers placed at two locations in the Missoula area and has recorded commercial grade wind at the Pattee Canyon location. He would like to get more anemometers and test on higher towers to obtain more accurate readings in a variety of places around Missoula.
Once better data is collected there are a variety of loan and grant programs that could be used to help finance installation of one or more wind turbines in the area.
Most concerns related to wind turbines could be mitigated. New designs of wind turbines reduce the impact on birds to almost zero and make very little noise. Several of the locations would not impact Missoula’s view shed and many people would argue that the new turbines are quite attractive. Firming resources to insure consistent availability of power when the wind is not blowing are readily available.
4. March’s Sustainability Lecture – Sustainable Transportation and Light Rail in Missoula
Andy Sponseller, owner of Ten Spoon Winery and long-time sustainable transportation advocate, described sustainable transportation options for Missoula and how light rail might fit into the picture at our March meeting. He advocates a multi-modal approach, which would include increased bus service, van and car-pooling, and bicycle and pedestrian miles, as well as commuter rail.
True light rail, similar to the system used in Portland, Oregon and other cities would be fairly expensive and would require major construction. It is a good long-term direction, but to pay for a
project of this scale you need regular ridership from the beginning. Other rail options such as diesel multiple units, small passenger rail cars that can run on freight rail tracks and would require smaller
initial investments might be good intermediate steps to build ridership and develop interconnectivity between rail and bus service.
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5. Third Annual SBC Sustainability Awards
At our May meeting, we will present our Third Annual Sustainability Awards. While we realize no organization is completely sustainable, we want to recognize those organizations that have made significant progress toward sustainability. Nominees will be evaluated based on selection criteria in the three areas of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic impacts and contributions. Organizations and individuals chosen have to show significant efforts to be sustainable or promote sustainability in each of the three areas.
We give awards for Sustainable Business of the Year, Sustainable Nonprofit of the Year, Sustainable New Venture of the Year, Sustainability Advocate of the Year, and SBC volunteer of the Year. To nominate your organization or an organization or individual you believe is worthy of a sustainability award, send an email with the entity’s name and a description of why you think this entity deserves to be recognized for their sustainable practices.
2006 Award Winners
Tipu’s Tiger,
Mountain Line Bus Company and Missoula in Motion,
homeWord’s Orchard Gardens Apartments,
Bob Giordano of Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation and
Free Cycles
And Tim Skufca (Triangle Park Project Coordinator).
2005 Award Winners
Meadowsweet Herbs,
Home Resource,
Fireplace Pizza,
Rebecca Ritcher of MUD,
And Chuck Irestone (SBC web master).
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6. Strategic Planning
The Board recently completed an in-depth strategic planning process that was begun in the spring of 2006. The result is a new 3-5 year strategic plan that is designed to take the SBC to the “next level.” Based on the results of a member survey, focus groups with business experts and members, and detailed analysis of the SBC and possible future directions, the new plan outlines the three program areas that will be the core of SBC activities in the coming years. They include continued delivery of our sustainable lecture series and educational programs, further development of business assistance and membership programs, and development of a buy local/buy sustainable program. The first campaign to be addressed under the latter program area will be a buy local campaign that will kick off in the 2007-08 fiscal year.
To provide support for these programs, the SBC will increase its Board to between 11 and 13 members, implement a committee structure, seek outside funding, hire an executive director, and obtain independent 501(c)(3) charitable status.
Committees that members can help us with include:
Fundraising
Marketing
Educational Programs
Buy Local/Buy Sustainable
Business Assistance & Membership
Call Susan at 543-5323 if you would like to join one of these committees.
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7. Other SBC Activities
Presentations Given to or Scheduled for Other Organizations
Closing the Loop: Recycling in Purchasing Decision at the UM Recycling event in November 2006.
Building a Sustainable Lifestyle at the Bridging the Gap health conference in February 2007.
Purchasing for Sustainability as part of Earth Folk’s Earth Day activities on April 21, 2007.
Participation in a panel discussing Buying Local at a Rotary Club meeting on April 25, 2007.
Tabling Planned
Stop by and see us at one of these events.
MUD Earth Day event on April 22, 2007
HomeWord’s Green Building Symposium on June 9, 2007.
Montana State Science Fair Award
Andrew Rosenbaum from Big Sky High School in Missoula won the 2007 SBC award for the most innovative project addressing a sustainability issue. His project was entitled “The effectiveness of an all natural wood sealant vs. a commercial sealant.”
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8. Member Profile —Construction Site Services
Did you know that constructing a typical single-family home generates between 2 and 4 tons of debris? If you or someone you know is embarking on a new construction or demolition project, consider calling the new recycling company in town.
Construction Site Services works with general contractors, building materials suppliers, and homeowners to provide total construction site cleanup and recycling. Through a combination of mechanical grinding and recyclables collection, CSS recovers over 85% of the construction waste and transforms uncontaminated scrap wood, drywall, shingles, brick, concrete block, cement siding, and asphalt into valuable resources.
Owners Michelle Fisher and Bruce Galbreath began the business in May 2006, and Rebecca Williamson joined the team in January 2007 as Director of Marketing & Sales. CSS works with Opportunity Resources, an organization that provides jobs for people with disabilities. OR is
a great help when CSS does its weekly sweep outs and site cleanup.
The construction scrap that is processed through the grinder becomes a resource that can be used on site. For example, the wood scrap becomes mulch, the drywall becomes a soil amendment, and the other products can be used as aggregate. Other recyclables, such as cardboard and metals, are collected and delivered to the local recyclery, where they are
packaged and shipped to be transformed into new products.
In order to process the construction waste, CSS uses their 12 cubic yard dump truck with an attached trailer that transports the grinder and hopper. Once at the construction site, sorted scrap materials are placed in the hopper and are moved through the grinder into the truck
bed. Materials are ground and are generally kept separated, aside from the brick, block, siding and shingles, which can all be used as aggregate. The pulverized drywall and mulch are distributed at the site and may be covered by topsoil and sod or other plantings.
Particularly interested in CSS’s services and products are Missoula’s green builders and LEED-accredited professionals (LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). LEED is a national, point-based system of rating buildings on their level of sustainable design. Points are earned for recycling construction waste and using recycled materials on site.
Recently, CSS staffed its booth at the Missoula Building Industry Tradeshow, where over 100 businesses featured their products and services. This event was the premiere appearance of CSS’ yet-to-be named dragon mascot (naming is underway). CSS also won an award for having the most enthusiastic and friendly staff.
Construction Site Services is excited to be part of the solution towards making Missoula a more sustainable place to live and work.
Construction Site Services can help you recycle over 85% of your construction waste. For more information, please contact Michelle Fisher at 543-1800 or
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And make sure to visit CSS’ website at www.constructionsiteservices.net.
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9. Member News Briefs
Boyce Lumber is in the midst of a remodel that includes several energy efficiency features. Despite the construction clutter, they are ready and willing to assist you with your building needs.
Deborah Richie of Deborah Richie Communications received two awards at the National Association for Interpretation annual conference in Albuquerque, November 2006: First place feature story for The Interpreter magazine for the article "Close-up with Brown Bears" and First place media award in Trail Guides division for the Bitterroot Birding and Nature Trail publication. She shared the second award with Nancy Seiler, a Missoula designer, and to the Montana Natural History Center. Deborah was the trail coordinator and write for the project.
Earth Folk, an eco-goods store on Higgins, provides a variety of free community lectures and events as well there great products. To find out what events are on tap, visit the store or their web site at www.earthfolkhome.com.
Peggy Miller of Highland Winds has released a paper describing what she refers to as High Ground Communities, a plan to make Missoula and other communities in the U.S. energy independent and sustainable. To view the plan, visit her site at www.highlandwinds.com.
homeWord was recipient of two awards: the Orten Family Foundation Placematters Innovator in Place Award and the Home Depot Foundation Excellence in Affordable Housing Built Responsibly.
Missoula Valley Recycling and the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center have paired up to create the Recycling in Schools program, which funded recycling in nine schools this year. They hope to fund eight more next year. If you would like to donate to this project, contact MVR at
543-2972.
Shakespeare & Co bookseller has opened a second store two doors down from their original store to provide space for more titles. Stop by their West 3rd Street locations and pick up a book or two.
Pat Suplee, Architect, has recently changed her business name to Studio Modera, PLLC. Her new website is www.studiomodera.com.
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10. New Business Members in Last 6 Months
Green Valley Designs
Earth Folk
Ramblumtick Bikes, LLC
Construction Site Services
Missoula Community School
Sierra Club Bitterroot-Mission Group
Liz Dye, Realtor at Portico Real Estate
11. Sustainable Business Council 2006-2007 Calendar of Events
Sustainability Lecture Series - All events in this series begin with a social time at 5:30 p.m. The presentation begins at 6:00 p.m. The schedule for the 2007-08 lecture series will be available on our web site in August.
Thursday, May 17 - Case Studies in Sustainable Community Design by Don McArthur of McArthur, Means & Wells, Stensrud Events Center
Sustainable Business Council Board Meetings - Board Meetings are held in the Executive Board Room of the Missoula Public Library from 12:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The remaining Board Meetings for this year will be held on April 23, and May 21. Members and the public are welcome to attend. Changes to the bylaws will be discussed at our April 23 meeting.
12. Member to Member Discounts
The following SBC members have agreed to provide discounts or benefits to other members.
Alpine Start Coffee and Tea House – 10% discount in the coffee shop and the Trailhead
Authentic Creations - 10% off all purchases
Bitterroot Acupuncture & Herbarium- 10% discount on initial acupuncture treatment
Boyce Lumber - discounts to all members, call for details
Historic Montana Publishing - 20% off on purchase of books directly from the publisher
Home Resource - 10% off on all products (except timber from Heritage Timber and select high end products)
Mike Schmitt, Realtor – Discounts on all listing
Missoula Valley Recycling - First month free of new service
MIST- Bike maintenance workshops at the business or at our shop. Transportation assessment of business to see if more options and efficiency can be gained
Shelter Design LLC – Free yurt delivery and set up in Missoula area
Treecycle - 5% off on all paper products
Zephyr Graphics - 15% off first design project, 10% of first print or sign order
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13. Web Site of Interest:
U.S. EPA’s Energy Star Web site, http://energystar.gov , provides a variety of tools for energy management. Two areas are of particular interest to businesses: the Products section, which provides information about the energy usage of products in over 50 categories, and the Buildings and Plants section, which provides tools to help you manage energy use at your facility. Sustainability Tip: Avoid paying more to light unused areas or having task areas inadequately lit. Install lights that provide the right amount of light for specific task areas and turn off some or all of your big overhead lights.
14. About the SBC
Sustainable Business Council- Missoula Area
P.O. Box 7991
Missoula, MT 59801
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.sustainablebusinesscouncil.org
Newsletter Editor: Susan Anderson
The Sustainable Business Council – Missoula Area is a network of individuals, organizations, and businesses working toward a sustainable economy. Its purpose is to provide education, incentives, and assistance to help businesses, organizations, and individuals in Montana adopt sustainable practices that protect and enhance the environment, the region’s economy, and our local communities.
The Council offers Missoula-area businesses, organizations, and individuals:
· Educational presentations and workshops;
· Networking with other sustainability minded businesses, organizations, and individuals;
· Resources including a newsletter and publications;
· A web site, including an on-line membership directory that gets over 4000 hits a month;
· Promotional opportunities for businesses;
· And discounts from participating members (see page 7 for a complete list of discounts offered by members to other members).
Membership in the Council is open to businesses, organizations, and individuals. Membership dues are $25 for individual supporters, $50 for businesses or organizations with one to four employees and owners, $75 for businesses or organizations with five or more employees and owners,
and $250 or larger donations for sponsoring businesses or organizations.
Our Sponsoring Members Include:
BalanceTech, LLC
The Missoula Independent
Livesey All Systems Freight
Boyce Lumber
Rockin Rudy’s
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