Monday, December 22, 2008

List Your Green Business with Sierra Club

Sierra Club is putting together a website called Sierra Club Green Home to help Americans make their homes more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable. They do not want to get into selling products, but want to connect people with the businesses in their area who can help them. Applicable green businesses can sign up to have a listing for at least 6 months for free, if they sign up by December 31. The website will launch in January.

There is a place for businesses to write what makes their business green, as well as what organizations they belong to. It would be great if Guild members wanted to join, and list their EcoBuilding Guild membership.

The link to sign up is Sierra Club Green Home.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Ecological Light Industrial Zoning Controversy

Here in Ellensburg, we have a controversy over how to fit "regional retail" into an area near an interchange. Lined up on one side is the company who wants to create commercial area. On the other side are quite a few members of the local planning committees AND most anyone with a background in ecologically-concerned land-use planning.

A sustained citizen effort has been made to support the ecological side, and a sympathetic city council was swept into office recently.

But, on the other side are the gears of large corporate interests and a local newspaper which, so far, isn't very concerned with ecobuilding, although they do have good relations with some eco-builders.

How's it an ECOBUILDING issue?

A major issue is the corporation's desire to rezone a "light industrial" area to "general commercial." But, of course, we need to invent some ecological light industry, and right beside the highway in that location is a very good place. Several reasons support keeping "light industrial" in that zone, but what we do not have yet is light industry that wants to relocate there.

We're doing great, but are we moving a little slowly to invent ecobuilding light industry!! We could sure use some investors who want to do ecological light industry!
We could sure use some moral support here!

Sincerely,
Mike Pearson
Central Washington Chapter
earthinspace@hotmail.com

Friday, December 12, 2008

BuildingGreen Resources

In case you weren't aware, one of the many benefits of being a Guild member is the $30 discount BuildingGreen offers us on its Building Green Suite membership. BuildingGreen's committment "to providing accurate, unbiased, and timely information designed to help building-industry professionals and policy makers improve the environmental performance, and reduce the adverse impacts, of buildings" means the information they provide, in print and online, is very relevant to what Guild members are doing every day.

Most of us are already familiar with BuildingGreen's newsletter, Environmental Building News, the GreenSpec® Directory (over 2,000 green building product descriptions) and GreenSource Magazine.

But, BuildingGreen also has a LIVE blog! "The place for real-time event coverage, reviews, and our editors' unvarnished opinion on the latest news from all over the green building world!". With posts like Homebuilding: Not so much a system as a bad habit, Exploding Low-Flow Toilets and Jute Ceiling Tiles, Soon, its definitely hard to resist this quick & informative read.

Membership in BuildingGreen Suite membership gives you access to all of the product descriptions, articles, project case studies, and other content on BuildingGreen.com. Regular individual membership costs $199.00 per year, however many membership options are available. So, check it out!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

2009 Green Pages Media Kit Now Available!


The Green Pages, the Pacific Northwest’s only free-to-the-public directory for green building professionals, services, and products, stays on people’s shelves and are used to find you.

It appears that Green is the new black. It’s all over the media. New venues are popping up all the time.

The Green Pages has tradition, experience, and a qualified past to build on that continues to set us apart from the new-comers. People are looking for reliable sources and the Green Pages provides that and much more.

We are adapting to the changing times, our new offerings will make us more competitive and more focused, giving you the best value for your advertising dollar. Check out the 2009 Green Pages Advertising Kit.

The Kit is filled with all the information you need to:

~ Confirm your Green Pages listing information for print

~ Upgrade your membership to get more benefits

~ Purchase Display Ads to accentuate your listing

~ Select Additional Listing Options to make sure you get in front of your customers!



Deadline is January 15, 2009 for Display Ads and December 31, 2008 for membership.

Enjoy your holidays and start the New Year with the best value in advertising in this new green economy. “Yes We Can,” because we are the change everyone is seeking.

Your Green Pages Team

Cate and Sheldon O’dahl

greenpages@ecobuilding.org