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NORTHERN NEVADA, LAKE TAHOE, S IERRA FOOTHILLS, AND SURROUNDING AREAS
WINTER 2009
GREENING THE HOLIDAYS | CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING | THE GREEN MARKET GUIDEGREENING THE HOLIDAYS | CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING | THE GREEN MARKET GUIDE
Snow Sports on aRecessionista BudgetSnow Sports on aRecessionista Budget
Green Job and
Career Opportunities
Green Job and
Career Opportunities
Tahoe ResortsRace to Go GreenTahoe ResortsRace to Go Green
2009Eco-GiftGuide
2009Eco-GiftGuide
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6 Tahoe Resorts Race to Go Green
Industry meets 21st Century challenge
10 Snow Sports on a Recessionista Budget
12 Changes afoot on the West Shore
Homewood going green
16 Nevada City APPLE Center for Sustainable Living
18 Greening the Holidays
Advice for making an eco-holiday
20 2009 Eco-Gift Guide
Sustainable gift ideas for the holidays
24 A Firefighters Solution
Building with fire safe materials
27 Green Job and Career Opportunities
in the Northern NV, Lake Tahoe & Truckee Region
29 The Green Market
Guide to earth-friendly products & services
contents winter 20096
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Give gifts that give back.
A gift to Heifer gives livestock to a family in need.The livestock gives food and income, and eventually,
more livestock, which the family passes on and on and on.
Learn more at heifer.org
Smart Structures Inc.
Design engineering construction
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Recycled & Sustainable Building Products
Energy Efficient Doors and Windows
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Fire Resistant Construction Materialsfor wildland urban interface
www.3dsmartstructures.com
or call (775) 742-0360
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Alpine Green Living Magazine (ISSN 1947-2269) is published
quarterly by the Alpine Publishing Group, LLC. For inquiries,
call 1-800-493-5551 or email [email protected].
All rights to the contents of this magazine are owned fully by
the Alpine Publishing Group, LLC. Alpine Green Living Magazine
may not be reproduced in whole or part without written
permission from the publisher. Views expressed herein are
those of the authors and advertisers and do not necessarily
reflect the opinion of the ownership or the management of
the magazine. Contents 2009. All rights reserved.
HOW TO REACH US
By Phone: 1-800-493-5551
By Email: [email protected]
By Mail: 16887 Skislope Way,Truckee, CA 16161
With the Holidays just around the corner you may want to consider giving a
gift to Mother Earth this season. With green options in every category I am
sure we can all find fun and creative ways to be more earth friendly. This
issue is partially dedicated to those options from ideas for gift giving and wrapping to
options for your holiday tree.
In many ways greening up the holidays simply reminds me of my childhood. During the1950s most people did not have much money, so meals were simpler and smaller, gifts
were fewer, and decorations often made from what nature provided. We cherished the
old decorations; many made in our elementary school classes, and loved displaying them
year after year. We always made it a family event to decorate the Christmas tree, making
decorations of popcorn and cranberries, and chains made out of construction paper. Even
the glue was simplermade from flour and water. In our stockings we could count on
getting a tangerine and a few walnuts, and if we were lucky maybe a piece of home
made fudge and a candy cane.
Going Green for the Holidays doesnt have to feel like a sacrifice. Every time you know
that you are driving less, buying less, and cutting back on the waste and the CO2 you
create, you will feel that you are not only giving a gift to yourself, but to your family,
friends and the rest of the world. How is that for a good gift this season?
Since we are welcoming the ski season, weve included in this issue two interesting
articles on what the local ski resorts are doing to go Green, and how Homewood is
taking an earth friendly approach to their resort expansion.
Fire is a sure thing in the Sierras and one firefighter has done something about it.Read his recommendations. And read about APPLE, the new community supported
sustainability center in Nevada City.
With the economy really suffering in California we have a special article about green job
trends and training in the Sierras.
Positive movement towards taking care of our planet is happening in our neighborhoods.
We just have to continue this movement and make it part of our everyday lives. Please
pass this magazine on to friends and businesses so others can learn about what great
things are going on and hopefully inspire more people to get involved.
Happy Holidays
Judy Gelwicks
Green Living Magazine
PUBLISHER/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
DAN TEIE
PUBLISHER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
SCOTT BLAIR
MANAGING EDITOR
JUDY GELWICKS
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS
LORI HYDE-BLAIR
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
LORI LACHMAN
WRITING/EDITING
GIDEON RUBIN
JEREMIAH OSHAN
AD SALES
1-800-493-5551
from the editor
Alpine Green Living Magazine is printed on Endeavor Velvet text and cover.
Endeavor contains 50% recycled fiber, 25% post-consumer waste,and is certified
by the Forest Stewardship Council to come from well-managed forests.
Printed with soy-based inks and a water-based finish on the covers.
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Help us reduce our carbon footprint by sharing this magazine with others.You can read the entire contents of this issue as well as more features
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outdoors ski resorts
6 WINTER | 2009
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outdoors ski resorts
ALPINE GREEN LIVING 7
It wasnt that long ago that the corporate community barely paid lipservice to the environment. These days, nearly everyone with busi-
ness interests is tripping over themselves trying to show who cares
more. Oil companies, utilities, car manufacturers and retail chains are all
jumping on the Green bandwagon like never before, touting measures
they have taken to promote sustainable practices. For some industries, it
is simply a matter of good business sense to be on the right side of a cli-
mate change debate now that its no longer even much of a debate.
For a ski industry that suddenly finds itself imperiled by global warm-
ing, its a matter of survival. And despite a spotty environmental track
record, the ski industry in the last decade has by all accounts, emerged as
a leader in developing sustainable practices.
Industry insiders acknowledge the resorts are responding to an envi-
ronmentally conscious clientele that is demanding decisive action. We
have to be ahead of other industries in thinking about the implications
for our business, Kirkwood Ski Resort CEO David Likins said. We
should be the early adopters of practices that address the impact of
potential climate changes. If reducing our carbon footprint is part of a
broader solution, then we have to do our part.
Sierra ski resorts say theyre doing just that. Most of the bigger resorts
now employ state-of-the-art technologies to reduce energy consumption,
reduce waste, recycle, and tap into renewable energy sources while pro-
moting conservation efforts. Expansive plans to implement renewable
energy sources on a grand scale are in the works too.
According to the independent Ski Area Citizens Coalition, two Sierra
resorts ranked among its top 10 Greenest ski resorts in the western states.
The coalition ranked Squaw Valley fifth, awarding it a 78.3 percentscore. Alpine Meadows ranked sixth with a 77.4 percent score. Aspen
Mountain Ski Resort in Colorado was the coalition's top-ranked resort,
receiving an 85.7 percent score. Colorados Copper Mountain Ski Resort
received a rock bottom 31.9 percent score, the lowest ranking among the
surveyed resorts. None of the coalition's bottom 10 ranked resorts are in
California or Nevada.
Squaws financial investment in environmental stewardship figures to
have scored the resort points in environmental rankings. The resorts
ambitious multi-million dollar environmental improvement programinvolves retrofitting older buildings, using energy efficient snow guns
and using snowmelt instead of lake water for man-made snow, Squaw
spokeswoman Savannah Cowley said. The resort has invested in
advanced energy efficient cable car motors, and uses a geothermal source
to heat a 12,000-square-foot childrens center. An advanced heat
exchange system is used to simultaneously freeze the surface of an ice
skating pavilion while heating a swimming lagoon and spa.
A beautiful and pristine mountain experience brings guests and
employees to Squaw Valley, Chairman and CEO Nancy Cushing saidin a prepared statement. It is our duty to make every effort to protect
that experience.
TahoeResorts
Race toGo GreenIndustry meets21st Century challenge
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At remote Kirkwood, the transformation of a corporate culture hasproduced dramatic results, said Likins, who touts a conservation pro-
gram that has cut power consumption 45 percent and water consump-
tion 40 percent over three years figures he says are staggering.
Likins said the transformation of Kirkwoods corporate culture extends
from the boardroom to seasonal employees who from Day 1 are indoc-
trinated to conserve energy and water at every turn. Kirkwood employ-
ees transport themselves around the resort riding tiny Kawasaki mules
that use an eighth of the fuel of the four-wheel drive truck fleet they
replaced. When we turn off a facility we dont just turn off a light
switch, we dont just turnoff the circuit breakers, we go all the way back
to the meter, we turn off transformers, Likins said.
Likins acknowledged that the resorts obsession with power con-
sumption is borne from equal parts environmental concern and eco-
nomic necessity. The ski village, about 35 miles south of South Lake
Tahoe, draws its power from a diesel plant owned by a subsidiary com-
pany that served the resort and a community of 600 residential cus-
tomers and a handful of small businesses at a prohibitive 30 to 35 centsper kilowatts hour.
Kirkwood in the last year has signed letters of intent to build solar
arrays and wind turbines that are part of a complex $30 million power
purchasing agreement with the Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility
District. The deal also involves the U.S. Forest Service, which will per-
mit the construction of power cables connecting the village with
PG&Es Salt Springs hydro electric plant 22 miles away.
The link to Salt Springs is integral to future plans to draw energy
from renewable wind, solar, and hydroelectric sources that are inher-ently intermittent, Likins said.
Its an interesting conundrum, Likins said. In order to make new
technology work, they have to interface with a technology that can
handle that variability in what you can produce via wind, and to a less-
er extent solar.
Nearly all Sierra ski resorts are doing what they can to reduce their
carbon footprint.
Northstar-at-Tahoe has made responsible growth the centerpiece of
its environmental stewardship. The newly constructed NorthstarVillage is the nations first Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) certified ski village, resort spokeswoman Jessica
Vanpernis said. A Ritz-Carlton luxury hotel under construction at the
resort is being built to LEED specifications too.
A gondola connecting Ritz-Carlton guests to the ski lift will miti-
gate traffic, and a state-of-the-art waste site will significantly decrease
the amount of recyclables in the waste stream and increase recycling
participation among homeowners, employees and resort guests,
Vanpernis said.
Habitat protection is also a key component of the Northstars
growth plan. Partnering with Sierra Watch, the Mountain Preservation
Foundation, and East West Partners, the resort has developed a habitat
management plan that documents all wildlife on its 8,000-acre property.Sugar Bowl is making moves too. The resort has made a 10 percent
reduction in energy over two years its stated goal, Sugar Bowl spokesman
John Monson said. To get there, the resort has invested in energy efficient
snow guns and solar panels to power chair lifts.
Theyve also purchased 4,072 Mega-Watt Hours of Renewable Energy
Certificates that Monson says is the equivalent to taking 579 cars off the
road each year or converting 419 homes to renewable energy.
Additionally, Sugar Bowl offers a free shuttle from Truckee, and runs all
highway vehicles on bio-fuel. Sugar Bowl has also installed oil separators
and sediment ponds for parking lot storm water runoff collection.
New technologies are by all accounts integral to how the ski industry
adapts to climate change. But while such advances create much of the
buzz at trade shows, the smart money is with conservation, a tried and
true sustainable practice, Likins said.
You can find wind power and solar and other opportunities, but until
you have looked at your operations top- to-bottom and sliced out the
waste as far as it pertains to the environment, you havent really made animpact, Likins said.
outdoors ski resorts
8 WINTER | 2009
See what other area resorts have to offer:
Squaw Valley: 530 581-6985 www.squaw.com
Boreal: 530 426-3666 www.skiboreal.com
Sugar Bowl: 530 426-9000 www.sugarbowl.com
Alpine Meadows: 530 583-4232 www.skialpine.com
North Star: 530 562-2248 www.northstarattahoe.com
Soda Springs: 530 426-1010 www.sodasprings.com
Tahoe Donner: 530 587-9400 www.tahoedonner.com
TD Nordic Center: 530 583-5475 www.tahoeexc.org
Spooner Lake: 775 749-5349 www.spoonerlake.com
Homewood: 530 525-2992 www.skihomewood.com
Mount Rose: 775 849-0704 www.mtrose.com
Diamond Peak: 775-832-1177 www.diamondpeak.com
Sierra at Tahoe: 530 659-7453 www.sierraattahoe.com
Heavenly Valley: 775 586-7000 www.skiheavenly.com
Royal Gorge: 800 500-3871 www.royalgorge.com
Kirkwood: 209 258-6000 www.kirkwood.com
Granlibakken: 877 552-6301 www.granlibakken.com
Donner Ski Ranch 530 426-3635 www.donnerskiranch.com
http://www.squaw.com/http://www.skiboreal.com/http://www.sugarbowl.com/http://www.skialpine.com/http://www.northstarattahoe.com/http://www.sodasprings.com/http://www.tahoedonner.com/http://www.tahoeexc.org/http://www.spoonerlake.com/http://www.skihomewood.com/http://www.mtrose.com/http://www.diamondpeak.com/http://www.sierraattahoe.com/http://www.skiheavenly.com/http://www.royalgorge.com/http://www.kirkwood.com/http://www.granlibakken.com/http://www.donnerskiranch.com/http://www.donnerskiranch.com/http://www.granlibakken.com/http://www.kirkwood.com/http://www.royalgorge.com/http://www.skiheavenly.com/http://www.sierraattahoe.com/http://www.diamondpeak.com/http://www.mtrose.com/http://www.skihomewood.com/http://www.spoonerlake.com/http://www.tahoeexc.org/http://www.tahoedonner.com/http://www.sodasprings.com/http://www.northstarattahoe.com/http://www.skialpine.com/http://www.sugarbowl.com/http://www.skiboreal.com/http://www.squaw.com/ -
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The Cedar House Sport Hotel, located just outside of the Historic
Downtown Truckee, fuses innovative green architecture with the
best of contemporary design. Described as a stunning combination
of hip and organic, The Cedar House incorporates a number of eco-
friendly elements, bringing a fresh and environmentally conscience
style to the Sierras. Featuring 42 rooms and suites, The Cedar
House has all the modern conveniences, from flat screen TVs to
Egyptian Cotton Linen, proving that you don't have to sacrifice
comfort and luxury to go green.
The Cedar House Sport Hotel is the dream work of Jeff and
Patty Baird. The hotel is a reflection of the Baird's experience visit-
ing small family run hotels in the European Alps. At The Cedar
House, a guest is a guest in ones home, not a customer. The goalis to create a place to return to: at the end of a fun filled day, at
the end of a business meeting, or for ones next vacation. The Cedar
House creates a climate of home, where guests become temporary
members of a larger family. Although modern and hip esthetically,
the homey feel of The Cedar House opens itself to guests, allowing
them to participate and share in the richness of a community, while
still allowing whatever degree of privacy they prefer. Meals and
drink can be shared with the owners and other guests, allowing new
relationships to be created and old ones to be enriched.
Cedar House Ecostyle Luxury
http://www.flourgarden.com/http://www.briarpatch.coop/ -
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outdoors budget snow sports
10 WINTER | 2009
Northstar-At-Tahoe & Sierra-At-Tahoe
will again offer its Double Whammy Pass,
which allows you to ski at two resorts for one
reasonable price. This flexibility is particularly
advantageous if you live off the hill. Lets say
you dont want to drive all the way to the basin;
you head up 50 to Sierra-At-Tahoe. Or youre
staying a few days and want to enjoy someaprs ski activity; the charm of downtown
Truckee is minutes away.
So how does the average person or family
continue to enjoy the myriad recreational
opportunities without going into further debt?
First, there is no reason to ever have to pay
full price for a daily lift ticket. Each ski resort
wants your recreational dollars and will be
offering cool deals to lure you to their terrain
parks, steeps, and groomers. For example:Sugar Bowl returns with its Core Rewards
Program. You buy a pass and save bucks with
every trip. You can also earn points to redeem
on lessons, foods and beverages. Last season, a
mid-week lift ticket included free lessons and
rentals.
Snow Sports on a
Recessionista Budget
All of the resorts offer competitive rates on
season passes with deeper discounts for those
flexible enough to sit out the black-out dates
and crowded weekends. The cool thing about
getting a season pass is that after 5 days, youre
skiing or riding for free. But what if its variety
you crave and dont want to ski that many days
at one place?
Tahoe and Truckee locals seem to be a religious group of people, judging from the pray for snow events and
salutations that become increasingly common this time of year. An ample snow fall is vital to the economy and
ecosystem. Also, snow sports are great activities for fitness and a mental respite from our current economic woes.
By Felicia Sampson
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outdoors budget snow sports
ALPINE GREEN LIVING 11
Some suggestions:
Sliding on the Cheap is a great website
packed with information about deals on lift tick-
ets, clothing, ski waxing and bus trips, and other
necessities such as bargain ski waxing. Log onto
slidingonthecheap.com and click onto
deals. Be sure to sign up for their newsletter.
Snowbomb is another helpful website. Log
on to snowbomb.com. This company is
currently offering the winter Tahoe Card for
about $40. A winter card purchase gets you a
one-day lift ticket to either Sugar Bowl or
Kirkwood, which, in itself, pays for the card! In
addition to discounted lift tickets, you will get
deals on apparel, equipment rentals, tuning,
and waxing. I used my card to demo some skisfree before I bought a pairwhich brings me
to the next topicbuying equipment on the
cheap.
REI, Costco, and many ski shops often part-
ner with a ski resort for discounted lift tickets.
Some resorts, like Mt. Rose and Alpine
Meadows, offer discounts on their slower
days. For example, Ladies Day on Thursdays at
Mt. Rose, and the Alpine Meadows Alpine 39
Days @ $39 special through theAlpine Club.
Some ski areas partner with local non-profits
for discounted tickets; you get to ski for less
money and do some good at the same time.
These events are often publicized on the
Snowbomb and Sliding on the Cheap
newsletters. The North Tahoe weekly, a free
paper found at kiosks around Truckee and
North Shore, is also a good source for resort
discounts. Find it online at theweekly-
magazineonline.com
For our courageous troops who have been serv-
ing our country, several resorts offer military dis-
counts. Similarly, furloughed state employees
may also cash in on deals, as can employees
whose workplaces are signed up for the
BeyondWork discount program. Check
Sliding on the Cheap for more information.
New this season is an interchangeable North
Tahoe ski pass. The catch is that it is not avail-
able to Northern California or Western
Nevada powder hounds. If you are from out of
the area or have friends who are, this could be
a great way to entice them upmake sure they
pay for dinner.
By the time this goes to press, most of the
tent sales and ski swaps will be over. If you do
your homework, however, you can pick up some
great deals mid-season and in the spring. One
caveat: as the prices drop, so does the selection.
I suggest checking out some of the thrift and
consignment stores for good deals just prior to
the first big dump. My favorites are the Sports
Exchange on West River Street in Truckee and
Nine Lives in Tahoe City, next to Fiamma.
Both stores generally switch from summer to
winter inventory in the late fall. You can also
bring in your used stuff to sell on consignment.
For ski and snowboard apparel, I have found
some great buys at the Tahoe Forest Hospital
Thrift Store in Truckee (Meadow, off Donner
Pass Road). The staff is wonderful about keepingthe chaos to a minimum, and the quality is gen-
erally above par. Ive snapped up several base lay-
ers and pairs of ski pants for less than the price of
one fleece at retail. Ive also purchased great
demo skis at the end of the season by just asking
around at the resort rental shops. If you do this,
check the overall condition of the boards. Keep
in mind that the demo bindings tend to be heav-
ier so ask the folks in the shop for a test drive.By doing a little research, you can do your
part to reduce the cost of your next snow outing.
Youll also sleep a little better having recycled pre-
viously enjoyed equipment and clothing. Ski
green and save a little green in the process.
And pray for snow!
Felicia Sampson is
an avid skier, hiker,and bargain hunter.She and her dog,Lacy have beenpraying for snowand look forwardto anotherTahoe winter!
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outdoors ski resorts
12 WINTER | 2009
The first noticeable difference the casual skier will see is the new lift.
Homewoods quad chairthe most conspicuous capital improvement San
Francisco-based JMA Ventures made when they purchased the 1,086-acre property
from the Yurosek family in 2006jets skiers to the top of the resorts North Base in just seven
minutes, some 11 minutes faster than the 30-year-old lift it replaced, and uses less energy to get
them there.
The lift is one of the first steps JMA took to create a boutique style Green ski resort that
the developer says would coexist in harmony with the regions environmental treasures, while atthe same time retain the West Shores down-to-earth charm.
The two-phased project is Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certi-
fied for community development.
The vision is to create a new West Shore community that recalls the architectural traditions
of the past that were at Lake Tahoe, JMA Senior Vice President David Tirman said.
JMAs blueprints call for a 145-room hotel with 70 condominium units, a 25,000-square-foot
parcel slated for commercial development and an additional 56 adjacent condos on the North
Base to be completed by 2012. A 99-condo development would be completed on a South Base
enclave two years later.The developers are awaiting approval from Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and Placer
County before they can move ahead on the project, Tirman said.
The project could be a catalyst for large-scale Green development, generating a ripple effect
spreading across the Tahoe basin and beyond, said Sierra Business Council President Steve Frisch.
Frisch said JMAs commitment to building the Tahoe basins greenest resort was apparent to
him Day One.
I think the most important thing about the way theyve handled the project so far is that
before they even started talking about what they needed to get out of the project as an econom-
ic investment, they began to look at the sustainability component, Frisch said.From the very beginning of the project they took what is known in the Green building world
as an integrated design approach, Frisch said, noting that the developers assembled a team
with shared core values that communicates effectively at every step.
Changes afoot onBy Gideon Rubin
Homewood Going Green
T
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outdoors ski resorts
ALPINE GREEN LIVING 13
the West Shore
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IN ORDER TO PROVIDE QUALITY WINTER AND SUMMER RECREATION AND CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR
GUESTS ENJOY THIS SPECIAL PLACE IT MUST BE PROTECTED. AFTER ALL, IT IS THE SPECTACULAR
ENVIRONMENT THAT DRAWS THE VISITOR IN THE FIRST PLACE AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROTECT AND MAINTAIN THAT ENVIRONMENT.
outdoors ski resorts
14 WINTER | 2009
The engineer has to know what the building contractor is look-
ing for, and the erosion control people have to know what the moun-
tain maintenance people are looking for, he said. A lot of people
think of (the sustainability component) as an afterthought, and
because they think of it as an afterthought they lose opportunities to
apply new ideas.
JMAs new ideas about greenifying the resort are based on a series
of SBC recommendations for reducing its carbon footprint and beef-
ing up water quality standards.
JMA is exploring alternative energy options including hydroelec-
tric and solar, Tirman said, noting that two streams that flow
through the resort could potentially provide the resort's power needs
for about five months a year.
Also in the works, Tirman said, are European-style bike banks,
allowing visitors to cycle for free, a hybrid shuttle service, and water
taxi linking visitors to a planned ferry system that would have access
to the entire basin.
The developers have already begun an expansive plan to restore
old mining and logging roads that for years have been the source of
polluting runoff, Tirman said.
Since acquiring the West Shore property, JMA has restored
240,000 square feet of roadway that was the source of toxic sedi-
ment. They have also renovated two parking lots at the foot of the
resort that were the source of polluting runoff. JMA received
$700,000 in state grants to complete the project, Homewoodspokeswoman Rachael Woods said.
Homewood is among JMAs first ventures outside San Francisco,
where the company has been involved in some of the citys highest
profile projects, including the Ghiradelli Square redevelopment.
The Homewood acquisition typifies JMAs approach to purchas-
ing and renovating distressed fixer-upper properties Tirman said.
The Homewood revitalizationtaking old dilapidated historic
buildings and giving them new lifeis really one of the purest forms
of sustainable development, Tirman said.Homewood General Manager Kent Hoopingarner said hes
received overwhelmingly positive feedback from visitors and locals
who share JMAs vision for the Tahoe basin.
Homewoods environmental initiatives are long-term investments,
Hoopingarner said. In order to provide quality winter and summerrecreation and continue to have our guests enjoy this special place it must
be protected. After all, it is the spectacular environment that draws the
visitor in the first place and it is our responsibility to protect and main-
tain that environment.
The Homewood proposal follows a recent trend, Frisch said, which
seeks to change the ski industrys not-always-so-green reputation by tak-
ing more socially responsible actions of late. The California Ski Industry
Association has publicly supported the California State Assemblys
Global Warming Initiative (AB 32) calling for a reduction of greenhousegases statewide to 1990 levels by 2020. Frisch also cited recent efforts by
Canyons Resort of Park City (Utah) and Central Oregons Mt. Bachelor
to make their resorts virtually car-free.
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The Homewood project, he said, could accelerate that change.
The ski industry in this area can be a leader, and I think
Homewood is on the leading edge of that, Frisch said. (The industry
is) going to change anyway, but I think this speeds that change and I
think JMA ventures and (company owner) Art Chapman should be
applauded for trying to speed up that change.
Such sustainability measures are integral to the industrys survival inan age of increasingly scarce resources, and the public demand that all
businesses V not just ski resorts V take action to reduce their carbon
footprints, Frisch said.
outdoors ski resorts
ALPINE GREEN LIVING 15
Energy efficiency, conservation, controlling erosion and adapting to
climate change is more economically efficient than doing things the old
way, and I think theyll change for that reason, like most businesses and
industries in California will change for that reason, Frisch said.
The more we can speed the adoption of new technologies and adapt
to climate change, the better off were going to be. The businesses that get
out in front of it are going to be more competitive than the businesses thatlag behind.
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community sustainable living
16 WINTER | 2009
by Jesse Locks and Elisa Parker
Think globally act locally, is the message that twenty-nine year
old Mali Dyck, Executive Director of the APPLE Center for
Sustainable Living, wants community members and tourists to
take away from a visit to the newly opened resource center in downtown
Nevada City, CA.
At just 800-sq ft this little building is poised to have a big impact in
the community. Not only is it a model for energy-efficient workspace,
but a hub and an incubator for ideas on how to live green. The APPLE
Center (named after its non-profit fiscal sponsor the Alliance for a Post-
Petroleum Local Economy) offers a free library with books and dvds,
hosts classes and workshops along with educational exhibits on sustain-
ability, energy conservation and the local economy.
My background is in the local food movement, explains Dyck who
also owns a small farm and landscaping business. When I wanted to open
the center, it was about supporting our farmers and community gardeners,
but then I realized you cant talk about food without talking about energy,
transportation, air quality and other elements that are inter-connected.
The idea for a one-stop-shop resource center that would provide
people with knowledge and tools for sustainable living evolved out of a
community meeting hosted last December by Reinette Senum, co-
founder of Power-Up Nevada City and Mayor of Nevada City.
Determined to create a town that is both sustainable and energy effi-cient, Senum invited the entire town of almost 3,000 to participate in
the planning and implementation process.
The kick-off event, named appropriately the Community Congress,
included contractors, teachers, students, business owners, parents, non-
profit managers, community organizers and more who all collaborated
together to identify five key goals for the next five years; 1) localize our
food, 2) create a low interest revolving loan fund, 3) create a sustainable
transportation infrastructure, 4) reduce energy consumption by 30%,
5) increase public awareness and involvement in reducing energy.
Senum realized the power of a small town early on. After reading the
book The Tipping Point, she learned of the idea that to tip the scale one
must reach 15% of the public. To reach 15% in a city with millions of peo-
ple would be difficult, but to reach 15% of the people in a town with a
population of 3,000 like Nevada City would mean only 450 people.
Suddenly the idea of creating change seemed less overwhelming.
Its not that cities cant do it, but a city will be more complicated, says
Senum. Its like a cruise ship. Getting a cruise ship to change direction is
much more challenging than a rowboat where you can turn around really
fast. Thats why I think places like the APPLE Center can become the
clearinghouse and nexus for communities to come together and centralize.
Its a collective place.
In July, Dyck and Senum received a $40,000 grant from Butte CountyPrivate Industry Council and along with the help of volunteers, who donat-
ed hundreds of hours of labor and over $64,000 in materials were able to gut
and retro fit the small building. The APPLE Center for Sustainability cele-
brated its grand opening on Sunday, September 20th. Hundreds of commu-
nity supporters and those curious about exactly what a sustainability center is
poured through the Centers doors. Its only been a few months and the
APPLE Center is already hosting presentations, workshops and socials the
Center and other community groups. Dyck hopes this is only the beginning
of getting the community involved at all levels to connect the dots and com-plete a much bigger picture of sustainability.
A lot of us feel like as an individual were powerless against the big
machine, but in my experience with opening this center, its actually the con-
sumer who has the power, says Dyck. We need to vote with our dollars.
Jesse Locks and Elisa Parker have a FM radio show called See Jane Do which runs from1-2p.m. at 89.5 or 105.1 the 1st Wednesday of every month highlighting ordinarywomen doing extraordinary things.
Nevada City APPLE Center for Sustainable Living
http://www.seejanedo.com/ -
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advice sustainable holidays
18 WINTER | 2009
Christmas Tree OptionsHow would you like a Christmas you wont soon forget? Pack up the kids and the dog, throw in some snacks and
hot chocolate, and set off to cut down your own Christmas tree. We are lucky living in the Sierras because there areat least two forestry departments which are giving out permits for tree cutting. (See their websites below.) You not
only get the adventure of tromping through the snow trying to find the perfect tree, you get the satisfaction of
knowing that you are helping to thin the forest thus making it healthier and more fire safe. Then, when the holiday
festivities are over, make sure you participate in the chipping program your community provides. Each year 50 mil-
lion Christmas trees are purchased in the U.S, of those, about 30 million go to the landfill. (Environmental News
Network). The chips are put to good use being placed on hiking trails and at sites for soil conservation.
If cutting down your own tree isnt possible this year, we have some other suggestions:
1. Buy a locally grown tree which should translate into it being fresher than those
transported from outside of the area.
2. Buy from a charitable organization so your money goes to a good cause.
3. Buy a living tree which you can reuse until you are ready to plant it.
The Plumas and Tahoe National Forests allow 2 permits per household, costing $10
each, and are available through December 23. Maps to the tree cutting areas are
provided with the permits. Plan for snowy conditions, how you are going to transport
the tree, and enough travel time. Don't forget the rope, saw, flashlight and most of all
the camera. I know you will have a great time..
For more information go to:
Lake Tahoe:
www.LakeTahoeBasinManagementunit.com
Plumas National Forest:
www.PlumasNationalForest.com
Greening
the Holidays
http://www.laketahoebasinmanagementunit.com/http://www.plumasnationalforest.com/http://www.plumasnationalforest.com/http://www.laketahoebasinmanagementunit.com/ -
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Creative Gift WrappingThe holidays are here, and that means presents. And presents mean giftwrapping. According to RecycleWorks.org, from Thanksgiving to New
Years Day, household waste increases by more than 25%. Added shop-
ping bags, packaging, wrapping paper, bows and ribbon add up to an
additional 1 million tons a week to our landfills. We dont want to put
a damper on your love of giving at the holiday season so we have pro-
vided some ways to have more fun with the gift wrapping chore, and at
the same time be gentler on the earth. Try theses options:
Cut down on the packaging: In the U.S., annual trash from gift-
wrapping and shopping bags total 4 million tons. Think of alternatives to
wrapping paper, or make the wrapping part of the gift. Re-usable bags,
scarves, handkerchiefs, bits of spare fabric and bandanas are useful options.
Reuse paper, ribbon and containers: Use an old tea tin; deco-
rate a shoe box or use newspaper and magazines for wrapping. Craft
paper can be personalized with stamps or childrens drawings, outdated
maps and old sheet music are colorful and interesting. Get the kids
involved and make an event out of creating gift boxes, use old buttons,old photos or beads, even dried beans and peas will work. Its up to you.
Use nature for decorating: If every family reused just two feet of
holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow
around the entire planet. Give a gift to the earth and avoid ribbon alto-
gether. Decorate with nature instead pine needles, pine cones, leaves,
twine and raffia are things that can be composted afterwards.
Not only will this creative gift wrapping save you money, but your
time and effort can be enjoyed by the recipient as well. When your
loved ones experience the fun involved in this wrapping process they
may be inspired to do the same.
Shop Locallyfor your Holiday FeastWhen you live in the snow covered Sierras it may
be hard to think that you can purchase locally
grown produce and meats, but we can. If you
think of local being within a twohundred
mile radius we have plenty of ranchers and farmers
who are serving this greater community. In the U.S. our food
on average travels 1200 miles, which creates more pollution, more of
a dependence on oil, and less support for your local economy. Produceis generally picked weeks before it is ripe so that it can survive the trip,
reducing the quality of the item.
Supporting local farmers keeps them in business, keeps dollars in
our towns and ensures our food security. The food is fresher, tastes
better and has more nutritional value. For local farms near you
check onwww.localharvest.com,www.nevadacountygrown.org, and
www.placercountygrown.org. Look for signs in your local stores that
sayThink Local Firstor Buy Local Buy Fresh.
Free Range Meats
When shopping for meats - think about buying products that are sustain-
ably raised. Meat from less stressed animals, raised responsibly, and fed
organically on native grasses, is a more flavorful, tender product with a
higher nutritional content than mass produced meats.
Nevada County Free Range Beefis one of our local beef producers.
Owner Jim Gates has been ranching all his life and because he was wor-
ried about the integrity of our food supply he decided to start his own
company in 2004 using sustainable farming practices. Go to www.nevada-countyfreerangebeef.com for ordering and distribution info.
Diestel Turkey Ranch in Sonora is another great company that rais-
es its animals in a sustainable manner. Their free-range turkeys and hens
are fed only the finest grains and never any animal by-products and
are certified organic. Diestel is committed to moving toward a
zero waste policy and therefore compost all their
manure, re-use and filter their groundwater and
dont use any toxic chemicals or fertilizers on
their ranch. The compost they produce and sellis OMRI listed.www.diestelturkey.com
In Truckee, check out Shaw Family
Farm for range fed chickens, and turkeys,
home made bread and eggs. This is the first
farm in Truckee in decades and is meeting
the needs of the residents who wish to buy
local and organic.www.shawfamilyfarm.com
When eating out, Moodys Restaurantin Truckee, Ikes Restaurant
in Nevada City as well as Diegos Restaurantand Briar Patch Deli in
Grass Valley all use locally grown produce and meats besides providing
a warm atmosphere and interesting ambiance. Let them know that we
recommended them.
by Lori Lachman
http://www.localharvest.com/http://www.nevadacountygrown.org/http://www.placercountygrown.org/http://www.nevada-countyfreerangebeef.com/http://www.nevada-countyfreerangebeef.com/http://www.diestelturkey.com/http://www.shawfamilyfarm.com/http://www.shawfamilyfarm.com/http://www.diestelturkey.com/http://www.nevada-countyfreerangebeef.com/http://www.nevada-countyfreerangebeef.com/http://www.nevada-countyfreerangebeef.com/http://www.placercountygrown.org/http://www.nevadacountygrown.org/http://www.localharvest.com/ -
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ALPINE GREEN LIVING MAGAZINE
20 WINTER | 2009
2009Eco-Gift
Guide
Toms One for One Shoes Walk the talkwith Toms. Be socially responsible whiledelivering on style. With every pair youpurchase, Toms will give a pair of new shoesto a child in need. Canvas shoes run between
$30-$40 www.tomsshoes.com
Being Green Earth friendly wares. This Eco-fleecefabric is the best quality polar fleece available. It'ssuper plush and warm, and ages gracefully. It's madeentirely from 2 liter pop bottles! Unbelievably softand warm. These hoodies are designed for eleganceand comfort, out of plush eco-fleece. It is designedwith contour fit, long belled sleeves and generoushoods. The seam lines are an exposed satin sergestitch. The tribal-inspired wrap style ties in back.XS-XL. Wrap Style - $90
Visit 408 Broad St #9 Nevada City, CA530-470-0442 www.beinggreenshop.com
Solar Bags Two sided design allows solar panel to face the sun or yourbody, 2 interior zipper pockets 1 for lithium-ion storage battery andelectronics, chrome-free, vegetable tanned and dyed, full-grain cowhideleather, hand shibori dyed hemp/cotton fabric with natural pigments,organic hemp/cotton lining. $330 at noonsolar.com
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2009 eco-gift guide
ALPINE GREEN LIVING 21
Olive Oil Gift Box Calolea's award-winning organic olive oil
has been certified "extra virgin" by the COOC and has anacidity level of 0.13%. The olives on the Keller's 100 year oldMission and Manzanillo trees are hand picked, stone crushedand cold pressed within 24 hours to create the highest qualityoil possible. Look for it at your local farmers market or order itat www.calolea.com
Organic Soap Invigorate your gift
giving with this natural soap. Usingthe finest ingredients available and anartisans attention to detail, SironaSprings makes beautiful handmadesoap in small batches by the coldprocess method. Starts at just $5.00www.sironasprings.com
Bamboo Sheets Give the next level of comfort with these eco-friendlybamboo sheets from the Bamboo Home Store. These light and airy sheetsare delightfully soft and incredibly breathable. Located at 108 Mill StreetGrass Valley (530)272 0303www.bamboohomestore.com
Natural, fair trade chocolateWho doesnt want a little chocolatein their stocking? Try these deliciousraw chocolates from Chocolatl.www.flowfoodschocolatl.com
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ALPINE GREEN LIVING MAGAZINE
22 WINTER | 2009
Aladdin Sustainable Containers Recyclable
and PBA-Free for those on the go who want to keepthings fresh and temperature controlled, These prod-ucts will come in handy all year round. Get these andother useful gifts at Ace Mountain Hardware 11320Donner Pass Rd Truckee. (530) 587-4844www.mountainhardwareandsports.com
Solar Keychain Need that perfectstocking stuffer? These Hook to a beltor add on to a bag to soak up the sunin the day, and, voilainstant lightwhen you need it. 4-volt solar panelkeeps rechargeable batteries juiced.Provides light for 2 -3 hours when fullycharged. Features carabineer. Black ABSplastic; 3.25" x 1.62" x 1.62". Under$5 at www.recycledjournals.net
Samsung Reclaim A new generation ofeco-minded tech gear, a first of it's kind, thisnetworking phone is made from 80% recycla-ble materials and is 100% biodegradablethanks to new bio-plastic technology.www.samsungmobileusa.com
Solar powered weather stationCombining a wireless weather stationwith a radio controlled clock andcalendar. This state of the art Solarhome weather station brings you vitalweather information at a very afford-able price, including indoor andoutdoor temperature, local weatherforecast and the correct time.www.oregonscientific.com
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2009 eco-gift guide
ALPINE GREEN LIVING 23
Water Powered Alarm Clock The Bedol Water Clock is themost accurate, environmentally practical, hassle-free chronometerof its kind. Want a high quality, beautifully designed clock thatliterally runs itself? Look no further.
Because the handsome Bedol Water Clock works 100%on natural power. Its true. No batteries, no chemicals,no electricity no pollution. You dont even need towind it up! Just fill the tank with natural tap water... add a splash of natural lemon juice ... andyoure set for 6 to 8 weeks of accurate time-keeping before refreshing. (You wont evenlose time while changing water, thanks to thebuilt-in memory chip!)
With its bold modern styling, space-ageaccuracy, and surprisingly low price, theBedol Eco-Friendly Water Powered Clock isideal for home or office or as a uniquegift item.Just $16 at www.bedol.com
Ecotronic Toys No batteries required!Check these fun and earth-friendly toysfor the kids. Many to choose from andnever batteries to buy.www.ecotronictoys.com
Solar watch Go solar withthese catchy little time pieces.These come in a range ofstyles for all ages. Get thisand other cool gifts atwww.kaboodle.com
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building fire prevention
24 WINTER | 2009
Jim Bolton has been employed as a fire fighter for 22 years, trying to pro-
tect homes in what is called the Wildland Urban Interface Zone in
Oregon, Nevada and California. These zones are where development
encroaches into previously open space whether it be forest, grassland or
desert. After years of having to make decisions on which houses to save when
there werent enough firefighters, time or equipment to save every house in
a big forest fire, he developed some strong opinions and wants to make an
impact on the solution.As firefighters we are dedicated to trying to save every house in a forest
fire. However, as harsh as this may sound, there is a reality as to what we can
do. In extreme situations like the Angora Fire in Lake Tahoe, or the recent
Southern California fire, we have to do what is called structural triage where
we decide on which houses we can save. Under those conditions, we look at
things like debris around the house, trees growing too close to the house, fire-
wood stacked beside the house or under the deck. If people arent going to
pay attention to what the Forestry Department and their local fire depart-
ments tell them to do to keep their property safe, then their house may haveto be the one that we cant save, Jim Bolton explained. When you are the
one out there fighting the fire, you sometimes have to make those split sec-
ond decisions to help save other houses or even fire fighters lives.
A Firefighters SolutionBuilding with Fire Safe Materialsby Judy Gelwicks
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building fire prevention
ALPINE GREEN LIVING 25
If people arent going to pay attention to what the Forestry Department
and their local fire departments tell them to do to keep their property
safe, then their house may have to be the one that we cant save
The tremendous destruction of the Angora fire in South Lake Tahoe
in 2007 is now blamed on the build up of forest fuel around houses in
the over grown forest, as well as residents leaving items like lawn furni-ture with pillows on decks when they were away. If fire wood was
stacked under decks or beside the exterior wall of a house, it was fuel for
the fire. Shake roofs, dead trees, piles of pine needles and stuffed pillows
are like kindling for fires. All they need is a spark to get the fire off and
running. You put a little wind into the equation and you can see how a
wild fire can leap frog from one house to the next, Jim stated.
Because Jim is a firefighter and has seen the devastation, he wanted
to take a more proactive approach to help protect homes from forest
fires. With everything that he has experienced with fighting fires, he
decided to get into the fire safe building materials business. First, he
started a business called 3D Smart Structures, Inc., a distributor for fire
resistant building panels, which are also considered excellent insulating
materials. He has since expanded to a whole development company,
Enviro-tech Development, which designs and builds fire safe structures.
The fire-resistant panels are made of concrete with a core of recycled
Styrofoam. Once the panels are in place, they are sprayed with concrete,
making them water resistant and even more fire safe. Concrete isapplied to both sides of the panel to finish the wall. This type of build-
ing system is a Structural Concrete Insulated Panel or SCIP for short.
The concrete used completely eliminates out casting of CO2, making
the panels environmentally safe. These panels are being used in three of
the homes that are being rebuilt after the Angora fire where 250 homes
were destroyed. Since decks are often the first part of the house to catch
fire, Jim also distributes fire safe fly ash decking and fencing which looks
just like wood but is 100% fire retardant. Decks in the Sierras are often
composed of ultra dry wood and sparks landing on the dry decking,even from a barbecue, can get a fire established. Once the deck catches
on fire, the house is in real danger of being consumed.
Living in the forest should be no different than going back-pack-
ing. You go prepared. You learn about your terrain, you take a map, a
compass, and you learn about the hazards you may encounter. You
should build and live in the forest knowing your environment and what
to do to be safe. Fire is a naturally occurring event in the forest. There
are thousands of fires started by lightening strikes each year. Then you
add accidents like camp fires that are left without being completelyextinguished; kids playing with matches or fire crackers; the barbeque,
fire pit or backyard burn that jumps out of control; and then the most
serious arson. It all adds up to a lot of forest fires each year. We all
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building fire prevention
26 WINTER | 2009
need to do our part to be part of the solution and take care of our
own property to be as fire safe as possible, so if a fire comes to your
neighborhood, your house can be one that can be saved.
Talking with Jim Bolton, one can tell that he is very passion-
ate about the products he uses and recommends. In hearing his
stories you can understand why. If people had built their homes
with appropriate materials for living in such a hazardous environ-
ment, many more homes may have been saved in the Angora and
Auburn fires. Hopefully people will see the light and replace
their homes with structural materials that can withstand such
fires. He estimates that the cost of going this route with the con-crete panels is just 3-5% more than regular 2x6 wood frame con-
struction. However, due to the significant energy efficiency per-
formance of the system, you get that back with the savings on
utility bills in an average of about 2 years. Most importantly, you
have the peace of mind of knowing your home is fire safe.
Something to think about for those of you who are planning
to build in the mountains.
Fire-resistant panels made of concrete and
recycled foam are being used in some of the
homes being rebuilt after the Angora fire.
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community green jobs
ALPINE GREEN LIVING 27
The Obama Administration has made the economy and jobs a high priori-
ty for the next four years. And the color of the new jobs targeted for creation
is green. Green jobs not only help the environment, but can also significant-
ly help the US economy. Our area has plenty of opportunity to benefit from
a new green economy with an infusion of hundreds of new green jobs while
keeping energy dollars in our local economies and pockets.
Energy Efficiency
There is an immediate opportunity to employ hundreds of people in our
region over the next few years in energy efficiency. Energy efficiency jobs
will be created through education, training and a market ripe for making
homes and businesses more energy-efficient while helping those home-
owners and renters and businesses reduce energy costs and become more
profitable. Energy costs affect the bottom line and one less dollar spent
and exported out of the area is one more dollar that gets circulated in the
local economy. And a penny saved is more than a penny earned because
the profits created from conserved energy are not taxed.
Job TrainingThose seeking jobs in energy efficiency need to begin looking for and
taking classes and workshops in energy efficiency. One of the best ways
to develop the skills needed to become an energy expert and apply that
knowledge and skills in making buildings more energy efficient is to get
energy audit training. There are occasionally classes offered at local com-
munity colleges and four year institutions in energy auditing. Some of
the larger utilities like Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) have their own
training center and classes.
Energy Auditors
TraditionalThere are many types of energy professionals that fall under
the guise of energy auditors. There are those who are trained to gothrough an entire building and look at every energy and cost-saving
opportunity and recommend those measures that have a reasonable eco-
nomic return. Energy audit measures are often prioritized by which
measures give the biggest bang for the buck. The measures and end-uses
often targeted in homes and small business are: appliances, building effi-
ciency, electronics and office equipment, lighting, motors, space (heating
and cooling) conditioning and water heating.
RESNET & HERS ratersThen there are those energy experts who
have the tools to come into a building and look for ways to improve thethermal efficiency of those buildings. Home Energy System (HERS)
raters and RESNET trained professionals are among a growing number
of building science energy professionals that do just this. Thermal effi-
Green Job and Career Opportunitiesin the Northern NV, Lake Tahoe & Truckee RegionPrepared by Scott Terrell
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community green jobs
28 WINTER | 2009
ciency involves several components of a building: the building envelope(floors, walls and ceiling) and the ability of the building envelope with
high insulation values and minimal air leakage to minimize heat loss in the
wintertime and heat gain in the summertime. A buildings heating, cool-
ing and fresh air distribution system also needs attention to minimize heat
loss and gain and air quality issues. HERS raters use a blower door to test
the building envelope and often a duct blaster to test air leakage in the
forced-air distribution/duct system.
Building ThermographersSome energy experts use infra-red ther-
mography to identify where heat is being lost in a building affecting heat-ing costs in the winter or coming in the building affecting air condition-
ing costs and/or comfort in the summertime. Comfort becomes a big issue
in areas with generally mild climates and buildings without air condition-
ing. Infra-red thermography involves using a thermographic camera that
takes a picture of a building and shows clearly where heat can easily move
in and out of the building. Those areas of high heat loss or gain need
attention in order to make a building more comfortable and reduce the
buildings heating and cooling costs.
Energy Efficiency Opportunities
Utility ProgramsMany energy utilities have programs that encourage
their customers to apply energy-efficiency measures by offering cash
incentives to buy and use more energy-efficient appliances and other
measures. Utilities have traditionally used limited staff to help their com-
munities manage their energy use. There is a growing need for more
trained and qualified energy auditors to go into homes and businesses and
show people how to cost-effectively save on both their energy and water
costs. Utilities are looking at some new ways to meet this growing demand
for energy efficiency savings through programs that will encourage home
and business owners to use the services of private sector energy profession-
als, namely energy auditors.
Legislative MandatesThe State of Nevada has a law on the books that
will require every home sold in Nevada to have an energy audit performed at
time-of-sale. This legislation goes into full effect January 1, 2011. There are
not many trained energy professionals and energy auditors around the world.
This is a profession that will be in high demand requiring a significant needto train millions of people around the country for good paying, high reward
jobs. For more information on what is happening with this mandate contact
the State of Nevada Energy Office in Carson City.
Green Non-ProfitsAn energy audit is a very valuable service that should
be performed on just about every building around the country. Green organ-
izations have an excellent opportunity to build this service into their member-
ship. Green organizations are prime since their members generally understand
the benefits of energy efficiency and would likely value the energy audit serv-
ice on their home and/or business. Most non-profits would have to raise theirmembership fee to cover the cost of adding the energy audit service to their
list of member services. The service could be ongoing year after year as the
building energy bills could continually be monitored and worked on.
Where to Start:
Regional Resources for Green Jobs Training:
Lake Tahoe Community College Green Sustainable
Education (GSE) Program Classes in: Energy Efficiency &
Energy Auditing, Water Efficiency, Solar Energy, Green
Businesses & Green Marketing, Green Careers, etc.
Sierra College (including Truckee campus)
Developing a Solar PV Training Center and Program
May also be offering classes in Energy Auditing
Truckee Meadows Community College
Recently developed a two year program in Renewable
Energy TMCC is developing a Solar PV Training Center and
Program and currently offers classes in Renewable Energy,
Solar Energy and Energy Auditing
University of Nevada, Reno
UNR is developing a Renewable Energy Program with
classes already underway. The UNR Business Environmental
Program has a small business energy auditing program
being planned for implementation soon. UNR also has a
Renewable Energy Center (REC) located at their UNR
Redfield Campus building off Mount Rose highway.
University of Nevada, Reno Extension
UNR Extension is looking at offering classes in Energy
Management
UC Davis Extension
Certificate in Energy Resources Management: Courses:
Intro to ERM, Demand-side EM/Energy Efficiency, etc.
Workforce Training Many agencies and organizations
throughout America are expected to receive considerable
funding for Green Jobs training through the Presidents
Economic Stimulus package.Keep an eye out as to what
organizations actually receive the funding and for
the types of jobs and careers the funding will be used
to provide training.
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greenmarket
Creative Coops
Unique modular back yardchicken coops. Expandablein size. Wheels available.See more at:
www.creativecoops.com
Phone: [email protected]: creative coops
Moodys Bistro & Lounge
Moodys is proud of the part-nership with our local farmers:
Sierra Valley Farms, ShawFamily Farms, WatanabeFarms and Del Rio Botanicals.
10007 Bridge Street, Truckee530.587.8688
www.moodysbistro.com
Precision Flooring
Serving Truckee & North LakeTahoe for 30 Years.
Carpet/Area Rugs Laminate/Hardwood Vinyl Repairs
Window Covers Green Products
530.587.010211357 Donner Pass Rd. Ste.ETruckee, CA
Strauss Family Creamery
Straus Family Creamery is a
a family-owned dairy andcreamery in West Marinproducing milk in returnableglass bottles with deliciouscream on the top.
Visit us at:www.strausfamilycreamery.com
Nevada CountyFree Range BeefOrder from the ranchby the quarter, half or whole,or NCFRB Select Cuts Packs.Also available at BriarPatchMarket and locally ownedgrocery stores.
530-273-1025www.NevadaCountyFreeRangeBeef.com
Lifekind
Lifekind organicmattresses are extremelycomfortable, and theirpurity is third-party certified.If you can find a purer
mattress, theyll give youone for free.
800.284.4983www.lifekind.com
The Magikal Florist
Full service Florist.
Satisfaction guaranteed.Seasonally organic flowers.Supporting local growers.Delivery available localand world wide.
Something available foreveryone's taste and budget.
530.265.8307821 Zion St., Nevada City
Propel Fuels
Clean, American-made fuelfor your diesel or flex fuelvehicle. Located nearRoseville Galleria onStanford Ranch Road at the76 station.
More information,www.propelfuels.com.
ALPINE GREEN LIVING 29
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greenmarket
Nevada City Seafood
Nevada City Seafood is dedi-cated to bringing NevadaCounty the freshest seafoodand shellfish available. Wefocus on sustainable, wild-caught products as well assustainably farm-raised shell-fish from all over the world.
1020 Whispering Pines, Ste. GGrass Valley, CA 95945(530) 274-2919
Summer Thymes
Bakery & DeliGourmet natural foods
Gluten Free Bread & Muffins Organic Coffees Breakfasts Hot Entrees Salads Sandwiches Croisants Scones Bagels
421 Colfax Ave, Grass Valley
530.273.2904www.summerthymes.com
Make Local Habit
Featuring over 40 differentartists and crafters, you willfind 100% locally madegoods. Quality, Unique,Fun, Local.
1451 East Main StreetGrass Valley
Being Green
A Green Living Store.
Eco-friendly Fair Trade Sustainable Made Clothing Housewares Body Care Eco Gifts and more...
530.470.0442408 Broad Street, Suite 9Nevada Citywww.beinggreenshop.com
Frey Vineyards
Frey Vineyards is thepioneer organic wineryin the US. Family ownedand operated since 1980,they make wine withoutadded sulfites in northernCalifornia.
www.freywine.com
Calolea Olive Oil
Calolea's organic olive oilhas been certified "extra vir-gin" by the COOC. Theseolives are hand picked,stone crushed and cold
pressed within 24 hours tocreate the highest quality oilpossible.
530.749.1240www.calolea.com
Bamboo Store
Fine natural fiber bedding,
bath and clothing.
Luxury has never feltso good.
530.272.0303108 Mill St. Grass Valleywww.bamboohomestore.com
Diestel Turkey Ranch
60 years of family farming,the Diestel Family rangegrows natural and organicturkeys with sustainablefarming practices. Turkeys,deli turkey, ground turkey,sausage, parts and more.
www.diestelturkey.com ,ask your grocer for it!
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