Deconstruction + Reuse = Green Opportunities

The BAELN 2009-2010 Season Greening the Economy is pleased to present…

Deconstruction + Reuse = Green Opportunities

NOTE DATE CHANGE: Thursday, March 25, 2010, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Held at the MN Pollution Control Agency, 7678 College Road, Suite 105, Baxter/Brainerd. Free. All are invited.

Speakers: Scott Hall, manager of the Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore and Sarah Dagg, who is building a green home with materials purchased from the ReStore

In this presentation we will look more closely at how recycling can create jobs, profit, improved environmental health, and savings for do-it-yourself home remodelers. We will track the reuse of building materials that would typically end up in a landfill, but instead, end up in a new “green” home. Scott Hall will talk about the ReStore deconstruction service whereby they go into a home about to be demolished and salvage as much as possible (windows, doors, cabinets, flooring, appliances, etc). They also remove potentially hazardous materials like fluorescent light bulbs and mercury from old thermostats that would otherwise find their way into a landfill.

Last year, deconstruction by ReStore volunteers raised $325,000, which supported Habitat for Humanity, and diverted over 2,000 tons of material from the landfill. Those salvaged materials are sold at reduced prices to do-it-yourself home builders and remodelers. One such home builder is Sarah Dagg, who is building a “green” home. Many of the materials she has used in the construction process have come from the ReStore. We hope you can come and hear for yourself how Deconstruction + Reuse = Green Opportunities.

If you have questions concerning this presentation, please contact Phil Hunsicker at 218-824-5095 or email him.

The Brainerd Area Environmental Learning Network (BAELN), now in its seventh season, offers people in the environmental field and the community timely information on environmental and sustainability issues, along with the chance to network with others. This season’s theme Greening the Economy gives us insight into the jobs, skills and opportunities that the “green jobs” direction offers. BAELN events are held most third Thursdays of the month from 3:00-5:00 p.m. and include an hour-long presentation with time for questions, networking and refreshments. The events are free and all are invited to participate.

BAELN is a collaborative effort of the following organizations: 1000 Friends of Minnesota, Central Lakes College, Crow Wing County Soil and Water Conservation District, Initiative Foundation, MN Department of Natural Resources, MN Department of Transportation, MN Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Waters, The Nature Conservancy, community member and University of Minnesota Extension.

If you would like to be on the BAELN email list or for general information on BAELN, please contact Stephen Mikkelson at (218) 316-3887, or toll free at 1-800-657-3864.

Upcoming events: (subject to change)

• April 15: Putting Green Practices into Action: MN GreenCorps and MN Conservation Corps
• May 20: Greening Transportation – Northstar Rail
• June 17: Training the next generation of green workers (and a few old dogs too)