Sustainability: Respecting Our Earth
Links to organizations and information concerned with environmental and progressive social causes. Items with a * are located in the Upper Valley of VT & NH. This page is a work-in-progress and new resources are being listed whenever I come across something new--please check back! And for more ideas, check out our links to businesses that provide environmentally and/or socially responsible products and services.
Recycling, Reducing Waste, & Architectural Salvage
Recycling & Reducing Waste:
American Forest and Paper Association
In 2005, a record 51.5 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. (51.3 million tons) was recovered for recycling. Paper recovery now averages 346 pounds for each man, woman and child in the United States. While this is a significant accomplishment, we can do more. The AFPA's goal is 55 percent recovery by 2012. Learn more...
BookCrossing
Is your love affair with your latest book purchase over? Instead of throwing your books out, donate them to a charity or library or release them into the "wild" for someone else to pick up and use. This site has a fun way to track your books' travels.
* Greater Upper Valley Solid Waste District
Not sure what to do with all the recyclables your curbside company won't pick up? GUVSWD's Greenpages include an exhaustive lists of items you can recycle both at their facilities and at local businesses. Read through the whole list--you'll be surprised at everything you can recycle! On the Reuse Page, they give lots of handy tips for reusing materials and, for those pesky items you just can't find a use for, they list secondhand, charity, and salvage businesses where you can sell or donate your stuff.
Patagonia Garment Recycling
"Change Your Underwear for Good." Patagonia's Common Threads Recycling Program will take your old capilene undies and turn them into new garments.
ReCycle North
ReCycle North creates a marketplace for reusable and repairable household goods and building materials by diverting potential resources from the landfill. Individuals and businesses donate things they no longer need. These items are then inspected, refurbished and repaired through a job training and education program and sold with a guarantee of quality. People with low income, bargain hunters and antique dealers shop at ReCycle North for the low prices, excitement and fun.
Salvage Sites:
Architectural Salvage NewsNorth Shore Architectural Salvage & Antiques
Old House Salvage Exeter, NH
* ReCover Store
The ReCover Store is an environmentally friendly, socially responsible business that provides funding for a non-profit organization addressing the urgent home repair needs of low-income, disabled and elderly residents of the Upper Valley. The store offers bargain-priced, used building materials, appliances and furniture for sale to the public. New items come into the store on a daily basis. See their Acceptable Items for Donation page for information on what building materials we can accept for donation.
ReCycle North
ReCycle North creates a marketplace for reusable and repairable household goods and building materials by diverting potential resources from the landfill. Individuals and businesses donate things they no longer need. These items are then inspected, refurbished and repaired through a job training and education program and sold with a guarantee of quality. People with low income, bargain hunters and antique dealers shop at ReCycle North for the low prices, excitement and fun.
* Vermont Salvage
Vermont Salvage in White River Junction, Vermont, offers the finest in antique and historic pieces for the home. Whether it be wrought iron fencing, mantelpieces, french doors, or stained glass windows, Vermont Salvage has a wide variety of goods that is constantly growing and changing. No matter what you are looking for, contact them via email at help@vermontsalvage.com or at (802) 295-7616. If you're looking to sell instead of to buy, Vermont Salvage purchases architectural salvage or will pay a finder's fee on successful leads
Ecological Footprint
Climate Care
When you fly, drive or heat your home, your CO2 emissions add to climate change. Climate Care lets you offset these emissions by funding sustainable energy and reforestation projects.
More Hip Than Hippy
Beer, chocolate, and good, green living--how can you go wrong? These gals are a hoot an' a half. Tune in for lots of good info on how to live green and reduce your "footprint" without having to get all hairy and live in a burrow in the woods. Plus, you'll hear lots of random, entertaining stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with green living. Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter to get all the great links, recipes, weird stuff, and more. "If you're craving a granola chewing, off-grid podcast - you're probably in the wrong place. Instead, we'll show you how to be more sustainable and earth-friendly without sacrificing convenience, style, and affordability. Hey! Nobody's perfect. (Hell, we're certainly not.) But we're here to show you how small steps in the right direction can make a big impact. We like our podcasts to be fun, upbeat, and around 30 minutes. Give us a listen - it beats a kick in the head." After you've gotten all fired up with the latest Hip ideas, go indulge your inner American and buy some good, green stuff at Greenfeet.com.
Find a carpool in the Upper Valley area of Vermont and New Hampshire.
Healthy Home
Asbestos Testing ($20)
Newsletters & Other Publications
Architectural Salvage News
Grist Magazine
"A Beacon in the Smog." Grist Magazine offers weekly short updates on environmental issues. Cheeky, informative, and usually entertainging weekly newsletter with useful links to other websites.
Smart Home Owner Magazine
Sustainable builing, healthy home products, energy efficiency, and more!
Social Organizations
* Cover Home Repair
Their mission: To build community and foster hope through cooperation and fellowship among all home repair and reuse participants. COVER was featured recently on NHPR's program, "Giving Matters".
Heifer International
Help third world families obtain cows, water buffallo, rabbits, chickens, and other livestock.
* ReCover Store
The ReCover Store is an environmentally friendly, socially responsible business that provides funding for a non-profit organization addressing the urgent home repair needs of low-income, disabled and elderly residents of the Upper Valley. The store offers bargain-priced, used building materials, appliances and furniture for sale to the public. New items come into the store on a daily basis. See their Acceptable Items for Donation page for information on what building materials we can accept for donation.
ReCycle North
A non-profit dedicated to reuse, job skills training, and poverty relief located in Burlington, VT. ReCycle North also operates a second-hand store and architectural salvage center. Great deals, great cause to support!
Sustainable Building
Ask about sustainable building, energy efficiency, home products, and more from Smart Home Owner Magazine.
BobVila.com
You may have to do a bit of browsing to find what you want, but this site has a lot of good energy efficiency and sustainable practice information hidden amongst the typical home improvement stuff.
Das Biohaus
Insulating for Energy Savings
Use your zip code to calculate the amount of insulation appropriate for your home.
International Conference on Passive Solar Housing
NARI Contractor Locator
Contractor locator, including eco-contractors.
Intelligent homebuilding, homebuying, remodeling, & maintenance.
* Sustainability Institute
The Institute focuses on understanding the root causes of unsustainable behavior in complex systems to help restructure systems and shift mindsets that will help move human society toward sustainability. Be sure to check out their Cobb Hill intentional community, which was featured on Bob Vila's home show.
Write
me: elementalsforge@yahoo.com