The Green Alliance

Greenland chiropractor proves green healthcare is sustainable too

2009-05-28T08:58:00.001-07:00

What makes health care green? In many ways it depends on how one defines green, and, to a greater extent, how one defines health care. For Kimberly Higney of Cardea Chiropractic in Greenland, New Hampshire, what is really required when considering the failed state of the current health care system is not a small fix here or there, but rather an entire "perspective change.”

"I like to parse it out in terms of health care versus sick care," says Higney. "Sick care means you're responding to something that is already wrong. On the other hand, we feel health care, in the truest sense of the term, should be something we can all create -- something we all have the potential to achieve."

Cardea, which in Greek means “Goddess of Protecting the Home”, represents the cutting edge of preventative health care. Whereas most mega-hospitals serve as catastrophic stop-gaps for long-ignored conditions and health issues – requiring enormous amounts of resources, energy and money – smaller, holistically-minded outfits like Cardea seek to mitigate these entirely preventable conditions head on. In doing so, Higney and others like her prevent the kind of emergency hospital visits and resulting medical bills that contribute to the millions of new Americans who every year are forced to file for bankruptcy. Indeed, far from being exclusively back and neck specialists, Cardea takes the long view on health care, incorporating an extensive wellness program which emphasizes the importance of everything from the food one eats to one's psychological outlook and beyond.

Central to Cardea’s approach is the crucial importance of the nervous system and spine in serving as what Higney calls "the body's communication center." In the same way that the earth as a whole has seen its communication system interrupted by overt environmental tampering and interruption on the part of humans, modern society has rendered the human body prone to similar interruptions in communications, making for a less healthy individual and, as a result, a less healthy society. According to Higney, all of these stresses contribute to a constant state of "fight or flight", where, as she puts it, "everything becomes an emergency.”

"When we were cavemen, the fight or flight instinct helped because it was necessary for survival," Higney explains. "But today we're constantly in this state even though what's triggering it is in no way a serious threat. We basically have 20 minutes of physiological reserve to fuel this, so when that runs out, it starts pulling from other systems in the body, beginning as a slight deficiency, eventually progressing into something more major. Adult onset allergies are a perfect example of this – something that often springs up later in life, becoming more dangerous or debilitating than they should ever have been.”

Constant stress saps the body's energy reserves and it makes it less capable of responding to imbalances and irregularities elsewhere -- be they physical, psychological, or emotional. Higney's chiropractic method works to free up the body's communication system, simultaneously relieving stress and allowing the body to devote more energy to healing and, it is hoped, overall well-being. But while Cardea can help individuals realize their own role in establishing long-term health, in the end it is up to the individual themselves to make the choices necessary -- everything from what they eat to how they sit -- to make well-being something long term and, it is hoped, sustainable.

In the same way that individual choices have a clear impact on one’s health, these same choices translate into impacts on the environment which, while less obvious and often unseen, are no less important. “The more you interfere with a natural system – be it the body or the planet as whole – the less that system’s communicative abilities are able to be expressed,” Higney says. “So the more synthetic inputs you have, the less natural information can be processed.”

To that end, Cardea epitomizes the inextricable link between individual and global health, and empowers individuals to recognize their role in both. According to Higney, when an individual’s nervous system is flowing properly and allowing the kind of communication necessary for holistically-imagined health, they are more capable of ignoring the little things that would otherwise stress them into bad habits and behaviors and instead make better life choices. “When you’re truly healthy, and you’re not worried about healing, you’re brain is better able and more free to focus on more advanced human functions,” explains Higney. “We equate this level with being in ‘the zone’ in certain sports– that level where everything comes easier, including high level creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.”

Higney refers to this as the “third” level of health – as opposed to the first and second levels, which are more concerned with healing and bringing the body into a more reliable state of equilibrium. At this third level, Higney points out, “people become more community-oriented, as opposed to constantly living in a fight-or-flight state where you’re just thinking about yourself. Wellness at the third level of care means you’re there for something bigger – you have more resourcefulness, physiologically. Basically when you’re body is free, your mind is free!”

“Going forward I would love to make the connection between taking care of yourself and taking care of the world around you,” says Higney. “To me the link is unmistakable, and hopefully more people begin to recognize their agency in both respects.”

2009-05-28T08:51:00.001-07:00

Higney hopes that increased awareness of the exploding costs of health care and the resulting rise in the number of uninsured Americans will compel individuals to reevaluate steps they can take to prevent the kind of financial ruin and long-term health issues which inflict an increasing percentage of the population. At the same time, Higney longs to see more emphasis placed on the connection between individual and global sustainability and well-being. “Going forward I would love to make the connection between taking care of yourself and taking care of the world around you,” says Higney. “To me the link is unmistakable, and hopefully more people begin to recognize their agency in both respects.”

Designing Green with Pixels & Pulp

2009-05-25T16:12:00.000-07:00

This past October, Pixels & Pulp design studio joined the Green Alliance {GA} to meet like-minded, local business owners who are passionate about green business practices, sustainability issues and strengthening our local economy. Their enthusiasm to help the GA grow and spread its message was clear in their very first meeting with Project Director Sarah Brown. Since that first meeting, Pixels & Pulp has helped define the GA brand by clarifying its messaging, updating selected print collateral, and redesigning the newly launched website, www.greenalliance.biz.

The redesign of the GA website was a huge undertaking. Yet with careful planning, close collaboration and ongoing communication, the transition was quite seamless. The main goals of the new site are: {1} to make it easy for consumers to join the GA and understand all of the benefits and discounts they receive using their Green Card, {2} showcase in more depth its green business partners, and {3} present all the GA has to offer―from current news and events to its Sustainability Toolkit―in a clear, engaging and visually beautiful way.

“We wanted the new site to be well organized and have an updated, clean look while still maintaining the organic, grass roots feeling the Green Alliance is all about,” says Pixels & Pulp co-owner Elise Weeks.

The recent launch of the new site gives everyone reason to celebrate! The content management system the site is based upon will make life easier for Sarah Brown and her team to keep the community informed with fresh, up-to-date content and frequent, new business additions. GA business will be featured on the home page and will have their own partner page complete with their Green Story, Report Card and Sustainability Evaluation. The site is hosted by solar-powered web developers webmeadow™―so Mother Nature will be pleased. And Pixels & Pulp can be proud of their contribution to the Seacoast’s thriving green community that is hungry for local, sustainable {and affordable} options for day-to-day living!

Pixels & Pulp works with individuals and organizations–locally and globally–who are environmentally and socially responsible and those who are just plain passionate about what they do. They specialize in branding, print collateral and web design. Owners Megan Keogh and Elise Weeks can be found in their respective studios in Portland, Maine, and Rollinsford, NH. Visit their website www.pixelsandpulp.com or read their Green Story to find out more about their services, passion for the environment, and philosophies as a sustainable small business!

Soon to be Published! (Hopefully)

2009-05-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

Seacoast companies see rare opportunity in home improvement rebates

By Jim Cavan

In these uncertain economic times, everyone is looking for ways to save money -- particularly when it comes to big-bill demands like home heating and cooling costs. Crude oil and gasoline might seem cheap now, but anyone who remembers the price roller coaster of 2008 knows low prices aren’t here to stay. Perhaps more worrisome, however, is the unpredictable cost of home heating oil, particularly in the always brutal New England winters, and particularly with drafty, old New England homes. So what do the slumping economy, volatile oil prices, and home economics have in common? In two words: tax rebates.

A major focus of President Obama’s 800 billion-plus dollar stimulus package involves tax cuts and incentives for those looking to make their homes more energy efficient, as well as the businesses supplying the equipment and labor. The rebates – which are available until December, 2010 – apply to everything from weatherization of windows to solar panels, wind or geothermal turbines, spray foam insulation, hybrid vehicles, and beyond. Simply put, each credit amounts to a 30% rebate up to $1500. When combined with other rebates and incentives, that number could be even higher. Needless to say, some Seacoast businesses – particularly in the construction and alternative energy sectors – see this is as a rare opportunity for both their bottom line as well as the overall trending towards green and sustainable energy sources happening all around them.

In March Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu rolled out plans for the partitioning of $3.2 billion for energy efficiency programs set aside in the 2009 Economic Recovery Act (the state of New Hampshire alone secured $49 million in the package). What does this mean for Granite State taxpayers? Ask Mike Wilson, owner of MJW Drywall and Insulation in Hampton, and it means a rare opportunity for Seacoast homeowners to invest in making the “envelope” of their house more energy efficient with products and services they might otherwise not be able to afford.

Take spray-foam insulation, a specialty of Wilson’s which until recently was deemed too expensive and untested to take seriously. Most homes are insulated with either fiberglass – the pink stuff made famous by the Corning Pink Panther commercials – or, for those looking to go “green”, recycled, environmentally-friendly cellulose-based insulation. While those products have an “R” value (an industry term used to determine thermal resistance) ranging anywhere between 2.5 and 3.5, Wilson’s brand of spray foam insulation rings in at an impressive 6.0. That means more savings on heating and cooling bills in the long-term. But while the R value may be in Wilson’s favor, the unknown nature of the spray foam product has in many cases made it difficult to present as “rebate worthy”.

“Electric companies only want the rebate to apply to cellulose insulation because they know what they have to spend,” says Wilson. “But the government has mandated that, by 2010, these companies will have to look at approving new products, one of which could be spray foam. To that end, we’re currently compiling data that will prove the R value of spray foam, which will go a long way in convincing both sides that it should be considered for rebates. “

Wilson is confident that, once consumers and energy providers can be shown the tangible difference between spray-foam insulation and its outdated competitors, the rest will take care of itself. Still, beyond convincing electric companies to consider making spray-foam and other “second generation” insulation products eligible for tax rebates, Wilson has also gone a long way to convince customers themselves that, sometimes, more money up front means even more money saved down the road. “My favorite is the guy who has no problem dropping $20,000 on cabinets in the kitchen, but who scoffs at paying a few thousand extra for the spray foam,” Wilson illustrates, “even though it will clearly earn its keep within five to seven years, and probably even before that.”

Wilson claims that purchasing spray foam insulation package could actually earn you a $5,000 credit, by combining two invoices – one for the actual spray foam, and the other for the injection service. However, Wilson points out that savings on this order are much more common for contractors and businesses than for individual homeowners. Still, low-income or Section 8 residents can in many cases get multiple products and services for free if their particular property qualifies – not just for spray-foam, but for other forms of insulation, caulking, and even solar panels as well.

In the end, Wilson and others in his industry are quick to stress that no matter what the home or business, there are plenty of energy-efficient options available – from geothermal to solar, to spray-foam injection – and all of them qualify for some level of tax credit or rebate. To learn more about the different options available, and to see how certain credits and rebates will ultimately affect your next tax bill, go to www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#s1.

To read more about MJW, go to http://greenalliance.biz/join_coop.html and click on his link on the Business Co-Op list, or visit www.nhfoam.com

Maine; From Pine Cone State to Solar State?

2009-05-11T13:57:00.000-07:00

From GA Director Sarah Brown:

Maine; From Pine Cone State to Solar State?

By Sarah Mae Brown, special to the Herald

sarah@greenalliance.biz

Kittery. The biggest player in Maine’s renewable energy market is going up against the biggest game in town – Central Maine Power. With a project called the GridSolar Project, GridSolar, LLC, a Portland-based renewable energy company, has proposed an up to 800 megawatt, billion and a half dollar, solar infusion into the Maine electricity grid. The GridSolar Project has legs and if GridSolar can receive approval from Maine’s Public Utility Commission to become an official Public Utility, this project has a real chance of becoming reality. If that were to occur the State of Maine would become this nation’s “Solar Capital” – causing the entire US solar market including manufacturing to shift to the Pine Cone State. Current US solar output is only 350 megawatts a year nationwide and an 800 megawatt project would represent more than half of all of the solar power generated across the entire US, with the lion’s share concentrated in Maine.

The State of Maine and thus Central Maine Power, the largest transmitter of electricity in the state, is required to significantly upgrade their electricity transmission capacity in the next few years or face fines of a million dollars a day for being in violation of the New England Reliability Council (NERC) standards that were set by Congress in 2005 to ensure the strength, reliability and efficacy of the Northeastern electricity distribution system. Central Maine Power has done a full and recognized analysis of the current grid and determined that the entire state needs a massive increase in transmission lines to meet the projected peak power use in the next ten years. Electricity transmission and generation is defined and determined by power needs in peak times – these times are during the day in the summer months and between the hours of 4pm-7pm when businesses are still running and residents are returning home and turning on lights, TVs and other appliances. In Maine the increased demand during peak times is mostly due to increased AC use and expanded commercial development which remains air conditioned throughout the summer. CMP’s plan set at a billion and a half dollars is to implement a massive increase in transmission lines – something that is going to leave its mark visually across the state, as high, low and medium voltage lines are placed everywhere and anywhere. Much of the lines they intend to construct will meet resistance and so CMP is planning for one of the state’s eminent domain taking in history. Additionally, CMP’s plan, for the billion and a half price tag, does not include generation of electricity – a second phase of the project that will leave the consumer paying at least 8 cents per kilowatt hr for the new generation; power generation that will rely almost exclusively on fossil fuels.

GridSolar offers to meet the required peak electricity loads and transmission through a state-wide local infusion of small-scale solar fields that will feed the extra power directly into the local grids when and where it is needed most. Richard Silkman of GridSolar and Maine’s Competitive Energy Services, the company that currently provides Maine residents with green electricity, presented the details of the project to a full house in Kittery this week.

“You can see from the overlay of peak times/needs that the best times for solar power generation here in Maine, line-up almost exactly with the times we need the extra energy,” Silkman explained with the aide of a graph showing the very impressive match- up between peak times in Maine and the most effective solar energy generation times – summer days. “We are not proposing this project, this solar solution because we are a purveyor or manufacturer of solar, because we are not, we are proposing this local solar generation plan because we studied the options extensively and solar is by far the least expensive, most effective and most environmentally sound option available to solve the problem of transmission and generation for the projected increase in Maine’s peak electricity use.”

PUC laws require that CMP’s proposal must be the best and most cost-effective solution to the peak demand problem and GridSolar has reams of info and data that suggest otherwise. In a 2 hour presentation sponsored by the Kittery Energy Committee and the Green Alliance, Silkman explained why the GridSolar Project was by far the best and most cost-effective solution to Maine’s impending energy challenges. “We can do this effectively for far less than the CMP proposal. Our local generated and distributed renewable option will provide the extra needed power at 3 cents per kilowatt hr – the CMP plan offers, a centralized, visually and environmentally destructive plan that will cost Maine residents 8 cents per kilowatt hr.” The Grid Solar project will inject millions of dollars into town and individual coffers across the state; the local economic investment will be substantial. “What we are proposing is low impact development for every Maine community – our solar fields will generate revenue for towns and individuals and solid jobs in the growing renewable energy sector. We will actually bring down the price of electricity and raise the stature of Maine on the whole in the worldwide renewable energy market.”

One of the reasons that GridSolar can offer its solar solution so competitively priced is that some 70% of the cost of solar is in installation – usually on roofs or poles. The GridSolar Project will utilize ground panels, almost eliminating the current high costs of installation and placing solar power in serious price competition with fossil fuel generated electricity. The environmental benefits are substantial as well. The Grid Solar plan would displace more than 500,000 tons of CO2 a year, while the CMP upgrade will raise Maine’s CO2 emissions by at least that.

The audience at the Grid Solar presentation was clearly jazzed and inspired. “What can we do to help? What do you need from us?” attendees began to blurt out once the scope and potential of the project was disclosed. “Get behind us,” said Silkman. “Make sure we get a fair shake with the PUC. Make sure that this state has progressive and affordable energy solutions as it upgrades. Make sure that we are not responding to a 21^st century problem with a 20^th century solution.”

To learn more about the Grid Solar project visit www.gridsolarme.com or call GridSolar, LLC in Portland at 207.772.6190.

GA Director Sarah Brown Interviewed on 92.5 The River!

2009-04-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

This past Wednesday, GA Director Sarah Brown was featured in a series of Earth Day spots on Seacoast radio staple (and recent business partner!) 92.5 The River. The radio station, which is one of two in the country powered almost exclusively with solar panels, played 3 brief green stories -- delivered by Sarah -- throughout the day. Brown was also interviewed about the GA itself, wherein she expressed our goals and plans moving forward, as well as touting the growing appeal of our Green Card, which provides discounts to all GA businesses. Needless to say, the River -- which reaches 280,000 people a day -- has proved an invaluable asset to the GA, and we look forward to continue working with them extensively in the future.

Earth Week Chock Full of Amazing Green Events for GA

2009-04-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

It was an incredibly busy few weeks for the GA, with numerous Earth Day events and celebrations providing even more community awareness of our ever-growing enterprise.

Last Tuesday the Radisson Hotel in Nashua hosted their first ever Eco-Hospitality Summit. With nearly 50 vendors representing everything from organic cannolis to sustainable lawn pest control to hotels and restaurants from all over New England, we made some outstanding contacts and met some incredibly creative and driven entrepreneurs.

This last Saturday also saw the first ever Hampton Earth Awareness Fair. Despite cloudy skies and threatening rain, dozens of local citizens turned out to mingle with Seacoast green vendors including the GA, as well as business partners Simply Green, Waterline Alternative Energies, MJW Drywalling, and many more. The strong turnout definitely bodes well for the fair going forward, and the GA is already looking forward to helping make next year's event even stronger.

Then, just this past Wednesday, the GA was represented at two outstanding Earth Day fairs. Lonza Biologics in Portsmouth held their first ever Earth Day fair, which was held Tuesday and Wednesday in the firm's on-campus cafeteria. Hundreds of Lonza employees were given time to chat with vendors including the GA as well as numerous other GA business partners and non BPs alike.

Finally, the GA capped off an incredible Earth Day with an amazing "unplugged" music and green vendor social at new GA BP Clay Hill Farm's beautiful restaurant and banquet facility in York, Maine. This candle-lit event drew dozens of local vendors and ordinary citizens alike for an evening of song, tasty hors d'oeuvres, and drink. GA Director Sarah Brown gave one of the keynote speeches which generated an incredible response from those in attendance. It was the perfect way to cap off a truly amazing week for the GA and all green and sustainable businesses and organizations on the Seacoast.

Read more about these events in the upcoming GA May Newsletter, which is scheduled for delivery next Thursday morning!

GA Corporate Partner Smuttynose Profiled in Herald

2009-04-14T17:13:00.000-07:00

"Corporate growth and the environment too often find themselves unable to coexist, especially these days. But an established Portsmouth company is moving to Hampton and its goal is for its new building to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified..."

To read more about GA Corporate Partner Smuttynose and their most recent profile in the Portsmouth Herald, click here.

What Does It Mean To Go Green?

2009-04-14T17:07:00.001-07:00

From GA Director Sarah Brown:

What Does It Mean To Go Green?
by Sarah Mae Brown
sarah@greenalliance.biz

One year into the creation of a novel organization that works with local businesses looking to “go green”, it’s worth taking stock of what it means to be green today. The “green movement” has now moved so far into the mainstream of the American consciousness that most businesses, regardless of industry, are embracing the concept. This “popularization” of sustainability has happened at a lighting pace. Just two years ago the words green or sustainability conjured up images of fringe individuals “obsessed with the environment” or long-haired “tree-huggers”. Today this is no longer the case. Environmentalism has moved well beyond simply looking out for the best interests of our planet. It has transcended party lines and religious beliefs; it has become common sense. Today’s mainstream green wave is considered not just good for the trees but also good for our pocket-books, our quality of life and a businesses’ bottom line. It is here where I gauge the power of green; businesses are taking the lead, they are not waiting for the consumer to push them but rather taking the reigns and utilizing their transformative power on the public psyche with environmental leadership.

When I first started the Green Alliance, a consortium of green-leaning entrepreneurs on the Seacoast – the greening of industry was just beginning to take hold. Now 11 months later, businesses from across the spectrum, from hair salons, to printers, to realtors, to restaurateurs, are embracing the concept of more environmentally friendly products and practices. The growth and popularity of the Green Alliance speaks volumes to the changing face of what it means to be green. Last May, two green businesses struggling to carve out a niche for more sustainable products in two very toxic and polluting industries, lawn care and home heating oil, joined together with me, an outspoken environmental activist in hope of creating a business model that would further that triple bottom line: people, profits and planet. Armed with business ingenuity, environmental authenticity and a belief that the public would reward businesses offering greener options, the three of us set out to create an organization that we hoped businesses and consumers would eventually flock to. And they have. The Seacoast Green Alliance now has 50 green Business Partners, 300 consumer co-op members and more than 9,000 subscribers to a newsletter on local business and the environment. The Green Alliance is infectious not because of what any one of us has done individually, but rather because this coming together of environmental entrepreneurs is both authentic morally and makes good business sense.

So what does it mean to be green today? With businesses we use an analysis that looks at both product and practice – something that has relevance to the greening of our individual lives. So yes, our new car should get good gas mileage but we also should simply drive less. And yes, our furnace should be efficient and our windows, high R-value, but have we remembered to put on a sweater and turn down the thermostat? Each business that joins the Green Alliance commits to an extensive analysis of every aspect of product and practice. But while our evaluation is indeed thorough, we are not looking for perfection. Even the greenest of businesses have areas in need of improvement; just as even the loudest environmentalist uses energy, generates waste and has an environmental footprint.

Being green today is not about perfection, but rather about making better choices. Making better choices in many areas is no longer a hard-ship. Why, for instance, would you chose to redo your baby’s room with paint containing Volatile Organic Compounds that will off-gas for years when you could choose no-VOC paint of comparable quality? Why would you burn #2 home heating oil when you could burn American-produced Bioheat? Why would you choose a restaurant that overloads our landfills with organic waste when you can dine at one that composts? Why would you use a plastic cup made from petroleum that will never break-down when the one made from corn performs just as well and will biodegrade over time? Why would you dry-clean with the neuro-toxin perc, (a chemical banned in the state of California), when your clothes will get just as clean at the Green Dry Cleaner? Why would you use toxic chemicals on your lawn, that same lawn that your children play on, when it could be just as lush and beautiful using natural methods? This is what it means to be green today – to make better choices when you are able and share why you made them with those around you. It’s already happening right here in our own community. Let us continue to ride that green wave until it is so common we forget to call it green – it’s simply called common sense.

Sarah Brown is the Director of the Green Alliance an organization that works with businesses to help them become more sustainable. She is also Chair of the Kittery Energy Committee and the mother of three beautiful children. For more information on the Green Alliance visit www.greenalliance.biz or email sarah@greenalliance.biz

MJW Drywall & Foam Insulation: Cooling Down Home Energy Costs

2009-04-01T13:48:00.000-07:00

These days, everyone is looking for ways to mitigate increasingly unpredictable energy costs of home-heating. For many, this means incorporating more efficient equipment; others turn the thermostat down and put on a sweater. But the easiest and most effective road to efficiency rests not in better equipment or heavier sweaters, but rather by addressing what builders refer to as the "envelope" –of the home. To that end, Mike Wilson, owner of MJW Drywall & Foam Insulation in Hampton, N.H., has made it his goal to educate local consumers on how much energy –and ultimately money --can be saved with good old insulation.

Click here to read more about MJW Drywall and their exciting, cost saving opportunities!

GA's March Business Meeting Chock Full of Fresh Faces

2009-03-31T16:33:00.000-07:00

Last night's monthly GA business meeting was held at Kittery Estates, and drew faces old and new alike into the fray for a productive and encouraging session. New members -- some of whom were in attendance, but all of whom were mentioned -- included: The River, Minute Men Painters, Seacoast Asset Management, Crescent Plowing, Zev Yoga, Scarponi Electric, Indoor Ascent Climbing Gym, Ridgeview Construction, Jenaly Technology Group, The Green Tee, Wade Landscaping, Robert’s Maine Grille, Bob’s Clam Hut, and Now or Never Media.

The first presenters were Bill Rogers and Melissa Paly of Now or Never Media of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This dynamic new media service specializes in short (generally less than 10 minute) clips featuring stories about climate change which have aired on television and on the web extensively over the past few years. Along with showing a few examples of their work, the folks at Now or Never provided helpful and exciting offers, both to customer's interested in providing their own clips, as well as businesses eager to promote their green credentials to individuals across the Seacoast.

Next to Present was Bob Minicucci of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES). who presented and provided and overview of his department's "Making Your Business Greener" workbook. This helpful guide aims to communicate the goals of NHDES compliance, as well as the "challenges, sticks and carrots" available to businesses looking to become greener. Minicucci stressed that most GA business partners would easily qualify, and inevitably provide a strong lead for other state businesses and individuals to follow.

Finally, Elise and Megan of Pixels and Pulp Design Studio -- a Seacoast area advertising / web development firm and GA member -- presented their exclusive sneak preview of the GA's new website, slated to go public in the coming weeks. The new site marks a paradigm shift for the GA, as new user-friendly designs, revamped content and spaces tailored to each individual business will meet the demands of ever-increasing consumer and business partner bases.

The meeting ended with GA director Sarah Brown announcing some exciting upcoming events.

To read more about new GA business partners, upcoming events, or to learn more about how to become a member yourself or subscribe to our newsletter, check out the GA's website by clicking here!

Another Great Turnout for Green Drinks; A Look Ahead to Next Month

2009-03-20T09:49:00.000-07:00

While not exactly topping February's Brewery blowout -- a joint effort between Green Drinks and the GA that drew over 100 eager ears to the basement of Portsmouth's favorite brewpub -- last night's gathering at 2 Ceres street (nextdoor to Poco's on the decks) still managed to draw a sizable crowd of 30 or so local greenies and business representitives.

This month's featured Green Speaker was Hillary Gaynor, a local "Green Realtor". What makes a realtor green? According to Gaynor, a number of things, most of which revolve around educating her clients, be they buyers or sellers, on how to make their home more appealing, mainly in terms of energy efficiency, design, etc, particularly in the midst of an increasingly difficult housing market.

For those of you who were there -- and for those of you too caught up in the arrival of spring to have made it -- next month's gathering offers two GA members at the forefront of green building on the Secoast: Chirs Redman of Little Green Homes, and Shane Carter of Ridgeview Construction. Both will be speaking about the benefits -- both long term and, given the availiability of federal tax dollars for green and energy-efficient investments, financial and immedate as well -- of green home construction.

The event, as usual, will be held at 2 Ceres street, and will start promptly at 6pm... the speaking part, that is -- the drinking part starts whenever you get there!

GA's Piece in BusinessNH Magazine!

2009-03-20T08:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the folks at BusinessNH Magazine, you can now read their March issue's feature on the Green Alliance by clicking here.

Pick up your own copy of BusinessNH Magazine at your local news stand today!

GA Featured in Latest Business NH Magazine

2009-03-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

Hot off the presses, check out the March issue of BusinessNH Magazine, as they feature the Green Alliance in their annual Green Guide. The bad news is that the article is only available in print form. The good news is that BusinessNH is available at most major newsstands on the Seacoast.

Stratham to Host Winter's Final Farmer's Market... Define "Winter"...

2009-03-04T12:38:00.000-08:00

This Saturday will mark the Seacoast's last official farmer's market before the summer market season officially kicks off the first weekend in May in downtown Portsmouth (that is, of course, assuming it's stopped snowing by then). Despite the expected frigid temperatures, this weekend's gathering in Stratham promises to offer the best in local seafood, poultry, and even some hidden veggie gems that have been hiding away in local greenhouses.

Of course, the Green Alliance will be there, handing out fliers and talking to community members -- generally accosting anyone who will listen and telling them about our incredible growth these first seven months, and the myriad goals we have to celebrate our fast-approaching one year anniversary in July.

Volunteers are still needed to help with a variety of tasks -- unloading, handing out calendars, etc. To inquire further, email info@seacoasteatlocal.com

Some of the farms and distributors that will be on hand this Saturday in Stratham:

Abigail's Bakery*
Anderson's Mini Maples
Appledore Cove
Back River Farm
Be Sweet Cookie Dough
Brookford Farm*
Divine Cuisines
45 Market Street Bakery
Heron Pond Farm
Kellie Brook Farm
Lasting Legacy Farm
Meadow's Mirth*
New Roots Farm*
Newfields' Own Produce
Outlaw Farm
Riverslea Farm
Sugarmomma's
Maple Farm
Sustainable Farm Products/Nelson Farms
Velvet Pastures Elk Ranch
White Heron Tea*
Yankee Fishermens' Coop
Yellow House Farm

* certified organic!

The GA Has a Crush On YOU: February Newsletter Highlights Members Old and New Alike, Makes For Passable Valentine

2009-03-01T18:02:00.000-08:00

As many of you already know, the GA's Frebruary newsletter has been sent out. It was the first for many of our new members (including everyone at Cornerstone!), the sixth -- and dare I say best -- installment for those of you around since last July's humble beginnings, and, for still others, perhaps, a half-way decent -- though belated -- Green Valentine.

Among the many exciting updates, happenings, and profiles:

* Every one's favorite brewpub, the Portsmouth Brewery, and their ongoing drive to to prove that succesful and sustainable do in fact go pint-filled hand in pint-filled hand.

* The enormously successful and well-attended Green Drinks / Green Alliance "Green Speed Dating" / networking event held at said Brewery earlier in the month, which drew over 100 GA members, local activists, and prospective partners alike.

* Seacoast radio staple 92.5, "The River" joins the Green Alliance, becoming one of only a handful of radio stations nation wide to become almost exclusively solar-powered.

* UNH's upstart Energy Club -- 57 members strong and growing.

* Local composting duo Rian Bedard and Eva Christensen, and their campaign to make composting a priority for all Portsmouth restaurants.

* Dover bio-fuel outlet Simply Green wants your unused cellphones!

Click here to read February's GAzette in full, and be sure to check out this issue's calendar of upcoming events!

Finding a Happy Media

2009-02-25T16:45:00.000-08:00

While new members -- both business and individual citizens alike -- are certainly the bread and butter of continued Green Alliance growth, we can't forget how important a role the local media has, and will continue to have, in the future growth and recognition of the GA.

Just last week this piece was published in the Portsmouth Herald, and provided a brief but effective overview of the great work the GA has done, and how it sees itself drawing into the fray even more devotees in the future.

Green Alliance, Green Drinks Draw Record Crowd

2009-02-20T12:43:00.000-08:00

On a night when an unexpected and heavy snow drove many to stay indoors, Green Alliance members established and prospective alike, in conjunction with Green Drinks, managed to turn the Lapanza Lounge of usual host Portsmouth Brewery into the biggest, best, and greenest party in town -- and the most flagrant fire code violation, no doubt.

With well over 100 greenies crammed into the 60-capacity basement abode of Alliance-member Brewery for this unprecedentedly well-attended event, Director Sarah Brown and Co. conducted a four-hour "Know Your Local Green Economy" round-robin, inviting both established members and potential allies alike to share in what Brown termed a kind of "green speed-dating" night. But with sweets provided by Beach Pea Bakery in Kittery providing the sugar rush, and the always-hearty libations served by the Brewery's top-notch barkeeps greasing the conversational wheels, the gathering soon morphed into a one-at-a-time sounding board, with business owner's and representatives from around the Seacoast taking turns giving short intros highlighting their causes, crafts, and, of course, customers.

For GA Director Brown, the turnout -- both the quantity and the quality -- couldn't have been better. " It's incredibly inspiring to see exactly how many people were interested," said Brown. "What was really unexpected for me was the sheer number of businesses that came -- not just GA business members, but a huge amount of other green business owners, or even the regular business owners who want to become green. It was really a testament to the strength of the appeal of green businesses going forward."

While all present enjoyed free food, drink, and good feelings, one lucky attendee in particular -- Michelle Daly -- walked away with a free year-long Green Alliance Co-Op membership.

All in all the night was a huge success, with a turnout and level of enthusiasm that, hopefully, signals a spring steeped in new members, new energy, and new possibilities, both for the Green Alliance as well as the entire Seacoast community.

Waiting For the Sun No more: SEA Solar Store Squeezes Most Out of Shy Seacoast Sun

2009-02-20T11:27:00.000-08:00

No serious discussion about a sustainable economy can really be had without taking into account how, exactly, we plan to power this new, green society. But one thing is certain: solar power is almost always cited as a quintessential -- if not the ideal -- component for a completely re-vamped power grid. In fact, one study, presented at the International Solar Energy Society, concluded that a mere 93 square miles of solar panels -- strategically placed in the sun-soaked Nevada desert -- could provide enough electricity to power the United States... Completely!

To be sure, sun-soaked isn't exactly a befitting description for the New Hampshire seacoast. Still, for Jack Bingham and SEA Solar Store in Dover, a few thousand homes equipped with their state-of-the art solar hot water heaters and wind turbines would go a long way in putting a noticeable dent in New England's clean energy gap. To read more about Bingham and Co.'s impressive array of clean and efficient power services, click here.

A Totally Shameless, Biased Plug for My Other Employer: The (Unbeliveably Awesome) Portsmouth Brewery

2009-02-18T16:30:00.000-08:00

Speaking as someone who actually works part-time at the Portsmouth Brewery, and having worked in restaurants on and off since I was 17, I can safely say that I've never come across an operation more admirable in its dedication to cutting waste and giving back to the community than Portsmouth's favorite Brew Pub. And I was in no way offered a raise to say that...

All joking aside, I remember coming to The Brewery about a year ago, after serving six long, wholly unsatisfying months in a barbecue-joint-on-Congress-Street-whose-name-I-will-not-mention. It took me about an hour to realize what made the Brewery special -- in its own right, sure, but particularly when compared to almost every restaurant of its size, anywhere. From CFL lighting throughout the restaurant to compost donations to local pig farms to extensive and steadfast commitments to local charities, The Brewery -- long known for its food and drink -- has increasingly set itself apart in all manners green. But don't take my completely biased word for it -- read the Green Story.

Beach Pea Sets Standard for Green Restaurants

2009-02-18T16:15:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has been inside Kittery's Beach Pea Bakery -- and unless you've been living under a rock at Odiorne Point, you probably have -- understands pretty quickly the care and attention to detail permeating every aspect of the shop. The cakes, pastries and confections glow from under display windows in an immaculate halo of precision matched only by the smiles of the staff taking and filling the order.

Not surprising, then, that this same care and conscious focus on the minutiae of restauranteering should also be reflected in Beach Pea's herculean dedication to sustainable practices. Click here to read more about Beach Pea as they continue to set the standard for green eats on the Seacoast, in this recent Green Story.

Green Hair: Not Just for Punks and Freaks

2009-02-17T17:31:00.000-08:00

When one thinks of green businesses, or businesses that would find the transition to more sustainable practices easier than most, a fully operational beauty salon doesn't necessarily spring to mind. Why with all the sprays, soaps, and truckloads of hair -- not to mention those ghastly looking machines you had to watch your mom sit under for two hours at a time -- it seems the most any greenie could hope to get out of a visit to their local barber or stylist is a new look... and a free Dum-Dum at the counter never hurts.

But for Laura MacKay and Allison Degan of Acorn Organic Salon in Dover, theirs is the new look that is changing the way you think about your hair. From chemical-free products to recycling and donating excess shag, to "free"-cycled furniture and beyond, these two Dover natives are offering a unique, refreshing, truly green alternative to the business-as-usual approach that defines most stylists and salons. Click here to read more about Acorn and their goals as they do what only a handful of salons nationwide have been able to accomplish: make green hair a reality, and not just an adolescent cry for help...

We're Still Here!

2009-02-17T17:24:00.000-08:00

After a short fall-winter hibrination, the GA blog is back up and -- hopefully -- fully functioning. Much has transpired the last few months, with new Green businesses and organizations joining the GA fold, and lots of exciting prospects and projects waiting in the wings. Check back regularly to see what's new with the GA as it continues to make waves up and down the Seacoast.

GA in the News

2008-08-05T10:22:00.000-07:00

In a pair of recent articles, the Green Alliance's efforts towards sustainable business practices have been highlighted. In Cindy Kibbe's piece, in the New Hampshire Business Review, linked here as picked up by Entrepreneur.com, covers the origins and potential of the Green Alliance. The reader gets the story of the Green Alliance origin and the alliance as it grows. Entrepreneurs all along the Seacoast should take note of the greening of the marketplace that could take place with the attention that the Alliance is generating.

Another article highlighted the GA–or more accurately, its director–can be seen here at Seacoast Online and in the Portsmouth Herald. The article traces Sarah's own journey to the Green Alliance and the advocacy she has done through the years. The profile will generate even more interest in the Alliance and continue to spur residents of the Seacoast onward toward greener lifestyles and purchases.

July Newsletter in Your Mailbox

2008-07-31T16:47:00.000-07:00

The Green Alliance concluded the month by sending out the first of many newsletters to come!

The website, now redesigned and restructured, gives visitors the opportunity to join the co-op and have access to the exclusive discounts and information inside the Co-Op. Guests can see the report cards, the discounts, evaluations and links on the site, to see for yourself, from an independent source, what businesses on the Seacoast are really going green. Reading about sustainable business practices in the neighborhood will foster an interest in your local community and the remarkable things happening in the local economy. Joining the Co-Op itself has become easier, through the addition of a PayPal option at the "Join the Co-Op" page.

Soon to come on the website will be Beach Pea Bakery's evaluation and report card as well as Fresh Local's evaluation and report card. We also welcome the additions of Petersen Engineering and Mark Wilson at Granite Bay Wealth Management (specializing in Socially Responsible and Green Investments) to the Green Alliance.

The Alliance is growing daily, and we invite you to join our numbers and join our businesses in do their part and yours to green the Seacoast!

The Green Alliance Launches!

2008-07-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

This past Thursday, the Green Alliance was unveiled to the public at the monthly Green Drinks gathering in Portsmouth. In an event in conjunction with the Sierra Club, Director Sarah Brown proudly presented the Green Alliance.

Owners of our member businesses, Sierra Club members, and Green Drinkers filled the basement of the Portsmouth Brewery for a packed presentation. Sarah outlined the organization and our affiliated businesses and invited those in attendance to join the Consumer Co-Op, a cooperative designed to affiliate socially and environmentally conscious members of the Seacoast marketplace to strengthen that corner of local business. O2 Yoga, Suntree, Sea Solar Store, and Simply Green Biofuels were among the member organizations in attendance, and the presentation was well-received with a number of people demonstrating interest and signing up for the newsletter.

The Aliance, with a retooled website, has begun to fulfill its mission to provide a network for both consumers and businesses to further green their purchases and products.