And the winners are…
Waldorf awards single out the good guys
Plenty of businesses are capitalizing on the green-living trend—so many, in fact, that it’s helpful when a third party recognizes some of the leaders in that ever-more-crowded field. The Waldorf Foundation has done just that with its third annual Commonwealth Environmental Leadership Awards, handed out in October to a number of businesses and people, including a housing development in Woolen Mills and a Charlottesville renewable-energy business. We checked in with Bobbi Grant Llewellyn, a foundation board member, to see exactly why the RiverBluff neighborhood and the AltEnergy company took home prizes.
 Architect Richard Price is a developer of the RiverBluff neighborhood, which just got a nod from the Waldorf Foundation for its stormwater management system. |
With all CELA awards, said Llewellyn, winners are "people who do multidimensional heartfelt visionary work, that really care about the environment, education, art and architecture and global climate change." In other words, just making a living in a green business isn’t enough. RiverBluff, a 22-home "conservation community," earned kudos for a system that filters stormwater runoff—water quality being an issue dear to the heart of the Waldorf folks, says Llewellyn—as well as the fact that the community’s design promotes walking and biking.
As for AltEnergy, which consults with homeowners about ways to cut energy use and move toward active and passive solar power, Llewellyn says the company’s educational approach—as opposed to the hard sell—got noticed. "They have products there, but they don’t just sell you their products," she explains. Sounds pretty commendable to us. Learn more about the winners at riverbluffcommunity.com and altenergyincorporated.com.—Erika Howsare
Easy Being Green
Dead or alive: the Christmas tree dilemma
There are those who sentimentalize the Christmas tree, their hearts bleeding for each cut trunk as though it were virgin timber instead of a product mass produced on managed farms that depend on a sustainable product. Environmental responsibility comes into play with disposal more than the acquisition of the evergreen icon. Put the tannenbaum to the curb the week of January 6 when the city collects them for the county to shred into free mulch, which in turn is available at Darden Towe Park on Rte. 20N anytime after February 1.
 Not exactly primeval forest: Christmas trees are an agricultural product, but you still might not relish cutting yours down. |
For a live tree, you need a plan and should be prepared to shell out pretty much double the money. You can purchase a 6′ cut pine for around $30 and a fir nearer to $50, but a 5′ balled-and-burlapped pine costs around $60; blue spruce, $160.
If a live tree is still a must on your Christmas list, dig a good hole ASAP before the ground freezes and throw a tarp over it. Acquire a sturdy waterproof tub so you can keep the root ball moist. Limit the tree’s indoor stay to 5-7 days and when you do plant it, don’t forget to give it a good soak.—Cathy Clary
Planet Now
Hot topics at GreenMatters
When ABODE called Ryan Jacoby the morning after a "Green Your Home" workshop hosted at the Habitat Store—where Jacoby is a retail operations director—and asked how attendance had been, we were pleasantly surprised at his answer. Part of the ongoing free GreenMatters series, which has been running since May, "Green Your Home" had drawn 90 people.
Clearly, GreenMatters is a source for environmental info that’s getting some notice. It’s probably not just the refreshments, either. "We’re getting a really diverse mix of builders, educators, architects, Realtors, homeowners," says Jacoby. "It’s been a nice mix of people everywhere on the knowledge spectrum." In the new year, the train will keep on rolling: Eight more workshops, all with expert guest speakers, are scheduled for 2008. Jacoby sees GreenMatters as an attempt to form connections between green-minded folks across the community. "Universally what we’re hearing is that it’s just so hard for people to know where to go [for green info]," he says.
Offerings next year include Smart Landscaping (hello, drought!), So You Want to Trash That? (non landfill destinations for your construction waste), and Recycled Energy (geothermal, solar and other renewable sources). The series kicks off January 9 with a workshop on making green affordable. Events are held at the Habitat Store on Harris Street, and the complete calendar is at http://ebonterr.com/greenmatters/. Show up early to get a good seat—we hear these things are hot!—E.H.
By the Numbers
"Life-cycle-assessment research reveals that most significant environmental construction impact is not from the production of materials but from the operation of the building. Roughly 98 percent of a building’s energy is consumed in operating it."
—Patti Flesher and David D. Shepherd, in the October issue of Eco-Structure
