Alpine Green Living Winter 2009

8/14/2019 Alpine Green Living Winter 2009

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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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http://www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org/


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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

24

18

20

27

16

10


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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

We build green, fire safe, sustainable,solar powered, and energy efficient homes!

Recycled & Sustainable Building Products

Energy Efficient Doors and Windows

Solar Design

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

[email protected]

PUBLISHER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

SCOTT BLAIR

[email protected]

MANAGING EDITOR

JUDY GELWICKS

[email protected]

MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS

LORI HYDE-BLAIR

[email protected]

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

LORI LACHMAN

[email protected]

WRITING/EDITING

GIDEON RUBIN

[email protected]

JEREMIAH OSHAN

[email protected]

AD SALES

[email protected]

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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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

By Gideon Rubin


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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.


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


11/32

outdoors budget snow sports


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!


12/32


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


13/32



the West Shore


14/32

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.


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.


15/32

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.



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.


16/32

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/


17/32
http://www.rockstarrealestate.com/http://www.freywine.com/http://www.skihomewood.com/


18/32

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/


19/32ALPINE GREEN LIVING 19

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
http://www.tomsshoes.com/http://www.tomsshoes.com/http://www.tomsshoes.com/http://www.tomsshoes.com/http://www.tomsshoes.com/http://www.tomsshoes.com/http://www.tomsshoes.com/http://www.tomsshoes.com/http://www.beinggreenshop.com/http://www.beinggreenshop.com/http://www.beinggreenshop.com/http://www.beinggreenshop.com/http://www.beinggreenshop.com/http://www.beinggreenshop.com/http://www.beinggreenshop.com/http://www.beinggreenshop.com/http://www.beinggreenshop.com/http://www.beinggreenshop.com/http://www.beinggreenshop.com/http://www.beinggreenshop.com/http://www.beinggreenshop.com/http://www.beinggreenshop.com/http://www.noonsolar.com/http://www.noonsolar.com/http://www.noonsolar.com/http://www.noonsolar.com/http://www.noonsolar.com/http://www.noonsolar.com/http://www.noonsolar.com/http://www.beinggreenshop.com/http://www.noonsolar.com/http://www.tomsshoes.com/


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2009 eco-gift guide


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
http://www.calolea.com/http://www.calolea.com/http://www.calolea.com/http://www.calolea.com/http://www.calolea.com/http://www.calolea.com/http://www.calolea.com/http://www.calolea.com/http://www.calolea.com/http://www.sironasprings.com/http://www.sironasprings.com/http://www.sironasprings.com/http://www.sironasprings.com/http://www.sironasprings.com/http://www.sironasprings.com/http://www.sironasprings.com/http://www.sironasprings.com/http://www.sironasprings.com/http://www.bamboohomestore.com/http://www.bamboohomestore.com/http://www.bamboohomestore.com/http://www.bamboohomestore.com/http://www.bamboohomestore.com/http://www.flowfoodschocolatl.com/http://www.flowfoodschocolatl.com/http://www.flowfoodschocolatl.com/http://www.flowfoodschocolatl.com/http://www.flowfoodschocolatl.com/http://www.calolea.com/http://www.bamboohomestore.com/http://www.flowfoodschocolatl.com/http://www.sironasprings.com/


22/32

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
http://www.mountainhardwareandsports.com/http://www.mountainhardwareandsports.com/http://www.mountainhardwareandsports.com/http://www.mountainhardwareandsports.com/http://www.mountainhardwareandsports.com/http://www.mountainhardwareandsports.com/http://www.mountainhardwareandsports.com/http://www.mountainhardwareandsports.com/http://www.mountainhardwareandsports.com/http://www.recycledjournals.net/http://www.recycledjournals.net/http://www.recycledjournals.net/http://www.recycledjournals.net/http://www.recycledjournals.net/http://www.recycledjournals.net/http://www.recycledjournals.net/http://www.recycledjournals.net/http://www.recycledjournals.net/http://www.recycledjournals.net/http://www.recycledjournals.net/http://www.recycledjournals.net/http://www.samsungmobileusa.com/http://www.samsungmobileusa.com/http://www.samsungmobileusa.com/http://www.samsungmobileusa.com/http://www.samsungmobileusa.com/http://www.samsungmobileusa.com/http://www.samsungmobileusa.com/http://www.oregonscientific.com/http://www.oregonscientific.com/http://www.oregonscientific.com/http://www.oregonscientific.com/http://www.oregonscientific.com/http://www.oregonscientific.com/http://www.oregonscientific.com/http://www.oregonscientific.com/http://www.oregonscientific.com/http://www.oregonscientific.com/http://www.recycledjournals.net/http://www.mountainhardwareandsports.com/http://www.oregonscientific.com/http://www.samsungmobileusa.com/


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2009 eco-gift guide


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
http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.bedol.com/http://www.ecotronictoys.com/http://www.ecotronictoys.com/http://www.ecotronictoys.com/http://www.ecotronictoys.com/http://www.ecotronictoys.com/http://www.ecotronictoys.com/http://www.kaboodle.com/http://www.kaboodle.com/http://www.kaboodle.com/http://www.kaboodle.com/http://www.kaboodle.com/http://www.kaboodle.com/http://www.kaboodle.com/http://www.kaboodle.com/http://www.ecotronictoys.com/http://www.bedol.com/


24/32

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


25/32



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


26/32


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.


27/32

community green jobs


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


28/32

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.

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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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