Habitat for Humanity ReStore is the Greenest Hardware Store Around

Home improvement can be confusing, especially if you’re trying to do it the greenest way possible. I’m your average Joe. I love hardware stores, tools and the smell of cut wood — “arrr, arrr” (Tim Taylor voice. OK so I dated myself:-)). There are tons big-box stores out there. But recently, I found a store that has most of what I need that’s not only cheaper but very green, too. Welcome to the Habitat ReStore. I've been involved in many Habitat home builds in the past and I’d heard of the Habitat ReStore but I’d never been in one before. Then on a recent project I went to the store near my home, and wow what a store!

There’s almost anything for any project out there. As I walked around I found cabinets, molding, paint (even a great recycled paint), doors, windows, a water heater and even a couple of fireplace units. They have almost everything you need for almost any project — even tile and grout. I must admit, I was skeptical when I was first told about the store and the quality of its merchandise. But after a bunch of projects, I am now a believer. The main reason I’m so convinced is because this store basically sells recycled merchandise a lot of the material is in like-new condition. I went in the other day thinking they wouldn't have any paint brushes but, low and behold, they had a brand new one and it was of a very high quality brush. Their used materials are of surprisingly of good quality, too. It’s simply amazing to see the variety of supplies this store stocks.

Habitat gets the surplus materials donated from builders, retail stores and average Joes and Jane’s like you and me. Just think of all the projects where you've had leftover flooring, or a can of paint you meant to use but decided you didn’t like the color anymore ... The Habitat ReStore greatly benefits from these donations and is able to resell them for around 50 percent below retail price. Donors and buyers alike, can feel good about helping a great organization like Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Think about this: you have a project and need materials; I just finished a project and have unused materials; we both visit the Habitat ReStore and we both help out a great cause in a very green way. I don’t see any down side!

So the next time you’re putting up a mantle in your living room or working on any other sort of project, check out the Habitat ReStore. They have knowledgeable people/volunteers, and most have years’ experience in home building and construction materials.

I am redoing a bathroom in my basement with nothing but restore and donated materials. I plan to blog more about this project this winter. Stay tuned!

Check out were to find a store near you on the links below. 

http://www.habitat.org/restores

http://www.habitat.org/

The best sustainable (financial,social, and ecological) business model today and it a coffee shop!

We all work in different places. The places we work-- no matter if it is a small or large business --are always watching the bottom line. It occurred to me this morning  while  enjoying a cup of coffee this morning before heading into the office I am sitting in one of the most sustainable (financial, social, and ecological) business models today.

LemonJellos is a small coffee shop in downtown Holland, but it could be any coffee shop USA. The store is located in an old Sinclair gas station. Being recycled from an old gas station fits right into their business model and the vision of Matthew Scott (the owner). He decided a long time ago that he wanted to produce a great quality product at a great price. He took the stance that he and his business would always do the right thing.

 What he wanted was a sustainable shop with little waste, so he diligently researched different ways to handle the waste from his shop. He started with the typical waste haulers, but they were expensive and did not offer other services such as composting.  Then he implemented a multi-prong approach to his businesses waste.

Bottom line:

If this shop was charged $200 a month to empty a two yard dumpster. This coffee shop does not pay this for waste management.  With this savings that would be an annual savings of $2400 not including the energy savings.  This is a lot of extra coffee you can buy and sell. LemonJellos takes that money turns it into marketing or even into buying more coffee they increase their bottom line. My point is if you do the right things as individuals and businesses you will help not only the planet but our pocket books as well. As you read this blog, think about this way of thinking and how you can impact your place of employment. 

Recycling with a homeless shelter:  Mathew Scott Chose  a unique way to recycle. In the town of Holland there is a recycling center that is run and operated by a homeless shelter. Partnering with the New Life Recycling center ( http://www.hollandrescue.org/recycling/recycling ) offered Matt not only the means to recycle everything that  a large recycling center offered, but it also offered him a way to help the community..

Composting with a non-profit farm:

A coffee shop produces a major amount of compostable waste. LemonJellos is no different; in fact it produces more than the average because of its internal bakery. That's right; they produce their own baked good including gluten free baked goods. All the shop’s waste goes to a not for profit CSA farm called Eight Day Farm ( http://www.eighthdayfarm.com/ ). All that coffee and bakery waste is taken for free and used in the compost process to fertilize the farm.  The idea of using a local farm to compost waste is ingenuous. FYI ,this is a farm that also turned a parking lot into a farm at an old shopping center but that is for another blog. 

Using reusable /bio based materials:

Within the coffee shop you use re-usable cups, plates, and silverware. Mathew made the decision that Lemonjello’s would utilize reusable cups, plates, and silverware Almost everything else is compostable. Even the container my granola came in was a bio-plastic compostable container. When using the rest rooms even the waste bins say where to place the paper wash towels because they will be composted.  The towels are compost through a different process other than the farm but are still composted. 

 

Managing the waste as a marketing tool:

There are no waste bins anywhere within the coffee shop. All the dishes and waste go into the same container and are sorted by the employees. Near these containers there are signs stating “this is a zero waste shop” or “recycle or else” (I love this sign). Because the employees sort the material, there is very little contamination in the compost or recycling material.
Energy use:

Compact florescent and LED bulbs are used throughout the shop. One very cool energy saving device is a timer light switch in the restroom. This gives you plenty of time to do your business and then shuts the lights out after you leave. 

Issues:

This shop is not perfect; they their have issues as well. They have these waxy milk-like cartons that they cannot be composted or recycled, so they are forced to throw  these things away. The difference is they are constantly trying to find a new carton to receive this material and are pushing on their suppliers to help reduce this waste. Along with pushing the suppliers, they are constantly looking for new ways to recycle responsibly.

Lemonjellos cares about their customers, the planet, and their community and they show it through actions not just words. Maybe we can influence our places of work to think more this way. 

Do the right thing always and the rest will always take care of itself!

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