Fitting snuggly into the “reuse” column of the Three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle), reclaimed wood offers the option of a beautiful and earth-friendly way to update a home while limiting dependence on environmental resources.

Aged Woods' Bunkhouse Plank reclaimed oak flooring

To many, an old barn is nothing more than an eyesore, but for those committed to sustainable building practices, old barn siding or dilapidated flooring in a century-old building is a gold mine of reusable resources.

Companies like Aged Woods, Inc. of York, PA, offer customers the chance to own antique planks that have been “carefully re-milled from recycled wood” salvaged from “old weathered and distressed barnwood.” The company promotes the environmental benefits and multitude of uses of reclaimed wood as “the sustainable choice to add unique and authentic rustic character to residences, retail stores, restaurants, casinos, country clubs, etc.”

Further, Aged Woods, Inc. distinguishes between various types of woods commonly used for flooring: antique oak, antique white pine, antique yellow pine and antique maple. Other, rarer species are also offered from the company, including antique American chestnut, antique hickory and antique heart pine. Amazingly, this wood is reclaimed from “agricultural out-buildings, i.e. barns, ranging in age from 75 years to as much as 200 years.”

It is not hard to see why reclaimed wood is the smarter, more eco-friendly choice. Utilizing wood that has previously been employed in another structure means that new trees are not cut down and milled for new construction. What’s more, reclaimed wood is commonly region specific, meaning the reclaimed wood utilized in a given remodel or new construction project most likely came from a nearby demolition.

Taking wooden planks from demolished buildings even provides something that no freshly cut timber can: a sense of history. Aged Woods, Inc. explains this further when mentioning that such old wood “retains the patina and character imparted by the signs of old-time craftsmen and decades of wind, rain and sun.”

Reclaimed wood can be used for furniture and decorative purposes as well. In fact, the uses of reclaimed wood (or other building materials) might only be as limited as one’s practicality.

In Seattle, homeowners now grasp this idea fully and can boast about the reclaimed wood in their homes. Many local homes have utilized reclaimed wood that was the flooring from Garfield High School for decades. It’s not a stretch to imagine that these homes now have a piece of history, as music legend Jimmy Hendrix, former NBA star Brandon Roy and record producer Quincy Jones all walked the floors of this school.

If you are thinking of tidying up your property with some home-makeover work in the coming months, be sure to consider reclaimed wood. Who knows what amazing stories you might discover with this environmentally sustainable option?

Roberto Serrallés, Ph.D., Vice President of Business Development, DonQ Rum

Roberto Serrallés, Ph.D., is a sixth-generation rummaker and the Vice President of Business Development for Puerto Rico-based DonQ Rum. Dr. Serrallés, who joined the family business seven years ago after studying and teaching in the States, immediately became concerned with the product’s wastewater levels and vowed to make a change.

Today, the company displaces nearly 50% of the oil used in its boiler with a “bio-gas” byproduct from its wastewater. Sourcing local power is a big plus for the brand, but the reduced dependence on foreign oil — including the production and transportation — is a major eco-boon.

“This is the ultimate in local production,” Dr. Serrallés says. “At the end of the day, we do this anaerobic process, reducing about 70% of the organic material. That wasn’t enough — we had to make this water irrigation-grade water. We end up with a 99% reduction in organic material.”

Rodrigo Veloso, Founder, O.N.E. Drinks

Rodrigo Veloso founded Los Angeles-based O.N.E. Drinks, the maker of O.N.E. Coconut Water, as a means of spreading his love for the health-conscious beverage. Coconut water, the juice from young green coconuts, was once considered a waste product, but in recent years, its all-natural health benefits have been promoted, so much so that coconut water is now the fastest-growing nonalcoholic beverage in the U.S.

Veloso, who was raised on a coffee farm in Brazil, was always fascinated that the coffee fruit — also rich in health benefits — is completely discarded in favor of the coffee bean. It was this fascination with food and agricultural waste that fueled his passion for coconut water.

“We harvest the coconut at a point where every part is utilized,” Veloso explains. [O.N.E. Coconut Water] is minimally processed, and packaged in one of the most sustainable beverage containers in the world.”

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Recycling just one 24-pack easily saves enough energy to watch your favorite team all season on their way to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans.

On Sunday, recycling two cans saves the energy required to watch ALL the pre-game, game and post-game coverage of Super Bowl XLVI. Even if you are not hosting this year’s block party, you can do your part for guilt-free viewing.

Can recycling is such an energy saver that if New York Giants fans recycled 993 cans, a Prius could travel from Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Not to be outdone, New England Patriots fans can recycle 1,317 cans to make the trip from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts energy neutral.

Aluminum recycling saves 95 percent of the energy and 95 percent of the greenhouse gases associated with primary production.  Aluminum cans are made of 68 percent recycled material and are 100 percent infinitely recyclable making it the most sustainable beverage packaging available.

In 2010, Americans recycled 58.1 percent of their aluminum cans; let’s support this Super Bowl with a 100 percent recycling rate.

For hosts, cans offer the best possible option for your guests whether you are serving juice or soda for the kids or the latest local craft beer for the adults.  For craft beer lovers, cans are impermeable to light and oxygen that could ruin you beer’s taste.

They save space in your cooler and require less energy for your refrigerator to cool. Cans chill quicker than other package making sure everyone’s beverage is refreshing enough to cool the sore throats resulting from screaming at the TV.

Cans offer the easiest clean-up during the post-party slump when invariably someone is crying in the corner over a bad referee call and someone else is jumping on your couch because they won the office football pool.  Even the host can make a little money by recycling those cans; it will help you start planning next year’s Mardi Gras themed bash.

The Super Bowl marks the end of the 2011-12 Season and the Aluminum Association’s Can Crusade which has tailgated in seventeen NFL cities across the country and helped hundreds to recycle their tailgating cans.  The event kicked-off in Green Bay, Wisconsin when Joe Cahn, the Commissioner of Tailgating broke the World Record for the longest can-train and dragged 66,343 cans with his RV.  The cans were recycled and proceeds donated to Paul’s Pantry; recycling those cans saved enough energy to power nearly 200,000 hours of TV!

So, if you are looking for a way to be green and while watching the Super Bowl, recycle two cans and you offset the energy.  It’s as simple as that.

The Aluminum Association, based in Arlington, Virginia, works globally to aggressively promote aluminum as the most sustainable and recyclable automotive, packaging and construction material in today’s market. The Association represents U.S. and foreign-based primary producers of aluminum, aluminum recyclers and producers of fabricated products, as well as industry suppliers. Member companies operate more than 200 plants in the United States, with many conducting business worldwide.

At Nokia, employees understand this and strive to create every Nokia device with the environment in mind. Over the years, Nokia has been able to reduce its environmental impact significantly. The greenhouse gas footprint of Nokia phones has been reduced by up to 50% between 2000 and 2010. And, since June 2010, the company has provided an estimated environmental impact for all of its new products. This information is available through each product’s Eco profile.

For example, the Nokia 700 is “Nokia’s greenest smart phone to date and the industry leader in using bio and recycled materials.”

The Nokia 700 smartphone

Here is just a selection of the Nokia 700’s Eco profile:

• Energy efficiency: This device has a Power Save mode, ambient light sensor and an unplug charger reminder.
• Materials: As an industry leader in substance management, Nokia works to proactively manage and keep track of all the substances in its products, not just those that raise concerns. This phone is free of many materials that because of health concerns are considered controversial like polyvinyl chloride (PVC), brominated and chlorinated compounds and it is free of nickel on the product surface. It also contains recycled metals in inner parts of the product, bio-based materials in the cover and inside and bio-based paints on the cover.
• Packaging: Nokia works to minimize the environmental impact of its packaging by selecting sustainable materials, reducing packaging size, reducing the volume of material used and considering what happens to the package when it is no longer needed. The packaging for the Nokia 700 is made of up to 60% renewable and recycled material. It is also 100% recyclable.
• User manual: Contains an in-device e-guide, online help and a Quick Guide in the box printed in black and white.

Nokia also states the environmental impact of this device over a product life cycle, including three years of usage. The company estimates its impact is equal to driving 33.55 miles in a typical family car — not too shabby for three years of daily usage.

When my current smartphone is no longer able to perform, I’ll be giving Nokia a serious look. If you are using the Nokia 700 or any of the company’s other “greener” smartphones, let us know how you like it and if it really is as “smart” as they say.

Nancy Gioia, Director of Global Electrification, Ford Motor Company

Nancy Gioia, the first-ever Director of Global Electrification at Ford Motor company, reveals what America’s iconic automotive company is doing to conserve and green itself while lessening America’s dependence on oil. Gioia tells John and Mike that Ford is focusing on both hybrid and electric vehicles. She stresses that Ford is the automotive solution for any and all customers, no matter what kind of vehicle they are looking for.

“Not only will our products be of the highest quality, but every one of our new Ford products will be best in class for fuel efficiency,” Gioia proudly states. “Fuel efficiency is going to be a reason to buy a Ford, not to avoid a Ford.”

Seth Goldman, Founder, Honest Tea

In the second half of the show, Seth Goldman, founder of Honest Tea, discusses how his eco-friendly and healthy brew started with a passion to quench thirst. Honest Tea has always focused on all-organic, completely natural teas that skip the sugary stuff for pure taste. What started with five teas in 1998 has blossomed into well over 30 different brands, and the brand is experiencing unprecedented growth — currently at nearly 400%.

“We call it Honest Tea because it’s made with real tea leaves,” Goldman reveals. “With real tea leaves, you get the real antioxidants and the real taste, too. Most of the other bottled tea brands don’t use real tea.”

Goldman notes that Honest Tea’s organic approach is important, because tea leaves are the only agricultural product that does not get rinsed until consumption. Pure, unaltered tea leaves go into every beverage, ensuring an all-natural drinking experience.

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Officials from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the State of Massachusetts and industry partners Metech Recycling, Inc., WeRecycle!, LLC, XTechnology Global, North Coast Services LLC, Waste Management Recycle America, and Electronic Recyclers International, Inc gathered recently at Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the nation’s leading recycler of electronic waste, for a White House Energy, Environment and Conservation Roundtable discussion. The roundtable was led by New England Regional Administrators Robert Zarnetske (GSA) and Curt Spalding (EPA).

The meeting was part of the Obama Administration’s strategy to promote job creation and the responsible recycling of electronics products. Topics included the need for harmonizing regulations across states and the importance of government buying green to promote responsible recycling stewardship. The visit to ERI featured a behind-the-scenes look at the recovery of precious and rare earth metals and other valuable materials from used electronics such as computers, monitors, televisions, and cell phones. It is estimated that over 30,000 computers are recycled per month across the country.

The roundtable was moderated by ERI Chairman and CEO, John Shegerian, and provided an opportunity for Zarnetske, Spalding, and a host of New England green business leaders to discuss growing job opportunities in the region, and specifically, the American Jobs Act, and what it can mean for the surrounding communities.

Zarnetske and Spalding shared specific elements of the American Jobs Act and gathered feedback and input from the other Roundtable participants, which will be shared with Washington D.C. and communicated directly to the White House.

Individuals from a number of companies and organizations were in attendance, including RMG, Enterprise, Metech Recycling, Inc.,WeRecycle!, LLC, XTechnology Global, North Coast Services LLC, Waste Management Recycle America, Electronic Recyclers International, Inc., Northeast Recycling Council, Northeast Resource Recovery Association, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and MassRecycle.

At the conclusion of the roundtable, the group memorialized the discussion by reaffirming the commitment and value of the partnerships between private, federal, state, and local sectors toward promoting and sustaining the growth of this important emerging industry.

“It was a real honor and a privilege to co-host this very special round table event with the GSA and EPA,” said Shegerian. “It has provided a terrific opportunity for our fellow businesses here in Massachusetts and New England to get an understanding of the American Jobs Act and how it can help business growth in our region and find out how forward-thinking companies are getting traction in today’s economy.”

The discussion also featured opportunities for business leaders to brainstorm and share ideas on spurring job creation. Zarnetske shared the principal reason for the Round Table: to have a conversation about solutions — and what we as a country can do to move our economy forward and create new jobs now.

“A growing electronic recycling industry has great environmental and economic potential–it makes addressing pollution profitable while also creating green jobs,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “We applaud the leaders of this industry and are excited to continue expanding the conversation through these roundtables. “

“E-cycling is good public policy and good business. Companies all over the country are proving that environmental stewardship can be profitable,” said Bob Zarnetske, regional administrator of GSA’s New England office. “This is an important emerging market and the federal government is here to help this industry grow jobs and improve the way we handle our resources.”

More information on GSA’s green business goals and promoting federal agencies’ purchasing Environmentally Preferable Products: gsa.gov/portal/content/234565

Now the largest recycler of electronic waste in the U.S., and the world’s first dual-certified electronic waste recycler, Fresno-headquartered Electronic Recyclers International is licensed to de-manufacture and recycle televisions, computer monitors, computers and other types of electronic equipment. ERI serves public sector clients via GSA contract GS-10F-0051Y and processes more than 120 million pounds of electronic waste annually at eight locations in seven states, including California, Washington, Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, Texas and North Carolina. For more information about e-waste recycling and ERI, call 1-800-884-8466 or visit electronicrecyclers.com.

Developed by the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Working Group, a citizen’s advisory group that gives input to the City of Toronto’s Solid Waste Management Services, the program’s primary focus is to help decrease the amount of materials going to landfills. The group is accomplishing this goal by arming volunteers with information and materials to teach residents living in multifamily buildings how to reduce, reuse and recycle.

According to the City of Toronto, there are more than 5,000 multifamily buildings in Toronto, housing nearly half the city’s population. In 2008, the average residential waste diversion rate was 44%. Multifamily residential buildings, on average, diverted only 15% of the total amount of waste they generated, compared to 59% in single-family households.

The long-term goal of the program is to have one or more volunteers in each building. Once approval from the building manager is obtained, the 3Rs ambassador volunteer will organize education and outreach campaigns. The city provides free resources that include literature, posters and stickers and support from the city’s staff.

The types of campaigns differ depending on the building and the volunteer. Some examples include putting up information posters in common areas, organizing a clothing drive or coordinating a waste-free building event.

The volunteers are required to attend two days of training before they begin, and the recommended time investment is about 10 hours a month. They receive training on effective communication, learn of opportunities to meet other 3Rs ambassadors and are regularly updated on Toronto’s reduce, reuse and recycling programs.

Every city should have a program like the 3Rs Ambassador Volunteer Program. Residents should have access to programs that enable them to reduce waste and recycle their used materials.

Visit toronto.ca/3rs/ for more information.

“We have not inherited the earth from our fathers, we are borrowing it from our children.”

— Native American saying

Eric Bjorling, Lifestyle Marketing Guy, Trek Bikes

Eric Bjorling of Trek Bikes tells John and Mike about his company’s commitment to changing the world. Trek has long been known as one of the premier bike manufacturers in the U.S., but its recent focus on eco-friendly and utilitarian biking has brought a whole new level of attention to the brand.

“Cycling is a simple solution already sitting in people’s garages,” Bjorling says. “Lobby and ask for bicycle programs. Bicycle programs get swept under the rug because no one asks for them. [Trek has] gotten a ton of attention just by standing up and saying, ‘Remember bicyclists.’”

Trek’s Eco design, a line of green-minded bikes, explores the whole life cycle of the bike — manufacturing, years of riding and eventual end of life. The bikes are made primarily of recycled (and recyclable) steel, as well as other various recycled materials. The company’s DreamBikes bike donation program is a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club that is helping reuse bikes and teach youngsters good eco practices.

Gregory Wittbecker, Director of Primary Aluminum Analysis and Recycling, Alcoa

Later in the show, Gregory Wittbecker, Director of Primary Aluminum Analysis and Recycling at Alcoa, describes the benefits of recycling metals.

“In the U.S. right now, we’re recycling about 54% of all the cans that are consumed,” Wittbecker reveals. This number is comparable to most Western European companies, but so much more can be done.

Aluminum, which takes a significant amount of energy to create, is dependent upon recycling to reduce energy output. Wittbecker claims a 95% savings in energy when recycling, not to mention the savings in landfill space.

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Jim Puckett, Executive Director and Founder, Basel Action Network

Jim Puckett is the Executive Director and founder of the Basel Action Network (BAN). Puckett has spent most of his working life in “toxic trade,” including 22 years at Greenpeace. Puckett has long been aware and concerned with the grimiest of toxic trade methods: Third World dumping.

In 2002, following a trip to China, BAN produced the filmExporting Harm, depicting exported toxic waste from the U.S. landing in China, where the most egregious forms of dumping are still taking place to this day.

“Nowadays, more and more things that we take for granted are electronic,” Puckett explains. “It wouldn’t be such a horrible problem were it not for the fact that it’s toxic waste. We have to be very careful how we deal with it.”

David Tusa, President and CEO, Sharps Compliance, Inc.

David Tusa is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Sharps Compliance, Inc., a company that prevents the improper disposal of medical waste and unused medications. Surprisingly, outside of the hospital and healthcare setting, there is little legislation in place to regulate disposal methods of these materials.

Yet Sharps has honed in on this sector on its own, keeping an astounding 600 million syringes out of the waste stream over the past 15 years. Still, Tusa believes Sharps is less than 5% penetrated in this vast market.

“Medical waste can create quite the hazard,” Tusa reveals. “You can contract a disease — you see stories about it every day. It’s a major issue in this country.”

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Jeffrey Hollender, author, 'Planet Green'

Jeffrey Hollender returns to “Green is Good” to discuss his latest book, Planet Home, and explain the challenges the earth will face ahead. He feels that now is the time that everyone must ramp up efforts to conserve and reuse — from teachers and children, to politicians and business leaders.

Though Hollender says that consumers, in particular, are doing their due diligence while shopping, he cites a number of resources, such as Good Guide, as tools that can help consumers make informed green purchases.

“One of the reasons I wrote Planet Home was that too many people are confused about what really makes a difference, where to get started [and] what decisions are the most critical to make as a consumer,” Hollender explains. “We need to think about how we change the rules of the game so that everyone is incentivized to do the right thing.”

David Levine, co-founder and Executive Director, American Sustainable Business Council

David Levine, co-founder and Executive Director of the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC), was a visionary from the council’s conceptualization in 2009 as a voice for earth-friendly businesses in the realms of public policy and media.

The council started with six member organizations, and in less than two years has ballooned to 28 organizations representing 75,000 U.S. businesses. Levine credits this growth to the increased understanding of strategies to rebuild the economy using sustainable means.

“It’s really time to break down the traditional barriers that we’ve had,” Levine says. “The voice that we bring is a business case for why we believe that a sustainable economy is a direction to move toward.”

Jay Kordich, "The Father of Juicing"

Listening to Jay Kordich on “Green is Good,” it’s hard to believe he is more than two decades past retirement age. A lifelong athlete, Kordich pioneered the juicing craze that has gained popularity in America over the past 60 years. Even as a collegiate playing football for various Navy squads, Kordich would pack fruits and veggies to juice.

“I take care of my body first and foremost,” Kordich explains. “I’m not a genius. I started reading, and I was only on natural juices from natural plants — where life comes from.”

Now known as “The Father of Juicing,” Kordich has created a juice empire — from juicers, to juicing literature — and its benefits are obvious. Just look at Kordich: at nearly 89, he is as vibrant as he was in his college days.

Armen Orujyan, Ph.D., Founder and Chairman of the Board, Athgo International

Armen Orujyan, Ph.D., runs Athgo International, a nonprofit that engages young entrepreneurs in a sustainable, eco-friendly manner.

Dr. Orujyan cites his family’s move to the United States in the late ’80s as an eye-opening moment. He didn’t have anything handed to him growing up, and being immersed in a culture full of freedoms, he felt compelled to give back. He feels today’s entrepreneurs are critical to tomorrow’s successes.

“Athgo came into existence to give opportunities to people like myself,” Dr. Orujyan says. “I needed a support group to help me expand my knowledge and my know-how.”

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“Electronic waste presents a huge challenge to the environment. It requires large amounts of resources and energy to produce, and adds hazardous and long-lasting components to our waste stream,” said EPA Regional Administrator Al Armendariz. “These newest partners to the SEC are taking responsibility for their electronic waste and helping to protect the environment for everyone.”

The SEC is a voluntary program that encourages state, tribal, regional and local governments, schools and other public entities to monitor purchases, operation, maintenance and disposal of electronics. More than 75 government entities in 29 states—representing 110,000 employees—have signed on as partners.

Because state and local governments purchase so much electronic equipment—more than $35 billion annually—they are positioned to provide leadership in making responsible and cost-effective management of these items more common. Organizations can become part of this effort by taking two simple steps: buying computers and other equipment that have registered with EPEAT, an online clearinghouse for green electronics, and using registered electronics recyclers.

To become a partner of the State Electronics Challenge visit: stateelectronicschallenge.net

To find environmentally responsible electronic equipment: epeat.net

Use recyclers registered at: r2solutions.net and e-stewards.org

More about activities in EPA Region 6: epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html

EPA audio file is available at epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/dec2011.html