Posts Tagged ‘Green and Sustainable Design’

Nature does it best: Biomimicry

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

Webster’s online dictionary defines biomimicry as “the conscious copying of examples and mechanisms from natural organisms and ecologies. It is a form of applied case-based reasoning, treating nature itself as a database of solutions that already work.” That means that nature has already provided us with the best ways to do things. But looking to nature we can find answers to some of today’s most challenging problems. That is why I was so excited to hear that Chris Allen of the Ask Nature project at the Biomimicry Institute was going to be in Cleveland.  Brought to us by E4S , this evening at the Cleveland Institute of Art is going to be a blast!

From the event listing at E4S:

Join E4S and the BiomimiryNEO Network on March 16th to learn more about how biomimicry inspires innovation from Chris Allen. Doug Paige, the Associate Professor of Industrial Design at CIA and several CIA industrial design students will share how they are putting biomimicry to work to solve challenges in the Cuyahoga Valley. Lisa Schmidtke, a recent graduate from the Biomimicry Professional Certification Program and Victoria Avi, E4S Network Entrepreneur for BiomimicryNEO, will be on hand after the main program to answer your questions about how you can learn more about the biomimicry design models and tools.

First off, let me say that any event put together by E4S is a blast.  These guys truly know what they are doing.  They find speakers who have a wealth of knowledge to share.  I know that Chris Allen will be no exception.  If you do not really know what biomimicry is, it basically is the concept of looking to nature to inspire us in design and creation.  The hottest tickets at Greenbuild the last few years have been the biomimicry seminars.  At greenbuild, you might spend over a $100 to hear a talk like this.  Not only do you not have to travel, but the cost is exceptional at only $30.  If you are an E4S member, then you can get in for a mere $25 and students are only $10!  This is your chance to hear a world class speaker who will be a leading force in this new area of study and design.

Chris is director of the AskNature project at the Biomimicry Institute and serves on the management team for the expanded operations of the Biomimicry Guild and Institute.  He is among the fifteen graduates of the first cohort of the Biomimicry Institute`s two-year professional program.  Trained in International Business at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas (1985),  Chris has over twenty years experience providing strategy and management consulting services related to sustainable development for a variety of private sector clients as well as the US Department of Energy, the National Center for Appropriate Technology, the Northwest Area Foundation, and the United Nations Man and Biosphere Program.

You can register for this event here. I am sure that space will be limited, so do not hesitate!  Register now for your seat to this incredible evening.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010  5:30 pm – 8:30 pm

The Cleveland Institute of Art

Ticket Prices: $30.00 for non-members, $25.00 E4S members, $10.00 for students w/ a valid student ID.

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Real change takes bold measures, and ODOT has no balls!

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Let’s just say it.  ODOT has no balls.   Cleveland is working hard to establish itself as a green city.  Mayor Jackson has made a committment to being a Green City on a Blue Lake.  While I think we should be moving a little faster on some things like curbside recycling and expanding the light rail system, it all takes money and we have a budget problem.  We are not alone in this.  I just read where Colorado Springs is laying off fire fighters and police, slashed all the parks budgets (asking residents to voluntarily mow green spaces), removing garbage cans from all city parks (replacing them with signs asking users to take their trash with them), turning off street lights, eliminating buses at night and on weekend, and eliminating watering programs for public spaces.  While we could be in this dire situation, we are not.  We have had to make some hard budgetary decisions, but doors won’t be closing on any museums or pools this year and the the parks will be open.  So given the economic situation in town, I can accept some programs moving slower than I would want.

What I cannot accept is ODOT.  We need a new bridge, that much is clear.  It is obvious when they had to reroute all truck traffic last year that it is really only a matter of time before the whole damn thing falls down.  When the bridge in Minneapolis had to be replaced, the city took a good look at its options and made choices that were crazy to some, genius to others.  They added things that people hadn’t thought of to make the bridge lase longer and benefit the city in ways that were not even thought of. Crazy ideas like built in bridge monitors, self cleaning concrete, and solar powered street lights that are sculptural in design.  They acted fast, built smart, and constructed this bridge to last a long time, while completing the structure  months early to finish in only  months.

ODOT, on the other hand held a public forum years ago right here in our own neighborhood.  It was one of many asking residents what they wanted to see in the overall plan of a redesigned I-90 corridor, and they they didn’t listen.  They didn’t listen to residents and citizens who wanted pedestrian and bike access.  They didn’t listen when activist groups sent them petitions.  They didn’t listen when rallies were held and marches organized.  They didn’t listen to experts who built similar bridges in other states.  They didn’t listen to the logic of increasing access of locals would encourage dense urban growth and cut down on congestion.  They didn’t listen to the planning commission, to industrialists, or to Kent State’s Urban Design Collaborative.  In short, they did not listen to the people who pay their salaries.  Keep in mind that this is the same group that designed a freeway with a near 90 degree bend in it, aptly named DEAD MAN”S CURVE.

Bridges are made to last a long time.  You only get one shot at it.  It isn’t like we can remove the bridge in ten years and do it again.  At this rate, we may still be working on this one.  To really make change, you have to be bold and take some risks.  You have to build for a future that is not here.   ODOT is obviously not a progressive group that is thinking of the future.  Rather than consider things like beauty, accessibility of the downtown, reduced long term congestion by encouraging dense urban growth, and what citizens want, they cite increased safety and maintenance concerns.  It’s not like this is the first bridge of its kind.  It has been done with success in other cities.  Yet ODOT has refused to even entertain the idea.  I am reminded of an architect working at a downtown firm who was designing a failed Lakewood project.  His plan was to built the parking garage to overlook the Rocky River garage and put the bike lane running through that.  His thought was that no one really rides bikes anyway.  I would think that the new bike garage downtown would change the minds of people like this who are so out of touch with the people of this town.  So I say, make some REAL change, be bold and build a great bridge that will serve everyone.  But I don’t hold my breath, because I think ODOT has no balls.  They are being led by a group of people who would drive 25 miles in the middle of summer to go to a gym to get on a stationery bike rather than get out in the sunshine in their own neighborhood, which is likely in the burbs.  Or is there a little something under the table?  Their concerns for maintenance and safety are valid if there is any evidence to cite.  But I haven’t seen any.

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Walking the Walk, more than just a media campaign

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

On July 14, 2009, one of the nation’s largest grocery store chains opened its first LEED certified store.  The Food Lion store is located in Columbia, South Carolina.  Now grocery stores like Safeway & Whole Foods, have been going green for some time now, so this is not necessarily a news event.  With natural food stores like Whole Foods and Wild Oats, we would EXPECT them to be as green as possible and are not surprised when we see the plaque or information wall explaining just how they are helping the environment.

So here is what makes Food Lion’s foray in to the world of green so news-worthy:  They let the public in on the ground floor!  Food Lion decided to post information on their website that would allow customers to watch the building construction process from the ground up.  As each decision was made, they explained how the green process worked, giving the public full access to information that is usually printed up on some board in the store and typically disregarded.

Let’s face it, the average customer likes to know a store is helping the environment, but won’t know anything about how efficient LED lighting is, or how a low-flow water fixture works.  An in-store plaque can say “we save water by utilizing low-flow fixtures in our—-” and the customer has already tuned out.  Food Lion decided early on to include customers in their efforts, explaining each detail in near real-time as it was installed or built.

Their website not only extolls the virtues of the company (as all marketing is self-serving), it also informs and educates.  There are videos showing how things work, and even a quiz for you to take! 

Check it out at:  www.foodlion.com/greenstore

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Oh Boy, Oberlin!

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

We in Cleveland, like to think that we are leading the charge for sustainability in the region. However, on a recent trip to Oberlin, I was treated to a little green tour of some of the cool things that are going on in that town. For a smaller municipality, there are a lot of cool things happening!

First off, I had the chance to meet and chat with Joseph Waltzer. he is a local business owner and green advocate. He was fascinating to talk with, as he believes strongly in the sustainability movement. He was college friends with Sadhu Johnston, (local green leader who was wooed away to Chicago) so it is no wander why feels so strongly about the movement. Joseph owns two restaurants in Oberlin: Agave and the Black River Cafe. Buying local products and supporting local farmers is a passion for him. He is even willing to make less profit and use smaller margins to make great food more accessible to a broader range of people. His newest project is a grocery and distribution center. He plans to renovate a now defunct grocery store into a wholesale green products store. Think Sam’s Club or Costco for sustainable products and local foods. In addition to being a cash and carry, he will also make deliveries to businesses. This will allow businesses to be able to purchase greener products without the huge mark up that mainstream distributors are charging. He has a vision to make green goods as accessible as conventional products. Good news for restaurateurs and retailers who could begin offering compost able “to go” containers, paper products with recycled content, even local farm products at costs that fall in line with other products. This could have a HUGE impact on the local market for green goods. While there is plenty of distributorship in other regions of the country, there is little available locally.

While talking about his plans, Joe saw how much I appreciated his plans. He decided to show me the space and then followed up with a tour of some of the other green sites in town. Among them was the college’s Environmental Studies Building. Much like the plans for the Cleveland Greenhouse Project, the building is like a living being. One system feeds into another to make the project sustainable. Among the features of the project are solar panels that cover the parking. There is a bioswale out front that helps to manage the storm water. The entire project is monitored, so you can learn about the facts and figures of the building in the lobby.

Here is a great video about the project that I found on You Tube:
This talk was part of the Oberlin Entrepreneurship Symposium 2008. Check out the college’s site for the complete videos and more information on the Symposium.

We rounded out our tour with a visit to a professor’s home. He is adding an addition to the house using straw bale construction. It was interesting to see it in its build state, and I snapped off a couple of photos. The straw bale construction offers a great insulative value. It also features a great double roof system, allowing for the wood ceiling to be exposed. The wood is from the contractors own land and is a beautiful combination of cherry, oak, and others. I am hoping to be invited back for a final peek when the construction is done.

It just goes to show you that Cleveland isn’t alone in its efforts to become green. When you add in the efforts of Oberlin, Akron, and even Youngstown, you get the impression that NE Ohio may be the greenest region in the country!

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Green is not black and white…

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

You want to be green, right? You want a checklist of all the things to do and buy and then you can sit back and finally relax. Sorry, kids, it is simply not that easy. Being green means work. It means being on the lookout. It means making meaningful choices and doing it over and over again. The answers are simply not black and white. Green is a gray area.

First off, I have read articles of people who live off the grid. Some raise sheep and make their own cloth, compost their own feces and never drive a car. Good for them. Deep in my heart, a part of me wants to be them. Part of me wants to throw off the shackles of modern life and spend the remainder of my days meditating in an ashram until I die and my body is left out to be pecked apart by the birds of the mountains. It ain’t gonna happen. Since you are reading this, it means that you are living here in the modern world as well. Unless you are generating your own electricity by stationary bicycle, you may be able to get something our of this.

What does being sustainable really mean? Ask 10 people and you are likely to get ten different answers. I have developed my own working definition that fits me and my life. Sustainability, to me, means making the best possible choices for both me and the rest of the planet, based on the information that I have available at the time. This means that I try to do the right things.

wwiip44I try to drive less and walk more. We could sell the car. Many people live without them. We live in Cleveland, though and I have to get around. I cannot run our business or even really get as much done in life without one. However, we drive a fuel efficient car. We try to walk more and shop locally. We combine trips and try to carpool when we can. I also bought us bikes, and hope to bike more. Being aware of the amount of gas we use is important and allows us to make decisions about when and where we will go. While not driving at all is the greenest thing, that is not going to happen. Buying a hybrid would be green, but using an old car that is still functioning and getting over 30 mpg and not having to build a new car just for us is even greener, in my opinion. When the car no longer gets decent gas mileage, or starts to fall apart, then we can make that decision.

I eat a lot less meat. I buy cage free eggs that are not fed hormones. Everybody eats. Everybody poops. Everybody. So when I buy my food, I try to buy items that are locally grown. I try to support stores that have local produce. I spend the extra buck on cage free, hormone free eggs, because it is something that I believe in and I stand by that no matter where I shop. I eat less meat and look for grass fed beef, because grass fed cows give off less methane and contribute less to global warming. I always buy TP with recycled content, and 100% unless it is not available.

I choose the most eco friendly products that I can. I try to buy products with the least packaging. Organic cotton items are often out of my price range, but I get them when I can. Vinyl has issues, so I try to avoid it. Plastics are a necessary evil in life today, but I look for the recycle symbol on things and given the choice, I buy the better option. Or sometimes I do not buy at all…

I shop less and I weigh my options when I spend my dollars. When we put in a new floor, I wanted an eco friendly product like bamboo. But is bamboo really that eco friendly when it has to come all the way from China? I shop at Wal Mart because of the things they are doing to green their stores and their supply chains, but I am always aware of past labor violations. I also am aware that so much of their product selection is cheap and will fall apart in a week. Instead, I would rather buy from a less eco friendly retailer and buy something that will not need to be replaced soon. I also think about the things that I buy and ask myself if I can get it used. The greenest items are the ones that are never produced at all.

So there are no easy answers, no one size fits all. You have your life and have to make the choices that you need to to live it. But there are always options and you have to make the best ones for you. Is it better to buy a greener product made by a company with human rights abuses? Or a product that is bad for the environment that that has no animal testing? Do you support local farmers who use pesticides, or a corporate farm that grows organic, in Mexico? Dig deep and spend your money wisely, and as you do, you will find that there are good and bad in most of the choices that you make. Choose the greenest answer and it won;t always be black and white, but sorta gray.

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The Cavs game was great, but the meeting was even better!

Friday, May 29th, 2009

I live in Cleveland. Although I am not a big sports fan, you have to be living under a rock not to know that the Cavaliers are a big deal. A REALLY big deal. I get it. I even watched last night’s game. I am rooting for them to win. Cleveland can use this boost to the local economy. Last night a few of us kicked back at the Tremont Tap House for beers and to watch the game. Thursday night, and the place was packed. The more it looked like we would win, the more beers people were ordering. It was great seeing people enjoy themselves and spend a little of the cash that they have been hording away in case of complete economic meltdown. I am holding out that they will make it to the championships. The civic pride we will see will be eclipsed by the economic benefit to our city. So last night, we led, we fell behind, we made mistakes, we triumphed. It was thrilling. What was even better was the event we attended before the game.

We had a local affiliate here called the Cleveland Green Building Coalition. It was an affiliate of the United States Green Building Council. A few short months ago, Michelle Kilroy took over the reins of the operation. The changes have been astounding. It became a full chapter member of the USGBC. The name changed. The newly relaunched NEO Chapter of the USGBC has updated their website. It is clean and easy to read. The programming has gotten much better, too. Last night was a networking and panel discussion at CSU’s historic Parker Hannifin Hall. The updating and restoration of this historic mansion is a sustainable project and nothing short of amazing. Considering our love of historic preservation blending with green design, it was a thrill for me to see it.

The topic of the evening was Residential Initiatives in Green Building. If you have read my posts about the Green Cottages, then you know how exciting I find the future of green residential building to be. There were three speakers for the evening. Jim Ptacek of Larsen Architects and Marge Misak of Cuyahoga Community Land Trust got down to the nitty-gritty of building the first green cottage home. Since their bent was making not just a green home, but a green affordable home, we got to hear more about the financial challenges. We were also treated to more specific information as to the homes construction. Learning how some things were cut due to budgetary constraints, while others were left in due to importance was fascinating. I have always said that “green” is not black and white, it is a matter of scale. Bamboo is a renewable resource, but if it comes from China, then how green can it be? If a house is carbon neutral and free to heat, but costs so much that only Donald Trump can afford it, is it really a viable product? It was a great discussion.

The evening was lead off by Kevin Dreyfuss-Wells of City Architecture. This was a more personal discussion, as Mr Dreyfuss-Wells built a sustainable home for himself. He let us know about some of the green features of his home, like the bioswale and cistern for capturing rainwater on site. The engineering of the home is pretty damn cool, as there is little heating or cooling involved. The home was built to take advantage of the position of the sun to heat the home passively in winter. They made use of the natural beauty of the building materials to reduce finishes in the home. It sits near the border of Cleveland and Shaker Heights, and fits seamlessly into the neighborhood. In fact, both projects went to great lengths to look like they belonged, while retaining their own personality.

One thing that both remarked on was the tight use of the footprint. Over the years, we as Americans have grown to love our idea of taking up as much space as possible and using whatever resources we want. These homes are fine examples of tight floor plans that make great use of space, while providing exceptional living environments. The crowd was small enough to allow for great interaction both during and after the presentations. The attendees were thoughtful and asked excellent questions. Besides the great information, the food was excellent and there was ample time to meet and network. So while the game was good, this part of the evening was better. If this is any indication of the quality of speakers and events that the NEO Chapter is going to host, then it is shaping up to be a great year! Be sure to look at their calendar for upcoming events. I am looking forward to hearing Bill Doty talk about the Big Met Clubhouse. He is so interesting and a true leader for the green building movement in NE Ohio. I found him fascinating when he gave us a tour of his offices. Afterward, I will head down to Pickwick and Frolic for a networking event-come join me!

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Transforming Cleveland’s West Side

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

We hope to begin restoration of our office building very soon. We have had more than 25 contractors through the building in the last few months. Many of the contractors who saw the space were not interested in a project of this scope. Many didn’t understand our goals of adaptive re use and historical preservation. Most knew little or nothing about building to sustainable standards. It really has been up to us to educate the contractors on what we want. The entire experience has reassured me of the validity of this project. In case you haven’t followed my blog, I will let you know about the most exciting part of our office project. There is a small cottage that sits on the property that is attached to the main building. It will be surrounded by an educational green space that will teach builders and the general public about some of the basics of sustainable landscaping. It will feature native plants and ideas that will encourage native wildlife. We are planning a rain garden to handle some of the stormwater runoff and will install permeable pavers to help manage the rainwater. The cottage building itself will be an educational space that will be open to the public. It will feature exhibits on sustainable ideas and building techniques. The idea is to encourage a two pronged educational approach toward fostering sustainable building ideas. Both the construction community and property owners will be able to learn a little bit about things like dual flush toilets and R values (insulation). Our philosophy is that if Cleveland is going to keep up with the times, it is going to be necessary for builders to learn and educate their clients, and for property owners to learn and demand from their contractors, greener ideas that will save them money and resources. We hope that the next guy who wants a low flow fixture, or ideas about saving on energy costs can come and start at our “Eco Park.”

I have also begun the process of talking to retailers and business owners. We plan on having a 950 square foot office space, in a LEED building, and a 750 square foot retail space. The goal is to attract like minded companies to the area. We hope to work with neighboring property owners to establish a coffee shop. There is plenty of open real estate in the area and we want to attract new investment that will make the Eco Village neighborhood more than just housing and community gardens. As I met with one retailer, she asked me the hard questions. Where would her employees eat? What would attract consumers to the area to shop at her store? Where was the nearest grocery store? I took all of this in, and it made me realize that there was plenty of work to be done outside the scope of our project. Detroit Shoreway is a dense urban neighborhood with shopping, restaurants, and services. There are still gaps to fill along Lorain.

Lorain Ave was once the home of a vibrant business and residential district. The streetcar was laid and the street regrades to make use of the existing development. Now, huge sections of this main corridor lie vacant or underutilized. We hope to work with other like minded businesses to attract new investment and new businesses to the avenue. The infrastructure already exists, and while some buildings are being renovated and rehabbed, new ones are popping up as well. The Urban School is a gem in the area. Closer to the West Side Market, there are buildings being made into showplaces. There are antique stores and small businesses, but we need more. I would like to see a small grocery, like a Mustard Seed or Web of Life. There should be a coffee shop that serves organic and fair trade coffee. A good quality deli that has healthy foods, a vegetarian restaurant, garden store, and eco friendly home supplies and furnishings would all be welcome additions to the area. There is plenty of room for a fitness center that could focus on holistic health, instead of a store front of treadmills and stationary bikes. The old Nautilus Fish buildings would easily house an Eco Mart. Cleveland is ripe and ready for a vibrantly healthy walkable business district, and we want it to be here. The established bicycle store and RTA station make this a perfect fit. I have a vision for the area, would you like to take part?

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The Cleaning and the Greening

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

I love that we bought our building in Ward 17. Everywhere we go in the area, we meet concerned citizens, residents that are getting involved, and public figures who are working hard to make a difference. Yesterday, we were taking part in the Eco Village Clean Up Day. Residents of the Eco Village neighborhood just got together to clean their own streets. How often do you see that? I can barely keep up with the garbage that rolls up into my own yard. When average citizens get involved, it means that they are taking pride in their block. That is how we make a difference. When people take the time to work on their own street, they learn to respect their neighbors-that means less trash on the sidewalk and in the guy next door’s yard. People who think this way, teach these ideals to the kids and we can truly make a difference on this spinning blue marble in space.

My partner, Bud, wrote about the ribbon cutting Friday at Eco Villages newest addition-the Green Cottages. I was so impressed at the turnout. Besides “greenies” like us, there were neighbors who we interested in seeing what is going on in Eco Village, and even a few builders that will hopefully take a few ideas back to their next project. I wanted to add a few of the features that make the Green Cottages special. While there are plans to build 4 more (so far) I was surprised to hear that they are all still available for sale.0424091605

Location: This is a tightly dense neighborhood that is flourishing. Besides all the cool neighbors, there is extreme accessibility. It is a short walk to shopping and dining. The Gordon Square Arts District is close by. The RTA has ample buses and there is a Rapid Station right on 61st and Madison. You can get a plot in one of the community gardens and grow your own food, or just buy them at the Gordon Square Farmer’s Market. You could probably go without a car altogether.

Stormwater Management: All the runoff will be managed on site. Rain barrels and rain gardens will help absorb the water from the building. Downspouts will not even be connected to the sewer.

Sustainable landscaping: There won’t be any grass. The landscaping will include native plants and drought tolerant species to reduce the need for watering.

Advanced Framing: These houses make use of new construction techniques. Instead of 2×4s, 2×6s were used. This allows for studs to be farther apart, thus increasing the insulation. Raised heel trusses, drywall clips, 2 stud corners and header hangers were all used to allow for less wood and more insulation to be used.

Insulation: Every possible spot that could benefit from insulation does. 12 inches of cellulose in the attic, rigid fiberglass extruded polystyrene and Spider Spray fiberglass make this a home that will never be drafty. The envelope was wrapped and sealed at every joint. Caulked seams and windows, of course. All the windows are Energy Star and will finish the sealing.

Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling: The furnace used is 96% energy efficient and has a programmable thermostat. It features a MERV 13 filter (keeps out lots of dust) and a “cool to Dehumidify” setting. A controlled ventilation system bring in air from outside, so there is just the right amount of new fresh air coming in.

Detached Garage: When a garage is detached, it is cheaper for insurance and keeps car fumes farther from the house. Things stored in garages, like oil or paint, also keep their fumes away from the living space. Just to make sure that the home is safe, there is a shoe storage entry that allows for outside contaminants to stay near the door instead of coming into the home. Carbon monoxide monitors are installed, as well as a radon vent (just in case).

Moisture Control: Water is painfully damaging to property. All the right flashing was installed and techniqes to prevent ice dams were used. There is the proper vapor barrier to keep the basement nice and dry.

Accessible: Have a wheelchair? This could be the perfect house for you! The doorways and open plan make using a chair very friendly. There is even a no step entry in the rear. Other additions could easily be installed during the build. And as you get older, it will continue to be your home, not the place you can no longer navigate.

Efficient: Appliances are Energy Star, so they use less electricity. The sight is used to take advantage of natural day lighting. Low flow fixtures use less water and the water heater is high efficiency.

0424091631Safe interior finishes: Low VOC finishes and sealants were used to keep the space free of airborne contaminants. This means that it won’t have a “new house” smell and can be moved into right away.

Built with minimal impact: There are local materials sourced throughout the home, so there was less transportation of materials. This keeps down the carbon footprint. The home is built to minimize wood waste-a problem seldom dealt with in construction. There are many elements throughout the home that have recycled content-especially the insulation.

Homeowner’s manual: This sounds kind of weird, but is an important step in making the homes efficient. Many buildings are built the right way, but since the features are not employed by the tenants, they are wasted. A manual will make these houses as efficient down the road as well as on move in, and the homeowner will know how to use all the features and equipment properly to make it the “green cottage” it was built to be.

Interested? You should be! There are ways to find out more: Call or stop by the Community Land Trust. They are at 4100 Franklin Blvd and their phone number is 216-334-1620. If you prefer the traditional route, call your favorite Realtor. My fried Roger Scheve has been showing clients this house, so he is up on its many features. Give him a call at (440) 477-1188, or email him at Rogers@REMAX.net and make your next home green-and more than just the paint.

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Cleveland’s cottage industry is green!

Friday, April 24th, 2009

Cleveland’s Mayor Frank Jackson and Council Member Matt Zone were keynote speakers at today’s ribbon-cutting event for the first Green Cottage. Zone reported he had just returned from our old hometown Portland, Oregon, where even Oregonians are hearing about Cleveland and its green practices! We keep saying, “Cleveland is on the cusp of being one of the top green cities in America”, and this confirms it!

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As previously highlighted in this blog, the Green Cottages are high efficiency homes built on Cuyahoga Community Land Trust property. The resident owns the home, but leases the land for 99 years, keeping the home price down. This first cottage is NE Ohio’s first affordable LEED for Homes Gold Standard, exceeds Cleveland’s 2009 green housing construction standards and incorporates green building techniques & advanced energy efficiency.

Present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were members from the Cuyahoga Community Land Trust property, staff from the Detroit Shoreway Development Organization such as Lilah Zautner, Marilyn Mosinski, Lisa Kious McGovern and Jeff Ramsey. Neighbors from around the area joined the crowd and toured the new home. The house features a full basement which was kept very cool on this hot day due to the highly efficient insulation. There is a separate garage on the propery and a brick driveway. The first floor has beautiful hardwood floors while the kitchen and baths have Marmoleum. The second floor will have Shaw Green Label Plus carpet installed in the near future. Low VOC paints, primers, caulks and sealants were used throughout.

One of the most exciting aspects of these new green cottages is the energy efficiency. They are projected to have $36 per month heating bills for a combined 54% savings on monthly utilities!

We are so happy we are a part of this new neighborhood (with our new building)!

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Great Food, Great Times, Great Lakes

Friday, April 10th, 2009
E 4th Street

E 4th Street

I love Cleveland.  One reason is the great dining available here in Cleveland. We have so many top notch restaurants here, that it seems odd that we are not known as being the restaurant capital of the Midwest. If Cleveland needs a new mantra, it should be Great Food, Great Times, Great Lakes. West 9th used to be the big mecca of dining and dancing. But move over 9th it is all about E 4th, now. When we moved here in 2000, who knew that the odd assemblage of wig shops and variety stores would one day become the home of renowned chefs and great entertainment. The addition of a bowling alley gave visitors something else to do besides eat and drink. Then add in a great musical venue like House of Blues, comedy and dinner theater shows at Pickwick & Frolic and the fantastic Bang & Clatter Theater and you are talking a REAL entertainment district.0409091941a

But don’t forget about the food. There is great Mexican food, Saigon, Strada and of course Lola. I was thrilled to see the addition of a FANTASTIC coffee shop: the Erie Island Coffee Company. This week the great dining places got a new neighbor: The Greenhouse Tavern. They are set to officially open on Tuesday and I am thrilled. If you read my post on Bar Cento, then you already know I am a fan of Chef Sawyer. It isn’t just because of his food, it is the approach to the restaurant business. I managed to stop by briefly yesterday for a small party to get a preview glimpse of the place. They are set to open Tuesday April 14th, and by the look of the crowd last night I highly recommend reservations.

0409091941I was greeted at the door by Amelia. We had never met, but you wouldn’t know it by the way she said hello. One thing that matters when building a successful business is a great team, and I know that Jonathon’s wife is a huge part of that team. Other members of that team include Chef Jonathan Seeholzer, Everest Curley and designer Sin-Jin Satayathum. I enjoyed a great brew while waiters slipped through the crowd with wonderful teasers like steak tartare and rosemary garlic fries. It just made me sad that I couldn’t order a whole meal right then! While we mingled with a few people we knew, I managed to check out the decor. Everyone I looked, I was impressed by the use of re purposed materials. They left as much of the building as it was, which is great. The original architecture is cool itself. The space was then complimented by reclaimed wood from area barns and farmhouses. They took the time to search out usable “previously loved” furnishings to compliment the space. I was thrilled to see carpets made of sample squares and my favorite were the eco-friendly bicycle lights. Locally designed and made and using LED technology to save energy. They utilize motion sensor faucets and solar powered dual flush toilets. Fly ash (an industrial waste product) was added to the concrete to use less natural material. Even the glass in the poured concrete counters was culled from their own recycling!

Fantastic Lights!

Fantastic Lights!

The Greenhouse Tavern has worked hard to become Ohio’s first Green Restaurant (awarded by the Green Restaurant Association). A distinction that merits attention. Moreover, they have approached the entire process the way they approach their food. They utilize as many local vendors as possible in the food and the decor. I bet if you ask, Chef Sawyer even knows where every plank of wood was procured from. With all the great restaurants in this town, this is one that you feel good about spending your money at! These folks don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk. When you are doing good things, you should be proud. They are.  So proud, in fact, that they have printed their Sustainability Initiatives and have them at the ready for all to read. They are located at 2038 E 4th. Make a reservation at 216-393-4302. Be sure to tell Chef Sawyer and his team hello from me!0409091920a

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