Green Scene

Road projects across Colorado are now testing asphalt shingle mixes in order to achieve environmental and cost benefits. It’s the topic of the City of Colorado Springs next “Green” bag Lunch-n-Learn.

Reusing asphalt roof shingles in asphalt roads is a natural fit, yet road materials are required to meet exacting standards to ensure longevity. A the Lunch-n-Learn next Thursday, Aug. 25, road construction project managers from the Colorado Department of Transportation, Boulder County, and the City of Colorado Springs will join in a panel discussion to share the Recycled Asphalt Shingles specifications they’re using and their results so far.

Colorado Springs has two new businesses that serve the roofing industry and prevent asphalt shingles from entering the landfill. At this event attendees will learn how local sites work with Colorado Springs roofers to collect and processes the shingles for reuse.

The free lunch-n-learn runs over the noon lunch hour, from 12:11 to 12:49 p.m. at the City Administration Building, 30 S. Nevada Ave., in Suite 102. Attendees are encouraged to bring and enjoy their lunches during the presentation. Those who come have the opportunity to win a door prize tote bag made from recycled City banners.

Each month, the City Green Team sponsors a lunch-n-learn topic on environmental issues. Questions? Contact City of Colorado Springs Sustainability Coordinator Carrie McCausland, 719-385-CSGN (2746) or cmccausland@springsgov.com.

A free class about how to make non-toxic household cleaners will be held Tuesday, May 24, 12:00 noon and again at 5:30pm at the Pueblo City-County Health Department, 101 W. 9th Street.

PuebloCAREs (Community Action for a Renewed Environment) is hosting this class. They say almost every home contains some form of hazardous chemicals found in the kitchen, bathroom, garden or garage.

In the class they’ll cover how to minimize hazardous chemical use at home, create your own effective household cleaners from common household ingredients, save money by making your own cleaners.

If you attend the class,you’ll get to make and take home a free sample cleaner plus receive many great healthy cleaner recipes.

Space is limited; register by calling PuebloCAREs at (719) 252-6258.

A Colorado company is using old billboards to make bags and purses.

There are an estimated 400,000 billboards in the US, covered with giant plastic advertisements. For years these went to a landfill but Denver based, Billboard Ecology, is changing that.

With a few cuts and stitches the billboards become something everyone can use; shopping bags, lunch bags and tote bags. Right now the bags are sold primarily through schools as a fundraiser, the schools get 50% of the profits.

You can also buy a bag through Billboard Ecology’s website, click here.

Demolition of the old 4TH St. bridge in Pueblo is underway, and all the concrete and asphalt that made up the bridge won’t go to waste, it will get a new life.

Materials from the old bridge will be taken to Vision Recycled Aggregate and Landscape Material. Everything will be broken down so it can be reused, “When they’re done with it they cut it or tear it out, load it on a truck, bring it here, we crush it and they reuse that product,” Says Sue Nunn, manager at Vision.

The product Vision will produce from the old asphalt and concrete is called road-base. It will be used under new streets and roads, and to make driveways. Nunn knows her work is making a difference and is proud that the idea of reusing roads is catching on, “Were taking in hundreds to thousands of tons a year,” Adds Nunn.

While the fourth street bridge is one of the biggest projects Nunn’s been a part of, she’s helped with many others, more recently the new walkway along Northern.

Crews working on the bridge say they hope to start hauling pieces of the old bridge away starting Saturday.

 To watch the story that aired on News First 5 click here.

The Wastewater Treatment Plant in Pueblo is cleaning up its act. Solar panels are being put in, and a greener way to disinfect the wastewater is being proposed.

“Were building a solar array to supply electrical energy to defray needs we have here at the treatment plant,” says plant director Gene Michael. The 1300 solar panels will fill an acre of land an while it will only supply about a quarter of the plants demand, they hope to add more panels in the future.

The project is funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, and the plant hopes to also use some of the money to start a better disinfection system, “We have applied to convert our disinfection process to ultraviolet disinfection, and move away from gaseous chlorine,” says Michael.

Chlorine is used to kill bacteria and viruses, and another toxic gas is used to neutralize the chlorine. Michael says moving away from the chemicals will make it safer for everyone, “If we can switch to UV disinfectant all of our bulk chemical storage goes away and that’s safer for staff, safer for the community, and safer for the environment.”

While the UV system wont be up and running for a while, the plant will be receiving 300 kilowatts from the solar panels by the end of the summer.

To watch the story that aired on News First 5 click here.

A new burger place in Pueblo is putting a twist on the American classic. Bingo Burger serves a burger with green chilies mixed in with the beef. Another thing that sets them apart is their commitment to other local businesses.

Richard Warner opened Bingo Burger in December, choosing to use local ingredients. The beef comes from a ranch outside canon city, the potatoes from the San Luis Valley and the peppers from Pueblo.

Warner is using his business venture to help Southern Colorado as a whole, “when you’re buying from local suppliers, local people, that’s helping the local economy.”

Cheri Pullara owns Pepper Plus Farms in Pueblo and provides the chilies for The Bingo Burger; a burger with chilies mixed into the beef. “He {Warner} called me one day and said, Cheri, we want to do a burger with Pueblo chilies in it and I said well that’s great!” says Pullara.

Pullara has seen her business increase and it’s a partnership that comes full circle, “I don’t want to buy products from California if I can help it. I’m trying to support local businesses and hope in turn they’re supporting us as well,” says Warner.

If you want to try Bingo Burger it’s located at the intersection of first and court in downtown pueblo. To watch the story that aired on News First 5 click here.

Since it’s St. Patrick’s Day and this is a “green” blog I thought I should make a post.

For St. Patrick’s Day don’t just wear green, go green! Something “green” you can do today: go shopping at a new recycled decor shop in Colorado Springs.

Domino, a “salvaged decor and modern wares” shop is now open at 10 S. 25th St. The shop specializes in recycled and reclaimed home decor, furniture and home accessories such as clocks, rugs, wall art and lighting.

“Our vision is to offer unique, affordable atomic furniture and household items with an eco-friendly approach to design and decor,” says local resident and co-ownder LauraAnne Martin, who manages the store with her husband Jason.

Most of Domino’s recycled products are collected from thrift stores, garage sales and flea markets.

Domino isn’t just doing good for the environment but also for the community. On the first Firday of every month they will host “Domino Effect” events, featuring the work of local artists.

The store is open form 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat. and 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

For more on Domino head to their website.

Next Thursday, March 25th, the Colorado Springs City green team will cover the topic of Green Roofs during their “Green” Bag Lunch-n-Learn.

Weston Solutions Inc, will share their system to create green roofs. Their system is called “Green Grid” and it’s a modular system that works on flat or low-sloped roofs on new or existing buildings.

Green roofs are good for our environment because they increase building energy efficiency, reduce heat island effect, decrease stormwater while increasing stormwater quality, improve air quality, increase roof life and increase acoustic insulation. They look like a garden because the roof consists of plants. Weston tries to use plants native to the area to provide a comfortable atmosphere for both humans and animals alike.

For more on Weston’s roofs click here.

If you want to learn more about creating a green roof, go to the Lunch-n-Learn next Thursday, March 25th from 12:11-12:49 p.m. at the City Administration Building, 20 S. Nevada, suite #102. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch.

Starting today you can trade in your old Christmas lights for new ones at The Home Depot.

During their Light Trade-In event customers can bring in their old lights (working or not) to be recycled and receive a $3 off coupon towards the purchase of more energy efficient lighting. With the coupon you can get LED or light-emitting diodes, string lights.

LED lights are shown to use 80% less electricity than standard mini lights and last up to 10 times longer. The Home Depot carries Energy Star qualified LED lights meaning you can link up to 87 strands off of one outlet without overlading the circut. Read more about LED lights here.

Home Depot’s promotion runs through November 15th and each customer is limited to five redemptions.

Went for a stroll in dowtown Pueblo today to find a good place to unwind and I stumbled upon a couple cute coffee shops, best of all they are businesses with a “green” state of mind.

I parked on Union Ave. and started walking and the first little coffee shop I came across is called The Daily Grind. First off the decor in the place is awesome! Really cute artwork on the walls. 

I ordered a soy, vanilla matte late and it was super yummy! I was dissappointed at first because it was in a styrofoam cup…and I’ve heard that material isn’t easily recyclable. But when I sat down at a table, the shop has  a recycling fact sheet in the napkin holder that says, “The stryofoam cups we use take less energy to produce than paper cups, they do not require a paper java jacket, and only 5% of the cup is actual material. The other 95% is air.” So I guess they’re not as bad as I thought.

The Recycling info sheet also said The Daily Grind recycles all of their glass, aluminum, coffee grounds, newspaper and other organic waste. Plus their clear cups for cold drinks are made from corn and are 100% biodegradable. Kudos on all the recycling!

I wrote a little of this blog entry at The Daily Grind; when I left I decided to take a stroll by the riverwalk because it was so nice out. A nice change from the snow, wind and cold we had the last couple days. When I got down to the riverwalk I noticed another little coffee shop that had “Organic Coffee” and “Vegetarian Food” written on it’s windows. I was a little hungry so decided to stop in and get a snack (I’m vegetarian). This shop, Wireworks Coffee Shop is also a green business. Along with serving organic coffee, they focus on recycling all they can.

It was refreshing to find some hip, green places in Pueblo. If you know of any more let me know, I would love to check them out. And if you are in a need of a caffeine fix or just a midday snack be sure to hit up The Daily Grind or Wireworks!