Gurus of Green Take Over the HabiStore on November 14

News Release

For Immediate Release

Contact:	Pima County: Beth Gorman - (520) 740-3343 or (520) 603-0358 (c)
	HabiStore: Terry Dee - (520) 889-7200 or (520) 940-2388 (c)

Tucson, Arizona (October 14, 2009) – Celebrate Green Living on Saturday, November 14th at the HabiStore at 3840 S. Palo Verde at Ajo from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. -- rain or shine. During the Green Living Fair, visit with the gurus of green, as close to twenty different exhibitors will be there to share information on the many ways to go green and save greenbacks at your home. Every choice you make can change the world, so come learn about the many choices available to live in a more sustainable manor.

Local experts in home energy savings, recycling, resource conservation, gardening, composting, green building/remodeling, alternative fuels, bicycling, waste reduction, rain water harvesting, solar power, and more will be at the HabiStore to offer tips to go green and save money. Exhibitors include: Easter Seals – Vermiculture (worm bins) and urban ranching (goats), Freecycle, HabiStore, Habitat for Humanity, Home Depot, Mrs. Green Goes Main Stream radio show, Community Food Bank, Pima Association of Governments Clean Cities Program, Pima County Department of Environmental Quality, the Pima County Green Building Program, RISE Equipment Recycling Center, World Care, Cartridge World, Southern Arizona Rain Gutters, Tucson Clean and Beautiful, Tucson Office of Conservation and Sustainable Development, The Solar Store, Tucson Organic Gardeners, and Tucson Electric Power.

Attendees are encouraged to bring donations to the HabiStore (just about anything except clothing), bring those old electronics and ink and laser cartridges for free recycling, and a couple of cans of food for the Community Food Bank. Please note: there will be a $15.00 charge to recycle non-working TVs (no larger than 32”) and working TVs are gladly accepted at the HabiStore.

Haven’t been to the HabiStore? Donations to the HabiStore fund the Habitat Tucson mission of eliminating poverty housing within our community. This is a great way to be Green in One Stop! Bring your donations, stop by the booths to learn about going green, and shop for those light fixtures and paint brushes (just to name a few items) at the HabiStore! For more information call Robin at Pima County Department of Environmental Quality at 740-3349 or Terry at the HabiStore at 889-7200.

Green Living Fair a Success!

Hundreds of folks joined our many exhibitors (too many to show) on Saturday, November 14th at the HabiStore to learn about the many choices we all have to save money and go green in our homes
Learning Opportunities for All	HabiStore “Housed” the Event
Robin Johnson (PDEQ) & Terry Dee (HabiStore) Organized the Whole Event	Pima County DEQ provides info
TEP & Tucson Organic Gardeners Share Their Expertise	KNST radio broadcasts “Mrs. Green” live
See you next year!

 

Exhibitors at the Green Living Fair

Cartridge World
Cartridge World is your one stop shop for all your printer needs and can help you to lower your printing costs. We will be collecting used cartridges for recycling. www.cartridgeworldusa.com

City of Tucson Office of Conservation and Sustainable Development and Tucson Water
The City of Tucson's Office of Conservation and Sustainable Development collaborates with City departments, businesses, neighborhoods, and other organizations to protect and enhance the integrity of our unique Sonoran Desert ecosystem and improve the environmental quality and livability of the urban environment. OCSD was created in 2006, making Tucson only the 5th city in the nation to have an office dedicated to sustainability. OCSD and Tucson Water work collaboratively to administer the WaterSmart Business and Green Business Certification programs. These programs are designed to help businesses reduce their resource consumption and to reward businesses for their leadership in sustainable practices. More information about OCSD is available at: www.tucsonaz.gov/ocsd. More information about Tucson Water is available at: www.tucsonaz.gov/water

Easter Seals
Since 1950, Easter Seals Blake Foundation has been serving individuals with disabilities and their families throughout Southern Arizona, with the capacity to positively impact the lives of over 1.3 million people each year. Easter Seals Blake Foundation’s Campo Urbano provides innovative, sustainable initiatives that build community capacity from the ground up, empower individuals to meet their full potential, and ensure the equity, inclusion and value of all persons. Campo Urbano introduces participants to “green living” through nature-based recreational activities and learning opportunities that will aid in their employment, mobility, socialization, independence and community integration. Campo Urbano involves adolescent youth ages 14 –24 with and without disabilities in service learning opportunities geared toward understanding sustainable practices, and in gaining employment skills through mentoring and paid apprenticeships, creating the capacity for stewardship and good citizenship regarding the environment upon which life depends. Stop by and meet the Campo Urbano goats. Campo Urbano is a working ranch and the goats offer program participants opportunities to learn about; making goat milk products and low tech goat “lawn mowing”. http://blakefoundation.easterseals.com

Community Food Bank
Will provide bin for collection of food for local Food Bank. Serving Southern Arizona Since 1976 The Community Food Bank provides enough food for over 48,000 meals every day. During the course of a year, over 160,000 people receive family food boxes. Over 22.5 million pounds of food were distributed through the food bank’s programs last year. http://communityfoodbank.com

Freecycle
The Freecycle Network is a global online gifting community. Anyone can give and anyone can receive items and all groups are local. The recipient just has to pick up the item from the gifter. Our mission is keeping good stuff out of landfills. Our members are gifting over 24,000 items a day and keeping over 700 tons a day out of landfills as a result. Freecycle was founded in Tucson, AZ on May 1st, 2003 with one email. It's now in over 85 countries around the world. www.Freecycle.org

Habitat for Humanity
Works to end poverty housing by creating opportunities for home ownership in partnership with the community and with low-income families. We want to make safe, decent, affordable shelter a matter of community conscience and action. www.habitattucson.org

HabiStore
The HabiStore is changing the world one couch at a time! By selling surplus new and used building and home improvement materials, appliances and furniture to the public the HabiStore is diverting more than 150 tons of material from the landfill each year. Usable materials, donated by retail businesses, contractors, individuals, and other organizations, are sold at below cost prices. Proceeds from the HabiStore fund the Habitat Tucson mission of eliminating poverty housing within our community. www.habitattucson.org/habistore/

Home Depot
Learn about energy efficiency, water conservation, healthy homes, clean air and sustainable forestry and the many products and services we offer to help you save money and go green. www.homedepot.com

PAG
Pima Association of Governments will display materials about water conservation, air pollution, RTA and PAG transportation planning, the 2010 census and Sun Rideshare. This booth is an excellent source of information on using an alternative mode of transportation for your daily commute. You can help save the environment and your wallet with all our conservation tips. Visit our booth to see an electric, plug-in bike! www.PAGnet.org and www.884ride.org

Pima County Environmental Quality
Pima County Department of Environmental Quality will have information on air quality, waste reduction, and pollution prevention. We will showcase items that people can easily incorporate into their home to reduce energy use and help reduce pollution. www.deq.pima.gov

Pima County Green Building Program
Pima County Green Building Program will have information on the LEED for Homes program, our very own Regional Green building program for new homes and remodeling, and the How Green Can You Go poster with information on how and how MUCH energy and water you can save in your current home. For additional information on the Regional Green Building Certification Program, call (520) 740-6892 www.pimaxpress.com/green

RISE
RISE, LLC (RISE) Recycling: Creating Jobs for a Cleaner Tucson. RISE recycling services aid in the reduction of solid waste in the community, contribute to community revitalization, and promote economic development. www.rise-inc.org

Southern Arizona Rain Gutters
Southern Arizona Rain Gutters provides seamless aluminum and copper rain gutters for both 5- and 6- inch residential and commercial applications. www.southernarizonaraingutters.com

Technicians for Sustainability
Our mission is to help you translate your environmental values into a practical reality. We install high-quality, clean, renewable energy systems and rainwater catchment systems built to last. Our goal is to ensure that southern Arizona's natural resources are used efficiently and with respect for present and future needs. http://tfssolar.com

The Solar Store
The Solar Store has been serving the Southwest since 1998. We have over 60 years of combined experience in the solar energy industry. We are fully licensed for any solar electric or solar water plumbing installations and our knowledgeable solar power technicians can quickly install or service any system for a carefree solar experience. www.solarstore.com

Tucson Clean and Beautiful
Tucson Clean & Beautiful is a nonprofit organization, incorporated in 1985 as the flagship for community based environmental volunteer efforts in the Tucson metropolitan area. Its programs have grown to address recycling and waste reduction, urban forestry, land stewardship, and beautification. Visit www.tucsoncleanandbeautiful.org or call (520) 791-3109 for more information.

Tucson Electric Power
Programs and services to help conserve energy and create new energy through renewable resources including solar hot water, solar PV, efficient home cooling, energy star, and guarantee home. www.tucsonelectric.com

Tucson Organic Gardeners
Tucson Organic Gardeners will have free literature available, which is now on line at www.tucsonorganicgardeners.org along with gardening & composting experts to answer any questions. We will also have our compost/recycle game for the kids to play. http://tucsonorganicgardeners.org

Watershed Management Group, Inc.
Water harvesting and greywater information and workshops. www.watershedmg.org

World Care
The philosophy of recycling and reusing valuable resources lies at the core of World Care operations. To date, World Care occupies the former Julia Keen Elementary School at 3538 E. Ellington Place, through a partnership with the Tucson Unified School District. The 10 acre facility allows World Care to categorize all in-kind donations and provides working space for hundreds of volunteers who would like to help others in need. In addition, the site houses World Care’s own book and thrift store – selling low-cost books and other goods to the general public and providing an additional source of revenue for the organization which is channeled back to relief efforts. www.worldcare.org

Technicians for Sustainability
Installs high-quality, clean, renewable energy systems and rainwater catchment systems built to last. Their goal is to ensure that southern Arizona's natural resources are used efficiently and with respect for present and future needs. http://tfssolar.com

Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation
We will have a Buffelgrass/Fountain Grass Information Booth with eye-catching banners, free brochures, and live samples of buffelgrass and fountain grass. We want the public to understand the dangers of these highly invasive plants, and how to properly remove them from their neighborhoods. www.pima.gov/nrpr

 

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