Seed grant to advance green business for the Cape & Islands

'g' Foundation

Donates 1st Seed Money Grant
for

The 'g' Foundation was pleased to provide the step-off grant for Cape & Islands Green business verification program, making the announcement during a breakfast reception for business leaders on Wednesday, June 30th.

Nicole Goldman announced the gift and hopes her action will inspire others to support this worthwhile business initiative.  "As the Founder and President of 'g' Green Design Center in Mashpee Commons...I recognize the value of sharing the knowledge about sustainable business practices with the community at large...my company has become the 1st verified Cape & Islands Green business and I want to engage those around us to find out that being green is good for business as well as being good for the environment." 

The grant will provide vital seed money to hire an administrator for the program, to develop the website and to support the program workshops which are a mandatory element for participating business where they will get hands-on information on how to bring sustainable, green practices into their workplace.

For more information on Cape & Islands Green visit CIG Facebook

All businesses, local to Cape Cod and the islands or not, can also benefit from checking out the resources offered by the non-profit organization ACCION on greening your businesses.  Be sure to check out their library of green business tips and information on applying for their energy efficiency and green business loans.

Boating Green

Clyde Ford's Book "Boat Green"

Being on the water, Cape Coders spend a lot of time on boats. And why wouldn't we? They are the best recreational activity for a hot summer weekend with your family and friends. It's relaxing to get out and spend some time exploring the the Cape coastline and surrounding islands. But as fun and relaxing as these gas guzzling machines are, they contribute to the degradation of the marine environment and population. But don't fret, there are solutions to some of the biggest problems that recreational boating poses. And it's actually not so hard to make your boating experience more environmentally friendly.

In Clyde Ford’s book ‘Boat Green’ he discusses at least 50 steps boaters can take to save our waters! He even goes on to say that safe boating practices can not only decrease the marine degradation that comes from recreational boats but can also reduce cost, improve performance and enhance the enjoyment of the marine environment. The steps include everything from becoming greener yourself, to greener operation and maintenance practices, enjoyment, and getting your boating community friends involved. Ford covers topics from the boats engine, to less toxic bottom paint, the products you keep on your boat, and the gas you put in the tank.

It's going to be important this summer, and every summer that follows, that boaters become more and more aware of their impact and how easily they can reduce the negative influence they pose on the marine environment.  Following the steps
will guarantee you a more fun and guilt free experience because you will know you are preserving the water you value so much as a boater. But the first step is making ‘ Boat Green’ part of your library collection and reading up on all the rest of the steps.

Come into ‘g’ to get your copy today!

'g' integrates further into Social Media - follow us!

      'G' is all over the web! From facebook, twitter, constant contact, merchant circle, yahoo, we want to get the word out. Internet social media is not just a more effective means of marketing (than print media) but greener as well- and of course here at 'g' we strive to maintain our green philosophy in all aspects of our business. We've even re-vamped our blog so now you can read posts by topic, and have added new media and project pages so that you can "ooo" and "ahhh" at some fabulous green spaces we've designed and remodeled for our customers.  At 'g' we have so much to talk about and promote we can't simply print a million brochures and flyers so we are tapping into the best resource to reach as many people as possible. Our mission at 'g' isn't to only design beautiful eco-friendly living environments, but also to support local business, green lifestyles, and the betterment of our physical environment. This vision is something we are proud of and want to share with everyone devoted, interested, or even just curious about living a more sustainable lifestyle.
     We use Facebook and Twitter to update events and 'g' news, in addition to making friend connections and creating a buzz about our showroom. Merchant circle, Constant Contact, and LinkedIn help us make connections with other businesses and more formally organize our emailings and newsletters to keep track of all our contacts - from customers to builders we work with to our suppliers. And lastly sights such as Stumbleupon and Newsvine are resources we use to get more people exposed to our store brand and vision.


   Since exploring social media resources we've noticed the buzz about us growing. It seems as though many people are excited about our store and want to know how to get involved and even become a franchisee of the 'g' brand. So we invite those of you devoted followers to keep up with 'g' news, and to those of you discovering us on the web for the first time: we hope you keep coming back because we still have so much in store and are excited to keep our vision expanding.


Get started following us today! Check out our links to our other media pages to the right of our blog(or below) and feel free to join the 'g' friend circle.

Environmentally Safe Paint Stripper, Mastic Remover, and more

A lot of tough home-improvement and cleaning jobs utilize harsh chemicals. Think about paint strippers, mastic removers, degreasers and more - many are petroleum-based, and most are traditionally quite toxic and harmful to human and environmental health. But, they don't have to be anymore! Franmar Chemical has developed an assortment of products made from soybeans (!), to revolutionize these dangerous processes.


At 'g' we regularly stock Franmar's:

• Bean-e-doo Mastic Remover - for the safe removal of asbestos, vinyl, latex and mastics

• Soy-Gel Professional Paint Stripper - for easy removal of Lead-based paint, latex, enamel, varnish, urethrane and polyurethane

• Ickee Stickee Unstuck - for easy removal of glue, tar, grease and oil (and also doubles as a grafitti cleaner!)

Not only are they odorless and non-toxic, making them safer to use, these products are 100% biodegradable, making them the best choice for both you and the environment. On top of it all, most of their traditional counterparts actually fall under the hazardous materials lists of items that cannot be thrown into landfills or recycled - that should be a clue that you don't want the emissions in your home or office, and neither you or your contractor should be working with these! Franmar has an assortment of other biodegradable cleaners and chemical alternatives that we carry and can special order for your needs. Come talk to us at 'g' and pick up products for your needs today!

Product Spotlight: Marmoleum

Many of our customers continue to choose Marmoleum as the product for their flooring needs. And, it's always chosen for different reasons:

"We're looking for a kitchen floor that's easy to care for"

"We need something for our bathroom floor that's not expensive and easy to install, but will hold up well"

"I'm looking for an alternative to cold tile for the bathroom, but I don't want wood, either. What can you show me?"

"I'm highly allergenic. Most floor tiles I look at have all sorts of allergens and I cannot have that"

"I love color! I want my new place to reflect my personality. Do you have something I can work with?"

More on Marmoleum.

What is it?
Marmoleum is an all natural linoleum, made from linseed oil, wood flour, rosin from pine trees and other natural ingredients. There are a few different ways it can be applied. Marmoleum comes in what we call "sheet goods", a roll of flooring material, cut to fit your space, or tiles that is easily glued down, both with a natural jute backing. Marmoleum is also available as a floating floor, the locking tiles complete with a cork backing (making it very easy on the knees!), in their line called Marmoleum Click.

What makes it green?
Not only is Marmoleum made from all natural ingredients, the manufacturer, Forbo, has spent many years analyzing the product's life cycle to make it more environmentall sound and better for your health. Their analysis has helped them continually make improvements to minimize and eliminate any negative environmental impacts of marmoleum on everythign from the raw material extraction, production, distribution, installation, use and maintainence, down to its recycling and disposal. It's also not enough to say that the materials Marmoleum is composed of are all natural - they are raw materials found in abundance, harvested or extracted using relatively little energy. The natural pigments used to give Marmoleum its fresh and unique colors do not contain heavy metals. The adhesive used to adhere the sheet goods to the subfloor during installation does not emit any VOCs (volatile organic compounds) nor does the product itself. Forbo is also constantly setting and meeting goals for energy reduction during the manufacturing process.

Why our customers like it... in their kitchens and baths, their bedrooms, entryways and laundry rooms:
That's right - though it has many qualities that make it great for bathrooms and kitchens (anti-static and anti-microbial for easy and sanitary cleaning, non-porous,...), we have done many installation for other applications, as well. It make a soothing floor in an office or den, is a warm choice for bedrooms, good for noise absorption in laundry rooms, comes in designs and colors to fit any of your rooms' design schemas, and more!


There are colors to suit any of your design tastes, whether it is bright and loud, or neutal and mellow. It is also one of the most affordable green flooring options out there. Stop into a 'g' showroom today to see it and bring home a sample.

Hazardous Waste Collections

There are many hazardous items lingering in our homes that cannot be thrown out in the weekly trash. Most aren't accepted at the local dump without paying a fee. These items are hazardous to the environment, and include:

• paint thinner and solvent-based wood finish,
• mercury switches or thermostats,
• old pesticides,
• photo chemicals,
• weed killer,
• and many many more both common and uncommon products you may find in your home.

Without both the education on what cannot be thrown away and a good understanding of why, along with an easy disposal mechanism, it can be tempting to throw these hazardous items out.


It's important to understand that if these end up in the sewer or landfill, they are likely to contaminate our water supply as well as kill fish and other wildlife; they also pose other threats to your health. Click here for a brochure detailing all hazardous household products.


Luckily, there are free disposal options across Cape Cod, and probably in your neighborhood, too! Here on Cape, the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension hosts hazardous materials pick-ups throughout the summer, in every town! Click the icon below for the full schedule and list of locations, and go to their website for instructions on what's collected!

(Click here for a complete schedule of Hazardous Waste Collections)

Cape & Island Businesses - Going Green!

Cape & Islands Green

Verifies

As the 1st Green Business

Green Design Center, of Mashpee, became the first company to be verified as a Green Business by the newly formed organization, Cape & Islands Green at a breakfast for reception for business leaders on Wednesday, June 30th.

Cape & Islands Green is an environmental initiative organized by a collective of environmentally-conscious business owners, with support from the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, and the following local Chambers: Hyannis, Falmouth, and Sandwich. The mission of this initiative is to educate and encourage local businesses to engage in more environmentally sensitive practices to lessen our collective impact on the natural environment while creating a healthier workplace and reducing costs.


The program consists of a three level certification process, incentivized by receiving recognition for meeting specific criteria. Benefits include cost-savings from reducing energy usage, leadership in the green business industry, and ensuring the health and beauty of Cape and Islands communities.


Nicole Goldman, Founder and President of Green Design Center, who played a leadership role in bringing Cape & Islands Green to the business community believes that "thinking green in the workplace is thinking smart. Each of these measures improves our environment and the efficiency of our business. It's a win/win and we want to engage Cape & Island businesses to commit to working smart."


For more information visit the Cape & Islands Green facebook page (Their website will be up shortly).

Cape & Islands Green is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Cape & Islands businesses be successful and responsible by reducing their impact on the natural environment while lowering their operating costs and increasing their competitive advantage, and be leaders in their fields.

A Saturday Reflection

A first-time visitor to our Mashpee showroom struck up a conversation on Saturday. She was quite impressed with the variety of green products we offer, and asked if we'd seen an increase in interest in "green" since our store opening. It was a very thoughtful question. It made me think back to the early days...


It was somewhat remarkable tapping into memories of our past...Visitors would often come in because of the "buzz" - they wanted to see what we had to offer, but many dismissed the idea of buying our building materials out of the assumption that they were more expensive, or just too unfamiliar. We did, back in our earliest days, sell more retail items than building products.


Now, over two and a half years later we have architects, and builders, and designers and family and friends and neighbors and teachers all referring their family and friends and clients to come to our showroom - it's remarkable! New clients are coming in every day requesting our help to green their building and remodeling projects, we have franchisees open and opening, and we couldn't be happier that our mission, of offering high-quality and affordable green products to the community at-large, is being met.


Now back to Saturday's visitor...when I expressed this information to her, she thought that was just great, and remarked "well, the fact that you've been here for so long says a lot". We think so, too.


Thanks for bringing us here and staying along for the ride!