Enviro Expo USA To Move To The World Congress Center

The second annual Enviro Expo will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center, the center of Atlanta's Zero Waste Zone, in order to serve as a case study for the Department of Natural Resources to determine the event's carbon footprint and measure the amount of recycled waste that the Expo saves from going to landfills.

Enviro Expo is scheduled to take place on November 14th and 15th from 10 am until 5 pm each day in honor of America Recycles Day (November 15th). Admission is free and attendees will have access to a full spectrum of eco-friendly products and services.

New eco areas to be featured include an EcoGarden created by Legacy Landscapes, a "Tying the GREEN Knot" wedding area, the Kids Zone, the Chef's Corner highlighting local restaurants and caterers, and holiday "green" shopping in the newly expanded Marketplace. The event will also feature a series of speakers, including discussions on Conservation, Home and Garden, Recycling/Composting and the Green Town Hall Meeting. In addition, Justin Cave, star of Ground Breakers on HGTV will host a presentation.

For more information, visit www.EnviroExpoUSA.org.

1180 Peachtree Wins BOMA Award

Each year, the Building Owners and Management Association (BOMA) gives out a regional Office Building of the Year Earth Award that recognizes one building that leads the pack when it comes to sustainable building operations and being "green." This year, the award went to Atlanta's own 1180 Peachtree, a 41-story, 670,000 square foot Class A office building owned by an affiliate of the General Electric Pension Trust, advised by GE Asset Management and managed by Hines.

Designer Pickard Chilton incorporated state-of-the-art HVAC equipment, energy-efficient lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures and clean power to all tenant outlets into the building's construction. The building received an Energy Star certification rating of 92%.

In addition, the building has other significant sustainable features including: a system to recycle 25% of storm water run-off and all cooling tower condensation for irrigation use, underground or enclosed parking spaces and covering 76% of the roof areas with either vegetated or reflective albedo materials to reduce "heat islands" that impact human and wildlife habitats, use of green cleaning products and a recycling program, and bicycle racks with shower/changing facilities and fueling stations for electric vehicles to encourage alternative transportation.

Changes Coming to Go Green

When we launch our new website on July 31, our blogs will be incorporated into our new site at www.AtlantaINtownPaper.com. We will still be updating Go Green on a regular basis with news and tips on how you can live eco-friendly. Our new website will be a daily one-stop to find out what's happening in the community, the latest from local restaurants, tips and information on living green, updates from the real estate community, links to all the stories that appear in our monthly print edition and you can follow our Twitter feed from there, too. Bookmark www.AtlantaINtownPaper.com now and get ready for a whole new experience coming soon!

Eco-Friendly Decorators' Show House Opens Friday

Pace Homebuilders is proud to present Greenhaven, the first LEED certified, eco-friendly Decorators’ Show House in Cobb County. Open to the public this Friday, July 10 – August 9, 2009, Greenhaven will showcase the latest in green building techniques, sustainable interior design, state-of-the-art technology and energy efficiency. The home will feature over 20 of Atlanta’s top interior designers, each with a fresh and unique perspective on eco-friendly design. From a healthy home nursery and eco-pet suite to a green “tween” room and fly fishing experience, guests will enjoy an exclusive tour of the most innovative and sustainably designed interior spaces in Atlanta.

To complement the inspiring design, Greenhaven will be an archetype for maximum sustainability and energy-efficiency. The implementation of state-of-the-art technologies in the design of Greenhaven will create a smart and functional home to evolve with the needs of today’s family. Greenhaven will carry 7 earth-friendly certifications including the US Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, Earthcraft House, Energy Star, Health House, NAHB, PATH Partner and Builder’s Challenge.

Other innovative features of the home include:
New LED lighting and fixtures
Soybean spray insulation
Touch panel energy monitoring system
River reclaimed pine floors
Solar tubes
Greywater System
Non-PVC and Vinyl-free recycled decking
Eco-friendly modern “open” fireplace
Tankless water heaters
Green Technology Room
Teaching that eco-living is attainable even in the suburbs, Greenhaven will host a series of eco-educational seminars, trunk shows, fashion shows, book signings and green landscaping events.

Tickets are $20 per person and benefit the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. To purchase visit: www.greenhavenhome.com or call 404-492-5508. Free parking and a free shuttle are available from the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 1770 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, Georgia, 30062. Tickets are also available at the door the day of the event.

Fashionable Notes Launches New Line of Market Bags

Reusable shopping bags are all the rage these days, so Fashionable Notes, a local stationery company that designs notecards and gifts to appeal to the "fashion-conscious" consumer, has recently introduced its own line of eco-friendly bags. The sturdy bags, which come in three sizes with two logo styles to choose from, are made from 100% cotton canvas.

The intention behind the new bags, explains Fashionable Notes owner Aubrey Lenyard, is to make environmental responsibility "hip". Lenyard plans to release three new fashion-inspired logos this season, including one designed to appeal to men.

For more information, visit www.FashionableNotes.ETSY.com.

Post-Drought Care for Trees

As you have no doubt already heard, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division has recently called an official end to the drought that has plagued Georgians for almost two years. Recognizing that our trees and shrubs may need much more time to recover from the dry years, Trees Atlanta has released some advice for caring for post-drought care of your trees.

Stephen Johnston, Vice President and Division Manager of Bartlett Tree Experts, warns plant-owners who may be inclined to move tree care lower on their list of priorities that trees and shrubs may continue to feel the effects of the drought, despite the record levels of rainfall that our state is experiencing this season. According to Trees Atlanta, our trees may still be fragile and weak as a result of overexertion of their carbohydrate deposits during the drought.

Though you may not be able to see the effects of drought on your trees and shrubs immediately, these effects may manifest themselves over time. Most experts recommend that you have your trees and shrubs examined regularly by a certified arborist. In addition, make sure that your trees are getting proper care to encourage maximum growth, including irrigation that provides at least 1 inch of water per week, mulching that covers the ground around the tree in a 2 inch-thick layer, soil nutrient management as assessed by your County Extension Service, pruning to remove dead limbs that may harbor disease, and pest control.

For more information about maintaining and improving the health of your trees and shrubs, contact the Georgia Urban Forest Council, Georgia Arborist Association, or Trees Atlanta.

Rainwater Harvesting Conference

The 2009 American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) National Conference will be held September 13-16 at the Holiday Inn of Decatur, GA.

During the conference from noon until 4 pm there will be a public open house and self-guided tours of the RWH Installation Site. The conference will teach participants about the benefits of rainwater harvesting and will show how many of our water issues can be fixed by utilizing this renewable resource. The open house includes access to the exhibit area, as well as access to presentations by the University of Georgia, RainTube, Blue Scope Water, Rain Harvest Systems, BRAE, Rainigator, and Rainwater Management Solutions.

For more information, visit www.ARCSA.org.