Cherry Republic Partners with Eco-Building Products

By Forest Mullins

Going Green in Leelanau County

“We are not just selling cherries anymore; we are trying to make a better world,” says Cherry Republic President Bob Sutherland, who has taken a cue from one of the country’s prominent environmental philanthropists and made an effort to “green up” his popular Glen Arbor business that sells all things cherry — from ice cream, to salsa, to clothing. True to form, Cherry Republic installed dual-flush toilets and a solar-thermal system this past May.

Sutherland is not alone as the green building movement gains traction in Michigan and beyond. And that’s a breath of fresh air. As recently as 2006, buildings accounted for 40 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States and 38 percent of our carbon dioxide emissions.

In our state, environmental improvements could serve two purposes. Michigan boasts the highest unemployment rate in the nation, and green jobs and technology could prove to be a savior. Grand Rapids, for instance, boasts 26 buildings that are LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) — making it per capita the top city in the country.

Leelanua's Green Businessman
Of course, you have heard of Bob Sutherland, the local boy who began by selling T-shirts out of the back of his car. Since those meager days, his business has grown to become the leading distributor of specialty cherry products worldwide. Meanwhile, Sutherland’s environmentally-conscious business practices have distinguished Cherry Republic among local businesses as a green pioneer. The company donates one percent of its sales to environmental nonprofits — an amount that has already topped half a million dollars. Sutherland cites Patagonia outdoor clothing company founder Yvonne Chouinard as the impetus for his environmental mission.

Chouinard “was a huge inspiration to me,” says Sutherland. The two met 11 years ago when Chouinard came to Traverse City to speak on behalf of the Michigan Land Use Institute, an environmental and land use advocacy organization. Sutherland took to heart Chouinard’s pleas to do more for the planet.

The three-year goal at Cherry Republic now is to reduce energy consumption by 40 percent by creating renewable energy and adopting energy conservation. “We’ve already gotten to 20 percent in our first year,” Sutherland adds with a smile.

The “green team” at Cherry Republic — staff members who focus on cutting energy consumption and educating fellow employees on ways to conserve energy at work and home — has teamed up with Eco-Building Products of Travers City to implement environmental improvements at the store in Glen Arbor. “We started with the basics, changing light bulbs, increasing the insulation, and installing thermostats,” Sutherland adds. The next step was to purchase construction materials from Eco-Building Products such as paints, clear finished, and adhesive that off gas very few, if any, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that pollute indoor air. He installed three Caroma dual-flush toilets in employee and guest restrooms in the Glen Arbor location that will save 24,000 to 36,000 gallons of water this year. The most expensive investment was to install a commercial Solar-Thermal System on the roof of Cherry Republic's Cafe.

The Green Building Alliance
Cherry Republic and Eco-Building Products (EBP) are paving the way for other local businesses by spreading the word about green-building techniques. “We are very proud of our association, because we are helping them make a living so they can make more companies in our area greener too,” summarizes Sutherland.

“We were so inspired by Cherry Republic's commitment to have a positive impact on the environment, we thought that we needed to recognize the company for its efforts. “Barnes explains. “So we developed our own Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Program (EP3 for short) similar to President Bill Clinton's 1998 Executive Order, entitled Greening the Government through Waste Prevention, Recycling and Federal Acquisition.”

The Traverse City Firm’s Environmentally Preferred Partnership (EP3) is based upon a mutual commitment to have immediate positive impact on Mother Nature. (Go to Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program for information.) All of EBP’s products and systems eliminate or reduce negative environmental impact as soon as they are installed. In exchange for purchasing and installing its eco-building products and systems, Eco-Building Products provides it's partners with valuable empirical data (often in the spreadsheet form) that measures environmental impact and financial Return on Investment (ROI).

This valuable data ensures that its partners are well-informed, calculated, well-balanced and sustainable. EBP provides its EP3 partners with volume discounts and “broad scope” discounts that encourage its partners to take action on several environmental fronts as long as it is economically sustainable. Cherry Republic has purchased products that promote good indoor-air quality, save water, off-set carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) by reducing Kilowatt-hours usage, and generating clean energy.

Water Efficiency and Free Hot Water
Glen Arbor does not have public restrooms, and will not have them until next spring. In the meantime, Cherry Republic has gone though four sets of toilets in six years and experienced the stress of high water usage on its septic field. If used correctly a Caroma dual-flush toilet has the ability to save 14,000 gallons of water each year in a commercial setting,” explains Jim Barnes.

Meanwhile, Eco-Building Products’ solar-thermal system heats water that can be used for washing Cherry Republic's cafe dishes, guests and employee hands. This represents over 200 gallons of water each day during the high-volume summer season. Unlike solar (photovoltaic) panels, which turn solar energy directly into electricity, solar-thermal systems harness the sun’s energy for thermal energy or heat.

Several concave vacuum-sealed glass tubes are visible on the roof of café. No matter where the sun is in the sky, these tubes direct light to copper pipes in the middle of the tube. “When the liquid heats up inside the copper pipe it turns to a gas and transfers its heat to a medium (either water or a water/glycol mix) in a closed-loop system that will then transfer the heat into a water storage tank in the utility room,” Barnes explains.

“It’s the most efficient, best payback, cleanest, and longest-lasting form of renewable energy. Everyone in Northern Michigan should have one,” encourages Sutherland. “A single-family home with a two-panel system will typically cost $8,000-$10,000 installed,” estimates Barnes.

Federal Tax Credit Inspires Solar Energy and Green Building
Besides earning a 30 percent tax credit on average, solar water heating can reduce carbon emissions by one ton per year if replacing natural gas, and three tons per year if replacing electric hot water heating. Cherry Republic has also begun buying wind power energy credits from a wind farm in McBain, Michigan, called Heritage Sustainable Energy.

“Our whole green initiative here has invigorated me as a business owner,” says Sutherland. “Creating a green team has inspired employees. They are more loyal and proud of what we are doing here.”

As founder of the Sierra Club Foundation David Brower put it, “There is no business to be done on a dead planet."

Originally Published by the Glen Arbor Sun
http://www.glenarborsun.com/

On the WEB:
The Cherry Republic all things Cherry!
Green Building Products at Eco-Building Products

Water Saving Dual Flush Toilets

Saving Water and Money One Flush at a Time

The Caroma Dual Flush Toilets offer tremendous amount of water savings, no maintenance and easy cleaning uncomparable to anything of its kind.

Caroma's Dual flush toilets offer the occupant an option of flushing a full or half flush. If utitized propoerly, this toilet will save roughly one thousand gallons of water per person each year compared to a standard 1.6 gallon flush toilet in a household. In a commercial setting, this toilet has been known to save as much as 21 times more water than the standard 1.6 gallon flush.

How much will you save with Dual Flush? Try out free spreadsheet on Google Documents: Dual Flush Cost Savings.

Caroma Toilet's Innovative Design
* Innovating Design for Easy Cleaning.
* Easy Remove Seats.
* Concealed trap for easy cleaning.

* Cleansing Wash-Down Flushing.
* Reduce or Eliminate Clogging

* Reduce or Eliminate Condensation (less cold water resupply)

* .8 and 1.6 Gallon Flush. .8 for 80 percent of your daily flushing.

Elegant, Low-Maintenance, Dual Flushing Toilet

Reduce (or eliminate) Clogging with your Caroma Toilet Caroma dual flush toilets have a four-inch trap, nearly double the size of traditional toilets. No more embarrassed guests, or plunger-induced incidents.

See our full range of Dual-Flush Toilets at Eco-building Products

Or call us at: (231) 932-9104

See all our Green Building Productss YouTube Videos and add us as a favorite!

http://www.youtube.com/user/GreenBuildingProduct

Northern Michigan Bio : Suz McLaughlin

Local Food and Suz McLaughlin

by Carol Navarro

“Eating is an agricultural act.”

These packages of granola from Suz McLaughlin’s Still Grinning Kitchen are packed with ingredients beyond what the taste buds can experience and what the eyes can see. These are of course what one would expect: organic ingredients from as many local producers as possible. But like any work of art or craft made with the labor of love, it comes with history, or in this case, Suz’s story.

The Northern Michigan residents, who enjoyed the 300 pounds of granola she made last season, might think of it as Benzie County’s own ethnic food. And when Jim Barnes approached her about developing a new flavor based on Northern Michigan products she took it all in the evolution stride that goes back to her "Diet for a Small Planet" days in Ann Arbor.

“I worked at the Wildflower Bakery Coop,” she says, “and we all contributed our own variety of recipes. We were very young and this is where the whole rethinking about our diet comes from. We learned from one another.”

For Suz, her special recipe was her granola. When she moved to East Lansing to go to college she introduced it to the food coop she worked for. It sold so well that it was hard for her to keep up with the demand. By the time she moved to Benzie County with her partner, Steve, in the early 1980s, it was well evolved into a labor of love for food, and a love for friends.

Health-Imbued Local Foods
“Years ago I had a friend who was very ill with cancer,” she says. “I would make him granola, making sure I was packing in as much nutrition as I could. It was the only thing he wanted to eat. It was also easy to carry to all the clinics and appointments he had to go to.”

This season, her granola includes only liquid sweeteners; honey and maple syrup. It’s easy to package, easy to mail, and it has a long shelf life. She refers to it as her weather sensitive granola because it gets sticky in hot weather.

In addition to her granola, there is a seemingly endless amount of culinary magic in her pies, cookies, tarts, spinach lasagna, soups, appetizers and veggie and fruit dips. Her products are all offered with her instinctive flair for the art of presentation, because her epicurean green gifts are packaged using whatever recycled materials or seasonal flora are available, nourishing the visual appetite as well.

Does she have a favorite dish?

“I have a flavor of the moment all the time. I think it comes from a lifetime of my mother telling me not to play with my food. So of course I have to. I never grew out of it.”

Alice Waters, Julia Childs and Michael Pollan are her guides.

Alice Waters inspires her to eat fresh and local. Waters also developed a social program which introduces urban public school students to the concept of food from seed to table. The original Edible Schoolyard is located at Martin Luther King Junior Middle School in Berkley, California. With a one-acre organic garden and a kitchen for the classroom, students learn to grow, harvest, and produce nutritious meals.

She loves Julia Childs for her unashamed awkwardness and having fun in the kitchen. She recalls watching a televised show where Julia dropped a whole prepared turkey on the floor. In front of the camera she let out her distinctive laugh while making fun of herself.

“I loved seeing an adult behave that way who didn’t care and made it work for her,” she says.

The Past and Future Challenges of Local Food and Agriculture
Julia also earned her admiration when, in her late 80s, she went to the inner-city schools of Boston and taught students how to bake bread.

In recent moments she says, “I’m all things Michael Pollan right now. He’s the one who has me excited about food.”

Pollan, author of Omnivore’s Dilemma and more recently, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, wrote an open letter to the next "Farmer in Chief", directed at presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama in October for the New York Times regarding today’s serious food issues. He reminded Suz of a fact she realized she knew very little about.

“In World War II ‘Victory Gardens’ were 40 percent of the nation’s food source,” she says. “I remember hearing from my grandparents that people got rid of their front lawns and grew gardens for food. It was a simple thing to do. If they didn’t need the food, they shared it with others.”

This is what she feels Americans haven’t been asked to do yet: to contribute. And yet, something like that is a very simple thing to do.

Local Food Regaining its Former Prominence
In times when many are feeling negative effects of hard economic times, she is excited about all the possibilities from developing a local food culture and economy.

“There is tangible evidence how local food products, entrepreneurs and artisans have actually strengthened the economy in many communities throughout the United States,” she says. “Locally, we have a lot to be excited about.”

She refers to the numerous farmers' markets, organic farmers, the new community garden, ‘Grow Benzie’ (now in the early stages), and Northern Michigan College’s Culinary Arts program.
“It’s a great program for local kids finding a skill that can take them anywhere in the world,” she says.

There is a resurgence of looking at farming she says. Agriculture is the original green job. Local is better. "It gets away from monoculture and it creates a cyclical community with the thinking, 'If I do well, then my neighbor does well,'" she says.

When she sees people visiting local farmers' markets, cradling the produce in their hands as they converse with the farmers who brought it and produced it, she is reminded of her one of her favorite food quotes by Wendell Berry: “Eating is an agricultural act.”


On The Web:
Link to Michael Pollan’s article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/magazine/12policy-t.html

MLUI's Taste the Local Difference Campaign
http://localdifference.org/

Two other links describing the value of agriculture, food, and art in changing a community’s economy and quality of life:

http://paducaharts.com/about_paducah.php

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/dining/08verm.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Traverse City Hosts 2008 Water Festival Dec. 12-14

“We, the people, must redeem the land, the mines, the plants, the rivers . . .”
Langston Hughes, American Poet

by Holly Wren Spaulding

As this article goes to print, the United Nations is celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As they do so, an award winning documentary film, FLOW, depicting the global threat to freshwater, is being screened to delegates highlighting the threat to our human right to water—a right so fundamental that without it, our realization of other human rights is moot.

Of interest to Michigan residents may be the fact that FLOW uses, as one of its’ cases, the story of a group of citizens who for years have been organizing for the protection of the Public Trust in this state. Their argument? They believe that the water in our lakes, streams, and aquifers belongs to all of us and should be protected for the enjoyment and benefit of the public for generations to come. This may seem obvious, or it may seem terribly subtle, but it happens to be a very timely debate with extremely high stakes.

There is a growing trend—both locally and globally—which pits the rights of citizens against those of global corporations whose first goal is to make profit on a finite and increasingly scarce resource. It has been said that the wars of the 21st century will be fought over water, and already there is evidence of water conflicts in many other parts of the world.

Along with climate change, population pressures, breakneck development, and pollution, we are also experiencing the explosion of lucrative water industry intent on controlling the source and delivery of water supplies.

With water on the minds of so many people, the Traverse City Water Festival is coming to town this weekend, having ridden the wave of years of organizing by other grassroots groups who have long sought to highlight the seriousness of the challenges before us.

Well-known Michigan musicians affiliated with Earthwork Music--May Erlewine, Seth Bernard, and Breathe Owl Breathe among them-- have lent their names and talents to the launch of this event. Equally significant are the numerous local volunteers of all ages who have been working to present workshops, concerts, and even a closing night feast.

The Water Festival will be a family-friendly celebration, marrying music and performing arts with opportunities for popular education. Those who are interested in deepening their commitment to stewardship and water advocacy can expect to find some direction and tools for taking those critical “next steps.”

“We want to celebrate this precious natural resource,” says Chris Treter, a founding member of the Chiapas Water Project. “But after we celebrate, we must also take action to care for our region’s water supply and to make sure that the 1/6 of the world’s population who do not have access to adequate drinking water will some day soon enjoy the right to water.” To this end he believes we need to dedicate ourselves to solutions and hard work. His organization has for several years garnered local support for the construction of low-tech community wells in impoverished areas of southeastern Mexico where his company, Higher Grounds, also sources some of its Fair Trade coffee beans.

As the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations has stated, “Water is a limited natural resource and a public good fundamental to human life. The human right to water is indispensable for leading a life in human dignity.”

The Water Festival welcomes young and old alike to Traverse City this weekend.

Eco-Building Products, Inc. is a proud underwriter of the 2008 Traverse City Water Festival.

The Traverse City Water Festival, Dec. 12-14. Programming including concerts, films, speakers, workshops, and children’s activities takes place from 6pm Friday until Sunday night. All events will be held at The City Opera House & Higher Grounds Trading Company (at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons). More info: http://www.thewaterfestival.org/

Flow (82 min, dir. Irena Salina, 2008) screens Dec. 21st, 2pm, The Bay Theater in Suttons Bay. Info: www.leelanau.com/thebay

Holly Wren Spaulding is a writer from the Leelanau Peninsula.

Carbon Offsetting our Green Building Products

Eco-Building Products, a supplier of Green Building Products, is launching a new Carbon Offsetting program in response to 350.org's call to action on Global Warming. In January, Eco-Building Products will feature an option for all our customers to off-set their shipping and help reduce the amount of Carbon in the atmosphere.

What is 350?
"350 is the red line for human beings, the most important number on the planet.
The most recent science tells us that unless we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, we will cause huge and irreversible damage to the earth.

But solutions exist. All around the world, a movement is building to take on the climate crisis, to get humanity out of the danger zone and below 350. This movement is massive, it is diverse, and it is visionary. We are activists, scholars, and scientists. We are leaders in our businesses, our churches, our governments, and our schools. We are clean energy advocates, forward-thinking politicians, and fearless revolutionaries. And we are united around the world, driven to make our planet livable for all who come after us.

We are everywhere, and together we are unstoppable." -350.org

You Tube Videos Added

We have added installation videos and more to our YouTube Channel (GreenBuildingProduct). We will continue to add videos and collect resources for all your Green Building Product installations.

Please visit our YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/GreenBuildingProduct

Sample Video:


Remember, all of our Green Building Products are available at Eco-BuildingProducts.com

Michigan Net-Metering has Arrived

Michigan Net-Metering Enacted
On October 6, 2008 Governor Granholm signed SB 213 into law. This renewable energy bill requires utilities to obtain 10 percent of their energy from renewable resources by 2015 as well as requiring utilities to allow for net metering for residential and commercial customers who operate renewable energy systems (up to 20 kilowatts).

Unfortunately, the bill does not require a utility to allow more than one percent of its in-state peak load to come from net-metering operators (and only .5 percent from systems under 20 Kw or less). However, this small step means small residential and commercial solar energy systems and wind energy systems will become even more affordable over time with a much improved return on investment.

Federal Tax Credit for Renewable Energy
Couple this with the Federal Income Tax Credit that gives commercial and residential solar hot water heating systems, solar photovoltaic systems, and wind energy systems a 30 percent tax credit with no limit, and it seems we are on the cusp of a new era in renewable energy production.

A 5ooo watt system that once to retailed for $49,000 (currently on sale at Eco-Building Products for $42,000 and eligible for $12,900 tax credit) will now have a $14,700 tax credit available. In addition, the same 30 percent federal tax credit (as in tax liability, not merely a deduction) applies to the installation costs. For a relatively modest investment, a home owner or business owner could feasibly become energy-independent and have their system paid off in less than 25 years. Perhaps even less so as energy costs continue to rise.

Eco-Heat, Recycled Wood Heating Bicks

A quick shout-out to a very cool local product:

Eco-Heating WoodBricks are made of 100% all natural kiln dried sawdust, no added binders to hold them together so they are even safe for cooking. We use immense amounts of pressure to form the Eco-Heating WoodBricks. Because of this dryness, when burned the Eco-Heating WoodBricks produce very small amounts of wood ash and very little creosote buildup which reduces the chance of chimney fires.

Each Eco-Heating WoodBrick will last up to 3 hours individually. One skid (4’ X 4’ X 4’) equals the same BTU as a full cord (4’ X 4’ X 8’) of fire/cordwood in half the space! No bugs, no bark, no mess.

Benefits

* 100% recycled wood
* No Additives
* Low creosote and smoke
* No bugs or Bark
* Very little ash
* 1 skid equals a full cord of firewood
* Half the space of cordwood
* Easy to start
*No need to tend between loads

For more information contact Eco-Heating Bricks,

Eco-Heating
18657 US 31 South bldg. #2
Interlochen, MI 49643

Email: Ecoheating@hotmail.com

Phone Numbers
Main Office Number: (231) 275-4328
Main Office Fax: (231) 275-6455

Compact Flourescent Lights : Pocketbook Savings

CFL Energy-Saving Installation
Save thousands with Eco-Building Products energy-saving expertise. Replace 100 bulbs today and save $5,000 over nine years. (And 33 tons of CO2!)

How CFL lights Save Money and Energy
A common incandescent bulb has a life span of 1,000 hours. A CFL light bulb will last 10,000 hours (approximately nine years). A 60 watt incandescent bulb at 10,000 hours will use 600KwHs. A comparable 14 watt (same lumens and color temperature) will generate 140Kwh. At $.12 a KwH the difference is about $55 a bulb over nine years. This does not include costs associated with replacing the 10 incandescent bulbs. (100 compact fluorescent bulbs replaces 1000 incandescent bulbs!) The low cost of CFL lights (here, here, and here) will actually be less than or equal to the cost of 10 incandescent bulbs. As well, the time spent changing 1,000 bulbs vs 100 CFL bulbs will save you time and money.

Eco-Building Products CFL Energy-Saving Plan
Improve your bottom line. Save money. Save the environment. Replacing 100 incandescent bulbs with 100 spiral compact fluorescent lights will save you over $5,000 and reduce your CO2 footprint by over 33 tons over nine years. See our compact fluorescent installation service plan.

Wide Array of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
CFL bulbs come in all shapes and sizes and will fit nearly any application. From CFL Spirals to Compact Fluorescent Globes, Reflectors to A-Lamps you can start saving money today and within one year have a net energy and monetary savings. From two watts to 68 watts, these little marvels range from SpringLamps® to floodlights, decorative globes to circline lamps. And they fit any incandescent application. Indoors and outdoors – in chandeliers, ceiling fixtures, floor lamps, recessed cans, wall sconces, vanity strips, and more. Where will you use our CFLs? Anywhere!

Reduce Mercury Emissions with Compact Fluorescent Lights
Coal-fired power plants are a large percentage of our energy policy. Coal is rather dirty and the energy-hogging incandescent lights found in most homes are large contributor to energy consumption. By reducing this consumption, there is a net reduction in Mercury Emissions when using Compact Fluorescent lighting, even though they contain small amounts of mercury. Energy Star Fact-Sheet on Mercury and its Clean-Up.

CFL's that Fit Everywhere
Where will you use our CFLs? Our CFLs fit everywhere a standard incandescent light will fit. Up to 23W lights are rated for enclosed fixtures. Small and compact, our lights can go where other CFLs cannot.

Special Note on CFL Colors
The color of light is measured by its color temperature in degrees kelvin. An incandescent bulb is typically about 2700 kelvin. Daylight typically ranges from 5000k to 6500k. The higher the temperature kelvin, the "cooler" or "bluer" the light. Thus, the most flattering light for human skin tone is in the 2700K - 3500K range.

Color Temperature Usage Chart
2700K = "Soft Light."
Soft light is the most flattering light for human skin and is the most popular light. Incandescent bulbs are typically in the 2700k range. Best for use in bedrooms, living spaces, and anywhere a soft, warm light is useful.
3100K = "Cool White"
Cool white is bluer in color and is optimal for lighting halls, offices, hospitals, and areas where productivity is more important than flattering light.
5000K = "Day Light"
Day Light colors are especially useful for detailed oriented tasks such as reading and drawing.

Color Rendering Index (CRI)
The CRI rating is a percentage rating given to a light source to measure its ability to depict colors accurately compared to a natural light source. In a nutshell, the higher the CRI the better the rendition of colors. CFLs typically fall in the 80-85% range. Incandescent are often in the 97-100% range.

See a full range of Compact Fluorescent Lights at Eco-Building Products Green Building Store.

Solar Tax Credit Extension!

The Solar Energy Industry is breathing easier this week as Congress passed the $700 billion Economic Growth and Financial Stabilization Act of 2008. This act was signed into law by President George Bush, securing eight years of tax credits for Solar Energy systems.

Home-Owner Federal Tax Credit Cap Removed
Attached to the bill, justly or unjustly, was the renewable-energy Incentive Tax Credit bill. For the past few years, home owners could deduct 30 percent of their solar installations on their federal taxes. However, this was capped at $2000. With the heavy investment often necessary for solar energy systems, the cap was an incentive for smaller installations, but only a small portion of large systems. Fortunately, this cap has been removed and home-owners will now receive the full 30 percent Federal Tax Credit without a limit. A $30,000 system will now be eligible for $9,000 in tax credit. Other incentives may be available in your area.

What's Next for Renewable Energy
The Federal Tax Credit means your new solar energy system will high a much higher Return on Investment. As the nation becomes more energy sensible, the demand for solar electricity will increase. Current net-metering laws will become more favorable to individual home owners and state and federal goals for renewable energy systems will also make going Solar much more affordable. Remember, your system will generate electricity for decades to come.

Renewable Energy Tax Credits: Ending Soon?

Renewable Energy Tax Credits
The remain months of 2008 are ticking down. The promise of renewing tax credits is very alluring, but to lock-in your guaranteed 2008 credits, renewable energy enthusiasts should start their project before the end of 2008. Remember, residential credits are limited to $2,000. Commercial enterprises have no limit on the tax credit.

Federal Tax Credits for Renewable Energy Systems
Renewable Energy Systems, such as Solar Hot Water Heating systems, and Solar Panels Systems (Photovoltaic Systems) are eligible for a tax credit of 30% of the cost, up to $2,000. (Use IRS Form 5695.)

Solar Water Heating Requirements

• At least half of the energy generated by the “qualifying property” must come from the sun. Homeowners may only claim spending on the solar water heating system property, not the entire water heating system of the household.
• The credit is not available for expenses for swimming pools or hot tubs.
• The water must be used in the dwelling.
• The system must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC).

Photovoltaic Systems Requirements

• Photovoltaic systems must provide electricity for the residence, and must meet applicable fire and electrical code requirement.

Eco-Building Products Renewable Energy Systems
All our systems are SRCC rated and designed to be flexible. Solar Hot Water heating is the most bang for your buck. See our Solar Thermal Systems here. Photovoltaic systems are quickly becoming incomprehensibly difficult to figure out. Please see Eco-Building Products Solar Energy systems for simple, yet very powerful, solar energy systems. We have select the best kits so you can focus on finding the right installer, or installing it yourself without the hassle of matching the perfect inverter to the most perfect solar panels.

Solar Energy Installers, Designers, and Tax Credit Experts
We will install your solar hot water system, your solar photovoltaic system, your wind turbine system, and fill out your Renewable Tax Credit forms for you. We provide accurate rewnewable energy estimates and can fully design you a custom system for you home or business.

Dual Flush Water Saving Toilets

Save Money with Dual-Flush Water-Saving Toilets
Caroma Dual-Flush toilets save you water with every flush. You can expect to save 1,000 gallons of water a year for each person in your household. Caroma toilets usually pay for themselves in a little over a year. See this our Dual Flush Water Saving Calculator on Google Documents to determine just how much you can save and how long your payback period is.

Extraordinary Dual-Flushing Power
Using the 0.8 gallon flush you can flush almost all of your daily business. For larger-than-average business, the 1.6 gallon flush takes care of it. This Dual-Flush feature means that over you save .8 gallons on 80 percent or more of your daily toilet water use.

Dual Flush Toilets Bulk Purchasing
Please contact us at Eco Building Products for substantial discounts on bulk ordering. Great toilets for rental properties, apartments, offices, hotels, hospitals, and anywhere water savings are important. Sales@Eco-BuildingProducts.com

Caroma's Innovating Design for Easy Cleaning
Easy Remove Seats.
Caroma seats are easily removed for cleaning and click back in place when cleaning is finished.

Concealed trap for easy cleaning.
The bases of Caroma toilets are designed with smooth, straight walled sides (less curves) for easy cleaning.

Cleansing Wash-Down Flushing.
Caroma uses a wash-down flushing system (instead of siphoning) allowing for a cleaner toilet, better flushing, and superb water savings.

Reduce (or eliminate) Clogging.
Caroma toilets have a four-inch trap, nearly double the size of traditional toilets. No more embarrassed guests, or plunger-induced incidents.

Condensation Reduction or Elimination
Since each flush requires less water more water remains in the tank at room temperature. As water refills the tank the water is tempered by the larger quantity of room-temperature water, eliminating or reducing tank condensation.

Caroma USA Dual-Flush Toilet Pricing, Purchasing, and Costs
Caroma Dual Flush Toilets pricing range from $320.00 for the standard Caroma 305 models to $522.00 for One-Piece Dual Flush Toilets. Although these costs are considerably higher than your cheap toilet at a box store, the water savings will pay for the additional cost and eventually for the toilet itself. A standard family of four will pay for its new Caroma High-Efficiency Toilet within a few years. See our Dual Flush Water Saving Calculator on Google Documents to determine your pay-back period.

EcoSurfaces Recycled Rubber Tire Flooring

High-Quality, high-durability, recycled flooring

Recycled and Sustainable Flooring Materials
ECOsurfaces recycled rubber flooring is redefining what it means to be green. Used tires are clogging landfills at an astonishing rate causing damage to the landfills and to the environment. Fortunately, companies like EcoSurfaces are creating new uses for these tires. EcoSurfaces harvests tires from landfills and turns them into useful, high-quality, high-durability, low-VOC rubber flooring. Made for commerical and residential uses, EcoSurfaces rubber flooring products support the ASTM Sustainability Assessment, and is eligible for up to 7 Leed Credits.

Comfortable Recycled Flooring
Available in roll and tile forms, ECOsurfaces is the ultimate recycled rubber flooring product with durability, comfort, slip-resistance, and easy installation and maintenance.|

EcoSurfaces Commercial Flooring
EcoSurfaces is defining what it means to be a green manufacturer. They use no smoke stacks or heat in production. There is a minimal water use and they reuse scraps to eliminate waste. EcoSurface flooring is composed of 100 percent post-consumer and 30 percent post-industrial material.

EcoSurfaces Pricing and Costs and Colors

Eco-Building Products offers all styles and colors of EcoSurfaces Recycled Rubber Flooring: ECOrocks Recycled Rubber Flooring ECOrocks is "terrazzo with a twist." ECOsand Recycled Rubber Flooring ECOsand is a harmonious blend of color. ECOnight Recycled Rubber Flooring ECOnights combines colorful flecks for a dramatic blacklight effect. ECOstone Recycled Rubber Flooring ECOstone: recyled flooring with a neutral elegance. ECOearth Recycled Rubber Flooring ECOearth gives your flooring a true green aspect.

EcoSurfaces Pricing can vary widely. The mostly black EcoNights runs $3.70 a square foot (includes shipping!) and the more color intense EcoEarth, EcoSand, EcoRock, and EcoStone range from $5.01 to $5.18. (Pricing found at Eco-Building Products website.)