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Helping the Community and the Environment
Last year a small Hispanic church in Summerville realized their building was riddled with termites. The extensive repairs needed were not in the budget. GreenBy3 donated reclaimed lumber and nails to construct a worship center for the congregation to use while they raised money and made necessary repairs to their church building. GreenBy3 also made energy improvements so the new structure would be as air-tight as possible to keep utility bills low.
Centro de Restaurcion Cristiano Ministerio worship center built with reclaimed building materials.
Being able to help this church better cope with an expensive, unanticipated need is exactly why GreenBy3 goes to the trouble to salvage and store used, but usable, building materials.
Reusing reclaimed materials is also a great way to reduce the environmental impact of our commercial projects and to reduce costs for our clients. Part of our mission, value system and business model is to make a positive impact on communities, people and the environment. Our reclamation efforts help us achieve this goal in all three arenas.
We applaud all the efforts that are going on to reclaim and reuse building materials. What makes GreenBy3 different is that when we bring reclaimed goods out of our warehouse, we know they will be used to meet a need and will never end up in the landfill when a buyer finds they not serve the purpose after all.
If you have used or surplus building materials at your home or business, we’d be happy to assess them for needs in the community and/or to reduce the environmental impact of future GreenBy3 projects. Reclaiming and reusing is a win-win practice for you if you’re deconstructing at your home or business and when you’re starting a new project.
Contact us at reclaim@greenby3.com or 843-606-0355. Help us spread the word among your friends who are contractors or who do demolition work.
Another Win-Win
Earlier in the year, Jorge heard the staff at Crisis Ministries mention they would need an additional storage shed while the new men’s shelter was being built. A lightbulb (energy efficient, of course) went off and Jorge told them “I think I can help you with that.”
Indeed, students in the Building Construction Program at Stratford High School build a shed every year as they learn construction principles. For the last several years, Jorge has helped the program incorporate energy efficient features into the sheds. When Jorge explained the need, it was immediately agreed that upon completion, the next shed would go to Crisis Ministries.
Students have been learning and building all semester. They even installed a solar light tube, so Crisis Ministries will not have to bear the cost of connecting electricity for lights. Friday, the last day of school before the holidays, was delivery day.
Stratford High School Building Construction Program Instructor Don Thompson gives his final approval to the shed his students built this semester.
In the parking lot outside the shop at SHS, here is the completed 8'x16' shed students built for Crisis Ministries.
Getting the shed onto the truck took a lot of know-how. Thanks American Towing.
After a brief trip down I-26, the shed arrives safe and sound at Crisis Ministries.
Ricky King, with Crisis Ministries, and Jorge Riano watch carefully as the shed comes off the truck.
Almost done.
From Left: Ricky King, Jorge Riano, Thomas Riano, Jack Ryan, Mark Gourdine. Wando High School students Thomas Riano and Jack Ryan helped get the shed settled at Crisis Ministries.
So this turned out to be the kind of win-win project GreenBy3 likes best. Stratford High School students got a hands-on learning experience that served a real need in the community. Wando High School students also got in on the learning experience as they helped on the delivery end of the move. Any student that did not already know, now knows a little bit about Crisis Ministries and the work they do. Hopefully, because of that knowledge, they will be more inclined to help out at Crisis Ministries again.
Crisis Ministries got a well built shed that meets their need for additional storage space which will help them out a lot as the new men’s shelter is being built.
All the students involved can feel good about a job well done that will serve a good cause. And just in time to say Merry Christmas to Crisis Ministries!
GreenBy3 Helps Crisis Ministries with a Big Volunteer Project
Crisis Ministries is one of our favorite community organizations in Charleston. Having served the homeless in cobbled-together space since 1984, they are on the verge of breaking ground on a new men’s shelter that is designed to meet the needs of the men who will live there and the people who will work there. GreenBy3 was selected to be the Owner’s Rep on this project but we are also contributing building materials and time to support the important work of this community organization.
This year Home Depot Foundation has teamed up with the national nonprofit Mission Continues to organize “Celebrations of Service” around the country to bring together veterans and civilians to serve their country by serving their communities. Service projects provide a way for veterans to”continue their mission” as citizen leaders and provide a means for civilians to live the values of veterans while serving by their sides. Many of the service projects taking place around the country between September 11 and Veteran’s Day on November 11 will benefit homeless shelters. The sad truth is that while only 8% of the general population can claim veteran status, nearly one-fifth of the homeless population are veterans. (source: National Coalition for Homeless Veterans)
From left: Amy Hass with Mission Continues, Stacey Denaux with Crisis Ministries, Jorge Riano with GreenBy3, and Fred Wacker with Home Depot Foundation
GreenBy3 did some prep work a few days ahead of time to make this space outside the Family Center ready to become a paved patio.
Mayor Riley helped with the "ribbon cutting" which, appropriately, was done with a board and a saw instead of with a ribbon and a pair of scissors.
Volunteers working on the new patio
Patterson Milbourn (left) and Mark Gourdine (kneeling in front) with Greenby3 volunteered their time for the day. Mark is a 12-year veteran of the Marine Corps.
Putting the finishing touches on the new patio.
Here is the side of the Family Shelter before volunteers started to work.
Volunteers extended the patio down the side of the Family Center and installed planters which they built earlier in the day.
The planters will not only grow flowers but also vegetables which will be used to in the kitchens of the Family Shelter and the Men’s Shelter next door.
Clearing brush on an overgrown lot.
During the day, volunteers installed the paved patio, built planters and installed them, cleared brush from all around the Family Shelter and pressure washed the building. Inside they painted the hallways and installed weatherstripping to make the building more energy efficient. They cleared debris and cut back overgrown trees and bushes from surrounding lots to create better access to the new building site.
This was a great day to be involved in — lots of good organizations, good people, and a lot of good work done in one day!
A Green Fanta Family Festival
Here are a few pictures from our day at the Fanta Family Festival.
At our booth, we had lots of demonstrations and samples of materials to use at home to improve energy efficiency and save energy costs. We held a drawing for a Home Energy Kit that included weather stripping, spray insulation foam, faucet aerators, CFL bulbs, an LED flashlight, pipe insulation, foam seals for switches and outlets, reflective tape, a GreenBy3 t-shirt and a coupon for energy improvement services at the winner’s home.
Here, Mark is discussing different types of attic insulation with someone who stopped by our booth.
Students from the Building Construction program at Stratford High School in Ladson joined us and brought along a model “trainer” house used to demonstrate home energy saving techniques. It’s easy to see where insulation fits in the walls and attic, how weatherstripping fills in gaps around windows and doors and how the door sweeps keeps air from escaping under a closed door. There’s even a blower door which helps to find air leakage sites.
Stratford High School students, Flo Batallanes and Max Brasington, were on hand to demonstrate and explain features of the trainer including this sample of PVC pipe wrapped in insulation.
Recycling at the festival was convenient with lots of recycling bins provided by Charleston County Environmental Management.
And Kimberly Timmons with Berkeley County Recycling office came out and helped children make maracas with dried rice and beans and recycled plastic bottles.
Our booth was right across from the central stage where all kinds of performances and fun went on all afternoon. Here, Beetlejuice and the DJ invited all the kids to play musical chairs.
Here’s the drawing for the GreenBy3 Energy Kit.
This was a fun day for us and we met a lot of people interested in saving energy and money on their utility bills. We’ll definitely be back at Fanta Family Festival next year.
GreenBy3 Acted as Sustainability Advisor for Flagship 2
GreenBy3 is proud to have been involved in the renovation of the Charleston Digital Corridor‘s Flagship 2, the City of Charleston‘s second complex of co-working/incubator space.
Over the last 7 months, the former Channel 5 TV station on East Bay Street has been transformed into 13,700 square feet of flexible office space on two floors. The new entrance is on Alexander Street.
Offices are from 300 – 3,000 square feet, wired for “instant on” use, and intended for intermediate stage knowledge-based companies. Tenants share amenities such as the convenient downtown location, bike storage, indoor showers, conference space and a lounge for afterhours networking.
Here’s a quick look at the project from beginning to end.
Flagship 2 is adjacent, but not attached, to the original Flagship — where GreenBy3 is located — so Jorge walked to all his meetings while he worked on this project. The dedication for the new building was June 8 and there are already a good number of tenants in place.
Posted in Advisory, Blog, Project Updates, Projects
Tagged digital corridor, sustainable
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Project BAM Phase 1 Completed
All the work for Phase 1 of Project BAM is complete – right on schedule. Here you can see the DIRTT wall panels arranged in different configurations – solid walls, glass panels, some with whiteboard panels. The folks at PeopleMatter are settling into this wing while we get ready to start work on the west side. It’s looking good so far.
Flagship 2 Project Making Progress
The Flagship 2 project at the Charleston Digital Corridor continues to make progress as electrical, data, HVAC and framing is installed. Things will really start to take shape as drywall begins to go up next week. See photos below. For more pictures go to: Flagship 2 Project Pics
Crisis Ministries Learning Center
Charleston, SC
GreenBy3 Advisory and Reclamation Services
Project Summary
GreenBy3 worked as the Owner’s Representative on the renovation of their new Learning Center and provided advisory services in IT, telephony, infrastructure and other areas. GreenBy3 also donated reclaimed products.
Posted in Projects, Uncategorized
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Christian Worship Center
Ministry of the Church of God of the Prophecy
Charleston, SC
GreenBy3 Energy Improvement and Reclamation Services
Project Summary
GreenBy3 provided reclaimed materials and energy improvements services on this project. The worship center will benefit from GreenBy3´s services by:
- Lowering the cost of construction materials through reclaimed materials, also having a positive impact on our environment and the community
- Energy improvements, such as sealing the building envelop and providing operating and maintenance guidelines, will help keep utility bills low
- A comfortable building for the community
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The Landmark Building Project
Hendersonville, NC
GreenBy3 Advisory Services
Project Summary
A sustainable renovation of a historical building; GreenBy3 served as the Owner’s Representative on this project and helped the project become a success by providing:
- Sustainable material and product selections
- Reviewing plans, submittals and change orders
- Making site visits and documenting work
- Reclaiming materials
- Working with the project team to achieve the owner’s goal
- Putting together a Maintenance & Operations Manual of the entire project
- Sustainable and energy saving features of the Landmark Building Project
- White cool roof
- Closed cell foam insulation
- 16 SEER R-410A refrigerant Heap Pumps with fresh air intake
- Solar thermal heat coil attached to the third floor HVAC unit
- High performance duct performance (tested)
- Ultratouch cotton batt insulation
- No VOC paints
- Reuse of original materials i.e. the oak flooring
- Reuse of the exsisting building
- Low VOC fire-stopping and sealants
- LED light inserts
- High efficiency water heaters
- High performance windows
- Construction materials separation and recycling
- Encapsulated crawl-space
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