CSI’s GRPs: Leading to Greener Buildings April 2011
Volume 1, Issue 7
CSI Support & Development Services and your co-op are committed to a greener planet. Three CSI buildings—Carleton, Ecorse and Meyers—received almost $2.5million in grant money through HUD’s Green Retrofit Program (GRP) to become greener, more energy efficient, healthier homes for the people who live and work there. We are applying the green principles to all co-ops.
Wrapping up work as we approach Earth Day
New low-VOC carpet at Carleton Co-op
Carleton: GRP projects are 90% complete Upgrades to the make-up air unit are being completed. New a/c units will be installed in the apartments this month. Air gaskets on all exterior wall outlets is being installed. Ecorse: GRP projects are 90% complete Air gaskets on all exterior wall outlets is being installed. Make-up air unit work is wrapping up. Broken windows are being replaced. Meyers Plaza: GRP projects are 85% complete Make-up air handler work is wrapping up. Insulation will be blown in the attic after Motor City is done working there. Outside irrigation will be completed. Broken windows will be replaced. Exterior caulking will continue.
Follow the construction work on our Facebook fanpage at www.facebook.com/csisupport
Ecorse’s new storm water collection
New floor mats at Meyers which will improve air quality
“We must be the change we want to see
Earth Day is April 22. Let’s celebrate!
It’s All About the Green Thing By Jim Knowles
Montana. In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn't have electric machines to do everything for you. When In the line at the store, the cashier told they packaged a fragile item to send in the the older woman that plastic bags weren't mail, they used wadded up newspaper to good for the environment. The woman apolocushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble gized to her and explained, "We didn't have wrap. But they didn't have the green thing the green thing back in my day". back then. That's right, they didn't have the green Back then, they didn't fire up an engine thing in her day. Back then, they returned and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They their milk bottles, Coke bottles and beer botused a push mower that ran on human tles to the store. The store sent them back to power. They exercised by working so they didthe plant to be washed and sterilized and ren't need to go to a health club to run on treadfilled, using the same bottles over and over. mills that operate on electricity. But she's So they really were recycled. But they didn't right, they didn't have the green thing back have the green thing back in her day. then. In her day, they walked up stairs, beThey drank from a fountain when they cause they didn't have an escalator in every were thirsty, instead of using a cup or a plasstore and office building. They walked to the tic bottle every time they had a drink of water. grocery store and didn't climb into a 300They refilled pens with ink, instead of buying horsepower machine every time they had to go a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades two blocks. But she's right. They didn't have in a razor instead of throwing away the whole the green thing in her day. razor just because the blade got dull. But they Back then, they washed the baby's diadidn't have the green thing back then. pers because they didn't have the throw-away Back then, people took the streetcar and kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an kids rode their bikes to school or rode the energy gobbling machine burning up 220 school bus, instead of turning their moms volts; wind and solar power really did dry the into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one elecclothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from trical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of their brothers or sisters, not always brandsockets to power a dozen appliances. And they new clothing. But that old lady is right, they didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a didn't have the green thing back in her day. signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in in space in order to find the nearest pizza the house and not a TV in every joint. room. And the TV had a small But that old lady is right. screen the size of a pizza dish, not They didn't have the green a screen the size of the state of thing back in her day.
Senior Recycling Tips
REDUCE FIRST. Creating less garbage in the first place is Recycling centers are bebest. Avoid over-packaged ing installed in all three GRP products. Buy durable things buildings this month. This concept is nothing that last a long time. Avoid new for today’s seniors. Our members grew disposables. Switch to reusup in an era when most everyable. Use clothe napkins inthing was reused or repaired stead of paper. and very little was thrown out. REUSE. Give a product a secIn the recent decades, we have really become a throw-away so- ond chance before throwing it ciety and we need to get back to out after one use. Reuse your the “good old days!” For the sake shopping bags. Repair instead of replacing. of the environment and future generations, let’s practice the 3 RECYCLE. Participate in the Rs and make the best use of our recycling program in your coop. new recycling centers.