We are part of the solution at home

For years my wife and I continue to search for ways to conserve and reduce the carbon footprint of our lives. How conscious are we being of the waste we create in our personal lives? These are a few of the things we are doing in our home, share what you are doing and together we can post a more comprehensive list for all of us to work from!

· Buy in bulk-create less waste depending on packaging
· Almost any packaging other than plastic is preferable
· Opt for glass whenever possible
· Use cloth instead of paper napkins
· Recycle old tee shirts- cut small lengths to use instead of paper towels, wash and reuse

Check out your own carbon footprint at www.carbonfootprint.org

What We Do Matters; Be a Part of the Solution

Sad but true, for the most part, we don’t get involved or take personal responsibility until it hits our wallet.
Gas prices soared to the point where we HAD to do something, anything. We started to plan a little better, combining errands to limit our mileage. According to the Department of Transportation, specifically the Energy Efficiency Administration, gas consumption has fallen steadily month by month from March through September. Our individual and collective calls to action included switching to more fuel efficient cars and driving less.
There seems to be a pattern, frankly, if it is not disturbing, should be. We continue to be a day late and a dollar short. And there are changes that can be instituted, that is evidenced in these reports. What are you doing? How have you stayed within your budgets?
As a Nation we basically choose to stick our heads in the sand. We continue to deplete resources that we don’t have, spend money well beyond our means, operating as if there are no consequences, as if there is no gravity in the world.
Most of us are dancing as fast as we can, if we get a chance to read a newspaper or watch the news as we navigate through our busy work and home life we are lucky. Beyond knowing that there are plenty of pressing issues that need attention, the time and energy to do the research, get involved, figure out first what and then how to implement any personal changes seems overwhelming.
I am not suggesting that these are not complex issues for which there are easy fixes. Our gluttony and unconscious depletion of resources and lack of care for our earth has been years in the making and reversing the serious consequences that we are now beginning to experience is an opportunity for change that is real, not some imagined futuristic estimation.
What is it going to take to get our attention? I believe that change is possible and undeniably necessary. Change happens one person at a time, each step that we take. Personally, locally and finally globally.
Please stay tuned for some ongoing information about what you can do today take back some personal power in affecting rather than be at the affect of our environment, personal and global resources.
In the meantime, just for today, make a plan at your home and/or workplace to recycle aluminum cans. Make a difference that affects both our overburdened landfills and our oil consumption.
· It takes 90% less energy to recycle aluminum cans than to make them from raw material,
· Last year Americans recycled enough aluminum cans to conserve 15 million barrels of oil.
· Throwing away one can is the equivalent of pouring out six ounces of gasoline.
· America currently recycles 50 percent of all paper, 34 percent of plastic drink containers, and 45 percent of aluminum cans.
Do the math; think about the implications of one more person adding to the solution instead of the problem.

Back to our regularly scheduled blogging…recycling reality check

Before we headed off to the home expo we shared some statistics about the lack of space in our landfills and the fact that some States are already at or beyond capacity. Frankly, even with my research just two weeks ago, there was nothing readily available about the current state of our State, perhaps that is part of the challenge, but that is another story. The latest report indicated key areas of concern in North Carolina, although it was almost 10 years old there was no follow up.

If you missed, and or are “unmoved” as the front page article states in the Greater Wilmington Business Journal’s February 6th issue, maybe the $9.5 million fix option will get your attention. The New Hanover landfill is facing some long overdue upgrades.

What is going to take to get your attention?

And the Winner is...

Prize Drawing has been completed for the 5th Annual Home & Business Showcase & Expo, North Brunswick show. First place went to Greg Oakes, who won “Contractor for a Day” which includes a master carpenter and helper who will be at his disposal for the day to complete a project or projects of his choosing at his home.

5 second place prizes, $150 off the choice of deck reconditioning, exterior house washing, excavation services, window, door or siding replacement go to the following:

· Tannika Robinson
· George Williams
· Linda Mehner
· Faye Lloyd
· Lionel Bryant

If we have not heard from you by next week we will call you directly to schedule your services! Again, congratulations to all of you!

There is a list of some of our services in the right hand column here on our blog, and we will be glad to send them directly to you if you have any challenges viewing them. If there is something you don’t see here, ask!

I recently did some research and was more than a little disheartened to hear that in accordance with consumer complaints filed this past year, contractors are seen as less reputable than used car salesmen. We contend that it is imperative when you are entrusting any service provider entry into your home, no matter how large or small the project is, what the dollar amount is and probably more pointedly, if it is free or part of a prize-give away- you MUST be responsible for who you are figuratively “giving your keys to.”

The reality is, we have come to appreciate that not every client and project is in fact a good fit for us. One of the components of doing business with us that we have added over the years is insisting that potential clients speak directly to one or more of our clients. Considerations are very personal, we create the opportunity for your questions and concerns to be addressed before we begin our work with you. Frankly, we aren’t interested in “one time” projects, we are committed to creating raving fans with every project, every client…lifetime relationships.

Please note that your prize is transferable. Although it is rare to find a homeowner who does not have any pending projects, they do exist. If you happen to be one of these families, pay it forward and pass it on to a friend or family member. Although we do have the capability to take our team on the road, we ask that this offer be within reasonable geographic considerations.

On the Level Contracting & Design takes Best in Show

We thought “Best in Show” was an award explicitly pertaining to dog shows! Who knew? Booths were judged at the 5th Annual North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce Home & Business Showcase & Expo 2009, on creativity, interaction with the public and overall appearance. The Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation provided the “Best in Show” award, a portable tabletop electric grill which we are looking forward to trying out.
The reality is, designing functionality into any space with aesthetics in mind, is what we do and is the core of our business. Pulling this off in less than a week was an opportunity to really walk our walk in utilizing the resources around us, creatively finding ways to display who we are and what we do repurposing every item we used, plucked from our home, office and a little help from our friends!
This was our first trade show as exhibitor’s, we are thrilled needless to say to receive this award, but the bigger reward was realizing how much we actually enjoyed the opportunity of talking directly with home owners, other business owners, general interaction with the public.
There were a number of unexpected benefits, unintentionally, we ended up with some great survey content that evolved by simply listening. What we heard is that there are a lot of Do-It Yourself folks out there who want to do their own home improvement projects. We heard that the “honey do lists” are longer than the hours in a year’s worth of weekends!
We were listening and are considering a venue where we can offer some workshops sharing our professional expertise so that you can more easily knock some of those projects off your list. It was great to see so many couples jointly interested in home improvement and although it sound like there is a lot of talent already out there, we’d like to show more of the women how they can take care of some of the items on the honey do list themselves! Post your comments; let us know what workshops you need.
And it is not all about us and our reward! Stay tuned for the next blog posting to see who won the drawings for “Contractor for a Day” and our 5 second place winners, “$150 off specified services.”

5th Annual Home & Business Showcase & Expo, North Brunswick

On the Level Contracting & Design jumped into the trade show arena for the first time this weekend. Prompted by our Business Coach, Reggie Shropshire, we switched gears and focused all efforts on creating a booth to represent who we are and what we do in a 72 hour space of time! We get by with a little help from our friends. Lynn Hagin was instrumental in letting us pick her brain to get some ideas on how to pull this off. Our friend and neighbor, local artist, Mary Meece of Topsail Beach, jumped in too, offering up her easel, ideas and “continuously” repurposed foam boards…helping us keep to our intent on recycling and repurposing resources. It is amazing to realize the resources available in your own home and office, literally your own backyard and neighborhood when you open up to the possibilities of creatively using what you have. Two or more heads really are better than one, a wealth of information exists if you take the time to appreciate the friends and family around you and at the same time allow them to contribute what they know. An article will follow on E-zine about “How to Create a Trade Show Booth on a Dime,” there were lots of great lessons learned, and we are looking forward to getting to pay it forward having been at the other end of experiencing “givers gain.”

Reality Check

Landfills are at capacity in several states. Nationally, 369 million tons of solid wasted is generated per year. 98.7 tons (26%) is recycled or composted, 28.5 million tons (8%) was burned in waste-to-energy plants, and 242 million tons (66%) went to landfills.