Business Courier of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati’s campus recreation center, completed in 2006, on Wednesday received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Designed by KZF Design Inc. of Cincinnati and Thomas Mayne of Morphosis and built by Turner Construction, the center met a set of criteria for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

The 353,000-square-foot building received credit for a 35 percent reduction in water usage, use of recycled-content materials, a rainwater collection system, landscaping and a “green” outreach education center. It is Greater Cincinnati’s largest LEED-certified building to date.

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Business Courier of Cincinnati

Three downtown Cincinnati parking spots will be turned into a creative, temporary park today.

The effort is part of a one-day global event in which artists, designers, and advocates collaborate to temporarily transform parking spots into “park(ing)” spots, said Dan Korman, owner of the store Park + Vine, which sells environmentally household products.

“More than 70 percent of the outdoor space in most cities across the country is dedicated to the private vehicle while only a fraction of that land is allocated to open space for people,” Korman said in a news release.

The Cincinnati Civic Garden Center and Cincinnati City Councilmember Chris Bortz are supporting the event, which will use parking spots in the city lot at 9th and Plum streets from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/cincinnatiparkingday or www.parkingday.org.

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CINCINNATI – Head to Park + Vine, 1109 Vine Street, to see the works of Jonathan Burkhardt and Cory Shafer and catch savings on organic sheets, towels and shower curtains from High Desert Naturals and LOOP Organics during the Sept. 28 Final Friday gallery walk. A reception kicks things off from 6 to 10 p.m. The sale runs through Oct. 31. Burkhardt’s and Shafer’s works are on display through Nov. 17. In addition, Park + Vine’s Shop By Bike promotion wraps up Sept. 30 during the Downtown Tour of Living.

Jonathan Burkhardt, a College Hill resident, is exhibiting his work for the first time at Park + Vine. Burkhardt has enjoyed photography for many years and learned the basics as a student at Walnut Hills High School. While studying for his Master of Science in Chemical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati, he revived his passion through digital photography. He is displaying a collection of photographs taken at Krohn Conservatory in Eden Park.

Cory Shafer, Park + Vine’s regularly featured artist and resident designer, is bringing back his 10-print series, “TOM,“ which gives viewers a conceptual look into a men’s public restroom. Shafer’s new collection highlights old and new features of Over-the-Rhine, integrating recycled materials with his digital, 35 millimeter, and Polaroid photography.

Park + Vine is rewarding bicyclists with a Shop By Bike incentive that encourages a healthy way to shop through Sept. 30. All bike shoppers receive 10 percent off any single item or one free drink with any purchase. Four lucky ones will win a $25 Park + Vine gift certificate. The drawing takes place during the Downtown Tour of Living Sept. 30. To participate, bike shoppers simply have to purchase at least one Park + Vine item. Customers may enter as many times as they want. Park + Vine offers free indoor and outdoor bicycle parking.

Park + Vine is among a wave of stores nationwide focusing on ecologically friendly and environmentally sustainable merchandise. Products range from home furnishings and personal care products to home improvement items and apparel and footwear. Creative programming is a regular feature at the eco-friendly store. Connie Menefee offers Reiki sessions at the store 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Check www.selfcraft.net to confirm the schedule and for special offers.

Park + Vine is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. for Final Friday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 30 for the Downtown Tour of Living. Shoppers can earn “carbon credits” to offset the environmental impact of their trip to Park + Vine with a donation to Everybody Rides Metro Foundation. For more information, visit www.parkandvine.com.

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Business Courier of Cincinnati
by Lucy May
Senior staff reporter

In urban neighborhoods, often the sites best suited for commercial redevelopment are environmentally contaminated.

These so-called “brownfields” must be cleaned up before new office, retail or residential developments can be built on them, but the job can be daunting for local officials.

That’s why the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission, the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority and the Hamilton County Development Co. are hosting a seminar to help government officials and property owners learn more about the legal, environmental and financial issues surrounding brownfield redevelopment.

The seminar marks the first time the port has reached out to local government leaders and property owners, said Port President Kim Satzger.

“I hope that they come away with a general understanding of the strategies to mitigate the risks for brownfield redevelopment,” she said. “And that the port authority is there to help them.”

Northside Business Association President Bob Sala said communities like his must learn how to handle brownfield sites. In Northside, the redevelopment of the American Can building is an example. The old plant is being turned into a mixed-use project with ground-level retail or office space and residential units above.

“For us to create a sustainable community here we’re going to have to be spending money on brownfield cleanup,” Sala said. “It’s inevitable.”

The free seminar is from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 18 at the Sharonville Convention Center. To register, contact Connie Richardson at (513) 621-3000 or crichardson@cincinnatiport.org.

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BY JANE PRENDERGAST | JPRENDERGAST@ENQUIRER.COM

The city of Cincinnati will take new steps today to be more environmentally friendly.

Mayor Mark Mallory set “efficiency goals” of saving 4 percent on the city’s energy bills in one year, 10 percent in four years. That 4 percent would equate to $286,000 in savings – and that’s enough, he says, to power 239 homes.

The project will start at the city’s permit center in Clifton, an office where employees have volunteered to see how much they can save by doing things like switching to more efficient light bulbs and turning off lights when they’re not necessary.

“I thought it was important to have a goal,” Mallory said. “You have to give people a target. Otherwise, it can be very difficult to think in terms of global warming.”

Also at today’s press conference, he plans to announce that the city’s new Office of Environmental Quality will start a climate-protection planning process that seeks input from residents. City Manager Milton Dohoney directed his department directors to develop individual energy management plans to save energy costs. Initial drafts of those plans are due Oct. 31.

Mallory signed on in 2006 to the national Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, a pledge to take positive action to combat global warming. More than 500 officials have signed it, including mayors from Villa Hills, Ky., and Richmond, Ind.

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Business Courier of Cincinnati

Hamilton County’s two Democratic commissioners on Monday signed an agreement to help reduce emissions and create “green” jobs as a result.

Commissioners David Pepper and Todd Portune signed the “Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Agreement” in a ceremony at Aiken University High School in College Hill. Aiken is the first high school in the area to establish an environmental education program as part of its coursework.

The goal of the agreement is to reduce the county’s energy emissions by 2 percent a year, according to a Sierra Club news release. The Sierra Club, along with the United Steelworkers is part of the Blue Green Alliance, which also has support from other labor unions.

“As a country – and as a county – we have no time to waste when it comes to reducing energy consumption and becoming more energy efficient. It’s the challenge of our day,” Pepper said at the ceremony.

Thirteen U.S. counties have signed the “Cool Counties” agreement so far, the Sierra Club said.

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Park + Vine just passed the three-month mark. The dog days of summer are almost over so now we can finally look forward to the more sublime days that autumn brings. Our blossoming and very supportive customer base helped the store hold its own during these tough and sometimes oppressively hot summer months.

Running a small retail business, especially in an emerging area where people aren’t accustomed to shopping or even walking down a sidewalk, is a tough proposition. Fortunately, we have great neighbors (i.e., City Roots, Metronation, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati) and customers committed to supporting locally owned businesses. Many of our customers volunteer to pass out information about the store, talk us up to friends and family, and even offer to help keep our Web site and MySpace page current. We could easily be just another store that wants to benefit from the heightened awareness of buying goods that are responsibly made, but we’re so much more than that. We’re part of a community here and hopefully we’re making a difference. We’re very grateful for all of the support.

Aside from all the new products arriving in the store (i.e., English Retreads bags and accessories handmade from reclaimed truck inner tubes in Boulder, Colo., tons of new things for babies and kids), Park + Vine is behind some cool events, too:

• Park + Vine is hosting Certified Wellness Educator Nancy Fickas 10 to 11 a.m. Sept. 8. Learn how you can rid your home of dangerous toxins with chemical-free and environmentally safe cleaners, such as Get Clean products from Shaklee Corp.

• Connie Menefee, B.S., Certified Reiki Master/Teacher, is opening a Reiki practice at Park + Vine beginning Sept. 8. Connie, who will be at the store 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, is offering 30-minute sessions so that busy downtowners can fit a relaxing time into their schedules. Longer sessions on Saturdays and during the week are available. Thirty-minute sessions are $25 and 60-minute sessions are $50. Walk-in customers are welcome. Reiki is a Japanese technique for reducing stress and inducing a relaxed state that promotes emotional and physical healing.

• Park + Vine is a proud supporter of Imago’s’s sixth annual Music in the Woods benefit 7 to 11 p.m. Sept. 8. This fun party features Kim Taylor and the Mt. Pleasant String Band, a vast silent auction, and plenty to eat and drink.

• Ride your bike to Second Sunday on Main’s “Eco-Main-ia” and park worry-free noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 9. Enter to win Park + Vine and Reser Bicycle Outfitters gift certificates and learn more about Cincinnati Bike/PAC while you’re there.

• Park + Vine is rewarding bicyclists with a Shop By Bike incentive that encourages a healthy way to shop through Sept. 30. All bike shoppers receive 10 percent off any single item or one free drink (Eden Springs Artesian Water, GT’s Kombucha and Synergy, Izze, Perrier Sparkling Natural Mineral Water) with any purchase. Four lucky ones will win a $25 Park + Vine gift certificate. The drawing takes place during the Downtown Tour of Living Sept. 30. To participate, bike shoppers simply have to buy a Park + Vine item. Customers may enter as many times as they want. As an additional incentive, Park + Vine offers free indoor and outdoor bicycle parking.

xo
Dan

• Shop at Park + Vine, City Roots, and Metronation for special offers 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Gateway Quarter’s next Quesday event. Head to Below Zero Lounge before 8 p.m. for drink specials and appetizers. Shoppers at participating stores receive a ticket for every purchase over $10 throughout the month. The drawing takes place at the next Quesday on Oct. 2.
• Park + Vine is proud to host Certified Wellness Educator Nancy Fickas 10 to 11 a.m. Sept. 8. Learn how you can rid your home of dangerous toxins with chemical-free and environmentally safe cleaners, such as Get Clean products from Shaklee Corporation. Nancy has been involved in wellness education and the nutrition industry for more than 17 years.
• Connie Menefee, B.S., Certified Reiki Master/Teacher, is opening a Reiki practice at Park + Vine beginning Sept. 8. Connie, who will be at the store 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, is offering 30-minute sessions so that busy downtowners can fit a relaxing time into their schedules. Longer sessions on Saturdays and during the week are available. Thirty-minute sessions are $25 and 60-minute sessions are $50. Walk-in customers are welcome. Reiki is a Japanese technique for reducing stress and inducing a relaxed state that promotes emotional and physical healing.
• Ride your bike to Second Sunday on Main’s “Eco-Main-ia” and park worry-free noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 9. Enter to win Park + Vine and Reser Bicycle Outfitters gift certificates and learn more about Cincinnati Bike/PAC while you’re there.
• It took two years to design and build the University of Cincinnati Solar Decathlon in time for Solar Decathlon 2007 in Washington D.C. The public can see this completely solar-powered house that stands as a model for technological innovation, design excellence and environmental sustainability 5 p.m. Sept. 12 at the University of Cincinnati. Tax-deductible contributions to help offset construction costs are welcome.
• Join EarthSave Cincinnati, Deborah Jordan, Nancy Sullivan, Karen Arnett and others for a garden tour and panel discussion, “Edible Wild Plants, Natural Landscaping and Changing Cincinnati’s Weed Ordinance,” 2 p.m. Sept. 16 at Imago Earth Center, 700 Enright, Price Hill. Bring a vegan dish to share and your own plates, cups, utensils. 513-929-2500.
• Make a contribution to 89.7 FM WNKU during their big fall membership drive Sept. 19-25 and become eligible to receive a Park + Vine $25 gift card.
• Pick up this year’s MidPoint Music Festival T-shirt for $24 at Park + Vine. MidPoint features more than 240 acts and runs from Sept. 26-29 in venues in downtown and Over-the-Rhine.
• Park + Vine is open noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 30 for the ninth annual Downtown Tour of Living presented by U.S. Bank.
• Meet others interested in a healthy plant-based diet and learn more about the powerful effects food choices have on the environment, personal health and all life on Earth at EarthSave Cincinnati’s “A Taste of Green” 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 7 at Park + Vine. Bring a vegan appetizer to share and sample products made right here in Cincinnati.

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