2011 Environmental Impact Awards Ceremony May 18th

2011 Environmental Impact Awards
Luncheon Ceremony
Wednesday, May 18 | 11:30am - 1:00pm
Des Moines Botanical Center

Join us in celebrating 2011 Environmental Impact Award Winners!

• Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance
• BNIM Architects 
• Brad Gerndt of West Des Moines 
• Iowa Home Crafters, Inc 
• The Principal Financial Group 
• RDG Planning & Design 

Tickets are on sale now at icosc.com. For $25, enjoy lunch at the Des Moines Botanical Center while celebrating the efforts of your peers, networking with others with sustainable priorities, gaining a greater understanding of the opportunities for sustainable practices, and learning how to apply for the 2012 Awards.

Center on Sustainable Communities (COSC), Greater Des Moines Partnership and Metro Waste Authority partnered in creating the Environmental Impact Awards to recognize organizations and leaders demonstrating exemplary sustainable practices.

Please join us for the momentous event Wednesday, May 18th from 11:30am to 1:00pm at the Des Moines Botanical Center located at 909 Robert D Ray Dr, Des Moines, IA 50316. 

The Awards Ceremony is sponsored by Des Moines Water Works. 

Join us for EVERGREEN

We've got a great night of entertainment, sustainability, craftsmanship and community planned. Our second annual EVERGREEN fundraising party is on Thursday, November 11 from 7-10pm. It is a guaranteed good time with Michele Beschen (of b. organic, DIY Network and HGTV) as the night's emcee. Musical guests are David Zollo and Roxi Copland. And don't miss "Off The Wall" with our own green building expert Bill McAnally!

Live it Up Sustainably! Join Center on Sustainable Communities for their annual fundraising party showcasing regional craftsmanship, products and services. Enjoy a silent auction, raffles, complimentary appetizers, cash bar and live entertainment.

EVERGREEN

Thursday, November 11 from 7-10pm

West End Architectural Salvage, 22 SW 9th Street, Des Moines, IA

Tickets: $10 COSC Member / $15 Non-Members

Special Offer - Receive an Individual/Family Membership + 1 Ticket for only $40.00!

Purchase tickets now by going to www.icosc.com (click on "Donate Now") or contacting Leslie Berckes 515-707-2787 or leslie@icosc.com.

Shooting Ways of Commuting in the East Village

We were among friends when Lynnae, Carrie, I and COSC board member Jenny McCoy joined Urban Ambassadors for their "Shoot Your Commute" project in the East Village. The rising temperature gauge made for a  steamy, yet beautiful, day for a bike ride in sunny Des Moines.

The photo concept originated in Germany and illustrates the amount of space consumed by various modes of transportation, which is comparable to the size of their carbon footprints.

View a time-lapse video here and photos here, which document the process.

Shoot Your Commute final images will be available at the Aug. 30th COSC connects at Jasper Winery when we partner with Urban Ambassadors and USGBC Iowa Chapter to address "Envisioning Sustainable Des Moines" with special guests Greater Des Moines Partnership. Join us by RSVPing on Facebook.

- Siobhan Spain, COSC

Rehabbing with Joe & Diane

Joe Hogue works on his Des Moines home.
Photo by Rodney White/The Register

So far in 2010, more than 700 permits have been issued for residential conversion, remodeling and repair projects. That's already up nearly 30% from last year.

The Des Moines Rehabbers Club's mission to promote neighborhood revitalization and restoration is timely, so when I saw they were hosting a monthly club meeting this morning, I decided I'd better check it out.

I arrived at a gutted two-story north-side home in time to hear the introduction by Des Moines Rehabbers Club founder Steve Wilke-Shapiro. Homeowners Joe and Diane Hogue are following the current surge in DIY (do it yourself) home remodeling projects in an effort to extend the life of their renovation budget. Since the foreclosed home was in bad shape when they bought it, they decided to expose every beam, pipe and doorway to realized the full extent of its structural needs. The couple both have full-time jobs and chip away at the renovation to-do list together on nights and weekends.

Joe's tour of the home gave attendees opportunities to ask questions about floor leveling issues, when to hire a contractor, what he's learned about remove siding and so on. It also gave the owners a chance to solicit advice on how to tackle forthcoming projects. The conversations were informative and congenial, which contributed to a satisfying Saturday morning outing. To learn more about the Hogue's project, read this article in the Register and be sure to visit renovatedsm.com.

As Steve mentioned at the beginning of the meeting, COSC and Preservation Iowa is bringing Bob Yapp to Des Moines this fall. We'll post details soon!

- Siobhan Spain, COSC