We love hearing about local businesses that are on a mission to save the environment – or at least the part they affect. Businesses play a key role in the green movement not only by providing important products and services, but through educating patrons and setting a socially responsible example.

Tony Bakker from the Charleston Battery is doing all of that by implementing sustainable practices throughout Daniel Island’s Blackbaud Stadium. And because education is one of his key goals, I thought I would share his story with you. Enjoy!

GGC: First off, what is the Charleston Battery and what is your role?
BAKKER: The Charleston Battery is a professional soccer team that plays in the United Soccer League’s Division One, a league that is one step below Major League Soccer. I am the majority owner and CEO of the organization.

GGC: When did you first realize that, as an organization, the Battery needed to focus on sustainability and impact reduction?
BAKKER: We’ve been concerned about the environment as an organization for a long time. We’ve always encouraged our employees to recycle in the office and we have tried implementing recycling in the stadium before with our fans. Early last year we just felt that we could do more and that the time was right for the Charleston Battery to start a much broader “green” initiative.

GGC: What is the overall goal of the Battery’s green initiative?
BAKKER: We are focused on trying to reduce our energy consumption and our environmental impact as much as possible. The Sustainability Institute conducted an energy audit of the stadium last summer and have given us a comprehensive blue-print to work from. We have already implemented many of their suggestions and plan to implement more over the next few months. One change that we’ve made and which we’re very excited about is the switch to a geothermal HVAC system for our office building which has resulted in significant energy savings already. We’re also committed to spreading this message to as wide an audience as possible, not just locally with our fans here in Charleston but also nationally via the TV broadcasts that we have in place for 2008.

GGC: I recently read that you have contracted to install solar panels at the stadium – how did this get started, and what impact will it have?
BAKKER: This was recommended as the third stage of the Sustainability Institute’s overall plan for us. They felt it was important that before we looked at creating energy, we should be operating as efficiently as possible first. We’ve made sure that the panels will be fully visible to everyone in the stadium and also that they will be featured prominently on our TV broadcasts on FOX Soccer Channel. It’s a fairly large installation, the projection for them is to create about 25,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually – enough to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the air by as much as 20 tons each year.

GGC: What green projects do you have planned for 2008?
BAKKER: Every project I’m involved in going forward will be a “green” project. For example we are renovating the former degaussing on Concord Street as our residence and will be aiming for LEED silver or gold certification. My business partners and I are also developing a Hilton Garden Inn on Daniel Island which will be a LEED silver project, possibly the first “green” hotel in the state. We are also opening a new restaurant downtown this summer – The Buccaneer – which will be certified by the Green Restaurant Association, again possibly the first in the state.

GGC: How do you plan on using what you’ve done with the Battery as an example for other local businesses to follow?
BAKKER: We plan to document everything we’ve done on our web site and have signage around the stadium explaining what we have done. Our staff will also be available to give those interested a tour of our facility at their convenience.

GGC: You’re obviously doing a lot to reduce the Battery’s impact, but what is the last thing you did at home to reduce your family’s impact?
BAKKER: After doing the obvious easy things like replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFLs, increasing the thermostat from 72 degrees to 78 degrees this summer, turning computers and lights off when not in use, etc. (which has all helped to reduce our energy use by 20%), we have just had an energy audit done by the Sustainability Institute and are working on a plan to implement their suggestions

GGC: What do you think about the current state of the green movement in Charleston?
BAKKER: I think we took a giant leap forward in 2007. There is so much more awareness now about climate change and sustainability than ever before. I have high hopes for the Mayor’s Green Committee which is chaired by my good friend James Meadors, who is doing the renovation at Concord Street. I’m also personally involved with two great organizations – the Coastal Conservation League and the Sustainability Institute who have both taught me a lot about the issues at hand. Your web site is a great resource, by the way, for creating awareness. I’m cautiously optimistic about what the future holds as many Charlestonians, particularly the younger generation, are concerned about climate change and want to learn how they can lesson their impact on the environment and plan for a more sustainable future.

GGC: Is there anything you’d like to promote while you have a captive green audience?
BAKKER: Come out to Battery games this summer, not only to see some greater soccer, but also to check out what we’re doing. Please let us know if there is something else you see that you think we should consider doing at the stadium!

I’d like to thank Tony for taking the time to share his story with us. If you have any followup questions for Tony or anyone at the Charleston Battery, please let us know below in the comments field below – After all, this wouldn’t be 9 questions if the 10th one didn’t come from you!

As a byproduct of my greenification, I’ve become a bit of a recycling fanatic. I bet some of you are as well. So I thought it might be interesting to hear from a professional recycling fanatic, Elizabeth Fisher from Fisher Recycling.

Chris and Elizabeth Fisher have been at the helm of Fisher Recycling since it opened in 1992. They are a huge asset to our local green community, and took home the 2006 Charleston Sustainability Award. Elizabeth has been quite gracious with me over the last few months as I learn the ropes – many thanks for that and taking the time for 9 Questions. So without further delay, here’s the interview.

GGC: First off, what is Fisher Recycling?
Elizabeth: A recycling collection service for businesses and curbside residential collection on Daniel Island.

GGC: How do you work with Charleston County Recycling?
Elizabeth: Most of our commingled (glass, plastic, aluminum, tin, etc.) is donated to Charleston County Recycling. We also refer business to each other.

GGC: Why is it so difficult to recycle plastics #3, #4, #5, and #6?
Elizabeth: The city does not accept them because there is not an end market that will purchase them in our area.

GGC: What are the most common items you collect that ARE NOT actually recyclable?
Elizabeth: We don’t collect anything that is not recyclable (on purpose!) The biggest office contaminant is paper ream wrappers. The biggest restaurant contaminant is unrinsed food containers.

GGC: How does not following the rules (removing bottle lids, rinsing out, removing plastic windows from envelopes, etc.) increase the difficulty and cost of your operation?
Elizabeth: Constant awareness and education will continue to make programs successful. The more people are educated about procedure, the more the products will be recycled. (plastic windows are O.K.)

GGC: What is the future of recycling?
Elizabeth: Fortunately, here in Charleston, the future is very bright. We have begun to implement and embrace recycling philosophies from other areas of the country. And, admittedly, most of thepeople that relocate here come from areas that require recycling and are more environmentally aware. The more we “close the loop”, i.e. buy recyclable products or recycled products, the more these products will be available for purchase.

GGC: What are you doing in your personal life to reduce your impact?
Elizabeth: We built an Earth Craft House, have all Energy Star appliances, used all local vendors for building materials. We bring our own bags to grocery, drive a Prius, and try to do all our business locally (minimizing online shipping costs and transportation costs). Supporting our local economy.

GGC: What do you think about the current state of the green movement in Charleston?
(see above on future….)

GGC: Is there anything you’d like to promote while you have a captive green audience?
Elizabeth: We also craft recycled countertops and flooring from Charleston glass that is collected from area restaurants. The glass cullet (gravel) can also be used for landscape covering or driveway supplement.

To learn more about Fisher Recycling, you can visit their website at www.fisherrecycling.com.

GGC: First off, what is Global Awakening?
Maren: Global Awakening is a socially responsible marketplace. The store mainly encompasses fair trade hand crafted products from developing third world countries, however we also offer an array of environmentally friendly products made in the US and beyond. That being said the shop on Upper King aims to provide a cultural experience with unique home decor, gifts that keep giving, and plenty of education on how every little bit does count and CAN make a difference.

GGC: When did you decide that Charleston needed a fair trade market?
Maren: While teaching third grade in North Charleston I constantly referenced my travels and experiences in different countries. I would use the examples to help eliminate greed, jealousy, and taking for granted what resources we had in the classroom each day. After many conversations that enlightened third graders I thought everyone could benefit from a more global view…and so Global Awakening was born.

GGC: What has the reaction been to your store opening?
Maren: The best reaction was “WOW everything in the store is a conversation piece!” In the two months the store has been open I have had some of the most dynamic conversations and learned so much about other people’s travels and experiences. Just when you think you are doing good by supporting fair trade you learn that this sweet lady buying an onyx candle operates a non-profit promoting social justice all around the world. MORAL-Never underestimate anyone!

GGC: Can you tell us an amazing story about one of the products you sell?
Maren: Everything actually. Ok we’ll go with the Klick bracelets–hand etched bangles made of recycled PVC piping in Namibia, Africa. The arisans call them klicks due to the word bracelet “epatek” which is pronounced with a clicking sound due to their dialect. The handmade bracelets also click when you put them on so it all ties together!

GGC: The stuff you sell is definitely world-friendly, but how is it eco-friendly?
Maren: Most of the fair trade products are made from recycled goods. A purse handwoven with recycled foil bags, bracelets from recycled telephone wire, picture frames from recycled newspaper, ornaments from recycled coke bottles and the list goes on! I also carry reusable shopping bags, organic cotton clothing, soy based candles and again the list goes on!

GGC: How do you reconcile importing goods from around the world with the green movement’s mantra of “buying locally”?
Maren: OK, so you shop locally at Global Awakening on King Street. Your dollars support a local business (not a corporation) which is supporting other local artisans around the world (keeping them local, and paying them fairly). Each purchase helps keep the cooperatives up and running in poverty stricken regions. The coops provide income which then helps local communities around the world. So the way to look at it is shop locally HELP globally! On a side note – Global Awakening also features a different local Charleston artist each month with a gallery wall dedicated to their talents. We also currently carry gRAWnola made locally and we are looking into local organic skin care products.

GGC: What are you doing to minimize your store’s impact on the environment?
Maren: Great question. Global Awakening recycles everything–we even have a recycling center in the store for customer use. We save all packaging that our products are shipped in and then reuse the packaging for daily purchases. As for the big boxes that everything arrives in….I take biweekly runs to the recycling center after breaking all the boxes down. At this point cardboard is not picked up with regular recycling. I’m not sure if other store owners know this or how they deal with daily cardboard excess. This is an issue I intend to address and hope to see a change in the city.

GGC: What do you think about the current state of the green movement in Charleston?
Maren: It is growing! I feel that opening the store has opened my eyes to all that is already occurring in our beautiful city. I do feel that many people just don’t know how to get involved. They don’t know what is going on or how to be a part of the movement. I hope to use the storefront as a community bulletin board so that people can stop in, know what is going on and easily get involved!

GGC: Is there anything you’d like to promote while you have a captive audience?
Maren: “OUR waterway is not YOUR ashtray!” Comprende? Please put your butts where they belong. I hope to have bumper stickers made and available at the store soon. We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful place…the little things you do can really make a difference.