Sustainability + Environment
A large map on the wall of Crafty Goodness, a new Lakewood store that sells goods from artisans that live in Northeast Ohio, provides a visual reminder of the store's mission. It pinpoints all of the different communities where the items are made, stressing the owners' commitment to the buy local movement.
"We wanted to create a store that would offer an alternative to big box retail for people that want to buy local," says Chris Sorenson, a potter who joined with artists Joanna and Matthew Orgovan to open the store at 15621 Madison Avenue.
Crafty Goodness got its start as a modern arts and crafts show that was held in Seven Hills in 2009. The success of that show inspired its creators to set up a bricks and mortar store, and a year and a half later, Crafty Goodness was born. The store, which opened in March, will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, April 9th.
In addition to items such as clothing, home décor, jewelry, book bags, cards and notebooks, Crafty Goodness features an extensive art gallery on the walls, with more than 60 artists from seven Northeast Ohio counties represented. The owners selected Lakewood because of the community's commitment to the arts and small, local businesses.
Despite being only 750 square feet, Crafty Goodness offers a wide array of merchandise. Sorenson plans to continue hosting the annual craft show and hopes to find a space in Lakewood for this year's event.
Crafty Goodness also hosts a variety of classes, including jewelry making, needle arts and vegan baking, for consumers of all ages. The majority of the classes, which run about two hours and are affordably priced in the $20-35 range, are presented in a make-and-take format, which lets participants go home with an original work of art.
"We wanted to create a store that would offer an alternative to big box retail for people that want to buy local," says Chris Sorenson, a potter who joined with artists Joanna and Matthew Orgovan to open the store at 15621 Madison Avenue.
Crafty Goodness got its start as a modern arts and crafts show that was held in Seven Hills in 2009. The success of that show inspired its creators to set up a bricks and mortar store, and a year and a half later, Crafty Goodness was born. The store, which opened in March, will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, April 9th.
In addition to items such as clothing, home décor, jewelry, book bags, cards and notebooks, Crafty Goodness features an extensive art gallery on the walls, with more than 60 artists from seven Northeast Ohio counties represented. The owners selected Lakewood because of the community's commitment to the arts and small, local businesses.
Despite being only 750 square feet, Crafty Goodness offers a wide array of merchandise. Sorenson plans to continue hosting the annual craft show and hopes to find a space in Lakewood for this year's event.
Crafty Goodness also hosts a variety of classes, including jewelry making, needle arts and vegan baking, for consumers of all ages. The majority of the classes, which run about two hours and are affordably priced in the $20-35 range, are presented in a make-and-take format, which lets participants go home with an original work of art.
Source: Chris Sorenson
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Imagine this: A $10,000 solar-energy system powering an entire elementary school in Africa, providing enough juice for laptop computers and overhead lights. Christopher Clark, founder of Sunflower Solutions, has proved that this feat is not only possible, but also is an efficient, cost-effective way to bring power to the Third World.
Recently, Sunflower Solutions moved to Shaker LaunchHouse, a former auto dealership turned business incubator in Shaker Heights. Created with just $60,000 in seed funding, the company is in its first year of producing manually trackable solar power systems. These systems allow users to move panels by hand as the sun moves across the sky, obtaining up to 42 percent more power.
Sunflower has sold its systems to nonprofit organizations in six countries, including India, Kenya and Nigeria, and Clark says the company will achieve profitability this year.
Clark first developed the idea when he was a business major at Miami University of Ohio. "I was helping some engineers develop a water pump for a village without electricity in Mali," he says. "They installed it, and then realized that the water was too deep underground for a hand pump. If they'd used an electric pump, it could have worked, yet there was no electricity for miles around."
The solution was solar power. Yet while trackable solar systems have been around for decades, most of them move automatically and are expensive. Clark's invention is the first manual system. "It's hard to do anything about poverty, health care and education in the Third World without basic electricity, yet two billion people in the world don't have it," says Clark. "This system allows nonprofits and charities to purchase a better, lower-cost system."
Sunflower Solutions' products are made locally by South Shore Controls in Cleveland and Perry, Ohio. As his business grows, Clark hopes to market his products to a wider audience, allowing his system to reach even more people in the developing world.
This summer, Clevelanders will be able to see the power of Clark's invention firsthand. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is installing a system on its campus; the Metroparks Zoo is also interested.
Clark was selected as one of the speakers for the April 15th TEDxCLE conference, where he will talk about "electricity as a basic right."
Source: Christopher Clark
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Recently, Sunflower Solutions moved to Shaker LaunchHouse, a former auto dealership turned business incubator in Shaker Heights. Created with just $60,000 in seed funding, the company is in its first year of producing manually trackable solar power systems. These systems allow users to move panels by hand as the sun moves across the sky, obtaining up to 42 percent more power.
Sunflower has sold its systems to nonprofit organizations in six countries, including India, Kenya and Nigeria, and Clark says the company will achieve profitability this year.
Clark first developed the idea when he was a business major at Miami University of Ohio. "I was helping some engineers develop a water pump for a village without electricity in Mali," he says. "They installed it, and then realized that the water was too deep underground for a hand pump. If they'd used an electric pump, it could have worked, yet there was no electricity for miles around."
The solution was solar power. Yet while trackable solar systems have been around for decades, most of them move automatically and are expensive. Clark's invention is the first manual system. "It's hard to do anything about poverty, health care and education in the Third World without basic electricity, yet two billion people in the world don't have it," says Clark. "This system allows nonprofits and charities to purchase a better, lower-cost system."
Sunflower Solutions' products are made locally by South Shore Controls in Cleveland and Perry, Ohio. As his business grows, Clark hopes to market his products to a wider audience, allowing his system to reach even more people in the developing world.
This summer, Clevelanders will be able to see the power of Clark's invention firsthand. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is installing a system on its campus; the Metroparks Zoo is also interested.
Clark was selected as one of the speakers for the April 15th TEDxCLE conference, where he will talk about "electricity as a basic right."
Source: Christopher Clark
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Rag Refinery, a new store that offers gently used, recycled fashions at affordable prices, just opened at 3904 Lorain Avenue in Ohio City. Owner Leigh Ring also manages Pink Eye Gallery in the same space, where she often rolls out the racks to host art openings.
"Our focus is on vintage shoes, clothing and accessories, and we invite customers to sell or trade-in their former favorites for cash or store credit," says Ring. "Our customers want to outfit themselves in creative and unique ways."
Ring chose Lorain Ave. because of the proliferation of affordable vacant spaces and because Ohio City is a draw for her customers. "With the help of Palookaville Chili next door and places like Open Yoga Gallery, we hope to be a part of the revitalization that's happening here," says Ring.
The Rag Refinery is currently open on Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. and by appointment. However, Ring plans to extend her hours to match those of Palookaville Chili's April 20th opening. "There will be an open hallway between the Rag Refinery and Palookaville so that customers can both browse the shop and have a bite to eat," explains Ring.
Ring is energized by the small-scale redevelopment trend she sees on Lorain. "There is already a draw for antiques and vintage here, but my hope is that more restaurants and shops choose Lorain, joining together to make the street more walkable."
She also sees her store's mission of recycled fashions contributing to the sustainability movement. "By recycling and reusing clothing and keeping it out of our landfills, we're doing our part," says Ring.
Source: Leigh Ring
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"Our focus is on vintage shoes, clothing and accessories, and we invite customers to sell or trade-in their former favorites for cash or store credit," says Ring. "Our customers want to outfit themselves in creative and unique ways."
Ring chose Lorain Ave. because of the proliferation of affordable vacant spaces and because Ohio City is a draw for her customers. "With the help of Palookaville Chili next door and places like Open Yoga Gallery, we hope to be a part of the revitalization that's happening here," says Ring.
The Rag Refinery is currently open on Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. and by appointment. However, Ring plans to extend her hours to match those of Palookaville Chili's April 20th opening. "There will be an open hallway between the Rag Refinery and Palookaville so that customers can both browse the shop and have a bite to eat," explains Ring.
Ring is energized by the small-scale redevelopment trend she sees on Lorain. "There is already a draw for antiques and vintage here, but my hope is that more restaurants and shops choose Lorain, joining together to make the street more walkable."
She also sees her store's mission of recycled fashions contributing to the sustainability movement. "By recycling and reusing clothing and keeping it out of our landfills, we're doing our part," says Ring.
Source: Leigh Ring
Writer: Lee Chilcote
When it comes to sustainability, we are all lifelong students. Cleveland's higher education institutions are not excluded from this learning process. In fact, area colleges and universities spent a year reflecting upon on-campus sustainability initiatives and ways to improve current practices.
The Collegiate Sustainable Practices Consortium (CSPC) brought together six local colleges and universities to talk about best practices regarding energy, water, food, building and other areas of sustainability. Led by David Kruger, director of Baldwin-Wallace's Institute for Sustainable Business Practice (ISBP), the group included B-W, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, Cuyahoga Community College, John Carroll and Oberlin.
Kruger noted in a summary of the consortium that "with its highly industrialized, manufacturing base, [our region] carries a long legacy of sustainability-related challenges: slowly declining employment in several economic sectors; a large environmental and carbon footprint from our manufacturing base; continued population decline in our urban core and in our region at large; and an aging infrastructure."
A recently released report shows what some local higher learning institutions have implemented regarding sustainability:
Baldwin Wallace's Ernthausen Residence Hall became the first residence hall in Ohio to have a geothermal heating and cooling system. . B-W has gone so far in its green initiatives to remove light bulbs from vending machine to conserve energy.
Cleveland State University has been investing in efficient lighting, solar power, mechanical upgrades and recycling programs. The school has been promoting student involvement in its sustainability efforts.
Cuyahoga Community College has six commissioned projects aiming aim for LEED Silver Certification. Tri-C has also developed its own customized green building standards for new construction and renovation projects.
SOURCES: B-W, CSU, Tri-C, Institute for Sustainable Business Practice
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
The Collegiate Sustainable Practices Consortium (CSPC) brought together six local colleges and universities to talk about best practices regarding energy, water, food, building and other areas of sustainability. Led by David Kruger, director of Baldwin-Wallace's Institute for Sustainable Business Practice (ISBP), the group included B-W, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, Cuyahoga Community College, John Carroll and Oberlin.
Kruger noted in a summary of the consortium that "with its highly industrialized, manufacturing base, [our region] carries a long legacy of sustainability-related challenges: slowly declining employment in several economic sectors; a large environmental and carbon footprint from our manufacturing base; continued population decline in our urban core and in our region at large; and an aging infrastructure."
A recently released report shows what some local higher learning institutions have implemented regarding sustainability:
Baldwin Wallace's Ernthausen Residence Hall became the first residence hall in Ohio to have a geothermal heating and cooling system. . B-W has gone so far in its green initiatives to remove light bulbs from vending machine to conserve energy.
Cleveland State University has been investing in efficient lighting, solar power, mechanical upgrades and recycling programs. The school has been promoting student involvement in its sustainability efforts.
Cuyahoga Community College has six commissioned projects aiming aim for LEED Silver Certification. Tri-C has also developed its own customized green building standards for new construction and renovation projects.
SOURCES: B-W, CSU, Tri-C, Institute for Sustainable Business Practice
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
TEDxCLE is an annual forum that gathers the region's big thinkers to share ideas worth spreading. Organizers -- and recent "brain gains" -- Hallie Bram and Eric Kogelschatz seek to change the perceptions of people who live here as well as those outside the region by sharing stories of success, innovation and inspiration.
"Urban agriculture" is no longer an oxymoron in Cleveland. The city is a nationwide leader in urban farming, boasting one of the largest urban farms in America. There's more to local food than flavor. By shifting one quarter of Northeast Ohio's food-buying needs from out-of-state sources to local food producers we can pour $4.2 billion into the regional economy.
The picturesque Doan Brook meanders through Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights, providing walkers and joggers with a scenic backdrop. Yet the section that flows through Cleveland's Rockefeller Park remains boxed in by crumbling stone walls.
This year, a $2.5 million project to restore these portions of the Doan Brook will finally get started. The project will remove failing stone walls and concrete dams for nearly a half-mile, allowing the stream to flow more naturally while improving water quality and increasing fish populations.
"This project could serve as a model for other communities that are seeking to create healthier streams in urban areas," says Victoria Mills, Executive Director of the nonprofit Doan Brook Watershed Partnership.
The Doan Brook project was originally slated to receive $5.5 million, but was scaled back after bids came in over budget. The new plan addresses these concerns by creating natural terraces that improve drainage and reduce flooding without threatening portions of the gardens. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) will manage the design and construction process.
Although the project is smaller in scale than originally envisioned, Mills is excited about its impact. "I am hopeful that it will spur more improvement projects in Rockefeller Park, including a new master plan," she says.
The Doan Brook improvement project was conceived in 2001, when the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered the city to restore the brook to compensate for the loss of 88 acres of wetland and more than a mile of Abram Creek at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Abram Creek was destroyed to allow for a new runway to be built. The EPA required the city to complete $15 million in restoration projects, most of which have now been completed.
The brook is rare among Cleveland's urban streams because much of it remains above ground. The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership was formed in 2001 to coordinate the preservation efforts of the cities of Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, Cleveland and interested citizens. Over the years, Doan Brook has developed an active constituency dedicated to its renewal. The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership will hold a clean-up day on April 17th. To register call 216-321-5935 x 237 or visit the website.
The $2.5 million project will also remove some invasive species and allow limited access to the brook, but will not address flooding.
Source: Victoria Mills
Writer: Lee Chilcote
This year, a $2.5 million project to restore these portions of the Doan Brook will finally get started. The project will remove failing stone walls and concrete dams for nearly a half-mile, allowing the stream to flow more naturally while improving water quality and increasing fish populations.
"This project could serve as a model for other communities that are seeking to create healthier streams in urban areas," says Victoria Mills, Executive Director of the nonprofit Doan Brook Watershed Partnership.
The Doan Brook project was originally slated to receive $5.5 million, but was scaled back after bids came in over budget. The new plan addresses these concerns by creating natural terraces that improve drainage and reduce flooding without threatening portions of the gardens. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) will manage the design and construction process.
Although the project is smaller in scale than originally envisioned, Mills is excited about its impact. "I am hopeful that it will spur more improvement projects in Rockefeller Park, including a new master plan," she says.
The Doan Brook improvement project was conceived in 2001, when the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered the city to restore the brook to compensate for the loss of 88 acres of wetland and more than a mile of Abram Creek at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Abram Creek was destroyed to allow for a new runway to be built. The EPA required the city to complete $15 million in restoration projects, most of which have now been completed.
The brook is rare among Cleveland's urban streams because much of it remains above ground. The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership was formed in 2001 to coordinate the preservation efforts of the cities of Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, Cleveland and interested citizens. Over the years, Doan Brook has developed an active constituency dedicated to its renewal. The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership will hold a clean-up day on April 17th. To register call 216-321-5935 x 237 or visit the website.
The $2.5 million project will also remove some invasive species and allow limited access to the brook, but will not address flooding.
Source: Victoria Mills
Writer: Lee Chilcote
MMPI, owner and operator of the forthcoming Medical Mart & Convention Center, stands to save $5 million over 14 years thanks to a newly signed contract with Cleveland Thermal. Rather than build its own on-site heating and cooling system, the mart and convention center will use heating and cooling energy provided by Cleveland Thermal.
Cleveland Thermal is a district energy supplier that serves about 125 commercial, institutional, municipal and federal buildings in Cleveland. The 117-year-old company delivers thermal heat and chilled water through underground pipes that connect to Cleveland Thermal's power plant.
Cleveland Thermal's infrastructure was technically already in place to serve the mart and convention center. According to the company, the existing piping has been disconnected to allow for safe demolition of the old buildings. The new facility will be reconnected to the heating and cooling system later this year.
Cleveland Thermal, which employs 47 people, would not disclose the amount of the contract with MMPI.
Karpinski Engineering, which is handling mechanical system and mapping for the new facility, recommended Cleveland Thermal. Dennis Wessel, senior vice president, points out that MMPI will not have to worry about installing and operating onsite heating and cooling equipment, which will save money. What's more, Wessel says. "this arrangement will enable MMPI to allocate valuable additional floor space to other uses."
MMPI also recently announced that it will seek LEED Silver Certification for the facility, a designation determined by the U.S. Green Building Council. Using an existing heating and cooling source will lessen the environmental impact of the new facility, according to MMPI.
SOURCES: Cleveland Thermal, Karpinski Engineering, MMPI
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
Cleveland Thermal is a district energy supplier that serves about 125 commercial, institutional, municipal and federal buildings in Cleveland. The 117-year-old company delivers thermal heat and chilled water through underground pipes that connect to Cleveland Thermal's power plant.
Cleveland Thermal's infrastructure was technically already in place to serve the mart and convention center. According to the company, the existing piping has been disconnected to allow for safe demolition of the old buildings. The new facility will be reconnected to the heating and cooling system later this year.
Cleveland Thermal, which employs 47 people, would not disclose the amount of the contract with MMPI.
Karpinski Engineering, which is handling mechanical system and mapping for the new facility, recommended Cleveland Thermal. Dennis Wessel, senior vice president, points out that MMPI will not have to worry about installing and operating onsite heating and cooling equipment, which will save money. What's more, Wessel says. "this arrangement will enable MMPI to allocate valuable additional floor space to other uses."
MMPI also recently announced that it will seek LEED Silver Certification for the facility, a designation determined by the U.S. Green Building Council. Using an existing heating and cooling source will lessen the environmental impact of the new facility, according to MMPI.
SOURCES: Cleveland Thermal, Karpinski Engineering, MMPI
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
Local food startups are growing by leaps and bounds in Cleveland. Whether it's urban farming or specialty food production, the ability of local entrepreneurs to affect change in the food industry seems limitless.
This Monday, April 4, 10 food entrepreneurs will gather at Great Lakes Brewing Co. to share the secrets of their success. A Local Food Cleveland event, the Local Food Startup Business Showcase looks at businesses that are helping the local food economy.
Among the startups at the showcase will be Tunnel Vision Hoops, which designs retractable domes for year-round farming; Green City Growers Cooperative, a 100-percent worker-owned commercial greenhouse in Cleveland; and MOHCO, a manufacturer of falafel dough with a philanthropic mission to help communities locally and abroad.
And just in case you think this local food business isn't getting noticed outside of Cleveland, consider this: Yahoo! recently named Cleveland the fourth most visionary city in the world, particularly because of urban farming initiatives. Cleveland was ranked behind Seoul, Abu Dhabi and Tallinn, Estonia. The online news source sited Gardens Under Glass in the Galleria, which grows vegetables and then sells them at a weekly indoor market, as a fine example of urban farming in Cleveland.
SOURCE: Local Food Cleveland
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
This Monday, April 4, 10 food entrepreneurs will gather at Great Lakes Brewing Co. to share the secrets of their success. A Local Food Cleveland event, the Local Food Startup Business Showcase looks at businesses that are helping the local food economy.
Among the startups at the showcase will be Tunnel Vision Hoops, which designs retractable domes for year-round farming; Green City Growers Cooperative, a 100-percent worker-owned commercial greenhouse in Cleveland; and MOHCO, a manufacturer of falafel dough with a philanthropic mission to help communities locally and abroad.
And just in case you think this local food business isn't getting noticed outside of Cleveland, consider this: Yahoo! recently named Cleveland the fourth most visionary city in the world, particularly because of urban farming initiatives. Cleveland was ranked behind Seoul, Abu Dhabi and Tallinn, Estonia. The online news source sited Gardens Under Glass in the Galleria, which grows vegetables and then sells them at a weekly indoor market, as a fine example of urban farming in Cleveland.
SOURCE: Local Food Cleveland
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
united press int'l reports on case fuel cell breakthrough
UPI recently reported on Case Western Reserve University's breakthrough in the development of low-cost hydrogen fuel cells, which will power the electric cars of the future.
Researchers at the university say catalysts made of polymer-dipped carbon nanotubes can outperform traditional platinum catalysts in fuel cells at a fraction of the cost. The cost of catalysts is one of the biggest obstacles to widespread cell use, say scientists.
"Platinum, which represents at least a quarter of the cost of fuel cells, currently sells for about $30,000 per pound," states the article, "while the activated carbon nanotubes cost about $45 per pound."
"This is a breakthrough," professor Liming Dai says in the article.
In testing, the carbon catalyst fuel cell produced as much power as an identical cell using a platinum catalyst.
Read the full report here.
Researchers at the university say catalysts made of polymer-dipped carbon nanotubes can outperform traditional platinum catalysts in fuel cells at a fraction of the cost. The cost of catalysts is one of the biggest obstacles to widespread cell use, say scientists.
"Platinum, which represents at least a quarter of the cost of fuel cells, currently sells for about $30,000 per pound," states the article, "while the activated carbon nanotubes cost about $45 per pound."
"This is a breakthrough," professor Liming Dai says in the article.
In testing, the carbon catalyst fuel cell produced as much power as an identical cell using a platinum catalyst.
Read the full report here.
eco-artist susie frazier sets up shop in 78th street studios
The 78th Street Studios, a warren of creative-minded businesses located at 1300 W. 78th Street, recently welcomed a new showroom run by environmental artist Susie Frazier.
Three years ago, Frazier designed the logo and public art elements for the $3.5 million Gordon Square Arts District streetscape, which perk up Detroit Avenue between W. 58th and W. 73rd streets. From markings she'd observed along the Lake Erie coastline, she created unique crosswalk patterns, amoeba-shaped benches and a distinctive new logo.
Now, under the brand of "earthminded art," Frazier is launching a new line of up-cycled home products and gifts, including tables and lamps made from salvaged wood, decorative pillows and note cards printed with earth images, and rings made from Lake Erie driftwood.
"Today, architects and homeowners are selecting art that's modern and simple, but reinforces their love of nature," Frazier explained in a press release announcing the new showroom.
Frazier also creates original fine art that she sells to collectors. By using natural fragments from different habitats, she creates textural art that highlights the repetitive patterns that she identifies in nature.
The 78th Street Studios, located in a renovated loft-style warehouse that once housed American Greetings' creative studios, contains an eclectic mix of arts-related businesses. The studios are located at the western edge of Gordon Square, a lively district with restaurants, galleries and shops anchored by Cleveland Public Theatre and the Capitol Theatre, a three-screen independent movie house
Frazier's new studio highlights the continued growth of the 78th Street Studios, which developer Dan Bush has renovated to feature exposed brickwork, vibrant colors and a contemporary industrial aesthetic. Bush also recently opened the smART space at 78th, a 6,000-square-foot venue available for short-term rentals such as private parties and benefits.
In addition to their regular business hours, the businesses in the 78th Street Studios host festive open houses with wine and snacks every third Friday of the month from 5-9 p.m.
Source: Susie Frazier
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Three years ago, Frazier designed the logo and public art elements for the $3.5 million Gordon Square Arts District streetscape, which perk up Detroit Avenue between W. 58th and W. 73rd streets. From markings she'd observed along the Lake Erie coastline, she created unique crosswalk patterns, amoeba-shaped benches and a distinctive new logo.
Now, under the brand of "earthminded art," Frazier is launching a new line of up-cycled home products and gifts, including tables and lamps made from salvaged wood, decorative pillows and note cards printed with earth images, and rings made from Lake Erie driftwood.
"Today, architects and homeowners are selecting art that's modern and simple, but reinforces their love of nature," Frazier explained in a press release announcing the new showroom.
Frazier also creates original fine art that she sells to collectors. By using natural fragments from different habitats, she creates textural art that highlights the repetitive patterns that she identifies in nature.
The 78th Street Studios, located in a renovated loft-style warehouse that once housed American Greetings' creative studios, contains an eclectic mix of arts-related businesses. The studios are located at the western edge of Gordon Square, a lively district with restaurants, galleries and shops anchored by Cleveland Public Theatre and the Capitol Theatre, a three-screen independent movie house
Frazier's new studio highlights the continued growth of the 78th Street Studios, which developer Dan Bush has renovated to feature exposed brickwork, vibrant colors and a contemporary industrial aesthetic. Bush also recently opened the smART space at 78th, a 6,000-square-foot venue available for short-term rentals such as private parties and benefits.
In addition to their regular business hours, the businesses in the 78th Street Studios host festive open houses with wine and snacks every third Friday of the month from 5-9 p.m.
Source: Susie Frazier
Writer: Lee Chilcote
When the team at the Lighting Innovations Institute at John Carroll University gets an idea, it's not always the proverbial light bulb that goes on above their heads. More than likely, it's a state-of-the-art light that will make a difference in industry and everyday life.
The Lighting Innovations Institute accepts projects that, according to its website, "involve novel ideas and offer a challenge." Led by veterans in research and development in Northeast Ohio, the institute is currently developing projects for such distinguished customers as NASA and the FAA.
"We're focusing on two key areas," says Richard Hansler, director of the institute and a retired GE Lighting research physicist. One of these is lighting for airport runways. Landing lights that allow pilots to see if they are in proper alignment with the runway already exist, but the Lighting Innovations Institute is developing a lighting system that is more energy-efficient and longer-lasting.
The other key area of development is in blocking out the blue spectrum of artificial light that interferes with optimum health. Hansler says that our bodies are built to withstand 12 hours of darkness, not the typical seven or eight hours most of us get. Artificial light prevents the body from making melatonin, a hormone that is believed to play a role in fighting cancer and obesity.
"I worked as a researcher at GE for over 40 years, and when I came here I realized that artificial light is unhealthy," Hansler says. The institute has produced eyeglasses and light bulbs that block blue light; these are sold through a spin-off company, Phototonic Developments LLC.
The Lighting Innovations Institute receives funding from the companies it contracts with to develop products. The institute has a small full-time staff but hires students part-time when funds are available, according to Hansler.
SOURCE: Richard Hansler
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
The Lighting Innovations Institute accepts projects that, according to its website, "involve novel ideas and offer a challenge." Led by veterans in research and development in Northeast Ohio, the institute is currently developing projects for such distinguished customers as NASA and the FAA.
"We're focusing on two key areas," says Richard Hansler, director of the institute and a retired GE Lighting research physicist. One of these is lighting for airport runways. Landing lights that allow pilots to see if they are in proper alignment with the runway already exist, but the Lighting Innovations Institute is developing a lighting system that is more energy-efficient and longer-lasting.
The other key area of development is in blocking out the blue spectrum of artificial light that interferes with optimum health. Hansler says that our bodies are built to withstand 12 hours of darkness, not the typical seven or eight hours most of us get. Artificial light prevents the body from making melatonin, a hormone that is believed to play a role in fighting cancer and obesity.
"I worked as a researcher at GE for over 40 years, and when I came here I realized that artificial light is unhealthy," Hansler says. The institute has produced eyeglasses and light bulbs that block blue light; these are sold through a spin-off company, Phototonic Developments LLC.
The Lighting Innovations Institute receives funding from the companies it contracts with to develop products. The institute has a small full-time staff but hires students part-time when funds are available, according to Hansler.
SOURCE: Richard Hansler
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
One of the newest members of the Cleveland organization Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S) is an organization known for helping people with special needs. Over the past several months, the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Board of DD) has realized ways to help others while helping the environment and the City of Cleveland.
The organization's CleveLand Crops program, in partnership with Stanard Farms and the Ohio State University Extension, is part of the Board of DD's Solutions at Work (S.A.W.) program, which is the state's largest employer of people with disabilities. S.A.W. also operates a discount store in Parma called Just-a-Buck, employing 15 developmentally disabled residents of Cuyahoga County, and Pulley's, a wi-fi coffeehouse in Cleveland's Tyler Village, which employs three adults in the Board of DD program.
CleveLand Crops gives adults with developmental disabilities the chance to nurture plants and vegetables from planting through harvest. The goal of the project is to provide agriculture and employment training for adults by developing 10 sustainable farms that will employ 100 adults from the Board of DD and establishing an Agriculture Education Center at the Stanard Farm to serve as a farming site for CleveLand Crops. Cleveland Crops intends to operate year-round using various facilities in the area.
All of this leads to another goal: repurposing neglected land using sustainable farming practices. Stanard Farm launched in 2010, and this year the Board of DD will open three new farm sites in Cleveland.
SOURCE: Cuyahoga County Board of DD
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
The organization's CleveLand Crops program, in partnership with Stanard Farms and the Ohio State University Extension, is part of the Board of DD's Solutions at Work (S.A.W.) program, which is the state's largest employer of people with disabilities. S.A.W. also operates a discount store in Parma called Just-a-Buck, employing 15 developmentally disabled residents of Cuyahoga County, and Pulley's, a wi-fi coffeehouse in Cleveland's Tyler Village, which employs three adults in the Board of DD program.
CleveLand Crops gives adults with developmental disabilities the chance to nurture plants and vegetables from planting through harvest. The goal of the project is to provide agriculture and employment training for adults by developing 10 sustainable farms that will employ 100 adults from the Board of DD and establishing an Agriculture Education Center at the Stanard Farm to serve as a farming site for CleveLand Crops. Cleveland Crops intends to operate year-round using various facilities in the area.
All of this leads to another goal: repurposing neglected land using sustainable farming practices. Stanard Farm launched in 2010, and this year the Board of DD will open three new farm sites in Cleveland.
SOURCE: Cuyahoga County Board of DD
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
The idea behind Urban Infant came to Eric Eichhorn when his sister Kelly Friedl had her first child. "All of the baby gear had ducks, bunnies or bears on it," he recalls. "I wanted to get beyond pink and blue to something that had solid, hip colors and was edgy."
Eichhorn and Friedl, who lived in Chicago, dreamed of products that would be geared towards parents "making the conscious decision to raise kids in an urban environment," Eichhorn explains. Friedl's expertise in graphic design combined with Eichhorn's business background led to the formation, in 2001, of Urban Infant.
Today, the Urban Infant has taken on a life of its own and sales are growing. In January, the partners leased a workshop in the 78th Street Studios, a complex of creative-minded businesses in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. "We used to work out of our homes and closets, but then we went to an L.A. trade show, got a rep and began to expand," explains Eichhorn, who moved to Cleveland in 2004.
The Urban Infant's biggest seller is the Tot Cot, an all-in-one pillow, blanket and bed sheet that makes naptime simple for toddlers attending daycare or preschool. The Tot Cot's bedding is made of recycled PET plastic bottles. "It's cool to give someone something that has a previous life," says Eichhorn, who has made sustainability a core aspect of the business.
The Urban Infant also recently created a line of washable bibs made from recycled plastic bags. The bibs, each of which is unique and handmade, feature slogans such as "Thank You" and "American Greetings" (where Eichhorn now works as a business consultant). Priced at $18, the bibs are available at boutiques and museum stores across the country, as well as online.
The bibs are created by fusing together layers of plastic bags using a heat press. Eichhorn regularly scours the recycling bin at Dave's Supermarket in Ohio City for bags, ignoring strange looks from passers-by. He has also enlisted his friends in foreign countries to help collect bags, especially unusual ones.
Although Eichhorn and Friedl have yet to quit their day jobs, Urban Infant has gained a following. In January, the company's products were featured in Parenting magazine and on the Today Show.
Eichhorn and his wife recently celebrated the birth of their daughter Essa. Despite not getting enough sleep, Eichhorn is already working on several new product lines. And now that he has a child of his own, he's even more dialed in to the needs of urban parents.
Source: Eric Eichhorn
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Eichhorn and Friedl, who lived in Chicago, dreamed of products that would be geared towards parents "making the conscious decision to raise kids in an urban environment," Eichhorn explains. Friedl's expertise in graphic design combined with Eichhorn's business background led to the formation, in 2001, of Urban Infant.
Today, the Urban Infant has taken on a life of its own and sales are growing. In January, the partners leased a workshop in the 78th Street Studios, a complex of creative-minded businesses in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. "We used to work out of our homes and closets, but then we went to an L.A. trade show, got a rep and began to expand," explains Eichhorn, who moved to Cleveland in 2004.
The Urban Infant's biggest seller is the Tot Cot, an all-in-one pillow, blanket and bed sheet that makes naptime simple for toddlers attending daycare or preschool. The Tot Cot's bedding is made of recycled PET plastic bottles. "It's cool to give someone something that has a previous life," says Eichhorn, who has made sustainability a core aspect of the business.
The Urban Infant also recently created a line of washable bibs made from recycled plastic bags. The bibs, each of which is unique and handmade, feature slogans such as "Thank You" and "American Greetings" (where Eichhorn now works as a business consultant). Priced at $18, the bibs are available at boutiques and museum stores across the country, as well as online.
The bibs are created by fusing together layers of plastic bags using a heat press. Eichhorn regularly scours the recycling bin at Dave's Supermarket in Ohio City for bags, ignoring strange looks from passers-by. He has also enlisted his friends in foreign countries to help collect bags, especially unusual ones.
Although Eichhorn and Friedl have yet to quit their day jobs, Urban Infant has gained a following. In January, the company's products were featured in Parenting magazine and on the Today Show.
Eichhorn and his wife recently celebrated the birth of their daughter Essa. Despite not getting enough sleep, Eichhorn is already working on several new product lines. And now that he has a child of his own, he's even more dialed in to the needs of urban parents.
Source: Eric Eichhorn
Writer: Lee Chilcote
keybank goes green, earns leed gold status
KeyCorp has announced that KeyBank's renovated office space in the historic Higbee Building on Public Square has earned LEED® Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
"The Green Building Council's LEED certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier environment."
The new KeyBank workspace utilizes sustainable technologies and construction practices such as recycled building materials, enhanced natural lighting, personal lighting control systems, CO2 sensors, and outdoor air monitoring systems.
KeyCorp CEO Henry Meyer said, "This renovation represents KeyBank's commitment to strengthen our community's core in the most environmentally responsible ways possible. It enhances one of the most historic buildings in the heart of downtown, it leverages Tower City Center's existing transportation hub and it allows hundreds of our employees to enjoy the growing sense of excitement connected to the area's ongoing economic development."
The KeyBank renovation is one of 62 LEED certified projects in Northeast Ohio. KeyCorp has already received LEED certification for its technology and operations center on Tiedeman Road.
Read the rest of the green news here.
"The Green Building Council's LEED certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier environment."
The new KeyBank workspace utilizes sustainable technologies and construction practices such as recycled building materials, enhanced natural lighting, personal lighting control systems, CO2 sensors, and outdoor air monitoring systems.
KeyCorp CEO Henry Meyer said, "This renovation represents KeyBank's commitment to strengthen our community's core in the most environmentally responsible ways possible. It enhances one of the most historic buildings in the heart of downtown, it leverages Tower City Center's existing transportation hub and it allows hundreds of our employees to enjoy the growing sense of excitement connected to the area's ongoing economic development."
The KeyBank renovation is one of 62 LEED certified projects in Northeast Ohio. KeyCorp has already received LEED certification for its technology and operations center on Tiedeman Road.
Read the rest of the green news here.
The Neighborhood Connections program provides small financial gifts to community organizations focused on enhancing neighborhoods and engaging residents. Recipients must connect residents in meaningful ways through grass roots projects. Though the grants are small -- from $500 to $5,000 -- they can make a huge difference in the destiny of a neighborhood and its citizens.
Beekeeping can be a life-changing experience that lowers stress, fosters a greater connection with nature, and promotes biodiversity in your neighborhood. Oh yeah, and it provides a near-endless supply of delicious honey.
Yet raising bees is not always easy, and backyard beekeepers must spend time with their bees every day.
"If you don't pay close attention, you could lose the swarm through pests or disease, " Karen Wishner, President of the Greater Cleveland Beekeepers Association, told a crowd of 200 people at last week's Local Food Cleveland forum on raising backyard livestock.
If you are a first time beekeeper, Wishner recommends taking classes or reading articles to educate yourself, as well as joining a local beekeepers association. The first step is to find a location for the hive. It should be located near a windbreak, facing the morning sun and in a partially shaded location. Beekeepers also need easy access to water and enough room to navigate around the hive.
Start-up costs include purchasing new equipment for the hive, buying the bees, and purchasing a veil, hive tool and smoker. Once you obtain a hive, Wishner recommends paying close attention to its progress, keeping an eye out for damage and checking for the queen. A typical hive will yield one or two combs in the first year, and by the second or third year, it can produce three to four gallons of honey.
Many people find beekeeping therapeutic because bees, by their very nature, require their keepers to stay calm and peaceful. "Minimizing stress is the name of the game; that's what bees like," Wishner said.
Beekeeping is permitted in many communities in Northeast Ohio. In 2009, the City of Cleveland passed progressive legislation that allows residents to raise chickens and bees in limited numbers. On a typical residential lot in Cleveland, two hives are permitted. Wishner recommended that anyone interested in backyard beekeeping consult their local municipal officials before purchasing a hive.
For those interested in learning more about backyard beekeeping, the Northeast Ohio Honeybee Conference will take place on Saturday, May 21st at Baldwin Wallace College, Wishner said. The conference, which costs $25, is open to the public.
Source: Karen Wishner
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Yet raising bees is not always easy, and backyard beekeepers must spend time with their bees every day.
"If you don't pay close attention, you could lose the swarm through pests or disease, " Karen Wishner, President of the Greater Cleveland Beekeepers Association, told a crowd of 200 people at last week's Local Food Cleveland forum on raising backyard livestock.
If you are a first time beekeeper, Wishner recommends taking classes or reading articles to educate yourself, as well as joining a local beekeepers association. The first step is to find a location for the hive. It should be located near a windbreak, facing the morning sun and in a partially shaded location. Beekeepers also need easy access to water and enough room to navigate around the hive.
Start-up costs include purchasing new equipment for the hive, buying the bees, and purchasing a veil, hive tool and smoker. Once you obtain a hive, Wishner recommends paying close attention to its progress, keeping an eye out for damage and checking for the queen. A typical hive will yield one or two combs in the first year, and by the second or third year, it can produce three to four gallons of honey.
Many people find beekeeping therapeutic because bees, by their very nature, require their keepers to stay calm and peaceful. "Minimizing stress is the name of the game; that's what bees like," Wishner said.
Beekeeping is permitted in many communities in Northeast Ohio. In 2009, the City of Cleveland passed progressive legislation that allows residents to raise chickens and bees in limited numbers. On a typical residential lot in Cleveland, two hives are permitted. Wishner recommended that anyone interested in backyard beekeeping consult their local municipal officials before purchasing a hive.
For those interested in learning more about backyard beekeeping, the Northeast Ohio Honeybee Conference will take place on Saturday, May 21st at Baldwin Wallace College, Wishner said. The conference, which costs $25, is open to the public.
Source: Karen Wishner
Writer: Lee Chilcote
These days, it seems that everyone is singing Pittsburgh's praises. Our Rust Belt neighbor to the east recently scored a Google corporate office. And last year, perennial Cleveland-basher Forbes Magazine named Pittsburgh the country's most livable city. Ouch. Clearly Pittsburgh is doing something right. Simply put: That city is light years ahead of Cleveland when it comes to bike-friendliness -- and bike-friendly cities are more attractive to young professionals, the creative-class folks who hold the keys to economic prosperity.
At first, John Campanelli didn't tell his wife. No, he doesn't have an obsession with pricey Cuban cigars or engage in secret Friday-night poker nights. Rather, he had hatched a plan to raise chickens.
"My wife thought I was crazy at first, but chickens are easier to take care of than cats -- and they're the only pet that makes you breakfast," Campanelli told an audience of 200 during last week's Local Food Cleveland forum on raising backyard livestock.
Three years into rearing his backyard brood, Campanelli says, "My wife agrees it's the best thing we've ever done -- maybe even better than having kids."
Not only is raising chickens fun and relatively easy, but backyard eggs are fresher, healthier and tastier than their supermarket counterparts, Campanelli explained. He touted other benefits too, such as using chicken droppings as garden fertilizer. Chickens also help rid your yard of insects, are great with people and kids and provide hours of entertainment. "I'm convinced that [chickens] are the reason most rural Americans don't have high speed Internet," he joked.
In 2009, the City of Cleveland passed progressive "chicks and bees" legislation that allows residents to keep chickens, ducks, rabbits and beehives (but not roosters, geese or turkeys). A typical residential lot is allowed no more than six small animals and two hives.
For those interested in raising chickens, Campanelli suggested doing some online research (he cited Backyard Chickens), educating yourself on municipal zoning laws and contacting your neighbors ahead of time to avoid complaints.
While chickens are not high-maintenance, noisy or expensive, they do require food, water and a good coop that is cleaned regularly. Would-be chicken farmers should also learn which breeds are known as being cold hardy, better with people and producing tastier eggs.
For hold-outs who aren't yet convinced that raising yardbirds is now mainstream, look no further than the local bookstore, Campanelli said. Right next to the wedding planning guides in the how-to section is where you'll find "Raising Backyard Chickens for Dummies."
Source: John Campanelli
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"My wife thought I was crazy at first, but chickens are easier to take care of than cats -- and they're the only pet that makes you breakfast," Campanelli told an audience of 200 during last week's Local Food Cleveland forum on raising backyard livestock.
Three years into rearing his backyard brood, Campanelli says, "My wife agrees it's the best thing we've ever done -- maybe even better than having kids."
Not only is raising chickens fun and relatively easy, but backyard eggs are fresher, healthier and tastier than their supermarket counterparts, Campanelli explained. He touted other benefits too, such as using chicken droppings as garden fertilizer. Chickens also help rid your yard of insects, are great with people and kids and provide hours of entertainment. "I'm convinced that [chickens] are the reason most rural Americans don't have high speed Internet," he joked.
In 2009, the City of Cleveland passed progressive "chicks and bees" legislation that allows residents to keep chickens, ducks, rabbits and beehives (but not roosters, geese or turkeys). A typical residential lot is allowed no more than six small animals and two hives.
For those interested in raising chickens, Campanelli suggested doing some online research (he cited Backyard Chickens), educating yourself on municipal zoning laws and contacting your neighbors ahead of time to avoid complaints.
While chickens are not high-maintenance, noisy or expensive, they do require food, water and a good coop that is cleaned regularly. Would-be chicken farmers should also learn which breeds are known as being cold hardy, better with people and producing tastier eggs.
For hold-outs who aren't yet convinced that raising yardbirds is now mainstream, look no further than the local bookstore, Campanelli said. Right next to the wedding planning guides in the how-to section is where you'll find "Raising Backyard Chickens for Dummies."
Source: John Campanelli
Writer: Lee Chilcote
A proposed $7.5 million indoor cycling track in Slavic Village would be the only such facility of its kind east of the Rockies. The nonprofit organization Fast Track Cycling says the velodrome would attract thousands of cycling enthusiasts while helping to transform Cleveland into a greener, healthier city. Slavic Village supporters say, Bring it on.