Center for EcoTechnology recycles building materials at Springfield store
Nonprofit Center for EcoTechnology upgrades home-improvement materials outlet
Wednesday, December 7, 20111
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NORTHAMPTON - With its nonprofit playbook, the Center for EcoTechnology in Northampton would rather see many Green Wednesdays or Thursdays than a monumental Black Friday.
The color green, denoting both sustainability and money, is key to the center's new Springfield outlet for recycled building materials, EcoBuilding Bargains.
John Majercak, the center's executive director, explains that the retail outlet, formerly called ReStore, saves people money and creates a market for goods that, while still useful, would otherwise be tossed out, clogging landfills and wasting resources. For that reason, and others, keeping vintage floors and doors above-ground is as much a part of the 35-year-old center's mission as training western Massachusetts residents in energy efficiency and sustainable living.
"Many of our donors tell us they just can't stand the idea of throwing away something they know someone else can use," Majercak said in an email interview about the store, located at 83 Warwick St. in Springfield. "Our customers pride themselves on how beautiful they can make their houses look at a fraction of the usual cost."
Majercak fielded these questions about EcoBuilding Bargains:
Q: Ever see Christmas shoppers at the store?
A: Oh sure - many people are busy fixing up one room or another to be ready to entertain for the holidays. Others are looking for a special gift for a loved one that is a do-it-yourselfer. We even sell gift cards.
Q: This is a mission-driven business, of course. What's the mission?
A: At EcoBuilding Bargains we partner with our material donors and customers to save valuable materials from the landfill, make home improvement more affordable and provide jobs and job training.
Q: Who hears and heeds the message?
A: Many different types of people, but there are two main kinds. First are the homeowners, contractors and business owners that have unwanted building materials and feel great about donating them to us so that their neighbors can use them to fix up their homes, instead of throwing them away. Our truck goes out every day to do free pick-ups of these items from job sites, businesses and homes. Second is the creative, hard-working do-it-yourselfer on a budget (who isn't these days?) who loves a good deal and wants to make his or her home more attractive, comfortable and safe.
And you don't have to own a home to shop here. Many renters are looking for low cost and green decorating ideas - we have paint, lighting and many items that creative decorators just love. Many of our customers come to the store regularly to check out what's new - it's very exciting!
Q: Why did you just move your store?
A: We had completely outgrown our old place. Now we have a huge parking lot and are really easy to get to right off of I-291 in Springfield - 20 minutes from Northampton. We have three times the floor space, wide aisles, lots of carts - all things that make it very easy to shop and let us display lots more inventory. We also now have a huge receiving area so we can process more donated building materials. Finally, we did a deep energy retrofit of a 100-year old building in Springfield and made it a modern high performance green building - bringing it back to life and demonstrating the benefits of energy conservation. It is very cool and something you really have to come and check out.
Q: Why the new name for both the store and your agency itself?
A: We changed our name to make it very clear to everyone what we had to offer - eco-friendly used and surplus building materials at bargain prices. The name also reflects the fact that we now carry new green products like recycled paint, weatherization materials and energy-efficient lighting as well. The Center for EcoTechnology name is just a bit shortened to make it easier to remember but still hold all of its meaning and our long successful history for those who already know us.
Q: Do people in the trades use the store?
A: Yes - primarily as donors of building materials. We come to their job sites for free to pick up materials they are removing, or they hire our qualified partner contractors to provide deconstruction services when they need a room or house gutted or even completely removed. Many contractors also send their customers down to our store to look for particular items that could save them money - kitchen cabinet sets are a good example.
Q: How does the slowdown in construction affect the supply or demand for recycled building materials?
A: As the economy has tightened more people are on a tight budget, but they would still like to improve their homes. So, more than ever people are interested in the huge savings that used materials can offer. And they are discovering that the materials we have are from all time periods and vintages, from today to yesteryear - so they can find something that fits in their décor. And they're excited to see just how much character and style the materials can add to their project.
We are working harder now than ever to increase our level of donation of materials to the store in order to meet demand. As construction has slowed for each of our donors, we are adding additional donors to the mix to still help us grow and do more of our mission. So anyone that can choose us instead of the Dumpster is greatly appreciated. It is as easy as a phone call to our store to check to make sure we can use the items and to schedule a free pick-up. And they benefit from lower disposal fees, a tax deduction for the fair market value of the materials and feeling great about helping our community, economy and environment.
We are also looking for more contractor partners to do deconstruction work on our behalf.
Q: How do the prices of materials compare with new?
A: Used items are typically one-third the cost of new, and new surplus items are typically half the cost of new.
Q: Do thrifty New Englanders have a special understanding of the value of re-use?
A: Yes they do. ... Most remodeling is done for reasons of taste - someone likes maple cabinets instead of oak, or wants to upgrade the look of something. They know the stuff they are pulling out is usable, and are happy to find out we can come get it and put it to good use.
Q: How regular is the supply of new inventory items?
A: Almost every day we pick up building materials from homeowners, contractors, retailers, distributors and manufacturers. So our inventory is constantly changing. We travel through Massachusetts and southern New England for the materials and to do deconstruction jobs through our qualified partner contractors.
Q: What is most popular, and in shortest supply?
A: Our big sellers are cabinet sets, doors and windows. But lighting and plumbing fixtures are also pretty popular. Right now we have tons of great lumber from a big whole-house deconstruction, but it always goes fast.
Q: Do you try to calculate how much volume of would-be debris you manage to keep out of landfills?
A: It is hard to know the exact amount, but we know is it thousands of tons since we opened 10 years ago.
Q: What tips do you have for customers on making the best use of your offerings?
A: Come with measurements for what you need. Have a few projects around the house in mind, and over time find pieces that will work for each of them. Then do them once you have the right stuff. Since our inventory is always changing, the more flexible you can be on timing of the project the more you will save.
And for those projects that must get done this weekend, check our store first and if we have the item you need you will save a lot. If not, get it at a traditional retailer this time and try us again the next time!
For more information, visit www.ecobuildingbargains.org. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Its phone number is (413) 788-6900.
Larry Parnass, the Gazette's editor, can be reached at editor@gazettenet.com.
