Five months ago, in the June issue of this publication, I introduced The ReUse Institute of America, the division of TRP that provides consulting and training services to businesses and government agencies, and to builders, developers, designers and engineers in the green building industry. During its first few months of operation, the Institute has completed several projects. Without disclosing client names, here is an update.

For a small city, the Institute . . .
Delineated the current state of the deconstruction field on national, state and local levels, including barriers to entry and specific recommendations encouraging increased solid waste diversion through deconstruction.

For an engineering firm, the Institute . . .
Estimated the value, when properly salvaged, of materials in a large warehouse on a decommissioned naval air base.

For a county government, the Institute . . .
Identified the estimated value of salvageable materials in a large municipal building, providing an exacting inventory of lumber and reusable fixtures (over 2,700 items). This project also included timelines and associated costs for deconstruction and salvage and the demolition of concrete. Additionally we identified all materials to be recycled and suggested alternative uses for both salvaged and recycled materials.

In addition, the Institute estimated the cost to remove 41 buildings located on National Park Service property, defining the materials to be salvaged and determining their value, and recently was engaged to establish the value of salvaged and recycled materials from two large gymnasiums at a community college.

The immediate future looks even brighter.

Soon, possibly early next year, we expect to conduct a two-week deconstruction training program with a nationally known youth-training organization. One aim of the program is to qualify the organization itself to become a TRP-certified Deconstruction Contractor. A similar organization in Colorado is also interested in the training program, and we are preparing to offer courses to the membership of a nationally recognized professional association of builders. Moreover, a business consulting arrangement with a design-build firm in the Bay Area is in the final stages of negotiation.

From the looks of it, 2008 will be the kick-off year for the Institute’s proprietary training program. By the way, these training materials will be made available free of charge to TRP-Certified Deconstruction Contractors and will eventually be available in Spanish.

Additional consulting opportunities have surfaced as a direct result of my presentation at the recent West Coast Green conference, where I talked about the marketing, economic and start-up factors important to building a truly sustainable green business. In light of the current construction-industry downturn, I suspect that this and related topics might generate a large portion of The ReUse Institute’s 2008 consulting schedule.

The Oakland warehouse is brimming with appliances from the deconstruction of 1,000 apartments (described in last months e-letter). Come in an see these very clean refrigerators, electric stoves and microwaves.

This month the Boulder warehouse will be receiving one or two trailer-loads of kitchen cabinets from the apartment project mentioned above. Additional materials are being transferred from the Washington region.

At the Oakland warehouse this month we are featuring its wide selection of doors. Receive 25% off on every purchase of doors through December 15.

At the Boulder warehouse, we are again featuring concrete roofing tiles. Receive 75% off on tile roofing through December 15.

TRP is accepting donations of cars, trucks, SUV's, RV's, and motorcycles. Donating a vehicle is a simple process. You just pick up the phone and call. We do the rest. So if you'd like to get rid of an unwanted vehicle, phone now for a pickup. 800-574-0888. Or you can donate your vehicle online at www.vehiclesforcharity.com. Unfortunately, vehicle donations can only be made from the Bay Area counties plus Santa Cruz.

Go to our website www.thereusepeople.org, click on the tab "Opportunities" and look under the heading "Employment Opportunities"

• All the materials from the complete deconstruction of a 2,500 sq-ft custom home in Menlo Park, with double-hung wood windows, great interior panel doors, hardwood flooring, deluxe appliances and horizontal redwood siding
• All materials from the complete deconstruction of an older 3,000 sq-ft home in Los Altos Hills, including great lumber, older wood windows and super interior panel doors
• All materials from the complete remodel of a custom 3,000 sq-ft Sacramento home with dual-pane windows, excellent appliances and cabinets

• A 2-story 2,450 sq-ft house on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, with oak hardwood floors, 3 premium chandeliers, Casablanca fans, bathroom vanities, solid wood kitchen cabinetry and raised panel doors
• A 3,700 sq-ft Brentwood house, featuring French doors with brass hardware, hardwood flooring, lighting fixtures and premium kitchen appliances, including a SubZero refrigerator/freezer and Gaggeneau stove
• A 1932 Spanish style single-story house in midtown Los Angeles, with ceramic roofing tiles, oak hardwood floors, quality kitchen cabinetry and SubZero refrigerator/freezer
• A 1955, 2,500 sq-ft house in Whittier, including custom solid maple kitchen cabinets with granite countertops, near new Milgard dual-pane vinyl windows and premium French doors
• A 1,200 sq-ft home in Oceanside, including plantation shutters, dual-pane windows and hardwood flooring
• Several residential buildings and one commercial structure totaling 7,800 sq-ft in the Kensington area of San Diego, including hardwood flooring, concrete pavers and Douglas fir lumber and beams
• A 4,500 sq-ft Rancho Santa Fe home, including contemporary cabinets, gorgeous Viking range top w/six burners and griddle, dual-pane wood casement windows, concrete roofing tiles, garage utility cabinets, office library cabinets and a nice bar unit

• All materials from a ten-year-old 4,500 sq-ft house in Glencoe, including custom cabinets, new thermo windows and 2,000 sq-ft of oak flooring.
• All materials from a 2,500 sq-ft house in Chicago, including oak flooring
• All materials from a 3,000 sq-ft house in Chicago, including leaded and stained glass, claw foot tubs, and vintage trim and flooring

Location and Contact Information

TRP ReUse Bazaar
9235 San Leandro Street
Oakland, CA 94603
(510) 383-1983; toll-free 888-588-9490
Hours: Mon through Fri 10:00 to 6:00; Sat and Sun 10:00 to 4:00

Boulder Warehouse
10500 Isabelle Road
Lafayette, CO 80026
(303) 666-8094
Hours: Thursday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Please visit our partnering warehouses in Los Angeles and Seattle:

Habitat Home Improvement Store
17700 S. Figueroa (corner of 182nd)
Gardena/Carson CA 90248
(310)-323-5665
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6: 00p.m.

Earthwise Building Salvage of Seattle
3447 Fourth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98134
(206) 624-4510
Hours: Open seven days, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.