June 8, 2011

New Photo Gallery: Charitable ReUse of Lumber helps Corazon build a community center in Canon Carretas MX

Corazon Builds Community Center in Canon Carretas MX Using Salvaged Lumber

March 31, 2011

Today, DRN is co-hosting the first So Cal ReUse Summit with the Reuse Alliance in City of Industry. California carpet manufacturer Bentley Prince Street is hosting the event in its LEED-EB Silver certified carpet mill. We are expecting 50 reuse professionals including representatives from SUSTAIN LA, BURBANK GREEN ALLIANCE, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE OF SO CALIFORNIA, BENTLEY PRINCE STREET, ECOVATIONS, CITY OF SANTA MONICA, REUSE PEOPLE OF AMERICA, LA COUNTY DEPT OF PUBLIC WORKS and EPA. Following today's summit, we'll be posting findings on this site and you can follow along during the conversation live on Twitter with the hashtag #reusesummit.

February 1, 2011

Corazón, bestowed its highest award, The Order of the Grader, on Deconstruction and Re-use Network founder, Lorenz Schilling, at its Annual Meeting January 29 in Irvine. The Order of the Grader Award, established in 1993, recognizes volunteers who embody the organization’s indomitable spirit of completing their mission of building community across borders in Northern Baja California no matter what obstacles they may encounter. Lorenz’s recycled building material donations helped sustain construction activities in their seven communities in Mexico during the difficult economic times for the past two years.

Corazón Bestows its Order of the Grader Award to Lorenz Schilling

USA Today recently reported that recycling homes is becoming a booming enterprise, citing a trend toward deconstruction rather than demolition. One of our competitors and my former colleague, Ted Reiff, goes on to mention that the heightened interest may be due to stimulus funding.

BLOG POST: Recycling Homes Should be a Matter of Conscience, Not Stimulus Money

Featuring Lorenz Schilling
From: Remodeling Magazine June 2010
Posted on: June 14, 2010

To get with the program — the deconstruction and recycling program — remodelers must think ahead.

Well ahead of construction, for instance, identify which cabinets, appliances, fixtures, and floorboards might be of value and to whom. Schedule accordingly: Deconstruction takes longer than demolition, and donation groups are often booked weeks out.

Think ahead also in terms of operations and marketing. Years before your competitors embrace “diversion” as a routine best practice, embrace it as yours.

“This is the way the industry is going,” says Lorenz Schilling, president of the Deconstruction & ReUse Network, a California nonprofit. By collaborating with material-reuse groups now, he says, you’ll be “dialed-in” to a practice that homeowners will find increasingly attractive as environmental awareness grows.

Read more >>

Thinking Outside the Dumpster

January 12, 2011

Three Reuse Leaders Extend Commitment to Sustainability, Join National Reuse Nonprofit

New York, NY – January 12, 2011: Lorenz Schilling of the Deconstruction and Reuse Network; Mary Ann Remolador of the Reuse Marketplace; and Joe Connell of Habitat for Humanity ReStores of Portland Metro Area, are furthering their commitment to the reuse movement by joining the board of directors for the Reuse Alliance - a national nonprofit working to increase awareness of reuse by educating the public about the social, environmental and economic benefits of reuse.

Lorenz Schilling is the President of the Deconstruction and Reuse Network, a California-based nonprofit that provides deconstruction and reuse solutions; educates Californians about the environmental and humanitarian benefits of building materials reuse; and offers surplus property reuse services. “Reuse Alliance is working on a national scale to make reuse a matter of action. I am happy to have been appointed to serve on their board and look forward to developing national campaigns that will increase awareness and advance reuse practices.” says Mr. Schilling.

Mary Ann Remolador is the Assistant Director of the Northeast Recycling Council, a Vermont-based nonprofit that promotes waste reduction, reuse, and recycling; and manages the Reuse Marketplace - an online tool that lets you browse available items on a national network of materials exchanges. “It is wonderful to be part of an organization that brings a national voice to reuse. As a board member, I look forward to developing the organization’s programs to help people understand the economic and environmental benefits of reuse,” stated Ms. Remolador.

Joe Connell is the Director of the Habitat for Humanity ReStores in the Portland Oregon metropolitan area. He oversees two ReStores and is opening a third in the spring, and was a member of the Habitat’s National ReStore Work Group. “I have learned through my work with Habitat that we are all stronger when we work together, and I think that the Reuse Alliance and Habitat ReStores are natural partners in the effort to promote reuse as a sustainable materials management strategy. I believe the Reuse Alliance is well positioned to be the national network for the reuse industry, and I am excited to be part of it,” says Mr. Connell.

As board members for Reuse Alliance, Schilling, Remolador and Connell will support a national movement to increase public awareness and access to innovative reuse and waste prevention services. Rounding out the board of directors is Harriet Taub of Materials for Arts; Ann Woodward of The Scrap Exchange; Luis Jimenez of Goodwill Industries of NY and Northern NJ; MaryEllen Etienne of Reuse Alliance; and Stefanie Feldman of Waste Management. “I look forward to working with such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic team that shares a common commitment and passion to promote the triple bottom line benefits of reuse”, stated MaryEllen Etienne, Executive Director of the Reuse Alliance.

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About Reuse Alliance:
Reuse Alliance was born in 2005 by five individuals who shared an interest in increasing awareness of reuse. Under the leadership of the founding director, MaryEllen Etienne, the Reuse Alliance became a nonprofit organization. The Reuse Alliance began organizing the reuse community, advocating for reuse policy, and providing networking opportunities in the New York City metropolitan area. The organization re-launched as a national organization in late 2009, and now offers educational programs such as Master Reuser TM and organized the first national reuse conference and expo, ReuseConex, in North Carolina this past October. For more information, visit: http://www.reusealliance.org.

About Deconstruction and Reuse Network:
Deconstruction and Reuse Network is an environmental public benefit corporation 501(c)(3), whose mission is to promote and empower deconstruction practices and to grow a greater reuse network for quality building materials through partnerships with complimentary operations and organizations. Proud member of Build it Green; International Facility Management Association and the California Resource Recovery Association. Deconstruction and Reuse Network currently serves Northern and Southern California with partnerships that benefit Habitat for Humanity and Corazon. For more information, visit: http://www.decon-network.org.

About Reuse Marketplace:
The Reuse Marketplace, a program of the Northeast Recycling Council, is a web-based network that allows you to browse available items from Materials Exchanges around the country. These exchanges are entities that make reusable items no longer needed by businesses, municipalities, and non-profits available for sale or for free to anyone interested. It’s a win-win-win scenario. Website users save money on disposal costs, others save money on purchase costs, and the environment benefits by reducing the amount of waste flowing into landfills. For more information, visit: http://www.reusemarketplace.org.

About Habitat for Humanity ReStores of Portland Metro Area:
Habitat ReStores of Portland Metro Area are open to the public and sell a variety of high-quality, used and surplus building materials, appliances, furniture and other home improvement products. The merchandise is donated by businesses and individuals and is sold at a fraction of retail price. Usable materials are kept out of the waste stream and are put into home building, remodeling, and creative arts projects. They have raised over $1,000,000 to help build Habitat homes in the Portland-Vancouver Metro area and are keeping over 2,000 tons of materials out of the landfill each year. These ReStores are part of a network of over 700 ReStores nationally. Proceeds help Habitat for Humanity build affordable homes throughout the country and help support our work in 90 countries throughout the world. For more information, visit: http://pdxrestore.org.

Reuse Alliance Expands Board

September 29, 2010

Download the Press Release

October 8, 2009

Caruso Affiliated Donates Beloved Resort’s Famous Blue Roof Shingles for Reuse to Support Affordable Housing in California & Baja

Santa Barbara, CA – October 8, 2009: The Miramar Hotel in Montecito has been a beloved landmark since the early 1900’s, known to visitors and residents for its signature blue roof tiles. Today, those famous blue shingles are getting a second life. The packaged and unused shingles were purchased to replace old shingles and were never used. To assure the surplus shingles did not end up in local landfills, Rick Caruso, Founder and CEO of Caruso Affiliated and the Miramar’s owner, generously donated over 12 tractor truckloads (or over 200,000 square feet) to Deconstruction & ReUseNetwork for reuse with partners Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County and Corazon, an affordable housing ministry in Baja. Caruso’s donation will brighten up the "colonias" in Tijuana & Tecate that Corazon serves, as well as provide funding for Habitat for Humanity homes and the advancement of deconstruction & reuse practices in Santa Barbara and Southern California.

“Representatives from Habitat for Humanity heard about the Miramar and the surplus of blue shingles and suggested I reach out to Caruso staff to discuss reuse as an option,” says Lorenz Schilling, president of Deconstruction & ReUse Network. “They were very receptive to the idea of re-using the surplus materials to help other families, and it’s fun that we were able to continue the tradition of the famous blue roofs.”

“We were really pleased to be approached by the Deconstruction and Re-Use Network about reusing the roof tiles and to partner with a great local organization. These are perfectly good shingles whose fate was a landfill. This donation is a real winner for everyone -- it keeps the roofing material out of the landfill, it puts the shingles to good use helping to provide or improve housing for those who need a helping hand, and it begins to clear the site so we can move forward on bringing back the heritage of the Miramar,” said Rick Caruso, CEO of Caruso Affiliated.

Beginning this week, tractor trailers will be loaded at the site of the Miramar and shipped to Baja where Corazon will reuse many to build affordable homes and community centers, while the remainder will be sold with proceeds benefitting Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County and Deconstruction & ReUse Network’s programs. The donated shingles, which have been stacked on the property for years, equate to 153 pallets / 42 packages per pallet / 204,000 square feet total.

Deconstruction & ReUse Network is an environmental and humanitarian non-profit that works with deconstruction contractors, architects and municipalities to develop simple solutions for property owners to deconstruct as an alternative to traditional demolition. The organization partners with non-profits that help complete its circle of reuse, and help families build or improve their homes. It also provides all necessary documentation for property owner tax-deductions stemming from the donation of a building’s reusable parts. For more information about how deconstruction works please visit www.Decon-Network.org

About Deconstruction & ReUse Network:
Deconstruction & ReUse Network is an environmental public benefit corporation 501(c)(3), whose mission is to promote and empower deconstruction practices and to grow a greater reuse network for quality building materials through partnerships with complementary operations and organizations. Deconstruction & ReUse Network currently serves Northern and Southern California with partnerships that benefit Habitat for Humanity and Corazon. www.Decon-Network.org

About Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County
Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County is an independent, locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat for Humanity and its affiliates build homes for sale to partner families with no profit, zero-interest mortgages. Habitat for Humanity is not a relief agency, but an established non-profit home building organization with a worldwide network of volunteers and over three decades of experience in home building. The local affiliate was established in 2000 and completed its first major home building project in 2007, three homes on Via Lucero. The next home building project, four homes on San Pascual Street, will be constructed in 2010. Volunteers and other support are welcome. Visit www.sbhabitat.org for more information.

About Caruso Affiliated Caruso Affiliated is best known for developing and operating high quality outdoor retail properties that are destinations including The Lakes at Thousand Oaks, The Commons at Calabasas, The Promenade in Westlake, The Grove in West Los Angeles and The Americana at Brand in Glendale.
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10-08-09 MiramarShinglesFINAL.pdf

Pieces Of The Miramar Resort In Montecito Are Getting A Second Life & Helping Families In Need

January 27, 2009

Reusable Doors, Windows and more Donated to Habitat ReStore will Help Build more Homes & Divert Tons of Materials from Local Landfills

Santa Barbara, CA – January 27, 2009: Deconstruction & ReUseNetwork is teaming with Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County (Habitat) to offer residents comprehensive deconstruction and building materials reuse solutions. The Team’s programs, targeting homeowners, building industry professionals and environmentally-minded community members, will advance waste diversion efforts within the county and achieve building materials reuse at much improved levels through Deconstruction Network’s whole house Deconstruction Solutions program and Habitat’s not-for-profit retail “ReStore” in Goleta.

Deconstruction is the careful dismantling and reclaiming of a structure’s reusable, finished materials and rough lumber. Through the team’s Deconstruction Solutions program, homeowners can be assured all reusable building materials salvaged from a remodel or complete tear-down will be honored as a tax-deductible donation.

Most program materials will be resold at the ReStore, located at 6725 Hollister Avenue, in Goleta. The Habitat ReStore is currently accepting donations, welcomes deconstruction program inquiries, and strongly supports the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle. Donated items may be used in Habitat’s building projects, or be resold to the public, while also supporting Deconstruction Network’s mission to increase waste diversion and build community awareness of positive and rational alternatives to traditional crude and wasteful demolition practices.

The ReStore provides a three-fold benefit: 1) the acquisition of highly usable materials for Habitat homes at no cost 2) a steady stream of revenue (from sales) to be used to support Habitat’s mission to eliminate substandard housing, and 3) the opportunity to divert a great amount of usable building materials from local landfills.

“We wholeheartedly support Habitat for Humanity’s mission and I am so pleased to partner with the affiliate in Southern Santa Barbara County,” says Lorenz Schilling, president/founder of Deconstruction Network. “Together we’ll be able to fund more affordable housing, as well as, recycle valuable building materials back into the community.”

Deconstruction Network works with local deconstruction contractors and building professionals to offer simple solutions for homeowners to dismantle and reuse their home’s valuable physical assets rather than disposing of them. The improvements to most homes can provide the ReStore with inventory while diverting tons of materials from needlessly entering local landfills. An average 2,000 square foot home may yield as much as 85% in reusable materials, including approximately 9 tons of reusable lumber alone. In addition to the environmental benefits, homeowners may also achieve significant tax savings based on their unique donation’s appraised value.

“We believe the deconstruction and segregation of good usable materials is a win-win proposition,” said Joyce McCullough, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County, “We will use the materials in our home building projects, or sell them at deep discounts to the public. Anyone looking for affordable, environmentally friendly options for home improvement materials should check out the ReStore and tell a friend to consider deconstruction”

Habitat’s ReStore opened in August 2008 and hopes that more people will see the value of reusing perfectly good home improvement materials and will consider the ReStore as an alternative to buying new.

About Deconstruction & Building Materials ReUse Network, Inc.
Deconstruction Network is an environmental public benefit corporation 501(c)(3), whose mission is to promote and empower deconstruction practices and to grow a greater reuse network for quality building materials through partnerships with complimentary operations and organizations. The Deconstruction Network currently serves Northern and Southern California with partnerships that benefit Habitat for Humanity and Corazon. www.Decon-Network.org

About Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County
Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County is an independent, locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat for Humanity and its affiliates build homes for sale to partner families with no profit, zero-interest mortgages. Habitat for Humanity is not a relief agency, but an established non-profit home building organization with a worldwide network of volunteers and nearly three decades of experience in home building. The local affiliate was established in 2000 and completed its first major home building project in 2007, three homes on Via Lucero. The next home building project, four homes on San Pascual Street, will start in early 2009. Volunteers and other support are welcome. Visit www.sbhabitat.org for more information.
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Download the Press Release

May 1, 2008

Save money and prevent waste by reusing and recycling common job site materials

May 2008 LowesforPros.pdf