Meadville, PA - New American Dream Home

Resource Guide for
Buying Wisely in Meadville
how to…
keep more
money
in
your pocket
people
& places
support
you love
live consciously
find
products
that are
good for us all
buy wisely
make a difference
Also Inside:
10 Products You Use Every Week
9 Big Ticket Items That Really Matter
Local Business Ratings
www.newdream.org • 1-877-68-DREAM
www.newdream.org
1-877-68-DREAM
The Three Steps to Buying Wisely — and
Who Benefits
J Save Some
Notes
Break free of stress and debt
Avoid clutter, stress, and time needed to manage “stuff ”
Escape dissatisfaction of commercial culture
Have time to focus on what really matters
Have more money to Look Local and Go Green!
2 Improve your quality of life
J Look Local
Create more high-quality local jobs
Save energy and pollution from shipping
Keep money local and downtowns vibrant
Respect workers across town and around the globe
2 Support your neighbors
J Go Green
Save natural resources
Reduce pollution (and associated health problems)
Slow global warming and waste less energy
Support fair economies for preferable products
2 Respect your planet
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Table of Contents
Tell businesses in our neighborhood that you want them to
participate in our Resource Guide for Buying Wisely project! Cut or tear off a slip and deposit in one of your local
businesses’ suggestion boxes.
As a frequent customer in your store, I would love for your business to participate in the Center for a New American Dream’s Resource Guide for Buying
Wisely project! The participation of your business would truly show your
commitment to the well-being of our community and concern for our shared
environment and resources.
For project and participation details visit: www.newdream.org/buyingwisely or
contact Julia at: 301.891.3683 or [email protected]
As a frequent customer in your store, I would love for your business to participate in the Center for a New American Dream’s Resource Guide for Buying
Wisely project! The participation of your business would truly show your
commitment to the well-being of our community and concern for our shared
environment and resources.
For project and participation details visit: www.newdream.org/buyingwisely or
contact Julia at: 301.891.3683 or [email protected]
As a frequent customer in your store, I would love for your business to participate in the Center for a New American Dream’s Resource Guide for Buying
Wisely project! The participation of your business would truly show your
commitment to the well-being of our community and concern for our shared
environment and resources.
Step 1: Save Some
Step 2: Look Local
Step 3: Go Green
10 Products You Use Every Week, Their Impact, and the Best Options
Major Purchases, Major Impact ­­ Nine Big-Ticket Items
Putting It All Together
About New American Dream
Help Us Out
Spread the News
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Why a buy wisely guide in
Meadville, Pennsylvania?
Ask your neighbors what really matters. You’ll likely hear “a safe future
for my kids,” “treating people respectfully,” or “a strong community.”
Ask them what they want more of, and they’ll reply “more time,”
“more security,” or maybe just “more fun.” Unfortunately, our hyperconsumerist culture’s focus on “more is better” flies in the face of
these real American values and pounds us with an incessant drumbeat
of: “bigger is better… excess is best… cheap stuff trumps all.” This
guide is designed to help the people of Meadville cut through that
distraction and re-align our consumer choices with our values to help
make our community, and the world, the place we dream it could be.
For project and participation details visit: www.newdream.org/buyingwisely or
contact Julia at: 301.891.3683 or [email protected]
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Step 1: Save Some
Shopping in line with your
values can be quite simple and
deeply rewarding. Reusing
items instead of buying new
will allow you to save more for
what really matters. After all,
Americans today work nearly
200 hours more than we did
three decades ago. When you
cannot change how much you
buy (with food, for example),
think consciously about what you do buy, where it came from, who it
affects, and how your buying habits can have a positive impact.
How
• Print a New American Dream Wallet Buddy to wrap around your
credit card to remind yourself what’s important before buying at:
www.newdream.org/walletbuddy.pdf
• Join a local community network or study group (see below)
• See how less can mean more at:
www.newdream.org/buy/buyingless.php
Where
Community Networks
• Craig’s List: http://erie.craigslist.org/
• Freecycle: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crawfordfreecycle/
• Isharestuff.org: http://Isharestuff.org
Special Thanks
In conjunction with New American Dream, this guide was made possible by the tireless effort of Allegheny students Kurt Hoffmann and
Christina Ungaro.
About New American Dream
New American Dream helps Americans consume wisely for a better
world. In a society often fixated on “more,” we focus on more of what
matters – a cleaner environment, a higher quality of life, and a greater
commitment to justice. For more information about our organization,
please visit: www.newdream.org
As a small nonprofit, we heavily rely on the generous support of others
to fund our work. If you enjoyed this buying guide and/or the vision we
represent, please consider making a tax-deductible donations at:
www.newdream.org/donateguide
or call us toll-free at: 1.877.68.DREAM
Help Us Out
If you’re interested in getting involved with the New American Dream
and our various campaigns (including additional local buying guides),
please contact [email protected] or call us at: 301. 891.3683
Libraries
• Meadville Public Library:
848 North Main St., 814.336.1773
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Category
Business Scoring over 55
(or top three per category)
Restaurants/
Cafes
Arts/
Movies/
Entertainment
Sporting/Bike
Shops
Overall
% Score
Save
Some
Look
Local
Go
Green
Creative Crust (Market
House):
910 Market St.
72
JJ
JJJJ
JJJJJ
Hank’s Frozen Custard:
13940 Conneaut Lake Rd. 70
JJJ
JJJJJ
JJJ
Whole Darn Thing Sub
Shop:
899 Market St. 70
JJJJ
JJJJJ
JJJ
TJ’s Pizza:
307 Poplar St.
57
JJJ
JJJJJ
JJ
Valenti’s Restaurant:
251 Chestnut St. 57
JJJ
JJJJ
JJJ
Larry’s @ Market House:
910 Market St.
55
JJJ
JJJJ
JJJ
Gardner Theater (Market
House):
910 Market St.
79
JJJ
JJJJ
JJJJJ
Campbell Pottery:
25579 Plank Rd.
Cambridge Springs, PA
77
JJJ
JJJJJ
JJJJ
Earthly Creations:
940 Park Ave. 65
JJJ
JJJJ
JJJJ
Meadville Fine Art Prints:
231 Chestnut St. 62
JJJ
JJJJ
JJJ
Sandy’s Artwork:
231 Chestnut St. 62
JJJ
JJJJ
JJJ
Emig’s Bike Shop:
596 State St.
56
JJJJ
JJJJ
JJ
The Boot Box:
11894 Pennsylvania Ave. 47
JJ
JJJJ
JJ
Walmart:
16086 Conneaut Lake Rd.
25
J
JJJ
JJ
Rental Shops
•Lloyd’s Rental and Sales Inc.:
1355 South Main St., 814.336.2336
•Rent-a-Center:
16220 Conneaut Lake Rd, 814.337.0090
Repair shops
•Roda’s Family Shoe and Repair:
887 Market St., 814.724.3222
•Saegertown Hardware:
201 Main St., Saegertown, PA 16433, 814.763.2795
Thrift stores
• Everybody’s Thrift Store:
993 Water St., 814.336.5300
•Second Chance Thrift Store:
904 Park Ave., 814.337.6880
Step 2: Look Local If we say we want a vibrant local economy, healthy downtown areas,
less sprawling development into our outlying green spaces, and good
jobs for our neighbors, then we need to look for opportunities to put
our money where our mouths are.
Why
• $100 spent at a big box retailer generates only $14 in local spending
by the retailer. $100 spent at a locally owned business generates $45
dollars in local spending.
. From ILSR, www.newrules.org/retail/midcoaststudy.pdf
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• Vegetables travel an average 2,000 miles to their final destination,
requiring 70,000 truckloads and 20 million gallons of fuel per year.
• Upon arrival, 25% of the produce is spoiled or otherwise discarded.
How
• Buy a summer share in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)
- see below.
• Shop at farmers’ markets, co-ops, or supermarkets that clearly mark
whether the produce was grown within a 100 mile radius.
• When possible, shop at locally owned businesses.
Category
Business Scoring over 55 Overall
% Score
(or top three per category)
Save
Some
Look
Local
Go
Green
Clothing and
Footwear
Roda Shoe Repair:
887 Market St.
60
JJJ
JJJJ
JJ
The Boot Box:
11894 Pennsylvania Ave.
55
JJJ
JJJJ
JJ
Lin’s @ The Bank:
940 Park Ave.
54
JJJ
JJJJ
JJJ
Grounds for Change:
520 North Main St.
87
JJJJJ
JJJ
JJJJJ
Artist’s Cup Café:
231 Chestnut St.
69
JJJ
JJJJ
JJJJ
Pampered Palate:
748 North Main St.
61
JJJ
JJJJ
JJJ
Food For a Healthy Life:
312 Baldwin St.
90
JJJJJ
JJJJ
JJJJ
Meadville Market House:
910 Market St.
79
JJJ
JJJJ
JJJJJ
Valesky’s:
1044 Water St. 78
JJJ
JJJJJ
JJJJ
Nature’s Way:
890 Park Ave. 72
JJJ
JJJJ
JJJJ
Sandy’s European Market:
1121 Park Ave. 62
JJ
JJJJJ
JJJ
Saegertown Hardware
(Do it Best):
201 Main St.
Saegertown, PA 16433
75
JJJ
JJJJ
JJJJ
Foulk’s Flooring America:
15627 Conneaut Lake Rd. 72
JJJJ
JJJJJ
JJJ
Valu Home Center:
18993 Park Ave. Plaza 54
JJJ
JJJ
JJJJ
Coffee Shops
Where
CSA Farms:
• Meadville Area Local Growers:
Meadville Markethouse, 910 Market St.
Farmers’ Markets:
• Meadville Market House:
910 Market St.
814.336.2056
Hours: Monday, Friday, Saturday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM;
Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 AM-6:00 PM
• Al’s Melons Farm Market:
18373 Conneaut Lake Rd.
Hours: Sunday - Thursday 8:00 AM- 7:00 PM;
Friday and Saturday 7:00 AM- 8:00 PM
Online Resources:
• Allegheny College: Meadville Insider’s Guide
http://insidersguide.allegheny.edu
Groceries
Hardware/
Home
Improvement
. From The Ecologist, “Crossing the Creek To Fetch Water - long distance-hauling of
produce pollutes the environment,” February 2001
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Putting It All Together
Step 3: Go Green
We surveyed 50 businesses in our community and compared how
they performed in each of our three categories (save, local, and
green). The highest-scoring businesses in each category are listed
below. We also invite you to check out the full results with every
surveyed businesses and our methodology at:
www.newdream.org/buyingwisely.
Consuming is a necessity for
us to survive, but responsible
and conscious consuming allows for the survival of others
as well. Everything we buy has
an impact on both the workers
that brought it to you and on
the natural resources that were
used in production. Making
consumer choices that are fair
to people and the planet will
allow all our future communities to benefit from Earth’s
natural resources!
JJJJJ - Businesses meeting 90-100% of the criteria
JJJJ - Businesses meeting 66-89%
JJJ- Businesses meeting 35-65%
JJ - Businesses meeting 11-34%
J - Businesses meeting 0-10%
Category
Business Scoring over 55
(or top three per category)
Banks &
Financial
Institutions
Bookstores
Marquette Savings:
953 South Main St.
Overall
% Score
Save
Some
Look
Local
Go
Green
69
JJJ
JJJJ
JJJJ
Why
• The United States has 4% of the world’s population but emits 22%
of the world’s greenhouse gases, mostly due to our electricity and
transportation choices.
• As products from compact fluorescent light bulbs to fair trade coffee become even more available and affordable, being a conscious
consumer continues to get easier and easier.
PNC Bank:
868 Park Ave.
54
JJJ
JJ
JJJJ
Northwest Savings
and Loan:
999 South Main St.
48
JJJ
JJ
JJJJ
Tattered Corners:
247 Chestnut St.
70
JJJJ
JJJJ
JJJ
Allegheny College
Bookstore:
520 North Main St.
61
JJJ
JJJ
JJJJJ
Gospel Book and Supply:
888 Park Ave.
40
J
JJJJ
JJJ
How
• It’s easy to get overwhelmed, so start with a short list of goods and
services that you buy on a regular basis and see if you can shift them
in a green direction.
• Give special consideration to times when you make major consumer
decisions and thus impact people and the planet much more than
www.eia.doe.gov and www.census.gov/ipc/www/world.html
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you do on an average day. This might include anything from a new
refrigerator to a new home.
Where
• We’ve compiled a list of 10 common products and nine major purchases with major impacts including where you can find options that
are best for people and the planet (see page 10)
• If local options aren’t available in your area, check out our
Conscious Consumer Marketplace at: www.newdream.org/consumer
Businesses that sell Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified
wood end products like furniture:
• Home Depot:
18541 Smock Highway, 814.337.7600 (raw materials)
• Homewood Furniture:
18931 Park Avenue Plaza, 814.333.1843 (funiture made by
Amish residents from local wood, but not certified)
J
LEED green building professionals who received accreditation:
www.usgbc.org (click on LEED AP on top bar, then click on
LEED AP Directory from left side column)
• Steven Utz, LEED AP, Independent Architect:
[email protected]
J
Renewable energy from utilities & carbon offset programs:
• Penelec does not currently offer renewable energy. Contact Penelec’s parent company, First Energy and request it at:
1-800-545-7741
• Check out the following two websites for additional informa
tion: www.newdream.org/consumer/energy.php and
www.newdream.org/consumer/carbon.php
J
7. Home Renovation and Remodeling
Look for: Energy efficient and non-toxic alternatives to conventional products
Why: Remodeling can actually save energy and resources, especially if it’s
conducted after an energy audit.
Where: Energy audits
Commonwealth Community Energy Project:
Kathy Greely – Director
Box 46, Allegheny College, 520 North Main St.
814.332.2986
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection:
230 Chestnut St. 814.332.6945 Do-it-yourself energy audit: http://hes.lbl.gov/
Habitat for Humanity ReStores: www.habitat.org/env/restores.aspx
For more information: www.newdream.org/consumer/improvement.php
8. Energy/Electricity
Look for: Alternative energy options from your current energy provider
Why: Once you’ve reduced your energy consumption, renewable energy and
offsets are great ways to take care of the rest.
Renewable energy and offsets programs:
www.epa.gov/greenpower/locator/index.htm
www.newdream.org/consumer/energy.php
For more information: www.newdream.org/consumer/carbon.php
9. Travel
Look for: Eco-Travel or Sustainable Travel certifications
Why: Tourism is the world’s largest and fastest-growing industry with total
spending of over $500 billion per year, yet air travel is extremely polluting
and hotels and tours can have a major impact too. Fortunately, there are ways
to alleviate these impacts.
For more information: www.newdream.org/consumer/travel.php
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4. Computers
Look for: EPEAT certification
Why: Some manufacturers do a better job than others of designing energy
efficient computers, handling toxic waste, and facilitating the safe disposal of
obsolete equipment.
For more information: www.epeat.net/companies.aspx
5. Furniture and Wood Products
Look for: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification
Why: Americans use about 27 percent of the wood commercially harvested
worldwide, often through clearcuts that devastate forests, soil quality, and
the climate. Fortunately, FSC-certified products protect workers and forests.
Where:
Amish Homewood Furniture: 18931 Park Avenue Plaza.
Home Depot: 18541 Smock Highway.
Other resources:
Nature Neutral: www.natureneutral.com, 800.656.1961
For more information: www.newdream.org/consumer/wood.php
6. Home Purchasing
Look for: An appropriately sized and located living space
Why: The biggest purchase of your life also dictates how far you’ll drive and
how much gas, electricity, and heating fuel you’ll use for years to come.
Where:
Energy Efficient Mortgages: www.energystar.gov (search “mortgage” to learn
about receiving a larger mortgage for energy efficient improvements)
Not So Big House: www.notsobighouse.com
For more information:
www.newdream.org/newsletter/greenhome.php
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Utilities and/or firms offering thorough energy audits (call customer relations and request energy auditing services):
• Commonwealth Community Energy Project:
Kathy Greely – Director
Box 46, Allegheny College
520 North Main St.
814.332.2986
• Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection:
230 Chestnut St.
814.332.6945
• Northwestern Rural Electric Co-operative Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 207
Cambridge Springs, PA 16403
800.472.7910
• Do-it-yourself energy audit: http://hes.lbl.gov/
• Home Energy Tune-uP: www.hometuneup.com
J
Incentives/Rebates to help pay for an energy audit or improvements:
• Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
www.depweb.state.pa.us/energy
i. Small Business Advantage Grant program - for more infor-
mation, please contact Dave Barnes at 717.772.5160
ii. Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program - for more information, please email: [email protected]
• Tax Incentives Assistance Program:
www.energytaxincentives.org
• Low income weatherization program:
www.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/
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10 Products You Use Every Week,
Their Impact, and the Best Options
1. Coffee
Look for: Certified fair-trade, certified organic, shade-grown coffee
Why: Shade-grown, organic coffee preserves bird habitats and soil quality
while protecting workers and consumers from toxic chemicals. Fair trade
ensures livable/fair and stable wages.
Where: Brewing at home
Grounds for Change: 520 North Main St. Valesky’s: 1044 Water St. Where: Cups on the run
Grounds for Change: 520 North Main St.
(be sure to bring your own travel mug, as they don’t provide to-go cups)
Artist’s Cup Café: 231 Chestnut St.
Find more online at: www.newdream.org/consumer/buycoffee.php
2. Produce
Look for: Local, certified organic
Why: Buying local food not only helps local farmers thrive, it reduces energy
consumption by minimizing distances traveled between grower and eater.
Local food is often safer, too. Even when the food isn’t organic, small farms
tend to be less aggressive than large factory farms about dousing their wares
with chemicals.
Where: Organic for home
Food For a Healthy Life: 312 Baldwin St.
Meadville Market House: 910 Market St.
Where: Organic on the town Creative Crust (Market House): 910 Market St.
Whole Darn Thing Sub Shop: 899 Market St. Find more online at: www.newdream.org/consumer/marketplace.php
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Major Purchases, Major Impact
Nine Big-Ticket Items
1. Appliances
Look for: Energy Star
Why: Choosing Energy Star refrigerators, dehumidifiers, and other appliances
can lower greenhouse gas emissions and save you thousands of dollars in
electricity costs.
For more information:
www.energystar.gov (store locator)
www.newdream.org/consumer/appliances.php
2. Banking and Finance
Look for: Institutions that invest locally, offer socially responsible funds, and
adhere to an anti-predatory lending policy.
Why: Banks and credit unions that lend responsibly help us consume responsibly; socially responsible investments help our life savings build a better
world.
Where:
Marquette Savings: 953 South Main St.
Northwest Savings and Loan: 999 South Main St.
For more information:
www.newdream.org/consumer/sri.php
3. Bikes and Cars
Look for: Bike type that matches your use and vehicles with at least a 30
miles/gallon rating
Why: Choosing a sturdy commuter bike or a vehicle that’s greenest in its class
will impact the planet and your pocketbook for years to come.
Where: Bikes
Emig’s Bike Shop: 596 State St. For more information:
www.greenercars.com
www.newdream.org/consumer/cars.php
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9. Clothing
Look for: Used, certified organic and fair trade, and union-made certification
Why: Conventional cotton farming is one of agriculture’s most environmentally destructive activities. Cotton uses approximately 25 percent of the
world’s insecticides and more than 10 percent of the pesticides. Sweatshops
manufacture clothing using unfair labor standards. Though no “sweatshopfree” certification exists, there are many companies that are very conscious
of the conditions in which their products are made, select only manufacturers
with established unions, and maintain ongoing relationships with union leaders. Fair trade certification ensures that a product made was produced under
these minimum labor standards.
Where: Thrift and Repair stores
Flip back to page number five.
Where: Retail
Roda Shoe Repair: 887 Market St.
The Boot Box: 11894 Pennsylvania Ave.
Find more online at:
www.newdream.org/consumer/cotton.php
www.newdream.org/consumer/clothing.php
10. Local Transportation
Look for: Ways to minimize solo driving
Why: The greenest car, and the one that saves you the most at the pump, is
the one that sits in your driveway while you use other means of travel.
Where: Transit Schedules
http://www.catabus.org/
Find more online at:
www.newdream.org/consumer/cars.php
3. Seafood
Look for: Environmentally preferable
Why: Nearly 70 percent of the world’s fisheries are fully fished or overfished,
while some fish farms regularly spill pesticides that poison local communities
and destroy vital coastal buffers. Fortunately for seafood lovers, safe choices
do exist.
Where:
Malady’s Meat Market: 19043 Park Ave. Plaza
For a guide to choosing sustainable seafood options wherever you may find
them, please check out the following seafood guides:
www.mbayaq.org (click on “Seafood Watch” at the bottom of page)
www.oceansalive.org (click on “Seafood Choices” or “list of smart seafood”)
Find more online at:
www.newdream.org/consumer/seafood.php
4. Lightbulbs
Look for: Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs)
Why: Just by changing a few lightbulbs, New Dreamers have already reduced
their CO2 emissions by 2 million pounds and saved a collective $40,000 in
electricity costs!
Where:
Seagertown Hardware: (Do it Best) 201 Main St., Seagertown
Valu Home Center: 18993 Park Ave. Plaza
Find more online at: www.newdream.org/consumer/cfl.php
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5. Office Paper
7. Personal Care
Look for: Green Seal and/or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification or
at least 60% post-consumer waste, process-chlorine free
Why: The world’s forests and climate are feeling the strain as global consumption of paper, a very energy intensive product, has increased 74% since
1980. The good news is that recycled paper saves trees and energy.
Look for: Certified organic, cruelty and paraben-free, and/or natural products
Why: Beyond the message of excessive consumption, there are also health
and environmental concerns. Liver and kidney damage can be caused when
our skin absorbs these chemicals, which are often petroleum-based. These
products contribute to the environmental destruction associated with mining
and refining.
Where: Making copies and buying by the ream
Service Office Supply: 291 Chestnut St.
Fine Print Commercial Printers: 287 Chestnut St.
Find more online at:
Green Seal: www.greenseal.org/findaproduct
FSC-certified paper: www.fscus.org/paper
Where:
Nature’s Way: 890 Park Ave.
Food For a Healthy Life: 312 Baldwin St.
Find more online at: www.newdream.org/consumer/personalcare.php
8. Cleaning Products
6. Paper Products (plates, napkins, toilet paper, etc.)
Look for: Green Seal certification, at least 60% post-consumer waste, and/or
paper that has been processed chlorine-free
Why: The U.S., with five percent of the world’s population, consumes 30% of
the world’s paper. Switching from virgin paper to reusable and recycled options can make a real difference.
Where: For the Home
Nature’s Way: 890 Park Ave. Food For a Healthy Life: 312 Baldwin St.
Find more online at:
www.newdream.org/consumer/paper.php
Green Seal: www.greenseal.org/findaproduct
Look for: Non-toxic, biodegradable, and free of ethylene diamine tetraacetic
acid (EDTA), nitrilotriacetic acid, phosphates and any phosphate derivatives,
and full disclosure
Why: Many common cleaners contain unnecessary environmental toxins
and chemicals associated with cancer, reproductive disorders, respiratory
ailments, eye or skin irritation, and other serious human health issues. Indoor
air pollution, some of which is linked to cleaning product exposure, is ranked
among the nation’s top five environmental risks.
The following brands emphasize non-toxic ingredients and full disclosure: Earth Friendly Products, Ecover, Mountain Green, Naturally Yours, Planet,
Seaside Naturals, Seventh Generation.
Many can be found at:
Nature’s Way: 890 Park Ave.
Giant Eagle: 18511 Smock Highway Find more online at: www.newdream.org/consumer/cleaners.php
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