Green Links

Click here for a list of green businesses in Prince George's County

Sustainable Community Initiatives
www.sustainablecommunityinitiatives.org
This is our 501(c)3 non-profit owner. Community Forklift, LLC is currently the primary project of SCI. SCI’s mission is to promote and develop collaborative community projects and public education programs that enhance economic opportunities and connect businesses, institutions, and people more fully to their communities, the natural environment, and to each other. To make a tax-deductible donation to Community Forklift, please make checks out to SCI.

Community Forklift Partners

A Few Cool Hardware Stores
www.acehardwaredc.com
A Few Cool Hardware Stores are a unique cooperative of Ace Hardware stores in the Washington, DC metro area and Baltimore, MD. Their main purpose is providing customers with friendly service at your neighborhood hardware store. They strive to be the most neighborhood-oriented, Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD home improvement stores around.

ALCO Appliances
www.alcoappliance.net
Community Forklift partners with ALCO Appliance to provide newer, reconditioned appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, cook-tops, washers & dryers, ovens, wine refrigerators, dishwashers, and more. The variety of products changes monthly. Alco provides a warranty for 30-90 days within specified local zip codes for all appliances sold. ALCO Appliance is a highly rated (by Washington Checkbook) appliance repair company that makes house calls within certain local zip codes.

Treincarnation
www.treincarnation.com
Marcus Sims stocks sustainably harvested rough-planed specialty lumber at Community Forklift, most of which originated in Montgomery County, MD. This lumber ranges in size and shape, often with its natural bark skin still intact on its edges.

Green Home LLC
301-277-9660 or www.GreenHomeLLC.biz
This DC-area company specializes in renovating and rebuilding buildings using ecological ideas and just plain common sense, to accomplish three main goals for the homeowner: 1) energy-efficiency; 2) improved environmental quality, especially indoor air quality, and 3) healing and protecting the earth. They install energy-efficient appliances and solar units, and use building materials that are certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). Green Home is a donor, customer, and supporter of Community Forklift, and is also a member of the US Green Building Council.

The Green School
301.537.4362 or DW Communications & Media Foundation Inc. "Green School"
The "Green School" is a new Green Workforce Development Training Initiative. The mission of the Green School is to educate, train, and prepare individuals who would like to work within the Green Workforce through the use of skills training, decision-making skills training, job preparedness training, certification requirements, and Green Workforce Development. Among the Green School educational offerings are classes on solar, biomass research, renewable energy, weatherization, geothermal, and others. Students sign up for courses that are 8 to 16 weeks long depending on their chosen concentration, or can attend the school for a full year. The classes include classroom instruction/theory, interactive and hands-on activities, field trips, media activities, and more.

Junk in the Trunk
301-960-JITT or www.JITT.com
Junk in the Trunk is a DC-area trash hauling company with a focus on recycling and taking as little trash to the landfill as possible. When you hire them to haul your junk, they take any reusable building materials to Community Forklift. They’re great corporate citizens - they even donate their disposal services to us, saving our small nonprofit thousands of dollars a year!

SCRAP DC
301-830-8690 or www.scrapdc.org
Have you heard of SCRAP-DC? They're a nonprofit doing for DC artists and crafters what Community Forklift does for home improvement enthusiasts! They have a storefront in NW DC but also visit craft fairs and community events around town. They also collect for TerraCycle, for which they will literally accept your trash. Check them out to donate leftovers, buy cheap office and art supplies, or join them for one of their many fun activities.

Other Reuse Resources

If we can't accept your donation, check here:

DC Metro Area:

• the Builders Recycling Guide lists options for construction debris
  
• the DC Materials Exchange is a listserve for offering office furniture & supplies, commercial equipment, and large lots of miscellaneous items to nonprofits
  
Maryland
Alexandria, VA
Nationwide


To find other thrift stores for home improvement around the country:
Building Materials Reuse Association Directory
Unbuild-Rebuild.org Directory
Loading Dock National Reuse Directory
Find A Reuse Center
Habitat for Humanity ReStore resale outlet directory

Tips and Resources for hiring a Contractor or Tradesperson

How to find a good contractor
How to find a good contractor


Where to check if your contractor or tradesperson is licensed - before you sign a contract!
Washington DC
Maryland
Virginia


Tips for hiring and working with a contractor (and how to avoid getting ripped off)
Tips
More Tips
How to hire a contractor
12 Tips for Negotiating with Contractors

State Government Resources and Information:

Maryland


Washington DC


Virginia

Other green and community resources to check out

Amicus Green Building
www.amicusgreen.com
The Amicus Green Building Center is a one-stop source of genuine green products, resources, and expert support to help you create a healthy, environmentally friendly, stylish, energy smart and sustainable building. The Center is open to the public. Architects, designers, building professionals, and the general public are welcome.

Anacostia Watershed Society
www.anacostiaws.org
The Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) is a local, 501(c)3 non-profit environmental organization that is working to protect and restore the Anacostia River and its watershed. AWS seeks to fulfill its mandate of a swimmable and fishable river through its programs of education, action, and advocacy.

Baby Green Genes Marketplace
www.birthdefects.org/directory
Use this website to find green, safer, earth-friendly and organic alternatives for the products you need to take care of your family, home and garden. Just click on a category and view a list of companies and web site links you can visit to shop for everything from organic baby food to non-toxic pesticides.

Blue House Life
www.bluehouselife.com
Retail and online sales of furniture and household goods for the eco-friendly lifestyle.

The Brass Knob
www.thebrassknob.com
The Brass Knob specializes in architectural antiques and salvage for restorations and renovations, as well as new construction. Ideal for both commercial and residential projects, The Brass Knob stocks authentic antique hardware, restored lighting, mantels, stained glass, and a variety of decorative items in its nearly 3,000-square-foot retail space. Our one-of-a-kind items range in period, scale and price for all budgets, tastes, and projects; our inventory is constantly replenished with new finds, many of which come directly from the Washington DC area.

Building Materials Reuse Association
www.buildingreuse.org
The BMRA is a non-profit educational organization whose mission is to facilitate building deconstruction and the reuse/recycling of recovered building materials. They have a useful national directory of reuse stores similar to Community Forklift searchable by state.

Climate Plan B: The Ark
Climate Plan B: The Ark
As the Copenhagen climate talks unfold, people will gather on the National Mall to build a giant Ark. Noah's Ark evokes the great flood and signifies the scale of calamity that climate change poses to communities across the globe. The Ark is the only alternative to a fair, ambitious, and binding global climate treaty. On Saturday, December 12 at 4:00 pm - halfway through the Copenhagen climate talks - people will gather at the Ark for a rally and candlelight vigil to let leaders know that 'The World Wants a Real Deal'. Organizers seek help with construction of the Ark (beginning ASAP) and participation in the 12/12 event.

The Green Building Institute
www.greenbuildinginstitute.org in Jessup, MD
The Green Building Institute, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving Northern VA, DC, and MD, educates the public and building and design professionals about sustainable building practices and technologies. They offer programs on various elements of green building, including rainwater collection, energy efficiency, and solar energy.

GREENLIVING + DESIGN
www.greenlivinganddesign.com
GREENLIVING + DESIGN is a green life, home, and real estate consultancy integrating green design concepts into 'real-life' real estate, including green home renovations and material sourcing, energy efficiency and alternative energy solutions, non-toxic cleaning and painting supplies, environmentally sustainable flooring, and real estate marketing and sales.

Green Remodeling for the Real World™
http://communityforklift.com/articles.cfm
A NEW Series of Articles by Andy Ault

The Loading Dock
www.loadingdock.org
Located in Baltimore, the Loading Dock is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation that is very similar to Community Forklift. As a building materials reuse store, the Loading Dock offers great deals and interesting finds to people who need inexpensive housing improvement and building materials. Like Community Forklift, the Loading Dock works to keep building materials out of the waste stream.

Mt Rainier Bike Co-op
www.mrbikecoop.com
MRBC is a community, volunteer-run bike shop where you can learn to work on your own bicycle! Throughout the year, we offer bike mechanics classes, an earn-a-bike program, and open shop hours for ages 6-adult.

Mt Rainier Tool Shed
www.mountrainiermd.org/community/toolshed
The Mount Rainier Community Tool Shed is a collection of hand and power tools that can be used at no cost by residents, businesses, and community groups of Mount Rainier, Maryland, to help improve their property. With initial funding provided by the Prince George’s County Livable Communities Initiative, the Tool Shed’s purpose is to increase the beauty of Mount Rainier through home repairs, yard improvements, and care of public spaces.

National Building Museum
www.NBM.org
The National Building Museum is located in DC, and dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning. They often have workshops, exhibitions, and events dedicated to sustainable design and green building.

Nature Neutral: Green Building Supply
800-656-1961 or www.NatureNeutral.com
Whether you’re doing your laundry, painting your house, refinishing a floor, or insulating your attic, Nature Neutral has a product that can help you do it greener!

Northern Virginia Habitat for Humanity Restore
www.habitatnova.org/restore
Another Restore location, in Alexandria, VA.

Port Towns Community Development Corporation
www.porttowns.org
The Port Towns CDC is working for economic development in Bladensburg, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, and Edmonston, Maryland.

Prince George’s County Habitat for Humanity Restore
301-779-1912
The Restore is just around the corner from Community Forklift at 4529 Rhode Island Ave, Brentwood, MD. They carry more furnishings than we do. If we can’t accept something you want to donate, please give them a call!

Second Chance, Inc.
www.secondchanceinc.org
Second Chance gives old buildings new life. Working with local and regional architects, builders and contractors, Second Chance searches for old buildings undergoing demolition. They rescue the wood, metal, marble, plaster, stone and other architectural elements that make the building special, and make old materials available for reuse.

Urban Solar Solutions
www.urbansolarsolutions.com
Urban Solar Solutions sells corn-burning stoves, energy efficient lighting, and other green home products.

US Green Building Council
www.usgbc.org
The US Green Building Council is a national organization that focuses on providing green building resources, education and leadership around the country. The local affiliate provides classes to help keep green builders competitive in the overall market as well as staying educated on the most recent green developments.

If you are looking for a contractor for a service we don’t provide, please visit our store to check out our bulletin board of business cards—please note, Community Forklift does not officially endorse any of these individuals and companies!

Store Phone: 301-985-5180 *** Donations Phone: 301-832-0781 *** Fax: 301-985-5182
Email: To inquire about donating materials, please fill out the form on our donations page.
To send us pictures of materials you would like to donate, use: Donations(at)CommunityForklift(dot)com
For media inquiries, please use: Ruthie(at)CommunityForklift(dot)com
For everything else use: Info(at)CommunityForklift(dot)com
Visit: 4671 Tanglewood Drive, Edmonston, MD 20781  
Directions: 5 minutes from DC in Prince George's County
Hours: Tuesday: noon-6pm; Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday: 10am - 6pm; Saturday & Sunday 9am - 6pm
Copyright © 2005-2013 Community Forklift