MISSION
By collaborating with communities disproportionately impacted, Build Green Now drives sustainable growth and innovation in Food Waste Diversion, Small Farm Services, and Hemp-lime Insulation at Municipality Scale.
About Build Green Now
Build Green Now (BGN) is a New York State nonprofit located in Kingston, Ulster County, in the Hudson Valley. We focus on holistic solutions in three interconnected markets: Food Waste Diversion, Small Farm Services, and Hemp-lime Insulation.
Our innovative approach centers on Public Benefit Contracts, tools and digital services, ensuring projects deliver significant community benefits and promote social equity. We emphasize reciprocal mentoring relationships and use Collaboration Engineering to accelerate the adoption of regenerative best practices informed by the wisdom and desires of the communities we serve.
Our innovative approach centers on Public Benefit Contracts, tools and digital services, ensuring projects deliver significant community benefits and promote social equity. We emphasize reciprocal mentoring relationships and use Collaboration Engineering to accelerate the adoption of regenerative best practices informed by the wisdom and desires of the communities we serve.
Collaboration Engineering
Build Green Now applies collaboration engineering to improve life in Communities Disproportionately Impacted (CDIs). We design systems tailored to CDI needs, develop technologies that address local challenges, and deploy sustainable infrastructure.
Our approach facilitates partnerships between community leaders, experts, and stakeholders, implementing data-driven solutions for environmental and social issues.
By combining technical expertise with community engagement, we ensure our solutions are both effective and culturally appropriate.
Our approach facilitates partnerships between community leaders, experts, and stakeholders, implementing data-driven solutions for environmental and social issues.
By combining technical expertise with community engagement, we ensure our solutions are both effective and culturally appropriate.
Declaration of Sustainability
PROGRESSIVES / GENERATION Z LEADERSHIP
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We encourage collaboration with Student Body leaders and local partnerships. Contact us to discuss speaking engagements and education event planning
Planning now sets the stage for initiatives we can develop through collaboration, leading to statewide opportunities and community impact. We're eager to engage with college students and share our insights. Contact us about bringing our message to your campus. |
We welcome invitations to speak at college events. Your involvement in student government can influence fund allocation towards impactful sustainability organizations.
During Build Green Now's 2024 "Tell Me What You Mean by Green" visit to SUNY New Paltz, we joined with Multicultural United Students Empowered (SUNY New Paltz) Students to view this deck and offer solutions based on decades of experience, plus our experience leading Industrial Hemp policy and funding innovation in New York State.
During Build Green Now's 2024 "Tell Me What You Mean by Green" visit to SUNY New Paltz, we joined with Multicultural United Students Empowered (SUNY New Paltz) Students to view this deck and offer solutions based on decades of experience, plus our experience leading Industrial Hemp policy and funding innovation in New York State.
TELL ME WHAT YOU MEAN BY GREEN!
In this letter to legislators we explain why now is the time for a NYS outreach and engagement bus tour focused on sustainability solutions for everyone. To join the movement, fill this form: Interest List
BUILD GREEN NOW #BGN - 2024-02-24 UPDATE:
By gathering information, we can highlight what's important to you, our community, and what you want to see happen next. For instance, we believe that all SUNY campuses and other institutions funded by you the taxpayers, should open their lab spaces to us, the public.
Right now, there's a lot of equipment paid for by our taxpayer money that's not being used, and yet these universities and institutions keep asking for more funds. We think this money should go to community leaders instead.
Numbers make a difference, your support is crucial in urging lawmakers and county executives to amend the laws, making meaningful changes that will benefit our community. Together, we can make a compelling case for the reallocation of resources and open up new opportunities for public access and innovation. Let's unite our voices to advocate for transformation that directly impacts and improves our lives.
Right now, there's a lot of equipment paid for by our taxpayer money that's not being used, and yet these universities and institutions keep asking for more funds. We think this money should go to community leaders instead.
Numbers make a difference, your support is crucial in urging lawmakers and county executives to amend the laws, making meaningful changes that will benefit our community. Together, we can make a compelling case for the reallocation of resources and open up new opportunities for public access and innovation. Let's unite our voices to advocate for transformation that directly impacts and improves our lives.
Build Green Now #BGN - 2023-09-29 Update:
Cornell Hemp Field Day:
How did your garden grow this year? Living in farm country one gets closer to the cycle of the seasons. Industrial Hemp Harvest time is upon us. In this update we have some exciting content from “Cornell Hemp Field Day”. During this update we are sharing pictures from the event. Once we get budget approval, we will hire resources to process the video and audio content into a format that is easier to consume while in the field and or away from a computer screen.
How did your garden grow this year? Living in farm country one gets closer to the cycle of the seasons. Industrial Hemp Harvest time is upon us. In this update we have some exciting content from “Cornell Hemp Field Day”. During this update we are sharing pictures from the event. Once we get budget approval, we will hire resources to process the video and audio content into a format that is easier to consume while in the field and or away from a computer screen.
2023-03-31 Update (revised 2023-09-29):
Eco Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center - iPark 87 Ulster County
Good news! We have a sponsor for a resolution to open an Eco Entrepreneurship Center at the iPark 87 location. Even better, the Unfettered Arts team is part of this proposal.
Imagine a workshop that includes industry tools plus a team focused on innovation using regenerative materials like Industrial Hemp.
Revised 2023-09-29:
With a change in leadership of the Ulster County Economic Development team, we have been standing by. This week we have reconnected and plan to restart communications next week. We are working on a 3 years multi-million dollar budget to help stand up the industrial hemp industry in the County. Seems like a good investment and that we must protect our farmers from most of these start up risks. This means we need to advocate for subsidies just like any new industry.
Eco Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center - iPark 87 Ulster County
Good news! We have a sponsor for a resolution to open an Eco Entrepreneurship Center at the iPark 87 location. Even better, the Unfettered Arts team is part of this proposal.
Imagine a workshop that includes industry tools plus a team focused on innovation using regenerative materials like Industrial Hemp.
Revised 2023-09-29:
With a change in leadership of the Ulster County Economic Development team, we have been standing by. This week we have reconnected and plan to restart communications next week. We are working on a 3 years multi-million dollar budget to help stand up the industrial hemp industry in the County. Seems like a good investment and that we must protect our farmers from most of these start up risks. This means we need to advocate for subsidies just like any new industry.
2023-03-21 Update: Ulster County Legislative Meeting
Join us Tuesday, March 21, 2023 for the Ulster County Legislative meeting at the county building, to hear requests to the county legislators.
Legislators are finalizing the State budget. Let's ask for funding to accelerate investments in local workforce development to prepare and train our communities so we can design, test and refine solutions that save energy/time.
(Location: 244 Fair St. Kingston on the 6th floor, in the Legislative Chambers
Via Zoom: Meeting ID:831 8403 3102, dial in (646) 558-8556 7:20pm).
Join us Tuesday, March 21, 2023 for the Ulster County Legislative meeting at the county building, to hear requests to the county legislators.
Legislators are finalizing the State budget. Let's ask for funding to accelerate investments in local workforce development to prepare and train our communities so we can design, test and refine solutions that save energy/time.
(Location: 244 Fair St. Kingston on the 6th floor, in the Legislative Chambers
Via Zoom: Meeting ID:831 8403 3102, dial in (646) 558-8556 7:20pm).
#BGN News 2023-03-01a - Presentation to the Ulster County Legislators
Here is a summary, download the files below for details:
- Project Management Services - Pathway to Accountability
- Prepare the Response to Executive Order 01-2023
- New York Hemp Insulation (Sell/Tax) - Before and After
- New York Hemp-Lime Products - Develop, Sell and Tax
- Cross-Silo Review of RFPs - More Local Funding
| ce_metzger_executive_order_1_-_climate.pdf |
Eco-Entrepreneurship Roadmap (2022-12-12)
In 2023 our collaboration partners are: Energy Conservation Services, Inc., GreenWay, Nubian Directions, Unfettered Arts, Seed Song Farm, and St. Mark’s AME Church (w/ Cho Shields Studio).
As part of our collaboration, we work with Sustainable Hudson Valley to define goals and missions that are mutually beneficial. We look forward to further developments as they apply for the Mosaic RFP. Our mission is strengthening the workstreams described below.
Our letter of support for the Mosaic RFP is provided below.
Eco-Entrepreneurship Workstreams:
I. Regional Training Collaboration
II. Eco-Entrepreneurship - Money Saving Services
III. Eco-Entrepreneurship - Project Management and Placement Services
In 2023 our collaboration partners are: Energy Conservation Services, Inc., GreenWay, Nubian Directions, Unfettered Arts, Seed Song Farm, and St. Mark’s AME Church (w/ Cho Shields Studio).
As part of our collaboration, we work with Sustainable Hudson Valley to define goals and missions that are mutually beneficial. We look forward to further developments as they apply for the Mosaic RFP. Our mission is strengthening the workstreams described below.
Our letter of support for the Mosaic RFP is provided below.
Eco-Entrepreneurship Workstreams:
I. Regional Training Collaboration
- Offer Hemp House #1 - New York as a training lab to study Hemp-Lime Thermal Design Considerations
- Continue work toward BGN Fund I, a $500K pool used to finance Eco_House #1.
- Co-create a "Regenerative Technology" Certificate Program (combining electrical, PV Solar-Battery, building sciences, construction content used by SUNY Ulster)
- Co-design the "Regenerative Technology" Certificate Program in collaboration with Nubian Directions, SUNY Ulster, SUNY Dutchess, SUNY New Paltz, Youth Build Kingston and Youth Build Poughkeepsie. The goal include ease of access, affordability recognition by employers/colleges.
- Work with Ulster Legislators and Dutchess Legislators to allocate funding for equipment, startup costs, student stipends and expenses (like travel) as approved by a project budget. The goal includes providing structure and accountability to work that is already needed across multiple departments and towns.
II. Eco-Entrepreneurship - Money Saving Services
- Create a learning experience focused on starting a business and encourage the students to pick one. The goal is to create customized experiences that help accelerate learning.
- Create 3 student let project teams (Audit Services and PV Solar-Battery and Eco Food Services). Work with each team to create basic planning and communication documents
- Perform at least one energy audit, design an energy/insulation solution and design 1 Eco Food solutions. In this case our goal is to test an implementation of Greenway's Zero Waste solution.
III. Eco-Entrepreneurship - Project Management and Placement Services
- In collaboration with Sustainable Hudson Valley, create project launch documents for all three projects (Statement of Work, Schedule, Budget, Resource Plan, Governance Documents etc.)
- Create educational experiences for the community based on the projects
- Create an investment pool to support a project launch process for students and the community
- Host a Project Launch Event where we arrange for investors to hear the pitches and then rank them (ranking determines funding from the pool that we pre announce
- Complete the Solar Apprenticeship Program Application to the US Department of Labor
- Offer PV Solar-Battery Project Management Services to Ulster County
- Design and launch a jobs board to support creation of job placement plans
- Strengthen the local tech economy by supporting a local technology development student team (AI and Metaverse and Metrics Presentation Services)
Introduction:
Build Green Now built New York’s first hempcrete retrofit, in the city of Kingston. As leading national advocates for industrial hemp, we are focused on creating jobs and opportunities, while building the supply chain for industrial hemp in our region.
Course Description:
Hempcrete 202 is designed for those interested in using hempcrete as a potential solution to damp and mold. We are the first team in New York to retrofit an existing house using hempcrete as insulation and will show you several different wall finishes as we tour the hemp house.
Your training covers the science behind hemp-lime insulation, moisture absorption/diffusion, thermal mass and humidity equilibrium.
Within the presentations we discuss integrating hemp-lime into designs, building code, electrical wiring, HVAC consideration, plumbing details, wall finishing alternatives, the build process, costs and the material supply chain.
This course includes mixing hempcrete and installation of hempcrete into a wall assembly.
The Instructors:
Henry Gage, Jr. and Sally Warren, PhD are members of the team that presented the hemp-lime appendix to the International Code Council (ICC) in April of 2022, leading to approval as a building material for residential construction (announced in September 2022).
Sally is a board certified Naturopath and a research Analyst for Build Green Now.
Henry is a Senior Project Manager for Build Green Now and President of the US Hemp Building Association.
Build Green Now built New York’s first hempcrete retrofit, in the city of Kingston. As leading national advocates for industrial hemp, we are focused on creating jobs and opportunities, while building the supply chain for industrial hemp in our region.
Course Description:
Hempcrete 202 is designed for those interested in using hempcrete as a potential solution to damp and mold. We are the first team in New York to retrofit an existing house using hempcrete as insulation and will show you several different wall finishes as we tour the hemp house.
Your training covers the science behind hemp-lime insulation, moisture absorption/diffusion, thermal mass and humidity equilibrium.
Within the presentations we discuss integrating hemp-lime into designs, building code, electrical wiring, HVAC consideration, plumbing details, wall finishing alternatives, the build process, costs and the material supply chain.
This course includes mixing hempcrete and installation of hempcrete into a wall assembly.
The Instructors:
Henry Gage, Jr. and Sally Warren, PhD are members of the team that presented the hemp-lime appendix to the International Code Council (ICC) in April of 2022, leading to approval as a building material for residential construction (announced in September 2022).
Sally is a board certified Naturopath and a research Analyst for Build Green Now.
Henry is a Senior Project Manager for Build Green Now and President of the US Hemp Building Association.
Introduction:
Build Green Now built New York’s first hempcrete retrofit, in the city of Kingston. As leading national advocates for industrial hemp, we are focused on creating jobs and opportunities, while building the supply chain for industrial hemp in our region.
Apply to Join a Build Green Now Project Team - Click Here
Build Green Now built New York’s first hempcrete retrofit, in the city of Kingston. As leading national advocates for industrial hemp, we are focused on creating jobs and opportunities, while building the supply chain for industrial hemp in our region.
Apply to Join a Build Green Now Project Team - Click Here
June 2022 - Create News in your community with these messages:
- Conversations - Click Here for Details
- Liberate Hemp - Click Here for Details
- Buy Hemp Now! - Click Here for Details
Learn to show your elected leaders how they can "Buy Hemp Now". They will thank you for collaborating.
In the News:
- NEASDA Industrial Hemp Research Collaboration - Proposal
June 13, 2022 we delivered an open letter to commissioners of agriculture and markets for 10 states on the east coast. A key takeaway is that they are listening. Below is a link to the letter and 5 step plan. Please share this with your teams. Then register your opinion and support.
- Unity Walk 2022, Bring Hemp to The People - Click Here for Details
- Hemp House #1 meets Jersey City Unity Walk - Click Here for Facebook Page
- Spray applied hempcrete solutions are available - see below. Join the news letter to receive a summary.
- NYS Hemp Fiber and Grain Workgroup: On April 13, 2022 the the group held a meeting and discussed cultivars, early research finding, decortication innovations and plans to support farmers and innovators in NY. The next meeting is planned for July. Join the news letter to receive a summary.
ICC Testimonial - Henry
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ICC Testimonial - Sally
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Build Green Now, founded by Henry Gage, Jr. and Sally Warren, PhD, is an Industrial Hemp focused collaboration in Kingston, NY providing research, analysis, and education to strengthen the US Industrial Hemp market.
In a spirit of collaboration we have decided that now is the time for action. Today is the day we accelerate making a difference as we lengthen our strides toward a resilient and renewable economy.
My family has a legacy of community service including starting the African American Community Service Agency in San Jose California over 30 years ago. More recently I've donated over 10,000 hours to the community in Jersey City as project manager for the Unity Walk.
In a spirit of collaboration we have decided that now is the time for action. Today is the day we accelerate making a difference as we lengthen our strides toward a resilient and renewable economy.
My family has a legacy of community service including starting the African American Community Service Agency in San Jose California over 30 years ago. More recently I've donated over 10,000 hours to the community in Jersey City as project manager for the Unity Walk.
Downloads:
| neasda_industrial_hemp_collaboration_-_proposal_ver_3.pdf |
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