Ogden Valley Businesses Care about Sustainability

AMD Architecture is a women owned small business specializing in sustainable design. Their projects range from off-grid straw bale homes to LEED Platinum certified commercial buildings. They are founded on the notion that green design is synonymous with good design and they strive to incorporate healthy, efficient and environmentally responsible choices in all of their designs. They focus on creating custom solutions based on climate so that they take advantage of passive strategies such as passive solar and cooling to minimize energy use and create the most comfortable spaces in the process. They have experience with alternative, efficient and healthy building methods such as: straw bale, ICF, SIP, containers, among others. They utilize renewable energy, such as active solar (PV) and ground source heat pumps in many projects. In addition to the sustainable efforts reflected in their projects, Angela Dean authored the book “Green by Design, Creating a home for Sustainable Living” which assists those thinking about creating spaces that facilitate sustainable living.

When the team at Huntsville Square rebuilt The Old Fire Station, they wanted to be mindful of sustainable building practices. “We built much of the new structure using reclaimed materials from the old station. For instance, the wainscoting in the new structure is material from the original corrugated metal roof; the peaks inside the new building consist of the old station’s original siding; and the trim inside the building is made of rough-cut timbers, which were studs and joists in the original building” said Dakota Hyde, partner with Huntsville Square. The Hydes also used other sustainable materials in the new station. The interior walls are constructed of sustainable, beetle-kill ponderosa pine, harvested from dead trees in a forest near Missoula Montana.

Recently, The Mad Moose Cafe in Eden transitioned to biodegradable envirofriendly corrugated “to go” containers in place of previously used styrofoam. Also, wide use of electronic media over print media to advertise and promote Moose products diminishes the strain on pulp production, and they also recycle all recyclables such as deep fryer oil which is turned into a variety of energy commodities. Owners, Mike and Jayhee Seguin continue to lobby Waste Management and Weber County to install a glass recycling collection point and other recycled material collection bins in the Valley. Most recently, the burlap used to package the cafe’s newly launched, locally roasted “Rough Rider Coffee,” is made from 100% biodegradable and recycled burlap material right down to the paper cup you depart the Mad Moose with.

Ashley Cross of New World Distillery in Eden is the first commercial property to sign up for the Rocky Mountain Solar Subscriber Program. 100% of the distillery’s high-tech, efficient, electrical equipment is powered by solar energy. They recirculate 100% of their cooling water and use a waste water evaporator to turn any solid waste into an organic dust. Additionally, they practice “pack-it-in; pack-it-out” methods of reducing waste by using the same cardboard cases in which bottles are delivered for follow on distribution. They are also recipients of a “Good Neighbor Award” which recognizes that their exterior lighting is International Dark-Sky Association compliant and that all internal lighting is LED.

This note on sustainable business practices in Ogden Valley is brought to you by Visit Ogden Valley and New World Distillery, open Tuesday – Saturday, 11-6.