Going Green

We earned our Green Star Award in 2009!

We’ve been working for several years on reducing our carbon footprint and reducing waste while maintaining the level of service and comfort our guests know to expect and that we are proud to offer.  Through our continual efforts and with your help, we can continue to improve.For example, Pike's is changing over from plastic service at breakfast to compostable materials as soon as we use up the plastic stuff.

Here's an article about us:

http://snras.blogspot.com/2009/09/snras-collaborator-earns-green-star.html

Solar Energy:
On the roof of the Copper Lodge, we’ve installed solar panels which produce 21,000 kilowatts of power. We produce power even in the winter!  The solar panels are the first large commercial installation in Alaska.  We also participate in Golden Valley Electric’s program to subsidize other solar energy generators. You can contribute to it too; please ask about the SNAP (Sustainable Natural Alternatives Power) Program at the front desk.

Hydroponics:
In conjunction with the Future Farmers of America and the University of Alaska Fairbanks, we have converted our greenhouse to a hydroponics-based food growing business as a pioneering, sustainable supply effort.  The FFA has raised lettuce, strawberries and cherry tomatoes in our greenhouse; we use the produce in our restaurants and they will have some produce available for sale.  In addition, members of the Future Farmers of America maintain our grounds during the summer.

Green Star:
We are in the process of obtaining our Green Star award, a local Alaska energy conservation program based on suggestions on how to reduce our energy footprint.  We’ve undertaken a number of steps from changing to more energy efficient light bulbs to adjusting our driers to increase efficiency and reduce the dry time.  We’re using more environmentally friendly chemicals whenever possible and recycling paper in our business office and aluminum cans in our gift shop. Our new carpets are made of recycled materials. We donate our used cooking oil to a bio fuel co-operative.  Some of our latest changes include installing low flow shower heads to conserve water and replacing older televisions with more energy efficient flat-screens.

Reducing our carbon footprint is an iterative process; as conditions change, we will add improvements as we can and maintain the excellent level of service for you, our guest, for which we have come to be known.

Local efforts :
The local power utility, Golden Valley, is encouraging alternative power use through the Sustainable Natural Alternatives Power, SNAP, program. This program encourages households to invest in wind or solar power generation.  We encourage you to contribute $1.00 to SNAP on check in or check out and we will pass along the donations to Golden Valley.

What you can do:
As our guest, you can make an impact by turning off the lights, television, heater and air conditioning when you do not need them.  Also, only 60% of our guests keep the same sheets and towels for more than one night.  This small action conserves a considerable amount of water. Will you help bump that percentage up?  There is a card in your room with instructions on how to indicate to housekeeping that you wish to participate in this program.

Recycling?

The recycling programs have come and gone in Fairbanks based on the economies of shipping recyclables out of state. We are currently providing recycling areas in our stairwells for now. We hope to implement a wider recycling program in the future.

Pike’s Hydroponics - Some Background and Information by Petra Davis

On July 15, 2009, the Green Star Award was presented to Pikes Waterfront Lodge. The Green Star Award recognizes statewide companies that are dedicated to ecological advances. Among other initiatives, Pikes Waterfront Lodge is the first Alaskan business to use a hydroponic aggregation system in a corporate greenhouse. A hydroponic growing system is one in which plant are grown in a nutrient solution with or without the use of an artificial medium. By utilizing a hydroponic aggregate system, Pike’s is in the forefront in ecological awareness and community involvement.
A Hydroponic aggregation system is highly productive, conservative of natural resources, and ecologically responsible. Typically sunlight, water and nutrients are the main abiotic factors in the productivity of standing crop. The hydroponic system in Fairbanks allows routine watering and controlled amount of essential nutrients, as well as taking advantage of the long Alaskan summer days all of which enhance the ultimate productivity within the greenhouse. Last season students from University of Alaska Fairbanks and Future Farmers of American grew produce enough to provide Pike’s with fresh produce and have enough to sell in a local farmers market. The growing systems within the greenhouse can be grown completely in an aqueous solution or with the support of a solid medium. In place at Pike’s Greenhouse right now are various hydroponic systems grown completely in aqueous solutions these include; Nutrient Film Technique, Areoponic practices, Vertical Growing, and Deep Water Bubble systems; all of which allow mass circulation of nutrient solution and accurate measurements of important abiotic factors such as ph levels, electrical conductivity, water levels, and constant regulation of essential nutrients. Other hydroponic systems used within the greenhouse include; Ebb and Flow, Dutch Potato Buckets, an Areogarden, the Floating Pond ,Drip Hydroponic, Rockwool blocks and Top Irrigation. These hydroponic systems use an artificial medium typically; vermiculite, Rockwool, Perlite, Peatmoss or a siliceous rock. By not utilizing soil one prevents soil born diseases, pest infestation and over development of land.
The hydroponics system at Pike’s is not only environmentally proactive, it also provides a unique way to involve and expose the community to more environmentally friendly practices. Currently University of Alaska Fairbanks students of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences along with the Future Farmers of America program are working with the new hydroponic aggregation system. They are learning both about new aggregation systems and photosynthetic rates. A major hypothesis being presented is that plants given enough nutrients and water will continue to photosynthesis as long there is enough sunlight exposure. The students will be tracking the photosynthetic rates of tomato plants throughout the summer in order to collect data for an ample analysis. Along with working in the greenhouse students conduct summer tours of the greenhouse, do landscape work for the hotel and adjacent restaurant, and set up a farmers market selling fresh produce to the community. According to Professor Meriam Karlsson “Pike’s is very supportive of us and FFA”; Jay Ramras, the owner of Pike’s Waterfront Lodge, thinks “It’s a wonderful collaboration.” Pike’s has installed a unique cooperative program that is knitting the community together and pushing the forefront of ecologically responsible practices. Congratulations to Pike’s Waterfront Lodge for their ecological advances and community involvement.

Bibliography
Jensen, Merle. University of Arizona, n.d. Web. 7 Jul 2010.
SNRAS, . "Growing Under the Midnight Sun." Print
SNRAS, . "Growing opportunity: UAF hydroponics and the FFA at Pike's Waterfront Lodge." (2008): n. pag. Web. 7 Jul 2010.