The goals of the TRI two-day workshop are to promote community awareness of deconstruction and building-materials salvage and in the process to: 1) divert reusable building materials from landfills, and 2) generate jobs within the host community. We hope that as workshop participants (usually local businesspeople) interact, fresh ideas will emerge concerning how to establish deconstruction as a sensible alternative to demolition.

The recently completed two-dayer in Muncie attracted a diverse group of participants -- demolition contractors, remodeling contractors, handymen, a specialist in the demolition of silos (Indiana is corn country, after all), a realtor, three custom home builders, two designers, electricians, plumbers, nursery operators, and a sales representative who specializes in supplying components for green buildings. In addition there was a preservationist from Ohio and a construction manager from a nonprofit organization in Illinois.

As an opening activity, I asked participants to introduce themselves and explain why they had enrolled in the workshop. This openness encouraged ongoing interaction and discussion between participants during breaks, at lunch and at the end of each day. I was aware of considerable business being conducted. For example ...

Walking to lunch on the first day, the sales rep pointed out a restored two-story commercial building and explained that she had provided the custom-built windows for the project, which was part of the complete restoration of downtown Muncie a couple of years ago. This discussion piqued the interest of one of the custom home builders, who proceeded to discuss some of his upcoming projects with the sales representative.

The realtor phoned a local TRP-certified deconstruction contractor concerning the deconstruction of three residences to make way for an apartment complex near Ball State University. He is certain that the tax benefits will be attractive to his developer-client, who has purchased the property.

The handyman emailed me a couple days after the workshop to say that he had just sold a small kitchen remodel on the basis of the owner's decision to donate the old kitchen cabinets. And one of the builders responded to a request for qualifications from county government concerning a project to deconstruct and rebuild a low-income neighborhood.

During the class's tour of a Muncie deconstruction project, the nurseryman identified several high-value shrubs and trees that could easily be saved. He stated that he would be glad to work with the contractor to salvage the plants for reuse, ultimately increasing the size of the homeowner's tax donation. And the preservationist took samples of re-milled flooring from a deconstruction project back to his home town to show local officials the quality of materials that can be salvaged from abandoned houses in hopes that his city will start a deconstruction program.

I'm confident that the workshop achieved its goal of increasing local interest in deconstruction and building-materials salvage. Whether it will generate employment opportunities remains to be seen -- only three weeks have passed since the training. Stay tuned.

For information concerning upcoming two-day workshops, visit our newly launched TRI Deconstruction Training website. The website is devoted entirely to the different types of training workshops we offer. You'll find us at www.DeconstructonTraining.org

Two-day Workshop Schedule
We have added a Sacramento workshop to our training schedule (April 23-24), sponsored in part by the County of Sacramento. As with all our workshops, the location will be announced just prior to the training.

Two-day Workshop Agenda
Day 1 (Classroom): Safety • Tools • Equipment • Layout of jobsite • Sequence of work • Deconstruction techniques • Layered materials • Debris handling • Maintaining salvage values• Handling & shipping • Successful bidding

Day 2 (Jobsite): Jobsite inspection and layout • Identifying materials to be salvaged • Removal and handling • Identifying materials for recycling • Location and use of local recycling centers • Bid preparation • Final wrap-up

2010 Reuse Contest
Our 2008 and 2009 reuse contests were so successful that we've decided to sponsor the competition annually. Every entrant receives a $25 gift certificate, and winners receive additional gift certificates worth up to $225 at TRP warehouses. Click here for more information and contest rules.

• AltBuild (Alternative Building Materials & Design Expo) May 7-8, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Ted Reiff will be speaking at one of the sessions. Stop by the TRP booth and sign up to participate in an astounding contest, the details of which are top secret for now. www.altbuildexpo.com
• West Coast Green. October 1-3, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco. This is one of the big Northern California green shows. TRP has participated for several years and will be there again this year. www.westcoastgreen.com