[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”12969″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][vc_column_text]Thomas Rettenwender, MA., M.Arch., models a reusable and recyclable face shield for health care professionals, that he and his team designed to provide personal protection during this Corona Virus pandemic.
On April 14, 2020, Thomas Rettenwender, from EcoLogic Design Lab – an Architectural and ecological design and research firm located in Carmel, delivered 20 protective face shields to Interim, Inc. that he helped design and produce for local health care organizations that support Monterey County residents.
With Interim’s management team actively preparing and implementing strategies to maintain the high level of care that the agency’s clients and residents receive on a daily basis, Executive Director Barbara Mitchell has been eagerly tapping into every resource available. According to Mitchell, “With three residential treatment programs, including two crisis residential programs, about 250 housing beds or units, Interim provides essential services that cannot shut down. The agency needs personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect both staff and clients.”
The face shields were a welcomed and much appreciated PPE resource that can be used by the agency nursing staff in the crisis residential and transitional residential treatment programs, and other staff who may be in close contact with clients who may be ill or in quarantine. For weeks Interim has been sourcing PPE, both through purchase and through donations from partners such as Monterey County, the City of Monterey and the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers.
Mr. Rettenwender specializes in commercial and residential green building design projects and has collaborated with other environmentalists to create an innovative solution to our global need for reusable PPE that is environmentally safe and sustainable. It is clearly apparent that appropriate PPE is critically important to prevent the spread of the Corona Virus; however, Rettenwender points out the issue few are focused on right now, “So much energy and waste goes into getting rid of used PPE.” As a result, he and his team have used their expertise to create a solution.
Thomas Rettenwender has 20 years of international experience in Architectural Design and has become a leader in providing new solutions for truly ecological built environments, and is currently Lecturer at UC Santa Cruz teaching Ecological Building Design through the Tiny House Design Lab program. In 2019 he founded the Carmel Maker Space to encourage collaboration, creativity and access to emerging technology.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”see-through-2″ hover_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” url=”http://interiminc.org/programs/” text=”Reach out for help” margin_right=”20″][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”see-through-2″ hover_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” url=”https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001EHs8nXD-JT8ET9I6bsb8Qz7BUNzeIGewN9M0bWPLSO1vb6KhUV168Qp6OIkP7FuOYMz2uvZ7pG0qtRtFCH3YHmXOV6JzlwCt3KQLLK0zeCzh73fspqL3b2dh7K5EHbJ1BFijmpDPcZ26_NBdCLO91OrQhUZ0n9KZr1UlDW6kbT7l-cJ3yijW0c3vcA-B2DHfoDqzMzg2VS00sNw3tvQhMro182dM8Qqwy3HFVWfPT3BHZwlpBkwT4Q%3D%3D” text=”Sign up for our newsletter”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
