Thursday, June 24, 2010
'Green' coalition celebrates efforts to trim emissions
Thirteen businesses have reduced emissions a total of 20 percent over two years.
The latest from The Ticker blog
Gwen Mason began by teasing businessman Stan Breakell about his vigorous flag waving for green business practices. Breakell laughed and blushed.
Specifically, Mason, a lame duck city councilwoman, congratulated Roanoke businesses in a Clean & Green Business Coalition for putting up with "relentless, persistent, incessant Stan Breakell harassment."
Both Mason and Breakell, who is chairman and chief executive officer of Breakell Inc., spoke Wednesday morning during a coalition news conference to announce that efforts by participating businesses to reduce their "carbon footprint" have paid off -- both for the businesses and the environment.
Mason said that 13 member businesses have, in sum, reduced their carbon emissions by 80,000 tons, or 20 percent, in just two years -- 2008 and 2009.
In 2008, based on base line data collected in 2007, the coalition set a five-year goal of reducing carbon emissions, averaged across the businesses, large and small, of 20 percent.
And these businesses have enjoyed energy cost savings totaling about $10 million, Mason said.
Many scientists, agencies, environmentalists and businesses tie carbon dioxide emissions to global climate change. The term "carbon footprint" typically refers to an individual, community or business' contribution to greenhouse gases. It is expressed in pounds of carbon dioxide and determined through carbon calculators that examine, among other things, use of electricity, natural gas and other fossil fuels.
Sean McGinnis, Virginia Tech's director of green engineering, helps the coalition track the carbon footprint of participating businesses. McGinnis has performed similar analysis for the city's carbon footprint.
Mason acknowledged that recession-related cuts in business activity have contributed to the drop in carbon emissions. But she and others, including James Sledd of Aecom, described specific strategies and actions businesses have taken to reduce their carbon footprint.
Sledd noted that Aecom followed green principles when renovating office space the company leases in the Wachovia Tower, has reduced travel, added hybrid vehicles to its fleet and taken other measures to cut carbon emissions.
Outgoing City Councilman Rupert Cutler, who attended the news conference Wednesday, described the business coalition's carbon focus as "a movement that can't be stopped."
For an example of a carbon calculator, go to: www.rvccc.org/footprint.html
