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The AWEA Green Team

As the national trade association of America’s wind industry and the voice of wind energy in the U.S., AWEA makes an effort to put its core values into practice by being environmentally conscious. AWEA’s Green Team, whose members include staff from every AWEA department, continually strives to look for ways in which the association can minimize its environmental footprint, both internally and when it conducts or hosts events for members and others.

Greening an organization is an ongoing process, one which AWEA began in earnest in 2007. Below are some of the steps AWEA has taken to live its values of environmental consciousness on a continuing basis.

AWEA Offices: LEEDing by Example

One of the greatest opportunities for AWEA to “go green” came when industry growth created a need for the association to move to a new office. Early on in the office search process, AWEA decided it would make an extra effort to be environmentally conscious during the design and build-out so that the new space would be in sync with the clean, renewable energy source for which it advocates. It hired OTJ Architects and consultancy Sustainable Design to ensure that the finished space would allow the organization to work with maximum efficiency, and in a space that reflected its values.

AWEA also decided that it wanted the new office to be certified under the U.S. Green Building Council’s respected LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program for commercial interiors. Throughout the design and build-out, the association worked with Sustainable Design to ensure that it attained the necessary points for LEED certification.

The organization moved into its new offices  Labor Day weekend of 2008, and has been enjoying operating in an overall green working environment, complete with plenty of natural lighting, ever since. LEED certification in the “Existing Building” category is expected in the first part of 2009.

Some of the environmentally friendly features that have earned points toward LEED certification include:

• HVAC system saves energy by reducing cooling load while also providing fresh air.
• Lights have motion sensors so they shut off automatically when rooms are not in use.
• All carpeting, flooring, laminate surfaces, and ceiling tiles made with recycled content
• Drywall in part made with paperless lining.
• Flooring in all workrooms and pantry areas is also made with recycled materials and "eco-responsible" pigments rather than petroleum-based products.
• Existing furnishings were reused as much as possible, while new furniture and workstations are made from recyclable and recycled materials that are GREENGUARD certified.
  

Finally, the office building in which AWEA is located has also submitted for LEED certification under the Core-and-Shell category.

Living Green Day to Day

Being environmentally conscious, of course, goes well beyond the build-out of new office space. Here are some of the ways AWEA continues to reduce its environmental footprint:

Energy. Naturally, AWEA is powered by wind. Long before AWEA moved into its new office space, the association began purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs) to offset 100% of its electricity usage. The association purchases 484 megawatt-hours per year in wind power-based RECs.

Conferences & Workshops. AWEA’s events, including the annual WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition, are now paperless for session materials. Binders have been eliminated, and green products such as lanyards and bags made from recycled materials are used whenever feasible. Starting in 2007, attendees have had the option of offsetting their travel to WINDPOWER with renewable energy credits. Recycling stations are also provided at all AWEA events when possible.

A few of the other green initiatives associated with WINDPOWER:

• Exhibitor manual provided online as well as in CD-ROM format rather than sending out hard copy kits
• Offsetting the energy use of the conference with renewable energy credits
• Providing large water coolers instead of individual bottled water and cups made from corn that are 100% compostable
• Collection of unwanted badges and conference bags at the conclusion of the event to be reused, recycled, or donated to a local charity as appropriate.
• Incorporating an environmental survey into the site selection process for future WINDPOWER cities
• AWEA is a founding member of the Convene Green Alliance

For the many other initiatives undertaken at the largest wind industry event in the world, go to the "Greener Conference" page on the WINDPOWER Web site.

Internal Events. An effort is made to use restaurants, caterers, hotels, and other vendors that are environmentally conscious.

Printing. AWEA is in the process of redirecting its business to printers that offer recycled stock and other green products. Inside the office, an effort is made to use double-sided printing when making paper copies—all on 100% recycled paper.

Recycling. Boxes for recycling paper are located at all offices and work stations. In the office's kitchens, compostable utensils and cups as well as durable dining ware are used.

Transportation. Many staff regularly bike to work, a practice that AWEA promoted by including showers in the design of the new office space. A federal tax credit recently became available to employers who reimburse their employees a portion of the expense of purchasing, maintaining, or storing a bicycle they use regularly to commute to work.

Many other staff commute via Washington’s Metrorail or another form of public transportation; AWEA encourages this practice by participating in the program under which employees can have public transportation expenses taken out of their paychecks on a pre-tax basis.

For more about AWEA's Green Team, please contact Michele Sullivan.

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