News
Clean and Green Business Coalition Announces Progress
April, 2009
Roanoke, VA – In April 2009, the Clean and Green Business Coalition held a press conference to announce significant progress made toward reaching their target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. In November 2008, the group set a target to reduce emissions from each business’ operation by a total of 20 percent over a period of five years (at 4 percent per year). In April, the group announced they have already made great strides toward that goal by reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 13 percent in 2008.
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Clean and Green Business Coalition Announces Emissions Target
Nov. 18, 2008
Roanoke, VA – The Clean and Green Business Coalition held a press conference at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, at Orvis on Campbell Avenue, announcing the emissions target set out by its members. The Coalition has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from each business’ operation by a total of 20 percent over a period of five years (at 4 percent per year).
“The purpose of the Business Coalition is to provide leadership across all sectors in the region. By setting goals that are double the community standard, we are making a significant commitment to the greening of the Roanoke Valley,” said Stan Breakell, president of Breakell Inc., co-chair of the Coalition and one of its charter members.
City Council Member Gwen Mason gave opening remarks. Additional speakers were Mike Rigney, vice president of operations at Orvis; Dale Lee, vice president and corporate secretary at RGC Resources; and Nathaniel Bishop, vice president of administration at Carilion Clinic.
In March, a number of Roanoke’s top employers and businesses joined efforts to create the Coalition. Co-chaired by City Council Member Gwen Mason and Stan Breakell, the Coalition’s mission is to identify and implement environmentally sound business practices, including the development of sustainable business plans, the tracking of carbon emissions, and recycling.
By joining the city in monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, encouraging green planning, and practicing conservation responsibly in business routines and processes, the private sector is demonstrating true leadership in environmental stewardship.
Member companies of the Coalition include: Berglund Chevrolet; Breakell Inc.; Carilion Clinic; Fralin and Waldron; Gentry Locke Rakes and Moore; HSMM AECOM; J.M. Turner Company; Lanford Brothers Co. Inc.; Orvis; RGC Resources; SunTrust Bank; Steel Dynamics; and Virginia Western Community College.
For more information about the Clean and Green Business Coalition, please contact Faye Gilchrist in the City Manager’s Office at 853-5801.
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Roanoke recognized for environmental initiatives
Oct. 24, 2008
Roanoke, VA - The City of Roanoke has won a first place award in the inaugural Virginia Municipal League (VML) Green Government Challenge sponsored by Moseley Architects. The city's 185-point total tied it with Loudoun County for the first place award in the category for populations of more than 90,000. The City of Roanoke and Loudoun County will split the first-place and second-place award money. Each will receive a check for $2,500 in addition to a plaque.
Roanoke achieved the most points for any city of its size for adopting green policies and practices throughout its organization. Areas in which these actions were taken included energy efficiency, green buildings, waste management, vehicles, land use/transportation, water/air quality, employee incentives, education/community participation, schools, and innovation.
The Green Government Challenge is part of VML's Go Green Virginia Initiative, a friendly competition designed to encourage implementation policies and practical actions that reduce the carbon emissions generated by both the local government and the broader community. By taking this challenge, cities, towns, and counties can become a certified "Green Government."
The awards were presented at the VML Annual Conference in Norfolk on Monday, Oct. 20. The conference will be held at the Waterside Convention Center adjacent the Norfolk Marriott Waterside Hotel in Norfolk.
For more information, please contact Ken Cronin, General Services and Sustainability Director, at 853-1805 or kenneth.cronin@roanokeva.gov.
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Citizens Encouraged to Take Advantage of Fluorescent Bulb Recycling Program
Roanoke, VA – The City of Roanoke wants citizens to know that beginning in July, The Home Depot stores launched a national in-store, consumer compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb recycling program at all locations. This program demonstrates an expansion of The Home Depot’s long-term commitment to the environment and sustainability.
At each store, customers can simply bring in any expired, unbroken CFL bulbs and give them to the store associate behind the returns desk. The bulbs will then be managed responsibly by an environmental management company who will coordinate CFL packaging, transportation and recycling to maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance.
The City of Roanoke has encouraged residents and businesses to use CFLs as a way to participate in its Clean and Green Campaign, launched in fall 2007. The Home Depot’s program will allow citizens to go the extra mile in their efforts to promote good stewardship of our environment by recycling these bulbs properly.
For more information, please contact one of the Home Depot stores in the Roanoke area.
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City-Business Partnership Launches Environmental Coalition
March 14, 2008
Roanoke, VA – At a press conference at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center today, a number of Roanoke’s top employers and businesses joined city officials to announce the creation of the Roanoke Business Environmental Leadership Coalition. Co-chaired by City Council Member Gwen Mason and Stan Breakell, Chief Executive Officer of Breakell Inc., the Coalition’s mission is to identify and implement environmentally sound business practices, including the development of sustainable business plans, the tracking of carbon emissions, and recycling.
“A cleaner, greener Roanoke is one step closer today by the progressive commitment of these Roanoke business leaders,” states Mason. “By joining the city in monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, encouraging green planning, and practicing conservation responsibly in business routines and processes, our private sector friends are demonstrating true leadership.”
Roanoke recently joined the Cities for Climate Protection initiative sponsored by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. This initiative focuses on determining the type and amount of greenhouse gases emitted by city government, commonly referred to as the “carbon footprint.” Roanoke is reducing its carbon footprint by using more biofuels in the city fleet, increasing building efficiency and using more energy efficient indoor and outdoor lighting.
Virginia Tech’s Green Engineering Program is helping Roanoke with its ICLEI emissions analysis to identify the city’s carbon footprint. “Environmental impacts result from activities across all sectors of a community – commercial, industrial, municipal and residential,” states Dr. Sean McGinnis, who directs the program at Virginia Tech. “It is encouraging and critical for the business community to partner with the city in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts.”
A good example of environmental leadership in Roanoke’s business community is Breakell Inc., which for more than 50 years has been a trusted general contractor in the Roanoke and New River Valleys. Breakell Inc. is pioneering new ways of working, communicating and building through its commitment to sustainable business practices and technology. Breakell Inc. has integrated a company-wide environmental policy which includes recycling, adding biodiesel to heavy equipment and using a fleet of the hybrid Prius cars.
“Roanoke’s business leaders are demonstrating our commitment to the environment,” says Breakell. “By working together, we can position Roanoke as a leader in green business. With our power as employers, and our power as consumers, the Business Environmental Leadership Coalition can turn that capital into a cleaner, greener Roanoke. It helps our bottom line and it’s the right thing to do.”
Each participating business will be asked to take the following actions:
• Conduct a carbon inventory,
• Encourage conservation through business practices,
• Purchase environmentally sound products and supplies, and
• Designate a staff member to serve as a champion for the environment on behalf of the business.
Members of the Roanoke Business Environmental Leadership Coalition include:
• Dr. Edward G. Murphy, CEO and President, Carilion Clinic
• Cecil Doyle, President and CEO, HSMM AECOM
• Charlie Williams, Attorney, Gentry Locke Rakes and Moore
• Robert Sandel, President, Virginia Western Community College
• Jay Turner, CEO, J.M. Turner Company
• John Williamson, President and CEO, RGC Resources
• Ken Lanford, President, Lanford Brothers Co., Inc
• Barry Henderson, President and CEO of Western Virginia Region, SunTrust Bank
• Mike Rigney, Vice President Operations, Orvis
• Joe Crawford, Vice President and General Manager, Steel Dynamics, Roanoke Bar Division
• William Farrell, President, Berglund Chevrolet
• Karen Waldron, CEO, Fralin and Waldron
“I commend these companies for recognizing the value of joining the Roanoke Business Environmental Leadership Coalition,” says Mayor C. Nelson Harris. “It’s gratifying to see Roanoke businesses engaging in the Clean and Green Campaign in such a meaningful way.”
For more information, please contact Lisa Soltis in the City of Roanoke’s Economic Development office at 540-853-1694, or Nell Boyle, Director of Sustainable Practices for Breakell Inc., at 540-345-7309.
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City Encourages Community Groups to Start New Year Clean and Green
Jan. 1, 2008
Roanoke, VA — In recognition of the City of Roanoke’s new Clean and Green Campaign, the Mill Mountain Garden Club will kick off the new year with a cleanup event. “No Ifs, Ands, or Butts” will take place Thursday, Jan. 17, from 10-11 a.m., near the railroad trestle bridge in front of Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Inspired by City Councilwoman Gwen Mason’s kick-off press conference, the group’s conservation committee chose to organize a cigarette butt cleanup in order to make a strong visual impression, while tackling one of the city’s most conspicuous litter problems.
“The members of the Mill Mountain Garden Club have a wonderful history of promoting conservation in Roanoke,” said City Councilwoman Gwen Mason. “Once again, they’re donning their work gloves to make the city cleaner and greener.”
This is just one example of how a community organization can take the initiative to help clean up and beautify the city.
Another example is the new neighborhood recycling challenge, in which neighborhood groups square off over a period of one month to see which one can increase its recycling volume the most. Virginia Heights and Norwich will hold the first competition of 2008. For last fall’s pilot program, Melrose-Rugby and Loudon-Melrose competed from Oct. 15 to Nov. 19. Melrose-Rugby won the competition, but the city also wins by encouraging more residents to recycle.
It’s easy to get involved in the Clean and Green Campaign. All it takes is identifying a need and rallying volunteers to get the task accomplished. The city will list community events on its Web site.
To learn more about how your organization can partner with the city to support the Clean and Green Campaign, visit www.roanokeva.gov/green, or contact Faye Gilchrist at 540-853-5801.