By: Karin Bigelow
A case-study in action, great efforts towards maintaining a carbon-neutral level have gone in to Green Your Theme Seattle! The September 16, 2009, event began with choosing an eco friendly locale, Sodo Park. This venue takes the lead in implementing practices that leave the smallest carbon footprint on the environment.
Next, all vendors involved reflect practices in sustainability. For example, Appel Farms of Ferdale, WA, supplying fresh cheddar cheese curds apply a common sense approach including cover crops to prevent soil erosion and run-off of nutrients. They also have a waste management plan that includes soil testing and injection of composted manure directly into the ground. Injecting allows efficient use so less is needed.
A great deal of CO2 is emitted from paper decomposing in landfills. This event is paying special attention to reducing the amount of paper used, including a simple request to vendors: supply your info for inclusion in the Green Event Directory, a one-sheeter that lists ways to access the caterers, wineries, and event specialists involved in the Panel Discussion.
As the evening progresses, experts involved in the Panel Discussion share solutions they’ve incorporated during such events as Mariner’s Zero Waste Day this past Earth Day.
Recycling is reflected throughout the designs in the Eco-Fashion Show, beer cups are biodegradable, lanyards are reusable and the music for the LED lit dancefloor is digital. Throughout the event, networking will provoke conversations around developing new solutions that protect the natural world while growing the economy.
Finally, to offset the carbon emissions used, three tons of CO2 were permanently retired from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) program, the nation’s first multi-state effort to make measurable reductions in carbon emissions.
Sources:
http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/eco-calculator
http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/agnic/agnic.htm#definition
http://adirondackcouncil.org/
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