Article
for New England's Environment,
June, 2004
Taking
the Initiative: The Opportunity in Green Conventions
Lance McKee
The Democratic
and Republican National Conventions attract many of the world's most
powerful people and capture the attention of Americans and citizens of
other nations. It occurred to the founders of the Coalition for Environmentally
Responsible Conventions (CERC) that these conventions provide a unique
opportunity to deploy and showcase environmental best practices that
are needed to address the global issue of sustainability.
A non-partisan
coalition of more than sixty organizations and 150 volunteers, CERC is
working with the organizers of both presidential conventions. CERC's
proposals address environmental best practices in energy, transportation,
construction (and deconstruction), waste, and hotels.
CERC's Energy Committee aims to offset all of the greenhouse gas
emissions associated with the conventions and develop a greenhouse gas
offset criteria that will set a standard for future conventions. Electrical
power for the Fleet Center during the Democratic National Convention
will be matched by purchases of wind certificates
from several wind turbines,
including the one in Hull, Massachusetts. Delegates and others will be
invited to take a boat cruise to see the Hull turbine. Another CERC event
will feature political and labor leaders calling for greater investment
in American-made renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Low-emission shuttles will be chartered to transport delegates on
a tour of local LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
certified buildings. New signage will help delegates take advantage of
Boston's walk-ability and efficient public transit.
CERC is working closely with Shawmut Design and Construction, who
will manage a $3.5 million construction project in Boston's Fleet Center
to accommodate the needs of the Democratic National Convention. Their
construction schedule and deconstruction schedule are tight, so planning
must take into consideration volume of materials, modular sizes to eliminate
cut off waste, and disassembly and reuse. They will use certified wood
and materials with recycled content. They will avoid formaldehyde and
use low VOC paints and adhesives.
CERC's Waste Committee and Event Planning Committee secured a grant
to influence event planners and caterers to use food rescue services
and divert food waste for composting. Also, CERC will recommend comprehensive
recycling programs for major convention events. They have offered to
help organizers find reuse opportunities for equipment used during the
convention. CERC is working to influence caterers to use food from Massachusetts
farms.
As part of the world's largest industry, hotels have a huge environmental
impact as well as a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate that they share
the concerns of the traveling public. According to the Travel Industry
Association of America, 83 percent of US travelers are inclined to support
green travel companies. CERC's Hotel Committee is working to increase
the environmental commitment of all Boston-area hotels in time for the
Democratic National Convention by asking them to take five easy steps
to make their hotel greener. Those
steps relate to energy efficiency, solid waste, environmentally preferred
purchasing, water conservation and increased employee awareness. Practices
such as energy efficient lighting and towel and linen reuse programs
not only help reduce a hotel's environmental footprint, but also decrease
operating expenses and lead to repeat business from environmentally conscious
consumers.
Dan
Ruben, Executive Director of CERC, said, "Conventions are a multifaceted
$70 billion industry. Adoption of best practices in managing convention-related
energy, transportation, construction, waste, and hospitality will have
a very positive impact on the environment. The 2004 national political
conventions in particular are the perfect medium for 'viral marketing.'
We expect that many attendees and viewers will take note of these best
practices and begin to use them in their own communities."
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SIDEBAR:
Do you enjoy the excitement of conventions? Do you want to support
a high-profile activity that showcases your and your organization's commitment
to the environment? To learn more about CERC, or to become a CERC sponsor, see CERC's web site, http://www.cerc04.org.