by Heather Burns
Congratulations to the recipients of Mayor Menino's Green Business Awards. The Green Business Awards were given to 11 businesses that demonstrated extraordinary performance related to sustainable environmental practices. The 2012 Green Business Award winners are:
Greentown Labs - Innovation District
Greentown Labs provides companies working to improve the efficiency of homes and businesses and/or increase the use of renewable energy sources, a space to build, test, and expand their services at their building in the Innovation District. The office itself has gone green by incorporating sustainable design, high efficiency lighting, and installing an electric vehicle charging station.
Crown Uniform & Linen - South Boston
A 4th generation family-owned business founded in 1914, and currently employing 150 workers, Crown Uniform & Linen joined the Sustainable Business Network in 2011, and has adopted energy efficiency measures, water conservation technology, and incorporated waste reduction goals into their business.
P&G Gillette South Boston site - South Boston
Gillette's South Boston site has made a significant commitment to greening their facility and operations, and have made investments in energy and water conservation that has resulted in a 10 million kilowatt reduction in energy use and a 2.8 million gallon reduction in water use in 2011. An employee-led 'green team' has instituted waste reduction initiatives that include recycling and composting throughout the facility.
Westin Boston Waterfront - Innovation District
Westin's employee "Green Team" focuses on sustainability initiatives such as comprehensive waste reduction through recycling and composting to implementing new technology in their guest rooms to reduce water usage. The hotel underwent a large lighting retrofit, replacing all lighting in their public spaces with highly-efficient LEDs, resulting in a savings of 422,000 kilowatt hours per year.
Harpoon Brewery - Innovation District
Harpoon goes above and beyond to reduce their waste by sending all their spent grain from the brewing process to a dairy farm in Westport, MA - totaling in 130,000 lbs per week. Their new Freeaire cooling system allows them to use outside air for the refrigeration of the beer 110 days of the year.
912 Auto Center - Dorchester
A graduate of the Boston Public Health Commission's Safe Shops Program, 912 Auto has switched to water-based paints to protect the health of workers and customers. An indoor ventilation system reduces indoor air pollution and makes their heating/cooling system more efficient.
Digital Lumens - West End
Digital Lumens focuses on reducing lighting energy demand at industrial facilities that have significant lighting needs. Through a combination of highly efficient LEDs and a wireless management system, a facility can reduce energy usage up to 90% by partnering with Digital Lumens.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center - Longwood
BIDMC employs a dedicated Energy Manager and Sustainability Coordinator along with a Green Committee that has overseen initiatives ranging from energy management and efficiency to increased waste diversion. Through their energy saving measures, BIDMC saved enough energy to light almost 2000 homes for one year.
Massachusetts General Hospital - West End
With over 40 energy conservation measures implemented in the past year, MGH has seen a 10% reduction in energy usage from its 2010 levels. Over 30% of MGH's energy needs come from renewable sources, and as a member of the Boston Green Ribbon Commission, Partners Healthcare has committed to a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
Fresh Hair - Jamaica Plain
A member of the City of Boston's MainStreets program, Fresh Hair provides eco-friendly salon services and offers environmentally-friendly products. The salon also installed a solar hotwater heating system in 2001 (one of the first systems in Boston), and a grey water system to recapture heat from hot water and reduce its energy needs.
Boston Cab Association - Fenway/Kenmore
Boston Cab Association was the first cab company to commit to purchasing hybrids for their fleet in 2006 as part of the City's Clean Air Cab program. The hybrids are 60-70% more efficient than former Crown Victorias, and today Boston Cab Association has over 300 hybrids in its fleet.
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