White House Council on Environmental Quality Announces GreenGov Presidential Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                                             

October 7, 2010     

White House Council on Environmental Quality Announces GreenGov Presidential Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) today announced eight Federal winners of the 2010 GreenGov Presidential Awards for exceptional efforts to promote sustainable operations at their agencies.  The winners are Federal agency teams or employees from across the country.

"President Obama asked the Federal Government to lead by example when it comes to building a sustainable future focused on clean and renewable energy," said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.  "These winning entries, representing seven Federal agencies, are clearly leading by example in their innovative use of environmentally responsible products and technologies."

The GreenGov Presidential Awards celebrate extraordinary achievement in the pursuit of President Obama's Executive Order on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance (Executive Order 13514).  They honor Federal civilian and military personnel, agency teams, agency projects and facilities, and agency programs that exemplify President Obama's charge to lead by example towards a clean energy economy. 

CEQ solicited award nominations and, along with a panel of judges, reviewed the nominations and recommended the 2010 award recipients to the President.  The eight winners were selected from more than 300 nominations and will be recognized at a White House reception tonight.  The winners and their outstanding achievement among the following categories are described below:

Good Neighbor Award: Nutrition and Food Services Team, Department of Veterans Affairs
Martinsburg, WV
The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Martinsburg Medical Center's Nutrition and Food Services "Green Kitchen" has brought together local farmers, Federal VA staff and veterans to bring healthy, locally grown foods from veteran-owned farming businesses to the VA cafeteria.  This initiative has decreased landfill food waste by 86 percent, contributed 265 pounds of weekly food donations to a non-profit veteran’s transitional housing group, and increased collection of food waste for composting.  In addition, the project’s efficient kitchen equipment and operations have improved energy and water conservation.

Building the Future Award: Fort Belvoir Residential Communities Team, Department of Defense
Fort Belvoir, VA
Under the Army’s Residential Communities Initiative, the Army and Fort Belvoir Residential Communities LLC formed a 50-year public-private partnership to develop, rehabilitate and construct 2,106 homes on 576 acres at Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County, Virginia. The project includes a mixed-use Town Center that features solar panels, a salvaged playground, and a stormwater management system that captures and treats 90% of annual runoff from rainfall.  The Town Center has become a model for how other military installations can incorporate residential and retail space in an integrated building, reducing the development footprint and encouraging walking as an alternative to driving.

Green Dream Team Award: Interagency Working Group on Climate Change and Health Team, Department of Health and Human Services
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Atlanta, Georgia
Washington, DC
The Interagency Working Group on Climate Change and Health, formed in 2009, is an interdisciplinary team of experts that focuses on the impacts of climate change on the health of our nation’s people and communities.  The Working Group’s report, "A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change," provides a baseline assessment of the current state of knowledge of the health impacts of climate change and informs projections of future impacts.

Green Innovation Award: Sandia National Laboratories, Department of Energy
Albuquerque, NM
The Sandia National Laboratories Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) team has developed a solar-powered vehicle to promote an energy-efficient campus.  Three hundred and fifty solar-powered Global Electric Motorcars carts are now used as primary means of campus transportation, avoiding a projected 184,800 pounds of carbon dioxide and 700 pounds of sulfur dioxide annually.

Green Innovation Award: Barbara C. Lippiatt, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Commerce
Gaithersburg, MD
Barbara Lippiatt has developed the Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) Program.  This software tool measures the environmental performance of building materials and bio-based products using a life-cycle assessment from manufacturing through product use, maintenance, and disposal. Her vision has resulted in a practical tool for sustainability performance measurement that is unbiased, science-based, quantitative, transparent, and comprehensive.

Lean, Clean and Green Award: Idaho National Laboratory Team, Department of Energy
Idaho Falls, ID
The Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory has implemented sustainable transportation programs and practices including streamlining its fleet of 115 buses and using alternative fuels.  Overall, this initiative has decreased petroleum fuel consumption by 21 percent and increased alternative fuel use by 56 percent.  Plans are also in the works to convert 75 percent of its light duty fleet to alternative-fueled vehicles and hybrids.

Lean, Clean and Green Award: National Archives Energy Team, National Archives and Records Administration
College Park, MD
The National Archives and Records Administration has successfully implemented sustainable infrastructure and operational changes at its National Archives Building II, located in College Park, Maryland.  This project is estimated to reduce annual energy use by 24 billion BTU’s, saving more than $400,000 in taxpayer money and eliminating 2,000 tons of carbon emissions.

Sustainability Hero Award: Dr. Anna Jones-Crabtree, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Denver, CO
Dr. Anna Jones-Crabtree of the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region catalyzed an interagency effort in sustainable practice at the U.S. Forest Service’s facilities and fleet, and in its purchasing and waste processes.  Her projects have saved 964 billion BTUs and nearly $10.1 million in energy costs, reduced fleet miles-driven by approximately 720,000 miles, increased annual biodiesel and E-85 use by 12,800 gallons and 90,800 gallons, respectively, and saved more than 970 million gallons of water.

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