Meeting News - March 9, 2009 - (Page 21)

Green Beat By Terri Hardin terri.hardin@nielsen.com One’s Trash, or ‘Biomass,’ Is Another’s Energy Rochester, MN, leaves nothing to waste when burning city garbage for power Garbage just might be the ultimate renewable energy resource. Get rid of it, and more just piles up. It collects in bins, bags, and Dumpsters in cities everywhere and must be hauled away, incinerated, or sometimes buried in precious open space. But with a waste-to-energy program that began 22 years ago, Rochester, MN, has been successful heating and cooling public spaces like the 150,000-sf Mayo Civic Center with energy reclaimed from incinerated garbage. “We were green before green was cool,” said Brad Jones, executive director of the Rochester Convention and Visitors Bureau. The energy produced by one ton of garbage (the apt term is “biomass”) is equal to that created by 500 pounds of coal. Rochester estimates that by turning biomass to energy, the burning of 450,000 tons of coal is avoided, but the process is not entirely clean. “Each ton of garbage that’s incinerated produces 300 pounds of ash, some of it containing high concentrations of metals—textile dyes, for example,”said Jones. Tight control of what is allowed into the incinerators produces a cleaner ash that can be used for roads, cement blocks, and even to make artificial wreaths. Some of the ash is landfilled. The goal is to reuse 100 percent of the ash someday, he said. Meeting planners who are concerned about their groups’ carbon footprint can feel good about booking the Mayo Civic Center (it has five main halls and 25 breakout rooms). Jones said the CVB is starting to get the word out that the building will use green energy and participate in a strict recycling program. He added that the skyways connecting the civic center to about 2,000 hotel rooms are all heated by waste energy, too. In 1987, Rochester had one of the first wasteto-energy plants. Now, there are about 90 around the country, said Jones. Operating cost is high, at about $55 million thus far; $33 million has been allocated to double capacity in 2009-10. Special incinerators reduce the garbage to ash and send the steam to a turbine that produces energy, which heats 27 public buildings, cools 14, and provides electricity for 12. With the public library, some university buildings, the government center, city and county headquarters, and a federal prison-medical center all using the energy, significantly less trash is landfilled. —Julie Barker Award-Winning Rooms Are ‘Pure’ Ecstasy for Hotels Snow Sports Trade Show Leaves Vegas Greener At the recent SIA.09 SnowSports Trade Show, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the snow sports industry showed its dedication to green efforts by recycling and donating show items to the city of Las Vegas. More than 95 percent of overall waste from SIA.09 was recycled, and 100 percent of waste from the Winter Sports Market was recycled. SIA.09 recycled cardboard, plastic, aluminum, and glass. Nearly 15,000 pounds of publications were also given to Greener Vegas for recycling. Badge holders, office supplies, and extra bags were given to Las Vegas’ Public Education Foundation and the Teachers Exchange. In addition, several exhibitors, including Rip Curl, 4FRNT, Head Snowboards, Celsius, and Dynastar, donated furniture from their booths, through Greener Vegas, to several schools that will be using the materials for stage productions. (The Las Vegas Fire Department may also end up with some of the booth materials for its technical training of firefighters.) “Being green is not a new concept for SIA,” said David Ingemie, president of SnowSports Industries America, the trade show’s organizer. “The snow sports industry has always been comprised of conservationists; it’s part of our heritage, our livelihood and passion for winter sports. Snow sports require a healthy environment, and SIA is dedicated to do its part.” SIA also participated in other green initiatives at the trade show, such as an all-digital press room (no paper) and the use of recycled carpeting (over 18,800 yards), renewable energy, recycling receptacles, and attendee bags made out of recycled materials. Last but not least, SIA donated 16 computers that will be given to the Blind Center of Nevada. To learn more about greening your next Las Vegas meeting, contact Greener Vegas, at www. greenervegas.org. —Terri Hardin A t its first-ever “Pure-st” Awards, Pure Solutions, creator of an allergyfriendly environment for hotel guest rooms and conference centers, honored Norwood, MA’s Four Points by Sheraton Norwood, which received the “Pure-st Hotel” award for taking the Pure system and making it part of the hotel’s culture. The Hilton Garden Inn Sarasota and Hampton Inn Sarasota tied for the “Purest Occupancy,” with both reporting the highest Pure room occupancy. The Pure system utilizes purification techniques whereby each room is treated comprehensively to remove allergens and irritants from all surfaces, fabrics, and air flow. Over 50 of the nation’s hotels have installed Pure to date, and the system is being adopted at a rapid rate by hotels around the world. Winners in all 11 award categories can be found at www.pureroom.com. —TH www.meetingnews.com March 9, 2009 MeetingNews 21 http://www.pureroom.com http://www.greenervegas.org http://www.greenervegas.org http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - March 9, 2009

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