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The GCG Team has worked with the United Way of Greater Houston on sustainable initiatives to ensure Gulf Coast Green continues to be a truly ‘Green’ event.
Minimizing waste and diverting it from the landfill is a priority
- Recycling Services for the event provided by Republic Waste
- Composting assistance for all food service-bio waste by Pat Greer’s Kitchen
- Reusable serving pieces, cups, up-cycled dinnerware & silverware used for catering service by Pat Greer’s Kitchen
- Catered beverages & condiments served in bulk containers and reusable glasses/cups.
- All expo exhibitors required to follow the event’s green guidelines for waste:
- Recycle and compost in the proper containers.
- Any surplus materials/ products to be taken back by the exhibitor for reuse
- No single-use water bottles! Attendees encouraged to bring a refillable water bottle & your own coffee cups
- All attendees are required to return their badge at the end of the symposium
- Badges will be reused next year
- No symposium bags provided
Food and Beverages
- Comprised of local and organic ingredients
- Food options include Vegetarian and Seafood - No meat served at the event
- Learn where your food is coming from: Farmers and Food Artisans pictures and information displayed at the event
Travel Green
- Reduce your carbon footprint by carpooling with other attendees. Offer a ride or find a ride to Gulf Coast Green 2011. Visit the Gulf Coast Green 2011 eRideshare Page, enter the group password - gcg11 and arrange for your carpool.
- Bike to the event: The United Way center is in close proximity to several bike trails;
- Bike Parking Available – BYO lock!
- United Way Center is accessible via Metro Bus
- Magnolia Hotel was selected as the hotel of choice for all GCG2011 speakers. Learn about their Green initiatives below.
Green Expo
- The 2011 Gulf Coast Green Professional Expo has established a series of green building criteria for vendors, service firms, and non-profits exhibiting at the Expo to ensure that the Expo hosts a professional marketplace free of green misinformation. Each exhibitor was asked to submit a Green Guidelines SOQ. Refer here for the Green Guidelines.
Paper use
- Event guide and schedule strictly limited to one per person
- No notebooks handed out; no session handouts provided
- All student competition entries accepted only electronically
- All printing for the event on Recycled Paper
- The United Way Center has a special emphasis on paper use reduction with policies in place to promote electronic information sharing and employees recycling paper to the Company Store every quarter
- All attendees will receive an email to record Continuing Education Units and Session Surveys online
Carbon Offsets
- GCG will purchase Renewable Energy certificates(RECs) to offset our event
How can you green your attendance at the event?
- Go paperless: take notes electronically
- Exchanging business cards is old school- how about exchanging contact information via smart phone apps?
- Bring your own bottle and coffee mug
- Ask: Ask the vendors/exec-committee/caterers about their greening efforts
- Getting there:
- Trash can is not your friend - take advantage of the recycling and compost bins
- Return your badge before leaving the symposium
Magnolia Hotel Green Initiatives
- Water conservation - change bed sheets every other day for guests staying more than one night
- Water conservation - launder towels on request only; program listed by signage in the rooms
- Recycled drinking cups in all fitness centers
- Company provides an eco-pass (bus pass) for all employees
- Newspaper recycling program at each hotel
- Installed compact fluorescents and L.E.D options wherever possible
- Participating/usage of the chilled water plant in Houston with Energy District Cooling.
- System is highly energy efficient and eliminated the need for a building plant within the hotel
- Installed energy efficient automated guest room temperature control system
- Use all eco and environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals, laundry detergents and building systems treatment chemicals throughout all properties
- Upgrading building systems at other properties with highly efficient systems as replacement is warranted
- Auto shut-off lights in public restrooms. Dimming system throughout property to dim lights for both aesthetic decor and to minimize consumption of electricity when natural light is present during the daylight hours
- Bathroom fixtures are energy efficient high pressure, low volume to minimize water consumption throughout
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