Philadelphia Sustainability Awards at the Flower Show
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Yesterday was the type of day that you wanted to stay inside, under a blanket, sipping hot chocolate and venturing out only to, perhaps, shovel your sidewalk and deice your car to make the following day bearable. And, although schools and offices closed as well, it didn’t stop people from filling the seats at the convention center to attend the Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s Sustainability Award ceremony.
Hosted by an charismatic Patrick Starr from our local branch of PEC, the audience also welcomed local celebrities in the green community like Mark Alan Hughes, Philadelphia’s director of sustainability, and Jane Pepper, President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Starr wanted to stress that though we are in the midst of major budget cuts and job losses, our city has lots to be proud of and is already in the top 10 in the nation of “green” cities. ( www.SustainLane.com )
From 70+ nominations of sustainable projects throughout Philadelphia and surrounding areas, we were presented with 12 finalists, and awards were given last night to the 5 winners. We are so proud to announce that Onion Flats won for their residential multi unit LEED Platinum Thin Flats, which we are currently in the process of listing. If you would like more information on Thin Flats, Onion Flats, or LEED Certified projects, email me at rlipton@phillycityspace.com!
The other winners are:
Philadelphia Eagles Go Green Project- Both Lincoln Financial field and the NovaCare Complex are running on 100% clean energy, the employees of which get reimbursed from purchasing clean energy from Peco. They also have replaced 1,000,000 plastic cups and 16 tons of plastic and foam flatware with corn based alternatives that easily biodegrade. Finally, they are actively recycling both in the field and supplying tailgaters with recycling bags for before and after the events.
ECA Environmental Coordinating Agency- offers to both commercial and residential consumers energy audits, installation of cool/green roofs and solar panels, insulation, and can help coordinate projects that strive for LEED certification.
Bob Pierson of Farm to City- Operates 15 farmers markets throughout Philadelphia and offers CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture) projects that connect Philadelphia residents with our local farms all year long.
Schuylkill Banks Greenway- Almost an extension of the Kelly Drive/West River Drive walking/jogging/biking loop, this stretch of path along the Schuylkill River from MLK Boulevard to Locust Street also offers movie nights and water sports in the summer months. They are plans to extend this even further south in coming years.
If you attend the awards, and I recommend you do just to stay on top of the amazing projects that will take our great city into the next generation of sustainability, an added perk is free entry into the annual PHS Flower Show. The theme is Italy this year, and it’s a warm, aromatic, and beautiful treat I urge you all to take advantage of in this icy tundra we are living in this week!