Politics aside, the Democratic National Convention is a leader in earth friendly events

After the first 'green' Olympics, we now have a 'green' political convention. Is this greenwashing for political gain, or are they raising the bar for understanding the impact large events have on the environment? Let's look at the facts:

1. All green activities are openly listed on the website

2. Calculations of the carbon footprint of the convention

3. Focused on energy conservation

4. Use of renewable energy through solar and wind energy. In fact, the Pepsi Center - the location of the main event - installed a permanent solar array. The convention center and headquarters hotel have purchased renewable energy credits to help offset the dependence on the power grid for the event.

5. Focusing on the waste stream and diverting 85% away from the landfill - using recycling, reuse of materials, and composting

6. In order to effectively focus on the waste stream, this means they've also thought about the purchase of products - by selecting biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, and/or recycled-content materials

7. Vendor selection was geared towards companies that have experience with low-waste events. This is a key component to ANY environmentally friendly project - the activity is really at street level: If you don't have knowledgeable or experienced sub contractors carrying out the work, there is no guarantee they will follow through on the plans as designed

8. Transportation - as usual, site selection plays a key role in environmentally conscious planning. By selecting a site with access to mass transit, the carbon emissions are reduced by reliance on public transportation. In addition, the transit used for the DNCC will be fueled by hybrid vehicles, use alternative fuel, or biodiesel. The miles traveled will be calculated and included in the carbon offset purchase. How cool is that?

9. The DNCC is hosting events to help clean up the city of Denver and raise awareness of environmental consciousness and educate the community of its importance

10. The offices have instituted environmentally-conscious practices - from the amount of paper used to the indoor air quality of the space

Overall, I think the convention planners have done an excellent job in thinking through the decisions and impact of the event. I'd like to see this highlighted a little more during the convention. If the DNCC is making this a priority for such a high-profile event, I hope more organizations catch on to what is possible. Zero and Low-waste events are not out of the reach for any organization, and can easily be figured into any budget. Interested in learning more? Drop me a line to find out how we can help.