Phoenix Press, Pearson Among 18 EPA Green Power Partners Given Leadership Awards
WASHINGTON, DC—Oct. 20, 2010—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the 10th annual Green Power Leadership Awards, which honor 18 EPA Green Power Partners for their achievements in using green power, helping to grow the nation’s voluntary green power market, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The award winners are using more than 5 billion kilowatt hours of green power annually, equivalent to the annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 700,000 vehicles.
Two of the winners are in the graphic arts industry sector:
On-site Generation—Phoenix Press, Inc.
Phoenix Press, Inc. is a family-owned and operated printer located in New Haven, Connecticut. In 2010, the printer installed one of the state’s largest wind turbines—a 100 kilowatt turbine that produces approximately 165,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year. The turbine provides 40 percent of Phoenix Press’ yearly electricity use.
In addition to providing electricity, the highly-visible wind turbine serves as an educational and community centerpiece. Phoenix Press’ wind turbine received its name “Gust” through a local K-8 school contest. The printer also conducts turbine and facility tours for community residents.
Purchasing green power is one aspect of Phoenix Press’ growing environmental sustainability program. The printer also purchases Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper, uses soy and vegetable-based inks, and recycles 100 percent of its paper waste.
Green Power Purchasing—Pearson
Pearson is an international media company with businesses in education, business information, news media, and consumer publishing, including brands like Financial Times and Penguin Books.
Since joining the Green Power Partnership in 2004, Pearson has dramatically increased its green power purchase from almost two million kilowatt-hours (kWh) to more than 157 million kWh. This purchase includes a combination of renewable energy certificates (RECs) and utility green power products and ranks among the largest in the Partnership. The company’s U.S. operations now run on 100 percent green power.
In 2009 Pearson developed “Planet Pearson,” an employee intranet dedicated to the company’s environmental commitments. The Green@home section provides information, hints, and tips for employees to purchase green electricity from their local utility provider. By the beginning of 2011, Pearson will expand the scope of the website to external audiences and will include communications promoting green power. Pearson is in the process of developing marketing, sales, and human resources environmental communication materials to help its employees explain the company’s environmental commitments.
Pearson added its first on-site solar installation to its green power portfolio in 2009 and this year has started construction on its second solar project. The company is also considering constructing a wind turbine at one of its Midwest locations in 2011.
“EPA congratulates our leadership award winners for demonstrating by example the importance of using clean, renewable energy,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. "By using green power, these winners are leading the way toward cleaner air and a healthier environment while helping advance the market for renewable energy.”
EPA co-sponsors the Green Power Leadership Awards in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy and the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions.
EPA, through the Green Power Partnership, works with nearly 1,300 partner organizations to voluntarily purchase green power to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Green power is electricity generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, and low-impact hydro which produces no net increase of greenhouse gas emissions.
Source: Press release.