On March 30th the Missouri Gateway Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council held their third annual Growing Green Awards banquet at NEO on Locust to announce and celebrate the 2011 winners. These outstanding individuals and organizations advocate and are active in transforming the built environment. They share a passion for making our region more sustainable – one building at a time. This year the categories included Innovator, Residential, Government, Educator, Non-Profit, and Corporate.
The Innovator award went to HOK, who collaborated with energy and lighting consultant Weidt Group to better understand the market opportunities and barriers related to designing a reasonably priced zero emissions office building prototype. They are helping to fill the crucial need to prove that green is good for business – especially in this age of greenwashing.
Trumpet Builders won the Residential award. Their company only constructs homes that are at least Energy Star certifiable. Trumpet Builders not only builds green homes – they also advocate for a green transformation of the built environment by working in the community. They lead green/design charrettes that emphasize well-integrated design and construction processes, energy efficiency and sustainable practices.
The Government award went to the City of St. Louis for their leadership by example on sustainability practices involving government buildings, citywide initiatives, and transportation infrastructure. The City is promoting alternative modes of transportation and is reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions and energy consumption.
The St. Louis Community College received the Education award. The College has developed green building education programs for its 130,000+ students, which makes it a regional leader in preparing students for success in the field. As one judge said, “Their commitment to green permeates their buildings, their facilities management and their curriculum”.
The Non-Profit award went to Focus St. Louis, who created a road map to help local governments in our region improve the St. Louis community and environment. The roadmap brings together sustainable best practices, resources, recommendations and case studies in a user-friendly format that helps local government navigate a path towards environmental sustainability and a more attractive community.
The St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association received the Corporate Award. The St. Louis RCGA’s leadership of the 2010 St. Louis Green Business Challenge provided strategic, efficient motivating mechanisms – including customized coaching- for 58 local corporations, companies, colleges, and non-profits to substantively integrate sustainable thinking and practices into daily operations.
In honor of the Chapter’s Ten Year Anniversary a special award was presented to the Missouri Botanical Garden for their unwavering support over the last ten years. The Chapter and the Garden’s shared missions have provided an excellent platform for partnership in protecting our natural resources and transforming the built environment.
USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter congratulates all the 2011 Growing Green Award winners and nominees for their work in making the built environment a more environmentally friendly, prosperous and healthy place to live and work.
To learn more visit the USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter website at www.usgbc-mogateway.org
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