April 23, 2004

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Palo Alto Online

Businesses honored for green practices

by Sue Dremann

Local businesses capped Earth Day yesterday with honors by Acterra's Business Environmental Awards.

Nine outstanding programs, ranging from Hewlett-Packard's comprehensive pollution prevention and resource conservation programs, to Middlebrook Gardens sustainable landscaping services, were selected for recognition by Acterra, the local nonprofit environmental organization.

"It isn't often that an environmental organization such as Acterra recognizes all the positive efforts that businesses are making, yet it is crucial that we encourage such progress. By giving these awards, we are highlighting innovative programs so that others can follow their example," said Laura Teksler, co-chair of the awards program.

Awards recipients were:

* Stanford University Parking and Transportation Services, for its comprehensive program created by employees to encourage alternatives to driving alone to work. The programs include vanpool subsidies, Marguerite Shuttle, bicycle programs and electric vehicle charging stations.

* Cleaire Advanced Emissions Controls, for its emission control products which are reducing harmful diesel emissions, including those produced by Caltrans service trucks and Bay Area transit buses.

* South Bayside Waste Management Authority, for its Multi-Family Dwelling Recycling program.

* Middlebrook Gardens, which received the Open Space and Habitat Preservation/Restoration award, for offering ecology-based landscaping using California native plants and sustainable practices to create gardens that save water and eliminate pesticide and herbicide use, and teach people how to attract wildlife.

* The City of Santa Clara's municipal electric utility, The Silicon Valley Power, was honored for its program to fund the installation of photovoltaic solar electric systems on three single-family Habitat for Humanity homes, bringing renewable energy to low-income families.

* Hewlett-Packard Company received one of four Susanne Wilson Awards for Pollution Prevention/Resource Conservation, for its programs that reduce the company's environmental footprint, and that of its customers and suppliers. Programs include a code of conduct, and occupational, social and environmental responsibility required of its suppliers, and the creation of product materials with low environmental impact.

Other recipients of the Susanne Wilson Award include:

*The City of Palo Alto, for its sustainability efforts throughout its departments and staff, energy and water efficiency programs and green building programs, including pest management practices that have reduced pesticide use by 80 percent.

* Four Points by Sheraton San Francisco Bay Bridge, for enacting optional linen reuse programs, retrofitting lighting and shower heads to be efficient and eliminating highly toxic cleaning formulations, among other practices that reduce waste.

* Network Appliances, Inc., for the company's innovative data center that cut power use by cooling systems and substantially reduced air emissions by eliminating the use of batteries and installation of systems using a benign silica gel refrigerant.

* Assemblyman Joe Simitian and Sen. Byron Sher were honored guests at the awards reception, which took place at Roche in Palo Alto.

Sponsors included major Silicon Valley companies as well as Stanford University, the City of Palo Alto and Santa Clara County.

Special Sections Editor Sue Dremann can be e-mailed at sdremann@paweekly.com

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