The 2009 Winnebago County Green Business Awards program held May 21st at the Webbs Norman Center in downtown Rockford was another great success. Thanks to all who participated. The event continues to bring the business community together to understand that going green can help them be profitable while protecting the environment.
2009 Award Winners
Large Business: Anderson Packaging
Small Business: First Hand Harvest
Large Agency: Rockford Park District
Small Agency: Rockford Computers for Schools
Public Policy: No Idle Zone - Rockford
Green Building: Willowbrook School
Continuing Improvement: J.L. Clark
Honorable Mention: Spring Creek Development Group
No Idle Zone - Rockford won the Public Policy Award. Pictured
listening to Mayor Morrissey present them the award from L-R
are Kim Woodin, Scott Saporiti, Monica Krysztopa, Linda Sandquist and
Gloria Lundin. All awards were fabricated from a fallen red cedar tree
by YouthBuild Rockford students.
More photos from the 2009 event
2009 Nominees
All American Electric Co. Amazing Foam Insulation
Anderson Packaging Blackhawk Area Council of Boy Scouts
Center for Sight & Hearing Choices Natural Market
Eco Home Expert First Hand Harvest
Girl Scouts Rock River Valley Green Tone
HD DTAILN and Car Wash Illinois Growth Enterprises
J.L. Clark Just Goods
Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful Natural Land Institute
No Idle Zone - Rockford Perfect Wood Profiles
Rock Valley College Rockford Computers for Schools
Rockford Geothermal Rockford Park District
Spring Creek Development Group Vegetarians in Motion
Willowbrook Middle School Willow's Cleaning Service
Winnebago Co. /Freedom Field Womanspace
2009 Sponsoring Organizations (click on name for website link)
Comprehensive Community Solutions/YouthBuild
Four Rivers Environmental Coalition
Illinois Renewable Energy Association
Swedish American Health System
Winnebago County Forest Preserve District
Inaugural 2008 Winnebago County Green Business Awards
Photos from 2008 Awards (displays) and (awards ceremony)
Synopsizes of nominees' applications Learn what businesses are doing to Go Green.
Commentary on the 2008 event What happened!
WCGB Mission Statement: To help Winnebago County achieve environmental and economic sustainability by highlighting and rewarding environmentally responsible business practices, technologies and products.
Imagine
an Economy…
...that protects air, land and water.
...that is powered by solar,
wind and hydro energy.
...that generates no toxic waste.
...whose materials replenish the earth or can be infinitely recycled.
...that creates practical solutions, resources, and opportunities for
implementing sustainability,
while providing new jobs and industries to strengthen our economy.
Now imagine all the above, here, in Winnebago County.
As we search for answers about how we can recover from the loss of the industrial-based economy that thrived here for decades, we must re-imagine our future. We don’t just need jobs, we need sustainable solutions that expand our economy. The Rock River Valley’s future is its emerging green economy. If you look around, you’ll see signs of environmentally friendly innovations manifested in various aspects of local businesses' buildings, operations, purchasing, transportation and products.
WCGB is a partnership of environmental agencies, professional associates, and the concerned public. We are working together to recognize and assist businesses that operate in an environmentally friendly manner. WCGB steering committee member Kerry Knodle explains, “Many businesses have taken steps to incorporate sustainable practices into their operations and have improved their performance, but until now, customers had no way of recognizing which businesses were going 'green.'”
One of the primary outcomes of the new WCGB initiative will be the creation of a Green Business Inventory. This listing will be compiled from information submitted by businesses that complete an application detailing the environmentally friendly practices, strategies and technologies they have implemented. Those businesses that meet established criteria will receive WCGB certification and be included in the WCGB online inventory. A major goal of WCGB is to develop this listing into a comprehensive WCGB Web site that will provide recognition for participating businesses as well as incentives, assistance and resources for businesses wanting to join the growing number of business and community leaders improving the local economy, environment, and everyone's quality of life.
Join in celebrating and informing our community about "Who's Going Green?" As the final component of WCGB’s effort, each business and private agency nominated will be included in a “Green Business Inventory” as well as awarded a certificate, window sticker, and use of the logo for 2009.
Winnebago County Green Business Awards committee members:
Frank Schier, The Rock River Times
Jan Herbert, Rockford Park District
Jamie Johannsen, Winnebago County Forest Preserve District
Allen Penticoff, Green Communities Coalition
Kerry Knodle, Comprehensive Community Solutions/YouthBuild Rockford
Drs. Robert and Sonia Vogl, Illinois Renewable Energy Association
Mike Kearney, Green Communities Coalition
You may nominate your business or agency, or you may nominate someone else,
although you should obtain permission if you are nominating someone else.
Any green practice is worthy of consideration. At our 2008 inaugural event we were
pleasantly surprised by the number of nominees and their commitment to "Going Green."
There was a very definite energy that formed among the participants as they learned
of the practices of other nominees and shared ideas.
Awards Categories for 2009 are: Large Business; Small to Medium Business;
Large Agency; Small to Medium Agency; Best Government Agency/Policy; and
Best Green Building
2009 introduced two new categories: Best Green Building and Best Green Public Policy awards.
Green Building Award description
Buildings are the largest consumer of energy in the United States. They have long life spans
and their environmental impacts extend for decades. An effort known as Green Building
is underway to design buildings in ways that reduce their energy consumption, use materials
that have less adverse environmental impacts and create healthy settings for occupants.
The intent of this award is to recognize local construction efforts focused on meeting the
overall intent of green construction.
Green Policy Award description
Units of government can stimulate green practices through the purchases they make in
providing services to their constituents and through their authority to set standards within their jurisdiction. They develop and enforce efficiency standards for buildings, approve plans which affect community development, transportation and sanitation and impact the provision of services. Through encouraging green practices they can stimulate similar actions in the private sector.
Conclusion
We hope to encourage all persons and businesses to be active in protecting the environment.
All members of the steering committee are also members of Green Communities Coalition, a
local grassroots organization striving to protect the environment through positive action. Please
consider becoming a member by visiting their website: www.GreenCommunitiesCoalition.org