General Article
November 3, 2005
Crowned green by EnviroStars
Center earns annual Recognized Leader award for environmental responsibility, commitment
Scott Rusch, vice president of Facilities and Operations, accepts the EnviroStars "Recognized Leader" distinction from King County Executive Ron Sims at a breakfast last week at the Rainier Club.
Photo by Todd McNaught |
This has been a fine fall for the Facilities and Operations Department.
In late September, the Hutchinson Center became the 2005 recipient of an annual environmental leadership award from EnviroStars, a nationally recognized program that certifies businesses for their efforts to reduce and recycle hazardous waste. Facilities and Operations can take the bow because it was the department's excellent resource-saving initiatives that earned the award. Kudos came again in late October when Scott Rusch, the department's vice president, received the 2005 BetterBricks Award — Puget Sound Area (see separate story)
EnviroStars established the EnviroStars Recognized Leader designation to acknowledge businesses that are taking substantial steps toward reducing their environmental impact in the Puget Sound region and beyond. The first EnviroStars Recognized Leader named was the Starbucks Coffee Company in 2004.
An EnviroStars committee, made up of representatives from five counties and the previous winning institution, considered a number of business nominees prior to selecting the Hutchinson Center.
"We chose the Hutchinson Center because of its comprehensive focus on doing business in an environmentally responsible way," said Laurel Tomchick, King County's EnviroStars program manager. "And, we wanted to reinforce that this kind of effort pays off."
Tomchick said the Hutchinson Center integrates its commitment to the environment throughout the institution's business practices, which incorporate sustainability as a business strategy for ongoing success and viability.
EnviroStars presented the EnviroStars Recognized Leader distinction during the 2005 North American Hazardous Materials Management Association Conference in a ceremony held at the Glass Museum in Tacoma. Rusch accepted the award on behalf of the Hutchinson Center. Robert Cowan, Facilities Engineering manager; Jim Walker, staff facilities engineer; Debbie Shiozaki, Environmental Health and Safety manager; and Mike Radder, hazardous materials manager, joined Rusch at the ceremony.
"Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center believes environmental responsibility is an essential part of business strategy," Rusch said. "We are honored to be recognized by EnviroStars and look forward to continuing our efforts to reduce our environmental footprint."
The following are a few of the reasons why the Hutchinson Center was selected by the EnviroStars program:
Hazardous waste disposal: The Center's top-notch hazardous waste program offers hazardous-waste recycling, disposal, shipping assistance, spill response and a chemical-distribution service that encourages labs to exchange unused chemicals rather than dispose of them. The Center also participates in the Medical Industry Roundtable, which shares information about waste reduction and new technologies. John Fauver, of the Environmental Health and Safety Department, is a member of the group's steering committee.
Transportation: An excellent commute trip-reduction program to encourage employees to travel to work in modes other than single-occupancy vehicles. The program includes incentives to give up parking, subsidized transit passes, rideshare matching programs, shower and locker facilities to accommodate and encourage bicycle commuting, and shuttles to and from the Center, the University of Washington and Children's Hospital facilities.
"Green" design and construction: The Center's buildings have been constructed and retrofitted with many "green" or "sustainable" features including recycled materials, energy efficient systems, innovative design features that reduce energy consumption and low-volatile organic chemical materials. Buildings include features that optimize the quality of indoor air in the office and laboratory buildings while saving energy.
A five-county programThe EnviroStars Recognized Leader award profiles highly successful companies in the Puget Sound Region that incorporate social responsibility and environmentally sustainable practices.
"The goal is for these businesses to act as models, mentors and catalysts for the spread of environmentally sustainable practices, including the reduction of hazardous waste," Tomchick said.
The EnviroStars program is a service of local county hazardous waste programs in King, Pierce, Kitsap, Jefferson and Whatcom counties. The business certification program supports smaller businesses in the management and reduction of hazardous waste, and rates them with two to five stars according to their demonstrated commitment to environmentally responsible practices. Currently, there are approximately 600 businesses certified in the region.
For more news about the EnviroStars Recognized Leader distinction, visit www.envirostars.com/news/ESLeader2005.html.
