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CSX Corporation, E-Structors, Inc., the National Aquarium in Baltimore, St. Mary’s County Public Schools, and the University of Maryland, College Park, are the winners of the second annual Maryland Green Registry Leadership Awards, presented to organizations that have shown a strong commitment to sustainable practices, measurable results, and continuous improvement.
Winning Maryland Green Registry organizations were chosen based on their commitment to continuous improvement and environmental results achieved to date. While they represent a variety of facility types and sizes, all the winners have several key factors in common that contribute to their success: each organization has a green team, has organization-wide commitment to environmental performance, sets annual environmental goals, and measures their results.
A profile of each of the winners is posted on the Maryland Green Registry website. The awards also led to news coverage of the efforts towards sustainability made by CSX, E-Structors, and St. Mary’s County Public Schools.
MDE announced collective results that were self-reported by participating Green Registry organizations. The nearly 300 Green Registry members, over a single year, reported: 740,000 pounds of hazardous waste reduced; 6.7 million pounds of nonhazardous waste reduced; 741 million pounds of non-hazardous waste recycled; 3.3 million gallons of wastewater reduced; 2.1 million gallons of fuel saved; 2.4 million vehicle miles traveled reduced; 378 million kWh electricity saved; 117.4 million gallons of water conserved; and 2.4 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent -- greenhouse gas emissions measurements -- reduced. They also reported saving $65 million.
The Maryland Green Registry is a voluntary program launched by Governor Martin O’Malley as part of the Smart, Green and Growing Initiative to promote and recognize sustainable practices by organizations throughout the state. The free program offers tips and resources to help organizations set and meet their own goals on the path to sustainability.
Governor O’Malley said: “Maryland continues to make choices that protect our environment and public health -- working to restore the Chesapeake Bay and local waterways, protect drinking water, promote clean energy, create green jobs, improve air quality, reduce waste, and preserve land for future generations. Our partners in this effort are Maryland Green Registry members, whose organizations are leading the way in sustainable business practices as they save money and conserve natural resources.”
The awards were presented by MDE Secretary Robert M. Summers, along with Maryland Department of Natural Resources Deputy Secretary Joe Gill and Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development Clean Technology and Sustainability Manager Elaine McCubbin, at an event hosted June 7 by the Green Building Institute in Jessup.
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