Green
Bright Idea: Water Power
Our growing dependence on such devices as smartphones has made it increasingly important for us to have easy access to power. So inventor Burt Hammer has developed the HydroBee, a USB battery charger that can tap the energy of flowing water from, say, a faucet or a stream the sun or even a bicycle to…
Climate Patrol
In spite of a broad consensus on the damaging impact of global warming to the planet, the United States and Canada have failed to take measures to address the issue. That apathy has forced regional governments to take the lead. In 2008, British Columbia passed a carbon tax that serves as a model approach to…
From Farm to Table?
Agriculture has a long history as a vibrant, vital part of local economies, but improvements in farming technology, while increasing productivity, have often had a detrimental impact on the environment. From the Dust Bowl to pollution caused by chemical fertilizer, weve learned that maintaining an ecological balance is more challenging than it appears. One major…
Green Washington Awards 2013: Special Recognition for Cutting-Edge Buildings
Rice Fergus Miller When Rice Fergus Miller outgrew its offices, the architecture and design firm transformed Bremertons long-vacant Sears Automotive Center into the Puget Sound regions most energy-efficient commercial building. The firm, which specializes in design for the health care, senior housing and hospitality sectors, didnt simply throw money at an old building. Its designers…
Green Washington Awards 2013: Hospitality
WINNER: Pan Pacific Hotel From the moment a guest checks in at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Seattles South Lake Union neighborhood, he or she is greeted with a hospitality experience as green as any on Earth. Check-in is paperless, the key cards are biodegradable, the minibar is stocked with locally sourced beverages, the toilets…
Green Washington Awards 2013: Technology
WINNER: 3TIER A global renewable energy forecasting firm, 3Tier assesses the potential risks and rewards of future wind and solar projects. 3Tier can use its proprietary forecasting technology to provide stakeholders with reliable, detailed data on the feasibility and performance of projects anywhere on Earth. For a solar project or wind project, 3Tier might advise…
Green Washington Awards 2013: Services
WINNER: Car2Go Car sharing has never been easier, faster, more flexible or more sustainable than Car2Go. Now available in 23 cities around the globe, Car2Go allows its members to use a smartphone to locate the nearest Car2Go vehicle, hop in and drive it where they want for however long they please. When finished, the driver…
Green Washington Awards 2013: Nonprofit
Winner: Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County Sustainable, efficient building has always Been a cornerstone of Habitat for Humanitys worldwide mission. But the local affiliate of the international housing organization has broken new ground lately. Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King Countys homes are outfitted with high-efficiency furnaces and water heaters, low-flow water fixtures and Energy Star appliances….
Green Washington Awards 2013: Manufacuring
WINNER: Precor Inc. Precor Inc. has been designing and manufacturing the latest, coolest, trendiest fitness equipment since 1980 and is responsible for many industry firsts. It created the first padded treadmill, the first elliptical cross-trainer and the revolutionary Adaptive Motion Trainer (AMT), which adapts to the users stride length and mobility patterns. Along the way,…
Green Washington Awards 2013: Health Care
WINNER: Virginia Mason Medical Center With a hospital, six clinics and two research institutes operating throughout the Puget Sound region, Virginia Mason faced unusual challenges on its path toward sustainability. In response to those challenges, employees created EnviroMason, a sweeping environmental stewardship initiative, and Virginia Mason is now one of the nations greenest health care…
Green Washington Awards 2013: Architecture
Winner: GGLO In an industry that has been at the forefront of sustainability, GGLO is among the greenest of the green. Founded in 1986 and based at the top of Harbor Steps in downtown Seattle, GGLO offers architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning/design and interior design services. The firms landscape architecture team recently made headlines when…
Green Washington Awards 2013: Building & Construction
Winner: Walsh Construction At the mixed-use Greenfire Campus in the heart of Seattles Ballard neighborhood, Walsh Construction embraced an opportunity to push its green building practices to new heights. Already a stalwart of sustainable constructionWalsh has built more than 50 LEED-certified buildings throughout Washington and Oregonthe Walsh team embarked on a paperless challenge with other…
2013 Green Washington Awards
Two years ago, Seattle Business magazines popular Green Washington Awards spawned the Washington Green 50 lista compilation of the 50 companies and organizations in Washington state considered to be among the most environmentally aware and actively committed to sustainable business practices. It was a way of expanding our recognition of green-minded companies beyond the various…