Greening the Conference

 

Given that Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards, and Trade Show talks the sustainability talk, we must also walk the walk!  This year we are planning our conference in order to minimize its environmental impact.

 

Here are some of the things that GRHC is doing:

 

  

The conference’s ecological footprint will be calculated and offset by Zerofootprint.

Zerofootprint will offset on our behalf:

· Carbon emissions produced from the transportation of delegates to and from Minneapolis, MN.

· Emissions resulting from heating and electricity at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Minneapolis for the duration of the conference.

· Emissions produced from the printing of conference materials.

· Water used during the conference.

· One tree will be planted to replace the one used for printed conference materials.  

 

Paper and Publishing

· All published material will be printed on either 30% or 100% post-consumer recycled paper and will be recyclable.  

· The ink used for printing will be soy-based.

· Minimizing the amount of printed material and trims.

· Signage on recyclable and highly recycled material.

· Name badge return system.

Hotel and Catering

We are currently working with the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Hotel to:

· Source organic and fair trade products when possible, with priority being given to coffee and animal bi-products.

· Minimize, and hopefully eliminate, the use of disposable items (bottled water, milk containers, cups, etc).

· Enhance their recycling program to include labeled receptacles for paper, bottles and cans throughout the conference rooms and exhibit hall.

· Ensure that towels are only replaced every 3 days or by guest request and sheets are changed every 4 nights in guest rooms.

· Have the newspaper available for pickup by the hotel guests at the bell stand rather than delivered to each room.

Transportation

· Minimizing shipping, preferably using locally sourced items.

· Use of transportation measures that have lowest possible emissions on tours (foot, bicycle, bio-buses, etc).  For more information on Minneapolis transit, visit www.metrotransit.org.  For light rail (LRT) information, please visit: http://www.metrotransit.org/rail/index.asp

· There are also plenty of bike racks scattered throughout downtown Minneapolis. Those nearest the Hyatt Regency conference site include:
    · Nicollet and 12th Street (outdoor)
    · Loring Parking Ramp (indoor, connected to Hyatt Regency)
    · Millenium Hotel Parking Ramp (indoor, across from Hyatt)
For more information on biking in Minneapolis, visit: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/bicycles/bikeparking.asp

 

Here are some things you can do to help:

 

Delegates, please respect the greening agenda and:

· Minimize the amount of waste you generate (e.g. carry a reusable drink container, limited the number of pamphlets you collect, etc).

· Turn off hotel lights when leaving a room.

· Minimize the use of in-room air conditioning systems.

· Make use of reuse towel and sheet options.

· Use public transportation or walk when offsite.

Exhibitors, please help minimize your impact and:

· Minimize the amount of paper distributed.

· Use recycled and recyclable products.

· Remove all undistributed materials from site when you leave (e.g. pamphlets, magazines, etc).

· Dispose of waste appropriately in the bins provided.

We have created a checklist to help you green your trade show exhibit.  Click here to download a copy of the exhibitors checklist.