Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) is a public corporation of the State of Alaska, constituting a political subdivision under the laws of the State. It was created by the Alaska Legislature to promote the general prosperity and economic welfare of the people of Alaska through growth and diversification.
The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) was created by the Alaska Legislature to construct, acquire, finance, and operate power projects and facilities that utilize Alaska's natural resources to produce electricity and heat. Today, AEA works to lower the costs and increase the safety and reliability of rural power systems. AIDEA has oversight over AEA’s rural energy programs.
Leading by example, AIDEA/AEA achieved both the Green Star Award and the Air Quality Award. AIDEA/AEA has improved the energy efficiency of its building by replacing older lighting fixtures with compact fluorescents and more efficient T-8 lamps on several floors. Savings in the first two months of 2002, compared to January and February 2001, were about 25 to 30%.
The company also is replacing windows with low-emissivity units, which reflect 40 to 70% of the heat normally transmitted through a clear glass window. Other windows are coated and thermal.
Motion sensors to turn lights on and off have been installed in most rooms, except boiler and file room where safety issues prohibited it. In addition, sleep mode is programmed on each computer so the computers “sleep” when not in use, using less energy.
AIDEA also has a strong recycling program. Anchorage Recycling picks up office paper, aluminum cans, newspaper, and corrugated cardboard on a monthly basis. Mixed paper and magazines also are collected and delivered to the recycling center periodically by employees. Recycling bins are placed by each copier and in most of the individual offices. Toner cartridges are sent back to the manufacturer for recycling. Phone books are collected once a year for recycling.
Both to reduce the generation of packaging waste and to reduce pollution caused by employee travel miles, AIDEA has renovated its lunchroom, offering employees a comfortable place to bring their lunch and eat. The lunchroom is stocked with ceramic coffee mugs, silverware, reusable plates and bowls. Additional donations of plates and silverware will soon provide enough for staff potlucks.
To educate staff, the Green Team provides information to employees about both waste reduction and air quality through meetings, bulletin boards, and regular emails.
To earn the Air Quality Award, AIDEA implemented several other initiatives. The company reduces air emissions each spring by using course gravel rather than sand in its parking lot throughout the winter months, and cleans the parking lot several times each spring using a wet-sweep system to reduce dust. AIDEA also has planted trees and shrubs outside the building to help filter the air and has contracted with a plant company to provide plants indoors to improve indoor air quality.
AIDEA/AEA http://www.aidea.org
