April 30, 2001

Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority/Alaska Energy Authority (AIDEA/AEA), Alaska Interstate Construction, and the Alaska Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Association/Alaska Institute for Sustainable Recreation & Tourism (AWRTA/AISRT) all will receive a Green Star Award on Monday at the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce’s “Make It Monday” Forum at the 4th Avenue Theater. AIDEA/AEA also will receive an Air Quality Award.

The three organizations each met the Green Star standards by reducing waste, recycling, preventing pollution, increasing energy efficient and, in the case of AIDEA/AEA’s Air Quality award, implementing specific educational initiatives designed to reduce air pollution in Anchorage.

AIDEA/AEA has improved energy efficiency by replacing older lighting fixtures with compact fluorescents and more efficient light tubes, replacing windows with newer, more efficient models that reduce heat absorption, and installing motion sensors for lighting in most rooms in the building.

AIDEA also has a strong recycling program and provides information to employees about both waste reduction and air quality through meetings, bulletin boards, and regular emails. Also very relevant during the spring season, AIDEA reduces air emissions by using course gravel rather than sand in its parking lot in winter, and cleans the parking lot several times each spring using a wet-sweep system to reduce dust.

Alaska Interstate Construction has facilities here in Anchorage and on the North Slope and has worked to implement the Green Star standards in both locations. A few of the efforts AIC has made include recycling many unusual items, such as fluorescent lamps, lead-acid batteries, used oil, antifreeze, aerosol cans, and pallets, as well as more common materials like plastic bottles, aluminum cans, cardboard, toner cartridges, and office paper. AIC tracks its environmental impacts meticulously through its Environmental Management System, and posts results monthly for all employees to see. This has resulted in significantly improved environmental performance.

AWRTA/AISTR recycles everything possible in its offices. The organization also recycled at its recent annual eco-tourism conference, held this year in Fairbanks, borrowing recycling bins from Green Star’s Green Events program.

AWRTA also takes advantage of its role as an organization linking business, community, and environment to encourage members to meet specific eco-tourism guidelines. These guidelines include a Green Star component, asking members to reduce their environmental impact in all aspects of their business practices.

The awards presentation begins at noon on Monday, April 22nd and runs until 1pm, at the 4th Avenue Theater. Contact the Chamber of Commerce at 272-2401 for information about attending the event. For more information about Green Star, contact Sean Skaling at (907) 278-7827 or email sean@greenstarinc.org. Visit Green Star’s web site at www.greenstarinc.org.


	NEWS RELEASE April 19, 2002 For Immediate Release THREE ACHIEVE GREEN STAR AWARDS ON EARTH DAY Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority/Alaska Energy Authority (AIDEA/AEA), Alaska Interstate Construction, and the Alaska Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Association/Alaska Institute for Sustainable Recreation & Tourism (AWRTA/AISRT) all will receive a Green Star Award on Monday at the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce’s “Make It Monday” Forum at the 4th Avenue Theater. AIDEA/AEA also will receive an Air Quality Award. The three organizations each met the Green Star standards by reducing waste, recycling, preventing pollution, increasing energy efficient and, in the case of AIDEA/AEA’s Air Quality award, implementing specific educational initiatives designed to reduce air pollution in Anchorage. AIDEA/AEA has improved energy efficiency by replacing older lighting fixtures with compact fluorescents and more efficient light tubes, replacing windows with newer, more efficient models that reduce heat absorption, and installing motion sensors for lighting in most rooms in the building. AIDEA also has a strong recycling program and provides information to employees about both waste reduction and air quality through meetings, bulletin boards, and regular emails. Also very relevant during the spring season, AIDEA reduces air emissions by using course gravel rather than sand in its parking lot in winter, and cleans the parking lot several times each spring using a wet-sweep system to reduce dust. Alaska Interstate Construction has facilities here in Anchorage and on the North Slope and has worked to implement the Green Star standards in both locations. A few of the efforts AIC has made include recycling many unusual items, such as fluorescent lamps, lead-acid batteries, used oil, antifreeze, aerosol cans, and pallets, as well as more common materials like plastic bottles, aluminum cans, cardboard, toner cartridges, and office paper. AIC tracks its environmental impacts meticulously through its Environmental Management System, and posts results monthly for all employees to see. This has resulted in significantly improved environmental performance. AWRTA/AISTR recycles everything possible in its offices. The organization also recycled at its recent annual eco-tourism conference, held this year in Fairbanks, borrowing recycling bins from Green Star’s Green Events program. AWRTA also takes advantage of its role as an organization linking business, community, and environment to encourage members to meet specific eco-tourism guidelines. These guidelines include a Green Star component, asking members to reduce their environmental impact in all aspects of their business practices. The awards presentation begins at noon on Monday, April 22nd and runs until 1pm, at the 4th Avenue Theater. Contact the Chamber of Commerce at 272-2401 for information about attending the event. For more information about Green Star, contact Sean Skaling at (907) 278-7827 or email sean@greenstarinc.org. Visit Green Star’s web site at www.greenstarinc.org. ###