March 13-14, 2003
The Wyndham City Center Hotel
1143 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

Green Conference

WRI is committed to making the Sustainable Enterprise Summit environmentally sound by reducing our impacts on the environment such as waste and greenhouse (GHG) emissions.*

In addition to numerous steps WRI has taken to 'green' the Summit, we are grateful to the corporate partners who have donated 'greening' services. We would like to thank Renewable Choice Energy for volunteering to cover the costs of offsetting energy use and travel for the Summit with wind energy. We would also like to thank the Advanced Vehicle Development Program at Georgetown University for providing a Fuel Cell Bus and driver to transport WRI's Board of Directors, Corporate Council Leadership members and WRI Staff to WRI's Leadership Dinner. Thanks also to Wyndham City Center Hotel for implementing 'green' practices wherever possible. (Click here to read more details about these programs)

WRI's efforts to 'Green' the Summit:

FOOD SERVICES AT THE SUMMIT

MARKETING OF EVENT AND REGISTRATION

PUBLICATION DISPLAYS

WHAT ATTENDEES CAN DO TO HELP 'GREEN' THE SUMMIT

If you have other ideas about how WRI can minimize the environmental effects of the Summit, please send them to Oretta Tarkhani, WRI's Director of Event & Conference Services.

* To learn more about GHGs and climate change, visit the "Understanding Climate Change" section of SafeClimate: http://www.safeclimate.net.

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FOOD SERVICES AT THE SUMMIT:

• Provide cloth instead of paper napkins, and reusable plates, cups, glassware and silverware
• Serve sugar, creamers, and condiments in reusable dishes
• Serve beverages in pitchers or large reusable containers instead of bottles
  whenever possible
• Encourage hotel to prepare meals with locally grown, organic produce when available
• Provide recycling containers for beverage cans and bottles

MARKETING OF EVENT AND REGISTRATION:

• Invitations, notifications and correspondence sent electronically whenever possible
• Use updated mailing lists, eliminating outdated contacts
• Use post-consumer waste and soy-based inks for paper invitations and binder materials
• Offer online registration
• Use two-sided copies for all conference invitation and program materials

PUBLICATION DISPLAYS:

• Use reusable signage whenever possible
• Encourage exhibitors/presenters to minimize packing materials and to use recyclable, biodegradable shipping and packing materials
• Ask attendees not to bring excessive quantities of display material to conference

WHAT ATTENDEES CAN DO TO HELP 'GREEN' THE SUMMIT:

HOTEL STAY:

• Utilize paperless check-in, checkout, and billing procedures
• Select the towel and sheet reuse opportunities
• Turn off all lights before leaving room
• Unplug razors, computers, hairdryers when not in use

DURING THE SUMMIT:

• Recycle all material waste when possible
• Keep beverage cups and glasses to reuse throughout day when possible
• Recycle registration packets, badges and other materials

RENEWABLE CHOICE ENERGY

Thanks to a generous contribution from Renewable Choice Energy, WRI's Sixth Annual Sustainable Enterprise Summit is 100% wind-powered. All travel and energy emissions associated with the Summit have been offset by green-e certified, clean, renewable wind energy. (Green-e certification is granted to renewable energy products that meet the highest environmental and consumer protection standards).

THE ADVANCED VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

We would also like to thank Georgetown University's Advanced Vehicle Development Program Team and the Federal Transit Administration for providing a 40-foot Fuel Cell bus and a driver to transport WRI's Board of Directors, Corporate Council Leadership members and WRI Staff to WRI's Leadership dinner. Georgetown University and Metro have also entered into an agreement to test a fuel cell bus on DC roads, to read Metro's press release, click here! To learn more about the Advanced Vehicle Development Program at Georgetown University, click here!

WHAT THE WYNDHAM CITY CENTER IS DOING TO BE 'GREEN'

The Wyndham City Center Hotel is committed to improving its effect on the environment. While they have been using older, existing technology in their hotels, they have been applying new efficiencies to reduce energy consumption, water consumption, waste production, and wastewater production. This has resulted not only in a significant financial savings, but also in increased operating efficiency and effect on the environment.

The Wyndham City Center Hotel has saved 50% on its electricity costs, 75% on its gas costs and 30% on its water costs approximately equaling a total savings of $800,000 a year! The following energy initiatives are currently in place.

Lighting Upgrades
The Wyndham reduced its annual energy consumption by 700,000 KWH through the installation of compact fluorescent and halogen infrared (HIR) lighting.

Reduce Energy Consumption
New building management computer system (BMS) will reduce energy consumption by 280,000 KWH per year and will prevent over-heating & over-cooling resulting in a significant gas and electricity cost savings.

New Domestic Hot Water System
The hotel's new hot water system uses two high efficiency gas boilers resulting in a savings of 35,000 gallons of fuel oil being burned per year.

Waste Management
Waste is being reduced through the following means: Reduced incoming waste through improved vendor communication, food donations to local kitchens and the resale and gift donations of old furniture during renovations.

For more information on the Sustainable Enterprise Program click here, or visit WRI Summit for information on prior Summit events.

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For more than a decade, WRI's Sustainable Enterprise Program has harnessed the power of business to create profitable solutions to environment and development changes.