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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-12 PACKET 05.1.r r To: Environmental Commission From: Ryan Burfeind, Graduate Engineer Emily Schmitz, Code Enforcement Date: March 12, 2014 Subject: Sustainability Award Nomination Background /Discussion In 2013 a the Environmental Commission created the Sustainability Award to nominate and recognize a business, individual, or organization for their work or project reflecting sustainability, green, and environmentally - friendly practices. Nominations for the 2014 Sustainability Award were due by March 1, 2014. The nomi- nation form received from Werner Electric for their work in sustainable energy and company -wide attention to recycling and waste reduction is attached. Recommendation Recommend that the City Council award Werner Electric the 2014 Sustainability Award. M a Cottage Grove kbere 'ride ... ?Vosiperity Meet SUSTAINABLE CITY AWARDS The Sustainable City Awards program was developed in 2013 by the city's Environmental Commission, a citizens group appointed by the City Council, to promote sustainability in the community. The awards were established to recognize businesses, organizations, and individuals that are making Cottage Grove a more sustainable community through innovative programs and practices that demonstrate environmental leadership. The Sustainable City Awards are presented annually around Earth Day, April 22. ■ Sustainable building design (new construction) ■ Sustainable remodeling* ■ Waste reduction, composting and recycling ■ Water conservation ■ Sustainable business practices ■ Energy efficiency and conservation ■ Use of renewable or alternative energy ■ Environmental education and awareness ■ Innovative storm water management practices ■ Youth leadership (recognizing a group of young people or an individual under 18 years of age) ' Sustainable building and remodeling categories may include residential, commercial or institutional projects. 1. Application deadline: February 1 2. Applications will be judged on individual merits and not weighted against other applicants. 3. Projects must be located in the City of Cottage Grove, and must have been initiated within the past three years. 4. Nominated businesses, organizations, or individuals must operate /reside within the City of Cottage Grove. 5. The award program is open to businesses, non - profits, schools, and residents who may nominate themselves, or be nominated by another party. Page 1 Sustainable City Awards www.cottage - grove.org Projects will be evaluated on the following criteria: ■ Environmental Stewardship —the responsible use and protection of the environment of Cottage Grove through conservation and sustainable practices ■ Level of commitment and leadership in sustainability ■ Innovation, Creativity, and Originality— discuss the methods, strategies, and innovative ideas ■ Economic benefits ■ Ability to serve as a model for others * Please note that projects that have already received an award may not be nominated in subsequent years. Page 2 Sustainable City Awards www.cottage - grove.org CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE SUSTAINABLE CITY AWARDS AWARD CATEGORY APPLYING FOR: Use of renewable or alternative energy NOMINEE INFORMATION: Contact Person: Randy Moberg Organization Name: (if applicable) Werner Electric Address: 7450 95th St. South Cottage Grove, MN 55016 Phone: 651- 458 -3701 Fax: 651 - 768 -5204 Email: rmoberg @wernerelec.com Organization Website: (if applicable) www.wernermn.com Name of the project, program, or activity (as you would like to see it on the award): Installation and Use of Renewable Energy products- wind turbine and solar panel Project or program dates: Beginning: _October 2012 Ending:December 2012 *Project must be complete by submittal date of application Page / 3 Sustainable City Awards www.cottage - grove.org NOMINATED BY: Name: I Nycole Schneider Relationship to nominee: I Marketing Manager at Werner Electric Address: 1 7450 95th St. South Cottage Grove, MN 55016 Phone: 1 651 - 769 -8025 Email: I nschneider @wernerelec.com PLEASE PROVIDE A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT OR PROGRAM (150 WORDS MAXIMUM). 2012 was a big year for the addition of renewable energy sources at Werner Electric. The most notable accomplishment was the reduction of Werner's carbon footprint and energy usage due to the installation of a 20kW Renewegy wind turbine and a 3kW Array Technologies dual axis solar tracker that included SolarWorld solar modules. Together the two renewable energy sources will produce about 20,OOOkWh annually while offsetting the facilities energy consumption by 10 %. Page / 4 Sustainable City Awards www.cottGge- grove.org Please provide a written description of the nominated project or program, addressing the questions and evaluation criteria listed below (as appropriate). The description should not exceed two pages, and the text must be 10 point or larger. QUESTIONS 1. What motivated your organization or business to initiate the project or program? We wanted to practice what we preach to our customers and Suppliers about renewable energy. 2. What were the environmental goals and objectives? To offset our electric usage while increasing environmental sustainability. 3. How was the program implemented? First we reached out to our local neighbors to initiate a discussion and assess their thoughts and then we attended numerous City Council meetings to seek approval. 4. What did the program accomplish? (Include data demonstrating success, if available.) Public recognition and the production of our own energy. EVALUATION CRITERIA ■ Environmental Stewardship —the responsible use and protection of the environment of Cottage Grove through conservation and sustainable practices ■ Level of commitment and leadership in sustainability ■ Innovation, Creativity, and Originality— discuss the methods, strategies, and innovative ideas ■ Economic benefits ■ Ability to serve as a model for others Awards in all categories may or may not be given out each year, depending on nominations received. PLEASE DROP -OFF, FAX, OR EMAIL THE NOMINATION INFORMATION BY FEBRUARY 1 TO: Jennifer Levitt Community Development Director /City Engineer City of Cottage Grove 12800 Ravine Parkway S. Cottage Grove, MN 55016 iIevitt@cottage-grove.org Phone: 651 - 458 -2890 Page 5 Sustainable City Awards www.cottage - grove.org Mailed applications must arrive at City Hall on or before February 1. Page / 6 Sustainable City Awards www.cottGge- grove.org 0 I --Aid rn 777:74 {� Since its inception in 2000, Werner Electric Minnesota has cultivated a culture that empowers employees'person- al strengths. Such was the case when the Senior Leadership Team at Werner determined that lessening its carbon foot- print was a top priority. To do so Renewable Energy Specialist Brian Bakalyar created the "Werner Clean and Green Team" in January of 2012. Their goal according to Bakalyar was to become "recognized as the industry and community leader for clean and green initiatives bywalking the talk" Through this team, Werner Electric has made great strides by reducing, reusing and recycling whenever possible, and investing in education of sustainable practices for its employees and community. Consisting of twelve members, the Werner Clean and Green Team includes employees from all business levels— Distribution Team members Adam Tlougan and Tyler Olsen, President Ben Granley and Marketing WERNER Electric Supoy Specialist Brook Hess. "It really gives you a sense of community when you are at a table discussing outdoor water retaining efficiencies with a member of our Distribution Center and the Lighting Specialist from another department,' says Hess. "We have all become close and very purposeful in what our next activity will be to get others involved" Employees collect trash from nearby Hamlet Park When it comes to rolling up sleeves and getting dirty, the Clean and Green Team is far from intimidated. For instance, last year on a cold November day the team initiated their park clean -up. The team collected trash and recyclables at the local park that abuts the corporate headquarters. Employees outside of the committee joined as well to collect over 30 lbs. of waste. m 2012 was a big year for energy and waste reduction for Werner. The most notable accomplishment was the reduction of Werner's carbon footprint and energy usage due to the installation of a 20kW Renewegy wind turbine and a 3kW Array Technologies dual axis solar tracker that included SolarWorld solar modules. Together the two renewable energy sources will roduce about 20,000kWh annual) while offsetting the facilities energy P Y g g Y - --- " consumption by 10 % and additionally, these units are approved by Xcel Energy in Minnesota Renewegy Wind Turbine and Solar Tracker from Solar - to send generated power back on to the grid. Click to view the Informational Video and Worldat Corporate Office video of the Wind Turbine Tip -Up. Numerous energy efficient products were also installed at Werner's facility. For instance, throughout the facility fluorescent lighting was replaced with longer life and energy efficient LED systems. Additionally, in early 2013 USA Technologies' Energy Misers were installed in all of the soda machines at both the corporate location and six outlying branches. For Werner, the Energy Misers resulted in a reduced energy consumption of 46% by shutting off the machines when the location is unoccupied. r Leading the Werner "reuse" movement was employees of the roughly 90,000 square -foot Distribution Center (DC). In the DC, pallets are recycled and reused until they become inoperable. At that point, the pallets are sent to a local landscaping company and turned into mulch for reuse elsewhere. In addition, packaging made of recyclable plastic is used to pack product. In comparison, DC employees now use nine feet of the new recyclable packaging where in the past they used 27 feet of non - recyclable material. Waste reduction and reuse is apparent in the DC's Eco Tote Program. This program allows customers with high volume orders to use plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes for product shipments. The Eco -Tote program has been so successful and popular that there is a waiting list for customers tojoin. Currently, Werner has over a dozen of their largest customers involved in this program and in 2012 saved 5,400 cardboard boxes, which was the equivalent of 3,780 1 bs. Click on this photo to view flyer In addition, Werner's Delivery Fleet has joined the push to be more sustainable. The department has fuel efficient sprinter vans that average 20 mpg, a major upgrade from the usual 1 1 mpg of most vans in the same class. Beyond that, the semi - trucks in Werner's Fleet automatically shut off after 5 minutes of idle time to reduce fuel consumption. The Fleet Team has also gone paperless wherever possible. No longer do drivers have to collect Proof of Delivery papers from customers but instead collect e- signatures on their Android phone. Recycling at Werner has also taken on a new look since the creation of the Clean and Green Team. Steve Clarke, Clean and Green Team and Fleet Team member, saw a RECYCLE cardboard - recycling opportunity when he noticed that many of the customers °°° °°°in he delivered would throw their cardboard waste in the garbage. Clarke came up Contact your delivery —. ........... • -•e • -••• a=•- driver to get started. with the idea to offer his customers the ability to recycle their cardboard free of charge. Once the Clean and Green Team heard of Clarke's program it was rolled Click on this photo to view flyer out to all Werner customers as a competitive advantage. The program thus far has been very successful and within seven months over 630 lbs. of cardboard has been collected. "This was just a simple idea that has expanded to our entire customer base," said Clarke of his box recycling program, "but that says a lot about Werner's commitment to sustainability" Realizing an archaic recycling program was being underutilized in the office area at Werner, the Clean and Green Team decided to implement a co- mingled recycling program. To do so, the team placed stickers on trash bins that illustrated Werner's Co- Mingling Recycling Program and encouraged fellow employees to put their waste and recyclables in the proper place. This new program resulted in less recyclable material in the garbage due to increased awareness of what constitutes as recyclable products. Co- mingling Werner's recyclables was an investment due to the higher costs associated with the company's recycling vendor. This program, however , has proven to be better for the environment and easier for employees to understand what can be recycled.To date, employees can dispose of flattened cardboard, office paper, juice containers, glass bottles, aluminum cans, magazines, and much more in a Co- Mingling Trash Stickers have consolidated bin. proven to be verysuccesful. Other means of clean energy education for Werner employees include the company's dedication to Habitat for Humanity. The local chapter, St. Croix Valley, broke ground in early spring of 2012 in River Falls, WI with plans to build an Eco Village. The Village will be the first of its kind and the only sustainable neighborhood in the United States to receive the LEED Platinum designation for homes. -, The plan includes an 18 unit model neighborhood and community f , , µ Iw center of sustainable means to demonstrate efficient, ecological practices that would be appealing to the eye and affordable for homeowners. The homes will have enough solar electricity to power its consumption while the community center will be powered with an approximately 80kW solar Werner Electric employees take a photo before install- ing dry -wall and cleaning up the job site at Habitat for ground mount system. Together, these solar resources along with the most Humanity in the St. Croix River Valley. efficient home construction products will allow the Eco - Village to become a net - negative energy user. To help offset the cost of this project Werner Electric donated the solar products for one of the 18 homes, energy conscious LED lighting design layouts and paid volunteer time for Werner employees to build on site once a month until the Village is complete. That completion date is set for spring 2015. Click here to view more information on the St. Croix River Valley Habitat for Humanity Eco Village Project. One of Werner's most notable investments has been in Werner's Clean Energy Team. Consisting of three individuals, Energy Services & Solutions Manager - Randy Moberg, Renewable Energy Design Specialist - Dave Fries, and Renewable Energy Specialist - Brian Bakalyar, Werner's Clean Energy Team has established itself as a front runner in clean energy technologies. In fact, this young and rapidly developing team brought in over $2 million in 2012. This team has established itself by promoting Clean Energy through its memberships and partner- ships with a strong customer base, the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Assoc. (MN- SEIA), Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), US Green Building Council MN (USGBC MN) and the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES). Together, these partnerships and Werner's commitment to clean energy alternatives helped Moberg capture Affiliated Distributors Clean Energy Champion Award. This award is given to individuals who lead by example in the Clean Energy market. Rand Mober (Iright) accepting the AD Through a culture that is committed to the success of the "clean and green Clean Energy Champion Award movement;' Werner Electric has proven itself as an industry leader. With participation from all departments, Werner significantly reduced their carbon footprint, implemented new recycling programs and dedicated time and personnel for community outreach to spread sustainability education. Werner Electric has established itself as a trailblazer and a top candidate forTED Magazine's "Greenest of the Green"