Castle Square Neighborhood Organization Wins Green Award

The following is from a press release issued by the City of Boston 

Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced the winners of the 6th Annual Mayor’s Green Awards, which recognize local business, residents and sustainable food leaders for doing their part to make Boston a greener, more sustainable, and livable city. Award winners are chosen for extraordinary performance related to sustainable environmental practices such as energy conservation, water conservation, waste management, sustainable food production and more.  

The 2012 Green Awards were presented to three residents, 11 businesses and two sustainable food leaders at a ceremony today hosted at P&G Gillette’s South Boston site. 

The Sustainability/Climate Action Leadership award was given to the South End’s Castle Square Tenants Organization which partnered with Winn Development to undertake the largest deep energy retrofit in the United States, achieving a 72 percent reduction in energy use for their 500 unit apartment building.  Energy-savings will be achieved through a super-insulated shell on the building, as well as greening measures in the homes such as new windows, and high efficiency heating/cooling systems. 

“Boston is nationally recognized as a leader in sustainability not simply because of policies emanating from City Hall, but because of the commitment and innovation of businesses and residents who are working to improve environmental quality and grow our green economy,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino.  “Working together we are Greenovating Boston.” 

Mayor Menino also unveiled today the Greenovate Boston campaign, developed with pro bono support from Mullen Advertising as a broad campaign to engage residents and businesses in the City’s effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25% by 2020.  Greenovate Boston will connect people with sustainable strategies that lower carbon emissions, but also can save money and support our local economy.  Visit www.GreenovateBoston.org and follow @GreenovateBos on twitter for updates throughout the summer. 

“Mayor Menino continues to advance Boston’s ambitious climate and sustainability agenda in a way that fosters innovation and collaboration,” said Jim Hunt, Boston’s Chief of Environment and Energy.  “The impressive leaders we recognize today exemplify the core values of our green agenda, improve the quality of life in Boston while lowering costs and creating good jobs.”
Here’s the rundown on all the other award winners: 

2012 Green Residential Award recipients

The Mayor's Green Residential Awards recognize residents and local organizations in Boston that are committed to sustainable living. Winners in this category demonstrate exemplary sustainable practices in their community and in their homes. 

Cynthia Loesch and Ivan Liriano—Dorchester

Green Home Renovation and Resource Conservation award was given to Cynthia Loesch and Ivan Liriano for the construction of a LEED Platinum home located at 81 Brent Street, Dorchester that incorporates energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainable design.  The home is 45% more efficient than the average home, and produces energy on-site with a solar hot water and a solar electric system. 

Erica Wiken—Allston/Brighton

The Waste Reduction Champion award was given to Eric Wiken of Allston for her commitment to waste reduction which spans from recycling to outdoor compost bins to an in-home vermicomposting bin (with worms).  She also has invested in home energy efficiency with a retrofits her walls and windows and a highly efficient boiler. 

2012 Sustainable Food Leader recipients

The awards were given to businesses that demonstrate extraordinary efforts to provide the freshest, local food in the most sustainable matter. 

Boston University Dining Services—Allston/Brighton

Serving over 35,000 students, staff and faculty, Boston University has focused on providing sustainable food through buying locally-grown/processed items from 45 farms and 130 producers within a 250-mile radius, totaling 23% of their annual food budget.  They also compost at 19 of their 22 facilities on campus. 

Dorchester Community Food Co-op—Dorchester

The Food Co-op’s largest project, the Dorchester Winter’s Farmers’ Market in Codman Square provides healthy, local, and fresh food to neighborhood residents and the surrounding community, while also ensuring accessibility by accepting EBT/SNAP cards and Boston Bounty Bucks. 

2012 Green Business Award recipients

The awards recognize local businesses in Boston that demonstrate extraordinary performance related to sustainable environmental practices.  Businesses may apply in the categories of commercial, industrial, non-profit and academic, cultural and healthcare institutions. 

Greentown Labs—Innovation District

Greentown Labs provides companies working to improve the efficiency of homes and businesses and/or the use renewable sources of energy a space to build, test, and expand their services at their location in the Innovation District. The office itself has gone green by incorporating sustainable design, high efficiency lighting, and installing an electric vehicle charging station. 

Crown Uniform & Linen—South Boston

A 4th generation family-owned business founded in 1914, and currently employing with 150 workers, Crown Linen & Uniform joined the Sustainable Business Network in 2011, and has adopted energy efficiency measures, water conservation technology, and incorporated waste reduction goals into their business. 

P&G Gillette South Boston site—South Boston

Gillette’s South Boston site has made a significant commitment to greening their facility, and have made investments in energy and water conservation that has resulted in a 10 million kilowatt reduction in energy use and 2.8 million gallon reduction in water use in 2011. 

Westin Boston Waterfront—Innovation District

An employee-led “Green Team” focuses on sustainability initiatives such as comprehensive waste reduction through recycling and composting to implementing new technology in their guest rooms to reduce water usage.  The hotel underwent a large lighting retrofit, replacing all public space lighting with LEDs resulting in a savings of 422,000 kilowatt hours per year. 

Harpoon Brewery—Innovation District

Harpoon goes above and beyond to reduce their waste by sending all their spent grain from the brewing process to a dairy farm in Westport, MA – totaling in 130,000 lbs per week.  Their new Freeaire cooling system allows them to use outside air for refrigeration 110 days of the year. 

912 Auto Center—Dorchester

A Graduate of the Boston Public Health Commission’s Safe Shops Program, 912 Auto Center has switched to water-based paints to protect the health of workers and customers.  An indoor ventilation system reduces indoor air pollution and makes their heating/cooling system more efficient. 

Digital Lumens—West End
Digital Lumens focuses on reducing lighting energy demand at industrial facilities that have high lighting needs. Through a combination of highly efficient LEDs and a wireless management system, a facility can reduce energy usage by up to 90% partnering with Digital Lumens. 

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center—Longwood

BIDMC employs a dedicated Energy Manager and Sustainability coordinator along with a Green Committee that has overseen initiatives ranging from energy management and efficiency to increased waste diversion.  Through their energy savings measures, BIDMC saved enough energy to light almost 2000 homes for a year. 

Massachusetts General Hospital—West End

With over 40 energy conservation measures implemented in the past year, MGH has seen a 10% reduction in energy usage from its 2010 levels.  Over 30% of MGH’s energy needs come from renewable sources, and as a member of the Boston Green Ribbon Commission, Partners Healthcare has committed to a 25% reduction in GHG emissions by 2020. 

Fresh Hair—Jamaica Plain

A member of the Main Streets program, Fresh Hair provides eco-friendly salon services by offering environmentally friendly products.  The Salon also installed a solar hot water heating system in 2001 (one of the first systems in Boston) and a grey water system to recapture heat from hot water, to reduce its energy needs. 

Boston Cab Association—Fenway/Kenmore

Boston Cab Association was the first cab company to commit to purchasing hybrids for their fleet in 2006 as part of the City’s Clean Air Cab program.  The hybrids are 60-70% more efficient than former Crown Victorias, and today Boston Cab Association has over 200 hybrids in its fleet, and only one Crown Victoria left.