Greening the Conference

The Conference Team has taken the following steps to minimize energy use and waste generated by the Conference:

Reducing Energy Use and Neutralizing Consumption:

  • Carbon offsets were generously donated by Terrapass to cover all Keynote and Panelist air travel. Enough additional carbon offsets were purchased from Terrapass to cover the entire conference’s carbon consumption.

Reducing Collateral Waste Through Reuse/Recycling:

  • Name badges are biodegradable and are made post-consumer recycled blue vinyl and clear biodegradable APVC. Participants are asked to return them for reuse at future events.
  • Sponsors, speakers, and table captains have been encouraged to limit distribution of unnecessary collateral materials and to be selective about what durable goods they hand out.
  • The Union League sorts and recycles all trash generated by its conferences.

Reducing Paper Usage in Planning and Implementation of the Conference:

  • Conference planning, coordination and information-sharing has been carried out through an online system.
  • Communication has mainly been via email, phone, and face-to-face meetings.
  • Document editing was done electronically.
  • All pre-event registration was conducted online via the Energy Conference website and TicketLeap.
  • All communications to attendees has been via the website and email.
  • Day-of registration relies on computer check-in, rather than extensive paper forms.

Paper Advertising/Marketing Materials Reduced By Focusing Attention on Conference Website:

  • Conference sponsors were offered promotional space on the website and visibility through slides and signage during the day of the conference.
  • Post conference brochures and other marketing materials will be available on the website in PDF format.
  • Post conference - panel notes, presentations, etc will be posted online to reduce the amount of paper handed out at the conference.

Food and Beverages:

  • All containers, cutlery, and dishes provided by the Union League are glass or metal.
  • Tap water, rather than bottled water will be served.
  • Energy use has been further reduced by offering vegetarian options, which utilize less energy to produce than meat-intensive meals.

Transportation:

  • Conference organizers, participants and volunteers are asked to walk, bicycle, carpool or use public transit to get to the Union League.