Green in Denver

The absolutely beautiful July day here in Denver (albeit a little hot) makes me want to take care of my world just a little better. I recently wrote an article for the Denver Metro CVB about "Mile High Meetings Send a Green Message."

Now, I'm usually not a political activist, but I *am* conscious of what's going on. For instance, I never just toss my trash out the door. I recycle. I try to save the environment as much as I can.

Oh, and of course, I do my part by riding my motorcycle to conserve gas -- and save money out of my pocketbook! :-)

Why don't you just check the article out and here's an excerpt:

Mile High Meetings Send A Green Message
JUNE 2008
BY: Diana Rowe is a Denver-based freelance writer and a contributing editor to several meetings trade publications.

Culinary delights, high thread counts, turndown service, and spa services are great, but what planners really want today are organic food, biodegradable soap, high-impact fluorescent light bulbs, and recycle bins. All across the globe, corporations are making their mark through investments aimed at improving the planet’s social and environmental problems.

That’s why planners are making conscious decisions to select cities and venues that are environmentally-conscious, and Denver, the Mile-High city, is up for the green challenge.

The Colorado Convention Center (CCC) is one of the most practical and "user-friendly" meeting facilities ever built.

“We recognize that a large part of Colorado’s destination appeal is our stunning natural setting. The tourism and convention industry has a strong interest in creating programs that will help us grow our business in a sustainable fashion,” said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (DMCVB).

Sustainability is a core value in Denver City Government, according to Mayor John W. Hickenlooper, who joined 49 other mayors nationwide in the summer of 2005 to pledge to improve the environment and their cities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That same year, Hickenlooper launched the Greenprint Denver Initiative.

Greenprint is a long-term, citywide initiative to promote the importance of sustainable development and ecologically-friendly practices throughout the community. The program includes a plan to plant one million trees in the next 20 years, as well as ways to reduce waste and increase use of renewable energy.

Denver is also facilitating the green business designation of the upcoming 2008 Democratic National Convention, expected to bring close to 50,000 visitors to Denver. This is the first green recognition process for a national political convention. The green designation requires businesses to commit to sustainable practices in seven key areas: leadership, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste and pollution reduction, community involvement, working conditions, and education. (Find out more about how the Convention will be the greenest in Democratic Party history here.)

There's more just click here.

Thanks for reading -- and talk to you soon!

Diana