Promoting Sustainability
The Maryland Green Registry is a free, voluntary program created to promote and recognize sustainable practices at organizations of all types and sizes within the state. Businesses, churches, schools, government agencies and other organizations are all invited to join the program and share the steps they’ve taken to reduce their environmental footprint. Each member has an online profile describing the sustainable practices they’ve put in place and the results they’ve achieved in terms of waste reduced, energy and water conserved, and other environmental measures.
As Laura Armstrong, Director of the Sustainability Program at the Maryland Department of the Environment points out, “With over 500 members now, these online member profiles are a treasure trove of practical and proven sustainable practices. In fact, last year, Maryland Green Registry members reported saving over $104 million annually through these environmental best practices.”
The Maryland Green Registry website has tips and resources for best practices in a number of areas including environmental management and leadership, waste reduction, energy and water conservation, transportation and green building design. Laura points out that “the program also offers members webinars, workshops, and onsite technical assistance programs throughout the year to assist members in continually improving the efficiency of their operations as they forge their own path to sustainability.”
Each year, the Maryland Green Registry presents its Leadership Awards to five organizations that have shown a strong commitment to sustainable practices, measurable results, and continual improvement. Past winners have included a variety of facility types and sizes, but all have several key factors in common that have contributed to their success: an organization-wide commitment to environmental performance, a green team that meets on a regular basis, annual environmental goals and measurement of results.
Maryland Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford and Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles will be present to recognize this year’s award winners and announce the annual environmental results and costs savings of all Maryland Green Registry members at an evening networking event held in partnership with One Montgomery Green and the U.S. Green Building Council Maryland June 28 at the Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland.
Check out this handpicked feature on Columbia Green: Innovative Green Roof Technology.
