FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
September 17, 2007

CONTACT:
Kent Epperson SBCAG Traffic Solutions (805) 961-8917
Alan Nakashima Santa Barbara County Public Works Department Resource Recovery & Waste Management Division (805) 882-3616

2007 Green Award Winners Announced
Consortium Celebrates the Fourteenth Annual Green Awards Program

Pictured 2007 Green Award winners, from left to right. Front row: Alberto Arroyo, John Brand, Hans Brand, Scott Fulton – B&H Flowers, Inc. (Carpinteria); Chandra & Wes Hagen, Oliver the Greyhound – Clos Pepe Vineyards (Lompoc) Back row: Rebecca Sandoval, Mark Funkhouser, Michael Armenta – Chumash Casino Resort; Ryan Schauland, UCSB Campus Design & Facilities; Ron Schaefer, Valle Verde Retirement Community (Santa Barbara); Perrin Pellegrin, UCSB Campus Design & Facilities.

SANTA BARBARA, CA —Today, the Green Award Consortium announced winners of the 2007 Green Awards: B&H Flowers, Inc. (Carpinteria); University of California Santa Barbara, Campus Design & Facilities; Valle Verde Retirement Community (Santa Barbara); Chumash Resort Casino (Santa Ynez); and Clos Pepe Vineyards (Lompoc).

This is the 14th year of the Green Awards, which recognize Santa Barbara County businesses and organizations for outstanding environmental efforts. The program has honored more than 60 outstanding companies from Santa Barbara County over the past thirteen years.

“From solar power to water efficient landscapes to non-toxic cleaning products to composting programs, these companies are going to great length to green their practices and minimize their impact, while improving the work environment for their employees,” notes Helena Wiley von Rueden of the Santa Barbara County Water Agency.

The other consortium members are the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, Community Environmental Council, Santa Barbara County Public Works Department Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division, and SBCAG Traffic Solutions.

The Green Award recognizes companies and organizations for voluntary activities, above and beyond their primary missions that result in cleaner air or water, less waste, less traffic, conservation of energy and natural resources, or reduced use of hazardous materials. The awards are an annual highlight of Pollution Prevention Week, celebrated nationally during the week of September 17 - 23. Winners will be honored at a special awards luncheon on Friday, September 21st.

Meet the Winners

A description of the winners with contact numbers follows.

B & H Flowers, Incorporated, Carpinteria
Kelly Clark, 566-4214

B & H Flowers, Incorporated, a fifth generation family operation located in Carpinteria, has set a standard for sustainable agriculture in the operation of its cut flower greenhouse business.

• B & H is the first flower grower in Santa Barbara County to be VeriFlora Certified as a Sustainable Grown greenhouse operation. VeriFlora recognizes businesses that produce cut flowers and potted plants in an environmentally and socially responsible manner and meet the highest standards for freshness and quality.
• B & H collects all of its rainwater and irrigation water in a percolating pond and holding tanks to recycle the water through a completely self-contained system, resulting in no runoff.
• B & H inspects plants and water valves daily to minimize wasted water, and has installed high-efficiency water pumps.
• The business makes extensive use of beneficial insects, uses soft or organic products in the rare instance treatment is needed, and is increasing the use of certified organic fertilizers. B & H has an extensive recycling program and minimizes waste.

University of California, Santa Barbara, Design and Facilities
Perrin Pellegrin, 893-2661 Extension 2208 Ryan Schauland, 893-2661 Extension 2202

The University of California, Santa Barbara, Campus Design and Facilities Department (UCSB), which is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining all classrooms and non-residential buildings on campus, has assumed a prominent role in the University’s efforts to address climate change.

• The Department is ensuring that new and renovated buildings achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification. In addition to greening new construction, UCSB is one of just three universities in the United States to commit to having 25 buildings achieve LEED Existing Building certification over the next five years to promote green operations across campus.
• On an average day, 1/3 of faculty and staff and 2/3 of students do not drive alone to work or class. The University accomplishes this by: allowing employees to telecommute and work on alternative work schedules; offering incentives for commuters who do not drive, such as preferential parking, discounted bus passes, discounted FlexCar vehicle use, and affordable vanpools; providing a shuttle service; and offering shower facilities for those who walk or bike, and bicycle parking.
• UCSB uses Green Seal certified cleaning products, unbleached and/or chlorine free paper products, and low-emission building materials, carpeting, and furniture and reducing or eliminating the use of solvents. In one case, the University was successful in convincing a manufacturer to make a “green” product for polishing tile floors; the product is now offered to other firms. UCSB also uses drought tolerant landscaping and pest resistant plants, and uses less toxic pesticides whenever possible.
• To conserve energy, UCSB has installed modern T8 fluorescent lighting, motion sensors and high-efficiency heating ventilation and air conditioning. New buildings are designed to beat California’s energy code by at least 20%.
• UCSB recycles everything possible, including construction and demolition debris, carpeting, and green waste. To conserve water, it uses waterless urinals, is gradually installing dual flush low flow toilets, and has water efficient faucets and showerheads. It will continue to expand water efficient practices to all future LEED buildings. Also, the campus uses mulch for non-turf areas, reclaimed water for most areas, drip irrigation systems, and drought tolerant landscaping.

Valle Verde Retirement Community, Santa Barbara
Ron Schaefer, 687-1571

Valle Verde, a retirement community with over 380 seniors in Santa Barbara, has invested heavily in renewable energy for its campus that includes senior cottages, a Health Center, a memory support center, and Assisted Living.

• Valle Verde has installed photovoltaic panels to generate approximately 36,000 kilowatts of energy. A solar water system heats the swimming pool, and individual solar water heating units on all new or remodeled apartments provide hot water for residents including their Assisted Living building.
• Valle Verde uses energy-efficient office equipment, and ceiling fans for cooling, natural and task lighting, and has installed energy efficient windows. The heating system has been converted from electricity to natural gas, improving efficiency from 45% to 95%.
• Water-efficient faucets and showerheads have been installed, reclaimed water is used for the drip irrigation system, and drought tolerant plants and mulch are used for the landscaping. In addition, an updated irrigation system controls campus watering based on weather conditions and climates for specific zones on the 66-acre property.
• There is a comprehensive program for recycling paper, cardboard, glass containers, plastics, pallets, toner cartridges, electronics, paints, solvents, cleaners, batteries, fluorescent lights, and vehicular fluids. Valle Verde also recycles construction and demolition debris for 15 to 20 apartments that are renovated each year. For each renovated home, fluorescent lighting, insulated non-lever windows, tankless water heaters, and low VOC paint are used.
• Electric carts are used by employees throughout the campus, and a shuttle bus service is offered to residents and employees for trips downtown. Monthly cash incentives will also be offered to employees that use alternative transportation, and part-time telecommuting is also available to administrative staff.

Chumash Casino and Resort, Santa Ynez
Mark Funkhouser, 325-1268

The Chumash Casino and Resort, located in Santa Ynez, is an environmental leader among California casinos and other businesses.

• To reduce traffic, the Casino requires employees from Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Buellton, approximately 1,300 of 1,645 employees, to take the free Chumash shuttle bus to work, and customers are offered free access to buses.
• The Casino conserves water by treating and reusing waste water in toilets and outdoor irrigation, and using native, low-water plants for landscaping (well established trees and shrubs on the casino property require watering only four times per year). To protect against stormwater runoff, the on-site creek is patrolled daily, and all parking structure runoff is gathered and treated.
• In the past several months, the Casino has reduced its waste stream by about 9,000 pounds of waste per month by using paperless records and donating furniture and wardrobe items to a local thrift store, and through recycling of carpet, pallets, green waste, and composting food scraps.
• The company uses only non-toxic cleaning products. The Casino also uses a large percentage of locally-grown produce, and glass and ceramic dishware and utensils in place of paper or plastic.
• The company has retrofit the HVAC system with economizers, which slow motors in the air units when not in use, shut off sections of the facility not needing cooling, allow outside air into the facility as needed, and automatically adjust for highest efficiency. The Casino also replaced a large majority of light fixtures in the hotel to accommodate the compact fluorescents. As a result, the Casino is only five points away from achieving LEED certification for its buildings and its goal of becoming the first LEED-certified casino in California.

Clos Pepe Vineyards, Lompoc
Wes Hagen, 735-2196

Clos Pepe Vineyards, located in the Santa Rita Hills between Lompoc and Buellton, is a leader in sustainable farming.

• Clos Pepe does not use any insecticides or herbicides and no restricted materials. Sheep control weeds in the vineyards; owls and raptors (encouraged by strategically placed boxes and perches) catch rodents; beneficial insects are released to reduce pests.
• For these and other practices, Clos Pepe scores over 90 percent on the Central Coast Vineyard Team’s sustainability index every year.
• The business uses a drip irrigation system that doesn’t produce any runoff, conserving water.
• Clos Pepe plants legumes and clover to preserve or improve soil structure and nutrient content, eliminate erosion, reduce dust, and provide habitat for beneficial insects.
• Clos Pepe uses mulch in its vineyards, donates used electronics to its workers for reuse, and makes picket fences from its wine barrels and pallets.
• Clos Pepe is also a foster facility for off-track greyhounds and encourages Santa Barbara to offer a home to these gentle, calm and loving ex-racers.
• Clos Pepe believes sustainability goes further than how crops are grown. Full time workers are given full medical, dental and vision insurance, Holiday bonuses and paid vacation. Clos Pepe believes environmental concerns are only meaningful when human beings are treated with dignity and respect.

Return to News Releases or News & Notices