2016/14/2016

Doing the Numbers: A Review of the Federal Green Challenge's (FGC) Annual Reporting Process

This webinar will show FGC members how to report their facility achievements for FY16 using Re-TRAC Connect. In addition to reviewing the new reporting features for waste, electronics, purchasing and transportation, the webinar will review how to submit nominations for the Regional and National FGC awards program.

FY16 FGC New Reporting Elements: 2016 Innovation “Pollinator Habitat” Success Story and Review of Updated ReTRAC Connect Database

This Federal Green Challenge Webinar will highlight FGC’s updated results database, ReTRAC Connect, in two ways. First, by showcasing a success story that includes one of the new reporting sections, “acres of pollinator habitat planted.” Then by taking a ReTRAC Connect “site visit,” to review how to enter data and access the new features.

Barbara Sheedy from the EPA’s Mid-Continent Ecology Lab in Duluth, MN, will present on their FGC 2016 “Innovation and Purchasing” narrative award. In addition to paper reduction and green meeting success, the lab added considerable pollinator habitat to their campus area. By returning to a native upland prairie meadow and planting pollinator attractive plants, the lab was able to return to native non-invasive planting. This saved money (labor), energy (no mowing), water (no watering) and created a beautiful landscape of natural flowers and native animals.

Rob Guillemin from EPA Region 1 will walk us through ReTRAC Connect, pointing out the enhancements to the FGC reporting elements, including the updated Waste Section (wider range of materials to select), Purchasing Section (pollinator habitat added), and Transportation Section (motor oil management added). The additional measurable actions and data points will allow facilities to report on their continuous improvement toward the federal sustainability goals included in EO13693.

2016/06/23

Pollinator Habitat & Food Security - What’s All the Buzz About?

Pollinators provide critical food production services for humans. Yet, in 2013 and 2014, Monarch Butterflies sank to their lowest recorded population level. The continued loss of commercial honey bee colonies can undermine food security and farming. In this webinar, celebrating National Pollinator Week, get inspired by the White House’s federal strategy to restore or enhance seven million acres of land for pollinators over the next five years, tune in to federal facilities with pollinator habitat, and learn about the Pollinator Partnership’s pollinator-friendly, eco-regional planting guides.

2016/01/14

All Target Areas: Doing the Number - A Review of the Federal Green Challenge's (FGC) Annual Reporting Process

This webinar will show FGC members how to report their facility achievements for FY15 using Re-TRAC Connect. The webinar will also review how to submit nominations for Regional and National FGC awards program.

All Target Areas: Doing the Numbers -  A Review of the Federal Green Challenge's (FGC) Annual Reporting Process

2015/09/24

Food Waste: Federal Food Recovery Opportunities to Help Meet EO Objectives
Executive Order 13693, Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade, issued in March of 2015, calls on federal agencies to maintain leadership in sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A key element of the order is to "advance waste prevention and pollution prevention by . . . diverting at least 50 percent of non-hazardous solid waste, including food and compostable material . . " Notably, wasted food constitutes the largest quantity of divertible material sent to landfills. Of the estimated 34 million tons thrown out, only 2.5 percent is diverted. Wasted food is estimated at 30-40% of the food supply and is the third largest source of methane gas, one of the most potent greenhouse gases responsible for trapping heat in the atmosphere.

"Food recovery," which includes practices such as the purchase of less food, donation of edible food and composting, can significantly reduce waste to landfills. This webinar will outline why federal food purchasing matters and how to include food recovery into strategic planning and food service contracts and leases. It will also feature an example of how a federal and concessioner partnership successfully contributed to food recovery.

Darby Hoover, Senior Resource Specialist, and JoAnne Berkenkamp, Senior Advocate, Food and Agriculture Program, Natural Resources Defense Council, will outline a five-point plan to help federal agencies strengthen business practices and identify high priority waste reduction strategies associated with food services. A representative from the National Park Service is expected to speak as well.

• Presentation: Federal Food Recovery Opportunities and Planning to Meet EO13693 Objectives

• Listen to audio presentation Exit (registration required)

2015/07/16

All Target Areas: Leadership and Innovation from DOE and GSA
DOE’s Green Buy program is going national and opening up to any federal agency who wants to participate in FY2016. It will give federal agencies the opportunity to provide incentives for purchasing products with the strongest environmental attributes available on the market. Awards for purchasers helps promote the selection of products that go beyond compliance to make greater contributions to energy and water efficiency, waste minimization, toxic chemical reduction, and human and environmental health protection.

GSA Region 10’s facility in Auburn saved 8% in energy consumption with some simple new technology without making any infrastructure changes. Listen to their story! 

All Target Areas: Executive Order 13693 - Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade, and Federal Purchasing Update

• Implementing Instructions for Executive Order 13693 Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade
• Executive Order 13963 and Federal Purchasing Updates
• Sustaining Sustainability: A framework for organizational change
• Summary of Green Procurement Compilation (GPC) Changes
• EPA's Safer Choice Program

Water: Getting Water Wise in the Federal Green Challenge
How Federal Facilities are Saving Money by Saving Water

• How Federal Facilities are Saving $$ by Saving H20 (Opening Presentation)
• Tools & Resources Supporting Green Infrastructure
• Craters of the Moon Water Reduction
• Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center
• The Presidio: A New Kind of National Park

• 2014 Award Winners plus Reducing Wasted Food & Packaging Toolkit
• Efficiency on a Modest Budget: USCG Base Seattle
• DEA Southwest Laboratory - Water Conservation and Electronics Recycling
• EPA's Toolkit for Reducing Wasted Food and Packaging: A Guide for Food Services and Restaurants
• 2012 Achievements: Naval Base Coronado

Purchasing: Green Leadership

• Green Purchasing Leadership: 100% Recycled Copy Paper
• GSA Green Procurement Compilation

• Federal Green Challenge (FGC) Reporting Process and Updates
• Instructions for Inputting Results into the FGC Data Management System
• Submitting Federal Green Challenge Award Nominations