ADVERTORIAL — Forty years after the first Earth Day was celebrated, Northwest Arkansas has continued to galvanize efforts to become a major innovator in the push for eco-friendly business practices. Green initiatives across NW Arkansas are many and varied as the “greening” of the valley continues.
Builders in the region are encouraged to use energy conservation and green products, like paints and insulation. The Home Builders Association offers a Certified Green Professional designation that challenges builders and remodelers to promote sustainable construction. And the U. S. Building Council awarded Stitt Energy Systems’ office renovation a Platinum rating, the highest certification offered for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
Energy companies are offering informational websites for customers on many levels, from saving money and energy, to paperless billing, to installing wind or solar, to the latest in energy legislation. One of the best-known residential energy consultants in the nation, Doug Rye hosts a Saturday morning radio program on ways to reduce home heating, cooling, and water heating costs by 66%. His radio program "Home Remedies" airs on KURM (Rogers) and other regional stations.
To prepare future generations, John Brown University’s Renewable Energy Department offers a Bachelor of Science with three options: Design, Management and International. In February, Northwest Arkansas Community College received a $1.3 million dollar grant to start up to 60 new courses all centered around green jobs.
"Sustainability is the ultimate science. I don't think of it as a movement, technology, trend, or fad. Sustainability is the science of living well in a robust economy without negatively impacting future generations," said Steve Rust, President/CEO of Green Valley Development.
A first for the area, the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce will hold a Green Expo with guest speakers from all over the world. Over 3,000 are expected to attend, all sharing information and the common interest of eco-friendly practices.
Walmart, ranked #59th in Newsweek magazine’s first “green” list of the top 500 Green US-based corporations, has recently announced plans to eliminate 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its global supply chain by the end of 2015.
Tyson’s Renewable Products plant Dynamic Fuels, expected to come online this year, will use low-grade animal fat to produce renewable jet fuel, and is expected to generate $85 million in annual revenue.
Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin said, “In Dec. 2007, Bentonville began what has proven to be a very successful curbside recycling program. Residents are recycling approximately 2,000 tons per year or about 4 millions pounds that are kept from landfills. Also Bentonville is the first (and only to date) City in Arkansas to adopt a Green Building ordinance. The city offers free energy audits for its residents.” The Rogers Recycling Center is one of the largest independent drop-off recyclers in the state.
Main Street Rogers will hold its 4th Annual Environmental Day in mid April, and the City of Bentonville/Bentonville Parks and Recreation is in the middle of a voter approved, $15 million improvement to its local parks system.
And according to Mark Clippinger, state park superintendent, the Visitor Center at Hobbs State Park Conservation Area is striving toward the silver LEED accreditation based on its construction site recycling, cellulose insulation, geo-thermal technology and eco-friendly design.
Earth Day 2010 marks yet another beginning for the region’s green initiatives and a more sustainable world.