Posted 03.01.2010
2010 Sustainability Champion Awards: Denver Zoological Foundation
Zoo promotes recycling and alternative energy within its grounds and beyond
By Mike Cote
In 2008, the Denver Zoo was recognized as one of only 33 Gold Members in the state's Environmental Leadership program. The zoo's Work Place Conservation Committee has been working for several years to make the zoo's operations more sustainable.
"We're a conversation organization, and we're here to protect a secure habit for all species," said Jennifer Hale, the zoo's sustainability coordinator. "Being sustainable just rolls into that mission."
The awards are a program of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Environmental Partnership partnered, Connected Organizations for a Responsible Economy (CORE), and ColoradoBiz. The program is sponsored by PAETEC, a New York-based telecom company that delivers data and voice services in 84 metro markets including Denver.
Here's how the Denver Zoo measured up according several metrics considered by the judges:
Environment: Denver Zoo employees logged 156,000 commuter miles in 2009 using alternative transportation. The zoo diverted about 320 tons of compostable material from the landfill in 2009 and recycled 2,600 pounds of electronic waste, 15 tons of commingled recycling, 54 tons of cardboard and 6.25 tons of metal. The zoo also offers members the opportunity to receive its bi-monthly newsletter, On the Wild Side, electronically, which has attracted 325 households so far.
Economy: The zoo's product procurement database aims to highlight sustainable products and services.
Society: Denver Zoo was a sponsor and presenter at the 2009 Green Festival, where staff highlighted efforts toward making the zoo the greenest in the nation. The zoo also participated in the 2009 Colorado Association for Recycling Summit in Vail and sponsored the Earth Works Expo in Denver.
Innovation: The zoo is developing a way to use waste to generate heat and power through gasification, diverting about 90 percent of its waste stream from landfill disposal. "The pilot system that we have is one-tenth of the scale of the system that will be installed here at the zoo," Hale said.
Education: Outreach efforts include offering $2 admission discounts to guests who use RTD to travel to the zoo. The zoo's website offers directions to the zoo using various alternative transportation routes.
Hale said the award helps recognize a zoo committee that has been working for several years on sustainability efforts.
"They've finally had the opportunity to really show some meaningful success, and that success can be translated into things that we and our guests can use to educate the public about things they can do in their own homes," Hale said.
"For a nonprofit organization such as Denver Zoo and how much we interact with the public, our education programs and our efforts at conservation, it speaks volumes," she said. "And this (award) offers a little more encouragement to the community. ‘Hey, look at what we're doing, and we're getting recognized for it. And these are things you can do at home."
Mike Cote is the editor of ColoradoBiz. E-mail him at mcote@cobizmag.com.
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