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DEC accepting applications for 10th anniversary Environmental Excellence Awards

by jmaloni

Press release

Tue, Mar 19th 2013 05:30 pm

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is now accepting applications for the 2013 Environmental Excellence Awards program, Commissioner Joe Martens has announced. This year celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Environmental Excellence Awards program, which recognizes and gives visibility to outstanding, innovative and sustainable projects or programs.

"This year marks a milestone in environmental innovations for the Empire State," Martens said. "As we recognize 10 years of the exceptional work accomplished by previous award winners, Gov. Cuomo and I invite the best and the brightest to submit applications about their project's substantial environmental benefits."

DEC is especially interested in acknowledging projects that achieve significant environmental benefits through: green infrastructure projects; initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; cutting-edge pollution prevention technologies; initiatives to "green" businesses, farms, schools, recreational, health care and hospitality facilities; innovative wind, solar and biomass projects; creative natural resource/habitat protection or restoration efforts; energy efficiency improvements; innovative education and training programs; waste reduction and recycling efforts; manufacturing process improvements; and creative approaches to urban forestry or farming programs advancing "grown locally."

Eligible applicants include businesses (i.e., small, medium and large businesses, manufacturing, power generation, retail, agri-business, hospitality, etc.); not-for-profit organizations; education, health care and recreational facilities; individual(s) and local, state, federal or Indian nation government agencies implementing innovative, sustainable actions or working in creative partnership to improve and protect New York's environmental resources and contribute to a viable economy.

Completed applications for the 2013 awards must be post marked no later than Friday, May 10. Award winners will be honored at a 10th anniversary celebration and awards ceremony that will be held in the fall/winter. Winners will have an opportunity to present and display information about their award-winning project or program.

Over the past decade, previous award winners have helped improve New York's environment through initiatives that have reduced more than 20,000 tons of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions; eliminated more than two million pounds of hazardous waste; saved at least 35 million kilowatt hours of electricity; reduced water consumption by more than 30 million gallons; diverted 7,100 tons of waste from landfills; and preserved more than 150,000 acres of open space. For information on last year's winner, visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/87553.html.

Information about the award program and the 2013 application materials are available on DEC's website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/945.html; or by writing to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Pollution Prevention Unit, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-1750; by phone to DEC's pollution prevention unit at 518-402-9469; or by email to [email protected].

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