New Partnership Name Announced!

In the interest of growing our program and better communicating the intent of our collaboration to our Partners, their stakeholders, and potential Partners, the P²AD Partnership Program is excited to announce our name change to the Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia. As a part of this rebranding of our program, we have also changed the naming of Partner levels to allow stakeholders to have a clearer understanding of our program tiers.

White Level Partners will now be Champions
Yellow Level Partners will now be Bronze Partners
Red Level Partners will be now be Silver Partners
Blue Level Partners will be Gold Partners

In the coming weeks, all Partners will be receiving copies of the new program logo, window decals for your office/facility indicating your participation, and updated program certificates. We welcome your feedback on this significant change.

In other exciting news, the Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia is introducing a new track to our program, the Sustainable Office Toolkit track. Partners will now have a choice to commit to a path towards environmental improvement based on a traditional Environmental Management System (EMS), or one based on our Sustainable Office Toolkit (SOT). We hope the Sustainable Office Toolkit track will give many of the small and medium-sized organizations that find a full EMS unrealistic, an opportunity to become more sustainable. Note that all current Partners will remain in the EMS track of the program by default. Contact us if you would like to explore whether the SOT track is a better fit for your organization, and we’ll provide you with an opportunity to change tracks after the first of the year.

Partners’ Achievements Honored at the 2007 Natural Leaders Awards

Partners were recognized for their environmental achievements at the Natural Leaders Awards on October 16 at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta. Six Partners received awards for their accomplishments. Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of Newnan was recognized as the Partner of the Year. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Corporation of Marietta received the Continual Improvement Award. Monsanto Company of Augusta was presented with the Outreach & Employee Involvement Award. Shaw Industries Group, Incorporated, Plant Z of Cartersville was recognized as the Rising Environmental Steward. Earth Tech, Incorporated of Roswell won the Mentor of the Year Award. Carpet America Recovery Effort of Dalton received the Advocate of the Year Award. Note that awards are judged by the Partnership’s external Advisory Panel, based on information Partners report to us through their Annual Performance Reports in April of each year. Early next spring we will offer a webinar for all Partners clarifying the type of information we are soliciting in the report form, and discussing specific ways that previous award winners have documented their outstanding achievements.

Gold (formerly Blue) and Silver (formerly Red) Partners were recognized for their big savings reported in 2006. Together, they reduced energy use by 11,899 billion BTUs. They reduced water use by 213 million gallons, reduced solid waste sent to landfills by 1,557 tons, and increased the use of recycled materials by 35,803 tons. Additional reductions included hazardous waste generation by 18,048 pounds, emissions of VOCs by 57 tons, and emissions of NOx by 494 tons. We applaud our top tier Partners for their continued success, and look forward to seeing our results grow next year as more of our Bronze (formerly Yellow) Partners develop their programs and start seeing results of their actions.

Open Enrollment ends October 31

This is the last chance this year to submit applications to join or transition to a new level in the Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia. Applications will only be accepted through October 31.

October 31 Deadline to Apply for Telework Tax Credit

Now is the time to begin or improve your telework program! Through October 31, employers can apply for a tax credit of up to $20,000 to offset program set-up costs. All Georgia businesses that start or expand telework programs are eligible for the tax credit. The simple three-page application must be submitted by October 31. Apply now.

Learn about Biodiesel in Georgia

The Georgia Environmental Partnership (GEP) will webcast their Fall 2007 Environmental Network Meeting on November 7. The webcast will begin at 8:30 and you can take part from your desk! During the program you will learn about the production, availability, and use of Biodiesel in the State of Georgia. Also learn how businesses in Georgia are saving money on construction projects through the reduction, recycling, and reuse of waste. Register now.

Water Conservation Assistance

Georgia’s water crisis is impacting us all, and we at the Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia appreciate that all of our Partners are making efforts to reduce your water consumption and are anxiously facing a future of more substantial water limitations. While you search for new ways to conserve water, remember we are here to help. As a Partner, you qualify for free assistance with your water efficiency efforts. We would also like to hear about your water conservation successes, so we may share them with fellow Partners looking for solutions. Please contact us with your needs as well as ideas to share.

Partner Spotlight – Georgia Association of Water Professionals

The Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) is a Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia Champion (formerly White Level). The not-for-profit professional Association has well over 5,000 members. GAWP is dedicated to exceptional professional education, dissemination of sound technical principles and scientific information, increased public understanding, and promotion of valid public laws and programs. Their chief purpose is to assist those who have an interest in water, wastewater, and related topics in the State of Georgia. The GAWP 2007 Fall Conference & Expo will be held November 13-14 in Athens. Visit www.gawp.org for more information.