TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA, May 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Sustainable Florida – Collins Center announced the finalists for the 2011 Best Practice Awards. This statewide program recognizes and honors businesses, organizations and individuals whose work demonstrates that a healthy environment and a healthy economy are mutually supportive.
Universal Studios Orlando was one of three finalists named in the “Large Business” category, with this description: Universal Orlando is dedicated to creating a more sustainable company, community and state. Its “Green is Universal” campaign focuses on water, energy, waste, horticulture and fuels. The theme park saves about 35 million gallons of water annually by using low-flow urinals; saves energy by reducing wattage in parking garage lamps; uses a wood chipper to chip landscape waste to reuse as mulch; has 2,000 recycling bins throughout the resort; reuses coffee grounds in its planting soil; uses natural pesticides like peanut, wintergreen, thyme and fish oils; and landscaping teams drive electric carts.
“I continue to be impressed by all our applicants’ ingenuity and commitment to improving their community and the state of Florida,” said Vice President of Sustainability Initiatives Tim Center. “The caliber of the efforts around the state to include environmental sensitivity in business and governmental planning is amazing and we hope other organizations will learn from their success.”
Twenty-one finalists were chosen from 83 applicants. The list of finalists and a brief description are shown below. For complete finalist details, visit www.SustainableFlorida.org.
The awards program is being held June 2, 2011, at the Plaza Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach. The awards dinner program will be held in conjunction with Green Trends – an annual conference sponsored by the Florida Green Building Coalition. Please register for the Best Practices Awards luncheon.
Sustainable Florida – Collins Center is an alliance of business, government and civic leaders and organizations committed to defining excellence for Florida’s economic, environmental and social future. Sustainable Florida promotes the adoption of sustainable development principles through collaboration and education.
