Greening the Government

LYNN SCHENKMAN

Government agencies will receive kudos when employees from 11 federal departments across the country gather for the White House Closing the Circle Awards, June 10 in Washington, D.C.

Twenty-six award-winners were selected from more than 200 nominations for “heeding President Bush's call for the Federal Government to lead by example, be a good neighbor and a good steward of [America's] resources,” says Federal Environmental Executive John Howard.

The programs that caught the attention of Howard's office were successful at increasing the purchase of green products and services; designing, constructing and operating buildings using sustainable principles; and reducing waste generation.

Some of the winners include: the Department of Defense for the U.S. Army Forces Command Installation Sustainability Program at Fort McPherson, Ga.; the Environmental Protection Agency, Philadelphia, for implementing an e-cycling pilot program; and the Department of Energy for using a sustainable buildings design team for new buildings at the Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, N.M.