[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 153 (Tuesday, October 28, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2144-E2145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO EAGLE VALLEY ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ``GREEN 
                             STAR'' PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 28, 2003

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability for bringing the ``Green 
Star'' program to Vail, Colorado, and Eagle County.
  In an effort to educate and encourage local residents and businesses 
to develop environmentally sound practices, the Green Star program is 
improving air and water quality, reducing energy use and waste streams 
and providing environmental benefits to area communities. Vail's Green 
Star Chapter is the tenth program initiated nationwide and the first of 
its kind in Colorado. It is this progressive environmental leadership 
that I wish to highlight today.
  On October 7, The Alliance was honored by the Colorado Department of 
Public Health and Environment with its Environmental Achievement Award 
through the Environmental Leadership Program.
  Founded in 1990, the Alaska-based Green Star Program encourages 
business owners and private residents to reduce waste, conserve energy 
and prevent pollution.
  Through education, technical assistance and a nationally recognized 
award program, Green Star helps citizens become more environmentally 
sensitive without jeopardizing their budgets. Green Star standards 
demonstrate that waste reduction is not only environmentally 
responsible, but can also save money and help businesses attract 
customers.
  Green Star Awards are given when organizations meet at least 12 of 
the 18 standards. Awards are given for general waste reduction, air 
quality improvement and reduction of air pollution. Businesses 
participate by educating employees, improving purchasing methods, 
controlling litter, reducing toxic usage, promoting water conservation 
and monitoring utility usage.
  The Air Quality Award is Green Star's newest award, unveiled in 1999, 
focusing on outdoor air quality improvement activities. The standard 
encourages the reduction of air emissions through technical 
improvements, behavioral changes, and outreach and education 
activities. Through the improvement of equipment, better vehicle 
maintenance, supporting alternative transportation modes and education, 
air standards improve for all residents in a community.
  Schools can also participate in the Green Star program. Through 
education on pollution prevention, recycling, composting, energy 
efficiency, and waste reduction and prevention, students can promote 
programs that protect our environment. Free trainings, workshops, and 
onsite consultations from Green Star experts help schools set standards 
in their area.
  Events can earn Green Star recognition by reducing waste and 
recycling. With a goal of reducing the overall waste stream, efficiency 
is increased and a wide range of materials can be recycled. Green Star 
loans free bins for the length of events, encouraging reuse of cans, 
bottles, cardboard and paper.
  Green Star's eco-friendly program was launched in the town of Vail, 
Eagle County and in partnership with the Environmental Committee for 
the Vail '99 World Championships in 1998.
  Eagle County residents are actively working to have their residences 
certified as Green Star homes. Through a $2.50 monthly purchase of wind 
power, homeowners can keep thousands of pounds of pollutants from 
entering the atmosphere each year.
  As Colorado works to preserve and protect its pristine mountain 
ranges, treasured forests and spectacular wilderness areas, we applaud 
the residents of Vail and Eagle County for setting the standard in 
environmental education and conservation. I have enclosed an article 
from the Vail Daily newspaper about this effort.

                  [From the Vail Daily, Oct. 18, 2003]

       Local Environmental Green Star Program Recognized by State

                          (By Matt Zalaznick)

       Patsy Batchelder says making your home environmentally 
     friendly isn't very hard at all--you can recycle (just about 
     anything), buy some wind power and not drive as often, among 
     other things.
       Batchelder's home in Vail's Potato Patch neighborhood has 
     been certified by a local conservation group as one of the 
     most environmentally friendly homes in the valley. And those 
     certifications, called the ``Green Star'' program, have now 
     been recognized by the state health department.
       ``I think it's something any household can achieve 
     easily,'' Batchelder says. ``I would definitely like to 
     encourage others to do it.''
       The ``Green Star'' program is spearheaded by the Eagle 
     Valley Alliance for Sustainability, which has been awarded an 
     Environmental Achievement Award by Colorado Department of 
     Public Health and Environment's Environmental Leadership 
     Program. The organization received the award at a ceremony 
     Oct. 7 at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
       ``Every year, I look forward to learning about these 
     exciting and innovative projects undertaken by businesses and 
     organizations throughout Colorado,'' said Douglas Benevento, 
     executive director of the Health Department. ``It is a 
     privilege to recognize them for their commitment to business 
     practices that improve air and water quality, reduce energy 
     use and waste streams, and provide benefit for dozens of 
     communities.''
       The local Green Star program is a points-based program that 
     encourages Eagle County homeowners to reduce waste and 
     improve energy efficiency at home on a points basis, says 
     Adam Palmer, of the Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability.
       Enrollees must meet 12 of 17 requirements and they receive 
     technical assistance, an energy audit, a video tape of a 
     walkthrough with an infra-red camera that pinpoints heat loss 
     areas in the home, a certificate and decals for a $50 
     enrollment fee. The goal of the program is for homeowners to 
     become more aware of the how their homes and lifestyles 
     affect environment--and also save money, Palmer says.
       ``In the households we've certified so far, we've found 
     some unexpected sources of energy loss,'' Palmer says. ``It 
     provides a foundation on which to guide future conservation 
     actions, rather than wasting time and money on something that 
     may not provide a significant return.''
       Matt Scherr, who owns a home in Minturn, says he joined the 
     program because he was frequently angered by the lax 
     environmental policies of governments and large businesses.
       ``I first have to commit myself to things I'm wanting from 
     others,'' says Scherr, whose home is going through the 
     certification process.
       The Green Star program runs the gamut from installing 
     better insulation and windows to re-using plastic bags.
       ``We're avid Ziploc bag washers,'' Scherr says. ``We also 
     re-use plastic water bottles. I bought a case and have been 
     using the bottles for the last year.''
       Scherr says he is installing additional insulation in his 
     attic and putting in double-paned windows. He also closes off 
     rooms he doesn't use very often and only turns on heat in 
     those rooms when he is going to use them.
       One of the Green Star program requirements is that the home 
     gets part of its energy needs from renewable sources. 
     Residents can take part in the Wind Power Pioneers program 
     available from Holy Cross Energy to meet the requirement, 
     Palmer says.
       ``For as little as $2.50 per month, you can get part of 
     your energy from the wind and keep thousands of pounds of 
     pollution out of the air each year,'' says Palmer.
       Eagle resident John Gitchell, who is a member of the Eagle 
     Valley Alliance for Sustainability's board, is also getting 
     his home Green Star certified.
       ``The practical piece of it is we're going to improve our 
     energy efficiency this year,''

[[Page E2145]]

     Gitchell says. ``But this is kind of a lifestyle audit in a 
     way.''
       The Green Star program also measures how much a family 
     drives and flies, what conservations call an ``ecological 
     footprint.''
       ``Both my wife and I work and live in the same town, so we 
     got some points for points for that,'' Gitchell says.

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