August 15-18, 2010 star Dallas Convention Centerstar Dallas, Texas

Greening GovEnergy

In a conscious effort to promote environmental stewardship, GovEnergy is pursuing a number of earth-friendly practices.

GovEnergy 2010 Green Self Assessment

The GovEnergy 2010 Green Self Assessment (PDF 107 KB) serves as a review of GovEnergy’s current sustainability efforts, and identifies areas for improvement. The GovEnergy 2010 Green Self-Assessment addresses the following:

  • Promotion/Technical Outreach 
  • Registration
  • On-site Activities
  • Site-Specific Activities

GovEnergy Emissions Credits and Offsets

Since 2003, GovEnergy has quantified and offset its emissions through the use of emissions reduction credits. In 2010, GovEnergy will obtain emissions credits to offset its environmental impact in Dallas. In order to obtain emission credits and offsets, GovEnergy gathers historic registration data and trends, as well hotel and travel information of attendees, to calculate emissions from attendee travel to and from the event, facility energy use, hotels, and meals. These details are subsequently verified by the Leonardo Academy, a third party, non-profit organization, specializing in sustainability solutions.Through its Cleaner and Greener for Events program, the Leonardo Academy is able to calculate GovEnergy’s total emissions and offsets for the following pollutants:

  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
  • Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
  • Nitrogen Oxide (NOx)
  • Particulate Matter (PM10)
  • Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
  • Mercury (Hg)

Cleaner and Greener awarded GovEnergy Gold certification in 2007 and 2008 (offset 100 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions), and Silver certification in 2009 (offset at least 50 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions). Additional information about GovEnergy’s emissions credits and offsets may be found in the GovEnergy 2010 Green Self Assessment (PDF 107 KB).

GovEnergy 2010 has earned Leonardo Academy’s Cleaner and Greener® Platinum certification level (PDF 114 KB) by calculating and offsetting its greenhouse gas emissions and emissions harmful to human health.

Additional Green Activities

  • Green requirements have been instituted in the GovEnergy hotel and convention center contracts.
  • All of the GovEnergy hotels are concentrated within downtown Dallas, within reasonable walking distance of the Dallas Convention Center.
  • The Dallas Convention Center and the Tuesday night networking event are also accessible by the Dallas Area Rapid Transportation System (DART).
  • GovEnergy will be providing attendees with special door hangers for their hotel rooms. The door hangers give attendees the option of omitting daily house keeping services, in an effort to conserve resources.
  • The Dallas Convention Center, which serves as the host to both the GovEnergy training workshop and trade show, was awarded LEED Silver status in April 2010. The Dallas Convention Center is also compliant with the certified Environmental Management System’s International Operation Standard of ISP 14001.
  • Every effort is being made to secure items that are either made in the U.S., or that are trade compliant. These items are made from recycled and/or biodegradable materials.
  • GovEnergy is working closely with Centerplate, Inc. the Dallas Convention Center’s caterer, to design sustainable food and beverage options. Centerplate, Inc., is recognized as one of the largest and most sustainable hospitality companies in the country.
  • The GovEnergy trade show incorporates environmental awareness in each phase of the trade show, including planning, logistics, execution, and cleanup.
  • GovEnergy’s Tuesday night networking event venue, Gilley’s Dallas, has implemented and is currently working on several strategies to increase energy efficiency, conserve resources, protect the environment, and to be more economical.
  • GovEnergy’s optional technical tours focus upon current examples of energy efficiency and sustainable practices within the Dallas metro region. 
  • GovEnergy has made arrangements to work with Lone Star Coaches, Inc. in providing

    transportation for Sunday’s optional technical tours. Lone Star Coaches, Inc. follows a number of green practices, including recycling its tires, batteries, engine oil, and engine coolant.

City of Dallas

  • The City of Dallas is currently developing a Sustainability Plan. This plan will provide goals, principles, and strategies designed to support Dallas' efforts in being a more sustainable community.
  • The City of Dallas is currently developing a Greenhouse Gas Inventory of city-wide and community-wide emissions.
  • Dallas was the first city in the nation to partner with the EPA on Sustainable Skylines; and has been recognized by the EPA for efforts in reducing ground-level ozone.
  • The city expects to complete more than 25 green facilities by the end of 2010, including ten libraries, seven police and fire stations, one cultural center, three recreation centers, and a homeless assistance center.
  • In 2008, the EPA acknowledged the City of Dallas as the first city in the United States to be ISO 14001 certified across all of its major operations. ISO 14001 is an international environmental standard which sets environmental goals for organizations and communities to exceed environmental compliance, and continually improve and reduce the impact of their operations on the environment.
  • Learn more about Dallas' commitment to being green:

                Environmental Policy                
                Green Dallas
                Environmental Management System