When we moved into the newly constructed 55 Ivan Allen Plaza building, four years ago, Ernst & Young made a conscious decision to place recycling cans at each workstation instead of regular trash bins. This operational initiative was our way of promoting recycling among our people and our firm taking action to lowering our carbon footprint for a better eco-environment.

In the summer of 2010, we learned most of our people were using the recycling cans as trash cans. This was a wake-up call, alerting us the recycling program was not as effective as desired. Additionally, Ernst & Young was heading towards significant fines if our firm did not drastically change the behaviors of our people.

In late 2010, Forbes magazine released a list which rated Atlanta, Georgia as the most toxic metropolitan area in the country. As a firm and concerned citizen, EY Atlanta’s commitment grew stronger in doing our best to remove our city from this list and return the southern gentility of the environment to a greener reality.

In an effort to decrease landfill waste, EY Atlanta replaced all individual recycle cans in each cubicle, office and conference room with larger recycle and landfill community bins in designated areas on each of our floors.

Before rolling out this new program on Earth Day, 50% of EY Atlanta’s materials placed in recycle bins were being sent to landfills due to high “contamination” rates. By replacing individual cans with community bins, we believe actions will become habit – in turn improving our environmental impact. Additionally, executing a program at this maximum level addresses our firm’s core eco-objectives: reducing our impact and embedding sustainability in our culture. As an added bonus to addressing these eco-goals, we recycled the 1,200 cans removed from offices and cubicles by donating to schools in need. We were honored to meet with Mayor Kasim Reed and share our program with him a few months ago.

What can you do?

Evaluate your recycling program

Many offices now have similar programs where tenants are only allowed one can to be used for recycling. One of the main obstacles with this method, the tenants do not understand the program or it is not enforced.

Come for a tour:

If you are interested in learning more about the recycling efforts of Ernst & Young, contact me at joe.pearson@ey.com. It will be a pleasure to share ideas and provide you with a tour of the facilities.

KEITH BRADSHER, On Thursday September 15, 2011, 7:46 pm EDT

BEIJING — In the name of fighting pollution, China has sent the price of compact fluorescent light bulbs soaring in the United States.

By closing or nationalizing dozens of the producers of rare earth metals — which are used in energy-efficient bulbs and many other green-energy products — China is temporarily shutting down most of the industry and crimping the global supply of the vital resources.

China produces nearly 95 percent of the world’s rare earth materials, and it is taking the steps to improve pollution controls in a notoriously toxic mining and processing industry. But the moves also have potential international trade implications and have started yet another round of price increases for rare earths, which are vital for green-energy products including giant wind turbines, hybrid gasoline-electric cars and compact fluorescent bulbs.

General Electric, facing complaints in the United States about rising prices for its compact fluorescent bulbs,recently noted in a statement that if the rate of inflation over the last 12 months on the rare earth element europium oxide had been applied to a $2 cup of coffee, that coffee would now cost $24.55.

An 11-watt G.E. compact fluorescent bulb — the lighting equivalent of a 40-watt incandescent bulb — was priced on Thursday at $15.88 on Wal-Mart’s Web site for pickup in a Nashville, Ark., store.

Wal-Mart, which has made a big push for compact fluorescent bulbs, acknowledged that it needed to raise prices on some brands lately. “Obviously we don’t want to pass along price increases to our customers, but occasionally market conditions require it,” Tara Raddohl, a spokeswoman, said. The Chinese actions on rare earths were a prime topic of conversation at a conference here on Thursday that was organized by Metal-Pages, an industry data firm based in London.

Soaring prices are rippling through a long list of industries.

“The high cost of rare earths is having a significant chilling effect on wind turbine and electric motor production in spite of offsetting government subsidies for green tech products,” said one of the conference attendees, Michael N. Silver, chairman and chief executive of American Elements, a chemical company based in Los Angeles. It supplies rare earths and other high-tech materials to a wide range of American and foreign businesses.

But with light bulbs, especially, the timing of the latest price increases is politically awkward for the lighting industry and for environmentalists who backed a shift to energy-efficient lighting.

In January, legislation that President George W. Bush signed into law in 2007 will begin phasing out traditional incandescent bulbs in favor of spiral compact fluorescent bulbs, light-emitting diodes and other technologies. The European Union has also mandated a switch from incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient lighting.

Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota is running for the Republican presidential nomination on a platform that includes strong opposition to the new lighting rules in the United States and has been a leader of efforts by House Republicans to repeal it.

China says it has largely shut down its rare earth industry for three months to address pollution problems. By invoking environmental concerns, China could potentially try to circumvent international trade rules that are supposed to prohibit export restrictions of vital materials.

In July, the European Union said in a statement on rare earth policy that the organization supported efforts to protect the environment, but that discrimination against foreign buyers of rare earths was not allowed under World Trade Organization rules.

China has been imposing tariffs and quotas on its rare earth exports for the last several years, curtailing global supplies and forcing prices to rise eightfold to fortyfold during that period for the various 17 rare earth elements.

Even before this latest move by China, the United States and the European Union were preparing to file a case at the W.T.O. this winter that would challenge Chinese export taxes and export quotas on rare earths.

Chinese officials here at the conference said the government was worried about polluted water, polluted air and radioactive residues from the rare earth industry, particularly among many small and private companies, some of which operate without the proper licenses. While rare earths themselves are not radioactive, they are always found in ore containing radioactive thorium and require careful handling and processing to avoid contaminating the environment.

Most of the country’s rare earth factories have been closed since early August, including those under government control, to allow for installation of pollution control equipment that must be in place by Oct. 1, executives and regulators said.

The government is determined to clean up the industry, said Xu Xu, chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals and Chemicals Importers and Exporters, a government-controlled group that oversees the rare earth industry. “The entrepreneurs don’t care about environmental problems, don’t care about labor problems and don’t care about their social responsibility,” he said. “And now we have to educate them.”

Beijing authorities are creating a single government-controlled monopoly, Bao Gang Rare Earth, to mine and process ore in northern China, the region that accounts for two-thirds of China’s output. The government is ordering 31 mostly private rare earth processing companies to close this year in that region and is forcing four other companies into mergers with Bao Gang, said Li Zhong, the vice general manager of Bao Gang Rare Earth.

The government also plans to consolidate 80 percent of the production from southern China, which produces the rest of China’s rare earths, into three companies within the next year or two, Mr. Li said. All three of these companies are former ministries of the Chinese government that were spun out as corporations, and the central government still owns most of the shares.

The taxes and quotas China had in place to restrict rare earth exports caused many companies to move their factories to China from the United States and Europe so that they could secure a reliable and inexpensive source of raw materials.

China promised when it joined the W.T.O. in 2001 that it would not restrict exports except for a handful of obscure materials. Rare earths were not among the exceptions.

But even if the W.T.O. orders China to dismantle its export tariffs and quotas, the industry consolidation now under way could enable China to retain tight control over exports and continue to put pressure on foreign companies to relocate to China.

The four state-owned companies might limit sales to foreign buyers, a tactic that would be hard to address through the W.T.O., Western trade officials said.

Hedge funds and other speculators have been buying and hoarding rare earths this year, with prices rising particularly quickly through early August, and dipping since then as some have sold their inventories to take profits, said Constantine Karayannopoulos, the chief executive of Neo Material Technologies, a Canadian company that is one of the largest processors in China of raw rare earths.

“The real hot money got into the industry building neodymium and europium inventories in Shanghai warehouses,” he said.

After months of information gathering, the Georgia Power headquarters has been awarded the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Existing Building (LEED-EB) certification.

LEED is an internationally recognized building certification system directed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) that promotes sustainable building practices.

“Because Georgia Power provides services and products to help our customers become more sustainable, including green energy and numerous energy efficiency programs, it only made sense for us to show our customers we are making our operations, including corporate activities, as sustainable as possible,” said Don Swinford, corporate facilities manager.

Informal discussions began in December 2008 and Georgia Power was formally committed to pursuing certification in February 2010. In the 15 months since, the company’s corporate headquarters has been documenting the energy-efficient measures already in place and implementing additional ones.

To create a more sustainable campus, Georgia Power implemented a green landscaping program that reduced fertilizer use by 33 percent and focused on reduced irrigation. One Georgia Power policy already in place encouraged employees to utilize carpool, mass transit and biking to work as low-impact commuting alternatives.

Actions performed by Georgia Power that fell under other LEED credit categories included:

• Reducing water use by 10 percent.

• Earning an Exemplary Performance award for the SouthernLifeStyle wellness program.

• Implementing recycling and composting programs that keep 59 percent of building waste out of landfills.

• Earning an ENERGY Star Rating through improving water conservation, creating a healthier work environment and promoting a sustainable lifestyle.

• Switching 66 percent of all office supplies to sustainable materials.

“By obtaining LEED certification for the 241 building, Georgia Power is setting a terrific example for other corporate offices in Atlanta and is joining ranks with the headquarters of other sustainability leaders in our city, including the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the Georgia World Congress Center and Interface,” Swinford said.

Because of certification, Georgia Power has decreased its carbon footprint and created a healthier environment for employees, he added. The headquarters will need to be recertified in five years, and Swinford said, based on USGBC’s past record, more stringent policies will be required to maintain the LEED standard.

The corporate headquarters is the fourth Georgia Power LEED-certified building, joining the Savannah office and the daycare centers at the Customer Care Center in Henry County and the corporate headquarters.

The company also plans to seek LEED certification for the Smyrna-based environmental lab that is being renovated.

Summary

• LEED certification recognizes sustainable building practices

• Certification process helped reduce fertilizer use 33 percent, water use by 10 percent

• Four Georgia Power facilities have LEED certification



The Hilton Atlanta has taken a proactive approach to reducing their environmental footprint. Outside of the commonly used recycling programs, the Hilton Atlanta has enlisted the help of their employees to really make a difference. In the employee cafeteria, team members habitually dispose their food and paper waste into designated containers for compost and recycling. The housekeeping staff makes water and energy conservation a priority by washing linen upon request and turning off lights in rooms not in use. In the meeting rooms, the banquets staff supplies recycled paper products for meetings and events. Plus, behind the scenes the hotel sales and events teams make use of “green” paperless tools, such as e-proposals and POGs.

• Does Hilton Atlanta have a recycling program?

o Yes. We have a food recycling program partnership with the Close Loop Organic Company in which we                                     compost our food waste.

o We also recycle all cardboard products used in the hotel. This includes boxes, cartons, crates, to-go cartons, etc. All used cardboard products is placed on the back dock in a mass storage bin and transported to a recycling center.

• Is there a linen/towel reuse option that is communicated to guests?

o Yes. The “Recycling Card” indicates that the bedding linens will be cleaned every 3 days and at checkout, but allows the guest to opt for daily change by indicating their desire for this service by placing the “Recycling Card” on the pillow. The guest places the recycling card on the pillow, and as the card instructs, the guest’s wishes must be followed and the linens changed.

• Do guests have easy access to public transportation or shuttle services?

o Yes. We are one block from the MARTA station. Marta is the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. We also are in close proximity to rental car agencies that offer hybrid rental vehicles.

• Are lights and air conditioning turned off when rooms are not in use? If so, how do you ensure this?

o It is hotel policy that all meeting room lights are turned off when not in use. This is ensured by the Hilton Atlanta hotel team taking initiative to ensure lights are off in meeting rooms not in use.

• Are there bulk dispensers or reusable containers for beverages, food and condiments?

o Yes. In our Main Kitchen, Pastry Kitchen, and Employee Cafeteria, Hilton Atlanta provides bulk dispensers and reusable containers for beverages, food and condiments.

• Are there reusable serving utensils, napkins and tablecloths when food and beverages are served?

o Yes. In each of our dining outlets, linen napkins, silverware and tablecloths are used when food and beverages are served. During each of our meetings and conference dinners and banquets, reusable items are also used.

• Does Hilton Atlanta have an energy efficiency program?

o Yes. Our energy efficiency program consists of Hilton Atlanta using energy efficient light bulbs throughout the building. The lighting provides bright, warm light but uses about 75% less energy than standard lighting, produce 75 percent less heat, and lasts up to 10 times longer.

• Do you have a water conservation program?

o Yes. The “Recycling Card” indicates that the bedding linens will be cleaned every 3 days and at checkout, but allows the guest to opt for daily change by indicating their desire for this service by placing the “Recycling Card” on the pillow. This conserves water because the linens are not being washed everyday.

• Does your hotel provide guests with paperless check-in & check-out?

o Yes. We have a self-serve kiosk located in the main lobby for check-in and check-out.

• Does your hotel use recycled or recyclable products? Please describe.

o Yes. We use recycled paper products, eco-smart coffee cups in meetings and recycled to-go boxes. We also have a Starbucks on-site which is a corporation that uses recycled products in all of their food packaging for coffee cups. We are proud to have Starbucks on-site as they won a National Recycling Coalition Recycling Works Award because of their major contributions to the environment.

• Do you provide training to your employees on these green initiatives? Please describe.

o Yes. Each hotel department in trained and informed about the hotel’s green initiatives and each team member is encouraged to communicate with the hotel’s operation team to find new ways to conserve energy in throughout the hotel.

• What other environmental initiatives have you undertaken, including any environment-related certifications you possess, EPA voluntary partnerships in which you participate, support of a green suppliers network, or other initiatives?

o The team is committed to using as much electronic communication as possible to conserve paper.

o Hilton Hotels Corporation has provided “green” tools such as e-proposals, POGs (Private Online Group Webpage) and e-events booking systems which can be used online to conserve paper.

o Hilton Atlanta is proud to participate in and host several charity events that benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank which is a non-profit organization that delivers over 22 million pounds of food and groceries a year to a variety of people in need.

• Does Hilton Atlanta have any “Green Meeting” practices?

o For meetings with 50 people or less, guests are provided with eco-pens and recycling bins for the meeting.

Hilton Atlanta is an industry member of the Convene Green Alliance.

Visit www.convenegreen.com.