Needham’s Public Facilities Department was recognized with a Green Business award at the Newton Needham Chamber of Commerce’s 2010 Green Business awards luncheon. This annual event, emceed by David Brown, StormTeam5 Meteorologist from WCVB-TV, demonstrates the business benefits and opportunities in sustainability by showcasing organizations in Needham and Newton that have improved their performance and effectiveness through by adopting green business practices.
This year’s luncheon, held at the Needham Sheraton on May 18th, featured a keynote address by Ed Goldfinger, CFO of the car-sharing service Zipcar. Zipcar’s experience demonstrates the opportunities to be had in dramatically rethinking both business models and the ways consumers interact with very familiar products and services.
The award winners from Needham and Newton demonstrate how businesses can incorporate these ideas into existing organizations, generating cost savings while improving performance and the customer experience. Needham’s Public Facilities Department is a model of this approach, combining deployment of innovative new technologies (like geothermal heating & cooling) with continuous improvement of existing practices and systems (tightening building envelopes, installing improved control systems). More detail on these accomplishments is available in the nomination letter. Green Needham, an active member of the Chamber’s Environment Committee, was proud to nominate the Public Facilities Department for this recognition.
The award was presented by Needham Selectman Jerry Wasserman and Pat Palmer, Board Chair of the Chamber, to Assistant Town Manager Christopher Coleman and Director of Public Facilities Chip Laffey. Also recognized in Needham this year was the Gentle Giant Moving Company.
Newton’s WS Development, one of the largest privately-owned retail development firms in the US, was recognized for its Legacy Place Project in Dedham. Newton’s MotoPhoto received an honorable mention for their ongoing work improving the sustainability of their operations.
