Nearly 70 organizations, businesses, educational institutions, governments and individuals were nominated for the first-ever Philadelphia Sustainability Awards. Some were self-nominations, some were nominated by others. No matter where they came from, these are signs of a rising sustainability tide. Check out these amazing people, organizations, and projects springing up all over – maybe, near you!  | Nominated by Cecilian Center for the Earth, Arts and Spirit The Center envisions an urban community that comes together through arts and spirituality to reflect upon and act upon a need to respect and protect the environment. It offers workshops on a variety of topics including organic gardening, global warming, recycling, and “Step Away for a Day,” an event for high-risk mothers and children that fosters a greater appreciation for holistic and sustainable living. |
 | Nominated by The Food Trust The trust increases access to affordable, nutritious food, improves health through better nutrition and supports local farms through on the ground programs like farmer’s markets to policy initiatives. They also promote sustainable supermarket development, provide education opportunities and informed the process that led the passage of the “Healthy Farms, Healthy Schools” Act by the PA Legislature. Missed the Green Carpet Awards Ceremony? Click here to read the introduction to this winner! |
 | Nominated by Neighborhood Garden Association Residents have been growing food at this West Philadelphia garden since the 1970’s, where 40 families have established plots on the ¾ acre farm. It is now the most visited community garden in Philadelphia, attracting thousands of people each year. In addition to organic farming and composting practices, the garden also includes a series of three ponds, featuring goldfish and water lilies. |
 | Nominated by Bala Consulting Engineers This consulting firm’s King of Prussia office was the nation’s first engineering firm to be LEED-CI (commercial interior) certified. Understandable since they played an integral role in the development of LEED certified standards nationwide. They also played a role in providing LEED commissioning and construction monitoring services to some of our region’s most noted green buildings. |
 | Nominated by S.A.V.E. (Safety, Agriculture, Villages, & Environment, Inc.) S.A.V.E was established as a grassroots, non-profit community group to protect the rural community of southern Chester County by addressing expanding highways and excessive roadway creation. The group has since influenced PennDOT to pursue highway alternatives that consider local community character, promoted the use of roundabouts and preserved historic bridges. |
 | Nominated by Blackney Hayes Architects This West Philadelphia affordable housing community will provide sustainable homes for formerly homeless teen mothers and their children upon its completion in 2008. Homes will feature energy efficient lighting, natural ventilation and daylighting, sustainable interior building materials such as paints and flooring, rain barrels, and native plant landscaping. |
| Nominated by Blooming Glen Farm As a Community Supported Agriculture farm in Perkasie, local communities share in the cost of supporting the farm and reap the benefits during the harvest. Crops are grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, and are grown in soil using composting, cover crops and mulching. The farm serves as an opportunity for people to get involved in growing the food they will later eat, and provides opportunities for community interaction. |
 | Nominated by Westrum Development Company Once a blighted brownfield site, this community now boasts new, market-rate homes accessible to Fairmount Park and public transit stops. A diverse group of residents now inhabits efficiently built homes that conserve open space and foster connections to green spaces through open courtyards featuring natural grass and plantings. |
 | Nominated by Delaware Valley Earth Force CAPS is a program that challenges youth the Greater Philadelphia region to “think like scientists and act like citizens.” Students use investigations, interviews with experts and cost benefit balancing to solve environmental problems in their backyards, neighborhoods and playgrounds. These students pave the way to environmental improvements such as healthier streams, greener spaces, and energy conservation. |
| Nominated by Delaware Valley Sustainability Listserv This online network connects anybody and everybody in the region who wants to talk about sustainability issues. Ranging from policy discussions to conference announcements, this online community provides an outlet for sustainable conversations and action. Their organizing support has helped campaigns to move “Philly Beyond Oil,” save Chester County’s migrating frogs, and build an alliance promoting sustainability indicators for the region. |
 | Nominated by White Dog Café This University City restaurant buys 100% of its meat, poultry and eggs from small family farms. It became the first restaurant in PA to buy 100% wind generated energy, provides discounts for customers who use transit or car sharing, pays employees a living wage and hosts numerous educational events throughout the year. The restaurant also contributes 20% of its profits to non-profits. |
 | Nominated by East Parkside Community Revitalization Corporation This community, which hosted the 1876 Centennial Worlds Fair, faces a situation many urban neighborhoods face, blight and a need of revitalization. The corporation has set guidelines that require new construction, residential, commercial and rehabs to be certified as energy efficient, sustainable buildings. The community also plans to improve education opportunities, business development, and attract and retain medical services. |
 | Nominated by Wissahickon Charter School 408 students in grades K-8 learn to develop their own approaches to environmental problems and their application in the real world. Students participate in projects such as converting vegetable oil into fuel, harnessing solar energy, and participating Philadelphia’s GreenPlan for sustainable open space. Students are not only engaged in broad sustainability issues, but have also manufactured up to 2,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel and generated 6,260 kilowatt hours of solar energy each year. |
 | Nominated by Methacton High School This extra-curricular club maintains and continually develops a battery electric vehicle known as The Lorax. The club serves as a hands-on tool for students to learn about alternative energy and also helps educate the public. The Lorax has achieved first and second place wins in the “Tour de Sol,” a competition for alternative vehicles from around the world. |
 | Nominated by Philadelphia University The Institute serves as both an advocate and skeptic for the green building movement, focusing on green materials research, sustainable design strategies and community education. It has helped give birth to organizations like the Delaware Valley Green Building Council and the Consortium for Sustainable Design. It has created jobs, trained and educated students and professionals and has brought four million dollars into the region for sustainable projects. Missed the Awards Green Carpet Ceremony? Click here to see the introductory comments for this winner! |
 | Nominated by Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox, LLP By partnering with NBC10 and Wawa, this awards program encouraged teachers and students to take an active role in the environment. A financial honorarium is given to middle and high schools in the region to enhance environmental programs that support their neighborhood. Winning school programs included Camden High School’s Building Environmental Education Solutions (BEES) and Friends Central’s school nursery, composting bins and biodiesel school bus. |
 | Nominated by Women’s Health and Environmental Network Working with major healthcare facilities in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh regions, this organization seeks to reduce the environmental impacts of this huge industry. Initiatives include the Mercury-Free Philly campaign, reducing regular waste from entering the biohazard waste stream, environmental health education to medical practitioners and linking hospital with sustainable agriculture. |
 | Nominated by UJMN Architects and Designers The Friends Center is renovating its historic three building campus in Center City, with plans that embrace environmental stewardship, making it a highly visible example of sustainability in a dense, urban setting. The planning process to date has included green building tours, green design meetings and modeling projects, which have led to the design of a building that is carbon neutral and fossil fuel free, and controls stormwater to prevent watershed degradation. |
 | Nominated by Philadelphia Eagles The Eagles’ Go Green initiative has become not only a rallying cry, but also a part of the football team’s mission. Initiatives include recycling programs, purchasing renewable energy, tree planting programs, the use of organic and pesticide-free materials on the playing field, and use of biodiesel fuel from the cooking fats used in the team’s kitchen. The organization will hold educational sessions for other NFL teams at an upcoming business summit, encouraging other teams to follow suit. |
 | Nominated by KlingStubbins / Community Design Collaborative This public elementary school in Center City plans to upgrade to make their playground look more like a “greenfield,” also reducing stormwater runoff and providing more shade. New features of the playground will include pervious pavement, more trees, and a rain garden – which will not only make the playground area look nicer, but will also allow water to filter into the ground instead of entering our overburdened city sewers and will keep the area cooler in the warmer months. |
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