This story was updated at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 15 to correct a reference to Sacred Grounds workshops in the section about Joelle Novey. Dozens of congregations participated in the workshops. There were not dozens of workshops.
For the eighth year, Bethesda Magazine has selected winners of its Green Awards, honoring local businesses, nonprofits, schools and people creating products and services to improve the environment or setting an example through their own green practices.
The Green Awards will be given out at the Bethesda Green 2017 Gala on Oct. 12 at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club. Bethesda Green is a partner in the awards program.
This year’s winners in their respective categories are:
– Small business green products or services: Lunchskins in Bethesda. The reusable and washable Lunchskins sandwich bag takes the place of plastic bags that are thrown away. In July, the company also began offering biodegradable and re-sealable paper sandwich bags.
– Medium or large business green products or services: Recurrent LLC in Rockville. Recurrent makes sure buildings operate efficiently. It developed the first Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy project in Montgomery County and Maryland – energy efficiency improvements for the Shady Grove Professional Building and adjacent Comfort Inn.
– Green practices by a business, institution or trade association: United Therapeutics Corp. in Silver Spring. The biotechnology company’s commitment to environmentalism includes the use of solar photovoltaic cells, green rooftop space, electric vehicle charging stations and a waste reduction program. It has sponsored recycling bins throughout the county, maintains a walking path and purchases green energy offsets through Washington Gas and Light. A zero-net-energy office building is under construction.
– Green practices by a nonprofit, faith-based organization or school: Butler Montessori in Darnestown. The original main building and the new arts building blend in with the environment. Recent renovations have used natural, sustainable and recycled materials. The school has a recycling program and a student-run composting program that benefits the campus vegetable garden. It created a comprehensive and attractive system for managing stormwater, using gravel, rocks, boulders, check dams and mostly native plants.
– Sustainability leadership and behavior by an individual: Joelle Novey, the director of Interfaith Power & Light in Silver Spring. As the local affiliate of a national entity, the organization has helped hundreds of congregations work together to save energy and respond to climate change. Novey has led an effort to educate about environmental practices, particularly through Sacred Grounds workshops for dozens of congregations, a speakers bureau and a film library.
The Green Awards winners will be profiled in the November/December issue of Bethesda Magazine.
Click here to read profiles of the 2016 winners.
