Meetings and conferences, particularly those that require air travel, can create a significant carbon footprint. Using readily-available data, the City of Greenville’s Environmental Programs Manager has estimated the carbon footprint of the 2008 TLG Conference at more than 411 metric tons.
The City of Greenville and the Alliance for Innovation are committed to minimizing the environmental impact of the 2008 Transforming Local Government (TLG) Conference through:
- Decreasing the amount of solid waste produced by the event;
- Reducing energy and water consumption at the event;
- Minimizing and/or off-setting harmful emissions resulting from vehicular transportation and energy consumption associated with the event;
- Disposing of solid and liquid waste in an environmentally responsible manner; and, o Eliminating the use of harmful chemicals at or for the event.
Specific strategies include:
- The Conference will use new media and electronic technology to cut down on paper use. To the extent that printed materials are needed, all printed materials will be published on recycled paper, will use vegetable-based inks, and will be printed on both sides of the page.
- The Carolina First Center and the conference hotels will provide recycling services for paper, metal, plastic and glass.
- Conference hotels will offer a linen reuse program and bulk dispensers for shampoos and soaps in guest suites.
- Some meals provided at the conference will be vegetarian meals.
- Local produce will be used for conference meals whenever possible.
- The Carolina First Center will conserve electricity, while still maintaining guest comfort.
- Buses used in the conference transportation system will utilize bio-diesel fuel.
- Outdoor events, to the extent possible, will utilize solar power for electricity needs.
- To provide a green legacy from the conference, a tree-planting project near the Carolina First Center will install more than 250 street trees.
- One conference sponsor will purchase carbon credits from a reputable dealer to offset the estimated carbon footprint for the conference.