2000 Green Award Winners

SANTA BARBARA, CA -- The Green Award Consortium announced today winners of the seventh annual Green Awards, which recognize Santa Barbara County businesses and organizations for outstanding environmental efforts. "This year’s winners are models of innovation and education," notes Frances Gilliland of Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, one of five organizations that sponsor the Green Awards every year. The other consortium members are Santa Barbara County Water Resources, the Community Environmental Council, Traffic Solutions, and Santa Barbara County Solid Waste Division. Gilliland adds, "The winners are establishing superior environmental programs — and they’re also making extra efforts to educate students and professionals about green practices."

Winners of the 2000 Green Award are: Bianchi Motor Company, Inc. (Santa Barbara), Kilovac Corporation (Carpinteria), Lotusland (Santa Barbara), Santa Barbara Montessori School (Santa Barbara), and Allen Associates (Santa Barbara). Rick Spettel’s Landscapes in Santa Ynez was selected as a winner of a special Environmental Education Award.

The Green Award recognizes companies and organizations for voluntary activities (above and beyond their primary missions) that result in cleaner air or water, less waste, less traffic, conservation of energy and natural resources, or reduced use of hazardous materials. Winners will be honored at a special awards luncheon Friday, September 22. The awards are an annual highlight of Pollution Prevention Week, celebrated nationally during the week of September 18-24.

The winners have made outstanding efforts in preventing pollution through reducing the amount of hazardous waste generated, recycling, practicing pesticide-free gardening and landscaping, and purchasing recycled content materials. Winners have also promoted green building design and participated in school and business education programs.

Meet the Winners

A description of the winners with contact numbers follows.

Bianchi Motor Company Inc.

Jack Bianchi, 965-5261

Bianchi Motor Company is an autobody repair shop located in Santa Barbara. Jack Bianchi, the owner, has developed a recycling system that reduces their waste by approximately 86%. All metals, cardboard, plastic containers, catalogs and paper are recycled. Hazardous wastes like oil and paint are sent to a hazardous waste facility where they are recycled. Paint and like products are distilled on site. The byproduct is used for cleaning purposes. In addition, Jack found a local company that will take plastic laundry bags, plastic car cover bags and hangers for recycling. Southern California Edison conducted an energy audit of the facility at Jack's request and, as a result, they are installing energy efficient lighting. As part of presentations to local ROP students, Jack incorporates information on how to recycle and why recycling is important for our community.

Kilovac Corporation

Bob Helman, Vice President, 684-4575 extension 106

Kilovac Corporation, a division of CII Technologies, is a Carpinteria electronics manufacturer that recently became the first company in Santa Barbara County to receive ISO 14000 certification for its voluntary environmental management system. Under this program, every environmental aspect of the facility and operations are controlled and documented in a framework that receives continuous management review. Kilovac’s environmental management system has resulted in, among other things:

a 50% reduction in hazardous waste generated annually

an 85% reduction in hazardous waste costs per unit produced

a 15% reduction of water usage, or 1,439,252 gallons per year

multiple recycling programs and use of biodegradable packing materials

an electric vehicle charging station available free to the public

Lotusland

Virginia Hayes, 969-3767, extension 224, or
Deidre Cantrell, 969-3767, extension 231

Lotusland is a local public garden that follows principles of sustainability in the cultural care and maintenance of the garden. To protect their collection, staff uses integrated pest management practices that include using organic fertilizers, cultivating plants that attract beneficial insects and parasites, and trapping vertebrate pests. These efforts reduce the possibility of exposure to toxic chemicals when working in or touring the garden, and help protect local groundwater, creeks and the ocean from these chemicals. The garden promotes the use of sustainable practices through training workshops, lectures, and tours for school children. Other sustainable practices include composting of post-harvest waste and the use of mulch and drip irrigation throughout the garden to conserve water. In addition, office staff recycles all paper, metal, plastics, and glass, and electric vehicles are used to transport staff and visitors through the grounds.

Santa Barbara Montessori School

Jim Fitzpatrick, Principal, 966-7701

Santa Barbara Montessori School is a non-profit educational facility in Santa Barbara. The school has have been practicing and teaching earth-friendly principles for 25 years, and has appointed a committee of parents and teachers to evaluate, monitor, and promote environmental awareness within the facility. The school’s environmental program incorporates recycling, reducing, reusing, and composting. As a result, the school is 90% trash free. The school uses only long-lasting, natural, reusable or recycled classroom materials, promotes a traffic and pollution reduction plan, purchases only recycled-content office supplies, uses energy efficient lighting, and produces all promotional material on 100% recycled-content paper. Students are required to pack lunches with only recyclable or reusable materials. In addition, students run an organic garden, which composts all green waste.

Allen Associates

Dennis Allen, 682-4305

Allen Associates is a general contractor in Santa Barbara that actively promotes sustainable building practices. The company recycles approximately 75% of waste at new construction sites, and 90% of waste at deconstruction sites. Recycled waste includes drywall, carpet, wood, metals, and concrete. Items from deconstruction projects such as track lighting and cabinets are often incorporated into other construction projects. The company searches for ways to reduce the amount of construction material needed, and uses materials that are non-toxic and have recycled content. Solar panels and natural heating and cooling systems are designed into projects to reduce energy consumption. Allen Associates also actively educates other contractors about sustainable building practices through associations, workshops and national conferences.

Environmental Education Award recipient:

Special recognition goes to the following company for outstanding contributions to the environment in Santa Barbara County.

Rick Spettel’s Landscapes

Rick Spettel, 688-2429

Rick Spettel is a landscape contractor from Santa Ynez who works to create sustainable habitats. He emphasizes the use of drought-tolerant, native plants, and also works on ecological restoration projects. Rick does not use pesticides, fertilizers or irrigation in his projects. He conserves water and landfill space by using mulch from recycled plant debris. Countless hours of Rick's time are spent creating living classrooms on the perimeter of several local school campuses. Students are able to learn about sustainable gardening practices and observe the inter-relationships between the plants, soil, fungi and insects. Rick believes that his work can offer local solutions to the larger problems of drought, chemical pollution and environmental degradation.

For more information on the Green Awards Program, contact Frances Gilliland at 961-8838 or gillilandf@sbcapcd.org