By Debbie Levin
OK, it’s been nearly 20 years
of EMA working with the
entertainment industry to scream
(I mean message) environmental
content within TV, film and music.
For the last 5 years, with the EMA
Green Seal, we’ve been greening
behind the scenes as well.
All the while, working in the
same old office space since
1995! So….when our lease
was up, the hunt began to
find the perfect space that
we could build out “green.”
And we found it. Almost
20 years later, with green
on everyone’s mind, we’re
thrilled to be working in a
showcase of sustainable
design!
Of course, sustainable design works to reduce consumption of nonrenewable resources, at the same time enhancing the health and comfort of those working and living within. And after just a few months in our new “home,” the proof of just how comfortable and productive sustainable design can be is apparent.
In building out our fantastic “green” office we used recycled insulation, NO VOC paint and beautiful bamboo floors. Energy star appliances were installed in the kitchen with a water filter to eliminate the need for plastic water bottles. CFL’s were installed throughout, although with floor to ceiling windows anchoring two sides of the building and 6’ walls separating each office within the open floor plan, the entire suite was designed to maximize natural light. In fact, electric lights are rarely used during the day. The half height walls also allow for better ventilation and greatly decrease the need for air conditioning.
When it came time to furnish the office, we were lucky enough to get a little help, (actually A LOT of help) from some very special companies and good friends. Corporate Board Member Office Depot DONATED our beautiful, certified Greenguard laminate desks and chairs made with 100% recycled fabric. Office Depot has a serious commitment to green, not only through their leadership among office supply corporations, but within their corporate structure as well. Office Depot's three environmental aspirations are to "Buy Green," "Be Green" and "Sell Green." By "Buying Green," they have achieved the widest "green product assortment" in the office products industry - approximately 3,500 products with recycled content, and hundreds more with other environmental benefits. By "Being Green," they have reduced their electricity use by over 20% and saved at least 21,000 tons of waste from landfills. And by "Selling Green," they have helped many of their customers reduce the environmental impact of their business.
All of our furniture, available through Office Depot’s extensive Green catalogue, was made by GLOBAL. Long before governments issued regulations protecting the environment, GLOBAL was demonstrating a profound respect for the environment through a series of practical and innovative activities. From design, to product development, to manufacturing, they are focused on environmental performance. The product life cycle, the environmental impact of their product packaging and the use of recycled and recyclable materials are areas of particular concern to GLOBAL.
With a conference room large enough to seat 30 people, (yes, our Board meetings finally have a home!) we needed a very special table. And what arrived from amazing, EMA Corporate Advisory Board member Coast EcoTimber exceeded any possible expectations: a 22 foot reclaimed salvaged beachcomb wood table recovered from the Fraser River. Coast EcoTimber specializes in the supply of environmentally certified timber. They are pioneers in the salvaged timber movement and constantly exploring the British Columbia West coast and Vancouver Island for certified salvaged timber sources. Surrounding this work of art that is our conference table are 24 chairs, donated by Office Depot that are Greenguard constructed with 100% recycled fabrics.
And, who better to help decorate EMA’s office than the man responsible for providing green-building solutions and design alternatives that conserve energy and reduce environmental waste, from the HGTV series Carter Can … Carter Oosterhouse! Carter is one of America’s most recognized lifestyle experts. As host of three home improvement shows and a frequent contributor for TODAY on NBC, Carter’s unique skills and down-to-earth personality have given him widespread appeal to people hoping to improve their habitats, especially in an eco-friendly way. This year Carter introduces the new HGTV series RED, HOT & GREEN, featuring spectacular homes that are also environmentally friendly. Viewers will also learn how to incorporate recycled materials and energy efficient strategies into their homes.
We can’t thank Carter enough for contributing his remarkable talents and amazing sense of design to not only help create our clean, green look, but for securing much of it as donations! Because of his long-standing relationships, eco-fantastic companies including Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug, Co., Context Furniture, Environment Furniture, Greener Lifestyles, MetaForm Studio, re:modern, and Zola donated product to complete the EMA offices.
Finally, we’re so happy to be sharing our wonderful suite with VeeV Spirits, the company producing the world’s first Açaí Spirit. VeeV donates $1 from every bottle sold to help protect and replenish the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest through Sambazon’s Sustainable Açaí Project. In addition, VeeV is the only certified carbon neutral spirits company in the world, offsetting the carbon footprint of their business activities through their partner Climate Clean. (Climate Clean is, of course, an active member of the EMA Corporate Board of Advisors!).
We hope you’ll stop by and see our wonderful new “green” space!
Copyright © 2007 Environmental Media Association
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