2015 Recognition Award Winners
Fairmount Santrol (BayCity/Hager City, Maiden Rock, Menomonie)
- Voluntarily commissioned a year-long study to evaluate levels of fine particulate matter (crystalline silica) around its Maiden Rock facility. Concentrations were low and within normal range of concentrations found in the Midwest.
- Expanded rail yard at Hager City facility to allow for unit trains (comprised of 100 railcars), reducing truck traffic (1 train=400 trucks), fuel use and emissions
- Installed low torque (low rolling resistance) bearings on 4,000 new rail cars, annually saving over 130,000 gallons of fuel and 4 tons of emissions per 100-car train
- Paved road into the Hager City facility and installed a dustless loading spout to reduce fugitive dust
- Purchased seven pieces of heavy equipment that meet tightest emission standards (tier 4)
- Encouraged cleaner transportation amongst employees by offering rebates to those who purchase alternative-fueled vehicles and sponsored an alternative commute contest.
- Planting trees and prairies on its properties to sequester carbon
- Achieved goal to become Zero Waste to Landfill at all facilities two years ahead of schedule through reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting, while sending the remaining small amount to waste-to-energy facilities
- Achieved LEED Gold certification at its Menomonie facility
- Reduced energy/fuel throughout operations, while also tracking greenhouse gas emissions
- Has 13 sustainable development teams, each with one goal per year implemented at every facility. Some 2014 goals achieved:
- Installed solar lights at Hager City rail yard
- Stream restoration projects with other organizations
- Installed a conveyor system that saves nearly 1,000 gallons diesel/year
- Water saved through sprinkler modifications and installation of pump that reuses water
- Hosting and/or participating in community events such as Adopt-a-River and Adopt-a-Highway recycling or turning into energy all waste collected
Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc. (Milwaukee)
- Piloted a new CO2 transcritical refrigeration technology at their new Menomonee Falls store, one of just three in the nation. The system completely eliminates the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which has 3,300 times more global warming potential than CO2, while also reducing 20% electricity, equivalent to reducing greenhouse gases from 1,900 cars. It has also saved more than $20,000 in its first year and generates heat that is reclaimed for hot water use in the store. The technology will be used in all new stores starting in 2016 and will be evaluated for additional ways for optimization.
- Installed LED lighting and occupancy sensors in the freezer area of the warehouse, equivalent to the greenhouse gas reduction of removing 190 cars
- Added a compressed natural gas tractor to their fleet, which reduced CO2 by 33 tons in just the first few months of use
- Extensive recycling at the distribution center and stores annually reduces greenhouse gases equivalent to removing over 20,000 cars
- Diverting food waste from landfill to convert into animal feed, which has an annual greenhouse gas reduction equivalent to removing 250 cars
2015 Commuter Champion
Urban Ecology Center (Milwaukee)
- The Center’s Eco-Buck program is one of the ways the non-profit organization leads by example. The program:
- Provides a small, daily monetary incentive for employees who make efforts to reduce their commuting impact. Employees who bus, bike, ski, rollerblade, or unicycle earn a dollar extra for the day while car-poolers earn an extra 0.50.
- Boosts staff morale by recognizing the health benefits and cost savings of using alternative transportation.
- In addition to the Eco-Buck program, the Urban Ecology Center displays transit schedules, has an internal carpool program, provides a shuttle service for student groups and has hybrid vehicles in their fleet.
- Their three centers are strategically located adjacent to bike and pedestrian pathways, provide bike parking, storage, and shower facilities, organize bike and walking programs and host an annual Bike to Work Week commuter station.