Going Green at BCC

Birmingham Conference Center joins conference center industry movement to reduce plastic waste and reduce water consumption.

The negative impact of bottled water on our environment is well documented and we have joined the initiative of the International Association of Conference Centers to reduce environmental impact caused by bottled water. It has been reported that each bottled water uses three times the volume of water it contains in creating the plastic bottle. In addition bottled water creates a heavy carbon footprint to ship the bottles from the plant, again by trucks to collect empties for recycling, and finally in energy used to recycle the bottle. As part of our commitment to sustainability we are pleased to offer water in hydration stations at the back of each meeting room using reusable glassware and Detroit city water that is rated amongst the highest quality in the nation. 

The necessity for environmental responsibility has grown tremendously over the past decade. We are experiencing a continually growing list of global issues, such as ozone depletion, water pollution, and deforestation. In 2000, our global population reached over 6 billion – more than triple what it had been in the early twentieth century. More people paired with a fixed amount of natural resources not only means less for us, but also a quicker depletion of our planet’s natural wealth. Although the controversy over population control has prevented efficacy, there are numerous other steps we can take to protect what we have, save what is being destructed, and recreate what has been lost.

Even with our best attempts to work in favor of our planet, our services as a conference center inevitably affect our natural resource supply. Moving toward electronically-dominated communication has significantly reduced paper flow, though hard copies in the business world are nowhere near elimination. Whether it’s pamphlets, reports, contracts, flipcharts, handbooks, or business cards, the circulation of paper never seems to cease. Our best strategy is to choose to use in moderation, and expect responsibility by everyone through recycling. This conviction is not limited to paper products, though. In order to best serve our clients, we are continually updating our technology, which means the obsolete has to go. Nothing, however, is thrown out; Birmingham Conference Center is a company committed to recycling – everything – that is no longer of use.

Partnership in Protecting our Planet

Birmingham Conference Center is affiliated with numerous other organizations that are also devoted to going green. The center is managed by Sodexo, a world leader in food and facilities management services Sodexo has made it a priority to establish and promote environmental sustainability. In our food service sector, it is important to choose eco-friendly cleaning products, limit plastic consumption, and conserve water and energy. Also our owner, Birmingham Public Schools encourages the community to take environmental responsibility in their day-to-day activities. We have followed suit, participating in a comprehensive recycling program. BCC chooses products to represent our values. We serve our clients coffee from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, a company committed to giving back to the land it uses. The ingredients our chef uses to create gourmet dishes do not come with a heavy carbon footprint, either. BCC buys Michigan produce and supplies, eliminating the transcontinental or international trip many foods would otherwise need to make.

Apex & LEEDS

Recognizing our nearly every day usage of the facility’s kitchen for both cooking and clean-up, Sodexo selected the Apex Ware Washing and dishwashing system. Apex prides its program on environment sustainability with values such as minimal waste packaging, maximum recyclability. Cleaning systems and procedures for water consumption and providing less energy intensive solutions are just a few of the standards Apex withholds. Apex uses LEEDS, a voluntary point-based system; to let its building operators view their efficiency, both in cost and environmental impact. In order for a facility to receive a LEEDS Certificate, it must meet all its prerequisites, as well as earn an additional minimum of 32 points in categories such as: sustainable cleaning products and chemicals, water use reduction, optimal energy performance, and performance measurements (including adding incentives for additional energy reduction and maintaining a program).

The Apex program features sustainable warewashing solutions that are:

• Non-toxic when diluted
• In packaging that accounts for no more than 4% of total product weight
• Ingredients are less than 34% of the phosphorous limit set by the EPA

Apex also sees a reduction in water and energy consumption due to a 10% decrease in rewash. Per year, this saves:

• 7,300 gallons of water
• 2,100 kwh of electricity
• 199 pounds of plastic waste

Extending the Boundries of Recycling

Though it seems to require minimal additional effort, recycling has not yet become habitual for all consumers today. The Birmingham Conference Center, however, strives to give back to the environment, recharging our resources as best we can. This includes recycling:

• Paper – all sizes, textures, and colors
• Plastic bottles – whether they’re ours or our clients’
• Batteries – from computers, video equipment, digital cameras, and more
• Electronic equipment – computers, projectors, printers, copiers – anything being replaced
• Other materials – newspapers, magazines, cardboard

Other ways we are working to make this world a healthier, cleaner and better place

• We provide reusable dishes, silverware and glasses
• We  use CFL Lights which use 75% less energy to produce the same amount of light
• We’ve made it a habit to turn off lights and computers at night which unnecessarily wastes about $1 billion worth of electricity a year nationally
• We provide pitchers of water instead of bottled water to reduce plastic consumption
• We encourage a portion control based system to cut down food waste. In fact, our surplus is so small that local Food Banks find it cost inefficient to pick up

Here at Birmingham Conference Center, our staff members are dedicated to going green in everything we do, and we encourage our clients to do the same. Taking the short time and minimal effort to contribute to the wellbeing of our environment can make considerable differences in the long-run.