Last spring, I wrote about ways that I, personally, am going green, as well as steps National Geographic is taking as an organization to green its facilities and practices.

For my own part, the quest for the emerald standard continues–can anyone really claim to have “achieved” greendom? This summer, I’m foregoing the air conditioner, which those who are familiar with D.C. in August can appreciate. Let’s just say you can take the swamp out of the city, but you can’t quite take the city out of the swamp.

National Geographic, also, has racked up some impressive green feats just this week, which I thought I’d share with you all. Not to toot our own horn too much, but I think it’s worth celebrating, and I’m proud to work for an organization that stands true to its mission!

NG Receives Bronze Bicycle Award
Monday, at a ceremony in 100 degree heat, National Geographic was conferred a bronze-level, “Bicycle-Friendly Business” rating by the League of American Bicyclists. NG joins approximately 40 businesses nationwide, out of nearly 300 total that have applied, in attaining LAB recognition for its practices; which include more than 144 covered bicycle parking spots, onsite bike repair stations, bicycle safety classes, employee incentives such as a guaranteed ride home program, and flexible work options.

As a new bicycle commuter myself (as a result of my move further away from the office), I am very grateful to have these services available!

Silver…and Gold!

Nearly six years after National Geographic Headquarters became the
first existing building complex in the U.S. to become green-certified,
the Society has been “upgraded” from silver to gold status. The
recertification at the gold level is based on 2007 actual performance
at the Headquarters complex.

Hans Wegner, NG GoGreen leader, said of the Society’s accomplishment:

“Setting goals is easy. Getting it done is hard. It requires not only
that we retrofit where we can, but that we engage the staff to help by
reducing our energy consumption, and thereby to inspire each other to
care about the planet in the place where we work.”

[LEED EB is a program of the U.S. Green Building Council, and its goal
is to reduce carbon emissions by promoting the reduction of energy and
water usage in buildings along with efficient use of resources to
achieve sustainability. There are three levels of certification –
silver, gold and platinum.]

NG Kids’ Guinness-winning Denim Collection
NG Kids set its fourth Guinness World Record yesterday, August 12, this
time for Largest Collection of Clothes to Recycle. More than 30,000
jeans have been rolled and stacked into a denim house. The display will
remain for two weeks, before being recycled into insulation for houses.

Denim insulation, in addition to being eco-friendly, is also friendly
to human hands and lungs; free of the chemicals–and the itch
factor–of fiberglass!

Remember: you don’t have to break records to do your part for the
planet. Organizations like National Geographic are successful because
of the collective small actions, and buy-in, of employees and customers
alike. So make sure to let corporations taking green strides know you
support their actions by leveraging your purchasing power and voicing
your enthusiasm!