How Green is Green Cities Florida?

Green Cities™ is produced by EPA Gold Waste Wise Award winning Seven - Star, green events experts. Seven-Star has set the standard for national tradeshows, conferences, and festivals.

During Green Cities™ Florida, 93% of waste generated at the Orange County Convention Center was diverted for recycling or composting. The conference produced just 527 pounds of waste, which is equivalent to .9 pounds of waste per attendee, less than each attendee's average home produces daily. Conferences without the Seven-Star event greening process typically produce 20 pounds of waste per person per day.

The Green Cities™ Florida event production was offset through the Orange County Renewable Energy Fund

SEVEN STAR'S STORY

In 1999, Seven-Star began a journey of creating the most successful green events in the trade, entertainment, conference and exposition industries. Since the beginning, Seven Star's operations incorporated solutions for the greening of every-scale event, as well as the commercial facilities in which they are held. Seven Star's mission is to transform the event, entertainment, and hospitality industries into a model of environmental responsibility.

In order to convey the philosophy by which Seven Star produces events and manages business, the phrase, “eR/sR,” was coined; short for Environmental Responsibility and Social Respect. eR/sR reflects all the best practices in the event production business consistent with this philosophy.

Seven Star's approach to low-impact event production is to begin by reviewing an event's ecological footprint, taking energy use, waste stream and the quality of products into account. Then working locally and with the venue, Seven Star identifies opportunities for:

material re-use
material recycling
e-waste recycling
food composting
food and product donations
carbon emissions neutralizing
product conversion from conventional to eco-friendly alternatives
water conservation
energy conversation

In addition, public-awareness is a top priority, highlighting Green Cities™ eR/sR initiatives and providing green education centered on training and leading by example.

All aspects of Green Cities™ Events follow the four pillars of greening practices:

I. Reduce, Conserve and Use Alternative Energy Sourcing:	II. After Mitigating Energy Usage Provide Carbon Offsetting
On-site Generation and Transport Solar Bio-diesel motor coaches Hybrid energy transport Car pooling organization Bike valet Conservation	Carbon Offsets based on ISO Certified Restoration Projects Electrical Paper & Office Travel Freight REC (Renewable Energy Credits)
III. Product Replacement to Earth and People Friendly Products	IV. Waste Diversion – Through Resource Recovery
Food & Beverage Local sourced foods Organic foods when possible Fair trade beverages Non-disposable service ware Biodegradable service ware Biodegradable trash bags Venue and GSC (show decorator) Organic fair-trade soaps No VOC inks for printing Green signage Plasma vs. LCD audio visual No VOC cleaners Recycled content paper products Low-flow faucets No vinyl banners Recycled content paper LED/CFL replacement Marketing & Program Memory sticks instead of large conference program guides Printing requirements No promotional print mailing All electronic communications 100% recycle content for business cards and print	Waste Diversion Resource Recovery Education Green Team Hosts Greening Information Campaign Product Recycling Reuse Signage Donation Food Donations Floral Donations Food Composting Product Conversion Electronic Recycling Leave No Trace Policies Alternative Shipping and Freight Services Reusable water canteens provided to attendees

Venues, facility managers, and event producers using Seven Star's services realize that adopting eR/sR practices can lead to significant benefits whether or not their events attract a demographic of consumers with deeply held environmental beliefs. Long-term savings are achieved by cutting down on material costs. When commitment meets action, loyalty increases among sponsors, attendees, and exhibitors as an eco-friendly, socially responsible culture is cultivated.

Government Hosts

Contributing Sponsors

Supporting Sponsors

Media Sponsors

Associate Sponsors

Friends of Green Cities

Partners in Education

Florida Local Environmental Resource Agencies

Florida Renewable Energy Producers Association

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability

Strategic Allies

Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals

Center for Independent Living in Central Florida

Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando (HBA)

National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals

Event Organizer

David Smith, President, SunWorks Solar

“Our Green Cities experience in Orlando was a great one. SunWorks Solar met decision-makers who will have an important influence on our future, as well as the future of clean, renewable energy in Florida. Ideas, enthusiasm and outlook were all positive. A solid investment for SunWorks Solar.”

Trish Michaels, M4 Marketing, Agency for SunWorks Solar

“Wasn't that a valuable gathering of brilliance and innovation last week? We at M4 Marketing and SunWorks Solar were highly impressed and plan to return next year.”

Steven McCaslin, Southeastern Division Regional Manager, Permapave

“The Green Cities target audience was everything you said it would be.”

Daniel Garceau, President, Empower

“The Green Cities Conference in Orlando was one of the most inspiring events I have sponsored. The management, staff and volunteers at Green Cities were totally dedicated and thoughtful. It was an excellent forum to meet and interact with hard to reach policy makers at government and county levels. I do not want to miss your next exhibitions, please keep me posted. Thanks for the personal attention.”

Sunny Lewis, Editor in Chief, ENS

“Congratulations on a beautiful conference in Orlando” reports Environment News Service Editor in Chief, Sunny Lewis. “You are doing a real service for the Earth.”

City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

“It is opportunities like Green Cities Florida that support our region's efforts to shift the way we think and operate, ultimately saving money, supporting job growth and protecting our natural resources.”