 As part of the effort to Go Green, Get Healthy we are actively seeking to "green" the 2009 National Environmental Public Health Conference while promoting this year's theme: Healthy People in a Healthy Environment.
The Venue
- This year's conference will be held at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel. The Sheraton Atlanta is not only a beautiful non-smoking facility, but is also becoming well known for its many green initiatives.
- The Sheraton Atlanta boasts:
- a laundry water recycling system and linen reuse program in all guestrooms
- multiple recycling receptacles collecting paper, plastic, glass and aluminum
- an automated climate control system that helps eliminate unnecessary energy usage
- long-range green planning that includes installation of low flow toilets and drought resistant landscaping
What are we doing?
- Each of the conference planning teams is working to evaluate the best possible ways to incorporate green initiatives into this year's conference.
- A green team has also been created to help facilitate and carry out these initiatives.
Highlights
- Conference planners produced a short 20-page program book for this year's conference. This greatly reduces the amount of paper used during the conference.
- Conference attendees can plan their schedule ahead of time online, cutting down on excess printing. Log on today!
- New to this year's conference is a Sustainable and Environmental Atlanta Showcase, which is an evening social event that gives conference-goers an inside look at some of Atlanta's organizations that are in the forefront of the environmental movement.
- A photo exhibit entitled "Where the River Goes" will be set up displaying photos of the Apalachicola River basin, its residents, and surrounding nature. There will also be showings of the documentary films Big River and Apalachicola River-An American Treasure.
- The Green Expo will give conference-goers the opportunity to see environmentally responsible products in an exhibition setting.
- Conference bag and badge recycling. Don't want to add to that stack of plastic badges that you have at home? Great! Recycle it at the conference and it will be reused at future conferences!
- We are committed to providing health conscious menus, including vegetarian choices and local and organic offerings where possible.
- Morning Yoga or Tai Chi classes will be offered to get the day started off right!
- We are promoting the use of public transit, biking, and walking by providing MARTA schedules and detailed maps of the downtown area.
- Each attendee will have the opportunity to choose between an organic cotton bag, an aluminum water bottle, or neither for their conference takeaway.
In the Works
- We encourage you to bring your laptops to take advantage of our Internet cafes with free wifi.
We are excited about Going Green and Getting Healthy, and we hope you are too! Check back often for new information on our green initiatives.
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