Five Iowa businesses and organizations are placing the health of the environment in their own hands. Caring for natural resources is more than an ethic for them; it's part of everyday life and how they do business.
Environmental Excellence Award Recipient: Firestone Agricultural Tire, Des Moines
Firestone Agricultural Tire is serious about environmental responsibility. The company is a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of tires and rubber products for agricultural, recreational and forestry uses. With markets reaching around the globe, doing more to protect that globe is a top priority.
In an effort to reduce environmental impacts, Firestone Agricultural Tire has developed a certified environmental management system (EMS), as part of its certification under ISO 14001, to document and address environmental challenges and opportunities. Firestone is the first tire manufacturer in Iowa to establish an EMS, and is a charter member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Environmental Performance Program.
"Having a certified ISO 14001 environmental management system is part of Firestone's role as a business leader both in Iowa and throughout the world," said Mark Emkes, president, CEO and chairman of Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC. "We are proud other companies are following our example and can see the benefits of having a certified EMS."
In the last two years, Firestone has initiated several programs to improve environmental practices. As examples of its effectiveness, Firestone has decreased the use of wood pallets in its manufacturing processes by 87 percent, diverted 1.1 million pounds of rubber from the landfill, and is recycling 68 percent of it own waste. The company is also realizing $164,000 in annual energy savings through dozens of improvement projects throughout plant facilities.
Environmental responsibility will continue to help define the success and vitality of this Iowa tire manufacturer.
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Special Recognition in Water Quality: The Iowa Children's Water Festival
Since 1997, the Iowa Children's Water Festival has engaged students in appreciating a critical natural resource - water. The festival is organized by water-resource and education professionals who believe today's students are tomorrow's caretakers of the environment.
"Iowa will benefit from these students who will become the leaders and policy makers of the future.," said Linda Kinman, a coordinator of the festival who works for Des Moines Water Works. "They will understand the need to be stewards of Iowa's natural resources as they grow up and live here."
The one-day, annual event is held each May at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny. Each year through the festival, more than 2,000 students from elementary schools across the state learn the importance of water quality to Iowa. Dozens of organizations help sponsor the event, and more than 300 volunteers share their expertise through science-based presentations, experiments and activities.
Educational topics through the festival include: how human activity affects water resources; the relationship of water to the ecosystem; what constitutes "safe" water; the water cycle and watersheds; and much more.
Students also see water professionals in action, demonstrating future employment and career path opportunities in environmental fields.
The education of these students will have a lasting impression on Iowa's environment for years to come. Complete details about the Iowa Children's Water Festival are available at http://icwf.cfu.net
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Special Recognition in Waste Management: West Branch Middle School
Big ideas often come from practical minds, and that is how a group of middle school students spearheaded a community clean-up project in West Branch in 2001. A class of seventh-graders took it upon itself to research how oil filters were being disposed in their town - and ended with big environmental results.
"I am proud of these students because they believe their involvement does make a difference," said middle school science teacher Hector Ibarra. "They are leaders in caring for Iowa's environment."
Under the leadership of Ibarra, students surveyed their parents and discovered more than 50 percent discarded their used oil filters in the garbage. The students used a science-based approach to determine the best methods of collecting, pressing and disposing the filters while recycling the used oil.
The students learned that 6.6 million used oil filters are discarded annually in Iowa, most going to the landfill. They gained community support to obtain equipment for pressing used oil filters, and in the 2001-2002 school collected 265 oil filters and recycled more than 37 gallons of motor fuel.
These West Branch middle school students are teaching a few lessons in environmental leadership to Iowa.
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Special Recognition in Habitat Restoration and Development: City of Decorah and the Decorah Prairie Committee
"Partnerships for Prairies" could be the slogan for Decorah's efforts to revitalize and protect their local natural resources. With the commitment and encouragement of hundreds of town people, a portion of Decorah's land will generate environmental dividends for generations.
The City of Decorah is surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the Upper Iowa River, and is visited by thousands of tourists each year. In 2001, the city council and other community leaders decided to protect and transform an area where a cornfield was planted to the banks of the river.
"This prairie project creates multi-faceted benefits," said Rick Edwards, Decorah parks and recreation director. "Aesthetic beauty, recreational opportunities, educational value, and protecting our natural resources all help make this a widely supported project for our community."
A coalition of businesses and organizations, along with community leaders, raised more than $55,000 for the project. The community developed an 11-acre filterstrip, 24 acres of prairie with 73 different plant species, and a half-acre butterfly garden. The butterfly garden is handicap accessible and contains 99 plots to be cared for by local citizens. The area is also being used for environmental study opportunities for school children.
Decorah and its citizens truly reap the rewards of community pride and involvement.
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Special Recognition in Air Quality and
Special Recognition in Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy: Five Seasons Transportation and Parking, Cedar Rapids
The sole organization receiving two environmental awards, Five Seasons Transportation and Parking is redefining how mass transit systems can operate in Iowa and the country.
Five Seasons operates parking facilities in downtown Cedar Rapids and provides fixed route bus service throughout the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area. In 2001, the mass transit department made a commitment to cleaner air by using renewable resources grown in Iowa. Director Bill Hoekstra said his department is committed to using biodiesel and reducing pollution because "it's the right thing to do.''
"Because agriculture is still the cornerstone of Iowa's economy, I feel it is important to support efforts that will open new markets for the state's crops,'' said Hoekstra. "As for air quality, we believe that reducing harmful tailpipe emissions is very achievable for other diesel-using fleets in the state.''
Five Seasons became the first mass transit system in the state to convert its entire 50-bus fleet from diesel to soybean-based biodiesel. Along with a programmable fuel control system, biodiesel dramatically reduces fossil fuel emissions.
According to the company, biodiesel can reduce cancer-causing agents by 90 percent, while decreasing carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulate matter. Five Seasons also has switched to hydraulic oil derived from soybeans in its bus power steering systems.
Along with using renewable energy, the company operates electric and hybrid-electric buses, and has made several energy-efficient building improvements in its facilities.
It takes strong leadership and innovation to make changes, and Five Seasons Transportation & Parking exhibit both - in multitude.
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