Federal Projects Win CEIL Environmental Awards

Awards Ceremony to be held at GOVgreen 2011 on December 1st

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Center for Environmental Innovation and Leadership announced the winners of the second annual CEIL Awards.  The awards recognize military and federal, teams and programs that have demonstrated exemplary performance in integrating environmental stewardship into day-to-day activities.  Awards highlight excellence in developing and implementing innovative environmental programs to improve environmental quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or increase use of renewable energy and bio-preferred products. 

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"We had many outstanding submissions this year," says Ann Seltz, President of the Center for Environmental Innovation and Leadership.  "Our five winning projects will be recognized at the CEIL awards ceremony, December 1st, at the GOVgreen Conference and Exposition.  I'm proud to announce those winners today."

Leadership in Innovation:  Granted to a program employing a novel approach to achieve one or more environmental objectives using technology, management, financing, public-private partnerships or others.  2011 winner:  NASA Ames Research Center for Sustainability Base.

Achievement in Inauguration:  Designated for the best new program or initiative to launch in fiscal year 2011, this award showcases the great ideas and recent successes of public sector innovators.  2011 winner:  Department of Defense Office of Secretary of Defense Installations and Environment, Defense Logistics Agency Aviation and National Defense Center for Energy and Environment for the Green Product Evaluation and Demonstration Program.

Workforce Development through Training:  Creating green jobs and supporting workers to engage in green careers is critical to the success of any sustainability initiative. This award recognizes training programs that enable employees and volunteers to support environmental missions and programs and to enhance their future career prospects.  2011 winner: US Army Corps of Engineers for Proponent Sponsored Engineer Corps Training (PROSPECT) Master Planning Courses.

Success through Collaboration:  This team award is given to a group that has turned sustainability ideas into reality. The team--cross-disciplinary, cross-functional or inter-agency—must have achieved measurable and replicable outcomes, in part as a result of strong collaboration among team members.  2011 winner:  NOAA Coastal Services Center and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for MarineCadastre.gov.

Leadership in Education:  Given to a program with demonstrated success in communicating about its environmental and energy activities and achievements and by engaging internal and external stakeholders through outreach and education.  2011 winner: Department of Education for the Green Ribbon School Project.

About CEIL
The Center for Environmental Innovation and Leadership (CEIL) is an independent organization designed to facilitate information and education exchange among government stakeholders charged with identifying, specifying, and buying green goods and services and with the vendors, contractors, and consultants that provide green goods and services.  CEIL provides an interactive environment for government and industry professionals engaged in green activities that includes educational events, website, podcasts, webcasts, news and a social media.  CEIL is the sponsor of GOVgreen Conference and Exposition.  Learn more about CEIL at www.CEILeadership.org.

About CEIL's GOVgreen
GOVgreen Conference and Exposition (November 30 – December 1, 2011, Washington Convention Center) is the one event where government stakeholders connect to learn how to transform green policies into actionable plans and programs in order to achieve the interrelated goals of sustainability in energy, water/wastewater, facilities and transportation.  Tracks for 2011 are Procurement, Contracting and Financing; Workplace and Workforce; Policies, Planning and Implementation and Measuring, Tracking and Reporting. GOVgreen's conference program is open to all and free to government and military professionals.   The exhibit floor is free to all.

Contact:  Lindsey Gilroy
703-706-8216; [email protected]

SOURCE Center for Environmental Innovation and Leadership (CEIL)