Metro Atlanta Chamber Honors Organizations, Businesses and Individuals Creating Sustainable Solutions at Inaugural E3 Awards

Awards represent innovation in building, water conservation, supply chain and urban renewal

ATLANTA, March 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Eight companies, individuals and organizations that are creating innovative solutions and technological advances in sustainability were honored by the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) at the E3 Awards.

In its inaugural year, 125 nominations were received for a coveted eight spots.  The award categories span a wide range of achievements in innovation, from energy and water to logistics and urban development.

The event winners by category are:

• University Strong – honoring innovation through research and technologies with Georgia's universities: Simple BoS Sunshot Project, a collaborative effort between Georgia Tech, Radiance Solar and Suniva;
• Built Environment – honoring excellence in energy and planning: Better Buildings Challenge, a public/private initiative with a goal of reducing energy and water consumption by at least 20 percent in participating buildings across Atlanta by 2020;
• Southern Capital – honoring local entrepreneurs, financial institutions or others who incubate start-up businesses or new ventures that advance sustainability: Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), housed at Georgia Tech, is the nation's first university-based business incubator.  Since 1986, it has turned out 112 science and technology companies, and companies associated with ATDC have raised more than $1 billion in venture capital since 1999.
• Power of Place – honoring initiatives by community organizations or business groups that develop stronger, sustainable communities: Midtown Alliance, for creating the first urban EcoDistrict in the southeast;
• Liquid Assets – honoring sustainable water solutions: Google and the Douglasville – Douglas County Water & Sewer Authority, for their work in a joint public/private water reuse project designed to conserve water and help keep the Chattahoochee River clean;
• Making the Connections – honoring smart supply chain solutions: UPS, for its innovative supply chain solution model, creating efficient routing and network optimization and using an alternative fuel flight to help deliver nearly 16 million packages each day to more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
• Emerging Leader – Michael Cheyne, director of asset management and sustainability at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, for his work and leadership in developing and implementing a sustainable management plan for Hartsfield-Jackson;
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Jack Dozier, executive director, Georgia Association of Water Professionals, for his work in protecting Georgia's water resources and role in helping to develop state water policy.

"We are proud to honor all of the winners making strides to build more energy-efficient products and buildings, develop sustainable water solutions and create smarter urban spaces," said Kurt Kuehn, chief financial officer of UPS and chair of MAC's Environmental Policy and Sustainability Committee. "These innovations are vital for creating a sustainable future for our region for generations to come."

Created in partnership with the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the E3 awards' theme is Where the Economy and Environment Connect for Everyone.

About the Metro Atlanta Chamber

Everything we do at the Metro Atlanta Chamber is about building our economy and creating prosperity to help Atlanta thrive. Our board is made up of Atlanta's top business leaders. Our professional staff serves 4,000 member companies that employ nearly 1 million workers. We focus on helping small businesses and mid-size companies grow, helping entrepreneurs get started, and recruiting companies nationally and internationally in our key industries: bioscience, clean technology, health IT, mobility, supply chain and advanced manufacturing, and technology. In public policy, we tackle critical issues to support infrastructure and quality of life. For members, we offer 150+ events and activities each year. In sports, MAC's Atlanta Sports Council has helped drive almost $2 billion in economic impact through sporting events over the last 10 years.

SOURCE The Metro Atlanta Chamber