The Kansas City Industrial Council (KCIC) is committed to promoting sustainable business practices in industrial-based businesses. For the third year, KCIC recognized the industrial businesses that are actively engaged in sustainable practices with a KCIC Sustainability Award, which were presented at the KCIC Sustainability Awards Breakfast on October 15. “Sustainability & Your Bottom Line” was the theme for this year’s breakfast, which included a panel discussion featuring Carol Hallquist of Hallmark Cards, John McDonald of Boulevard Brewing, Danny O’Neill of The Roasterie, and Kansas City Mayor Sly James (invited). The panel moderator will be Dennis Murphey of the KCMO Office of Environmental Quality.
The 2013 KCIC Sustainability Award Winners
Awards were given in 12 categories divided between sustainable efforts related to Energy and efforts related to the Environment.
ENERGY
- Clay & Bailey Manufacturing—(GOLD Award/Renewables Category)—Clay & Bailey installed 377 solar panels producing over 133,000 kilowatt hours per year to supply 8% of the company’s power supply.
- Faultless Starch/Bon Ami Co.—(SILVER Award/Renewables Category)—Faultless installed solar panels on its distribution center to complement the solar array on its world headquarters facility. With the new panels, Faultless’ new solar energy capacity will save approximately 38,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year; reducing carbon emissions by over 30 metric tons per year.
- Livers Bronze Co.—(SILVER Award/Renewables Category)—Livers Bronze has installed two solar panel systems that are expected to generate 64,800 kilowatt hours per year, reducing the company’s annual power consumption by 10%.
- Hunt Midwest & The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)—(SILVER Award/Building Envelope Category)—Hunt Midwest/NARA is receiving the award under the Building Envelope category for the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) facility located in the SubTropolis. NARA leases 102,000 s.f. of industrial warehouse and office space in the Hunt Midwest SubTropolis. SubTropolis holds the highest ENERGY STAR rating possible and is considered a NARA-certified location for its sustainability, constant temperature and humidity levels, security and energy efficiency.
ENVIRONMENT
- Kansas City Terminal Railway—(GOLD Award/Storm Water Runoff Category)—Kansas City Terminal Railway recently completed storm water drainage improvements in the Central Industrial District (CID). A network of drainage structures was constructed to collect, consolidate and control the release of storm water. Part of the project included creation of two permeable storm water retention ponds able to hold 3.5 million gallons of water. The retention ponds will disperse into the storm sewer system at a controlled rate, reducing flooding potential.
- Waste Recycling Advocacy Partnership (WRAP)—(GOLD/Recycling & Reuse Category)—The Waste Recycling Advocacy Partnership (WRAP) was created through a Mid-America Regional Council grant awarded to the Central Industrial District Association (CIDA). After receiving the grant in spring of 2012, the CIDA created WRAP and began free recycling collection service for West Bottom-based businesses to recycle paper and cardboard. From May 2012 through June 2013, WRAP’s recycling service has diverted 93 tons of paper and cardboard from the waste stream.
- Harvesters: The Community Food Network—(SILVER/Recycling & Reuse Category)—Harvesters initiated an organic waste recycling program in coordination with Missouri Organics. The community food network now recycles its non-usable perishable produce diverting over 600 tons of organic waste to Missouri Organics.
- Livers Bronze Co.—(SILVER/Recycling & Reuse Category)—Livers Bronze began an aluminum recycling program in conjunction with ACE Foundry to recycle the waste Livers generates when creating aluminum railings. Livers collects its aluminum waste and returns that waste to ACE Foundry to be re-used in the foundry process.
SUSTAINABILITY STEWARDSHIP AWARD
Brightergy—With this award KCIC recognizes a person or company’s significant and ongoing commitment to promoting environmental stewardship and sustainability in Kansas City’s industrial areas. Brightergy will be the first company to be awarded the KCIC Sustainability Stewardship Award for its effort to promote solar energy to industrial businesses.
For more information about these awards, visit www.kciconline.com/awards/sustainability-award/.
This program is a real Kansas City gem. Recognizing Kansas City companies for their significant investments in sustainability has lead many more to investigate the many benefits and repeat those actions. This has been a terrific learning process for all involved. Please share the success and opportunity with others as sustainable investing has now entered the mainstream in Kansas City!