C. Presentation of Environmental Excellence Awards
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2006 Environmental Excellence Awards
The Environmental Excellence Awards are presented by the City of Chanhassen to
recognize environmental improvements and stewardship throughout the community.
These awards are designed not only to recognize achievement, but also to
communicate new ideas and encourage the members of the Chanhassen community to
make a difference in their world.
Lakewinds Natural Foods
Receiving: Kristine Nelson
Project: Solar panels, socially-responsible reuse program, storewide recycling,
sustainable practices
It seems inevitable that Lakewinds Natural Foods would be presented with an
Environmental Excellence Award. After all, their business is based on organic,
environmentally-friendly products. But Lakewinds have gone above and beyond the
usual expectations for such a business. Among the many sustainable practices that
sets this business apart are the extensive reuse and recycling programs that collect cell
phones, reading glasses, plastic bags and batteries from customers, the process by
which the store uses the heat generated by the refrigeration compressors for pre-
heating the water heater and warming the building as well as the promotion of reduction
and reuse by rewarding customers who bring their own bags for shopping. Perhaps the
most impressive commitment is the installation of 57 solar panels on its roof this year.
These panels can produce over 12,000 KW per year and Lakewinds hopes to be able to
produce all of their needed energy and sell any excess back to the utility company.
Installed just this summer, Lakewinds already has stopped the production of over 3,000
pounds of carbon dioxide.
Rutledge Construction Company
Receiving: Dan Rutledge
Project: Using cooking oil for construction equipment fuel
A friend told Dan about vehicles that run on vegetable oil. It was an intriguing idea and
after researching the method Dan decided to give it a try in his company's Bobcat. Dan
bought a 5 gallon pail of vegetable oil and poured it into the machine. It ran great and
didn't smell too bad either. Dan now runs all of the company's skid steers on vegetable
oil which he collects from various restaurants and the Carver County Environmental
Center. During the summer months, the company's backhoe also runs on used
vegetable oil.
K. Hovnanian Homes
Receiving: Shawn Siders
Project: Energy Efficient Homes and Best Management Construction Practices
K. Hovnanian Homes has incorporated many Best Management Practices into its
construction process and strives to exceed general requirements and practices. Each
home built within its Chanhassen development, Liberty on Bluff Creek, earns the Energy
Star designation for energy efficiency. By working with the Environmental Protection
Agency, K. Hovnanian Homes was able to design and construct homes that exceed
Minnesota building Code, eliminate unnecessary materials and enhance the
performance of the home's insulation. K. Hovnanian Homes also teams with trade
partners who employ environmentally friendly practices such as their lumber supplier
who recycles all wood scrap generated on site.
Boy Scout Troop 346
Project: Storm Drain marking and Environmental Education Outreach
The boys in Scout Troop 346 all enjoy swimming, especially in Lotus Lake. This year
they decided they wanted to do something to help the lake and keep it clean. After
talking about what would be a good project, they agreed that educating the public about
where the water goes when it enters a storm drain would be a good place to start. They
contacted the city and worked with staff about storm drain marking. Their project
included cleaning the curb area around each storm drain in their project area and then
attaching markers to the structures that read "Drains to Wetlands, Dump No Waste".
They also distributed door hangers that included education on water quality and what
impacts the public can have on the health of local lakes and wetlands. It was a big job,
covering about 150 storm drains and many neighborhoods.
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