Meet the Architect of the Most Environmentally Sustainable DNC in History: An Interview with the Director of Sustainability & Greening for the Democratic National Convention

Andrea Robinson, the first-ever Director of Sustainability & Greening for the Democratic National Convention, has a tall order to fill with a Democratic Convention that promises to be the greenest in history. With 25 years of experience in the environmental field and significant experience greening large-scale events--recently she handled the greening efforts for the Live Earth Concerts for Climate Change in New York, Shanghai, and Johannesburg--she certainly seems up to the task.

She recently made time to discuss the convention and sustainable events with me:

1.    You’re the first Director of Sustainability and Greening for the Democratic Convention. How did this position come about and what is your vision for it?

There has been a renewed commitment by DNC Chairman Governor Howard Dean and our Convention CEO, Leah Daughtry, to make this the most environmentally sustainable Democratic National Convention in history. Our commitment to sustainability started the first day we arrived in Denver and impacts all of the decisions we make—from where our offices in Denver are located, to the cars and type of fuel we use in our Convention fleet to the Convention itself at the Pepsi Center. Hiring the first-ever Director of Greening for a political Convention was the first step in making this commitment become a reality, and it’s an honor to fill that role. 

It’s my job to work with all of our departments to weave sustainability principles into each and every decision we make. I work with every department in the Convention from transportation to the stage design to make sure greening is not just an afterthought, but a fore thought. 

2.    What is in store for us in August?

In order to make this Convention the most sustainable Democratic Convention in history, we started a comprehensive planning effort and decided to measure our carbon footprint so we could identify key areas of opportunity. From the moment we arrived in Denver, sustainability principles have been considered into everything we do—from the early planning phases of the Convention through the actual event and the restoration phase. We’re looking at every element of our operation so we can reduce energy and eliminate as much waste as possible from the Convention.

For starters, our DNCC Offices in Denver are located in an Energy Star building. All of the appliances are Energy Star rated and all lights are equipped with motion-sensor switches and T8 fluorescent light bulbs. Our office is located in the heart of downtown Denver next to a major hub for mass transit and more than two-thirds of our employees walk, bike or take mass transit to work.

Our desire to minimize our carbon footprint also affects the technology we use. Instead of desktop computers, our employees use laptops, which can save up to 50 percent energy compared to desktops. All of our computer servers are cooled by a special system that uses chilled water that already exists in the building, reducing the need for air conditioning and Freon, a contributor to greenhouse gases.

Our goal in August is to reach a minimum 85% waste diversion rate of the waste we would normally create from an event of this size. To achieve this high number, we will have a comprehensive recycling and waste diversion program set-up at all Convention sites, staffed with “Green Team” volunteers. Official Convention sites, including the Pepsi Center and the Colorado Convention Center, will have a series of ‘resource recovery systems’ in place of normal trash centers. Each station will be equipped with bins for recyclables, compostable items, liquids, paper and landfill.  

Additionally, all of the buses and vehicles used to transport delegates, elected officials, members of the media and other guests Convention week will be hybrid or run off of alternative fuels or biodiesel.

3.    How are you measuring the environmental impact of the Convention?

For the first time we are measuring our carbon footprint through an Official Carbon Advisor, CAMCO International Group, Inc. We have been working with Camco to not only measure the Convention’s carbon footprint but also strengthen existing programs and help make recommendations about how to minimize the Convention’s carbon footprint. By measuring our carbon footprint we will be able to create a roadmap for future Democratic Conventions.  

We are also encouraging all delegates and visitors to offset their carbon emissions created
from travel and hotel stays for the Convention by purchasing verifiable carbon offsets from our partner, Native Energy. Focus in Conventions past has been on the greening the actual Convention week. This cycle, we wanted to apply greening principles to every decision during the entire planning process and lead-up to the Convention itself.  

Finally, we have also asked all of our suppliers to track the amount of travel used for the Convention and offset as much carbon emissions as possible. We want all of the partners we work with to think about their carbon footprint as much as we’re thinking about ours.

4.   As always, there will be many mini-events surrounding the Convention—what is their level of participation in the greening and will it be measured?

With the help of the Denver 2008 Host Committee, we are encouraging all allied groups, caterers, businesses and events to adopt as many green practices as possible. The Host Committee has an extensive website, http://www.denverconvention2008.com , which features a green vendor directory, green tips and workshops for businesses looking to host events the week of the Convention.  

Many of our Convention venues have also worked closely with us to incorporate energy conservation measures into their operations. The Pepsi Center is now permanently beginning to use solar energy for some of their energy needs.  

Our venues have also taken significant steps towards water conservation. The Pepsi Center has performed a complete water survey of their facility and grounds with Denver Water to see where they can reduce their water waste.  The CCC is implementing xeriscaping under the big blue bear on 14^th street. 

Our official Convention Headquarters Hotel, the Hyatt Regency, has also played an important part in greening of the Convention, with their efforts to convert all existing toilets and urinals to low flow. The Hyatt also uses low flow faucets and showerheads in all of the guestrooms and automatic faucets and urinals in all of the restrooms. For irrigation systems, the Hotel also uses a drip water system. These simple acts could save thousands of gallons of water each day.

5.    How has the Denver community played a role in this?

Since we arrived in Denver more than a year ago, we have worked closely with the community, the City of Denver and the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee on our sustainability effort. Over the past ten months, we have travelled more than 3,500 miles (which have been offset) around Denver and the entire Rocky Mountain West as part of our “Convention Conversations” series. We’ve talked with hundreds of residents about the Convention, including our commitment to sustainability. The Colorado community has welcomed us with open arms and has been very supportive of our green practices. It is our hope that many of the sustainability measures we are implementing in the city will create a lasting legacy far beyond the Convention.  

Since both the Host Committee and the City of Denver have staff members devoted to sustainability, our entire greening process has been a team effort. We would not be able to put on a successful or comprehensive green event without the greening efforts and help of the entire team.

6.    What single change could make the largest reduction in the impact of the Convention?

Greening is a comprehensive effort. Each sustainability measure we try to enact—no matter how small or large—creates an impact on our overall carbon footprint. Earlier this year, we introduced the Green Delegate Challenge, in which we have asked delegates to offset their carbon emission created from travelling to the Convention. The delegation or delegate that offsets the highest percentage of their carbon emissions will win a green prize and be recognized on the Convention floor. It’s been exciting to see so many members of our party from every level and delegates from different sections of the country become involved with the Challenge.  

For us, sustainability has been a fore thought, not an afterthought. It’s important that we reduce the amount of energy we use, reuse as many materials as possible and recycle/reuse the rest. We want to make a meaningful difference in the Denver community and encourage all events of this size and communities to adopt green practices wherever they can. 

7.    In your opinion, if you could accomplish three groundbreaking successes with this Convention what would they be?

It’s important for us to create a roadmap for the future. Since this is the first time the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) has ever measured our greenhouse emissions, we need a baseline for future events of this size. I want to ensure that there remains a legacy of sustainability both for our venues in Denver and for Democratic Conventions in the future. We’re committed to sustainability and lowering the environmental impact of the Convention, and the DNCC Green Team is working diligently to ensure this is the most sustainably-produced Democratic Convention in history.  

Measuring our comprehensive carbon footprint and working to reduce our carbon emissions is another success of this Convention.  We are eliminating waste in every possible way, while also selecting verifiable carbon offsets for areas that we can’t eliminate, such as air travel. All of our carbon tracking work is an important step in recognition of our impacts on the climate and how we can educate ourselves, our contractors, guests and media on how to reduce their impacts as well.

8.    How can event planners and interested citizens get involved with the Convention’s greening efforts?

Our website, www.DemConvention.com, is a resource for event planners, citizens, delegates and guests to learn how they can make a difference and get involved with our greening efforts. Throughout the past year, we have made greening a feature of our Convention coverage and our conversations with the public. Our website features a new ‘Green Pages’ section, which highlights different aspects of our greening program including a weekly tip offering simple and easy ways anyone visiting the site can use to “green” their everyday routine. Our website also offers a unique glossary of ‘green terms’ that helps explain sustainability terms and make it easy for everyone to understand. Additionally, the 2008 Denver Host Committee has a website created specifically for green vendors and other green businesses looking to get involved with the Convention. 
 

Another important step a citizen travelling to the Convention can do is to offset their carbon emission created from airplane travel. This simple act helps support a number of domestic community-based clean energy projects including the community-owned, utility-scale Wray School District Wind Turbine in Wray, Colo.; a Focus the Nation Wind Turbine on a family farm in Rosedell Township, Minn,; a fourth generation family dairy farm methane project in Rockwood, Pa.; and the Des Plaines, Ill., Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project. 

Sustainability is definitely a two-way street for us. We’re fully committed to making our own efforts more sustainable but we want to offer the tools and information so that everybody can get involved.   

9.    Your background is impressive—it looks like you’ve been involved with greening events long before “green events” became a common phrase in the industry. What was your first green event and what progress have you seen since then?

Thank you for the compliment!  For years, I have been working with NGO’s and in the entertainment community implementing energy efficiency standards and waste-reduction measures whenever possible. I’ve always thought it is very important to make sustainability something that is done every day, not just for big events.   

Live Earth was the largest event I have undertaken and I was able to merge my background with Non-Governmental and Civil Society organizations around the world along with my experience in the entertainment industry and greening large scale events.  The Democratic National Convention may involve less people than Live Earth, but has required a more long-term focus on every detail of the planning, implementation and restoration phases. I hope to be as proud of the 2008 Democratic National Convention as I was of our greening work on Live Earth.

10.    Based on your experience, what should event professionals be doing to push green initiatives in their events?

Keep your eye on the big picture and the potential legacy of an event.  Large events have the benefit of a massive megaphone and can create an awareness and an educational impact that can reach beyond the event which can blossom into positive long-term environmental practices. Even what may seem like a small measure, such as instituting recycling in a venue, choosing local or organic foods, using sustainably-harvested woods or low or no VOC paints and adhesives can have long term impacts not just for a venue but also for contractors for years to come.

Comments

[Suzanne]

As always, great content, Alli. And impressive timing on the interview, less than a week after Ms. Robinson was hired.

[jonbailor]

Do you know if they will rent digital cameras instead of using disposable cameras - see companies like http://www.camerarenter.com ? I can only imagine the number of disposable cameras that will be used that this large of an event...and the waste that would ensue

[AlliG]

Jon--I don't know the answer to that. That is an interesting service, though, that I had not heard of in the past. I appreciate you alerting me to it.