Award Launched To Recognize FM Green Actions

Zeftron nylon, a premium nylon 6 commercial carpet yarn system, is sponsoring its first annual Zeftron nylon Sustainable Practices Award this coming Earth Day, April 22, 2009. The award will recognize facility professionals who employ innovative sustainable practices in three key areas: at work, at home, and in their communities.

Submissions will be accepted April 22 through September 30, 2009.
Submissions will be accepted April 22 through September 30, 2009.

“Zeftron nylon has been producing environmentally responsible yarn systems for more than 30 years and now it’s our turn to acknowledge people who are making a difference,” said Tim Blount, Zeftron nylon’s business leader. “We believe that in order to create a truly sustainable future, everyone must practice environmentally responsible activities—not just at their work or in the product they make—but in every aspect of their life. That’s why this award recognizes facility professionals who are taking innovative strides to create more sustainable environments at home, at work and in their community.”

Submissions will be judged on originality and innovation, and the best entries will be compiled for Zeftron nylon’s “Best Practices and Green Tips”, which will be made public at the end of the year and is designed to be a resource for other professionals.

How to Enter: Entry forms are available at http://spa.zeftronnylon.com and may be submitted online. Entries will be accepted from April 22, 2009 to September 30, 2009. There is no cost to enter.

Eligibility: The award is open to all facility professionals in the continental United States. Additionally, architecture and interior design professionals are also encouraged to submit their entries.

Recognition: The winner will be announced in November during Greenbuild 2009. They will receive recognition for their accomplishments and a $2,000 grand prize donation in their name to an environmentally focused charity. The winner will also be highlighted in news announcements and be featured prominently on the Zeftron nylon Sustainable Practices Award website.

TFM spoke with Zeftron’s Tim Blount to discover some more details about this new award:

Q. It’s interesting that this award seeks to recognize the sustainable practices of facility professionals in three spheres—at work, at home, and in their community. Can you elaborate on why Zeftron decided to expand the focus beyond the workplace?

A. We want to acknowledge people who are making a sustainable difference. There are a lot of facility professionals who implement environmentally responsible approaches on a day to day basis. Rising interest in LEED and other accreditation programs certainly show us that. So, facility professionals have a unique understanding of how to apply energy, water, and other important resource saving strategies in their daily work. And as a result of this, it’s likely that many of these professionals are employing similar techniques in their own home or in their community.

We believe that in order to create a truly sustainable future, everyone must practice environmentally responsible activities—not just at their work or in the products they make—but in every aspect of their life. That’s why this award recognizes facility professionals who are taking innovative strides to create more sustainable environments at home, at work and in their community.

Q. What type of materials and information are entrants asked to supply?

A. We know that facility professionals are incredibly busy people. That’s why we’ve made the entry process as quick and easy as possible. Plus, there is no cost or fee to enter.

All entrants will need to complete the online entry form at http://spa.zeftronnylon.com beginning on April 22, 2009. We’re asking all entrants to provide their tips (no more than 150 words) on how they are being environmentally responsible at their work, home, and in their community. Submissions will be judged on originality and innovation. Entrants also have the ability to submit electronic images as well, if they’d like.

Q. What prompted Zeftron to include a charitable contribution as part of the award?

A. We want this award to be as meaningful as possible. Although it’s important to recognize what people are doing to be more “green,” recognition only goes so far in creating a sustainable planet. That’s why we’ll be making this $2,000 donation to an environmentally focused charity of their choosing. Whether the donation goes towards purifying water sources, protecting endangered species, or saving the rainforest, we’re sure the winner will be pleased to be able to help a cause that is making a real difference.

Q. Zeftron plans to include the best entries in its “Best Practices and Green Tips” at the end of 2009. Can you tell us more about this resource and what it offers to facility professionals?

A. Again, we want to do more than just recognize facility professionals for their sustainable practices and green achievements; we want to create something meaningful and tangible. In the true spirit of the term “reuse,” we plan to take the best submissions and turn them into a “Best Practices and Green Tips” publication so other facility managers can see what their peers are doing.

We are hoping that this document will serve as a resource to facility managers who are trying to lead a holistically sustainable lifestyle at their work, home, and in their community. We expect the publication will be full of unique ideas to help people live more fully sustainable lives.