BPS News

For Immediate Release:  16 June 2009

Contact: 

Christine Llobregat

Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

503-823-7007

christine.llobregat@ci.portland.or.us

Emily Toliver

Mazzetti Nash Lipsey Burch

415-364-7257
Emilyt@mazzetti.com

BEST Business Center awards first ‘Portland Climate Champion’

Portland office of engineering firm Mazzetti Nash Lipsey Burch is the first to earn this
recognition for taking comprehensive actions to reduce their carbon emissions.

www.bestbusinesscenter.org

Portland, Ore — Some businesses go above and beyond with recycling, and others go even further to reduce their carbon emissions. The Portland office of engineering and consulting firm Mazzetti Nash Lipsey Burch (M+NLB) is the first Portland business to receive the BEST Business Center’s new “Portland Climate Champion” recognition. To earn this honor, M+NLB staff completed the Portland Climate Champions application and demonstrated their carbon reduction efforts during an onsite verification visit with the BEST Business Center’s sustainability advisors.

“Congratulations to the Portland office of Mazzetti Nash Lipsey Burch on becoming our very first Portland Climate Champion,” said Mayor Sam Adams. “We appreciate their leadership in taking a comprehensive approach to reducing their carbon emissions.  Their initiative serves as a model for Portland’s business community and their efforts support the City of Portland’s goals towards dramatically reducing carbon emissions, as outlined in the City’s Climate Action Plan.”

To achieve Portland Climate Champion status, M+NLB improved the energy efficiency of their business operations, provided alternative transportation options for employees, and implemented a robust waste reduction and recycling program.

“Several years ago, we decided that it was not enough to design green buildings; we need to go beyond green buildings, and actually help envision and extend the bleeding edge. I have always felt a moral duty to 'walk the talk,' so when people on my staff came to me wanting to green our offices, I didn't think twice. I am so proud to be able to work with a group of people who take it upon themselves to step up, take responsibility, and make good things happen,” said Walt Vernon, M+NLB CEO. “Now, we are going to figure out how to do better here, and how to take what we've learned here and extend it to our other offices around the country, their cities, and our clients as part of our Climate Change Consulting group."
        
Portland’s BEST Business Center streamlines access to financial incentives and technical assistance for greening business operations. These services are tailored to help each business conserve resources, improve efficiency, save money and provide a healthy and quality workspace for employees. The BEST Business Center created Portland Climate Champions to recognize businesses in Portland that have taken comprehensive, concrete actions to reduce their carbon emissions. The Climate Champion designation is valid for two years.

About Mazzetti Nash Lipsey Burch

Founded in 1962, M+NLB is a full-service mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology consulting and design firm, also providing value-added commissioning and medical/laboratory equipment planning and procurement services. It has offices in San Francisco, Irvine and Sacramento, Calif.; Nashville, Tenn.; Baton Rouge, La. and Houston. M+NLB was one of the first engineering firms in the U.S. to add a climate consulting practice to their list of client services, offering advice on measuring, reducing and monetizing client greenhouse gas emissions. M+NLB is also a three-time winner of Practice Greenhealth’s Champion for Change Award.

About the BEST Business Center

The BEST Business Center provides free tools and advice to help businesses in Portland, Oregon become more profitable and sustainable. It is a partnership of city and regional government programs and energy utilities, including the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, City of Portland Water Bureau, Metro, Pacific Power, Portland Development Commission and Portland General Electric.  www.bestbusinesscenter.org

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