Salem Sustainability Summit Called a Great Success

A powerhouse of local sustainability representatives gathered in Salem last week.‏

(SALEM, Ore.) - A distinguished delegation of the region's leaders in sustainable design and development met with representatives from SANYO Commercial Solutions to identify opportunities for collaboration on future sustainability initiatives in Salem, Oregon.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the development community to highlight the many "green" projects planned, and underway, in the region.

The highlighted projects included those which have received national recognition like Salem's LEED certified Pringle Creek Community and Willamette University's national top ranking for campus sustainability.

Oregon Energy Trust, the Oregon Department of Energy, and others, identified possible financial incentives, or support services, to assist with project development.

SANYO introduced several products that could also be integrated, including solar powered charging stations for the "eneloop" hybrid electric bicycle, rechargeable batteries, and energy efficient HVAC systems (including for retrofit in existing buildings) for educational programs and demonstration projects.

"SANYO's initiative in partnering with the Salem and Oregon government is to provide innovative solutions for sustainable city projects like rechargeable solar bike parking stations, which will ultimately reduce lifecycle costs, CO2 emissions, and establish ground breaking renewable energy protocols," said Deepak Mistry, Strategic Marketing Manager, SANYO Commercial Solutions.

The State of Oregon and many Salem organizations are already leading the way in sustainability efforts.

Salem officials say they have a number of local businesses initiating sustainable practices. The City of Salem has also adopted an Environmental Action Plan that identifies goals for reducing energy, vehicle fuel, water, and waste, in the City's operations.

A team of staff, named the Environmental Action Team, are tracking performance of these goals. The City is also in the process of developing a sustainability strategy for economic development and community programs and hopes that many of the partners involved in the summit will continue to be involved as these strategies are developed.

The City of Salem will reconvene the group very soon in order to gain momentum on the project ideas presented and to support the larger sustainability strategies.

A summary of the summit and action items are being generated by the City of Salem's Urban Development Department and will be available to the public soon at cityofsalem.net.