Focus on Sustainability

IFMA has a responsibility to provide you with the highest level of sustainability education and resources. As the premier representative for the profession and its concerns, it is also incumbent upon us to lead by example.

IFMA holistically embraces environmental stewardship. We follow a set of sustainable policies and practices at all of our events, and encourage our event partners, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to do their part in reducing our collective carbon footprint.

Click on a topic below for details:

Transportation

IFMA Headquarters Hotel, the Omni Hotel at CNN Center, is directly across from the Georgia World Congress Center, allowing attendees staying at the hotel to walk to the conference.

Shuttle service will be kept to a minimum, providing service between the Atlanta Marriott Marquis and the Georgia World Congress Center, and off-site events such as the Welcome Reception, reducing the need for cabs and cars.

With 38 rail stations and more than 125 bus routes to serve your needs, MARTA is the key to getting around Atlanta. Whether you are coming in from the airport or enjoying Atlanta nightlife, MARTA is the easiest and most cost-effective way to get around the city. Visit www.itsmarta.com to plan your trip.

Downtown Atlanta offers a large number of entertainment and dining options—put your green foot forward and walk!

Reuse/Recycle

Drop your conference name badges in recycling bins located throughout the center for reuse at future IFMA events.

Drop unwanted papers, used cans and bottles in recycling bins located throughout the center.

Surplus supplies and foam core will be donated to a local school.

Reduce Paper Usage

Conference planning, coordination and information-sharing via online, phone and in-person meetings.

Primary distribution of event information via Web site and e-mail.

On-site materials/handouts will be minimal.

Conference program details submitted and edited via online database.

Limited distribution of conference collateral materials.

Post-conference materials (panel notes, presentations, marketing, etc.) available on the Web site in PDF format.

Food & Beverage

All containers, cutlery and dishes are glass or metal.

No bottled water or individually wrapped food items.

Surplus catering will be donated to a local charity.

Green Initiatives at the Georgia World Congress Center

The center's caterer works closely with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to ensure left-over food and supplies from events do not go to waste.

The center's employees are participating in a four-part workshop series called "Growing Green."

An increased emphasis has been placed on recycling during the past year. A baler is now on site for recycling corrugated board. Permanent recycling containers for the common areas have been purchased.

Each of the 106 meeting rooms has a spring water cooler.

The center purchases green cleaning chemicals and recyclable/compostable containers for serving food in the employee cafeteria.

The center has partnered with Closed Loop Organics to compost food waste.

The IFMA Energy Challenge: ENERGY STAR^® is in full swing!

IFMA members can enhance benchmarking efforts in facility performance through the association's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager master account. This valuable tool creates a clearinghouse for building energy performance data, allowing building owners to calculate and easily store data in one's own business account.

The first step is to establish your baseline in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager; secondly, share your data with the IFMA master account. Getting started and sharing your data is now easier than ever. Plus, everyone who takes part has a chance for recognition!

Data sharing is on a strictly voluntary basis. In order for IFMA to benchmark members' combined energy performance, the association's research department will have access to the database and apply the same standards of care and confidentiality with ENERGY STAR data. Although no scores will be revealed, we will need your permission to use your company's name to be recognized as a participant.

If you are currently tracking your data, please make sure to share that information with IFMA. If you're interested in participating, get started today by visiting www.energystar.gov or the ENERGY STAR forum at http://ifmacommunity.org.

Be a part of the challenge! Collect your data in ENERGY STAR, share your data; then come to IFMA's World Workplace for acknowledgement of your efforts.