The Greening of Houston

The city's going green...and METRO is helping.

Yesterday marked the launch of the Houston Green Office Challenge, a program to encourage property managers and owners of commercial buildings to reduce their use of energy, cut waste, conserve water use and engage with tenants to become more green.

The city will provide training and resources to help participants reach their goal.

Mayor Annise Parker urged businesses to join the challenge yesterday toward a more sustainable future.  

"Houston now has 89 LEED certified buildings, placing us eighth in the country. I don't like being eighth in anything. We want to be first," said Parker at a news conference.

More than 20 percent of the city's residential, commercial and industrial greenhouse gas emissions come from office buildings.

METRO's John Sedlak, executive vice president, said METRO is not just into sustainability - it's our business.

"One person switching to public transit can reduce daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds - more than 4,800 pounds in a year," said Sedlak. "METRO is also practicing sustainability - it's one of seven business principles for our coming fiscal year."

In addition, METRO is going green by:

• Buying 100 new hybrid-electric diesel buses every year.
• Using recycled water in clean our fleet of 1,200 buses, saving about 7,300 gallons of water for every fleet wash.
• Recycling scrap metal, tires, batteries, wood pallets and motor oil.
• Using green-tipped florescent lamps, which contain lower levels of mercury.

"It was a good opportunity for us to partner with the Mayor's Office of Special Events by producing marketing materials," said Monique Ward, senior community outreach rep,who coordinated METRO's partnership. 

Click here to learn more about Green Houston.

 If you're wondering what one person can do to make a difference, click here. You'll find info on how to start recycling at your apartment complex, locations where you can dispose of old paint, batteries, antifreeze, along with info on where to hike, bike and bird watch.

In the photo posted, Parker is surrounded by city officials and sponsors supporting the Green Office Challenge. METRO's Sedlak is the tallest person in the back row.