"Green Tier recognizes businesses like ABB New Berlin that have made the pledge to make sure the natural resources surrounding their operations are protected as they seek business changes. The community now knows this company is going after superior environmental performance as part of their pursuit of business excellence," Frank said of the program signed into law in 2004 by Gov. Jim Doyle. "This is not only good news for the business and its workers, but also for the community neighbors."
Aaaron Aleithe, general manager for the Low Voltage Drives business, one of five local business units within the campus, accepted the Green Tier certificate from Frank.
All ABB employees, more than 400 in total, from the businesses were welcomed at the event by Frank, Aleithe and fellow ABB
| Advertisement |
|---|
|
|
"This is an honor we all share," said Aleithe, in accepting the plaque. "New Berlin signed up for Green Tier in 2007, and the program has challenged our businesses to work very hard to exceed minimal environmental standards."
The work continues, said Aleithe, "but this is the first ABB site to receive this recognition -- and the first company in the city of New Berlin to participate in this program," he noted.
Superior Environmental Performance, While Improving the Bottom Line
DNR organized the program into two tiers of participation levels. Tier 1 is an entry level, designed to encourage innovation, collaboration and new environmental goal-setting. Tier 2 involves more rigorous participation requirements, places greater emphasis on superior environmental performance, and uses contracts as a means of providing regulatory flexibility that can be customized and proportional to a participant's environmental performance.
There are 33 Tier 1 participants, two Tier 2 participants, and five Green Tier Charters.
"Green Tier encourages greater environmental compliance with incentives," Frank said, adding the incentives include public recognition and a dedicated contact for that business with the agency. "This innovative partnership program also helps companies restoring natural resources."
Spelling Green at ABB New Berlin
As part of Green Tier, ABB New Berlin is continuing to reduce the facility's carbon footprint, via improving energy efficiency and improving product-shipping processes. "With the implementation of our ISO 14001 program in March of 1999, we have dedicated ourselves to continuous environmental improvement. ABB New Berlin has expanded its reuse and recycling programs, and reduced our chemical waste stream," said Kegel.
ABB New Berlin recently formed a new committee called "The Green Team," which has the stated mission "To preserve and protect what matters most by conserving resources through our products, processes, and people." The team, created by Rich Bizek, Rick Kegel, and Kathryn Schwab; dedicate their time and efforts to habitat conservation, waste reduction, energy conservation, and carbon-footprint reduction. All employees attending the event were given a reusable shopping bag and a 2009 "going green" calendar, as reminders to be more conscious of how recycle and re-use resources.
Wisconsin's DNR Green Tier program is based on a collaborative system of contracts and charters crafted jointly by participating businesses and the DNR. These contracts and charters streamline environmental requirements in many cases and encourage new environmental technologies. Green Tier is designed to help environmentally responsible companies achieve environmental and economic gains: www.greentier.wi.gov
