Plymouth resident Jora Bart says she’s a big fan of the RiverCentre’s “50-50 in 2” program, which since 2009 focuses on both reducing trash and increasing recycling by 50 percent in two years. This spring, six months ahead of schedule, the program exceeded its goal.
Bart, who is the public and media relations coordinator for the Xcel Energy Center, RiverCentre and Roy Wilkins Auditorium says, “It was the first initiative that we worked on, and everyone in our company is still very passionate about it.” In March, she says, the entire campus had reduced the amount of trash it produced by 1.3 million pounds.
To shed light on the RiverCentre’s impact, Bart says, “When fans at a Wild game wash their hands or someone is toasty warm in a meeting, the heat they’re feeling is provided by the sun.” No other building in the Midwest can say it has the largest array of rooftop solar thermal panels.
Bart hopes companies will be inspired and think green, too. “Start with small steps like turning off the lights when you leave the office,” she says. “One great result will lead to another.”
