The Pennsylvania Environmental Council and seven other regional organizations this week announced a call for nominations for the 2008 Philadelphia Sustainability Awards.

Nominations are due December 7.

Nominees who have achieved sustainable excellence through innovative environmental practices or creative partnerships are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will be those who solve challenges through solutions that go beyond standard or regulatory techniques, and who demonstrate a measurable impact on the Greater Philadelphia region.

Businesses, individuals, academic institutions, community groups and government agencies from the greater Philadelphia region are eligible.

In 2007, the first-ever awards program generated more than 50 submissions from Philadelphia and its surrounding Pennsylvania and New Jersey communities. A distinguished panel of jurors reviewed each nomination, and selected 19 finalists and 10 winners. Jurors included U.S. Green Building Council Chair Sandy Wiggins, New York City’s green affordable housing developer Carlton Brown and Director of Policy for Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development Sam Assefa.

2007 award winners included PhillyCarShare, Liberty Property Trust, The Food Trust, RecycleBank, Upper Dublin Township, the Philadelphia Police Forensic Science Center, Judy Wicks, Jackie O’Neil’s Zero Energy Home, the Engineering and Design Institute at Philadelphia University and Re:Vision Architecture.

Once again submissions will be judged by an accomplished panel of jurors, each with intimate knowledge of the Philadelphia region and/or sustainability issues. Jurors will select finalists and winners in January. Finalists will be celebrated and winners announced at a ceremony held at the Philadelphia Flower Show on March 3, 2008.

Coordinating organizations include PEC, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Delaware Valley Green Building Council, City of Philadelphia, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture), The Reinvestment Fund, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, and American Institute of Architects.

More information about the awards can be found at the 2008 Philadelphia Sustainability Awards webpage or by contacting Jessica Anderson at 215-592-7020 ext.101.

10/26/2007