The Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church, Deering High School Environmental Club, and the Sunrise Guide were each recently honored for their contributions in preserving local ecology with the 2012 eco-Excellence Award. The awards are given annually by ecomaine, a nonprofit municipally-owned single-sort recycling and waste-to-energy operation.
A luncheon was held at the ecomaine offices in Portland to honor all the winners from all 17 participating municipalities. Chairman of the ecomaine Board Michael Bobinsky and Recycling Committee Chair Troy Moon presented each winner with a framed award and a fleece jacket made from recycled plastic.
The Allen Avenue Church also won the 2012 Grand Award for best community program and was represented by Delene Perley, Elizabeth Oatley, Harold McWilliams, and Dan Chase.
The Sunrise Guide, a business award winner, is an annual resource guide brought to Maine in 2006 by Heather Chandler and is now distributed through more than 100 locations throughout southern and midcoast Maine. As founder, she describes its purpose and successes this way:
“The goal of The Sunrise Guide is to help consumers understand the links between buying behaviors, energy use, lifestyle and environmental impact, and to provide incentives that encourage sustainable choices. Since inception in 2006, The Sunrise Guide has helped over 20,000 Maine families develop healthy and eco-friendly habits, while saving money on products and services they use every day.”
An annual reader survey showed that, for example, 55% learned where they could recycle more difficult items such as CFL bulbs, cell phones, mercury thermostats, computers, and more. And, 55% said the publication helped them in finding greener options for products they were already going to buy.
The impact of the Guide is also supported by testimonials from readers who credit the publication with helping them make changes toward a more sustainable lifestyle… one step at a time. One wrote, “It’s a manageable read that is FULL of information that can slowly but surely infiltrate your life.”
