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Portland small business recognized by EPA for its green power efforts

Release Date: 09/15/2009
Contact Information: Hanady Kader, EPA Public Affairs, 206-553-0454, kader.hanady@epa.gov

(Seattle, Wash.—Sept. 15, 2009) The Joinery, a hardwood furniture producer in Portland, Ore., is getting a green thumbs up from the Environmental Protection Agency for its dedication to fighting climate change by using green power.

EPA is honoring certain Green Power partners across the United States for outstanding contributions in helping grow the nation’s voluntary green power market. The Joinery is being recognized for its dedication to green power purchasing.

The Joinery has long made green power a priority. In 1996, the company purchased wind-derived renewable energy certificates. In 2004, it increased wind power purchase to cover 100 percent of its electricity needs. In 2008, the company bought 280 million kilowatt-hours of green power equal to its entire electricity consumption.

Aside from its green power purchasing, The Joinery’s paper products are produced from 100 percent postconsumer recycled materials and the company donates leftover scrap wood and sawdust. It also has a four-day work week to limit employee commuting and has worked to meet various environmental standards and certifications, including the Forest Stewardship Council certification.

In addition, The Joinery educates its staff and customers about its green power commitment and its benefits to the environment.

EPA’s Green Power Partnership works with more than 1,100 partner organizations to voluntarily purchase green power to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact hydro. EPA co-sponsors the Green Power Leadership Awards in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy and the Center for Resource Solutions.

For more information on the Green Power Leadership Awards: https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm