Sustainable Development
Valley Sustainable Communities Program
Overview
The Valley Sustainable Communities Program is one of TVA’s community preparedness offerings. It assists communities in identifying and cataloging their sustainable assets and increasing their sustainability commitments. The economic development focus is to increase the community’s competitiveness when companies are looking to invest in new or expanded locations in the Valley. Boyette Strategic Advisors developed and is administering the program. Sustainable economic development balances the need for economic growth with environmental and societal accountability. It ultimately offers benefits across a triple bottom line to ensure a healthy environment, a thriving community, and economic prosperity.
Levels
There are three levels of qualification for communities. These levels are based on the individual community’s sustainable efforts and their sustainable team’s meeting qualification components in the areas of preparation, economic, environmental and societal.
TVA Communities Seek ‘Sustainable’ Designation
Platinum Communites
A Valley Sustainable Platinum Community has made a significant and comprehensive commitment to sustainability and also has thoroughly integrated economic development into its sustainability efforts.
Chattanooga/Hamilton County (News release)
Gold Communities
A Valley Sustainable Gold Community is one that has taken a leadership role in implementing sustainable practices and has made a commitment to sustainability efforts focused on economic development.
Washington County (News release)
Silver Communities
A Valley Sustainable Silver Community has community-wide sustainability initiatives in place, with some programs available to support the business community and economic development opportunities.
Businesses are going green
Responsible companies today implement sustainable practices in new construction and existing buildings to save energy and money, and to respond to the concerns of employees, customers, and investors. In the TVA region, these are just some of the companies leading the way in sustainable development:
Volkswagen
The Volkswagen automotive assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., has earned the LEED Platinum certification, awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification recognizes buildings designed to the highest standards of performance to protect human and environmental health. The VW assembly plant is the first and only automotive manufacturing plant in the world to earn the Platinum rating. Platinum certification recognizes the highest level of performance.
Since the LEED system was created primarily for commercial buildings, VW had to meet some unique challenges in adapting the standards to the industrial structure, which covers 2.1 million square feet. Platinum certification recognizes the highest level of performance.
A training academy at the VW site also achieved the Platinum rating.
Green Mountain Coffee
In the 32 years since our founding, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR) has grown from a single coffee shop in Vermont to a leader in single serve beverages in North America, yet our corporate culture has remained consistent. We are passionate about innovation and have a strong sense of responsibility to build a resilient supply chain, create sustainable products, and give back to the communities we’re connected to around the world. In short, we intend to improve the world through our business — Brewing a Better World Together Fiscal 2012 GMCR Sustainability Report Now Available!
Alstom
Alstom, a manufacturer of components for nuclear, steam and natural gas power plants, inaugurated its first solar project at its boiler retrofit plant in Chattanooga. The 56-kilowatt solar array consists of 234 solar panels suspended above the plant’s parking lot. As part of a $600,000 funding and support package, Alstom secured long-term energy credits from TVA and a grant from the Tennessee Solar Institute covering about 25 percent of the cost. The solar panels were produced by Sharp Manufacturing in Memphis.
Centiva
Centiva Flooring in Florence, Ala., takes a comprehensive environmental approach in its manufacturing processes, products, shipping and procurement. Among many of its Green Way initiatives, it has examined every aspect of its energy use to reduce power usage, reduced its production waste almost to zero, and subjected its products to air quality testing. The company is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Flexco
Flexco is a flooring manufacturer in Tuscumbia, Ala., and an active participant in the LEED program. Flexco’s EnviroFlex products are made using post-industrial and post-consumer waste, recycled substances, and renewable resources. These environmentally friendly offerings cover over 95 percent of the company's products.
Kentucky Transpark
This state-of-the-art business and industrial park is designed to exceed current environmental standards in design, landscaping, lighting and signage. Storm water treatment systems, for example, remove harmful pollutants such as sediment, trash and oil before water is discharged to retention basins. In addition, the park is a “no idle” development that encourages occupants to use EPA-recommended guidelines for long-duration truck idling.