Many will enter, few will win. That was the case for the federal employee GreenGov challenge. The challenge, an online participatory program that urged Federal employees to take part in the President's Executive Order on Federal Sustainability by submitting their own clean energy ideas.
The Department of the Interior expanded on the initial challen...ge and extended the program from December 1, 2009 to February 26, 2010. The challenge categories included:
- Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Conserving energy
- Conserving water
- Eliminating waste
- Purchasing sustainable products and services
- Sustainable building
- Other
Over 1,700 clean enerfy ideas were submitted to the contest, all of which vying to be "most green." Among those 1,700 ideas 10 winners were named, two of which are U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Region employees.
Michael Cunanan, of the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, is one of the Region's winners. Cunanan has worked with the Fish & Wildlife Service since 2001; he is currently an IT specialist with a focus on data management.
Cunanan's idea focused on creating increased communications for car-pooling to DOI events and on DOI campuses coordinating the use of vehicles to reduce carbon emissions and conserve energy. When asked about his accomplishment, "I am humbled and excited that DOI selected the idea as one of the top ten. I look forward to seeing the development of the website and its' aid for building a greener interior". Cunanan's suggestion responded to two of the seven main categories. Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Conserving Energy
The second regional winner is Dan Cox, a Bay Delta FWO wildlife biologist who responded to several of the seven categories with his idea. With almost three years of experience working on water issues in the region, there was no wonder why Dan Cox's winning idea focused on using native low water landscaping at federal buildings. "Federal buildings represent an opportunity to save water, save money, reduce pollution, educate employees and the public -- and set a good example," Cox said.