Acorn Awards
News & Articles
04/28/2008
New award to recognize efforts to go 'green'
Business First of Louisville
by Terry Boyd
In a state where coal is king, Gill Holland is starting an awards program to
recognize outstanding green practices.
Holland, a Louisville-based movie producer and arts and entertainment
impresario, is accepting nominations for the inaugural Acorn Awards.
The program is intended to recognize Louisville-based businesses that are
practicing sustainable development, managing resources and conserving them
with green practices.
Nominations are open through July 30.
The awards are scheduled to be presented Oct. 15 at a "green-tie" dinner to
be held at Holland's new "Green Building" headquarters at 732 E. Market St.
Acorn Awards will recognize:
a large corporation making strides to implement more sustainable practices;
a small corporation for being on the cutting edge of sustainability
practices, or creating innovative products;
a nonprofit group;
an individual.
Acorn Award panelists include Holland; his wife, Augusta Brown Holland; Mark
Appleberry, owner of Sustain LLC, a company that sells clothing and other
items from sustainable sources; Lori Beck, founder and director of Ohio
Valley Creative Energy, which plans a methane-powered community arts center
near the Clark-Floyd Landfill; and Claude Stephens, a green consultant and
director of education at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest.
Three finalists will be selected in each category. Holland's businesses will
donate $1,000 to each winner's Kentucky-based environmental nonprofit
organization of choice.
Seeking a platinum LEED rating
Holland, who recently has released two documentaries about environmental
issues, "Mountain Top Removal" and "For the Love of Water," said Kentucky is
behind the rest of the nation in green practices.
For example, any new pavement in Chicago has to be permeable to prevent
runoff of contaminated water, Holland said. Other states give tax rebates to
people installing such items as low-flush toilets and double-paned windows,
he said.
Holland said he first considered creating a "Hall of Shame" to spur
environmental consciousness. "But I decided, 'No, let's keep it positive.' "
Initially, Acorn Awards will be for Louisville companies, but Holland said
he plans to make it a state competition
To nominate a company or individual, e-mail a nomination of 250 words or
less to Stephanie Brothers at stephanie@gallerynulu.com. For more
information, see Holland's Web sites at: www.thegreenbuilding.net and
www.theacornawards.com.
Going for platinum
Gill Holland is converting a once-abandoned East Market Street building into
a headquarters for his The Group Entertainment LLC, which includes movie
production, a book publisher and an art gallery.
Holland is going for a rare platinum rating for a business, the highest from
the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization that promotes
sustainable construction through its Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design certification program.
Building to LEED standards adds about 10 percent to construction costs,
including about $75,000 in certification paperwork, Holland said.
There is at least one other platinum-rated building in Kentucky. The
visitors center at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest has the
designation.
04/25/2008
Nominate a green leader
The Courier Journal
by Diane Heilenman
Send no paper. Only e-mails will be accepted for nominations for the new Acorn Awards for Green Leadership, which come with a $1,000 donation to each of four winners' Kentucky-based environmental nonprofit organization of choice.
The deadline for applications is July 30. Announcements will be Oct. 15 at a green-tie dinner.
The Acorn Awards are supported by the new Green Building at 732 E. Market St., home of Gallery Nulu. Information: (502) 561-1162
latest news
Green Leadership – Individual
Finalists:
Gary Heine
Patrick Piuma
Tim Darst
Winner:
Patrick Piuma
Green Leadership – Non-Profit
Finalists:
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
Heine Brothers / Breaking New Grounds
Louisville Energy Alliance
Winner:
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
Green Leadership – Small Business
Finalists: (Four Finalists, due to a tie)
Urbane Homes LLC
21c & Proof on Main
Amazing Green Planet
Eco-Cell
Winner:
21c & Proof on Main
Green Leadership – Large Business
Finalists:
UPS
Brown Jordan international
Baptist Hospital East
Winner:
UPS
04/28/2008
New award to recognize efforts to go 'green'
Business First of Louisville
by Terry Boyd
04/25/2008
Nominate a green leader
The Courier Journal
by Diane Heilenman
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