NAFA is jumping on the eco-bandwagon this year and planning an environmentally friendly 2008 Institute & Expo. Most of our Members and Affiliates are taking the inititive to be more environment conscious and we are doing the same by establishing the I&E as a "green meeting."

What's a "green meeting"? It has been defined as a "meeting that incorporates environmental considerations throughout all stages of the meeting in order to minimize the negative impact on the environment."

Here are some things NAFA is doing to make the I&E a "green meeting":

• The Final Program will be printed on recycled paper using vegetable-based inks.
  
• Speaker handouts will be available on the web site only and attendees will be encourgaed to print out only what they absolutely must. No handouts will be produced by NAFA.
  
• All paper provided at the Print Stations will be 100% recycled copy paper.
  
• NAFA is reducing the number of printed pieces. Both the Exhibitor Prospectus and Attendee Advance Program were produced on CDs this year.
  
• Plastic name badges will be recycled at the 2008 I&E and will be used for 2009.
  
• Bottled water will not be provided by NAFA, eliminating the use of more than 2,500 plastic bottles.

NAFA's Salt Lake City meeting partners are also going green!

Salt Palace Convention Center
Dedicated to conserving the environment, the Salt Palace also participates in several measures to be environmentally friendly.

• The contracted disposal company sorts all trash hauled from Center and recycles all available material.

• Solar panels operate all lighting in the underground parking structure.
• Waterless features, and water-conserving features, in new restrooms save hundreds of thousands of gallons of water each year.
• Installation of variable frequency drives allow efficient operation of the HVAC system.

• A centralized control panel for the HVAC systems allows the Center to only cool rooms being used by events; unutilized rooms have tempratutes set at a higher level.
• All offices have motion sensors for the lighting systems that turn lights on upon someone's arrival in the room, and automatically turn lights off if no motion is detected in a period of time
• Preferred parking positions for all car-pooling attendees.
• Water efficient landscaping, and a drip irrigation system, reduced water needs 50%.

Grand America Hotel & Little America Hotel

• Both properties purchase food in quantitites very tightly based on contracted foood and beeverage functions, so food waste is kept to a minimum.
• Many food items are sourced from local farmers.
• Partner with the City of Salt Lake in commercially recycling paper and plastic.
• The majority of cleansers used in the properties are composed of "natural enzymes' not harsh chemicals.
• Maintain state-of-the-art heating and cooling systems to obtain the most efficient energy use.
• Continually install and maintain energy-efficient lighting throughout the properties.
• Guests are given the option of having their bedding laundered daily or alternatively to take the "greener" route, save water and let them go an additional day.
• Any towels, washcloths, etc. not left on the floor are not laundered.