WASHINGTON, DC— Twelve associations from the Washington, DC metro area have been awarded $500 grants through the inaugural Green Office Partnership Program. The awards were stemmed from a joint effort with the ASAE Foundation; the law firm Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP; and the environmental certification organization Green Seal.

“These grants aim to seed what we hope will become a wide-scale green office movement within the association community, and we appreciate the financial generosity and sustainability vision of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston for enabling us to pilot this program. Congratulations to all the selected organizations,” says ASAE Executive Vice President and ASAE Foundation President & CEO Susan Robertson, CAE.

The grants will underwrite onsite visits by Green Seal for an initial evaluation. Following the office visit, Green Seal will provide recommendations on ways that the individual office should integrate sustainable practices into its daily operations, such as developing environmentally-preferable purchasing policies. The program is funded by a grant from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP.

“We received an exceptional pool of applications and are excited to support this important program, which will help associations learn to adopt and sustain environmentally-responsible best practices in their office spaces,” says Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Partner Jefferson C. Glassie. “We hope this program will raise awareness in the association community and inspire other organizations to have their offices reviewed. Adopting small changes can lead to measurable long-term results.”

The 2014 association winners, ranging from small to large and professional to trade, are

• American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
• American Society for Hematology
• American Society for Nutrition
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• American Wind Energy Association
• Building Owners and Managers Association International
• Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards
• Federal Bar Association
• IEEE
• League of American Bicyclists
• Metacred
• National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association

"Green Seal is excited to be working with so many offices committed to reducing their environmental impacts,” says Ben Walsh, Project Coordinator at Green Seal. "The program provides tangible returns and benefits to association offices through more efficient operations and by distinguishing the office as an environmental leader. Ensuring that office operations are efficient — including such practices as double-sided copying, using occupancy sensors for lighting, and enabling sleep mode for electronics products ¬– saves money for associations that they can put to use for programs."

MEDIA CONTACTS: Sabrina Kidwai, APR, CAE, skidwai@asaecenter.org, 202-326-9505.

About Green Seal
Green Seal is a nonprofit organization that uses science-based programs to empower consumers, purchasers, and companies to create a more sustainable world.

About Whiteford, Taylor & Preston
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston represents a wide range of clients, including nonprofit organizations and associations, and provides advice on legal issues such as corporate governance, contracts, tax exemption, intellectual property, antitrust, certification, accreditation, employment, real estate, litigation, and other matters. Whiteford, Taylor & Preston has a tradition of giving back to its community through financial grants for worthy causes. The firm’s attorneys are active with ASAE as speakers, authors, and volunteers on Section Councils and committees. 

About ASAE and ASAE Foundation
ASAE is a membership organization of more than 21,000 association executives and industry partners representing 10,000 organizations. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies, and voluntary organizations across the United States and in nearly 50 countries. With support of the ASAE Foundation, a separate nonprofit, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge, and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession, providing resources, education, ideas, and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit communities. For more information, visit www.asaecenter.org.