Democrats are going all out in their effort to throw the most "sustainable" political convention in history, but officials say most of the substantive changes will be behind the scenes. Convention-goers shouldn't worry about being inconvenienced.
"We believe that being green can easily become a part of everyday life and are therefore trying to minimize the impact on delegates, convention participants, and guests as much as possible," said convention spokeswoman Natalie Wyeth. "In fact, delegates won't even notice the majority of the green practices we are implementing."
Both the host and convention committees have their own "greening director" who has considered just about every component of the event--from toilets to trash to transportation. The effort includes low-flow toilets, hybrid and alternative-fuel buses, and fluorescent lights at the Pepsi Center. The staging area is made entirely of recycled or sustainable materials.
Attendees should expect to pitch in with some endeavors. To meet the goal of 85 percent waste diversion, organizers will set up separate bins for recyclables, liquids, paper, and compostable items in place of traditional trash centers at convention sites. There will be 900 volunteers to help with recycling and answer questions.
The host committee also plans to provide convention-goers with a way to work out. Denver has partnered with the Bikes Belong Coalition and health insurer Humana to bring 1,000 bicycles to the city for a free bike rental program downtown. The host committee will provide maps that highlight bike paths, drop-off stations, walking routes, and public transportation, said Parry Burnap, greening director for the committee.
Some of the bikes will remain in Denver to help establish a permanent program. The groups will bring another 1,000 bikes to Minneapolis-St. Paul for the Republican convention.
The Democratic effort has garnered some guffaws for the host committee's "lean 'n' green" catering guidelines, which call for meals to include certain color groups and restrict fried foods.
Burnap said the guidelines are voluntary, and the goal is to expand healthy options, not impose restrictions. "At Elitch Gardens [an amusement park in downtown Denver], people are going to eat funnel cakes; people are going to have their sweets," she said.
Convention-goers will receive reusable water bottles, and a water wagon will be at most sites for refills. Disposable bottles of water will be allowed at the convention site, contrary to some rumors, Wyeth said.
Even memorabilia is getting the green touch. Bob DeMasse of Altitude Profit Consulting, merchandiser for the host committee, said guidelines require that at least half the product offerings be made at American union shops, and stickers identify items that fit the green image. DeMasse said APC has already surpassed the 50 percent mark, but he acknowledged that there are limited resources available nationally to fit the guidelines.
"It certainly has come with its challenges, and it unfortunately does come with its costs," DeMasse said. He declined to talk numbers, but price differences are apparent in the online store. Host committee T-shirts flagged as union-made in the United States cost a few dollars more than other types.
All the effort will have its rewards. The Democratic National Committee encouraged delegates to offset the carbon footprint of their travel by supporting renewable-energy projects, and the delegation that does the most on this score will be recognized on the convention floor and receive an eco-friendly prize.
This article appeared in the Saturday, August 2, 2008 edition of National Journal.
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