WEST STAR AVIATION RECOGNIZED AS SILVER PARTNER BY COLORADO ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
West Star Aviation is proud to announce they have been officially recognized as a Silver Partner of the Colorado Environmental Leadership Program (ELP). By continuing their commitment to the environment, West Star has climbed from a Bronze Achiever 2010, to an ELP Silver Partner. They received their award during a ceremony held in Denver, Colorado, on Tuesday, October 4, 2011.
The Environmental Leadership Program is a statewide environmental recognition and reward program administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Sustainability Program. The program’s goal is to foster relationships, reward environmental performance and create a healthier, cleaner and more sustainable Colorado.
“We look forward to working with West Star Aviation in the coming years to promote the type of commitment and environmental performance their facility demonstrates on a daily basis,” said Lynette Myers, Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) Coordinator.
In order to be recognized as an ELP Silver Partner, West Star had to uphold the requirements from the Bronze Achiever category while striving to expand their sustainability initiatives. This means they passed the strict qualifications held by the state of Colorado, as well as upheld the regulations put forth by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, including no serious violations for 1 year or criminal for 2 years, and implanting sustainability efforts such as energy efficiency, waste minimization, and water conservation.
West Star has continued to expand their recycling program, which includes but is not limited to: Metal, wood, rubber, batteries (both disposable and aircraft), paper and new and used oil. In addition, their entire Paint Department is certified under the NESHAP 6H which allows them to apply paint more efficiently and reduces their air pollution footprint.
“Our paint department only uses non-chromium based primers and non-methlyene chloride based paint strippers,” says Kraig Meyer, Environmental, Safety, and Health Manager, West Star Aviation. “This has reduced the facility’s overall air pollutants (VOC/HAPS) by over 30%.”
In addition, West Star continues to reduce their power consumption with relighting projects and motion sensors. They have also installed a new, more efficient, 790 Air Compressor which supplies air for two buildings and has reduced their electrical demand by half.
West Star’s latest green initiative involves taking part in the beta testing of SmartBag™ Digital Tradeshow Bag this year at NBAA’s Annual Convention in Las Vegas, NV. SmartBag™ is a complete digital literature management system that allows tradeshow exhibitors to offer their full catalog of sales and promotional literature in digital form (PDF). This program will reduce the massive amount of waste that is generated through printed materials and transform tradeshows into more environmentally friendly events. West Star is proud to be one of the first few select exhibitors to embrace this new program. For more information on SmartBag™ please see press release distributed on at NBAA or visit www.digitalsmartbag.com.