The Greenest Convention Ever!

APA is doing everything it can to make its 2009 convention as environmentally friendly as possible.

At the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, for example, you can relax on a park bench atop the South Building's green roof. Water from Lake Ontario cools the South Building. And Bullfrog Power will match electrical usage with 100% green electricity--an initiative sponsored by Pearson.

The convention center currently recycles 77% of its waste. It has reduced its energy consumption by 20%. And it donates leftover food to local food banks.

APA's shuttle buses use ultra-low-sulfur fuels that reduce emissions. And the convention tote bags, sponsored by the APA Insurance Trust, are made from natural cotton versus synthetic fibers.

APA's headquarters hotels also feature green initiatives.

The Fairmont Royal York Hotel encourages guests to recycle, features water-conserving fixtures and energy-efficient lighting and uses eco-conscious cleaning products. The hotel donates leftover food to food banks and shelters.

There are even beehives on the Fairmont Royal York's rooftop! The bees, which gather nectar from the hotel's rooftop herb garden, provide honey for the hotel's restaurant.

The Intercontinental Toronto Centre Hotel participates in Audubon International's Green Leaf™ Eco-Rating Program, which helps ensure that hotels meet standards for environmental best practices. As a result, the hotel uses energy-efficient lighting, donates leftover shampoo and other amenities to charity and uses cold water to wash laundry when appropriate.

The Westin Harbour Castle Toronto Hotel uses a digital motion-sensing system to control temperatures in guest rooms. Guest rooms also feature energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs and in-room recycling bins. The hotel donates amenities to charity. It has also replaced a quarter of its chemical cleaners with biodegradable, vegetable-based cleaners and other nontoxic alternatives.

You can help us make this the greenest convention ever. Use these environmentally friendly tips while you're in Toronto:

• Use your all-natural APA convention tote bag.

• Reduce the amount of printed materials needed for your presentation.

• Use recycling bins in hotel rooms and meeting spaces.

• Re-use hotel room towels.

• Turn off lights when you leave your hotel room.

• Refill plastic water bottles.

• Walk to the Convention Centre or ride APA shuttle buses from the headquarters hotels.

• Use public transportation. You can buy a Toronto Transit Commission three-day convention pass in the convention registration area.

• Recycle your badge holder in bins in the Convention Centre and hotels.

APA has partnered with the following sponsors to advance green initiatives at the APA convention:

Bullfrog Power is the only company providing Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia with 100% low-impact renewable electricity from wind and hydro-power facilities. For more information, visit www.bullfrogpower.com.

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