Bell Harbor is a Certified Green Property
Bell Harbor International Conference Center strives to maintain green daily operations and sustainable protocols in contribution to the environmental health of the Puget Sound and surrounding Pacific Northwest region. We cherish the beauty and bounty of our location making green initiatives a top priority.
The conference center eliminates tons of food waste each day by donating leftover food to local food banks, maintaining a composting program, and recycling kitchen grease into bio-fuel that is used to power Port of Seattle vehicles. All food and beverages are served using reusable flatware, dishes, napkins and cups. In addition, the conference center serves fair trade coffee and uses locally grown food whenever possible. Its current recycling rate is 70 percent, well above the City of Seattle’s goal of 60 percent.
Recently, Bell Harbor worked with a local environmental consultancy to measure its carbon footprint, which was determined by the total output of greenhouse gas created through energy use, transportation and waste production. Upon completion of the study, Bell Harbor’s meeting and event planners have become educated on ways to further reduce an event’s carbon footprint by encouraging groups to:
- Utilize water stations rather than bottled water
- Take notes on white boards instead of paper flip-charts
- Limit use of notepads
- Consider the use of reusable nametags, as well as electric, online files rather than printed materials
- Encourage carpooling among event or meeting attendees
The conference center’s green programming reflects the initiatives of its owner/operator Port of Seattle, known as one of the greenest ports throughout the nation. In 2008, Bell Harbor earned a four-star rating from EnviroStars, a nationally recognized program developed to certify businesses who successfully reduce, recycle and properly manage hazardous waste. Certified EnviroStars businesses are rated on a two-to-five star system, which is based on how proactive the business has been at protecting the environment.
The International Association of Conference Centers (IACC) awarded Bell Harbor with Gold Tier status for the conference center’s commitment to the IACC Code of Sustainability, an extensive outline of the most up-to-date environmental practices relating to education and awareness, water and energy conservation, waste management, air quality and more. Bell Harbor, one of just two Washington state properties on the Gold Tier, qualifies for this distinction based on its commitment to the sustainability initiatives outlined in the code.
