I’d read that the Democratic Convention in Denver, CO, from Aug 25-28 2008, was going to be an eco-friendly affair, but it seems that its not just a green dressing. They’re really taking it seriously, and every tiny aspect of the Convention has been organized to minimize the carbon footprint.

For starters, consider the wooden key cards to be used at Denver hotels by about 35,000 hotel guests for the first time in the U.S. 70,000 biodegradable wooden hotel key cards have been donated by Boulder, CO based Sustainable Cards LLC. 1300 tons of plastic becomes waste each year from hotel key cards alone. Regardless of what else the Convention accomplishes (or not…), if this wooden key card thing catches on at hotels nationwide, that’ll be at least one plus coming out of this extravaganza of an election.

And the DNC has ten ‘Green Teams’ working on sustainability in specific and differenet areas including business outreach, city facilities, greening events, resource recovery, transportation, new energy, water, lean & green, carbon, and communications. More details here.

Environmental activist Andrea Robinson is the DNC’s Director of Greening for the Convention, and she’s in charge of herding these cats into green alley, with a goal of recycling or composting at least 85% of all waste generated by the Convention. Trying to keep all the wings of the Democratic Party happy, she faces issues like coming up with fanny packs and baseball caps which are organic friendly, and made by a unionized plant within the U.S.

I don’t really fancy Denver vacations, but if you’re planning to be one of the 70,000 odd people expected to be at the Pepsi Center, then there’s a lot of events lined to help you enjoy the trip, including a the Five Points Jazz & Blues Festival from Aug 23-29. The line-up includes Gerald Albright, Poncho Sanchez, Arturo Sandoval, Jeffrey Osborne, Hazel Miller George Duke, Kirk Whalum, Dotsero and many more. Free admission if you’re 21 and over.

There’s a ‘Rock the Bells’ concert on Aug 23, featuring Mos Def, Kid Sister, Cook Kids, Jay Electronica and others. There’s also an eco-friendly ‘Green Frontier Fest’ on Aug 24th. Target is sponsoring a free day at the Denver Art Museum on Aug 25th. Willie Nelson will be playing at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Aug 26, and there’s a Dierks Bentley Concert on Aug 29. Full list of all events scheduled for the convention here. 

Posted on August 19th, 2008 by PLing
Filed under: Travel News