Darien Chamber of Commerce Hosts 'Going For Green' Event

DARIEN, CT - From The Darien Chamber of Commerce: On Wednesday, April 18th in preparation for Earth Day, The Darien Chamber of Commerce will host it’s annual “Going For Green” event sponsored by Darien Bank & Trust. The event will be hosted by Nielsen’s Florist and Garden Shop in the Conservatory. The event will be an all “green theme” to promote the following initiative, “I pledge to the community to make “Going for Green” part of my way of doing business and making lifestyle choices in Darien. As I make decisions for my business, or my life, I will consider green options to help make Darien and the Earth, a safe and hospitable home for present and future generations.”

2018 “Going For Green” Business Award goes to The Nielsen Company

The Darien Chamber will award The Nielsen Company the 2018 Green Choice award for their large scale project completed this year at 6 Thorndal Circle. The Nielsen Company recently installed a 129 kW solar array on this building. Over the useful life of the panels, which is estimated to be greater than 20 years, the 6 Thorndal Circle project will produce 4,622,715 kWh, which equates taking 736 cars off the road for a year. In conjunction with the solar project, a new roof with increased insulation was installed to reduce heat loss from the roof of the building. In addition, the Nielsen Company is just completing installing 100% LED lighting in the building along with occupancy sensors to further reduce energy demand. All light fixtures will be connected to controls to reduce energy output especially in the unoccupied hours. A portion of this project was financed through C-PACE financing. C-PACE financing is a special type of funding for energy saving and renewable energy projects introduced to us by our tenant, Greenworks Lending, and supported by the Town of Darien. These projects show the commitment The Nielsen Company has towards shrinking our carbon footprint.

2018 “Going For Green” Non-Profit Award goes to the Depot Youth Center

The Depot Teen Center is making an effort to help our world. With the removal of styrofoam, recycling streaming, and introduction of eco-friendly cleaning products, the Depot is more green than it has ever been! The Depot has two dumpsters that separate recyclables and garbage. Such a system makes it essentially just as easy to recycle as it is to throw items into the regular trash. Styrofoam cups have been replaced with more eco-friendly plastic cups. Patrons of the Depot are also attempting to reduce their individual plastic waste. Members of the Student Governing Board make an effort to limit their usage to one plastic cup each week, or they bring their own water bottle to prevent any waste at all. The new cleaning products being used at the Depot lack harmful chemicals that pollute our streams, oceans, and waterways. All these efforts combined will hopefully foster an attitude of environmental conservation in the Depot and the Darien community at large!

2018 “Going For Green” Poster Contest

A key component to the annual “Going For Green” event is the poster contest with the DHS Graphics Design Class taught by Dorine Bosler. The students are given instructions to create a unique design that is easy to read and graphically communicates an environmentally green message. An independent panel of chamber members judge the entries. This year the awards will be given to DHS Graphic Designers –Bosco Miachavelo (1st Place) and Natalie Harper (2nd Place). These posters can be seen in store windows throughout Darien during the month of April.

All members of the chamber and interested people in the community are invited to attend the “Going For Green” Event. Michael Joseph’s Fine Foods will provide delicious hors D’oeuvres Foods that are from sustainable sources. Refreshments will also be served. After the awards are given, Nielsen’s Resident Horticulturalist- Michele Blakeslee will give a short presentation on native plants and plants that are “pollinator friendly”. Tickets are available on line at www.darienctchamber.com and are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Every preregistered guest will receive a gift from the Chamber and a discount certificate for future use at Nielsen’s.

The Mission of the Darien Chamber of Commerce is to work to take a leadership role in promoting business community and quality of life in Darien. The DCC is sponsored by Elite Sponsors Bankwell and Laurel Road Bank throughout the year.

Photo courtesy of Darien Chamber of Commerce