DANBURY, CONN. — Western Connecticut State University was one of three winners of 2015 Green Awards announced by Morris Media Group this week. According to a Morris Media Group press release, the awards recognize businesses, nonprofits and individuals that are leading the local fight to protect the environment while also creating a sustainable social and economic community.

“The awards salute those who are making a difference, and they bring awareness to their good work,” said publisher Geoffrey Morris.

Nominations were open to the public and were accepted in three categories.

1. Businesses or nonprofit organizations whose primary focus is producing or selling innovative green products, providing innovative green services, and/or promoting a green lifestyle.

2. Businesses or nonprofit organizations, though not a producer or seller of green products or services, that have significantly incorporated green practices into their culture and operations.

3. Individuals who are actively promoting and living a green lifestyle.

WCSU was selected in Category 2 for the university’s extensive investment and efforts to employ smart-building technology. Western invested more than $450,000 in the university’s largest residence hall, resulting in dramatic reduction in energy use. Other efforts included the installation of four EV charging stations, and the achievement of LEED Silver status on the newly constructed Visual and Performing Arts Center.

According to WCSU President James W. Schmotter, “This recognition delights the Western community. It’s a further testimony to the university’s commitment to environmental responsibility. Our faculty, staff and students not only advocate green practices. They implement them every day, week, month and semester.”

WCSU Interim Associate Vice President for Facilities Luigi Marcone concurred.

“Western’s innovative efforts to reduce our environmental footprint have added value to our role as a community partner and a responsible neighbor. Creating an infrastructure of intelligent buildings and introducing technological solutions where human interaction had been required in the past has allowed us to continue to make improvements to our campus and reduce operating costs.”

Three independent judges sifted through the 85 nominees to determine the three category winners and Honorable Mention winners. The judges for the 2015 Green Awards represent the three counties (Fairfield, Litchfield and Westchester) that make up the geographical region of the nominees.

The judges included: Rich Lechner, vice president of Energy & Environment at IBM and a consultant and adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Earth Institute for Environmental Sustainability; Kirsten Peckerman, recipient of 2011 Friend of the Green Award in recognition of her contributions to The Gunnery School and The Steep Rock Association, on whose boards she

serves. She also serves on the board of Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust and on the Aspetuck Watershed Partnership’s River Smart project, which aims to protect key watersheds in seven Litchfield County towns; and Alex Mochary Bergstein, a mother, attorney and advocate for children’s environmental health. A former corporate attorney at Skadden Arps, she is chairman of the board of the Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center and director of Greening Our Children, a nonprofit that educates families about reducing their exposure to toxins.

The other winners were:

Sustainable Westchester, the Category 1 winner, has as its members more than 85 percent of all municipalities in Westchester County, serving more than 800,000 residents. Sustainable Westchester facilitates effective sustainability initiatives, engages community stakeholders, and shares tools, resources, and incentives to create healthy and vibrant communities. The organization provides an arena in which communities can share services and ideas leading to the development of effective responses to important sustainability-related opportunities, such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste management, land use, transportation, water conservation, food security and more.

Daphne Dixon, as founder and president of Live Green CT, is the Category 3 winner. She has produced more than 200 sustainability events, educated 15,000+ people, organized some 50 panel discussions, and worked with and promoted more than 300 green businesses and services. She also serves on the following task forces: Fairfield Clean Energy Task Force, Norwalk Energy and Environment Task Force, and Sustainable Stamford. She is director of the Wilton Go Green Festival and is host of Fairfield, Stamford and Bridgeport Green Drinks — networking events that bring people together around local sustainability issues.

In addition to the three winners, Morris Media Group Green Awards recognized 28 Honorable Mention honorees: Aetheria Relaxation Spa, The Aquarium Reading Room, Atlantic Westchester, Back 40 Mercantile, Bedford 2020 Coalition, Dana Gips, Analiese Paik and the Fairfield Green Food Guide, Heineken USA, Kathleen McHugh, Kent Conservation Commission, The Magnet Schools at Fairchild Wheeler Campus, Middlebrook School, New Milford Youth Agency, New Morning Market, Northwest Conservation District, Planet Fuel, The Prospector Theater, The Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield River Study, Shearwater Organic Coffee Roasters, Sport Hill Farm, Stop Algonquin Pipeline Extension, Sustainable America, Sweet Earth Company, Waldingfield Farm, Washington Parks Foundation, Westchester Green Business Challenge.

The 2015 Green Award ceremony on Thursday, March 12, 2015, at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, is open to the public. Tickets are $50 and can be ordered online at www.townvibe.com/greenevent.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.