Employees at Balfour Beatty Construction Team Together in Inaugural Ecoengaged Olympics
(3BL Media) Dallas, TX - June 7, 2012 - As part of a global Sustainability Awareness Month in May among all 50,000+ team members of Balfour Beatty worldwide, employees at Balfour Beatty Construction US teamed together on a series of 15 daily “ecoengaged challenges” to help make an impact on the environment, while also raising awareness about the many ways sustainability helps build a better community. From carpools and water conservation days to client connection and health and wellness challenges, Balfour Beatty employees in the U.S. achieved impressive results.
While some of the daily challenges were difficult to measure in output, the following were tangible, environmental results achieved through active employee participation in this inaugural event:
- At least 666 gallons of gas saved on Reduce Pollution Tuesdays which included a carpool day and a public transportation day.
- Community Support Fridays brought in 6,821 articles of donated clothing for charity and 2,124 pounds of food for local food banks.
- Employees spent 305 hours (18,311 minutes) “walking their lunch off” and another 326 hours doing other cardio for Health and Wellness Wednesdays.
- 6,875 gallons of water saved when employees “skipped a shower” on Protect Resources Thursdays (based on an average shower of 10 minutes at 2.5 gallons of water per minute).
“As this was our first year holding the event, we weren’t quite sure how it would go,” said Tracy Browne, the company’s corporate vice president of sustainability. “We were thrilled with the results, as we not only achieved success around awareness and environmental and community impact – but at the same time, built morale through engaged jobsite and employee teams across the U.S. It was a fantastic effort by everyone involved!”
In addition to the environmentally-friendly events listed above, the month-long program also focused on healthy communities, and included a number of service projects across the U.S.:
- Sharefest Workday (making improvements to local K-12 schools) in Southern California
- Clean Air Carolina 5K Walk and Run in Charlotte, North Carolina
- Clay Shoot Fundraiser benefitting Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas
- Platinum sponsor for Shelter House Inc’s annual fundraiser in Fairfax, VA
- Wild Ride (bike/run) benefitting Methodist Hospital cancer programs in North Texas
“True to our company’s tradition, community service is a hallmark of how Balfour Beatty gives back to the communities in which we live and work,” said Browne.
To learn more about the Ecoengaged Olympics, visit the “Inside Stories” section on the Balfour Beatty Construction website. To learn more about the company’s sustainability vision, focusing on three areas: profitable markets, healthy communities, and environmental limits, visit the company’s website at www.balfourbeattyus.com/sustainability.
About Balfour Beatty Construction
A leader in the U.S. commercial construction industry, Balfour Beatty Construction provides general contracting, at-risk construction management, and design-build services through more than 2,400 professionals nationwide. The company has been cited as a Top 10 Green Builder by Engineering-News Record for the past two years, and as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For® by FORTUNE magazine for three years in a row. The company is part of London-based Balfour Beatty plc, a global leader in professional services, construction services, support services, and infrastructure investment, with more than $18 billion in annual revenues. To learn more about the company and its subsidiary—Howard S. Wright—visit balfourbeattyus.com.
