Think Fit @ ALA & Green Efforts
Think Fit @ ALA is our health and well-being initiative with a focus on both personal health and environmental awareness. As sustainability and "green" efforts are increasing throughout the events and hospitality industry, we should "think fit" to minimize our negative impact on the environment and work toward greater sustainability.
We encourage everyone to keep an eye out for the environmentally friendly activities that ALA and our vendors, exhibitors, and other partners have developed.
What you can do as an attendee:
- Download the ALA Mobile App.
- Bring your own reusuable mug or water bottle for beverages - or buy one at the ALA Store!
- Look for the convention center's recycling bins when throwing away trash.
- Reuse your conference bags for groceries and other shopping, or when you travel, to cut down on paper or plastic bags.
- Participate in your hotel's green initiatives, such as the cards to opt out of daily linen changes, and paperless check-in/check-out options.
Catch these wellness sessions at Annual!
Yoga & Meditation
Sponsored by: DK and ABRAMS
Washington Convention Center - Room 208B
Need your yoga fix or a minute for meditation? ALA's new yoga room is fully equipped with what you need to reach a level of peace and a tranquil state of mind.
Yoga Room Hours:
- Friday, June 21 - 9:00am - 4:00pm
- Saturday, June 22 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Sunday, June 23 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Monday, June 24 - 9:00am - 2:00pm
Sponsored by DK Publishing and ABRAMS
Catch the Wellness Hour
Sponsored by ABRAMS
Yoga to Open the Heart with Susan Verde
Sunday, June 23, 11:30am - 12:30pm
Washington Convention Center - Room 208B
Join certified kids yoga and wellness instructor and author Susan Verde to discover how yoga cultivates patience, resilience, creativity, and confidence in all of us and how you can bring mindfulness and movement into your library or classroom. Following the session, Susan will sign copies of her bestselling picture book I am Yoga.
This information is not intended to replace the medical advice or help of your doctor but is to be used only as an aid in understanding fitness. If any of the above guidelines cause pain, do not continue the activity and seek the advice of a medical professional.
First Aid
Washington Convention Center - Office B
First Aid is located in the Walter E. Convention Center, Show Office B.
Hours are Monday, June 17 through Tuesday, June 25, 7:00am - 7:00pm, each day.
Green Efforts
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
The Walter E. Washington Convention Center partners with multiple organizations and has updated recycling procedures to lower our carbon footprint. Below you will find some bullet points of the programs/partnerships and methods we utilize to reduce our carbon footprint.
- Trash and recycling services with proper sorting measures. We use multi-compartment waste bins within the convention center to collect trash and recyclable items. In addition we also have recycling bins on the exterior to be hauled by our waste management company.
- Lightbulb Crushing- reduces the exposure of mercury to employees and allows the bulb to be contained in a secure container.
- Paint repurposing and disposal - allows the convention center to reuse or recycle to into other products such as additives for concrete, and properly disposing of paint cans.
- Wooden Pallet Reclamation for DC Department of Public Works
- State of the art BAS System for HVAC Energy Efficiency; Maximization of Outside air for free cooling/Heating- This allows the facilities department to manage the HVAC system based on the weather pattern to determine If we turn on our boilers or chillers to assist with cooling and heating. In most cases we’re able to begin cooling or heating with a mixture of outdoor air.
- Building wide Lutron lighting system used to maintain lighting during operating hours only-The Lutron lighting system at the convention center allows us the opportunity to monitor the amount of electrical energy we’re using in our meeting spaces, public spaces, and back of house. We’re there are no meetings or activities scheduled we either lower the lighting level or completely turn off the lights in the space.
- Partnerships with DC Sustainability Energy Utility for energy saving programs for habitat for humanity to donate left over products and goods.
Aramark at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center Sustainability Efforts
Alongside our clients, Aramark implements programs to reduce our environmental impact. We place special emphasis on responsible sourcing, waste minimization, and efficient operations. We purchase local, seasonal, and responsibly raised, grown and sourced products. We minimize our waste by reducing and recycling. Across our operations, we have established practices from initial purchase to final waste disposal that decrease the overall cost of waste both environmentally and financially.
GES
GES is the first and only global, full service events provider to earn APEX/ASTM Level 2 certification and ISP 20121. Sustatinability is in their core values and implemented in every aspect of their services.
- 95%of GES lifts and riggers are powered by natural gas.
- Furniture at GES is reused 6x then refurbished/customer sale.
- GES has processed over 150,000 previously printed orders to paperless.
PRG
PRG has implemented a company-wide Green Policy to minimize the impact of its operations on the environment. This Green Policy includes the following practices:
- PRG periodically collects lighting, audio, video, and scenic operations and delivers it to salvage yards where it can be melted down and reprocessed for reuse.
- PRG minimizes fuel consumption by combining orders on trucks whenever possible and transferring inventory between depots to minimize long-distance LTL deliveries.