BRATTLEBORO — World Learning, Dutton Berry Farms, and Holton Home were honored with the annual Sustainable Business Awards, presented by Paul Cameron, Brattleboro Climate Protection director.
The Sustainable Business Awards are given to Brattleboro area businesses that work to reduce their carbon footprints while promoting local food production, using recycled materials, and reducing their solid waste. Cameron presented the awards at the Sept. 1 Selectboard meeting.
World Learning was honored for replacing its lights with compact florescent and high-efficiency ballasts and lamps. The college composts its food waste and cardboard, which is then used in two community gardens; it also has replaced paper towel dispensers with hand towels, installed low-flow toilets, and built a wood-pellet boiler.
Andrew Martyn Sr., World Learning's facilities manager, accepted the award.
Dutton Berry Farm was honored for its new building on Western Avenue, which was designed with insulated walls and roof and a high-efficiency ground source geothermal HVAC system, which provides cooling to two walk-in coolers, an air-conditioned work room, and refrigerated produce display units.
Newfane Architect Bruce Landenberger accepted the award.
Holton Home was awarded for insulating the attic and basement of its 100-year-old building and installing an air-to-air heat exchange system. A new 5,000-square-foot addition will insulate a heat recovery system, and a large array of solar thermal panels will provide domestic hot water needs.
The home also converted its dryers to gas, installed florescent fixtures, started a compost bin, and installed sensors to turn off unused lights. Holton Home's administrator, Cindy Jerome, accepted the award.