Sierra Club Honors ‘Green? Sam’s Club
by February 25, 2008 12:00 am 95 views
In what has to be some kind of first, the Sierra Club has given a positive recognition to a Sam’s Club.
The environmental activist organization with more than 1.3 million members nationwide hasn’t exactly seen eye-to-eye with Sam’s Club parent company Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville over the years.
But at its Feb. 16 Conservation Awards banquet, the Arkansas chapter of the Sierra Club gave the Fayetteville Sam’s Club a certificate of recognition. Molly Rawn of the Sierra Club said the Arkansas chapter appreciated the Sam’s Club’s “green initiatives” such as stormwater runoff management, daylight harvesting and energy efficient features.
Sam’s Club spokesperson Susan Koehler said the company “was honored” to be recognized with the other businesses. Other winners included Byrd’s Adventure Center of Ozark for Business of the Year and Smilin’ Jack’s of Fayetteville for Restaurant of the Year.
Jon Johnson, director of the University of Arkansas Center for Applied Sustainability, which received a $1.5 million grant from Wal-Mart in 2007, was named Educator of the Year.
The Greenhouse Grille of Fayetteville, which uses organic and locally grown produce and meats, was honored along with Sam’s, Boulevard Bread Company of Little Rock and Stitt Energy Systems Inc. of Rogers.
On Feb. 13 at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Stitt also picked up a People’s Choice overall award and a gold from the EnergyValue Housing Award in the custom built, moderate climate category.