Northwest Arkansas

Nominate for our Best in Class Awards

Hospital Grants Mercy on Environment

Patient care is the top priority at Mercy Health Systems, but the environment gets a little TLC of its own at the new 350,000-SF Medical Center at Pinnacle Hills in Rogers.

Greenest Company Occupying Space it Commissioned: Crossland Construction Co., Rogers

Crossland Construction’s Northwest Arkansas team has only begun its push for a more sustainable work environment.

Greenest Company Occupying Space as a Tenant: Key Architecture Inc., Fayetteville

The nine-person staff at Key Architecture Inc. operates out of an office building that was constructed during a time when green was merely a color.

Greenest Company With Fewer Than 50 Employees: Greenhouse Grille, Fayetteville

The Greenhouse Grille has a lengthy list of green practices, all of which Gawthrop said the restaurant does on a daily basis, even if it means more time and slimmer margins.

Greenest Company With More Than 50 Employees: Arvest Bank Operations Center, Lowell

Arvest’s operations center, which was built in 1989, houses more than 300 full-time equivalent employees and is one of the company’s greenest spaces.

Best of the Rest: Innovative Ideas

While not every company that entered could be named a winner, we were impressed with some of the sustainable practices in place at numerous nominees. Some of those that are worth mentioning.

Special Mention, Greenest Municipality: City of Fayetteville

Fayetteville’s reputation for environmentalism hasn’t always been seen in the light it is now.

Clear Communication Often Prompts Necessary Change

Developing and implementing a corporate responsibility program is a major organizational change initiative. A well-rounded sustainability program – focused on social, economic, and environmental interconnections – can lead to changes in virtually all face

LEED Standards Shifting to Meet Evolving Market

Some developers and architects feel that LEED building standards don’t offer enough points for design and site selection, but the U.S. Green Building Council is making changes to address those concerns.

Greenest Office Judges Profiles

A profile of the judges behind the 2008 Greenest Offices awards.

Cutting Entitlement Programs (Editorial)

With so much opposition to privatization, Congress and the president appear to be at a loss for ideas on how to fix the social security crisis, but they must come up with some sustainable system that protects and current and funds future retirees.

Solar Power Slashes Electric, Hot Water Bills Significantly

Solar heating and electrical systems can be more expensive upfront, but tax credits and lower utility bills can make the investment worth it.

Learn to Focus on Positive In a Negative Environment (Human Factor)

Maintaining a positive attitude and staying rooted in your principles and values is important during an economic downturn.

Candidates Need to Examine Future of Entitlments, Taxes (Commentary by James Bell)

Now that tax season is over, I find myself thinking not about next year’s taxes but what taxes might look like decades from now. The Social Security Trustees’ 2008 Report was released in March and it projects the present value of the unfunded obligation f

Oklahoma court ruling threatens poultry industry in Arkansas

GDP up 4.3% in the third quarter, consumer confidence declines

St. Bernards to expand Maternal Life360 HOME program into Greene County

Then and Now: Cooperative business model a good fit for Mitchell Johnson