World Green Energy Symposium Honors CAUSES with 2015 NOVA Award

For the eighth consecutive year, the World Green Energy Symposium (WGES) brought together top experts, leading decision makers, buyers, investors, innovators, global industry and local, state and federal agencies and delegates in a platform conducive for information exchange, opportunities, networking and actionable solutions. UDC CAUSES received the the 2015 WGES NOVA Award during the event, held March 12 at the David A. Clarke School of Law. 

The annual NOVA Award is given for innovations in green energy and sustainability. The award was bestowed unto CAUSES for innovative research and community programming, such as its model for urban agriculture known as the Urban Food Hubs concept. Other notable WGES NOVA Award recipients of this prestigious recognition include: Drexel University for their SMART House, the City of Philadelphia for the Greenworks Program, the District of Columbia for its Sustainable DC Initiative, the Country of Brazil for its Rio de Janeiro sustainable strategic plan, and the DOW Chemical Company for its leadership in combining power of science and innovative technology.

"We don't just focus on educating students on our campus, but are very active in educating the community. We feel very strongly that that is a better education preparation for or students. We are very honored to receive this award," Dean O'Hara said while  accepting the award.

DDOE Director Tommy Wells, UDC's Provost Dr. Petty, Dean O'Hara, President Lyons and Joann Hill, MBDA. Photo courtesy of Ed Jones.

As one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S., and one of the most bifurcated, Washington, D.C. is an ideal location to develop and test the viability of urban agriculture solutions. The Urban Food Hubs concept consists of four components: 1) Urban Food Production, 2) Food Processing, 3) Food Distribution, and 4) waste reduction/reuse. The aim of the Urban Food Hubs is to increase urban food production, expand food-related business opportunities, improve nutritional health through access to fresh food, and reduce energy by closing the distance between farm and fork (food production to food consumption). 

Robert Gallagher, Dean O'Hara and Pres. Lyons.
Photo courtesy of Ed Jones.

WGES is known for attracting the top experts and best minds offering opportunities and solutions, and this year was no exception. The 2015 program was jam-packed, presenting the latest information on how to tap into this $7 trillion dollar market as an economic generator and where the latest cost savings energy efficiency solutions and opportunities will be found. The World Green Energy Symposium continues to follow in the tradition of having a cross section of the country’s and the world’s top experts and dynamic speakers, and included: Kevin Kampschroer, Deputy Senior Sustainability Official, U.S. General Services Administration, Federal Director, Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings; Mr. Landon Van Dyke, U. S. State Department, Senior MA Executive Coordinator of Sustainability; Kristine M. Kingery, Director Army Sustainability Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Army; and Tommy Wells, Director, District Department of the Environment.

Additional photos of the event are available on our Facebook page. For more information visit www.wges.us.