The Clean Air Campaign® Honors Pacesetting Employers 
Employers and individuals honored for excellence at 2005 PACE Awards

ATLANTA (October 6, 2005) The Clean Air Campaign® presented the 2005 PACE Awards today, honoring six employers, a property management company and two individuals for their outstanding efforts to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in metro Atlanta. Ray Christman, President and CEO of Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, delivered the keynote address and Laura Huckabee, meteorologist for CBS 46, presented the awards. Ellen Macht, executive director of The Clean Air Campaign, was also on hand to announce the return of the organization’s highly successful Telework Leadership Initiative.

   “Given rising gas prices, commute alternatives are receiving a lot of attention because of the cost savings they provide,” said Macht. “The programs that we have honored here today are more important than ever in retaining employees, reducing traffic, improving air quality, and ultimately, making Georgia more vibrant and healthy.” 

   At the sixth annual event, nine awards were presented in five categories (see attached for more information on winning programs/individuals):
• The PACE Awards for overall employer programs were presented to three employers: CH2M HILL for small business; Ricoh Electronics, Inc. for medium business; Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for large business; Georgia Department of Revenue for public sector employer. Melaver, Inc. - The Crestwood Building won the PACE Award for a property management company.
• The GDOT Commissioner’s Award honored Rob Johnson of the Atlanta Community Food Bank for his leadership in making commute alternatives part of the nonprofit’s organizational culture;
• The Pace Setter Award recognized Joan Murphy of Clayton State University for her extraordinary efforts in creating change on campus;
• The PACE Innovator Award honored Clayton State University for its innovation in promoting commute alternatives despite ever-changing schedules for students and faculty; and 
• Fiserv, Inc. received the PACE Spotlight Award for excellence in a single program element - a highly successful vanpooling program. 

   In addition to honoring these outstanding programs, Macht made a call to the 450 attendees to “rise to the challenge of rising gas prices by promoting solutions to the drive alone commute.”

   In light of high gas prices, The Clean Air Campaign has extended its successful Cash for Commuters program to the end of the year. Cash for Commuters provides a cash incentive of $3 a day, up to $180 over a 90 day period, to commuters who switch to a commute alternative. The program has seen a substantial increase in interest from metro Atlanta commuters since gas prices spiked in late August. 
The Clean Air Campaign received more than 2,600 applications in September – a six-fold increase over the first month of the program.

   “High gas prices have the commuting public paying attention,” reported Macht. “The reasons for carpooling and taking the bus or train have never been more compelling. As a result, our phones are ringing off the hook.”

   Macht also announced at the PACE Awards luncheon that The Clean Air Campaign will select 10 employers to participate in the Telework Leadership Initiative in 2006. The Telework Leadership Initiative is a groundbreaking incentive program that provides employers with up to $20,000 worth of resources to start or expand a telework program. Applications for the Telework Leadership Initiative are now available by visiting The Clean Air Campaign’s Web site, cleanaircampaign.com,  or by calling 1-877-CLEANAIR. Applications will be accepted until December 8, 2005.

   The PACE Awards were presented by The Clean Air Campaign in cooperation with the region’s eight area transportation management associations (TMAs) and were sponsored by BellSouth, Atlanta Business Chronicle and WABE 90.1 FM. 

About The Clean Air Campaign®
The Clean Air Campaign is a not-for-profit organization that works with Georgia’s employers, commuters and schools to encourage actions that result in reduced traffic and improved air quality. To accomplish this goal, The Clean Air Campaign offers assistance to 400 employers to design and implement commute alternative programs, protects public health through the issuance of Smog Alert notifications, offers targeted incentives to commuters and employers, and works with elementary and middle schools to empower children to play a positive part in reducing traffic and cleaning the air. For more information, call 1-877-CLEANAIR or visit www.cleanaircampaign.com.

PACE Award, Small Business: 
CH2M HILL
CH2M HILL is a commuter’s dream employer, allocating $7,000 a year toward the cost of alternative transportation management. 
CH2M HILL’s program includes incentive programs, the Guaranteed Ride Home program, teleworking options, subsidies for MARTA passes and Cobb Community transit, shuttles to nearby buildings, and flexible work schedules for all employees. 
To encourage carpooling, CH2M HILL placed a map in the front lobby where employees can place a pin on their home address along with their work extension. 
And the commitment is paying off. Since the inception of Commuter Rewards in 2001, CH2M HILL employees have logged 11,000 avoided trips, 205,000 vehicle miles reduced and documented savings of more than $53,000. From near-zero utilization prior to 2000, now more than 50% of employees opt to use a commute alternative on a regular basis.

Small Business Finalist: Atlanta Community Food Bank

PACE Award, Medium Business:
Ricoh Electronics, Inc.
Despite its transit-inaccessible location, Ricoh Electronics, Inc (REI) has built a strong commute options program.
As a result of REI’s partnership with The Clean Air Campaign, over 12 percent of the workforce carpools. REI’s corporate office was so impressed with the first-year success of the program that they approved a $12,000 annual budget through 2009. Part of this budget pays for an internal incentive program. Employees earn points for responsible actions including alternative commuting, filling up after 8 p.m. and getting regular tune-ups. The points can then be redeemed for extra vacation days or gift certificates. 
REI also has twenty “Carpool Only” parking spots, bi-annual transportation fairs, and constant reminders through closed-circuit television, newsletters, emails, etc.
REI employees prevent 912 vehicle miles from being driven each day, reducing nitrogen oxides by 389 pounds and volatile organic compounds by 466 pounds.

Medium Business Finalist: Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

PACE Award, Large Business: 
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Because asthma is the number one reason for admission to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, they felt compelled to implement a program that would help reduce air pollution, an asthma trigger. Children’s offers subsidized MARTA passes, the Guaranteed Ride Home program, preferential parking to carpoolers, vanpool subsidies, flextime, telework options, clean air fairs and shuttle services to transit stations.
Children’s also encourages other smog-reducing actions, such as conserving electricity through time-controlled air conditioning, canceling lawn maintenance on smog alert days, and using bikes and electric scooters for security officers.
A recent employee survey indicated that the use of commute alternatives has increased from 16 percent in 2004 to 65 percent in 2005. Children’s employees eliminated 10,458 pounds of pollution, up from 5,298 pounds in 2004. 

Large Business Finalists: ADP, Art Institute of Atlanta, AutoTrader.com

PACE Award, Public Sector: 
Georgia Department of Revenue
When the Georgia Department of Revenue relocated, they realized that the move would present a series of commute challenges. To make the transition easier, a special committee was created to spearhead a commute options program.
A shuttle system connects employees to the nearest MARTA rail station, preferential parking spots are given to vanpools, teleworking and flextime are encouraged and special events are held throughout the year to encourage the use of commute alternatives.
The Georgia Department of Revenue also makes sure that their shuttles are refueled before 6 a.m. or after 6 p.m., shuttles are given regular maintenance to improve fuel efficiency and building lights and air conditioning units are set to turn off after hours.
Program participation has grown over the years to encompass 46 carpoolers, 45 vanpoolers, 68 transit riders and 50 teleworkers with an additional 80 teleworkers to be added in October.

Public Sector Finalists: Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Technology Authority, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development

PACE Award, Property Management Company: Melaver, Inc. – The Crestwood Building 
The Crestwood building, located in Duluth, currently houses 24 companies and approximately 200 employees. The building and surrounding areas are easily accessible by foot and encouraging the use of commute alternatives is a priority. The company provides rewards for employees and tenants that sign up for the Commuter Rewards program.
When Melaver, Inc. took over Crestwood in 2000, the company invested $1 million to make the building more energy efficient and amenable to its tenants. Break rooms, cafes, a fitness center, secretarial services and mail facilities were added to encourage tenants to stay in-house and reduce car trips. 
To reduce energy and water use, appliances and bulbs were replaced building-wide. Even the carpets have a minimum of 40 percent recycled content, and the indoor plants were selected because of their ability effectively remove indoor toxins and pollutants.
Since May 2005, the partnership with The Clean Air Campaign has already increased participation in alternative commuting by 5 percent, a number Melaver will continue to improve. 

Property Management Finalists: Hines – Perimeter Summit; Trizec Properties – One Alliance Center

PACE Setter: 
Joan Murphy, Clayton State University
Clayton State began their partnership with The Clean Air Campaign in 1998. Joan Murphy took leadership of the program a year later because of her strong belief in the value of commute alternatives. Since becoming coordinator, Joan has expanded the program, applying for and receiving a university rideshare grant that has funded many program improvements. She has also involved the local community in the program, asking them for regular donations to use as rewards and incentives for students and faculty who use commute alternatives. As a result of Joan’s passion and enthusiasm, carpools are forming, the number of single-occupancy-vehicles on campus is decreasing, offices are purchasing recycled goods and the university is taking other steps to reduce smog-forming emissions.

Finalists: Erin Rusin, HP; Bobbi J. Shingleton, Ricoh Electronics, Inc.; Kamau Witherspoon, Hines

PACE Innovator: 
Clayton State University
With 6,000 students and only 2,050 parking spaces, alternative commuting is critical for Clayton State University.
With the help of The Clean Air Campaign, CSU promotes Commuter Rewards, the Walk There! Challenge, biking, transportation fairs and more. An internal rideshare database is constantly being updated in an effort to match up carpool partners, and each quarter, commute information is collected and a Transportation Champion is acknowledged. Winners receive prizes and a trophy provided by CSU and local businesses. 
CSU also provides a Think! Neighbor to individuals in the Public Safety Department. Those who do not use the electric car are provided with bikes.
Despite challenges such as regulated budgets, distance to mass transit lines and varying class schedules, Clayton State University successfully promotes commute alternatives to its students and faculty.

Finalists: John D. Stephens, Inc., Ricoh Electronics, Inc.

PACE Spotlight: 
Fiserv, Inc.
When Fiserv, Inc. relocated 300 employees nearly 20 miles north of their midtown office, they joined forces with The Clean Air Campaign to alleviate the travel burden on their employees.
After human resources surveyed employees, vanpools seemed to be the best fit in Fiserv’s employee retention effort. Fiserv now has approximately 40 percent of their staff arriving by van. Part of the program’s success is due to Fiserv’s 20 percent subsidy for each van. They also established a pre-tax payroll deduction for the van fare. Further promotion of vanpooling includes posting of current routes, transportation fairs, emails and offering the Guaranteed Ride Home program.
After the 18 mile move, Fiserv was happy to report that only four employees resigned -- a 99 percent retention rate.

Finalists: IBM Corporation, Utilities Protection Center, Inc.

GDOT Commissioner’s Award: 
Rob Johnson, Atlanta Community Food Bank
When the Atlanta Community Food Bank made plans to move to a new, environmentally efficient, LEED-certified building, Rob Johnson, the organization’s CFO, saw the perfect opportunity to set up a commute options program that would complement the organization’s new “green” standards.
The program has been highly successful, with four of five participation goals already met. 
Over 40 employees are registered in Commuter Rewards, and in just six months ACFB employees have reduced 20,788 trips and saved themselves over $10,000. This success is directly attributable to the executive leadership that Rob has exhibited, creating an excitement around alternative commuting throughout the organization.

Finalists: Leigh Ann Launius, Cox Enterprises, Inc.; Mike Lawings, WellPoint