U.S. Exhibitors Report Big Rise in Green Business

American businesses are producing environmentally friendly products that range from a state-of-the-art commercial airliner that can transport 250 passengers using 20 percent less fuel than comparable jets, to a portable machine that turns household garbage into greenhouse soil.

Small business or large corporation, many U.S. businesses have shown exponential growth over the last several years in the implementation of their environmentally friendly systems. Thirty-seven American businesses and non-governmental organizations shared their environmentally sensitive products and services with the Washington diplomatic corps gathered to celebrate Earth Day 2004 at the Department of State on April 22nd.

"We've seen our company double in size just over the last year," said John DeNoma, speaking for NaturaLawn of America. His young company offers lawn care systems that build soil and turf quality while promoting the reduced, safer use of materials to control insects, weeds and diseases. DeNoma believes the rapid growth of the company is driven by simple consumer consciousness. "Americans are becoming more concerned with what's happening on their own patch, linking their buying decisions to issues like local water quality," he explained. NaturaLawn's products and methods are marketed in North American, but DeNoma looks forward to introducing the products to the global golf course, hotel and resort trade, "where people gravitate to green and lush."

Environment One Corporation is an example of a company that began small but has grown to serve both U.S. and international needs. "Environment One was honored to be at the first Earth Day with Dennis Hayes in New York in 1970," representative George Vorsheim told the Washington File. "We think of ourselves as a modest spoke in the wheel of industries creating environmental solutions to significant problems, including health problems, around the world. One of our core technologies is waste water infrastructure, installing systems from Stockholm to Sidney that guarantee clean surface and ground water and the safe reuse of treated water," he explained.

Vorsheim noted Environment One is working in Japan, Canada, Mexico and Eastern Europe where they are setting up central sewage systems to replace septic and cesspool systems that are severely contaminating the region's water resources. "We can deliver these systems in an environmentally sensitive and economically sensitive way. That's key -- our costs are affordable to communities which have never had access to central sewage before," he said. Vorsheim also noted the potential importance of Environment One technology for environmentally sensitive areas in North America, particularly rural and coastal areas.

In response to the needs of the world's growing population, Stephen L. Keiley, chairman of TerraBuilt and Floyd Bouldin, chairman of Bouldin & Lawson, were inspired to invent new machinery that converts low-cost, universally available, common substances into building material with minimal environmental impact.

The TerraBuilt system produces precision-engineered tongue and groove compressed earth bricks using common subsoil and a small portion of cement. Habitat for Humanity is among the nongovernmental organizations leasing TerraBuilt machinery to produce safe, low-cost, environmentally sensitive building bricks for housing and other building needs.

Bouldin & Lawson uses recycled household garbage to produce a very different type of building material. "We can take 95% of household garbage -- and we're working on getting that up to 100% -- and turn it into a product used as growth medium in greenhouses, or to create composite products like extruded landscaping and decking timber or fencing material," Bouldin explained. "We expect to be operating our recycling system overseas. Think of the potential this has for island states," he said.

The U.S. Department of Commerce and American embassies work with U.S. businesses to promote worldwide access and investment in innovative technologies like these. In the cases of U.S. companies just entering the international market, the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service can help a newcomer assess whether its technology is appropriate and marketable within a new culture, one exhibitor told the Washington File. In East Asia and South Asia, The United States-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP) has been created to speed the exchange of best practices and technology between U.S. and Asian businesses to promote cleaner industries and cities. US-AEP is supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Companies whose names are known worldwide like General Electric (GE), Boeing, and ChevronTexaco were also among the exhibitors. They too recognize the notable expansion in environmentally sensitive services.

The Caribbean island of St. Lucia will soon meet 100 percent of its energy needs using GE wind turbines. GE's representative noted that it is able to facilitate the growth of emission-free energy production by drawing on the corporation's financial arm to put together a financial package that makes it economically feasible for smaller communities to transition to renewable energy sources.

Jeffrey Hawk, Boeing Aircraft's Director of Government, Environment, Certification for the 7E7, was visibly excited about the "Dreamliner," a new airline product that maximizes efficiency. Developed by Boeing and its international technology development team, the Dreamliner will consume 20% less fuel than any comparably sized passenger airliner now in service. Hawk explained the planes' several enhanced efficiencies are derived from state-of-the-art engines that produce lower emissions, and the use of lighter, composite materials in the majority of its primary structure. "Part of our commitment, from a corporate perspective, is greater commitment to environmental performance and this airplane is part of that trend," he said.

The exhibition was organized by the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, and offered a unique opportunity for international diplomats and State Department professionals to focus on the breadth and ingenuity of U.S. businesses working to prevent environmental degradation and waste.

For a list of the businesses that participated in the 2004 Earth Day exhibit "Improving Our World Together," click here.