PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. (October 25, 2010)—The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners, on behalf of the Calvert County Citizens Green Team, honored Sneade’s Ace Home Centers at its October 19 meeting as the county’s Sustainable Business of the Year in appreciation of its contributions toward a more sustainable community.
The award, the first of an annual recognition program, highlights local businesses that have installed a significant energy-saving project within the last two years and/or are selling or providing a certified green product.
Sneade’s Ace Home Center, a hardware and building supply business with locations in Owings and Lusby, is celebrating its 35th year as a Calvert County business. The Sustainable Business of the Year award went to Sneade’s for its consistent and visible dedication to the sale of green products. Sneade’s promotes the use of energy-saving compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs and leads by example by using only CFL bulbs in its indoor lighting displays. Customers find green cleaning products prominently displayed at the end of aisles and informational brochures for energy efficient windows, doors, siding, roofing and other products. Employees also provide assistance to customers seeking guidance on using insulation materials such as caulk and weather stripping. In keeping with the “green” theme, Sneade’s sells low-odor water-based paints while promoting environmentally safe paint disposal.
Other Sustainable Business of the Year award nominees were Ice Vending of MD, LLC of Huntingtown and Fresh Meadows in Huntingtown. Ice Vending, an ice supply company run by Chris and Julie Gadway, was nominated for its innovative approach as an authorized distributor of Kooler Ice energy-efficient vending machines. The machines automatically make, store and bag fresh ice 24 hours a day. Acting as a large cooler, the ice vending machines hold 500 pounds of loose ice that is bagged automatically as it is purchased. This vending method saves in the cost of transporting ice to stores and in the electricity needed for ice storage. The machines can also provide filtered water.
Fresh Meadows, home of Bay Equine Service, is noted for its use of solar power. Owned by veterinarian Linda Molesworth, Fresh Meadows is an agricultural preservation site that includes a veterinary clinic, stables and an office. The site’s solar panel system supplies enough electricity to power the facility. The paddock and grazing areas are even protected by solar-powered electric fences. Fresh Meadows also employs sustainable management practices with fields managed using the rotational grazing method.
Sponsor of the Sustainable Business of the Year awards, the Calvert County Citizens Green Team, is a group of county residents and business owners working to promote sustainable practices in the community. The team coordinates the annual Calvert County Green Expo.
Source: Calvert County Government