NORWALK, Conn.--()--Viridian Energy, a leading provider of affordable, green retail energy, returned this week from the Mamori region of the Amazon Basin in Brazil, where the company successfully completed the first project of its “7 Continents in 7 Years” global sustainability initiative. The initiative is designed to positively impact the environment through seven sustainability projects worldwide, in addition to reinforcing Viridian’s vision to effect a significant collective impact on the environment.
“The retreat reaffirmed our mission, successfully demonstrating how global sustainability issues can be directly connected to local efforts and to the impact of consumer demand for renewable energy. We were all inspired by this experience.”
A team of 34 Viridian representatives planted more than 155 trees from a variety of native species, including Acai and Rosewood, on five acres of land that had been burned down for cattle pasture. A local forestry engineer helped plan and select the species to be planted based on local economic value, lending further incentive and assurance the trees would survive to maturity and achieve the positive environmental impact intended.
“Our first sustainability retreat was even more impactful than we could have imagined,” said Michael Fallquist, founder and CEO of Viridian Energy. “The retreat reaffirmed our mission, successfully demonstrating how global sustainability issues can be directly connected to local efforts and to the impact of consumer demand for renewable energy. We were all inspired by this experience.”
An extensive eight-step process was necessary to restore nutrients to the soil, including mixing top soil with fertilizer and magnesium and preparing the area with the enriched mixture. Max Maia, a native Amazon conservationist and owner of the tour company working with Viridian, dedicated one of the oldest trees on the property to Viridian as a gesture of gratitude for Viridian’s planting efforts and in acknowledgement of their shared vision for sustainability. After the planting was complete, the local staff erected a sign on the plot, dedicating the land and its trees to Viridian.
"Through this experience, I came to better understand Viridian’s sustainability mission and the impact we can have both locally and globally,” said Glen Crawford, Viridian associate. “Before this sustainability project, I didn't fully understand the role the rainforest plays in carbon absorption or the critical condition facing this vital and unique ecosystem. We can’t keep assuming someone else will do something about it. We have to be willing to step up. Viridian is the company that is doing just that."
The reforestation effort in Brazil was the first phase of “7 Continents in 7 Years.” For the second phase of the initiative, to take place in 2012, the company is working with research groups to plan a renewable energy installation in Africa, bringing safe, sustainable energy to people without access to a central energy “grid.”
To learn more about Viridian Energy and its sustainability initiatives, including “7 Continents in 7 Years,” please visit www.viridian.com.
About Viridian Energy
Viridian Energy is a socially-responsible retail energy supplier that provides greener electricity at an affordable price. The company services commercial and residential electricity customers in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania with energy derived from renewable sources. In all of its markets, Viridian offers consumers discounted electricity rates that comply with a higher renewable energy content standard. Located in Norwalk, Conn., Viridian was founded with the vision to empower its customers to make a significant collective impact through a relatively small individual choice simply by switching energy providers.
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