Government Field, Sustainability Category

Emcee: Debra Poneman

While in office Mayor Richard M. Daley has initiated many bold programs. He has ordered that the heads of all city departments make their operations environmentally friendly. This has included paving alleys with special asphalt to better absorb water, buying a greener fleet of vehicles or forbidding city vehicles to idle more than five minutes.

The city has planted or negotiated the construction of well over 2 million square feet of rooftop gardens, more than all other U.S. cities combined.

Chicago is now among the largest users of green energy in the country, with a goal of using renewable energy for roughly a quarter of city operations. Chicago has won international awards for its environmental agenda, and boasts one of the world's only municipal buildings given a platinum rating for its green design and operations by the organization Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Since Mayor Daley took office in 1989, some 500,000 trees have been planted, the city has been decorated with beautiful green planters, park space has increased and the lakefront is being cleaned and preserved at a level never before seen.

For this and more I now ask you to join me in honoring Mr. Sadhu Johnston and Mr. Johnston on behalf of Mayor Daley.