Green is Universal

Going green starts with small steps, like recycling, but, an avid greenie lives a lifestyle that involves all aspects of the different ways we can make a difference.

See Alex Otto. She is the Manager at NBCUniversal’s Creative Partnerships and Innovation. Her job involves creating custom content for advertisers. Around Green Week and Earth Week, that involves making spots that emphasize the green aspects of partner corporations.

Currently Alex is working on spots with a client to help showcase some of energy efficient and waste reduction practices that their company is implementing.

Most recently Alex helped work on the animated tips that aired last Green Week across the networks of NBCUniversal. “Those animated tips were really a lot of fun to do,” says Otto, “because so much of what we do is live action with talent.”

Alex tries to incorporate her creativity even after she leaves the office by cooking. “I’m primarily vegan,” Alex revealed. “And just by the choice of not eating meat I feel like I’m making a huge impact.”

Alex is big on the notion of leading by example.

“Whenever I have friends over I only cook them vegan food,” she says. “I like showing them there’s all these really great things you can make.”

Alex tries her best to shop for organic and local foods, and says that her choices are broadening. Part of this rise in choice stems from her location in sunny southern California. “I’m lucky because a lot of food is grown close to where I live,” says Otto. Despite that fact, she still aims to lessen her impact by walking to local food shops instead of driving.

“A lot of this stuff is really innate to me, and once it becomes habit you don’t even think of it anymore,” she says. Especially when it comes to water conservation. “I grew up in northern California, where we had a water shortage, so I was always instructed to try and conserve water as much as possible.”

For Alex, these small steps both at work and at home are something she hopes more people will try to incorporate into their daily routine, and something she is constantly looking for ways she can incorporate more, no matter how small they may seem.

by Frederick Awich

Also, watch this video that Alex worked on:

More>

Eco-Profile: Candace Rodatz Barnes

Candace Rodatz Barnes
Government Relations and Corporate Responsibility
Universal Orlando, Orlando, FL

At Universal Orlando, there’s something in the air, on the ground, and on the rides. No one can say exactly what it is, but it smells and feels fresher, cleaner, and even more sustainable.

Candace Rodatz-Barnes probably can explain this best. In her position, she oversees NBCUniversal’s green initiatives at Universal Orlando. It sounds like a lot to handle, but sustainability is second nature to Candace.

“I’ve always been passionate about conservation, wildlife and saving our natural resources, since I was a young child,” she explains. “Having the opportunity to coordinate our green initiatives for the company has been a lot of fun for me, and something I care a lot about.”

Candace emphasized that she is not alone in her efforts. “I’ve been fortunate to work with a lot of motivated and talented people who all share the same talent and commitment,” says Rodates-Barnes.

She spoke in particular about the Universal Orlando Green Council, which meets regularly to discuss the different ways that each department is working to reduce their footprint and incorporate sustainability into their business practices.

The action doesn’t end at the roundtable, though. Each year, Universal Orlando launches a program that focuses on one key area of sustainability which each department looks to improve upon. “One year we did fuels, one year we did energy, one year we did water, and then we build our awareness campaigns around that,” Candace explains.

Bringing the team and the Orlando community into the equation is one method Candace employs to strengthen the green movement and keep upward momentum.

“I look for ways to get into the community, whether it’s a recycling drive, collecting something for charity, or doing a landscaping event,” she says. “Every year we do various programs, and we have support from local causes out there that are relevant to green.”

Candace has a way of integrating her passion for sustainability and conservation seamlessly with her other initiatives and areas of expertise. “We care a lot about education initiatives, too,” she says, “so that’s what we like to tie into our green initiative—to educate people on how we can make an impact.”

Tying into her role with Government Affairs, Candace says that she and the team at Universal Orlando “are always looking for ways that we can improve our operations to be more efficient and reduce our overall carbon footprint, while doing what is right for our business and the environment.”

That’s why Candace was at the Florida Energy Summit recently. The summit is like the Comic Con for Floridian energy conservationists. “Here, they’re talking about chances for businesses, local government and other organizations to come together and see where the state of Florida wants to go in terms of saving energy,” she says.

Candace thrives on gaining knowledge and then working as part of a team to keep creating change, noting, “we have a lot of motivated and talented individuals, and I’m really proud of that.”

by Frederick Awich

More>

Green Is Universal Blog

Green News Roundup

Green News Roundup

Green News Roundup

Green News Roundup

Green News Roundup

Green News Roundup

Green News Roundup

Green News Roundup

Eco-Profile: Alex Otto

Eco-Profile: Candace Rodatz Barnes

Find something fun on our Blog