The 2011 Paw of Approval Award

The 2011 Paw of Approval Award

If you know of a local business that has significantly reduced its energy consumption, then we want to hear about it!

The Buffalo Zoo, in conjunction with Polar Bears International (PBI), is looking to recognize businesses that are reducing their carbon footprint by advancing in electricity and heating conservation.

Lowering the amount of greenhouse emissions can slow or reverse the climate changes which cause sea ice to melt. This is important for polar bears as they need the sea ice for hunting.

On April 27, the Buffalo Zoo and the Polar Bears International President, Robert Buchanan, will present the 2011 Paw of Approval Award to the first prize winner. Second and third prizes will also be awarded.

In order to apply for this award, businesses must be able to show that they have reduced their energy consumption over the past 12 to 36 months. (See application for details.)

All nominations must be received no later than April 1, 2011 for consideration.

For more information, please contact Tiffany Vanderwerf, the Buffalo Zoo’s Curator of Education, at (716) 995-6138 or tvanderwerf@buffalozoo.org. You may also contact Jennifer Fields, the Zoo’s Public Relations Coordinator, at (716) 995-6129 or jfields@buffalozoo.org.

To nominate your company or another business, please click here.

Bundle Up for the Polar Bears

	Calling all school administrators, faculty and students! Wear your favorite sweater, hoodie or jacket to school on Tuesday, March 1, 2011, and help save polar bears! The Buffalo Zoo, in conjunction with Polar Bears International (PBI), is launching the “Bundle Up For Polar Bears” initiative to encourage local action on a worldwide conservation issue. We are requesting that schools lower their thermostats by two degrees on this date to lower carbon emissions. Reducing our carbon footprint can slow and even reverse the climate changes which are causing sea ice to melt. Sea ice is a necessity for polar bears as they use it for hunting. By bundling up in your favorite warm clothing, you’ll “bearly” notice the cooler temperature in your school…AND you’ll raise awareness on what we can all do to make a difference in preserving the future of polar bears! For more information, please call (716) 995-6128. To register your school so we can track participation and count up the carbon emissions you save, please complete our Online Registration Form. Once you are registered, you will receive follow-up information, including a Bundle Up poster, as well as a link to the Flickr photo site. After March 1, you can upload your school’s Bundle Up photos to this site so others across the country can see the involvement of Western New York students in this program!