Our green office award goes to ...

More than a dozen applicants vied to win our "How Green is Your Office" contest. At stake: bragging rights and a stuffed green frog. Many had impressive credentials, making the choice difficult, and, admittedly, subjective. For how do you compare the environmental benefits of a waterless urinal with rehabbed lumber, energy-efficient appliances or other approaches? Ultimately, our decision came down to a combination of factors, including the effect beyond the offices and degree of difficulty for businesses.

THE WINNER

Skanska USA, Durham

From a strictly technical viewpoint, Skanska might not be as green as some other local companies, but that's beside the point. What matters is that Skanska is a construction company -- think earthmovers and other heavy equipment -- for whom going green is a quantum leap culturally. Second, Skanska's green policies require participation from all company employees, creating what business consultants like to call "the multiplier effect."

So for those reasons, Skanska racked up sufficient bonus points to claim our prize.

The company's Durham office, where about 50 people work, has been converted into a recycling and composting operation.

The Durham site is Skanska's only office in the United States, out of two dozen, that's composting food scraps.

Skanska's workers are treated to monthly seminars on composting, efficiency and global warming.

Every room has a recycling bin. Posters remind workers not to use trash cans for any waste that can be recycled: food, paper, plastic, batteries, cardboard, light bulbs.

Clients and other visitors to the site are briefed on Skanska's green policy, if only to explain why there are no disposable cups or plastic cutlery available.

And the Durham office has installed 21 motion sensors to shut off lights when no one's in the room. Why mention this detail? Because Skanska leases its office: That means that all the electricity savings go to the property owner.

RUNNERS-UP

The Redwoods Group, Morrisville

This insurance company is another example of a business that stands out for stepping outside its comfort zone and involving employees in its social mission.

Redwoods' corporate mission is not only to make a buck but to improve the human condition.

Organic produce from local farms is one way that the company makes employees aware of the environmental implications of their behavior.

Redwoods pays half the cost of compact fluorescent light bulbs for employees' homes. About 70 workers in this company of 110 have participated.

And the company has contributed about $10,000 this year to develop sustainable and renewable energy.

N.C. Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill

The garden is a work-in-progress that will serve as a model of energy efficiency for the region.

The facility is building a $12 million environmentally sustainable visitors center to showcase aspects of energy efficiency for thousands of visitors annually. The center, funded by donations, taps solar energy from above and geothermal energy from below. Electricity demand will be further reduced by maximizing natural lighting. Rainwater cisterns will provide a lifetime supply of free irrigation.

The 30,000-square-foot facility is being built on a site blighted by a Southern pine beetle infestation, so a healthy, thriving forest didn't have to be cleared for it.

The garden already requires composting and recycling, which means only washable dishes and utensils are used at the site.

To encourage an emissions-free commute, the garden is developing a bike path that will connect to the UNC-Chapel Hill campus.