For Turning the Tide and at all our gatherings, the Institute at the Golden Gate employs best practices for sustainable meetings. The site for most of the Institute's programs, Cavallo Point-the Lodge at the Golden Gate, is in the process of attaining LEED certification-verifying attainment of the most rigorous standards for green building design and construction. These efforts represent just one more way the Institute turns talk into action, and principle into practice.

Sustainable Venue
Throughout the restoration of buildings and grounds at Fort Baker, the National Park Service and the Fort Baker Retreat Group (developers of Cavallo Point) were committed to the highest standards of environmental sustainability and historic preservation. The site now features highly efficient buildings, green building materials like blue-jean denim and low-toxicity glues and paints, photovoltaic energy sources, water recycling systems, natural ventilation, radiant heating, light-pollution controls, and acres of replanted native plants.

From eco-friendly soaps to light fixtures made of recycled parts, the lodge sets an example for waste minimization, water and energy efficiency, and environmentally responsible purchasing. Cavallo Point meets the majority of the U.S. EPA's 14-point guidelines for environmentally preferable meeting and conference facilities.

Green Events
The Institute employs a variety of measures to reduce the environment footprint of its meetings. For example, we print on recycled paper and minimize the number of printed handouts and signs. No plastic water bottles are used. Our menus feature locally-produced, organic ingredients. The comprehensive recycling plan covers paper, aluminum, and plastic-as well as off-site composting of food. (Composting cannot be done on-site as it could affect fragile native habitat.)

Transportation
Guests arriving at SFO are encouraged to take the Marin Airporter bus from the airport to Sausalito, and Cavallo Point provides complimentary pick-up from the Sausalito bus stop. Cavallo Point also offers complimentary shuttle service to and from the Sausalito ferry terminal for quick trips to San Francisco. Meeting participants should make arrangements with the Cavallo Point concierge prior to arrival by calling 415-339-4700. Click here to view the Marin Airporter schedule. The Cavallo Point campus is built for safe and comfortable pedestrian use, and on-site service vehicles run on alternative fuels.

Carbon Offsets: A Partnership with TerraPass
The Institute at the Golden Gate has balanced out our carbon footprint for our Turning the Tide conference through TerraPass, an organization through which we are funding clean energy and carbon reduction projects. These reductions are directly proportional to the emissions created by your air and car travel to and from the conference, as well as your hotel stay while attending. 

Launched in 2004, TerraPass Inc. is a leading retailer of carbon offsets and consumer energy efficiency products through www.terrapass.com. The company also works with developers of greenhouse gas reduction projects to bring to market verified carbon credits. Individuals, families and businesses who are balancing out the global warming impact of their flying, driving and home and office energy use have collectively made more than 150,000 purchases of carbon offsets from TerraPass and its partners. Together, TerraPass carbon offsets have funded reductions of over 1 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, the primary cause of climate change. TerraPass works with clean energy and carbon emissions reduction projects throughout the U.S., including wind power, farm power, and landfill gas capture. 100% of TerraPass carbon credits are verified against a broadly accepted standard by independent, third-party verifiers. For more information, visit http://www.terrapass.com/.

For More Information
Please view our downloadable PDF documents listed below for more information about the sustainability program at Cavallo Point and the Institute at the Golden Gate.

Resources

• Institute at the Golden Gate: Planning a Sustainable Meeting at Cavallo Point (PDF)