Jerica Sifuentes, a project coordinator and designer at Go Studio in Dallas, was recently named the grand prize winner of Zeftron nylon's third annual Sustainable Practices Award. Tina Hovsepian, a designer with Duvivier Architects and ceo of Cardborigami Inc. in Los Angeles was selected as the runner up.

The award honors commercial architecture, interior design and facility professionals who implement innovative green practices at their work, in their homes and in their communities.

“The key to a sustainable future relies on every individual doing their part to be green in every aspect of their life – and that includes at work, at home and in their community,” said Zeftron nylon business leader Tim Blount. “We’ve long said that our colleagues in the commercial interiors industry are at the forefront of driving sustainability. Both Jerica and Tina prove this point and are living inspirational green lifestyles. We applaud and celebrate the innovative green practices they are using to help create a more sustainable planet.”

Sifuentes was selected among numerous entrants for the multiple green activities she incorporates at her work, in her home and in her community. A portion of those activities include: convincing the owner of her company to participate in a building-wide recycling program; reusing cardboard tubes that hold architectural drawings for other purposes; maintaining an organic garden; using a vermiculture to responsibly eliminate excess waste; and donating a portion of her electric bill to solar initiatives.

Commenting about being named this year’s grand prize winner Sifuentes said, “People can make a big impact just by doing little things. It only takes one small step at a time and it’s not hard. You just need to be conscious and start making new, environmentally responsible habits. This award is important in continuing to raise awareness about how people in our industry can be more green in their everyday lives.”

Hovsepian was named runner up due to her extensive green lifestyle, as well as her ability to incorporate sustainable initiatives into her non-profit organization, Cardborigami. With an eye toward eliminating homelessness, Cardborigami develops portable shelters made of 100 percent post-consumer recycled cardboard. Folded into an origami structure to provide instant, portable space for the homeless, the units are water-resistant, flame-retardant and can be opened and closed in less than a minute, providing both the basic necessity of privacy and protection from the elements.

As a way to further advance sustainable practices, the award requires the winner and runner up to select an environmentally focused charity in which a donation from Zeftron nylon will be made in the winner’s name. Sifuentes selected the Texas chapter of the Nature Conservancy, which will receive a $1,000 grand prize check. Hovsepian selected Cardborigami, her non-profit organization that provides shelter units for the homeless, to receive a $500 runner up donation. Additionally, both Sifuentes and Hovsepian received a cash prize of $250 and $100 respectively as a means to recognize and further foster their green efforts.

Entries for the 2012 Zeftron nylon Sustainable Practices Award will be accepted next year on April 22, Earth Day 2012. For more information about Zeftron nylon and its environmentally responsible initiatives, as well as the Sustainable Practices Award, visit www.zeftronnylon.com.