Lawrence, Kan. – May 27, 2008 – For seventy-three years, Allen Press has been known for its quality printing, production and mailing services to the academic and association-based publishing communities. It is known as a leader in the printing industry with quality fine screen halftones and color reproduction that all began with a two-man print shop in 1935.
 
Today, the company is going green.
 
Allen Press' own printing operations are evolving to include sourcing paper using sustainable environmental practices, adopting electronic workflows, promoting Internet-based forums and by choosing renewable energy sources for its electricity usage. The company is also actively encouraging its customers to select more environmentally friendly publishing practices through a series of environmental workshops held in Chicago, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Lawrence, Kan. These energy conservation initiatives and aggressive recycling programs round out its efforts to support sustainability.
 
"Our goal is to not only reduce and offset the environmental impact of our business operations, but also to be an advocate for our customers who have a strong commitment to the environment as many are in ecological and biological disciplines," said Gerald Lillian, chief executive officer of Allen Press.
 
The catalyst for Allen Press' use of renewable energy was not only an interest in going green, but also in supporting other regional green businesses.  Zephyr Energy, Allen Press' source for renewable energy, is the result of a partnership between the Bonneville Environmental Foundation and The Bowersock Mills and Power Company, a historic hydroelectric power plant also located in Lawrence, Kan.  The Bowersock Mill, itself another early 1900s company in Lawrence, first used its energy to grind flour for the region, but since 1905 has been a producer of clean, renewable hydroelectric energy.
 The Bonneville Environmental Foundation provides renewable energy to Allen Press through the sale of Zephyr Energy renewable energy certificates (RECs), also called Green Tags.  Each Green Tag is equal to the generation of one megawatt-hour of electricity and replaces traditional, polluting sources of energy with clean, renewable power from wind, solar or low impact hydroelectric projects. Each Green Tag is responsible for displacing greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutants caused by coal and gas.
 
 "This agreement supports Bowersock energy production, and will stimulate the development of new clean, renewable energy resources for the central states electricity grid," said Sarah Hill-Nelson of The Bowersock Mills and Power Company.  "The goal is to reduce the amount of power generated from the combustion of coal and natural gas. These kinds of decisions will bring Kansas and the surrounding region both positive economic and environmental benefits."