In addition to making history on January 20, 2009, president-elect Obama and his staff will also arrange for what they are calling the first green inauguration. This comes as no surprise as Obama has been quite outspoken and dedicated to environmental protection.

Event Emissary, a local Washington D.C. event planning firm, has been tasked with not only planning the inaugural festival of activities-from breakfasts to post-event night caps- they have also been tasked to do it all green. In particular, Event Emissary will host the Green Ball, one of the many inaugural balls the Obamas and Bidens will attend throughout the week of January 18.

The Ball will be held one block from a local transit station in the hopes that attendees will arrive in a more environmentally-friendly fashion than driving themselves. Something tells me that since tickets to the Ball are $500 a piece, and it is a black-tie affair, cars may be the preferred option. But, let’s hope attendees care more about the environment than about their shoes.

The hall will make use of outdoor lighting in an effort to reduce the event’s energy consumption. While the Green Ball will feature a 100 percent organic menu, the organic food must be flown in as many of the items won't be available locally in January.

While organic is eco-friendly, at times, a more environmentally conservative option is to buy from local producers, even if not organic because the emissions associated with transporting food can be quite dramatic. Composting and as you might imagine, recycling will be in full swing as dancers put on their swingin’ shoes.

The event’s decorations will be supplied by a local vendor, cutting down on the environmental costs of transporting supplies from far away. Additionally, the supplies such as tables cloths are frequently rented and therefore, reused by the customers of the local venue. Flowers and floral centerpieces will go into the composting pile after the Ball.

All cleaning products will be environmentally safe alternatives so as to not contribute to poor indoor air quality, health and safety respiratory problems, or chemicals washing into water supplies.

Finally, and probably one of the most significant greening methods of the event is the purchase of both renewable energy credits and carbon offsets to counter emissions associated with holding the Green Ball. How refreshing to see a politician talk the talk and walk the green walk! Change can happen!