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Local Businesses Go Green, See Green ... and You Can, Too
In the current economically trying times, local businesses are taking active measures to save money and resources, and give themselves a competitive edge. How are they doing it all? They’re going green.
Going green has been shown to save money by decreasing costs associated with water and energy use, as well as through decreased use of supplies like paper (by printing double sided, for instance). It has also been shown that employee productivity increases in a healthier work environment. Last, but definitely not least, the companies that do go green get to brag about it to an increasingly conscientious consumer base concerned with air pollution, climate change, healthy living and resource protection.
All businesses can and should go green, and the Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County is working to show them how. The Green Business Program is a partnership of local governments, agencies, districts, nonprofit organizations, utility companies and chambers of commerce. This group works together to offer a free assistance and recognition program that helps businesses go above and beyond basic requirements of sustainable practices to set them up for success by saving them money and showing them off.
In just over a year of operation, the program has created four separate tracks to certify office/retail establishments, lodging and hotels, restaurants, and automotive service centers. With more than 80 businesses going through the process and 15 businesses already certified, the Green Business Program is well on its way to making Santa Barbara County one of the most economically and environmentally sustainable places to do business.
Businesses have saved money and reduced their consumption of natural resources by installing water- and energy-efficient appliances. They encourage their employees to use more sustainable forms of transportation with incentives like raffles and company bicycles, helping to decrease air pollution and increase individual health. Businesses have also cut costs and the waste going into our landfills by participating in locally run composting and recycling programs.
In the following four weeks, we encourage you to check back here at Green Hawk where we will talk to the experts and highlight our own local Certified Green Businesses, to offer up tips and advice on topics ranging from energy and water efficiency, to transportation and waste reduction.
Click here to find a certified business in your area, or to learn how your company can become a Certified Green Businesss, too.
— Megan Birney is a member of the steering committee of the Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County on behalf of the Community Environmental Council.
Comments
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» on 04.13.10 @ 09:47 PM
Green is BS..job killer
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» on 04.19.10 @ 09:56 AM
I have to disagree with Overtaxed Taxpayer on this. Green does not have to be a drain on the economy. In fact most companies are practicing green already. How? Because any business that wants to remain competitive has to conserve resources and energy. That’s green baby all the way and it never gets looked at by the movement. I surprised Green Business Program when they interviewed our plant and found us doing “green” already. They asked why and I told them the bottom line dictates saving resources. It’s really a business no brainer.
Unfortunately, too much of the discussion centers on obstruction and costly fixes, that actually add to the problem rather than solving it. Case in point, the EPA requires a business that uses VOC solvents to dispose of solvent tainted paper or rags in an appropriate container for disposal at a certified landfill. Most of these solvent “wipes” are free of solvent by the time they are stored having evaporated the VOC before ever seeing a storage container. That small amount of VOC is nothing compared to the fuel burned, the paper consumed or the time wasted reacting to a burdensome law whose only purpose was to obstruct the use of the chemical in the first place. It is criminal the way EPA laws are applied without any consideration for the unintended consequences and the environment is paying the price along with the consumer
Noozhawk is doing a good service to the community by reporting various green activities around the area. But please remember there is more to green than just saying no.
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» on 05.07.10 @ 10:08 AM
It really is great reading how the community and businesses are going green. Our business (Wilson Printing) is seeing more local companies choose environmentally friendly paper - for example the Santa Barbara Zoo Newsletter and the Santa Barbara County Bar Association Magazine are both printed on certified recycled paper or paper that is certified to be manufactured using sustainable practices.
The important thing to consider when choosing recycled paper is not the recycled content - but how the recycled paper is manufactured. Some recycled paper actually does more damage to the environment due to the manufacturing process!
[Noozhawk’s note: Comment revised per author request.]
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