|
The
San Rafael Chamber Green Business
Committee promotes the chamber by being a
leader in creating and supporting success
for Green Businesses in Marin.
"Green Up!" offers a Chamber-backed
resource for member businesses interested in
becoming more sustainable. The newsletter
promotes Green values and business best
practices to membership.
Today's GreenSheet offers some samples from
their recent quarterly newsletter.
Read on to learn:
How to get green certified by Marin County
with or without your landlord's cooperation
Why partnering with a nonprofit is good for
business
Get Green Certified, Even Without Your
Landlord's Full Participation
by Shayna Eskew,
Green Property Solutions
In many cases, you can still achieve green
certification for your small business or
nonprofit, even if your landlord is
initially less than eager to participate.
Here's how to get started:
1. Learn about the many, sometimes free,
resources that help you create a more
sustainable work environment.
2. Find out how your building operates, from
everyday procedures to the chemicals used
onsite. Some actions are driven by your
landlord, but you're in charge of your
company's routine behaviors, such as
copying, printing, supply procurement,
packaging considerations, recycling,
composting, etc.
3. Let your landlord know about potential
savings and rebates for efficiency
improvements, including certification
requirements in lighting (i.e., use of T-8
bulbs instead of T-12) and water usage
(lowflow toilets at 1.6 gal./flush or less).
Government programs are often available to
help audit your usage and convert to more
energy-efficient methods.
Low energy lighting:
The
Smart Lights program, funded by utility
ratepayers, is designed to help small
businesses become more energy efficient. The
program offers free or low-cost
start-to-finish assessments, technical
assistance and instant rebates to help
defray the outlay for upgrading and/or
repairing existing equipment.
Water conservation: The
Marin Municipal Water District often
provides support for converting to low-flow
toilets. While the program is on hold until
August 18th, consider this resource if the
toilets used by your office are not
currently water efficient.
The bottom line is you may be able to become
a certified Green Business, whether your
landlord is interested in getting involved
or not. And if you can bring efficiencies in
energy and water use to your landlord's
attention, and reduce operating expenses,
you may actually score some points!
For more information on becoming a certified
Green Business, review the
Bay Area Green Business Program or
contact Dana Armanino, the Green Business
Coordinator for Marin County. If you'd like
to take your sustainability planning to the
next level, a commercial sustainability
consultant can help you evaluate your
current systems and recommend better
alternatives. The resources are available.
Just ask...
Promote Your Business with a Nonprofit
Partnership
by Jennifer Islas,
Pleasures of the Heart
Need more business? One of the cheapest,
most effective, greenest ways to increase
your visibility and bottom line is to
partner with a local nonprofit organization.
There are many ways to work with nonprofits,
including:
· donating to their auctions and raffles
· supporting their fundraising events
· volunteering your time
· promoting their efforts in your emails, on
your website and to your customer base
How do you benefit?
First, you gain by helping people and
feeling good about it. But a partnership
also drives new customers to your business
and helps you tap into a source of free or
lowcost publicity.
Word of your company's generosity spreads
among those who work for or receive benefits
from your nonprofit partner. Your name also
becomes familiar to everyone invited to or
donating to the organization's fundraising
events.
The Green Element
When you support a local nonprofit, you're
helping to create a viable economy -- a
healthy, educated and employed local
population that truly contributes to
environmental balance. Because the nature of
capitalism is to capitalize on every
opportunity, let's acknowledge that some of
the most profitable investments are
conservation and support of our own
communities.
Learn about using your company as a tool for
social and environmental betterment and see
why it's good for business:
Natural Capitalism Solutions
Green VC (as in venture capital)
Global Citizen Center New
Rules Project
To join the San
Rafael Chamber of Commerce, click
HERE! To other California chambers:
Please let us know about your Green Members
so we can publish your story in the C of C
GreenSheet! |
