Green Business Certification

Green Business CertificationMary ChampenyBlythe YoungAnna GuissbuhlerMelody Chang

Definitions of TermsGreen business certification: A set of national standards for which a business could achieve accreditation as a green business. This is a third-party certification. (gbcertified.com)Institute for Green Business Certification (IGBC)OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, government agency in the department of Labor to Maintain a safe and healthy work environmentEPA: US Environmental Protection Agency-an independent federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environmentDefinitions of TermsLEED Green Building Rating System: From the U.S. Green Building Council

Definitions of TermsLEED Certification LevelsCertifiedSilver GoldPlatinumStrategiesPros:Savings in energy, water, raw materials and money. The companys community image is enhanced through this certification.Developing a positive relationship with local compliance inspectors can help a business avoid liability,fines and other sanctions.Cons

Cost of Certification ProgramsSmall business certification costs less than a large business-scaled based on number of workers

UC System Policy-Five campuses within the UC system have each certified at least one foodservice facility as a certified green business green business certification programs in 2012.Highlights of UC Policy Commitments:All new construction/renovation projects must be at least LEED-NC SilverThose that do not qualify must certify under LEED-CIPledge to reduce gas emissions to 1990 levelsPurchasing 20% sustainable foodAim to achieve zero waste (http://sustainability.universityofcalifornia.edu/policy.html)

Individual UC Campus Strategies -Davis Dining Services: goal of providing a living lab and educationalenvironment to engage and encourage students to be conscious consumers. Their Healthy Planet, Healthy Me! education program Santa Cruz Dining won a Goldies award in the Going Green category at the National Menu Directions Conference for a student-made film Appetite for Green, on their dining sustainability initiative.-Santa Barbara Dining Services created Sustainability Peer Expert Teams as part of its departmentalstrategic planUC Davis Certification

Individual UC Campus Strategies UC Davis Meatless Monday Campaign: Interview with Linda Adams, RD

Strategies from Other Sources Project Compost:ASUCDStudent-Run, Student-FundedConsists of 4 student staff members, many interns, and volunteersStarted in 1999Help manage waste from a variety of sources on campus by providing composting servicesStrategies from Other Sources Farm to CollegeServes to educate on food systems and get students involved in the entire process from farm to plate

Student FarmStudent-run farm on campus, provides produce to a number of units on campus including the CSCGreen Hotels and MotelsIndicators of green programs:Does housekeeping request reuse of towels rather than daily refreshing and that bed linens be changed every three days?This step, alone, conserves almost 30% in water usage and a large amount of detergent going into the water system.Are complimentary sundries (shampoo, conditioner, body lotion) Eco-friendly?Is the room equipped with aquamiser filters on the faucets and showers?Are the cleaning chemicals classified as environmentally friendly?This is one of the most important indicators and difficult to discover without asking.The majority of pollutants generated from hotels/motels are from the chemicals used to clean rooms.

Green Hotels and Motels ContinuedIs there a voluntary recycle program for guests in the common areas?Are the lights in the rooms CFL's or are incandescent light bulbs still being used?Are the fluorescent lights low mercury?The easiest way to tell is to look at the end of the bulb and look for a green end or green printing on the side of the bulb.There are many factors to qualify a hotel/motel as being truly "Green"; therefore, the easiest way to find out just "how green they are", is to askwhat third party certification they have.

Strategies from Other Sources-Green Hotels and Motelshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8NhFlkIhNE&feature=player_embeddedDiscussion Questions

How important do you think Green Business Certification is?

Were you aware that the University of California had these programs in place?

In what ways do you already participate in sustainable practices on campus?

After learning about these programs, would you be more willing to participate in something like Meatless Monday or Project Compost?STE-009null152039.67eng - iTunPGAP0eng - iTunNORM 000000BF 0000010A 000016BB 000035C4 0002311F 0002240F 00004DA0 000064B4 0002311F 0002311Feng - iTunSMPB 00000000 00000210 00000A30 00000000006641C0 00000000 00379979 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000