Be a Green Business Partner

Mary Campbell, 
Extension Director

Becoming a more environmentally- friendly business is a choice that can reap big rewards. Green Business practices can help save money, attract customers, enhance your reputation and help make a business more efficient. A company policy of environmental stewardship or mission that includes sustainable practices will help create the vision. There are three main areas where a business can become more green and sustainable:

• Improve energy efficiency and water conservation
• Changes in work practices 
• Recycling and waste reduction

Improve Energy Efficiency and Water conservation
There are simple ways to conserve energy and water plus save money at the same time. Implement staff guidelines for turning off computers, peripherals, as well as office and meeting room lights. Water conservation in outdoor landscapes can save thousands of gallons of water each year (see Florida Yards and Neighborhoods ).

Changes in Work Practices
To become a green business, employees need to be a part of the practice changes that will make it successful. Creating a green committee that promotes these new practices will be a good start, as well as educational programs for staff. Discussing green purchasing practices, recycling, energy conservation, double- sided copying, reduction of paper use through electronic sharing and other practices will get the team started. Start small and build on these practice changes gradually until they become habits. Develop a staff pledge program and rewards around the new practices.

Recycling and Waste Reduction
Reducing waste in an office can make a positive impact on the bottom line. Get a waste assessment to determine strategies and options from Pinellas County Utilities Solid Waste.

Develop an Action Plan

1. Evaluate environmental programs that fit well with your vision and mission. 
2. Communicate your environmental initiatives to customers and staff. 
3. Report successes and get feedback.

Join Pinellas County Green Business Partnership

Congratulations to New Green Business Partners!

By:Mary Campbell, Extension Director and Urban Sustainability Agent

Pinellas County Extension kicked off the new Green Business Partnership in 2010 and is proud that six businesses have completed the assessment to become a Green Partner. The assessment requires an energy audit and waste assessment in addition to a review of over 100 other green practices that businesses can implement as part of the program.

The program rewards businesses that have worked hard to be greener and supports those businesses that want to know how to be green. The newest partner is PSCU Financial Services which employs about 1,500 people. They have implemented many practices to support going green such as an employee newsletter that shares green tips, a recycling program, a program to reuse office supplies, waste management and energy conservation practices.

Congratulations to all our Green Business Partners!

C & D Printing
12150 28th Street North
St. Petersburg, FL 33716

Lasting Impressions
322 Main Street
Dunedin, FL 34698

1 800 Got Junk?
8440 Ulmerton Road,
Suite 508
Largo, FL 33771

Pinellas County Housing Authority
11479 Ulmerton Rd.
Largo, FL 33778

Anne Kramer and Associates, LLC
Landscape Architects
P.O. Box 2625
Dunedin, FL 34697-2625

PSCU Financial Services
560 Carillon Parkway
St. Petersburg, FL 33716

Tips for Green Business Partners

Mary Campbell, Urban Sustainability Agent

In December 2009, Extension launched the Pinellas Green Business Partnership to help businesses save money and reduce environmental impacts. Business goals and sustainability goals are merging to create a new vision for businesses that realize the value that sustainability can create for the organization. If you are considering aligning your sustainability goals with your corporate goals, it is easy to get started.

Let’s look at a sample Green Policy for your business:
Business ABC will promote and support sustainable practices such as: implement energy efficient practices, purchase green certified products when practical and reduce waste through recycling and green office practices.

Now that you have written your Green Policy for your business (see also Thinking Green: December 2009) that describes your commitment to green practices, it is time to engage your employees and set some goals. Here are a few examples:

Business ABC Green Goals 2010
1. Two-sided copying will be used on all documents and electronic sharing will replace hard copies whenever possible.
2. All new electronic devices will be EnergyStar® certified.
3. Employees will turn off all computers and peripherals at the end of each day.
4. Telecommuting will be implemented to reduce corporate carbon emissions.

Setting YOUR goals for 2010 will help employees become engaged in meeting the goals and understanding the importance of being sustainable. Include your employees in setting goals and include goals that improve the work environment, such as green cleaning products that are less toxic and improve indoor air quality. Create a green team in the office to explore new and innovative approaches. Start slowly and integrate new practices that are meaningful to your business and employees.

Make 2010 a greener year and reap the benefits of a healthier workplace, reduced environmental impacts, and cost savings. Learn more about the Green Business Partnership Wednesday, February 17 at 3 pm– Register on line at www.pinellascountyextension.org – ON-LINE Registration- Sustainable Living-

Resource:
Business.Gov

Pinellas Green Business Partnership: Writing Your Green Policy

Mary Campbell, Extension Director and Urban Sustainability Agent

It is an exciting time for green businesses. Green building is on the rise, the auto industry is racing to produce electric cars and major corporations are starting to assess the environmental impacts of their products and operations. Businesses are setting goals on waste reduction- Wal-Mart pledges to reduce global plastic shopping bag waste by an average of 33% per store by 2013; use of alternative energy is on the rise and businesses are tracking their carbon footprint.
Greenbiz.com does an annual report on green business efforts and the progress towards more sustainable business models. The report provides some optimism, but also indicates we have a long way to go. For businesses that are working to be greener, there can be many benefits, such as attracting customers, reducing costs, and providing healthier working conditions for employees. So how does a business move forward on a plan to be green? There needs to be a long-range view of the overall mission for the business. Some businesses are creating positions for a Sustainability Coordinator that can be a point person to move the effort forward and provide resources. St. Petersburg College offers a degree program in Sustainability Management. If a new position is not created, companies are forming employee teams to promote activities like recycling, waste reduction, green purchasing and energy conservation.

A good place to start is by writing a company environmental policy statement. This statement is a set of goals that helps a company put its commitment into practice. Sound environmental policies can reduce overhead and be a valuable tool in efficiency. A policy statement should be developed with the participation of employees and include legal compliance, product stewardship, continual improvement and involvement with employees and customers.

To support local efforts for businesses to go green and provide recognition to companies that meet specific criteria, Pinellas County Extension has developed a Green Business Partnership assessment. Over the next few months, a series of articles will outline that program and how any business can begin the exciting process of being a green business. The new website provides information and resources.
Sign up for the Introduction to the Green Business Partnership, December 15, 2009 to learn more: www.pinellascountyextension.org On Line Registration
Resources:
Walmart’s Sustainability Efforts

State of Green Business 2009

St. Petersburg College Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainability Management

Business.gov Green Business Guide

Business.gov Environmental Planning

Pinellas County Extension’s Green Business Partnership

Developing an Environmental Policy Statement

Pinellas County Small Business Lending Fair

Pinellas County Small Business Lending Fair

September 24, 2009 from 12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m.

at the EpiCenter, 13805 58th Street North, Clearwater, Convention & Meeting Room 1-453

Hosted by the Pinellas County Business Development Center & Gulf Coast Business Finance

Featuring exhibits by over 25 business lenders, this event offers entrepreneurs and business owners the opportunity to discuss their needs with loan officers or just browse among the many lending options available for business growth and expansion. A buffet lunch will be provided by Gulf Coast Business Finance.

Advanced registration is preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. Please register online at pced.org/calendar, by email at businesshelp@pced.org or by phone at (727) 453-7200.

“The Lending Fair was a terrific experience.
With so many lenders in one place, it was easy
to shop for the option that worked best for us.”
- Sean Dorisinski,
Dorisinski Campbell Design Associates