Seven Organizations in Three States Earn Green Plus Certification

Seven more enterprises complete the first stage of the Green Plus program

The Institute for Sustainable Development announced seven new organizations in three states have achieved Green Plus Certification.   Created by the NC Research Triangle-based Institute for Sustainable Development, Green Plus is modern business improvement program for smaller enterprises that focuses on triple bottom line sustainability.  This new group includes the first life science company to be Green Plus Certified as well as the first creative reuse center and the first chamber of commerce in Ohio.  Seven more businesses earned Green Plus Mover status, the first big step in the program.

“This newest Green Plus Certified class provides inspirational examples to other smaller enterprises,” said Chris Carmody, Executive Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development.  ”Sustainability is about changing attitudes and making smart business decisions that in turn strengthen the local economy, environment, and community,” Carmody concluded.

New Certified Green Plus organizations include:

• Communication Matters (Hillsborough, NC)
• The Greater Cleveland Partnership / Council of Smaller Enterprises (Cleveland, OH)
• High Hotels (Lancaster, PA)
• HRW, Inc. (Raleigh, NC)
• MindWorks Multimedia (Durham, NC)
• Pharmaceutical Calibration and Instrumentation (Raleigh, NC)
• The Scrap Exchange (Durham, NC)

Including these organizations, a total of forty-three enterprises in five states have earned Green Plus Certification.

“Sustainability is a ‘hot topic’ in the business world,” said Joe Roman, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Partnership. “A growing number of businesses of all sizes are incorporating internal sustainability practices. For some, it also includes exploring emerging opportunities in the development of sustainability products and systems. As a business organization, we’re ramping up our internal efforts that signal to our members that we’re engaged in this emerging business trend.”

Seven other organizations achieved Green Plus Mover status — the first major stage toward Green Plus Certification.  These organizations include:

• Controlling Barrier Insects (Lumberton, NC)
• DesignHammer Media Group (Durham, NC) — http://www.designhammer.com/
• Earth Stone Products (Greensboro, NC) — http://www.earthstoneproducts.net/
• Elliott Davis LLC (Greenville, SC) — http://www.elliottdavis.com/
• NRC (Willoughby, OH) — http://www.floralinedisplay.com/
• Tremont Electric (Cleveland, OH) — http://www.npowerpeg.com/about-us
• Waddler & Associates (Elizabeth City, NC) — http://waddlerandassociates.com/

New Green Plus Certified Organizations

HRW Inc. (http://www.hrw.net)

A community and associations management company, HRW Inc. (an Associa company) has been serving the Raleigh area since 1982.  HRW has shown its commitment to being a leader in its industry and has invested much time and effort into its sustainability practices since it achieved Green Plus Mover status in September 2010.

“The Green Plus certification process helped us immensely by providing tools, support and guidance that helped us to learn how to organize our resources better, and taught us to pay attention to details that collectively make a big difference in our organization’s environmental impact,” said HRW President, Cathy Wade.  ”The balanced approach (people, planet, performance) makes this a win-win process, not only for our company and staff, but for the greater community and our clients too.”

Communication Matters (http://www.cmatters.org)

A strategic marketing firm in Hillsborough, NC, Communications Matters has thoroughly embraced the Green Plus program and is setting an example for home based businesses across the country.  Libbie Hough, principle of Communication Matters, proves that even the sole proprietors exercise the triple bottom line. Hough has taken steps to reduce water consumption, energy consumption, travel (for herself and her contractors) and purchases renewable energy credits to offset her usage even more.  Hough is also heavily involved in the local community and volunteers on multiple boards as well as speaking at events for the American Heart Association.

“I’m honored to be among those businesses and organizations that have earned full certification,” said Libbie Hough. “And I see this as is another step in an ongoing process – determining how to better serve my clients, better serve my community, and building a successful business.”

Greater Cleveland Partnership/Council of Smaller Enterprises (http://www.cose.org)

The Greater Cleveland (GCP) and the Council of Smaller Enterrpises (COSE) is the first chamber of commerce in Ohio to become Green Plus Certified.  Through COSE, the GCP is taking an active leadership role in encouraging small business sustainability in the Cleveland area.  Most recently, in October 2010, COSE launched an Energy Efficiency Guide with easy tips for improving energy efficiency and case studies from eight small businesses that successfully incorporated energy efficient practices into their companies.

“Helping small businesses understand how sustainable practices can have a positive impact on their businesses is an area of focus for us,” said Steve Millard, president and executive director of COSE.  ”Earning the Green Plus certification encourages us to continue to ensure we are walking the walk on sustainability.”

GCP/COSE is actively working to minimize the organization’s collective impact on the environment and reduce expenses. Staff-related activities, led by the GCP/COSE “Green Team,” include setting organizational metrics and goals, educating employees company-wide with green tips, increasing recycling, and incentivizing the use of public transportation through discounted rail and bus passes.

High Hotels Ltd (http://www.highhotels.com)

High Hotels are the first group of hotels to receive Green Plus Certification in Pennsylvania.

“High Hotels Ltd. has continued its progress along its sustainability journey by formalizing and championing our approach,” said Frank McCabe, President of High Hotels. “Going through the Green Plus Certification process was extremely valuable and helped us to expand our triple-bottom-line approach to sustainability.”

High Hotels has long been a sustainability advocate, and going through Green Plus has given the company a new way to organize their sustainability efforts and goals.  High Hotels has set goals to reduce energy and water consumption as well as formalizing their employee wellness and mentorship programs.

“Since the High companies’ inception 80 years ago, our organization has embraced a number of the guiding business principles related to sustainability including fostering a positive work environment for our employees and partners, being responsible stewards of the environment, and investing profits responsibly to secure our future in ways that are also good for our community,” said McCabe.

MindWorks Multimedia (http://www.mwmm.com/)

Based in Durham, NC, MindWorks Multimedia is an audio/visual production company that specializes in educational learning products and videos.  A community leader in terms of triple bottom line sustainability, MindWorks is newly located in a LEED certified building and provides a number of health and wellness programs to keep its employees engaged and productive.

“Going through the certification process allowed us to examine every area of our business and find additional ways our values and goals were in synch with those of the Institute for Sustainable Development,” said MindWorks Multimedia’s CEO Greg Rowland.  ”The Institute’s staff was a tremendous resource and the valuable information we learned through this process will help us reach future goals of becoming a leader in sustainability as well as supporting other businesses with a similar corporate culture and outlook.”

Pharmaceutical Calibration and Instrumentation (http://www.pci-llc.com)

The first organization in the life science industry to become Green Plus Certified, Pharmaceutical Calibration and Instrumentation (PCI) is located in Raleigh, NC.  PCI is an inspiring example for organizations looking to educate and engage their employees around triple bottom line issues.  Among other things, the company-wide newsletter shares not only green tips, but also opportunities for employees to become involved in the community and ways to get and stay healthy.

“The Green Plus diagnostic tool asked thought-provoking [and] the team at the Institute for Sustainable Development worked with me through the whole process, from my first question prior to taking the diagnostic tool, all the way through the verification process for certification,” said Kelly Hill, PCI representative.  ”PCI learned a great deal about how we can positively affect our triple bottom line and now we have a plan and a time-line for specific improvements.”

The Scrap Exchange (www.scrapexchange.org)

The Scrap Exchange is a creative reuse center in Durham, NC and the first of its kind to achieve Green Plus Certification.  Inherently green, the Scrap Exchange sells and recycles donated goods at its retails location and engages the local schools and community through workshops, parties, and other events meant to educate about reuse and creating art from recycled objects.

“Receiving the Green Plus Certification in our 20th year is a significant achievement; from vermicomposting to utilizing reusables as our office supplies, to promoting workplace sustainability, [we] endeavor to adhere to the standards set by the program, and looks forward to the next 20 years!” says Ann May Woodward, Executive Director of the Scrap Exchange.

Communication Matters, a finalist in the Green Plus Sustainable Sole Proprietor / Home Based Business of the Year category, is also eligible to win the Green Plus People’s Choice Award. A strategic marketing company in Hillsborough, North Carolina, Communication Matters is the newest addition to the Green Plus Certified community. Awarded by the Institute for Sustainable Development, full certification is given to only to those businesses and organizations that make exceptional and meaningful efforts in the three areas of sustainability: performance, planet, and people.

Owner Libbie Hough’s example demonstrates that sole proprietors can also practice triple bottom line practices. Hough has taken steps to reduce water consumption, such as collecting rain water in cisterns, using drip irrigation, and growing drought tolerant plants.  She has reduced energy use by relying on natural light, carefully managing her thermostat, and purchasing EnergyStar appliances.  In addition, she supports renewable energy by purchasing renewable energy credits from NC Green Power.  In order to reduce her transportation impact, Hough purchased a fuel efficient vehicle and telecommutes with contractors as much as possible.  She carefully recycles and has opted in to online bill pay systems that eliminate the need for printing.

Hough is also heavily involved in the local community and serves on two boards – the Mental Health America of the Triangle and the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce.  She sponsors local nonprofit events and volunteers with community organizations.  She is also a speaker for the American Heart Association and speaks to student groups in the Orange County School district in Orange County, NC.  Finally, Hough communicates all her efforts via her website in order to help educate and inspire others to do the same.  If you’d like to read more about her triple bottom line practices, visit cmatters.org/community-matters/.

Certifications

• Certified Green Plus

The Institute for Sustainable Development / Green Plus

www.gogreenplus.org

“Going through Green Plus certification really opened our eyes to sustainability issues and to the environmental cost of doing business. Now that we know, we’re taking the necessary steps to minimize that cost — because it’s the right thing to do,” concluded Barry Zack, president of Pantek.

Since moving to a new building in 2008, Pantek has shown a strong commitment toward sustainability and improving their green practices. In choosing a location for their new offices, a major consideration was the amount of available natural light; all offices and cubicles have sources of sunlight. Notably, in order to reduce environmental strain from commuting, Pantek, has also developed a program in which employees who demonstrate excellence in their work, may work from home one or more days per week. As an IT company, computers are essential to Pantek’s business; to fill this need they utilize power efficient computers with rated energy saving power supplies.

“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made in reducing our environmental impact, and we’ll work diligently to expand our efforts,” said Linda Zack, V.P. of Marketing. “We’ve cut our carbon footprint significantly by making improvements in our office and our hosting center, by reducing employee commutes through work-at-home programs, and made a corporate commitment to improving the local environment through tree planting.”

Certifications

• Certified Green Plus
• Better Business Bureau

The Institute for Sustainable Development

www.gogreenplus.org

Certifications

• Certified Green Plus

Communication Matters, a strategic marketing company in Hillsborough, North Carolina, is the newest addition to the Green Plus Certified community. Awarded by the Institute for Sustainable Development, full certification is given to only to those businesses and organizations that make exceptional and meaningful efforts in the three areas of sustainability: performance, planet, and people.

“I’m honored to be among those businesses and organizations that have earned full certification,” declared Libbie Hough, principal of Communication Matters. “And I see this as is another step in an ongoing process – determining how to better serve my clients, better serve my community, and building a successful business.”

“We’re excited to welcome Communication Matters to the Certified Green Plus community,” said Chris Carmody, executive director of the Institute for Sustainable Development.  ”Libbie Hough is an excellent example for sole proprietors and other small businesses who want to embrace the triple bottom line. Hough is heavily involved in her community and took detailed steps to make her work environment efficient and environmentally streamlined,” Carmody concluded.

Hough’s actions proves that even the sole proprietors can live out the triple bottom line. Hough has taken steps to reduce water consumption, such as collecting rain water in cisterns, using drip irrigation, and growing drought tolerant plants.  She has reduced energy use by relying on natural light, carefully managing her thermostat, and purchasing EnergyStar appliances.  In addition, she supports renewable energy by purchasing renewable energy credits from NC Green Power.  In order to reduce her transportation impact, Hough purchased a fuel efficient vehicle and telecommutes with contractors as much as possible.  She carefully recycles and has opted in to online bill pay systems that eliminate the need for printing.

Hough is also heavily involved in the local community and serves on two boards – the Mental Health America of the Triangle and the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce.  She sponsors local nonprofit events and volunteers with community organizations.  She is also a speaker for the American Heart Association and speaks to student groups in the Orange County School district in Orange County, NC.  Finally, Hough communicates all her efforts via her website in order to help educate and inspire others to do the same.  If you’d like to read more about her triple bottom line practices, visit cmatters.org/community-matters/.

The Institute;s Green Plus ^TM program recognizes smaller enterprises’ dedication to triple bottom line sustainability by measuring their business, environmental and community practices. Green Plus ^TM Certification is the Institute for Sustainable Development’s highest level of recognition.

“We are proud to be working with smaller enterprises nationwide that are dedicated to triple bottom line sustainability,” said Chris Carmody, Executive Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development.  ”These organizations are pushing the boundaries of small business sustainability in their respective communities and are realizing positive economic and employee change through their efforts,” Carmody concluded.

“During the last several years, we’ve formalized, expanded, and championed our approach to sustainability,” said Matthew Twomey, President and CEO of High Construction Company and COO of Greenfield Architects.  ”As our teams at High Construction Company and Greenfield Architects Ltd. went through the Green Plus Certification process, we found it informative and inspiring,” concluded Twomey,

Organizations that have completed the first step in the Green Plus ^TM program are also recognized and earn the designation Green Plus ^TM Mover.  Those organizations include: Bull City Forward, Crafton Tull Sparks, Denver Truck Painting, Four Seasons Produce, Graystone Properties, HRW, Inc, Linda McCoy Cromartie with the Chapel Hill Realty Group, Midland Concrete & Sand Transportation, Paulsen, Megaard & Co, Pharmaceutical Calibrations and Instrumentation, LLC (PCI), South Eastern Efforts Developing Sustainable Spaces (SEEDS), Shoeboxed.com, The Scrap Exchange, and Universal Printing.

New Green Plus^TM Certified Organizations

Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce

Columbus, IN (http://www.columbusareachamber.com/)

The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce in Columbus, Indiana is a member driven organization working to grow the region’s economic cluster through a “pocket of greatness.”  With the goals of fostering innovation and helping companies to better leverage enabling technologies, the chamber continues to strive toward achieving their mission of excellence and economic growth.

“The Green Plus certification Process was an interesting opportunity for us to evaluate the Chamber’s policies and procedures that can have positive effect for our employees, our Members, and the environment,” said Valerie Chowning, membership director of the Chamber.  ”One of the most significant outcomes for us is that we have leveraged our position in the business community to promote green efforts and community resources at our events to encourage positive changes that can affect the environment,” concluded Chowning.

The chamber has chosen to lead by example through their efforts to adopt a more environmentally sustainable method of doing business. They are investing in a large scale remodeling to switch to energy efficient appliances and to install Dirtt office systems, which improve lighting and reduces waste. As a leader in the Columbus business community they have made it their responsibility to increase environmental awareness. Their hope is to utilize the Green Plus certification to stimulate their members in focusing on more sustainable efforts.

Global Electric Electronic Processing

Research Triangle Park, NC (http://www.geepglobal.com)

GEEP is a Canadian company focused on reverse supply chain solutions for telecom and IT products. It earned Green Plus Certification for its Research Triangle Park location in North Carolina.  GEEP has taken a leadership position in the recycling of IT products through state-of-the-art facilities and innovative equipment.  Their mission, “zero landfill objective,” is to work with clients to recycle end of life inventory in an environmentally safe way. They are certified and registered to ISO 9001:2008 (quality) and 14001:2004 (environmental) standards.

“At GEEP, we take great pride in protecting the environment by recycling electronics in the most responsible manner, and the Green Plus Certification is more evidence of our commitment.  We relentlessly look for ways to improve, and [the] diagnostic tool gave us some very good ideas which we are putting into action,” said Dan Roe, business development executive at GEEP.  ”GEEP recognizes the need for people to make smart choices now, to safeguard a brighter future for all of us, and we are proud to be associated with an organization like the Institute for Sustainable Development,” concluded Roe.

Sustainability is part of GEEP’s core mission and they are constantly developing ways to improve this aspect of their business.  Through their work they are able to demonstrate that recovering materials from recycled scraps is more efficient than mining ore often necessary for many IT parts. Not only has GEEP demonstrated a commitment to the environment, but they have also been actively involved in their community through participation in food drives and computer giveaways to schools.   GEEP has shown a strong commitment to environmental sustainability and continues to emphasize it through their everyday work.

High Construction and Greenfield Architects

Lancaster, PA (http://www.highconstruction.com/ and http://www.greenfieldarchitects.net/)

High Construction located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania provides commercial construction and design-related services in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey.  As a design-builder, general contractor, and construction manager, they build facilities that create solutions for businesses.  High Construction is focusing on building trustworthy relationships and being innovative leaders.

“Since the High companies’ inception nearly 80 years ago, our organization has embraced a number of the guiding business principles that include fostering a positive work environment for our employees and partners, being responsible stewards of the environment, and investing profits responsibly to secure our future in ways that are also good for our community,” said Matthew Twomey, President and CEO of High Construction Company and COO of Greenfield Architects.  ”As we continue to chart our company’s course towards incorporating more sustainable products, processes and services, we look forward to continuing to help our customers accomplish their own similar goals through the green-related facilities, services, and expertise we provide,” concluded Twomey.

High Construction has implemented energy use reduction efforts and invested in water use reduction methods. These efforts have included lighting and occupancy timers, CFLs, low power modes of electronics, and reduced flow faucets.  Not only are they making physical changes to their workspace, but they are also promoting employee education of sustainability issues. They are planning an energy conservation week in January 2011 to further promote behavior changes and regularly disseminate information about a wide variety of sustainability topics.

Pantek, Inc.

Independence, OH (http://www.pantek.com/)

Founded in 1995 in northeast Ohio, Pantek, provides comprehensive IT services to companies who utilize Open Source technologies. Their many years of IT industry experience allow them to offer a competitive advantage in technology to their clients.

“Going through Green Plus certification really opened our eyes to sustainability issues and to the environmental cost of doing business. Now that we know, we’re taking the necessary steps to minimize that cost – because it’s the right thing to do,” concluded Barry Zack, president of Pantek.

Since moving to a new building in 1998, Pantek has shown a strong commitment toward sustainability and improving their green practices.  In choosing a location for their new offices, a major criterion was available natural light; all offices and cubicles have sources of sunlight. Notably, in order to reduce environmental strain from commuting, Pantek, has also developed a program in which employees who demonstrate excellence in their work, may work from home 1-2 days a week.  As an IT company, computers are essential to Pantek’s business; to fill this need they utilize power efficient computers with rated energy saving power supplies. They are also planning to employ more efficient computer servers.

New Green Plus^TM Movers

• Bull City Forward – Durham, NC (http://www.bullcityforward.org)
• Crafton Tull Sparks – Rogers, AR (http://www.craftontullsparks.com)
• Denver Truck Painting – Denver, PA (http://www.denvertruckpainting.com)
• Four Seasons Produce – Ephrata, PA (http://www.fsproduce.com)
• Graystone Properties – Cleveland, OH (http://www.graystoneproperties.com)
• HRW, Inc. – Raleigh, NC (http://www.hrw.net)
• Linda McCoy Cromartie with the Chapel Hill Realty Group – Chapel Hill, NC (http://www.tarheellinda.com/)
• Midland Concrete & Sand Transportation (http://www.gogreenplus.org/author/midland-concrete-and-sand-transportation-inc)
• Paulsen, Megaard & Co – Bothell, WA (http://www.paulsenmegaard.com)
• Pharmaceutical Calibrations and Instrumentation, LLC (PCI) – Raleigh, NC (http://www.pci-llc.com)
• South Eastern Efforts Developing Sustainable Spaces (SEEDS) – Durham, NC (http://www.seedsnc.org)
• Shoeboxed.com – Durham, NC (http://www.shoeboxed.com)
• The Scrap Exchange – Durham, NC (http://www.scrapexchange.org)
• Universal Printing – Durham, NC (http://www.universalprinting.com/)

(North Carolina Research Triangle) Thirty-one businesses in the Green Plus^TM program were recognized by the Institute for Sustainable Development for their exceptional efforts toward triple bottom line sustainability. Seven businesses received full Green Plus^TM certification, and twenty-five were recognized as Green Plus^TM Movers – businesses that have completed the first major step in the Institute’s sustainable small business certification process. Businesses receiving full Green Plus^TM certification included Brick Street Botanical (AR), Business Class Inc, (NC), Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau (NC), Laser Plus (PA), PTA Thrift Shop (PA), The Taylor Companies (OH) and Warfel Construction Company (PA).

The Cary, North Carolina office of the oldest continuously operating university press in the world, University Oxford Press, became the first organization of its kind to complete the first step of the Green Plus^TM program.  Plymouth Church United Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio, is the first religious institution to be recognized by the Institute’s Green Plus^TM program as a Green Plus^TM Mover. Other Green Plus^TM Movers include Accentuate Staffing, Appraisals Online, Inc., Beyu Caffe, Cargas Systems, Cottman Transmission of Garner, NC, jke marketing and communications, the King’s Daughters Inn, Licata & Toerek, Moran IT, My Eco Lamp, Northgate Associates, Quality Sprinkling Systems, Pam Herndon – State Farm, Stitt Energy Systems, Inc, Town Planner Community Calendar, True Edge Performance Solutions, Urban Durham Realty, Watts Grocery, Weaver Street Realty, Wenger Feed Mill, Inc, and William H. Bunch, PA, CPA.  (Please see www.gogreenplus.org for more information on these businesses).

The Institute for Sustainable Development is a public-private partnership between centers at Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Greater Durham Chambers of Commerce, the Fenwick Foundation and the Foundation for a Sustainable Community. Major corporate supporters include GlaxoSmithKline and Lenovo. The Institute’s overall business plan for Green Plus^TM was commissioned in 2007 by Tony Waldrop, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Center for Sustainable Enterprise at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler School of Business developed the plan, and a partnership of centers at UNC, Duke University, chambers of commerce and philanthropic foundations built and tested the program with small businesses in North Carolina and Ohio in 2008. The program was formally launched in North Carolina in February, since then it has been launched in Arkansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Green Plus^TM is designed to provide small and medium sized employers with affordable educational tools and university assistance to strengthen their triple bottom line, access to a network of peer businesses tackling similar issues while sharing best practices, and brand support in the form of certification for those organizations with exceptional sustainability performance.  “Green Plus^TM is not simply about taking steps to be green in the way that we all are aware we should; it is about how making careful, sustainable decisions affects every aspect of your business life: the people you work with, the success of your organization, and, ultimately, the planet we all share,” said Mary Renner, president of Laser Plus, Pennsylvania’s first Certified Green Plus^TM business. “Green Plus^TM is not for wimps; it is a challenging, carefully considered assessment that will force you to look carefully at the reality of your daily practices. We chose to step up with the certainty that by accepting the Green Plus^TM challenge, Laser Plus has a deliberate and carefully defined vision of who we are, where we want to go, and how we will get there.”

“We are happy to be working with this new class of Certified Green Plus business and Green Plus Movers,” said Chris Carmody, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development. “Each of these businesses sets a great example and has something to teach other small businesses throughout North America,” Carmody concluded.

Warfel Construction Company’s leadership by example enabled the company to achieve full certification.  Since moving their headquarters to new space in an existing building, Warfel is applying for Silver level LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).  Warfel’s owners renovated their new office and used flooring made from recycled or rapidly renewable materials, built side windows and sun tubes to allow natural light into the buildings, extended the foyer before the lobby entrance to reduce the hot/cold air exchange from outside, and completed other modifications using recycled materials and to reduce energy and water consumption.

“We are honored to be the first Pennsylvania contractor to receive this distinction,” said Ralph Simpson, President/CEO of Warfel.  “I was intrigued that [this program] focused on many elements of business in addition to sustainability and green business practices.  Warfel Construction Company has always operated with the Green Plus principles of taking care of the environment, our employees, and the community while maintaining a financially successful business.  We have modeled our company this way for nearly 100 years, and the Green Plus Certification is a great way to enter our second century of business!”

Brick Street Botanical also made reusing recycled materials a top priority when it renovated an existing building to use as its new shop.  Owner Holly Mang also purchases all flowers and plant materials locally from organic growers.  Mang encourages customers to return their vases and flower container so they can be reused; this not only fosters reuse, it saves Brick Street Botanicals from having to purchase new containers which helps the bottom line as well.  “I have found the Green Plus program to be a fantastic business tool. As a new business owner I was pleased to find out I was already running my business in a “green” way. I am looking forward to using this tool to grow my business in an environmentally friendly way,” declared Mang.

Adhering to the central principles of sustainability is also just the way of doing business for PTA Thrift Shop in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, NC.  “I had long ago realized that “sustainability” and the three components which comprise it (people, planet, performance) were so core to our organization, just by our nature and our mission,” said Barbara Jessie-Black, executive director.  “However, having a tool complete with measurement and education components, as well as a best practice component, has helped us (and continues to) be more intentional about how we practice sustainability on a daily basis and the contribution we make to the community we serve.”

Getting your entire staff to participate and share ideas is one of the key ways to institutionalize the ideas around sustainability, but it can be quite a challenge.  Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau (DCVB) encourages its staff to participate by alternating leadership of staff meetings and encouraging suggestions from everyone.  “DCVB has always been conscious about sustainability issues, but going through the Green Plus^TM certification program helped us document all of our efforts around sustainability and green initiatives into a single place that could be shared with others,” said Shelly Green, President and CEO-Elect of the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau.  “We are particularly excited about sharing ideas with Durham-based organizations and businesses that provide services to travelers since sustainability is an important piece in marketing a destination.”

Business Class, Inc. uses the tools and ideas found throughout the program as a way to share best practices with their clients.  “The [Green Plus^TM] program has provided additional structure for efforts at continued improvement.   It’s been a fun focus area for our interns as they search for best practices, bring them in for discussion;  write about them in the new “Good & Green” category of our website; and consider how they might apply the ideas within their own campus community,” said Jan Bolick, president of Business Class, Inc.

New Certified Green Plus Businesses

Brick Street Botanicals

This growing flower shop services northwest Arkansas and is located in Rogers, AR.  Owner Holly Mang is dedicated to providing her customers with striking, usually organic, products and designs that focus on the inherent natural beauty of flowers and plants through texture and design.

From using recycled and renewable materials to revitalize an existing space in downtown Rogers to encouraging clients to return vases so they might be used again, Brick Street Botanical is focused on the triple bottom line and is using those principles to grow.

Business Class

Based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Business Class provides resources for managers, business owners, and teams who want to boost productivity and morale.  By helping clients achieve better results through improved skills and attitudes, Business Class has helped organizations large and small improve their productivity.

“We have a passion for business and making it fun, satisfying and productive for all involved,” says Founder, Jan Bolick. Bolick has combined her experiences as a CEO, general manager, salesperson, leader, follower, organizer, volunteer, fundraiser, teacher, student and parent, to develop customized training and coaching programs to suit the needs of each client.

Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau (DCVB)

The Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau has been Durham’s marketing agency for over 20 years.  During the first 15 years, DCVB more than doubled the number of visitors who came to Durham and it continues to market the city of Durham, educated visitors as to the plethora of recreational, entertainment, and dining options, and maintain Durham’s brand.

More than 15 years ago, DCVB started initiatives to recycle and use soy ink.  In 2007, they conducted an energy audit that lead to a new HVAC system complete with zoning, computer controls, and automatic sensor lights which has increased the quality of life in the building and significantly reduced energy bills.  They’ve also installed a cistern to collect rain water and use that to irrigate the grounds.  DCVB is also committed to engaging and inspiring the 3,000 hotels and restaurants in the area and identifying those who’ve made efforts to go green in the Durham Visitors Guide.

Laser Plus

As the first Pennsylvania business to receive Green Plus certification, Laser Plus has offered quality print supplies and reliable customer service for printing equipment and office machines since 1986. Committed to going green in the printing industry before most individuals have even heard of sustainability, Laser Plus has championed the ideals of a profitable, cost effective business with fervor for environmental integrity.

One way in which Laser Plus has become an innovative sustainable business is through development of their Solid Waste Savings Report program. The Solid Waste Savings Report is used by Laser Plus customers to demonstrate savings in operating costs and reductions in solid waste. For example, last year, one of Laser Plus’ insurance companies kept 1,724 pounds of solid waste out of our local landfills at a financial savings of $21,000. By providing high-quality, environmentally friendly printing solutions that encourage recycling and smarter printing practices, Laser Plus have aimed to perform well in the profit margin while treating their employees well and maintaining environmental integrity.

Warfel Construction Company

Started in 1911, Warfel Construction Company has grown into one of the most successful and respected contractors in south-central Pennsylvania.  They’ve survived and thrived because of commitment to honesty, integrity and fairness, what their founder, David S. Warfel, called it practical business sense.

Warfel has been building “Green” for years, long before “sustainable design” and “LEED” were buzzwords in its industry. Whether the clients are hoping incorporate sustainable elements in their project’s design or planning on receiving LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification, Warfel has a team of experts ready to offer valuable insight and direction on how to proceed.  They are constantly innovating and testing new designs and ideas.  Their clients benefit by getting the most cost effective, efficient facility possible without sacrificing important budget and schedule objectives.

PTA Thrift Shop

The PTA Thrift Shop has been in operation since 1952. Serving for the benefit of Parent Teacher Associations in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, the PTA Thrift Shop gives all year-end profits back to Chapel Hill and Carrboro schools. Funding from the thrift shop helps pay for teaching materials, playground equipment, cultural arts programs, computers, school wide events, and a host of other programs for middle and high school students.

With the help of volunteers, the PTA Thrift Shop has managed to donate more than $40,000 per year to the Interfaith Council each year, as well as numerous food and personal items which cannot be sold by them. By focusing on all three aspects of the triple bottom line, the PTA Thrift Shop also encourages their employees to volunteer in the community. They also work to find new ways to create revenue out of unsellable items and are devoted to expanding their water and energy conservation plans. As a community organization, the PTA Thrift Shop is committed to enhancement and innovation of their business in the most sustainable way possible.

New Green Plus Movers

• Accentuate Staffing
• Appraisals Online, Inc
• Beyu Caffe
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The Redwoods Group, headquartered in Morrisville, NC, is a privately held, socially responsible commercial specialty insurance company. The business and social mission of The Redwoods Group – whose motto is to Serve Others – is to protect and improve the quality of life in the communities it serves.  The Redwoods Group has built into their foundation strong social and environmental standards for their operations, which has allowed them to create positive social change.

Here are some examples of actions taken by The Redwoods Group to make environmental and social change:

• Employees spend 40 hours of their work time each year in service to the community, building houses for the working poor, tutoring children in homeless shelters, serving meals at soup kitchens or shaving their heads to raise money for childhood cancer research
• The Redwoods Group matches most employee gifts to charity with an unlimited match for United Way contributions

• Redwoods commits to contributing a minimum of 10 percent of pre-tax income to charity every year, without exception

• In 2006-2007, the firm contributed over 50 percent of its pre-tax profits (about $500,000 each year) to nonprofit organizations throughout the world
• Redwoods educates and engages employees on the human condition to develop committed citizens of the world
• The Redwoods Group offers employee incentives for using alternative modes of transportation and will pay employees $30 a month toward the cost of public transportation
• The company has begun sending customers contracts on CDs. Redwoods has almost completely replaced its paper records with electronic records through an e-filing system that will be the primary method used going forward. For the first time, the firm distributed their annual report electronically via a PDF – they did not print hard copies. As a result, they saved 142,500 sheets of paper and reduced their carbon footprint by 28,500 pounds

• The Redwoods Group and their building’s property management firm work with Green Plus-certified Bland Landscaping for grounds management

• Redwoods joined Carbonrally which is an online competition to reduce carbon emissions, and has already reduced 37.15 tons of carbon

Here is what MJ Pearle, Public Relations and Community Outreach Manager, from The Redwoods Group had to say about their experience with Green Plus:

What inspired you to join Green Plus?

Our CEO has long embraced sustainability, so when we heard about the launch of Green Plus we wanted to support it financially and become one of the first Green Plus companies here. The Redwoods Group Foundation provided a grant to help launch Green Plus and recently agreed to give Green Plus a business loan to help move this effort to Chambers of Commerce across the nation.

What were some easy changes you were able to make to improve your sustainability?

Because we rent office space and don’t own our building we felt we couldn’t control many of the energy issues included on the Green Plus application.  So we met with reps of our property management firm and discovered that they

implemented green efforts of which we weren’t aware.  These included carefully examining utility bills, collecting rain water to re-use to water plants and hiring a landscaping company that is Green Plus certified.

Do you plan to make additional modifications to become even more sustainable, even though you are already certified?

Yes. We committed to develop written goals to reduce energy consumption and draft an environmental policy, among other efforts. We offer free coffee to employees and we currently are testing a new coffee machine that is “green.” We rent office space and the Green Plus effort was one

of several factors that led us to commit to move to a new “green” office building that currently is being built in downtown Durham by Greenfire Development. Greenfire is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, which oversees the LEED Green

Building Rating system, which is the green standard in building.

Would you recommend this program to other businesses?

Yes!

The Taylor Companies, founded in 1816 and believed to be the oldest furniture manufacturer in the United States, became the first Ohio company to be Certified Green Plus™ by the Institute for Sustainable Development. The firm was recently featured in Business Week article “When Going Green Isn’t About Marketing“ for its efforts to approach zero waste in its manufacturing operations.

“Taylor Companies demonstrates that the concepts of sustainability and long-term competitiveness are becoming one and the same,”said Chris Carmody, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development. “Taylor Companies provides a great example for any small business of how efficient management coupled with sustainable environmental and community practices improve both a company’s bottom line and the world around it,” Carmody concluded.

Green Plus™ is a small business sustainability education and certification program developed by the North Carolina Research Triangle based Institute for Sustainable Development. Green Plus™ has been adopted as the official small and medium sized enterprise sustainability program of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). The program is available at a substantial discount through participating chambers of commerce throughout the U.S. and Canada in the 1,300 chamber ACCE network. Beginning October 1, Green Plus will be available to Ohio companies at a discount through the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE).

“One of the fundamental values of Green Plus is its ability to both help assess sustainability efforts and connect small business owners to the education and resources they need to take the next step in sustainability,” said Steve Millard, President and Executive Director of COSE. “Jeff is a tremendous example of someone who understands the value of sustainability to both the community and his own bottom line – what he has accomplished at Taylor is really impressive.”

Taylor CEO Jeff Baldasari said, “We believe that Green Plus™ adds value to our Company in three areas. First it has opened our eyes to new sustainable practices that we had not previously considered. Second, it has motivated our company to achieve additional sustainable practices that we are not currently employing.  Finally, Green Plus™ lends an objective standard to the field of sustainability and by doing so, credible practices are recognized and green washing is not accepted,” Baldasari concluded.

In 2005, the Taylor Companies invested $6 million in revitalizing a 50 acre industrial brown field that had been abandoned since 1987. The firm consolidated its operations in a new, efficient building that saves it $80,000 in annual energy costs. Taylor has reduced its collective consumption of natural gas, electricity and water by 58.8% since consolidating its operations.

In its operations, the Taylor Companies has reduced its waste by 90% through recycling, upcycling and composting.  For example, Taylor captures 76,000 pounds of sawdust a year for farmers. Its annual net waste hauling costs are less than $1,000. Taylor Companies aggressively documents both its cost reductions and environmental impact as continually looks for efficiencies that will both save money and have a positive environmental and community impact. The company

• streamlined its inbound shipping of some raw materials to reduce costs by $6,000 annually
• upcycles 2 tons of leather scraps to purse manufacturers, saving $5,000 in annual hauling costs
• saves $4,000 in hauling costs per year by donating 76,000 pounds of saw dust to area farms
• redirects a large portion of wood scrap back into production: unusable wood scrap is used for thermo energy and upcycled into consumer products saving $6,000 in annual hauling costs

Taylor scored very high on the People section of the Green Plus Certification as well. Internally, the company provides good wages, health, disability, pension, 401k benefits and 2 – 5 weeks vacation for its employees for its workforce and engages them actively in the success of the company and in sustainability efforts.  Externally, the company is an active charitable contributor to its local school system.

“At Taylor, we have learned that sustainable practices are a business opportunity,” said Jeff Baldasari. “By embracing and implementing them, we have made a measurable difference for our community, the quality of life and working conditions for our employees and the operating performance of our company through significant cost savings,” Baldasari concluded.

Watch a video on The Taylor Companies’ experience with Green Plus™.  More information on Green Plus can be found at www.gogreenplus.org.