Check out our new video from the 2011 Green Plus Sustainable Enterprise Awards, presented by GlaxoSmithKline at the Research Triangle Park Foundation, and click here to see still photos from the event.

The Green Plus Awards recognize smaller for-profit and non-profit enterprises for the example they set in triple bottom line sustainability. Winners included The Taylor Companies, LubeStop, Laser Plus, Communication Matters, and The Scrap Exchange. Pantek, Inc., Hughes Pittman & Gupton (HPG), and HRW, Inc. were also recognized for their exceptional triple bottom line efforts.

June 16 in Washington, D.C., the Institute for Sustainable Development and Partners for Livable Communities will present a second set of awards to Green Plus Cities and Green Plus Chambers of Commerce. Nominations are open in both categories until April 15.

Thanks to Inkspot Crow for their great work in capturing the spirit of the Green Plus Awards and of our great Green Plus enterprises.

- Chris Carmody, Executive Director

Institute for Sustainable Development/Green Plus

If you’re unable to view the video below, please click here.

Congratulations to our winners: The Taylor Companies, Lube Stop, Laser Plus, Communication Matters, and The Scrap Exchange!

“Green jobs are a key to our long-term prosperity,” said Chris Carmody, Executive Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development. “They will come from clean tech companies — but they will also come from traditional American businesses that produce bottom line savings and top line growth through sustainable business practices,” Carmody continued. “This year’s Green Plus Sustainable Enterprises are setting an example for employers throughout the country of how sustainability is critical to competitiveness in the 21st century,” Carmody concluded.

The 2011 Green Plus Sustainable Enterprise Winners are

• Green Plus Sustainable Enterprise of the Year, presented by The Research Triangle Park Foundation: The Taylor Companies (Bedford, Ohio)

• Green Plus Sustainable Medium-Sized Business of the Year: LubeStop (Berea, Ohio)

• Green Plus Sustainable Small Business of the Year, presented by Wells Fargo / Wachovia: Laser Plus (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)

• Green Plus Sole Proprietor / Home Based Business: Communication Matters (Hillsborough, North Carolina)

• Sustainable Non-Profit of the Year: The Scrap Exchange (Durham, North Carolina)

• Green Plus People’s Choice Award: Laser Plus (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)

• Biggest Green Plus Movers of the Year
  • Pantek Inc.
  • Hughes Pittman & Gupton LLP
  • HRW, Inc.

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About the Winners

The Taylor Companies: America’s oldest furniture manufacturer pushes America’s understanding of sustainability seven generations after its founding and demonstrates that sustainable business is the competitive advantage of the 21st century. When the company was wooed by other regions and countries, Taylor’s leadership not only stayed in its community, but also spent $6 million cleaning up an industrial brownfield in its hometown and building a new, energy efficient plant. Taylor companies sets a example for small manufacturers everywhere with superlative efforts to engage its workforce in practices that save money while improving its environmental impact. Taylor has pushed its own sector to new standards in responsibility and transparency.

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LubeStop: “LubeStop’s innovations – which save money and protect its hometown environment – have made it one of the first auto-related businesses in the country to achieve Green Plus Certification,”said Chris Carmody, executive director of the Institute for Sustainable Development. “LubeStop is a national leader in demonstrating how doing the right thing by one’s community and environment is also good business,” Carmody concluded.

A company-wide recycling program was developed with Republic Services and Allied Waste eliminating 75% of the company’s waste stream, several practices were implemented at the new corporate headquarters including low-VOC paint and Interface flooring, and 30% post-consumer recycled paper was adopted company-wide at no additional cost.

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Laser Plus: Laser Plus has been a leader in the printer sales, service and supplies industry since 1986, as well as a service provider and reseller of new and refurbished office machines.  The organization has made several physical modifications that would help the Laser Plus employees to live the sustainability concept more fully on a daily basis; from rewiring lighting into zones to earth friendly cleaning materials and supplies for the lunch room.  Half of the employees serve on boards, others act as volunteer EMTs, adopt highways, help in local schools, done in a day events, and play pool for charity.

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Communication Matters: 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.

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The Scrap Exchange: The Durham, NC-based Scrap Exchange is a creative reuse facility whose mission is “to promote creativity, environmental awareness, and community through reuse.”

Since its inception in 1991, The Scrap Exchange has achieved the illusive win-win-win by diverting over 6,000 tons of waste from the landfill; providing affordable materials and reuse workshops to artists, crafters, nonprofits, the Durham Public School system, and local prisons; and providing donors with a tax deduction for the fair market value of items donated.  The Scrap Exchange actively coordinates and convenes reuse activities in the broader community through its leadership in the Triangle Reuse Alliance, a group working to expand the awareness and practice of reuse in the NC Triangle.  Through the resale of reused materials and artwork, The Scrap Exchange covers 90% of its operating budget, creating triple bottom line value in the community almost entirely independent of donations and grants.

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Pantek Inc.: 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.”

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HPG LLP: The largest CPA firm based in the Research Triangle Park region of NC, HPG was the first accounting firm to earn Green Plus Certification and has been a poster child in their field, inspiring other firms to examine  their own sustainability practices and make positive changes.

HPG has launched multiple initiatives to integrate sustainability into its culture, including a staff-led recycling program, signage about conservation around the office, an Earth Day awareness event, sustainability-topic lunch and learns, a Green Initiative board, monthly green emails, and a weekly Green Monster award for staff members.  It has reduced resources use by purchasing energy efficient appliances, eliminating unnecessary lighting, measuring and monitoring its energy and water use, and setting future goals for energy and water use reduction.  HPG contributes to its community by providing incentives for employees to work with community organizations, internships to local university students, and is active in the clean tech and sustainable economic development community through participation in conferences.  It has also been recognized by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and others for helping the region grow and succeed.

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HRW, Inc.: 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.”

The Institute for Sustainable Development / Green Plus

www.gogreenplus.org

Certifications

• Certified Green Plus

The Institute for Sustainable Development has announced its finalists for the 2011 Green Plus North American Sustainable Enterprise Awards. The Green Plus Awards recognize organizations not only for their environmental efforts, but for their success in balancing strong business, community and environmental practices. Paying attention to business performance and community involvement as well as to minimizing environmental impact is often referred to as triple bottom line sustainability.

The winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony, presented by GlaxoSmithKline, on Friday, February 25 at North Carolina Research Triangle Park Foundation headquarters.

Click here to purchase a ticket to the Green Plus North American Sustainable Enterprise Awards.

In addition to competing in its category, each organization is eligible to win the Green Plus People’s Choice Award.

Click here to vote for one organization to receive the Green Plus People’s Choice Award.

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2011 North American Sustainable Enterprise Awards Finalists

Research Triangle Park Foundation Sustainable Enterprise of the Year

• Counter Culture Coffee
• Irregardless Cafe and Catering
• The Taylor Companies
• TS Designs
• Wenger Feeds

Green Plus Sustainable Enterprise of the Year (50 Or More Employees)

• iContact
• High Construction
• Hughes Pittman & Gupton LLC
• Lube Stop
• The Umstead Hotel & Spa

Wells Fargo/Wachovia Small Business of the Year (3 to 50 employees)

• EcoLogic Solutions
• Environmental Solutions Group
• Laser Plus
• Pantek
• Pharamaceutical Calibration Services (PCI)
• Wingswept
• Yes! Solar Solutions

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Green Plus Sole Proprietor / Home Based Business of the Year

• Abigail Seymour Photography
• Conestoga dpi
• Communication Matters
• jke Marketing & Communications
• Yurich Creative

The Redwoods Group Non-Profit or Social Enterprise of the Year

• Builders of Hope
• Bull City Forward
• Cosmic Bobbins
• Entrepreneurs for Sustainability
• Urban Tree Connection
• The Scrap Exchange

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Purchase Your Ticket to the Awards

The awards ceremony will be on Friday, February 25 from 7:30-9:30am at Research Triangle Park Headquarters in the North Carolina Triangle Region.

About the Institute for Sustainable Development and Green Plus
The Institute for Sustainable Development partners nationwide with the American Chamber of Commerce Executives to bring Green Plus, its business improvement program, to smaller enterprises in the U.S. and Canada. The non-profit was founded in the North Carolina Research Triangle in 2007 by a unique partnership of academic, business and philanthropic leaders. Early partners included Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Greater Durham Chambers of Commerce, and the Fenwick Foundation.

Institute founders recognized that while many large companies were integrating sustainability into their operations, saving money and improving their reputations, most Americans were employed by businesses with 50 or fewer people, and these smaller employers had neither the time nor the financial resources to pursue sustainability. In the fall of 2007, the Institute engaged the Center for Sustainable Enterprise at UNC’s Kenan Flagler School of Business to develop a business plan to address this problem. This plan led to the development of Green Plus, a program to educate, network and recognize smaller employers in their efforts to achieve triple bottom line sustainability.

The Institute for Sustainable Development

www.gogreenplus.org

Green Plus is proud to announce a new program designed to encourage Green Plus businesses to work with one another and enable them to save money while doing so. Click on the link below to learn more about the offers participating businesses are making available exclusively to other Green Plus Movers and Green Plus Certified businesses.

Click here to learn about available discounts and how to take advantage of them.

Our first Green Plus Discount Partner is Yes! Solar Solutions.  Read about Yes! Solar Solutions experience working with Irregardless Cafe & Catering and helping them get points towards Green Plus Certification.  Yes! Solar Solutions is offering exciting discounts on energy efficiency audits, solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems.

Green Plus businesses can also get discounts on everything from re-manufactured laser printer cartridges, hotel accommodations, and IT software and services.  The following businesses have eagerly stepped up to offer exclusive discounts as well: Cargas Systems in Lancaster, PA, The King’s Daughters Inn in Durham, NC, and Laser Plus in Lancaster, PA.  More discounts will be available soon, so check back!

Interested in offering a Green Plus Partner Discount yourself?  Contact Kirsten Hausman at khausman@gogreenplus.org for more information.

The awards, presented by GlaxoSmithKline, bring together academic, business, and philanthropic leaders from around the country to recognize organizations in the following categories: Sustainable Enterprise, Sole Proprietor, Non-Profit, Small Business (5-50 employees), Medium Sized Business (+51 employees) — and the Green Plus™ People’s Choice award, decided by popular vote.

Winners will be announced Friday, June 18, 2010, at the North Carolina Research Triangle Park Headquarters.  The awards ceremony will be held in the Archie K. Davis Conference Center at the LEED Silver Certified Research Triangle Park headquarters. Doors open at 7:45 a.m. A light breakfast will be provided by Sage & Swift Catering of Durham, and the program will begin promptly at 8:15 a.m.

For more information about the NASE awards or to register for tickets, please visit www.gogreenplus.org/events.

Green Plus™ Sustainable Enterprise of the Year finalists, presented by The Research Triangle Park

• Cargas Systems (Lancaster, PA)
• Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau (Durham, NC)
• The King’s Daughters Inn (Durham, NC)
• Lube Stop (Berea, OH)
• Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation (Hillsborough, NC)
• The Taylor Companies (Bedford, OH)

The Green Plus™ Medium-Sized Business of the Year finalists

• MG Capital Maintenance (Cary, NC)
• The Umstead Hotel and Spa (Cary, NC)
• Warfel Construction (Lancaster, PA)
• Wenger Feeds (Lancaster, PA)
• Wohlsen Construction (Lancaster, PA)

Presented by Wells Fargo, the Green Plus™ Small Business of the Year finalists

• Dos Perros Restaurant (Durham, NC)
• Environmental Solutions Group (Greensboro, NC)
• Irregardless Café & Catering (Raleigh, NC)
• Laser Plus (Lancaster, PA)
• Riley Life Industries (Durham, NC)

Green Plus™ Non-Profit of the Year finalists

• Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (Chapel Hill, NC)
• Downtown Raleigh Alliance (Raleigh, NC)
• Plymouth Church United Church of Christ (Shaker Heights, OH)
• The PTA Thrift Shop (Chapel Hill, NC)
• The Triangle Community Foundation (Durham, NC)

Green Plus™ Sole Proprietor of the Year finalists

• Benjamin Environmental Solutions Team (West Palm Beach, FL)
• Brick Street Botanical (Rogers, AR)
• Eco Select Furniture (Greensboro, NC)

For more information about the NASE awards or to register for tickets, please visit www.gogreenplus.org/events.

Descriptions of the award finalists

Sustainable Enterprise of the Year – Presented by The Research Triangle Park

Cargas Systems

Cargas is an information technology firm that implemented programs to ensure sustainability right from the start such as making Cargas an employee owned company and offering profit sharing to all employees.  In August of 2010, Cargas will move and is striving for LEED Silver Certification in its new building, which will include solar panels, passive solar, trombe walls, water source heat pumps and water-saving plumbing fixtures.  From offering flex time and telecommuting to a four-week paid sabbatical, Cargas has a unique culture which cultivates individual development.

Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau (DCVB)

DCVB excels in their commitment to triple bottom line sustainability.  Among their positive environmental practices, DCVB has installed a 3,000 gallon cistern to use for landscape irrigation and a high-efficiency HVAC system with zone controls and load monitoring reduces energy usage.  Among the 120 awards and recognitions garnered, DCVB was honored with a Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility and ranked by CEO Update as one of the Top Places to Work in Nonprofits.

The King’s Daughters Inn

The King’s Daughters Inn strives to inspire their guests by showing them how seamlessly green technologies can be woven into everyday life.  The Inn was created by renovating a historic property into a modern, eco-boutique hotel.  This combination of old and new hosts an integrated energy management system for each room, a 10,000 gallon cistern and rain garden, and a pervious concrete parking lot, as well as educational tours for legislators, students, and the general public.

Lube Stop

Since 2006, Lube Stop has aggressively pursued more sustainable business practices, which have reduced expenses by hundreds of thousands of dollars, significantly reduced waste streams, and differentiated them in a mature, competitive market.  Some LSSP projects included converting common oils from expensive case packaging to bulk storage, using remanufactured toner cartridges, establishing a companywide energy use policy, and the 2008 launch of the EcoGuard™ Oil Change Service, which is one of the company’s most visible innovations.

Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation

Piedmont EMC, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative based in Hillsborough, is a nonprofit electric utility that strives to empower and partner with consumers to provide energy value and to provide an environment for achieving personal excellence and growth for employees.  The organization serves an energy-conscious membership living and working in residential, university and farming communities.  Through smart grid technology, the Cooperative’s consumers have the option of prepaid electricity, allowing them to buy electricity before they need it and instantly scan their daily energy usage through their computer.

The Taylor Companies

Established in 1816, Taylor is the oldest furniture manufacturer in the United States. Taylor Company developed much of their sustainable practices over the past 5 years by playing a key role in the remediation of a 50 acre Brownfield, responsibly diverting most of their manufacturing waste, conserving natural resources, and commissioning a life cycle assessment report of their best selling desk series to educate stakeholders in decision making processes such as corporate strategy, product design, purchasing and marketing.

Green Plus™ Medium-Sized Business of the Year

MG Capital Maintenance

MG Capital is a janitorial company in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina that started implementing green cleaning procedures in 2008 by converting to environmentally friendly chemicals that meet strict Green Seal™ standards.  Since then, MG Capital has installed chemical dispensers with dilution control systems, utilized micro fiber cleaning systems, and also upgraded vacuum cleaners to include HEPA filters for better indoor air quality and a noise level of less than 70 decibels.  The organization encourages employees to support local charities and non-profit organizations through participation in fund-raising events, financial contributions and in-kind contributions.

The Umstead Hotel and Spa

The Umstead Hotel and Spa is a luxury Five Star and Five Diamond property that seeks to engage guests in the sustainability conversation through education and communication.  The Umstead sources over half of the food products from local farms or vendors, and the grounds include a pond with a restored fish habitat, turtle nesting areas, butterfly garden and a 0.3 mile walking trail that features educational signage for guests to enjoy.  Additionally, the Umstead has an extensive recycling program for paper, cardboard, glass, and plastic in place.

Warfel Construction Company

Founded in 1911, Warfel Construction Company subscribed to sustainability before it became a buzzword. Warfel Construction has tried to maximize their efforts to achieve triple bottom line sustainability through continued education and serving as a point a reference for others to follow.  Additionally, Warfel tout their efforts through advertising on local billboards and in mailings in order to raise awareness within their community about sustainability and green practices within its industry.

Wenger Feeds

Wenger Feeds’ commitment to triple bottom line sustainability shows their leadership in the agricultural industry.  From supporting over 50 local organizations to retrofitting lighting systems in their Rheems Mill facility in Lancaster County and planting 80 trees at their Muncy Mill facility in Northern Pennsylvania, Wenger is pushing the boundaries within their industry and helping other small agricultural businesses see what is possible.

Wohlsen Construction Company

Wohlsen Construction Company has embodied sustainability for 120 years and continued to improve their fiscal performance amid the economic downturn.  95% of Wohlsen’s management team are certified in Green Designations and sustainability is emphasized through ongoing training.  To reduce waste, Wohlsen has adopted specific changes in their operational habits everything from upgrading all appliances and computers to Energy Star products, to transitioning to electronic invoicing, and upgrading their servers to reducing their energy usage by 50%.

The Green Plus™ Small Business of the Year, presented by Wells Fargo

Dos Perros Restaurant

Opening in Durham in August of 2009, Dos Perros serves authentic Mexican food in a fresh, modern atmosphere.  Chefs can frequently be found shopping at the Durham Farmers Market, and local produce is the inspiration for many of the restaurant’s vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.  Dos Perros is based in a building recently renovated for historic and environmental preservation, and gets nearly 1/3 of its AC and heating needs from geothermal energy.

Environmental Solutions Group

The Environmental Solutions Group practices a culture of sustainability with employees and customers.  The EPA recognized ESG with a 2010 Leadership in Housing Award for adding 45 new builders of ENERGY STAR Homes in North Carolina during 2009.  Other sustainable practices include carpooling to all job sites and bicycling to and from the office, asking all customers what they are doing to be more sustainable, and including sustainability tips on their website.

The Irregardless Café

The Irregardless Café has been dedicated to innovative sustainability solutions since opening in 1975.  Started as Raleigh’s first vegetarian-and-vegan-only restaurant, the Café purchases much of its food through local farmers and the Farmer’s Market.  They also support their community and the arts through donations, trade, and other support.  When the Café was closed for 11 months due to fire in 1993, Chef Arthur Gordon continued to pay his employees asking that they volunteer at community nonprofits instead.

Laser Plus

Laser Plus has been a leader in the printer sales, service and supplies industry since 1986, as well as a service provider and reseller of new and refurbished office machines.  The organization has made several physical modifications that would help the Laser Plus employees to live the sustainability concept more fully on a daily basis; from rewiring lighting into zones to earth friendly cleaning materials and supplies for the lunch room.  Half of the employees serve on boards, others act as volunteer EMTs, adopt highways, help in local schools, done in a day events, and play pool for charity.

Riley Life Industries

Riley Life Industries is a warehousing and order fulfillment company that has pushed the boundaries of what it means to focus on the triple bottom line.  A small sample of its sustainable solutions include reducing packaging costs by 61% through reuse, organizes monthly company-wide community service activities, purchasing a battery powered forklift, encouraging carpooling, and bringing together shareholders to encourage community-wide sustainable practice sharing.

The Green Plus™ Non-Profit of the Year

Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) district is focused on implementing innovative sustainable practices, which included the creation of a representative Green Team. The District is engaged in moving the district forward in several areas; including reducing energy usage, increasing the level of recycling, revising and developing sustainability policies, and developing awareness across the district.  CHCCS has recently changed their district food provider, which has allowed for the elimination of Styrofoam lunch trays, a focus on locally produced foods, and financial support for district sustainability initiatives.

Downtown Raleigh Alliance

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) is a non-profit organization comprised of individuals, associations, corporations, and partnerships that want to improve Downtown Raleigh. This leadership organization is focused on the revitalization of Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina and serves as a clearinghouse and advocacy group for all issues affecting Downtown. DRA also manages the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market, which requires sellers to meet stringent standards and only sell local products.

Plymouth Church United Church of Christ

Plymouth Church UCC is taking a sustainability-based look at themselves, their congregation, and the community that they serve.  The innovative sustainability solutions implemented include eliminating waste, reducing utility usage at the church and among their members, and creating a community garden.  The Church also includes Green Tips in their monthly newsletter, used green building methods when renovating their conference room, and serve as an example of sustainability in its community.

PTA Thrift Shops

As one of the oldest non-profit organizations in the Triangle area, the PTA Thrift Shop, Inc. supports the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools with their year-end profits, which over the past five years has been in excess of $2 million, by operating thrift shops in two locations.  One of the goals of PTA Thrift is to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and to generate additional revenue, if possible, from items that are deemed “unsellable.”  To the tag lines ‘People, Planet, Profit’ and ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’, the PTA Thrift Shop adds ‘Shop, Save, Support!’

Triangle Community Foundation

Triangle Community Foundation (TCF) is a nonprofit philanthropic foundation that manages $135 million in funds established by individuals, businesses and families. From these funds, they gives grants to nonprofit organizations and administers a variety of programs for the community’s benefit.  Located in a recently renovated historic tobacco warehouse, TCF has an extensive employee environmental education campaign and works to reduce waste and conserve resources throughout its daily activities.

Green Plus™ Sole Proprietor of the Year

Benjamin Environmental Solutions Team
Based in West Palm Beach, Florida, the Benjamin Environmental Sustainability Team (BEST) consults with businesses and individuals who want to live a greener lifestyle.   BEST hosts a cable television series called “Sustainable Life” that helps to show how sustainability measures are being incorporated into life across the United States.

Brick Street Botanical

Brick Street Botanical leads by example with its sustainability practices and has developed a following of clients and other businesses that support their commitment to continually improving our sustainability efforts.  Their sustainable initiatives include conscientiously avoiding traditional floral shop practices that are harmful to the environment, buying locally from gardens and nurseries whenever possible, and using suppliers within a 200 mile radius for the vast majority of our purchases. Brick Street Botanical also recycles gray water for plants, and supports local artists and handmade art.

EcoSelect Furniture

EcoSelect creates custom leather and helps upholster furniture made with green, renewable products, and manufactures it using environmentally sustainable practices. Based in Greensboro, North Carolina, every piece of furniture is manufactured locally, using craftspeople from family-owned businesses.  All leather is from a certified tannery, while hemp products come from subsistence farmers and is processed locally.

The Institute for Sustainable Development and Bull City Forward invite you to a brown bag Lunch & Learn. Panelists include winners and finalist businesses from the North American Sustainable Enterprise awards and will be on a panel discussing innovations in sustainability and sharing their best practices.

Create a more sustainable supply chain and support other Green Plus businesses.

Green Plus is now offering a program to help you save money while doing so — simply mention your Green Plus status and reap the rewards!

Click here to learn about available discounts and how to take advantage of them.

Newest Green Plus Partner discounts include:

• 15% off the creation of a communications plan from Springleaf Strategies
• 15% off the creation of a public relations plan and more from Communication Matters
• 20% off greenhouse gas emissions accounting services and more from Environmental Solutions Group

Interested in offering a Green Plus Partner Discount yourself?  Any Green Plus Mover or Certified Green Plus business can offer a discount.  Contact Kirsten Hausman at khausman@gogreenplus.org for more information.

(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
• Cargas Systems
• Cottman Transmission of Garner
• Jke marketing and communications, Inc
• The King’s Daughters Inn
• Licata & Toerek
• Moran IT
• My Eco Lamp
• Northgate Associates
• Oxford University Press in Cary
• Plymouth Church United Church of Christ
• Quality Sprinking 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 Mills, Inc
• William H. Bunch, PA, CPA