Sitka Global Warming Group and Sustainable Sitka (SGWG/SS) are proud to recognize the following Sitka "Green" Businesses that are doing good things for the environment while also doing good things for our local economy. Through implementing green, environmentally-sustainable business practices, these award-winning businesses are contributing to the sustainability of our community, both in an environmental sense and in a financial and social sense. For their work toward sustainability, we recognize and thank our local "Sitka Green Business Award" winners for 2011!
The following businesses are being recognized and certified as Sitka Green Businesses for 2011:
To see the list of businesses and the green practices they are specifically being recognized for, please click here
Special Recognition
Mt.
Platinum (10+ green practices)
Air Station Sitka (US Coast Guard)
Alaska
Allen Marine at www.alaskandreamcruises.com or www.allenmarinetours.com
Aurora
Business Supplies
Balanced Practice
City of
Down to Earth U-pick
Garden
Harris Aircraft Services
KCAW-Raven Radio
Larkspur Café
Mt.
Sand Dollar Management/Glory
Days Charters
SEARHC
Sitka's Eagle Bay Inn
Subway
Work and Rugged Gear &
Mountain Miss (Craig emporium)
Gold (7 to 9 green practices)
Garden Ventures
Silver (4 to 6 green practices)
Alaska Airlines (including stewardesses & stewards)
Ludwig's Bistro
Bronze (1 to 3 green practices)
Chamber of Commerce
Current Navigation
Petro Express
Sitka Soup
Photos courtesy of the Daily Sitka Sentinel
Program Participation
SGWG/SS developed this local “certification” process to determine those businesses and practices to recognize through this program. The program’s four levels recognize different levels of commitment towards green practices. The more actions that a business is doing to help the environment, the higher the recognition level they received. Awards for 2011 were determined as follows. Businesses using: 1-3 green practices received a Bronze Award; 4-6 green practices – a Silver Award; 7-9 green practices – a Gold Award; 10 or more green practices – the Platinum Award. The special recognition category was set up for a business or businesses involved in a one-time, major environmental initiative.
Awards are determined through nomination by any interested party (employees, customers, owners, etc.), with the nominated business determining their own participation (see Nominations below). Awards are normally presented each year in the spring with nominations being solicited mainly in the fall. We will will continue to take nominations for additional 2011 Sitka Green Business Awards, either from businesses themselves or from customers (see instructions under Nominations, below) year-round.
The criteria for the awards are in constant development. SGWG/SS reserve the right to determine what practices will be listed and recognized and what businesses qualify for the awards.
The following list of green practices was compiled from practices currently being used in Sitka and was used to determine the level of award for 2011. To see the list of businesses and the green practices they are specifically being recognized for, please click here. A copy of this list, designed for printing or copying and filling out as a form, is available under Nominations below.
|
Action |
|
WASTE
REDUCTION |
|
Reuse
materials |
|
Give
away usable items and food rather than throw it away |
|
Encourage
double-sided printing |
|
Recycle
1 or more city-sponsored items |
|
Recycle
"specialty" items (batteries, shopping bags, print cartridges,
phones, etc.) |
|
Compost
coffee grounds or food waste |
|
Discount
for customers using reusing items (cups, bags, etc.) |
|
Use
reusable serving items (plates, forks, etc.) rather than throw away items |
|
Use
web-based (paperless) marketing, billing, newsletters, etc. |
|
Proper
disposal of hazardous waste |
|
ENERGY
CONSERVATION |
|
Energy
Efficient lighting (Install/use CFLs, LEDs, etc) |
|
Energy
efficient heating (Install/use programmable thermostat, turn down heat at
night) |
|
Turn
off lights, electronics (computer, etc.) at night |
|
Installed/maintain
other energy saving devices (elec. hand driers) |
|
TRANSPORTATION |
|
Provide/maintain
covered bike parking |
|
Support
bike/walking programs (for employees or special initiatives) |
|
Consolidate
errands - Transportation efficiency |
|
Use
teleconferencing/ videoconferencing to reduce travel for meetings,
training, etc. |
|
Use
4 stroke outboards/take other measures to reduce boat fuel use |
|
GREEN
MATERIALS |
|
Use
recycled paper/refurbished office supplies |
|
Use
environmentally friendly supplies/methods (including green seal certified
cleaning products, natural fertilizer, un-bleached napkins, organic
items, etc.) |
|
PRODUCTS |
|
Provide
training and consulting regarding green products |
|
Sell
Fair Trade certified products |
|
Sell
or use organic ingredients in their products |
|
Sell
locally made/grown items |
|
Sell
reusable shopping bags |
|
Sell
re-used items |
|
Ask
clients to reuse towels |
|
COMMUNITY/ENVIRONMENTAL
SUPPORT |
|
Organize/promote
clean-up events (land, water, beaches) |
|
Promote/support
green education (about energy conservation, invasive species, green
practices, etc.) |
|
Support
local foods activities |
|
Have
employee/student Green Team or environmental organization |
If you own, work for or know of a Sitka business doing green practices that you would like to see recognized with a Sitka Green Business Award, we'd like to hear from you! Please go to the Green Business Nomination Form, copy and paste the attached table into a WORD document, fill in the business name at the top and put an x in any green practices currently occurring at that business. Please email that filled-in list to info@sitkaglobalwarming.org. Also, if you have or know of additional green practices occurring that you would like us to consider adding to our list, please include a list of those in your email. Make sure to send us the business name and address as well as your name and email address. If you'd just like more information, please contact us at info@sitkaglobalwarming.org.
Nominations are mainly accepted in the fall. However, we will accept nominations year-round for actions taken the year before the award is presented (thus, 2011 awards are for green business practices implemented in 2010). Nominations for previously un-recognized businesses will be considered on an ongoing basis. Awards are generally presented once or twice per year.
Program History
At a March 2009 SGWG/SS meeting one member suggested, "Thank local companies and businesses for green practices. Recognize those who are taking an initiative! promote the positives!" By April of that year, a green business recognition program was prioritized as one of the most important actions to be taken by SGWG/SS in 2009/2010.
In April 2010, 35 Sitka businesses were awarded 2010 Sitka
Green Business Awards. Three
The
list of green practices was compiled using actions that local businesses were
already successfully implementing. The list can grow if businesses
bring up new practices and SGWG/SS agrees upon them.
The most recent addition to the list of green practices is that the
business sells or uses organic ingredients in their products.
SGWG/SS is considering adding a new community-benefiting practice:
business actively encourages “buying local” at other local businesses in
This program came about because members of SGWG/SS recognized that many Sitka businesses are engaged in green practices such as recycling, composting, installing bike racks, encouraging use of reusable cups/bags/plates, and energy conservation. Realizing that these “green” practices benefit the environment, save money, and increase our sustainability, SGWG/SS wanted to recognize and thank those businesses, encourage others to start “greening” their business, and help local businesses take advantage of a green marketing strategy. We hope these awards are the start of added business and sustainability in Sitka.
Contact: Michelle
Putz, Sitka Global Warming Group
Second Set
of Sitka
Green Business Award Winners Announced
Today, six additional
A special mention goes to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game; they were proposed as a green agency, but no nomination was received for their award.
With today’s additions, 41
Each of the winning businesses received a “2011 Sitka Green Business Award” certificate that can be placed in the business’s window or check out counter to identify it as a green business. Green businesses are also listed on the SGWG website at www.sitkaglobalwarming.org (select Green Businesses from the Contents bar).
Contact: Michelle
Putz, Sitka Global Warming Group
Sitka
Green Business Award Winners Announced
Today,
35
Award winners by category are:
SEE LIST ABOVE
Businesses that are recognized receive a “2011 Sitka Green Business Award” certificate that can be placed in the business’s window or check out counter to identify it as a green business. Green businesses are also listed on the SGWG website at www.sitkaglobalwarming.org (select Green Businesses from the Contents bar). “We offer the businesses the opportunity link their website to our green business page to help increase their web presence and help them link up with customers who are looking to reduce their environmental footprint” said Putz. SGWG/SS will also provide businesses with the “Sitka Green Business Award” logo (a drawing of Mt Edgecumbe in bronze, silver, gold, or green (green for Platinum) to place on their print advertising and websites.
This
is the second year that SGWG and Sustainable Sitka have presented the green
business awards. Last year 35 businesses received awards with three
“The award levels and businesses changed a lot this year compared to last year,” said Putz. “Many businesses moved up in the rankings and many businesses are new to the list,” Putz continued, “Awards are based on nominations by businesses themselves, their employees, or their customers that count up the “green” actions taken/practices used by a business in the year prior to the award. Last year, many nominations were made by SGWG/SS members who patronized the businesses. Often they would not see all the green practices being used which resulted in lower-level awards. This year, most businesses were self-nominated. This captured more of a business’ “hidden” green practices, but missed those businesses that did not nominate themselves.”
This program was started because members of SGWG/SS recognized that many Sitka businesses are engaged in green practices such as recycling, composting, installing bike racks, encouraging use of reusable cups/bags/plates, and energy conservation. Realizing that these “green” practices benefit the environment, save money, and increase our sustainability, SGWG/SS wanted to recognize and thank those businesses, encourage others to start “greening” their business, and help local businesses take advantage of a green marketing strategy. “We hope this recognition supports businesses trying out more green practices, and also increases their business, particularly as the summer season comes on and people start making their buying choices,” said Putz.
Nominations
from other
SGWG/SS’
current list has 32 “green” practices on it that are used to determine the
green business awards. But the list can grow if businesses bring up new
practices and the group agrees upon them. The most recent addition to the
list of green practices is that the business sells or uses organic ingredients
in their products. SGWG/SS is considering adding a new
community-benefiting practice: business actively encourages “buying local”
at other local businesses in
WASTE
REDUCTION
Reuse
materials
Give
away usable items and food rather than throw it away
Encourage
double-sided printing
Recycle
1 or more city-sponsored items
Recycle
"specialty" items (batteries, shopping bags, print cartridges, phones,
etc.)
Compost
coffee grounds or food waste
Discount
for customers using reusing items (cups, bags, etc.)
Use
reusable serving items (plates, forks, etc.) rather than throw away items
Use
web-based (paperless) marketing, billing, newsletters, etc.
Proper disposal of hazardous waste
ENERGY
CONSERVATION
Energy
Efficient lighting (Install/use CFLs, LEDs, etc)
Energy
efficient heating (Install/use programmable thermostat, turn down heat at night)
Turn
off lights, electronics (computer, etc.) at night
Installed/maintain other energy saving devices (elec. hand driers)
TRANSPORTATION
Provide/maintain
covered bike parking
Support
bike/walking programs (for employees or special initiatives)
Consolidate
errands - Transportation efficiency
Use
teleconferencing/ videoconferencing to reduce travel for meetings, training,
etc.
Use 4 stroke outboards/take other measures to reduce boat fuel use
GREEN
MATERIALS
Use
recycled paper/refurbished office supplies
Use environmentally friendly supplies/methods (including green seal certified cleaning products, natural fertilizer, un-bleached napkins, organic items, etc.)
PRODUCTS
Provide
training and consulting regarding green products
Sell
Fair Trade certified products
Sell
or use organic ingredients in their products
Sell
locally made/grown items
Sell
reusable shopping bags
Sell
re-used items
Ask clients to reuse towels
COMMUNITY/ENVIRONMENTAL
SUPPORT
Organize/promote
clean-up events (land, water, beaches)
Promote/support
green education (about energy conservation, invasive species, green practices,
etc.)
Support
local foods activities
Have
employee/student Green Team or environmental organization
For more information contact Michelle Putz, 747-2708