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 2010!
The following businesses are being recognized and certified as Sitka Green Businesses for 2010:
To see the list of businesses and the green practices they are specifically being recognized for, please click here
Special Recognition
City and Borough of Sitka and Sitka Assembly (for their efforts on Climate Action Planning and Adaptation)
Platinum
Sitka Conservation Society (15 Green Practices)
Sitka Tribe of Alaska (12 Green Practices)
US Forest Service--Sitka Office (10 Green Practices)
Gold
Old Harbor Books (8 Green Practices)
White's and Harry Race Pharmacy (7 Green Practices)
Silver
Alaska Coast Expeditions (5 Green Practices)
Angling Unlimited (4 Green Practices)
Brenners (6 Green Practices)
Chocolate Moose (4 Green Practices)
Harris Aircraft Services (4 Green Practices)
KCAW-Raven Radio (5 Green Practices)
SEARHC (4 Green Practices)
Shelter Cove Publishing and the Sitka Visitor's Guide (6 Green Practices)
Sitka Economic Development Association (6 Green Practices)
Sitka's Secrets (6 Green Practices)
Visions Framing and Art Supplies (5 Green Practices)
Bronze
Alaska Communication Systems - ACS (1 Green Practice)
Backdoor Café (2 Green Practices)
Balanced Practice (3 Green Practices)
Brave Heart Volunteers (1 Green Practice)
Down to Earth U-Pick Garden (3 Green Practices)
Highliner Coffee (1 Green Practice)
Modus LLC (2 Green Practices)
Sailor's Choice Coffee (2 Green Practices)
Salon 264 (1 Green Practice)
SeaMart (2 Green Practices)
Sitka Chamber of Commerce (1 Green Practice)
Sitka Daily Sentinel (1 Green Practice)
Sitka Soup (1 Green Practice)
Subway (1 Green Practice)
The Ride (2 Green Practices)
The White Elephant (2 Green Practices)
University of Alaska Southeast (3 Green Practices)
Yellow Jersey Bicycle Shop (2 Green Practices)
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. The special recognition category was set up for a business involved in a one-time, major environmental initiative. Awards for 2010 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 involved in a one-time, major environmental initiative.
Awards are determined through nomination by any interested party (employees, customers, etc.), with the nominated business determining their own participation (see Nominations below). This (2010) is the first year that SGWG/SS Sitka have presented the green business awards. We hope to present awards each year, once a year. Since many nominations were based on observed practices (either from employees or from customers), SGWG/SS likely missed many green practices at the award-winning businesses. For businesses already receiving awards, SGWG/SS will recognize existing and new green practices during the next set of yearly awards. Nominations for previously un-recognized businesses will be considered on an ongoing basis. We will will take nominations for additional 2010 Sitka Green Business Awards, either from businesses themselves or from customers (see instructions under Nominations, below).
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 2010. 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.
| 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 products, natural fertilizers, un-bleached napkins with soy ink, etc.) |
| PRODUCTS |
| Provide training and consulting regarding green products |
| Sell Fair Trade certified 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 Green Team |
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.
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.
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
Contact: Michelle
Putz, Sitka Global Warming Group
Sailor's Choice Coffee and Sea Mart accepting Green Business Awards
“We are excited about the long list of
local businesses taking action to reduce their environmental footprint in