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Green Business Program
About the Program
The Green Business Program provides businesses in the Florida Keys with a set of online tools to green their operations and improve their bottom line. The three main tools of the DIY program include an Application & Checklist, a Waste Assessment Form and a Baseline Utility Tracker, which guide participants in the various ways to reduce waste, conserve natural resources and demonstrate best environmental practices. (read more)
Green Business Program Ready for Take Off
GLEE takes its mission to educate and promote sustainability to a new level with the November launch of a Keys-wide Green Business Certification Program. The program is the first of its kind to address lessening the environmental impact of small businesses in the Florida Keys.
“The Green Business Program is our response to the many requests we’ve received over the years from those who want to green their business operations but don’t know where to begin,” said GLEE President Alison Higgins. “We’re offering a simple template that will help reduce waste and conserve resources, while trimming the cost of doing business.” (read more)
Lower Keys Chamber
Working with GLEE in a pilot program, the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center completed the GLEE Green Business Partner program requirements within weeks of receiving the tools to help them go green.. Staff at the 1,500 square-foot facility have vowed to continue to make improvements as funds become available.
The chamber was already using low-flow (1 gal. per min.) faucet aerators and low-flow toilets (1.6 gal. per flush) in the visitor center bathrooms. They have also set up a recycling account with WM and are now considering downsizing their dumpster to a 95 gallon tote due to less waste through recycling. The Green Team, with the help of chamber directors, improved their energy conservation with new weather stripping on doors and windows, and will gradually install T-8 florescent lighting, which consumes 40 percent less energy than the T-12 lamps they’ll be replacing. (read more)
MARC House
Local businesses in GLEE’s pilot Green Business Partner (GBP) program are learning that it can be easy being green (Sorry Kermit!) as they take the steps to qualify for a Green Business Certification.
Monroe Association for ReMARCable Citizens (MARC) formed a green team in May and began making adjustments to their operation by following the checklist and other tools provided by the program. MARC passed their on-site assessment with flying colors in August, as many of the changes they implemented were added to the green practices already being taken at the facility. (read more)