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 Join the network of hundreds of for–profit and non–profit businesses that are committed to creating a greener future for the Miami Valley. Our "Vision" is for the Dayton region to be the most vibrant economy and healthy environment in the Midwest to Live, Work, and Play. |
Start Here |
FILL OUT THE CHECKLIST |
market your business |
Submit Your Application |
Bring Your green |
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Register and enter your contact information. View the green certification checklist to know what's involved before you start anchor |
There is no obligation to finish this step all at once. You can save and continue at any time. |
Fill out your company profile to market your business in our Green Directory. You may also join the green B2B network and share your contact information with other green certified businesses IF YOU CHOOSE! |
You will receive an automated confimation email once you submit your application for review. You can easily duplicate an existing application at the click of a button to add more locations to green certify. A window decal will be sent to you upon approval. |
Green certified businesses can join the BYG Challenge to track their progress, set goals, and engage their employees while competing for cash prizes! REGISTRATION OPENS APRIL 27, 2017! |
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Comply With All Measures
| Q1: | Do you have control over building and equipment upgrades in your facility (as in the ability to upgrade your lighting, HVAC systems, etc.)? Note: Businesses without control are typically tenants leasing space with utility bills included in their rent. As such an energy audit is not required. |
Yes
No
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| Q2: | Do you have building grounds and/or outdoor landscaping that you are responsible for? |
Yes
No
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1 | Inform Your Customers |
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Inform your customers about your green certification. For example:
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2 | Inform Your Employees |
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Inform your employees about your green certification efforts and train them on your green procedures and practices. Incorporate in your newsletters, staff meetings, employee orientations, etc.
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3 | Energy Audit |
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4 | Implement A Recycling Program |
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5 | Purchase Environmentally Friendly Paper |
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Purchase 50% of office paper with post-consumer recycled content, SFI or FSC certification to support sustainable forest management practices and the purchase of recycled content paper products.
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6 | Properly Dispose Of Hazardous Wastes |
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Properly dispose of hazardous wastes (including fluorescent bulbs/tubes, batteries, paint, cellphones, cleaning supplies, aeroseal cans, pesticides, etc.) at a Hazardous Waste Facility. Never throw or pour hazardous waste into regular trash receptacles or down a drain.
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12 Measures Required
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1 | Close Your Blinds |
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Institute a written policy that ensures blinds and curtains are closed after hours
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2 | Turn It Off |
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Institute a formal policy that encourages employees to turn off inessential equipment and lights when not in use
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3 | Go Natural |
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Use only natural lighting during daytime hours in applicable areas. Make this a standard procedure via signage and employee education. Put signs over light switches such as "Turn off when leaving."
Rearrange workspace to take advantage of natural sunlight. |
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4 | Shift Electrical Usage To Non-Peak Times |
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Shifting to non-peak usage helps keep less efficient plants from coming on line. Additionally, energy planning can save money.
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5 | Turn Off Computers And Screens |
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Establish a policy to turn off computers and screens after hours, weekends, and holidays.
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6 | ENERGY STAR Purchasing Policy |
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Establish a policy that when replacing or adding new equipment or appliances, they shall have an ENERGY STAR rating.
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7 | Use "Task" Lighting |
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Light when and where extra light is needed, rather than lighting an entire room.
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8 | Space Heaters |
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Discourage personal space heaters
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9 | Dress Right |
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Encourage employees to wear weather appropriate clothing to work
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10 | Temperature Setbacks |
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Set cooling to 74°F and heating to 68°F. Program the thermostats for unoccupied hours when the facility is closed with cooling set at 90°F and heating at 55°F.
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11 | Computer Power-Saving Mode |
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Change settings on office computers to turn off the display after 5 minutes, and go into sleep mode after 20 minutes of non-use. Discontinue use of screen savers.
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12 | Copier/Printer Power-Saving Mode |
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Reduce copier/printer power consumption by using stand by mode after 15 minutes of non-use and completely turn off at the end of the day
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13 | Staff Training |
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Involve your staff Create a plan to hold bi-annual training for staff on energy conservation.
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14 | Use The Stairs |
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Put up signs at elevators that encourage stair use.
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15 | Vending Machines |
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Implement "off-hours" shutdown schedule or install devices to automatically reduce vending machine energy use (VendingMisers).
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16 | Refrigerator Rules |
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Prohibit personal refrigerators and provide high efficiency refrigerators in common areas. Replace refrigerators >10 years old with Energy Star model. Maintain fridge coils free of frost and dust.
Set refrigerator temperature between 38°F and 41°F and freezer between 10°F and 20°F. |
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17 | Dishwasher Usage |
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Post signage for employees to use dishwasher only when full. Save energy and water!
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18 | Offset Your Carbon |
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Offset your carbon and purchase CO2 offsets or renewable energy credits for a minimum of 10% of your electrical usage.
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19 | Utility Bills |
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Track, understand and review your utility bills. Report any inconsistent high usage immediately to General or Facilities Managers.
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20 | HVAC Maintenance |
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Complete regularly scheduled HVAC maintenance. Clean or replace filters,heating and air-conditioning systems at least twice a year. Clean air-conditioning condenser coils at least four times a year.
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21 | Clean Your Light Fixtures |
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Create and implement a schedule to clean lighting fixtures and lamps so that they are lighting as effectively as possible (dirt can reduce lighting efficiency by up to 50%).
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22 | Hot Water Heater |
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Set hot water heater between 120-140F
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23 | Hot Water Pipes |
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Insulate all major hot water pipes.
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24 | Contract Language For Cleaning Services |
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Develop contract language for cleaning services. Require lights to be turned off after areas are cleaned and/or schedule daytime cleaning.
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25 | Reduce Solar Heat Gain |
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Apply window film to reduce solar heat gain or use double glazing for 90% of windows.
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26 | Install Ceiling Fans |
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Ceiling fans can help reduce your cooling costs as they allow you to set your A/C thermostat higher. The breeze increases the evaporation of moisture from your skin making you feel cooler than you would without it.
However, keep in mind that ceiling fans cool people, but they don't lower room temperature. So make sure that you turn them off during unoccupied hours! |
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27 | Lighting Controls |
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Use lighting controls such as motion sensors and/or photo cells.
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28 | LED Lighting |
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Upgrade indoor and/or outdoor lighting to LEDs
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29 | Energy Management System |
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Use an energy management system to control large mechanical loads
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30 | Weather Stripping |
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Use weather stripping to seal air gaps around windows and doors
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31 | Exit Signs |
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Use LEDs in exit signs
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32 | Use Booster Heater For Hot Water |
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Convert hot water heaters to on-demand systems.
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33 | Use Economizers On AC System. |
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Use economizers on A/C for free cooling during mild conditions.
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34 | Replace Multiple AC Units With A Single Unit |
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Replace multiple AC units with a single unit with a SEER of at least 13. SEER is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and is a rating of the units' energy efficiency
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8 Measures Required
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1 | Transportation Demand Management Program |
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Develop and post a Transportation Demand Management program for your business. View a sample program here.
Inform your customers about alternative transportation options to get to your location. |
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2 | Find "Green" Rental Car Companies |
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Establish a policy where employees must request a fuel efficient car when renting cars for business travel.
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3 | Telecommuting Or Flexible Schedules |
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Offer telecommuting opportunities or flexible schedules to your employees.
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4 | Electric Vehicle Charging Stations |
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Offer electric vehicle charging stations for visitors and staff.
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5 | Video-Conferencing |
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Reduce air miles traveled via tele- or video-conferencing.
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6 | Maintain Vehicles |
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Maintain your vehicles per manufacturer specs and track maintenance to improve vehicle life.
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7 | Employee Training |
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Do any of the following:
Encourage employees to consolidate trips and to patronize services close by that can be reached by bus, bike, and walking. Provide employees with driver training for driving efficiently by avoiding idling and aggressive driving. Encourage employees to maintain vehicles and tire pressure. |
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8 | Preferential Parking |
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Make sure carpools, electric, hybrid, or alternative fuel vehicles receive preferential parking at your facility.
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9 | Encourage Greener Commute |
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Do any of the following:
May is National Bike Month! Host a Bike to Work Day. Participate in Miami Valley Regional Planning Commissions Rideshare Program. Provide a commuter van. |
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10 | Green Your Fleet |
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Purchase or rent alternative fuel, fuel efficient, electric or hybrid vehicles for the company fleet to reduce your company's transportation footprint.
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11 | No Idling |
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Establish a policy to reduce idling in company vehicles.
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12 | Incentivize Alternative Modes Of Transportation |
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For example, a bus pass or small bonus for not using a car.
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13 | Provide Bikes |
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Provide bikes for employee errands so that employees can bike to meetings and ride around the neighborhood during workday breaks.
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14 | Secure Location To Store Bicycles |
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Install a bike rack or bike shelter in or near facility. Consider providing tire air pumps and flat tire repair kits for on-site use.
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15 | Provide Shower Facilities |
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This helps promote the practice of walking, joging, or biking to work.
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16 | Activity Incentive Programs |
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Support physical activity during the workday. For example:
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17 | Support Healthy Foods And Beverages |
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Encourage better eating habits and food culture. Ensure that your employees have healthy vending and food options during the workday. Consider providing a space for eating that is well lit to encourage social support.
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18 | Promote Drinking Water |
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Provide any/all of the following:
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19 | Welcome Mats |
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Place welcome mats at the office entrance. This reduces unwanted chemicals/dirt from entering your workspace.
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20 | Air-Purifying Plants |
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Place air-purifying plants throughout the office.
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21 | Controllability Of Systems |
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Provide a high level of thermal and ventilation control for individual occupants or groups in multi-occupant spaces to promote the productivity, comfort, and wellbeing of building occupants.
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22 | Daylight And Views |
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Provide occupants with daylighting and view opportunities to provide a connection between indoor spaces and the outdoors. Strategies include office layout and lower partition heights.
Studies have demonstrated that productivity increases dramatically for building occupants working in daylit areas. In addition, daylighting decreases energy costs. |
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23 | Cleaning Protocol |
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Provide clean and sanitary environment for staff and visitors in a manner that is earth and human friendly using cleaning products that meet Green Seal standard or products with low-volatile organic compound (VOC) whenever possible.
Reduce the exposure of building occupants and custodial personnel to potentially hazardous chemical containments that adversely impact air quality or impede occupants' well-being. |
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24 | Community Volunteer Activities |
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Encourage/promote community volunteer activities by any of the following:
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25 | Green Cleaning |
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Provide clean and sanitary environment for staff and visitors in a manner that is earth and human friendly. Download sample policy
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13 Measures Required
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1 | Have A Solid Waste Assessment Done For Your Facility |
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Montgomery County Solid Waste District can provide free solid waste assessments for Montgomery County businesses! For more information contact Barbara Asberry at 937-781-3062.
Check with your Solid Waste District for similar programs if you're outside Montgomery County. |
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2 | Clearly Labeled Recycling Bins |
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Position clearly labeled recycling bins co-located next to all trash receptacles at break rooms, conference room, and lobby areas.
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3 | Make Recycling Easy |
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Have individual recycling bins available at employee desks or at a centralized location in close proximity to all employees. Verify that the cleaning staff is aware of your recycling/ waste management system.
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4 | Two Sided Printing |
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Make two-sided printing and copying standard practice in your business (set printers and copiers to default to duplex printing). Make single-sided the exception instead of the rule.
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5 | Think Before You Print |
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Circulate documents electronically instead of using paper-based memos or faxes. Include this in your business policy.
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6 | Document Defaults |
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Set document defaults to smaller fonts and margins.
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7 | Use Electronic Billing |
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Use electronic billing methods to invoice customers and receive payment.
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8 | Permanent Dishware |
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Stock your cafeteria, break room or kitchen with reusable food service ware, such as mugs, dishes, and utensils, for staff and customers use.
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9 | Reduce Junk Mail |
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Unsubscribe to all junk mail and reduce the number of catalogs and newspapers sent to your business. Consider using free programs such as www.catalogchoice.org
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10 | Unwanted But Usable |
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Donate old electronics, furniture, equipment, and building materials. If it's not useable, recycle it.
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11 | Food Scraps Composting |
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Implement a program to compost employee food scraps.
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12 | Eliminate Bottled Water |
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Distribute refillable water bottles and/or travel mugs to all employees. Install a drinking water filter system and eliminate use of bottled water.
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13 | Reuse Rinse Water |
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Use kitchen rinse water and/ or residual drinking water to irrigate indoor plants.
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14 | Re-Use Area |
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Designate a sharing or re-use area for employees' use.
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15 | Reduce Packaging |
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Purchase products with no packaging, less packaging or reusable packaging. If possible, request that vendors/suppliers ship deliveries in returnable containers.
Design marketing materials that require no envelopes-simply fold and mail. |
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16 | No Styrofoam |
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Eliminate use of all Styrofoam products.
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17 | Green Catering |
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Use catering services that purchase local and/or organic produce, and use only recyclable or compostable or reusable dishes.
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18 | No Single Containers |
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Eliminate use of 'single containers' from coffee areas such as Keurig, individual creamers, sugar packs, etc. Use large refillable containers instead and buy coffee, tea, condiments, and any snacks provided to employees in bulk to avoid unnecessary packaging waste
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19 | Green Purchasing |
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Write and implement a green purchasing policy.
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20 | Buy Local |
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Purchase local products. Do business with other green businesses.
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21 | Bleach And Chlorine-Free Paper |
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Use unbleached and/or chlorine-free paper products (copy paper, paper towels, napkins, coffee filters, etc.).
Look for paper products that are unbleached or that are whitened using a chlorine-free process (sometimes labeled PCF for Processed Chlorine-Free). Chlorine-containing bleaching agents are often used to turn paper and janitorial products bright white. The bleaching process can generate various chlorinated pollutants which tend to persist in the environment for a very long time. |
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22 | Janitorial Paper Products |
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Purchase at least one janitorial item (paper towel, toilet paper, etc...) with post-consumer recycled content.
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23 | Greener Office Supplies |
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Use non-toxic (water based, low VOC) office supplies such as ink markers and pens.
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24 | Inventory Your Chemicals |
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Conduct and maintain an inventory of chemicals and potentially hazardous materials used in your business. Check Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and labels for all cleaning products, building maintenance materials, pesticides, and fertilizers you use. Identify and use safer, greener, or natural alternatives.
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25 | Reusable Office Supplies |
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Purchase Reusable Office Items such as refillable pens, erasable white boards & wall calendars.
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26 | Replace Aerosols With Pump Dispensers |
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Even modern-day, CFC-free aerosol sprays emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to ground-level ozone levels, a key component of asthma-inducing smog.
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27 | Just In Time Policy |
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Implement "Just In Time" purchasing policy and "first in, first out" for chemicals and limit access to hazardous chemicals.
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28 | Eliminate Paper Hand Towels |
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Eliminate paper hand towels by installing air hand dryers in restrooms.
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29 | Use Approved Cleaning Products |
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Stock at least one non-toxic, biodegradable cleaner, such as a multipurpose, glass, restroom, floor or dish washing detergent.
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30 | Use Only Low And Zero-VOC Paints |
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Use solvents and paints that have lower emissions than required by current standards.
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12 Measures Required
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1 | Eliminate Irrigation And Fertilizer |
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Eliminate irrigation and fertilization by planting native and drought resistant vegetation only.
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2 | Test Irrigation System |
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Manually check for leaks, and repair all broken sprinkler heads/equipment monthly. Turn on irrigation system and walk each station to check for leaks and proper coverage.
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3 | Adjust Sprinklers For Proper Coverage |
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Adjust sprinklers for proper coverage to achieve even water distribution and to eliminate all runoff into paved surfaces.
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4 | Non-Daylight Hours Watering |
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Set the irrigation controller start time during non-daylight hours (before 7 am or after 9 pm). Watering in early morning or dusk helps avoid evaporation
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5 | Decrease Impervious Surface Area |
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Reduce the amount of impervious surface by using permeable pavement and other options.
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6 | Apply Mulch |
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Apply 2-3 inches of mulch in all non-turf planting areas.
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7 | Hydro-Zoning |
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Make necessary changes to assure proper hydro-zoning (grouping of plants with similar water needs and sprinkler types) of irrigated areas, for example, separate bed and turf zones.
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8 | Rotating Nozzles |
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Install rotating nozzles on all sprinkler heads.
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9 | Drip Irrigation |
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Install non-spray or drip irrigation in all shrub, tree, and planted bed zones.
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10 | Turf Grass Watering |
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Reduce turf grass water consumption by eliminating watering, and allow the grass to go dormant. It will come back!
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11 | Reclaimed Water |
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Use captured rainwater or recycled graywater for irrigation.
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12 | Plant Trees |
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Plant / maintain trees to help reduce amount of water runoff.
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13 | Irrigation Efficiency Training |
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Provide irrigation efficiency training for all landscape staff or contractors through a reputable training program.
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14 | Storm Drain Litter |
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Prevent litter from entering the storm drain by regularly cleaning litter and debris in front of your business, by dumpsters, and in receiving areas. Ensure tight-fitting lids on dumpsters.
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15 | Chemical Storage Areas |
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Locate chemical storage areas away from catch basins, drywells, and floor drains.
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16 | Prevent Soil From Washing Into Storm Drains |
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Mulch, use ground cover, or use a barrier to prevent exposed soil from washing into storm drain.
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17 | Outdoor Areas Dry Sweeping |
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Use dry sweeping to clean concrete or asphalt surfaces instead of using water to wash down surfaces. Use high pressure, low water use cleaning techniques only when necessary. Always send wastewater from pressure washing to landscaping or the sewer not the storm drain.
Never use a hose and/or soap to clean outdoor areas. This includes parking lots, sidewalks, alleys or patios. |
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18 | No Dumping |
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Label storm drains with "No Dumping, Drains to (appropriate body of water)" message.
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19 | Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program |
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Eliminate or reduce use of chemical pesticides by:
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20 | Prevent Pest Attraction |
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Prevent pest attraction by eliminating improperly stored foods, open trash bins, and dense foliage around your building.
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21 | Erosion Control |
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Prevent erosion during earth disturbing activities by using mulch, ground cover, or barriers.
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22 | Vehicle Spill Kit |
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Keep a spill kit handy to collect spills or leaks from company vehicles.
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23 | Drain Carwash Water Into Sewer |
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Carwash water should NOT enter storm drains, catch basins, dry wells, or retention/detention ponds. Perform vehicle maintenance, repair, and washing offsite.
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5 Measures Required
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1 | Low-Flow Aerators |
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Install these devices on all ""non-critical use"" lavatory faucets to reduce water use.
Standard aerators are devices that are designed to reduce the flow of the water coming out of the faucet while introducing air into the water flow. That is why they are called ""aerators"". Aerators will usually have a rated flow (in gallons per minute or gpm) imprinted on the side. If there appears to be an aerator installed, but there is no flow rate stamped on the side, the aerator may not be a low flow type and should be replaced with a new one. Some designer faucets have an internal built in ""laminar"" restrictor. Laminar restrictors work differently than standard faucet aerators by producing dozens of parallel streams of water. A business can ask the manufacturer for the flow rate of these faucets |
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2 | Track Water Use |
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Review your water bill monthly for leak/spike indications.
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3 | Leak Detection And Repair |
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Regularly check for and repair all leaks in your facility
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4 | High Efficiency Toilets And Urinals |
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When renovating replace all urinals flushing at greater than 1.0 gallon with high efficiency urinals, flushing at less than 0.5 gallons, or waterless urinals. Retrofit toilets flushing at higher than 1.6 gallons with high efficiency toilets (1.28 gallons or less per flush).
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5 | Water Pressure |
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Maintain water pressure between 60-80 PSI to optimize performance
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6 | Encourage Water Conservation |
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Encourage water conservation and post signs in restrooms and break rooms.
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7 | Window Cleaning |
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Change window cleaning to ""as required""
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8 | Faucets |
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Install low flow self-closing or automatic & sensor faucets.
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9 | Cooling Systems |
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Optimize cooling systems to provide or use alternative onsite sources of water.
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