26 Jun Austin’s Leading Green Businesses 2014
Overlooking downtown through the floor to ceiling windows of the swanky Long Center's Kodosky Lounge, the 2014 Austin Green Business Leaders recognition event was both celebratory and educational. AGBL Program Manager Marc Coudert was smart to share the stage with people who are key City resources. Each award category was presented by a City staff person who served as a judge and is a source of information to all businesses about how to excel in their particular subject area.
- Recognized for Leadership in Resource Management – Electric Avenue Scooters was the winner. I must go learn more about them since they must be crazy amazing if they are doing more in resource management than our AEN partner and finalist, in.gredients, the zero waste grocery store on Manor Road.
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- Presented by Aiden Cohen from Austin Resource Recovery
- Recognized for Leadership in Energy Efficiency – Intel is the master of energy management. Going way beyond sleep settings for their computers, they track all their energy usage, perform all scheduled maintenance, they have replaced their chillers and lighting. They even installed a heat pump. They are LEED certified, and have an active EMS system.
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- Presented by Terry Moore from Austin Energy
- Recognized for Leadership in Water Efficiency – Silicon Laboratories These folks are constantly on the lookout for leaks having regular water leak innspecitons and a method for staff to submit help desk work orders. They also use Armadillo Sweeping for cleanups which dramatically decreases the amount of dirt and toxins tracked into buildings, lobbies, elevators and hallways and helps prevent possible water pollution.
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- Presented by Mark Jordon from Austin Water Utility
- Recognized for Leadership in Healthy Work Environment – HHS which uses non-VOC cleaners, has a workplace ergonomics consultant, and really encourages physical activity through their personal fitness program and participation in 5k races. We at Austin EcoNetwork were also called out in this category for having a workplace air filter and offereing heathy and organic snacks and food to staff and interns.
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- Presented by Robert King from Health and Human Services
- Recognized for Leadership Community Stewardship – Build-A-Sign this company contributes to their staff, non-profit organizations and the community in MANY ways from discounted signage, to to hosting a CreateAthon Austin.
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- Presented by Jessica Wilson from the Watershed Protection Department
- Recognized for Leadership in Sustainable Transportation – McKinney York which not oly implements sustainable practices but talks to their tenants about improving their practices.
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- Presented by Pharr Andrews from the Austin Transportation Department
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Recognized for Leadership in Communication & Outreach – East Side Compost Pedallers – On top of providing a great service Compost Pedallers offers community workshops and they do just about everything they can to spread the compost gospel to everyone (not just customers) and get people in action turning their food and yard waste into rich soil. I'll add that Dustin Fedako and team make composting flashy, fun, interesting and rewarding.
- Presented by Amy Petri from the Office of Sustainability
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Beyond the Scorecard – Green Gorilla Movers earned the overall most impressive award for 2014. They run their entire feet of movingn vehicles on biodiesel, they support their staff in healthy lifestyles and they donate furniture that is left behind. We were not surprised to see Austin EcoNetwork partner Barr Mansion in this category as well. Melanie McAfee and company are always pushing the boundaries of what's possible in their first-in-the nation Certified Organic event facility.
- Presented by Preston Stewart of the Small Business Development Program
A few bottom line take-aways for me:
- Austin has a bunch of outstanding green businesses and "mainstream" businesses operating in socially and environmentally responsible ways.
- The Austin Green Business Leaders program has been actively working to evolve their score card
- The best way to get recognized is to fill out the score card with as much detail as possible. The judging was done done "blind" meaning the reviewers only had what people reported rather than general good feelings about the business.
Even though Austin EcoNetwork has earned Platinum level recognition, will be re-filling out the Score Card this year and seeing where we can improve even more. The program is designed to be a tool for continuous improvement not just a "hey we're great" and move on kinda thing. Our latest expansion in green benefits is that we now offer B-Cycle memberships as well as bus passes for staff and interns willing to use them.
What's something new you are taking on?
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