TITLE
Recommendation to approve the Green Business Program Proposal and implement the Long Beach Green Business Program. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Numerous cities and municipalities have created Green Business Programs in order to encourage sustainability in building and business practices, and to foster partnerships and promote local businesses. On June 17, 2008, the City Council requested the City Manager to refer discussion and development of a Green Business Program to the Sustainable City Commission and report back to the City Council on a program proposal.
Other cities such as Santa Monica and Sacramento and the nine bay area counties of San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma have established green business programs. A breakdown of these programs can be found in Attachment A.
The Sustainable City Commission initially heard the Green Business Program proposal at their meeting on June 26, 2008 and it was brought back for approval on July 24, 2008. Based on feedback from the Sustainable City Commission, the Long Beach Green Business Program should include:
• Creating a voluntary program
• Using a simple checklist that a business can fill out
• Incorporating tiers so that business can achieve ongoing green improvements
over a period of time
• Phasing in different types of businesses (restaurants, offices, hotels, retail, etc.)
• Creating an effective green business logo and brand to help with promotion and
recognition of green businesses
• Incorporating elements of existing programs that can be applied in Long Beach
The full Long Beach Green Business Program proposal can be found in Attachment B.
SUSTAINABILITY
Green businesses do their part to go beyond basic environmental requirements and make sustainability part of their business model. Green businesses protect the environment and create healthier communities by preventing pollution, minimizing waste, and conserving ener...
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