Green Globe International, Inc., the worldwide owner of the Green Globe brand, has announced its participation in an initiative that will allow businesses in Los Angeles to earn a seal of approval through the city’s new green business certification programme.

 

The City of Los Angeles initiative, to be administered by the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), will provide information on which local businesses are green and how businesses can adopt sustainable practices. One of the aims is to enable consumers to support firms that strive to protect the environment.

 

The District expects the program to use a three-tiered rating system, similar to the A, B, C restaurant grading guide. To obtain green certification, a business must successfully complete a sustainability checklist that asks about its efforts to conserve resources, prevent pollution and minimize waste, which will be validated by program monitors.

 

To be known as the Los Angeles Green Business Certification Program, the effort initially will cover three business sectors: auto repair, restaurants and office-retail.

 

The new city program was announced at a news conference at Ciudad restaurant in downtown Los Angeles on December 9, 2009. The LACCD was joined at the news conference by its program partners, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Green Seal, Inc., Green Globe and dineLA, a part of LA INC., The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau.

 

“We are very pleased to be involved with a group of such esteemed partners to deliver the Los Angeles Green Business Certification Program,” commented Steven R. Peacock, CEO and Managing Director for Green Globe International, Inc. “There is no question about the city’s commitment to green and this team has the capability of developing, managing and promoting a cutting edge green business certification system that everyone involved with will be proud to be a part.”

 

Councilman Richard Alarcón has spearheaded the city's effort to create the Green Business Certification Program since March 2007.

 

“In today’s economy, businesses are looking at ways to save money and draw in more business, and the Green Business Certification Program will do just that,” Councilman Alarcón said. “Today’s vote by the City Council means that after years of a collaborative effort, we will have a new incentive program for businesses that are working to reduce their impact on our environment. I look forward to working with the Los Angeles Community College District and its partners to get the program up and running quickly, so we can start certifying our environmentally friendly businesses.”

 

A $150,000 grant from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power will help to pay for the district's how-to workshops for businesses that seek green certification.

The Los Angeles certification effort will strive to protect the environment by conserving energy and water, as well as take steps that will help businesses reduce costs.

 

As an example, city officials point to the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, which expects to save about $225,000 a year because it incorporated such green practices as composting food waste and installing energy efficient lighting.

 

Businesses interested in the Green Business Certification Program can take the pledge to “go green” and enroll atwww.lacity.org/ead/environmentla/cgbp/pledge.html. Seventy businesses have already signed-up at the site. Businesses may begin applying for certification in approximately six months.

 

Valere Tjolle

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