Published September 27 2017
Bellevue joins 16 Washington cities, counties and utilities to launch EnviroStars, a regional green business program.
The EnviroStars program acts as a central hub for Washington businesses to receive assistance and recognition for saving energy and water, reducing waste and pollution, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
“Bellevue is proud to be a partner in this regional effort to support our businesses and help them gain recognition for their environmental practices,” said Mayor John Stokes. “A high-quality environment and a vibrant economy are top priorities for Bellevue, and the EnviroStars program will help Bellevue businesses access resources to reduce their environmental impact and attract new customers.”
Bellevue businesses can use the EnviroStars web portal to find referrals for sustainability services and incentives from the city and Puget Sound Energy, and start on a path to recognition. Businesses that engage with EnviroStars will benefit by streamlining their operational efficiency, strengthening their bottom line, improving employee health and gaining recognition for environmental leadership. Businesses can also receive a free site visit and technical assistance to get started with the program.
“Customers love seeing the EnviroStars logo on our repair shops. And our employees feel a sense of accomplishment in doing the right thing,” said Dave Armstrong, senior facilities manager of AAA Washington and a longtime EnviroStars business.
“The program allows consumers to make empowered choices about where to take their business,” said Laurel Tomchick, creator of the original EnviroStars program at the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County. “Choosing local EnviroStars-recognized businesses reinforces better business practices — which in turn creates healthier, safer communities and motivates more businesses to ‘work green.'”
The original EnviroStars program began 20 years ago, giving incentives and recognition to small King County businesses for reducing hazardous waste. The new multi-jurisdiction program is leveraging the successful EnviroStars brand to expand its environmental focus and geographic reach. The new program is also now part of a five-state network of green business programs that have web portals modeled after the California Green Business Program.
Businesses that engage with EnviroStars will benefit by learning to operate more efficiently, strengthening their bottom line, improving employee health and gaining recognition for environmental leadership.
Consumers will be able to find local businesses who share their environmental values on the EnviroStars directory – from restaurants and grocery stores, to hotels and auto body shops, and everything in between. They can also look for the EnviroStars mark on the storefronts of recognized businesses in Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Seattle and other member cities.
“The new EnviroStars program helps support our Environmental Stewardship Strategic Plan,” said Jennifer Ewing, Bellevue’s Environmental Stewardship program manager. “This is an example of a public-private partnership with other cities, utilities and businesses working together to make tangible improvements in our environment while strengthening our businesses.”
The EnviroStars program is supported by Bellevue’s Utilities, Environmental Stewardship and Economic Development offices. The program builds on Bellevue’s efforts to support businesses in reducing their environmental impact through programs such as Urban Smart Bellevue, Refresh Recycling, the former Eastside Sustainable Business Alliance and Bellevue’s Green Business Challenge.
To learn more or to get started, visit envirostars.org or call 1-877-220-7827.