Established a Green Team? Check. Have a single-stream
recycling service? Check. Allow employees to
telecommute? Have energy-efficient products or
appliances? Regularly check for leaky faucets? Check,
check, and check.
If you can say yes to even one of these questions, your
office could be well on their way to becoming certified as
a “513 Green Workplace”.
The 513 Green Workplace Certification is a no cost,
sustainability certification that recognizes and promotes
businesses in Hamilton County that operate in an
environmentally responsible manner by encouraging
sustainable behaviors in the workplace,” says Mary
Cropenbaker, the 513 Green Advisor.
Businesses seeking certification can expect to earn points
in five main categories: sustainable actions, waste
diversion, transportation and air quality, water
conservation, and energy conservation.
Though those categories are wide-ranging, Cropenbaker
emphasizes the ease of achievability, stating, “It’s open to
offices of any size and is achievable no matter if your
business rents office space or owns your building. Again,
the focus here is being environmentally responsible
through sustainable behaviors.”
The certification process is as easy as one, two, three.
1. Complete the application checklist.
2. Submit the completed checklist with any supporting documents.
3. Authenticate the application by scheduling a walk-through
with Hamilton County R3Source.
The certification was created as a collaboration between Hamilton County R3Source,
Green Umbrella, and the City of Cincinnati’s Office of
Environment and Sustainability.