To become certified sustainable, a business must implement measures and practices in at least one of these categories:

• Energy Conservation
• Water Conservation
• Pollution Prevention
• Solid Waste Reduction
• Green Building

Each Category has a checklist with suggested measures and practices. Businesses can select measures on the checklist, or propose their own. The program allows for flexibility, as businesses are not required to fulfill all five categories at once, to become certified. The certificate reflects the category icons in which the business has been certified.

Most businesses will use the “general” checklist, but some specialized businesses (Restaurants, Automotive, and Printer/Copier) may use a checklist that addresses their individual needs.

Steps to becoming a Sustainable Business:

• Fill out an application and send to BERC
• Go through the checklists and identify measures to be implemented. (Use our Resource Guide for assistance)
• Once compliance is met on the minimum number of measures on a checklist, send checklist/s to BERC for review
• BERC staff will contact your business for a site visit and verification
• Upon verification, your business will be presented a certificate and window placard that exhibits your business’ level of sustainability

Businesses that display this sticker have completed the requirements for the Green Building checklist. In order to receive this sticker, the business must complete at least three of the measures from the checklist. In order to receive a placard, businesses must complete at least 5 measures.

 Some of the suggested measures are: using window tint to off-set heat gain, install awnings on sun-exposed windows, and use low emissions building materials.