Redwood Parks Lodge Company receives green business certification

April 21, 2011 - PRLog -- Orick, CA - Redwood Parks Lodge Company received certification from the Humboldt County Green Business Program this month in recognition of their commitment to reducing environmental impact at their place of business.

Grant Roden, Director of Environmental Resources, was presented with an award in recognition of the certification at Plan It Green’s Building Green Communities Conference on April 2nd.  As Director of Environmental Resources, Roden made changes in his business to fulfill the program requirements.  Additionally, Roden provided insight, helping to make the checklist more relevant and meaningful to Humboldt’s business owners.

"This is the first step of an on-going process for Redwood Parks Lodge Company to reduce its environmental impact.  We look foreword to working with the SBDC in the future to help Humboldt County develop sustainable business practices," Roden said.  He was presented with a piece of ‘Found Art’ designed by Kathryn Stotler for this recognition.

The program is based on a list of recommended measures for businesses to implement. Businesses become certified when they complete the required number of measures and are reviewed by the program staff with an on-site visit.   Many measures are optional and can be substituted with comparable items, although several items with high environmental impact are required.  For example, recycling and regular heater maintenance are required items.

The Green Business Program was established in 2009 by the North Coast Small Business Development Center (SBDC) with a grant from Pacific Gas & Electric Company.  The North Coast SBDC developed a pilot program for hotel & lodging businesses in Humboldt County based on Bay Area green business programs and US Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.  The goals of the program are to cut expenses and reduce energy consumption, waste, and pollution.

In 2011, the North Coast SBDC developed lists designed to help other types of businesses achieve this certification in collaboration with the Redwood Coast Energy Authority and Plan It Green.  In addition to the Hotels & Lodging checklist, a Retail & Office list and a Restaurant list have been created.  

O&M Industries and Living Earth Landscapes contributed their insight in order to make the checklists more effective and applicable to local conditions.

The North Coast Small Business Development Center is a local non-profit that engenders entrepreneurship and cultivates small business success in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties by providing one-on-one counseling, workshops, and other training opportunities.

Business Owners who want more information about the Green Business Program can contact Nick Canton of the North Coast SBDC at 707-445-4986 or canton@northcoastsbdc.org.

Photo caption: Grant Roden holds the Green Business Program award and a bag of used soap, which is sent to a group called "Clean the World", where it is reconditioned and donated to developing countries. This batch is going to Haiti.

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A non-profit that provides workshops, business assistance, counseling, training and in-depth financial analysis for start-up and existing companies in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties on the North Coast of California - in the Redwoods.