Certifiably Green Denver

We make it easy for you to make your business more eco-friendly. We'll work with you to create a personalized plan to reach your sustainability goals and provide resources and expertise to help you to implement it. We can also help you become a Certified Green Business if that's your goal. And we do it all for free. Here are the steps: 

1.  Assess: We offer free, personalized assessments from sustainability experts that identify the best opportunities for businesses to become more efficient and less wasteful.
2.  Plan: We create actionable plans that remove guesswork and headache from implementation while finding ways to maximize cost savings.
3.  Connect: We connect you to the resources you need to successfully implement sustainable practices.
4.  Certify: We'll certify your business to make you more marketable to employees and customers alike.
5.  Promote: We won't create a Super Bowl commercial for you, but we will include your business in our Certifiably Green Denver advertising and publicity efforts.

Here's how we'll make you more sustainable:

• Energy Efficiency: We'll help you identify easy changes to reduce your energy use such as reprogramming thermostats, managing equipment, installing LED lighting, which remains the most cost-effective improvement, and more.
• Water Conservation: A few simple tweaks can save thousands of gallons a year. We'll help you switch to low-flow toilets, install sink aerators and more.
• Resource Management: We'll show you a few things you can do to reduce waste, green your purchasing practices, and set up successful recycling systems.
• Alternative Transportation: Encouraging your employees and customers to walk, bike, and take public transportation will not only make them happier, it'll make out air cleaner too.
• Business Management: We'll help you verify that you are compliant with all acceptable environmental standards, engage your workforce to continue improving your environmental and social impacts, and publicize your accomplishments.

When assessing a business or event’s application for certification, we take a holistic view of their dedication to climate action and sustainability in addition to the specific actions and activities that promote and support sustainable and regenerative practices.

Businesses must complete the core certification criteria and your industry-specific certification criteria to get certified. Certifiably Green Denver has worked with a broad range of business sectors and has developed certifications for most. Start the certification process to get industry-specific criteria via PDF and, upon request, in any language.

DaVita (PDF)(PDF, 2MB) - Transportation

Seattle Fish Company (PDF)(PDF, 1MB) - Water

Fire on the Mountain (PDF)(PDF, 114KB) - Restaurant

Wynkoop Dental (PDF)(PDF, 125KB) - Dental Office

Snooze (PDF)(PDF, 190KB) -Restaurant

Headlines Salon (PDF)(PDF, 141KB) - Salon

Green Garage (PDF)(PDF, 272KB) - Auto Shop

Postmodern (PDF)(PDF, 634KB) - Energy Loans

Hooked on Colfax (PDF) (PDF, 299KB)-Restaurant/Cafe

The City and County of Denver does not endorse or recommend any third party product, or service.

Resources for all Businesses:

Business Management:

• Anti-idling Policy(PDF, 33KB)
• Environmental Management System(PDF, 145KB)
• Metrics Reporting Worksheet(XLSX, 107KB)
• Noise Regulations for Events and Festivals(PDF, 177KB)
• Writing an Environmental Policy(PDF, 234KB)

Energy Efficiency:

• Free Energy Assessments and Energy Efficient Equipment
• Power Strips(PDF, 140KB)

Resource Management:

• Cleaning Products(PDF, 312KB)
• Composting(PDF, 182KB)
• Environmentally Preferable Purchasing(PDF, 121KB)
• Fluorescent Lamp Recycling(PDF, 243KB)
• Recycled Paper(PDF, 194KB)
• Recycling and Zero Waste(PDF, 260KB)
• Hard to Recycle Items(PDF, 257KB)
• Waste Audit Form(PDF, 182KB)

Water Conservation:

• Commercial Restrooms(PDF, 135KB)
• De-icer(PDF, 177KB)
• Pressure Washing Service Agreement(PDF, 134KB)
• Stormwater Protection(PDF, 288KB)

Restaurant Resources:

• Commercial Kitchen Equipment Rebates(PDF, 1MB)
• Composting(PDF, 182KB)
• Kitchen Equipment Preventative Maintenance(PDF, 92KB)
• Pre-Rinse Spray Valves(PDF, 75KB)
• Restaurant Purchasing(PDF, 191KB)
• Restaurant Waste Reduction(PDF, 192KB)
• Restaurant Equipment(PDF, 172KB)
• Water Upon Request Signage(PDF, 7MB)

PACE Financing

Colorado Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) is a new financing program for commercial, industrial, agricultural, non-profit and multifamily properties that enables building owners to finance 100 percent of eligible energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation improvements with repayment terms of up to 20 years.

Repayment is facilitated through the County property tax assessment process. Visit copace.com to learn more.

Thanks to a Food Matters grant provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, Certifiably Green Denver developed a program to reduce food waste in restaurants. In May and June of 2019, Certifiably Green Denver conducted the first pilot with eight restaurants in Denver's Highland neighborhood.

Participants:

• Ash’Kara
• Bar Dough
• The Bindery
• Black Eye Coffee
• Little Man Ice Cream
• Ohana Island Kitchen
• Uncle
• Wooden Spoon Cafe & Bakery

Special thanks to our partners:

• NRDC
•  GFL Environmental
• Eat Denver
• Edible Beats- Root Down
• Scraps
• We Don’t Waste

The four-fold approach included:

1. Prevention: Each restaurant adopted one food waste prevention strategy to try for the duration of the pilot.
2. Donation:  We Don’t Waste was on call to pick up donatable food from restaurants three times per week and redistributed the food to organizations that provide meals to those in need.
3. Compost: Each restaurant was provided with free compost service for the duration of the pilot, along with staff training, signage, interior bins and compostable liners.
4. Measure: Certifiably Green Denver conducted waste audits for each restaurant at the beginning and end of the pilot to measure the impact that the abovementioned measures have on their food waste diversion.

Pilot Outcomes:

• Measure: Restaurants reduced their waste significantly as a result of the pilot. Though the waste audit data is imperfect, anecdotally, the restaurants started the pilot with an average diversion rate around 18%. By the end, they were diverting approximately 70% of their waste from the landfill. The waste studies showed potential to divert up to 90% of their waste. Certifiably Green Denver will follow up with restaurants to provide additional training as needed.
• Compost: Five of the eight restaurants continued composting after the pilot was complete. Those that did not continue composting attributed barriers to cost and lack of an internal champion to spearhead the effort. One planned to look for a farm for food scrap donation as opposed to working with a hauling service.
• Prevention: Food waste prevention strategies were developed once chefs saw the food waste that was diverted to compost. Some strategies included making stock from leftover vegetables to use in other dishes, baking dog treats for patrons from leftover bacon, cheese and oats, ordering more frequently to reduce waste, and running more specials to use excess food. One restaurant started saving between $300 - $400 per month as a result of their prevention strategies.
• Donation: There were few food donations over the course of the pilot. This was likely due to the fact that most of the participating restaurants cook to order.

Questions? Please contact Susan Renaud: susan.renaud@denvergov.org

Thanks to a Food Matters grant provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, Certifiably Green Denver developed a program designed to reduce food waste in restaurants.

During the Fall of 2019, Certifiably Green Denver is conducting a second pilot with ten restaurants along South Pearl Street.

Participants:

• Bird
• Chook -  acting as a champion and resource for the other restaurants.
• Hoja
• Kaos Pizzeria
• Ototo
• Palizo Italiano
• Park Burger
• Que Bueno Suerte
• Sexy Pizza
• Uno Mas Taqueria y Cantina

Special thanks to our partners:

• NRDC
• Scraps
• We Don’t Waste

The four-fold approach included:

1. Prevention: Each restaurant is asked to adopt one food waste prevention strategy to try for the duration of the pilot. They are also encouraged to add a new menu item from food that would have otherwise gone to waste. For more information, see www.rescuedish.org
2. Donation:  We Don’t Waste is on call to pick up donatable food from restaurants three times per week and will redistribute the food to organizations that provide meals to those in need.
3. Compost: Each restaurant is provided with free compost service for the duration of the pilot, along with staff training, signage, interior bins and compostable liners.
4. Measure: Certifiably Green Denver will conduct waste audits for each restaurant at the beginning and end of the pilot to measure the impact that the abovementioned measures have on their food waste diversion.

Questions? Please contact Susan Renaud: susan.renaud@denvergov.org 

Certifiably Green Denver is one of many green business programs in Colorado. Just as CGD serves businesses in Denver, these other programs serve businesses within their respective jurisdictions:

Other Free Local Green Business Programs

• Boulder County: Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE)
• City of Lafayette Green Business Program
• City of Louisville Green Business Program
• City of Longmont Sustainable Business Program
• Fort Collins: Climate Wise
• Summit County: Resource Wise

There are also several state-wide programs. Businesses can participate in these in addition to local green business programs:

Colorado State-Wide Programs

• State of Colorado: Environmental Leadership Program
• State of Colorado: Colorado Green Business Network