New Sustainable Business Program Ramping Up!
Two recent announcements about federal construction and renovation projects in San Antonio have at least one thing in common: both projects are seeking to attain certification under a national rating system called LEED that recognizes leadership in adopting sustainable or "green" building and operations practices that use less energy, conserve resources, and are better for employee health.
According to the Express-News, a new retail center at Randolph Air Force Base and a renovated theater at Fort Sam Houston will each be candidates for LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, certification. Developed by the US Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
These LEED certification goals are an indicator that sustainable operations will continue to be the way federal, as well as state and local, construction projects will do business. These, and many other construction projects now being designed, will achieve LEED certification and attain recognition for following a set of guidelines that will, over the life cycle of a project, reduce energy and water use as well as reduce and divert the waste stream generated by a building's occupants. New construction, as well as renovations, will make greater use of salvaged and recycled materials, integrate more natural lighting, and offer building occupants improved indoor air quality through better environmental monitoring and controls. In addition, these certification goals will encourage the purchase of building materials, furniture, office and cleaning supplies that are healthier and deploy lower amounts of volatile organic compounds.
However, sustainability goes beyond just building certification. Recognition as a "green" business can help you differentiate your product or service while being recognized as a steward of the environment. And yes, also contribute to your bottom line! While larger businesses usually have the time and resources to train special staff and develop new programs to adopt these sustainable practices, small businesses usually do not. Thanks to a new grant the Economic Development Administration awarded to UTSA's Institute for Economic Development, the Contracting Resource Center is gearing up, and staffing up, to help small businesses adopt sustainable businesses practices.
Under this grant the Contracting Resource Center has hired two sustainability specialists, Roy Pachecano and Ruben Lopez. "In Roy and Ruben, the CRC has hired a virtual 'dream team' to work with small businesses on developing a green, sustainable business model that will enable our small business clients to prosper in the emerging green economy," noted CRC Director, Linda Ramirez. They, along with other members of the CRC, are working to develop an educational program designed to assist small business owners integrate sustainable business practices into their operations, products, and way of doing business.
Article written by Mr. Ruben Lopez, MS, MBA, Business Development Specialist and LEED Green Associate
April 2009, for the UTSA SBDC Contract Resource Center, for more information please call Ruben at (210) 458-2430.
