SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT and REPORTING

Greenhouse gas calculators for Small Business: Three emissions calculators that were developed specifically for small businesses and are listed according to level of complexity. Use the calculator that best meets your organizational objectives.

Global Reporting Initiative for Small and Medium Enterprise: Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a network-based organization that has pioneered the development of the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting framework and is committed to its continuous improvement and application worldwide. GRI offers special support to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) on how to prepare a sustainability report. Learning Services assists in creating and developing a variety of projects linked to SMEs and sustainability reporting to meet specific training needs.

The B Impact Rating System is a free, useful management tool to 1) to assess your company's impact on each of its stakeholders and 2) improve your social and environmental performance using our Tools and Best Practices embedded in the Survey.  Results from the Survey are displayed in easy to read B Reports with specific scores for environment, community, employees, etc.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY and GREEN BUILDINGS

Xcel Energy invites you to Explore ways to save energy and money in your business operations. Simple to use Energy Management Tools and Reports to measure, verify and track energy usage.

The U.S. Green Building Council Colorado Chapter exists to advance and promote sustainable planning, design, construction and operation of the built environment through education, improving industry guidelines, policy, advocacy, and information and resource sharing.

IFMA Foundation - There continues to be a strong interest in facility management education as it relates to sustainability and the implementation of energy saving techniques. The IFMA Foundation, with support from IFMA’s Sustainability Committee, has produced a series of white papers to respond to this need for information.

Watts To Water is an awards and recognition program for energy and water use reduction. The program is open to all Denver Metro area office buildings and hotels of 5,000 square feet or more. Participation takes very little time (and energy!) and provides many benefits to you, your team and of course, the environment.

Boulder Green Builders Guild (BGBG) is an association of building professionals dedicated to promoting healthier, resource-efficient homes and workplaces. We strive to advance the craft of green building; support our members' environmentally-responsible endeavors; provide effective volunteer opportunities; and be the focal point for communication on green building. Our vision is to empower people to build healthy, resource-efficient communities.

Colorado State University’s Industrial Assessment Center will provide technical assistance to interested companies. The Industrial Assessment Center staff has extensive industrial experience, having conducted more than 600 industrial energy efficiency and productivity assessments over the past 20 years.

WATER CONSERVATION

Denver Water is committed to helping your business save water. As part of that commitment, Denver Water constantly is looking for ways to reduce water consumption by paying customers to convert to water-saving equipment and practices. Commercial customers make up a quarter of Denver Water’s annual sales, which means they have the potential to make a big difference in Denver Water’s overall conservation plan.

EPA WaterSense: Save water and protect the environment by choosing WaterSense labeled products in your home and business and taking simple steps to save water each day.

Watts To Water is an awards and recognition program for energy and water use reduction. The program is open to all Denver Metro area office buildings and hotels of 5,000 square feet or more. Participation takes very little time (and energy!) and provides many benefits to you, your team and of course, the environment.

COMMUTING and TRAVEL ALTERNATIVES

Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG): Telework brings work to employees through technology rather than bringing employees to work by traveling. Teleworkers are employees who work at home one or more days each week instead of commuting to the office. Benefits: reduced rush hour congestion, lower CO2 emissions, happier employees. Let us help you explore key issues involved in implementing a telework program that fits your company's unique needs.

RECYCLING

Colorado Association for Recycling: CAFR is the leading independent, non-profit organization in Colorado that is actively working to promote and encourage recycling through programs that educate the public, local governments, businesses, and Colorado's elected officials. CAFR programs are designed to provide technical assistance to those wishing to recycle.

SUSTAINABLE PURCHASING

Responsible Purchasing Network (RPN) is an international network of buyers dedicated to socially responsible and environmentally sustainable purchasing.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Advancing Sustainability: HR's Role - SHRM partnered with Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) and Aurosoorya to ask HR professionals in the United States what their companies are doing to balance financial performance with contributions to the quality of life of their employees, the society at large and environmentally sensitive initiatives.

GOVERNMENT

Governor's Energy Office/Recharge Colorado: Colorado businesses and public institutions have numerous opportunities to save money by cutting energy use and reducing peak demand by implementing low cost tips, making wise investments and taking advantage of available incentives and rebates. By visiting this site, you have already taken the first step towards saving money by actively seeking out cost-effective ways to reduce your energy use.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability promotes innovative efforts to develop and implement environmentally sustainable practices in Colorado; integrates environmental sustainability and innovative concepts into department activities and regulatory programs; builds partnerships to achieve improved compliance and encourage beyond compliance outcomes, and to foster environmental leadership among Colorado businesses, the public and government entities.

The Colorado Carbon Fund is the first and only statewide voluntary offset program in the U.S., focusing its support on new, GHG reduction projects in Colorado that produce permanent, verifiable carbon offsets. The Colorado Carbon Fund's partnership with the Climate Trust, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, make all donations tax deductible. Carbon offsets represent part of a three-step process for individuals and businesses to promote GHG reductions, economic growth and energy independence. 1 - measure your emissions from energy use and travel; 2 - reduce your emissions through energy efficiency and renewable energy; and 3 - Offset unavoidable emissions through the Colorado Carbon Fund.

Colorado Export of Innovative and Sustainable Technologies (CO-EXist) Program - The CO-EXist program promotes Colorado cleantech exports to China and Mexico. The ITO created the CO-EXist program to support business exchanges between Colorado companies and business, government, and industry leaders in China and Mexico in the targeted area of sustainable and environmental technologies.

The Denver Small Business Energy Program provides education, free support services, and financial assistance to small businesses and business districts in the City and County of Denver. The goal is to help businesses save money, increase energy efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Dedicated Energy Advisors provide light, heating and cooling retrofits with substantial cash rebates (up to $5,000 for qualifying energy efficient projects)!

DenverP2Partners is an Environmental Business Assistance Program designed to help your business with environmental permitting and compliance, identify opportunities for waste reduction through audits and consultation, implement improved management practices to reduce air pollution emissions and discharges that impact water quality and to conserve water and energy. This free, non-regulatory, confidential assistance is available to any business in the City and County of Denver.

Greenprint Denver provides leadership and solutions to ensure a prosperous community where people and nature thrive. Greenprint supports sustainability as a core business value to improve efficiencies in resource use, reduce environmental impact, and invoke broad cultural changes. The organization incorporates “triple bottom line” analysis, seeking to balance economic, social and environmental considerations into all city policy and program decisions.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has produced a Green Business Guide that includes green marketing regulations, business case studies, business practices, certification and ecolabeling, green product development and more.

BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS

Colorado Cleantech Industry Association is a statewide organization dedicated to promoting Colorado's cleantech industry. We are the only industry-led, industry-focused cleantech group in the state. Our mission is to provide advocacy, public policy leadership, development and education in the cleantech sector.

Mile High Business Alliance bring businesses together to build a more sustainable and equitable community. We believe that local businesses are a vital aspect of healthy communities. We seek to make businesses more successful, adopting more environmentally and socially sustainable practices while delivering necessary goods and services to our community. By enhancing our local business, we build our own experience of community.

The Boulder Chamber supports the city of Boulder's environmental sustainability goals. We also partner with Governor Bill Ritter’s efforts to grow Colorado's new energy economy. We encourage the local business community to pursue energy efficiency and other green techniques as a way to contribute to Boulder's overall economic health.

The South Metro Denver Chamber is a coalition of leaders in a public/private partnership to explore aspects of renewable energy. These forward-thinking business professionals want to create jobs, put Colorado on the map as a technology hub and provide an energy road map for the next generation. This is the execution of the idea that the entire south metro area can exist on alternative and renewable fuels. It begins with conservation and recycling and moves into tomorrow with all sorts of new green initiatives.

Alliance for Sustainable Colorado: The sustainable business network is now more than 25 Colorado business and trade associations, which have identified sustainability as a priority in their mission. Their combined membership represents over 10,000 professionals in Colorado.

The Colorado Environmental Partnership is the oldest business environmental organization in the state. Since its inception in 1990, the Partnership has created a history of success in helping companies identify and implement practical environmental strategies and work with stakeholders to incubate public policies that foster environmental and sustainability leadership. The Partnership has been recognized regionally and nationally as a model for cross-sector collaboration.

Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation: Far from a new passion, Metro Denver jumpstarted sustainability years ago. Today, we are reaping the rewards of being the "balanced energy capital of the West."You'll see our momentum in Colorado's energy diversification, green infrastructure, and the brainpower to propel ingenuity forward. This region is a petri dish for eco-friendly policies, with a reputation for attracting and nurturing energy-innovating companies.

SUSTAINABLE CAREERS

Green Careers Colorado is a new interactive resource of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.