Green Business ChallengeMore than 125 local companies participating in the Westchester Green Business Challenge (WGBC) were honored June 6 for their sustainable business practices.

 

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino and Dr. Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of The Business Council of Westchester, hosted the event at the Mapleton at Good Counsel Conference & Catering Center in White Plains and personally recognized outstanding achievements by six Westchester-based firms in the following categories:

  • Outreach: Metropool/511NY Rideshare (West Harrison)
  • Energy: Reckson (White Plains)
  • Waste Management & Green Products: Curtis Instruments (Mount Kisco)
  • Transportation: Verizon (White Plains)
  • Land Use: Diamond Properties (Mount Kisco)
  • Water Resources: Crowne Plaza Hotel White Plains (White Plains)

"The momentum behind this program is immense, and it will only continue to grow as more and more companies realize that implementing sustainable business practices is a win-win for the environment and for your bottom line," Astorino said. "The Green Business Challenge reflects the forward-thinking nature of our business community, and is one more reason to invest and grow your business in Westchester County."

This year's ceremony featured a special award – "The Charles W. Brown, Jr. Sustainability Award" – presented in memory of the founder and owner of C.W. Brown, the Armonk-based firm that became the first existing facility in Westchester County to receive LEED Platinum Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Lisa Moir accepted the award on behalf of The Blue Pig, an artisan ice cream shop in Croton-on-Hudson that has applied sustainable business practices to every area of operation, ranging from a rooftop garden and local ingredients to a sustainable supply chain and employee training on green practices.

Six never-before-seen video case studies were also screened at this year's ceremony featuring last year's special award winners and achievements in their respective categories. The films were made possible by a grant from Clean Air Cool Planet and videographer Mark Bellusci of Bellusci Video.

Founded three years ago as an innovative public-private partnership between Westchester County and The Business Council of Westchester, the WGBC is a 501c-3 non-profit designed to educate and inspire all Westchester County businesses to move down the path toward environmental sustainability while improving performance and saving money.

The WGBC has attracted over 250 local businesses and green vendors to date. Con Edison has been the program's Platinum Sponsor since 2010.

"It has been enormously satisfying to see this program take flight in Westchester County and become a model for other green business programs around the country," Gordon said. "Employers from all industries have realized that sustainability is an essential ingredient to their long-term success and ability to retain the most talented workforce. I would encourage all businesses in Westchester to sign up for this program if they haven't already done so."

Event and program sponsors include Con Edison, Verizon, Reckson, Pernod Ricard USA, C.W. Brown, The Blue Book Building & Construction Network, Caperberry, Diamond Properties, Regeneron, Metropool/511NY Rideshare, Heineken USA, Green Team Spirit, Synergis, Bellusci Video, Verita Vision Photography and Green Guru Network.

For more information about the WGBC and to learn more about the event, visit www.westchestergreenbusinesschallenge.org