by Shane Henson — November 2, 2011—The city of Chula Vista, California, in collaboration with ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA and Office Depot, recently launched its Green Business Challenge at the city’s centennial celebration.
The Challenge is a friendly competition for businesses in Chula Vista to conserve energy and water, save money, reduce waste and pollution, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and participate in other sustainability initiatives. Monthly trainings will be held throughout the year to provide participating businesses with information and resources to help make them successful in the program. The Challenge period will run through 2012, during which successful businesses will be recognized for their efforts throughout the year as well as at an end of the year awards ceremony.
The Chula Vista Green Business Challenge is based on an existing, proven program co-developed by the City of Chicago and ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA, the membership association of cities and counties addressing clean energy, climate change, and sustainability. Thanks to sponsorship from Office Depot, four local governments, including Chula Vista; Austin, Texas; Bellevue, Washington; and Triangle J Council of Governments, North Carolina, were selected to receive assistance in launching Challenge programs in their respective communities. ICLEI provides programmatic support, and Office Depot provides financial assistance for program events, leads a green purchasing training, and supplies green kits with green products offered by Office Depot.
These four pilots join six other communities that are implementing Green Business Challenge programs: Chicago, Illinois; Charleston, South Carolina; Houston, Texas; Arlington County, Virginia; Westchester County, New York; and Port of San Diego, California. Given the enormous impact the Challenge can have in helping a city become more sustainable, it is likely that even more cities and their respective businesses will choose to launch a Green Business Challenge program, or a similar initiative.
