New regional awards program raises the bar for business Published: December 14, 2009 by Beth Ingalls
Keep Sierra Green Businesses of 2009 Placer County Granlibakken Conference Center & Lodge Tahoe Mountain Sports Tahoe Adventure Company Integrated Environmental Restoration Services
Incline Village Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort and Casino Law Office of Lara Pearson EV Village The Potlatch Soli Real Estate The Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences
Nevada County GreenSmart Truckee's Cedar House Sport Hotel was the setting for the first annual Keep the Sierra Green (KSG) Exemplary Business Awards for 2009. Born out of a shared vision and collaborative partnership between Truckee's Recycling Coordinator Nichole Dorr and Incline Village General Improvement District's (IVGID) Resource Conservationist Madonna Dunbar, KSG recognizes businesses focused on ecological and economic practices in the north central Sierra and foothills. The program has grown into a partnership between the Town of Truckee, IVGID, Nevada County Recycles, Placer County, the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Green Building Association.
Any business located within the town of Truckee, eastern Placer County, Nevada County, Incline Village or Crystal Bay may participate in the regional program, but the annual award goes only to businesses that score highest on an eight-page application. The form is no walk in the park. To qualify as a Keep Sierra Green business, applicants are required to recycle, develop energy, pollution and water conservation programs, define how company purchasing practices are eco-minded, create employee awareness procedures, and complete energy and waste audits. The form also awards points for voluntary programs as well.
Lynne Cody, Nevada County recycling technician, opened up the ceremony by declaring, "We want to set the bar really high and all of you are the first to be recognized...you are the true green leaders in your communities."
As attendees noshed and tension built among the applicants awaiting the announcements, Eli Meyer, president of the Sierra Green Building Association, reminded the crowd that the Keep the Sierra Green program is "not about greenwashing it's about setting a benchmark for people in the community." 'Greenwashing' occurs when companies pose as friends of the environment, but their actual practices and products don't match up to their claims. Kym Fabel, manager of the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce added, "All kinds of people and businesses are looking to be green. Green is big."
Visitors Love To Adventure With Us
"We had a wonderful SUP day with Chase as our guide. We took off from Sandy Harbor on the longer paddle board trip with a last minute (day before) reservation. As newbies, we had a quick lesson in the basics and off we went. It was a great place to SUP because the water is crystal clear, the vistas breathtaking and our Chase shared lots of interesting facts to answer all our curiosities. Lunch on the beach after was peaceful and relaxing. Go for the longer trip! And enjoy it." Anna R.
"We had a fantastic snowshoeing tour with the very friendly and knowledgeable Tyler! The sights and area was beautiful, and Tyler was always accommodating, offering insightful advice and info along the way. Couldn’t have asked for a better first experience snowshoeing and would love to return again one day!" Lori C.
"My daughter’s first snowshoe trip was so much fun with Tahoe Adventure Company! Tyler was such a great leader, teacher and all around fun-expert! Imagine being in a winter wonderland, outdoor science class but not a boring class, a really fun one and with a guide who is super cool. It was like that. Priceless and so memorable!! Thank you!" -Heather B.
-- Heather B.
"We had a fantastic snowshoeing tour with the very friendly and knowledgeable Tyler! The sights and area was beautiful, and Tyler was always accommodating, offering insightful advice and info along the way. Couldn’t have asked for a better first experience snowshoeing and would love to return again one day!" Lori C.
-- Lori C.
A great and fun time was had by all. The four of us all agreed that every aspect of the trip was delightful. We all thought Robin was very charming, as well as, informative. The lunch provided was more than adequate. -Claude