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
I want to thank you for a wonderful Thunderbird Lodge Kayak Tour. I hesitated spending the extra money for the Lodge tour, but everyone in our group seemed very pleased with this extra. Seeing the estate from the water and then leaving our kayaks of the sandy beach while doing the tour felt special. Mark was knowledgeable and the timing was relaxed. Having lunch in the gazebo was a nice touch. Kori was personable and we enjoyed her description of the geology and history of the area. We spoke highly of the trip to Stefanie of the Cedar House where we were staying.
Thanks for a great trip, Ruth A.
"Did the Sunset Tour and it was great, the weather was in our favor. The tour guides were friendly, it's not rushed and they don't bombard you with non stop information, just enough to keep you interesting and for you to enjoy." -AVP.
"The snowshoeing was fantastic. Nikki was our very knowledgeable and friendly guide. Everything that could have been thought of was. Great equipment. Amazing scenery. Highly recommended." -Chris Y.
"Registration was easy, and the people on the phone were very friendly and helpful. With less than 24 hours notice, they set up a customized bike ride for my brother and me. We told them we had no previous mountain biking experience but are very athletic teens and would only be a group of two instead of the supposed minimum of four. They let us sign up for a lengthier and more advanced trail (the Flume Trail) than the usual beginner options and even upgraded our bikes for free! Our guide was very nice but not "too nice" (she obviously had experience dealing with teens). She knew the trail extremely well and took some great pictures of us (with our camera, so the pictures were free). We stopped for snacks and lunch (great sandwiches from Safeway), and the guide even showed us a fish restocking station. The biking itself was incredibly fun, but does require a fair bit of athleticism for both uphill and downhill sections (parents, be warned). We rode the shuttle back to the meeting point to get picked up in the afternoon. Fantastic experience overall." -Vincent W.
-- Vincent W.
"My brother and I really enjoyed a guided mountain biking tour by Tahoe Adventure Company on our last visit, and we were not disappointed the second time around. This time we rode the Emigrant Trail to Stampede Reservoir, a woodland out-and-back trail with technical climbs and quick downhill segments. Our guide, Tyler, was great -- friendly and knowledgeable about the area and the sport. We had sandwiches and snacks when we got back." Chelsea T.
-- Chelsea T.
"My boyfriend and I did the Sand Harbor Kayak Tour in late August. Cannot recommend the kayak tour enough while you are in Tahoe. Of everything we did in Tahoe (and this was my second trip) this was by far our favorite activity. Sammy was our tour guide and she was spectacular. We kayaked to a small beach, went swimming and rock climbing and when we came back Sammy had set up a whole picnic. She taught us a ton about the area and is a great photographer, she took our favorite photos from the whole trip. The picnic set up, everything we learned about Tahoe and the area, and overall the whole day were fantastic. Sammy was a phenomenal tour guide and made our trip the best. Overall 10/10 would recommend." -Janice D.