Resources

Quick Start Guide

This Quick Start Guide is intended to provide a broad overview of the steps to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The most widely accepted protocol for defining and calculating greenhouse gas emissions is the World Resources Institute GHG Protocol. The information presented here is derived from the WRI report, Hot Climate, Cool Commerce: A Service Sector Guide to Greenhouse Gas Management.

Resource Guide

The Curbing Your Climate Impact Resource Guide (770 KB) is designed to help employers reduce emissions and improve their bottom line. The guide provides:

  • Information about climate change and impacts in the Pacific Northwest
  • An overview of the business benefits of climate-friendly practices
  • Steps to documenting and reducing GHG emissions
  • Links to tools and resources
  • Examples of the ways that local employers are responding to climate change

Tool for Assessing Your Business's Carbon Footprint

This carbon footprint calculator is intended to provide users with a planning-level greenhouse gas emissions inventory to assist in prioritizing and implementing reduction strategies. It is intended primarily for use by Seattle-area businesses interested in benchmarking and reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. The tool allows you to estimate greenhouse gas (GhG) emissions for your company by entering data about your business activities focused on four areas that tend to have significant greenhouse gas impacts: transportation, energy use, materials purchasing, and waste generation.

>> Launch Online Carbon Footprint Tool
>> Launch MS Excel Carbon Footprint Tool
>> Carbon Coach Pledge Form - DOC, 32 KB
>> Carbon Coach Syllabus - PDF, 132 KB

Use the Data Checklist to gather your data.

To request energy information from your local energy service provider contact one of the following:

Puget Sound Energy
Seattle City Light (206-684-3000)
Seattle Public Utilities (206-684-3000)

Sector Guides

INDUSTRIAL SECTOR SPECIFIC

Industrial Sector Guide

King County Industrial Materials Exchange

The Industrial Materials Exchange (IMEX) is a directory for business industrial waste, matching waste generators with waste users. www.govlink.org/hazwaste/business/imex/



OFFICE SECTOR SPECIFIC

Office Sector Guide

Green Industry Guide to Environmental Purchasing

Helps employers make informed decisions on purchasing any kind of equipment for the office. www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-ess-p2-turf-purchasingguide.pdf




RETAIL SECTOR SPECIFIC

Retail Sector Guide

Green Seal

Developed environmental standards and certifies products following the Guiding Principles and Procedures for Type I Environmental Labeling adopted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14024). www.greenseal.org

GreenBlue

Encourages the creative redesign of products and systems through convening stakeholders, establishing ambitious objectives, and developing practical design tools and resources. www.greenblue.org/index.html




HOSPITAL SECTOR SPECIFIC

Hospitals Sector Guide

Practice Greenhealth

Membership and networking organization for institutions in the healthcare community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices. Offers tools, educational opportunities, and services aimed at greening the healthcare industry. www.practicegreenhealth.org/

The Sustainable Hospitals Project

Provides technical support to the healthcare industry for selecting products and work practices that reduce occupational and environmental hazards, maintain quality patient care, and lower costs. www.sustainablehospitals.org/

Reducing Mercury Use in Healthcare

A How-To Manual for hospitals to assist them in starting mercury pollution prevention programs or accelerating programs that have already begun. www.epa.gov/glnpo/bnsdocs/merchealth




HOTEL SECTOR SPECIFIC

Hotel Sector Guide

Green Hotels Association

Lists of sustainable vendors, resources, and information to help hotels kick start climate initiatives. www.greenhotels.com

Greener Accommodations

Saving Money and the Environment Offers an extensive list of sustainability actions tips for hotels. www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/pollprev/industry/hot...


RESTAURANT SECTOR SPECIFIC

Restaurant Sector Guide

Food Services of America - Seattle/Puget Sound

Offers restaurant biodegradable and compostable containers, dishware, and cutlery. Food services of America - Seattle

Cash and Carry - Seattle

Offers restaurants biodegradable and Compostable containers, dishware, and cutlery. http://www.smartfoodservice.com/


Energy

Seattle City Light and Puget Sound Energy Conservation Services Listing of financial incentives, conservation ideas, and technical assistance to help businesses reduce energy costs. www.seattle.gov/light/conserve/business/ and www.pse.com/solutions/forbusiness/

Transportation

Commute Trip Reduction Website sponsored by the City of Seattle and SDOT provides information and resources about trip reduction laws, regulations, resources, and more. www.seattle.gov/transportation/commute.htm

Waste

Resource Venture Seattle Public Utilities’ Resource Venture program offers free assistance in creating and implementing a comprehensive recycling program. www.resourceventure.org

Materials and Purchasing

Sustainable Purchasing Includes City of Seattle resources for sustainable procurement and a vendor questionnaire and office equipment guidelines to help employers make sustainable purchasing decisions. www.seattle.gov/environment/Purchasing.htm

Water

Saving Water Partnership Sponsored by a group of local utilities to provide information on rebates and tips to encourage participation in water conservation programs in Seattle and King County. www.savingwater.org


Case Studies

Over the years, Homestreet Bank has successfully expanded its banking footprint, but learn how HomeStreet found the economic and social value in reducing its footprint! Carbon footprint that is!

Homestreet Bank Case Study

Ivar’s commitment to sustainability emerged from the company’s commitment to control costs. Investments in efficiency and conservation programs make sound business sense and have helped Ivar’s reduce it's environmental impacts. Since the late 1990s, these investments havesaved money, energy, and water and have reduced the amount of waste generated.

Ivar's Case Study

Ridolfi, Inc.

Ridolfi Case Study


Emissions Reporting

Presentations from the workshop (see agenda), held on Oct. 28, 2008