Spring 2021 Certified Green Businesses
The newest businesses to be certified through the Local First Arizona Green Business Program and the Southern Arizona Green Leaders Program are springing forward into sustainability and enhancing their respective communities through their organizational missions. Meet the Arizona Heritage Center, Stardust Building Supplies, Literacy Connects, and K. Newby Gallery and learn all about what they’re doing to be more green.
Arizona Heritage Center - Tempe, AZ
One of the hidden gems in Tempe is the Arizona Heritage Center, a museum that takes visitors on a tour through our state's history. Studying history can lead us to think about the future, and what the legacy of our actions will be for the next generation of Arizonans. The team at the Arizona Heritage Center are making changes so that the impact of their actions will have a lighter impact on the planet. They have undertaken huge energy efficiency measures such as upgrading older HVAC units to newer efficient models, using tankless water heaters and Energy Star rated refrigerators, closely monitoring electricity bills, and using an entryway that limits cold air from escaping. They also recycle electronic waste, eliminate chemical air fresheners, and choose unbleached paper products to reduce pollution impacts. They recycle all materials accepted by the City (and there is a public recycling drop-off spot in their parking lot!), they reuse packaging materials, choose paper over plastic bags, have reusable dishware for staff, and go paperless as much as possible. They check for water leaks on a regular basis, have desert landscaping and have had a water audit performed. -MORE
K. Newby Gallery & Sculpture Garden - Tubac, AZ
Certified at a Silver level, the K. Newby Gallery demonstrates sustainable leadership daily, procuring most of their supplies, food, and all of their art from the local Tubac community. The gallery supports a diverse array of local artists, donates to charitable causes, and participates in community decision making. K. Newby Gallery completed almost all of the items in the energy and water sections of the Green Leaders checklist, using high efficiency appliances, passive rainwater harvesting and drought tolerant landscaping in their sculpture garden, and energy-efficient building measures. If that isn’t enough, they also strive to reduce waste, reusing and artistically upcycling many packing materials. Looking forward, the owner Kim Roseman would like to champion an electric vehicle charging station program and collaborate with other organizations and the local government to make Tubac more walkable.
Literacy Connects - Tucson, AZ
During the certification process, Literacy Connects formed a Green Team dedicated to sustainability. One of their first steps was to sign up for a water audit through Tucson Water, which has already ended up saving them hundreds of dollars on their monthly bills. Certified as a Green Leader at a Silver level, Literacy Connects champions water saving practices, using high efficiency appliances, drought tolerant landscaping, and taking part in Tucson groundwater monitoring through the Watershed Management Group’s Flow365 program. In addition, their mission is grounded in social justice principles, and they work every day to support communities on the frontlines of climate change and other issues. Literacy Connects has granted paid time off so their employees can take part in volunteering efforts, as well as collaborated on action projects with other local organizations who work in the community.
Stardust Building Supplies - Mesa, AZ
Stardust Building Supplies is a nonprofit organization that exists to starve the landfill and provide quality reclaimed materials for reuse. The nature of how they accomplish this is twofold: Stardust operates two reuse centers that sell gently-used, salvaged, and surplus building materials at prices that are 50-80% of the retail price, while providing deconstruction services that salvage building materials, diverting them from ending up in the landfill. Since its founding in 1997, Stardust has been able to avoid more than 80 million pounds of usable materials from piling up in landfills.
Stardust is the first business in Mesa to be certified through the Arizona Green Business Program, and are being recognized for their efforts to make their Mesa reuse center more eco-friendly. They have converted light fixtures into energy-efficient LEDs and have engaged in an extensive water audit to better understand where they can conserve. They are also planning ways to move even further towards zero waste by composting and recycling commonly donated items that aren’t building materials. Space at Stardust has also been used by AZ Students Recycling Used Technology (AZ StRUT), a program that teaches students how computers work, and refurbishes computers which are then donated to area nonprofits and schools. To date, the collaboration has directed 56,000 computers to those in need of technology. Through all of this, Stardust stays at the forefront of being a good steward of the community’s resources as a member of the AZ Recycling Coalition, and has been awarded a Crescordia Award from Arizona Forward for environmental excellence. -MORE
Get your business the recognition it deserves for being a sustainability leader in our community by becoming a certified Green Business!
Is your business located in Tempe, Mesa, or Phoenix? Reach out to Nick Shivka, Sustainability Program Manager - nick@localfirstaz.com / 602-956-0909 ext. 25 or go to az.greenbiztracker.org to get started!
If you’re located in Southern Arizona (Pima, Yuma, Cochise, or Santa Cruz counties), become a green certified business by reaching out to Kelly Liska, Green Leaders Coordinator - kelly@localfirstaz.com or go to sazgba.com/greenleader to learn more and apply!
