23,181 Members

Sustainable Business Classes

One Business

Is your business looking to join GreenSpot but needs help?

GreenSpot offers a course that meets once a month for six months to go over the application, bring in technical experts, and is a forum for business-to-business learning.  All six classes are mandatory and class size is usually no more than ten organizations. If interested, send us an e-mail to [email protected].

Below find resources to help your business achieve it's sustainability goals. Also view the businesses that have graduated from the Sustainable Business Course. 

Green is Great for Business

Newest Resource

Benefits of a sustainability manager position
No enterprise in the 21st century can ignore the new reality of increasingly extreme weather, expensive resources, volatile commodities, and mounting stakeholder pressure to act on climate and workers’ rights if they want to succeed. Organizations that lean into sustainability will win opportunities and secure their position for decades to come. The GreenSpot Advisory Board has created “The Business Case for a Sustainability Manager” which explores what role such a position can serve in a company, potential cost savings, responsibilities, skills and qualifications. Read the pamphlet. Check out the video here.

GreenSpot Resources


Sustainable Columbus

Sustainable Columbus
Learn what the City is doing to make Columbus a greener community.

Inform and Engage

Bike StickerEarthShare Ohio

EarthShare Ohio is an opportunity, a system, and an answer for environmentally conscious employees and workplaces to support dozens of environmental groups at once through a charitable giving drive.

GreenSpot Sign Templates

Remind staff that being green is easy with these template signs.

How to Start a Green Team at Work

This guide will walk you through how to start a green team at work. It covers how to talk with management, structure a green team, how to celebrate successes, and more!

Creating a Sustainability Manager Position

The role of a sustainability manager is a critical component within any organization. They help ensure that a business is committed to an agenda that will lead to a secure future, target and eliminate wasting resources, and help overall operations. Check out our video which highlights the benefits of a sustainability manager position. Additionally, download our pamphlet on "The Case for a Sustainability Manager." This pamphlet was created to help businesses realize the benefits of having such a position and covers topics such as skill set, cost savings, responsibilities and more. It was created by the GreenSpot Advisory Board.

 

 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Recycle Columbus

Keep Columbus Beautiful
Get information about local litter cleanups, graffiti prevention and removal, recycling, and beautification projects.

Ohio Materials Marketplace
Companies that generate waste or have surplus equipment, chemicals, and materials can connect here with companies that can reuse or recycle those unwanted materials.

Business Recycling Program
Starting a recycling program at the office is a great way to divert materials from the landfill and give them a second life. Check out SWACO's business guide for developing a recycling program at the office. 

Reduce Food Waste
Did you know that about 120,000 tons of food waste ends up in the landfill each year? Your business can help reduce this waste by managing how much food is purchased and where it goes. Businesses like GreenSpot member GoZero offer food scrap collection for businesses. Also, check out the Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative.

Waste Audits

The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) offers information on how to perform a waste audit.

Conserving and Protecting Water

Conserve Water

City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities
Get green tips and a list of watershed groups, as well as information on the City's Fats, Oils, and Grease program and Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan.

Hotel Water Challenge 
Learn how your hotel can reduce water use, save money and get recognized by signing up for the Water Sense H2Otel Challenge.

Stormwater Best Management Practices
Check out these methods for controlling stormwater discharge. 

Water Sense
Learn what you can do to use water efficiently, calculate potential water savings, find WaterSense labeled products or test your WaterSense at this EPA site. 

Conserving Energy

Save Energy

AEP Ohio
Energy audits, rebates, information for residents, www.aepohio.com/wasteless 
Incentive programs for businesses, www.aepohio.com/solutions

Columbia Gas of Ohio
Purchase low-cost, energy-saving products online and receive instant rebates.

EnergyStar
Get practical tips for conserving energy in your home or business.

Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives
Find tax incentives available to businesses and residents.

Ohio Lights Out Program
Collisions with buildings are a leading cause of bird fatality during migration in North America, and it is estimated that up to half a billion birds die each year in North America from building collisions. Lights Out programs provide an opportunity to reduce the number of collision-related kills, and have been successful in a number of cities across the U.S.

Traveling Green

Green Travel

Mid–Ohio Regional Planning Commission Learn about local ride solutions, like carpooling, van-pooling, and biking.

Central Ohio Transit Authority
COTA has trip maps and other resources for businesses and their employees.

CoGo
Zipping along the streets of Columbus has never been easier! CoGo Bike Share boasts 41 stations and 365 bikes to help you get from point A to point B whenever you need them -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Bicycle Parking   
Bike racks, bike parking shelters, and bike parking corrals provide a variety of options for parking your bike and are located throughout Columbus. If your business is located in Columbus and is interested in having a bike rack installed on public property near your business, please contact 614-645-3111 or [email protected].

On-Road Bike Education
Yay Bikes! offers on-road group courses that provide people of all ages and abilities the  skills and confidence to ride anywhere.

Ohio Green Fleets
Ohio Green Fleets is a program that helps businesses green their vehicles through educational opportunities, recognition, informational resources, funding assistance, and professional consultation.  

Electric Vehicles
EVs are a great way to get around without the pollution. Learn about Smart Columbus' efforts to promote electric vehicles. Drive Electric Ohio is another great resource for discounts on electric vehicles. Don't forget about charging stations and where to put them. Check out GreenSpot members  ChargePointe and Clean Fuels Ohio for more information. 

Smart Mobility Service Providers
There are plenty of options to get around town. 

Environmental Compliance

Ohio EPA - Office of Compliance Assistance and Pollution Prevention
Information and resources to help businesses achieve compliance with the environmental regulations.