Program touts
‘green’ businesses
ERC, Rideshare launch CEEL
program
"It goes with a fundamental
belief that I have that all business needs to be responsive to social
and environmental issues, because, inherently, we’re part of the
problem."
— ANDY MUNTER, Co-owner of
Backwoods Mountain Sports
CEEL program
For information about
supporting the CEEL program or becoming a CEEL certified business,
contact Ben Mackay at the Environmental Resource Center in Ketchum at
726-4333 or call Michelle Shaffer at Wood River Rideshare at 788-RIDE.
By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer
As a Wood River Valley builder,
Garth Callaghan said he does things differently from many of his
competitors.
He’s building with "green"
materials and recycling as much waste from job sites as he can.
Beginning Thursday, April 22, he will begin getting some additional
recognition for his altruistic job practices.
Andy Munter shows that the
Backwoods recycling program covers most categories of waste disposal.
Express photo by Willy Cook
The Environmental Resource Center
and Wood River Rideshare are scheduled to unveil a new, voluntary
program called the Circle of Environmental Excellence and Leadership,
also known as the CEEL program. CEEL is designed to highlight local
businesses that are making an extra effort on behalf of Mother Earth.
Garth Callaghan Construction, The
Ketchum Grill and Backwoods Mountain Sports are the first three local
businesses to obtain CEEL certification, and it is no coincidence that
they will be announced as the first CEEL-certified businesses on Earth
Day. (See related stories:
Earth Day and
Car Free)
"When we build, we try to
introduce energy efficient products and build with a mind that says that
if we put a little more money into the house up front, you can reduce
the use of our natural resources," Callaghan said. "I’m kind of selling
and educating about the use of energy-efficient products."
The CEEL program is the result of
a winter-long effort by the ERC and Wood River Rideshare. The two
Ketchum-based nonprofit organizations worked with a group of local
businesses to develop the program.
According to ERC Program Director
Ben Mackay, CEEL is modeled on similar programs from municipalities
throughout the country, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency.
Scott Mason gives a tour of The
Ketchum Grille’s organic herb beds. Express photo by Willy
Cook
CEEL recognizes businesses that
have adopted sustainable business practices and assists them in
addressing issues that they might not have been able to address
independently. Mackay said that, through CEEL, the Wood River Valley
will be impacted positively by decreasing municipal waste, highlighting
transportation problems and showing valley visitors that the community
is conscious of its impact on the environment.
"It goes with a fundamental belief
that I have that all business needs to be responsive to social and
environmental issues because, inherently, we’re part of the problem,"
said Andy Munter, co-owner of Backwoods.
Backwoods boasts seven different
recycle bins in front of its Ketchum store. Though cardboard constitutes
most of the company’s recyclable waste, aluminum, tin and office paper
piles up, too. Since Backwoods got five additional recycling bins last
year, it went to a smaller size dumpster and started saving money,
Munter said.
"We also use compact fluorescent
light bulbs, which use a lot less energy and last a lot longer, and
that’s another example of something that’s saved us money," he said.
At The Ketchum Grill, co-owner
Scott Mason boasted about the small restaurant’s organic garden,
timer-operated thermostats, Rideshare participation and recycling
program.
"This program is trying to
appreciate businesses that are making an effort to use environmentally
friendly business practices," Mason said. "I believe it’s positive,
because businesses are the biggest producers of waste. If you can get
businesses on board to reduce waste in an environmentally friendly
fashion, it affects all of us, and not just the patrons of that
business."
Garth Callaghan built the New
Hailey Nursery using Insulated Concrete Forms. Courtesy photo
The CEEL program is open to all
local businesses that want to explore how "greening up" the business can
"green up" the bottom line, Mackay said. He pointed out that Resort
Quest Sun Valley and Wells Fargo Bank are in the process of becoming
CEEL-certified businesses.
CEEL members will benefit from
collaborative efforts fostered within the CEEL community to achieve
better performance and increased cost savings, Mackay said. Throughout
the year, CEEL will host speakers to cover topics including energy
savings, commuter benefits and composting food waste.
Information about CEEL-certified
businesses will appear in newspaper, radio and television
advertisements. To help consumers identify participating organizations,
CEEL window stickers will be posted at member businesses.
To become certified, businesses
must fill out an application that covers categories including energy
use, water use, transportation, purchasing habits and waste reduction. A
score is derived from the application, and there are benchmarks to reach
before CEEL certification occurs.
Mackay said the program was
purposefully created to make certification a challenge.
"We don’t want this to be
something that everybody can get certified in," he said. "There needs to
be some credibility. People need to be doing something wholeheartedly to
get certified. Otherwise, it would loose all credibility."
One of the biggest hopes for the
program, Munter said, is that other businesses take notice and begin
moving toward sustainable practices.
"Being good social and
environmental activists is also good for business," he said.