June is Green Business Month

Now that season is winding down and the weather is heating up, it’s time to focus on greening our economy!

The City of Key West supports businesses that want to conserve resources and save money, and is unveiling the Florida Keys Green Business Certification Program for any size business that wants to participate.

“What I love about this certification is that the entire platform is online and provides a ton of resources on the exact steps to go green,” said the City’s Sustainability Coordinator Alison Higgins.  “It features 550 plus actions for 85 different types of business, from home offices to restaurants, from auto repair to photography.”

Through the summer, the City is opening registration for the program via the website www.gbb.org/key-west/. Businesses that register by June 1st have the option to become part of the City’s “Lead by Example” promotion of the program, which will highlight successes and monies saved. The City of Key West is offsetting the cost of registration; just enter promo code KEYWEST10 to ensure the summer discount.

“You know it’s more than a fad when TripAdvisor recognizes green businesses,” says Higgins.  “TDC’s own research showed that the average Keys visitor seeks green 53 percent of the time.  Also, a survey of 400 plus locals reported that 56 percent purposely supported businesses that were doing their part to combat climate change. Of the locals that didn’t, 81 percent of them said it was only because they didn’t know which businesses to reward. We want to put these green businesses on the map.”

At the end of the summer, the City will publish a web-based map which will feature not only the Florida Keys Green Certified Businesses, but also the following green certification specialties: FDEP Green Lodging, FDEP Clean Marina and NOAA’s Blue Star Program.

For questions, contact Alison Higgins at [email protected]

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