SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS DESIGNATION PROGRAM

Want to implement more sustainable practices in your downtown business? The following are a collection of resources created by Sustainable Pittsburgh for the Downtown First Sustainable Business Designation Program.

To find out if your business qualifies for the sustainable business designation, click here.

Click on the type of resources you are interested in below, for a complete listing of related resource links:

GENERAL
ENERGY CONSERVATION
OCCUPANCY
TRANSPORTATION
PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
COMMUNITY-SERVING BUSINESS PRACTICES
BUSINESS POLICIES AND GOVERNANCE
WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING
WATER CONSERVATION
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
MORE RESOURCES


GENERAL RESOURCES:

• Sustainable Community Essentials Resource Sheets
• Your Business and the Triple Bottom Line: Economic, Environmental, and Social Performance
• The Busy Business Owner's Guide to Sustainable Business Practices

ENERGY CONSERVATION RESOURCES:

• Sustainable Community Essentials Resource Sheet - Energy Conservation and Green Building
• Free energy audits for small businesses through the Small Business Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh
• Conservation Consultants Inc. Center - regional energy conservation resources
• Allegheny County Weatherization Program
• Energy Star Products, Tools, and Resources
• Putting Energy into Profits: Energy Star Guide for Small Businesses
• Energy Star Small Business website
• Business.gov
  Small Business Guide to Energy Efficiency
• Questions and answers about purchasing carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates
• Specific to the Pittsburgh region
• Purchase renewable energy certificates
• Solar, geothermal, heat pump online quotes from multiple contractors
  Home Connections of Pittsburgh  Click "Heating and Furnace Systems"
• PA Act 129 Program
  Click the link for "Business Fact Sheet"
• Track and assess energy and water consumption using Portfolio Manager
• Energy rebates and tax credits directory

OCCUPANCY RELATED RESOURCES:

• Sustainable Community Essentials Resource Sheet
  Energy Conservation and Green Building
• Regional green building resources
• LEED certified buildings
• Green roof resources
• Building envelope general information
• Building envelope contractor Snyder Heating and Remodeling

TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES:

• Sustainable Community Essentials Resource Sheet
  Mobility and Alternative Fuels
• How to Start an Employee Commute-Benefits Program in Ten Easy Steps
• Local assistance for structuring and implementing a ridesharing program
  Commute Info
• Pittsburgh region bike maps and Bike to Work Guide
• General information about greening your vehicle fleet
• Contact for information about greening your fleet in the Pittsburgh region
• General information on alternative fuels
• Zipcar
  innovative car rental program that can cut costs and emissions

PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION:

• Sustainable Community Essentials Resource Sheet
  Diversity. Equity and Inclusion
• Sustainable Pittsburgh's Inclusion in Workforce Report
• Allegheny County Department of Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
• Western Pennsylvania Diversity Initiative

COMMUNITY-SERVING BUSINESS PRACTICES:

• Sustainable Community Essentials Resource Sheet
  Local Economies and Main Street Revitalization
• Town Center Associates
• Sustainable Community Development Network
• Time article on the benefits of buying local

BUSINESS POLICIES AND GOVERNANCE RESOURCES:

• How to develop a sustainability policy
• Developing a Sustainability Policy:
  A ten-point guide for small to medium sized businesses
• Sustainability assessment
  Sustainable Community Solutions Consultancy
• Creating a code of ethics guide
• Developing a greenhouse gas inventory for small businesses
• Employee wellness program ideas
• Penn State's Living Wage Calculator

WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING RESOURCES:

• Waste audits, recycling, composting, purchasing, and employee training assistance and resources in southwest PA
  Specific programs and certifications for small businesses
• Small Business Waste Reduction Guide
• Pennsylvania Resources Council
  Hard-to-dispose items collection and other resources
• Construction Junction:
  Donate your used and surplus construction items (everything from bathtubs to paint) for someone else's project, and find what you need at a bargain price.
• Recycling contact in Allegheny County
• Recycling resource directory for Allegheny County
• Recycling and waste management contact in Beaver County
• eLoop electronics and computer recycling
• General information about composting
• General information on Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
• Implementing a waste management and recycling policy
• Recycling and using recycled paper

WATER CONSERVATION RESOURCES:

• Water conservation tips and ideas

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT RESOURCES:

• General information about stormwater
• 3 Rivers Wet Weather
  Regional resource for stormwater management
• Rain barrels for purchase and other information about stormwater management in the Pittsburgh region
• Allegheny County Sanitary Authority
• Stormwater management solutions guide
  Rain barrels, green roofs, porous pavers, etc.)

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES:

• Find local businesses in western Pennsylvania downtowns:
• Pittsburgh suppliers of office supplies, janitorial supplies, tools, pipes, and much more
• Pennsylvania sustainable agriculture
• Find local food in Pennsylvania
• General information about Fair Trade

MORE RESOURCES

• Champions for Sustainability
  Regional collaboration to accelerate sustainability in business and civic circles
• Sustainable Community Development Network
• Policy Link documents on town revitalization
• The Urban Institute
• Local Governments for Sustainability
• Network for Business Innovation and Sustainability Resource List
  

Sustainable Business Resources 
Compiled by Sustainable Pittsburgh: 
Sustainable Pittsburgh
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1335
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 258-6642
(412) 258-6645 (fax)
info@sustainablepittsburgh.org