Seven of those honored were given awards for their efforts to green their operations. They include:
- Hendrick Hudson Free Library (Montrose) - Outreach & Organizational Commitment
- The Colonial Needle Company (White Plains) - Energy
- Diamond Properties (Mount Kisco) - Waste Management & Green Products
- New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division (White Plains) – Transportation
- Friends of Hilltop Hanover Farm (Yorktown Heights) – Land Use
- Doubletree Tarrytown (Tarrytown) – Water resources
- Reckson, division of SLGreen Realty Corp. - Charles W. Brown Sustainability Award
“The diversity of honorees reflects the widespread appeal of the Green Business Challenge,” County Executive Rob Astorino said. “Companies of all sizes and industries are realizing that implementing sustainable business practices is a win-win for the environment and for the bottom line.”
The Hendrick Hudson Free Library created a “green team,” added sustainability topics to all staff meetings and committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.
The Colonial Needle Company installed a solar-powered hot water system, new windows, insulation and more efficient lighting, as well as replaced an inefficient oil-burning boiler.
Diamond Properties has implemented a waste management program that includes tenant and custodial training and partnerships to collect electronic waste and other hazardous items.
The Westchester Green Business Challenge expanded this year to include a certification program, which has 18 participants. Thursday, Diamond Properties and the Blue Pig in Croton were announced as the first two to achieve certification.
“Employers from all industries are realizing that sustainability is an essential ingredient to their long-term success and ability to retain the most talented workforce," Marsha Gordon, president and CEO of the Business Council of Westchester, said
New York-Presbyterian Hospital, another member of the certification program, has installed bike racks and showers to encourage biking to work. It has bought hybrid cars and even hopes to match employees to carpools through a web-based application now in development.
Friends of Hilltop Hanover Farm, Inc., a working crop farm and environmental education facility, has programs on healthy and sustainable food production, sustainable living practices and demonstration models for rainwater harvesting, organic composting and green-roof technology.
DoubleTree hotels has installed “smart valves” to reduce water usage, trained staff on detecting and reporting leaks, and committed to purchasing water-efficient appliances.
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