Green Business Forum 2009
All photos courtesy Peg Sawyer
WRSE reaches out to the business community
On Monday, October 5, WRSE presented its first annual Green Business Forum for the local businesses. Speakers were lined up to offer suggestions of ways local businesses could save money while taking energy-efficient measures.
*Jim Hunt, Chief of Boston's Environmental and Energy Services Department, spoke about the Renew Boston initiative, which will be funded by stimulus money used to provide Boston's small businesses with financial resources to become more energy efficient while also reducing energy costs.
*Adam Mitchell, co-owner of Save That Stuff, talked about the savings businesses can achieve by recycling rather than throwing away waste.
*Augustine Pimentel, Program Manager of Energy Efficiency Services at NSTAR, gave information about NSTAR's Small Business Solutions program, such as its free financing and rebates.
NSTAR's Augustine Pimentel (center) with WRSE Steering
Committee members Karen Sauer (left) and Gretchen O'Neill.
The evening concluded with the recognition portion of the program, when we presented the first annual WRSE Green Business Awards. These went to:
*West on Centre Restaurant, not just for their own outstanding efforts to recycle but also for advocating for recycling throughout West Roxbury and for their generous donation of their services toward this end, as well as for their support of using local produce; owners Joe and Eleanor Greene were present to accept the award.
*Gary's Liquors, for its outstanding energy-saving renovations and practices and for being an early adoptor of energy efficiency with an eye toward future generations; owner Gary Park accepted the award.
Gretchen with Eleanor and Joe Greene, Gretchen and Gary Park, owner of Gary's Liquors.
owners of West on Centre Restaurant.
In closing remarks, we encouraged business owners to get in touch with WRSE and offer suggestions about how we could be of help in the future and what kinds of programs they would like to see us present going forward. West Roxbury Saves Energy is pleased to have the dialogue with the local business community started.
