Green Business

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Green Business

• by
• Lorna Midgelow
• Program Director of the
• Rochester Green Business Network

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It may seem impossible to imagine that an
advanced society could choose to destroy itself,
but that, in essence, is what we are now in
the process of doing.Elizabeth Kolbert, Field
Notes from a Catastrophe
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Who is the Rochester Green Business Network?

• Program of Center for Environmental Information
  (Non profit 501 3(c) organization)
• RGBN formed in March 2003
• Supported by 40 members
• RGBN Volunteer Program Director
• CEI Executive Director

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What is the Rochester Green Business Network?

• Promote and facilitate environmental stewardship
  by businesses throughout the Rochester region

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What Are Green Business Practices?
Eco-efficiency
Pollution Prevention
Renewable Energy
Green Products
Green Purchasing
Green Buildings
Environmental Management
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RGBN Case Studies www.ceinfo/rgbn/casestudies.php
Harbec Plastics
- Wind turbine and CHP microturbines
JASCO Heat Treating
- EMS and Process Improvements to metal
finishing line
Pliant Corporation
- Waste minimization through Inventory control
Flower City Management
- Green renovation of Medical Arts Building
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RGBN Case Studies www.ceinfo/rgbn/casestudies.p
hp
Canandaigua Wine/Ecovation
- Use of biogas from wastewater treatment
Harbec Plastics
- Use of fire water pond for process cooling
Penfield Racquet Fitness Club
- Elimination of use of liquid chlorine for pool
sanitization
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RGBN Case Studies www.ceinfo/rgbn/casestudies.p
hp
Guardian Glass
- Recycling of e-waste
Penn Yan Aero
- Water based cleaning of engine parts
Xerox
- Greening the paper supply chain
Xerox
- Solvent recovery enhancement
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How can we encourage green business across our
region?
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What is RGBN doing?

• Education
• Educational events seminars field trips
• Case studies website
• Networking
• Green Biz Directory
• Social/Networking events
• Specific inquiries
• Collaboration with other Organizations
• Outreach
• Small Business Air Pollution Prevention Project
  (CARE SBAP3)

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Technical and Financial Assistance

• NYSERDA
• Energy efficiency grants/technical assistance
• Renewable energy grants
• Green buildings
• Pollution prevention
• Environmental Services Unit of Empire State
  Development
• Pollution prevention and recycling grants
• Green Suppliers Network via High Tech Rochester
• Lean Clean Reviews for Manufacturers
• Implementation projects

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What you can do..

• Choose green products and services at work and at
  home
• Encourage others to do the same

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Can businesses be environmentally friendly and
make a profit?
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Yes!

• Total cost savings of 11 RGBN Case Study
  Projects 1.8 Million
• Median payback period lt 1 year

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Can green business really make a difference on
the environment and the well-being of communities?
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Yes!

• Environmental Benefits of 11 RGBN Case Study
  Projects
• 327 million kWh energy saved or avoided
• 1 million gallons water conserved
• 8.9 million pounds of non-hazardous waste reduced
• 460,000 lbs hazardous waste reduced
• 280,000 lbs hazardous air pollutants emissions
  reduced

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Yes!

• Economic well-being of communities
• Renewable Energy Sector
• 250 new jobs in Start Ups Upstate NY - estimated
  to double in 2007
• 300 jobs in larger businesses
• Recycling/Remanufacturing
• Green Buildings

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Coler Natural Insulation

• Soy-based Foam
• no formaldehyde, VOCs or HCFCs

• Start-up Company Founded in 2004
• 3 Employees
• Sales 2005 200,000
• No. of Projects gt100

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What vision do we have for green businesses in
our area?
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RGBNs Vision

• A prosperous and sustainable
• Rochester region
• within a
• clean and healthy
• environment

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Harbec Plastics Wind power and CHP
Air conditioning provided at no cost to the
environment

• 90 reduction in CO2 emissions wind turbine CHP
  microturbines
• 165,000 per year in energy costs saved or
  avoided 
• Improved power quality reliability
• Increased product quality
• Better employee working conditions

"Despite conventional wisdom, being greener does
not mean being more expensive. Bob Bechtold,
President, Harbec Plastics
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Medical Arts Building Green Refurbishment
Geothermal heating and cooling

• 30 reduction in energy costs compared to
  conventional buildings
• gt1million pounds of construction waste diverted
  from landfill
• Increased marketing opportunities

We took an existing building that was costing a
fortune in gas to run the boiler, and transformed
it into a green building that has lower operating
costs and provides direct environmental
benefits to everyone in the community. Steve
Walsh, Project Manager, Flower City Management
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Pliant Packaging Waste Minimization

• Ink Inventory Management System
• Ink waste reduced by 30
• Ink purchases reduced by 250K per year
• Total cost savings in first year 500K
• Defined and documented ink management process

"This project was all about process improvement
and reducing waste. The outcome was improved
changeovers, reducing color match downtime,
improved skills for the crew and reduced waste,
both in film and solid ink waste, netting a
financial positive for the company and the
environment. Craig Finley, Production Manager,
Pliant Corporation
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JASCO Heat Treating EMS Process Improvements
Metal Finishing Heat Treating

• 85 tons waste reduced annually
• 98 wastewater discharges reduced annually
• 91,000 cost savings per year
• Productivity doubled and product turn around time
  reduced
• Product quality improved

..one of my key functions is to control/minimize
waste and increase material utilization
efficiency. As a grandparent, one of my key
functions is to provide a safe and healthy
environment for my grandchildren's future. What a
great way to satisfy both roles, by coordinating
a project that provides a "win-win"
situation. Jim Carpenter, VP Quality HSE,
Jasco Heat Treating, Inc.
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What other Organizations are doing?

• Non-Profits
• US Green Building Council
• Greening USA
• RENEW NY
• Regulators
• EPA
• NYSDEC

• Trade Associations
• Environmental Business Association of NYS/CEEP
• Academic Institutions
• RIT
• SUNY ESF
• Cornell CSGE