BLUER Business Awards Program Announced

The BLUER Business Award will recognize businesses operating in the Borough of West Chester and surrounding area that have taken the initiative to:

• Conserve energy through building improvements/design (e.g., upgraded lighting systems, energy audits, conservation programs, IT energy management, etc.) and/or policy changes (e.g., car share, car pooling, work-from-home programs, etc.);
• Convert to renewable, cleaner energy sources (e.g., wind, solar, biodiesel heating fuel, geothermal, etc.); and/or
• Reduce waste by reducing purchasing/packaging, reusing materials, and/or recycling aggressively.

Background
BLUER is an ad-hoc committee appointed by Borough Council to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Borough-wide 10% by 2015.

BLUER is in the process of surveying Borough-based business owners so we can define and address the challenges Borough businesses face in achieving the goals of conservation/efficiency, conversion to renewables, and waste reduction. This will enable BLUER to build case examples and support the business community as we face the growing challenges of environmental sustainability and unpredictable energy costs. The BLUER Business Awards Program is intended to spur positive change by recognizing businesses that are already taking genuine steps to reduce CO2 emissions. Public recognition and education will help other business owners follow suit, and enable businesses to learn from one another.

The nominating process
To be considered, a business must be nominated. Business owners and employees are free to nominate themselves or another business. Customers are encouraged to nominate businesses they frequent. Nominations will be made using the BLUER Business Awards Nomination Form(PDF file you can print) or (online form).

To be eligible:
1) The business must be located in the Borough of West Chester or within close proximity to the Borough.
2) The business must have taken or be in the process of taking real steps to conserve energy; convert to renewable, cleaner energy sources; and/or reduce waste.
3) The nominator must define the steps, outline the environmental and business rationales and, if possible, demonstrate the result or anticipated result in terms that are as measurable as possible.

The selection process
The judging panel will consist of Borough Council representatives, a Borough business representative, members of the BLUER Committee, and a special guest judge. Nominations will be judged based on the following criteria:
1) The business is located in the Borough or immediate surrounding area.
2) The estimated impact on CO2 emissions and CO2 emission equivalents. The greater the impact, the better. BLUER can help with these estimations.
3) The leadership demonstrated by the effort. Does the effort show that the business is dedicated to the goals of conservation, conversion and/or waste reduction?

The awards
The panel will honor the recipients with a free luncheon and awards ceremony, to which the local press will be invited. The award itself will consist of a certificate of recognition and a BLUER sticker that the business may apply to its front door or window. Any business that achieves goals in all three categories (conservation, conversion, waste reduction) will be given a special “gold” award.