A One Stop Shop to Go Green and Save Green

The Green Savings Coop, a Bethesda Green business incubator company, offers access to discounts for renewable energy, home and building needs, transportation and sustainable products and services. Executive director Mike Kennedy, recently spoke with Bethesda Patch about the Coop, its growth and success over the past three years, and plans for the future.

One Stop and One of a Kind
“There’s an old adage that going green costs more,” Kennedy said. “That’s just not true for the Green Savings Coop.”  

Kennedy has spent the last three years developing and growing the Coop, starting with a close look at climate change and sustainability practices nationwide.  

“I did a great deal of research in the beginning,” said Kennedy. “I realized there was a gap at the ‘end of the wire.' There wasn’t much being done about making our homes more efficient and making it easier for people to use renewable energy. I saw the opportunity to provide people with energy and savings on a whole array of sustainable goods and services.” 

Today, the Green Savings Coop is a unique resource for businesses and consumers. “There’s nothing like this,” said Kennedy. “This is a new paradigm for people to have one place they can go for all their green resources. We’re building the model.”

A Wide Range of Suppliers and a Growing Group of Members
Green Savings Coop suppliers include Amicus Green Building Center, Acquabarrel, Electric Advisors Wind Energy, Zip Car and Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyards. 

“Suppliers are pre-qualified,” said Kennedy, “and we pre-negotiate supplier discounts for Coop members.” 

Members can join the Coop if their company is an organization member, or as individuals. Members pay a one-time initial membership fee and an annual fee. For employees of organization members, the initial membership fee is waived.

The Coop has 26 suppliers, eight organization members, and 152 individual members. “Resnick Group is a member, and so is Calvert Group. Marriott just joined,” said Kennedy. “Waiving the membership fee is a valuable employee benefit, and companies do this as part of their commitment to sustainable living.”

Adding Members and Broadening the Supplier Base in 2012
Kennedy said there are plans to grow the Coop significantly in 2012 and extend their range of offerings.

"When we formed the Coop, we started with ‘big things’ like solar energy, wind power, energy audits and sustainable building supplies. Now our members are asking for every day products and services – organic food, green dry cleaners and laundromats, green lawn services and cleaning supplies, and sustainable beauty products. We want to add suppliers in these areas in response to our members.”

Mike, we wish you all the best in your tireless efforts to establish and grow the Green Savings Coop. Thank you for providing a chance for green suppliers and green consumers to work together!