Two Westchester-Based Businesses Achieve Westchester Green Business-Certification

Atlantic Westchester, a commercial and industrial HVAC company, and SunBlue Energy, a home and commercial solar installer, celebrated their official Westchester Green Business-Certification (WGBC) in a joint ceremony on December 17, 2015. Atlantic Westchester and SunBlue Energy collaborated to work together as WGB-Certified members. Atlantic Westchester engaged SunBlue Energy’s services this past summer to install solar panels at its facility to improve its own energy conservation efforts.

“It is very exciting to celebrate the Westchester Green Business-Certification of both Atlantic Westchester and Sun Blue Energy. Their collaboration represents the highest goals of the program that encourages member organizations to work together towards a sustainable future,” said Dani Glaser, Creator and Co-Director of the Westchester Green Business Challenge and Certified program.

The certification event was held at Atlantic Westchester’s office in Bedford Hills, NY (264 Adams Street). The award ceremony was led by WGBC program partners from Westchester County government (Kevin Plunkett, Deputy Westchester County Executive); The Business Council of Westchester (John Ravitz, COO); and Green Team Spirit (Dani Glaser, CEO and WGBC Program Director). Representatives from the Energize NY Finance program, The Town of Bedford and Bedford 2020 also participated in the ceremony.

“Atlantic Westchester is committed to reducing our environmental footprint and promoting eco-friendly practices at all levels throughout our organization – from solar panels to multi-zoned HVAC systems to LED lightening to employee education,” said Bud Hammer, President of Atlantic Westchester. “Becoming WGB-Certified will help reach our goal to minimize our organization’s impact and maximize future generations’ ability to live, work and play in our shared natural environment, with equal access to clean air, clean water, and natural resources.”

Westchester-based businesses, such as Atlantic Westchester and SunBlue Energy, are working in synergy to improve their businesses, their clients’ businesses and the environment for the future. Atlantic Westchester was the first commercial property owner in the Town of Bedford to receive Energize NY financing for their 12 kW solar electric rooftop system. The rooftop system is expected to offset 24% of electric consumption at the headquarter office buildings for Atlantic Westchester. To date, the system is providing 120% of the estimated capacity.

“The solar installation at Atlantic Westchester symbolizes what makes Westchester County a leader in green business practices,” says Chris Hale, President and Founder of SunBlue Energy. “We see the future of green business as synergy between local businesses—the local solar energy company installing panels on the Westchester energy efficiency company, financed by a PACE-Finance model designed and executed by

Westchester’s Energize NY program. All of these stakeholders were introduced through the Westchester Green Business Challenge and certification process. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the green community in Westchester and to be among pioneers.”

WGB-Certified is an expansion of the highly successful Westchester Green Business Challenge program, a public-private partnership launched in 2009 by Westchester County and The Business Council of Westchester to help businesses become more environmentally sustainable while saving money and improving performance. To date, more than 300 businesses have taken part in the Challenge.

WGB-Certified takes environmental stewardship a step further. The WGB-Certified program is designed to provide a collaborative group of Westchester County organizations from diverse industry sectors, with step-by-step training (individualized and group) and tools they need to successfully integrate environmentally sustainable practices into operations and measure their greenhouse gas emissions in order to become certified. Behavioral and technical solutions are provided to organizations in the following categories: organizational commitment, energy, materials management (waste & recycling and green purchasing), refrigerants, transportation, land use and water. There are currently 50 member businesses in WGB-Certified, 18 of which have achieved certification.

Many local Westchester towns are also taking a lead in energy efficiency. Bedford 2020, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by the year 2020 in the town of Bedford. Together, these organizations are all taking advantage of clean energy to improve Westchester County for the future.