Yampa Valley launches Green Business Program, offering business incentives

When Carbondale-based Aspen Tree Services expanded last year to add an office in Steamboat Springs, the management team wanted to introduce itself to the Yampa Valley as the namesake tree’s spring foliage green.

Aspen Tree Service, combined with Steamboat Lightscapes to create Aspen Tree Service and Lightscapes Service. In the year

“Our main goal is to try to lead the industry as best as possible and reduce waste in landfills, recycle and upcycle as much as possible, keep wire and copper out of landfills and use 100% LED lighting. said Dan Franz, Tree Service Sustainability Coordinator.

“Right now we’re close to 100% removing wood waste from the landfill,” said Franz, adding that people can make an appointment to pick up free wood chips after 9 a.m. at the business’s yard at 2645 Jacob Circle. I’m on Friday. “It ends up saving the business money from the cost and ethical side of throwing away wood chips The stored carbon must remain in the Yampa Valley.

Franz, who graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in environmental resources, said the company is working to make its fleet more fuel-efficient and recently placed an all-electric Nissan Leaf on order. Later orders for the Ford 150 Lightning are expected to receive fully electric transmissions.

The Yampa Valley Green Business Program is not the first such program in the country, but now includes the state’s Colorado Green Business Network partnership and helpful tools at CDHE.colorado.gov/co-green-business.It is under the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environmental Protection.

The Colorado Green Business Network is a volunteer program that “encourages, supports and rewards outstanding environmental performers who go beyond the requirements of environmental regulations and move toward real, practical sustainability goals,” according to the program’s website.

“Our goal is to support organizations at any stage of implementation in assessing opportunities for growth, assessing opportunities for success, and networking with like-minded businesses to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of their operations,” the website reports.

Paul Bonney, director of energy and transportation at the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council, and Brianna Brewer of YVSC Energy International explained the release of the Yampa Valley Green Business Program at a YVSC community meeting on July 13. Colorado Northwest Community College and Big Agnes spoke in support of the program.

Randy Rudasics, manager of the CMC Yampa Valley Entrepreneurship Center for 16 years, emphasized the importance of businesses including a sustainability plan in the first company’s business plan.

Rudasics assesses vendors based on growing social and political demands for companies to reduce their carbon footprint, and their customers’ proactive solutions to environmental challenges. Climate and environmental issues can sometimes take a backseat to the day-to-day challenges of running a small business, so local and regional support is helpful in those efforts, he said.

When businesses join the Green Business Program at no cost, they receive assistance in completing a baseline assessment and use the state’s GreenBiz Tracker to store data on their sustainability practices. After the assessment, businesses may receive technical assistance and potential funding.

Program outcomes may include reductions in business costs such as disposal, utility and other costs. Improving business sustainability increases company performance, business reputation with customers, product differentiation, and employee satisfaction and retention.

“Green businesses are becoming a critical part of the solution to climate change,” Brewer said. “According to the 2021 Root County Climate Action Plan, commercial buildings are one of the largest contributors to Root County’s greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Our owners have a vision of sustainability,” Franz said. “It’s clear that a lot of support is needed to make this vision work, so we’re very grateful to partner with the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council on this goal.”

To reach Susie Romig, call 970-871-4205 or email sromig@SteamboatPilot.com.