2017 Austin Green Business Leaders Announced

39 businesses recognized for sustainability efforts, including Brookfield Residential Properties and Freese and Nichols, Inc. Find out who else made it to this outstanding list!

By resolving to go green, many local businesses are helping to protect the environment, reduce their carbon footprint, and make Austin a more livable place.

These organizations strive to make sustainability a key part of day-to-day operations by reducing waste, using alternative transportation, conserving water and energy, offering employee health programs, and giving back to the community. At the same time, they can also trim operating costs for their business.

This year 39 businesses have been recognized for their commitment to sustainability as Austin Green Business Leaders, bringing the program total to 214 member businesses, representing almost 40,000 employees and more than 15 million square feet of office space.

“The efforts of the Austin Green Business Leaders cannot be underestimated,” said Lucia Athens, the City of Austin’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “These businesses will help Austin meet targets for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, reducing traffic congestion, and zero waste. They are to be commended for making choices that support a bright, green future for the entire Austin community.”

The program is open to companies of all sizes, including small, home-based businesses. In addition, the Austin Green Business Leaders program attracts organizations of all types, including corporate offices, restaurants, dry cleaners, grocery stores, architecture firms, florists, and high-tech companies.

The Austin Green Business Leaders program has recognized 214 businesses for their sustainability efforts at Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels. Becoming a member is free; find out more about how to join at www.austingreenbusiness.com.

The following organizations have been recognized as new and renewing 2017 Austin Green Business Leaders at the following achievement levels:

PLATINUM MEMBERS:
Brookfield Residential Properties
Connolly Architects & Consultants
Drillinginfo, Inc.
Freese and Nichols, Inc.
IBM
Indeed, Inc.
Integral Group
Lake|Flato Architects
Mountain Sun Resources
Office for Local Architecture
Snooze an A.M. Eatery: South Lamar
SunflowerDESIGN.net
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

GOLD MEMBERS:
Boundless
Doucet & Associates
Earthly Labs
Greenbelt Solar
Griffin School
HDR
JOSCO Products
Madras Pavilion
Mint
Snooze an A.M. Eatery: North Lamar
SunPower Corporation
The Purple Fig Eco Cleaning Co., LLC

SILVER MEMBERS:
Austin Roofing and Construction
Downtown Austin Alliance
Fuerte Fitness

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS:
Austin Community Design and Development Center (Gold)
BCL of Texas (Gold)
Castle Hill Fitness (Platinum)
HM Risk Group (Platinum)
Recycled Reads (Platinum)
SeaLab LLC (Platinum)
Silicon Labs (Platinum)
Texas Mutual Insurance Company (Platinum)
Walter P. Moore (Platinum)
Wayside Schools (Platinum)
Zero Waste Strategies LLC (Platinum)

About Austin Green Business Leaders | Green business is good business, especially in Austin. The Austin Green Business Leaders program was created by the City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability to support Austin businesses and their pursuit of sustainability. Green business means operating in a way that protects the environment, enhances the community, supports local culture, and maintains a healthy workplace. The Austin Green Business Leaders program has recognized 214 businesses for their sustainability efforts at Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels. Becoming a member is free; find out more about how to join at www.austingreenbusiness.com.

About the Office of Sustainability | The City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability was established in September 2010, when Lucia Athens, a leader in sustainability and green building, was hired as the Chief Sustainability Officer. The Office works to ensure a thriving, equitable, and ecologically resilient community by providing leadership, influencing positive action through engagement, and creating measurable benefits for Austin. The Office works to achieve net-zero community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, a healthy and just local food system, resource efficient strategies for municipal operations, tangible projects that demonstrate sustainability, and a resilient and adaptive city. Find out more at: www.austintexas.gov/sustainability