City of Spokane recognizes first batch of ‘Smart’ businesses

The City of Spokane honored about 40 businesses at the Spokane City Council meeting Monday for their implementation of green and sustainable management practices. These are the first businesses to be recognized or certified under the City’s new SMART Recognition Program. SMART stands for sustainable management of assets, resources, and technology. The program was developed by the City’s Business & Development Services Department in partnership with Avista, Eastern Washington University, and the Washington State Department of Ecology. “When we asked businesses what we could do to encourage them to adopt these practices, they told us that they needed help marketing their commitment to sustainability to their customers,” says Mayor Mary Verner. “More and more people want to do business with companies that share their commitment to protecting the environment and resources.” Under the program, businesses can apply to be recognized at either a “participant” or “certified” level in a variety of categories, including energy efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, renewable energy, water conservation, green building, transportation/commute trip reduction, and pollution prevention. Businesses also can seek special “innovation” recognition in each of the categories. “We hope people will see this as a seal of approval for these businesses,” the Mayor says. “We see it as an additional opportunity to grow our green economy.” This is the only such program in Eastern Washington and third statewide. The other programs are in Kirkland and Olympia. The City will accept applications later this year from other businesses who want to seek this recognition. A more detailed program description is available on the City’s web site at developingspokane.org. Here are the businesses that were recognized by category: Energy Efficiency Participants: Out There Monthly Go Green Directory Sonderen Packaging Certified: The Davenport Hotel The Spokane Club Saranac Building, LLC Green Building Certified: Saranac Building Innovation: Inland Northwest Built Green(r) (Spokane Home Builder Association) Pollution Prevention Certified: Sonderen Packaging The Spokane Club Saranac Building, LLC Innovation: CH2M Hill, Inc Renewable Energy Certified: Saranac Building, LLC Innovation: The Spokane Club Transportation Participant: The Spokane Club Certified: Fernwell Associates/Fernwell Building Go Green Directory Out There Monthly CH2M Hill, Inc. Sonderen Packaging Rings & Things Waste Reduction Participants: The Spokane Club Saranac Building, LLC 7th Rail Alaskan Lounge Bartletts Baker Dozen Bigelow’s Top Hat Boulevard House of Music Bolo’s Bar and Grill Capital Bar and Grill Casey’s Bar and Grill Chapala Mexican Restaurant China Dragon China Garden Country Place Double Dribble Grocery Boys Hill’s Restaurant and Lounge Jimmy Z’s Kalico Kitchen Kusina Filipina Litz’s Bar and Grill Luigi’s Gourmet Inc Moxie Restaurant Niko’s Greek Restaurant Red Lion Sports Bar and Barbeque Spokane Arena Steer Inn on Division Taco John’s Taste of India Wolf Lodge Steakhouse Certified: Azar’s Restaurant Innovation: CH2M Hill, Inc. Sonderen Packaging Rings and Things Water Conservation Participant: CH2M Hill, Inc. The Spokane Club Innovation: Saranac Building, LLC