Programs & Services

Edmonton's Small Business Eco Challenge Entry Form

Participant Guidelines

The Way We Green, the City of Edmonton’s environmental strategic plan, sets out a number of challenges that must be met in order for Edmonton to live in closer balance with nature while preparing for environmental changes. Local businesses can play an integral role in transforming our environment by aligning their economic activities with environmental considerations.

Businesses are invited to outline their green business practices in each of the six topic areas. Businesses may showcase practices in one or more areas. Winners will be determined on the basis of the panel’s assessment of the aggregate reduction in environmental impacts achieved within each business. Therefore, entrants may score well even if they have not implemented green practices in all six areas. Some green initiatives may cross over from one category to the next and these benefits can also be documented.

All submissions by challenge participants will be reviewed and compared with the practices of peers in each business size category. Please provide as much detail as required in order to support your entry. You may include quantitative energy savings (numbers) if these are available.

We are looking for businesses that have excelled at implementing new ideas. Tell us how you have reduced environmental impacts through the use of new and more effective processes, products, services or technologies.

Submissions are being accepted until 4pm MDT on Friday, September 26, 2014.

If you would prefer to reflect further on your questions before submitting online, you can copy the questions from here.

Business Information

Business Name

Owner(s)

Type of Business

Address

Phone

Enter your business phone number in 780-XXX-XXXX format.

Enter your email in name@domain.com format.

Website

Number of employees

Years in Business (Min 1)

Please tell us a bit more about the nature of your business

Tell us about how your business and staff are protecting the environment. Answer all relevant questions and provide as much detail as possible.

Energy and Climate Change

What steps have you taken to reduce energy use or greenhouse gas emissions?

How do you:

measure energy use?
implement energy reduction strategies?
purchase green energy?
complete green renovations?
make use of more sustainable/alternative or renewable energy sources?

Food Security

How do you support Edmonton's local farmers or food suppliers?

How do you:

purchase or supply locally sourced foods and/or beverages?
build direct relationships with local producers and are you familiar with their production methods?
determine what percentage of your food is grown locally?

Solid Waste

How do you reduce, reuse and/or recycle waste in your operations?

How do you:

reduce packaging?
recycle?
compost?
reduce the use of toxic and environmentally harmful chemicals?
reduce your waste stream through improving efficiency in how you do business? For example: How have you been able to contribute to waste reduction in your production or supply chain? For your customers?

Healthy Ecosystems - Land

What do you do to protect the land or natural environment in the area of your business or in your business operations?

How do you contribute to protecting or enhancing natural landscapes? Examples include:

Good land use practices such as operating from a dense or mobility-oriented location in the city.
Protecting, preserving, and regenerating ecosystems and increasing biodiversity.
Protecting agricultural lands.
Avoiding the creation of, or managing and mitigating brownfields and contaminated sites.
Maintaining flower gardens or edible landscapes, reducing pesticide use, and grasscycling by leaving grass clippings on lawns.

Healthy Ecosystems - Water

What do you do to protect and/or conserve water?

How do you:

implement water conservation practices?
reduce stormwater runoff?
reduce greywater and blackwater discharges through low flush toilets and water-efficient fixtures in your building?
collect and use rainwater?
link water conservation with energy efficiency? For example, turn down hot water temperatures or use cold water instead of hot water when possible.

Healthy Ecosystems - Air

What does your company do to protect and/or improve Edmonton's air quality?

Consider:

How have you been able to reduce your overall emissions and costs by changing the ways your produce, deliver, or transport goods and/or services?
If you use company vehicles, how do you maintain these for optimal energy-efficient performance?
How often do you or your staff partcipate in energy-efficient commutes to and from work and for business purposes?
How do you incorporate practical ways to reduce emissions? For example, being idle free.
How you implemented measures that will improve indoor air quality at your place of business?

Further Information

The City of Edmonton may contact us with further information on sustainability practices for businesses or related programs.

Deadline for submissions is 4pm MDT on Friday September 26, 2014.

Entries not submitted through this online form can be sent by:

Email to: sbecochallenge@edmonton.ca
Fax to: 780-401-7070
Mail or deliver to:
Edmonton's Small Business Eco Challenge
City of Edmonton
City Environmental Strategies
8th floor, HSBC Bank Place
10250-101 St.
Edmonton, AB T5J 3P4

FOIP Statement

Small Business Eco Challenge information is being collected by the City of Edmonton under the authority of section 33(c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP), and will be used for Edmonton Small Business Eco Challenge purposes. Personal information in the custody or under the control of the City is protected in accordance with the privacy provisions of FOIP. If you have any questions about the collection of this information, you may contact the City of Edmonton at sbecochallenge@edmonton.ca.

For More Information

Telephone	311
Email	sbecochallenge@edmonton.ca