Presented by

The Greater Waco Chamber is a business organization dedicated to enhancing Greater Waco as a center of excellence and community of choice for businesses and residents. Located in growing Central Texas along the Brazos and Bosque Rivers, Greater Waco is keenly aware of the balance of economy and environment. Greater Waco Chamber recently built America’s First Green Chamber of Commerce building with more green facilities under construction in the market. Greater Waco Chamber developed the Waco Green Business Network, a program to highlight the green efforts of local business. It is one of the first local efforts in the country to educate, identify, recognize and promote businesses that engage in sustainable practices. Help Greater Waco to be recognized as Texas' Green, Livable City."

Waco Green Business Network

How to add your company's name to this list:

Five steps to sustainability

Step One - A business sustainability checklist was developed to help companies get started. Businesses may consider incorporating 78 activities into their day-to-day activities. The majority are both good for the environment and cost-saving measures.
 
Step Two - Greater Waco businesses are engaged in great things in sustainability. Tell us what your company is doing by completing the Green Business Survey. It follows the checklist in areas of waste prevention, recycling, purchasing, energy and water conservation, involving stakeholders, transportation and operations.

Step Three – The Greater Waco Chamber will recognize companies that participate in the Green Business Survey and demonstrate green efforts in all categories. Businesses in the network will be highlighted in the Chamber publications (print and online), articles placed locally and out of market and a window sticker and electronic logo.

Step Four – Waco Green Business Network companies will be invited to join WacoGreenBusiness.com, a business networking Web site to share ideas. It is a great way for business owners and sustainability coordinators to discuss "How did you do that in Waco?"

Step Five - Waco Green Business Network companies will be listed on Gen Green Life national online directory. Cutsomers are looking for green businesses. The directory provides awareness for companies in the Waco Green Business Network.

The Greater Waco Chamber recognizes that sustainability is good for the environment AND good for business.

For more information, contact Scott Connell at (254) 757-5626.

The Greater Waco Chamber is an advocate for green business practices and outstanding efforts to promote environmental standards for living, working and playing.

The Go Green Committee is charged with:

• developing and maintaining an active inventory of green practices in Greater Waco;
• gaining national recognition for Greater Waco as a Green community;
• engaging the Greater Waco business communit in sustainable efforts in their businesses and in the community at large;
• increase programs, guidelines and incentives for sustainability throughout Greater Waco.

Waco We D.I.G. By Scott Connell, Senior Vice President Strategic Development Green is good business. That’s not a contradiction. Sustainable practices are becoming more common in the workplace. Companies are focusing on reducing the impacts of their processes and employees on the environment. Greater Waco is front and center in this tide of change. MORE

Waco's first living roof
The 1,750-square-foot living roof is planted with varieties of sedum that require little water and maintenance. The design concept is Walk Along the River. The “river” plant is Sedum Reflexum Gray Creeper, and the “bank” is Sedum Sexangulare interspersed with Sedum Palmerii, Sedum Spectabile “Brilliant” and Sedum Kamschaticum. A design project by the Texas State Technical College Waco Landscape Design Technician Program in Waco identified the use of sedum varietals both for low maintenance and design purposes. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center also provided input.

The living roof reduces the urban heat island, absorbs air pollution, collects airborne pollutants and stores carbon. It also provides extra insluation that reduces the amount of heating and air conditioning needed inside the building. Rainwater that would otherwise run off the site irrigates the plants. Excess rainwater is retained in a cistern, and a solar-powered pump returns the water to the roof during dry periods.

Energy
The Chamber joined forces with the City of Waco, McLennan County and the Texas Clean Air Coalition to fight the building of 11 coal-fired generating plants in Central Texas. Keeping Greater Waco in non-attainment status is of particular concern to community leaders.