When the City of Lafayette California says Green, they are not talking about your lawn!  Nor are they talking about St. Patty's Day!  When the City of Lafayette Says Green, the City is talking about their efforts to become a more sustainable community...

The City of Lafayetteefforts to become a more sustainable community has made an impact on many residents.  In turn, many residents now try to seek out the most green businesses and services.  This phenomenon has put more pressure on Lafayette businesses to become Green! 

Why Become Green?

• Cost savings .
  


• Build customer loyalty.  Consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious and are impressed by businesses with a green conscience .
  


• Preserve the environment by reducing Lafayette businesses' environmental impact

What The City of Lafayette Has Already Done to Become Green

The City of Lafayette, working with The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce to become Green has:

• Started the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Green Committee to help local businesses save money by adopting green practices and be recognize within the community for their efforts.
  


• Lafayette recently joined a national effort to become a Cool City.  To become a Cool City, the City of Lafayette must calculate the town's carbon footprint, or the annual tons of carbon dioxide emitted, and then work to reduce emissions. .
  


• Is working with Sustainable Lafayette, a network of residents and organizations that learn from each other through an active website about what solutions work best for making our homes, businesses, and community more sustainable.  The Sustainable Lafayette network has monthly get-together with their "Green Drinks" events throughout the Lamorinda area.
  


• The City of Lafayette has started a Lafayette Green Awards program that recognizes outstanding efforts by businesses and residents that contributed to a more sustainable community. 

What Lafayette Businesses Can Do Now to Start Becoming Green

If you are a Lafayette business interested in adopting green practices, you can start by calling Jay Lifson   jay@lafayettechamber.org at the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.  Green businesses will receive promotion and recognition as special members of our community.  And by all means, consider joining the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Green Committee.

As you consider becoming a green business in Lafayette, here are 15 Ways to Green your Business (from the Sustainable Lafayette Network)

Use compact fluorescent light bulbs
Turn off lights when not in use
Install reduced flow taps and high-efficiency toilets
Print double-sided
Reduce bag waste by asking customers if they need a bag before assuming they do
Turn computers and other appliances off when not in use
Reduce packaging to ship or offer your products in
Have employees use their own mugs to avoid throwing away disposable coffee cups
Make the effort to remove your business from unwanted catalogs and mailings
Encourage employees to walk, bike, take public transportation, or car-pool to work
Purchase only Energy-Star compliant equipment
Purchase office/printing paper with at least 30% recycled content
Buy local-especially if your business sells food
Use green, non-toxic cleaning supplies
Make sure you are properly recycling

You can find AJ Nisen on Active Rain at Contra Costa California Mortgages.  Call AJ to talk about your Mortgage, Mortgage Rates, Free Credit Report or visit AJ's website to use his mortgage calculator.  
 

Alan 'AJ' Nisen
Mortgage Loan Officer
Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Board Member
Orinda Chamber of Commerce Board Member
Alamo Chamber of Commerce VP
AJ's Email
AJ's Mortgage Website 
AJ's ActiveRain Blog