The City of Coral Gables is proud to introduce, in collaboration with the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and the City’s Sustainability Advisory Board, the Coral Gables Green Business Certification Program. This program aligns with the City’s sustainability goals of reducing energy, water, fuel consumption, and waste while increasing recycling efforts, alternative transportation and sustainability education and outreach. With all of the great work that our local business community is doing in sustainability (eliminating the use of expanded polystyrene and single use plastic bags, increasing recycling efforts, green building, etc.) the City felt it was the perfect time to create this type of recognition/certification program. The goal of the program is to recognize and reward our local businesses for all their amazing efforts. In addition, the program aims to educate business on additional sustainability initiatives they can implement.  The program is FREE to participate. 

The Green Business Program focuses on the following areas:

• Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling
• Energy Conservation
• Water Conservation
• Pollution Prevention
• Transportation Alternatives
• General Environmental Policy and Education  

Together the City, the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, and our local businesses can build a more resilient and sustainable Coral Gables.

Green Business Certification Program Application (Keyboard enterable)

4 Easy Steps to Getting Your Green Business Certified

• Submit the Coral Gables Green Business Program Application to manderson@coralgables.com. For any questions filling out this form please contact Matt Anderson at manderson@coralgables.com or call (305)-460-5008
• City Staff from the Sustainable Public Infrastructure Division will follow up to verify application information and to schedule a site visit.
• Once the site visit is complete, staff will review and provide feedback on your application and identify the recognition tier (Bonze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) your business may receive.
• Enjoy not only helping the environment, but also all of the great benefits (listed below) of being a Coral Gables Certified Green Business

Tiered Incentives/Ideas for Green Business Recognition

• Each certified green business will be given a window decal and certificate to display at their business, and a digital link to the green business logo to place on their business cards/merchandise/etc.  (All tiers)
• Recognition on the City’s (www.coralgables.com/greenbusiness) and Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce websites (All tiers)
• Recognition in the City’s E-News, Economic Development and/or Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce newsletters as a green business of the month and/or quarter. (Silver, Gold & Platinum tiers)
• Highlight certified green businesses on the City’s Green Map (include “find a green businesses near you” section) (Gold & Platinum tiers)
• Recognition on City and/or Chamber of Commerce Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) (Gold & Platinum)
• Recognition at a City Commission Meeting and/or Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce event. (Gold & Platinum)

Resources

• Green Business Certification Program Application
• Green Business Certification Program Flyer

Certified Coral Gables Green Businesses

The City of Coral Gables is proud to recognize our first certified Coral Gables Green Business, I Know Science.

I Know Science is a new toy store and science lab located in Merrick Park aimed at fueling the rising generations’ curiosity through hands-on experiments in all the fields of science. I Know Science has staff focused on their business practices and aiming to produce less waste/minimize consumption of single-use products; transition to more sustainable alternatives for lab materials; motivate staff and customers to engage in energy and water conservation; and reduce our overall carbon footprint. In addition, they have eco-innovation curriculum component fosters intentional brainstorming to orient our scientists’ engineering to address current environmental crises. I Know Science hosts summer camps, in school field trips and birthday parties. 

Additional Resources

• List of Sustainable Alternative Products to Single Use Plastic Disposable Items (List Created and Updated by Debris Free Oceans)
  • Items listed above are marine degradable and backyard compostable products available in the Miami-Dade County area. Please note that it is always best to first REUSE and REFILL than to switch to any disposable products.

Reference in this site to any specific commercial product, process, or service, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the City of Coral Gables.

For more information on the City’s sustainability initiatives please visit www.coralgables.com/sustainability