Pilot program aimed at greening up local businesses

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The City of Charleston's strategy to help its residents and businesses save energy involves the creation of new programs that are specifically designed to assist residents, business owners, property owners, and property tenants to become more energy efficient and environmentally aware. One of these programs is the Green Office Challenge.

Greening up the office is beneficial to all involved, so if you've been thinking about making the switch, now is the perfect opportunity to do so.

The Green Office Challenge is a voluntary friendly competition that takes participants through a process of benchmarking the energy use of a building using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. It also helps them pursue a variety of conservation and efficiency opportunities over the course of a one-year program. The program concludes with an evaluation of participant progress towards goals, and successful achievers will be publicly recognized by Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.

The Green Office Challenge is a partnership with the City of Charleston. It is a free assistance program that will not result in any penalty should you begin but later decide you no longer wish to participate. The City is seeking interest from local commercial property managers, business owners, and office tenants to participate in a pilot demonstration program. Your participation in the Green Office Challenge will result in reduced operation costs as well as the amount of pollution and waste generated from your property and/or business.

We ask that if you are interested in the program, or simply wish to support the idea of creating this program, that you return a letter of interest and/or support to Brian Sheehan, Director of Sustainability, 75 Calhoun, Charleston SC 29401 or e-mail a copy to sheehanbp@ci.charleston.sc.us, no later than close of business on Thursday, January 21, 2010. We appreciate your support and look forward to working with you in the Green Office Challenge.

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