Waco, TX
A state of the art, sustainable building that serves as an example to the Waco community, encouraging other businesses to engage in environmentally friendly practices.
What was once an overlooked expanse of parking spaces is now the site of the nation’s first LEED certified chamber of commerce headquarters in Waco, a Central Texas city of 118,093. Attaining U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold certification with 46 of a possible 69 points, the new building boasts a 1,400 square-foot living roof, reduces water use by up to 30 percent and consumes 22 percent less energy than a standard building. In addition to leading by example through a state of the art headquarters, the Greater Waco Chamber directs an innovative network that provides area businesses the resources necessary to employ more sustainable practices of their own.
After the Chamber announced it would design and build the first building in Waco to meet LEED certification standards, others followed suit. McLennan Community College, for example, welcomed students this fall with three new buildings totaling more than 200,000 square feet—all designed to be LEED certified. Caterpillar Logistics, Wells Fargo and Baylor University are also seeking LEED status for new buildings in Waco.
Inspiring the local business community through sustainable building design is just the beginning of the Waco Chamber’s green initiatives. In chairs made from recycled materials and under skylights admitting natural light, Chamber employees are working to help member businesses become more environmentally friendly while cutting their costs and reducing waste. The Chamber’s Waco Green Business Network educates, identifies, recognizes and promotes the sustainable practices of local businesses.
As the first of the Network’s five steps to sustainability, companies can review a green practices checklist complete with 78 activities they can incorporate into their day-to-day activities. The list offers suggestions such as buying recycled toner cartridges, using marketing materials that don’t require envelopes, and using recycled material in manufactured products. Step two encourages Greater Waco businesses to complete a green business survey to identify all sustainable activities in which they are engaged. Companies that exhibit action in all categories of the survey are highlighted in Chamber publications, both online and in print, have access to the Network’s electronic logo, and receive a window sticker to display their designation as a green business.
Green businesses identified by the Chamber are invited to join WacoGreenBusinesses.com as a fourth step toward sustainability. This business networking website gives members a forum to share ideas, methods and ask questions. As the grand finale to greening their practices, Waco businesses are featured on Gen Green Life, a national online directory to help consumers track down businesses that share their concern for our climate and ecosystems.
The Greater Waco Chamber promotes green member businesses not only to improve and protect Waco’s environment but to help companies cut costs and avoid waste. Chamber leaders believe the city’s commitment to sustainable development will help make Waco a magnet for the businesses, jobs, and young professionals of the future—and it all started with the goal to build the nation’s first LEED certified Chamber building
For more information on this program: Waco Green Business Network