Becoming Certified: To become certified under the Green Cedar Valley Initiative, a business must complete the application form, accumulate a minimum of 40 points from the checklist and meet the Basic Requirements. Once certified, each business’s overall point total will be noted on the GCVI website with their listing. Those reaching Gold & Platinum Certification will be recognized online in the 'Green Leaders' section.

Certification Levels & Fees: There are four levels of Green Certification to recognize the degree to which a business is currently engaged in sustainable practices: Bronze (40-74 Points), Silver (75-109 Points), Gold (110-144 Points) and Platinum (145+ Points).  The certification fee for first-time certification is $30 and is used to help cover the cost of time and materials. Renewal fees are based on consecutive years certified. If certification is lost (see Certification Loss below) or not renewed within 60 days of anniversary, renewal will start over. Certification Renewal Fee is $25.

Complete and submit the form on your computer. Just dowload the desired version, save the completed form, print or email your submission (of course, we prefer a digital version to print). Email to Brooke@TravelWaterloo.com or mail to 500 Jefferson St., Waterloo, IA, 50701. Don't forget to include a check for the appropriate fee (see above).

Word Digital Form - Word (docx) Version - Word (97-03) Version

Certification Renewal: For 2011, businesses must complete the new Certification Application to be eligible for recertification. If you have already completed the 2011 Certification Application (complete with new levels, slight modifcations and additions), you have two options for re-certification:

1. If nothing has changed since the previous application: prior to the renewal date, submit a copy of your most recent application, a signed statement that the application is still valid and the information is still accurate, and a check for the appropriate renewal amount. NOTE: The Certification Application will be updated periodically and may present opportunities for additional point accumulation not available on the previous version.

2. If changes have occurred since the previous application, a new application outlining new and existing efforts must be completed and submitted along with a check for the amount of appropriate renewal fee. This will allow the online point total to reflect changes and increase with improved efforts. Without completing a new application, there is no way for the GCVI to recognize growth. Annual completion of the application and baseline assessment are strongly encouraged.

If your renewal has not been received 60 days after the one-year anniversary date of your most recent application, your listing will be removed from the website until certification can be reestablished.

Certification Loss: While participation in the GCVI certification program is voluntary, it is the responsibility of the participating business to ensure that the application form and renewal letters are accurate and that the claims on such are true and maintained. Comments and feedback from the public will be taken into consideration and investigated when necessary. Should the statements of the business be found to be untrue or misrepresented, the GCVI reserves the right to remove certification, though this will be considered a last resort.

Baseline Assessment: The Baseline Assessment is meant to accompany the annual certification application to provide the business with the opportunity to collect tangible data on the environmental and financial savings they have accomplished each year by establishing how they use energy and water as well as how they put out waste. This form is optional except for those receiving a GCVI Grant. Grant recipients will be required to complete the assessment as part of their grant application to allow for measure of the project’s impact.